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Make an influential difference

During the Covid-19 pandemic, bloggers must make an influential difference to their readers while remaining creative and interesting.

Has the lockdown increased imagination or lessened creativity? We did a little research on what the current situation is like for bloggers and how they are making a difference.

Advantage rather than setback

Among the many, many bloggers Tiannah Toyin Lawani and Sofiyat Ibrahim impressed us with their optimistic ways of using Covid-19 as an advantage rather than a setback.

But before we share their stories we have a look at the daily life of an influential blogger.

Blogging influencers strengthen communication and relations with followers. For this reason they have a conscious connection with the environment and want to positively pave the way for a better future. An influential blogger stays up to date with current affairs and shares sustainable, positive cultural content and activities.

Tiannah Toyin Lawani

As an illustration, fashion designer Tiannah Toyin Lawani from Lagos Nigeria started a glitter and rhinestone mask trend. Returning home from a fabric buying spree in Istanbul, Tiannah noticed people staring at her surgical mask. At that moment she realised that if the mask matched her outfit, people wouldn’t stare but think ‘that’s fashion’.

Tiannah decided that protective gear could use more glamour. With the help of seven tailors living in her home in Lagos Tiannah’s designs, made to match ball gowns and bikinis are raising awareness and made it Lagos Fashion Week.

These unique designs are sought after items for Tiannah’s elite customers and social media followers. Recently, Omashola Kola Oburoh, a Big Brother Naija finalist sported a shimmery pinkish silver suit with three-dimensional fabric skulls on the chest and a matching face mask made by Tiannah which went viral when he shared it with his 756,000 Instagram followers.

Celebrity stylist, Tiannah and her team has received hundreds of orders and they’ve sent 1,000 free masks to charities. She is working hard with her tailors and managers who follow strict hand-washing schedules and regular dance breaks lift moods.

Sofiyat Ibrahim

Another Nigerian influencer is Sofiyat Ibrahim whose blog ‘The Odditty’ creates quirky and lovable content needed during quarantine.

The Odditty

The 22-year-old blogger, content creator and graduate student has created a bright spot on the internet during Covid-19. The Odditty reflects on the pervasiveness of influencer culture. It embraces online laughter with Sofiyat’s fun, upbeat, and genuine tactics. The Nigerian-born creator wants the world to know that she is extremely multifaceted. She is set to earn her masters in International Affairs and Peace and Conflict Studies soon and she hopes to use both her platform and her degree to support charity work in Nigeria and beyond.

The Odditty is a blog where readers can have lots of fun, it’s a place to escape. The content resonates with people during the pandemic because it’s a welcomed distraction. Distraction is exactly what Sofiyat gives followers, she helps them by saying “look at me, rocking these dresses, acting a fool, look at me telling you to be confident.” It’s a powerful space to make people laugh and realise it’s possible to exist in a space where you don’t drive yourself crazy worrying so much. The blog captures people in the moment and shares an enjoyable engaging space for people looking for laughter.

Give back

However, Sofiyat plans to give a lot to charity and share her resources with people around the world. All proceeds from her first event, a ‘Nigerian Story Time’ went to the winner’s choice. She says “It’s little things like that where I’m getting this opportunity and I’m going to give it back.

The Odditty is an interesting space where you feel like you can be cool but really smart too!

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While the world copes with COVID-19, we take a moment to share some environment changes that are taking place on our planet.

Venice
The ancient city of Venice has transformed almost overnight; under sunny blue skies, a look down into the waters of the canals is a surprising sight, you see a clear view of the sandy bed, seabirds, seaweed, shoals of tiny fish, scuttling crabs and colourful plant-life. The water is blue, clear and calm like a pond, the ducks are happily making nests and laying eggs.

New York
New York’s air is also cleaner; it’s the cleanest residents have seen for years. Researchers have found that there has been a 5 to 10% drop in air pollutants like carbon dioxide and methane emissions have also dropped significantly.

China
China, is experiencing a remarkable transformation. The bright, blue smog-free skies are a sight not seen in years. Researchers are reporting reductions in air pollution with ‘good quality air days’ increasing by 21.5% in February. Satellite images show a dramatic reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions released by vehicles, power plants and industrial facilities. There is a marked drop in coal consumption; major coal-fired power stations saw a 36% drop in consumption between February and March.

Earth
Around the world, seismologists are observing a lot less ambient seismic noise, this means less vibrations generated by cars, trains, buses and people going about their daily lives. In the absence of that noise, earth’s upper crust is moving a little less.

Brussels
Brussels is seeing about a 30% to 50% reduction in ambient seismic noise since middle March, the time the country started implementing school and business closures and other social distancing measures, the level is on par with what is seen on Christmas Day.

London
The noise in West London has been affected, showing a decline of noise in the period after schools and social venues in the United Kingdom closed and again after a government lockdown was announced. This indicates evidence that people are listening to authorities’ warnings to stay inside and minimize outside activity as much as possible; everyone is respecting the rules.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the surreal slowdown of life as we know it has presented researchers and scientists with a rare opportunity to study the modern world under bizarre conditions.

In agreement, from around the world researchers agree on four points; there’s less rumbling on the surface of the earth, there’s less air pollution, city soundscapes are changing and the oceans are quitter too.

Like most species, we agree that less pollution is a real welcome!