Founder of Trend in Africa, Mahmoud Bukar Maina, a post-doctoral fellow at the Serpell Laboratory, University of Sussex, UK, said the fair was organised to achieve four aims, which, he said, are critical to the development of science and technology. “The first objective of the science fair is to engender ...
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Grab top news stories, news headlines from Nigeria & around the world. Find breaking news for sports, entertainment, business, lifestyle and much more
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Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Personal Assistant to Partner at Bradfield Consulting
Bradfield Consulting – Our client a Law Firm, is recruiting suitably and qualified candidates to fill the position below:
Personal Assistant to Partner at Bradfield Consulting
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Broadcast Journalist
Broadcast Journalist (Video), BBC Hausa recruitment in Lagos, Nigeria ... BBC World Service is recruiting for fulltime Broadcast Journalist (Video), ...
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Nigerian Air Force shells Boko Haram bomb-making facility [VIDEO]
Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in furtherance of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, yesterday destroyed a Boko Haram facility used for manufacturing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Air Commodore, Olatokunbo Adesanya, Director of Public Relations and Information, made the disclosure in a statement on ...
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Video : Tjan – Omo Yi
Known for his popular hit songs “Aduke”, “Your Smile” and “Meji” featuring Ycee; praised music sensation Tjan thrills once again with his new single ...
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Video: FG approves N987m for surveillance vehicles to check illegal mining
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved N987 million for the procurement of 50 vehicles for Special Mines Surveillance Task Force to check illegal mining activities across the country. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this when ...
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Investigate source of poverty not source of wealth – Dino Melaye tells FG [VIDEO]
Senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has expressed his displeasure over the federal government's probe into the wealth of some Nigerians suspected to have enriched themselves through corruption. The lawmaker, who is heavily criticised for his lavish lifestyle, took to ...
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Michigan hunter films helplessly as black bear steals his deer
Nov. 22 (UPI) — A deer hunter in Michigan started recording video of a bear he spotted nearby and captured the moment the bruin stole his kill. John Wardynski, who posted his video to Facebook, said he was hunting Nov. 16 in Alcona County when he ended up with “a Michigan black bear encounter ...
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K9 joins officers for a round of push-ups at the station
Nov. 22 (UPI) — An Alabama police department shared video of a K9 joining two officers for a round of push-ups at the station. The Gulf Shores Police Department posted a video to Facebook showing a police dog named Nitro joining a pair of officers for some push-ups. The video, set to Survivor's Eye ...
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Senior Autocad Technician
We are Civil & Structural Engineers with interests ranging from Roads, Water, Bridge, Projects Management / Contracting and Designs. As a result of business expansion, we require the services of a qualified candidate to fill the position below:
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Senior Autocad Technician
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Why Bitcoin Is the MySpace of Cryptocurrencies, But the Blockchain Is Here to Stay
Why blockchain, not bitcoin, is the real treasure of cryptocurrency.
Why Bitcoin Is the MySpace of Cryptocurrencies, But the Blockchain Is Here to Stay
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Mubi, Shekanfi Attack: IGP Places CPs, AIGs On Red Alert
…Redeploys Zamfara CP
By Ejike Ejike, Abuja
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has ordered all Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and their Supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police and other Police Formations nationwide to be on red-alert with effect from November 21, 2017 to nip in the bud and prevent the spread of the renewed Boko Haram attacks on soft targets such as Mosques, Churches, Markets, Schools, Motor Parks, Farm Lands, Settlements, Villages, Towns and Cities in the North East States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
The IGP also ordered the Police Joint Team to pay particular attention to the security of IDPs Camps and liberated areas in the mentioned states and quell the recent attacks by armed bandits in Zamfara State and other vulnerable states in the country.
Furthermore, the Commissioners of Police in the affected States have been redirected by the Inspector General of Police to make additional posting of Joint Police Team to patrol mosques and churches and other vulnerable locations on 24 hours bases to ensure that no such attack occur again.
The Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and other Commanding Officers in the Area Commands, Divisions in the towns and villages are under strict instructions to work with the people in the localities and sustain Police Visibility Patrols in the mentioned States.
Meanwhile, a new Commissioner of Police who was previously Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations has been redeployed to Zamfara State and has since resumed duty. Additional Police Personnel comprising 20-Units of Police Mobile Force, 10-Cells of Counter Terrorism Unit, and Special Police Forces and 2000 conventional Police Personnel in compliance with the Presidential directive have equally been posted to the State.
The new Commissioner of Police has been mandated by the Inspector General of Police to re-gird the security architecture of the State and quell the recent attacks by armed bandits on villagers and other innocent Nigerians at Shinkafi and Maradin Local Government Areas of the State and restore lasting peace, security and normalcy to the state.
Force PRO, Jimoh Moshood also revealed that while, the ongoing joint operations between the Police and other security agencies in the states of the North East of the country is being sustained, additional deployment of Police Personnel from Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Personnel, Attack and Sniffer Dogs Section have been made to the States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to bring new impetus to the fight against insurgency by Nigeria Police Force in the affected States.
While commiserating with the Government and People of Adamawa and Zamfara States over the recent killings in a mosque in Mubi and another attack in Numan LGAs, and in Shinkafi and Maradun Local Government Areas respectively, the Force also wishes to implore the people in the affected states to be vigilant and more security conscious most especially during periods of worship.
“A significant number of worshippers should be assigned and rotated to screen and watch over the praying venues to complement Police Personnel deployed to protect them. They are to promptly report suspicious acts or persons to the nearest Police detachment or station to avert untoward incidents,” the FPRO noted.
The post Mubi, Shekanfi Attack: IGP Places CPs, AIGs On Red Alert appeared first on leadership.ng.
Mubi, Shekanfi Attack: IGP Places CPs, AIGs On Red Alert
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Omotayo Stops Turkey’s Gunduz To Advance In ITTF Challenge Spanish Open
By Johnny Edward: Nigerian table tennis star, Olajide Omotayo, defeated Turkey’s Ibrahim Gunduz in the first Group Four match of the preliminary round on Tuesday at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Challenge Spanish Open, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
Despite being seeded below his opponent, the Italy-based Omotayo defeated Gunduz 4-1 (12-10, 11-5,3-11,11-8, 12-10).
