A yam economy

Economics is a branch of knowledge concerned with production, consumption and transfer of wealth. This can also pass as a definition of common sense. So, why is it so difficult to understand economics, build a fair world and pass economically sound policies? My answer, we still do not understand economics.

To breakdown the complexities of economics, I am going to assume we have a mono-economy (only one product), and that product is also the currency - yams. We have a country of 180 million people that all produce yams. Every other need we have has to be paid with yams. The richest man is Alhaji Dangoyam. He has so many yam production farms that he can afford to pay for anything in yams (We can say he is worth Trillions of Yams). There are also large corporations that have been set up to produce yams in large quantities, they employ millions of people to work for them and pay them a percentage of the yams produced. But, they are only able to employ a fraction of the population. Another fraction own small farms producing yams just enough to meet their own daily needs plus a bit. In all of these, there is 100 million people left who barely produce any yams and are barely surviving. You'd say, why cant they just get a farm and produce their own yams to meet their own daily needs? Well, it is not that easy. First, you need to learn how to produce yams (education) and then you need yams(capital) to get a farm to produce yams. No one is going to teach you how to produce yams if you do not give them some yams first. Wow.

Then we have the Government. The Government produces ZERO yams but they take a share of everybody's yam production and distributes as they please (policies).

The big challenge remains how to solve the following problems.

1. If the government takes too much from those that produce yams (taxes), they risk losing them to other countries where they can produce more yams, keep more of their yams, and get more value for the share the government takes.

2. The 100 million starving people want the government to employ them or give them free yams. They are mad at the system, but the total yams that accrues to the government is just not enough to go round. They do not believe it.

3. A lot of the yams that accrues to the government are stolen by employees of the government for their own personal consumption. How do we stop this?

4. It has been proven that countries that produce more yams, generally have more yams to go round. How do we get the country to produce more yams?

As 2019 approaches, think of who can strategically solve the problems above. How do we get more productive to ensure we have enough yams to go round? How do we get more value for the yams we give to the government? How do we stop government employees from stealing our collective yams? How do we get more people to pay their fair share of yams due to the government? What do we do about the 100 million disadvantaged citizens? How do we teach them how to produce yams (education) and give them access to farms to produce yams (capital) ? Think of all these difficult questions and ask again. Why is it so difficult to understand economics?

This post was written by Olajide Ola for ToptenNG

MY TOP 10 FASHION MODELS by Ibhade Arabome

The fashion industry… an industry that is booming and influential; it has been infamous for its promotion of anorexia (and other pretty disgusting eating disorders), stick-thin models and with some brands using mostly Caucasian models on their runways resulting in shouts of racism all over the place. Despite these controversial issues, the industry has had its upsides as they have produced many world-class, unique ladies that have set fashion trends and been the faces of many popular designers. Women want to be them and men want to be with them, making fashion models very hot property.

 

Now, everybody has favourites and I am no exception. What are a few of my favourite things you ask? Well, a lot of things (thanks for asking) but right now, we’ll focus on who are my favourites and why. Enter, my top 10 favourite fashion models.

1. Chanel Iman

This 5’10” Korean/African-American lady was one of the “models to watch” when she burst into the scene and really made her mark in the fashion world in 2009. She has walked for the ever famous Victoria Secret, Banana Republic and DSQUARED² (to name a few). Her impeccably long legs and elegant strut on the catwalk are just a few of her many attributes, making her a designer’s dream and one of my leading ladies.

2. Irina Lazareanu 

She made me really fall in love with the fashion industry and is still one of my style icons. Her quirky, vintage, rocker style makes her a diverse and unique individual which is a major trait that designers adore. It has also been instrumental in her modelling career which has seen her work for Chanel, Balenciaga, Versace and the likes. This Romanian/Canadian will always be one of my favourite models of all time. No joke. Of ALL time.

