Shonekan lived selfless life, Osinbajo mourns as govs, Jonathan, others attend funeral (Punch)
Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, said the former Head of Interim Government, the late Dr Ernest Shonekan lived an extraordinary and a selfless life while on earth and left a lesson behind for all Nigerians to follow.
Osinbajo said what deserved great attention was the way he (Shonekan) carried himself through life and the ‘high values he exemplified’ during his time on earth.
Speaking at the funeral service organised in honour of the late national leader, held in the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, Osinbajo, said the late Shonekan had a genuine respect for all and would not be forgotten in the sands of time and history.
“His love and generosity, not just to his family but to all, was felt by all. His counsel that he provided always with unfailing humility and courteousness are unique virtues that underpinned his selflessness. Read more
UNILAG begins 24-hour transcript processing, collection (Tribune)
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka has deployed a platform that will enable its graduates to process and receive their transcript and other related documents electronically within 24 hours.
It has also given opportunities for those who want a personal copy of their transcript, also electronically in lieu of the official transcripts.
The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, gave the hint in a statement made available to Tribune Online on Thursday, saying the development was to ensure graduates of the university enjoy fast and seamless processing and collection of those important documents.
He said what is required as regards students getting a personal copy of his or her transcript is to apply through the student portal on the school website, given as www.unilag.edu.ng and pay a token after which the transcript will be sent immediately to the applicant’s email address as an attachment. Read more
Eko Disco launches energy club in Lagos schools (Leadership)
Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has launched Energy clubs in selected schools within its network, to encourage young girls to take opportunities in the power sector.
The club activities are expected to promote the interest of female students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, to achieve gender diversity and equity in the power sector and other related technical sectors.
The programme launch, which was held at Government Secondary School Ikoyi, is in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development, USAID.
The participating schools in the first phase of the year-long programme include Akande Dahunsi Community Secondary School, Ilado Community Junior Secondary School and Wahab Folawiyo Junior High School. Read more
Buhari appoints Olatunji as NDPB pioneer national commissioner (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr Vincent Olatunji, as the National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB).
The approval followed a request made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mrs Uwa Suleiman, Spokesperson of the Minister, on Friday in Abuja.
The NDPB, she said, was established in line with global best practice and would focus on data protection and privacy for the country, among others. Read more
Fire kills girl, destroys properties in Enugu (Guardian)
An eight-year-old girl has lost her life while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in a building fire at Ugwuaji community in Enugu South Local Government Area in Enugu State.
The Enugu State Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, Chief Okwudili Ohaa, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Thursday.
Ohaa said that the state fire service responded promptly after receiving the alert about the inferno which started at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday night within Umunnaugwu Quarters of the community.
He said that fire service men rescued the rest of the 10 rooms in the bungalow of about 14 rooms, adding that the inferno totally burnt down three of the rooms. Read more
Police arrest 1 suspect linked to murder of retired officer in Imo (Channels)
Authorities of the Imo State Police Command, say they have apprehended one suspect linked to the killing of a retired police officer Chris Kpatuma, within the Mgbala Agwa Autonomous Community, Oguta Local Government Area.
The spokesman for the command, CSP Micheal Abattam in a statement on Friday, stated that on receipt of information concerning the retired officer’s murder, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Hussaini, immediately dispatched the command’s tactical teams to the Agwa Community with a mandate to fish out the perpetrators of the outrageous act.
CSP Abattam further explained that on arrival, the teams commenced a discreet investigation. According to him, after diligently gathering both forensic and technical intelligence, one of the suspects and leader of the cult group that killed the retired police officer, Deberechi Chukwu, was arrested while escaping to a border state.
The spokesman also explained that in the course of investigation, it was revealed that the suspect, Deberechi Chukwu, is a notorious kidnapper and an escapee from the Imo Correctional Center Owerri, Imo State. Read more
Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Osun, Oyo lead in female genital mutilation in Nigeria – UNICEF (Vanguard)
Five states in Nigeria namely, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Osun and Oyo are leading in female genital mutilation, according to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In the report, UNICEF said nearly three million girls and women would have undergone female genital mutilation in the last five states.
