Mazadu Bako: NNPC to resume oil exploration in Nasarawa State – Official

Dr Mazadu Bako, the General Manager, Frontier Exploration Services of NNPC, made the disclosure on Monday in Lafia, during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it is set to immediately resume oil exploration activities in Nasarawa State.

Dr Mazadu Bako, the General Manager, Frontier Exploration Services of NNPC, made the disclosure on Monday in Lafia, during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara.

Bako said that oil exploration activities in Keana Local Government Area and other parts of Benue Inland Basin were temporarily suspended in January.

He attributed this to the killing of one of the NNPC personnel by suspected herdsmen in the wake of the recent attacks of farmers by herdsmen at the Benue/Nasarawa border.

According to him, NNPC has been mandated by the Federal Government to resume the activities in order to increase its oil output.

Bako said that adequate security arrangements had been made to protect the lives of the workers.

He called for the support of the government and people of Nasarawa State for NNPC to achieve purpose of the project.

Receiving the team on behalf of Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, the deputy governor, expressed concerns over the unfortunate killing of the NNPC staff.

He pledged the support of the state government to enable the corporation to succeed on their assignment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNPC had embarked on the exploration activities in Nasarawa State since 2017.

The corporation is doing this through one of its upstream subsidiaries, Integrated Data Services Limited (IDLS)

Mazadu Bako: NNPC to resume oil exploration in Nasarawa State – Official

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Olusegun Obasanjo: 5 facts about this Nigerian leader as he turns 81

Olusegun Obasanjo is one of Nigeria's most influential men. Know more about the statesman as he turns 81 on March 5, 2018.

Today, Monday, March 5, 2018, is the 81st birthday of Olusegun Obasanjo.

In the history of Nigeria, Obasanjo has played key roles, from the numerous military coups to the return to democratic rule by the turn of the millennium.

To say, Olusegun Obasanjo is a famous Nigerian is an understatement. The military ruler turned democratically elected president is a political giant whose actions and statements still matter.

 

On the birthday of this grand old Nigerian, we have pulled out 5 facts about him;

1) He is the first man to rule Nigeria twice, first in 1976 as a military ruler and in 1999 as a democratically elected President.

On May 29, 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in as the President of Nigeria after winning the general elections, the first in 16 years, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. During his inaugural speech, Obasanjo said "we must change our ways of governance and of doing business on this eve of the coming millennium. This we must do to ensure progress, justice, harmony and unity and above all, to rekindle confidence amongst our people. Confidence that their conditions will rapidly improve and that Nigeria will be great and will become a major world player in the near future."

2. In 1979, he became the first Nigerian military ruler to hand over power to a civilian government.

Olusegun Obasanjo is in the history books for peacefully handing over to a civilian regime led by Shehu Shagari. Obasanjo only used three years in power. He is the only military leader who kept his word to hold elections and handover to a civilian government.

3. In 2005, Olusegun Obasanjo became the first Nigerian leader to lose his first lady. Stella Obasanjo died in Spain during a botched liposuction procedure.

Incidentally, Olusegun Obasanjo has lost two wives to death namely; Lynda and Mojiosola Adekunle.  The former head of state now lives with his present wife Bola Alice.

4. Three days after calling for a ceasefire, the Biafran forces surrendered to Olusegun Obasanjo on January 12, 1970.

On January 7, 1970 Olusegun Obasanjo oversaw the final military operation against Biafra. Known as Operation Tail-Wind, OBJ led the 3rd Marine Commando Division to crush the last defence of the Biafrans. The operation proved to be successful. On January's 9, Ojukwu who led the Biafra rebellion fled for Ivory Coast. Three days later Biafra officially surrendered to Nigeria.

5. Olusegun Obasanjo is the first Nigerian president to complete two terms 1999-2007 without the interruption of a military coup.

During his tenure as president, Olusegun Obasanjo established the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).  He was also able to get the London and Paris clubs to pardon Nigeria's debt of $18bn.

Olusegun Obasanjo: 5 facts about this Nigerian leader as he turns 81

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City Experiences: Dining in Lagos on a budget

Outings in Lagos can be a real hassle for a number of people and can be especially worse when you’re on a budget.

Here are few simple tips on how to make the most of your money and maximize your budget when out dining in Lagos.

In a perfect world, I'd visit every restaurant in Lagos, eat everything and anything on the menu. Go home and not feel remorseful about the money I spent. Unfortunately, life's not perfect. I can't afford every restaurant and even if I could, I'd probably be remorseful about the money I spent cause I'm on a budget and callous spending is frowned upon.

Between work, my salary and NYSC pay, savings and a giant grey area, my disposable income is a baby that has to be swaddled and rocked with care. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (@ehiremea) yes, it’s a shameless plug, don't ignore it. As I was saying, If you do follow me, you'll know I have a passion for food and here are my foodie tips on how fine dine in Lagos on a budget.

First things first;

 

THE BUDGET

I honestly have a monthly budget for taking myself out to eat. It's a little treat I give myself every month. Sometimes I might not use it to eat however, it's a standalone part of my budget. This way, these little treats I give myself don't show up as callous expenditure.

