Sunday Igboho released from Benin Republic detention (Punch)
The Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Ighoho, has been released by the Government of Republic of Benin.
The umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, announced this in a statement on Monday.
The statement issued by Ilana Omo Oodua’s spokesperson, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, was titled, ‘Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo Ighoho released to Yoruba leader, Banji Akintoye; French language expert, Adeniran by the Benin Republic Government’.
Details of his release were sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
The statement read, “Yoruba Nation Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Ighoho, has been released by the Government of Republic of Benin. Read more
Women seek end to discrimination, demand gender equality in leadership, employment (Guardian)
Over a million Nigerian women from different walks of life will be out today to protest against rejected gender bills in the National Assembly. They will also be protesting against the denial of citizenship to the foreign-born husband of a Nigerian woman, women’s inability to take indigeneship of their husband’s state after five years of being together, denial of 35 per cent appointed positions, party administration and leadership, as well as, rejection of specific seats for women in the National Assembly.
Gender equality, parity and end to discrimination against women will equally take the centre stage as they join their counterparts across the world to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD).
Celebrated every March 8, IWD is a day set aside to celebrate women globally. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. It was first celebrated by the United Nations in 1975.
In December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by member states, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. Read more
Let’s work to fix Nigeria, Sanwo-Olu urges citizens (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on citizens to work together to fix the country for the current and next generations.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, on Monday, Sanwo-Olu made the call while receiving the Silverbird’s Man of the Year Award over the weekend.
The governor said, “Our journey to a greater Lagos is not complete; our work is not done yet. We are convinced that with the support of all of our citizens, we are on the right track.
“We get to fix things, because we have no other country. Whether we are youths, middle-aged or senior citizens, we have one property in common; our country. We all must get to work, roll up our sleeves and contribute efforts to fix this country for the current and coming generations. I strongly believe we have the potential, energy and commitment; it is only the leadership we must get right. Read more
Senator Tinubu: cause of women remains dear to my heart (Nation)
The senator representing Lagos Central in the National Assembly, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has said the cause of women remains dear to her heart.
She urged fellow women to put aside their differences and work together to enable them overcome biases as well as build ladders for the women coming behind to climb on.
In a statement yesterday to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, Senator Tinubu said: “I salute and celebrate Nigerian women and our counterparts all over the world on this commemoration of International Women’s Day, 2022. I am proud of the work you are doing to improve the lot of women, and I am especially proud of everyone who, in spite of opposition, continues to speak up for us and the causes that affect our gender.
“This year’s theme: Break the Bias, is apt, particularly in light of last week’s Constitutional Amendment votes. Imagine a situation where we have more women in the National Assembly, imagine how much difference our voices will make. Imagine a world where women occupy more managerial and executive positions, and how much more our interests will be represented. Read more
Global Women Network to hold tech seminar in Abuja (ThisDay)
Global Women Network, the United Kingdom-based Nongovernmental Organisation with roots in Nigeria is organising a seminar to coincide with the launching of its Information Communication Technology related courses for the benefit of some selected participants.
This comes after the foundation had successfully set up a training centre in Abuja.
Mrs Roni Akins, the Chief Executive Officer of the Network, made this known to newsmen recently at a press briefing in Abuja.
“The launch of some basic ICT courses signals the kick-starting of our much-awaited and talked about training and mentorship programme with the core objective of creating opportunities for young women to realise their full potential of becoming financially independent.” She said.
Don’t feel intimidated to wear hijab on Duty, Hijrah Council tells female police officers (DailyTrust)
The Hijrah Council of Nigeria has called on Muslim police women across the country not to feel intimidated to wear hijab on their uniforms.
The position of the council followed the recent approval by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, permitting the use of hijab on police uniforms.
The decision has been applauded by many Muslim individuals and bodies across the country who decried the molestations suffered by the affected women over the issue.
In a statement signed by the Amir of the Council, Prof. Lanre Badmus Yusuf, on Monday, the Council said it appreciates the gesture of the IGP.
Yusuf said it happened at a time the global community, especially forces in the western world, is recognising the use of hijab.
He asked Muslim women in the Force to make the best out of the opportunity by being modest and professional.Read more
Bewi Africa takes International Women’s Day celebration to Ifesowapo Secondary School (Independent)
Bewi Africa will mark International Women’s Day with secondary school girls in Aboru, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
In a statement, Bewi Founder, Florence ‘Bodex’ Hungbo, said “with this year’s theme being Break The Bias, it’s evident that the world is ready for love, unity and equality.
“And Bewi Africa is ready to contribute her quota to the global aim of gender equality and breaking all bias for a sustainable tomorrow by taking to various female schools to talk on values and equality.”
