JUUC FirstLight

By Jesse Jackson  The recent tax demand of ₦36 million from popular TikToker, Habeeb "Peller" Hamzat, by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has begun a nationwide conversation about celebrity wealth and tax compliance in Nigeria. The controversy, which began after Peller's public discussion of his earnings, is a clear reminder that the era of conspicuous consumption without tax accountability may be coming to an end for the nation's digital stars. This case proves that the government is now actively monitoring social media to assess the income of influencers and celebrities. Under Nigerian law, all residents must pay tax on their income, regardless of whether it's earned locally or from platforms like TikTok. This serves as a critical warning to all content creators. The era of living a luxurious life online while avoiding taxes is over. Peller has the legal right to challenge the tax bill, but he must provide concrete financial evidence to prove his ...

 BY PRAISE NKANANG Introduction  The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has emerged as a game-changer for the continent's economic landscape, fostering intra-African trade, investment, and economic integration. One of the key challenges facing African businesses is accessing financing and investment opportunities to drive growth and innovation. Intellectual property-backed securitization offers a potential solution to this challenge, enabling businesses to leverage their intellectual property assets to access new funding sources and investment opportunities within the AfCFTA framework. What is Intellectual Property-Backed Securitization? Intellectual property-backed securitization involves converting intellectual property rights into financial assets that can be traded, sold, or used as collateral to raise capital. This financial technique allows businesses to unlock the value of their intellectual property assets, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and use...

BY KAMSI MAFO Her head rests on his lap. His hand runs through her hair. She looks at him, a smile on her face. He seems not to notice, his brow furrowed with thought. She reaches up and touches his cheek lightly and his face lightens. "What smart thing are you thinking now?" she asks. He laughs gently, his baritone voice causing a vibration at the back of her neck that makes her tongue tingle. "Bits and pieces, here and there… nothing much," he responds. She looks at him funnily. "A funny anecdote or a paradox? Perhaps it's another story about another mad man," she says, laughing too. There’s a bit of quiet, and the only sound they hear is the night. "Tell me one of them," she says. "One of your stories." He smiles and tells her that it's not as easy as she thinks. "It comes and goes… like a whisper in the wind," he tells her. "There's a lot of breeze about," she responds. "Listen—perhaps it'll ...

 BY TREASURE EKANEM “I think I’m losing faith in humanity.”  I get too engrossed in the things I do sometimes, and my roommates and friends have gotten used to repeating statements before I get to hear them. So, when I looked up at Sandy, the look on her let me know that she had made that statement to me more than once. I was piqued cause Sandy is one of the few friends I have that wholeheartedly lets me be the talker. She doesn’t voice out her thoughts and issues words sparingly. I knew whatever made her come all the way to my bed to say this must have burdened her a lot. So, I put my PC down, and asked, “Why do you think so?” No one truly loves any more. No one truly cares any more. No one gives selflessly anymore. No one trusts wholeheartedly anymore. We hate ourselves and we let it show in everything we do. We have become so self absorbed that as far as a concern doesn’t directly affect us, we wouldn’t care if it all goes to hell. We are so consumed in our own interests th...

BY EDIOMO MORRISON  There were nights that 'I could not do it again.' Those nights, I would cry my eyes out, lick the catarrh that had moved from my nose to my mouth, and use my pillow as a kerchief. Those were the nights I dreamt. About giving up. They were good dreams. Somehow, those nights, I wouldn't know how, but I was working with my friends in places I wanted to work in, I was married to the best man in the world and had the most beautiful kids I ever wanted. On nights like that, I would smile because I walked into big rooms, moderated interviews, owned a podcast, bagged a law degree with a first class and lived a comfortable life. On nights like that, I was happy. The next morning, when I'm woken by the mosquitoes that seem to sing better by my ear, the irritation from my skin dripping with sweat, or my alarm blaring "Praise the Lord" by Brandon Lake & Elevation Worship, I hear myself say, "you cannot give up on it". It's like I see m...

BY JESAM IBIANG Life often presents us with circumstances that challenge our core, moments where the ground beneath us seems to crumble. It is in these instances of profound hurt, overwhelming challenge, or urgent need for help that we frequently encounter denial. Denial is not merely ignoring a problem; it’s a profound, internal choice to cling to “what is not,” even when we know, deep down, the stark reality of “what is.” The truth is, there is no shame in acknowledging vulnerability or fear. Denial is a form of fear and it is often difficult to acknowledge fear. Denial, blurs the truth, offering a distorted lens through which to view our circumstances. I am not saying that denial is altogether a terrible thing. Denial is not inherently malicious. It serves a primal, protective function. Imagine the immediate aftermath of a sharp cut—a knife or a machete. For a few crucial seconds, there’s a numbness, a strange void before your brain registers the trauma and sends in the searing pain...