Read Also: Steps to manage your personal finance.

SCOUTING FOR RESTAURANTS

I'm usually always perusing through Instagram, looking at food pictures and visiting eat.drink.Lagos so I almost always have somewhere to dine in mind.

PICKING THE RESTAURANT

Once I settle on a few, I go to the court of public opinion a.k.a google and see what other humans have to say about said places. To help with the making decision I always turn to Ofadaa, Eat.Drink.Lagos, Trip advisor and Jumia foods. I turn to Ofadaa and Trip advisor for an on the surface review.

 

Eat.Drink.Lagos for more in depth analysis on the food itself, an occasional price gauge. Last but not the list, Jumia foods always has an almost concise menu so, I know what I want to eat and how much it'll cost me. Sometimes, I just use it to compare prices of similar items between restaurants I'm torn between.

TIMING THE TRIP

No business owner wants their restaurant to be empty, but I like to dine in comfort and quiet, so I've formed a habit of looking at the popular times section on google to get an idea of when there isn’t a lot of traffic into the restaurant and when the wait time is shortest. Obviously, it’s mostly statistics but it hasn't been anything short of precise yet. I find that even an empty Bukka (if that's possible) can be a nice place to dine.

Read Also: Ways to save whilst you still have a social life.

So those are my main tips to dining in Lagos on a budget all that's left to do? EAT and ENJOY.

Where are some of your favorite places to dine in your City?

What's your favorite kind of food?

Would you like me to do restaurants reviews?

Feel free to let me know in the comment section, I'd love to hear from you

Written by Uddin Ehireme Alexis

Alexis is an avid writer who likes to share her life experiences and tips with hopes that she can entertain people as well as, potentially make a difference. She resides on the internet with her handle @ehiremea and can be reached at ehiremea@hotmail.com

City Experiences: Dining in Lagos on a budget

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Entertainment: Advertisers turn the Oscars into a super bowl-like platform

If you only watched the commercials and not the awards part of the Oscars telecast, you might have thought for a moment you were watching the Super Bowl.

Several advertisers offered cinematic spots that went beyond the usual fare, while others used it for unveilings.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which is set to open in 2019, showed its first commercial (a faux spot for the Overlook Hotel of “The Shining” fame). Netflix teased the final season of “House of Cards,” and ABC used the occasion to release the trailer for its “Roseanne” revival.

Walmart created a 60-second film directed by Dee Rees, director of “Mudbound,” to promote its new box delivery service.

A minute-long spot from Twitter featured women reading a poem by Denice Frohman.

“We stand with women around the world to make their voices heard and their presence known,” Twitter wrote. “To bring them front and center, today and every day.”

While it offered an empowering message, some Twitter users found it distasteful in the context of rampant harassment on the platform.

“How about you spend the money you used on this ad to hire moderators to kick accounts that terrorize women off your platform?” one user wrote.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

DANIEL VICTOR © 2018 The New York Times

Entertainment: Advertisers turn the Oscars into a super bowl-like platform

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MLS Review: LAFC wins inaugural match, Galaxy top Portland

Hollywood star and co-owner Will Ferrell was in attendance along with a star-studded ownership group as the LA stunned the Seattle Sounders

MLS Review: LAFC wins inaugural match, Galaxy top Portland

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Sports: Kobe Bryant just won an Oscar and took a dig at Fox News host Laura Ingraham in his speech

Kobe Bryant's short film, "Dear Basketball," won for "Best Animated Short Film."

• NBA legend Kobe Bryant won an Academy Award on Sunday night.
• Bryant's short film, "Dear Basketball," won for "Best Animated Short Film."
• The film is an animated version of the letter Bryant wrote to announce his retirement.

---

Among the many accolades on Kobe Bryant's resume, he can now add another one — Academy Award winner.

Bryant's short film, "Dear Basketball," won for "Best Animated Short Film."

The film is an animated version of the letter Bryant wrote for "The Players' Tribune" announcing his retirement from basketball.

In his acceptance speech, Bryant took a veiled shot at Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who made headlines recently by feuding with LeBron James and suggesting he should "shut up and dribble" amid James' criticism of President Donald Trump.

"As basketball players, we're really supposed to shut up and dribble, but I'm glad we did a little bit more than that," he said.

Here is a trailer for the film. Fans can now watch "Dear Basketball" across many of Verizon's media brands including go90 and Yahoo Sports.

Sports: Kobe Bryant just won an Oscar and took a dig at Fox News host Laura Ingraham in his speech

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Oscars 2018: Best dressed men on the Academy Awards red carpet

Here's a list of the best dressed, dapper gentlemen that graced this evening's red carpet.

Hollywood stars have begun to arrive on the red carpet for the 90th Academy Awards. Once again, the who's who of Hollywood will be celebrating the best talent and films of the year at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood but we are keeping a close eye on the best dressed gentlemen who impressed us on the Academy Awards red carpet.

Jimmy Kimmel returns

Jimmy Kimmel resumes his duties as the Academy Awards host for the second consecutive year. Kimmel famously hosted last year when an envelope mix-up initially (and mistakenly) resulted in "La La Land" being named the best picture winner over "Moonlight" at the 89th Academy Awards. The comedian, speaking on what an honour it was to be selected again, joked that 'If you think we screwed up the ending this year, wait until you see what we have planned for the 90th anniversary show!'

