Friday, August 30, 2013

United States Urges FG to Work with ASUU to End Strike

The United States of America (USA), on Wednesday urged the Government of Nigeria, to work out a lasting solution to the lingering Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) strike even as it decried the activities of touts who deceive Nigerian students intending  to study in the US, labelling them as criminals.

US Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer, Bill Strassberger, who spoke to journalists in Abuja  noted that though the US is not involved in the ASUU negotiation, said: "It is a fear, it is a worry for us."
"That is something for the Nigerian government. It is up to work it out with the striking administration.

"We are not involved in that negotiation but we can encourage it. It is a fear, it is a worry for us because that would make it hard for the students to come.
"It may be difficult, but there is no magic wand to resolve the strike," Strassberger said.

Also, the Head, Education USA, Jennifer Onyukwu, equally stated that  the US has been concerned about the ongoing strike in so many ways.

For instance, she noted that Nigerians who are seeking admission into  US schools, require their transcripts which they cannot get because of the strike.

"There is that concern because generally, the world has become a global village, people want stronger applicants in their campuses; so they want stronger senders," she stressed.

On patronising touts to study in the US, Strassberger enjoined admission seekers to access free  information which is available at all time.

"Those are the touts, those are the people that I will even call criminals because they are stealing opportunities by selling only documents by giving bad information and creating a disappointment when the person comes in with that information or with only document. And that is the result of not getting accurate information," he said.

On her part, Contr Onyukwu said the 'EducationUSA is here to demystify the process, explain how to take the standardised tests, how to search for schools, and how to find the best undergraduate school that is the best fit for the intending US student, including the masters programme that would not only educate the student, but may also provide scholarship or financial aid to study while in the US.'

Onyukwu said  Nigeria has been  US's largest sender of African students from sub-saharan Africa to the US.

"In the past six years, the US has spent over $40 million on scholarships and financial aid for undergraduate and graduate students, the US is expecting to do more in the coming year," she assured.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Pink Cupid Ent. hosts Auditions/Exhibition/Photoshoot on August 30

The newly established but funky new entertainment house, Pink Cupid Entertainment will be holding auditions/an exhibition/a photoshoot at Kalakuta Museum Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, 30th August... Doors open at 12pm. Yeah yeah, I know its sound a little vague, but there's excitement in mysteries. Promises to be fun with loads of specials guests (celebrities) and lots of surprises. To solve the mystery and satisfy your curiosities, you can call these numbers for more information: Ayodele 08143214551 or Innocent 07031960724 or Ping 2718AD45...

Supported by @Osilama24 and @AyoolasBlog

So tell your friends, lovers and enemies not to miss out... #Bless

Over 40 million Nigerians are jobless – SURE-P

Chairman, Subsidy Reinvestment and Employment Programme, Christopher Kolade, yesterday disclosed that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians are unemployed.

Kolade stated this through the Technical Assistant to Community Services, Women and Youth Employment, SURE-P, Emeka Ekpunobi, at a one-day stakeholders sensitisation programme on Graduate Internship Scheme, organized by SURE-P and Kalends Consulting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

According to him, the SURE-P was a program through which the Federal Government created with the aim of reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.

He said, "Issue of job creation is a very critical one which over the years has posed great challenge to governments at different levels.



"It was in recognition of this that President Goodluck Jonathan mandated SURE-P to marshal out intervention programmes to address this challenge.

"Through the GIS, we have the mandate to create 50,000 jobs. This sensitisation workshop is very important to us because it is part of our commitment to ensure that the GIS achieves the objectives for which it was set up.

"One of the objectives is to make most Nigerians graduates employable through training and mentoring."

He confirmed the view of the Project Director of GIS, Mr. Peter Parka, that 40million Nigerians required employment.

Parka had said, "National Bureau of Statistics in 2011 indicated that 23.9per cent of Nigerians were unemployed. This means that about 40million Nigerians need employment.

"Government is concerned about this high unemployment rate and is doing everything possible to reverse it. The challenge of graduate unemployment is the inability to absorb the nearly 300,000 graduates churned out by our tertiary institutions each year."

President Jonathan explains why he fired Youth Minister

President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday denied media reports that he sacked Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir as Minister of youth development because he failed to influence the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, in his favour. The president denied that he has a favourite candidate for the position as widely reported in the media.

A statement by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed that, "In point of fact, it was Alhaji Abdulkadir's regrettable deviation from this presidential commitment in the management of the NYCN elections that led to the decision to relieve him of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development."

The presidency, however, dismissed the ongoing media report on the reason behind the termination of the appointment of the former Minister.

According to the statement, the media "erroneously attributed the former Minister's sack to his disloyalty or closeness to a particular governor or governors said to be opposed to the president.

"The most disingenuous and malicious speculation was that which claimed that Alhaji Abdulkadir was fired for failing to ensure that a pro-Jonathan candidate emerged as president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).



"We wish to assure the general public that nothing could be further from the truth. President Jonathan regards all Nigerian youth as his wards and constituents. Claims that he had a preferred candidate in the NYCN elections are completely baseless and without justification as there was absolutely no reason for him to prefer one candidate over others."

Explaining further why the former Minister was fired, Abati said, "President Jonathan was very displeased with the mishandling of the NYCN elections in Makurdi and Minna by the Ministry of Youth Development which resulted in the unfortunate fractionalization of the youth council.

"The President found the Ministry's failure to provide appropriate leadership towards open and transparent youth council elections unacceptable," adding that President Jonathan was sincerely committed to doing everything possible to ensure that the Nigerian youth, on whom the country's aspirations for a bright and prosperous future depend, are given the best possible upbringing and orientation.

"The President therefore expects all officials of his administration to exhibit greater rectitude and sensitivity on issues relating to youth development, and comport themselves at all times in a manner worthy of emulation by Nigerian youth. President Jonathan remains sincerely and unwaveringly committed to doing all within his powers to promote the credibility and integrity of the electoral process at all levels in the country.

"He firmly believes that a culture of free, fair and credible election must be constantly nurtured and encouraged amongst Nigerian youth and all other sections of the country," it added.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

ASUU rejects FG offers; says strike must continue

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, rejected. the N130 billion the Federal Government disbursed into the university system, as part of efforts to persuade striking lecturers to call off the strike which began on July 2.

In a letter written to Head of National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, NEEDs Assessment, and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan, by President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge. The union insisted that based on the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the January 2012 Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, signed by both parties, what was due for 2012 and 2013 was N500 billion, not N100 billion.

The letter read: "We observe that the Committee is so far mentioning only N100 billion. If the implementation is to be related to the funding requirements in the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the Jan 2012 MoU, what is due for 2012 and 2013 is N500 billion not N100 billion. Only the provision of this sum will meet the immediate needs of the universities.

"Our Union is very apprehensive of the manner in which the sources of the initial N100 billion to be used for the stimulation of the process are shrouded in secrecy. We believe that monies that already belong to the university system should not be blocked and recycled.

"This will not only be counterproductive but will brew even deeper crises in the system. ASUU will not accept this.

"We are also concerned that a clear procedure or process for assessing the funds by the universities is yet to be defined. This concern is even more germane, given the statement of the Chairman of the Committee (during the last meeting on Monday, August 19, 2013) that the committee is taking some documents to the Due Process Office.

