The right pronunciation of 'Fasten'

By Awonuga Oyinlola English is a very interesting language, its inconsistencies add certain twist to it. As a result, the speakers are encouraged to study more and adapt to the new words coined. As if that is not hard enough, some people have to learn to use the right words in the right context. Nigerian's official language is English; an average Nigerian has to be able to speak this language in order to communicate with people from other tribes. 'Fasten'- Some Nigerians do not know the 't' in these word is silent. Even teachers who train pupils often mispronounce word and teach the young ones the wrong thing. This word is pronounced as 'fasin' not 'fasten' as commonly used 'Fasten your seat-belt-incorrect' but 'fasin' is the correct pronunciation for the term. Source: Naija.ng Awonuga Oyinlola, Balogun Oluwafemi.

By the way, How do you pronounce bathe now?

By Awonuga Oyinlola The word bathe is a very common one in the sense that almost everyone has a bath regularly.There is however an irony with bathe.The rate at which it is used is almost the same as it is mispronounced.That is why I asked the question in the topic of this lesson The problem has its root in the fact that bath and bathe are usually interchangeably used rightly or wrongly.To complicate the matter some experts say while bath is strictly a noun, bathe is essentially a verb. Indeed, in British English bath is also used as a verb while bathe also assumes the role of a noun in one or two contexts.The grammar of the word is not our focus here but we can quickly exemplify this observation: E.g She wants to have a bathe now (correct) She wants to bath now (correct now as a verb) Are you sure she wants to bathe now (correct as a verb) In bath the letter produces a long vowel /a:/, but in bathe while we also have a long vowel, it is not the /a:/ type indeed in bathe what we have is a diphthong, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. In this wise the a in bath is not to be pronounced as the /a/ you have in sea, bat and bath. It is also not the /a:/ in star, bard or pass.Rather, it is /ei/, the type you have in lait, late, waste, and freight it is thus pronounced as bEIthe. What this means is that when you want to have a bath and say you want to baf or bat you are committing double errors.You should therefore take time to further study the correct articulation of both. Source:Punch/Awonuga Oyinlola

PASTOR URGES YOUTHS TO RECOGNISE THEIR GIFT

July 18th, 2018. 10:25pm PASTOR URGES YOUTHS TO RECOGNISE THEIR GIFT A young Pastor and founder of Christian Development centre in Ago Iwoye, Ogun-State, Pastor Temitope Ayoola has urged youths to recognise their gifts. Pastor Ayoola, who spoke today during a fourteen days charge to youth in his message today mentioned six ways to recognise their gifts and make effective use of it. He said that, the first thing is to know your gift, do a deep scrutiny about your life and examine thing's you do naturally and achieve. All your natural skill, capacity and potentials are gift.(2) Do a personal training about the discovered gift (3). Investigate or do an extensive research about the lives of those who have made it through that same gift (4). Self-training: Always improve on the discovered gift (5) Walk with those who have that same gift. He concluded that, the place of prayer can not be over-emphasized. God answers prayer's but your gift will work with testimony. Prayer has the power to resurrect dead gift in one's life, he added. Source:AWONUGA OYINLOLA

Get Involved In Politics, Lawyer Urges Youths

A public interest lawyer and Former President of the Student's Union Government at the University of Abuja, Pelumi Olajengbesi has urged Nigerian youths to actively get involved in Politics. Olajengbesi, who spoke to our correspondent during a media briefing, today in Abuja disclosed that " the change we want lies with us as 60% of the country's population are youths. Another time for change is now, youths". Olajengbesi joined the political race in Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency into the House of Assembly in Osun-State believes Youths can change the narrative of the country. He said " I was part of those that started Not too Young to run in Nigeria, I was also the sole initiator of Youth Lead in Nigeria, the youth's have manifold possibilities to liberate Nigeria and put the economy on the global map we are at the threshold of immense opportunity-one as slippery as the sum of dreams, hopes and aspirations that have gone down the sleep decline of neglect and disbelief. So no more. I worry today that many of our youth's do not have flair for politics but some who was given the opportunity, have ameliorated the sad state of this nation" He concluded by urging the youths to be part of rebuilding this country. "A new Nigeria is what we need where hard work and dedication is rewarded.The true wealth of a nation lies solely with the people", he concluded.