Omotayo will face Kazakhstan’s Denis Zholudev on Thursday.
Also, on same day, Omotayo will partner Nigeria-born Congo Brazzaville’s star Saheed Idowu in the doubles event and they are expected to battle against their Irish counterparts Paul Mccreery and Ashley Robinson in the preliminary round of the event.
Omotayo Stops Turkey’s Gunduz To Advance In ITTF Challenge Spanish Open
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Aina Nominated As Hull City’s Best Player Vs Millwall
By James Agberebi: Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has been nominated for the Hull City Man of the Match Award in their 0-0 away draw against Millwall in the English Championship on Tuesday.
Hull City announced Aina and three of his teammates in a four-man shortlist on their official website on Wednesday.
The three other players in the shortlist are goalkeeper Allan McGregor and midfielders Kevin Stewart and Markus Henriksen.
Fans of Hull City are expected to vote for the most outstanding player via a poll in the club’s verified Twitter handle.
The winner will be announced on Thursday.
Aina featured for the full 90 minutes in the stalemate against Millwall which was his 17th appearance of the season for Hull, where he is on loan from Chelsea.
Hull who are currently 20th on 18 points in the 24-team league table, have now gone five straight games without a win following the draw against Millwall.
Aina Nominated As Hull City’s Best Player Vs Millwall
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IBB holds closed-door meeting with Wike, speaks on Anambra election
Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has hailed Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for his efforts towards promoting vibrant politics in Nigeria. He said this on Wednesday when he received Wike at his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger state. IBB said commended Wike’s courage for ensuring that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains a strong […]
IBB holds closed-door meeting with Wike, speaks on Anambra election
IBB holds closed-door meeting with Wike, speaks on Anambra election
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Politics: Rand Paul's wife blasts media for 'gleeful' attack coverage, says he hasn't taken a pain-free breath since
Kelley Paul, the wife of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, said that the media has victimized her husband a second time after he was attacked earlier in November.
- Kelley Paul, the wife of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, wrote in a CNN op-ed that the media has victimized her husband a second time after he was attacked earlier in November.
- Rand Paul has suffered six broken ribs and lung damage following the attack allegedly perpetrated by his neighbor.
- Media outlets have frequently quoted Paul's neighbors regarding a landscaping dispute between Rand Paul and his alleged attacker — a narrative Kelley Paul rejected.
The wife of Sen. Rand Paul lambasted the media on Wednesday for "delighting" in spreading rumors about the attack earlier this month that left the Kentucky Republican with six broken ribs and lung damage.
In a CNN op-ed, Kelley Paul described the incident as a "deliberate, blindside attack" perpetrated by the couple's Bowling Green neighbor, and not a "scuffle," "fight," or "altercation," as some media outlets have portrayed it.
"This has been a terrible experience; made worse by the media's gleeful attempts to blame Rand for it, ridiculing him for everything from mowing his own lawn to composting," Kelley wrote.
"As his wife, I have been distraught over seeing him suffer like this. There have been several nights where I had my hand on my phone ready to call 911 when his breathing became so labored it was terrifying," she said, adding that her husband has not taken a single breath without experiencing pain since the incident occurred on November 3.
She accused media outlets of victimizing her husband "a second time" as her husband recovers from his injuries, as well as "concocting theories about an 'ongoing dispute,' based on nothing more than speculation from an attention-seeking person with no knowledge of anything to do with us."
Kelley appeared to be referring to Jim Skaggs, a man who developed the gated community in which the Pauls and their neighbor live and who did not witness the attack but has opined on the incident to various media outlets.
Skaggs said Rand Paul and the neighbor had a long-running dispute centered around the landscaping on their properties.
"I think it was a neighbor-to-neighbor thing," Skaggs told The New York Times. "They just both had strong opinions, and a little different ones about what property rights mean."
Kelley, however, shot down that assessment on Wednesday. She also said neither she nor her husband has spoken with the alleged attacker in a decade, "other than a casual wave from the car."
"The only 'dispute' existed solely in the attacker's troubled mind, until, on a beautiful autumn day, he ran down the hill on our property and slammed his body into Rand's lower back as he stood facing away, wearing noise-canceling headphones to protect his ears from the lawnmower," Kelley Paul said.
The alleged attacker, 59-year-old retired anesthesiologist Rene Boucher, has been charged with fourth-degree assault. In a bizarre statement released shortly after the extent of Paul's injuries were made public, Boucher's attorney Matthew Baker said the incident had nothing to do with either man's political beliefs.
"It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial," Baker said. "We sincerely hope that Senator Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible."
Boucher has pleaded not guilty to the charge, and is due in court on November 30.
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Sports: Jerry Jones backs off threats to sue fellow NFL owners
After tensions have risen over Roger Goodell's suspension in recent weeks, it looks like Jerry Jones has been called on his bluff.
- Jerry Jones has walked back his initial threats to sue the NFL and his fellow owners in a letter sent to Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
- Jones argued that he just wanted to ensure that owners who were not a part of the NFL's compensation committee had an opportunity to be heard before Roger Goodell's extension as commissioner went forward.
- Jones also denied again that his attacks on Goodell were in any way related to the suspension of Ezekiel Elliott.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has walked back his threats to sue his fellow NFL owners.
As Ken Belson of the New York Times reports, Jones took a different tone in a letter sent to Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the NFL's compensation committee who has been described as the "point man" on negotiating Goodell's extension.
In the letter, Jones said that his threats of legal action were an effort to ensure that all owners had "a voice in approving the terms" of Goodell's contract extension, rather than those with a vote on the compensation committee. "With the committee now receiving valuable feedback from a number of owners," Jones said, he is "standing down from my threat of litigation against the committee," according to the Times.
Jones has been a vocal advocate against extending Goodell's contract as commissioner, and had initially threatened a lawsuit against both the league and individual owners in an effort to delay the process. But after a back and forth with the league that included threats of a "nuclear option" that might force Jones to sell the Cowboys, Jones is now backing off his initial bluster.
Jones also repeated in the letter that his fight against Goodell had nothing to do with suspension of star Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.
With the letter, Jones presents football fans first signal that the circus surrounding Goodell's extension might be finally coming to a sane conclusion.