Hungbo, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, noted that now more than ever, females are feeling the brunt of gender inequality “against the backdrop of the shrinking economy and other fallouts of the pandemic. Read more
Davido thanks God for successful concert (Nation)
Award-winning singer Davido has expressed absolute gratitude to God for the successful outcome of his O2 Arena concert in London.
It wasn’t Davido’s first time at the 20,000-capacity event centre but he had mixed feelings prior to the show as revealed in his latest Instagram post.
The show didn’t begin until the DMW boss’ big sister led the team in prayers backstage.
The concert, which was totally sold-out as confirmed by The O2 via its Twitter handle, saw the afro-pop star and other musical acts thrill fans with remarkable performances. Read more
Sanwo-Olu appoints Ag VCs, mgt heads for new varsities (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo –Olu has appointed acting Vice-Chancellors for the two newly established universities; Lagos State University of Science and Technology, LASUST, Ikorodu and Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, Ijanikin and Epe.
A statement personally signed on Monday by the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that Governor Sanwo –Olu has approved the appointments of Prof. Bidemi Bilikis Lafiaji – Okunneye, a Professor of Health Education and current substantive Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the LASUED, Ijanikin and Epe Campuses and Dr Nurudeen Olaleye, a PhD holder in Microbiology and current Rector, Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu as the Ag. Vice-Chancellor of the LASUST, Ikorodu, respectively.
Prof.Okuneye, according to the statement, would be assisted by an Associate Professor and current Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED) now University of Education, Epe, Nosiru Onibon as Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
On the other hand, Dr Olumide Metilelu , Chief Lecturer, Hospitality Management Technology would serve as LASUST new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) while Dr Gbemavo, Kolawole Godonu, LASPOTECH’s current Deputy Rector (Administration) would serve as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin) of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUST) respectively. Read more
WAEC: digital certificate to help those with missing documents (Nation)
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced plans to launch digital versions of the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) from a certain year for those who have lost their originals.
Head of National Office (HNO), Mr. Patrick Areghan, announced this yesterday while addressing reporters ahead of WAEC’s Council meeting and 70th anniversary which will hold next week in Abuja.
He said the initiative would reduce the inconveniences people experienced after losing their certificates.
According to him, the bearers of such lost certificates will now be able to request for digital copies from wherever they are. Read more
Yungblud teases new music by inviting fans to his ‘funeral’ (NME)
Yungblud has begun teasing a new era and forthcoming music, inviting fans to his ‘funeral’.
The Doncaster artist is working on the follow-up to his December 2020 studio album ‘Weird!’, which followed his 2018 debut ‘21st Century Liability’.
After wiping his social media accounts and profile pictures – a widely-used tactic with which to begin teasing new material and beginning a new era – Yungblud wrote: “and so it begins…” asking fans to RSVP to an event dubbed ‘funeral’.
“To whom this may concern,” a hand-written message began. “For those I let down I’m sorry, for those who let me down, fuck you but I forgive you.” Read more
Aida Takla O’Reilly, Former HFPA President, Dies at 90 (Variety)
Aida Takla O’Reilly, the longest-serving member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who served two times as the organization’s president, died Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 90.
Born in Egypt, she joined the HFPA in 1956 and served as president of the organization that hands out the Golden Globes in 1994-96 and in 2011-13. She covered the entertainment industry for Nisf El Dunia and El Ahram in Egypt.
After becoming Egypt’s youngest female pilot, Takla O’Reilly moved to the U.S. as a student and obtained a master’s degree from UCLA. She served as chair of the Pan-African Studies department at Cal State University, Los Angeles, teaching and developing courses in literature, journalism and film studies.
“She was a great listener, never judged, and always fought for the underdog. She was fearless and inspired others to be fearless – and to become leaders. She had a fierce and deep loyalty to her friends and the people she loved,” said HFPA President Helen Hoehne, who was sponsored by Ms. Takla-O’Reilly when she applied to join the organization. Read more
Director Jane Campion reflects on losing her baby Son 10 months before winning an Oscar for The Piano (People)
Jane Campion, who is currently up for three honors at the 94th annual Academy Awards, is looking back at her last Oscars experience — and the personal grief that she was going through at the time.
The award-winning writer and director, 67, is nominated for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture for Netflix’s acclaimed The Power of the Dog at this year’s ceremony — but she is no stranger to the Oscars, having took home the Best Original Screenplay award for the Holly Hunter-starring The Piano in 1994.
She was also nominated that year for Best Director. With her directing nomination for Power of the Dog, Campion becomes the first female director to be nominated twice in that category.