3. Cara Delevingne

 

The blonde, thick-eyebrowed Englishwoman is the model of the moment and is regularly seen on the runway, in music videos and magazine spreads (her presence knows no bounds). Her tomboy/kooky style and care-free attitude is loved by some yet hated by many. I happen to be in the ‘love’ category which is why she’s on my list.

4. Kate Moss

The queen of grunge who popularised the boho chic and waif trends is on my list for her panache and style. With her style being similar to Irina, this makes it easy to understand why I love her too. She’s famous for being smaller than the statuesque of her time, i.e. the tall and leggy models like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and others.

Her ability to rock a military jacket and boiler suits made me a big fan of the clothing items causing me to want to buy them and buy as many as possible. Again, no joke. She’s incredible and no doubt one of my favourite models. Ever. 

5. Joan Smalls

I love her elegance, beauty, slenderness, milk chocolate complexion and grace. Her cool, calm and collected nature makes her the epitome of a model. She’s one of the few popular black models around, making her a somewhat rare gem. The Puerto Rican stunner is 27 but can easily pass for a lady 7 years her junior. She’s definitely a favourite of mine.

 

6. Jourdan Dunn

Where do I start with Miss D? I remember when she was sprung into the spotlight in 2007 and I was gobsmacked by her elegance (yeah, I think many models are elegant, hence why I’ve used the word again). Her cute, doll-like features, elongated legs and ever-present confidence, make her a model to be reckoned with.

Her career has sky-rocketed since she started out, making her a staple in popular brands’ advertising. By the way, check out her cooking channel on YouTube; she makes delicious dishes and spices up each episode with friends and a lot of comedy. So yeah, she’s definitely top 10 material.

7. Freja Beha Erichsen

A biker chick that rocks the tomboy look too well. She revived my love for jeans and all things guyish (yet feminine). I love how she makes manly styles look so effortlessly flawless. She (in my opinion) started making the short, Kristen Stewart-brunette hairdo fashionable before it became a big hit in recent times.

The Danish model has nailed the I’m-not-bothered look and thus, makes her a top 10 candidate.

 

 

8. Liu Wen

One of China’s finest exports to the world is Miss Wen; her happy-go-lucky personality coupled with her impeccable street style makes her another one of my top models. Whether she’s clad in makeup or completely au naturel, her beauty is transcendent. She’s an incredibly photogenic lady and is sensational in luxurious, high fashion shots as well as simple photographs. She is the bomb.

9. Karlie Kloss

The tallest lady of the gang, standing at 6’1” (to be specific), is also on my list. The American wonder woman has seen non-stop action in her career. She’s known for her poise and “powerful strut”. Yeah, you read that right; “powerful”. Tyra Banks once stated that Karlie is one of her favourite models because of her “unique, atypical beauty” and I completely and totally agree with this statement.

10. Kendall Jenner

Finally! We have reached the last lady of the list; we all know her and her famous/infamous family; she’s credited for doing her own thing and being an independent brand hence why she’s one of the most-talked about models of the moment.

Her personal style is to die for (I literally want everything she owns) and her sashay down the catwalk makes her one cool cat, seeing as she’s a novice compared to the previously mentioned ladies on my list. All the same, she’s one of my favourite models.

Well, there you have it; my top 10 models in the fashion world and my (interesting) reasons why I adore them so.

Ciao!

Happy New year - Top 10 Things to do in 2015

 

Hi Guys, happy new year to you all. well, I guess new year came a bit late this year....lol. In one of my previous posts, I promised to drop an article once a week but I have been unbelievable lazzzy.so I am giving myself a big fail on this one. Its the 3rd week of 2015 and I thought I could inspire you guys for the year. It's still early days so you can grab a pen and a cup of coffee and set out an agenda for the year. Here's my top 10 list of things that you can do this year.

