ONE WORD

Visa, a global payments technology company has launched its first global competition to celebrate and empower outstanding women entrepreneurs to commemorate the 2019 International Women’s Day. The competition- ‘Visa Everywhere Initiative’ begins with the Women’s Global Edition, which focuses on providing women entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their ground-breaking solutions. The global program invites women entrepreneurs from around the world to tackle FinTech and social impact challenges for a chance to win $100,000 in each of the two challenges. The program will culminate with a finals event to be held during the kick-off of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. Submissions for the ‘Women’s Global Edition’ opens on Wednesday, March 6, while applications close on Sunday, April 14. Selection of regional finalists will be in May, while global finals will be in Paris, France for Friday, June 7. “More than 163 million women around the world have started their own bus...

A 51 – year old Civil Engineer based in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Oluwadare Adesanmi, has been arrested by the operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), for alleged sexual abuse of his 15 – year old househelp. The sexual abuse has resulted in a pregnancy. The victim (Name withheld), a Junior Secondary School Student (JSS) of one of government schools in the Dutse area of the Federal Capital Territory, was hired by the family as househelp about two years ago and has been living with them in their One- Bedroom apartment before the incident. In her painful narration, the victim disclosed that the Ondo state born man forced her to have sexual intercourse with him on two occasions in the sitting room where she sleeps. On the two occasions, he threatened to deal with her if she talks to anyone about it. According to her, the first time was when his wife travelled and the man sneaked into the parlor where she was sleeping, to...

House on fire (File photo) Amina Dauda, a housewife accused of killing her husband, Mohammed Matazu, a former reporter with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna, by setting him ablaze, to know her fate on May 30. Dauda, 28, was arraigned before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, on May 22, 2013, on three counts bordering on culpable homicide, punishable with death. Justice Baba-Yusuf , fixed the date after adoption of written addresses by Mr Abubakar Musa, prosecuting counsel and defendant counsel, Mr Charles Yoila. Musa had urged the court to go ahead and convict the defendant, adding that the five witnesses brought by the prosecution produced evidence that pointed at the defendant’s commission of the offence. “The act of fighting which the defendant engaged in that led to the commission of the offence was unlawful” he said. Responding, Yoila urged the court to discharge the defendant of the allegation against her. NAN reports that the prosecutor alleged t...

Lagos – MTN Nigeria recorded N453.1 billion Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) in 2018. MTN-Office The communications company also attracted additional six million subscribers to its network in the year. The company made the disclosure in its annual report released on Thursday in Lagos. It said that the six million subscribers brought the total number of subscribers in its network to 58 million, adding that the 2018 EBITDA represented 30.8 per cent profit growth. MTN Nigeria also disclosed its intention to list by introduction on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the first half of 2019. The report showed a service revenue increase by 17.2 per cent, data revenue increase by 39.3 per cent, digital revenue decrease by 58.1 per cent and Fintech revenue increase by 32.7 per cent. It also showed an EBITDA margin increase by 4.5 per cent to a total 43.6 per cent (excl CBN payment). Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive Officer of M...

Before the 2019 general elections, there were arguments as to whether it was right or wrong, for the military to be involved in elections, in this piece, Joe Chukindi looks at how they fared, after participating in the presidential and national assembly election. In 2015, the then opposition political party, All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged the President Goodluck Jonathan government in a bitter war of words on how to keep the Nigerian Army away from participating in that year’s general election. It was such a heated argument to the point that the court was involved and a ruling obtained, and in the end the military was stopped from taking part in the election. The fear of the then opposition party was that by involving the military, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party may manipulate the process, using them. The resistance of the APC then was on the grounds that the main job of the Army was to protect the country from external aggression or other matters that may threaten ...

By Davies Iheamnachor PORT HARCOURT: Hundreds of women have staged a protest in Rivers State following the arrest of Nathan Menabere, the liaison officer of Governor Nyesom Wike, in Ogu and six other members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state, by alleged military men. the protesting women The protesters, who appeared in black attires with placards bearing several inscriptions such as, ‘Army Release Our Innocent Brothers’, ‘Stop Raping the Peace of Ogu’, ‘We Say no to intimidation, ‘Oh! Security Agencies, Why the Intimidation?’ demanded the immediate release of the arrested persons. Speaking, leader of the protesting women, Mrs. Christiana Tamunobereton-Ari, disclosed that the military personnel invaded the area around 1:00am, Thursday, broke into homes and picked their victims. Tamunobereton-Ari, who is the Vice Chairman of the LGA, alleged that the development was political, wondering why there should be ...

The Court of Appeal sitting in Jalingo has ordered a stay of execution on the disqualification of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Mr Sani Danladi. Justice Chidi Uwa gave the order on Thursday, a day after the Federal High Court in Jalingo disqualified Mr Danladi from participating in the coming governorship election in the state. He stayed the execution of the order of the lower court following a motion ex-parte filed by Mr Danladi and the APC. The judge asked Mr Usman Udi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as others listed as the respondents to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicants on Thursday. He also issued an interim injunction restraining the respondents from taking further steps towards the execution of the judgement of the lower court. The APC candidate was disqualified from the election over the allegation of improper d...

