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* Seeks a Review of Security Situation in the North East
*Calls on UN to resume activities
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Friday called for calm as the United Nation's announced that it would be suspending aid deliveries in Nigeria after a United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) humanitarian convoy was attacked while travelling from Bama to Maiduguri in Borno State.
Saraki
Saraki in a statement by his Media Office, condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms, stating that it was unacceptable to endanger the lives of aid workers, who were only trying to assuage the situation in the North East.
"This unfortunate situation has led to the United Nation's temporarily suspending its rehabilitation-related aid deliveries to parts of the North East," the Senate President said, while adding that "this is a major cause for concern as overtime, the Nigerian military has recorded significant successes in routing the insurgency and many foreign donor agencies have expressed their preparedness to join in the North East restoration efforts."
Saraki further called for an immediate review of the security situation in the North East by the relevant authorities, stating that it was necessary to alleviate the concerns of international partners who are set to help rebuild the crisis-torn areas.
"I also urge our military, the Department of State Security and the Police, to commence an immediate security re-evaluation and review of the entire North East zone in order to allay the fears of our donor partners. The partners are important to Nigeria's work to reposition the North East after months of decimation at the hands of Boko Haram”, he stated.
With the temporary suspension of the United Nations' activities in the region, the Senate President called on the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to immediately address the shortfall that will arise from the cessation of donations of food and medicines.
"Effective action must be taken in the interim. We need to make sure that no lives are lost due to the temporary suspension of UN aid”, he added.
Saraki further called on the UN to resume its activities in North East as soon as possible, while reassuring Nigerians and the international community that the Senate would fast-track the passage of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill, which aims to create a legislative framework and multi-state platform for the coordination of relief and donations to the zone. Following the submission of the Report of its Public Hearing by the Senate Committee on Special Duties, the bill Following the bill is awaiting third and final reading before being passed.
The Senate President had on July 18 led a delegation to Maiduguri in Borno State where he pledged that the Senate would look into the issue of malnutrition and shortage of medical supplies in the North East. DC Bill is currently awaiting its third and final reading in the Senate.
Two days later, through a Point of Order raised by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (APC – Borno Central), the Senate discussed the issue of malnutrition in the North East and resolved that the Ministry of Finance should immediately release necessary funds to the North East while the Federal Government should begin coordination of private sector donations to the region.
During the debate on the motion, Saraki emphasised the need for a sustainable public-private-partnership driven approach to combat the issue of malnutrition, stressing that Nigeria did not need to lose more lives to the lack of food in the North East.
The commander of US forces in the Middle East denied Friday that he had any link to the military coup attempt in Turkey following accusations by the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Any reporting that I had anything to do with the recent unsuccessful coup attempt in Turkey is unfortunate and completely inaccurate,” General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, said in a statement.
“Turkey has been an extraordinary and vital partner in the region for many years. We appreciate Turkey’s continuing cooperation and look forward to our future partnership in the counter-ISIL fight,” Votel said, referring to the Islamic State group.
Erdogan on Friday accused Votel of being on the side of Turkey’s coup plotters after commenting that the country’s turmoil could downgrade military cooperation with Washington.
“You are taking the side of coup plotters instead of thanking this state for defeating the coup attempt,” Erdogan said in angry remarks at a military center in Golbasi near Ankara, where air strikes left dozens dead during the failed putsch on July 15.
According to US media reports, Votel had said the coup bid and subsequent round-up of dozens of generals could affect American military cooperation with Turkey.
In particular, Votel reportedly suggested the US had lost key Turkish military interlocutors who are now in jail and accused of being behind the coup.
“Know your place!” Erdogan told Votel, using one of his favorite expressions of anger.
“The coup plotter is already in your country, you are already feeding him,” he said, referring to the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who Ankara accuses of being the mastermind of the coup.
Turkey is a key member of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State jihadists in Syria, with its Incirlik air base used as a launch hub for raids on the group.
After the top three teams in the Games, Innovation and World Citizenship have pitched their projects in front of hundreds of students, judges, and Journalists in the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Centre at Seattle's Garfield High School, Washington, the United States of America, this morning, Team ENTy in the innovation category from Romania took the place as the 2016 Imagine Cup World Champion winner.
With this development, Microsoft has crowned team the Imagine Cup World Champion. This will give the wining students the opportunity to have one on one mentorship with the Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Satya Nadella.
ENTy is a wearable device that tracks inner ear balance and spinal posture and tell users if they are having balance or posture issues.
