13 States Partner Wood Exporters On Nation’s Forests

Thirteen state governments and Tropical Wood Exporters Association of Nigeria (TWEAN) have commenced moves to regenerate the depleted nation’s forests.
The group has gone ahead of the Federal Government’s policy of cut one, plant two trees, to, cut one, plant seven trees.
TWEAN Secretary General, Joseph Odiase told newsmen, in Lagos, that the group, in collaboration with some state governments has embarked on massive forestation programme with a view to arresting the menace of deforestation.
Odiase said between Ogun and Ekiti states, the group has acquired over 1,000 hectares of land for tree planting
He hinted that Osun, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Benue, Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger, Oyo and Ondo have started discussing with exporters to create tree farms in the states.
He said they are ready and willing to partner with the federal government to tackle the effect of climate change in Nigeria.
“We must protect and preserve the forest for this and future generations because these forests also help in the sustenance and preservation of the environment.
“We are working with the Ministry of Environment as they have promised to provide technical support when needed.
“In as much as our businesses are important to us, we cannot jeopardise the environment for economic gains because we are not the only ones operating in the nation’s economy.
“We will not only abide with cut one, plant two trees policy of government, we are also embarking on a massive forest cultivation programme.
“The project is a fulfilment of our commitment to the Minister of Environment at the national stakeholders’ meeting on forestation,” he said.

Credit:

http://sunnewsonline.com/13-states-partner-wood-exporters-on-nations-forests/

6 Signs That Your Partner is Going to Propose

1. Your partner is talking to your friends more, which seems odd

If your significant other has not been too fond of your friends or just not overly friendly with them, and now all of a sudden is talking with them and asking them about your schedule or things that you like, something is up. This digging for information is leading to something. Danielle Rothweiler of Rothweiler Event Design explained to Bustle, “If your S.O. isn’t a big planner and all of a sudden seems concerned about where you will be, and when you will be available, he is looking for a clear date to get on the calendar and pop the question!”

2. Your partner cooked up your favorite meal for no apparent reason

Is your significant other doing overly sweet things for you like cooking your favorite meal for no reason and seem overly-anxious doing it? Is he or she also insisting that you sit properly at your dining room table, which you both never do? Your love may be planning something extra special for dinner. The more adds-ons there are to dinner (candle light, music, fancy dishes), the more likely it is to end with a fiancé.

3. Your significant other has been cutting back on his or her spending

If your S.O. is more of a spender, or doesn’t hesitate to splurge and has recently been cutting back on his or her spending with no explanation, your partner may be planning on popping the question. According to research reported in The Daily Mail, a survey asked British women to cite strange behaviors from their partners right before they were going to propose. The survey found that one of the first signs of an impending proposal was “penny pinching.” More specifically, the survey reported 27% of women noticed their future spouses being much more cautious with their funds, opting not to splurge on getaways.

4. Your partner unexpectedly takes you to a foreign destination

Conversely, the same women in the survey reported that another sign of a possible engagement is your partner whisking you away to a foreign destination and taking care of all the details alone. According to the study, 17% of women say their men “whisked them away to a foreign destination so they could propose in style.” It makes sense. Everyone wants the proposal to be special.

5. You accidentally spot a Google search

If you accidentally spot your S.O.’s Google history on their laptop or phone of engagement rings/styles/sites or anything else that seems mildly wedding related, not only are they doing a poor job at covering their tracks, but they’re also most likely going to propose. Or perhaps they wanted you to find out? Or maybe you shouldn’t have been snooping around in the first place.

6. Your S.O. is acting weird

This is one of those instances that a proposal is the farthest thing from your mind, because you’re thinking that maybe you both are headed for a break up. If your partner is planning to surprise you, which is likely, keeping a secret can be tough. Though Catalog says trying to cover up a ring purchase can be especially hard on someone about to pop the question. Then there’s the even itself. Though it might be strange when he or she suggests the two of you try something you typically never do, it could just be a part of the plan. According to The Knot, such outings could simply be to provide a setting for the big question.

Credit:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/health-fitness/signs-your-partner-is-going-to-propose.html/?a=viewall

 

Plateau To Partner South Africa On Tourism- Governor

The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, on Tuesday said the state is doing everything possible to re-embrace tourism which it is known for over the years.

But he said peace must first be guaranteed in the state for tourism to thrive.

He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor said his recent visit to South Africa was aimed at developing tourism in Plateau State.

He said: “In South Africa I didn’t go alone, I went with some commissioners and some House of Assembly members and right there in South African we told them what we are doing at every places we visited. It was really to the benefit of Plateau State, specifically it was about tourism.

“Our relationship in the area of tourism, you know plateau is the home of peace and tourism. We are trying to maintain the peace now, when we achieve that fully we are going back to tourism.

