A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Abuja – The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) on Friday launched a report that listed 58 Nigerian companies among the fastest growing private businesses in Africa.
The report published on the LSEG website-www.lseg.com in London identified 343 companies in 42 African countries.
It described the Nigerian companies, including small business concerns that made the list, as the most exciting and promising.
According to the report, the 58 companies demonstrated the success of Nigeria's efforts to diversify its economy.
The report declared: 'Industry is the biggest sector to be represented in Nigeria, with 17 companies featuring on the list.
"This is closely followed by consumer services, where 11 providers have been selected, demonstrating the success of Nigeria's efforts to diversify its economy.''
Prominent among the companies listed by the report are Beloxxi Industries Limited, biscuit producers of popular brand Beloxxi Cream Crackers.
Also on the list are Interswitch, an electronic payment processer, Channels Television, Arik Air, FAN Milk International and CHAMS
Others are Mouka Limited, mattress manufacturers, and Sigma Pensions.
The report also listed online marketing concerns such as JUMIA, KONGA and St Nicholas Hospital in the health sector.
It quoted LSE International Development Secretary, Priti Patel as saying: "LSE's first-ever 'Companies to Inspire Africa' report is proof of the dynamism and vision of the City of London in supporting Africa's growing economies.
"Now is the time for UK businesses to seize the opportunities offered by Africa, and the UK Government is supporting the City of London to become the global financial centre for the developing world.
"This will help Africa industrialise faster, trade more and create millions of jobs, driving the continent forward to a future of prosperity and helping some of the world's poorest countries stand on their own two feet."
Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive, LSEG said: "… For the first time ever, we have identified hundreds of Africa's most inspirational and dynamic private companies.
"The report demonstrates the huge role that small and medium size enterprises are playing as the driving force behind African economies: developing skills, creating high quality jobs and delivering growth.
"London Stock Exchange has made it a mission for over 300 years to support access to growth capital for small and large companies in all parts of the world."
LSEG, according to Rolet, is proud to play its part in this great economic journey by shining a light on Africa's success stories.
By Gbenga Olarinoye Osogbo – Few days after the voolent clash clash between hausa and yoruba communities in Ile-Ife which claimed many lives and millions of property destroyed, another communal clash Friday broke out in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun during which no fewer than ten persons sustained injuries.
The fresh clash Vanguard gathered was between the people of Ipetumodu and Asipa in Ife north area of the State.
Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment Chief Duro Onabule as Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Television Authority.
Onabule was Editor of the defunct National Concord as well as Chief Press Secretary to former President Ibrahim Babangida.
His appointment was announced on Friday along with those of new Executive Directors of the NTA, in a statement signed by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari.
They are Dr Steve Egbo (Administration and Training), Abdul Hamid Salihu Dembos (Marketing), Mohammed Labbo (News), Fatima M. Barda (Finance), Stephen Okpanachi (Engineering) and Wole Coker (Programmes).
Adesina also announced the appointments of Aliyu Hayatu as Chairman of the Board of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), while Buhari Auwalu and Yinka Amosun, were appointed as Zonal Directors for Kaduna and Lagos stations, respectively.
Other new appointees are: Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr Chika Maduekwe, General Manager, National Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria, Comrade Tar Ukoh, Artistic Director, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General; National Film and Video Censors Board, Folorunsho Coker, Director-General.
At the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), is Chairman, while the new Director-General is Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja", Adesina said.
Members of the NEMA Board are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. David Babachir Lawal; Captain Talba Alkali, representing Ministry of Transport and Aviation and Amb. Rabiu Dagari, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Others are Dr Ngozi Azadoh, Ministry of Health; Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, Ministry of Interior; Engr. Ajisegiri Benson Akinloye; Ministry of Water Resources, AVM Emmanuel Anebi; Nigerian Armed Forces; and AIG Salisu Fagge Abdullahi, Nigerian Police Force.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment Chief Duro Onabule as Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Television Authority.
BENNY, a 46-year-old mother of four was relaxing one serene Sunday morning engrossed in her favourite Sunday newspaper when she turned the pages and saw it. An 'extensive interview with her "husband," the father of all her children. Her heart pounding, she skipped through the interview, anxious to find out how he tackled questions about his family. "How many children do you have?" the interviewer had asked, "Three lovely boys," was her husband's answer. He then proceeded to mention their names, their ages and a glowing account of the wonderful contribution his wife has made to his life and career in the 30 odd years they'd been married.
Benny burnt with anger and the embarrassing humiliation of his denial of her children. She mentally envisaged her friends reading the same interview and probably sniggering at her humiliation. What kind of a spineless man has she saddled herself with? Yet, she had the world at her feel when she met him. She was a fresh graduate who'd done her youth service in his office. He was a renowned achiever who immediately swept her off her feet. Expensive meals and fancy nights-out in swanky hotel rooms followed—and he generously paid for holidays in places she'd once read about.
When Benny discovered she was pregnant just after her service year, she wanted an abortion and was sure her man would agree. She already had a fiance'Iined up. In fact, they worked in the same office courtesy of her fiance's dad.