Team ENTy's project is an app for monitoring balance and posture. The team's members include Flavia Oprea, Iulian-Razvan Matesica and Cristian Alexandrescu.
Speaking with excitement, the Romanian team leader , Iulian-Razvan Matesica while expressing appreciation to Microsoft for the opportunity to participate in the Imagine Cup assured that they will take their project to the market.
"We did not know we could do it. We are going to launch it and get medical certificate for the product. This will help deliver the products to the hospital. But we need angel investors and seed fund to scale up the solution" she said.
For Steve Guggenheimer, Corporate Vice President and Chief Evangelist, Microsoft, every student who participated in the worldwide finals was a winner.
"We all have amazing solutions that can change the world. You have made us proud. Use the solution to make a difference in the world. This is just the beginning", he said.
It would be recalled that the final leg of the nearly year-long Imagine Cup journey began on Wednesday, when 35 teams from all over the globe competed in front of our judges for the top three spots in the Games, Innovation and World Citizenship categories.
Team PH21 of Thailand in Games, Team ENTy of Romania in Innovation and Team AMANDA of Greece in World Citizenship each had claimed their $50,000 category prize and then moved on to the Championship round to compete for the grand prize - the Imagine Cup crown and a private mentoring session with Microsoft CEO.
Their innovations were judged by a trio of out-of-this world judges who helped to decide which of these incredible teams would be the Imagine Cup 2016 Champion, including special guest John Boyega, lead actor from Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Dr. Jennifer Tang, one-half of the duo that won the 2014 Imagine Cup Championship; and Kasey Champion, an accomplished software engineer and Computer Science Curriculum Developer at Microsoft. During the Championship Show, it was exciting to see finalists' reactions as they received words of encouragement and inspiration from the likes of Seattle Seahawks superstar quarterback Russell Wilson and hit recording artist and Garfield High alum Macklemore, both of whom congratulated the students on making it this far in the competition and wished them luck on their innovation journey.
During the final leg of their journey, Imagine Cup student finalists gained a number of valuable experiences - and inspired us every step of the way. They participated in a live hackathon and got to see first-hand just how powerful a few lines of code can be.
The Garfield High gymnasium was transformed into a Robo World Cup Hackathon space where more than a 100 local high school students from the Boys & Girls Club and Garfield High joined Imagine Cup competitors.
The hackathon, run by Microsoft Student Partners, helped students build and customize a robot kit using Windows 10 and Microsoft Azure, and tested their innovation in a World Cup style soccer style elimination tournament. The winners received an Xbox One, HP Spectre laptop and a World Cup trophy.
The Federal Government has called on the U.S. to support Nigeria to attract more investors into the country.
Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, made the call when the officials of Nigerian- American Chamber of Commerce paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja on Friday.
Buhari and Obama
“America is a world leader in terms of investment and we will need your support in assuring investors that Nigeria is open and safe for business,'' she said.
Abubakar said there has been a lot of improvement in the relationship between the two countries in the last one year. She added that the country has put in place strategies to improve on its ranking on doing business.
“I thank you for the support in the area of doing business because as a result the easy of doing business committee has been constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari,'' Abubakar said.
She thanked the group for inviting and sensitising the ministry on the forthcoming U.S.-Nigeria Finance conference coming up in October.
Abubakar appealed to the chamber to make available details of the investment that came in following the last conference in 2015, the number that is still to come and those being negotiated.
In his speech, Alan Tousignant, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy said the two countries have good relationship on trade and investment.
Tousignant said although 2016 has been a difficult year for Nigeria's economy the government was introducing measures to stabilise the situation.
He said the two countries were striving to see what they could do to promote investment.
Tousignant said the forthcoming conference would provide an opportunity for the government to attract more investment into the country.
He said the U.S. government was happy to hear that Nigeria had taken steps to improve its world ranking on the easy of doing business.
He called for more flexibility in the foreign exchange policy.
“Those areas are very important to investors because those are the first things they ask. They want to know how easy it is to do business in Nigeria.
Mr Sheriff Balogun, President, Nigerian- American Chamber of Commerce, Kaduna State Chapter, said the visit was to seek further collaboration with the ministry.
Balogun said the visit was in connection with the forthcoming conference of the Small and Medium Enterprises adding that the one held in 2015 has increased the two countries' trade relationship.
He said various financial institutions would be at the conference and called on Nigerians to make use of the opportunity.
“The conference will bring to Nigeria investors and local companies opportunities to meet up with financial institutions to boost their investment,'' Balogun said. (NAN)
The Ogun State Government has begun plans to review some of its existing laws to meet up with the current trends in the justice delivery system.
Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun
Dr Olumide Ayeni, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, stated this when speaking with journalists on Friday in Abeokuta.
He said that the state government had observed the need for review of some of the laws that had become inadequate due to the present day realities.
According to the commissioner, some of the laws being considered for review include the Child Rights Act, domestic and sexual laws, taxation laws and land administration laws.
He assured the people of the state that the legislative proposals on proper revenue services and land administration would be user-friendly.
Besides, he stated that the existing land administration laws would address the increasing cases of land grabbing, among others.
“We have put forward legislative proposals relating to domestic and sexual offences, violence and child rights.
“We have enhanced it and you would begin to see all of that in the next few weeks,'' Ayeni added. (NAN)
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has predicted cloudy weather over central states with prospects of localized thunderstorms over Abuja ,Lafia , Jos and Jalingo on Saturday morning.
The predictions are contained in the Weather Outlook issued by NiMet's Central Forecast Office (CFO), in Abuja on Friday.
It added that there would be isolated thunderstorms over Abuja, Kaduna , Zaria, Jos, Nasarawa and Lokoja in the afternoon and evening with day time temperatures of 28 to 31 degrees Celsius.
The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy morning over the inland cities during the forecast period.
It also predicted localised rains over Lagos, Delta, Calabar, Port-Harcourt, Osogbo, Akure, Ibadan, Enugu and Awka in the afternoon and evening with day time temperatures of 27 to 30 degrees Celsius.
NiMet also predicted that the northern states would experience cloudy morning with chances of localized thunderstorms over Kano axis and day time temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius.
According to the prediction, most parts of the country will experience some rains and isolated cases of thunderstorms in the next 24 hours.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Turkish international colleges, Orhan Kertim, has said that Nigeria should disregard the request by Turkey's Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hakan Cakil, to close down the schools.
This is contained in a statement he gave to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Friday.
Sen. Shehu Sani (R) with Ambassador of Turkey, Ambassador Hakan Cakil, during the Senator’s visit to condole the Ambassador over the recent coup attempt in that country, in Abuja on Thursday.
He said the call contained misleading information and would not have dignified it with a response.
According to Kertim, the schools have been operating in Nigeria since 1998 and as law-abiding schools they owe Nigerians a duty to expose the ulterior motives of the ambassador.
“The NTIC is not a Turkish government- run institution, but a privately funded institution by a group of Turkish investors.
“As a responsible organization operating in Nigeria since 1998, we are conversant with the laws of the land'', he added Kertim, however, said the call by Cakil “is not only baseless, but also unfounded and of poor taste.''
The government of Turkey through Cakil had on Thursday alerted the Nigerian government on the existence of the schools “owned by suspected terrorists.''
The ambassador called on Nigeria to shut down the schools just as the Turkish government did in Turkey.
Kertim, therefore, urged the public to ignore and disregard the statement by the Turkish ambassador.
“ Our schools are fully functional and will continue to be'', he stressed.
Nigeria's foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote was recently quoted as saying that "Nigeria is the best kept secret in the world. Anybody who does not invest in Nigeria only has himself to blame, going forward. I do not really know of any place where you can make as much money as you make in Nigeria."
Dangote's assertion may explain the recent proliferation of foreign firms in Nigeria in every sector of the economy more than ever before. In a slow but steady manner, foreign firms have entrenched themselves into key facets of the Nigerian economy; from Aviation to Banking, to Construction, to Entertainment, and even Telecoms. Foreign companies are making a big onslaught in Nigeria's lucrative market.
This is not a call to discrimination against foreign firms in Nigeria. At the moment, Nigeria seems to have been lulled into a widespread and deepening surrender. This is a "call to arms." We must neither ban foreign firms nor impede them. But we must match them with the best. We must also recognize that, wherever possible and necessary, Nigerian firms must be given priority over foreigners. Non indigenous firms should not receive in Nigeria the concessions that Nigerians cannot receive elsewhere in the business world.
Let us take a compass through the Nigeria telecommunications industry. By the estimate of the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Nigeria telecommunications industry remains the fastest growing in the world for more than five years. Little wonder it is still the investors' preferred destination.
Foreign invasion of Nigeria’s telecoms sector
Since the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) issued licenses to certain private operators in 2001, the Nigerian telecommunication sector has been dominated by private participants. What is however observable is the dominance of the sector by Multinational Corporations (MNCs) among the private participants, with very few indigenous participants. There are currently 4 mobile operators in Nigeria- MTN from South Africa, Bharti Airtel from India, Etisalat from United Arab Emirates, and Globacom which is the only indigenous firm in this sector, alongside the newest entrant – Ntel.
