Nigerian tech companies are missing out on the billion-naira Lotto industry

   

Adeshina was the first to open up and respond to my curiosity about the booming lotto industry in Nigeria.  Popularly known as ‘Shyna’, he is the toast of his hood at Agric bus stop, a bustling area which is about 23 km away from Ikeja, the capital of Lagos. He boasts of his patronage. “I have customers from places as far as Mile 12, Owode and Ajegunle. This is because I am passionate about my job.”

He thinks betting/lotto is a goldmine and he has reasons to believe it. “I started out as a recharge card seller in the early GSM days, then graduated into a Cybercafe owner, but no business has paid me as well as Lotto. The money is so much, it’s almost unreal.”

Shyna started with one shop and has expanded to become a proud owner of 5 flourishing betting businesses.

The business of betting in Nigeria

Betting’s got swag. It’s a global unifier which has a cult following of hushed loyal customers. It is so important that services are conducted around it.


Maybe it deserves a church. Perhaps, The Betting Ascension Cathedral with several branches all over Nigeria. Where messages are centred around the blessings that this business has to offer. All these shows how massive and seriously taken betting is in Nigeria.
In the recent past, betting was regarded as a past time of elderly sports enthusiasts. Baba Olayinka started his Baba Ijebu lottery business 3 years ago after he had retired from his place of work on Lagos Island. For him, Lotto, before he ventured into this line of business, was small corner shops where retired elderly men place bets and pore over sheaves of papers filled with numbers.

Baba Olayinka in his shop at Ikorodu

 a photojournalist, lends credence to this thought through his Game of Hope project. However, it is clear that although the industry was not as big as it is now, it was still a huge deal.

Pool agent, Akinode Adekole, cross checks the results of the previous matches, a job he does every morning. (Credit: Andrew Esiebo/Twenty Ten/Africa Media Online)

Best friends, Adebutu Kessington and Solomon Ayoku have been christened the founding fathers of the Nigerian Lotto industry. When Kessington started his pool business in 1963, he had just a table and pen. However, the business grew so fast that he branched out into casino, sports betting and entertainment in no time at all. They also made so much money that one of the hottest musicians of their time, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey waxed a record for them in 1967.

32:43 Face To Face: “To ba fe lowo, to ba fe ta pools, Face to Face ni o lo… Eni nla ni se ohun nla, Adebutu Kessington pelu Ayoku mi”
Kessington later testified to an abundant result after the release of the album.

“[The record] made my business boom by over 100 percent. It didn’t only make me popular, my business boomed”.

All the betting agents that were interviewed attested to the frequency with which bets are staked. Waheed, a NairaBet agent claims that people spend anything from ₦50 to ₦100,000 a day on betting.
Salary, a resident of Ikorodu who has been betting for some years said that although it is a risky game, it is also lucrative. “Some days, you bet a huge amount on a game and you lose and some others, you spend N200 and win almost N300,000.

Salary, (whose real name is Fatai), runs a tutorial and CBT centre. “Sports betting is interesting, knowing that you can lose your money only adds to the thrill of the game,” he says.

“Betting is part of the hustle, so you just have to keep investing some money in order hit jackpot,” Lekan Olowo says. There’s also the thrill of winning, so when you spend a paltry amount of money and you take home huge winnings, it’s like a lure, you keep going back for more.” Lekan acceded that he has spent over a million naira in the past one year on bets.
On our way out of Shyna’s shop,  he pointed out a red Volkswagen Golf 4 in the parking lot. The owner is one of his customers who had spent ₦100,000 in bets and unfortunately lost. However, since he couldn’t settle his bill, he had to let go of his car, which was his collateral.

How tech is changing the traditional lotto game

With the advent of technology and other modern betting firms such as Bet9ja and Nairabet, there is also an evolution/ expansion of the clientele. Research has shown that lotto is now played across all genders from the ages of 14 to 60. The advent of internet connectivity has proven to be a game changer, where one can now bet within the comfort of their homes.

