Tinubu meets traditional rulers (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu met traditional rulers and their representatives from across the country at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Friday’s meeting is part of a series of engagements the President has been having with key stakeholders across the executive, legislative, business, and traditional institutions since he assumed office on May 29.
At the closed-door meeting, Tinubu is expected to discuss themes around national healing and unity; as he emphasised in his inaugural speech. Read more
Nollywood actress, Iya Gbonkan receives car gift from fan (Vanguard)
A 70-year-old Nollywood actress, Mrs. Margaret Olayinka, popularly known as ‘Iya Gbonkan’ on Thursday, received a car gift from one of her fans to appreciate her for her prowess and sterling qualities in the entertainment industry, since her childhood days.
The car was gifted to her by the Chief Executive Officer of Alexes Promotion, Mrs Omobolanle Olatise. The car was presented on her behalf to Olayinka in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday by Mr. Mustapha Jayeola.
The Nollywood star in the Yoruba movie category, took to the social media recently that she joined the entertainment industry some decades ago, and that she has never owned a car in her lifetime. She then appealed for a car gift from her fans. Read more
Peter Obi’s May live session with Nigerians ranked biggest Twitter space in Africa, 8th globally (Tribune)
Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the last election has made history after his live session with Nigerians on May 28, has now been ranked biggest Twitter Space in Africa, according to a reputable tech website, Noobspace.
Recall Parallel Facts, a new online media outlet, last month, had invited Obi to take part in the interactive session on Twitter spaces in a bid to directly address questions raised by the audience, his supporters, and other well-meaning Nigerians, ranging from legal matters to his future plans for Nigeria.
In its recent report, Noobspace said Obi’s media chat with Nigerians in May is the eighth-largest Twitter space globally. Read more
Rivers CP redeploys DPOs over rising cult clashes, insecurity (Leadership)
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Nwonyi Emeka, has ordered the redeployment of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in-charge of Ahoada and Akinima, headquarters of Ahoada-East and Ahoada-West local government areas of the state, respectively.
The redeployment, it was gathered, followed the rising cult clashes and general insecurity in the two local government areas of the state.
It was further gathered that two DPOs, including the DPO in-charge of Bori Division in Khana local government area, Bako Amgbasim, have been deployed to take charge of the two Police Divisions. Read more
Police arrest 8 electric cable vandals in Lagos (Independent)
The Lagos State Police Command has paraded eight suspected electric cable vandals, recovering more than 100-metre-long armoured cable from the suspects.
According to a statement via the command’s Twitter account, Friday, Eight of the suspects were arrested at Anthony Village, while one of them was arrested at the Igbo Efon axis of Lagos state around 9 pm on June 1, 2023, with over 100-metre-long armoured cable suspected to have been stolen from a construction site in Lekki.
The statement read, “Operatives of Lagos Rapid Response Squad have arrested eight suspected cable thieves and recovered over 100-metre-long armoured cable from one of the suspects
in Igbo Efon, Lekki. Read more
Lagos CP warns against uncivil actions, decorates 1,362 promoted junior officers (NewTelegraph)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, yesterday, decorated 1,362 promoted junior police officers at the command headquarters, Ikeja. This is just as the CP warned the officers against corruption, human rights abuse and other unethical conducts, stressing that any- one found will be punished accordingly, including dismissal where necessary.
The Commissioner was joined in decorating the officers by some senior officers of the command. The Force Headquarters, Abuja on May 30, announced the promotion of 31,465 policemen with 24,991 sergeants promoted to inspectors, 194 promoted from corporal to sergeant, and 6,280 from constable to corporal.
The Force Headquarters said that the IGP effected the promotion as part of his manpower development policy targeted at promoting deserving police officers on the basis of competence, qualification, and length of service Owohunwa said that Lagos Command had such large number of officers promoted after his passionate appeal to the IGP on the peculiarities of the state. Read more
NUC issues provisional licenses to 37 new private unversities (Guardian)
The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Friday presented provisional licenses to 37 newly approved private universities in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of Education, David Adejo, at the presentation of the licenses to the universities at the NUC’s headquarters in Abuja, said the approval brought the number of private universities in Nigeria to 147 universities.
