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STAY FIT with VICKY : Dance as an exercise

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STAY FIT with VICKY   :DANCE AS AN EXERCISE (part 2)

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Are you the type that hates to go to the gym? Does the mere thought of having to run on a treadmill make you shudder with distaste? Are you sick of the same boring exercise routines? Then you should consider taking up DANCE.
Dance has physical and mental health benefits. Dancing is good exercise and a fun way to keep fit. Ballet, belly dancing, salsa, ballroom dancing, hip-hop, square-dancing and tap dancing are different dancing styles.
It’s a sport that both men and women can enjoy and benefit from.
There are many forms of dance, from ballroom to barn dancing and disco to Morris dancing. Dance has always been a part of human culture, rituals and celebrations. Dance is a great form of exercise as it provides you both aerobic and anaerobic movements. Our bodies need a combination of both types of exercise in order to be in their healthiest.

Today, I want to let you know that most dancing is about recreation and self-expression, although it can also be done as a competitive activity. Dancing is an enjoyable way to be more physically active and stay fit.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF DANCING
In dance, Aerobic exercise can be achieved by jumping, swaying, twirling etc. While Anaerobic exercise include holding squat positions, lifting someone else or your own body and balancing.
Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range of physical and mental benefits including:

1. Improved condition of your heart and lungs

2. Increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness

3.Increased aerobic fitness

4. Improved muscle tone and strength

5. Weight management

6. Stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis

7. Better coordination, agility and flexibility

8. Improved balance and spatial awareness

9. Increased physical confidence

10. Improved mental functioning

11. Improved general and psychological well being

12. Greater self-confidence and self-esteem

13. Better social skills.

HOW TO START WITH DANCING?
You can dance in a group, with a partner, or on your own. There are lots of different places where you can enjoy dancing. For example, at dance schools, social venues, community halls and in your own home. Dancing has become such a popular way to be active and keep fit, that most fitness clubs now offer dance classes in their group exercise programs.

Dancing can be done both competitively and socially. It can be a great recreational and sporting choice, because anyone of any age can take part. It doesn’t matter whether it is cold or raining, as dancing is usually done indoors.
Dancing stretches your body in new ways that you’ve never tried before. Also dance helps your muscle to be more flexible.

The gear you need for dancing will depend on the style of dancing you choose. For example, tap dancing will involve buying tap shoes, whereas ballet will need ballet slippers and ballet clothing. To get started, simply choose a style you enjoy Or enroll for dance class with an instructor.

TYPES OF DANCE
There are many styles of dance to choose from, each with its own attractions. Popular styles of dancing include:

• BALLET – mostly performed to classical music, this dance style focuses on strength, technique and flexibility.

• BALLROOM DANCING – this involves a number of partner-dancing styles such as the waltz, swing, foxtrot, rumba and tango.

• BELLY DANCING – originating in the Middle East, this dance style is a fun way to exercise.

• HIP-HOP – it’s performed mostly to hip-hop music. This urban dance style can involve breaking, popping, locking and freestyling.

• JAZZ – A high-energy dance style involving kicks, leaps and turns to the beat of the music.

• POLE DANCING – this has become increasingly popular as a form of exercise. It involves sensual dancing with a vertical pole, and requires muscle endurance, coordination, and upper- and lower-body strength.

• SALSA – salsa is usually a partner dance and emphasizes rhythms and sensuality. It involves a mixture of Caribbean, Latin American and African influences.

• SQUARE-DANCING – A type of folk dancing where four couples dance in a square pattern, moving around each other and changing partners.

• TAP DANCING – focuses on timing and beats. The name originates from the tapping sounds made when the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch the ground.

One thing that dancing can provide that jogging and regular gym exercise can’t is CREATIVE OUTLET. You are free to invent new forms, choose your own music and even put makeup and costume to your dance routines.

Here are important questions you must ask yourself before choosing a dance style:

* Do I want to dance to improve my fitness?

* Am I trying to improve my flexibility and coordination?

* Do I prefer fast dancing or slow dancing?

* Do I want to dance with a partner, or on my own?

* Do I want to join a group, or have private lessons?

* Will I enjoy competitions, or do I want to dance just for fun?

Healthy TIPS for dancing:
If you are thinking of taking up dancing, suggestions include:

– See your doctor for a check-up if you have a medical condition, are overweight, are over 40 years of age or are unfit.

– Wear layers of clothing that you can take off as your body warms up.

