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MUST READ!!! How to reply to different kind of greetings
COPING WITH GREETINGS
One of the aspects of the English Language that is affected by our culture is GREETING.
In Nigeria, we have greetings for almost all occasions and it varies from tribe to tribe. The major tribes in Nigeria: Igbo,Yoruba and Hausa can be used as illustrations. The major problem encountered by Nigerian users of the English Language is the transfer of some of these cultural and tribal diversities into their use of the English Language.
In this edition, efforts shall be made to identify some occasions and the greetings peculiar to them.
One of the basic features that are peculiar to English greetings is that the greeting and the response usually have the same structures.
For example,
The response to GOOD MORNING should be GOOD MORNING.
I notice that in this part of the world, our response to the greeting HELLO is usually Hi. That is against the convention of greeting. The response to HELLO should be HELLO and the response to Hi should be Hi.
How are you versus How do you do?
How are you is part of the expressions used in greeting. It is used in greeting someone that is known to you because you have met him before .
How do you do ,however, is used to greet someone you have just met for the first time.
The response to “How do you do should be How do you do? too
There are some controversies that are usually experienced whenever a person sneezes or coughs.
I heard someone say “Take care” to a person that coughed. Another person said “Sorry!”
TAKE CARE is used as CAREFUL, especially for a person that falls or is about to fall.
Sorry! is used as an apology for what you have done wrong.
As a response to a sneeze or a cough, Say: God bless you.
There are other forms of responses which are analysed below:
How to respond to “How are you?”, “What’s up?”, and other conversation starters
There are a few questions that English speakers ask at the beginning of a conversation. These questions are simple tools to find out if there are any interesting topics to discuss:
How are you?
How’s it going?
What’s up?
What’s happening?
You’ve certainly heard these questions, but you might be confused about how to answer. Here’s a list of common answers to them:
How are you?
Fine.
This is a simple, straight answer. If you don’t say anything else, though, it might be a signal that you don’t want to continue the conversation.
Not bad.
This is a more friendly-sounding answer than “fine”.
Fine, thanks.
This answer is formal. You might answer this way if someone you don’t know, like a waiter at a restaurant, asks how you are.
Very well, thanks.
A person who likes to be grammatically proper might answer this way. Technically, the question “How…?” should be answered with an adverb. However, a lot of English speakers don’t know or care about this. The people who do are “by the books” types who insist on using grammatically correct language.
Pretty good.
If you don’t care as much about grammar, you can answer “Good” or “Pretty good”. It’s more common and much, much more casual.
Great! How are you doing?
This is an enthusiastic, excited response. It’s always good to ask a question back to the other person if you want to continue the conversation.
I’m hanging in there.
This answer makes it sound like you’re having a tough day.
I’ve been better.
People usually give positive answers to the question “How are you?” If you give a negative answer like this one, it usually means that you want to tell the listener your sad story. So they’ll usually ask what’s wrong:
A: How are you?
B: I’ve been better.
A: What’s wrong?
B: I just found out that I’m being laid off.
How’s it going?
This question is similar to “How are you”. The answers discussed above all work for “How’s it going?” as well.
Here’s another answer that will also work for “How’s it going”, but not for “How are you?”
It’s going well.
This is a friendly, polite answer that’s suitable for coworkers, clients, and acquaintances that you haven’t seen in a while.
What’s up?
This question means “What’s happening in your life?” But you don’t have to answer honestly. If you don’t want to start a long conversation, you can use one of these standard replies:
Nothing much.
This is the most common answer. You can follow it by sharing something interesting that’s happening: “Nothing much. Just getting ready for Vanessa’s graduation.”
Not a lot.
This is another really common answer. It’s just a bit fresher than “Nothing much” because it’s a little less common.
Nothing.
This is more to-the-point. It might make you seem a little angry or rude.
Oh, just the usual.
Answer this way if you do mostly the same things each day.
Just the same old same old.
This phrase means that you’re doing the same things every day, and you’re a little bored of it.
Oh gosh, all kinds of stuff!
You can answer this way if your life has been really busy and exciting lately.
What’s happening?
This question means the same thing as “What’s up” and can be answered in the same way.
When not to answer
One other thing that you should know: all of these questions can also be used to mean “Hello”. In that case, you don’t have to answer. It would be more natural to respond with another greeting:
A: How are you?
B: Hey, how’s it going?
So how do you know whether someone really wants to know how you are, or they’re just saying “Hi”? You can tell that it’s just a greeting if:
they’re walking by you and don’t stop to hear your answer
they wave to you while asking
the tone of their voice doesn’t go up at the end.
This is where we end our discussion for now.
At the Stylisticians English Language School, our business is to train people on how to become a better writer and speaker of the English Language.
Contact us today
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Call:08033336265
Landmark Judgment: Federal High Court Dismisses ₦50bn Oil Spill Claim Against ExxonMobil
The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has dismissed a ₦50 billion lawsuit filed against ExxonMobil, sued as Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, now Seplat Energy Producing, in a ruling analysts say could significantly reshape oil spill litigation and compensation claims in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
Delivering judgment on April 29, 2026, Justice Onyetenu held that the suit instituted by the Ejige Ore Njenyisi Muma & Fishing Co-operative Society Ltd was incompetent and liable to dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.
The plaintiffs had sought ₦50 billion in damages over an alleged hydrocarbon spill said to have occurred on September 12, 2021.
