₦airaland Forum

edicolove:
@Hangout
Thanks for your response. just a few remarks. first i am not necessarily comparing Wizkid to the likes of PSquare and Tuface. I only rate him on current market play and attention. He is still an upcoming artist and has a lot to prove b4 he can really be rated. Next, yes I said he shut Iceprince down. It is normal for a hit song to come out and shut down a previous hit. it happens all over the world. Conga So shut down do me. Do me shut down Yahoozee. it is normal in the industry. that is why artists are careful when they release their album, because if you release your album at a time when another major hit is released, you might not get good attention. For your info, Iceprince has since released another single/video and it aint even scratching a thing. The guy cant rap to save his life. Brymo killed Oleku not Iceprince. He is a terrible rapper. He should go back and receive lessons from MI. He looks so confused on stage. Of course Wizkid songs are full of autotune and i hate it, but the guy has got a unique voice and stands out for now. lets see if he can hold it for long.

@henry101. how many countries have you been to,? I have been to over 8 African countries including south Africa. Please b4 you comment, you must be sure of what you are saying. In south Africa, the only Nigerian artists that have done a major profile feature on SABC and ETV are Asa and Femi. DSTV is not as big in SA as it is in Nigeria. Most of the hotels I have stayed in SA dont even have DSTV. Both in Pretoria, Joburg and Capetown. Naeto C and Shasha are almost as big as PSquare in SA largely because storm records have a good network there. Then you can also mention Dare. PSquare are more popular in East Africa and West Africa. You must also understand that the Nigerian genre is not a major Genre in these areas. SA is mostly pop and rock. kwaito is a fusion from pop. Most other southern African countries are reggae inclined. You just watch Nigerian TV stations tell you funny stuff. Ask anyone in Europe if Tuface can fill a small hall for a concert. Fally Pupa and Awilo fills large auditorium. The biggest artists from Africa are still the francophone artists. Baba Mal, Yosoune dour, Salif Keita, Omo sangare, etc. The only thing going for Nigerians is that we have large Nigerian communities in many of these countries and thats where our artists get some good patronage. Apart from that, they will not do well abroad. I have already mentioned the Nigerians artists that are really big outside. Asa closed down a whole street in france during a concert. Dr alban holds down Stadia in europe. Ayo is currently blazing in Europe and Nneka was on tour with lady gaga and Beyonce and others early this year. I am not telling you this because i love the artists, I am just giving you useful info. you can google and get more facts.

Just to add. From my travels, i found out that our biggest celebrities are our home video actors and actresses. Aki and paw paw closed down the airport in Uganda. Genevieve is very big across Africa, and many other actors too. I am saying this with a little sour taste in my mouth because i am not a fan of our home videos because i think they are crap. but i am simply telling it as it is.

French African's concert are always big in europe, no dispute but P square and tuface hold down Africans(West, East, Central and South).
The remaining sentence in bold is known to everybody.

REALITY101:
Because she knw you have nothing valuable to do with your life and time. . IMO no offense bruv

In two years, Prof Okolo re-launches Nigeria’s premier institution to global reckoning
From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu
nk4caleb@yahoo.com
Saturday, July 30, 2011


More Stories on This Section

When two years ago, Prof Bartho Okolo mounted the saddle as the new vice chancellor of the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), he did set a new vision and mission for himself and the institution. Being an insider and one who has been putting on the UNN’s shoe, he knew what the institution wanted.
The idea to establish the institution was mooted in 1955 when a law to establish a university in the Eastern Nigeria was passed. But the university was formally opened on October 7, 1960, as one of the landmark events to mark Nigeria’s independence with Her Royal Highness, the Princess Alexandra of Kent, who represented Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11 performing the opening ceremony and laying the foundation stone of one of the university’s early buildings.
One of the founding fathers of the university, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, had then wished that the institution would grow to have the best in academics and infrastructure on the African continent. And, indeed, the university took off in that light until in the early 90s when it started to degenerate and was littered with abandoned projects.
But when Prof Chinedu Nebo became the vice chancellor, in 2004, he set the stage to reclaim the lost glory of the university, a stage Prof Okolo sharpened and launched effectively. To re-launch the university to its prime position on the continent, as well as make it rank top globally, Prof Okolo set, as his vision statement: “To create a functional, global competitive and research focused University of Nigeria, which is not just an ivory tower, but also responsive to the needs of society while delivering world-class education and knowledge.”
In his mission statement, he also vowed: “To place University of Nigeria in the forefront of research and development, innovation, knowledge transfer and human resource development in global academic terrain, while promoting the core values which will ensure the restoration of the dignity of man.”
Thus when the administration of Prof Okolo turned two years on June 9, Saturday Sun went to the premier university to gauge the extent he had delivered on his pledge.
From the main gate of the university, it became obvious that things have changed for the better in UNN. The environment has returned to the serene state it used to be, sparkling with greenish landscape and well planned walkways.
Part of the projects visited, the workers were seen on site making frantic efforts to deliver on their completion deadline.
And, indeed, the students and members of staff of the institution, who spoke with Saturday Sun were unanimous in their verdict that Prof Okolo has delivered in all fronts.