According to the statistics released by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), in the first quarter of 2016, the communication market is dominated by MTN with 38.70 percent of subscribers. It is followed by Globacom with 23.48 percent of the market; Airtel with 22.98 percent of the market; while Etisalat accounted for a total of 14.84 percent of the market. The statistics simply reveals that Nigeria ownership only accounts for a paltry 23.48% of the Telecoms sector that contributed about 8.83 percent to GDP in Q1, 2016. The implication of this is that the billions of dollars made by these foreign firms from Nigeria and Nigerians are repatriated to their various local economies.
There is nothing absolutely wrong in reaping the rewards of one's investments regardless of where the investment is domiciled; after all, Nigerians have multibillion Dollar investments littered across the globe. The bone of contention here is that the foreign firms are not playing on a level playing field with their indigenous counterparts. Non-Nigerians should not be given a head-start vis-à-vis Nigerians in the Nigerian economy, especially in those areas where Nigerians are more than able to make useful contributions. If Nigerians end up being discriminated against in Nigeria, it means we are effectively orphans in our own country.
Lessons from other Climes
It is public knowledge how Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers were barred from operating in America under the guise of national security and data leakage. In reality however, the ban was a disguise to protect competing American companies like, Cisco, Lucent and the likes. The American government largely patronizes made in America products. This is also applicable to China and European governments who only buy indigenous products. While international products are sold in China, there is a minimum local content requirements, which implies foreign companies must build factories there in order to trade.
Nigeria should learn from these countries. Where a local firm can perform just as well as the foreign ones, it should become a matter of policy for public interest to patronize local firms for big government jobs. The fixation on expatriate senior management staff by these big firms who repatriate our hard earned dollars to their countries is also worrisome.
For me, the underlining issue is the fact that the Nigerian government gives these foreign firms preferred treatment over local firms. The clamour for change must start from the top. Government and its agencies must learn to first engage leading Nigerian owned firms for executing national contracts in order to grow and encourage local content and save the economy.
If Nigerians do not buck up and take charge, the country might wake up sometime in the nearest future and discover that, out of indolence; lack of imagination and dearth of enterprise, we have surrendered the commanding heights of our economy to the hands of neo-colonial masters.
At a time the Federal government of Nigeria is clamoring for revenue generation and retention to fund the budget deficit, foreign firms are sucking the country dry and carting away billions of Dollars from Nigeria to their respective economies. Apart from the fact that this has increased the rate of capital flight in the country, it also renders the citizens, who are supposed to be the major beneficiaries of such investment impoverished and wholly despondent.
A senior official with Zimbabwe’s war veterans association appeared in court on Friday on charges of undermining President Robert Mugabe, after the group accused him of “dictatorial” behaviour.
Douglas Mahiya, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), was remanded in custody until a bail hearing on Saturday.
“The accused is facing charges of undermining or insulting the president,” prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema told the court. “The state is opposed to the granting of bail.”
Kasema said that as the war veterans' spokesman, Mahiya was responsible for distributing a hard-hitting statement last week that was highly critical of the 92-year-old Mugabe.
In the statement, veterans of Zimbabwe’s 1970s independence war, who had previously been loyal Mugabe supporters, bitterly denounced the president, who faces growing signs of opposition.
They vowed not to support Mugabe, in power since 1980, if he stands for re-election.
After the court hearing a handful of veterans who had attended the session sang songs in support of Mahiya who is in custody at Harare police station.
Police arrested Mahiya hours after Mugabe told party supporters that authorities were investigating the origin of the war veterans’ statement warning the authors would face “severe” punishment.
The prosecutor also claimed that Mahiya also denigrated Mugabe in an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
The association's secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, was also taken from his rural home after being summoned for questioning.
Zimbabwe has recently seen demonstrations against Mugabe’s government, prompted by anger over an economic crisis that has left banks short of cash and a high jobless rate.
Earlier this month, a one-day strike shut down offices, shops, schools and government departments as people protested over the economic crisis.
The Borno Government says it plans to mobilise additional security for aid workers in the state following Thursday’s suspected terrorists attack on a convoy of a UN Humanitarian mission near Maiduguri.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mamman Durkwa, stated this while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri on Friday.
Durkwa said that government was disturbed about the incident.
“We are going to collaborate with all security agencies to mobilise additional security for aid workers in the state to prevent re-occurrence of what happened on Thursday,” he said.