Sports: Jerry Jones backs off threats to sue fellow NFL owners
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Boko Haram: IG of Police orders state commands to be on red alert
Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, has ordered all Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and their Supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police and other Police Formations nationwide to be on red-alert. He said this is prevent the spread of the renewed Boko Haram attacks on soft targets, such as Mosques, […]
Boko Haram: IG of Police orders state commands to be on red alert
Boko Haram: IG of Police orders state commands to be on red alert
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Action against Kashamu coming soon ―PDP
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, alleged at a press conference at the national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday that the Senator had continued to work against the interest of the party.
According to him, Kashamu bankrolled parallel congresses in the party an action which he said led to the party’s loss of Edo and Ondo State governorship election.
He said: “Here, we need to remind PDP members and Nigerians that it was Sen Kashamu and those he was bankrolling that conducted parallel congresses in Edo and Ondo State.
“They did not stop there but took us up to Supreme Court and in the end openly endorsed and campaigned for our opponents. Their actions made us lose the election.”
He recalled that when the NCC lost its case at the Appeal Court against the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s leadership to which Kashamu was loyal, the NCC cooperated with Sheriff for the Osun West Senatorial electron which Ademola Adeleke won.
He said: “The public should, however, recall we neither conducted parallel congress in the Osun Senatorial bye-election nor did we campaign for our opponents.
“We rather directed everybody to work for the Party nominee and he won. You can clearly see who has been undermining the Party’s chances at elections.”
The party spokesman pointed out that even when Kashamu was queried by the party over his activities and his matter referred to the PDP Disciplinary Committee, the senator obtained a court order to stop the committee from proceeding with its work.
He warned however that Kashamu was not bigger than the PDP and would not be allowed to continue to sabotage the party indefinitely.
Also speaking on the allegations of bias made by some national chairmanship aspirants in the party, Adeyeye insisted that the party will stick to its zoning formula of North/South.
But he added that where regions are able to agree on micro-zoning, the national leadership will not object.
But where there is no agreement, the issue will be resolved at the national convention through an election.
He said Chief Bode George who accused the NCC of bias was the same person other members of the PDP had accused of being favored in the Lagos State chapter of the party.
He stated: “We at Wadata (PDP national secretariat) only officially recognise what the Convention and NEC have done. That is zoning of positions between the North and the South.
“We, however, recognise that both North and South may politically microzone positions to geopolitical zones and the geopolitical zones to states.
“The North micro-zoned and other zones are micro-zoning without recourse to PDP Headquarters.
“We also understand that the South of recent is doing so but up to now have not been able to reach agreement on Chairmanship and Deputy Chairman. If this is not sorted out before the Convention it means the matter can only be settled at the Convention.
“As Democrats and also to avoid imposition against the wish of the majority, we have opened the race to all aspirants who disagree with the micro-zoning. Therefore sale of forms has been and will continue to be open to all within the context of North/South that NEC took a decision on.”
On membership of committees supervising the congresses in respective states and the FCT which another aspirant had accused the NCC of skewing in favour of a particular aspirant, the party spokesman said the NCC never took nominations from any candidate but from the states and other organs of the party.
He added: “We wish to remind all that it’s the State Chapters that actually conduct congresses. The Committees only compile the results and attend to Appeals after which they file their reports to the Party Headquarters.
“When all reports are filed by the Committees, we shall summon the States Chairmen to come with their copies and reconfirm the results at a date to be fixed and all bonafide interest groups will be welcomed to witness it. This is to reassure everybody that validly elected delegates list is not tampered with.”
On the specific allegations against the NCC, he said: “Commenting specifically on the issues raised by Chief Bode George through his Director-General and ProfTunde Adeniran, we wish to state that Chief Bode George assertions were wild and not specific.
“However, Prof Adeniran’s letter specifically mentioned 5 names out of about 216 names. While assuring him that we shall pay special attention to the places they were posted to, but we did not and could not interview the members to know their linings before calling on them to serve. It’s most likely that some of the remaining 211 members are aligned to some other persons seeking elective offices including himself and Chief Bode George.
“It pains us that on the one hand Chief Bode George who is fully aware of the pains we are still going through in Lagos in order to fairly and equitably carry everybody on board to the extent that we are been accused by others as siding with him is the same person accusing us of impunity.
“On the preparations for the Convention, we have asked Chairmanship aspirants to make input so that they have their eyes and ears on each Committee. It was only Chief Bode George that did not attend the meeting we had with the aspirants.”
On Anambra State election, he explained that PDP was sabotaged by rebel members of the party.
He traced the problem to 2003 when the party became factionalism in the state.
According to him, most of the votes recorded by the eventual winner of the election came from members of the PDP.
He maintained: “We do agree that the Anambra issue is a self-inflicted injury which has been with the State since after the 2003 general elections
“Irrespective of the perfections or imperfections of our Party primaries and the outcome, PDP Anambrarians had developed conflicting mindsets. We did our best to bring all under one Caretaker Committee hoping that things will work out well.
The post Action against Kashamu coming soon ―PDP appeared first on Tribune.
Action against Kashamu coming soon ―PDP
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Celtic forward Moussa Dembele shocked by Zidane’s comment
The 21-year-old is flattered by the remarks eceived from Los Blancos gaffer for his brilliant form in the Scottish Premiership
Celtic forward Moussa Dembele shocked by Zidane’s comment
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Villarreal’s Bakambu named Spanish La Liga Player of the Month
The DR Congo international’s goalscoring exploits for the Yellow Submarines in the month under review saw him receive the accolade
Villarreal’s Bakambu named Spanish La Liga Player of the Month
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5 Things to Consider When Choosing Members of Your Wedding Train
Fashion designer, Yomi Casual displayed the best of Groomsmen during his wedding (Photo: BellaNaija). You might feel that this is the least part to look into during your wedding preparations, especially for those who don't have need for a train, leaving it to just the couple and their “besties” – best man ...
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This Benin traditional wedding is all class & elegance
The couple's traditional nuptials is several shades of sophistication and grandeur.
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BREAKING: Tinubu, Akande, Akeredolu in secret meeting with Fasoranti
BREAKING: Tinubu, Akande, Akeredolu in secret meeting with Fasoranti. written by Reporter November 22, 2017. National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is currently holding a closed door meeting with the leader of pan-Yoruba ...
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Senate Sets Up Committee To Investigate Clash Between DSS, EFCC Over Failed Arrest Of Ex ...