"But Yemi, my husband, absolutely refused for me to have an abortion," Benny continued, "I was surprised. He'd never fed me any derogatory stories about his wife. But he wanted' our' baby as he put it, and immediately asked me to move into one of his vacant apartments. We had a native and customs' marriage ceremony, and that was it, I was a married woman! He was overjoyed when the baby was a girl and her naming ceremony was done with most of his relatives present. Over the years, I've had three more children two girls and a boy.
"He is also a marvellous provider but I have since removed the rose-coloured glasses I wore when we first met. The wife knows of me and my children, but has bluntly refused to acknowledge my existence. Nor the existence of two other women he'd since had children with after me. When I first became aware of his other women, who he'd discretely hidden from me, I played the detective. Most of the children looked like him—his genes are that strong. I won't bore you with the humiliating methods I used to trace the other kids, but they were his kids all right—no doubt about it.
"When I finally confronted him, he didn't deny it. It was then he told me that all his children would never want for anything, that it was a good thing I was a successful woman in my own right. What was more, I should consider the house we live in as my children's. If any of us, three 'wives' entertained any idea of being publicly acknowledged and which might lead to his embarrassment, we should forget it. He was a public figure, and no woman would pull him down. I was thoroughly disillusioned after the out-burst. Is he the only public figure with more than one wife? My children are now in their teens and could read the newspapers. How on earth was I to explain this type of humiliation to them? I quickly hid the papers so
none of them would read the interview but naturally, one of my first daughter's friends had happily brought a copy to show her in school the next day, in case she hadn't seen it.
"But my daughter didn't feel as embarrassed as I thought she would be. Apparently, her school also has its share of children like her, and they discuss things like that in the school all of the time. She told me to ignore her father, that though he was a good provider, she never really liked his wife. That on rare occasions the children had visited, she always regarded them like a bad smell. I'd protested about such visits in the past, but Yemi had insisted. One would have thought he would at least publicly acknowledge his children—but there he was, admitting to having only three children when he has at
least eleven." Gani's father, an industrialist, was in his late 80s when he died. He'd always been the right hand man of their town's ruler and it was only fitting that he was taken home for his final rest. The five children spared no expense at the funeral, after all, their departed father not only left millions, he'd made sure there would be ready cash for his
funeral before the Will was read.
"Because of the anticipated crowd from Lagos and Ibadan alone," Gani said, "we decided to have the funeral reception in a school compound, and we really made a carnival of it.
Most of our dad's close relations had their own canopies and there was this one almost as huge as the one we had. Much later, it became obvious that the group under the canopy wasn't particularly friendly but we just ignored them as they weren't people we readily recognised. Apart from a sophisticated band from Lagos, we had a local one too for the benefit of the locals. As soon as it was the local band's turn to entertain, three guests from the big canopy—a man and two women, wearing the same lace material— danced arrogantly towards the dance floor. The band leader started singling their praisesand sympathising with them on the loss of their father. In seconds, their guests had stormed the dance floor, spraying like mad. Curiously, some of us went near the dance floor and were virtually elbowed out of the place. I was annoyed. We'd paid for the entertainers and had the right to control them. So I stopped the band.
" The place was agog with gossip. It was then we learnt that the three 'mourners' were my dad's children by a woman who lived locally. In fact, the mighty house they lived in was dad's and before he died, he had 'settled' their side of the family so
there wouldn't be any confusion when he was eventually buried. The next day, I went to see the village head and he confirmed what we were told.
"That for reasons best known to my father, he had decided to keep his other family secret because he'd once recklessly promised mum, he wouldn't marry a second wife. He confirmed that the three children had already been provided for financially. That they showed up at the funeral was because they wanted to say goodbye to their father and
probably make their presence felt as rightful children of the deceased.
"Iwas a bit confused. We had a half-brother and sisters that we have just discovered, who were very hostile to us. When I eventually broached the subject of reconciliation with our mother and my other siblings, they were against it; they said I should leave things as dad intended them to be. Why take on responsibilities that were never ours in the first place? If an olive branch were to be offered, it should be from the secret' family.'
I guess I felt some sort of sympathy for my half-siblings because I remarried after my divorce and have two children by my second husband. He was already married with children when I met him, yet he was man enough to introduced me to his wife. She might not like who I represent, but she knows of the children too. If a woman is good enough for you to have children with, she should be good enough for her and her children to be publicly acknowledged. It is a spineless man that hides his offspring because of a society that doesn't give a hoot about what you do".
Why women are naturally promiscuous!
What do women who relish hopping from one bed to the other have in common?
They all enjoy the company of men and know how to get it too! They see a man they fancy and they go for him, with no messing around. But they're not after lasting relationship—just the sex. Ladies like these often get a reputation. But experts now believe that, far from being abnormal or out of control, they are doing what nature intended!
It's women, not men who are naturally promiscuous, the new research suggests. But unlike the obviously promiscuous ones, most of us have been keeping our urges under control. Or have we? In a recent UK survey, 100 women were questioned about their sexual behaviour. More than two-thirds admitted they'd had one-night stands at least once, and more than half had cheated on their men. Despite this kind of evidence,we've all come to accept the notion that men who play around simply can't help it; that they're biologically programmed in some way to be unfaithful.