When Shyna started his betting business, he couldn’t have imagined that he would own 5 shops with about 20 people in employment. He is quick to attribute this to technology. He claimed that he started with pen and paper in a small kiosk.
“ You see this internet business has completely changed everything. The demand for sports betting is constantly on the rise. I only have to help out computer illiterates, the semi-literate ones, you teach them how to use the app and they go ahead. They may only come around to chat or claim their winnings.”

This type of betting ‘directory’ is fast becoming outdated with the proliferation of betting agents and advancement in technology

He pointed out a bicycle repairer who bets in the comfort of his home. “That guy didn’t know anything about phones before. But,  we encouraged him to get a phone, not just anyone, an android. Today, he doesn’t have to come to my shop, he does his business anywhere he fancies.”
Shyna doesn’t have to be physically present in his shops for things to go on smoothly. He mentioned that with the help of SWIFT Networks which he uses, subscription/payment is made on only one modem and all his shops are connected to it. It is advantageous and also almost surreal to him that he can get things done as fast as possible without so much physical labour.

This is a computer-printed bet slip, which is less cumbersome

Even smaller lotto shops like Olayinka’s Baba Ijebu lotto shop have their own functional technology, which works like an ATM. It is also interesting that Baba Ijebu has kept up with the times.

Baba Ijebu bet slips at ₦50 each

The company has gone a step further to serve their market, which consists mostly of the elderly, semi-literate and illiterates. They partnered with MTN and introduced a USSD code- *755# so that their clientele can have easy access to game results.

How Nigerian tech companies can hit the jackpot

In 2016, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Nigerians spend ₦1.8 billion daily on betting. Over 60 million Nigerians spend an average of ₦3,000 each on placing bets daily. An official in one of the betting companies opines that “the Nigerian betting industry is large and ripe for harvest. Gone are the days when betting was frowned at. These days, it is providing employment and empowering young people.”

However, he described how exorbitant it is to acquire the necessary foreign software and licensing.  “In order to have a viable betting business, you need solid software and you can’t get that in Nigeria. So you’ve got to have deep pockets.”
The Guardian recently gave an account of the amount Nigeria loses from the importation of foreign technology. Nigeria reportedly makes a yearly loss of N25 billion with the importation and maintenance of lottery technologies.
The CEO of Grandlotto Yellow Terminal brand who was interviewed by The Guardian said:

“Payment for the acquisition of software licenses and support services constitute another 20 and 40 percent of our annual technology budget spends respectively.”

While he projected that the money spent on technology import may increase in 2017, he hopes that local tech companies can create local solutions.
Although Nigeria is in recession, various reports have shown that the Lotto industry is a viable source of revenue generation. But why have Nigerian tech companies shied away from creating indigenous solutions for this billion-Naira industry?
Razak Olaegbe, an ICT expert explained that Nigerian tech companies have the capacity to develop local technologies. “It is just that local innovators are not looking in that direction. All of them are focusing on fintech, no one is exploiting the opportunities in lottery technology.”
A web developer and analyst Ope Adedeji (not real name), insists that the problem is laziness and what he called the ‘copycatting’ syndrome. “Nigerian techies are lazy. Most of them are just modelling after what has raised money for someone else or attempting to recreate foreign solutions. Instead of us to focus on building local solutions, we are busy looking around for Western validation and investments. It’s a shame really.”

 

 

 

 A video of two Nigerian men in Dublin fighting with their Irish landlord has surfaced online.

In the two-minute clip, an argument ensued with the guys – one of them named Dami – struggling with the elderly landlord and his family.
Reports have it that they were evicted after a fire destroyed the flat they were staying

 

Two Nigerian Guys In Dublin vent on Irish Landlord for evicting them from his house

 

Jim Iyke pays IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu a visit

• Kanu recently regained his freedom almost two years after being arrested.
  

Jim Iyke meets with Nnamdi Kanu

Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke paid a visit to recently released IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) leader, Nnamdi Kanu at his home in Abia State.

