RMD celebrates wife as she turns 50 (Vanguard)
Richard Mofe-Damijo’s wife, Jumoke turned 50 on Thursday, and the actor has set social media agog, celebrating his wife’s new age.
In one of his Instagram posts, RMD referred to his wife as “My Abike.”
He thanked her for always being the woman that he married many years back.
“A very Rare moment. Completely out of character. What they won’t let me record, a makeup artist gets for nothing.
“Journey to the 5th floor, enjoying and owning it has started.
“Happy birthday my Abike. You are totalling killing 5th floor. The love of my life, ” he wrote. Read more
Covid-19: Lagos rejigs strategy as 4th wave tapers (Independent)
The Lagos State Government has announced that despite the gradual decline of the fourth wave of the Coronavirus disease, it will continue to heighten surveillance of COVID and ensure access to free-of-charge PCR testing in all its public health facilities.
The Government also announced a reduction in the cost of the COVID-19 PCR test at its accredited private laboratories from N50, 400 to N45, 250 per PCR test commencing on the 28th of January 2022.
Announcing the price reduction in his Alausa, Ikeja office, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, noted that the COVID-19 PCR test cost was reviewed by Lagos State COVID-19 Incident Command Structure and approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Prof. Abayomi said the price reduction was to cut the expenses of citizens who need the PCR tests for travel, work, or other purposes other than COVID symptoms or contact tracing.
Rotary Club donates classrooms, borehole, library to Lagos community school (ThisDay)
A Lagos community school, Lafiaji Senior High School, became the latest beneficiary of the Rotary Club of Lagos’ interventionist gesture, as the organization inaugurated a block of four classrooms, a borehole and computerized library it recently built for the public school, located in Lafiaji, Lagos Island area of the metropolis.
Handing over the facilities to the management and staff of the school, the President of the club, Wale Agbeyangi, explained that the projects were informed by the need to make teaching and learning conducive for teachers and students of the school.
According to him, the club decided to take up the challenge of providing the facilities, since it was becoming increasingly obvious that the existing ones could no longer enhance teaching and learning in the school, as they were in deplorable conditions.
“Our relationship with the school started in 2014, when we donated computers to this school. In 2015, we constructed a borehole so as to raise the level of hygiene in the school. Read more
Corps member to empower educationally disadvantaged youths (Sun)
A corps member, Janice Akpobaro, is set to empower 50 educationally disadvantaged youths in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The skill acquisition programme, which will take place from February 7 to 11, 2022, at the Yaba College of Technology Skills Acquisition Centre, Yaba, Lagos, is part of service to her host community, under the Community Development Service (CDS) course.
“This is an intervention programme to enable and equip these youths with skills for self-employment and capacity to further their education from proceeds of their businesses. There are five proposed courses for their training: Wig Making/Hair Styling, Fashion Craft, Barbing, Makeup and Nail Art and each category will consist of 10 beneficiaries.”
She also stated that there would be a graduation ceremony for the beneficiaries, presentation of start-up equipment and the launch of a business website to help promote their skills as well as connect them to prospective clients. Read more
Finally, UAE lifts ban on Nigerian flights (DailyTrust)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have lifted restriction on flights from Nigeria and 11 other African countries.
The UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), which announced this, said it will take effect from Saturday.
The ban was initially imposed as part of measures to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
With the lifting, the UAE authorities said flights can resume from countries like Namibia, Congo Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Botswana.
Others are Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, the authorities said in a post on Twitter Wednesday. Read more
Nigerian police helicopter crash in Bauchi (Guardian)
A helicopter belonging to the Nigeria police which took off from Abuja has crashed at the Bauchi Airport.
The helicopter crash was disclosed by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Thursday.
AIB in a statement said “the accident occurred on 26th January 2022 around 7:30pm (Local Time) at Bauchi Airport.
“The NPF helicopter had departed Abuja at 16:54 UTC for Bauchi with Six persons onboard maintaining 5,500ft. Read more
I felt insecure about how people viewed my haircut – DJ Cuppy (Punch)
Nigerian music artiste and disk jockey, DJ Cuppy, has lamented that she felt insecure about how people viewed her haircut, adding that a lot of young black people were too superficial.
The singer said this when she was hosted by her long-time friend and online celebrity, Kiddwaya at an unplanned Instagram live session in the UK, on Thursday.