ALSO READ: How Did 'The Shape of Water' Become the Film to Beat at the Oscars?

Time's Up

Time's Up, the campaign to raise legal aid funds for victims of sexual assault, have confirmed that they will have a presence at this year's ceremony. Following the Golden Globes and Baftas, there will be extra scrutiny on the red carpet as to which celebrities choose to wear black in solidarity with the movement.

ALSO READ: Was Blanca Blanco wrong to wear red?

Black-tie attire is recommended, but black gowns are optional this time around. The women behind Time's Up against sexual harassment aren't planning an organised demonstration prior to the Oscars, but undoubtedly, all eyes will be on the Academy to address the allegations that have plagued Hollywood over the last few months and acknowledge the culture of sexual harassment in Hollywood and the Oscars, designed as a big commercial for Hollywood glamour, will be expected to address systemic problem of sexual harassment in show business.

''We think we have figured out a way to do it all," said Jennifer Todd, one of the lead producers of the show. In other words, the show must go on but we look forward to seeing how such a delicate issue is addressed over the course of the entire show.

ALSO READ: The Duchess of Cambridge wore green instead of black and it had people a little confused

The gentlemen of the red carpet

With all eyes firmly placed on men in Hollywood for all the wrong reasons, we take a look at the few good men who walked the red carpet, impressed us with their sartorial choices and reminded us that not always do a few bad apples, spoil the bunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oscars 2018: Best dressed men on the Academy Awards red carpet

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Daddy Freeze: 5 things we learned from controversial OAP’s latest interview

The convenor of the free the sheeple movement had some interesting things to say in a recent interview with Sahara Reporters.

Daddy Freeze sits down for an interesting interview with Sahara Reporters.

In it, the convenor of the free the sheeple movement shares his thoughts on modern Christianity in Nigeria.

Here are five things we learned from the  new interview, published on Youtube on March 1, 2018:

Monetisation is the biggest problem in Nigerian churches: According to the OAP, pastors have ruined the church by monetizing it.

In his words, “They’ve taken a spiritual and eternal doctrine and they made it a carnal, monetized doctrine and we are all the poorer for it.”

The solution to Nigeria's poverty crisis does not lie in the hands of God: “God has given has natural resources, God has given us land…., we have water, we are blessed with human resources…..” he said.

It's time for Christians to put the blessings aside and start working.

Nigerian Christians need to rebel: Daddy Freeze said: “The time now is for the rebellion because they are not going to change. They are not ready, do they have the attitude? If Adeboye last year was recorded saying that read the book of Malachi, if you don't pay your tithe, it is a curse. If he is still saying that in 2017, they are not ready to have a referendum.”

Nigerian churches have removed Jesus and replaced Him with brands: According to the Radio Presenter, the church has been overtaken by materialism.

Check out the video above to see the full interview.

Daddy Freeze: 5 things we learned from controversial OAP’s latest interview

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MLS transaction tracker: All of the latest trades and transfers across Major League Soccer

Goal keeps you up to date with all the moves going on around Major League Soccer during the offseason

MLS transaction tracker: All of the latest trades and transfers across Major League Soccer

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Guy Smarts: Here's the truth about stem cell penis enhancements

According to British tabloid the Sun, the latest penis enhancement craze in the U.K. is a "natural" procedure by a company called Stem Protect that uses stem cells and fat from a patient's body to increase the size of their member by as much as 3 inches.

Let's be honest: News of an easy way to have a bigger penis tends to make guys' ears perk up. But the reality behind enhancing the size of your natural endowment is often messy, dangerous, and complicated.

According to British tabloid the Sun, the latest penis enhancement craze in the U.K. is a "natural" procedure by a company called Stem Protect that uses stem cells and fat from a patient's body to increase the size of their member by as much as 3 inches.

What role do the stem-cells play, exactly? Stem Protect did not immediately respond to our request for more information on the procedure, and the details in the Sun's article are a little bit fuzzy. They say the "stem cells bond with existing penis content to create [a] longer, fuller look," but they also suggest the stem cells are only there help the fat implants heal.

For help sorting out what's really going on here, we turned to a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York. Dr. Darren Smith, a surgeon at Rapaport Plastic Surgery, tells Men's Health the procedure seems to be a routine existing method of performing a penis enhancement. What's more, Smith says adding stem cells to the mix wouldn't really make much of a difference, size-wise.

The Sun's report is mostly based off of a Stem Protect blog post, which states that "a combination of fat collected via liposuction, and healthy stem cells from a patient's own body, can provide a new form of penis, breast and bottom augmentation that far surpasses any kind of enhancement surgery available before."

Doctors harvest fat from a patient's belly, then use a machine to isolate and concentrate stem cells in it. That stem cell-fat combination is injected into the penis to make it bigger.

This isn't a new procedure. Dr. Smith noted that we've been doing penis enhancements using fat injections for years. It's less invasive than other procedures, which sometimes peel back the outer layer of penis skin and use medical-grade cadaver skin to increase the penis's girth, but it also has the potential to come out lumpy or uneven.

