• South South most equal

By Grace Edet

New data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) has revealed major regional disparities in spousal earnings, showing that most Nigerian wives aged 15–49 earn less than their husbands, despite growing pockets of income equality across the country.
According to figures shared by Statisense on Tuesday, the trend is most pronounced in the North-West, where 941 in 1,000 wives earn less than their husbands, while only 29 in 1,000 earn more. The region also recorded the lowest rate of non-earning husbands, with just 7 in 1,000 women reporting partners with no income.
In contrast, the South South posted the strongest levels of income parity. The region recorded 113 in 1,000 wives earning the same as their husbands, the highest nationwide. It also had the largest share of women earning more than their spouses at 61 in 1,000.
The North East also showed notable shifts. While 30 in 1,000 wives out-earn their husbands, one of the highest shares in the country, the region still reported that 888 in 1,000 women earn less, reflecting wide inequality despite emerging improvements.
The North Central displayed more balanced figures, with 46 in 1,000 women earning more, and 65 in 1,000 earning equally, though 848 in 1,000 wives still fall below their husbands’ income levels.
In the South East, income gaps remain significant but show signs of narrowing. The data shows 57 in 1,000 wives earn more, 82 in 1,000 earn equally, while 775 in 1,000 still earn less than their husbands.
For the South West, 45 in 1,000 wives earn more, and 75 in 1,000 earn the same, but 824 in 1,000 wives still earn below their husbands’ earnings. Only 11 in 1,000 husbands reported having no income.
The NDHS 2024 findings highlight a consistent national pattern: while traditional income structures remain strong, especially in northern regions, the southern zones, particularly the South South, are showing faster shifts toward income equality within households.
Experts say the trend reflects broader economic realities, including rising female participation in formal work, regional differences in literacy levels, and contrasting socio-cultural expectations about household roles.
The full survey continues to shape policy discussions on women’s economic empowerment, labour participation, and regional development priorities.

By Abimbola Ola

Perfume is more than just a fragrance; it is an invisible accessory that speaks volumes about who we are. It lingers in the air long after we have left the room, leaving traces of memory, emotion, and identity. A well-chosen perfume does not just make a person smell good — it tells a story, evokes emotions, and sometimes defines how we are remembered.

There is something deeply personal about the way perfume blends with the skin. It transforms differently on everyone, becoming a scent that is uniquely theirs. Some perfumes carry sweet, fruity notes that remind one of summer days, ripe fruits, and soft laughter. Others reveal floral tones, blooming like gardens in spring, or woody and musky scents that whisper of confidence, depth, and mystery. Each fragrance family carries its own character, and together, they form a language of scent understood without words.

Perfume, in many ways, represents personality. For men, it often symbolizes strength, power, and confidence — a silent yet potent declaration of presence. For women, perfume mirrors grace, beauty, and sensuality — a fragrance that can captivate and inspire. There are scents that command attention, those that calm the soul, and those that awaken nostalgia. Some perfumes travel farther than the person wearing them, leaving behind trails that open doors of admiration and even success.

There are moments in life when a fragrance becomes inseparable from memory. Some people never forget another simply because of the perfume they wore — that lingering scent etched into the corners of memory like an old song. Perfume, when chosen carefully, has the power to become part of one’s identity. It can make someone unforgettable, even when words fail or time fades.

Yet, as powerful as perfume can be, not every space welcomes it. Certain workplaces and institutions — especially daycares, hospitals, or organizations where people may have allergies or respiratory sensitivities — often discourage the use of strong fragrances. This is not a rejection of beauty, but a reminder of care and consideration for others. In such environments, subtlety becomes the key — a light, airy scent that soothes rather than overwhelms.

Still, in social settings and personal moments, perfume remains one of the most intimate and expressive accessories one can wear. It completes an outfit, boosts confidence, and sometimes even sets the tone for the day. It can make a person feel powerful, alluring, or simply clean and refreshed. Beyond fashion, it connects to emotion — that invisible link between self-expression and memory.

Perfume is not just about smelling good; it is about being remembered. It travels farther than sight, reaching into hearts and minds in ways words cannot. It has the power to change moods, influence perception, and tell stories of who we are and who we aspire to be.

In a world full of fleeting trends and changing styles, perfume remains timeless — a silent companion that walks with us through the seasons of life. Whether fruity, floral, woody, or spicy, the right scent becomes a signature — invisible, yet unforgettable.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the arrest of the fleeing Commandant of the Osun State Amotekun Corps, Isaac Omoyele, over the alleged killings of residents in the Akinlalu community.
The Trust News reports that Amotekun operatives invaded the Akinlalu market square, killing three members of the same family and another resident, while several others sustained gunshot injuries. Omoyele later claimed he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt — a claim the police dismissed.
On Wednesday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) squad sealed Amotekun’s operational bases in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, and Ife Central, arresting over 25 operatives in connection with the incident.
Reacting to the development, APC, through its Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, commended the IGP for his swift response to the killings and urged the police to ensure the arrest of the fleeing commander.
Olabisi said, “We commend the proactive approach of the Nigeria Police Force towards the investigation of the extra-judicial killings of ten innocent natives of Akinlalu, a town in the Ife North Local Government Area of the state, by the Amotekun corps.”
“The Commandant of the supposed peace-keeping Osun State-based para-military security service, Mr Omoyele, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, who currently heads the corps, had earlier been indicted by the Osun State EndSARS Judicial Panel in 2020 for human rights violations and extra-judicial killings, with recommendations for his demotion and prosecution.”
He noted that the Amotekun outfit has been repeatedly accused of running illegal underground cells where citizens are allegedly tortured and unlawfully detained.
“The Osun Amotekun Commandant, a former Chief Security Officer to Governor Ademola Adeleke, is currently on the run to evade police interrogation over his alleged involvement in the Akinlalu massacre and the recent claim by Omoyele that he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by police operatives.”
He queried, “If Omoyele has no skeleton in his cupboard, why is he evading the police invitation by staging his attack on those he tagged as uniformed gunmen at the Kobongbogboe area of Osogbo, the state capital, about three days ago?
“Omoyele should explain to the discerning members of society why his phony attack coincided with the time he was invited by the Osun State Police Command to come forward with proof of his allegation of being attacked.
“Our own observation about the development is that Omoyele was only trying to be clever by half to escape investigation on a case he was said to be expressly complicit in.”
APC demanded, “We are imploring the Inspector-General of Police to delve into the matter and ensure that the armed political hoodlums who have been terrorising the people of the state under the nomenclature of Amotekun corps are diligently prosecuted and face the legal penalty that is commensurate with the offences committed.
The Police should intensify their dragnet for smoking out, without further delay, the Commandant of the Osun Amotekun corps, from anywhere he may be hiding.”