₦airaland Forum

Super Eagles defender Taye Taiwo has reportedly rejected an extended contract offer from Marseille.

According to La Provence on Wednesday, the development has heightened rumours that the former Lobi Stars player could be ready to switch away from Stade Velodrome this summer.

Though Marseille coach Didier Deschamps wants to keep him at the club, Taiwo is likely to be unhappy with his relative lack of game-time last season. He was pushed behind Gabriel Heinze in the pecking order and was hence restricted as to when he enjoyed time on the field.

Initial rumours suggested that the club were ready to offload the powerful 25-year-old this summer but Deschamps has appeared in the press on more than one occasion in recent weeks indicating that he wants to keep the Holland 2005 U-20 World Cup revelation at the club.

Marseille‘s hand may now have been forced by Taiwo, who has rejected the notion of adding extra time to his present deal, which is due to expire in a year‘s time. Able to discuss terms with any club of his choosing in January, the full-back could leave OM for nothing in less than 12 months.

Les Phoceens may well opt to sell now, with Atletico Madrid hot on the tail of Taiwo and ready to launch a €5 million bid for the 39-times capped player.

Thus far the club has not commented on such speculation. (Punch News)

What's coming out of that vuvuzela?

China Phone. Its pretty ridiculous

The Minister would fix it in less than a month. There are quick fix!

New Lagos

That money would go a long way in fixing power challenge in the Country

List them here

Get a nice suitcase, and u are done!

'Let sleeping dog lie'

Are people still studying in Jos?? Get info here- http://www.unijos.edu.ng/

Closing date?

Where's the London Office?

Jobs! Jobs!! Jobs!!

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER in its insurance subsidiary.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS-
• Graduates in any field of study from a reputable institution
• MBA/Professional qualification(s) in insurance (e.g. ACII)
• 15 years post qualification experience, including five years experience in the insurance industry and at least five years experience at executive management level.
• Strategic networking skills at the highest level in the private and public sector
• Understanding of the application of risk management in the context of insurance business
• Sound knowledge of regional and global trends in the insurance industry as well as an understanding of the key macroeconomic drivers
• Good communication and Leadership skill

TO APPLY-
Quote ES00540 as the subject of your email and send your current curriculum vitae (prepared as a Microsoft Word Document, and saved with your full names), a statement of how you meet our selection criteria, and the names and contact details (including telephone and e-mail addresses) of the three referees who are knowledgeable about your professional achievements and abilities to us at recruitment@ng.kpmg.com not later than 20 July 2010.

That happens. Dont try it sha!

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun. [FUPRE] is admitting students into various departments.You are required to complete an online application form online, visit- http://fupre.edu.ng/utme2010/

Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) Post UTME Screening Date - Saturday July 17th, 2010

Visit- http://iuokada.edu.ng/

Diego What?

Most school has Scholarship opportunities for post graduate studies. Ask and you would be given

Although it is fashionable for Nigerian public office holders to clamor for a pay rise, President Barack Obama of the United States didn’t get a raise last year — nor did most of his senior staff.

That is according to the White House’s latest salary list, which reports a nearly $39 million annual package. This year, the White House has made the report, which it files with Congress every year, available online for the first time. The list itemizes the salary and title of every employee of the White House, except for the vice president’s office, which is technically an arm of the Senate. The pay sheet also doesn’t include Obama, whose $400,000 annual salary is regulated by Congress. According to the latest study, the White House currently employs 469 people — down 17 positions from 2009.

There are few changes in the report from last year, in part because Obama capped the salaries of any employee making more than $100,000 a year. According to the White House, employee salaries range from $21,000 to nearly $180,000 a year.
Twenty-three top aides, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, press secretary Robert Gibbs, speechwriter Jon Favreau, White House counsel Bob Bauer and senior advisers David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, make the top full-time staff salary of $172,200. (Two health-care policy “detailees” — Michael Hash and Timothy Love — make $179,700.) By comparison, Vice President Joe Biden makes roughly $230,000 a year, according to Senate records.

White House social director Juliana Smoot makes $150,000. That’s $37,000 more than her predecessor, Desiree Rogers, who left the administration not long after a scandal involving party-crashers at a state dinner in December. Former Duke basketball star Reggie Love still makes just over $100,000 as President Obama’s body man. Not on the list: actor Kal Penn, who left his job in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement on June 1 to film the third sequel in the "Harold & Kumar" film series.
Most so-called rank-and-file members of the White House staff pull in an average income between $40,000 and $60,000 — including dozens of “staff assistants,” press aides, analysts and researchers. Three people are listed as working for free.(Thisday)

Its closing on Monday

Trouble is not yet over with the sacked principal officers of the Nigeria Football Association as the Eagles’ former Chief Coach, Shaibu Amodu yesterday served disengagement notice claiming over N22 million as outstanding dues.