"The only thing that's at all novel about it in this context is separating out stem cells from the fat," Smith said. "I've certainly heard of it in a lot of other contexts."

If the Sun's graphic is to be believed, the stem cells contribute to a "longer, fuller look" in the penis. But Smith says that's not really what stem cells would do at all. The main benefit of stem cells, and why they're used in so many other medical procedures, is that they dramatically improve the body's ability to heal. Smith said that using stem cells in the process would improve patients' skin quality he compared the process to something called a "vampire facial," where blood platelets are used to rejuvenate skin on people's faces but wouldn't really have an affect on their size.

"Stem cells aren't particularly useful for adding volume or length to an area," Smith said.

The takeaway? Stem cells may help make the skin on your penis healthier, but any size increases would come from the injected fat. If you're thinking of getting an upgrade, Smith offered a few words of caution.

"Before engaging in anything like this it's important to see if there's any data or reputable experts behind it," he said. "And two, make sure you're going to somebody who's well qualified to do this."

Guy Smarts: Here's the truth about stem cell penis enhancements

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'Mourinho is still special' – Matic a big fan of demanding Man Utd boss

The midfielder says the Portuguese’s record speaks for itself, with there every reason to believe he will deliver more success with the Red Devils

'Mourinho is still special' – Matic a big fan of demanding Man Utd boss

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Oby Ezekwesili: Ex-minister says she may run for a political office

Ezekwesili had launched a campaign called 'Red Card', which she said is aimed at completely getting rid of the PDP and APC.

Former Minister of Education and co-coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG), Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has said she may be running for a political office.

Ezekwesili has constantly criticised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, especially over the remaining abducted Chibok girls still in captivity.

Ahead of the 2019 election, the ex-minister had launched a campaign called 'Red Card', which she said is aimed at getting rid of the two major political parties – PDP and APC – from Nigeria's political space.

According to her, leaders of the two parties who have ruled Nigeria for over 20 years have failed the country, a view many Nigerians also share.

ALSO READ: Ezekwesili questions Buhari's silence over 94 missing girls in Yobe

Speaking in an interview on Channel TV, she said she is thinking about running for a political office but did not specify which position she might be interested in.

Watch the interview below:

 

Oby Ezekwesili: Ex-minister says she may run for a political office

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Pulse List: Five natural remedy for oily skin

Sebum is an oily substance made of fats. And it is believed that oily skin is the result of overproduction of sebum from sebaceous glands.

Sebum is an oily substance made of fats. And it is believed that oily skin is the result of overproduction of sebum from sebaceous glands.

Although sebum help protect and moisturize the skin, yet an overproduction of it may lead to oily skin which can lead to clogged pores and acne.

And studies have shown that stress, fried food, processed food, and sugary substances are among the factors that increased the production of sebum.

However, when sebum is caused by genetics or hormones, it becomes very tough to prevent.

 

Be that as it may, there are natural remedies that can help reduce the symptoms of oily skin without the use of drugs or expensive skin-care regimen. Read on to see the natural remedies for oily skin.

Here are five natural remedies for oily skin

1.  Aloe Vera

The usefulness of Aloe Vera cannot be overemphasized. Widely known for soothing burns and other skin conditions, Aloe Vera is very useful when it comes to reducing the symptoms of oily skin.  

As a matter of fact, there’s good scientific evidence that it helps treat flaky skin caused by oily patches.

Procedure for reducing the symptom of oily skin with Aloe Vera

Apply a thin layer to your face before bedtime

Leave it on until morning

Rinse face with water

 

Note

It is believed that Aloe Vera triggers allergic reaction on sensitive skin. So, it is, therefore, advisable to test a small amount on your forearm if you have not used aloe vera before.

If no reaction appears within 24 to 48 hours it should be safe to use.

2 . Orange

Orange peels are rich in astringent properties which restrict the excess oil secretion. The vitamin C present in it prevents wrinkles and makes your skin fresh and soft.

Procedures for reducing the oily skin with orange

Let the orange peels dry under the sun until crisp.

Blend them into fine powder.

Combine orange peel powder and rose water to make a paste.

Spread a layer of the paste on the skin and leave it on for 15 minutes.

Rinse off with water and pat dry.

Extra tip

The application of orange juice to the body help provides fair and younger looking skin. And for effective result, apply orange juice directly on the skin or mix it with any other natural ingredients.

 

 3. Tomatoes

Though this might seem ridiculous, but it is true. Tomatoes contain salicylic acid, a common acne home remedy.

The acids in tomatoes does not only help absorb excess skin oils, it also help unclog pores.

Procedure for reducing the symptom of oily skin with tomatoes

Combine one teaspoon sugar with the pulp of 1 tomato.

Apply to the skin in a circular motion.

Leave the mask on for 5 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly with tepid water and pat dry.

4. Honey

When it comes to skin remedy, honey is one of nature’s most revered agent. With its antibacterial and antiseptic abilities, honey is great for oily and acne-prone skin.

As a natural humectant, it helps keep the skin moist but not oily. And this is because humectants draw moisture from the skin without replacing it.