“South Africa is one place that is renowned for tourism, so we went there to see some of the places and also to create partnership with them, to come to Plateau and invest in tourism.

“While we were there, we also explored opportunities to visit sites like the headquarters of Shoprite. We need shopping malls in plateau, we are building the main market and in addition to that we are also thinking of having so many shopping malls in the state.

“From this week some of the investors will be visiting Jos to see things for themselves and possibly sign MOU.”

Credit:

Plateau to partner South Africa on tourism – Governor

The Compliment Your Partner LOVES To Hear, Based On Their Zodiac

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Independent Aries tends to be self-involved, and their adventurous streak contributes to their constant impulsiveness. They prefer situations where they have control. Make sure to always tell your Aries lover how you admire their free spirit, as this is a part of them they can never shake off.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

The most stubborn of the signs, Taurus will not give up on a task or situation until it goes the way they envision it. Be patient with your Taurus lover when they’re in the zone. Remember to tell them how much you appreciate the fact that they never give up because it means they won’t ever give up on your love.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Impulsive, devious, and with a taste for adventure, there’s always something going on when a Gemini is involved. As their lover, this means you get to join them for the ride. Life isn’t boring with your Gemini lover, so don’t forget to tell them this constantly.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Loyal and caring, Cancer can also be a little clingy — even toward you, their lover. Be patient and take into account their sensitive nature. They’re always doing something for you, special occasion or not, so don’t forget to say “thank you” for all their efforts. Because really, your happiness is their happiness.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

They may be vain, but when it comes to love, Leos are fiercely loyal and devoted. They would move mountains if it meant making sure that their lover gets everything they want and need. In turn, ensure them always of your own loyalty, devotion, and admiration, for that’s all they need.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Analytical and practical, Virgo’s approach to love comes with logic. Don’t get them wrong though — they’re some of the most loyal and truthful of the signs. They would never lie or do something they’ve already analyzed will hurt you. All you have to do is tell them that you trust their judgment and they’ll feel especially proud.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

The hopeless dreamer of the signs, Libras have an idealistic view of love. They will always strive to achieve the perfect relationship even if it’s unrealistic. Don’t mock them for this. Instead, even if you know it will never be perfect, share in their dreams and idealism. In this way, you can both grow closer while striving for this “perfect” relationship.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Although Scorpios can be suspicious and jealous, they’re loyal and passionate lovers. Make sure to always ensure them of your love, loyalty, and admiration so they don’t doubt your relationship.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Sagittarius are big balls of independent energy waiting to explode, and because of this they can get careless, which leads to trouble. Ensure your Sagittarius lover that they don’t have to tone down their energy because you’re there watching out for them. They will greatly appreciate your dedication.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Capricorns are super independent and distrustful, so it’s difficult for them to form strong relationships. As their lover, you obviously mean a great deal to them and they do everything with you in mind. Don’t forget to tell them how much you admire their skills and congratulate them in their success.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Witty and clever Aquarius is always coming up with new thoughts and ideas, which they will excitedly share with you. Encourage this part of their nature; it shows them how much you support their ideas, which means a great deal to them.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

The most emotionally sensitive of the signs, Pisces seeks approval for a good majority of their interests. As their lover, ensure them of your love by supporting these interests, ask them questions, and even try a few out for your Pisces lover’s sake. It will make them extremely happy.

Credit: popsugar

6 Habits That May Scare Away Your Partner, No.s 2 & 6 Are Very Important

1. Lack of personal hygiene

This should go without saying, yet, it seems like some people are totally clueless to their own body odor. Sure, if you’re out in the woods on a backpacking trip or running rivers all summer, a certain expectation of general smelliness goes along with that. However, if you’re a man about town who attends social functions on the reg, do us all a favor and make sure you keep yourself clean, smelling fresh and well-groomed, like the handsome gent we know you are.

2. Chewing food like a cow

What’s worse than talking with your mouth full? Smacking your lips like a barn animal every time you put food into your pie hole. There’s absolutely no reason why you should be shoveling food into your mouth like it’s going out of style. Quit the incessant lip-smacking and remind us you’re a gentleman with a general grasp on table manners.

3. Leaving dirty dishes in the sink

It’s one thing to leave a couple dishes in the sink until the morning, but it’s quite another to have a stack piled high for days on end. Not only is it disgusting, it will start to smell, and maybe even attract gnats and fruit flies. Don’t let grossness fester in your own home. Clean the dishes, change out your sponges regularly, and spray a little Clorox on your counter.