It's an excuse men have been using for years. Ever since the days of Casanova, serial philanderers have been explaining away their behaviour by saying that it's part of their nature to make conquest after conquest. Scientists have always believed males were eager to mate with as many partners as possible because, they'd have more chances of reproducing.
The female, on the other hand, needed just one good male to reproduce successfully—so she was choosy, saving herself for the strongest suitor. This explained why men liked to sleep around and women stayed faithful—and the notion of the ardent male and coy female was born. But that idea has now been turned on its head. Women who go for variety may be doing what comes naturally.
Researchers have uncovered many examples in both the animal world and in human societies where the female is a sexual go-getter.
Abuja – The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, says the ministry is investigating allegations of fraudulent beneficiaries of the YouWin entrepreneurship programme.
A statement by the Ministry's Director of Information, Mr Salisu Dambatta, in Abuja on Friday, quoted Adeosun as saying that some allegations were received from an anonymous whistleblower which provided documentary evidence of irregularities for 10 cases.
According to the statement, the minister ordered an internal investigation to determine the veracity of the allegation and report the findings back to her for necessary action.
"The substance of the allegations was that an awardee was the child of a former Director in the Ministry and there were a number of cases where married couples each benefitted.
"This raised concerns about the integrity of the original selection process which took place in 2014.
"The position of the Ministry is that investigations are ongoing under the Presidential Initiative on Continues Audit (PICA) which will review each suspected case to determine whether any irregularity occurred.
" In the interim, disbursements of this batch have been suspended, "she said.
Adeosun said that the YouWin programme, which was a programme of the former administration, currently had a legally binding commitments of grants to 1, 500 entrepreneurs, running into multi-millions of naira.
"The administration decided that those commitments should be honoured.
"It was in that regard that a batch of awardees under YouWin 3 was submitted to the Minister of Finance for cash disbursement totaling N611, 821, 910 million," she said.
Adeosun said that the current administration had initiated a review of the YouWin programme with a view to ensuring its sustainability.
She said that the review had so far proved that among other limitations, awardees were overly focused on the grant aspect of the programme.
She said that few had been able to secure other forms of funding to grow their businesses despite each receiving up to N10 million in grants.
"In that regard, the Ministry redesigned the programme and relaunched it as YouWinConnect to focus more on continuous enterprise education.
"This will build the capacity of young entrepreneurs across range of disciplines.
"By so doing, YouWinConnect expects to develop entrepreneurs who can attract funding from wide range of sources currently available and take advantage of new funding sources, "she said.
NAN recalls that the YouWin programme is an innovative business plan competition aimed at job creation by encouraging and supporting aspiring youths in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas.
The accomplishments of the 1,200 YouWiN awardees were celebrated at the Presidential Villa on April 12, 2012.
YouWin Women was the second edition of the entrepreneurial scheme which was designed for only female entrepreneurs aged 45 years or less.
The third edition, which supported both male and female entrepreneurs in Nigeria, in 2014 announced the names of 1500 as beneficiaries.
On the 29th of March 2017, the former governor of Lagos state and current national leader of the All Progressive’s Congress (APC) party, Mr. Asiwaju Tinubu celebrated his birthday at the Lagos house IKeja, Lagos State. It was reported that various personalities trooped in to celebrate with him. Among the many personalities were, the governor of Lagos state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Oyo state, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, governor Ibikunle, wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola with many others.
Bellow are some snap shorts:
L-R: Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi; his wife, Florence; wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Amosun; her husband, Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; the celebrant & APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his wife, Senator Oluremi; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro and his wife, Justice Jumoke Pedro during a dinner in honour of Asiwaju's 65th Birthday at the Lagos House, Ikeja.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); the celebrant & APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (3rd left); Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); former Deputy Governor of Lgaos State, Otunba femi Pedro (left) and Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right) during a dinner in honour of Asiwaju's 65th Birthday at the Lagos House, Ikeja.L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with the celebrant & APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his wife, Senator Oluremi during a dinner in honour of Asiwaju's 65th Birthday at the Lagos House, Ikeja.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), his wife, Bolanle (2nd right); wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola (right) and wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (left) during Asiwaju's 65th Birthday celebration at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.R-L. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; the celebrant & APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget, Lagos State, Mr. Yemi Cardoso; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and former Defence Minister, Chief Ademola Seriki during Asiwaju's 65th Birthday celebration at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with first Civilian Governor of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife, Alhaja Abimbola during a dinner in honour of Asiwaju's 65th Birthday at the Lagos House, Ikeja.L-R: Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; the celebrant & APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his wife, Senator Oluremi; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule during a dinner in honour of Asiwaju's 65th Birthday at the Lagos House, Ikeja.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with former Governors of Ogun and Osun States, Aremo Olusegun Osoba (left) and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola during a dinner in honour of Asiwaju's 65th Birthday at the Lagos House, Ikeja.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); the celebrant & APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2nd right); his wife, Senator Oluremi (right); former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (left) and wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd left) during a dinner in honour of Asiwaju's 65th Birthday at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
WARRI—CHAIRMAN of Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Francis Maku, has decried the exclusion of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in the state from the 2017 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.
Maku, who spoke through his media assistant during a peaceful rally at NDDC office in Warri, pointed out that the commission did not include a single project in any Itsekiri community.