Procedure for reducing the symptom of oily skin with honey

Spread a thin layer, preferably raw, onto your face

Let it dry for about 10 minutes

Rinse thoroughly with tepid water.

 

5. Wash your face Tomatoes

Though this might seem ridiculous, but it is true. Tomatoes contain salicylic acid, a common acne home remedy.

The acids in tomatoes does not only help absorb excess skin oils, it also help unclog pores.

Procedure for reducing the symptom of oily skin with tomatoes

Combine one teaspoon sugar with the pulp of 1 tomato.

Apply to the skin in a circular motion.

Leave the mask on for 5 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly with tepid water and pat dry.

Obviously, many people with oily skin don’t wash their face daily. As a matter of fact, it is expected of you to wash your face, at least, twice a day if your skin is oily.

However, it important that you avoid the use of harsh soaps or detergents when you do.

Pulse List: Five natural remedy for oily skin

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LIVE: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

Five points separate the top two sides in La Liga as the title race hots up in Spain – follow all the action LIVE!

LIVE: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

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Babatunde Fashola: FG spends N2.8bn on Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo road reconstruction, rehabilitation

Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, disclosed this on Saturday in Gbongan, Osun State, while inspecting the project.

The Federal Government says it has spent N2.8 billion on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo Road.

Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, disclosed this on Saturday in Gbongan, Osun State, while inspecting the project.

Fashola said that the road was awarded to Kopek Construction Company by the previous administration in 2011 at the cost of N6.9 billion.

Represented by Mr Adetunji Adeoye, the South-West Director of the Ministry, Fashola said that Federal Government was committed to the speedy completion of the road.

He said that the contract, with 18 months completion period, was delayed for three years by the previous administration due to delay in release of funds.

Fashola said that the current administration had been providing funds to the construction company.

The Minister said that government was working on the review of the contact rate to accommodate changes in prices of materials.

Earlier, Mr Wasiu Atitebi, the Federal Controller of Works in Osun, said that the 32.2 Kilometre road links Gbongan, Iwo in Osun state and Ibadan in Oyo state.

Atitebi said that the contractor was mobilised back to the site in January 2017 after three years delay, adding that the project was in its fifth extension.

Mr Pascal Harfouch, the Kopek contractor, said that some parts of the road were for rehabilitation while other parts were total reconstruction.

Harfouch, who confirmed that government did not owe them for now, said the company was working on a review of the contract sum due to changes in prices.

He added that local people in the area were employed in executing the project in line with Federal Government local content policy.

Harfouch pointed out that the road is at 61.6 per cent completion. 

Babatunde Fashola: FG spends N2.8bn on Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo road reconstruction, rehabilitation

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Oghenekaro Etebo: Nigerian midfielder happy with draw against Barcelona

Etebo was in action for 90 minutes on when Las Palmas forced Barcelona to a draw in a La Liga fixtue

Nigerian midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has revealed his happiness with the draw between Las Palmas and Barcelona.

Etebo was in action for 90 minutes on Thursday, March 1 when Las Palmas forced Barcelona to a draw in a Spanish La Liga fixture.

The midfielder who recently moved to the Spanish outfit on loan, was impressive in midfield against Superstars Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets.

Etebo took to his official Instagram account to express his happiness with the result, as he posted a message which said, "We gained a good point last night against fierce opposition. Our supporters were amazing once again."

The 22-year-old had earlier declared that he did not come to Las Palmas to sit on the bench, and has backed up his statement with impressive performances.

Pulse Sports has revealed that Etebo has been invited for the Super Eagles friendly matches against Poland and Serbia.

 

Despite the draw Etebo's Las Palmas are still facing a diifuclt battle to saty in the Spanish League, as they are in the Relegation zone.

Etebo who has now been joined at Las Palmas by Emmanuel Emenike and Ezekiel Imoh will hope to get a better result when they travel to Celta Vigo on Monday, March 5.

Oghenekaro Etebo: Nigerian midfielder happy with draw against Barcelona

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Sports: This is everything tennis champion Serena Williams eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

23-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion Serena Williams has an interesting diet plan — here's everything she eats in a typical day.

Serena Williams returns to the Women's Tennis Association Tour at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, this week.

The comeback marks the first time she'll contest an official singles tour match since the 2017 Australian Open — a tournament she won whilst pregnant.

Williams took the rest of the year off, gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., but is now ready to pick up where she left off.

In order to maintain her sporting dominance, Williams has to eat right before a match. So what sort of food does a 23-time tennis major champion serve up?

Here's everything Williams likes to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

This is Serena Williams, a superstar tennis player who is returning to the sport after taking a year out to give birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

Before a game, Williams "usually can't" eat and says it may be down to nerves. However, if she was going to have a meal, it would be a "protein and carb" combo like turkey sausage and baked potato.

Source: Glamour.

When Williams is away from the court, she spares no expense and orders a delicious and healthy looking platter for breakfast including staples like smoothies and fruits.

It's not all clean-eating, though. Williams has an obvious sweet tooth and won't hesitate to put away a beignet, which is basically a deep fried nugget of sugary dough.

