A young Nigerianfashion enthusiast openly expressed her disdain for men who own Android phones, claiming they are unable to meet her luxurious lifestyle standards.
The self-proclaimed slay queen asserted that a suitable partner should wield no less than an iPhone 6.
However, her bold statements took an ironic turn when, during a pop quiz, the host revealed her own phone to be a budget-friendly Itel model, contradicting her earlier boast of using an expensive iPhone.
The revelation has ignited controversy and raised questions about the true value of judging others based on their choice of mobile devices.
Marie Wiseborn, the newlywed spouse of Nigerian gospel artist Moses Enang, widely recognized as Moses Bliss, imparted relationship insights during a joyous gospel concert in Accra, Ghana.
The Ghanaian-born lawyer, trained in the United Kingdom, who recently celebrated her traditional and customary wedding, shared these thoughts at a gospel concert held at Perez Chapel International, Accra, Ghana, to commemorate their union.
The concert showcased performances by various Nigerian gospel artists, including Nathaniel Bassey, Joe Praize, Chioma Jesus, Sonnie Badu, Yadah, Yinka Okeleye, and Victor Thompson.
During her husband Moses Bliss’s performance, he invited Marie Wiseborn to join him on stage.
Seizing the moment, she took the opportunity to reminisce about their love journey, sparked by a viral video of her joyfully dancing to Moses’s hit song, “Miracle No Dey Tire Jesus,” on January 20, 2023, a year earlier.
Speaking to the audience, Marie advised against assuming that mimicking her dance would result in similar relationship outcomes.
She said, “I have seen a lot of people doing the same dance I did on Instagram; it’s not that you danced my dance that you will get my result (married).”
Moses and Marie’s love journey commenced with a single tag on social media. Upon viewing the video, Moses found himself mesmerized by Marie’s sincere worship and David-esque dance moves. Over the course of several months, they developed a friendship that blossomed into marriage.
Since their engagement, numerous Nigerians have taken to social media to create similar dancing videos featuring the song.
Marie revealed that she had never previously shared a dance video on social media. However, she felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to create and tag the singer in that particular video. Marie emphasized that their entire Instagram conversation was guided by the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
“We all have different destinations; we should allow God to drive the vehicle of our life; if you want to get my result, be sure that the right driver is in the driver’s seat”.
The love story of the couple began when Marie tagged Moses in a dance video, which caught his attention. Their friendship developed over several months, leading to a surprise engagement that delighted fans on social media.
Their journey continued with a civil ceremony followed by a lively traditional wedding in Ghana, themed “M & M” to symbolize the union of Marie and Moses.
Renowned Ghanaian actor Chris Attoh has shed light on his decision to focus more on the Nigerian film industry, citing the vast market audience and numerous collaboration opportunities it offers.
Attoh explained that his move to the Nigerian film industry was driven by the need for a broader market and a larger audience.
While acknowledging the greatness of the Ghanaian film industry, he emphasised the inherent limitations due to its comparatively smaller size.
“At the time, the necessity was that you had to be in the Nigerian space if you wanted a bigger market or a bigger audience. Ghana was great, but the truth is Ghana is small, and if you are trying to get the attention of players beyond Ghana, not just Nigeria, you have to expand,” Attoh expressed during the interview.
The actor commended Nigeria’s vibrant film industry, highlighting the continuous production of films and the potential for collaborations. “Nigeria has numbers, Nigeria is making films every single day. I’m always looking forward to where we are collaborating instead of being separated,” he added.
However, Attoh didn’t shy away from addressing challenges in the Ghanaian movie industry, particularly the lack of mentorship and guidance. He believes this void has contributed to the industry’s current problems.
“I don’t think it is a matter of not wanting to push ourselves growing up. We didn’t have the right mentors, we did not have the people who brought us up and would take your hands and say this is the way. And it’s become a thing that’s heavy on my heart,” Attoh lamented.
Underscoring the importance of continuous learning, Chris Attoh shared his personal experience of overcoming challenges in the Nigerian film industry.
He emphasised the need for actors to constantly update their skills, rehearse regularly, and expand their knowledge base.
“It’s like any other industry. It’s growing, it’s updating, and you need to constantly learn. It means every single morning you have to rehearse, it means reading outside your scope, and reading is one thing I keep pushing for, especially to our youth today,” he stated.
Chris Attoh, known for his roles in global productions like ‘Shuga,’ “Single and Married,” and “Inspector Bediako,” continues to advocate for collaboration and the importance of mentorship in the African film industry.
A young woman from South Africa has disclosed that her family coerced her into filing false rape charges against her former Nigerian boyfriend, who had impregnated her.
She revealed that relationships between Nigerians and South Africans were considered a taboo and that prompted her family’s actions.
Consequently, her boyfriend was wrongfully sentenced to six months in prison.
However, she later confessed to authorities that the Nigerian was indeed her boyfriend and had not committed the alleged crime.
“I was 19 and he was 3 years older than me. And I mean back then…you all know…even now dating Nigerian men is a taboo. You know you would be called names and what not… I was still young and when he got me pregnant. I was forced to lay charges against him by…lets just say family. Its a long story but let me cut it short. He was falsely accused of raping me but he didn’t rape me. I wanted to tell the truth and when I got the chance he was arrested for 7 or 8 months. I told the officers investigating the case that this was my boyfriend and he is the father of this child. And they said to us… “okay we need to wait for the child to be born. And if the DNA text comes positive that he is the father, will try him out of this case. Should he be lying that he is the father of the child for example, he will be sentenced. And then the baby was born and the DNA test came out positive,” the young lady explained.
She said his boyfriend now had to travel to Europe to ease himself of the trauma and later travelled to London.
She further indicated that she also got married to someone but lied to her husband that the father of her first child had passed.
This same information was relayed to her son when he also grew up.
“All his life has been in Europe and he move to London, And then when he came back I was already married at that time. And the honest truth I told this husband that the father of my first child had passed away. Now am living a reality. And when the baby grew up I told him “Your father passed”. She added.
A young woman from South Africa has disclosed that her family coerced her into filing false rape charges against her former Nigerian boyfriend, who had impregnated her.
She revealed that relationships between Nigerians and South Africans were considered a taboo and that prompted her family’s actions.
Consequently, her boyfriend was wrongfully sentenced to six months in prison.
However, she later confessed to authorities that the Nigerian was indeed her boyfriend and had not committed the alleged crime.
“I was 19 and he was 3 years older than me. And I mean back then…you all know…even now dating Nigerian men is a taboo. You know you would be called names and what not… I was still young and when he got me pregnant. I was forced to lay charges against him by…lets just say family. Its a long story but let me cut it short. He was falsely accused of raping me but he didn’t rape me. I wanted to tell the truth and when I got the chance he was arrested for 7 or 8 months. I told the officers investigating the case that this was my boyfriend and he is the father of this child. And they said to us… “okay we need to wait for the child to be born. And if the DNA text comes positive that he is the father, will try him out of this case. Should he be lying that he is the father of the child for example, he will be sentenced. And then the baby was born and the DNA test came out positive,” the young lady explained.
She said his boyfriend now had to travel to Europe to ease himself of the trauma and later travelled to London.
She further indicated that she also got married to someone but lied to her husband that the father of her first child had passed.
This same information was relayed to her son when he also grew up.
“All his life has been in Europe and he move to London, And then when he came back I was already married at that time. And the honest truth I told this husband that the father of my first child had passed away. Now am living a reality. And when the baby grew up I told him “Your father passed”. She added.
The Nigerian army has released an uncommon statement refuting claims of an alleged coup plot circulating within its ranks.
In the statement issued by the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ), the notion of a coup plot was strongly denied, with the DHQ urging the public to disregard such reports.
This response comes in the wake of a report by the Sahara Reporters news site, suggesting that the Presidential Guard, an esteemed military unit tasked with safeguarding the president, had been activated due to suspicions of a coup.
According to the report, emergency meetings had purportedly taken place involving the Nigerian president.
In rebuffing the article, the DHQ reiterated its unwavering commitment to safeguarding and upholding democracy in Nigeria.
The West African nation is currently grappling with a severe economic downturn, with some voices warning that the country is on the brink of crisis.
Theo O Ebonyi, a prominent pastor in Benue state, Nigeria, has been arrested on charges of defrauding individuals of over 1.3 billion naira ($930,000; £740,000).
The pastor, well-known in the region, allegedly swindled his followers and others through fraudulent schemes.
Although Mr. Ebonyi was detained and released on bail last year, the news of his arrest has only recently surfaced, according to a spokesperson from the anti-corruption authority.
Mr. Ebonyi has refuted the allegations, dismissing them as “fake” information spread by bloggers. However, he has not commented directly on the accusations against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria alleges that Mr. Ebonyi deceived his victims into paying a $1,300 fee each to access a purported $20 billion grant from the US-based Ford Foundation. However, investigations revealed that the Ford Foundation had no association with Mr. Ebonyi or his NGO and did not offer any such grant.
Furthermore, the EFCC claims that Mr. Ebonyi used the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase five properties. He is expected to face charges in court once the investigations are concluded, though the specific charges have yet to be disclosed.
In response to the allegations, Mr. Ebonyi released a video statement on Facebook, denying the reports of his arrest and accusing bloggers of spreading false information.
However, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Mr. Ebonyi had indeed been arrested and released on bail last year, although the EFCC refrained from making any official statements during the ongoing investigation.
Renowned Nollywood actress Eberechukwu Bayray Nwizu recently discussed a worrying trend in the Nigerian creative business.
Eberechukwu Bayray disclosed that Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgeries are increasingly becoming a must for actresses to land significant roles from particular producers.
