Media personality Toke Makinwa has strongly criticised the traditional practice of using tribal marks as a means of identification, calling it a form of cruelty inflicted upon children without their consent.

In a post on her X account on June 16, 2024, Makinwa recalled her recent encounter with an influencer who had tribal marks, which prompted her to think about the age-old practice.

She wrote, “Today I saw a beautiful beauty influencer with tribal marks and it made me think about the cruelty that culture brought upon us. Marking a child without his/her consent as a means of identification is Evil, I know our parents didn’t know any better but damnnnn!!!!”

In a series of posts that followed, she emphasised that while she appreciates the beauty of individuals with tribal marks, her issue lies in the lack of consent involved in marking children for identification purposes.

“Thank God it’s abolished now. My grandma had tribal marks too. Some on her face and her arms, I wonder what life was like when she was younger walking around with it, though I’m sure a lot of people around her had the same but thank God it’s cancelled now,” she said in another post.

After receiving backlash from some X users, Makinwa re-affirmed in another post, that her disapproval was with the lack of consent involved and not the beauty of the marks.

“It’s not the beauty or lack of but the lack of consent. But yeah, I’ve seen a couple of beautiful people with tribal marks,” the media personality explained.

When an X user slammed Makinwa and compared tribal marks to tattoos, she retorted saying, “Tattoos are a choice, marking a child without their consent is not the same. You rest, weirdo.”

Stella Ikwuegbu, the ace Nigerian actress, has passed away.

Her demise was confirmed by Stanley Nwoko, the movie producer, in a post via Instagram on Sunday.

Nwoko revealed that Ikwuegbu had been battling leg cancer before her death.

“Popular Nollywood actress/veteran Mrs Stella Ikwuegbu is dead,” he wrote.

“The Veteran Actress left this world today after battling with leg cancer. Rest well madam Stella.”

In another post, the movie producer shared a video of the actress’ daughter mourning her mum.

Ijele Christy Ejiofor, another actress, also expressed her grief on Instagram.

“Ukwu Gi Dia. Why? You scaled through several accidents and all. Eniure/Achiere came, and in less than a week, it killed you. Oh my… I feel bad,” she wrote.

“Stella Ikwuegbu, nenu Jennifer, you did not enjoy a thing. Why? Just why?”

Born in Enugu state, Ikwuegbu began her acting career in 1990 after graduating from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) in Enugu state.

She appeared in numerous Nollywood films, including ‘Spoiler’, ‘Ukwa’, ‘Sound of Love’, ‘Holy Man’, ‘Two Hearts’, ‘Heart of Stone’, and ‘Madam Koikoi’.

In addition to her acting career, Ikwuegbu was a businesswoman and owned a restaurant called ‘The Film Bar’.

She is survived by her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Ikwuegbu’s death follows closely on the heels of the passing of Dayo Adewunmi, the veteran Yoruba actor also known as Sule Suebebe.

Suebebe died at the age of 68.

Real Warri Pikin has shared her views regarding the current economic situation that has resulted in some Nigerians migrating abroad for a supposed better life.

Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, disclosing that the number of dependents accompanying students from Nigeria studying in the United Kingdom (UK) surged from approximately 1,500 to 52,000 between 2019 and 2022.

Meanwhile, amid the development, she explained to newsmen at a Mentorship program for the youths in Abuja, that her failure to obtain a visa helped her to discover her unique selling point which has now made her a celebrity in Nigeria.

The event, organized by the Centre for Real Impact International tagged “Beyond Boundaries”, was attended by a Nairametrics analyst.

Japa Syndrome and the Economic Situation

Entertainment and brand Influencer, Anita Asouha also known, Real Warri Pikin, told newsmen that Nigerians have to be intentional and understand that they have to take life one step at a time.

She added that the “japa Syndrome” a phenomenon, that refers to Nigerians migrating to greener pastures abroad, shows that most people want to live in their future now.

According to her, there is no country that does not have its challenges and success stories.

Narrating her experience, she said she contemplated leaving Nigeria but didn’t succeed.

She added, however, that the disappointment of failing to get a visa pushed her to discover her own uniqueness, which eventually convinced her to stay back.

According to her, by staying back and working on her gift, she is now an entertainment personality and life coach.

The entertainer did not discourage people from leaving the country but advised that one can succeed in Nigeria if they take responsibility for their choices.

“I don’t blame anyone who wants to leave Nigeria. There was a time I wanted to leave this country, but they did not give me a visa.”

“But at the end of the day, I discovered what I could do to sustain myself.

“People can leave the country, it’s none of my business but I feel that it is people’s choice to leave, irrespective of the country’s economic situation.

“If everybody leaves Nigeria, who will now make things better for the country? Insecurity is everywhere.

“It is not everyone that can afford leaving Nigeria so I encourage anyone in the country to know that Nigeria’s future is bright,” she said.