When it comes to lunches, or general snacking, Williams never refuses a taco — and they are an ever-present feature of the tennis champion's Instagram.

Williams once said on Facebook: "I want tacos. Everyday I want tacos. I don't know what to do? Is there help for someone that wants to eat tacos everyday?"

Source: Facebook.

If tacos aren't on the menu and Williams wanted to celebrate a tennis success, she would order a cheese pizza and french fries.

Source: Glamour.

But sometimes nothing beats home cooking and, for Williams, that means her mother's chicken, rice, and gravy.

Source: Bon Appetit.

If Williams is doing the cooking, then she likes to wow her friends and family with a number of dishes. "For years I was always making gumbo for everyone," she said. "My other go-to dishes are something I call a 'seven-bean delight' which really only has five beans, but don't tell. And roasted chicken with garlic."

Source: Bon Appetit.

Aside from tacos, there is another food Williams is obsessed with — moon pie. "I love moon pies. If "Moon Pie" sponsored me, I'd be bigger than any house on this planet! I love the originals: banana, chocolate, or vanilla. Now I really want a Moon Pie!"

Source: Bon Appetit.

Sports: This is everything tennis champion Serena Williams eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

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Personal Development: The encounter that made me an eloquent/audible speaker

Unlike many others, I wasn't born with any form of Speech Impediment (stammering). It was just a habit I emulated as a child. 

While in Primary school, my best friend was a chronic stammerer and back then as a child, I always fancied it like it was a special way of talking.

The Early Experience 

So, I started doing it intentionally. It was fun at first, because my friend was more comfortable talking to me if I stammered back at her. 

I took this bad habit home and I remember my parents always cautioned me but I didn't care much.

When the whole problem started was at some point when I wanted to talk normal, I'd still stammer. Only then did I realize that while trying to be a "copycat" I've lost my words. Or should I say I lost my voice? 

It became so bad that if I wanted to make a statement, I'd have to jump up to force the word out of my mouth. I always had these words in my heart but I couldn't voice them out. Quite a pitiful condition I was in.

Read Also:5 issues that are too sensitive to be laughed at.

The Bitter Experience

It was hard for me to greet anyone because the words wouldn't come out and most times I get punished for not greeting. So, most times I would start practicing before the person gets close to me so I'll be able to force out the greeting. 

It wasn't easy being a stammerer because life in Secondary School wasn't fun at all. I had just few friends that were willing to listen to me while talking. I liked playing a lot but most of the time I was usually quiet. Most teachers considered me to be a very quiet girl. They even chose me to write the list of noise makers, little did they know that my quietness was as a result of Speech Impediment. 

The Encounter 

On a certain Wednesday, the English Teacher, Mrs Ufuoma walked into the classroom and requested that someone should come out and read an English passage to the whole class. Nobody responded and then she looked at me,(fully aware that I'm a chronic stammerer) smiled and said my dear come out and read. Jesus! OMG! Did she just call me out? I felt my heart beating faster and I heard other students giggling. There and then I concluded within that I must not embarrass myself. 

The Breakthrough 

I went to her, took the textbook but the problem started…..I was seeing the words but I couldn't read them out. My heart was reading but my mouth refused to let the words out. I heard her say…. My dear you can start we're waiting. 

I summoned courage and because I didn't want to jump, I shouted the first word! I didn't stop there, I kept shouting all the words and that was it! I was reading out loud! When I was done, she commended me for being very "audible" and asked that I should be applauded by the class. 

After class that day, she called me aside and told me she was proud of my reading skills and as from that day, I would be the one reading the Literature textbook to the whole class. 

There and then, I became determined because I didn't want to disappoint her because she's the only one that had ever encouraged me by saying she was proud of my reading abilities. 

For every other class Mrs Ufuoma had after that day, I read out the English passage to the whole class while shouting which she described as being Audible.  

And yes! I'd shout even when talking to the person next to me just to avoid stammering. Back home the new development of shouting didn't go down well with everyone but they still preferred it to having to listen to me stammer about everything!

Read Also: Why Stammerers shouldn't be allowed to read the bible in church.

 

As I grew, I tried controlling myself from shouting to being "Audible" as Mrs Ufuoma would say. 

Now, I'm such an eloquent speaker you'd never guess I once had speech impediment. 

Mrs Ufuoma, wherever you are, I'm really grateful to you ma! 

And a special thanks to myself for not giving up on myself…

Written by Maryann Precious.

Maryann Precious is a student under the Faculty of Management Science. As a speaker, she's a religious Activist. And as a writer, she writes as a hobby.  IG: @pre_shy_ous    TWITTER: Mhizpreciouz9    mhizpreciouz@gmail.com

Personal Development: The encounter that made me an eloquent/audible speaker

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BBNaija 2018: Sex in toilet: I and Bam Bam just having fun – Teddy A

Big Brother Naija 2018 housemate, Teddy A, has revealed that his relationship with fellow housemate Bam Bam is just for show, insisting that he has a girlfriend.

Teddy A, a music artiste, said this during his diary session last night when Big Brother asked Teddy which relationship in the house he felt was genuine.