This was disclosed in an interview on TVC’s “Wake Up Nigeria.”
“Ten years ago, it was you’re not fair enough, you’re not tall enough, you’re not full enough; now it’s you don’t have BBL.”
Nwizu expressed her apprehension about the shifting casting preferences, citing the industry’s increasing favouritism towards social media sensations over raw talent.
According to her, producers believe that personalities with enhanced physical features, such as BBL, can better promote their projects in the era of social media dominance.
The actress, acknowledging the industry’s growth in capital and infrastructure, urged aspiring actors not to succumb to the pressure of conforming to these new standards.
Nwizu emphasised the importance of maintaining a balance between profit-driven decisions and artistic integrity.
Despite recognizing the profit-driven nature of the entertainment business, Nwizu encouraged aspiring actors to explore alternative paths.
She highlighted the opportunities provided by streaming platforms, urging individuals to create their own content and grow independently.
“The good news is that now you don’t have to conform to them. You can take advantage of the streaming platforms, start creating your own content, and grow. We don’t have any excuses anymore. There are always going to be those who say, you have to do this to be in my movie,” she added, advocating for a more inclusive and diverse industry.
A video circulating on social media features a strongly opinionated Nigerian predicting challenges for Gospel Singer Moses Bliss when he finally gets married.
The individual criticizes Bliss for choosing a Ghanaian life partner, expressing disappointment that he didn’t select from the numerous eligible women in Nigeria.
She emphasizes the support Moses Bliss received from Nigerians in his rise to fame and suggests that it woukd have just been a step in the right direction to marry within his own country.
But since he failed to do so, he predicts that the singer’s marriage will hit the rocks.
“No worry, your cup go soon full. When e full, na only you go drink am. As una no value Nigerian girls, na so another tribe go put pepper for your eyes. See how you dey sing for her as if you dey sing for virgin. Another man fit do you yeye, na im you come put for house like government work. As you dey sing for this Ghana girl, you fit sing for Nigerian girl like that? Na Nigerian girls get power, abi? As you go meet Ghana girl, na so you dey sing for her like you dey sing for one better person. Your business na my business o, because na you carry am come social media, so we go follow you treat am well. Women plenty for Nigeria, you no see anyone marry, na Ghana girl you go marry. Because she born for UK, and so what? Nigeria men no dey generous for we women for Nigeria. You never go value wetin you get until you lose am one day. Nigeria me, learn to value your women!” she said in a video
Multiple Award Winning Nigerian Gospel Artist, Moses Bliss has got engaged to his beautiful Fianceé in a lovely proposal a week ago.
Taking to his social media platform, the artist shared adorable photos of the moment she said yes.
Sharing a series of photos, he captioned it, “The Lord makes all things beautiful in his time. She said yes.”
The photos showed Moses Bliss holding the hand of his lover and displaying the stunning diamond engagement ring.
In another post, the singer shared pictures that showed the moments he went down on his knees to propose to his lover.
Moses Bliss captioned it, “Thank you for saying Yes Love of my life @mariewiseborn ❤️
I’ve obtained favor from the Lord😭”.
Fans and colleagues flooded the comment section with congratulatory words.
A Nigerian mother has caused a stir on social media by taking extreme measures and cutting off her son’s dreadlocks while he was deeply asleep.
The video capturing this unusual act was filmed by the son’s brother, who attempted to plead with the mother to spare his sibling’s hair, but she remained resolute.
According to the mother, she had previously warned her son against having dreadlocks in her house, and she deemed her actions necessary to enforce her rules.
She admitted to putting sleeping pills in his food, explaining why she served him a separate meal.
See some reactions to the video here
perrysignature2 wrote: “I hate person wey dey sleep deep like this”
weightlossproducts9ja added: “African mothers 😂 but please if you still live under your parents and they still take care of your bills please abide by their rules and not yours. 😂😂”
shes_spotless reacted: “Lmao She Gave Him A Different Food So He Can Sleep Very Well 😂”
officialeldero1 said: “Samson don looseguard o…it’s a tufiakwa situation.”
kingslia_israel stated: “I know someone that sleeps like this 😂😂😂😂 can’t call name but a tailor came to measure him sleeping like that I can never forget that day 😂😂😂”
In a horrifying incident that has shocked the nation, the dismembered remains of 20-year-old student Rita Waeni were discovered in rubbish bags at a rental apartment in Nairobi on January 14.
Missing her head, phone, and personal items, the gruesome nature of the murder has raised concerns about violence against women.
Two Nigerian men, William Ovie Opia and Johnbull Asbor, have been arrested in connection with the crime. While the police have not yet charged them, they sought permission to keep the suspects in custody until January 31 to continue their investigations, a request granted by a magistrate.
The suspects were apprehended in Ndenderu, a town near Nairobi, and the police recovered a head, believed to be Ms. Waeni’s, along with her phone and some missing items near a dam in the vicinity.
Items including a butcher’s knife and a small axe, suspected to have been used in the killing, were seized from the suspects’ apartment.
One suspect, Mr. Opia, claimed to have bought the axe online for self-defense.
However, the shocking details of the crime and the demand for a ransom even after Ms. Waeni’s death have ignited calls for action against femicide and violence against women in Kenya.
As the investigations continue, human rights and feminist groups are planning countrywide demonstrations to protest the surge in violent killings of women.
A survey conducted in 2022 indicated that at least 34% of women in Kenya have experienced physical violence at some point in their lives.
AMG-signed rapper Medikal stirred up controversy on social media by asserting that he is wealthier than Nigerian musicians Burna Boy and Wizkid.
Medikal claimed that the only Nigerian artist richer than him is Davido. Fans attempted to compare his wealth to that of Rema, leading to speculation about the Nigerian singer being wealthier.
In response, Medikal confidently stated that only Davido surpasses him in wealth.
He posted: “The only Nigerian artist wey hold pass me na Davido I swear”.
See the screenshot of the post below:
See the screenshot of the post below:
After his comments, some fans quizzed him if he wanted to say he was richer than Burna Boy and Wizkid.
Some also warned Medikal to desist from what he was doing because there was no way he could say he was richer than some big names in the Nigerian music industry.
Read some comments below:
@EiiScanty:“even Wizkid & Burna boy sef???”
@Abrantielove:“So you get money pass. Wizkid,Burnaboy den kizz Daniel?. Bro relax na uno be shatta wale”
@Views09:“MDK they said we shoood support but this fight de3 I can’t join you walahi??”
@CarlosBillions1:“Medikal too Dey cap. BURNA boy self Shatta wale know ham, talk less about wizkid ??”
@Kwesi_Plug:“Just fact person wey dey move plus money man shatta, no lies here”
In a tragic incident reported by onuafmonline.com, a 34-year-old Nigerian national known as Ikechuku, popularly called ‘Nose Mask,’ met a grim fate as he was purportedly lynched by an enraged mob in Gomoa Akotsi, located in the Central region.
The unfortunate episode unfolded after ‘Nose Mask’ allegedly stabbed two women, causing them injuries. According to an eyewitness, the initial stabbing occurred within the shared residence of Ikechuku, targeting a young lady. As residents confronted him about the incident, the situation escalated, leading to a second stabbing and injuring another woman.
Suspicion had surrounded Ikechuku during his 11-month stay in the community, with residents speculating that he might have been involved in spiritual practices that could have triggered his violent behavior, prompting the lynching.
The injured victims were swiftly transported to the Winneba Trauma and Specialized Hospital for urgent medical attention. Meanwhile, the lifeless body of Ikechuku was conveyed to the police mortuary by the Gomoa Ojobi police for preservation.
A 19-year-old Nigerian, recently convicted of manslaughter for fatally stabbing a Ghanaian colleague, made an attempt to flee to Nigeria immediately after the April 2023 incident.
As detailed in a Northampton Police statement on November 22 regarding the guilty verdict against Melvin Lebaga-Idubor, it was revealed that he had endeavored to escape to Lagos just hours after the altercation that resulted in the stabbing of Kwabena Osei-Poku.
The statement highlighted that he had orchestrated the escape plan in collaboration with his girlfriend and another friend, opting to travel by train to Paris with the intention of catching a connecting flight.
Police account of the botched escape:
After the incident, Lebaga-Idubor enlisted the help of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Zhanae Forbes-Coleman from Northampton, and a friend, 18-year-old Antonio Huian, also from Northampton, to aid in his escape.
Huian accompanied him to the hospital, citing “injuries sustained during the altercation with Kwabena,” but they left without Lebaga-Idubor receiving any medical treatment. The clothes he wore during the fatal incident were subsequently burned in a metal bin in Huian’s back garden.
Following this, Forbes-Coleman arrived with a fresh set of clothes and documents, arranging transportation for Lebaga-Idubor to make a stop at his London address before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Although he successfully reached the French capital with intentions to continue traveling to Nigeria, he was eventually persuaded to return home and subsequently arrested.
Both Lebaga-Idubor and Eke were charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon, while Huian and Forbes-Coleman faced charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Outcome of trial of four accused:
After a six-week trial at Northampton Crown Court concluding on Wednesday, November 22, Lebaga-Idubor was convicted of murder and possession of a knife.
Eke, on the other hand, was acquitted of the same charges and additionally cleared of a further count of manslaughter.
Forbes-Coleman was found not guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Huian had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice at an earlier court hearing.
The sentencing for Lebaga-Idubor and Huian is scheduled to take place at the same court on a date to be confirmed in January, following the preparation of pre-sentence reports.
What led to the fracas and death
According to a report on northants.police.uk, Ogechi Eke and his accomplice, Melvin Lebaga-Idubor, engaged in an altercation with Kwabena Osei-Poku on April 24, 2023, over a substantial quantity of cannabis. The report reveals that the two Nigerians had initially approached the victim, expressing interest in purchasing drugs from him.