The students
For Ekene Osuji, a final year student of Department of Psychology, the change in the university in the last two years is one that is making him to have a feeling of nostalgia already.
Hear him: “With the change I have seen in the university, I feel like not leaving again because I would like to stay around to savour more the ambient environment, but unfortunately, I have to graduate.
“The hostels are wonderful now; it wasn’t like this two, three years ago, I lived in the hostels in my first year and it wasn’t like this, but now they have renovated the whole place; the toilet ends are now okay; the rooms furnished and windows now changed to Almaco. There are a lot of changes; students are thanking the new VC for a work well done.”
Osuji also told Saturday Sun that there were great “changes in our library, which we have not seen before; they have re-designed everywhere in such a way that the library is now conducive for the students,” adding, “the new administration has done very well in the area of making sure students have facilities that would help them upgrade their knowledge base.”
Also, Emerisia Aniobi, a final year student of Public Administration and Local Government, corroborated what her schoolmate, Osuji. She said there have been major changes in the renovation of the hostels, physical facilities in terms of flowers, water and equipping the library.
According to her, the university was quite fine when she came in, in her first year, “but as time goes on there were many renovations and innovations, particularly in the last two years when this new VC came in.”

The Deputy VC
A more detailed account of the gains of the university in the last two years came from the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof Isaac U. Asusu, who told Saturday Sun that so much has happened in the last two years.
He said: “Before the inception of this administration, there was general apathy, in terms of academic work. I mean research and teaching, because of things that had happened in the past. But just before the inception of this administration, Prof Chinedu Nebo did a lot, and this new administration has built on what he started and done more in terms of academics.
“Since two years, we have sent out a good number of our staff for training and development; a good number has gone for PhD work in different parts of the world and a good number has also gone for short training, six months and so on and it has been a yearly thing now for people to go and come back and in that sense we have really injected much into our academics.
“We have also gone into collaborations with a good number of high-caliber institutions abroad; we have over 20 to 25 collaborations in the past two years with universities in the United States, Britain, Asia; their staff will be coming and our own staff will also be visiting them and we believe that as we rub ideas, it will help us to improve on what we have here.”
He also disclosed that before Prof Okolo came into office, Internet service in the university was a difficult thing, “but when we came in, we had to invite Google International and they came and worked out with us a kind of ICT facility that we want and today, I make bold to tell you that we have one of the best ICT facility in any of the universities in the country.”
Asked why they were investing in ICT, he said: “We have started the provision of wireless Internet and you can now browse wherever you are because we believe that staff and students should be able to get information online; now you can access the library outside here and without that kind of facility academic cannot prosper.”

Prof Asusu also said they have make giant strides in other areas, as their classrooms are now being digitalized.
His words: “In the past, it was not like that; we are changing the seats, refurbishing the labs and digitalising the classrooms; we have whiteboards in some places, electronic boards for teaching. Right now, if you go to the General Studies (GS) you will see the kind of work going on there, the whole place is being refurbished, all the seats have been removed, we have scratch-free seats being installed, all the floors tiled so that the place will look like a school. If you also look at our environment, you will see that there are a lot of changes because we believe that when people are in the right environment then studying wouldn’t be a burden; you can see modern footpaths, flowers and tiling of floors just to make sure we give people a good enabling environment to stay and study.”
Asked to compare the University of Nigeria with others in the world, he said; “We still have a long way to go anyway, when you talk of comparing ourselves with other universities in the world, but we have gone far. However, we are not comparing ourselves with universities in Nigeria anymore; we are comparing ourselves with universities outside Nigeria. And part of these collaborations we have with them will bring a lot of changes to us, we have gone far really.”
According to the DVC, the new initiatives were borne out of the resolve of the Prof Okolo-led administration to ensure that graduates from UNN compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
“Definitely, these things are being done for them because we know that with the provision of these facilities the quality of our graduates will definitely improve and we are beginning to see it in the number of first class honours we are beginning to get and I want to let you know that since the inception of this administration, certificates are given to students at their graduation day, that was stopped many years ago, but under this administration as you graduate, your certificate is handed over to you and this has helped our graduates a lot because a lot of them in the past had graduated without certificates, they went out with Statement of Results and it has caused them a lot of problems, some have lost their jobs, others thrown out because after some time the employer will say that this man that is always showing us Statement of Result, where is your certificate?”
However, Asusu disclosed that in re-building the university their major challenge has been paucity of fund.
“There is always paucity of fund to take care of our needs, particularly lecturers who want to go for conferences outside the country because we believe that conferences are very important because conferences are where you rub minds with your colleagues and you come back with a lot of knowledge; so, we need money to support our staff to attend international conferences, though we are doing so much in that area, I think more can still be done,” he said.