He said: "Itsekiri ethnic nationality, which has contributed over 80 per cent resources to federal coffers, cannot be said not to have even a single project from NDDC, while others who do not contribute up to 10 per cent to federal coffers have chunks of the projects in their communities.
"Itsekiri people are peace loving people, who neither take to arms nor believe in the destruction of government property. Therefore, we stand the chance of benefiting from our being calm over the years."
He called on President Buhari to look at the pains of the Itsekiri people, adding, "It calls for urgent attention and critical review of the budget for all to see."
Fola – Adamawa Head of Service (HOS) Mr Musa Kaibo has cautioned politicians, particularly commissioners in the state against interfering with proper accountability in their ministries.
Kaibo made the call on Friday in Yola while speaking with journalists at a one day sensitisation workshop for Accounting Officers on Adamawa State Audit Law 2016, organised by office of the state Auditor-General in conjunction with Adamawa public sector.
Kaibo, who expressed concern over lack of presence of commissioners at the workshop, said similar workshop would be organised for them because of their sensitive position as political heads of the ministries.
"The commissioners are supposed to be here but unfortunately I did not see them.
"So we are going to arrange similar workshop for them; they need to be sensitised as political heads", Kaibo said.
Kaibo said that politicians should allow civil servants who are accounting officers to do the right thing such as observing the state audit law, civil service rules and other necessary guidelines.
"If you (politicians) don't allow the civil servants to do the right thing, when you leave office you will be called back to account for your deeds", Kaibo said.
The Senator Ahmed Makarfi led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Friday chided the All Progressives Congress, APC of only sustaining a regime of propaganda nearly two years after forming government.
Saying the APC administration has failed to measure to the achievements made by former President Goodluck Jonathan at mid-term, the PDP said the only thing that the APC has been able to give to Nigerians is propaganda having allegedly failed to deliver dividends to the citizenry.
The PDP statement issued by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the spokesman of the National Caretaker Committee, was in reaction to the APC statement issued on Thursday to the effect that Nigerians have not forgotten the alleged rot and misdeeds of the PDP while in government. Responding, Adyeye said:
"It has been two years since the 'Ruling Party in opposition' took over power in May 2015 and all the APC has done since assumption of office is complaining and whining, instead of governance and delivering to Nigerians its campaign promises.
"Nigerians have not also forgotten how the APC in opposition politicized all issues of governance without proffering a single solution to any of them, but remained adamant, condemning the sincere policies of previous PDP administration .
"Nigerians thought the only reply by the APC to our statement of Wednesday, March 29, 2017, would have been for the Party to role out its achievements in the last 2 years instead of another shameless descent into the abyss of propaganda, blame-game and media trial of previous PDP led administration. However, we are not surprised because the APC has no achievement to flaunt before Nigerians than the boring rehash of what the PDP did or did not do.
"We still maintained that Nigerians should take critical look at the Mid-Term Report of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration and compare it to that of the current APC led government and access them on performance and achievements.
On the much celebrated anti-corruption fight of the APC, it must be noted that it was previous PDP governments that created and sustained all the institutions for fighting corruption such as the ICPC and the EFCC. Under the PDP administrations most of those who were tried by these agencies were PDP members. There was no effort to shield PDP members from prosecution and investigation as it’s the case with the APC Government which has made it a policy to sweep all the dirt of its members under the carpet.
"Recall the grass cutting allegations against the SGF, the Awards of Contracts to ghost companies by the Federal Government Committee on Northeast, allegation of attempted bribery of Judges by the Minister of Transport and that of Science and Technology, the CBN Forex racketeering and most recently, the DSS indictment of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and many others.
"On the War on Boko Haram, the APC spokesman forgot to mention that it was the same weapons bought by previous PDP administration that the Present Government is still using to prosecute the War on insurgency in the Northeast. He also forgot to mention that despite his corruption claim on the PDP led Government, the PDP made Nigeria Economy the largest in Africa and the fastest growing in the world. Where are we now? In less than 2 years, our economy is in recession.
"May we again remind the APC that the Dollar under the PDP Government was 165 Naira to 1 US Dollar. Today, the difference is there for everyone to see. The 18,000 Naira minimum wage could buy 2 bags of Rice and still had some change in the PDP led government, but today, where are we? "Nigerians have never been so hungry in their entire lives, except during the Civil War as seen in the last two years. The APC Spokesman forgot to add that, the Federal Government under the PDP created 500,000 jobs a year for our teeming unemployed youths. Since the APC led Administration took over, more than 4.5 million people have lost their jobs.
"During the era of the PDP under President Goodluck Jonathan alone, 12 new Universities, and Almajiri schools were established. What is the APC achievement in education, agriculture, sports development, job creation, economy etc,
"The APC should stop complaining and do what they promised Nigerians. The Party promised to fix Nigeria and solve all the problems in less than two years. All the Party has done is to blame the PDP and give excuse for its failure.
"Nigerians are no longer excited with the APC’s selective fight against corruption when its house is smelling and oozing with the stench of corruption and reckless looting of our common wealth. This reminds us of the Statement credited to Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna State, that the APC led government is using insecticide to fight corruption when it concerns other Nigerians but using deodorant when it concerns top APC leaders and members."
Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Uriel Ngozi is passionate about living her dream. After she was evicted from the reality TV show some weeks ago, the Oguta, Imo State-born rising star has started putting plans together to launch herself into the mainstream entertainment world. She's planning to set up a blog in addition to launching her own TV talk show. Besides, Uriel describes her experience in the BBNaija house as "soul-lifting", declaring that "I left the house with my dignity intact."
By Benjamine Njoku
How would you describe your experience in the Big Brother Naija house?
It was an eye-opening experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself in the house. I learnt a lot of things there; I learnt how to appreciate myself in ways that I never did before now.
You were also looking forward to winning the star prize of N25 million?
Uriel
Not at all. I wasn't looking forward to emerging the winner of the reality TV show. Rather, I was actually looking forward to having a good platform to launch myself into the mainstream entertainment world. I knew I wouldn't win, but I also knew I would need a good platform.
Why the sudden conclusion?
I don't know, but I had this feeling that I wouldn't win the star prize. People are saying Uriel is a likeable person. I am okay with the favourable remarks about me as well as having the right platform.
Were you expecting your eviction at the time it happened?
No, when I was on stage I was shocked to learn that I have been evicted from the house. I was waiting for Biggie to take me back into the house, but he didn't . I didn't want to go home then, but now that I am out of the house, I don't want to go back there again.
What actually happened?
I don't know, it's just life. Nothing went wrong, rather I see it as a lesson and my fate. It was time for me to leave and I left the house.
What was the strategy you adopted while you were in the house?
I didn't have a strategy. I was just myself from beginning to end.
At a point, you were almost falling in love?
I didn't fall in love. I liked the guy in the house. That was it. I can't fall in love within six weeks. And I don't believe in love at first sight. But I liked the guy.
What are you taking away from your six-weeks stay in the BBNaija house?
It doesn't matter when you finished, but it matters what you do when you finished. I am also taking away a lesson of tolerance. I have learnt to tolerate people from different cultural backgrounds, I have equally learnt to love people from different walks of life. I have learnt new things from people and I have learnt the most important lesson, which is never judge a book by its cover. That for me is the biggest thing I learnt in the house.
Now that you are out of the house, what's the next thing for you?
I'm going to set up my blog, and focus on my TV show. Also, I'm going to do a lot of cooking. May be, there might be a cook show in the offing. I will be growing my fan base and later, I will release my songs. But at the moment, I will be focusing on my blog and my TV show.
Do you think you disappointed your fans?
Never, I left the Big Brother house with my dignity intact. Most importantly, my fans are proud of me. People call me on the telephone and tell me "Uriel you are a good person, I love you, and we are proud of you." For me, that's more important than winning the star prize of N25 million. I'm honoured to have so much support and loved by my fans.
Lagos – Barely 19 days to the end of registration for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), some prospective candidates are calling for an extension due to hitches being experienced in the exercise.
The candidates and their parents cited poor response of the server at the designated banks as a big challenge in obtaining the e-PIN.
They also described the entire registration process as frustrating and stressful.
Christopher Odugbo, one of the candidates, appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), organisers of the examination, to further review the new process.
Odugbo said on Friday at one of the registration centres in Ikeja, Lagos that many of the prospective candidates were not too familiar with the process.
He noted that the centres were not enough, thus creating pressure on the available ones.
"I think JAMB should urgently come to our rescue.
"The centres are not many around here, many of the candidates, who might live very far away from some of these centres face the risk of not being able to register before the closing date.
"The queue is too long such that if one does not arrive at the centres early enough, one may keep trying for as much as one-week.
"Therefore, I think it will be good if JAMB can consider extending the registration time because many candidates are still struggling to even acquire the pins from the banks,'' Odugbo told NAN.
Joseph Nnoruom, another candidate, lamented the rush and endless queue in buying the e-PIN, especially in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
According to Nnoruom, the one month registration period set by the board may not be feasible for some candidates, considering the challenges they are facing.
He said that long queues were the order of the day at the banks as well as the Bafuto Registration Centre at Egbe, near Ikotun.
"We sometimes leave home as early 3.00 a.m. to ensure we succeed in obtaining the e-PIN, but we still meet alarming crowd at the bank,'' he said.
However, one of the officials at a registration centre said that the process had been smooth.
She added that she never anticipated that the process would turn out the way it was going.
The official, who pleaded anonymity, said that so far, there had not been any challenges in the registration process at the centre.
"At first, when we were going for the briefing for the registration, I was actually sceptical of the whole thing as I was already picking holes.
"Initially, I was sceptical about the success of the exercise, when we went for briefing on the registration procedure.
"But to my surprise, the registration has been going seamlessly.
"We registered 182 candidates on the first day, 132 candidates the second day and it continues like that,'' the official said.
She said that where the candidates could actually be having challenges was on e-PIN acquisition.
The Registrar of the Board, Prof. Is-shaq Oloyede, told NAN on telephone that the board encouraged banks and NIPOST to deploy more tellers to ease the registration procedure.
Oloyede had, at a recent stakeholders' forum at the University of Lagos, assured of an all-inclusive and hitch free UTME nationwide.