Taking a selfie with the IPOB leader

Kanu had been remanded in Kuje Prisons, Abuja until late April this year, almost two years after his arrest in October 2015.
Can you guess what they were talking about?

 

Small Doctor thrills fans at football match in Ibadan

• He brought an exciting experience to fans at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
  

Small Doctor performing

Nigerian singer, Small Doctor treated fans of Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Ifeanyi Ubah FC to an afternoon of music and fun during Sunday’s NPFL match between the two teams.
The popular Agege-born artiste known for his energetic stage presence and street-inspired lyrics brought an exciting experience to fans at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
Small Doctor’s beautiful Sunday performance follows a similar one by Falz at the Agege Stadium in March and Reekado Banks’ surprise appearance at the Liberation Stadium during the match between Enugu Rangers and Rivers United in Port Harcourt earlier this year.
An obviously excited Small Doctor said:
‘Lagos to Ibadan, Abuja to Enugu, you can’t deny the obvious energy and fun spirit of my fans. Normally we, artistes, meet our fans at music shows, but this new platform by Star and NPFL makes it all the more unique and interesting as I get to entertain my people during and after a live football match.
‘It’s a great experience and I’m glad to be part of this. So I say a big thank you to Star and my many fans for always supporting me.’

Small Doctor with a fan on stage

Comedian, Lafup

The music appearances at NPFL match venues demonstrates Star Lager Beer’s support for a complete football and music experience during live matches in the domestic football league.
In addition to giving the football fans an unforgettable fun experience, Star Lager beer also rewards fans with exciting prizes.
Speaking about STAR’s decision to partner with NPFL to bring music and fun to live football matches, Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Tokunbo Adodo stated:
‘As you know we’ve already been to Port Harcourt with Reekado, Agege with Falz the bahd guy, and now we brought Small Doctor to thrill Football and music fans in the historic city of Ibadan.
‘Star Lager Beer is always committed to everything Nigerian which is why we partnered with the NPFL to bring live music performances to football matches.
‘And you can see the fans had a swell time irrespective of whether their team won or lost. It is that spirit of brotherhood, sportsmanship and excitement that defines Star’s fun park.’
The fun and excitement of the Star fun park will come to a stadium near you in the course of the NPFL league season.
Keep rooting for your local team, as Star Lager Beer’s fun park will be visiting other NPFL matches in the coming weeks.

 

Meet Adunoluwa, the 18-year-old daughter of late Moji Olaiya

• Both were very fond of each other.
  

They were fond of each other

Adunoluwa is the first daughter of late Nollywood actress, Moji Olaiya, who died on May 18, 2017 aged 42.
Coincidentally, both mother and daughter share the same birth month – February – and celebrate their birthdays just two days apart.

While Adun was born on February 25, 1999, her late mum was born on February 27, 1975.
The 200-Level student of Babcock University was once described by her late mother as her first true love in life.

Moji and her daughter had a very strong bond

Such was their unbreakable bond as Adunoluwa shared this level of love for her late mum.
It is thus saddening that she won’t have her mum around just when she’s growing into a beautiful young adult.

Adun

She’s a student of Babcock

Unlike her mum who was very outgoing, Adun’s a very introspective, quiet person who seemed older than her age.

 

Tinubu offers to pay for the return of her Moji Olaiya’s corpse to Nigeria

 

• The actress died in Canada on Thursday, May 18, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
  

Bola Ahmed Tinubu with late Moji Olaiya’s brothers and daughter at his office

The burial committee of late Nollywood actress, Moji Olaiya have announced that former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu has offered to pay for the actress’ corpse to be flown back into the country for burial.
This is following a report that the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose had not made any favourable response on helping the family in bringing  her corpse back to Nigeria.