At a media dialogue with select journalists in Enugu to mark this year’s International Day for Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, the world body observed that the exercise is on the increase among Nigerian girls aged 0 -14 years.
UNICEF said the prevalence of FGM is highest in the South East with 35 percent, followed by South West with 30 percent and lowest in the North East with six percent. Read more
AAUA students protest incessant road accidents, killing of colleague (Punch)
Hundreds of students of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Ondo State trooped out of their campus to protest against the incessant road accidents in the town, involving trucks.
The protest was ignited by the death of one of their colleagues, who was simply identified as Michael on Thursday evening by a trailer.
It was gathered that after killing the deceased, the driver of the truck attempted to run away but was arrested and handed over to the police in the community.
The protesters gathered in front of the school gate, barricading the Owo-Ikare Akoko expressway, chanting various solidarity songs. Read more
The Rebirth: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Series 2 set for return to TV screens (Tribune)
The anticipation for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Series 2-The Rebirth will soon be a reality as a special event to unveil the sponsor and host for the highly acclaimed TV game show is set to hold on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
The reveal event is organised by UP, a Nigerian payments and financial technology company and leaders in digital payments innovation, in collaboration with BLK Hut Media, the show’s producers in Nigeria under the license of Sony Pictures.
According to the Managing Director of UP, Agada Apochi, the essence of the event is to formally present the new sponsors and the host for the show to the stakeholders and public.
Mr. Apochi assured that the show was returning with a bang and that the audience should get ready to be thrilled with new elements of suspense, education, excitement, and entertainment. Read more
South Africa makes its own version of Moderna vaccine (BBC)
Scientists in South Africa have made a copy of the Moderna Covid vaccine, a move which they say could help boost vaccination rates across Africa.
The continent currently has the lowest uptake of Covid shots in the world.
The company behind the new vaccine – Afrigen Biologics – says it hopes to start clinical trials in November.
Moderna previously said it would not enforce the patents on its vaccine, allowing scientists in Cape Town to make their own version of it.
The researchers were backed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Petro Terblanche, director of Afrigen Biologics, said they were starting small, but had ambitions to scale up quickly.
“We have used the sequence, which is the same sequence as the Moderna vaccine 1273,” she told the BBC. Read more
Latest project of SA film director Koos Roets will be a biopic of legendary boxer Gerrie Coetzee (SABC)
The latest project of well-known South African film director, Koos Roets, will be a biopic of the legendary boxer, Gerrie Coetzee. He is working with the widow of another boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, to get the film “Against All Odds” to the silver screen.
Dr Khalilah Comacho Ali was the boxer’s second of four wives.
Director Koos Roets hosted Khalilah Ali, Producer Kenddrie Utuk and film distributor Mohamed Khan at his hometown of Klaarstroom, to network and enjoy the sights of the Little Karoo.
Last week, the team was in Cape Town for the launch of the film “Against All Odds”. Read more
Liam Gallagher: ‘The BRIT Awards need a bit of me’ to represent rock music (MusicNews)
Liam Gallagher thinks the BRIT Awards needs someone like him in the lineup.
The former Oasis frontman will be playing at the prestigious ceremony at London’s O2 Arena on February 8 – alongside the likes of Ed Sheeran and Adele – and he’s happy to be on the bill “representing” rock music.
Appearing on Friday’s edition (04.02.22) of ‘The Chris Moyles Show’ on Radio X, he said: “I think I still do the job, man.
“I think the BRIT Awards needs a bit of me, and I think there’s people out there that like this kind of music… I’ll be there, representing.” Read more
Jason Statham ‘The Meg’ sequel dives into production (Variety)
The sequel to Jason Statham-fronted shark thriller “The Meg” has begun shooting in the U.K., Variety can confirm.