He also said that the period of registration for the examination had been reduced from three months to one month.
This, according to Oloyede, is to checkmate frauds that usually accompany long registration periods.
NAN reports that the registration, which began on Monday, March 20, will close on April 19.
Senator Nwaoboshi faults EFCC’s N2.1billion Contract Scam allegation
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- SENATOR Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP, Delta North yesterday described allegation made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) that he perpetrated fraud in the execution of the N2.1billion contract awarded his company, Biderberg Enterprises Limited by the Delta State Government in 2010 as baseless, designed to blackmail and malign him. Peter Nwaoboshi
According to him, he will continue to speak for his people and Nigerians, just as he said that he is paying for the alleged sins of Senate President Bukola Saraki and he has no regrets, adding that he cannot be silenced even in Jail and warned that government cannot intimidate people to get what it wants in democracy, but has to be through lobby and not force.
Senator Nwaoboshi who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs also refuted the allegation as reported in some of the national dailies yesterday that he fraudulently aquired a12-storey building belonging to Delta State in Apapa Lagos in collaboration with his younger brother, Augustine Nwaoboshi reportedly accused of operating over 20 bank accounts for fraudulent purposes.
Addressing Journalists Friday in Abuja, Senator Nwaoboshi who noted that he is the wrong person to be taken on by the EFCC, said that he was being sought after because he spoke on the floor of the Senate that screening process must follow a procedure and must adhere strictly to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, the whole thing borders on vendatta against him by the EFCC based on his recent position and that of the Senate on the rejection of the nomination of the Acting Chairman of the agency, Ibrahim Magu.
It was reported that the anti graft body in its investigation of the N2.1billion contract awarded the Senator and his brother, found out that they allegedly supplied used equipment to the Ministries of Environment and Transport as against new ones paid for, from which they heavily raked the state government.
Nwaoboshi said, “Why is EFCC as reported by the Nation and Vanguard Neswspapers today (yesterday ), coming up against me now over contracts diligently and transparently executed 7 years ago by my company if not for misplaced vendatta that cannot in any way silence me or compromise my principled stance over some salient national issues before the senate .
“Delta State government that awarded the contract is not complaning nor any notable stakeholders in the state. So what interest is EFCC serving over the matter when nobody from the state had raised any issue bordering on corruption as far as the contract is concerned or the 12-storey building bought in Lagos which was not undervalued as being alleged .
“Even the other issue reportedly raised by EFCC as regards multiple bank accounts by my brother is ridiculous because there is no law in the land that limits the number of bank accounts any individual in the society should have.”
Senator Nwaoboshi who declared that signatory to such multiple bank accounts allegedly owned by his junior brother was not his, as being alleged by EFCC, however condemned the agency for rushing to the press to spread falsehood against him without any needed interface with him and his brother as practised world wide as far as investigation is concerned describing the style as one the reasons the Senate stood against Magu’s confirmation.
Nwaoboshi said, No doubt with what I’ve read in the papers against me today from EFCC, Magu is at it again but unfortunately for him, this cannot silence me and back out of the Senate’s collective decision against his confirmation and letme add that as a lawyer of 27 years, Magu andhis cohorts shall definitely meet me in court”.
In January this year, the Muhammadu Buhari headed Federal Government of Nigeria made a significant diplomatic shift. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama informed the world that Nigeria would no longer recognize Taiwan as a country but committed to one China policy.
This was concretized in a Memorandum of Understanding the Nigerian government entered into with the People's Republic of China government. This development was further prompted by the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi to Nigeria.
One China policy implies that Taiwan is absolutely part of China and that only a single nation-state called China exists in the world. Accordingly, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal authority undertaking the government business of the country. Nigeria's support of one China policy means a backing to engender China's national unification.
To underpin this new diplomatic move, Onyeama made two instructive policy statements. One, that Nigeria had withdrawn all diplomatic relations with Taiwan as a country. Two, that Taiwanese office in Abuja would be shut down and be relocated to Lagos as soon as possible.
He captured the government's new position rather succinctly during a press briefing thus: "Taiwan will stop enjoying any privileges because it is not a country that is recognized under international law." "Chinese Government does not oppose trading with Taiwan as long as there is no formal contact with the government that will suggest recognition of Taiwan as sovereign country."
He said the step being taken was to right the wrong that no one could specifically say how it came.
Onyeama is right. This is so because Nigerian government headed by Yakubu Gowon established diplomatic ties with China in 1971 when it severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan on account of one China policy.
But twenty years later, that was in 1991 Taiwan returned to Lagos in a seemingly indiscreet fashion and established Trade and Cultural Office. The office was relocated to Abuja in 2001 and commenced operations as a quasi-embassy in 2013. How Taiwan re-established its presence in Nigeria after its diplomatic ties were disconnected remains a big puzzle to many.
The new move by government if implemented would potentially eclipse the Taiwanese seemingly diplomatic presence in Nigeria and essentially correct the diplomatic anomalies. Not a few Nigerians have commended this diplomatic modification which they believe is consistent with Buhari's government change mantra. This is more so because the fresh move is supported by international law resulting in the wide-ranging recognition accorded one China policy thrust by other nations including the advanced democracies.