Prelate of the Methodist Church, Sunday Mbang, has warned Senator Godswill Akpabio against setting on fire the state he once ruled for eight years. Addressing reporters yesterday in Uyo on behalf of religious leaders and fathers of faith in the state, Prelate Mbang condemned Senator Akpabio for his role in what he called the ‘militarisation’ of Akwa Ibom ahead of the March 9, 2019 elections. The prelate Emeritus likened the conduct of the former governor to a prodigal son who should refrain from his uncompromising attitude and come back home and work with his people. Prelate Mbang said although, as an individual, Senator Akpabio reserves the right to freely associate with whatever political party he deems fit for himself, his unguarded utterances have, however, ignited unhealthy rivalry among members of the different political parties in the state. His words: “As if to confirm the belligerent disposition of Senator Akpabio and his party the APC, the invasion of Akwa Ibom lan...

A Nigerian girl, Blessing Obuson, who thought Russia’s soccer World Cup would be an opportunity to find a job and flew into Moscow, last June, instead, found herself forced to work as a prostitute. According to Reuters, Obuson, 19, said she had hoped to work as a shop assistant to provide for her 2-year-old daughter and younger siblings back in Edo state. Instead, she said she was locked in a flat on the outskirts of Moscow and forced into sex work along with 11 other Nigerian women who were supervised by a madam, also from Nigeria. “I cried really hard. But what choice did I have?” Obuson told Reuters after being freed by anti-slavery activists. She said her madam had confiscated her passport and told her she’d only get it back once she’d worked off a debt of $50k. Two Nigerians were later arrested and charged with human trafficking after striking a deal to sell Obuson for $30,000 to a police officer posing as a client. Obuson’s case is not isolated. Reuters also met eight...

Story by Victor Ahiuma-Young DESPITE receiving billions in bailout funds, Ogun State Government continues to owe its workers arrears of salaries. Mostly affected are workers of the Tai Solarin College of Education who have been owed arrears of salaries and pension for close to a decade.” Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun We must rescue Ogun workers from Amosun — NLC President These were the words of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, while addressing guests and delegates at the opening ceremony of the recent 12th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of NLC, on February 5, 2019. According to Wabba: “The Ogun State Government had also purportedly proscribed the Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria, SSUCEON, branch in the College of Education. Many workers of the Tai Solarin College of Education have fallen victims of avoidable ailments and even untimely death as a result of the victimisation by the Ogun ...

Entrepreneur Focus Of The Week - Orjisblog A 20 Year Old Nigerian Honored By The Queen Of England, As One Of The "Young leaders". Kennedy Ekezie , a 20 year old from Imo State. He is an entrepreneur and a young world leader. He was honored by the queen of England herself as one of the Queen Young leaders. Funds has been provided for him to study in one the best University in the world .He has also raised over 2 million dollars worth of grant to start a mentorship program for Young Africans all over the world. At age 20 Kennedy is already making waves around the world. source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/03/20-year-old-nigerian-honored-by-queen.html

The dead dog A dog has been sent to an early grave after attacking and biting a pupil to death earlier today in Port-Harcourt, River state. The unfortunate incident happened along Tessy road in Rumuagholu, off Rumuokoro area in the state capital as the young boy was bitten to death by the rampaging Rottweiler dog. It was gathered that the security guard at the house where the dog lived, opened the gate for the dog and it ran straight to a primary school (without fence), and attacked a pupil of the school. The dog was said to have also pounced on another child and bit her in the buttocks before an angry policeman shot the dog to death as claimed by Chuks Bune who recorded the incident. The second victim is receiving treatment at Spring Rose Hospital along Rumuagholu road. Report has it that the guard of the house where the dog escaped from has been arrested by the police. See more photos: source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/03/rottweiler-dog-shot-dead-aft...

Everything you need to live well Nigerian fuji icon, Pasuma has combined his superstar music status with that of pop star, Davido on his latest crossover attempt, “Amen”. The Fuji musician has been consistently flirting with the Pop/Hip-hop community for years in a bid to make his brand of Fuji more diversified and appealing to the younger generation who are non-Fuji fans. There have been times in the past when he has also mentioned putting out a pop project, so this latest collaboration comes as no form of surprise to music lovers. ‘Amen’ is produced by Rexxie, and is an impressive record as the duo give thanks to God for everything that has come their way. Listen to the new song below: source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/03/pasuma-joins-forces-with-davido-on-amen.html

Lagos – The police in Lagos have arrested a self-confessed Yahoo boy (fraudster) for cutting his supposed lover’s tongue in an attempt to kill her after hipnotizing and defrauding her of over N2 million. Recounting her ordeal on Wednesday in Lagos, the victim said she became hipnotized after she was forced to wear the suspect’s underpants not knowing he had used same for rituals. *End of the road for suspected fraudsters According to her, the suspect conspired with her neighbour and others at large to perpetrate the evil act against her. The victim, a 32-year-old physiotherapist with National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, said she met the suspect in January 2018 inside a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) from Ikorodu to Lagos. “On that day, he gave me directions how to get to the state Police Headquarters and we exchanged contacts. We kept in touch for a while and he later told me he had an infection (Gonorrhea) which I treated him. “We became close and then lov...

