IWD: We won’t relent from investing in Lagos Women – Sanwo-Olu (Sun)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said his government won’t relent in commitment to empowerment of women and their capacity development in the State.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration in Lagos on Friday.
He said while his government has made significant strides in capacity development with over 100,000 women empowered on various skills, through both short and long term vocation programmes, his administration will not rest on its oars in the commitment to empower more. Read more
Lagos announces traffic diversion at Cappa-Oshodi (Nation)
The Lagos State Government on Friday announced plans to carry out rehabilitation and laying of interlocking stones on a portion of Agege Motor Road, necessitating diversion of traffic on Saturday.
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi notified the motoring public going to Oshodi under the Bridge, en route PWD, Ikeja Along, of the planned diversion.
Osiyemi said: “The diversion will take place at Cappa by the traffic lights intersection for rehabilitation and laying of interlocking stones on Agege Motor Road, Oshodi. Read more
FG suspends implementation of expatriate employment levy (Punch)
The Federal Government has suspended the implementation of the recently enacted Expatriate Employment Levy by the Federal Ministry of Interior, as administered by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the National President, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Dele Kelvin Oye, on Friday.
Oye said the resolution was taken following a successful Trade and Investment outreach led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Qatar and a productive meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Aniete, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Read more
Kidnappers deserve death penalty, says Remi Tinubu (Channels)
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on state governors and lawmakers to prescribe capital punishment for kidnapping.
While lamenting the abduction of children and women whom she says are the future of the country, Remi Tinubu described the act as heart-rending.
Her media aide Busola Kukoyi quoted Remi Tinubu as saying this during a meeting with the national women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja. Read more
Lent/Ramadan: Remain vigilant against public dangers, DSS tells Christians, Muslims (Vanguard)
As Christian and Muslim faithful prepare for Lent and Ramadan, the Department of State Services has enjoined them to use the period to promote peace, unity and harmony in the country.
The admonition is contained in a statement made available to journalists on Friday by the DSS Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Dr. Peter Afunanya.
The statement reads in part: “The DSS recognises the significance of these sacred rites and enjoins worshippers to promote understanding, compassion and respect for one another during and after the exercises. It appeals to stakeholders to refrain from economic exploitation, sabotage or profiteering during these important obligations. Read more
Dana Air supports 1m man walk for women (ThisDay)
In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, Dana Air has announced its support for the One Million Man Walk and the Pan African HeforShe Summit by the African Women in Leadership Organization (AWLO) on the 6th and 7th of March in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The walk which is to raise awareness and eliminate gender-based violence, a major public health problem, marks a significant moment in advocating for inclusive decision-making and the advancement of women and girls.
According to the Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Ememobong Ettete, ”The AWLO conference stands as the organisation’s flagship event, recognised as the most influential high-level women’s leadership forum dedicated to championing the cause of inclusive leadership and myself and Dana Air, having been honored as a HeforShe Hero and Most Gender-friendly Airline of the Year for 2023 respectively. Read more
Ipas Nigeria urges collaborative investments for women’s empowerment on International Women’s Day (Independent)
In observance of the International Women’s Day, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation calls for concerted efforts and investments from multiple stakeholders to empower women and girls, enabling them to make decisions about their lives and health.
Aligned with the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” Ipas Nigeria advocates for progress in empo orwerment, equality, and overall societal advancement.
Despite global strides, Nigeria ranks 122 out of 144 countries on the Gender Gap Index, with pervasive gender inequality across various aspects, including health services, economic livelihoods, legal rights, and societal norms. Read more
South-South NLC proposes N850k minimum wage (Tribune)
Not less than N850,000 has been proposed as the new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria by the South-South Zonal chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
The Organised Labour equally advocated impeachment or imprisonment of any governor who may refuse to abide by the new minimum wage benchmark.
The Chairperson of NLC, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Sunny James, spoke on behalf of the Zone during the Zonal Public Hearings organised by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (TCNMW) held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital. Read more
Millie Bobby Brown explains her changing accent (FilmNews)
Millie Bobby Brown has revealed the reason behind her changing accent.
Fans of the Stranger Things actress had questioned her shifting pronunciation and now she has answered, explaining she’s simply a natural mimic.
“So I’m an actor. I grew up in the public eye. I grew up in America. I come to set and I’m an actor and I adapt and so I want to mimic people,” Millie, 20, told internet personality and social media star Max Balegde during a British press tour for her new Netflix movie, Damsel. Read more
Kylie Jenner says it’s her “responsibility’’ to ‘’protect’’ daughter Stormi, 6, from media exposure (People)
Kylie Jenner is looking out for her kids.
During an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, the mom of two spoke about how it’s her “responsibility” to protect children Stormi Webster, 6, and Aire Webster, 2 from media exposure.
“We can’t do that to her,” the Kylie Cosmetics founder told the outlet after Stormi entered the room during the interview, prompting Jenner to ask for her to not be quoted by the outlet. Read more
Jimmy Kimmel says his Oscars monologue likely won’t feature any Taylor Swift or Aaron Rodgers jokes (EW)
Jimmy Kimmel isn’t looking to create any bad blood with Taylor Swift because of his Oscars monologue.
The late-night star, who is set to host the Academy Awards for the fourth time on Sunday, told CNN that any jokes about the “Cruel Summer” singer and Travis Kelce’s relationship, as well as his ongoing feud with NFL star Aaron Rodgers, are likely all off the table at this point. Read more
De La Soul and Prince Paul cook up “delightfully delicious” performance on Colbert (HipHopDX)
De La Soul are continuing to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their debut album — this time, by cooking up with Prince Paul on late night TV.
