Ahmed Salim Jn

On the 21st of February, 2026, several online news outlets, including Kemi Filani, Telegraph Nigeria, and Punch Newspaper reported a case involving a social media user, asakyGRN. In a video, a man claimed that his sister was asked to remove her hijab before being photographed at a JAMB centre. According to him: "I followed my sister to the JAMB centre to collect her form. She was told to remove her hijab before she could be captured. After the capturing, they asked her to sign an undertaking for wearing a hijab. And she signed it to follow the global standards of passport photography since her ears were not captured." In response, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), through its verified account, stated: "Thank you for your concern. However, it is important to state clearly that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, whether in the past or present, has never issued any directive prohibiting candidates from wearing the hijab." Ironically, in th...

  The first word that came to my mind when I saw the incident at the Ibadan JAMB centre was dehumanization. I looked it up to gain a clearer understanding and found that the United Nations defines dehumanization as "the process of depriving a person or group of positive human qualities, leading others to view them as less than fully human." Furthermore, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights describes dehumanization in practice as actions or language that "deny the humanity of individuals or groups, often portraying them as animals, vermin, or objects." In this case, she is a suspect even before she arrived at the venue.  We are human beings, and we have been taught that we possess rights, "fundamental human rights." In fact, my Citizenship Education teacher emphasized that these rights cannot be taken away unless one oversteps their lawful limits. Among these rights is the right to freedom of religion. And he taught us these r...

As younglings, especially those of us from large families, there was a quiet formula to food in the home. It was so consistent that it became tradition without anyone needing to announce it. We would meet our mummies making rice for lunch, swallow for dinner, and leftovers (ébécha) for breakfast. That was the rhythm of life. It was a formula so keenly maintained that only once in a blue moon would we have rice for dinner or breakfast. Maybe when yam was harvested and there was enough palm oil, we would have boiled yam and oil for breakfast or lunch. That meal was truly sumptuous, especially with ité  ( palm oil sludge), usually extracted from the bottom after the needed oil had been collected during processing. Sometimes we roasted the yams. Fries were usually accompanied by Akamu (pap), with or without sugar. Good old days indeed. We could also have égwa agugu (iron beans), “iron beans” because of how much heat and time it took before it softened enough to become edible. Yet when ...

  One of the most troubling questions in medicine is not always how to cure disease, but who gets the chance to be treated at all. In many parts of the world, especially in our various communities here in Nigeria, healthcare is often less available to the poor not because their illnesses are less serious, but because their pockets are less deep. And I believe this is largely part of the reason(s) the services of unlicensed practitioners are being sought after at high rates, especially in our local communities. This raises a difficult but necessary moral question, should poverty determine who receives healthcare? Think it through. On humanitarian grounds, the answer is supposed to be "NO". Illness is already a burden; poverty should not become its punishment. Yet this issue is more complex than it first appears. Many patients cannot afford treatment because of unemployment, low income, inflation, poor insurance coverage(a large percentage of Nigerian citizens have no idea how ...

  If euthanasia should not be legalized, then society must ask a more difficult and more compassionate question: what should a doctor do when a patient cannot be cured? The answer reveals something essential about medicine itself. The duty of a doctor is not exhausted when treatment fails, because medicine is not only about defeating disease; it is also about standing faithfully beside the suffering person. A distinction must therefore be made between curing and caring. Curing refers to the elimination of disease or restoration of health. Caring, however, goes deeper. It involves relieving pain , preserving dignity , offering honest guidance, and refusing to abandon the patient even when recovery is no longer medically possible. A doctor may reach the limits of cure, but should never reach the limits of compassion . This is why palliative care is so important in modern medicine. Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life of patients facing serious or terminal illnes...

  Life is beautiful, especially when fate places one on the brighter side of existence. It unfolds in joy, adventure, and memory when lived within the warmth of a nurturing and encouraging environment. Along life’s journey, we meet souls who pass like fleeting shadows, and others whose presence leaves an imprint that time cannot erase. Attah is one such soul, a friend who became a brother. Blessed was his upbringing. His father laboured tirelessly, providing for his household and serving his community, yet as it is said, man proposes and God disposes. He left for the land of the silent ones in their early stage of life. His mother, steadfast and devoted, nurtured discipline, diligence, and learning within her children. God Bless our Parents. Ameen. Among them stood Abdullah , a brilliant mind, once the finest technical student of our school days. His work bore the marks of precision and elegance, his hands guided by uncommon creativity he is the true definition of neatness and acc...