Another Term for Buhari

PUNCH June 22,2018 5:12pm President Muhammadu Buhari deserves to be re - elected to build on the development foundation he laid in the first term. The ministers spoke at the opening of the International Press Institute World Congress 2018 in Abuja on Thursday tagged : Conversation with the Government of Nigeria ’’. The Ministers of Finance , Interior, Information and Culture as well as Trade and Investment were discussants at the event held at the banquet hall of Presidential Villa , Abuja, with international and local media practitioners. Mrs Kemi Adeosun,the Minister of Finance said the President deserved to be re-elected following the administration's achievement in repositioning the economy and putting Nigeria on the path to sustainable growth and recovery. According to her,the nation has never had it so good in terms of its potential to grow and really show what the country can do as its diversified economy that creates opportunities. The Minister of Interior , Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau said a re - election was for continuity because “ Nigeria cannot get anybody better than President Buhari’’ . For the Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the administration had delivered on all its promises and deserve a second term. “We promised Nigerians that we were going to fight insecurity, we fought insecurity ; we promised Nigerians that we were going to revive the economy ,we have revamped the economy. “We promised we were going to fight corruption, corruption today is a taboo in Nigeria ,’’ Mohammed said. The Minister of Trade, and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah added that under the leadership of the President the citizens had changed the conversation in the country.According to him, we are now talking about the importance of security, fighting corruption and good economy “ rather than saying corruption is not a problem, it is not different from stealing ’’., some cabinet ministers said on Thursday in Abuja. Lai,Mohammed added that the country exited recession within two quarters while the country’s stock exchange had grown by more than 40 per cent in recent times. He added that 200,000 jobs were created though the N - power job creation scheme while the administration was feeding 8 .2 million pupils in the school feeding programme. SOURCE: NAN Oyinlola Awonuga

Anglican Bishop Cries Out Over Security in Nigeria www.churchtimesnigeria.net By Oyinlola Awonuga & Gbenga Osinaike 2:15pm June 1,2018. The Bishop of Diocese of Ijebu North , Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, The Rt .Rev Solomon Kuponu has decried the parlous security situation in Nigeria stressing that the government of President Mohammadu Buhari has failed woefully in that regard. Kuponu made the declaration in his charge at the first session of the fifth synod of the diocese on Friday June 1, which held at St.John ’s Anglican Church, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State Nigeria. Kuponu noted, “that lives are no longer safe in country. Apart from the menace caused by the herdsmen in Nigeria, the Ijebu Igbo community has not been spared the activities of cultists.We hear reports of how old women were being raped in this community . Lives are being lost every now and then.Properties are being stolen. We have to close whatever we are doing by 6 p. m and go home because of fear of the cultists. The government of Ogun State should do something quick on this” he said . He then expressed great displeasure at the way security agencies across Nigeria have allowed herdsmen to decimate lives and make many parts of the country especially the middle belt unsafe. While reeling out over 30 newspaper headlines on the callous killings carried out by the herdsmen in the recent time , Kuponu said, “ Sometimes I wonder if cows voted for President Buhari. because cows are being venerated in Nigeria today by the powers that be" While charging the security agencies to live up to their billing ,he wondered what would have happened if the people in the middle belt were the ones who went up north to kill Fulani herdsmen. The cleric who has been Bishop in the diocese since 2005 pleaded with lawmakers to come up with laws that would guide the activities of nomadic herdsmen and put in place a process that would make offenders face the full wrath of the law . “ Both the state and the federal government should find a lasting solution to the recurring killing of innocent, harmless Nigerians who find themselves defenseless before fellow armed citizens of whatever professional or religious disposition. ” he added.

Varsity Don, Student Leader Faults Melayes Recall By Oyinlola Awonuga May 1st,2018. The President of the Student Union Government of the Kogi-State University,Anyigba,Comrade Shaibu has advised the embattled Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate,Senator Dino Melaye to file a court case against his abortive recall. The Student union leader who allegedbthat the recall process was forged wants Melaye to address the issue in a competent court. According to Shaibu,the recall process as revealed on Channel news by Honourable Olowo Collenious, who was designated to reveal to the media revealed said "The recall process carried the same signature and the same name for Kogi State Citizens which was not intelligent, enough on their part." He stated further that, "The signature met a fiasco and fewer than 20% was verifiable, which is a ridiculous act. My cousin who died last year appeared on voters' list." Shuaibu added that the fraudulent attempt to recall the distinguished Senator should be investigated. "It is a punishable offence in Nigeria, and Dino Melaye should not overlook this ridiculous act," he added. Meanwhile, a former lecturer at the Kogi State University, Ayingba, Dr. Williams also said that the alleged attempt on Senator Dino Melaye's life was his own problem. Williams who spoke to newsmen over the embattled Senator's travails added that the process to recall Melaye was forged. Melaye is representing Kogi West Senatorial district in the Upper House of the National Assembly and has been involved in a running battle with the state governor Yahaya Bello who some have accused of being behind Melaye's ordeal. N