By Ayobami Joel, Abuja. The Senate has set up an Adhoc committee to investigate the reported clash, in Abuja, between operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of States Services (DSS) Over an aborted arrests of former DSS boos Ita Ekpeyong and ...
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Breaking: CRUTECH Won't Be Releasing Any Admission List - MIS Coordinator
In an exclusive interview with the Coordinator of the MIS Unit in CRUTECH, she revealed to us that the JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede instructed that no more schools should release any admission lists. He said that the acceptance or rejection of the admission on the JAMB CAPS database is enough to ...
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Tinubu, Akande reportedly in secret meeting with Fasoranti
Naij.com News ☆ Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is currently holding a closed door meeting with the leader of pan-Yoruba socio cultural organisation, Afenifere.
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Air Force Destroys Insurgents' IEDs Facility in Borno
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has successfully destroyed an insurgents' facility for manufacturing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Borno. The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, who disclosed this on Wednesday in ...
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Breaking: Again, AGF appears before Senate Panel over Mainagate
Breaking: Again, AGF appears before Senate Panel over Mainagate. By Emmanuel Leke On Nov 22, 2017. Share. The Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is at present in a closed door session with the Senate Panel investigating reinstatement of fugitive ...
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Bullions, base metals trade volatile as crude rallies after API report
A stronger report might see bullions come under selling pressure later in the evening today with increased chances of prices breaking below key support levels. Technically, the immediate term trend still remains neutral given the lack of catalysts and quick short selling that emerges as prices rally to ...
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Rita Ora reveals why she has frozen her eggs at 26 (video)
Rita Ora reveals why she has frozen her eggs at 26 (video). Singer Rita Ora is only 26 years, which is considered a very fertile age for women, but she has already frozen her eggs for future use. The star was on Australia's TV show 'Sunrise' where she revealed for the first time that she froze her eggs ...
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Friday, 8 September 2017
Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria International Graduate Programme 2018
Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria – We attract talented individuals. Not only can they give you the benefit of their experience, they also reveal a closer, more personal look at the wide range of global opportunities we offer. At the core of the Group's people strategy is our focus on employee engagement. Engagement is a key driver of productivity and performance, which creates the foundation of our performance culture. We encourage and focus on the behaviours that bring out the very best f
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Candel Company Limited Graduate Trainee recruitment 2017
The Candel Company Limited is Nigeria’s leading crop yield advancement and production company. As a result of growth and the need to strengthen our current team, we need exceptional individuals with the right qualifications, drive and experience to join our team of professionals.
We are currently recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Position: Graduate Trainee
Job Location: Lagos
Candidate Requirements</strong
Read More: Candel Company Limited Graduate Trainee recruitment 2017
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Akanu Ibiam Poly Unwana Post UTME Screening Form- 2017/18 | Application Details
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana Post UTME screening exercise application form for the 2017/2018 academic session is on sale.
Read More: Akanu Ibiam Poly Unwana Post UTME Screening Form- 2017/18 | Application Details
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The Latest: Ex-US presidents to raise money for storm relief
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M.I Abaga: We spoke to Kead, the young rapper who inspired the entire Abaga podcast
“I made the single because I am a fan of what he does, and what he has been doing before,” Kead says. “I just feel like if I could reach to him to get us another “Talk About it” album.”
M.I Abaga probably has to be the trendiest artist in Nigeria right now after the emergence of the controversial episode of Pulse’s Loose Talk podcast where he talked about criticism, his art, and his career so far.
While everyone has shared their hot takes and opinions on social media about the show and the conversation, unknown to many, the entire conversation was started from the most unlikely source; A young rapper named Kead, who released a record titled “Letter to M.I.” [You can stream it on Soundcloud above.]
Kead, 21, born Chukwubueze Okolie, who dropped the record in April 2017, didn’t know that his labour of love for M.I Abaga his idol would lead to the Loose Talk podcast, and an industry-wide conversation about his music and legacy.
“I made the single because I am a fan of what he does, and what he has been doing before,” Kead says. “I just feel like if I could reach to him to get us another “Talk About it” album.”
Released in 2008, “Talk About It” is regarded as Abaga’s most critically and commercially successful project. It contained the records ‘Anoti’, ‘Crowd mentality’, and ‘Blaze’ democratized Hip hop and provided music that everybody could relate to. M.I singlehandedly took Hip hop mainstream in Nigeria, and up to date, his live performance sets still contains records from that project.
“I’m a fan of Hip hop, and I think the Hip hop game in Nigeria has gone too soft,” Kead complains. “And for someone that says ‘I’m the king’, you can’t be the king and not actually wear the crown. You need to sit on the throne, and say ‘Yo this is the culture we are carrying.”
Kead has been following M.I since ‘Crowd mentality’, and has been a firm supporter through the releases of all projects. Three mixtapes and three albums have been released by M.I in almost a decade. Almost a decade of fandom for Kead.
But it isn’t until the release of the 2014 LP, “The Chairman,” that Kead began to doubt the quality of the artist that he had dedicated his emotions, money and time to. Just like numerous ardent M.I fans all over the world, “The Chairman” album was a conundrum. Their favourite rapper had learned the language of the streets to keep up with time and reduced the lyrical integrity of the project. This killed Kead.
“When the album came out, all M.I’s hardcore fans overrated the album. I thought it would be the bomb, and I rocked with it for the first one month, and I got tired of it.” As he described his frustration.
“I tried to introduce the project to my friends and force it upon them to listen to it too. But everyone I asked said they were not messing with M.I. It got frustrating as a fan, and so I had to speak up. He was the person I looked up to, he just needs to raise the bar up for Nigerian Hip hop at the moment.”
Fundamentally, M.I disagrees with Kead and thousands of his fans who rank the album low. According to the rapper, “Talk About It” was his worst project. Abaga ranks “The Chairman” higher than his groundbreaking classic rap project, a statement that fans on social media have argued against on Twitter. It’s a typical case of the consumers and creators disagreeing over the quality of the product.
“The production of back then can’t be the same with today’s production. Technology gets better, and the sounds improve,” Kead rationalises the statement. “But lyrically, I don’t think so”
“Compare ‘Shekpe’ to ‘Blaze’ for example, no one says M.I should be releasing ‘Shekpe’, but we are requesting that he just makes another ‘Blaze.’”