Durkwa said he had held meetings with officials of the UN Sub-Office in Maiduguri on the issue.
“Shortly after the incident on Thursday, I was informed by the Commissioner of Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia.
“I immediately notified the GOC 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Victor Izugwu, who promised to take action,” he said.
“ I was also directed by Gov. Kashim Shettima to get the full details of the incident.
“I visited the office in the morning and discovered that one of the eight aid workers was injured at the upper jaw, they were in the process of evacuating him to Abuja for proper treatment when I met them,” Durkwa said.
The deputy governor condemned media reports on suspension of aid work by the UN office in the state over the incident.
“The issue of suspension of aid work by the UN in the state is not true.
“I met the UN officials and they told me that the attack would not deter them from doing their humanitarian work,” Dukwa said.
He said that the officials never contemplated leaving the state as reported in the media.
“In fact, they asked me to extend their commendation to the gallant soldiers and members of the Civilian JTF who helped in repelling the attack.
“Throughout our discussions, there was no mention of suspension of humanitarian work in the state,” Durkwa said.
Lagos – The shares of Julius Berger Plc on Friday on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) nosedived by N2.54 following investors reaction to its half year result for the period ended June 30, 2016.
The company led the losers’ pack with a loss of N2.54 to close at N48.39 per share.
A market analyst, Mr Ambrose Omordion, attributed the development to the six months result released by the company to the market on July 28.
Omordion said that the result was below investors expectation thereby leading to profit taking embarked by investors on its stocks.
PZ industries trailed with a loss of N2 to close at N18.60 and Lafarge Africa also shed N2 to close at N56 per share.
Okomu Oil dropped by N1.09 to close at N33.66 and Glaxo Smith lost 97k to close at N18.45 per share.
Consequently, the All-Share Index lost 37.03 points or 0.13 per cent to close at 28,009.93 against 28,046.96 recorded on Thursday.
Also, the market capitalisation, which opened at N9.632 trillion, dipped N13 billion or 0.13 per cent to close at N9.619 trillion.
On the other hand, Presco led the gainers’ table, increasing by N1.85 to close at N38.85 per share.
Zenith Bank garnered 60k to close at N16.91 and GT Bank grew by 55k to close at N24.05 per share.
Guinness Nigeria rose by 30k to close at N94.50, while Custodian and Allied Insurance gained 16k to close at N3.99 per share.
Also, the exchange moved 442.53 million shares valued at N4.65 billion transacted in 4,427 deals against the 270.72 million shares worth N2.25 billion exchanged in 4,609 deals on Thursday.
United Bank for Africa drove activity, exchanging 134.46 million shares worth N611.99 million.
It was followed by Zenith Bank with 52.89 million shares valued at N874.77 million and Fidson Health Care sold 49.32 million shares worth N108.49 million.
FCMB traded 45.19 million shares valued at N63.16 million and FBN Holdings traded 31.45 million worth N106.77 million
Auschwitz (Poland) – Pope Francis prayed on Friday near the gate to the Auschwitz death camp site in Poland, and asked God to forgive ‘so much cruelty.'
A report by the Vatican officials said it was in tribute to 1.5 million people, most of them Jews, gassed there by Nazi occupiers during World War II.
File: Pope Francis prays AFP PHOTO
It said Francis, on the third day of his trip to Poland for the international gathering of Catholic youths, exchanged gifts with the Auschwitz survivors, including a 101-year old woman.
The Argentine-born pontiff, 79, made no statement as he proceeded to walk through the barely-lit corridors of the drab, brick building of Auschwitz Block 11 which had housed prisoners selected for special punishment.
The report said that before his trip, Francis said he had decided that silence in prayer was the best way to pay tribute to those who died.
It said that Francis also visited the underground cell where Franciscan monk, Maksymilian Kolbe, was killed after offering his life to save a Polish man whom camp handlers had picked to die of starvation.
In Auschwitz’s commemorative book, Francis wrote in Spanish: “Lord, have mercy on your people. Lord, forgiveness for so much cruelty.”
Francis, on Friday, the 75th anniversary of Kolbe’s sacrifice, also visited Birkenau, a part of the camp where most of the killings were committed in gas chambers.
He walked solemnly past guard towers, barbed wire fences and remains of crematoria that the Nazis blew up before the camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army on Jan. 27, 1945.
German occupation forces set up the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during World War II in Oswiecim, a town around 70 km (43 miles) from Poland’s second city, Krakow, in the country’s south.