The universities are – Rayhaan University, Kebbi; Muhammad Kamalud University Kwara; Sam Maris University, Ondo; Aletheia University, Ago-Iwpye Ogun State; and Lux Mundi University Umuahia, Abia State. Read more
Beware of El-Rufai’s tactics, Primate Ayodele warns Tinubu (Tribune)
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has warned President Bola Tinubu to be wary of former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai following his recent statement against Christians and support for Muslims in the State.
The former governor in his statement was quoted to have justified his choice of Muslims to occupy relevant positions in Kaduna following their roles towards APC’s victory in the State.
Reacting, Primate Ayodele said El-rufai’s “careless statement” may start a religious war in Nigeria if the latter is not cautioned. Read more
Janelle Monáe strips naked and runs into the ocean in a video celebrating The Age Of Pleasure, her new album (UPROXX)
After much anticipation and an often-NSFW promotional cycle, Janelle Monáe’s new album, The Age Of Pleasure, is here. As the project was released at midnight, Monáe celebrated, as she has over the past few months, with another skin-bearing post.
Shortly after midnight today, Monáe made note of the album’s release with a video, in which they stand on the beach and show off a cropped shirt bearing the album title. She then takes it off, along with her shorts, leaving her naked (albeit blurred out) as she jubilantly runs into the ocean, all set to the song “Water Slide.”
The same clip is included in a longer June 7 video Monáe shared to announce the album’s tracklist. Read more
Jacinda Ardern set for a $1m payday after massive bidding war as next career move becomes clear (DailyMail)
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern could receive more than $1million in a record-breaking advance for her rumoured biography.
Ms Ardern, 42, is believed to be close to signing a book deal with publishing house Penguin after a major bidding war with several international publishers.
Her first authorised biography is set to be Ms Ardern’s first major career move since resigning from office in April.
It’s understood the advance for Ms Ardern’s book could fetch anywhere between $1million and $1.5million, the New Zealand Herald reported on Friday. Read more
Muslim-led parents’ group protests LGBT curriculum mandate in Maryland school system (CNA)
A group of Muslim parents joined parental and religious freedom rights advocates Tuesday to protest a Maryland school system’s new policy that removes the parents’ authority to opt their children out of coursework that promotes homosexuality and transgenderism.
The June 6 protest at the Montgomery County public school district’s headquarters was led by a group called Family Rights for Religious Freedom. About 50 parents and activists carried signs that read “family rights” and “restore the opt-out” while chanting slogans such as “protect our children” and “religious freedom now.”
Maryland law requires that school districts allow parents to opt out of coursework that deals with “family life and human sexuality.” However, the school district decided in March that it does not consider reading materials that discuss subjects related to homosexuality, transgenderism, and other aspects of gender ideology to be a part of “family life and human sexuality instruction.” Read more
BTS release new song “Take Two” for 10th anniversary (National)
In celebration of their 10th anniversary as a group, BTS have released a new song.
Called “Take Two”, the soulful track features all seven members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook as they sing about their appreciation for the Army, the affectionate nickname given to their fans, and what is in store for the future.
“The title of the upcoming single Take Two refers to the second chapter of BTS that the boy band plans to continue,” said their agency BigHit Music. Read more
Nick Jonas lost out on “Wicked” role (FilmNews)
Nick Jonas missed out on a role in the “Wicked” movie.
The 30-year-old star has revealed that he and his older brother Joe Jonas auditioned for the part of Fiyero in the upcoming film adaptation of the hit musical but missed out to Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey.
Nick told Variety: “Yes, it’s true. Joe and I both went out, and we didn’t get it. But that’s the life of an actor. Read more
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh to star in ‘‘Mayday’’ (Variety)
Apple Original Films and Skydance are continuing to build on their strong ties with another star-studded project as sources tell Deadline the two are partnering on the action-adventure tentpole “Mayday” with Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh starring and Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley directing. Sources tell Deadline the script has been done for some time, well before the WGA Strike started.