Similar to Buhari, Donald Trump who also rode on change mantra to emerge as the 45th United States President earlier in the year has decided to tow the same line. Shortly after assumption of office, he stated his commitment to one China policy, and has accordingly taken steps to cement it through bilateral meeting planned to hold in Florida, United States between him and the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.
But shockingly and worryingly enough, more than two months after the agreement the federal government reached with China over the one China policy the matter has remained a mere rhetoric and evidently unmatched with action.
The Taiwanese office in Abuja which the federal government directed its personnel to shut down and be relocated to Lagos is still operating at full capacity. Although the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Onyeama reacted that the government would investigate the veracity of the media report that the Taiwanese chancery still has full presence in Abuja, the matter intrinsically questions the government's diplomatic and political will to enforce its policy directive.
Besides, the situation has the propensity to have a far reaching negative impact on the good bilateral relationship existing between Nigeria and China. In international affairs, a country usually defines its ties with other nations based on interests, mutual benefits, comparative advantage and other factors that favour the country. Accordingly, if China is placed side by side with Taiwan in bilateral relationship with Nigeria, Nigeria stands to benefit more largely from China than Taiwan.
The reasons are not far-fetched. Apart from being more technologically advanced than Taiwan, China is the second largest economy in the world. It commands a big market for Nigeria's oil exports and has demonstrated high commitment towards supporting Buhari-led government in its infrastructural development drive. This makes it imperative for the federal government to deepen its diplomatic ties with China by implementing all the agreed provisions of one China Policy.
Given the failure of the West to pull Nigeria out of its infrastructural development challenges, the country should plausibly and strategically turn to China for a veritable bail-out. Nigeria should not allow Taiwan's obstinacy to reintegrate fully into its nation China to obliterate the many gains derivable from its excellent ties with China. On a lighter note however, how would Nigeria feel if China attempts to recognize the defunct Biafra that pushed for secession in the late 60s? This is indeed a palatable food for thought!
Football's governing body FIFA has passed on further evidence to Swiss and U.S. authorities, after completing its internal investigation into alleged corruption.
FIFA has been co-operating with law enforcement since May 2015 when its members were arrested in Zurich, Switzerland.
"We have now completed that (22-month) investigation and handed the evidence over to the authorities," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Criminal investigations are already ongoing.
Fifa President, Gianni Infantino
The FIFA president said reports of more than 1,300 pages were produced after the review of more than 2.5 million documents and interviews with "key witnesses".
There were also more than 20,000 pages of exhibits.
These were all shared with the Swiss authorities, according to the governing body's official.
Infantino said the investigation was carried out to "hold wrongdoers within football accountable and co-operate with the authorities''.
He added: "The authorities will continue to pursue those who enriched themselves.''
Infantino added that from the findings FIFA would make changes to its internal departments, and this would be revealed at the end of April.
In May 2015, Swiss authorities raided a Zurich hotel and arrested seven people who were among 14 indicted on corruption charges in an inquiry led by the US Department of Justice.
In December that year, 16 more officials were charged following the arrest of two FIFA vice-presidents at the same hotel in Zurich.
Mrs. Eunice Ortom, wife of Benue Governor, has promised to purchase JAMB forms for female students interested in science courses.
She made the promise on Friday in Makurdi, while meeting with women to asses the progress of her NGO – Eunice Spring of Life Foundation( ESLF).
The NGO initiates and promotes programmes that would assist women and girls in the areas of education, health and agriculture.
She said that her emphasis on the sciences was to encourage more girls to become professionals in science-related fields, after observing that very few women were doctors, pharmacists, engineers, architects and medical scientists in Benue.
The governor's wife said that the priority given to the sciences was also in line with the working document of the Samuel Ortom-led administration that emphasised collective vision for a new Benue.
She promised to initiate more programmes that would uplift the girl-child to tap the massive potentialities of women toward national growth.
A 42-year-old man, Taiwo Idowu, who allegedly aided the escape of two men he stood surety for, was on Friday in Lagos granted a N1 million bail.
An Igbosere Magistrates' Court, which gave the ruling, asked Idowu to provide two sureties as part of the bail condition.
The accused, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge bordering on perversion of course of justice.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Ingobo Emby, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 29, at Police Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
He said the accused stood surety for two of his friends, Sikiru Balogun and Taiwo Taiwo, in a case of alleged malicious damage
Emby said Idowu promised to produce the suspects on March 29, and other subsequent dates they would be needed at the station but failed to do so.
He also said that Idowu made an undertaken to forfeit N800,000 bail bond which he made while standing as a surety for the two suspects if he failed to produce them.
"He failed to produce the two suspects at the police station, thereby aiding their escape,'' he said.
Emby said Idowu should show cause, why he should not forfeit the said N800,000 bail bond to the Lagos State Government.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 97 (i) and 132 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mr W. B. Balogun, granted the accused N1million bail with two sureties in like sum.
A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday sentenced a 30-year-old businessman, Zakari Abubakar, to two months imprisonment for stealing four umbrellas.
Abubakar of Kado Fish Market, Abuja, was arraigned on a count charge of theft.
The convict pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.
