THE ICONS ORGANIZATION

Ande Joy    What's your reason for being afraid to speak up on most occasions when you know you should?   Is it because you are scared of your opinion being rejected? Or are you insecure? Do you think your opinion might be wrong? Or maybe you just think you'll offend someone by speaking up.   Not being able to speak up in public to either defend yourself, give a presentation, or air your opinion is what is termed glossophobia. Glossophobia isn’t a dangerous disease or chronic condition. It is the medical term for the fear of public speaking. Itis a social anxiety disorder. Those affected may experience uncontrollable trembling, sweating, and a racing heartbeat. They may also have an overwhelming urge to run out of the room or away from the situation that is causing them stress.   If you've ever found yourself in this situation, then you just might have glossophobia. The good news, though, is that you can overcome your fear of speaking in public. Many people have

Omotara Adesina   The Benin Traditional Council suspended six traditional functionaries for pledging loyalty to Ooni of Ife, the Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. This was announced in a statement signed by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe on Saturday.  This suspension came as a result of their attention being brought to a video clip where the suspended chiefs allegedly rendered inaccurate and disjointed account between the Benin Dynasty and Ife Kingdom. The statement addressed it as "a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin Custom."  The individuals who claimed to be emissaries of the Oba of Benin were identified as Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries identified as Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.  The Council further described the conduct of these functionaries as “inappropriate, sacrilegious, and calculated to ridicule traditional history and to bring disrepute

Emmanuel Onabodu  There was tension over social media when conflicting fliers surfaced online, dubbing two wives of the Osun governor as first ladies. The controversy sparked a flurry of reactions from citizens, questioning the rationale behind having dual first ladies amidst pressing state needs. Many argued that scarce resources should be redirected towards essential governmental functions rather than sustaining two first lady offices. A User on X, @MurphyBles72196 said "Both of them need to welcome the first Lady" showing support to the office of two first ladies. Another user on X, @Uyotistic_uyota said "The first wife should be the first lady unless she's not capable...". The user emphasize the need for competence be in the office. Adding to the confusion, the First Lady of Nigeria also acknowledged both wives of the governor as first ladies during a recent statement. She emphasized the transparent process behind selecting Osun State for a signi

  Tomi Adebayo  The final year of undergraduate study in Nigerian universities marks a significant milestone in the academic journey of students. It's a season of anticipation, expectation, and celebration. When it comes to final-year student shenanigans, a peculiar trend has emerged: the growth of fake weddings among final-year students. Fake weddings mirror the style of traditional weddings, in which students celebrate in an extravagant manner by dressing up as wedding guests and couples, making vows, and engaging in other naughty activities all in the name of celebration. However, the practice of staging fake weddings carries several negative implications for students in a number of ways, including excessive spending, financial burden, social pressure, and the need for social media validation.   EXCESSIVE SPENDING Final-year students frequently go to great lengths to plan their fake traditional wedding, using expensive halls, lavish decorations, pricey clothing mater

Pelumi Solagbaade  The discrimination against Nigerians at the Indian language school in Ilupeju, Lagos, has sparked outrage. Reports from PUNCH and online sources confirm that the school is refusing admission to Nigerians. User X, @demcommonroom, shared their experience, stating, "The Indian school in Ilupeju only admits Indians. You need an Indian passport for enrollment." A PUNCH correspondent, speaking with the user, recounted a similar experience dating back to 2009, where only Indian students were present during a debate competition. Security officials at the school denied entry to a PUNCH correspondent, stating that only Indians were allowed to make inquiries for enrollment. A concerned citizen, More Blessing Catering Rental Services, drew Governor Babajide Sanwolu's attention to the matter, stating, "Your attention is needed; this shouldn't be happening in Lagos State." Gerald Katchy, General Secretary of the Committee for Defense of Huma

Omotara Adesina  The 20th child of the founder of Celestial Church of Christ, Worldwide, Olatosho Oshoffa, popularly known as Tosho has addressed some controversial issues concerning the church. Speaking with the Punch news, he addressed some of the church's doctrinal issues steming from his father's family dynamics.  Olatosho Oshoffa was born as the 10th son of his father who founded the Celestial Church in Christ in 1947. According to him, his father wouldn't have been able to found the Celestial Church if God detested polygamy as he already had three wives before starting the church. However, there have been further speculations that the Celestial Church founder had over 100 children of which Tosho rebutted. He stated in his interview with Punch that his Father had 13 wives and 53 Children. Defending the unity of his family's dynamics, he stated that his father stood on the unity of the family insisting that they saw themselves as children of Oshoffa not