In June 2015, Jude Abaga was announced as the CEO of Chocolate City Music. He was succeeding Audu Maikori, a lawyer who founded the record label, in partnership with his colleagues Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Bello. Audu spent many years at the helm of affairs at the company, before stepping down and handing the mantle to M.I. A section of fans have argued that it was a wrong move because the running of such a huge company might have affected M.I’s concentration on his music.
Kead disagrees with that. Drawing on the example of JAY-Z who is the head of Roc Nation, a company he has run for nearly 10 years, but maintained his relevance in music and in the culture. He says added responsibility in the life of musicians is not a reason to allow their art suffer. “Old man Hov is still impactful in 2017. If we can have a Nigerian rapper that can do that, I think I’ll be fine.”
Kead goes further, explaining that the Hip hop culture needs more people to carry the culture and lead the path. He says the Loose Talk Podcast is one of those ways in which progress can be achieved by Hip hop. He also says the blending of pop music is a threat to the survival of Hip hop, but it can be managed to improve the culture. “Look at what Ycee is doing, trying to fuse his pop influence with Hip hop.”
Kead is working on a new project and thinks “Letter to M.I” is the start of something great. On the record, he flows “This ain’t a diss to M.I Abaga, just a letter from a son to a father.” I ask him if he could go back in time to four months ago. Would he still make the decision to record the track again?
“Definitely,” he says. “I meant every word I said to M.I and I would definitely make it again.”
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Sports: Since Tom Brady became a starter, the Patriots have 40 more wins than any other team
Since Tom Brady became the Patriots' starting quarterback in 2001, the Patriots have won 221 games, including 25 in the playoffs.
The 2017 NFL season is here and like many of the previous 16, the New England Patriots are overwhelmingly considered the best team in the league.
Since Tom Brady became the Patriots' starting quarterback in 2001, the Patriots have won 221 games, including 25 in the playoffs. That is 40 more wins than next winningest team during that span, the Pittsburgh Steelers (181 wins).
At the other end of the spectrum, the Cleveland Browns have been the anti-Patriots. The Browns' 83 wins — including none in the playoffs — over the last 16 seasons are the fewest among NFL teams.
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Buhari Not Naive To Decide My Fate – Minister
Lagos, Abuja – Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs, on Thursday, reaffirmed her support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari is not a naïve politician to take any decision he deems necessary concerning her.
She also said she will not have any remorse even if President Buhari relieves her of her job in his cabinet.
She said this amidst criticisms trailing her comments on social media, saying she bared her mind fully in the interview with the BBC Hausa service and anyone interested should consult the media platform and get her position.
Alhassan, a frontline female politician from Taraba State, was captured in a video during an interview with BBC Hausa as saying she would support Atiku even if President Muhammadu Buhari decides to re-contest the 2019 election.
She was spotted at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, when she came to see the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, apparently on the same issue surrounding her comments.
It was not clear whether she was invited by the presidency or she came on her own volition.
When State House correspondents engaged her in discussions she appeared calm and calculated without any remorse whatsoever.
The following interaction ensued between her and journalists.
Reporters: Your remarks have unsettled the polity, what more can you say?
Alhassan: No, I have no comment. What will I say now, I have said all in BBC Hausa, get someone who speaks Hausa very well to translate it for you.
Reporters: Do you see your relationship with President Buhari as strained following your interview with BBC Hausa?
Alhassan: How will I know? I have not seen the president but I don’t think the president is a naive person.
Reporters: Aren’t you afraid of losing your job?
Alhassan: God gives and God takes. That is all and I have said it all in Hausa. You know that there is an end to everything.
Reporters: Buhari’s supporters have been attacking you on social media, saying you are not loyal?
Alhassan: Let the will of God be.
In the interview she earlier granted the BBC Hausa, she said moles within the presidency have been calling for her sack as minister.
The interview which went viral on Thursday went as follows:
BBC: Your Excellency, you said you hope former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, become the president of Nigeria in 2019, why did you make this statement?
Alhassan: Atiku is my godfather even before I joined politics, and again Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019. And let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah I will go before him and kneel and tell him that ‘Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister. But Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather.’ (That is) if Atiku said he is going to contest; as we are talking now Atiku has not said he is going to contest. Why I said our president in 2019 is because we all hope he is going to contest, but he never told us that he is going to contest. But if he said he is going to contest I will surely do what I told you I will do. Because if Atiku said he is going to contest and I remain in the cabinet of Baba while Baba also wants to contest, then I have become a hypocrite and I am not one.
If I said I am not with Atiku, Buhari himself will not trust me at all because he will say I am a hypocrite.
BBC: Is it not early to start campaigning?
Alhassan: Yes I made this statement when we went for a courtesy call during Sallah festivities, I am not going to stand before him and campaign, besides this is not the time for campaign. Even when my people asked me to come out and start campaigning, I told them this is not the time for that. This is the time to work for the people.
This is the work of my political enemies, they have been going round saying I should be sacked as minister. I never hoped to be a minister, Allah gave it to me if I get sacked, it will not bother me because I believe in Allah, that my time has elapsed; because I believe only Allah do and undo. And you think Baba is a mad man like those calling for my sack?
They have been sending it and spreading that if Baba sees this I will be sacked. He will not sack me from being a minister because of this, only if I commit another offence. I am doing my job as a minister with all my heart and I always protect this government because it is a government of APC. And Baba our president, the president of Nigeria and somebody that I respect even before I joined politics. I will continue to respect him as a man of integrity. For those who are saying I will be sacked, they will be shamed. And even if I am sacked, I believe it is my time as minister that has ended. I never asked for it, Allah gave it to me.
Alhassan came into limelight when she contested the Taraba State gubernatorial election and lost to Darius Ishaku.
As a way of compensation, the Buhari administration brought her on board the federal cabinet saddling her with the responsibility of overseeing the Women Affairs Ministry.
She had been instrumental of late to the welfare and re-integration of all the Chibok girls whose release was secured from the Boko Haram sect in Borno State, North East Nigeria.
I’m Surprised Alhassan Is Still In Buhari’s Govt – Sagay
Meanwhile, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) on Thursday said he is surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari has not taken any action against Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs, over her statement that she will quit the cabinet should the president decide to seek re-election.