The feature is based on an original pitch from Goldstein and Daley, who came to Skydance earlier this year with the idea and had been developing prior to Apple’s involvement. Once Reynolds showed interest in April to join the pic, Mayday started gaining serious momentum and while a start date is still undetermined, it seems likely this could be the next thing Reynolds shoots. Read more
Climate activist Greta Thunberg graduates high school but vows to keep protesting (ABC)
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has skipped school to draw attention to climate change for the last time — not because she no longer wants to protest, but because she has graduated.
The 20-year-old started staging Friday protests outside the Swedish parliament building during school hours in 2018, inspiring teenagers from around the world to follow her lead.
This created an international student movement called Fridays for Future. Read more
Falconets face Burundi in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers (Punch)
The Falconets, Nigeria’s national under-20 women’s football team, have been drawn to face Burundi in the second round of the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The draw was officially conducted by the Confederation of African Football on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.
The draw produced some interesting ties as the pathway to the global showpiece is officially open.
The first six nations with the lowest rankings will take centre stage in a round-robin format between September 1 and September 10. Read more
AFCON 2023 Qualifier: Osimhen, Awoniyi, Lookman, 20 others invited for Sierra Leone clash (Guardian)
Nigeria’s biggest footballer at the moment, Victor Osimhen has been called up by Coach José Santos Peseiro for the Super Eagles 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone.
Peseiro has also invited captain Ahmed Musa, goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defender William Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Moses Simon among others for next weekend’s 2023 AFCON qualifying match against the Leone Stars in Monrovia.
In-form forward Victor James Osimhen, whose 31 goals in all competitions for SSC Napoli this season helped the Italian giants to the semi finals of the UEFA Champions League and to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years, tops the strikers’ list. Read more
2023 World Cup to be highest-attended women’s sports event ever (USAToday)
The 2023 World Cup is on pace to be the highest-attended women’s sports event in history, FIFA said in a news release Thursday. The organization reported that 1,032,884 tickets have been sold so far. This number already surpasses the amount sold for the 2019 tournament that was held in France with more than a month until matches in Australia and New Zealand are underway.
“The future is women – and thanks to the fans for supporting what will be the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever!” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an Instagram post.
Last May, the record for largest attendance at a single match for a women’s team was broken when 91,553 fans filled Camp Nou for FC Barcelona’s UEFA Women’s Champions League match against rival Real Madrid. Read more
Naby Keita: Liverpool midfielder to join Werder Bremen when contract expires (BBC)
Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita will join German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen when his contract expires with the Anfield club this summer.
The 28-year-old, who scored 11 goals in 129 appearances for the Reds, signed for what was a club record £48m from RB Leipzig in 2018.
The Guinea midfielder made just eight league appearances this season having struggled with injuries. Read more
Emma Raducanu offering virtual tennis lessons for hefty fee (TennisWorld)
Emma Raducanu is offering virtual tennis lessons for a fee of $2000. Raducanu teamed up with a virtual app that also has partnerships with stars from other sports as well. Through Airwayz, Raducanu is able to offer virtual tennis lessons and also earn a solid payment for her work.
Also, Raducanu has a video channel on Airwayz that allows her fans to see an insight into her life behind the scenes. That section is charging $5.
Last month, Raducanu had surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle. Read more
Horner reveals Red Bull’s luxury issue from Verstappen success (RN365)
Christian Horner has revealed Red Bull is facing a luxury problem at their Milton Keynes base as a result of Max Verstappen’s winning streak in Formula 1.
The team has started the 2023 season in dominant fashion with seven wins from seven races – the Dutchman clinching five en route to a 53-point lead over teammate Sergio Perez in the Drivers’ standings.
Verstappen’s latest victory at the Spanish Grand Prix marked his 40th win in F1, with the continued run of form proving to be Red Bull’s strongest period in the sport since winning four consecutive championships with Sebastian Vettel between 2010 and 2013. Read more