"We hasten to add that while due process must be followed, it is the sole responsibility of benefitting universities to respect all the provisions of the Procurement Act. The meaning of your Committee going to the Due Process Office is that it is the one that will be responsible for awarding contracts.
"We want to make it clear that this will never be acceptable to our union. We believe that monies meant to fund projects in universities should be sent to the universities, just as it is the practice with TETFund."

The union condemned allocation of construction of 2,500 bed space hostel for N1billion, instead of 3,000 bed space for N1.2 billion.

"We are worried that instead of allocating N1.2 billion each to construct 3,000 bed space hostels to the 10 Category 1 universities, N1.0 billion for 2,500 bed space hostel to the 16 Category 2 universities, N500 million to construct 1,250 bed space hostels in the 12 Category 3 universities and N250 million each to construct 625 bed space hostels in the 13 Category 4 universities, the secretariat has changed that to constructing 1,400 bed space hostels in 25 universities at the cost of N2 billion each. We see no rationale in this.

"Expending N50 billion to construct 35,000 bed space hostels across 25 universities will be ridiculously scandalous since the same amount can be used to construct 125,000 bed space hostels across 51 universities. The standard cost of building a bed space ranges from N200,000.00 to a maximum of N400,000.00.

"This is even more worrisome, given the tangential suggestions made by the chairman that only monies for refurbishment will be sent to universities, while the rest will be handled centrally," the union said.
The union also condemned the exclusion of 22 universities from the allocation for refurbishment of laboratories and libraries and three universities from the allocation for refurbishment of lecture theatres and lecture rooms.

According to ASUU, 24 universities are denied allocation for construction of libraries and laboratories, while two are denied allocation for construction of new lecture theatres and lecture rooms. 26 universities are denied allocation for construction of hostel.

Monday, August 26, 2013

2013 ATIKU ABUBAKAR SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP OFFER

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is offering one undergraduate/postgraduate scholarship to Nigerian students.

The scholarship is tenable in Nigeria and overseas, and will reasonably cover tuition and board.

Entrants must be Nigerian citizens who are currently undergoing, or have been admitted into, a course of study at undergraduate or postgraduate level at a government-approved institution of learning within or outside Nigeria.

To qualify for consideration for the scholarship applicants should submit an essay on the topic:

More Learning to More People: How can Nigeria be more innovative in bridging its literacy and skills gap? 

Entries must be in English, and be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

All essays should be submitted on or before August 31, 2013.

It will be the responsibility of applicants to reasonably prove that they possess valid letters or offers of admission, or other evidence of studentship. Successful candidates who are unable to prove this will have their scholarship offers revoked.

Entrants must avoid plagiarism and should be prepared to present themselves for an oral defence of their work (should the need arise). Plagiarism will result in instant disqualification of the affected entry.

Essays will be judged for grammar, clarity, coherence and a focus on solutions. (While it is important to highlight the problems and challenges of education in Nigeria, the essay should primarily focus on innovative problem-solving)

Only one scholarship will be awarded. There will however be consolation prizes for up to two other entrants.

The Judges' decision is final and will not be subject to appeal or litigation.

ESSAY FORMAT GUIDELINES

Essays, containing between 2,000 and 5,000 words, should be emailed as Microsoft Word documents to scholarship@atiku.org

The first page of the essay document should include the following:

Entrants Name & Date of Birth

Entrants Contact Details (Valid email address and phone number)

Entrants Institution (with full institution address included), Course of Study, Year of Entry, and Student Number (Also specifying whether Undergraduate or Postgraduate)

Essays should be in a legible font (font size 12); 1.5-spaced or double-spaced

All pages should be properly numbered.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

#BBATheChase: Dillish Wins Big Brother Africa The Chase 2013, Goes Home With $300,000

The grande finale of reality TV show Big Brother Africa just went down & it was down to five finalists Beverly, Melvin, Cleo, Elikem & Dilish.  First to be evicted was Beverly followed by Melvin, then Elikem, leaving Cleo & Dillish as the final two standing!

At the end of the day Cleo was evicted leaving Namibia's Dilish as the housemate in the house the longest making her the winner of the 8th season of Big Brother Africa. Going home with the $300,000 prize! BOOOOOOOOM!

Big Brother brought back the 23 Evicted Housemates to share in the excitement of the night and witness the crowning of The Chase winner & performances from former houseate Sulu, Ghana's R2Bees, Nigeria's Ice Prince & many more.

The other day I threw opened the question to you guys to predict who would win [READ HERE] & you all got it wrong cos most of you predicted Melvin would win.

This would be the 3rd time a female is winning Big Brother Africa!

DID THE RIGHT PERSON WIN BIG BROTHER AFRICA?

Egypt court rules against banning porn websites

Legal case demanding banning of pornography websites is rejected by Administrative Court

A case was filed by lhe Administrative Court ruled on Saturday against the banning of pornography websites in Egypt.

A case was filed by lawyer Ibrahim El-Salamony against former President Mohamed Morsi's request to ban pornography websites in Egypt.

El-Salamony filed the case, arguing that marriage burdens and high unemployment in recent years have led many young men to turn to pornographic websites. Banning such sites, the lawyer said, would protect society.

Last November, former Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud submitted an official letter to the ministries of telecommunications, information and interior ordering that measures be adopted to ban pornographic websites in Egypt, based on a 2009 court order to this effect.

In May 2009, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court declared a ban on pornographic websites. The move was based on a lawsuit filed by Islamist lawyer Nezar Ghourab.

Blocking pornographic websites would cost Egypt up to LE100 million ($16.5m) to implement and may place a significant strain on the country's internet services, according to telecom and IT experts.

awyer Ibrahim El-Salamony against former President Mohamed Morsi's request to ban pornography websites in Egypt.

El-Salamony filed the case, arguing that marriage burdens and high unemployment in recent years have led many young men to turn to pornographic websites. Banning such sites, the lawyer said, would protect society.

Last November, former Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud submitted an official letter to the ministries of telecommunications, information and interior ordering that measures be adopted to ban pornographic websites in Egypt, based on a 2009 court order to this effect.

In May 2009, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court declared a ban on pornographic websites. The move was based on a lawsuit filed by Islamist lawyer Nezar Ghourab.

Blocking pornographic websites would cost Egypt up to LE100 million ($16.5m) to implement and may place a significant strain on the country's internet services, according to telecom and IT experts.

Friday, August 23, 2013

N1 Trillion NASS Wage Bill: Reps Accept Ezekwesili’s Challenge For Public Debate

The challenge thrown by former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili to the House of Representatives for a public debate on the National Assembly's huge budget and its members' earnings, was Thursday "wholeheartedly" welcomed by the lower chambers.


A spokesperson said the house will however request that Mrs. Ezekwesili complies with "basic ground rules" to avoid a situation where the house would be "fooled".
"On the basis of this shared vision, the 7th House of Representatives wholeheartedly welcome her request for a public hearing on the stated ideals," deputy chairman House committee on media, Victor Ogene, said in a statement.

"In doing so, however, the former minister must be ready to comply with some basic ground rules so that we may all not be fooled by the guerrilla tactics of someone plagued by an out-of- office syndrome."
The statement urged the former minister to get set to explain her understanding of cost of governance and why she narrowed that to the National Assembly, leaving out the Executive.

The house, currently on break, however did not give a date for a hearing.

The reaction comes on the heels of Mrs. Ezekwesili remarks on Monday highlighting Nigeria's largely ineffective budget, which, amongst others, appropriated N1 trillion to the National Assembly in eight years alone.