  The history of medicine reflects humanity’s continuous effort to understand disease, preserve life, and improve wellbeing. From traditional healing systems rooted in indigenous knowledge , through the rise of modern biomedical science , to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare , each phase represents not a replacement of the former, but an expansion of medical capacity. Rather than existing as a trilemma—where one must be chosen at the expense of others—AI, traditional medicine, and modern medicine can be understood as a powerful synergy that integrates knowledge, technology, and human-centered care. Traditional medicine represents the earliest form of organized healthcare. It is grounded in cultural beliefs, empirical observations, and long-standing practices passed down through generations. Systems such as African traditional medicine, Ayurveda , and Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasize holistic care, prevention, and the interconnectedness of body, mi...

  I saw the post above and was disappointed in our behavior as a society. It is very unfortunate how we are supposed to be a more civilized generation, but sometimes we lack empathy , and we even try to prove our ill-decision with weak logic. Our parents never intentionally opted to kill us because we were too sick, a lot of them even pause their personal careers to make sure we survive our challenges. They never gave any form of Mvrd3r a fancy nomenclature as mercy keiling to make it sound less brutal, even when in the actual sense, it's a cold act of MVRD3R. In fact, this practice has no place in our culture and religion. Euthanasia must be rejected. Euthanasia should not be legalized because it undermines the sanctity of life , threatens the ethical foundations of medicine and society, and diverts attention from humane alternatives such as palliative care . At the heart of the opposition lies the conviction that human life possesses inherent value that law and society are boun...

Honey is sweet, It is medicinal, healing to the flesh, And its source is natural. But I do not desire honey alone, Let me have the bee, Better yet, the bee hive So I don't beg again. You are the hypothalamus,  And I, a humble gland,  Living at your signals, Your decision control us, I live by your command.   But like the pancreas, I have more than one purpose. You have given me fish, Teach me how to fish. Not to end up phishing, Nor fish in vain. For this is my pitch And here, I shall pitch my tent. I am a beekeeper, Practicer of apiculture, Rich in honey and wax, But there's more to this culture. Like Oliver twist,  I only ask for more, For I may lack Steeze, But never ambition. Read my words again, In the language of growth. For even abundance  seeks to multiply. ®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️  #Uloko

  Unto thy hands, I commit my service. Under thy will, I utilize my strength.  The path you lead, I tread without question, Your vision to me, is instinctively clear. Call me a headless minion , Or even an obsequious disciple . He already spent his efforts and millions, And today, I am ennobled. Discerning with my own criterion, Though toward me you were once callous. I am only a talesman , Blessed with a talisman . Ényó was a boy, but Uloko is now "The Man." A follower today, a leader another day.  I have a goal, and I can't afford distraction. In the end, this minion is not just a headless one, I do have my will, I do have my purpose, I do have my goal. ® Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️  #Uloko

  The money arrived wrapped in santana leather , crumpled from passing through many hands. Moma and Popa had sent it. It is contributions from brothers, sisters and even the niece at home. Uloko , I  held it and thought, I cannot fail. Not because failure would kill me, but because it would undo them. This is the fear I want to talk about. As humans, we always have needs, desires, aspirations and ambitions. But just like life, the result of our actions and/or inactions is a function of the probability of success or failure. By success, I mean the achievement of one's goal or aim, and failure as the inability to meet a set goal or objective. Our approach and reaction to these possible outcomes is subjective. While some overcome their fear and proceed, others are held back from taking action. We say it's because of fear, the " Fear of Failure ". I speak of the anxiety of not meeting expectations which can hold people back from taking risks , pursuing goals or even try...

  ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WÂRAHMATULLAHI WÂBARAKATUH Praise be to ALlāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of ALlāh: “Fasting is obligatory for a person if he fulfils five conditions:  He is a Muslim He is accountable (mukallaf) He is able to fast He is settled (not travelling) There are no impediments to fasting If these conditions are met, then it is obligatory for a person to fast .  Non-Muslims are excluded from the first condition. The non-Muslim is not obliged to fast and his fast is not valid. If he becomes Muslim, he is not obliged to make up fasts from before.  The evidence for that is the verse in which ALlāh says (interpretation of the meaning):  “And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in ALlāh and in His Messenger (Muhammad) and that they came not to As-Salah (the prayer) except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly” [Al-Tawbah 9:54]  If the contri...

