Broadcasting
Is Your Work From Home Office Harming Your Health?
Working from home offers many comforts, such as your work commute being reduced to a few short steps and the “canteen” only as far away as your fridge, but there are health risks associated with it that you may not have considered.
Offices feature furniture specially designed for long hours of sitting, expertly placed overhead lighting, and computer screens set up at the correct height. Cleaning staff also regularly wipe down desks, vacuum and mop floors, and sanitise kitchens areas and bathrooms.
If your WFH office is a more casually set up affair, and you don’t have a regular cleaner coming in to help you, Aisha Pandor, CEO of home-cleaning service SweepSouth suggests taking these steps below to help mitigate health risks associated with WFH offices.
Don’t eat lunch at your desk
Most of us don’t think twice about eating at our desks, but research shows that it can be detrimental to our health. A study done by microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona to measure bacterial levels in offices shows that personal work areas contain alarmingly high levels of bacteria.
Desks, in particular, are teeming with germs, and eating at your desk can turn it into a bacteria super fest. It’s not the fact that you’re eating at your desk that’s unhealthy, it’s crumbs and tiny food particles left behind that bacteria feast on. In fact, Dr. Gerbera says, the average desk harbours 100 times more bacteria than a kitchen table!
Your WFH desk can support 10 million bacteria, and without proper cleaning, even a small area may contain bacteria that can make you ill. Keep your work surface hygienic by regularly cleaning it with an antibacterial product.
Wipe germs off your keyboard
During the pandemic, we all became aware of the importance of washing our hands thoroughly, especially after being out in public spaces. But, says Aisha, it’s important to practise good hand hygiene throughout the day, even if we don’t leave our homes.
According to British microbiologist Professor Sally Bloomfield, our hands and the surfaces we touch are the superhighways for bacteria. And, because we touch our phones and keyboards so often, they top the list of the dirtiest items on our desks. Wipe them down weekly to keep them clean. It’s impractical to think you can turn your home into a sterile zone, but you can stop your WFH space from becoming a bacterial battleground. If it feels exhausting balancing work, home duties and cleaning, hire a domestic worker through SweepSouth Connect to help tidy and clean for a few hours each week.
3. Vacuum your workspace
Any bits of food or biscuit crumbs that fall onto the floor or into hard-to-reach areas behind your desk can attract rats and cockroaches, bringing even more germs into the fray. Clean the floor around your desk regularly, especially if you have carpets. Carpets feel great underfoot, but they act as a trap for dirt, hair and dust mites, warns Aisha. Humans lose around 1 million skin particles and between 50-100 strands of hair every day, which means that as you sit at your WFH desk quietly typing away, you’re also busy being a human shedding machine! Even air pollutants like pollen, fungi and cigarette smoke get trapped in carpet fibres, and can trigger allergies, asthma and eczema attacks. It’s best, say the experts, to vacuum carpets and rugs at least twice a week, and more in high traffic areas.
4. Sitting is the new smoking
We’ve all heard that sitting is the new smoking, with warnings that sitting at a desk all day can be a major health hazard. According to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, sedentary behaviour can raise the risk of developing a disease like heart disease or Type 2 diabetes. Even if you exercise every day, sitting for long periods can still be problematic. It’s key to get up every hour and do a quick stretch or walk for at least a minute or two. A longer walk will be even better, boosting your circulation and helping to keep your joints, muscles, and ligaments loose.
5. Is your chair hurting your back?
The chair you sit in is very important. Most WFH chairs are dining room or kitchen chairs, suited only for short sitting sessions. A good chair — ideally an ergonomically designed office chair — will support your back and reduce aggravation to the spine. It’s also vital to be aware of your posture. We tend to slouch without even noticing it when we’ve been sitting in a chair for too long, which places a lot of pressure around the hips and back and strains the spine. It’s not just slouching that’s bad, though — sitting up straight and curving your back too much can put strain on it, too. Lastly, add abdominal strengthening exercises to your exercise routine. Having strong abdominal muscles helps with proper spine alignment and can relieve the pressure that sitting puts on your lower back.
6. Try to minimise eye strain
With remote working, everything happens via your screen, from the work you’re doing to Zoom meetings held with colleagues and clients, to the lunch you eat while checking emails on your phone.
Straining your vision can lead to blurry, overly sensitive eyes, watery or too-dry eyes, headaches, and Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS is characterised by blurred vision, acute headaches and severe eye irritation, caused by hours of looking at rapidly flickering screens, where eye muscles are unable to recover from the constant tension required to maintain focus on a close object. It’s a reversible condition, but symptoms may become more severe if you don’t change the way you use screens.
Make sure your computer monitor is placed slightly below eye level and about 60cm from your eyes, adjust the screen’s glare so that it’s not too bright, and reduce the amount of light that falls onto your monitor. If your desk is close to a window, use blinds or curtains to eliminate brightness.
Most importantly, take frequent breaks. Our eye muscles contract when we look at something close by, and relax when we look away, so every 30 minutes, try to look away from your screen for a short period of time.
Working from home offers so many perks, but it can be intense. Make it both productive and enjoyable by taking regular breaks to lessen the stress on your body and health.
Broadcasting
DG NCC Tasks University Dons on Research Commercialization, IP Management to Build Global Competitive Ecosystems
Dr. John Asein, director-general, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has charged universities to leverage Intellectual Property (IP), innovation management and research commercialisation to build vibrant, sustainable and globally competitive ecosystems.