In earlier reactions, lawmakers accused the former World Bank Vice President (Africa) of making blanket statements and urged her to go to the specifics of her claims.

They further accused her of failing to highlight budget accruals, for the same period to the executive arm of government, which she once served.
Mrs. Ezekwesili, it would be recalled was first appointed Minister of Solid Minerals in 2005, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration before she was later moved to the Education Ministry.
In her reaction on Wednesday, Mrs. Ezekwesili decried the non-response of the legislators to the issues she raised and challenged them to a public hearing where she would defend her position on the remuneration of the lawmakers, and her call for a part time legislature.


However, Mr. Ogene said in a statement Thursday the call amounted to a crave by the former minister to "get back into national consciousness, simply by randomly throwing pot shots anchored on misplaced aggression, in the ardent hope that such mudslinging would elevate her to the status of a moral crusader".

"As an institution, we ought not to be responding to the tirades of Mrs. Ezekwesili, especially as they are anchored on wrong deployment of figures, weird generalizations and outright falsehood," the statement said.

"As elected representatives, we owe it a duty to the Nigerian people to always seek to conduct our affairs in an atmosphere of openness, candor and a fidelity to the truth.

"Indeed, if there is any point we are agreed upon with Mrs. Ezekwesili, or anyone else for that matter, it is the promotion of transparency in governance and ensuring that democratic institutions of state, function optimally for the benefit of all."

The statement recalled Mrs. Ezekwesili's earlier claim in January that the Obasanjo administration, which she was a member, left $45bn in Nigeria's external reserves and another $22bn in the excess crude account-funds she said was squandered by the Yar'adua and Jonathan administrations.

"While she has yet to fully justify those allegations, the former minister is this time seeking a fresh sparring partner in the legislature", the statement noted.

"Is it right to insinuate that the budgetary allocation for the National Assembly is for members' salaries and allowances, while deliberately leaving out capital projects component, salaries of legislative aides and the bureaucracy, as well as allied institutions such as the Institute for Legislative Studies?" the statement asked.

"What is the total disbursement to the executive and the judicial arms of government over the same eight-year period?

"For an ex-official of government, who between the 2006 and 2007 federal budgets, superintended over a total of N422.5bn as Education Minister, what percentage of the public fund was expended by her as recurrent cost?"

Kanye West: 'Kim Kardashian is my joy'

   
Kanye West has defended his relationship with reality TV star Kim Kardashian on her mother's TV talk show, insisting the socialite adds joy to his life.

The rapper sat down with Kris Jenner for his first TV interview since becoming a father in June earlier this week and told his baby daughter's grandmother that he's tired of critics taking aim at his romance with her daughter.

During the hour-long interview, which will air on Jenner's show Kris on Friday, press-shy West insisted he shouldn't have to qualify his relationship.

"I could have people saying, 'This is going to damage your credibility as an artist or as a designer', and I say, 'I don't care. I love this woman', or someone could say, 'Everyone knows you don't like paparazzi; why would you be with this person?' And I say, 'I'm being with this person because I love this person and she's worth it to me'."

And the rapper told Jenner that his late grandfather, whose funeral he attended with his girlfriend and their baby daughter at the weekend, taught him a very important lesson when it comes to romance.

"His whole thing was never about money, it was never about popularity. His whole thing was joy. Just joy, like having joy in his life. She's (Kardashian) my joy and she brought my new joy into the world."

The rapper also discussed the passing of his mother, Donda, and how his new role as dad has helped to fill the hole she left.

"After I lost my mother, there were times I felt I would put my life at risk. I felt like sometimes I didn't have something to live for. Now I have two really special people to live for, a whole family to live for, a whole world to live for."

- WENN

ASUU withdraws from negotiations with FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Thursday announced its disengagement from further negotiations with the Federal Government, over what it describes as the latter's perceived insincerity in the 2009 agreement as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) both parties signed in January last year.

The union National President, Dr. Nassir Faggae Isa, said at a press briefing held at the University of Lagos on Thursday that the 2009 agreement and the MoU must first be honoured, even if ASUU feels the need to consider renegotiation with the government.

The union had embarked on a total strike on July 2 over government's failure to honour the 2009 agreement.

Faggae said, "Consequently, our
members are left with no other choice than to prosecute this strike to its logical conclusion. ASUU members nationwide are saying this striker will not be suspended until and unless the government respects the 2009 agreement and makes concrete efforts to implement it in the best interest of the country."

According to him, during a meeting held between ASUU and the government representative on Monday, government declared that it neither had any motive to revitalize public universities through committed funding, nor was it ready to pay in full the accumulated Earned Academic Allowances between 2009 and 2013.
 

Thursday, August 22, 2013

FG names chairmen and members of Governing Boards of 42 agencies (See Full List)

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday approved the appointment of the Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards of forty-two Federal Government's parastatals and agencies.

According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim who made the announcement, the membership of each Governing Board shall include all the statutory ex-officio members in accordance with the Enabling Laws of the Parastatals and Agencies.

They would be formally inaugurated in dates to be announced in "due course by the supervising authorities and Honourable Ministers."

READ: Tolu Ogunlesi: Something For The 'Boys' And 'Girls'

Here's the full list:

1. Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology

Chairman: Prince Olusola Akanmode

Members: Hon. Idonibin Obagama, Alh Garba Dahiru, Barrister Mahmud A. Gurumpawo, Dr. Mohammed Bello Abdulkadir (Salankan Zazzau).

2. National Mathematical Centre

Chairman: Sen. Abubakar H. Girei

Members: Prof. G.A Badmus, Barr. Stephen Ahaneku, Dr. Zilkifilu Abdu.

3. Universal Basic Education Commission

Chairman: His Highness A. J. Turner

Members: Mohammed Bello, Hon. Chuma Nnaji, Hauwa Musa Kida, Abubakar L. Audu, Hon. Tarfa Atu, Engr. Kunle Yusuf, Nnalue Kingsley Chizobam, Dr. Sharon Oviemuno, and Mathias Ekweremadu.

4. National Commission for Colleges of Education

Chairman: Chief Chukwuemeka Ezife

Members: Mrs Margaret Zidon, Alhaji Mohammed Dantsoho and Mrs Ngozi Nnadozie.

5. National Institute for Education Planning and Administration

Chairman: Elder Bolaji Ani

Members: Hajiya Jamila Baba Buhari and Barrister Nma Mowete.

6. National Institute for Fresh Water Fisheries Research

Chairman: Alh. Arma Yau Abubakar

Members: Chief Francis Ayodele Akinkiawe, Chief George Moghalu, Hon. Bimbola Yusuf  and Oche Ekoza Elias.

7. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria

Chairman: Alh. Sulieman Galadima

Members: Umoru Barau Ningi, Bennette E. Ughamadu, Oluomo Yinka Adeojo and Barr. Uche Igbokwe.

8. Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research

Chairman: Alhaji Bello Gusau

Members: Ahame Adamu Bawa, Mrs. Aduke Maina Waziri, Chief  T. Dawari  Horsefall, Chief  Felix Mgbada, and Abdullahi  Ohiomah.

9. National Cereals Research Institute

Chairman: Igwe Ginger Ibeneme

Members are Hon. Adeboro Onibalusi, Mrs Margaret John Zamdai, Chief Mrs Toru Ofili and Prince Otuu Irukwu.