The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) said the minister’s statement painted the picture of the Buhari administration as being a weak government.
Sagay said Alhassan’s continued stay hours after making the statement is disrupting the activities of government.
“She should not be part of the government anymore. I’m surprised that 24 hours after she made the statement she is still in this government. She should have been sacked immediately”, he said.
“Her presence now is disrupting the activities of this government and will give the picture of the Buhari government as being a weak government that cannot protect its own interests.
“The woman should have been shown the way out one minute after making the statement. I’m embarrassed that no action has been taken on her so far”, he said.
However, a former Minister of Information, Tony Momoh, said the minister did nothing wrong by exercising her freedom of expression.
According to Momoh, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), “Those who are saying her statement is an act of disloyalty are wrong. We are in a democratic government and not a dictatorial one. People should be free to air their opinions without fear.
“As far as I am concerned, there is nothing wrong in what she said. She said Atiku is her godfather and she will support him in 2019 if he decides to contest. What is wrong in that?” Momoh asked.
Senate Says Sagay Is Outdated Prof Of Law, Asks Buhari To Cage Him
The cold war between the Senate and Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Action Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), was reignited on Thursday when the Senate described him in negatives over his recent vituperation against the parliament.
Sagay had at a forum in Lagos faulted the take home pay of the lawmakers just as he faulted them over some of the Bills they passed, saying they are never in the interest of the populace.
The Senate in a statement signed by its spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, said the Professor of Law was only “spreading falsehood and making hate speeches against the National Assembly.”
The Senate in picking holes in the comments made by the law professor on the emoluments of the lawmakers described him as a “a senile, jaded, rustic and outdated Professor of Law”.
“Sagay was fond of using every opportunity he has to make public speeches to disparage the federal legislature by using uncouth and unprintable words to describe the legislators and the institution they represent”, the parliament said.
The upper legislative chamber noted that Sagay has been one of the few divisive elements in the Buhari administration who believe their relevance is enhanced only when they create constant tension between the legislature and the executive while also setting members of the executives against each other.
Abdullahi noted that while the legislators had ignored past statements made by the Professor of Law, his recent speech at a public lecture in Lagos organised by the Society of International Law where “he gave false details about the salary and allowances of the legislators and the various bills passed bordered on inciting members of the public against the legislators and deliberately circulating hate speech; which the government is working hard to contain” is unacceptable.
The statement reads in part, “Ordinarily, we would ignore Sagay whose statements and attitude present him like a rascal and sadist instead of a former university teacher.
“However, his last speech in Lagos during which he was reeling out false and exaggerated figures about the salaries and allowances of legislators and also lied about the passage of anti-corruption bills showed that he just deliberately set out to undermine the legislative institution and lower its reputation in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and we therefore believe we should put him in his rightful place.
“As an academic whose creed should be to find facts and make comments based on truth, we believe that Sagay should stop spreading beer parlour rumours about the salaries and allowances of legislators when he could simply get the facts from the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) which is the body constitutionally charged with the responsibility of fixing salaries and allowances of all public officials.
“Let us make it clear that our salaries and allowances are open books and the details can be taken from the RMFAC by any interested party.
“Prof. Sagay at his lecture in Lagos also made comparisons which did little credit to his background as a lecturer as he was talking of the salary of the United States President and that of a Nigerian legislator.
“That is like comparing oranges with apples. Only a senile, jaded, rustic and outdated Professor of Law like Sagay will make such a comparison which falls flat on its face, even to an ordinary lay man. Surely, Sagay is basing his analysis on street talks.
“Sagay could not even check the records before proclaiming that ‘the National Assembly has not passed a single bill for the promotion of anti-corruption war since it commenced business in July 2015′.
“First, the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 9, 2015 not July. Also, it is on record that the Senate has passed the Whistle Blowers’ Protection Bill, Witness Protection Bill, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency Bill.
“This man talks like a man who is constantly under the influence of some substance and perhaps possessed as he employs the language of a tout with no civility.
“He is probably constantly excited and incensed by the fact of having his first opportunity to find himself in the corridors of power.
“He pontificates and talks as if the war against corruption of the Buhari administration depends solely on him to survive. He once publicly attacked the Attorney General of the Federation and accused him of not doing enough to prosecute the war. In the Lagos speech, he took a blanket swipe at the judiciary and rubbished that entire institution which he as a lawyer has the professional, ethical and constitutional duty to respect.
“This is a man who cannot stand for councillorship election and win. We challenge him to state what his contributions are in the election of our amiable President Muhammadu Buhari and what new ideas he has contributed to making the fight against corruption more effective since his appointment.
“With an easily excited man like him as head of an advisory body, the nation has continued to lose anti-corruption cases in courts due to the failure of his advice. He needs to do more work and talk less because media prosecution cannot win the war on corruption”.
The Senate, therefore, called on the president to caution Prof Sagay and stop him from further creating needless tension in the relationship between the executive and the legislature.
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Niger Delta Agitators Suspend Quit Notice On Northerners, Yorubas
Abuja – Apparently acting on the pulse of the nation, Niger Delta agitators, who formerly issued a quit notice to northerners and Yorubas residing in the coastal region, have withdrawn their threat.
They suspended the quit notice after a meeting on Wednesday which lasted late into the night.
The agitators also declared support for the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) whose leadership they had earlier disowned to lead the region in the ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government.
They also put on hold planned attacks on the oil installations in the region while putting aside their intention to declare the republic of Niger Delta on October 1.
Their position was contained in a statement issued to the media after the meeting.
A coalition of agitators led by self-styled General John Duku said that the withdrawal of the quit notice, amongst other threats, was sequel to the intervention of PANDEF and Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by its Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko.
They demanded the removal of the current Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, from office.
Those who signed the statement included self-styled General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators); self-styled General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers); self-styled General Osarolor Nedam
(Niger Delta Warriors); self-styled Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); ‘Major-Gen.’ Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters) and ‘Major-Gen.’ Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice).
Others were ‘Major-Gen.’ Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network); ‘Major-Gen.’ Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate); ‘Major-Gen.’ Abiye Tariah (Niger Delta Development Network); ‘Major-Gen.’ Joshua Ebere (Renewed Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta); ‘Major-Gen.’ Jeremiah Anthony (Movement for Actualisation of Niger Delta Republic); ‘Major’ Francis Okoroafor (Niger Delta Freedom Redemption Army); ‘Colonel’ Nelson Okochi Walter, among others.