– Do warm-up stretches or activities before you begin a dance session.

– Drink plenty of water before, during and after dancing.

– Make sure you rest between dance sessions.

– Don’t push yourself too far or too fast, especially if you are a beginner.

– Wear professionally fitted shoes appropriate to your style of dance.

– Check with your dance instructor that you are holding the correct form.

– Sit and watch new dance moves first. Learning new moves increases your risk of injury, especially if you are already tired.

– Perform regular leg-strengthening exercises.

– Move as fluidly and gracefully as you can.

– Cool down after a dance session, including stretching.

ALWAYS REMEMBER

•Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes.

•Dancing can improve your muscle tone, strength, endurance and fitness.

•Dancing is a great way to meet new friends.

•See your doctor for a check-up if you have a medical condition, you are overweight, over 40 years of age or unfit.

There is an unending supply of dance moves. Thus, it is very difficult to get bored with creating new dance moves. Once you get the basics down, a whole world of options will open up to you.

For more information, Contact Vicky on :
[email protected]

Education

GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

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GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

*GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

 

Girau International School (GIS), a premier educational institution located in the heart of Millennium City, Kaduna, has officially announced the commencement of admissions for the forthcoming academic year. The school invites applications for its comprehensive educational streams: *Early Years, Primary, Secondary, and Islamiyya*.

Renowned for its unwavering commitment to academic excellence and holistic development, GIS stands as a beacon of learning in Northern Nigeria. The institution is built on a foundational philosophy dedicated to providing *world-class education* that meets international standards while being firmly rooted in positive cultural and moral values.

The school’s mission extends beyond conventional academics. With a dedicated focus on *nurturing young minds and shaping future leaders* of tomorrow, GIS employs a curated blend of innovative teaching methodologies, a blended curriculum, and state-of-the-art facilities. The environment is meticulously designed to ensure that every student excels *academically, socially, and morally*, preparing them to thrive in a dynamic global landscape.

*A CAPACITY FOR EXCELLENCE*

GIS boasts significant capacity to deliver on its promises:
* *Modern Infrastructure:* The campus features purpose-built, technologically integrated classrooms, advanced science and computer laboratories, expansive sports facilities, and dedicated learning spaces for creative and performing arts.
* *Qualified Faculty:* The school employs a team of highly trained, experienced, and passionate educators who are specialists in child-centered and participatory learning.
* *Blended Curriculum:* The academic programme seamlessly integrates the Nigerian/British curriculum ensuring international best practices, complemented by a strong emphasis on character building, leadership skills, and Islamic ethical teachings in its Islamiyya section.
* *Secure and Conducive Environment:* Situated within the serene and secure Millennium City layout, the school provides a safe, inclusive, and stimulating atmosphere ideal for learning and personal growth.

Prospective parents and guardians seeking an educational partnership that prioritizes excellence, discipline, and comprehensive development for their wards are encouraged to secure a place.

Admission forms are available at the school’s administration office. Early application is advised due to limited vacancies across all classes.

 

GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

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Education

NIGERIA’S EDUCATION STRIDES, GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT: When Evidence Travels from Jigawa

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Governing Through Hardship: How Tinubu’s Policies Targets the Poor. By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com 

NIGERIA’S EDUCATION STRIDES, GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT: When Evidence Travels from Jigawa

…as President Tinubu set to commission Africa’s largest schools complex in Lagos

By O’tega Ogra

 

There is a quiet shift happening in Nigeria’s education system. You will not find it in speeches neither will you find it in long policy documents. But if you look closely, you will see it in something far more difficult to dismiss. Evidence.

Last week in San Francisco, at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference, data from classrooms in Jigawa State was presented before a global audience. Not projections. Not estimates. A record of what is happening inside a public system in Nigeria. 

That distinction matters. For years, much of what the world has understood about education in countries like ours has been assembled from a distance. National averages. Modelled estimates and reports written long after the fact. What was presented this time came from within. Attendance tracked daily. Teachers reassigned based on need. Classrooms observed as they function. All under a digitalised ecosystem.

In Jigawa, under the JigawaUNITE foundational learning digital programme, the numbers tell a simple story. Within roughly 150 days of implementation which commenced at the end of 2024, 95 previously understaffed schools were fully staffed. Pupil teacher ratio moved from 114:1 to 70:1. Daily attendance rose from 39 per cent to 77 per cent. This remarkable improvement was not achieved by expanding the workforce. It came from reorganising what already existed under a digital umbrella.