10. National Eye Centre

Chairman: Prof. C.I.P. Anibeze

Members: Chimezie D. Ugochukwu, Dr. Femi Babalola, Dr. Abdulrahman Abdullahi Wase and Dr. Nma N. Nwokeocha.

11. National Root Crops Research Institute

Chairman: Chief Oluwole Oludaisi Aina

Members include Steve Nwachukwu, Folake Olunloyo Osinowo, Hon. Mrs. Hannatu Ullam, Ahmed Sani Kaura and Shola Ogbemi-Daibo.

12. National Horticultural Research Institute

Chairman: Juliet Wayoka as Chairman

Members: Chael Kusah, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi, Ituma Valentine Emeka and Alh. Abdulmumuni Vaki.

13. National Inland Waterways Authority

Chairman: Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu

Members: Admiral Mike Onah [Rtd]

14. National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Zaria

Chairman: Hon. Emeka Otozi

Members: Robinson Ejifoma, Mrs Felicia Diejomoho, Saidu Ahmed Jere, Anicho Sunday Okoro and Engr. Babagana Zanna.

15. Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority

Chairman: Cairo Ojougbo

Members include Emmanuel Ekuwem and Husaini Jalo.

16. National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Studies

Chairman: Kanayo O. Kanayo

17. National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba

Chairman: Dr. Tosin Awolalu

Members are Prof. S.O. Igwe, Alh. Kabiru Ladan Barwa, Venesa Tobechukwu Kemakolam, Dr. Francis Ozoemena and Dr. Nana Aisha Abdulqadiri.

18. National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education

Chairman: Dr. Mrs Esther Uduehi

Members are Professor Dakum Shown, Abiola Makinde, Tanko Kokwai, Hon. Alonge-Niyi Dennis and Hon. Geofrey Okpe.

19. Nigerian Film Corporation, Jos

Chairman: Chief Bongos Ikwue

Members: Sani Danja, Wada Musa, and Bright Chinedu Nnebedum

20. Nigeria Building & Road Research Institute

Chairman: Engr. Dele Okeya

Members include Arc. John Alkali, Adamu Waziri, Engr. Austin O. Ene and Hon. Gunju Ojo.

21. National orientation Agency

Chairman: Lt. Col Edoh Obi [Rtd]

22. Sheda Science and Technology Complex

Chairman: Senator Nuhu Aliyu, DIG (Rtd)

Members: Eka Williams, Engr. Uchenna Daniel Oko, Senator  Tanko Ayuba, Alh. Garba S. Taura, Hon. Audu Bababyo, Amb. Solomon Adama Yisa, Bob Nege, Alhaja Bola Jafojo-Adedeji and Prof Iwe Maduebibisi

23. National Commission for Nomadic Education

Chairman: Mohammed Sallah Shettima

Members include Abba Kura Jibrin, Alh. Yusuf Sulieman Jibiya, Hajiya Zainab A. Gidado, Hon. Adeolu Aluko,     John Uhana, Barrister Nkem Obiako, P. Oristse Nanna and Yamkyeh Ebibu.

24. Nigerian French Language Village, Badagry Lagos

Chairman: Chief Emmanuel Edohoeket

Members are Abbas Tijanni Hasshim, Mrs Rebecca Ogundare, and Mrs Sally Ogbogu.

25. Centre for Black & Africian Arts and Culture

Chairman: Gen. Brimmo Yusuf

Members include Mr. Ray Ekpu, Hon. Paul Godfrey, Mary Ogbonnaia, Mr. Folorunsho Taiwo, Madam Rhoda Fiberesima, Patrick Aiden Anuda, Oyedokun S. Oladepo and Frank Ikpeze.

26. Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre

Chairman: Tokunbo Kayode

Members include Chief Richard Lamai, Barrister Kunle Sulieman, Ibrahim Mohammed Gada, Abah Lewis and Mr. John Kalu.

27. National Productivity Centre

Chairman: Innocent Nyingirefaka

Members include Representative of NLC and Representative of TUC.

28. National Oil Spill & Detection Response Agency

Chairman: Major Lancelot Anyanya [Rtd]

29. National Env. Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency

Chairman: Ishiaku Huzi Mshelia

Members: Hajara Amadu, Engr. Lynn Nathan and Hon. Vitalis Okafor

30. Project Development Institute

Chairman: Engr. Emmanuel Mbaka

Members are Mr. Phillip Ehigie, Dr. Okey Nnadozie, Chief Udemba Chukwudolee and Alhaji Bukar Zarma.

31. Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission

Chairman: Alhaji Ibrahim Bio

Members: Amba. Dauda Sulieman, Barrister Aliyu Datti Esq, Alh. Idris Abdullahi, Hon. Setonji Koshedo, Chief Eboh Ihekwereme and Ms. Geraldine Oku

32. Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation

Chairman: Alh. Adamu Atta

Members: Princess Miriam Onuoha and Sunday Olufemi Oroniyi.

33. National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB)

Chairman: Alh. Dr. Garba Nadama

Members: Ralph Nwike and Adewole Oludare Adewunm

34. Nigerian Council for Management Development

Chairman: Emma Aguarivwodo

Members include Engr. Adeyemi S. Obakin, Rt Hon Amanuna Afragana, Anochie Haffner, Obong Emmanuel J. Akpan and Barr. Joseph Ahile.

35. Lake Chad Research Institute

Chairman: Yakubu Tsala

Members include Pastor Nonie Robinson, Prince Hope R. Lawson, Hajiya  Amina Takwai and Alhaji Abba Ahmed.

36. Federal Road Safety Commission

Chairman: Mr. Felix Chukwu

Members: Jackie Umoru, Alhaji Ahmadu Inuwa Gambo, Mrs Maryam Gwaram, Mallam (Dr.) Aminu Bello, Senator Dahiru Bako Gassol, Hon. Emmanuel Egwu and Hon. Yinka Taiwo

37. Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria

Chairman: Dr. Mrs Abisola Clark

Members: Mrs. Bridget Torbua and Hajiya Asmau Saad Usman

38. Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation

Chairman: Barr. Mrs. Chioma Ohakim

Members are Barr. Grace Eni Nsot, Igwe B.N. Eze and Lawrence Onoja.

39. Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria

Chairman: Prof. Francis A Fadahunsi

Members: Dadawei Terilayefa Ebimo, Hadjia Meiro Momoh, Hon. Mike Inalegwu, Mrs. Ugo Ukpai and Hajiya Hadiza D. Mohammed.

40. News Agency of Nigeria

Chairman: Alhaji Ibrahim Buba

Members: Mr. Tony Prest, Dr. Atah Pine, Ifeanyi Ossai and Chief Tons Fetepigi

41. Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI)

Chairman: Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opia

Members: Mr. E. N. Mordi, Maigida Stephen, Alh. Muhammad Sallah Shettima, James Katagba and Dr. Haruna Dabin

42. National Information Technology Development Agency

Chairman: Dr. Tosin Ajayi

Members: Sen. Musa Bello, Alh. Saidu Gwadabe, Hon. Ben Bako, Engr Wilson Chinedu Agu, Mr. Harami B. Balami, Barrister Segun Ilorin, Haj. Sa'adatu Ayitogo and Emmanuel Ighomena

Prison Break star, Wentworth Miller reveals he’s GAY

Wentworth Miller is the latest celebrity to reveal he's gay.