“After series of meetings yesterday between the high command of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators led by ‘General’ John Duku and the leadership of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by the Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko, coupled with the intervention of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
“A coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, which comprises of over 250 groups with their leaders and representatives present at yesterday’s meeting officially withdraw our quit notice issued to the Northerners and Yorubas living in Niger Delta region, call off planned resumption of attacks on oil & gas installations across the Niger Delta region and beyond from September 10, 2017.
“We have also suspended the October 1, 2017 declaration of the Niger Delta Republic, and declare our support to Pan Niger Delta Forum, demand restructuring and removal of Group Managing Director of NNPC.
“We have also resolved to work with PANDEF and give them our maximum support and we urge the Federal Government to continue dialogue and implement the 16-point demand presented by PANDEF on behalf of the Niger Delta region.
“This comes after an extensive consultation across the Niger Delta region, which we discover only PANDEF has been working round the clock to resolve the Niger Delta issues and have the people of proven integrity; it is a clear fact that working with any rival group such as Pan Niger Delta Congress (PNDC) is not for the interest of the Niger Delta,” the agitators said in a communique.
The forum also resolved that the oil/gas companies should relocate their headquarters to Niger Delta region.
“We also resolved to put on hold the issue of the return of oil blocs owned by Northerners and Yorubas to Niger Delta people and demand that the NNPC should revisit their recent appointments, urge the Federal Government to replace the GMD of NNPC with the indigene of Niger Delta for the interest of peace, equity, fairness and justice,” Duku stated on behalf of the group.
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The resident doctors’ strike
These afterthoughts underscore the fragile nature of the healthcare sector. The sector has been overstretched under successive federal administrations that encouraged medical tourism with the cumulative loss of billions of naira annually. Had the present government exhibited the level of concern it is showing now before the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum which was extended by another seven days, perhaps the doctors’ strike would have been averted, thereby saving the country from the current trepidation. Nigerians are going through too many pains to be burdened yet again by striking doctors.The fresh disruption in the chain of activities in the healthcare sector has inflicted agony, sorrow and tears on many homes, especially persons of little means with life-threatening ailments.
NARD ascribed its discontent to the government’s refusal to honour a mutual agreement which encapsulated the resolution of persistent shortfalls and unpaid arrears of salaries earned in both federal and state tertiary health institutions and the enrolment of resident doctors into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) since 2003. The agreement also resolved the non-implementation of adjusted House Officers’ entry grade level equivalent since 2014 and the stagnation of promotion and non-promotion of members who had met the requisite criteria. In a last-minute effort to avert the current strike, the Federal Government and officials of NARD met last week and signed a Memorandum of Settlement. But the ordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NARD in Abuja, on September 3, rejected the Memorandum of Settlement, even though, relying on the government’s promissory offer, both the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Dr Chris Ngige, had declared that the doctors had resolved to put the strike on hold.
In taking the harsh decision, the NARD declared: “Neither the federal nor state governments has shown commitment to the resolution of issues at stake nor honoured previous agreements.” That the government demonstrated a laissez faire attitude while the deadline subsisted was unfortunate. It portrayed itself as being comfortable with a systemic collapse. Even with its damage control strategy, it failed to show full appreciation of the basic principles of handling and managing industrial disagreements and disputes. Nonetheless, we insist that both parties in the ongoing dispute must give room for dialogue, trust and understanding, if only to ensure that no further damage is done to the health sector and the psyche of the populace.
From 2010 when the dispute became a major issue, the demands of the resident doctors have become more kaleidoscopic. They have donned the garb of self-survival and failed to show total commitment to the repositioning of the health sector. Their demands no longer include the urgent need to raise the bar in the sector. The doctors need to be more pragmatic and realistic in their demands to emphasise the imperative of firming up basic institutions and structures in the sector. Group and individual interests should not override the overall interest of the nation.
It is apparent that the government no longer enjoys the confidence of the majority of the unions in the country because of its record of flagrant disregard for mutual agreements. The perennial strikes by members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) and the fresh threats by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU) and others to go on strike over welfare matters demonstrate this very clearly. But while the issues have subsisted because of the obvious lack of commitment and goodwill by the government, intransigence on the part of the unions has equally exacerbated the disputes, whereas a critical element in labour relations during disputes is the principle of compromise.
Therefore, both the government and NARD must tread softly because of the implications of the current strike by resident doctors to the health of the citizens, especially the poor and the sick; the domino effects on the national economy, and the fragile state of the country where the fangs of poverty have turned the average citizen into an angry person. The two camps should revisit the admonition of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, when he waded into the crisis in July last year: “Leadership is essential in solving any problem. It means that your eyes are always on the solutions and not the problems.”
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Premier League clubs vote to close transfer window before start of season from 2018-19
The Premier League transfer window will close before the start of the season after a vote by its 20 clubs.
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Sub-Committees List Tears AFN Apart
Some board members of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have rejected the list of sub-committees released by the Federation’s secretariat on Tuesday September 5, 2017.
The members, led by the federation’s vice-president, Honourable Olamide George have thus called on members of the public, especially the Nigerian athletics family to disregard the purported list as it did not emanate from the AFN board which has the constutitional mandate to constitute and approve the sub-committees.
“As far as we are concerned,the sub-committees of the AFN have not been constituted because the board has not met to deliberate on it and other issues necessary to enable us to hit the ground running especially after our participation at the IAAF World Championships in London last month,” said George, a former national 400m hurdler and member of the Ondo state House of Assembly.
“I remember I told the president, Honourable Ibrahim Gusau, to urgently call for a board meeting to enable us review our performance at the 16th IAAF World Championships in London and map out technical and marketing plans for 2018 which is two seasons in one for us.
“The Commonwealth Games is coming up in April 2018 while the African Championships will hold in July/August in Asaba, Delta State which means we should have hit the ground running as soon as the World Championships ended in London. I am thus shocked when a third party informed me that the sub-committees have been constituted without the knowldedge of board members because there was no board meeting called to that effect,” he said.