Responding, Teddy A told Big Brother it was “probably Alex and Leo.”

He added that when he got into the house, he told everyone who cared to listen that he had a girlfriend.

Teddy A and Bam Bam formerly known as Bamteddy, were strategic partners which later turned into romance.

They have been caught making love in one of the toilets in the Big Brother.

He added “I let Bam Bam know and told her not to come close but as time went by, our arguments stopped and I got to see a different side of her.

“It doesn’t change the fact that I have a girlfriend.

“I and Bam Bam are just having fun.”

First published on Daily Post

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Politics: Trump on China abolishing presidential term limits: 'Maybe we'll give that a shot someday'

Trump in a private speech on Saturday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for recently consolidating power, saying, "Maybe we'll give that a shot someday."

• President Donald Trump in a private speech to Republican donors on Saturday floated the idea of abolishing presidential term limits.
• Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for consolidating power, saying, "Maybe we'll give that a shot someday."
• Trump also used the speech to bash his former opponent Hillary Clinton and insult former President George W. Bush.

---

President Donald Trump in a private speech on Saturday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for recently consolidating power, saying, "Maybe we'll give that a shot someday."

"He's now president for life. President for life. And he's great," Trump said, according to a recording obtained by CNN. "And look, he was able to do that. I think it's great."

Trump made the remarks during a closed-door lunch and fundraiser with Republican donors.

CNN reported that his speech was upbeat and joking at times, but added that Trump also complained about what he views as unfair treatment in the ongoing Russia investigation in comparison to his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton.

"I'm telling you, it's a rigged system, folks," Trump said, according to CNN. "I've been saying that for a long time. It's a rigged system. And we don't have the right people in there yet. We have a lot of great people, but certain things, we don't have the right people."

Trump also speculated at one point about Clinton's life after losing the presidential election.

"Is Hillary a happy person? Do you think she's happy?" Trump said. "When she goes home at night, does she say, 'What a great life?' I don't think so. You never know. I hope she's happy."

Trump also ripped into former President George W. Bush over the Iraq War, calling the invasion "the single worst decision ever made" and likening it to "throwing a big fat brick into a hornet's nest."

"That was Bush. Another real genius. That was Bush," Trump said. "That turned out to be wonderful intelligence. Great intelligence agency there."

Trump frequently expresses skepticism about US intelligence, and has used its previous failures leading up to the Iraq War to undermine intelligence agencies' findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

Politics: Trump on China abolishing presidential term limits: 'Maybe we'll give that a shot someday'

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Misogyny: Why are Nigerian men acting surprised at Anthony Joshua’s comments?

We're attacking Anthony Joshua for committing a crime we're all guilty of.

British boxer of Nigerian origin, Anthony Joshua has himself caught in another duel; this time with the rest of us common folk who have reacted to his misogynistic comments about how he wants his niece to be raised.

In an interview with GQ from March 2017, the 27-year old said he wants his son to ‘spread his wings’ but he tends to be much stricter with his niece.

"I don’t think I’m that strict with Joseph, I don’t know why" he said.

"But with my niece I’m strict. I think it is because she is older, but also he’s a boy — he’s going to be a man’s man, he’ll want to spread his wings, be a Jack-the-lad, build his character."

He added: "But I am sure there are things I will be strict about. But with my niece, there is none of that Jack-the-lad nonsense for her!’ ‘My view is you have to be a good woman, respectful, one day you will be someone’s wife, you have to learn family morals… what it is to be a good woman"

 

Naturally, AJ’s comments haven’t gone down well with most people. It’s 2018 man.

People don’t get to say things like this anymore. Talking about a young woman like you’re preparing her to be an extension of a man doesn’t earn you points.

It’s misogyny, straight out of a place where men rule as the supreme gender.

Bad behaviour, really.

The interview is from 2017, by the way. AJ could have printed these unspoken rules on walls around every floor in his house or wherever his niece now stays or still, changed his mind for all we know.

ALSO READ: Let's gather and shed tears, Toke Makinwa is disappointed in Anthony Joshua

(That’s a saying on the streets of Lagos; “to ba we lawini 55, eni t’oma j’eko ma j’eko)

What it means basically is, even if you tie 4 turbans, your knock will find you.

You're shaking this table too much

The volume of reactions from Nigerians shouldn’t be surprising, but the tone is what makes you want to check where people are tweeting these things from.

 

One tweet reads; “answers concerning his son and his niece are seen to be sexist and misogynistic, showing toxic masculinity.”

This is very straight to the point. No words have been minced here.

It’s also very ground-breaking.

One of the aptest examples of the extent of sexism in Nigerian society is that, before education became slightly cheaper (and then expensive all over again), most parents made the sacrifice of a young daughter’s independence so the boys could go to school

It’s a human thing to some degree; the #MeToo movement continues collecting the scalps of media personalities and executives who harassed women and turned an industry ‘misogynistic’.

But let’s be guided.

Women have to be either thick-skinned or deaf to walk through markets in Lagos. And some streets too.

Our President confined his wife’s importance to the kitchen and “za oza room” on international media.