After being invited to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival in Russia, the "Prison Break" star decided it was time to go public with his sexual orientation.

"Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes," the 41-year-old wrote in a letter to the festival's director, which was posted on GLAAD's website.

"However, as a gay man, I must decline."

The actor went on to explain:

"I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly."

Miller is of course referring to Russia's new anti-gay laws, which are a ban on "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" as part of an effort to promote traditional Russian values over Western liberalism, and prohibit the adoption of Russian-born children to national and international same-sex couples.

The actor concluded his letter by stating, "Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice."

In a statement, GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz praised Miller's decision to come out, noting that the actor's "bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians," telling them they are not alone.

"As people from across the globe continue to speak out against this horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia's anti-LGBT law," he said.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Ethiopian reggae singer Eyob Mekonnen dies at 37

Eyob Mekonnen toured the US, Canada, the UK and Holland in June
Popular Ethiopian reggae singer Eyob Mekonnen has died.

Fans of the 37-year-old singer helped raise money for his treatment after he had a stroke last Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

He was flown to Kenya on Saturday, but he died in hospital on Sunday.

"He has made such a mark on the Ethiopian music scene, bringing a unique and poetic voice with thoughtful lyrics and a beautiful reggae vibe," a posting on his Facebook fan site said.

The page was set up on the social networking site last week called Let Us Pray for Eyob Mekonnen.

Its postings kept fans up-to-date on his condition and appealed for financial help to organise his transfer from hospital in Addis Ababa to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

"He was one of a kind... humble and extremely loyal," his close friend and manager Eyob Alemayehu, from the music promoter Yisakal Entertainment, told BBC Africa.

"A man of his word, reliable, caring, a strong believer, very up front, talented and much much more," he said.

Born 1975 in the small town of Jijiga, in eastern Ethiopia, Eyob set up a five-man group called Zion Band, which offered a "reggae beat with a distinctive Ethiopian cast", Yisakal Entertainment said.

His anthems "promote morality, love, peace and social consciousness", the promoter said.

Eyob's debut album Kal came out three years ago to great national acclaim and he had just started his international career, touring the US, Canada and Europe in June, the company said.

A message on the Let Us Pray for Eyob Mekonnen page posted on Monday afternoon said the singer's body would be returned to Ethiopia on Tuesday and his funeral would be held on Wednesday.

Olamide Would Only Feature On Songs If He Is Paid A Fee Of N1m – His Manager

Following his sudden rise as one of the hottest and most sought after Hip-Hop artistes in Nigeria, Olamide has resulted to charging pretty high feature/cameo fees.

NET reports thus:

"When NET placed a call to his manager, a certain Rachael, told our reporter that although the rapper wouldn't be jumping on any feature tracks for now, he would only feature on songs if he is paid a fee of N1m.
'We're not ready to do that and even if we want to do that, the fee is very high…It's one million naira for now', Rachael told NET over the phone add that the fee might go up as early as in a month's time."

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Bishop Oyedepo’s Winner’s Chapel Facing Scrutiny from Charities Commission In The UK

The United Kingdom branch of the Winner's Chapel church is currently under probe from the United Kingdom Charity Commission for misapplication of charities and tithes of about £16 million (N4 billion).

The Guardian reports that the inquiries "regarding the charity's management and policies" are ongoing, a spokeswoman for the regulator said. "We have considered documents and information shared by the trustees and our case is continuing."

It is not clear which aspect of the church's management the regulator is looking into. The charity behind the church, World Mission Agency, has £8.5m in assets and large sums are paid back to Nigeria. In 2011, £663,532 was "donated by the congregation … for onward transmission to the world headquarters in Nigeria", accounts show. The previous year the payment to the Living Faith Church amounted to £324,683. In 2009 £149,000 was sent "for charitable activities in Africa".

Other payments from the cash donated each week by churchgoers include £192,000 in 2009 and 2010 as "welfare assistance" for unspecified "certain members of the church".

Named charitable donations are smaller and include £10,500 to Great Ormond Street Children's hospital, £9,000 to Christian Aid for the Haiti earthquake appeal and £2,500 to charities in Lewisham.

Meanwhile, Oyedepo's movement thrives in line with a trend of booming Pentecostalism in the capital driven in part by immigration from Africa.

Around 450 new Pentecostal churches have opened in London in the past eight years and close to a quarter of a million people attend regularly – up 50% since 2005, according to research by church consultant Peter Brierley.

Ahead of the appearance of the Nigerian bishop – affectionately known as "Papa" – the main worship hall resounded to praise for the Lord, women shook tambourines, while in side chapels smart-suited men spoke in tongues. Worshippers are bussed in to the 8am and 6pm services from 15 different locations across Essex, Kent, and London.

Max Blaise, 36, an unemployed man living near Heathrow, said he was taking inspiration from God to help him start a business.

"Abraham had a company," he said. "Even Adam, because God created the garden of Eden and told him to manage it. So in a sense it was a business for him to manage."

Daniel Onyekhchi, a 35-year-old businessman from Abuja in Nigeria, cautioned against seeing the Winners' Chapel as a uniquely Nigerian phenomenon. "It is a church for everyone," he said.

Joel Edwards, a senior figure in the British evangelical movement and director of the Micah Challenge which is running Exposed, a global anti-corruption campaign directed at churches, business and government, applauded the generosity of congregations such as that of the Winners' Chapel. But he challenged all church leaders to be more transparent.

"All of us have a growing concern about any kind of mercenary response that puts cash at the centre of Christian faith," he said.

"I challenge any movement, including Winners, to be open and account for its money wherever it goes because it comes originally from hard-working faithful people."

Winners' Chapel declined to comment.

Source: The Guardian

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Naked Justin Bieber Bares his Bum During Prank on his Grandmother

He's often seen showing off his torso by going shirtless, especially of late.

But Justin Bieber shocked his family when he did the full monty during a bizarre nude prank at his grandmother's house in Toronto during Canadian Thanksgiving back in October 2012.

In photos obtained by TMZ, the 19-year-old is seen covering his private parts merely with an acoustic guitar, jamming out a naked serenade for his granny, Diane Dale.

A nude awakening: New pictures have emerged showing Justin Bieber naked and covering his modesty with a guitar during a bizarre nude Thanksgiving prank

Nude Justin was staying at his grandmother's home in Toronto when the strange incident went down.

According to the website, Justin had been enjoying a break at her home during the holiday and slept in a little too late on Thanksgiving morning.

Finally waking up after hearing family and friends stirring around the house, he thought he'd play a prank on the unsuspecting clan by grabbing his guitar and playing the naked set.

The pop star went right up to his grandmother and started belting out some impromptu lyrics, singing: 'I Loooove you grandmaaaa ... how are youuuu ... helloooo grandma.

The full monty: The singer bared his bottom whilst serenading his grandmother Diane Dale whilst in the nude

While his family and friends were laughing, his giggling granny begged the pop star to get back in his room to put some clothes on.

Justin's grandmother Diane recently defended her grandson in an interview with CTV Ottowa.

Speaking about all the attention Justin's actions attract, Diane said: 'It's totally crazy. I feel sorry for Justin all the time because paparazzi pick on him all the time.

'Anybody else's kids have done the same thing but nobody says anything.'

Kris Jenner defends Kim Kardashian and Kanye West after President Obama criticises couple's opulent lifestyle

Kris Jenner fired back at President Barack Obama after he criticized her daughter Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for their opulent lifestyles.