4. Letting your beard get out of control

Coming from a gal who calls a mountain town home, I’m no stranger to, or hater of, some good manly facial hair. There’s just something about a guy who can grow hair on his face that ensures you he also, more likely than not, drinks whiskey, wears flannel, and chops his own wood. But what’s definitely not cool or appreciated, is when a beard becomes so out of control that it makes you cringe. How gross is it when food particles get caught or it scratches a girl just a little too much when going in for a smooch. So please guys, keep it clean and keep it manageable, because a beard should be a nice compliment to a face, not something that needs its own zip code.

5. Leaving facial hair on the sink

This is an important one to touch on (see previous “out of control beard” reference). You know what I’m talking about – those gross little shavings that inevitably fall in and around the sink, turning the area into a fur-covered vanity. In reality, it’s really not that tough. So please, just do everyone a favor and clean up your own hair.

6. Oral hygiene

We all know no one wants to kiss an ashtray, and it’s hard to believe there are still folks out there who smoke cigarettes anyways. But what about those who just, simply put, are unaware of how bad their breath is, or how they should really take a visit to the dentist for a cleaning? Bi-annual visits to the dentist aren’t only for those who chew tobacco (yet, if you do, please heed cation and make sure your flossing game is on point). Please, don’t be a stranger to all the minty fresh products available to us.

Credit:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/health-fitness/habits-that-may-scare-away-your-partner.html/?a=viewall

20 Questions You Should Ask Your Partner Before Having Kids

1. What happens if I can’t get pregnant right away? You may want to look into adoption the moment you hit the year-of-trying-without-success mark. He, on the other hand, may expect to pursue every single fertility treatment to get a biological child, no matter the cost. You obviously want to discuss — and ideally get on the same page on — these difficult but major decisions.

2. How are we supporting this child? Maybe you’ve both always worked but one of you hopes to stay at home when the baby comes. Two people plus a needy little person living on one salary calls for serious sacrifices, from living in a cheaper area to draining your savings. You’ve got to figure out if those are worth making.

3. If pregnancy screening reveals our baby has disabilities, what do we do? The vast majority of babies are just fine, but what happens if a test during pregnancy reveals an abnormality? Would you consider terminating the pregnancy? If you decide to have the baby, can you financially and mentally handle caring for a child with a medical condition? Figuring out how you would handle this extremely sensitive situation could preserve your sanity — and relationship — if you’re faced with it.

4. What kind of childcare will we use? If you both want or need jobs, leaving your baby with your retired mom might seem like a no-brainer. But is your husband hoping his mother would do the honors instead? Or is family too far away, so you’ll need a nanny or daycare? You gotta know what’s feasible, because the answer will likely need to become a new line item on your budget.

5. How are we going to split parenting duties? Waiting until you haven’t slept in six days to divvy up who’s gonna do what is a horrible idea. So, beforehand, go over hypotheticals like: If you’re nursing, can he change all the diapers? If you go the formula route, do you take every other bottle, or divide the day into childcare shifts?

6. How much religion will be in our kid’s life — and which one(s)? Just because your partner didn’t protest your childhood pastor officiating your wedding doesn’t mean he’ll be as blasé about his kid’s upbringing. Touch base on birth rituals (Baptism? Bris?), weekly worship, and celebrating holidays. If you practice different religions, plot out how you’ll explain your individual beliefs without slamming the other side.

7. Will we circumcise? If you’re having a boy, you’ll need to address this hot-button topic. A lot of dads want their sons to look just like them. Others want just the opposite, because it’s what they would have preferred had they been able to make the call for themselves. You can’t know what he expects until you ask, and there’s not much time to debate once the baby arrives — and has a penis.

8. Where are we raising our kids? One of you may want to trade the city for the suburbs before welcoming a kid. You both may want to live closer to one or both of your families once you start your own. (Or farther away — see no. 9.) No time like the present to ensure you’re seeing eye-to-eye on these quandaries.

9. How much help do we want, for how long, and from whom? Eager grandparents who want to move in for eight weeks to change every diaper can be a blessing or a curse. Decide how you much you’d want the help of either set of parents — before they start requesting off from work.

10. What are your name deal breakers? He may have his heart set on his son being His Exact Name Jr., while you think any child you push out should bear your last name. The goal is to lovingly compromise, of course — especially because no one wants to have that fight in the hospital.

11. What kind of delivery do we want? A home birth in a tub may sound dreamy, but if he saw how it can all go to shit on Girls, it may be hospital or bust for any wife and child of his. Do your research, and present your case. Wherever you give birth, if the thought of seeing your in-laws while you’re in labor makes you want to remain childless forever, your husband needs to (politely) explain your wishes before grandparents barge in.

12. How do you feel about kids sleeping in our room — or bed? If you’re firmly against opening the bedroom door to kids and your partner’s on the fence about it, better to hash that out before you’re both desperate to get some rest.

13. Who will be our kid’s guardian should something happen to us? You may not want to think about the possibility, but securing your child’s future in writing will offer peace of mind.