DJ Cuppy whose real name is Florence Otedola, is currently studying at Oxford University and at the beginning of 2022, she launched a new look as she cut her hair and dyed it pink, which is her signature colour.
She said felt a bit insecure about how people looked at her since she cut her hair. She lamented that the cruise on focusing on mundane things has gone a notch among young black people. Read more
Deposed Akure Monarch dies (Nation)
Former Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina Osupa III, who was deposed by former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, is dead.
The Deposed Deji Of Akure died on Thursday morning at a private hospital during a brief illness.
Spokesman of the Osupa Ruling House, Prince Dapo Adepoju, who announced the passing at a briefing in Akure, said the late monarch prayed for the peace of Akure Kingdom.
He said the late monarch defended his people while on the throne. Read more
Nigerian Navy releases postings of senior officers (Guardian)
The Nigerian Navy has released the posting of 54 Rear Admirals following the recent promotion of senior officers in the service.
The Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Suleman Dahun, announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, in the postings, Rear Adm. Saidu Garba, formerly the Navy Secretary, has been appointed Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Barabutemegha Gbassa, formerly Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command is now the Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters.
Rear Adm. Sanusi Ibrahim, formerly Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, moves to Naval Headquarters as Navy Secretary, while Rear Adm. Sileranda Lassa, formerly Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, had been appointed Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Ltd. Read more
Elon Musk space rocket on collision course with the Moon (AlJazeera)
A chunk of a SpaceX rocket that blasted off seven years ago and was abandoned in space after completing its mission will crash into the Moon in March, experts say.
The rocket was deployed in 2015 to put into orbit a NASA satellite called the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR).
Since then, the second stage of the rocket, or booster, has been floating in what mathematicians call a chaotic orbit, astronomer Bill Gray said on Wednesday.
It was Gray who calculated the space junk’s new collision course with the Moon. The booster passed quite close to the Moon in January in a rendezvous that altered its orbit, said Gray.
He is behind Project Pluto, software that allows scientists to calculate the trajectory of asteroids and other objects in space and is used in NASA-financed space observation programs. Read more
“Fight Club” author responds to film’s altered ending: “Everyone gets a happy ending in China!” (NME)
Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk has responded to the news that Chinese streaming platform Tencent Video has amended the film’s ending.
In the final scenes of the original, The Narrator (Edward Norton) kills off his imaginary alter ego Tyler (Brad Pitt) and watches on as numerous buildings explode.
In the version released on the Chinese streaming platform Tencent Video, however, the original’s anarchist ending is replaced with a black slate, captioned: “The police rapidly figured out the whole plan and arrested all criminals, successfully preventing the bomb from exploding.” It also adds that Tyler was sent to a “lunatic system” for treatment.
Palahniuk, who wrote the 1996 novel the film is based on, gave a sarcastic response to the altered ending in his newsletter on Substack. Read more
Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad opens applications for second annual mentorship lab (Variety)
Applications are now open for Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad productions’ second annual mentorship lab, which provides opportunities for BIPOC creatives in TV and film.
The development and production company founded by Waithe and Rishi Rajani is again presenting the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, an eight-month tuition-free program focused on helping marginalized storytellers connect, grow and accelerate their entertainment careers.
In its second year, the lab will be spearheaded by program director Lacy Wright and program advisor Justin Riley, who will handle day-to-day operations under the direction of Hillman Grad CEO Waithe, president of TV and film Rajani and chief operating officer Ericka Pittman.
“Since the inception of Hillman Grad, it has been our ultimate goal to break down barriers to entry into Hollywood for new and diverse artists, while also ensuring they are paid for their art,” the Hillman Grad executive team stated. Read more
Comedian and writer Barry Cryer dies aged 86 (Guardian)
Barry Cryer, a legend of British comedy, has died at the age of 86.
Cryer’s family said he “died peacefully, in good spirits and with his family around him”.
The news prompted tributes posted on social media. Stephen Fry wrote: “Such sad news, one of the absolute greats of British comedy, Barry Cryer, is no more. A glorious, gorgeous, hilarious and gifted writer and performer who straddled all the comic traditions. Universally beloved … farewell, Baz.”