Between 1940 and 1945, Auschwitz developed into a vast complex of barracks, workshops, gas chambers and crematoria.
On July 29, 1941, the camp director, in reprisal for the escape of a prisoner, chose 10 others and sentenced them to death by starvation.
When the selection was completed, Kolbe stepped forward and volunteered to die in place of one of them, Franciszek Gajowniczek.
Kolbe was later killed by lethal injection but the man he saved survived the war.
Kolbe was made a saint in 1982 by then-Pope John Paul II, a Pole.
Abuja – The disputed Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the Justice Okon Abang ruling nullifying a Port Harcourt ruling that recognised the party's caretaker committee.
Sheriff told newsmen in Abuja on Friday that he got an order stopping the party's national convention in Port Harcourt on Aug. 17.Alimodu-Sheriff
?Commending the ruling, Sheriff said the order issued by Justice Abang was a demonstration of the existence of some fine judges in Nigeria.
He also called on the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC) to remove the few erring judges who, he said, were ?tarnishing the image of the judiciary.
?Sheriff said the ruling of the court had boosted his desire to wipe out impunity even as he announced his readiness to take the PDP to its original owners at the grass roots level.
Sheriff also disclosed that he would convene an expanded caucus meeting of the PDP which he said would comprise the Board of Trustees, National Assembly Caucus and state chairmen to chart the next line of action.
However, the caretaker committee had reacted and said the court ruling was misinterpreted as it did not set aside the Port Harcourt ruling that instituted the committee.
The acting head of Argentina’s FA, Armando Perez, insisted he would do all he could to lure Lionel Messi out of international retirement during an upcoming visit to the Barcelona superstar in Spain.
Argentina’s forward and captain Lionel Messi. File photo
“We need Messi,” Perez stressed to AFP on Friday, with Argentina left in shock after the five-time world player of the year announced his retirement following a penalty shootout defeat to defending champions Chile in last month’s Copa America Centenario final.
“I get to Madrid on Saturday. I’ve spoken with Jorge, his father, who told me he would be available on these days,” said Perez, the head of a FIFA-appointed normalisation committee currently in charge of the AFA.
“We’ll see what he tells me. I want to know the reasons that drove him to quit the national team and to see if I can do something to get him to come back,” he added.
Perez is also due to meet Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli, the man who led Chile past Argentina to their maiden Copa America title a year ago and is AFA’s “number one candidate” for the vacant manager’s role.
“I spoke to him and I know he wants to manage the national team. But we have a huge obstacle in economic terms because he’s under contract with Sevilla,” said Perez.
Sampaoli, 56, joined Europa League champions Sevilla last month after replacing Unai Emery and the club have ruled out the Argentine’s departure or any job-sharing arrangement.
He has a six-million-euro release clause, although Perez conceded the AFA didn’t have the funds available to buy Sampaoli out of his contract.
“But we’ll try and free it up one way or another,” he said, with Perez also due to holds talks with sportswear giant Adidas over a new deal with the Argentine federation.
Abuja – Senator Ali Ndume has said that Nigeria is at war with hunger, poverty, and malnutrition in the North East following the activities of Boko Haram in the area.
Ndume, who is representing Borno South Senatorial zone, stated this while answering questions from State House correspondents after joining President Muhammadu Buhari in performing the 2-raka'at Juma'at prayer at the State House, Abuja.Mohammed Ndume
He, therefore, appealed to well-meaning individuals, non-governmental agencies and the international community to help address the situation in the North East.
He stated that current efforts by the Federal Government to tackle insurgency had been yielding positive results, adding that immediate measures should be taken by stakeholders to ameliorate the suffering of the people in the zone.
“The fight against Boko Haram, with the determination and seriousness from this government, is almost over.
“We are facing another war and that is fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty, and that too, government is bracing up to it.
“We are crying out, we are looking up to you to help us in the North East particularly.
“Particularly in Borno, the aftermath of the insurgency, which is almost over, is the issue of hunger, poverty and malnutrition.
“For three years our people who mostly depended on subsistence farming, did not go to their farms, and government alone cannot feed the whole North East or Borno state alone, and that is our greatest challenge.
“We are calling on all non-governmental agencies, individuals, all Nigerians and even the international community to join hands in helping our people no matter how little it is.''
Ndume described the current face-off in the House of Representatives over accusations and counter-accusations of budget padding as “media creation.''
The senator, who said such face-off was unnecessary, advised all parties involved to channel their grievances through the internal legislative mechanisms for amicable settlement.
Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, has called on the U.S. to support Nigeria to attract more investors into the country.
Naira-Dollar
Abubakar made the call when the officials of Nigerian- American Chamber of Commerce paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja on Friday.
“America is a world leader in terms of investment and we will need your support in assuring investors that Nigeria is open and safe for business,'' she said.
Abubakar said there has been a lot of improvement in the relationship between the two countries in the last one year. She added that the country has put in place strategies to improve on its ranking on doing business.
“I thank you for the support in the area of doing business because as a result the easy of doing business committee has been constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari,'' Abubakar said.
She thanked the group for inviting and sensitising the ministry on the forthcoming U.S.-Nigeria Finance conference coming up in October.
Abubakar appealed to the chamber to make available details of the investment that came in following the last conference in 2015, the number that is still to come and those being negotiated.
In his speech, Alan Tousignant, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy said the two countries have good relationship on trade and investment.
Tousignant said although 2016 has been a difficult year for Nigeria's economy the government was introducing measures to stabilise the situation.
He said the two countries were striving to see what they could do to promote investment.
Tousignant said the forthcoming conference would provide an opportunity for the government to attract more investment into the country.
He said the U.S. government was happy to hear that Nigeria had taken steps to improve its world ranking on the easy of doing business.
He called for more flexibility in the foreign exchange policy.
“Those areas are very important to investors because those are the first things they ask. They want to know how easy it is to do business in Nigeria.
Mr Sheriff Balogun, President, Nigerian- American Chamber of Commerce, Kaduna State Chapter, said the visit was to seek further collaboration with the ministry.
Balogun said the visit was in connection with the forthcoming conference of the Small and Medium Enterprises adding that the one held in 2015 has increased the two countries' trade relationship.
He said various financial institutions would be at the conference and called on Nigerians to make use of the opportunity.
“The conference will bring to Nigeria investors and local companies opportunities to meet up with financial institutions to boost their investment,'' Balogun said.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Chairman, APC Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye during a meeting with the party members at the Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos on Friday,
Cross section of party faithful during a meeting with APC Leaders at the Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos on Friday
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule during a meeting with the Party Members at the Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos on Friday,Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale (right); APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (2nd left) and Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule
By Emeka Aginam, in Seattle, Washington Thrilled by the innovative solutions presented by no fewer than 120 best students from 34 countries around the world, the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, Satya Nadella during an award ceremony at the ongoing 2016 Microsoft Imagine Cup competition holding in Seattle, Washington, the United States of America challenged the students to change the world with digital technology.
Microsoft's Imagine Cup is the world's most prestigious student technology competition, bringing together student innovators from all over the world.
From left to right: Victor Shoaga, Blessing Oyatope and Babatunde Otaru setting their project for presentation before panel of Microsoft judges at the ongoing 2016 Imagine Cup worldwide finals holding in Seattle, Washinton. Photo By Emeka Aginam
"Think about your passions, what keeps them up at night. Imagine the future and connect that future you imagine to your core.
"In a world like this where digital technology is having an impact in every walk of life, in every country, you are the ones who are going to help us everywhere move our economies, move our societies, and then also make sure the dividends we create out of digital technology is actually more evenly spread in the world", the Microsoft CEO who was full of excitement told the 35 teams that participated at the Imagine Cup worldwide finals at the home of Microsoft, Redmond, the United States of America.
Urging the smartest students to take their products to the market to solve many issues including health, environment, social, among others, he said with optimism that the students have the chance to difference in the world with digital technology.
"Technology is evolving. Technology is changing the world. Use technology solutions to your communities. Use your passion. This is the beginning of your success. Everybody is a winner. I want Imagine to open more opportunities for you. Make contacts", the Microsoft CEO added.
Although Team Nigeria from Obefemi Awolowo University , OAU, Ile-Ife did not advance to World Championship round despite their impressive outing, the good news is that they were among the 8 teams nominated for Ability award. Good news is that Nigeria is the only country from West African flying the region's flag here in the United States of America.
I is a positive signal that software Nigeria can compete globally if given the opportunity. Teams from Thailand, Romania and Greece were named world champions in the 2016 Microsoft Imagine Cup yesterday. The winners in the three categories - games, innovation and world citizenship will today compete for the top prize. Any team that wins will a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Meanwhile, below are details of the winning teams that have received a $50,000 check from Microsoft. PH21, a team of students studying computer engineering at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand took home the prize in the games category.