Upon meeting at a university flat, Eke and Lebaga-Idubor changed their intentions and decided to steal the drugs, warning Osei-Poku against selling in the area. This decision sparked a fight, during which an eyewitness reportedly heard Lebaga-Idubor assert, “This is my strip. What are you doing strutting drugs around here? Our line is here.”
Lebaga-Idubor managed to snatch the drugs from the victim, and he and Eke left the campus. Osei-Poku pursued them to retrieve his drugs, leading to an altercation on New South Bridge Road, where Lebaga-Idubor stabbed him twice.
Despite paramedics’ best efforts to save him, Osei-Poku succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Northamptonshire Police released a compilation of CCTV footage showing the victim following the accused individuals on the street. The video depicts the two Nigerians running away from the attack site and later entering a building, with one seen assisting the other, who was injured.
The coffee industry in Nigeria is seeing a bright future with hopes of reaping $2 billion in the coming two to three years.
This optimistic outlook is based on the increasing demand for coffee from developed countries, a trend that industry insiders are eager to seize upon.
Data from the United Nations COMTRADE international trade database revealed that Nigeria’s exports of coffee, tea, mate, and spices reached $38.63 million in 2021.
Given this backdrop, leaders in the coffee industry are strategically positioning themselves to tap into the growing global appetite for coffee products.
Africa, as a continent, plays a significant role in satisfying the world’s desire for coffee, providing an impressive 80 percent of the United States’ coffee imports.
“In the next 2 to 3 years, by aggregating our cultivation capacity, we aim to generate $2bn in coffee revenue,” the President of the West Africa Specialty Coffee Association, Larry Segun-Lean, told The PUNCH at the World Coffee and Tea Expo in Lagos.
According to Segun, the enormously promising industry is preparing for growth by leveraging the demand for Nigerian coffee abroad, particularly in markets like Japan.
The President said, “There is significant international interest in Nigerian coffee; currently, some are exporting to countries like Japan and Canada. Africa supplies 80 per cent of the US coffee imports, and Nigeria can tap into this market.
However, Segun said to achieve this, Nigeria must stimulate interest among Nigerians in coffee cultivation.
According to him, proper dissemination of information is crucial. “Many people confuse coffee with cocoa, and some even consider coffee a byproduct of cocoa. Securing land is a key challenge.”
In addition, he pleaded with states that grow coffee to give farmers ample access to land. He pointed out that clearing farmland is a significant challenge that calls for equipment and the right training to increase productivity.
An accomplished Nigerian inventor, Hadi Usman, who did not receive formal education, has been bestowed with an honorary doctorate degree.
At the age of 70, this remarkable individual has designed a fuelless generator, a water-powered stove, and even a Vespa engine helicopter.
His remarkable achievements have garnered widespread praise on social media, with many emphasizing the importance of wealthy and philanthropic individuals taking an interest in his work.
Usman has been honored with an honorary Doctorate degree in Science by Gombe State University. Safianu Danladi Mairiga, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Gombe State, announced this achievement.
The award was presented to Usman during the recent combined convocation of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th convocation ceremonies of Gombe State University.
According to a report by Legit.ng, Usman’s remarkable inventions include a water-powered stove, a radio station, a radio transmitter, a Vespa engine helicopter, and even a telephone handset.
Notably, he created a generator that operates without the need for fuel, all while lacking any formal education.
Danladi also shared that Usman, originally from Jekadafari Ward in Gombe LGA, Gombe State, achieved the remarkable feat of memorizing the Holy Qur’an at the age of 12. He shared a picture of Usman donning an academic robe during the ceremony.
Meet 70-Year Old Inventor Who Never Attended Formal Education
Engr Hadi Usman, an inventor who established a radio station, Radio transmitter, Vespa engine helicopter, telephone (handset) etc in 1970s,
The inventor also recently invented a generator that doesn't use any form of… pic.twitter.com/qF25810rVF
@YusufNasir_Ahmd said: “Actually, that water generator and water stove will never reach the market. “A free energy innovation will never reach the market.”
@Dammyjah2040 said: “Guess what he doesn’t flaunt nu.des or six packs… Big company won’t invest in him.”
@gboladeogundele said: “Very amazing. Wow. “I hope the concerned government MDAs can improve on it and produce it on larger scale for sale in Nigeria and export. Of course, the trademark should be for the inventor.
The Nigerian election ruling, which is still being read out, has been accompanied by a lot of false information being spread on social media by influential people and small blogs. These false claims are aimed at the judges on the tribunal.
They have been thinking about problems with Bola Tinubu winning the presidential election in February.
In July, a news website called Igbo Times said that a judge named Justice Boloukuoromo M Ugo had quit the election tribunal panel because people were trying to harm democracy. It also said that he confessed to being asked by the ruling party to support their candidate.
Justice Ugo has not quit, and there is no proof for the statements made by Igbo Times.
In September, some popular people on social media who support the Labour Party started saying that the tribunal had decided to announce the judgement on 16th September. They said that they did this to stop the other side from reacting to the decision because it was the last day that the court could meet.
This wrong statement became the main story before the court announced that September 6 would be the day for its decision.
Some people have sent scary messages and posted pictures of the family members of certain judges. They use #AllEyesOntheJudiciary with their posts.
it seems like someone is trying to scare or threaten others before a decision is made.
Nigerian rapper and singer, Folarin Falana, known by his stage name Falz The Bahdguy, has characterized his experience with a knee injury as “an incredibly challenging period.”
In a flashback, it can be recalled that on May 2, 2023, Falz underwent a knee surgery at a medical establishment in London, United Kingdom.
During an appearance on Cool FM Nigeria’s show, The Big Friday Show, which is hosted by reality star Tacha, Falz explained that he opted for the surgery due to an ACL injury sustained while participating in a football game.
He said, “It was a very difficult time for me. I had ACL reconstruction surgery. Your ACL is like a ligament that holds your knee together. What actually happened is that that ligament torn totally. So the knee kind of scattered.
“It was an actual football injury. I was just running and the thing just comot like that. I don’t know how it happened because I have been playing football since I was a child. And everything was going smoothly. Maybe on that fateful day, I didn’t stretch well.
“But it always happen. It’s a slightly common injury for athletes. I’m glad I’m back. I’m up and running now. It’s a one-time surgery. Now I’m in rehab doing physiotherapy. Just exercising and trying to build the muscle back to 100 per cent.”
Nigerian comedian and skit maker, Abdulgafar Oluwatoyin, also known as Cute Abiola, finds himself facing the wrath of a Nigerian law enforcement agency for the third time in three years, as he now stands at the risk of being arrested due to his recent comedy skits featuring a costume depicting the Nigerian police.
This time, the Nigerian police are expressing their displeasure with him for what they deem a disrespectful and derogatory portrayal of their force in his recent comedic videos. In these skits, Cute Abiola humorously satirizes the police officers begging for money from citizens amidst the backdrop of increased fuel prices.
His use of the police uniform without apparent authorization has raised concerns as it violates the Armed Forces Social Media Policy, which several Nigerian skit makers and comedians have seemingly disregarded in recent times.
In response, the Nigeria police released a press statement on Wednesday, as signed by its PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stating that Cute Abiola will be subject to an investigation and potential prosecution for intentionally desecrating the police uniform in his comedy skits.
Statement The Nigerian police, in the statement, acknowledged the citizen’s fundamental human rights and warned against the unauthorised use of police costumes and other accoutrements. It is an offence punishable by section 251 of the Criminal Code and section 133 of the Penal Code Law.
The police statement reads, “In as much as the law grants Nigerians the right to enjoy their fundamental human rights, the same law prohibits an individual, under whatever guise, from rubbishing the police institution or grossly violating its provisions regarding the use of uniforms.”
“We vehemently condemn the contemptuous act displayed by comedian Abdulgafar Abiola, popularly known as “Cute Abiola,” in two recent skits posted on his social media handles on 20th and 24th July 2023. The skits in question show a highly disrespectful and derogatory portrayal of the police uniform. This action violates Section 251 of the Criminal Code and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law. Such acts are offensive and undermine the integrity and dignity of the men and women who wear the uniform to serve the nation.
“Abdulgafar Abiola will be investigated and possibly prosecuted for his deliberate acts as the NPF had warned skit makers and filmmakers to desist from desecrating their uniform or accoutrements. The Force is committed to upholding the sanctity of the uniform and will pursue due legal process to ensure accountability for any individual or entity that seeks to bring shame to the uniform or the institution it represents. We call on all members of the public, including media personalities, to exercise their freedom of expression responsibly and avoid engaging in actions that could erode public trust in our revered law enforcement institutions.”
This police statement is coming a few weeks after the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, warned content creators, movies and skit producers against using EFCC-branded jackets, symbols, insignia, and other accoutrements without authorisation.
Serial Offender This is not the first time Cute Abiola, formerly a Nigerian naval officer, would be in trouble with the forces for using military uniforms to make comedy videos.
In several recent skits on his Instagram page, Cute Abiola has consistently made comedy videos clad in Police uniforms and military attire.
Cute Abiola, who recently welcomed a son with his wife in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in June, has been arrested twice for violating the Nigerian Armed Forces Social Media Policy.
He was arrested in November 2021, where he spent over 10- days in naval custody, which later led to his dismissal from the naval force.
Again, he was arrested in 2020 after his birthday pictures in a naval uniform went viral. He was later released on 4 May 2020.
He often posts videos of himself clad in military uniform and wielding a gun.
