By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, all roads will lead to the Livespot Entertarium in Lekki, Lagos for the Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers’ FUZE Talent Show 3.0 on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

The festival is the biggest talent extravaganza in Nigeria. It is a platform that celebrates the country’s creativity and innovation.

According to the organisers, the programme promises to be a game-changing platform for unveiling Nigeria’s next generation of young talents.

The FUZE 3.0 festival features a prize pool of N50 million and an esteemed panel of judges, including industry icons like Funke Adepoju, Akinwande Akinsulire, Don Flexx, and Korede Bello.

With the theme Light it Up, this event is more than just a competition; it is a movement that celebrates Nigerian creativity in music, dance, fashion, and technological innovation.

“We are not merely hosting a talent show; we are creating a platform that amplifies the extraordinary potential of Nigerian youths in music, dance, fashion, and technology.

“The FUZE Festival is designed to showcase this potential, providing a vibrant space where young talent can shine, connect, and collaborate; ultimately fostering innovation and creativity within our communities.

“By celebrating diverse artistic expressions, the festival aims to inspire the next generation of leaders and change-makers in Nigeria,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Mr Olumide Oyetan, said.

Globally acclaimed Nigerian musical powerhouses that embody the excellence and vibrant energy of the Nigerian entertainment industry, Wande Coal, BNXN and Qing Madi, will be on stage to thrill guests and participants and electrify the atmosphere with their chart-topping hits.

This celebration is expected to birth new Nigerian talents with the potential to make a global impact after their grooming stages.

The event will include a unique holiday shopping festival. Premium Nigerian and international brands in fashion, beauty, personal care, tech, food, and beverage will display their quality goods and products for all holidaymakers and fun-seekers looking for amazing seasonal discounts on special gift items.

The exhibition area will be more than a shopping destination; it will be an immersive experience that complements the talent show’s vibrant atmosphere.

Shoes are a staple of the fashion industry. Hundreds of brands exist that make and produce a wealth of shoes each year. Shoes can be stylish, comfortable, and unique, but did you know that certain shoes offer some great benefits?

Elevator shoes provide a primary advantage that many men would enjoy—the appearance of being taller. And it’s not just the appearance of height for the sake of looking taller, the benefits from the height increase of elevator shoes go beyond mere looks.

The fashion industry is always innovating—as any good industry does. One of the most regarded crazes has been guido maggi elevator shoes. They’re different from regular sneakers or loafers. Elevator shoes have a specially designed insole—that is cleverly concealed—that provides a discreet increase in height.

The height increases range from 2.5-5 inches, depending on the brand and design. Elevator shoes are not only made in one style, many variations can accommodate many social gatherings and settings.

Elevator Shoes Provide A Height Increase

One of the main benefits of elevator shoes is that they discreetly improve your height. Since the lift is hidden inside the shoe, the shoes themselves do not attract unwanted attention. These are not high-heels or platform shoes—they’re a subtle design.

Not only do they offer a height increase, but elevator shoes can also improve your stride while providing extra support. The world average height for a man is 5ft 10.5 in, while the average female height is 5ft 5 in. Some might want a little extra help to reach or surpass the average.

Some people might indeed want only a minor height increase—nothing too obvious and elevator shoes can provide that while also offering a boost of confidence.

As I said before, elevator shoes can also improve your posture. Proper posture will see your shoulders square and a more defined, straightened walking gait. The added height could also help you maintain eye contact more easily and pay closer attention to facial cues and expressions, thus improving the flow of your conversations.

Elevator Shoes Offer Comfort

Comfort is one of the main reasons people buy and wear any type of clothing. You might think that elevator shoes would be uncomfortable or that they could cause foot pain or soreness, however, neither of those is true. One of the primary goals for the design of elevator shoes was to make movements like running, walking, and hiking as easy as can be while wearing them.

In contrast, high heels can be excruciatingly painful. They offer the same height increase benefit as elevator shoes but rarely offer the same subtle design or comfort. Often, elevator shoes contain extra padding in the soles to reduce the impact on your feet when walking, jogging, or running.

As with nearly any new pair of shoes, you will need a short period to ‘break them in’ but it’s not more strenuous than any other type of shoes.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Social, short-form video content platform, TikTok has announced the launch of the second phase of its #SaferTogether digital safety and awareness programme in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria (DSN).

The initiative, which began in 2022, aims to enhance digital safety across Nigeria by educating parents, teachers, and guardians on how to help young people navigate TikTok and the broader digital landscape safely.

The first phase of the #SaferTogether campaign successfully educated 537 teachers and 1,037 parents in cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Kano about TikTok’s safety features and promoting positive mental health online.

Now, building on this success, the second phase will include NITDA as a strategic partner, aligning with its mission to foster digital literacy and enhance technology infrastructure.

The company said Phase 2 will extend the programme’s reach to additional regions, including Edo and Kaduna, and will cover critical topics such as misinformation, cyberbullying, sexting, digital citizenship, fake news, child sexual violence, and data protection.

Workshops will engage a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, government representatives, community leaders, parents, teachers, and guardians.

Speaking on this development, Mr Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Government Relations and Public Policy Director for Africa, emphasized the importance of digital literacy.

“Empowering parents, teachers, and guardians with digital literacy skills is crucial for creating a safer digital environment. Our commitment to community safety is unwavering, and through local partnerships, we are extending these educational resources beyond our platform,” he said.

Adding his input, Mr Olubayo Adekanmbi, Founder and CEO of Data Science Nigeria, highlighted the shared responsibility in making the digital world safer, adding that the organisation will continue to advance this goal.

“We are excited to continue with the Safer Together campaign, providing essential insights on digital wellness to parents, teachers, and guardians.”