The 57-year-old matriarch of the Kardashian clan during her Kris show on Friday said she disagreed with Obama that Kim and Kanye have been influencing the younger generation to be obsessed with wealth and money.

Obama, 52, in a recent Kindle Singles interview bemoaned the 'change in culture' that has warped the American Dream and referenced the E! network's popular Keeping Up With The Kardashians show.

Kris Jenner used her talk show Kris on Friday as a platform to defend her daughter Kim Kardashian and her boyfriend Kanye West from criticism lodged by President Barack Obama.

'There was not that window into the lifestyles of the rich and famous,' Obama said of his time growing up.

'Kids weren't monitoring every day what Kim Kardashian was wearing, or where Kanye West was going on vacation, and thinking that somehow that was the mark of success,' said the president, who has twice referred to Kanye in the past as a jackass.

Kris countered that she thought it was admirable that people, including a high school graduate such as herself, aspired to obtain great jobs.


[The video can be found at the Kris Jenner Show channel on YouTube.]

'But, I wasn't aware that you could only set the bar so high and that we could only dream so big,' Kris told the sympathetic studio audience.

Kris chided the Columbia University and Harvard Law School graduate for pointing out that Kim and Kanye live in a 10,000-square-foot house.

'I bet the President has some friends with 10,000 square foot houses and he probably wouldn't mind going over there when asking them to have a party for campaigning for dollars to run for president,' Kris said.

American dream: Obama, shown last week in Washington DC, was talking about the country's changing cultural landscape when he referenced Kim and Kanye.

Kris also thought it was strange that Obama was singling out Kim and Kanye.

'I find it so odd that he's picking on Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Well, Kanye West, first of all, doesn't go on vacation. Ever,' Jenner said.

'And Kim Kardashian is the hardest-working young lady in the world. She never sleeps, she never stops, she never slows down and works so hard for what she's got,' she added.

Everybody likes Khloe: President Obama met Khloe in 2010, when her husband Lamar Odom visited the White House with the Los Angeles Lakers

Kris also drew a comparison between Kim and Kanye's 10,000-square-foot mansion, noting that Obama, 'if she's not mistaken,' lives in the 55,000-square-foot White House.

Kris also defended the Keeping Up With The Kardashians empire for employing hundreds of workers on the reality show.

It's not the first time that Obama has hard harsh words for Kanye.

After the singer upstaged Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Obama famously called him a jackass in an interview.

In the May issue of The Atlantic, the president said he prefers rapper Jay-Z over Kanye.

He acknowledged liking Kanye and the singer's Chicago roots, but stood by his earlier characterization.

'He is a jackass,' Obama said. 'But he's talented.'

 

‘My Wife Sleeps With Cele Pastor’

An employee of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Gbenga Awoyode, 48, has explained to an Alagbado Grade A Customary Court, how his 52-year old wife, Raliat, was caught with a Celestial Church pastor in a hotel, when he was on night duty.

Divorce seeking Awoyode also told the court that his wife is equally having an affair with their neighbour.
He said his neighbour's wife had once told Raliat to leave her husband alone.


The petitioner, who is seeking the dissolution of their 15-year marriage which has produced three children, said his wife is very hostile and always insulting his two children from his first marriage.

Awoyode claimed that Raliat does not have regard for him or members of his family.

He explained that when he took her to his family house, she pushed his aunt and she sustained serious injuries as a result of the fall during a quarrel.

According to him, his wife is always destroying his belongings whenever they have a misunderstanding.
He said that sometimes she would seize his documents, ID card and driver's license.
 
Awoyode also stated that Raliat has torn many of his clothes to the extent that he has lost count.

He said that he did not pay any dowry on his wife and wants the court to grant him a divorce.

Raliat, a  pensioner with Yaba College of Technology, said that her husband's claims are not true, as she is not a hostile person.

She also said that when her husband's children and some other relatives came to their house, they all lived together without problems.

She stated further that when he is going to work, he would give her N200 as feeding allowance for nine people.

She claimed that he is only accusing her of adultery because he wants to be free to marry the lady that he is dating currently.

Raliat said that she does not destroy the properties in the house as he is claimed but that he is the one that beat her up when he brought another woman to the house.

She said that the court should not dissolve the marriage as she still loves her husband.

The court president, Mr. P.A Williams, after listening to both parties, adjourned the case till Monday, 9 September 2013.

Game Of Thrones' Emilia Clarke Gets Caught In The Russian Political Scene

Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke may rule over the 7 kingdoms one day, but there's another kingdom she may have to deal with first: Russia.
You know, that icy land beyond the Berlin Wall?

Promotional ads used to back the Russian mayoral candidate for Yekaterinburg (not exactly the greatest city that ever was or ever will be) mistakenly used Khaleesi's picture WITHOUT PERMISSION!
On top of that, they claimed the 26-year old actress was actually a girl named Anya, and that she had this to say on behalf of the Putin-backed candidate:

"I suddenly noticed that for the last couple of years I'm not afraid to walk at night in Yekaterinburg. I now have confidence that the city is safe, that no-one will attack me or rape me. It's so cool…There are only few people on the streets, the streets have lights, the city is fresh and incredibly beautiful. Especially after it has been raining."

Oh, she's "not afraid to walk at
night"? Maybe that's because she's surrounded by 8,000 Unsullied killing machines!

Oh, the "streets have lights"? Maybe that's because her dragons' breath has scorched the land from there to Westeros!

Oh, it's "beautiful" after a "rain"? The city of Yekaterinburg will not be so beautiful after it has been rained with fire from Daenerys' three winged babies!

Alright, we're done. But by the old and the new, you should definitely ask permission before insisting that the Mother of Dragons somehow backs your candidate.

Here's what the authors of the ads had to say for themselves:

'We selected a famous and beautiful actress on purpose, to make it clear that this is a fantasy. Next time we will write more clearly. Sorry. Our internet post which was a fantasy with a photo of Emilia Clarke, famous for the TV series Game of Thrones, has caused a strange resonance. We assure you, Daenerys Targaryen, in this case is just a beautiful woman. We don't claim that we have her support, even though we would not be ashamed to show her Yekaterinburg after implementation of the 'Capital' programme (sic)."

Whoa, Daenerys Targaryen is not just a "beautiful woman." She's a beautiful woman, AND Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons, and Mhysa.

Red Russia would definitely suffer a fate worse than the Red Wedding were Daenerys actually a real person, you know, not like Anya!

[Image via HBO.]

Friday, August 16, 2013

Cameroon President Closes 100 Churches Because Of Death At Bishop Oyedepo's Winners Chapel

President Paul Biya has ordered 100 churches closed throughout Cameroon. The illegal Pentecostal churches are security threats, the government argues Pentecostal congregants say criticism of the government is behind the shutdown
Yaounde, Cameroon (CNN) -- Cameroon's President Paul Biya has ordered the closure of nearly 100 Christian churches in key cities, citing criminal practices organized by Pentecostal pastors that threaten the security of the West African nation.

But Pentecostal pastors said the move is evidence of Biya's insecurity about the churches' criticism of the government.

Biya is using the military to permanently shut down all Pentecostal church denominations in the nation's capital, Yaounde, and the North West Regional capital, Bamenda, which have the largest Christian populations in Cameroon.

More than 50 churches have now been closed, with the government targeting nearly 100 in eight other regions.