1. Learn something new - There's a saying that we start getting old the day we stop learning. You may be in your 20s, 30s or even 40s but you will be completely shocked at the amount of basic things you cannot do. Now is the time to crack up a list. what do you wish you could do? Do you know how to swim? How about learning to play a musical instrument like the guitar, piano or trumpet, or even learn how to write, speak to the public or learn a new language. Whatever drives you, It's always fun to know more and the new year provides that opportunity.

2. Get an extra degree - Are you a professor or doctor? Certificates never get old. The thing is that a certificate is an evidence of knowledge as opposed to obtaining knowledge for fun or self development a certificate creates opportunities, just ask Buhari...lol. Did you obtain your bachelors 10 years ago and do not have a masters degree? Or you wanted to study law and ended up with sociology? You still have a chance to get that extra certification now.

3. Fall in love - If you are single and ready to mingle or even if you have been heartbroken a few times. 2015 can be the time to let go of all that baggage and just let loose. It's always great to be open minded and fall in love. The 1st phase in a relationship is always so beautiful and could create long term memories you would love to reminisce about in future. Love may be overrated but it's definitely better than being lonely.

4. Get married - Have you been saving for your dream wedding or waiting for perfection? Why not take a big risk and just get married. Your life really never starts until you do. Marriage creates a more realistic picture of what your future will be like and is a cure for irresponsibility and promiscuity. When all the expenses hit you ehn, your eye go shine...just kidding.

5. Change your fashion theme - If you've got some cash to play with then changing your wardrobe isn't something bad to look forward to this year. Aren't you tired of the same old boot cut jeans with
T-shirts? You can spice things up a bit by changing that theme by changing brands, colour codes or just change your whole style in all. I really enjoyed migrating from T.M Lewin to Charles Tyrwhitt last year. You can google to guide you through this makeover process if you are short of ideas.

6. Travel somewhere new - The world has 196 countries. That means you can visit 2 countries per year all through your lifetime and there will still be places to visit. Do you want to see the blue mosque in Istanbul or the Berlin wall in Germany, the pyramids or Giza or the great wall of China. You can pick a destination and visit somewhere unusual this year. Take pictures, wine, dine and have great sex. Just have fun!

7. Go vocational - You know how we always talked about having a side hustle to augment our active income? Going vocational can help with that. What do you wanna learn? Photography, web design, tailoring, carpentry, interior design, name it. acquiring vocational skills can be fun and bring in some extra cheese along the line.

8. Lose weight - When last did you check your BMI. My guess is that you are probably overweight. 2015 might be a fine time for you to change your diet and workout daily. 15 - 30 minutes a day is just alright and you could end this year a lot fitter than you started it.

9. Start a small business - A friend of mine just started high-end online store check Oreeda.com.  even though she already earns big bucks from a full time job. That's the very spirit you need. You can start something too. It may be in partnership with someone with a bit more time or just solo. Do you have any skills you aren't using or you just love to sell or consult. Take an extra step and formalise something. You never can tell.

10. Join a social club - Networking cannot be over emphasised. Someone once told me that you can calculate your net worth by working out what you can get in ransom if you kidnapped every contact on your phone. If your contact is filled with Risi oni rice, Mufu eleran, etcetera. Then you definitely need to meet more people. You can join a gym, a recreational club or even a church group to add that extra spice to your network this year.

People always say new years are overrated and you can turn things around anytime but the years are numbered to guide us,provide timelines and bookmark landmarks. Imagine we all lived our lives without a clock and chose to wake up once the sun is up or we kept no dates and don't even know our birthdays or our ages. New year acknowledgements are definitely here to stay and we should all make the best out of every new year . I wish you a wonderful 2015.

This article was written by Olajide Ola for ToptenNG

Top Ten Nigerian Movies of all time

I struggled a bit on deciding what I should make my debut post, I wanted something that could cut across a wide range of readers so I decided to rank the Top 10 Nigerian Movies all time. It is important to note that all views are mine and strictly discretional. The movies were chosen based on their popularity, directing, production and just how I loved it. You can agree or disagree but here's my list. Let me have yours.