There is something instructive in that. Nigeria has never lacked policy. What we have often lacked is the discipline of execution. The ability to take what already exists and make it work as intended. That is where the real shift is beginning to show.

But it would be too convenient to reduce this to one programme.

At the federal level, the direction has also been adjusting. The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has placed measurable outcomes, foundational learning, and teacher quality back at the centre of policy. UBEC, the Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education body, continues to drive national interventions around school improvement and teacher development, even as it insists that reform must remain system-led and not fragmented.

The First Lady’s education interventions, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, have reinforced education as a national priority, particularly around access, learning materials, and inclusion. These are different levers, but they are part of the same ecosystem.

And then there is the fiscal reality.

Recent reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have increased allocations to subnational governments, creating more room for states to act. In a federation like Nigeria, that matters. Because education is not delivered from Abuja. It is delivered in states. In schools. In classrooms.

What Jigawa has done is to use that room and the Executive Governor of the state, the State Universal Basic Education Board, and their partners on the JigawaUNITE project, New Globe, must be given kudos.

However, Jigawa is not alone in this journey.

In Kwara, efforts to align teaching with actual learning levels are beginning to correct a structural mismatch in classrooms. In Lagos and Edo, structured pedagogy and closer monitoring are improving consistency in teaching. Across the entire ecosystem, state governments, federal institutions like UBEC, and delivery partners like NewGlobe are pushing at the same question from different angles.

How do children actually learn better?

In a prior reflection, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, VP at NewGlobe, captured the urgency clearly. With the right tools, training, and use of data, foundational learning outcomes can improve at scale. The real risk, she noted, is delay, allowing learning gaps to become permanent.

That warning should not be ignored because the context remains difficult. Nigeria still carries one of the largest out of school populations in the world. Learning gaps remain. Progress in one state does not resolve a national challenge, but it does something else.

It proves that movement is possible.

What was presented in Washington did not claim success. It demonstrated function. It showed that a Nigerian sub-national can generate evidence that holds up in a global room. That reform does not always require something new. Sometimes it requires using what already exists more honestly and more efficiently.

The real question now is whether this remains an exception.

Or whether it becomes a pattern.

Because reform at scale is never built on isolated wins. It is built on systems that can reproduce them.

And perhaps that is why the timing matters.

This week, another subnational, Lagos State, is expected to commission the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle, a sprawling 36-school integrated facility spread across 11.7 hectares, designed to serve over 20,000 students, and described as the largest school community in Africa. 

There is a connection here that should not be missed.

On one hand, a classroom system in Jigawa is learning how to organise itself better. On the other, a state like Lagos is building the physical scale required to carry thousands of learners at once.

One is structure. The other is capacity.

Real progress sits where both meet because education reform is not only about what we build, it is about how well what we build actually works.

For once, the data was not explaining Nigeria from the outside.

It was coming from within.

And it carried weight.

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Education

FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa

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FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa

~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

Fab Luxury Court distinguishes itself as the premier choice for reliable investors and proactive developers in Nigeria and Africa.While numerous real estate entities operate within the country, Fab Luxury Court stands out for its exceptional honesty and integrity, delivering on the promises showcased on its social media page to distinguished customers globally.

As of now, no investors, whether domestic or international, have expressed regret over investing in or partnering with Fab Luxury Court. The company’s commitment to accessibility, accountability, and transparent financial reviews sets it apart from its contemporaries, rendering it a prized asset among its extensive clientele worldwide. Thousands of customers continue to patronize Fab Luxury Court due to its impeccable integrity and visionary approach.

 

*Why is Fab Luxury Court a worthwhile investment that warrants prompt consideration rather than hesitation?*

Fab Luxury Court’s security measures are exemplary and deserving of commendation, providing investors with capital protection through a robust structured framework, transparent reporting, and comprehensive legal documentation, thereby guaranteeing outstanding and secure returns.

Fab Luxury Court has further cemented its position as a leading developer and real estate powerhouse in Nigeria and Africa, currently managing several high-end estates in Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos and its surrounding areas.Fab Luxury Court demonstrates its unwavering commitment to excellence in Nigeria’s real estate sector through its best-selling estates in Ikeja.

Undoubtedly, partnering with and patronizing Fab Luxury Court will significantly contribute to securing your future; as you plan to associate with them in 2027, we encourage you to maintain a positive outlook and unwavering confidence in your future wealth.

 

FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa
~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

 

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