This young Nigerian lady, Favour Oluma, clearly understands that. She is therefore putting her knowledge into good use by taking her Tyre recycling craft onto a higher level.

Tyre recycling is the process of converting waste tyres that are no longer suitable for use on vehicles ( due to wear or irreparable damage ) into usable objects. These tyres are a very challenging source of waste, due to the large volume produced, their durability , and the components in the tyres that are not eco-friendly. Because tyres are highly durable and non-biodegradable, they can consume valued space in landfills . According to Wikipedia, In 1990, it was estimated that over 1 billion scrap tyres were in stockpiles in the United States. As of 2015, only 67 million tyres remain in stockpiles. Tyre recycling indeed aids in reducing the number of waste tyres hanging around in the streets.

Favour is an educational product of Federal Government Girls Keana , and she is a visual definition of beauty with brains. Favour converts waste tyres into anything you can think of; mirror frames (which is even more protective), center tables, stools etc. Check out the pictures of some of her works .

Photo source: Favour Oluma

Friends can destroy ourlives or make  it better

It is okay to do things for your friends to show loyalty but we must never do these things for a friend no matter what.

1. Lie for them or corroborate their lies.

Most of us feel that because a person is our friend then we must have that herd mentality that insinuates whatever they do should be supported irrespective that it might violate moral standards. You should never lie as a surety to their lies. In the case of criminal activities, you've implicated yourself as well as reduce trust in you.

Lara went to see her boyfriend. Ngozi her friend corroborated her lies that she was coming to see her in Enugu State. Lara had an accident and died on her way to see her boyfriend in Cross River. Ngozi has called her parents to tell them that she has already arrived and was sleeping.

2. Lend them money

Don't get me wrong. Help your friends if you have the ability but don't lend them money. Lending money is the reason why most friends are no longer on talking terms anymore. This is what you should do instead. If a friend asks for 10k, reach a consensus within yourself on the amount you can part with at that moment. If you can give 3k then give the person and tell them you don't have 10k but they should take that amount and source for the rest elsewhere.

Again do not ever at any time under any circumstances for any reason whatsoever lend a friend money that has purpose. It's tantamount to shooting yourself in the foot. Money with purpose includes school fees, house rent, foodstuffs money, other people's money and any money that has a designated use. No matter when you'll be needing it or the promises the borrower makes, do not yield to the temptation no matter who it is. This is the best way to avoid stories that touch the heart.

3. Vouch for them

'He will never do a thing like that', 'I know her very well'. Statements like this have put so many people in trouble. 95% of parents don't know their children. 90% of couples don't even know each other. No matter how long you've known a person, it doesn't necessarily mean you know the person well enough. You can only predict their character to an extent in certain situations but you'll never know their deepest secrets. Do not swear any oath of confidence on the behalf of anyone to avoid implicating yourself. If you must say 'he has never done a thing like this before to the best of my knowledge'. This way you have exonerated yourself.

James was a member of the church choir and plays the instruments. He is also a model student in every appearance. One day, money got missing in the house where he lived and he was accused of taking it. Alfred his best friend came and took an oath of confidence for him saying he'll never do a thing like that. A house search was approved and the money was found in James's ceiling. He had put the money through a crack in the ceiling with hope that no one will search there. However, a neighbor pointed how easy it is to put something through the crack of his ceiling so they decided to search his ceiling from outside which would afford them the opportunity to see everything on everyone's ceiling. Earlier on the person whose money was missing stated that one of his currencies was torn, as soon as the folded notes were separated they found the torn currency. Police arrested Alfred together with James for bearing false witness.

4. Spend money with them without knowing its source.

Your friend hasn't gotten any new job, won a competition, received a promotion with salary increment or opened a new extremely lucrative business, yet they are spending unprecedented amount of money and you are spending with them without finding out the source. I pray you don't insert yourself into problem because of money. If you ask them and they refuse to say, quit spending the money.

5. Receive money into your account on their behalf.

You have to understand that no one will allow you to receive huge amount of money for them when they have theirs except something is wrong. Do not fall for any flimsy reasons.

Rebecca received money into her account for Peter. He told her he had bank issues and cannot receive payment to his bank account till it was resolved. One month later EFCC came to arrest her for fraud. Peter was no where to be found and all efforts to get him proved abortive.

6. Allow them to use your details to fill out online forms.

Some aspects of your personal details shouldn't be public knowledge. Do not let anyone create an account online using your details. Do not reveal distinguishing characteristics about yourself to anyone. It won't end well.

7. Collect or deliver things on their behalf

'Help me give this to one guy wearing black', 'since you're going in that direction give this a guy wearing jeans and polo at the junction', 'help me collect a bag from a guy wearing pink'. This is how the authorities caught the wrong people and charged them for crimes they didn't commit. If you ask to see what you are collecting or giving and they begin to give flimsy excuses, just let them do it themselves.

Remember Jenifa's dairy when she was collecting and delivering parcel she never knew what was in.

8. Condone their evil acts

Some people will not speak of the evil acts of their friends or caution them because of what they stand to gain. Biblically, you are an accomplice as well. When you caution and they refuse to heed you just distance yourself from so that the repercussions of their actions will not affect you.

9. Refuse to pray for them.

If you do pray for your friends then you are not a friend. Put them in prayer if not for anything, for God to keep them away from temptations so they won't end up involving you. Pray to God to order their steps and influence their decisions because in the end their reputation affects your reputation.

10. Fight with people, keep malice or inherit enemies on their behalf.

Some people are foolishly loyal. They start to keep malice with who their friends are keeping malice with. Some will even go to the extent of fighting a person for their friend to show loyalty. If you do these things, you are not even serious with your existence. Remember you haven't heard the other person's side of the story, you were not even present when everything went down. Your friend just narrated their side to you. How do you even know that your friend is right.

Remember Jenifa's dairy when some girls came to beat up Cordelia on behalf of Tewase's ex. It never ended well for them.

11. Talk down to your friends or blame them in public.

There are ways to caution people or tell them the truth without sounding so condescending. If your friend is wrong in a public scenario, just appease both parties and remove your friend from the scene first before scolding them in public. Forming incorruptible judge in public at the expense of your friend won't give you anything. Talking down on your friend in public will only make you look like a bully. Blaming them in public only make you look hypocritical because Africans believe birds of a feather flock together.

I remember watching 'Your View' on TVC one time and one of the hosts talked about her run in with FRSC officials. When asked why she chose to call Yeni Kuti who was relatively far away rather than Nymat who was close by. She replied that Nymat would blame her in front of the officers and escalate the whole issue but Yeni would resolve the issue quietly and take her away from the scene and scold her after she must have freshen up in shrine.

Finally, I'll like to quickly add that washing your dirty linen in public because you had a fight with your friend or spewing secrets of your friend in public don't make you even or victorious. It makes you a snitch, fake friend and an untrustworthy person that should not be trusted with important information as a friend.

Which of these do you agree with?