The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, gave the convict an option to pay N5, 000 fine, and warned him against taking to crimes in future.
Sadiq ordered that the recovered Umbrellas be returned to the owner.
He also ordered the convict to pay restitution of N7, 000 for one missing umbrella.
The prosecution had alleged that the convict stole four umbrellas belonging to marketers at Gwarinpa Tipper Garage, Abuja.
The prosecuting counsel, Dalhatu Zannah , had told the court that the convict committed the offence on Feb. 28 at about 9 p.m.
He told the court that the convict was arrested by the market security guards, led by one Rilwan Suleman and his team.
The prosecutor said that during police investigation and interrogation, the convict admitted committing the offence and three umbrellas valued at N21, 000 were recovered from him.
Zannah said one umbrella valued at N7, 000 was not recovered and the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.
Section 287 stipulates five years imprisonment for stealing, with an option of fine or both.
The labour unions in Bayelsa, on Friday, opposed the Higher Education Students' Loan and Education Development Trust Fund Law, which is meant to collect education levy from civil servants.
The law was signed to take effect on Wednesday by Gov. Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa.
The law makes it mandatory for government officials in Bayelsa public service as well as those in t
•Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa
he private sector to contribute to the education fund.
The government is expected to contribute 10 per cent of the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to support the education fund on a monthly basis.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), explained that with the withdrawal of a 20 per cent tax waiver earlier granted to civil servants, the proposed levy would pose additional burden to them.
The Bayelsa chapter NLC chairman, Mr John Ndiomu, who said that the workers were in support of the education development of the state, however, believed that the State Government could afford to finance it.
Ndiomu urged the State Government to review the levy, as workers, who were owed a backlog of salaries of more than six months, were grappling with how to survive the current recession.
Also, Mr Tari Dounana, Bayelsa chapter TUC chairman, described the levy as "an anti-people's policy'' by the executive and the legislature, without any input from the stakeholders.
"It is unfortunate that such a law that requires civil servants to make contributions from their salaries was passed and assented to without a public hearing for the stakeholders to make their views known.
"We have already agreed to support the proposed Health Insurance Policy into which workers will also make contributions. This is one deduction too many.
"For the government to formulate the education development fund without inputs from the labour, leaves much to be desired. We are opposed to it,'' Dounana said.
Shortly after signing the law, Dickson implored the workers to refrain from politicising the policy.
He disclosed that N50 billion had so far been invested in the education sector by the State Government.
The Kano Police on Friday brought a 20-year-old Painter, Ali Wada of Gulu village in the Rimin Gado local government area of the state, before a Magistrates' Court in Kano for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl after luring her to under mango tree.
The defendant is standing trial on a one-count charge of rape.
The police Prosecuting Officer, Mr Rufa'i Inusa, told the court that Umar Idris of the same village reported the case to the Rimin Gado Police Division in Kano, on March 16.
According to Inusa, the defendant had on that faithful day at about 7.30 p.m. deceived and lured the complainant's 10-year-old daughter.
"Wada lured the 10-year-old girl into a farm land situated in Gulu Village, under a Mango tree.
"The defendant removed the victims pant and forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with her,'' he said.
The prosecuting officer, however, said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code of the state.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defendant had filed an oral application for his bail, which was vehemently objected to by the prosecuting officer.
According to Inusa, the offence is a grievous one.
He, therefore, prayed the court to place Wada on remand, pending the determination of the case.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Muhammad Jibril, ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody.
Jibril, thereafter, adjourned the case until April 10, for mention.
Sacked Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Friday that the intelligence report President Jacob Zuma used as justification to fire him was "absolute nonsense".
The South Africa's ex-minister also said, during a televised press conference in Pretoria, that he had been "sickened" by allegations that he had secret meetings to undermine the government during an investor road show abroad.
In a similar vein, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday he told Zuma that he disagreed with his decision to sack Gordhan.
"I told the President so, that I would not agree with him on his reasoning to remove the minister of finance," Ramaphosa told reporters.
However, Ramaphosa also told public broadcaster SABC TV that the government would remain stable after the sacking of Gordhan and would tell ratings agencies that its institutions were strong.
Jacob Zuma
Zuma's midnight sacking of his finance minister shook South African financial markets and increased the chances of costly downgrades to its investment grade sovereign ratings.
Appointed in 2015 after a predecessor's sudden sacking, Gordhan was in London for the first leg of a week-long non-deal investor roadshow in Britain and the U.S.
Weak economic growth and tensions within the ruling party African National Congress (ANC) have put South Africa's investment grade credit rating at risk.
The rand fell as much as 1.7 per cent following the report, while bonds weakened sharply.
Banking shares on the Johannesburg bourse fell more than two per cent.
A government source said: "they were told last night or this morning to come back… the presidency did not give permission for the trip."
The president's office could not be reached for comment.
Africa's most industrialised economy escaped being downgraded to junk status last year.
S and P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings both rank the sovereign one level above junk, while Moody's puts it two notches higher.
Moody's, which put South Africa on negative watch in its latest review, is due to revisit that on April 7, followed by S and P at the beginning of June.
Gordhan's team on the trip to London, Boston and New York included deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas and Treasury director general Lungisa Fuzile, as well as business executives and union leaders.
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