A dependable source said yesterday that Amodu, who was re_deployed to handle the home_based Eagles after the NFA has hired Lars Lagerback to take the Eagles to the 2010 World Cup, was not paid all his bonuses for World Cup qualifying matches.

It was learnt that $30,000 was paid leaving outstanding of $90,000. His medical bills, running into about $4,500 have not been settled.
While explaining, the source claimed that, Amodu’s monthly salary for the months of May, June and July 2010 put at N6 million as well as outstanding refund of his air ticket of about N600,000 has not been paid.

It was gathered that the former Eagles’ handler yesterday served the notice of his second annual leave as a process of disengaging from his contract.

The source said, Amodu insisted that his dues should be paid him since his services were no longer required by the NFA.
“There are many outstanding claims in US dollars and local currency. The outstanding bonus from the qualifying matches and medical bills is $94,500 and the outstanding salaries from May to July 2010 and several other claims is over N8.49 million”, the source said.

The arm of the law may be closing in on former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Intercontinental Bank Erastus Akingbola as the Federal Government has made an extradition request to the British authorities.
This follows a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which is pursuing the case against Akingbola and other bank CEOs.

Akingbola has been on the run since last year when he and other bank CEOs were unceremoniously removed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over allegations of mismanaging their banks.
He is said to be taking refuge in the United Kingdom.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Alhaji Mohammed Bello Adoke formally sent the request to the Secretary of UK Home Office.

Nigeria wants the country's co-operation in the arrest and extradition of Akingbola, so that he can face trial for charges relating to fraud allegedly committed by him at the bank.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY, was dated July 1, 2010 with reference: DPPA/EXT/149/10.
In making the request, the AGF, in the letter titled: “Request for Arrest and Extra-dition of Erastus Akingbola (former MD/CEO of Interconti-nental Bank Plc) to Stand Trial in Nigeria,” explained: “The request for the extradition is made pursuant to the Extradition Act (Designation of Part 2 Territories) Order 2003 (SI2003 No.3334) of the United Kingdom”.

The request was supported with an affidavit deposed to by a Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC Ibeakaku Nkechi Rita and a certification signed by Senior State Counsel of the Federal Ministry of Justice. Ahmed T. Almakura.
The AGF prayed the Home Secretary to grant the request in the interest of justice.

Following the August 20, 2009, release of the joint examination results on 10 banks that was carried out by the CBN and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Intercontinental Bank was found in "grave financial situation" alongside four other banks – Union Bank, AfriBank, Oceanic Bank and FinBank.
The CBN sacked the executive management of the five banks, having indicted them for the mismanagement of the assets of the banks.

Akingbola averted arrest by the EFCC and physical prosecution at the law court by escaping abroad.
However, he was slammed a 28-count charge for offences of financial misappropriation, money laundering, financial malpractices, corrupt practices and other related offences at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
According to the letter addressed to the Home Secretary, Adoke said Nigeria would be grateful to the authorities of the UK if the extradition request is granted in the interest of justice.

The letter stated: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the central authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the assurances of its highest regards and reciprocity.
"Mr Erastus Akingola is charged with a 28-count charge for offences of financial misappropriation, money laundering, financial malpractices, corrupt practices, and other related offences at the federal high court Lagos.”

But Akingbola’s Public Affairs Counsel Charles Nwajagu, said the move to extradite the former Intercontinental boss is new.
He said: “The submission was made to the British Home Secretary last year. But when the UK government reviewed the case, they decided not to go ahead with it because the claims could not be substantiated,” he said.

Justice Tijani Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Lagos had last December, ordered the freezing of the accounts of Akingbola for total offences amounting to the tune of N346 billion and £10 million.
Also ordered to be frozen by the court pending the final determination of the 28-count charge filed against him, were the accounts belonging to Akingbola’s wife, his companies and those of his agents

The anti-graft commission had sought among other things, the hearing of the originating motion within the shortest possible time to prevent Akingbola from dissipating the assets. (Thisday Online)

Software?

As a nation, we are at a crossroads. Many have cried, written and shouted about the collapse of everything in Nigeria, yet our leaders and people in power continue to tell us that ours is a great nation, with good people.

It is a fact that man was created with greatness inside him, but he must harness the potential of greatness for such greatness to show. Our beloved country is not just fast becoming the dirt of the earth, but it is holding the position of the nation of dirt.

Here we are unveiling a logo to celebrate 50 years of freedom that is not clear to us all. The basic tenets around milestone celebration is also an opportunity to reflect on state of affairs with the individuals or parties involved, but our case does not seem to be so.

While it is good to show that we have freedom, can we start asking ourselves certain fundamental questions about the nationhood? What could be the reason why we behave in such a manner that shows that we are under a very high degree of mental slavery?

