ASUU strike may end this week – Minister (Nation)
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has said the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities may end this week. The minister disclosed this during a briefing with reporters on the proliferation of illegal institutions in the country, at the weekend in Abuja. The ASUU have been on strike since November 4th, 2018. Malam Adamu said: “Perhaps by next week I hope the ASUU strike will be over.” But when contacted, the ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi, in a text message, said the union was still consulting on whether to end the strike or not. Read more
Ekiti government to arrest parents of pupils hawking during school hours (Guardian)
The Ekiti Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, says the state will henceforth arrest parents of pupils found hawking during school hours. The governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, made this known on Sunday in Ado Ekiti. The governor gave the warning while meeting with stakeholders in the education sector at the weekend. The governor asked parents to take advantage of the free education policy of his administration to reduce the number of out-of-school children. Read more
Buhari storms South East again on Wednesday (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari is returning to the South East on Wednesday, January 30 in furtherance of his presidential campaign in the zone. Buhari is billed to storm Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital in what the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said would be the most comprehensive of all the campaigns so far. Buhari’s Wednesday visit to Ebonyi state would be the third since he became the Nigeria’s president. Onu made the disclosures at the weekend when key officials of a pro-Buhari group, “True Nigerians For Buhari (TNFB)” paid him a solidarity visit in his country home at Uburu, Ohaozara Local council. Read more
Gunmen kill policeman in Edo (Guardian)
Edo police command says a police orderly attached to Dr Eric Osayande, Chairman of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state, has been killed by unknown gunmen. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosun, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 0n Sunday. Odumosun said he had visited family of the slain policeman, adding that efforts were on to arrest the killers. NAN reports that the slain policeman identified as Oisa Ehigie, was allegedly shot dead on Saturday night at Nomayo Junction, along Upper Sokponba road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area. Read more
Flood claims 23-year-old sales lady in Onitsha (Nation)
A 23-year old lady, Miss Chukwusom Nwoko reportedly lost her life following a heavy rain in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra state. The rain which was said to have started shortly after the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the commercial city of the state, lasted over an hour. The Nation gathered that the deceased was returning home after the day’s business with two other colleagues of hers when the rain started. A resident of the area, who did not want to be mentioned, said they quickly rushed into a nearby shop within Ochanja market round-about to avoid being wait by the rain. Read more
Zimbabwe buries Afro-jazz legend Oliver Mtukudzi (BBC)
Mourners have travelled across Zimbabwe to attend the burial on Sunday of one of the country’s most renowned musicians Oliver Mtukudzi. On Saturday, his coffin was taken in a funeral procession through the national stadium in the capital Harare. It was then was transported by helicopter to his home village, north of Harare. The prolific artist has made 67 albums and created his own Afro-jazz sound known as “Tuku Music”. Mtukudzi died on Wednesday aged 66. On Thursday President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared him a national hero. Read more
Napoli draw blank in Milan amid heightened security (Guardian)
Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli settled for a point in a goalless draw amid high security at AC Milan on Saturday as evergreen Sampdoria forward Fabio Quagliarella equalled a Serie A record by scoring in 11 consecutive games. Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly returned from the two-match ban he received a month ago after being targeted by racist chanting by Inter Milan fans at the same San Siro stadium. Anti-riot police took up positions around the San Siro as part of stringent security measures Saturday, but the match took place without incident apart from some anti-Neapolitan songs beforehand. Read more
Dominant Djokovic wins Australian Open (BBC)
Novak Djokovic won a record seventh Australian Open title and a third successive Grand Slam as he swept aside Rafael Nadal in Melbourne. The Serb, rarely troubled on his serve, won 6-3 6-2 6-3 for his biggest victory in a major final over his great rival. Spanish second seed Nadal, 32, looked rattled by the world number one’s intensity and made 28 unforced errors. Djokovic, 31, won in two hours and four minutes to move clear of six-time men’s winners Roy Emerson and Roger Federer. Read more
Dillian Whyte teases Anthony Joshua rematch has been agreed (Metro)
Dillian Whyte claims he will soon announce his next opponent amid reports the heavyweight contender will fight Anthony Joshua at Wembley in April. Eddie Hearn made an improved offer to Whyte as the hunt for Joshua’s next opponent drags on. Joshua is scheduled to fight on 13 April, but has struggled to convince the likes of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to come to the negotiating table. Whyte remains the frontunner to fight Joshua, but publicly hit out at his own promoter, Hearn, after receiving the first offer to stage the rematch with his old rival. Read more