Tinubu with Moji Olaiya’s daughter, Adunoluwa

The actress died in Canada on Thursday, May 18, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
According to the committee’s publicity officer, Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi:
‘The committee after due deliberation consulted our father and National Grand patron of our association (TAMPAN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 21, 2017 to inform him of the demise of our colleague, Moji Olaiya and that our humble unanimous decision is to have her body back, then give her a befitting burial and have her two-month-old daughter reunited with the family.
‘Tinubu expressed his sympathy directly and gave adequate support that will cover the entire air-freight.’

 

Trouble for Oba of Lagos as royal families threaten dethronement

 

• Two royal families are claiming that Akiolu is not entitled to the throne because he is not a member of a ruling royal family.
  

Oba Akiolu

About 14 years after his installation, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, on Monday appeared in an Ikeja High Court in a suit challenging his emergence as the paramount ruler of Lagos, saying he is the bona fide monarch.
‘I am here to justify my appointment, you cannot build something on nothing, it will be broken.
‘By native law and customs and by law, I am the bona fide Oba of Lagos,’ said Akiolu, who was accompanied to the court by 10 white cap chiefs.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akiolu’s installation as the Oba of Lagos is being challenged by the duo of princes Adedoyin Adebiyi and Rasheed Modile, who are two members of the Lagos royal family.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Lagos State governor, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prince Babatunde Akitoye and Chief Junaid Eko.
Both Adebiyi and Modile are claiming that Akiolu is not entitled to the throne because he is not a member of a ruling royal family by not being a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.
According to the claimants, only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling houses are entitled to the throne.
They also alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when he was appointed as Oba in May 2003.
While being led in evidence by his lawyer, Adetokunbo Mumuni, Akiolu told the court the procedure he followed before being installed.
‘After I made my intention known to my family that I wanted to be Oba of Lagos, I applied for the throne.
‘In May 2003, the head of the kingmakers and the then Sole Administrator of Lagos Island Council called at my residence.
‘At that time, I was preparing to go to the mosque and I was told that I received a letter from the state government and the State Executive Council.
‘The letter accepted my nomination that I have been approved to be a worthy successor of the late Oba of Lagos.
‘It will be exactly 14 years tomorrow (May 23, 2003) that my appointment was approved.
‘By the grace of Almighty Allah, there is nothing like rotation in the succession to the throne of Oba of Lagos,’ Akiolu said.
Before cross-examining Akiolu, lawyer to the claimants, Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), told the court that for the purpose of the trial, Akiolu should be addressed as the defendant and not as the Oba of Lagos while in court.
‘I apply that all referrals to the defendant as the ‘Oba of Lagos’ should be expunged from the records of this honourable court.
‘Within the walls of this court room, he is a defendant; and when we step out of the court room, I will prostrate and greet him as ‘kabiyesi’ because I am like a son to him,’ he said.
Akiolu also told the court that he had a prior relationship with Fashanu’s father when he was working as a lawyer during his early years of legal practice 32 years ago.
‘I know your father. I used to carry files for him when we were working together.’
Fashanu’s request to expunge referrals of Akiolu as ‘Oba of Lagos’ was, however, not granted by the court.
In responding to Fashanu’s question as to whether proper customary procedure was followed when he became Oba, Akiolu said he was installed Oba according to the customs of Lagos kingmakers.
‘Akiolu is a direct descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, there is no registered declaration for the throne.
‘It is the old customs and the recommendations of the Price Commission, which is over 100 years old that is still valid till today.’
Akiolu also debunked claims that Akiolu royal family was not one of the ruling houses because it was non-existent.
He said: ‘Despite the letter from Lagos State Government confirming my appointment as Oba and stating that I am from the Akiolu royal family, I want to make it clear that a royal family and ruling house mean the same thing.
‘My appointment as the king is the first time in history that kingmakers will be unanimous in selecting an Oba of Lagos.’
Justice A. Candide-Johnson adjourned the case until June 19 for continuation of trial.

 

It’s Eldee’s birthday but the day belongs to his adorable daughter

• She's a spitting image of him.
  

Eldee and his daughter

Lanre Dabiri aka Eldee is 40 years old today but we could not help but notice just how adorable his daughter is.
The music producer shared photos of both of them on the ‘gram and their resemblance will leave you admiring them all day.