World’s wealthiest Black billionaire and the visionary behind the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has played a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s business landscape and elevating Nigeria as a major industrial force on the continent.
Diversifying his interests across various sectors in Nigeria and beyond, Dangote’s expansive businesses under the Dangote Group have established him as the second-largest employer in Nigeria, coming closely after the country’s Federal Government.
His staggering net worth currently stands at $10.8 billion, making him the richest Black billionaire globally and the second-richest individual in Africa. However, his long-held title as Africa’s wealthiest recently passed to South African billionaire Johann Rupert, who overtook Dangote in June.
At the core of his immense wealth lies his commanding 86.81-percent stake in Dangote Cement, the largest cement company in Africa. This significant investment firmly places him as the richest investor on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). Moreover, Dangote has stakes in several other prominent Nigerian companies listed on the NGX, including Dangote Sugar, NASCON Allied Industries, Jaiz Bank, and Nigerian magnate Tony Elumelu’s United Bank for Africa.
Beyond the cement industry, Dangote’s business empire expands into sugar, salt, oil, fertilizer, and packaged food sectors. Particularly noteworthy is his significant presence in the global oil market, reinforced by the recent commissioning of his petrochemical complex, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Plant.
Notably, Dangote has further solidified his position with the successful inauguration of the much-anticipated Dangote Fertilizer Plant, commencing operations in March 2022. This state-of-the-art facility boasts an impressive annual production capacity of up to 2.8 million tonnes of urea.
Billionaires.Africa has diligently researched and compiled a comprehensive list of companies and holdings associated with Dangote, highlighting the breadth and magnitude of his business empire. His direct or indirect ownership spans across a multitude of enterprises, showcasing the remarkable scale of his business endeavors.
1. Dangote Cement:
Dangote’s primary source of wealth stems from his substantial 86.6-percent ownership in Dangote Cement Plc, the largest cement producer in Africa. This company boasts an impressive annual cement production of 51.55 million tonnes, operating in ten different countries. At present, Dangote Cement holds the esteemed position of being the most valuable company listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), with a remarkable market capitalization of N6 trillion ($7.6 billion), accounting for approximately 16.9 percent of the entire Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Looking ahead, Aliko Dangote envisions expanding Dangote Cement’s production capacity through the establishment of a new integrated cement plant in Itori, Ogun State. This state-of-the-art plant is projected to have a massive capacity of 6 million metric tonnes, further solidifying the company’s dominance in the cement industry.
2. Dangote Sugar: Dangote Sugar is Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest sugar refining company. It has been listed on the NGX since March 8, 2007, and presently ranks 18th in value with N352 billion ($442.75 million) market capitalization. Dangote owns 72.7 percent of the company.
3. Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals Plant: Led by Dangote, Dangote Group has expanded into oil and gas with the creation of Dangote Oil Refinery. This petroleum complex can refine 650,000 barrels ofcrude oil, making it the largest single-train facility globally. Inaugurated in May 2023, the refinery is set to meet 100 percent of Nigeria’s refined petroleum demand and generate an annual surplus for export, estimated to yield an impressive $11 billion in revenue.
4. Dangote Fertilizer: In March 2022, the Dangote Fertilizer Plant began operations in Lagos, strategically situated in the Lekki Free Zone. Dangote Fertilizer Limited (DFL) boasts the title of Africa’s largest Urea Plant, with a $2.5-billion investment and a production capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum.
5. Nascon Allied Industries: Nascon Allied Industries Plc, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, produces edible salt for industrial and domestic use in Nigeria. Their product range includes iodine-fortified kitchen salt, fine butter salt, granulated kitchen salt, and industrial salt. The company operates factories in Oregun, Apapa, and Port Harcourt, with a total installed capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year for bags and 100,000 tonnes per year for sachets.
6. United Bank for Africa: Dangote holds 301,971,608 shares in United Bank for Africa (UBA), a prominent pan-African financial services group operating in 20 African countries, France, the UK, and the United States. UBA ranks 14th in value on the NGX, with a market capitalization of N510 billion ($641.36 million).
7. Jaiz Bank Plc: Through his company Dangote Industries Limited, Dangote owns 7.24 percent of Jaiz Bank Plc, equivalent to 2,500,000,000 ordinary shares valued at $6.29 million. Jaiz Bank Plc is a Nigerian non-interest banking company based in Abuja, offering various banking services like savings, current, investment, and term deposit accounts, as well as financing options for auto, household appliances, and school fees.
8. Twister B.V.: In 2016, Dangote Industries Limited purchased Twister B.V. from Shell Technology Ventures Fund. Twister B.V., located in the Netherlands, specializes in gas processing solutions for the oil and gas sectors, including conditioning systems, hydrate separators, engineering design, and consulting services.
9. Dangote Sinotruk: In 2017, Dangote Industries founded a $100-million truck assembly plant in Lagos, in partnership with Chinese company National Heavy Duty Truck Group (SINOTRUK). The plant, situated in Ikeja, can produce 10,000 trucks per year. Dangote Group holds a 60-percent ownership stake, while Sinotruk owns 40 percent.
10. Greenview Development Nigeria Limited (GDNL): Greenview Development Nigeria Limited (GDNL) is Dangote Group’s terminal operating arm, and it operates Terminal E of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) in Apapa, Lagos.
11. Dangote Agro Sacks Limited: Dangote Agro Sacks Limited makes bags for packaging goods produced by its group companies. It has three factories in Ikeja, Lagos, and one in Obajana, Kogi State. The company produces woven, laminated, and A.D. star cement sacks.
12.Dangote Sinotruk: In 2017, Dangote Industries teamed up with Chinese company SINOTRUK to create a $100-million truck assembly plant in Lagos, called “Dangote-SINOTRUK Plant.” Situated in Ikeja, Lagos, the plant has an annual production capacity of 10,000 trucks. Dangote Group holds a 60-percent ownership stake in the plant, while Sinotruk owns the remaining 40 percent.
13. Saipem Dangote E&C: In 2015, Saipem, a major Italian oilfield services multinational, joined forces with Dangote’s company, Dangote Industries Limited, to establish Saipem Dangote E&C. This firm specializes in handling intricate Engineering & Construction projects in Africa.
14. DIL Power Limited: DIL Power Limited is the owner of the Dangote Oil Fired Power Plant, a 400MW oil-fired power project.
15. Dangote Granite Mines Limited: Dangote Group owns and operates a massive granite mine in Ogun State, Nigeria’s southwest region.
Amidst the fervent political debate over migration across the Mediterranean, a topic that has propelled right-wing parties into power in Italy and other places, it’s easy to get lost in a sandstorm of statistics: the tens of thousands of arrivals on Italy’s shores, or the estimated 2,000 people who have tragically lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean this year.
However, after spending a week reporting from southern Italy on migration, what truly stands out are the personal stories – tales of fear, hope, tragedy, and triumph – that surpass anything else.
Consider Tessy, a young Nigerian woman who successfully made it to Italy 15 years ago. As she recounted her journey to Europe, she almost broke down. For ten days, she found herself stranded in the unforgiving Sahara desert, with minimal food and water, facing a grim 50:50 chance of survival.
Today, Tessy is happily married and dedicates herself to helping newly arrived migrants and refugees settle into life in Italy. Despite her current contentment, she firmly believes that she would never advise her 21-year-old self to embark on such a perilous journey.
Then there’s Anicet, an Ivorian woman whom I encountered outside a migrant reception center in Crotone. She revealed that she had been sold into slavery in Tunisia, describing the horrifying reality of beatings and rapes that countless women endure while attempting to reach Europe. Men, too, spoke of imprisonment and beatings in Libya, where they were held until they could pay ransoms.
The physical and psychological scars inflicted on these individuals will undoubtedly take a long time to heal.
Nevertheless, despite the tremendous risks and challenges, those who undertake this perilous journey hold onto hope that, like Tessy, they can ultimately establish a better life for themselves in a new land.
According to a report from Reuters news agency, the lengthy process of retrieving money stolen by a Nigerian ex-state governor, James Ibori, is reaching its conclusion in the United Kingdom.
A British prosecutor has requested the court to seize $129 million (£100 million) from Ibori, who was previously accused of embezzling around $165 million from the oil-rich Delta state in southern Nigeria.
Back in 2019, the UK had already returned $5.8 million that Ibori had taken. He was extradited from Dubai to the UK in 2012 and subsequently found guilty of 10 counts of fraud.
After serving a portion of his sentence in prison, Ibori returned to Nigeria in 2017.
In response to the impending confiscation order, Ibori has stated that he intends to appeal the decision. The order is expected to be issued on Friday or shortly after, as per Reuters’ information.
A prominent Nigerian athlete Amusan, and current world record holder in the 100m hurdles, has disclosed that she is facing charges for breaking anti-doping rules.
The Athletics Integrity Unit accused her of missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period, which could potentially lead to a two-year suspension from the sport.
Taking to Instagram, the 26-year-old athlete asserted her identity as a clean competitor and expressed her determination to contest the charges. Her goal is to clear her name and remain eligible to compete at the World Championships scheduled for August.
CEO of Junior Achievement Africa (JA Africa), a non-governmental organization (NGO), Simi Nwogugu, has been honored with the prestigious Africa Education Medal in recognition of her efforts to enhance youth education.
JA Africa, an NGO that focuses on equipping young individuals with entrepreneurial skills, currently impacts over 300,000 young people each year, preparing them for the evolving landscape of work.
The Africa Education Medal, established in collaboration with T4 Education, HP technology company, and Microsoft, is regarded as a highly esteemed accolade in the field of education.