Their puzzle-based game, Timelie, centres around a woman who steals a device that can see into the future, and a young girl whose ability to manipulate time was used to create the device
Three Romanian computer scientists won the innovation category. ENTy is a wearable device that tracks inner ear balance and spinal posture and tell users if they are having balance or posture issues.
Team AMANDA, engineering students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, won in the world citizenship category. Their project uses an ICT approach to identify characteristics that might make someone a bully and give psychologists tools to intervene.
This year's finalists were trimmed from 150 teams to 35 that advanced from national finals events. The final round of the contest will be held today at Garfield High School today and will feature special guest judges.
Do you dread the thought of reaching middle age? Wearing sensible shoes? Worrying about your wrinkles? Going off sex? Totting at what young people get up to? Well, forget it! Middle age has had a make-over. Two different studies have revealed that far from facing a mid-life crisis: women in theirmiddle years are increasingly confident, having more fun and enjoying better sex than ever.
Love-gone-sour
So why does life get better once you leave your 30s behind? That's the question Jill Arnold, a senior lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trend University asked a group of women. At the age of 59, she felt that talking to other women about then-lives and experiences might help her to
understand. Along with her photographer daughter, she launched a project to find out how women view themselves as they get older. Arnold and her daughter interviewed and photographed 50 women aged between 45 and 65. Far from meeting frumps and grumps, they found people who were funny, creative and surer of themselves then ever before. "I think the increased confidence comes from knowing what you want," says Arnold.
"By the time they reach middle age, many women have spent years pursuing their careers and devoting all their energy to their children. Now they are looking forward to doing more things independently, even selfishly." One woman told me that she'd always thought she would feel isolated as she grew older. But her life is fuller than ever and she has a long list of things she wants to do with her time as soon as she retired.
" Arnold believes that although older women still feel under pressure to look good, they think to themselves: "I will try to find a way that is convenient for me." She says: It's not that these women don't care what anyone thinks any more. They know that they will be the judge. But they are more confident about the choices they make.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday urged residents to approach the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the State for their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them participate in future elections.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) party secretariat in Lagos during a meeting with Local Government and Ward Chairmen of the party, said it was important for residents of the State who are yet to collect their PVCs to approach the electoral body, as the process of distribution of the cards has begun in earnest.
The Governor said available information at his disposal was to the effect that a lot of people were not aware of the ongoing exercise by INEC, and as such, people must be made to be aware and take the distribution seriously.
Cross section of party faithful during a meeting with APC Leaders at the Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos on Friday
It would be recalled that the electoral commission, few days ago, began distribution of PVCs in Lagos with a call on registered voters to come with their temporary cards for the collection of the PVCs between 8am and 4pm from Monday to Friday.
The Governor said: “There is an INEC exercise going on now in which they are distributing voters' card to those who are yet to collect. Many people are not even aware of the development and I like to use this medium to appeal to our party members to go and collect their PVCs.
“I want to encourage all of us that we should now take the exercise seriously because that is the beginning of the framework of the elections yet to come. This is an appeal both to our members who are here and those who are not here.
“The APC, as from Monday, will also start massive mobilization and sensitization of the public towards the exercise,” Governor Ambode said.
The Governor equally thanked members of the party for supporting his administration so far, adding that the support had contributed to the huge successes recorded in the last fourteen months since he assumed office.
Governor Ambode, who specifically appreciated the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the party leaders for their support, however urged party faithful to remain committed and loyal to the ideals of the party, as well as the leadership of the party.
“Once again, I want to thank all party leaders and members. I have said it before that we must follow our leaders and I am saying it again. We need to support and abide by whatever directive or direction our National Leader is asking us to go,” the Governor said.
On his part, Tinubu corroborated the plea of the Governor asking members to collect their PVCs, saying that the people must indeed give the ongoing exercise by INEC the necessary seriousness it deserves.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Chairman, APC Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye during a meeting with the Party Members at the Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos on Friday,
Besides, Tinubu commended Governor Ambode for his laudable achievements in office just within fourteen months, adding that the Governor has made him very proud.
He also commended the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule and the entire team of the State Government for supporting the Governor to achieve so much within a little time.
He added: “I was with Mr President, President Muhammadu Buhari for about two hours yesterday and Governor Ambode was not there when we were discussing generally about the problem of Nigeria. The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo got up and spoke glowingly of the Governor and my head was swelling. I became even more proud of him."
Among those present at the meeting include Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Chairman, APC Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye; Party Chieftain, Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Senator representing Lagos East at the Upper Legislative Chamber, Gbenga Ashafa; Southwest APC Women Leader, Chief Mrs Kemi Nelson; Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, among others.
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