Production on “Meg 2: The Trench” has kicked off with a splash at Warner Bros.-owned Leavesden Studios outside London, where the Harry Potter and Batman franchises were also shot.
The film, about a murderous 80-foot prehistoric shark, is directed by “Rebecca” helmer Ben Wheatley, who takes the reins from Jon Turteltaub. Turteltaub directed the first instalment of the franchise, which took $530 million worldwide.
Statham and Bingbing Li are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel: Statham as U.S. Navy rescue diver Jonas and Li as oceanographer Suyin. (Before becoming an actor Statham was a world-class diver in real life too, competing as a member of Britain’s National Diving Squad and even representing the country at the 1990 Commonwealth Games). Read more
Dolly Parton to host 57th Academy of Country Music Awards (UPI)
Music icon Dolly Parton has been announced as the host of the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.
The 2-hour show is set to stream live from Las Vegas without commercial interruption on Prime Video March 7.
Parton’s co-hosts will be announced at a later date.
“We are honored to welcome Dolly Parton back to be the centerpiece of this landmark 57th Academy of Country Music Awards show at Allegiant Stadium. Dolly is the most iconic and multi talented artist of all time, and we are proud that she is a friend and supporter of the academy, a previous host, and a 13-time Academy of Country Music Award recipient,” Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, said in a statement on Thursday. Read more
The rescue of a boy continues on 3rd day in Morocco (VOA)
Efforts to rescue a five-year-old continued Friday in Morocco, three days after he fell into a well near the northern city of Chefchaouen.
Local media reported the boy’s father said he had been repairing the 32-meter well near his home Tuesday when his son fell in.
First responders confirmed the boy, named Rayan, was alive by lowering a video camera down the well’s narrow shaft. The MAP news agency said rescuers had been able to send him oxygen and water through pipes.
With the well’s shaft too narrow for rescuers to reach the bottom and the soil too loose to risk widening it, heavy construction equipment was brought in to dig a parallel hole alongside it. State media reports early Friday rescuers were about six meters from the child.
Efforts to reach the boy were streamed on social media, capturing public attention, and sparking an outpouring of sympathy online, with the Arabic hashtag #SaveRayan is going viral across North Africa, including in neighboring Algeria. Read more
Convicted Ahmaud Arbery killer to change plea in hate crime case (AlJazeera)
One of the three men convicted of chasing down and murdering Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black man, in the US state of Georgia is set to stand trial in a federal hate crime case after changing his plea to not guilty.
The switch comes after a US District Court judge rejected the terms of a plea deal Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis, reached with federal prosecutors.
Lawyers for Gregory McMichael and federal prosecutors filed a joint notice of withdrawal of his plea agreement on Thursday, saying the deal is “null and void” and that both sides were “ready for trial”.
The filing reaffirmed the elder McMichael’s original plea of not guilty. Read more
We’ll not abandon Moshood Abiola National Stadium, says Dangote (Leadership)
Africa’s richest man and president, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has pledged his commitment to the continued maintenance of the refurbished Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, saying he will not abandon the facility to collapse.
He gave the assurance on Thursday when he visited the stadium, adopted by him under the ‘Adopt-a-Pitch Initiative’ of the federal government, to see the quality of work done especially the regrassing and installation of state-of-the-art scoreboards.
Dangote commended the minister of youth and sports development, Mr Sunday Dare, and his team for a job well done after he was conducted round the pitch with the sprinklers working perfectly, and the two digital score-boards beaming live.
“I Want to assure you that this is just the beginning and we will continue to support sports. As a socially responsible company, I will bring some of my directors to see what you have done so that it will encourage us to do much more than we have done. Read more
NPFL: We’ve broken goal-scoring jinx, Gombe United gaffer boasts (Punch)
Gombe United FC on Thursday beat the visiting MFM FC 3-0 at the Pantami township stadium, located in the state metropolis.