However, counsel to the defendant, Chinonso Ekuma of KENNA LP, successfully argued that the claimants failed to disclose any legally recognisable violation attributable to the oil firm.
In its findings, the court held that the plaintiffs failed to establish any actionable wrongdoing against the defendant.
A key element in the court’s decision was the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) Report tendered by the plaintiffs themselves, which showed that the alleged spill incident was confined within ExxonMobil’s operational facility and did not impact the members of the cooperative society or their sources of livelihood.
The court further ruled that claims arising from such incidents must be pursued strictly under the statutory compensation framework provided in Section 11(5) of the Oil Pipelines Act, rather than through common-law claims founded on negligence or nuisance.
Justice Onyetenu held that the plaintiffs’ attempt to circumvent the statutory regime by framing the suit as a tort action rendered the matter incompetent before the court, thereby depriving it of jurisdiction.
Legal analysts say the judgment reinforces the supremacy of the Oil Pipelines Act in determining compensation procedures relating to oil pipeline incidents and environmental claims in Nigeria.
The ruling is also seen as strengthening the evidential weight of Joint Investigation Visit Reports, particularly in cases where such reports indicate no direct impact on claimants or host communities.
Industry observers believe the judgment will have far-reaching implications for future oil spill litigation, especially regarding the procedural requirements for compensation claims against oil operators.
The court’s decision further provides clarity for operators within Nigeria’s energy sector by reaffirming that compliance with Section 11(5) of the Oil Pipelines Act is mandatory and cannot be sidestepped through alternative legal formulations.
While K.O. Uzuokwu appeared for the plaintiffs, the defence was led by Chinonso Ekuma of KENNA LP on behalf of ExxonMobil.
Union Bank Honoured by ASBON at Nigeria National SME Business Awards
Lagos, Nigeria – Union Bank of Nigeria has reaffirmed its reputation as a strong supporter of Nigerian businesses, receiving the Best SME Growth Banking Initiatives Award for 2025 from the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON) at the Nigeria National SME Business Awards, held recently in Lagos.
The award was presented to the Bank in recognition of its strategic leadership in advancing the growth and resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises, through a differentiated suite of solutions designed to enable business expansion and long-term value creation.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Bank, Ayokunnumi Abraham, Head of SME Segment at Union Bank, described the recognition as a strong endorsement of the Bank’s commitment to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. He said:
“We are honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects Union Bank’s continued commitment to helping SMEs grow by making banking simpler, faster, and more accessible. Through enhancements to our specialised platforms such as Union360, we have meaningfully reduced the time it takes for businesses to come on board and begin transacting. These improvements have shortened onboarding, increased digital adoption among our SME customers, and supported the acquisition of new business clients. Our focus remains on delivering practical solutions that help Nigerian businesses thrive.”
Organised by ASBON in partnership with the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, the event convened stakeholders from the public and private sectors to recognise individuals and organisations driving meaningful impact across Nigeria’s SME ecosystem.
Union Bank remains focused on deepening its support for SMEs through customer-led solutions and processes that strengthen business growth across the ecosystem.
Bank
Atlantian Crown Bank Rebrands as Arizona Global Bank LLC, Begins Licensing for Global Expansion
*Atlantian Crown Bank Rebrands as Arizona Global Bank LLC, Begins Licensing for Global Expansion*
_By AGP News
*UNITED KINGDOM OF ATLANTIS* — In a move signaling a push into international markets, the Royal Throne of the United Kingdom of Atlantis on Sunday announced the corporate transformation of Atlantian Crown Bank LLC into *Arizona Global Bank LLC*, as part of a wider restructuring to position the institution for global banking and financial innovation.
The announcement was made at a press conference in the UKA capital by *HRM Queen Amb. Cletus C. Leaticia*, Chief Executive Officer of the newly named bank. She told reporters the rebranding marks _“more than a name change”_ and reflects a strategic pivot toward digital finance, cross-border investment, and modern banking standards.
_“This transformation represents our commitment to innovation-driven banking and our vision to become a globally competitive financial institution,”_ Queen Leaticia said.
*Licensing Process Underway*
According to the Department of Financial Administration and Corporate Affairs, which issued the official communication, Arizona Global Bank LLC has formally begun the process of applying for a *Banking Operational Licence* under UKA’s financial regulatory framework.
Once licensed, the bank plans to operate as a modern financial enterprise focused on four pillars:
1. Innovation-driven banking and digital financial solutions
2. Corporate financing and structured investment services
3. International financial partnerships and cross-border trade facilitation
4. Financial inclusion initiatives
Bank officials stressed that the institution will _“maintain strict compliance with all banking regulations and supervisory standards”_ set by UKA financial authorities.
*Strategic Shift Amid Global Ambitions*
Management described the rebranding as part of a broader restructuring initiative to _“strengthen the bank’s international identity, expand its global financial footprint, and align operations with contemporary banking standards.”_
Representatives called the licensing and rebranding process a _“major milestone”_ aimed at supporting economic growth, international trade, and cross-border investment initiatives.
*No Disruption to Existing Commitments*
Addressing potential concerns from clients and partners, management reassured stakeholders that _“all existing institutional commitments, operational objectives, and long-term strategic plans remain fully intact throughout the transition process.”_
The Royal Throne indicated that further updates on the licence approval, commencement of operations, corporate partnerships, and investment programmes will be released through official UKA and Arizona Global Bank LLC channels.
_The Department of Financial Administration and Corporate Affairs, Royal Throne of United Kingdom of Atlantis, issued the official statement._
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