The two surviving members of the group, Posdnuos and Maseo, teamed up with Paul — who produced their 1989 debut 3 Feet High and Rising — on Thursday (March 7) for a special performance on The Late Show with Steven Colbert.
The trio’s version of “Eye Know” centered around a kitchen theme, with Pos, Mase and Paul “cooking” up the song by adding ingredients to a pot: a beet for the song’s drumbeat; a small wooden peg to introduce the track’s sample of Steely Dan’s “Peg”; a toy whistle as the song’s whistling sample from “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” came in; and so on. Read more
Sharon Osbourne ‘‘furious’’ with Simon Cowell after turning down Masked Singer gig (BelfastTelegraph)
Sharon Osbourne said she was “furious” with Simon Cowell after she turned down an opportunity to appear on The Masked Singer before she was dumped from The X Factor.
Former X Factor judges Osbourne and Louis Walsh, who are both appearing on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother, have shared their thoughts about X Factor creator Cowell.
Osbourne, who starred in the first four series of the UK talent show and sporadically thereafter, said she would never again appear on a Cowell show “not for all the money in the world”. Read more
Former British Prime Minister Theresa May announces departure from politics (UPI)
Former British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that she is quitting politics after almost three decades in parliament.
May, who served as Conservative prime minister from 2016 to 2019, in a statement to the local newspaper in her Maidenhead constituency just outside London said she would not stand in the general election due by the end of the year.
The 67-year-old said she had taken the “difficult” decision to step away from Westminster politics in order to concentrate on issues about which she cared passionately, in particular a modern slavery and trafficking project that she launched in October with the backing of Britain and Bahrain. Read more
Biden predicts “come to Jesus” meeting with Netanyahu over Gaza aid (NewArab)
US President Joe Biden said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the two of them were headed for a “come to Jesus” meeting over the issue of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, according to a video clip posted on Friday.
Biden was recorded making the comment on Thursday night while on Capitol Hill for his State of the Union speech in what appeared to be a further sign of his frustration at dealing with Netanyahu over the issue of Gaza.
In the clip, posted on social media by Democratic consultant Sawyer Hackett, Biden can be seen talking to Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennett, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Read more
Joshua takes out Ngannou with crushing KO finish in Round 2 (ESPN)
Anthony Joshua scored a spectacular knockout of Francis Ngannou in Round 2 of their heavyweight bout Friday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a right hand that landed clean on the former UFC heavyweight champion’s chin and rendered him unconscious.
After Ngannou regained his senses, ringside officials administered oxygen to the 37-year-old, who was boxing for just the second time.
England’s Joshua, 34, scored a knockdown in the opening round with a right hand, and Ngannou appeared to be unsteady after he beat the count. Joshua produced another knockdown in Round 2, an equilibrium shot that connected on Ngannou’s left ear. Read more
NDLEA, NPFL partner on drug test for footballers (Nation)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have agreed to partner on the conduct of drug tests for footballers in the country as part of efforts to curb the menace of substance abuse in Nigeria.
This was according to a statement by the Director, of Media and Advocacy NDLEA National Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Friday.
According to the statement, this was one of the high points of discussions between the leadership of the Agency and the football league when the Chairman of the NPFL board, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye led a delegation including ex-international, Daniel Amokachi on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) in Abuja on Friday. Read more
NFF begins search for Peseiro replacement ahead of World Cup qualifiers (Vanguard)
Nigeria football bosses on Friday announced that applications were open for the job of national head coach to replace Jose Peseiro ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Peseiro stepped down after leading the country to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last month where they lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast.
The 63-year-old Portuguese met the target of reaching the semi-finals, but opted to move on after negotiations reported to be mainly over salary broke down. Read more
Barcelona 1-0 Mallorca: Lamine Yamal strike hands Barca narrow win to keep La Liga title hopes alive (Eurosport)
Lamine Yamal’s wonder goal helped Barcelona move to second place in La Liga after a narrow 1-0 win over Mallorca.
The 16-year-old scored what proved to be the winner in the 73rd minute, as Xavi’s side leapfrogged Girona and closed the gap on leaders Real Madrid to five points.
The hosts were handed the ideal opportunity to break the deadlock midway through the first half when Copete brought down Raphinha in the box. Read more
Leeds boost promotion push with derby win at Sheffield Wednesday (Guardian)
Leeds climbed back into the automatic promotion places after winning 2-0 at Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
Patrick Bamford struck in first-half stoppage time and Willy Gnonto added a second after the break as Leeds extended their unbeaten league run in 2024 to 12 matches. Daniel Farke’s side are two points behind the Championship leaders Leicester after leapfrogging Ipswich, with their promotion rivals, including Southampton, due to play on Saturday.
Wednesday missed the chance to climb out of the bottom three for the first time since August, having won five of their previous six league matches, and their four-game winning run was halted. The Owls were eight points adrift of safety after losing 4-0 at Huddersfield at the start of February, while the gap had been 12 points in November. Read more
BNP Paribas Open: Iga Swiatek and Angelique Kerber progress as Elena Rybakina withdraws through illness (Sky)
World No 1 Iga Swiatek blasted American Danielle Collins 6-3 6-0, while defending champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells due to illness.
Swiatek edged Collins in an epic at the Australian Open and the familiar foes appeared primed for another blockbuster when they were on serve with the Pole leading 4-3 in the first set.
But Swiatek raised her level from there, breaking to love for 5-3 and winning the final nine games to advance at the tournament she won in 2022. Read more