14. How strict are we going to be? Kids learn from a shockingly early age which parent to ask to get their way. Chat about how tough a stance you’ll take on screen time, sugary treats, and all other kid vices — and how you’ll work to maintain a united front.

15. How will we discipline our kid? Discuss the tactics you’re OK with — and the ones you absolutely won’t use. For instance, the time to learn that your spouse thinks spanking is acceptable is not when your child’s belly-down on his lap.

16. Will we send our child to public or private school? The reason to have this talk sooner rather than later? It affects where you live and every single expense, because as your student loans never stop reminding you: Paying for education is freaking expensive.

17. How organic/vegan/earth-friendly are we going to go? Breast milk, cloth diapers, and growing and blending your own baby food is just the beginning. If it’s important to one of you, it needs to be important to the other too. But if becoming an organic farmer isn’t as important as being a sane mom, tell him where you stand.

18. We’re going to follow our pediatrician’s recommendations for immunization, right? OK, this isn’t even a question. Just do it.

19. How will we handle any kind of coming out? Might I suggest with love and acceptance? But even if you know the father of your kids will love them unconditionally, if he’s got older relatives who will shun a gay or trans grandkid, get on the same page about how you’d respond to that.

20. How will we keep our relationship strong? It’s effing impossible to be a happy parent if you’re on -edge (OK, maybe even miserable), because you and your partner are passing ships in the night, teaming up only to tackle spit-up, dirty diapers, and feedings. In the midst of acclimating to this whole parenting thing, you still need to have adult conversations — and some sex every now and again — to stay happily married. Tackle how you’ll keep the spark alive, whether through monthly date nights, a yearly weekend (or week!) away, or just an hour a day after bedtime for kid-free talk.

Credit: Cosmopolitan

Best Way To Argue With Your Partner According To Psychologist Who Studied Couples For Decades

When’s the last time you really got into it with your significant other? After the yelling was done, did your mind swirl with ideas about what you should have said? Or perhaps about what you should not have said?

Here’s the good news: Not only can you most likely rectify the situation, but also knowing how to approach the argument next time can mean you and your partner have a more productive — and perhaps less volatile — “discussion.”

Productive arguments, in fact, are one of the things that appear to distinguish couples who stay together from those who split, according to research from several psychologists, including University of Washington psychology professor John Gottman, founder of the Gottman Institute, an organization dedicated to studying and improving relationships.

Together with University of California at Berkeley psychologist Robert Levenson, Gottman conducted a 14-year study of 79 married couples living across the US Midwest.

Among the couples they studied, 21 ended up divorcing over the more than decade-long period. But among those who stuck it out, Gottman and Levenson noticed some key things about their relationships, including how they fought. Here are some of the key takeaways:

How couples who stay together argue

1. They stabilize a rocking boat.

Among the couples who split, the vast majority took far longer to address a recent argument than those who stayed together, often leaving each other to stew in individual thoughts for hours or days after a fight, Gottman told Business Insider. Conversely, couples who stayed together would typically discuss their arguments almost immediately after they’d happened.

Picture yourself and your partner in a boat, Gottman suggested. Now imagine that the emotions you and your partner are feeling are represented by the sea around you. A small argument stirs the waters a bit and gets the boat rocking. But a quick effort to stabilize the boat — with an open conversation or an apology — can be all that’s required to get you back to smooth sailing.

Waiting around, on the other hand, only strengthens the waves. And waiting too long, he said, can lead to disaster.

To calm a rocking boat, Gottman suggests you and your partner talk immediately and openly about what just happened. This requires recognizing that both of you are partially responsible for the problem and both of you are responsible for making amends.

2. They allow the other person to be heard.

Another characteristic of couples who later divorced that Gottman observed is that they’d frequently cut off discussions about a conflict prematurely with unhelpful, insensitive comments. But strong couples tended to consistently approach one another with an open mind, taking responsibility for their actions and listening to what their partner had to say.

So if, in the middle of an argument, you stop your partner to them they’re being illogical, you’re probably doing it wrong.

“If you tell someone they’re not being logical or say something like ‘you’re getting off track,’ it just doesn’t work. It makes people angry,” said Gottman. Instead, saying something like: “I can see that this is really important to you; tell me more” allows the other person to feel heard.

Credit: BusinessInsider

Partner With Us To Defeat Boko Haram, Saraki Urges UN

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday urged the international community to partner with Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country.

Saraki made the call while delivering his key note address at the ongoing 4th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments, organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.

He noted in a statement issued by his media office that the menace of insurgency and all forms of brutality being visited on innocent citizens by terrorists across the world require international collaboration to curtail as they pose great threat to global peace and democracy.

Read More: leadership