We’ve built a society on the belief that the woman is a nurturer, unambitious and willing to tend to a life or three, a house, a family or nothing at all; the man is the ultimate machine, the earner, the one who must be bright-eyed with the glint of potential, the one who must be hardened for the rigours of life and taking care of a woman.

ALSO READ: Aisha Buhari has the guts to call her husband out

The pressure that Nigerian men are placed under, at least in the mind, sets a dangerous precedent, that is already com-busting; regardless of how we may ignoring the apparent presence and effects of depression in young Nigerian men.

Did his comments hit too close to home?

Anthony Joshua’s comment mirrors what happens in most Nigerian homes. Men come with the right to rebel, pre-installed. Women have to be respectful, you’re going to be someone’s wife.

What is lost in economic and social value is in numbers.

On the average, there's a pay gap of 80% between what men and women earn.

And that's even for the few women that rise to the same position as men. To earn those roles, they usually have to outliers in every sense of the word.

The reactions to AJ's comments look very pretentious.

ALSO READ: Casting couch syndrome is Nollywood's death little secret

Each tweet that calls out AJ's behaviour is ammunition for the argument that social media has plunged the Nigerian youth into a virtual, unrealistic world where trending topics can win elections and everyone needs to put up the leanest, meanest appearances.

Because for the most part, our society does not echo these views.

Ironically, the tweets are also a pointer to the fact that the status quo does not have to remain for too long.

They may not have it figured out but a younger generation that comprehends a very sensitive issue is raising conversations about an imbalance that we were raised on.

There are people sleeping on this table that we're shaking; but there's enough reason to be slightly optimistic, if that's the case.

#MeToo is the biggest contemporary proof that conversations can start something, or at least, in the case of #H&M or #CoolestMonkeyInTheJungle, continue them.

Maybe we’ll have that hashtag soon or start unearthing the stories that have placed the ladder to Nollywood stardom in the boxers of Nigerian movie directors.

Until then it seems like we’re throwing a boomerang at a glass house we should be aware that we helped build.

Misogyny: Why are Nigerian men acting surprised at Anthony Joshua’s comments?

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Lai Mohammed: Minister bags “Icon of Community Development Awards

The Award was conferred on the minister at the 60th anniversary of Oro Grammar School and the launching of N100 million appeal fund by the Old Students Association of the school.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was on Saturday honoured with the Award of “Icon of Community Development’’ in his home town, Oro, Kwara.

The Award was conferred on the minister at the 60th anniversary of Oro Grammar School and the launching of N100 million appeal fund by the Old Students Association of the school.

The award, according to the organisers of the event was in recognition of the numerous contributions by the minister to the school, Oro community, Kwara and the nation at large.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister renovated and equipped the science laboratory and two blocks of classrooms as contributions to the development of the school.

Speaking at the event, the minister
said he had secured a N150 million education intervention fund for the College of Education, Oro from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

He also announced the approval of award of contract for the construction of Obajana-Omuaran-Ilorin road by the Federal Government.

Mohammed said he secured the award for the road construction with the assistance of his colleague ministers in the Federal Executive Council.

The minister, who expressed concerns on the harrowing experiences by the road users said they would soon breathe a sigh of relief.

He said the contracts for the construction of the road was awarded to two contractors which would soon mobilise to site.

The minister said that Dangote Group which had its cement factory on the axis had commenced construction of its own section of the road.

He said a speedy completion of the road would help to reduce time wasted by commuters and put an end to the attacks by hoodlums on the road.

Mohammed, who hails from Oro, said he was working with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for the rehabilitation of the roads in the town and its environs.

The minister said he had secured the assurances of the Minister of Works, Power, and Housing, Babatunde Fashola that the rehabilitation projects would commence soon.

The minister also said that he was working with the Ministry of Water Resources for provision of portable water across the three senatorial districts of Kwara.

He recalled that his ministry launched the Digital Switch Over (DSO) in February in Ilorin, thereby placing the state among the first round of states to transit from analogue to digital terrestrial television.

Mohammed said in order for the entire state to be covered with DSO, he has approved the construction of base stations in Oro and Lafiaji.

Speaking on the award conferred on him, the minister said it would spur him to do more and attract more developmental projects to his community.

He underscored the need for public spirited citizens and philanthropists to contribute to the development of their communities, noting that government could not do everything alone.

Mohammed said although, the school was not his alma-mata, he was attracted to contributing to its development because of its history and the fact that his late brother, Wahab Mohammed was a foundation student of the school.

He said Oro Grammar School was conceived and founded in 1948, with a donation of 20,000 pounds by the forefathers of the community who were keen at giving education to their children.

The minister noted that the school had been exceptional in academics and sports since inception, recalling that “it was a terror to other schools in soccer in the North and beyond’’.

Gov. Abdulfattah Ahmed of Kwara, who corroborated the minister’s position, said it was imperative for people to give back to their community which had assisted them in one way or the other.

The governor, represented by Hajia Maryam Garba, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education said the government was committed to completing all ongoing projects.

The President of the school association, Mr Folorunsho Alao, thanked the minister for creating time out of his busy schedule to attend the event and for his contributions.

Lai Mohammed: Minister bags “Icon of Community Development Awards

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