“I am so honoured to receive this accolade, but it is not just about me. This award is for all the fantastic staff at JA Africa, and for all the inspirational young people they have worked with, helping to pave the way to a brighter future for our continent’s young,” Nwogugu told the BBC.
Several of the Junior Achievement Africa alumni have gone on to have successful careers in business.
The NGO currently has a presence in 16 sub-Saharan African countries according to its website.
Nigerian politician Ned Nwoko has explained how his country’s obligations stopped him from participating in the tragic Titan submarine expedition.
Nwoko, a Senator representing Delta North in the country’s South South zone, is known to be friends with one of the deceased persons aboard the submersible, Captain Hermish Harding.
He posted on his social media handles on June 23 that he had lost a friend and business partner, detailing a number of past adventures that they had undertaken.
On the issue of the widely-reported upon submersible and the invitation extended to him by Harding, he wrote: “he also invited me on his space shuttle last year and this very Titan ill-fated adventure but I was tied down with national duties.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media have been mocking the account of Nwoko with some asking what national assignment in particular had obstructed him.
Read Nwkoko’s full post on Instagram below
I have lost a very dear friend and business partner. Captain hermish Harding. We both went on a very dangerous expedition to the Southpole Antarctica few years back.
He was a gulf stream pilot who flew across the world in a record breaking expedition by Guinness world record for circumnavigation of the earth some years ago.
He descended into the Mariana. he also invited me on his space shuttle last year and this very Titan ill-fated adventure but I was tied down with national duties.
Above all he was a partner on the various researches into eradication of malaria in Africa project. He was very enthusiastic about it and always gave his support at every given opportunity.
His last message to me was this last Sunday when he told me they were ready to dive to the titanic if the weather permits. He loved adventure and challenges. My heart bleeds for his dear wife and kids who have become family friends over the years. We will surely miss his wealth of experience.
Reuters report about the accident
A deep-sea submersible carrying five people on a voyage to the century-old wreck of the Titanic was found in pieces from a “catastrophic implosion” that killed everyone aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Thursday, ending a multinational five-day search for the vessel.
A robotic diving vehicle deployed from a Canadian ship discovered a debris field from the submersible Titan on Thursday morning on the seabed some 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, 2 1/2 miles (4 km) beneath the surface, in a remote corner of the North Atlantic, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger told reporters.
The Titan, operated by the U.S.-based company OceanGate Expeditions, had been missing since it lost contact with its surface support ship on Sunday morning about an hour, 45 minutes into what should have been a two-hour dive to the world’s most famous shipwreck.
“The debris field here is consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vehicle,” Mauger said.
Even before the Coast Guard’s press conference, OceanGate issued a statement saying there were no survivors among the five men aboard the Titan, including the company’s founder and chief executive officer, Stockton Rush, who was piloting the Titan.
The four others were British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, both British citizens; and French oceanographer and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, who had visited the wreck dozens of times.
Burna Boy’s recent historic concert in London has garnered widespread praise, solidifying his status as a trailblazer in the music industry.
The Nigerian sensation made history on Sunday by becoming the first African artist ever to headline a stadium show in the UK, a remarkable achievement that has captivated audiences and critics alike.
Some 80,000 fans watched the Nigerian star’s sellout show with a setlist spanning his decade-long career, from early hit Like to Party to the anthemic Last Last.
“Words can’t explain my emotions right now… there’s nothing else I’d dreamed more of,” said the Grammy-winning star, who grew up partly in the British capital.
Burna Boy was flanked onstage by dozens of dancers and was joined by a succession of stars – including Stormzy, J Hus, Dave and Popcaan – during the two-hour set at the grounds of West Ham United football club.
“This isn’t the first time African music is at the forefront,” says Eddie Kadi who presents the Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show on BBC radio.
But, he says, we can credit afrobeats’ huge popularity to the way it absorbs and transforms a variety of genres, and because young people from Africa’s global diaspora have cemented African music in the cultures where they live.
A former presidential contender in the 2019 election, A Nigerian court fined Ambrose Owuru, for launching a complaint to prevent President-elect Bola Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29.
The court has ordered Mr. Owuru, who is also a lawyer, to pay a sum of $87,000 (£80,000) for pursuing what was deemed a “strange” and “frivolous” lawsuit.
In his suit, Mr. Owuru, who contested but lost in the 2019 presidential election, had urged the court to declare him as the rightful president instead of Mr. Tinubu.
Despite not participating in the 2023 presidential election, the lawyer claimed that he had won the 2019 presidential poll but was unfairly denied his victory.
In October 2019, the Supreme Court dismissed the suit, describing it as an abuse of the court process.
Following the announcement of Mr. Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Owuru filed another suit based on the facts of his previous case.
On Thursday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja unanimously dismissed the suit.
The fine imposed on Mr. Owuru serves as a deterrent against filing frivolous lawsuits and abusing the judicial system.
This development showcases the Nigerian judiciary’s commitment to upholding the integrity of legal proceedings and ensuring that legitimate cases are given due attention.
Phriday, whose real name is Ejenedia Friday Eghaita, is a rising talent in Nigerian music
With his impressive talent as a composer, performer, and singer, PHRIDAY is quickly gaining popularity and becoming one of the most sought-after musicians in the country.
Despite being a relatively new artist, PHRIDAY has already made a name for himself with popular songs like ‘Container’, ‘Street Governor’, and he’s still recording.
Phriday’s music is a blend of different genres, including Afrobeat, Native African music and Hip-hop.
The Nigerian artiste draws inspiration from his life experiences and the world around him, creating music that resonates with his listeners.
He uses his music as a platform to raise awareness and inspire change, making him a positive influence in the industry.
Phriday is an up-and-coming artist to watch out for.
With his impressive talent, passion for music, and dedication to his craft, he is set to make a significant impact in the industry.
Hilda Baci, a chef from Nigeria, is on track to shatter the record for the “longest cooking time” by an individual.
The chef, who was born in the state of Akwa Ibom, began preparing meals on May 11 and is close to breaking the record for the longest cooking session in the Guinness Book of Records.
Miss Baci, 27-year-old has prepared food for over 80 hours and counting so far. She gave the culinary effort the hashtag “Cook-a-thon,” which is a play on the term “marathon.”
The current holder of the title Hilda seeks to break is an Indian chef Lata Tandon, who set a Guinness World Record for cooking for 87 hours and 45 minutes non-stop in 2019.
Hilda is set to cook for 96 hours with just 6 hours of rest time and has about 18 hours left to break the Guinness World Record.
Many Nigerians have shown support for the chef including celebrities like actress Iyabo Ojo, Tonto Dikeh, Comedian Macaroni, actor Ike Ogbonna, and Tobi Bakre amongst others.
A billionaire from Nigeria, Femi Otedola, has claimed that his choice to purchase Transcorp shares was only motivated by his desire to uncover the true value of a firm that was grossly undervalued by the Nigerian investing public and the company’s top shareholders.
Otedola, 60, explained this in a written statement he issued to selected media outlets. It is his first commentary on the saga that shook the Nigerian stock market to its foundations weeks ago
In his statement, Femi Otedola explained that he offered to acquire Transcorp Plc for N250 billion ($543 million), but Tony Elumelu, the company’s chairman, rejected his offer.
Otedola recently sold off his entire shares in Transcorp to Elumelu, the company’s chairman and largest shareholder, two weeks after he had amassed up to a 6.3-percent stake in the company, thereby ending the race for the group’s top ownership. Elumelu had previously increased his stake from 2.07 to 25.9 percent within days after news of Otedola’s acquisition of Transcorp shares had been made public.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Femi Otedola’s move to take the top seat in the conglomerate’s ownership upset the Transcorp chairman, causing him to initiate negotiations. According to accounts, he eventually agreed to compensate the businessman with millions of dollars and pay Otedola off for the value of his shares.
In his statement, Otedola revealed for the first time that in 2005, he backed Tony Elumelu’s acquisition of a controlling stake in the United Bank for Africa from Nigerian businessman Hakeem Belo-Osagie. Otedola says he provided Elumelu with $20 million, N2 billion then. Hakeem Belo-Osagie sold his controlling stake to Elumelu for $100 million, but Elumelu struggled to raise the money. Otedola and other wealthy Nigerians rallied around and supported Elumelu.
Despite this generous act of friendship, Otedola says Elumelu would go on to stab him in the back.
Otedola noted that when he informed Elumelu of his interest in acquiring the Ughelli Power Plant in 2012, the Transcorp chairman “quietly went ahead” to outbid him.
Otedola further claimed that the UBA chairman had previously taken advantage of his (Otedola’s) business difficulties and eventual bankruptcy to purchase interests in several firms, including Transcorp Hotel.
Full Statement by Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman of Geregu Power PLC
In 2005, while Tony was the Managing Director of Standard Trust Bank he approached me to get funds to acquire UBA. I enthusiastically gave him $20million, which was N2 billion at that time to buy the necessary shares in UBA for the acquisition. After a short period of time the share price moved up and I decided it is was a good moment to sell and get out of the bank. However, Tony appealed to me to hold on to the shares as he was convinced that there were future prospects – so I kept the shares.
I became Chairman of Transcorp Hotel in 2007 with a shareholding of 5% and unknowingly Tony gradually started buying shares quietly.
By the following year in 2008 I went bankrupt in Nigeria. Tony proceeded to take my shares in UBA to service the interest on my loans and he also took over my shares in Africa Finance Corporation, where I was the largest shareholder.
Shortly after, Albert Okumagba informed me that an American firm wanted to acquire my shares in Transcorp, which I then agreed to sell. However, this supposed American firm turned out to be Tony Elumelu. The revelation of this prompted me to resign as Chairman of the hotel.