Isn’t she lovely

That said, he had tweeted a few days ago how he doesn’t even feel 35 yet despite the big 40 being around the corner at the time.
But when you have a daughter that makes you happy – she had insisted he post those pictures, so you can tell he lives for her – it’s no surprise you look younger.
Happy birthday to Eldee!

 

Burial plans for veteran actor, Olumide Bakare announced

• He will be buried in Ibadan this month.
  

Olumide Bakare died aged 65.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Olumide Bakare, who died on April 22, 2017, is set to be buried on May 26 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Burial rites for the film icon who died after a long battle with heart disease will begin on Thursday, May 25, 2017 with service of songs at St. James Cathedral, Oke Bola Ibadan, from 5pm to 7pm.

His Burial service will also hold at St. James Cathedral while his remains will be laid to rest at St. James Cemetery, Ijokodo, Ibadan.
Reception follows at 4real events, Ring Road, Ibadan.
The late actor will be remembered for his expertise in his craft.

 

‘I will get you killed’ – Man, 30, threatens older siblings with cutlass in Abuja

• Stephen was said to be in the habit of extorting money from his siblings using intimidation and threats.
  

A man in Abuja got time behind bars for threatening his older siblings

A Karu Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, sentenced one Stephen Lengshak, 30, to five months imprisonment for repeatedly threatening and intimidating his older siblings.
The judge, Hassan Ishaq, sentenced the defendant after he pleaded guilty to the offence of criminal intimidation levelled against him.
The offence contravened the provisions of Section 397 (b) of the Penal code.
Ishaq, however, gave Lengshak an option to pay N20,000 fine and write an undertaking that he would not fight, insult or send any threat text messages to anyone.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Vincent Osuji, informed the court that two older siblings of the convict, Emmanuel Dafang and Lydia Mutman, reported him at Karu Police Station on May 22.
He explained that the complainants alleged that the convict on the same day, travelled from Jos to Abuja with only a cutlass in his bag.
Osuji said that the siblings, who acted on a tip-off, alerted the police who arrested the convict with the weapon upon his arrival at the home of the second complainant.
He alleged that the convict travelled to Abuja with the intention to kill the complainants, after sending a threat text message a day before to the first complainant.
The text message reads, ‘You are my first target in life, I want to remind you that I will get you killed. I am coming for you.’
Osuji told the court that the convict was in the habit of extorting money from his siblings using intimidation and threats.
The complainants, who were present in court, also recounted various near death experiences they had with him.
They said the family had tried to no avail to rehabilitate, accommodate and give him a good education as the last born of the family, but it yielded no result.
The prosecutor had urged the court to convict him without an option of fine.
However, Lengshak pleaded guilty and begged the court for mercy.
‘I am sorry, I don’t know what came over me, and I want the court to plead with my older ones to please show me love and give me another chance,’ he pleaded.

 

OAU final year student stabbed to death by unknown assailants

• He had just had his project approved.
  

Stabbed to death

Ayoola Ayorinde, a final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has been stabbed to death by unidentified persons.
He was a student in the Department of Dramatic Arts.
Ayoola was said to have been stabbed on his way home from school after his project work got approved by his supervisor.
According to OAU Student Union’s Head of Security, Seyi Iyiola, Ayoola was rushed to Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife, where he died.
‘I was called to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital to come and see him. I was told that he was coming back from his supervisor that day around 07.45pm with his brother that came here to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
‘The brother was at the front when two persons attacked him. After crossing his path, they collected his phone and stabbed him. Those around rushed him to the hospital.
‘His family members came that day and we tried to ensure that it was the school management that would relay the message to them. But that could not be achieved.
‘Immediately we got to the hospital, his parents came down but the hospital insisted that they must get police report.
‘We then went to Moore Police Station and later to the scene of the incident. I am not aware that he had a clash with any group or persons,’ Iyiola said.
Kunle Olabode, a closed friend to the deceased, said that Ayoola was planning to submit his final year project on Thursday, before the assailants struck.