Dora Akunyili, minister of Information, has tried her best to sell the nation to the world while ignoring that basic principle of sales or branding as she will like it called, where we do not seem to appreciate our situation and only feels that the people outside will appreciate us better, thus the huge spend on talking to the outsiders in the name of promoting the Nigeria Brand.

The Nigerian brand is not clear on its reason for being amongst the comity of nations. Yes, we are scoring good points in the new icon of our democracy in Goodluck Jonathan, who paid a visit to the United States and several other countries and recently the appointment of Attahiru Jega as the new INEC chairman, a man considered to have the right level of integrity for the position.

No matter the commendations that had been hurled at the President, it is important at this point of the nation's 50th anniversary jamboree for us to take a critical look at Nigeria as a country as well as a brand. A country or brand stands for something very significant and the big question is about what we stand to represent as a country. In the mind of Nigerians, it is very difficult and not clear where we stand or what we stand for as everyone seems interested in his belly. It is very important that we look at one of the greatest tools of nation-building - Education, a tool that is very significant to the development of the future generation.

It is no longer news that our educational system is on the downward trend (the statistics are very scandalous), but the biggest shock is that since arriving at such a situation, what we have heard from the Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Rufa'I, is a need for a national conference on education to address the situation when we all know the reason for the situation.

Neither the House of Representatives nor the state Houses of Assembly is yet to say a concrete word on the educational challenges, but what we see on national television is the greed of a collective sect that has succeeded in holding onto power as democratically elected individuals, but they are more interested in how well they can enrich their families.

At 50, should we not know where we are going? Are we not intelligent enough to draw up a direction for the development of this nation and then follow it up with positive actions? Rather than focus on today, we should think and act more with the purpose of what tomorrow should be for the generation yet unborn, we have heard stories of countries saving for the future of the unborn generation, but our case is so different. We are more concerned about which part of the country rules the nation than how to build the country into nationhood.

In the life cycle of branding, a brand is either in one stage of life such as introduction, growth or decline. This country is not found in any of the stages by the standard measurement involved due to the simple fact that we are yet to move from the starting block of introduction since 1960.

Education is used as one parameter of measurement and we are found wanting in everything, yet we are spending heavily on logo designs and the external values of branding instead of taking a look at the things that make brands great beyond the colours and images. The internal content, the values and attributes that make us all want to associate with, Coca-Cola, United Kingdom and America. We have neglected our hospitals and other social amenities that could make the average Nigerian believe in the country, yet the minister of Information is working hard to sell the nation to the citizens.

'First thing first,' says Steven Covey in his book, 'Seven habits of highly effective people.' As a nation, we will continue to march at the same point with so many activities until we decide to review our values in every area, including governance that is now the most attractive business. When nations are talking about cut down in various areas, our leaders are talking about increase in allowances.

God bless us and help us to know that the principles that govern life can never change and Isaac Newton's law states it clearly that "to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." And better put by our Lord Jesus Christ, "Whatever a man sows, so shall he reap." What are we sowing for the future generation? Akonte Ekine, lead strategist/CEO of Absolute PR Ltd, a Lagos-based brand and reputation management firm. (Business day Online)

Interesting!

Not all that glitters is GOLD!!

A new world champion would be crowned in Sunday’s final at the Soccer City Stadium as Spain, yesterday, surged into their first appearance in a World Cup final, after edging out three-time champions, Germany 1-0, in a semifinal match in Durban.

Spain, who are the current European champions, play Holland in a final, that neutrals would savour. It promises to be a great feast of free-flowing attacking football from both finalists. None of them had won the World Cup before. This makes the 2010 World Cup unique.
A second-half goal from Barcelona defender Carles Pujol brought Spain a deserving reward for the consistent  pressure in their showdown against Germany.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque brought in midfielder Pedro in place of Fernando Torres who had failed to show his old sharp-shooting form after returning to action only just in time for the World Cup after knee surgery.
Pedro’s inclusion meant a lone role up front for David Villa, the World Cup’s five-goal top scorer.
The switch very nearly brought an early goal. In the sixth minute Pedro threaded a pass into the German defence, Arne Friedrich let the ball run, not realising how fast Villa was closing in behind him. Villa reached the ball just ahead of Manuel Neuer but his stab at a shot ricocheted away off the goalkeeper’s legs.

Spain were looking far more fluid and aggressive than in any of their earlier games. Xavi and Andres Iniesta were enjoying the freedom of midfield but Carles Pujol powered a diving header over the bar after Iniesta fired in a high-speed cross following a Xavi corner on the right.
Within minutes Kroos should have scored. He ran in, unmarked, on to a left-wing chipped cross from Lukas Podolski only to see Spanish captain Casillas drop alertly to the ground to beat the shot away.

That proved a crucial save. In the 73rd minute Spain attacked yet again, won yet another left-wing corner and this time saw Xavi’s kick headed home unstoppably by Pujol, charging late into the penalty box to rise above opponents and team-mates alike. (Vanguard News)