Years later in 2012 Tony said he wanted to see me so we met in my office where I had previously had a meeting with foreign investors who had not yet departed the premises. Curious to know, he asked what sort of meeting I had had and I disclosed that I wanted to go into the power business, specifically Ughelli Power Plant. Tony quietly went ahead to bid for Ughelli and he outbidded me by offering to buy the plant for $300million.
And as a some would say: the rest is history.
Fast forward to the present…
I offered to buy Transcorp Plc for N250 billion, but unfortunately, my offer was rejected. My goal was to maximize the company’s potential as a Nigerian conglomerate with a market cap of at least N2 trillion instead of the current N40 billion, but it seems some shareholders have a different vision.
As a businessman, I believe in healthy competition and market dynamics. Two captains cannot man a ship, and I respect the majority shareholder’s decision to buy me out. This is the nature of the game.
But let me be clear: my offer was made with the best intentions for Transcorp Plc and its shareholders. I saw an opportunity to unlock the company’s full potential and create value for everyone involved.
It’s important for investors to understand that free entry and free exit are crucial to healthy markets. The scramble for shares after my acquisition is a testament to the value that Transcorp Plc can offer, and I hope the company continues to thrive under new leadership.
My message to Transcorp Plc and its shareholders is this: I remain committed to the growth and success of Nigerian businesses, and I will always be looking for ways to create value for all stakeholders. Stakeholders are unfortunately always shortchanged by getting stipends while the owners and managers of the business live a jet set lifestyle, which is detrimental to the stakeholders. Thank you for the opportunity to engage in this exciting chapter of Transcorp’s history.
Meet Justin Irabor, the founder of Kainene vos Savant, a super-intelligent chatbot rivaling ChatGPT. He created his chatbot after enrolling as a student at the International University of Applied Sciences in Germany while working on the side.
He soon realized how challenging it was to combine schooling with work. Justin was studying for his master’s program online and at one point, decided that he needed a study partner to make his academic life less complicated.
However, the schedule of his study partner did not work out for him – they both had conflicting timelines.
“My master’s program is online, and the challenge with that is that you need a study partner, otherwise you’re never quite sure how much of the study material you’ve consumed,” he told How We Made It In Africa.
“This was quite challenging because combining daily activities with school meant you have to synchronize with a lot of people. Sometimes I’m at work and my study partner is also at work. It created conflicting timelines.”
This led him to experiment with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2022. He created two chatbots and a third which became his study partner. He later shared his success story on social media, pricking people’s interest.
He purchased an open AI model and trained it with his textbooks to create a study partner and tutor to assist him in understanding specific factors in his academic work.
“I created Kainene vos Savant when I needed a study partner. I fed her my materials, asking her to explain parts of my textbooks that I didn’t quite get. It was an early model at this point, and while it wasn’t great, it was adequate and did the job,” he told How We Made It In Africa.
According to Justin, he gave his AI Chatbot a female name because he wanted to depict women as intelligent peers with high IQs. In his view, AI female assistants can do more than perform basic things like scheduling emails or turning on your phone, citing Alexa and Siri.
“However, the intelligent assistants are mostly male, like IBM’s Watson, a skilled chess player who helps with surgical procedures,” he noted. “This allowed me to flip the narrative because Kainene is your intellectual peer.”
“You wouldn’t ask her to send an email on your behalf. She is someone who, in some circumstances, is likely intellectually superior,” he continued. “I did some research in terms of pure IQ and found Marilyn vos Savant. I liked Vos Savant and picked that as the last name for my AI chatbot, and Kainene is a name I have loved for a very long time. Besides that, AI is within the spelling of Kainene. It’s fitting.”
Today, Kainene has thousands of Nigerian users on Telegram who rely on it for daily tasks and prompt information. Users are even comparing Kainene vos Savant to ChatGPT because of how relatable it is and how it is reducing their workload.
Though users are currently restricted to Nigeria, Justin is working on expanding access to users outside Nigeria.
Popular Nigerian singer-songwriter Chidinmma Ekile has explained why she decided to stop performing secular music.
Chidinmma, who quit secular music to return to her roots, gospel, in 2021, made this known in a video on her YouTube page on Wednesday, April 3.
According to the “Kedike” singer, despite her success after winning Project Fame in 2010, she felt empty.
She noted that the emptiness made her reconnect with her source (God).
“I was looking for my fulfillment, but I didn’t find it until I reconnected with my source,” she said.
In other news, veteran Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji celebrated her 44th birthday in style with close friends and loved ones.
The thespian turned 44 on Wednesday, May 3rd and was widely celebrated on social media by colleagues and fans.
However, Genevieve Nnaji, who has been on a social media hiatus for a while now and deleted all her Instagram posts, didn’t make any post on her birthday, which got fans worried and asking about her whereabouts.
Well, a video of the actress celebrating the day surrounded by her friends and loved ones has been shared online.
She had a simple get-together yesterday with her friends and loved ones. In the video that emerged, Genevieve was looking perfectly fine, radiating with a smile as she cut her cake.
In London’s Old Bailey court later on Friday, a prominent Nigerian senator who was found guilty in March of smuggling a man to Britain so they could take one of his kidneys will be sentenced.
Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice planned to give the organ to their daughter who has a kidney disease.
The victim – a 21-year old street trader from Lagos – was offered $8,000 (£6,340) and promised a better life in Britain, but only realised what was going on when he met doctors in hospital.
The Ekweremadus, along with a medic who helped them, are the first people convicted of organ trafficking under Britain’s modern slavery laws.
The maximum sentence they could face is life imprisonment.
A popular Nigerian Instagram big girl who is known for her flashy life on the gram has been apprehended by the Police for allegedly scamming a 50-year-old German national of $220,000 after pledging to marry him.
According to SP Eyitayo Johnson, the unit’s spokeswoman, who announced the arrest o Cynthia Chioma in a statement on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, the defendant deceived the victim on Instagram by pretending to have love feelings for him and making a fraudulent marriage proposal.
The statement read;
“The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested one Miss Atuonah Cynthia Chioma, a 21-years old indigene of Anambra State for alleged case of Fraudulent Conversion, Stealing and Obtaining the sum of Two-Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($220,000USD) by False Pretence from a German citizen.
The suspect, a 2019 graduate of Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka; who claimed to be a Model and Proprietress of a Massage Spa known as The-Chi-Place, lured the 50-year old victim on Instagram by feigning romantic intentions towards him, thereby gaining the victims’ trust and goodwill,”
Miss Atuonah Chioma promised to marry the victim, invited him to Nigeria for visits on several occasions and convinced him to relocate permanently to Nigeria to live together as husband and wife.
In a ploy to dispel suspicion, the victim was made to meet with Atuonah Chiomas’ parents at Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State where he received their blessings to marry their daughter.
The victim was persuaded by the suspect (Miss Atuonah Cynthia) to return to Germany to sell his house in Stuttgart, and forward the proceeds of sale, together with his pension and life savings to her domiciliary account in Bank; for the purpose of purchasing a house in Nigeria where they will both live as husband and wife as well as to establish a joint business outfit as indicated in the bank transfer narration.
During interview session, the suspect admitted in her statement that the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($220,000USD) was transferred to her account by the victim.
Part of the proceed was used then used to buy a 2-Bedroom Terrace apartment at Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II, while some of the funds was sent to support her mother’s business and to pay medical bills of her father.
Efforts are ongoing to recover other proceeds of the crime while the Unit remain committed to diligently investigate and prosecute fraudsters who are out there damaging the image of the country.
The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”
Social media users have been reacting to a controversial statement by Nollywood actress, Sarah Martins.
Martins in a post on her Instagram page stressed that it is fair for women to snatch good men from other women she described as careless.
The actress, a close friend of Judy Edochie, Yul’s second wife, made the post amidst massive reactions from the public.
“Never be afraid to snatch a good man from a lousy and careless woman! He deserve to be loved right… Same goes to women….Nobody is above snatching because everyone deserve to be loved right,” she wrote.
The post, however, didn’t sit well with a majority of social media users, who tagged it as a dig at Yul Edochie’s first wife, May.
An Instagram user wrote, “Only if you know the consequences of all you are doing, Shey blessing CEO don collect, you go soon collect”.
See other reactions below:
Cleopatracerdar_ said: “Since you Dey snatch,no man gree carry you come house even if na 50th wife, I tire”
Propertu_by_susan said: “Swear that you are not depressed. As old and haggard as you are, what’s on your bucket list is snatching. See how physically and spiritually empty you look with all the outfits on you. I am glad you are depressed and that depression will end you. You can pretend all you want but we in the medical field knows that this is a sign of chronic depression. We can’t wait for the D-day Bloody IDIAT”
Cinto_cardic commented: “Any man being snatched by you is so desperate and is a community man. Sarah you only belong to one Night stand”
Beatric_blessing wrote: “Disgusting cheap article! Now you make a caricature of a mourning woman. You will weep more than May edochie. You are demonic and heartless. Making such dumb insinuation at this sensitive time that your Juju *hore friend wrecked a peaceful home. Like lincedochie said, evil has an expiration date. Ashawo kobo kobo.”
The South-Western Ogun State on Monday filed six counts of assault-related charges against renowned Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, nicknamed Portable.
After the rapper ignored the police’s invitation more than five times, he was taken into custody.
He has however been granted bail after spending the weekend in police detention,
the “Zazoo Zeh” singer has pleaded not guilty.
BBC.com reports added that the rapper and singer resisted arrest and insulted officers who went to detain him last week.
He later handed himself over to police, in a scene which was captured in a viral video last week.
A police spokesperson told BBC Pidgin they had invited the musician to speak with them more than five times, none of which he complied with.
