Music has always been my favorite pastime and Keith Lionel Urban, my choicest singer. My closet is crammed with all his latest country music albums. Keith urban needs no formal introduction and this Australian country music singer has already registered his name in the top 10 US billboard with the songs ‘Be Here’  and ‘Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing’ having received overwhelming response from the music fraternity. The whole of United States rock to his tunes of some of his best hits like “Somebody Like You,” and “You’ll Think of Me, among others. 

Keith Urban started playing guitar at a very tender age of six and started playing country music at Nashville before long. A teenaged Keith worked steadily to earn a permanent place in a band. It is astonishing to note that he learned the songs all by himself by listening to famous music bands like Dire Straits. Keith showed the courage and innovation to put to test a fusion of the rock with country music, which later on became his signature technique.  

Soon he migrated to the musical city of Nashville where he cobbled up a three member band of ‘The Ranch’, which took the city by storm by its scintillating live shows. His first independent album hit the stands in 1997. The album received accolades and rave reviews from far and wide and music buffs lapped up the piping hot offering of the country music to the accompaniment of pumping guitar notes and fast music. Soon, many other celebrated artists like Dixie Chicks and Grath Brooks approached him, in a bid to rub on the Midas touch in their records as well.  

The first self-titled album of Urban “It’s a Love Thing,” received a lukewarm response though it had minor blemishes that were expected of a debutant artist. Soon, he set off on a tour with Brooks & Dunn’s Neon Circus, which ensured him widespread publicity and later in the same year of 2001 he received the CMA Horizon award. Awards and rewards came by Urban with astonishing regularity that was topped off by the coveted Grammy award for best male country vocal performance. Married to the Hollywood actress, Nicole Kidman, the career graph of Urban is set to touch the stars in the years to come! 

Nigeria- the land of pristine beaches, cascading waterfalls and ebony colored beauties is located at the western coast of
Africa. The economy of this nation is powered by many industries with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) playing a pivotal role in garnering funds. NSE was set up in 1960 and today it boasts of over 283 listed companies with a gross market capitalisation of about N8.2 trillion. The only index used is the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Shares Index.

Nigeria is a huge nation with big aspirations and a progressive out look. The emergence of the private sector has given a vital fillip to develop the financial capability and buoyancy to build up a market-driven economic system and competence to vie for global business contracts. It could steadily decrease its dependence on foreign investments during this phase.

Many economic decisions set off by President Obasanjo, has started to stir up an upward surge in the Nigerian stock market. The nation’s first multinational company Transcorp started its operations with a primary share capital of 56 billion naira and is hoping to harness more funds from the Nigerian Capital Market by way of an initial public offering listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. To attract foreign investments, the Nigerian government has scrapped the legislation that hindered the foreign capital fund flow to
Nigeria. This in turn allowed the foreign share brokers to get enlisted in the Nigerian stock exchange as dealers.
Nigeria also welcomes investment from people of any nationality without any hurdles. Nigerian business organizations can also employ cross border listings or multiple listings in foreign markets.

Last year, The Exchange witnessed a record turnover with an impressive growth of a staggering 104.9%- considered by far the highest annual turnover ever since its inception. Trading activities also recorded an all time high both in the Primary and Secondary market. The ripples created in the stock market have launched Nigeria into the global economic platform by triggering off a spate of economic activities. The innovative and path breaking strategies are sure to bring in more positive results in the days to come.

The stock market has started showing an impressive growth and tremendous trading activities with many blue chip companies like Cadbury Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Breweries and Unilever Nigeria among others making impressive returns.

In the past two months, there has been a good amount of leakage happening in the guest bathroom of our house. When my ailing mother-in-law decided to come down to stay with us permanently, we knew it was time for action.

We refurbished the bathroom keeping in mind her age and health. Though the additions were small, they were really important lest she slipped and fell down.

First we decided to separate the dry area from the wet so the bathroom would be dry always. A shower curtain divided the toilet and bath area. Instead of a shower curtain, a glass partition is also an option. To wipe any excess water, a mop was placed in the shower area.

The handrails near the toilet and in the bath area are useful for taking support while getting up. A rod behind the door was also installed to hang clothes.

Other additional fittings like hand shower for bath and the toilet, an open shelf and extra hooks at within reach height on the wall were added.

A small washbasin to wash hands / face with a small mirror cabinet to keep her toiletries was fixed outside the bath area.

A normal height plastic stool was placed so anyone can sit during bath or while brushing the teeth. A floor mat was placed outside the bathroom door to wipe the water off the feet.

Proper lighting by fixed bulbs at convenient points was to ensure that the bathroom is well lit, both during the day and at night. To converse energy and provide cooler and intense light, one can use PL tubes.

We were quite apprehensive about the changes done, but seeing her big happy smile, while inspecting the bathroom, we knew we did the right thing.

There are many things that one can do to the bathrooms often used by elders or ailing members. The above mentioned are just few of them. Keeping in mind their needs, you are sure to be showered with unlimited silent blessings, as your elders will feel emotionally stronger and able to cope better with their predicament with this essential help from you.