In a cover story for Vanity Fair, published online Monday, the New Zealand-born director opened up about her first Oscars. Ten months before she took home the coveted trophy, her son Jasper died at only 2 weeks old. And when she accepted the Oscar, she was pregnant with her daughter Alice, now 27 years old. Read more
Will Smith saw his own father in his King Richard role (EW)
To hear Will Smith talk about Richard Williams, the brashly confident dad of two future tennis icons — and the dominating presence of King Richard — is to see a veteran actor approaching a role from the inside out. “Richard reminds me a lot of my father,” says Smith, 53. The actor, who appears on the latest installment of EW’s The Awardist podcast alongside his costar Aunjanue Ellis, adds, “It was that same generation: men who used to be able to fix everything with their hands. My father was in the military, so he understood what it was like to try to sustain a dream at the edge of survival.”
Williams saw enormous promise in daughters Venus and Serena, both of whom he pushed to excellence on hard-scrabble South Central tennis courts, far from the money and privilege that often accompanies such aspirations. As embodied by Smith in his Oscar-nominated turn, he’s a coach, a disciplinarian, and a dad burning with a vision — one that sometimes only he can see. Smith calls the role “uniquely timed in my life,” an opportunity he had to age into to fully appreciate. “There was a comprehension of all of the different angles that I now have that I wouldn’t have been able to even conceive at 40.”
In Smith, director Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men) recognized a work ethic that went beyond hours of dialect work and physicality. “Will wasn’t the guy who was going off to his trailer while the other folks were acting,” Green says. “He was doing his lines offscreen with them as if it was his first take on camera. And that’s how giving Will is. He comes from an era that respects a director.”
Aunjanue Ellis — who is Oscar-nominated for her turn as Williams’s fierce-hearted wife, Oracene — also speaks to the benefits of experience. “I am 53 years old and have been doing this a long time,” Ellis says. “But what helps is having someone who has a generous spirit on and off-camera. That’s not always the case. You feel free to take risks, you feel free to create, you feel free to fail with them, knowing that it’s okay.” Read more
Lil Wayne explains how he Oversaw Drake & Nicky Minaj Young Money Success (HipHopDX)
Lil Wayne has been in the rap game for more than two decades and he’s still finding ways to reinvent himself in his late 30s
Weezy joined the I Am Athlete podcast on Monday (March 7) and touched on his ability to evolve within the music industry and remain at Hip Hop’s forefront while new generations and styles continue to be ushered into the genre.
“You have to be, first of all, you have to be embracing,” he explained. “You can’t be the person that’s saying I don’t like the new music. You gotta love it. Learn it, like it and love it because you better understand that’s music. That’s not a certain type of music, that’s music. You got to Apple Music and top 100s and them folks right there.
Therefore you have to embrace that. You gotta go get you a vocal coach. Rest in peace, Ms. Betty Wright. Then you got a Drake. He’s music. My goal now, if you want to be the ultimate artist, that’s what I want to be. In sports, we like to call them the Swiss Army Knife.” Read more
Kelly Clarkson honors Dolly Parton with stunning ‘I Will Always Love You’ performance at ACM Awards (People)
Kelly Clarkson is giving it up to Dolly!
At Monday’s 2022 ACM Awards, Clarkson delivered a stunning performance of “I Will Always Love You” as a tribute to country music legend and host for the award show, Dolly Parton.
Wearing a long-sleeved, form-fitting black gown with silver earrings, the star stole the show by starting out the cover with soft notes before building up to the epic chorus of the iconic song.
After finishing the emotional performance, Clarkson was greeted onstage by Parton as the audience gave her a standing ovation. Read more
Rapper Kodak Black takes another shot at dating Kim Kardashian (PageSix)
Recent gunshot victim Kodak Black isn’t letting a flesh wound ruin his chances of dating Kim Kardashian.
The rapper, 24 — who took a bullet to the leg after a Los Angeles Super Bowl party last month — explained why the reality TV superstar, 41, should give him a chance in a Monday Instagram post.
“You Need A Real N—a Out Dat Pompanoya Bae , Ain’t Even Gone Play Real Gangsta @kimkardashian,” Kodak captioned a photo of himself wrapped in yellow caution tape, mimicking a recent Balenciaga ensemble worn by Kardashian.
He reached out to the Skims founder via social media back in 2018 when her estranged husband, Kanye West, was “on some stupid s—t,” as Kodak put it. Read more
Buhari approves houses for 1994 Super Eagles members (Punch)
The Federal Government has approved the allocation of houses to 22 members of the 1994 Super Eagles in their various states, thereby fulfilling a pledge made to them 28 years ago by the then administration.