"We will get rid of all the so-called Christian Pentecostal pastors who misuse the name of Jesus Christ to fake miracles and kill citizens in their churches. They have outstretched their liberty," Mbu Anthony Lang, a government official in Bamenda, told CNN Wednesday.

Nearly 500 Pentecostal churches operate in Cameroon, but fewer than 50 are legal, he added.

On Sunday, a 9-year-old Christian girl collapsed and died during a prayer session in Winners' Chapel, a Pentecostal church in Bamenda. The girl's mother, Mih Theresa, told CNN Wednesday that the pastor intended to cast out the numerous demons that were in control of her daughter's life.

"I want the government to stop these pastors who use mysterious powers to pull Christians and kill then for more powers. All my children have ran away from the Catholic Church in search for miracles, signs and wonders," she told CNN while holding back tears.

Another Christian, Mveng Thomas, said his marriage ended abruptly when a Pentecostal pastor ordered his wife to dissolve their union. He said the pastor described him as "an unrepentant devil."

Pastors marched against the government's decision Wednesday in Bamenda and Douala. Pastors said the Biya government sees the mass proliferation of churches as a threat.

Boniface Tum, a bishop of the Christian Church of God in Yaounde, said that Biya, who has been president since 1982, is becoming insecure about the freedom of speech within these churches.

"Authorizing only the Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Muslim, and a few other churches, is a strict violation of the right to religion," Tum added.

Targeted Pentecostal Christians in Bamenda are transforming their private homes into churches.

North West Regional governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique said Wednesday that police had discovered the abduction of 30 children under age 18 by a pastor in Bamenda. The pastor said he wanted to remove the children from a bad society, Lele added.

Government officials also say that some pastors convince congregants that they do not need professional medical treatment for their ailments.

"How can a pastor say the sick needs no medical doctor? We need sanity in our Christian lives," Nyang Blaise, a youth leader for Biya's ruling party, CPDM, told CNN.

One woman said her mother was refusing cancer treatments because of her pastor.

Pictures Of Patience Jonathan's Abuja Political Jamboree

These are pictures of the political jamboree organized by Nigeria's first lady,Dame Patience Jonathan yesterday in Abuja with the support of NCWS that practically shut down the whole of Abuja..Some believe it was a tact beginning of the Goodluck Jonathan's 2015 Presidential campaign.

Iranian Councillor Under Fire For “Being Too Sexy & Looking Like A Model”

An Iranian councillor, 27-year old Nina Siakhali Moradi, was barred form assuming office by town officials because they deemed her too sexy for the post.

Al Arabiya reports that Nina Siakhali Moradi was prevented from taking up a post on the city council in Qazvin, the ancient capital of the Persian Empire, 100 miles north west of Tehran, after her election was overturned by religious conservatives.

Even with more than 10,000 votes in the June election, putting her 14th out of 163 candidates and winning her a council seat, the 27-year-old engineer and website designer had her political career cut short because she was deemed too attractive to take up the post.

"We don't want a catwalk model on the council," a senior official in Qazvin told local press.

Moradi ran under the slogan "Young ideas for a young future," pushing for better women's rights in Qazvin, the restoration of the old city and greater youth involvement in town planning. She had been vetted and approved as a candidate by Iran's judiciary and intelligence services. Her liberal views appeared popular with the electorate, The Times reported.

Moradi's campaign posters showed her wearing strict hijab without a strand of hair on display. Despite this, conservative religious groups launched protests to demand her disqualification as soon as her election was confirmed.

In a letter to the governor of Qazvin, a coalition of religious groups condemned the "vulgar and anti-religious" posters and said they breached Islamic law.

News website IranWire reported that there were other objections to her campaign. According to the website, her headquarters became a gathering place for local young people, whose behavior and clothing provoked criticism from her opponents, mostly older conservative men.

The complaint was challenged but ultimately upheld. She was disqualified for not "observing the Islamic norms."

Citing local media, IranWire reported that authorities had also confiscated the campaign posters of two other female candidates, Maryam Nakhostin-Ahmadi and Shahla Atefeh, and detained both for questioning.

President Rowhani is expected to bring a new era in women's rights. In a televised debate during his election campaign, he announced: "I will form a women's affairs ministry to return their trampled rights to them."

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Sandra Oh Leaving ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Actress Sandra Oh is leaving popular medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" after 8 seasons, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Oh played irksome Dr. Cristina Yang since signing on to the series in 2005. Oh, 42, will depart the series after the end of the season.

"Creatively, I really feel like I gave it my all, and I feel ready to let her go," an emotional Oh tells THR. "It's such an interesting thing to play a character for so long and to actually get the sense that she wants to be let go as well. [Cristina] wants to be let go, and I am ready to let her go. We have to start the process, story-wise, for the Grey's writers to think of why she's going to go."

14-Year-Old Boy Locks Teacher In The Classroom And Repeatedly Rapes Her

A 14-year-old schoolboy has been jailed after he barricaded his teacher inside a classroom then laughed as he sexually assaulted her.

Desperate colleagues tried to break down the door when they heard the teacher screaming for help but could not stop the boy, now 15, from Wrexham.

Staff fought their way into the school's computer room and pulled the 'distressed and terrified' teacher to safety.

The teenager, who admitted sexual assault and was sentenced to four years' youth detention, had put his hand up her skirt and forced himself on her.

Prosecutor Karl Scholz told Mold Crown Court: 'The teacher and the boy were in the classroom when he closed the door and snapped the latch shut.

'He told her he had things on his mind and took hold of her and hugged her.

'She managed to get away and wanted to leave the room but realised the door was locked.

'The schoolboy then put his hand up the teacher's skirt and carried out a serious sexual assault on her.'
Mr Scholz said staff outside could hear their colleague scream and the boy laughing.


When they eventually got in the teacher was 'very distressed' and had a 'terrified' expression on her face.
Mold Crown Court court was told the teacher had been unable to return to work since the horrific school sex attack at the 700-pupil high school in North Wales.

The schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had previous convictions for two sexual assaults and was on bail for a third when he attacked his teacher.

Steven Edwards, defending, said the boy had suffered a difficult childhood and had been the victim of abuse.

Judge Greg Bull QC told the schoolboy: 'You attacked one of your teachers, barricaded her into the computer room and forced yourself on her.

'It was a terrifying experience for a woman who was only there to try and help you.'

The teenager was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

DailyMail

Jonathan, A Drowning President – El-Rufai

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a drowning President, who distorts facts.

El-Rufai, in a statement on Wednesday, insisted that Jonathan had resorted to ethnic and religious politics to score some political points.

The President's spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Sunday described el-Rufai as "a serial liar" while responding to an interview the former minister granted Liberty FM, Kaduna, on Saturday.

El-Rufai, in the interview, said Jonathan was playing religious and ethnic politics.

The former minister, who, on Wednesday, insisted that Jonathan was playing the ethnic game, noted that the Presidency had not addressed issues he raised on Saturday.

He said, "It may interest the President to know that Nigerians are much wiser now and will not be deceived by the antics of a drowning president and his desperate aides."

El-Rufai, for instance, said Jonathan favoured his home state, Bayelsa in federal appointments, citing a report by the Governance and Sustainable Initiatives Limited, entitled 'Analysis and Lessons of the Current Geopolitical Distribution of Federal Appointments', to support his claim.

He said, "The Jonathan administration is said to have favoured his home state of Bayelsa 200 per cent times more than the next states with the highest federal representation - Delta, Edo and Anambra.