‘Change must begin with Buhari’ – Atiku

 His comments came at a time Buhari, who is encouraging Nigerians to use Nigerian products, is receiving medical treatment in London.

 

 

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has told the Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government to change before expecting Nigerians to do same.
The Nigerian government under information minister Lai Mohammed is running a ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign telling Nigerians the country would move forward only if citizens first improve their behaviour.
Atiku Abubakar doesn’t seem to agree with Mohammed and Buhari.
‘When you talk to ordinary Nigerians, they call for a reorientation of values, which, I think, will come mainly from the change of behaviour by leaders,’ Atiku said.
His comments came at a time Buhari, who is encouraging Nigerians to use Nigerian products, is receiving medical treatment in London as hospitals back home are not trusted enough to save lives.
‘A Nigeria that works would be one that effectively and efficiently meets these needs,’ Atiku said.
‘The reality is that our nation does not work well whether we focus on security, education, economic production, employment generation and people’s welfare or we focus on governance and politics or the relationships among our diverse ethnic, regional, and religious groupings,’ he said.
Atiku made the comments in a speech delivered while accepting the Hero of Nigeria Democracy Award conferred on him by Hall of Grace Magazine in Lagos at the weekend.

 

UNIOSUN shuts down campus following Air Force officers’ assault on students

• Students and workers at the institution were allegedly beaten by the officers on Tuesday afternoon.
  

An injured student

The management of the Osun State University has shut down the school’s campus for a week after Air Force officers’ alleged assault on some students.
Students and workers at the institution were allegedly beaten by the officers on Tuesday afternoon.
A statement signed on behalf of the Acting Registrar said the students are expected back on campus on May 31.
The statement read, ‘The Vice Chancellor has approved that all students of Ipetu Ijesa Campus of Osun State University should proceed on one week break from today Tuesday May 23, 2017.
‘The break is necessitated by the invasion of the campus and brutalisations of our staff and students by the men of the Nigerian Airforce Safety Institute, Ipetu Ijesa.
‘Students are expected back on the campus on Wednesday 31st May 2017.’

 

Super Eagles player, Ahmed Musa weds Juliet Ejue

• Juliet is based in Lagos.
  

    

    Musa and his new bride

Amidst the controversy surrounding his marriage with his first wife, Jamila, Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa has gone ahead to marry Juliet Ejue.
They got married on Tuesday in Abuja, just two days after his English club, Leicester City’s final Premier League game of the season.
It remains to be seen if Musa will stay married to first wife, Jamila or get a divorce.

 

How former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s wife was duped of N918m

• The deed was done by a clergyman and two others.
  
  
  

Titi Abubakar

While testifying in a Lagos High Court, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar‘s wife, Titi, revealed she was duped of N918m.
She stated that she was defrauded by a pastor, Nsikabasi Akpan-Jacobs, along with two others who all were business partners of hers.
All three were shareholders in their company ‘THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.’, with Titilayo having the majority shares.
The problem arose when a bargain was struck between the company and Dana Motors for the sale of one of the company properties.
‘I thought the first defendant, being a pastor, will not defraud me. I thought that he was being genuine with me during our business dealings,’ Abubakar said.
Titi Abubakar further accused the pastor of going to the Corporate Affairs Commission to forge all the share holding documents in his favour as well as forging the company’s board resolution.
The accused are being held on a 15-count charge that includes conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property worth N918 million belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.

 

Seun Egbegbe and girlfriend welcome baby girl

• A bit of good news for the embattled personality.
  

                      

Egbegbe, his girlfriend and newborn

Recently imprisoned movie producer, Seun Egbegbe and his girlfriend, Onyenike Aluko, have welcomed their first baby together.
The news was announced by the happy mum via an Instagram post which she captioned, ‘Alhamdulillah for our new born baby girl.’