10. Silent Night (Pt 1) - This was one of Ramsey Nouah's first movies where he played the son of a high court Judge who was sentenced to death by his father. The movie took the Country by storm and the charismatic delivery by Alex Usifo (Ramsey Nouah's - The Judge) was epic. Joke Silva also delivered a strong supporting role making it my number 10 Nigerian movie of all time. They later ruined the franchise by hapless sequels but the first part remains a classic.

9. Mortal Inheritance - This was Omotola's breakout movie featuring Fred Amata. It was about love and sickle cell and popularized the genotype matching - AA v SS in Nigeria today. It was deep, tearful and a 90's super chick flick making Omotola an instant superstar and also sneaks in as my number 9 nigerian movie of all time.

8. Hostages - A classic Nigerian movie with a top notch production. (Who can forget the marathon adverts on AIT). Tade Ogidan killed this movie with an incredible production. The movie was immensely suspense filled with the right mix of love and highlights the class divide in the Nigerian society.

7. Oleku - A Mainframe production. Old school beautiful love story of Ajani and Asake. A classic that never gets old. The recreation of the 60's lifestyle was just perfect and memorable and has to be my number 6 best Nigerian Movie of all time.

6. Out of Bounds - One of the highlights of the old nollywood featuring RMD and Bimbo Akintola. The story of a backsliding pastor (RMD) and a spoilt rich kid (Bimbo Akintola). This was a period when churches were rising all over the country and the timing of this movie was just perfect making it m number 6 best Nigerian Movie of all time.

5. Figurine - If Out of Bounds represented the old nollywood, then Figurine represents the cinema age nollywood. Top notch directing from Kunle Afolayan with a beautiful pyscho strory played by Ramsey Nouah. (His 2nd feature on this list). It is one of those movies you just can't forget and the newest movie on this list.

4. Diamond Ring - This is Tade Ogidan's second movie on the list. A-list casting featuring RMD, Liz Benson, Bimbo Akintola and Teju baby face. So suspense filled that you cant just get your eyes off the screen. The amount of creativity in this movie can literally fill up a room making it my number 4 best Nigerian Movie of all time.

3. Igodo - Long long ago. Imuogodo was known as Imuayan, the land of the living dead. They killed an innocent man and he cursed a land. Norbert Young was the saviour that had to stop a cycle of dying first borns. Not the greatest graphics but an incredible stroryline that will leave you breathless. Top 3 best Nigerian movies of all time.

2. Ti Oluwa ni ile (Pt 1-3) - Deep movie. Mainframe production. Quality directing. Beautiful Story. Captivating sequels. It is the story of the man that tried to cheat death. Baba Wande delivered one of the greatest performances in african cinematography to give us my number 2 best movie of all time.

1. Violated - This is RMDs third feature on this list but undoubtedly the best. Directed by Amaka Igwe. Violated has to be one the most beautiful Nigerian Movies of all time and still my number 1. A story of rape, inequality, desperation, forgiveness and reconciliation. Movies like this is what made Amaka Igwe such an icon and she has my numero uno Nigerian movie of all time.

Other worthy mentions are Living in Bondage, Owo-blow, Tears for love, Dangerous Twins and Saworoide. Let us hope this impressive list of movies can inspire younger directors to restore the pride of nollywood.

This article was written by Olajide Ola for ToptenNG.

Welcome to Top TenNG

Well, where do I start? I have always wanted to write. I am one those people that read a lot of articles and talk a lot but that isn't so co-oridnated, so I thought it would be a lot of fun to write but wouldnt like to be known as a freelance writer, I would like to be known for something with an intrinsic value. So I decided I'd rank everything Nigerian. My blog will be focusing on ranking about everything that you can think of. Sport teams, politics, people, women,movies, music, i mean everything...might just be fun. Legooo!