“It is not entirely clear what police initially wanted to interview him about, however last week, police officer Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, tweeted that Portable faced a petition against him over the alleged assault of a man,” BBC.com added.
Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Osaretin Victor Asemoto, has narrated how an intending bride cheated on her husband-to-be before their wedding.
Taking to Twitter over the weekend, Asemota disclosed that the Nigerian bride-to-be visited her married boyfriend for one last sex before her traditional and white wedding.
Asemota, who described the incident as his weirdest experience in Nigeria, claimed that the bride-to-be slept with her side nigga in exchange for a monetary wedding gift.
To make matters worse, he claimed that the lady’s sister-in-law was aware of the exchange, and even escorted her to visit the side-nigga.
In a series of tweets, he wrote,
One of my weirdest experiences in Nigeria was a lady getting married and coming to her (already married) boyfriend for one last Mekwe between her traditional wedding and white wedding. This was to get a cash “wedding gift.” Dude was also sad to let her go. I was totally confused.
“One of my weirdest experiences in Nigeria was a lady getting married and coming to her (already married) boyfriend for one last Mekwe between her traditional wedding and white wedding. This was to get a cash “wedding gift.” Dude was also sad to let her go. I was totally confused.
What was even more confusing was that she came with the sister of the guy she was getting married to who was her friend and fully aware of the entire “transaction.”
I gave up all my understanding at that point.
Nigerians are weird.
The “low trust” in Nigeria is because everyone knows what they are also capable of doing to the next person without inhibitions.
An oil and gas conglomerate, Conoil Producing Limited, owned by Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenuga, has been sued by Eastline Energy Resources Limited, a Nigerian-owned oil and gas servicing company, for failing to pay its debts to the former.
Managing Director of Eastline Energy Resources Limited Obioma Chimechefulem disclosed in a recent statement that Conoil owes his company the sum of $774,789.00 for services rendered on its behalf, for which payment has yet to be made despite repeated requests.
“Eastline is categorically owed the sum of $774,789.00 (Seven Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Nine US Dollars only) for works carried out on behalf of Conoil & for which payment, even after repeated pleas, has still not been made. We have suffered immeasurably working for Conoil to the point where our equipment was seized by another contractor in order to force Conoil to pay them,” the statement reads. The company, which h0as been a contractor of choice to Conoil thanks to its industry-leading skill sets and competence in the areas of surface well testing, brine filtration, well completion, flow back, and early production services, among many others, emphasized that its inability to access high-quality equipment has resulted in significant financial losses.
Right now, it is seeking no more than what it is rightfully owed for services rendered.
The lawsuit follows allegations made against Conoil in March 2022 by a group of local oil contractors, who accused the oil and gas conglomerate owned by Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenuga of defaulting on its debt obligations amounting to millions of dollars.
In separate letters addressed to Ibrahim Gambari, the chief of staff to Nigeria’s president, and Timipre Sylva, the minister of state for petroleum resources, the contractors called for an investigation into what they describe as the “tragic state” of Conoil Producing Limited.
According to the contractors, the board and senior management of Conoil Producing Limited have been involved in various unethical business practices to avoid paying contractors’ fees.
A buss online has been sparked by a Nigerian woman who lives overseas saying she doesn’t want to be an independent woman again.
The young woman revealed this on social media in a brief video she posted, claiming that being an independent woman is extremely taxing and unpleasant.
She admitted in the short clip that she had always pictured herself working for her own money and having the freedom to live her life as she pleased without a guy interfering.
After experiencing the strain of living independently and in the diaspora, she claims she has made a U-turn and is now prepared to be a full-time housewife. She will, however, continue to receive a paycheck from her husband.
“I don’t want to be a strong, independent woman anymore” is how she tagged the video.
Since then, the video has drawn a lot of responses from viewers who have shared their opinions in the comments box.
A world where a mother must decide between health care for herself and educating her child is unjust. The aim of mPharma, a cutting-edge technology-driven health inventory and retail pharmacy firm operating in nine nations—Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia, Gabon, Rwanda, Malawi, and Uganda—is described in this quote on Gregory’s LinkedIn page.
This week marks two years since she inherited the seat from Magufuli, who died in March 2021 after a short illness. She has upended her predecessor’s policies on health, political liberties, foreign policy, education and investments and trade relations.
Last month, she struck a further conciliatory tone, allowing opposition groups to resume political rallies and those in exile to return to the country. Her predecessor Magufuli, as soon as he assumed office, banned political rallies “for the sake of development”. President Samia, on the other hand, has rallied for national unity.
“Politics is not quarrelling or insults, it is not telling lies, nor the language of mockery, slandering and incitement,” she said after she was sworn in as Tanzania’s sixth president. “Politics of this kind is not productive, it is a violation of rule of law.”
Political manoeuvres
Her speech was later followed by a series of political manoeuvres, including setting free the chairman of the main opposition party Chadema, Freeman Mbowe, and broadening the civic and political space in the country.
Mr Mbowe had been in prison for 18 months facing terrorism charges. He had been arrested under her tenure, however, something that nearly blotted her first steps. The Magufuli era was characterised by constriction of civic and political space and a violent crackdown on the opposition and the media.
President Samia did allow the banned media outlets to resume publication, even though critics have said she hasn’t helped amend the laws Magufuli introduced to squeeze the freedoms. Placing a strong emphasis on reconciliation, she was guest of honour for the International Women’s Day at the opposition Chadema party at an event in Kilimanjaro on March 8, a gesture that went down well with the nation.
Tanzania has recently seen the return of two opposition politicians, Godbless Lema and Tundu Lissu, from exile, to cheering crowds. On health, as soon as she was sworn in, Dodoma made a U-turn on its stance of denying Covid-19 existence. Magufuli had ridiculed Covid-19 protocols and barred vaccines in the country. President Samia would appoint a committee of experts to advise her on the way forward and propose measures to keep Tanzanians safe, resumed timely Covid-19 updates and launched a national campaign on the jabs.
Covid-19 jabs
The latest data shows that close to 30 million people in the country had received Covid-19 jabs, achieving a 50 percent inoculation target.
“The government continues to provide Covid-19 vaccination from across the country to curb the global pandemic outbreak. We insist that people continue taking preventative measures against the virus and all other airborne diseases,” said a Health ministry update on the pandemic. While Tanzania has free basic education, President Samia has since waived all forms of fees and contributions in government schools, including registration and exam fees, which posed a significant burden on parents in the past. She also reversed Magufuli-era policy of barring pregnant girls and teenage mothers from school, something Tanzania had been criticised for.
“Primary and secondary school students once stopped from going school due to pregnancy will be given an opportunity to return to school in the formal system,” said the then Tanzania’s Education Minister Joyce Ndalichako in Dodoma last year.
The government announced that the new policy will also apply to students who stopped classes due to truancy and other problems.
Reopened diplomatic relations
Unlike Magufuli, President Samia reopened Tanzania’s diplomatic relations with the world, and resumed Tanzania’s frequent travels by a head of state. This has seen her tour Beijing to Brussels. Dakar to Davos. Dubai to Doha, London to New York and Nairobi, Los Angeles to Kinshasa and this week, Pretoria. She helped resolved most of the petty trading quarrels with Kenya on her state visit and boosted ties across the East African Community.
Samia attended dozens of meetings from a regional level to international, in a quest of repairing old ties and cementing existing ones while at the same time building new ties. She used trips and meetings to boost Dodoma’s Foreign Direct Investment and source funds to finance Tanzania’s ambitious projects such as the standard gauge railway, the Julius Nyerere Hydropower project, roads and other projects.
Popular musician in Nigeria, Simi, known in real life as Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, has recently shared a post on the microblogging app that sparked discussions on social media.
The singer announced her intention to resign, appearing exhausted and frustrated. It wasn’t clear what the singer specifically wanted to quit.
Simi in her tweet wrote: “Sigh. I just want out.”
The singer’s tweet saw many social media users and followers talking.
Many attributed the post to the singer being tired of the current situation Nigeria is in and the many issues that surround the 2023 elections.
Read the comments below:
Remmythe05: “There’s no one Nigeria, Nigeria is a scam I reiterate. If people can not vote at liberty from anywhere in the country, there is no point in calling us one. This forceful marriage needs to be splitted.”
Cassim64760215: “my vote and my family’s votes (6) were parts of the 87 Obi got in my polling unit. The shinedus insulted us the gentle yorubas for voting Obi over Tinubu. They took our considerations for granted. They turned the party to an Igbo agenda. I regret voting for Obi. Never again.”
Abuotor: “Nigeria needs to split to Yoruba nation, Biafra, Niger-Delta, Arewa Nation. Everyone should just go their way. Now I truly believe this is best for Nigeria. And everyone should push for this and everyone can have the leaders they want”
SydneyUchenna3: “It’s tiring but there has to be a way forward surely”
Forty-three Nigerian nurses in the United States are being prosecuted for forging certificates.
The Texas Board of Nursing is looking into the credentials of 75 people, including the 43 Nigerians.
According to an information shared on the Board’s website under the heading “Operation Nightingale,” those who obtained the false nursing qualifications utilized them to be eligible to take the national nursing board exam.
After passing the board exam, the nursing candidates apparently qualified for licensing in a number of states to practice as registered nurses or as Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, or LPN/VNs.
The Board claimed that it has brought “formal accusations” against the nurses for gaining qualifications through deception.
“Please note that formal charges are not a final disciplinary action, and a nurse is permitted to work, as a nurse, while formal charges are pending,” it added.
The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and law enforcement partners launched a multistate coordinated law enforcement action to apprehend people involved in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts on January 25, 2023, according to a statement on the website.