Meanwhile, Egbegbe remains in prison since February for defrauding a Bureau de Change agent.
Though, Egbegbe was granted bail on February 24, he was unable to meet the bail conditions of N5m and two sureties.

 

Fidget Spinner: The toy that’s gradually taking over the world

 

• Fidget spinners are popular new toys, which are made to calm nerves and ease anxiety.
  

Fidget Spinners are the toy children are asking their parents for. So don’t be surprised when your kids ask for one

A new craze is rapidly hitting the Internet and offices around the world: The Fidget Spinner.
The so-called fidget toys were originally created to help develop fine motor skills in kids with autism and other special education needs.
‘Fidget spinners’ are small, ball-bearing devices that the user can rotate between his or her fingers.

This is what it looks like before it starts spinning

And while it’s spinning

Here’s everything you need to know about the new gadget.

Who invented the fidget spinner?

Hettinger and her granddaughter Chloe. Photo: Richard Luscombe

Catherine Hettinger, an inventor from Orlando, Fla., created the original fidget spinner in 1993 and patented the product in 1997. She created the toys as a calming device for children, and soon discovered adults enjoyed it as well.

Her patent expired before the fidget spinner craze — meaning she has not made a dime off the product’s recent success. Despite not profiting off her creation, she’s thrilled the product has taken the world by storm.

Why are they so popular?

                             

No one knows exactly why fidget spinners are so popular — not even the product’s inventor. Hettinger speculates that maybe, years after the 2008 recession, Americans may now be looking for ways to relax and have fun.

The products have been touted as helpful for people with anxiety and stress.

Where can you buy a fidget spinner?

Look out for this products. It’s taking the world by storm.

Fidget spinners can be bought online or at a variety of stores but are yet to arrive Nigeria.

However, like we always do, we’ll always keep you informed on the world’s new craze – so you might want to look out for it.

Why are they getting banned in schools?

Fidget Spinners are the toy children are asking their parents for. So don’t be surprised when your kids ask for one

The devices were created and marketed as a calming tool used to stay focused – but that might not be the case for some students.

Teachers around the country are banning fidget spinners from their classrooms — calling them too distracting for their students.

 

This 10-year-old UK boy is a make-up prodigy and going viral real fast

 

• Thanks to social media, just about anybody can build a following.
  

              

@MakeuupbyJack has got looks for days.

This is surely the case with the beauty world, where a whole generation of artists have made their mark with unique and innovative make-up.
But one boy from the UK is turning heads not just because of his skills, but because he’s 10 years old.

Yes. He. And only 10 years old

Jack, who posts on Instagram under the username @MakeuupbyJack, is a beauty prodigy.

He’s a make-up prodigy

His false lashes? Totally even. His highlight? Beaming. His eyes? Impeccably smoky.

                     

As Refinery29 reports, Jack first hit viral status when his video was used as part of a Facebook meme. The caption, ‘You walk in to your son doing this, wyd?’

The question provoked some pretty close-minded responses, but more folks were more concerned about this young boy’s make-up mastery that, honestly, most adults wouldn’t be able to do, let alone pull off.

                  

And he’s someone’s son

                        

Jack currently has over 60,000 followers, but it’s not hard to imagine that this boy wonder has a long beauty career ahead of him.

 

Wizkid’s ‘Sounds From The Other Side’ finally gets official release date

 

• The body of work features the likes of Drake, Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Diplo and a couple others.
  

‘Sounds from the other side’ soon come.

The latest news coming from Wizkid is an update on his forthcoming project Sounds From The Other Side.
The highly anticipated mixtape now officially has a release date after putting fans on a long-long thing.
In an interview with Revolt TV, Wizkid announced Friday, July 7, 2017 as the official release date.
The body of work features the likes of Drake, Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Diplo and a couple others.
According to him; ‘I’m trying to fuse the sounds from artistes out here with my local producers back home, and international producers as well to do something special – like a lil playlist for summertime.’
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With that said, let’s just hope he doesn’t push it again when it’s time.