"If Jonathan is not playing the ethnic card, can he possibly explain to Nigerians why Bayelsa, which has the smallest population in Nigeria and the fewest number of local government areas, has more than double the number of federal appointees measured by population and weight of responsibility than that of the next state?"

According to him, the most populous states of Lagos and Kano are at the bottom of the representation ladder.

He recalled that the President was quick to exonerate those he called "my people" from the October 1, 2010 bombings in Abuja.

El-Rufai said Henry Okah, convicted of the offence in South Africa, revealed that a Presidency official contacted him to implicate some northerners.

He also said after the 2011 elections, Jonathan told a delegation of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo that the only votes he got from the North were from Igbo residents in the region.

He asked, "Are those the words of a patriot or an ethnic bigot? This was after an election where he received nearly 100 per cent of all votes cast in the South-South and South-East states, in some cases getting more votes than there were registered voters or even residents."

He also criticised Vice-President Namadi Sambo for the massive debts he incurred as the governor of Kaduna State.

However, the Presidency said el-Rufai and his ilk were "grossly irresponsible for targeting Jonathan in their politics of abuse and name-calling."

Abati said nobody had the right to denigrate the office of the President under the guise of engaging in criticism.

Doing so, according to the presidential spokesman, is both "unreasonable and foolish."

Abati said, "I have not seen the full text of El-Rufai's statement. I will look out for it and study it and if need be, I will respond appropriately."

Mourinho happy about Eto’o's desire to join Chelsea

Jose Mourinho is buoyed by the news that Samuel Eto'o is keen to move to Chelsea.

Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala are trying to cut costs and the 32-year-old striker is available for a cut-price this summer.

The Cameroonian also claimed he would welcome another opportunity to work with Mourinho, after the pair won the Champions League and Serie A under the Portuguese at Inter Milan.

"I am always happy that somebody that worked with me previously is happy to be back and work with me again," Mourinho told BT Sport.

"That is a good feeling that I have, when I read something that Samuel is keen.

"It is fantastic for us, but we are going to see what happens."

Our Salaries Are Outrageous... Senator Admits

Amid the increasing criticism of the huge salaries and allowances of Nigeria's lawmakers, a senator (name withheld) has affirmed insinuations that their earnings are indeed outrageous.

The senator, who made this disclosure in Abuja, said he was of the utmost belief that his salary, along with those of his colleagues, is not justifiable.

The senator, who noted that the perceived outrageous salaries by senators were unnecessary plundering of the nation's resources, said rejecting the jumbo pay would be viewed as madness having found himself within the system.
Furthermore, the senator said the jumbo pay was part of the reason National Assembly's intervention in the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which  did not yield any fruitful result.

According to him, even though the demands of ASUU are highly provocative, unmerited and self-centred, members of the National Assembly Education Joint Committee lacked the effrontery to confront members of the union during recent meetings with them because of the consciousness of their seeming unmerited wages.

He said: "I believe what we earn is not justifiable. That is why ASUU is making unnecessary demands. I wonder why the federal government should reach an agreement with them on such demands. These are demands that are not made by lecturers anywhere in the world. If they are asking for well equipped libraries, laboratories or more conducive learning environment, it would have been understandable. But everything is about themselves.
"How can they be asking for extra pay because they have large classes? Is it not their responsibilities to teach whether a class is large or not? And in any case, who admitted the large class? But they are making these demands just because they know what we earn," he disclosed.
Also affirming this position, Senator Sola Akinyede,  in a recent interview with THISDAY, said the executive should not only be blamed for high cost of governance, noting that the legislature also contributed largely to the problem. He added that the judiciary also has its own share of the blame.

Akinyede, who represented Ekiti South senatorial district in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, said he felt guilty having benefitted from such unjustifiable pay as a senator.
"High cost of governance does not only affect the executive, it also affects the legislature and the judiciary. I think what we should do is that heads of the three organs of government at every level along with leaderships of political parties should sit down and agree on how to reduce the cost of governance.
"Honestly, l think it's unfair. I'm also guilty of it because l benefitted from it as a senator. It's unfair for us elite to arrogate so much of the country's resources to ourselves and still expect economic development," Akinyede said.

Nigerian senators' salaries have been a subject of controversy since the inception of this democratic era. With alleged N2,484,245.50 as basic salary, a senator is alleged to be cruising home with  a whopping N11 million as regular salaries and allowances and N27 million as quarterly allowances besides irregular allowances such as estacodes and duty tour allowances.
It was also alleged that the entire Senate leadership comprising 10 principal officers draw N1, 024,000,000 as quarterly allowance.
It was repeatedly published in local and foreign media that a Nigerian senator earns far higher than United States president, whose total salary per annum was $400,000. The situation is also the same in House of Representatives.

Nollywood Star Monalisa Chinda unveiled as an Ambassador for the Nigeria 100 Centenary Project

Mona is cashing in!

Nollywood star Monalisa Chinda was officially unveiled as an ambassador for the Nigeria 100 Centenary Project, an intercontinental road show set to hold across the world.

The press conference took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ever the stylish Nollywood diva, Monalisa looked pretty in a colourful outfit.

She styled the ensemble which features an Ankara bodice, lace sleeves and peplum detail, as well as a bright red velvet skirt, with silver drop earrings, a gold ring, gold wrist watch and a pair of silver heels.

Soft wavy locks and luscious pink lipstick finished the look.

According to the project director Ikemefuna Mordi, Monalisa was chosen because "as a multi-talented superstar who keeps contributing her quota to the emergence of a new Nigeria by supporting and spearheading diverse noteworthy and noble causes, Monalisa Chinda easily represents the true Nigerian picture we seek to project."

Music star Iyanya as well as Stephanie Linus, Segun Arinze, Desmond Elliot, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, RMD and Ali Nuhu, have also been unveiled as ambassadors of the project.

Dbanj DROPS “Raise Your Glasses” For Hennessy Artistry 2013

International hitmaker, Dapo Oyebanjo popularly known as Dbanj has released the official theme song for Hennessy Artistry 2013.

The mid-tempo track, which is titled "*Raise Your Glasses*", premiered at 1PM today on The Beat 99.9 FM. It is a celebratory feel good song with which Hennessy artistry blended Dbanj's energy in his voice with Hennessy's coolness reflected by the synth sound and heavy bass on the instrumental.

There is a strong feel of confidence and freshness to this track. It is a track you will assuredly bop your head to, a track for any celebration, a track you definitely want to blast while you cruise in your car, and most definitely for the Clubs.

'Raise Your Glasses' was produced by a new producer and DB Records signee, *DeeVee*and the Executive Producer; Hennessy Artistry of course!

When asked by Hennessy Cognac Brand Manager, Lere Awokoya, about his thoughts on the track, he simply said "I believe we have definitely found a perfect blend and balance between energy and cool. It is a very fresh sound
and you will have no control of your head bopping to the beat when it plays. I only ask that before you play this track, you make sure you have the right speakers, I think it is essential to the appreciation".

Over the years, Hennessy Artistry has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the Nigerian music industry like Banky W, eLDee, MI, Naeto C, Tiwa Savage, Shina Peters, Nneka, and others.

The prestigious music platform also has a number of music hits including "Toast To The Good Life" featuring Banky W, eLDee and Tiwa Savage as well as "Bartender" featuring MI and Naeto C.