News

8 Natural Ways To Keep Your Home Cool Without AC

Published

5 days ago

September 20, 2026

Keeping a house cool in Nigeria can become expensive when an air conditioner runs for several hours every day. Fortunately, the way a home is ventilated, shaded and arranged can make a noticeable difference to indoor comfort without keeping the air conditioner on continuously.

Simple measures such as improving airflow, blocking direct sunlight and reducing indoor heat can help to make rooms more comfortable while using less electricity.

In this article, Nigerian Tribune highlights the natural ways of cooling your home without 24/7 air conditioning.

Use cross-ventilation to move hot air out

One of the simplest ways to cool a room naturally is to create a path for air to move through it.

Where possible, open windows or doors on opposite sides of a room or house, particularly when the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air. This allows fresh air to enter from one side while warmer air leaves through another opening.

Cross-ventilation works best when there is a clear route between the openings. Avoid blocking windows with furniture, heavy curtains or other objects that restrict airflow. In the evening and early morning, when outdoor temperatures are generally lower, opening suitable windows can help release heat that has accumulated indoors during the day.

Keep direct sunlight out

Sunlight entering through windows can significantly increase the temperature of a room.

Windows that receive strong afternoon sunlight, particularly west-facing windows, deserve special attention.

Install thick curtains, thermal curtains or lined blinds to reduce the amount of solar heat entering the room. Keep these coverings closed during the hottest part of the day when direct sunlight is hitting the windows. They can then be opened later when outdoor conditions become cooler and natural ventilation is useful.

External shading can be even more effective because it prevents sunlight from reaching the glass in the first place. Where practical, roof overhangs, verandas, shades and appropriately positioned plants can help to reduce direct solar exposure.

Make better use of ceiling fans

A ceiling fan does not lower the actual temperature of a room in the same way an air conditioner does. Instead, it moves air across the skin , helping sweat evaporate and making people feel cooler. This means a fan can provide useful comfort without the energy demand of running an air conditioner continuously.

During periods when outdoor air is reasonably cool, combine fan use with open windows to improve air movement. At night, a fan can help circulate air through the room while windows provide an escape route for warmer air.

Reduce heat entering through the roof

The roof receives intense sunlight throughout the day, making it an important source of heat in many Nigerian homes. A well-insulated roof can slow the transfer of heat from the roof space into rooms below. Where insulation is possible, materials designed for roofs and ceilings can help to reduce the amount of heat entering the living space. A reflective or light-coloured roof surface can also reduce solar heat absorption compared with a darker surface.

For homeowners constructing or renovating a property, addressing the roof and ceiling can therefore be more effective than relying entirely on mechanical cooling.

Use plants and shade wisely

Trees and vegetation around a home can provide shade and reduce the amount of direct sunlight reaching walls, windows and outdoor areas. Planting trees in appropriate locations can therefore contribute to a cooler surrounding environment over time.

However, plants should not be used to block essential ventilation openings. Keep vegetation sufficiently away from walls, windows and drainage areas to avoid creating dampness, pest problems or restricted airflow. The goal is to provide shade without preventing air from moving around the building.

Avoid creating unnecessary indoor heat

Some everyday activities generate considerable heat. Cooking, ironing and using heat-producing appliances can make an already warm room uncomfortable. Where possible, cook in a well-ventilated kitchen and avoid using heat-generating appliances for long periods during the hottest part of the day.

Energy-efficient appliances can also reduce the amount of waste heat produced indoors while lowering electricity consumption. If a kitchen is poorly ventilated, installing suitable ventilation or using an extractor can help to remove hot air and cooking fumes.

Keep windows and ventilation paths clear

Good ventilation can be undermined by simple obstructions. Furniture placed directly in front of windows, thick materials covering air vents and poorly positioned household items can restrict airflow. Keep important openings clear so that air can enter and leave freely.

Where a home has high-level vents or other openings designed to release warm air, ensure they remain functional and are not permanently blocked.

Use cool-room strategies at night

Night-time cooling can be particularly useful in hot climates.

Once outdoor temperatures fall, open suitable windows and doors to allow accumulated heat to escape. Fans can be used to improve the movement of cooler air through the house.

Bedrooms should be prepared for sleeping by removing unnecessary heat sources and using light, breathable bedding. If the building has retained substantial heat during the day, ventilation should continue long enough to allow walls, ceilings and furniture to release some of that stored heat.

Combine methods instead of relying on one

The most effective natural cooling strategy is usually a combination of several simple measures.

Keep direct sunlight out with curtains or external shading. Use cross-ventilation when outdoor air is cooler. Improve air movement with ceiling fans and reduce heat entering through the roof and windows. These measures work together.

Shading reduces the heat entering the house, ventilation removes accumulated warm air and fans improve comfort by moving air across the body. For households trying to reduce air-conditioning use, the aim should not necessarily be to eliminate air conditioning completely. Instead, natural cooling methods can reduce the number of hours it is needed.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.