In biology, we are taught that a virus can be both living and non-living. It possesses genetic material, either RNA or DNA. The ability to reproduce and interact within a host, gives it some qualities of life. Yet outside a host, it lacks metabolism, growth, reproduction, ATP generation, or response to stimuli. It has no cellular structure, no membrane or cytoplasm, just genetic material wrapped in a protein coat called a CAPSID. It stands on the border between living and non-living. It only responds to the conditions it finds itself in. But this piece is not just about viruses; it is about us as a people. We were a people who once thrived on mutual respect with established constituted authority, even before modern day civilization. We had established protocols for resolving disputes, and reconciliation was always the goal. Ours was a pride-worthy culture where morals, values, and positive impact measured a person’s worth, not just the weight of his purse. Like a dormant virus that bec...

  ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WÂRAHMATULLAH Praise be to ALlāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of ALlāh: Firstly:  The pregnant woman is obliged to pray like any other woman who is in a state of purity. Prayer is only waived for women in the case of menses or nifaas (postpartum bleeding). Knowledge of that is widespread and readily available, and ignorance of that is very strange, especially in Muslim countries. Rather it is to be regarded as a shortcoming and negligence.  What every accountable individual must do is learn what he needs for his acts of worship and interactions with others to be sound and valid.  This is part of the knowledge that it is obligatory to acquire, and it is not permissible to delay it or be distracted from it.  Therefore what your wife must do is repent to ALlāh, may He be exalted, for her shortcomings and negligence in learning and asking people of knowledge. But she does not have to make up these prayers, according to the more ...

  Social media is meant to be an outlet that connects people from like and unlike backgrounds; culturally, socially, religiously, economically, and otherwise. It was designed as a bridge, a meeting point of ideas and experiences. Information is sourced and shared on these platforms, stories are told, voices are amplified, and, ideally, understanding is built. Yet, it is quite disappointing to see the dragging that thrives in this space. At times, it becomes so toxic that one even contemplates logging out for good. But like alcohol addicts, many of us are so hooked that we can’t seem to do without it anymore. We complain about the chaos, yet we keep scrolling, engaging, reacting, and we are just trapped in a cycle we pretend not to notice. What is even more disheartening is the intensity of these draggings when they are fueled by differences in religion . You begin to wonder: are these not the same people I live with, relate with, and transact with in my everyday environment? Life ...

  ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAH  Praise be to ALlah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of ALlah: The mosques are places where the Muslims gather for the purpose of worshipping, obeying and remembering their Lord. Hence ALlah, may He be Exalted, has enjoined us to venerate and honour them, as He says: {… in houses [mosques] which ALlah has ordained to be built so that His name may be remembered therein. In them His name is glorified morning and afternoon, by men who are not distracted by buying or selling from the remembrance of ALlah, or from establishing prayer or giving zakat. They fear a day when hearts will quiver and eyes will stare fixedly} [ An-Noor 24:36-37 ]. The Prophet (blessings and peace of ALlah be upon him) said: “rather they [mosques] are for the remembrance of ALlah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, and prayer, and reading Quran.” Narrated by Muslim (285). To highlight the importance of respecting the mosques, ALlah, may He be Exalted, has ordaine...

Food is very essential for human’s survival. It gives us the fuel and energy to keep up with our day-to-day activities. Truly, no one fares well on an empty stomach. From our earliest lessons, we learn about the six classes of food and their functions in our lives. Yet, on closer observation, a large percentage of what we eat in this part of the world is carbohydrates . And there are countless sources of this energy-giving class of food: rice, yam, cassava , maize , and many more. We prepare white rice and stew or jollof , sometimes with a little fish or meat. We make yam porridge, boiled yam with sauce ( egg sauce sometimes), pounded yam that stretches into family meals. We turn corn and cassava flour into ójé (swallow), mold akpu from fermented cassava , and find comfort in plates that carry both memory and meaning. But my major focus is garri . Garri is a lifesaver. A true companion, especially to the student who lives away from home, the student with not much time to spare for t...