Yusuf Abdulazeez’s goal nine minutes into the commencement of the match opened the way for two others scored by Mohammed Aminu and Abubakar Sa’ad.
However, the visitors made serious attempts to garner strength in order to at least equalise; all to no avail.
Speaking shortly after the match, the technical adviser of the Savannah Scorpion, Aliyu Zubairu, while lauding the efforts of his boys, revealed that the goal jinx has been surmounted. Read more
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte says club must work to avoid more transfer ‘mistakes’ (BBC)
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says the club must pay “more attention” in the transfer market because of “mistakes in the past”.
Conte oversaw his first transfer window with the club in January, when record-signing Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil all left on loan.
Ndombele cost Spurs £54m in 2019, while Lo Celso was £27.2m in 2020 and Gil joined from Sevilla for £22.5m in July.
“Usually you buy players to reinforce your team,” said Conte. Read more
Pioli confirms Ibrahimovic and Rebic out of derby against Inter (FootballItalia)
Milan coach Stefano Pioli confirms Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ante Rebic will miss tomorrow’s derby, while Fikaio Tomori will be available.
The Rossoneri will face Inter at 17.00 UK time tomorrow. They sit four points behind Simone Inzaghi’s side, who also has a hand game.
“We must also take into account the characteristics of the opponents. It is important. We will never distort our way of playing and tomorrow makes no exception,” Pioli said at a press conference.
“We are fighting up there. Whether it’s for the title or the Champions League, we are competitive again. We played a great game against Juventus, but we lacked quality in the final third. That’s what we need tomorrow. It’s a crucial game and we want to win it. Read more
Brooks Koepka hits back at Phil Mickelson over PGA comments as Bryson DeChambeau denies being offered £100m to join Saudi tour (Sky)
Brooks Koepka has taken a pointed swipe at Phil Mickelson after the six-time major winner criticised the PGA Tour for its “obnoxious greed”, while Bryson DeChambeau denied reports he has been offered £100m to join a Saudi breakaway tour.
Mickelson made the comments in an interview ahead of the Saudi International, where he is among a host of top players receiving huge appearance fees and being courted by a potential rival league backed by Saudi cash.
Responding to a post about Mickelson’s comments, Koepka wrote on his Instagram account: “DK (don’t know) if I’d be using the word greedy if I were Phil. . .” followed by five ‘thinking face’ emojis.
According to the PGA Tour website, Mickelson’s career earnings on the circuit total £70m, a figure which does not include sponsorships and other off-course earnings. Read more
Anastasija Sevastova announces she is taking an indefinite break from tennis (TennisWorld)
Latvian tennis player Anastasija Sevastova has decided to take an indefinite break from tennis as she says there is something that’s preventing her from playing her best tennis. Sevastova, 31, didn’t want to reveal the exact reason for her indefinite break but added that she plans to return to the court once she feels fully confident again.
“It’s not cool that you can’t show your best game on the field, because there is something disturbing all the time,” Sevastova said on LTV Zinu dienests, according to Sportskeeda. “I don’t want to go on the field until I feel 100% confident.
I will take a longer break now. I don’t know how long the break will be”.
“It’s a difficult decision, but – sport is not a lifetime,” Sevastova said. Read more
Wembley Stadium is reportedly now the ‘frontrunner’ for Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte (TalkSport)
Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte reportedly could be set to take place at Wembley Stadium, with the venue now said to be the ‘frontrunner’ to host the WBC heavyweight title fight.
Talks previously took place about a potential deal for Fury to face Oleksandr Usyk next in an undisputed title clash, with Whyte and Anthony Joshua being paid millions to step aside.
However, these talks collapsed and so the WBC pushed forwards with purse bids for their mandatory fight last Friday.
Frank Warren won with a record bid of $41million (£30.6million) – confirmed to be the biggest purse bid in boxing history – while Eddie Hearn bid $32million (£23.9million). Read more