A statement in Abuja on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing stated that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) announced the approval in Lafia, Nasarawa, during the inauguration of the completed homes under the government’s National Housing Programme.
The FMWH said the inauguration was the first in the series of the formal inaugurations lined up to take place in 34 states of the federation where Phase One of the houses had been completed.
It said the President, who was represented by the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Muhammed Abdullahi, described the completion of the housing projects as a fulfillment of the promise of the government. Read more
Frank Lampard names ‘main issues’ Everton had in Tottenham Hotspur thrashing (LiverpoolEcho)
Frank Lampard has lamented the “clear” defensive mistakes that his Everton side made as they were humbled 5-0 away to Tottenham Hotspur.
An own goal from Michael Keane began the rout in north London 14 minutes in, before Heung-Min Son added a second only three minutes later.
Before the break Harry Kane bagged a third for his side – before Sergio Reguillon added a fourth just after the interval with the England international striker later completing his brace in the 55th minute.
For each of the goals, Lampard believes that his side’s defensive problems were clear to see. Read more
Mikel Arteta eyes Arsenal’s Lyon revenge by signing £31.5m Brazil star to replace Granit Xhaka (FootballLondon)
Arsenal’s interest in a new midfielder highlights that Mikel Arteta is trying to sign a player who can enhance the position Granit Xhaka is currently occupying.
According to Calciomercato, The Gunners are interested in signing Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle are also keen on acquiring.
Xhaka is tasked with a new role in the number eight position and has put in good performances, however, a player with better mobility would certainly improve Arteta’s side.
With the Swiss international’s future at the club uncertain, Paqueta would be a good signing by Edu and Arsenal would have a major improvement to the midfield. Read more
Indian Wells: Britain’s Heather Watson and Katie Boulter both advance in qualifying (BBC)
Britain’s Heather Watson and Katie Boulter both advanced to the second round of qualifying at Indian Wells.
World number 113 Watson, who reached the last 16 in 2015, beat Spain’s Rebeka Masarova 7-5 6-2 in California.
Boulter, ranked 127th, fought back from a set down to overcome China’s Xinyu Wang 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-4.
Watson next plays Japan’s Mai Hontama on Tuesday for a place in the main draw, while Boulter faces Italian Sara Errani. Read more
Red Bull’s Christian Horner accuses Mercedes of bullying over sacking of Michael Masi (ABC)
The fallout from last year’s controversial Formula One championship finale has continued, with Red Bull chief Christian Horner accusing rival team Mercedes of behaviour ‘tantamount to bullying’, ahead of the ousting of Formula One race director Michael Masi.
Red Bull’s star driver finished the season eight points clear of his rival, seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton. But the aftermath of the final race has proved almost as dramatic as the race itself.
The Australian Masi was in the chair as race director for the decisive final contest in Abu Dhabi.
During the race, both Horner and his Mercedes counterpart, Toto Wolff, were repeatedly on the radio to Masi, pressuring him to make decisions in their teams’ favour. Read more
Leon Spinks, former heavyweight boxing champ, dies at 67 (USAToday)
Boxing legend Leon Spinks died at the age of 67 on Friday night in a Henderson, Nevada, hospital near his home after battling with prostate cancer for several years, according to family friend Joe Bernal.
Spinks served in the Marine Corps before he rocketed to international fame in 1978 when he beat Muhammad Ali in a split decision to earn the undisputed world heavyweight title in what was considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
“It was considered a mere joke,’’ fellow boxing great George Foreman told USA TODAY Sports when reflecting on that historic bout. “Why in the world would they put (Spinks) in the ring with Muhammad Ali with such a short boxing career?
“He beat the devil out of Muhammad, from pillar to post, even Muhammad was surprised. Read more
Jose Ramirez: I’m ready to fight against anyone at 140! (BoxingScene)
Jose Ramirez returned to the friendly Central Valley confines and got back on track. Ramirez defeated former two-weight world champion Jose Pedraza by unanimous decision (116-112 3x) Friday evening at Save Mart Center in the junior welterweight main event.
Ramirez (27-1, 17 KOs) returned to the win column following last May’s decision loss to Josh Taylor in a showdown for the undisputed title. Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs) had some success in the middle rounds, picking Ramirez off at range and rolling off shots against the ropes. Ramirez was ahead by two points on all three judges’ cards entering the 11th, and he amped up the pressure in the final two rounds, outlanding Pedraza 28-14.
The fight served as a WBC title eliminator, giving Ramirez a clear path to a title shot if Taylor, as expected, vacates all four titles and campaigns at welterweight.
Ramirez will now hang back and fight whoever is necessary to secure another world title at 140-pounds. Read more