The DG stated this while delivering a paper on: ‘’Research Commercialisation, IP Policy and Innovation Management’’ at the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) organised Business Clinic themed: Unlocking University-Driven Business Ecosystems: Innovation, Partnerships and Sustainable Enterprise Models in Abuja.
The programme was targeted at engaging Vice-Chancellors, principal officers and other key officers in Nigerian Universities in a practical dialogue on how to transit their institutions into thriving business ecosystems through innovation, enterprise development and strategic partnerships.
In his presentation, Dr. Asein, disclosed that Universities are now recognised as engines of national development and innovation hubs that must connect scholarship to business.
He noted that with over 300 Universities in Nigeria, there is need for structured pathways to turn ideas into commercial outcomes while attention should be focused on IP assets in our universities in order to harness them in a safe, sustainable and satisfactory manner.
The DG NCC speaking further on leveraging resources from the creativity locked up within the university system, harped on the need to harness the soft power of our youth as Nigeria’s most valuable natural resources are its people.
Drawing demography from Nigeria youthful population, he observed that over 70 percent of Nigerians who are under the age of 30 are mostly in the university system studying. These youths, he noted, shape cultures, technology and innovation through creativity and digital skills.
He tasked universities to become innovation factories where young people can explore ideas, protect their IP and grow startups by integrating innovation culture, entrepreneurship training and IP awareness into its learning environment.
He equally urged Universities to look beyond the sciences to commercialize traditional knowledge-based innovations and harness the potentials in the creative arts disciplines like music, visual arts, theatre arts and others for commercial outcomes.
Dr. Asein, recommended that universities as centres of learning, should take the lead in using the IP system for promoting education and learning, wealth creation, revenue generation and institutional development.
Underscoring the need for all universities to have an IP Policy, he noted that the Model developed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission in partnership with the CVCNU is a good starting point.
The Secretary-General, CVCNU, Prof. Andrew Haruna, presented the welcome address at the event while the Director, Technology Innovation and Commercialisation, NOTAP, Mrs. Adah H.N. Mokolo-Oladunke represented the Director-General, NOTAP at the event.
The 2025 CVCNU Business Clinic witnessed attendance from representatives of Public and Private Universities across the 36 States in Nigeria.
Drone
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will invest $115 million in counter-drone technology to safeguard the 2026 FIFA World Cup and events marking America’s 250th independence anniversary, creating a dedicated office for rapid drone system deployment.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described drones as “the new frontier of American air superiority,” stressing the need to counter threats from drug cartels using unmanned aircraft for smuggling and surveillance, alongside incidents like a 2025 NFL stadium drone flight and 2024 New Jersey sightings.
The funding supports 11 World Cup host cities expecting over one million visitors, building on FEMA’s $250 million grants to those states and addressing risks heightened by cartels’ advancing tech, including a reported FBI tracking plot in Mexico.
DHS has conducted over 1,500 counter-drone missions since 2018, with the new Program Executive Office accelerating acquisitions amid President Trump’s border security push.
Broadcasting
Youth Talent Takes Center Stage as T2 Ignites High-Octane Rap Battles @ Carnival Calabar
The energy at the Carnival Calabar Music Concert reached a new high as T2 introduced a first-ever rap battle platform, giving young Nigerians an electrifying stage to showcase their talent, creativity, and self-expression while competing for exciting prizes.
Held at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, the activation blended pulsating music, vibrant culture, and youthful energy into a dynamic celebration that kept thousands of carnival-goers fully engaged from start to finish.
Eight fearless contestants stepped into the spotlight, going bar for bar in an intense lyrical showdown. Rappers fused local languages, pidgin, and sharp punchlines, creatively weaving the T2 brand into their verses.
Anchored by the energetic hosting duo MC Double I and MC Princess, the rap battles thrilled over 16,000 attendees, including the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, delivering an unforgettable showcase of youth talent and cultural expression.
With prizes including fridges, gas cookers, sound systems, and airtime top-ups, the competition remained fierce throughout the night. After two high-energy rounds narrowed the field to a five-man final duel, Emmanuel Eye emerged as the overall winner, taking home the grand prize — a fridge.
“I never expected this at all,” Emmanuel said. “I came to the concert like anyone else, and hearing about the T2 rap battle was a surprise. When I got the chance to perform, I just went for it. Being named the overall winner is amazing, and I’m grateful to T2 for creating this platform to showcase our talent.”
Beyond the stage performances, T2’s presence added a digital layer to the carnival experience. As part of its role as Digital Technology Partner of Carnival Calabar, the brand introduced the MyT2 App as a lifestyle companion, while also enabling line reactivations, airtime top-ups, and instant rewards for hundreds of attendees, blending technology seamlessly into the live celebration.
Commenting on the activation, Chinelo Manefo, Specialist, Events and Sponsorship at T2, said:
“The energy from both the rappers and the crowd was incredible. This platform reflects exactly what T2 aims to create — a celebration of youth, creativity, and culture, enhanced by technology that connects people and experiences. Seeing the audience so immersed shows how music and performance can empower the next generation.”
The Carnival Calabar Music Concert, headlined by Tiwa Savage, Timaya, and top local performers, was further energized by T2’s interactive rap battle platform. By blending music, culture, youth expression, and digital innovation, T2 reinforced its commitment to championing Nigeria’s next generation, giving young creatives a stage to shine while enriching how they experience the festival.
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