Cryer worked with other stars of British entertainment including Spike Milligan, Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, the Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise. Read more
Janet Jackson addresses secret DeBarge baby, relationship with brother Michael in ‘Janet’ documentary (USAToday)
Nearly 50 years into her career, Janet Jackson is still exhibiting the “Control” that turned her into a cultural icon.
Jackson and her brother Randy executive produced the two-night, four-part documentary, “Janet Jackson.,” premiering on Lifetime and A&E (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. EST/PST).
“It’s just something that needs to be done,” Jackson, 55, says of the film during the opening scene as she’s being driven through her hometown of Gary, Indiana. Jackson interrupts her own commentary when she notices a mural of five of her brothers on a neighborhood wall and starts to cry.
Considering this illumination of her personal life and career is being orchestrated by one of the most famously private and enigmatic figures in music history – herself – it’s refreshing to see Jackson approach this unveiling with candor. Read more
Liefde By Die Dam: One of SA’s most-popular Afrikaans festivals returns (TheSouthAfrican)
One of South Africa’s most established festivals, Liefde By Die Dam named after Valiant Swart’s 2005 hit, is gearing up for a joyous return! The festival is set to take place on Saturday 3 April in Johannesburg and on Saturday 9 April in Cape Town.
The festival will showcase the best in local music and will see performances from Afrikaans musicians, Francios van Coke, Refentse, Elandré, Die Heuwels Fantasties and more.
Die Hewels Fantasties frontman Pierre Greeff is one of the organisers of Liefde By Die Dam. In a statement, Greeff said the key to the success of the event is to create and maintain a platform that features the best that the South African music landscape has to offer.
“We know that every artist on the lineup will bring their A-game. Festival-goers can expect to see their personal favourite artists with the best sound on a fantastic stage. We are working non-stop to prepare everything so that people can have the absolute best day out.” Read more
World remembers Holocaust as antisemitism rises in pandemic (ABC)
Holocaust survivors and politicians warned about the resurgence of antisemitism and Holocaust denial as the world remembered Nazi atrocities and commemorated the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp on Thursday.
“I have lived in New York for 75 years, but I still remember well the terrible time of horror and hatred,” survivor Inge Auerbacher, 87, told the German parliament. “Unfortunately, this cancer has reawakened and hatred of Jews is commonplace again in many countries in the world, including Germany.”
Commemorations took place amid a rise of antisemitism that gained traction during lockdowns as the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated hatred online.
“This sickness must be healed as quickly as possible,” Auerbacher said. Read more
Ahmed Musa: AFCON ouster has toughened us (Vanguard)
Captain Ahmed Musa has told thenff.com that though the Super Eagles’ exit from the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations was a hard one for the players, there is no time for any pity-party and the shock has only made the squad stronger as lessons have been taken on board for upcoming challenges.
“You know it is still a shock but I can assure you that things like these make a team stronger. We did our best in the circumstances. When you lose at a tournament, it hurts really bad. However, we don’t have time to keep reflecting over what went wrong.
“We have very important challenges in front of us, and all we can do is stay stronger and have firm belief in ourselves that we can do it. The focus is now on the World Cup play-off.”
Nigeria exited the 33rd AFCON after losing by the odd goal to Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles in a Round of 16 encounter in Garoua on Sunday evening.
On return to Abuja on Tuesday morning, Youth and Sports Minister Sunday Dare had a breakfast meeting with the contingent where he explicated that the Government was proud of the squad and its performance, “and how they comported themselves as ambassadors of our nation.” Read more
Southampton in talks over deal for Chelsea youngster Tino Anjorin (EveningStandard)
Southampton are in talks with Chelsea over a deal for academy graduate Tino Anjorin.
The 20-year-old is in the process of cutting short his loan deal with Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow before moving again this month.
Southampton, who have become a home away from home for Chelsea graduates, signed Tino Livramento on a permanent and Armando Broja on loan from the Blues in the summer. Furthermore, defender Dynel Simeu signed a three-year deal with Southampton after leaving Chelsea at the end of last season. Simeu this week joined Carlisle on loan for the rest of the season.