“The alleged scheme involved the selling of fake and fraudulent nursing degrees, diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) candidates,” it said.
The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and law enforcement partners launched a multistate coordinated law enforcement action to apprehend people involved in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts on January 25, 2023, according to a statement on the website.
“This list will be updated continuously as the Board receives additional information about the fraudulent diploma/transcript scheme,” the statement added.
A music manager born in Nigeria has been stabbed to death after receiving a designer watch worth up to £300,000 for his birthday, a London court heard.
On May 1, 2022, three thieves attacked Emmanuel Odunlami, 32, after he left the Haz restaurant in the City of London close to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The incident was reported to the Old Bailey.
They were allegedly informed by a security operator, Kavindu Hettiarachchi that Odunlami was wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch worth between £90,000 and £300,000 if genuine.
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC stated that Hettiarachchi was a vital member of the security team hired by the event’s organizer, Playhxuse, for the private ticketed brunch and afterparty with DJ.
“It was part of his role to protect the safety of those, like Odunlami, who were attending the event. In fact, he did the opposite,” the court was told.
The victim, known to friends as Jay, had driven to the city in his grey hatchback Mercedes on the day of his death to celebrate his birthday with friends, having purchased tickets for a £1,400 table.
As the event came to an end around 11 p.m., Hettiarachchi was caught on camera filming outside the venue and calling Louis Vandrose, according to Dailymail.
The court heard that Vandrose and Jordell Menzies were then driven by Quincy Ffrench in a white Mercedes with altered number plates from north west London.
The Prosecutor said: “The evidence shows that Vandrose, Menzies and Ffrench were setting off in a car with a disguised registration in order to carry out a robbery, and their target was at the Haz restaurant where Hettiarachchi was working, and to which by phone he had summoned them.’’
Italian police announced on Wednesday that a Nigerian woman who had fled the country had been returned to face a 13-year term stemming from convictions for trafficking women for prostitution (Mar.8).
From 2006 to 2007, the 48-year-old Joy Jeff was a prominent player in the trafficking of Nigerian women to Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. She imposed her authority by violence, including making threats against her relatives back in Nigeria.
A treaty signed by Nigeria and Italy in 2020 facilitated the extradition. According to the statement, she was arrested in Nigeria on June 4, 2022, on an international warrant issued by Italy.
Investigators in Ancona, Italy’s easternmost city, said Jeff was a key figure in trafficking women to Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, where they were forced into prostitution through violence and threats. In her absence, she was convicted.
The woman was flown from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja to Ciampino airport in Rome, where she was taken away in a wheelchair by police, according to a video released by the Italian police.
“Africa today is a strategic location when looking for fugitives and fighting organised crime,” said Vittorio Rizzi, an Italian police chief responsible for international coordination.
Nigeria will soon start indigenous solar cell production, according to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
One of the most crucial solar panel components for the production of solar energy is the solar cell.
A statement signed by the Chief Information Officer of NASENI, Obiorah Ekwuazi Chinyere stated that the plant when fully operational will be one of the largest Solar Cell Production plants in Africa, thereby enabling Nigeria to go into full production of 100% local content of solar panel.
“Nigeria already has a 7.5-megawatt Solar Panel Production Plant in Karshi Abuja run by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) but the plant for now does not produce Solar Cells”.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has directed NASENI to go into production of Solar Cells to boost the country’s alternative source of power generation. This is one of the promises kept by the present administration to provide employment for the teeming unemployed Nigeria Youths, create wealth for the nation and ensure that industrial revolution and economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government are achieved”.
“NASENI is already in collaboration with China Great Wall Industries Corporation (CGWIC) on 3 key projects in power sector: Electric Power Transformer Production, Solar Cells Manufacturing and High Voltage Testing Laboratories”.
“In order to carry out this directive, NASENI acquired a 15. 8 hectres of land in Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State to start the establishment of the plant in Nigeria and the groundbreaking and foundation laying stone will be carried out soon for effective take-off of the plant”.
“A solar cell, also known as a photovoltaic cell, is an electrical device which converts light energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect and products of silicon”.
“Silicon is obtained from silica, which is nothing other than the common sand. With the establishment of the plant, solar power supply will be affordable because the most expensive components are the cells”.
Speaking at the on-spot inspection of work at the site, the representative of the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive of NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, Mrs.Nonyem Onyechi who is also the Coordinating Director of Planning and Business Development (PBD) Directorate, NASENI Headquarters and Chairman Standing Committee On Commissioning of NASENI Projects, said the groundbreaking ceremony of the Solar Cell Plant will soon take off.
Onyechi who was impressed on the progress made so far, compared to the last visit by the committee, said with the progress made so far the groundbreaking date was achievable, adding that with the establishment of the plant, Nigeria would have alternative source of power generation.
She however, advised the contractor to ensure that all that were required for the groundbreaking are on ground by the time the committee visited the site before the event proper.
Also speaking, the Director of Procurement, Dr. Mohammed A. Mohammed said all the challenges facing the progress of the work as stated by the contractor would be addressed . He however advised the contractor to ensure that all the pending negotiations concerning the site were settled as soon as possible.
In a similar event, the committee proceeded to Keffi to inspect the progress made on the Skill Acquisition Center.
At the site, the committee commended the work and agreed that the technical subcommittee should take over the work and ensure that all that is required for the Commissioning of the centre are put in place.
Also, they were asked to take over Solar Cell Plant, Gora and ASIP Kaduna to ensure that all the technical hitches are taken care off.
Registered voters have begun trooping to their polling stations to cast their votes.
Exclusive photos made available to MyNigeria shows polling station official preparing for the exercise that began at 8:30 am.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expects more than 87 million Nigerian to cast their vote in what has been regarded as the most competitive election since 1993.
Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is about to hold its largest democratic exercise on Saturday February 25, 2023 in order to elect a president.
The country is currently dealing with a wide range of economic and security issues, from cash and fuel shortages to an increase in terrorism attacks, high inflation, and a falling local currency.
It is evident in the behavior of Nigerians that they can’t wait to have a new president after current President Mahamadu Buhari since he allegedly proven to be incompetent and does not have the interest of his people at heart.
Here are the three main candidates vying for the highest office with the promise of a “New Nigeria.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
He is Nigerian politician who once served as the 12th Governor of Lagos State (1999 – 2007). He was once a member of the house of Senate representing the Lagos West Senatorial district (1993). Tinubu is an advocate of Democracy, True Federalism, and Nationalism. After decades as a political puppet master, Tinubu declares it is now his turn to emerge from the shadows into the presidency; his campaign slogan is “Emi Lokan,” which translates to “it is my turn,” in his native Yoruba language. He promises to grant full autonomy to universities.
Atiku Abubakar
He is a candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar. The 76-year-old, has served as vice president from 1999 to 2007. He is a staunch capitalist who made his fortune investing in various sectors in the country. The tycoon has been investigated for corruption in the past. However, he denies any wrongdoing. He hopes for success this time after contesting to be president on six occasions since 1992. He promises to restore peace and open all borders among others.
Peter Gregory Obi
Peter Gregory Obi is a Nigerian businessman and politician who served as governor of Anambra from March to November 2006, February to May 2007, and June 2007 to March 2014. He also the only Christian among the leading candidates. he was recognized as the Business Hallmark Newspaper Man of the Year in 2012. He promises to address unemployment and a new nigeria.
Co-founder and head of intelligence at data company Stears, Michael Famoroti, tells the international media that major challenges relating to security and Nigeria’s economy will be on voters’ minds and may affect their voting decisions.
“Nigerians fall under two buckets: One is insecurity. However, overall, the main issue that Nigerians agree needs to be dealt with is the economy,” he said, with concerns ranging from poverty to unemployment and policy.
Adding that “the cash crunch, petrol scarcity … are issues that are likely going to be top of mind for those who make it to the polls and arguably could sway the votes,” Famoroti says.
Meanwhile, in the event of a high voter turnout, Peter Obi may prevail over the two primary rivals. The is according to The Stears survey (a pan-African data company) who has also predicted that Tinubu will do better with a lower turnout.
A first division club in Ibadan, Nigeria, has been fined for an amount of $1,000 (£900) a referee was caught urinating on the field.
The photo, taken before the Shooting Stars’ home game on Sunday against Akwa United, went viral.
The official, Auwal Mohammed, has also been suspended for a year from any activities relating to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
In a letter to the Shooting Stars from the Interim Management Committee, the body which manages the NPFL, it described the incident as “a despicable act” that had brought the game into disrepute.
“You failed to control the conduct of your officials which resulted in Mr Auwal Mohammed urinating on the playing pitch in the full glare of the general public,” it said.
The executive order establishing a transitional team for the upcoming general elections in Nigeria has been signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The new executive order puts in place a legal framework for the seamless transition of power from one presidential administration to another,” he said.
I have signed Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transitions. The new Executive Order puts in place a legal framework for the seamless transition of power from one Presidential Administration to another.
A young Nigerian lady who’s currently based in Canada has landed herself into serious trouble for using rotten fish locally called ‘momone’ to prepare a stew.
According to this lady, her Canadian landlord immediately rushed to her apartment after he smelled the stitch of the rotten fish which is mainly used for African dishes to add extra taste.
As narrated by the lady, she was still cooking when her landlord came and told her that the aroma was upsetting.
He added that he and his daughter suffer from migraine and that she had immediately leave their house.
Sharing a picture of the soup that landed her into this trouble, she captioned it as;
“My first vegetable soup that gave me quit notice in my new house”,
Africans who have come across this bizarre story have called out the landlord for not respecting the culture of others.
They believe he dealt with the trivial issue with a sledgehammer which isn’t necessary