The police in Lagos have arrested a 33-year-old man, Olawale Aderibigbe, for allegedly using stolen Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to loot victims’ accounts. Aderibigbe was arrested on Monday at Surulere, Lagos Mainland, where he went to withdraw money from a victim’s account, with a stolen ATM card. Parading the suspect at the command headquarters in Ikeja yesterday, Commissioner Zubairu Muazu said the police got credible intelligence in January on the activities of a criminal syndicate that specialised in robbing people of their ATM cards. He said Aderibigbe confessed to the crime, adding that efforts were on to arrest fleeing members of the syndicate. Explaining how he used his victims’ ATM cards to fleece them, he said he could transfer funds from any ATM once he has information about the card owner. He said: “I do not require pin to effect withdrawal of money from a victim’s account using his/her ATM card. All I need is to have any information about the victims ...

says one out of 10 women has endometroisis By Ebunoluwa Sessou Dr. Abayomi Ajayi is a Nigerian Obstetrician/Gynaecologist. He is also the Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos which pioneered the Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Injection, IMSI in Nigeria; the clinic specialises in In-Vitro Fertilization, IVF and treatment of infertility. Dr. Abayomi Ajayi In this interview, he speaks on the emergence of endometriosis and its effect on young women in their early thirties. According to him, one out of 10 women is presented with endometriosis which has affected many marriages the world over. The journey to Endometriosis world I had a patient who had cough for 18 months, unfortunately, there was no solution to it until she started coughing blood and the surgeon said her chest would be pierced because it was revealed through an X-ray that the drug she was using was not going to its location so he  suggested that the chest be cut open. The lady used...

Everything you need to live well Born on this day in 1947, Chief Pete Edochie is a veteran Nollywood actor who is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s living legends as far as the entertainment industry is concerned. The screen star of Igbo descent was born in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria but had his primary and secondary school education in Northern Nigeria in Kaduna state. Following the completion of his formal education, the multiple award-winning star worked the Nigerian Railway Corporation. He later returned to his studies to pursue a course in Journalism and Television at the School of Journalism and Television in England. His sojourn into the world of film began when he left the Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (ENBC). He joined the outfit in 1967 as a junior programmes assistant at the age of 20 but later rose to the level of a director. As the Director of programmes, he sometimes had to double as deputy managing director and occasionally as acting Managing Director. ...

Pupils in overcrowded classroom The emotional and physical challenges occasioned by overcrowding in Nigeria’s public schools are well-documented in various surveys and studies. In this piece, Head, Education Desk, Iyabo Lawal, explores other consequences of overcrowded classrooms in the country. Wearied eyes, their brows drip with sweat. The sweltering weather was worsening but they remained packed in a classroom that could hardly contain them waiting for the teacher to arrive. The noon sun worsened even more and by now the young scholars were wiping the sweat off their faces with the sleeves of their uniforms. By now, the collars of their uniforms have become blackened by the accumulation of sweat at the nape of their necks. By the time the teacher entered the classroom, the students were already red-eyed, struggling to stay awake. In a couple of minutes, beads of sweat began to form on the brow of the teacher. He dabbed his face with a white handkerchief. He grabbed a book f...

Alex Ferguson joined dressing-room celebrations as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Manchester United’s momentous victory at PSG as a triumph of incredible self-belief. Manchester United delivered the biggest surprise of the European season so far, earning a remarkable last-gasp 3-1 victory at PSG to advance on away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate scoreline. The Red Devils’ interim manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, had talked up an unlikely comeback for his team coming into this fixture despite losing the first leg 0-2 at Old Trafford. But interim chief Solskjaer still refused to accept he will land the job full-time despite inspiring one of United‘s greatest ever nights in the Champions League. The Norwegian praised Marcus Rashford‘s lack of nerves in taking the 93rd minute penalty – awarded on VAR – which sealed a 3-1 victory and a quarter-final spot on away goals. And Solskjaer was delighted “boss” Fergie – plus fellow legend Eric Cantona – popped in to share the rejoicing aft...

pregnancy Weight loss, a term many women are conversant with. You have either been on a weight loss journey, are presently on one, or will be on one in the near or far future. Societal pressure aside, sometimes a girl just wants to look good and feel great, nothing is wrong with it. Imagine being on, or planning to get on a weight loss journey, and then you realise you are pregnant. That can seem like a little glitch on your good news, but it is wrong for you to desire to know if you can lose weight when pregnant, without the foetus being affected. First thing I would like to state is that pregnancy is not the time to embark on a weight loss journey indiscriminately. I say ‘indiscriminately’ because on some unusual occasions, a doctor would advise a pregnant woman to shed some weight, and this would usually have some direct connection with safety of her life or that of her baby, never for aesthetics. For example, being obese and pregnant increases the risk of many complications...