Both Livramento and Broja have been roaring successes on the south coast this season and the Saints are keen to make the latter’s loan permanent. Talks have been held this month in order to get ahead of other interested parties – including top four chasing West Ham – but a deal in the summer appears more likely. Read more
Sevilla say Newcastle offer for Diego Carlos ‘insufficient’ and talks are over (Guardian)
Sevilla have ended negotiations with Newcastle over Diego Carlos and do not expect the central defender to depart during the transfer window. Final conversations between the clubs were held three days ago, with Newcastle’s offer rejected because it was insufficient and Sevilla would not have been able to adequately replace him at short notice.
Sevilla’s sporting director, Monchi, admitted that had the offer arrived in the summer it might have been different but he considers this market closed. The only way Newcastle could sign Diego Carlos would be to pay his €70m (£58.4m) buyout clause. Monchi said the defender was happy at Sevilla and the captain, Ivan Rakitic, insisted “sometimes it is a big opportunity but Diego and other players know what they have here”.
“The offer was very important, respectful, but it was an offer that our board considered insufficient,” Monchi said during a conference call set up by La Liga. “It is also true that it was maybe not the best time. It’s a difficult market in which to find a replacement for him. If the offer had come in the summer, things may have been different. Jules [Koundé] is a magnificent player and I would say the same about Diego Carlos. I think he is one of the top five central defenders in Europe.
“I was talking to Diego Carlos this morning and he was happy,” Monchi added, joking: “Given how strong he is, if he wasn’t I might have had to change my mind. Read more
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo set for loan spell with Rangers (Independent)
Manchester United teenager Amad Diallo is close to joining Rangers on loan.
The highly-rated 19-year-old joined from Serie A side Atalanta last January, signing for a fee of £18.7million that could reach £36.5m with add-ons.
Diallo made eight appearances last season and was set to join Dutch club Feyenoord on a season-long loan in August, only for a thigh injury to scupper that move.
The Ivorian has only played one first-team match for United since returning to fitness and is now set to join reigning Scottish champions Rangers on loan. Read more
Australian Open: Ashleigh Barty cruises into final at Melbourne Park (Sky)
Ashleigh Barty is through to the Australian Open final after a 6-1 6-3 victory over Madison Keys at Melbourne Park, in it she will face American Danielle Collins
The world No 1 will aim to win her home Grand Slam title for the first time on Saturday and will face either the world No 30 Danielle Collins or the seventh seed Iga Swiatek in the final.
Barty is the first Australian woman to reach the final in Melbourne since 1980.
“It’s just incredible,” the 25-year-old said about reaching her first Australian Open final. Read more
McIlroy heads straight for the range after mixed opening round of 71 (IrishTimes)
Rory McIlroy’s immediate destination after completing his first round of the Dubai Desert Classic with an up-and-down 71 – four birdies and three bogeys – to trail Denmark’s Joachim B Hansen by six strokes was the driving range at Emirates Golf Club to work on his swing.
“I just need to tidy up a few things,” said McIlroy, in outlining a round which included “a couple of loose shots . . . . (and) a couple of bad decisions, or mental mistakes, and maybe a couple of bad swings in there as well.”
McIlroy, a two-time winner of the tournament in the past, in 2009 and 2015, picked up three birdies in his opening five holes – the 11th, 13th and 14th – but suffered a bogey on the par five 18th, where he hit his approach into the lake, and suffered further bogeys on the second and seventh holes. “Just those last few holes, I feel like I bogeyed three of the easiest holes on the course,” said the world number eight.
Pádraig Harrington actually enjoyed the distinction of being the low man among the quartet of Irish players in the Rolex Series event: the Dubliner overcame an early bogey, on the par five third where he drove into a bush down the left, to record birdies on the 13th, 16th and 17th holes in a strong homeward run to sign for a 70, two-under-par. Read more
Tyson Fury accused of refusing Oleksandr Usyk fight despite Anthony Joshua offer (Mirror)
Eddie Hearn has blamed Tyson Fury for the collapse of a deal for him to face Oleksandr Usyk while branding him a “walking contradiction”.
Talks were ongoing for Anthony Joshua to step-aside from a rematch with Usyk to allow the WBC champion Fury to have a shot at becoming undisputed champion.
However it now looks likely Fury will face Whyte next after the deal collapsed with purse bids expected to take place on Friday after several delays.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn has placed blame on Fury for the clash and has claimed that the champion wanted an interim fight before staging any undisputed tilt with Usyk. Read more