Also shocked by the purported list was the Sports Writers of Nigeria (SWAN) representative on the board, Dare Esan, after he was bombarded by the media seeking confirmation of the said list.
Esan was particularly surprised that the federation’s president could unilaterally constitute the sub-committess after insinuations in the media that he was trying to put square pegs in the round holes of the sub-committees.
“All over the world the post of the technical committee chairman or technical director of an athletics federation has always been filled by individuals with huge coaching experience and background in sports science because sports, especially track and field, has gone really scientific. In the absence of an individual with such qualification on the board, then the board of the
federation can look at an accomplished ex-international who has participated at either the Olympic Games or the IAAF World Championships or both. The individual our president has illegally assigned that role to is a dilletante as far as the position is concerned.
“In fact it is only in Nigeria that an athletes representative has been accorded the status of a board member. All over the world the athletes representatives only head an athletes commission specially created by the constutition of such association/federation,” said Esan whose sentiments were echoed by three-time Olympic and five-time IAAF World
Championships coach, Gabriel Okon.
Brown Ebewele, the man elected to head the technical arm of the AFN, believes the purported list is a joke carried too far.
“As far as I am concerned, the AFN sub-committees have not been constituted and the board will meet soon to constitute them as stipulated by the code of governance booklet handed over to the AFN by the Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, during our inauguration,” said Ebewele whose view was corroborated by 4x400m Olympic gold medallist, Fidelis Tafida Gadzama, and Professor Emmanuel Ojeme, both board members of the federation.
Meanwhile the board members have given Honourable Gusau two weeks to call for a board meeting to enable them to chart a positive way forward for the federation in view of the very daunting task ahead.
The members cited the case of the Wrestling Federation which met on Wednesday, barely days after its athletes achieved unprecedented feats at the World Wrestling Championships in France.
“We are the king of Olympic sports and should be seting examples for other federations. We don’t want to be labelled failures after our tenure and we appeal to the Hoourable Minister impress it on Gusau to call for the meeting of the board of the federation,” said Okon.
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Maurice Ekeng emerges Cross River Labour Party chairman
The National leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has approved the appointment of Mr Maurice Ekeng as a new acting Chairman of the party in Cross River State. The National Chairman of the party, Mr Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, said in a letter in Calabar, that the appointment became necessary following the resignation of former chairman, Mr […]
Maurice Ekeng emerges Cross River Labour Party chairman
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Thursday, 7 September 2017
Mama Taraba: How ever smiling Minister earned her nickname
Aisha Alhassan hasn't always been known as 'Mama Taraba'. Here's how the nickname was born.
With a smile often plastered on her face, Aisha Jummai Alhassan (aka Mama Taraba) could easily pass for anyone’s Woman Crush Wednesday (WCW) on a good day.
She can also be salty and very controversial when pushed to the wall. Ask the 'Bring Back Our Girls' group.
In January of 2017, I shared a hall with Mama Taraba at a valedictory dinner organised in honour of then Minister of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos.
It was a night of decent speeches.
After the ceremony, I waylaid Mama Taraba at the hall entrance for a word or two. She was limping but still managed to radiate energy and passion as she answered my questions without scruples. She wasn't the type to evade a question, as I would find out.
It is that passion and energy that has come to define the Aisha Alhassan brand.
It is that passion and energy that went some way into earning her the sobriquet of ‘Mama Taraba’.
How did Aisha Alhassan become Mama Taraba?
At the 2011 PDP primaries, Alhassan squared up against then incumbent Senator for Taraba North, Manzo Anthony. A political neophyte at the time who had only earned her epaulet as a lawyer, Alhassan was the bookie’s favourite to lose the contest by a wide margin.
No one gave her a chance in a patriarchal field. Besides, defeating an incumbent in the Nigerian political terrain is sometimes akin to squeezing water out of a rock.
Alhassan was a then protégé of former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame. Nyame was propping up Alhassan against Anthony for his own gains.
The permutation from Nyame's camp was that if he supports Alhassan to beat the incumbent Senator, he’ll return to beat Alhassan in the general election and become Senator.
Nyame considered Alhassan a weaker opponent.
He couldn't have been more mistaken.
Alhassan ran a spirited campaign against Anthony and managed to draw plenty of Christian support her way even though she’s Muslim.
She left the incumbent senator gasping for breath at the PDP primaries and earned the ticket for the general contest.
When the general election rolled by in April of 2011, Alhassan polled 114, 131 votes to beat Nyame of the Action congress of Nigeria (ACN) who had to make do with 92, 004 votes.
Alhassan thus became the first elected female senator from Taraba State and the nickname ‘Mama Taraba’ became hers to bear.
She is called Mama Taraba because she has become a big time political player in Taraba State, influencing political affairs in the northern State, one voting season at a time.
Mama Taraba was only one of four women senators elected on the PDP platform in 2011. The others were Helen Esuene from Akwa Ibom South, Nenadi Usman from Kaduna South and Nkechi Nwaogu from Abia central.
Mama Taraba would go on to represent Taraba North in the Senate from 2011 to 2015.
In April 2015, she lost the Taraba governorship election rerun on the platform of the APC.
However, in November 2015, a tribunal sacked presumed winner Darius Ishaku and declared Mama Taraba winner of the governorship contest.
The Appeal and Supreme courts would later reverse the judgment of the tribunal in Ishaku's favour.
Mama Taraba proceeded to serve in Buhari’s cabinet as Women Affairs minister and has recently stirred controversy for backing Atiku Abubakar for the top job in 2019 at her boss’ expense.
ALSO READ: 'I'm not afraid of Buhari, he can sack me if he wants', Mama Taraba says
Back in January, when I asked Mama Taraba to describe the departing Amina Mohammed who was taking up a job at the United Nations, she looked me in the eye, before handing out another smile and a blush. “She has always been passionate about women advancement, women empowerment, gender affairs….
"She’ll always call me to say, 'come..let us collaborate to see what is good for Nigerian women. She’s my friend, my sister. I’m very happy for her and happy for Nigeria. She’s a good person and the world needs her", she offered.
You could tell that she shares a special bond with Amina Mohammed who was leaving the Buhari cabinet.
Will the world need Aisha Alhassan if Buhari hands her the sack on the back of her recent controversial comments?
Only time will tell.
Read More: Mama Taraba: How ever smiling Minister earned her nickname
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