Kobi Patricks Blog

A Nigerian academic, Prof. Abiodun Alao will today deliver a professorial inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London, making him first black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the school was established in 1829. Alao is a professor of African Studies and was conferred with professional title about two years ago alongside a Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre, Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, making them the first black Africans to attain professorial cadre at the institution since its establishment. The appointments have been confirmed in a letter by the institution’s President and Principal, Prof. Edward Byrne AC, which justified their elevations at the instance of their contributions to African peace and security. In an institution that has produced 12 Nobel laureates among its professors, the statement said Alao had distinguished himself, citing about 100 widely recognised 100 academic articles and Encyclopedia...

The youngest among six children, Chief (Dr) Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma (OFR), was born into the family of Mr & Mrs Chukwuma Mojekwu of Uru-Umudim, Nnewi, in Anambra State, without the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. But, what he lacked in affluent parental background, he made up for with intelligence, hard-work, discipline and business acumen - qualities that have continued to interplay remarkably in his many ventures. In February 2007, Chukwuma embarked on what some analysts perceived then as a mission impossible, when it incorporated INNOSON Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), to produce sundry commercial automobiles, utility vehicles and passenger cars, in collaboration with a consortium of Chinese auto manufacturers. With the public display of some of the vehicles at the 2nd Nnewi International Auto Trade Fair held at the Beverly Hills Hotels (Gabros Sports Complex) in the last quarter of 2009, IVM did no...

Chinese scientists sent thousands of early-stage embryos into space Some successfully developed into balls of cells called blastocysts It suggests mammals might be able to reproduce in space environment Findings improve the chances of humans colonising distant worlds Chinese scientists have successfully grown mouse embryos in space, becoming the first group in the world to overcome the biological hurdles of reproduction in orbit. If confirmed, the findings suggest mammals could one day reproduce in the harsh microgravity environment of space – which could vastly improve the chances of humans being able to colonise distant worlds. Scientists feared the development of embryos on Earth require gravity to ensure cells organise correctly so the resulting limbs, organs and tissues. Scientists in China claim to have successfully grown mouse embryos in space, making them the first group in the world to successfully do so. The team sent early embryos into orbit aboard ...

                                                            Sami Walton, 29, developed a sex addiction in her early 20s after break-up She travelled hundreds of miles to sleep with friends and strangers But her life has turned around since meeting partner James Keates, 38 Now she is raising awareness because 'sex addiction is a serious issue'    She lost her job and many of her friends due to her struggles with addiction. But Sami Walton is not under the power of drugs or alcohol, but rather a slave to her own lust. The 29-year-old has a sex addiction that leaves her unable to keep her hands off partner of four years James Keates. Office worker Miss Walton leaves the 38-year-old exhausted by having sex more than 10 times a day on some occasions. But she is keen to dispel the myths ...

Grab a calculator, because  this 5-year-old genius  is about to school math lovers everywhere.  Steve Harvey met numbers aficionado Luis on Sunday night, when the math wiz paid a visit to the NBC show “Little Big Shots.”  The adorable Brooklyn native was quick to show off his skills by doubling and squaring numbers at the drop of a hat. Meanwhile, Harvey needed the help of a calculator to double-check Luis’ swift answers. But Luis isn’t just talented at math, his parents also  post videos on YouTube  of him showing off his amazing knowledge of the chemical  elements , which  he can list alphabetically, and  the planets.   His mom, Kiesha Esquivel, told The Huffington Post that she realized how smart her little boy was when he became passionate about spelling at 2 years old. But his interest in math didn’t surface until June. “He just remembered everything we told him and was able to understand it as well as teach i...

A lovely little girl was holding two apples with both hands. Her mum came in and softly asked her little daughter with a smile; my sweetie, could you give your mum one of your two apples? The girl looked up at her mum for some seconds, then she suddenly took a quick bite on one apple, and then quickly on the other. The mum felt the smile on her face freeze. She tried hard not to reveal her disappointment. Then the little girl handed one of her bitten apples to her mum,and said: mummy, here you are. This is the sweeter one. No matter who you are, how experienced you are, and how knowledgeable you think you are, always delay judgement. Give others the privilege to explain themselves. What you see may not be the reality. Never conclude for others. Which is why we should never only focus on the surface and judge others without understanding them first. Those who like to pay the bill, do so not because they are loaded but because they value friendship above mone...

I remember that one of the first things I got when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby was one of those at-home doppler kits so I could hear the heartbeat whenever I wanted. Well, if you’re willing to shell out $7400 (or more likely, you’re a professional doctor or midwife), you could actually take ultrasound pictures using your smart phone. The Mobisante ultrasound device, the MobiUS, which works with a Microsoft smart phone, could really help to detect and diagnose possible health issues on the fly, giving the physician to ability email or text the ultrasound photos to another doctor or hospital staff. And yes, it’s really for medical professionals who might be in transit or at an emergency and don’t have immediate access to a cumbersome ultrasound device.

One of Nigeria’s last-surviving leather factories, God’s Little Tannery made waves when we were told by Tweet through the social media that it supplies top fashion house, Louis Vuitton. Said Tweet came from  The Economist’ s correspondent Eleanor Whitehead, whose recent tour around Northern Nigeria included a visit to the city of Kano, where she met the team at the tannery. Ms Whitehead took a few shots of the establishment, which is owned by Igbo businessman Chief Koffy Ndubuisi Udeagha, captioning her Twit-pic; “ This is God’s Little Tannery, one of Kano’s last surviving leather tanneries. It supplies Louis Vuitton” Garnering over 1,000 retweets, word of the factory spread fast, with one question arising: How is it that Nigeria can make such wondrous products and supply a global brand like Vuitton, yet struggle to sell such products internationally and create its own brands with the same magnitude? In contrast to news...