The librarian
Giving an insight into the university library touted to be the biggest in the sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Mike Okwuchukwu Okoye, deputy university librarian, told Saturday Sun that a lot had been done in the library in the last two years.
Hear him: “Apart from the building, which you are seeing, we have got new shelves, new chairs and we have a new librarian, Mr. Mogwu, who is a digital librarian to the core. This library is a model; so many of us here not computer literate before are now computer literate and some of us who have not been attending conferences are now attending conferences.

He said: “In fact, about two years ago when there was this Nigerian Library Association (NLA) conference, out of about 12 papers presented, this library took six and left only six for the other libraries in the country, that was a conference that was attended by all universities’ librarians in the country, including all the polytechnics, all the colleges of education and last year out of about 13 papers presented people from here took five and this year again we have just came back from the conference; and out of about 39 papers presented, UNN took about 16; so you can see the progress from nowhere to somewhere.
“In terms of facilities, we now have computers; we have a computer library, which was not there before; it was established around August last year and some staff of Chevron, who are ‘lions’ and ‘lionesses,’ gave us 100 pieces of computers. Out of that, we took 50 to start the computer lab and sent 40 pieces to our Enugu Campus. And the Vice Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, has promised another 2,000 computers and we have mapped out a place at the topmost floor of this building we will have our visual library section.”
Okoye believes the digitalised library has helped the UNN students tremendously, as they now come to the library to browse free of charge, saying that it was a good effort to boost the university academic venture as the use of only books are no longer in vogue in tertiary institutions. He pointed out that students now get information direct from the Internet to write their term papers, thesis and dissertations.
He said: “It may please you to know that we are using a gigantic generator here to augment whatever we are getting from the PHCN in power supply and this library has been connected to the national grid. So, we are not afraid of any electricity problem because whenever the PHCN fluctuates, we put on the generator and with the 24 hours supply of light we are going to render 24-hour service in this library soon; so that students will have no complaint to make anymore. We are quite aware that some students like reading at nights; so this place will be made comfortable for them to read. In fact, efforts are being made for us to run three shifts here in the library; some staff will come in the morning, another set in the afternoon and another at night.
“The impact of the new library is much on the students and staff. Right now, we have established what we call consultancy services; each librarian is a consultant to one faculty. By this, we go to the staff in different departments and get their research areas and come here and go to the Internet and access all the materials, the documents, titles relevant to that research interest of the scholar and send it back to the staff, So, they do not have cause to say I don’t have materials to work on because we provide them with more than they need and that is done for all the lecturers.
“As for the students, as you came in you could see the students at the porters’ point there searching items on the Internet free of charge; those who do not know how to search, the librarians teach them. In fact, the last crop of students who came in were taught by our staff; we allow them to do their browsing there and with their pen and paper they write down whatever they like. It is on for now till 10 o’clock when the library closes.”

He said that the two years of Prof Okolo at UNN has been fantastic, pointing out that he has done a lot in the library, particularly in the area of its environment. “If you happen to come here in the evening, you would love to stay here overnight; you can see the water spring over there; in fact, students stay there to take photographs, especially during the convocations and matriculations. The VC has done quite a lot in beautifying the place and strengthened some people to travel overseas to do their research work. He usually tells us that he would want to make this place look like his university abroad where he read his PhD and he is actually doing that by renovating everywhere,” the deputy librarian said.

Institute of education
Another area, where the Okolo administration has excelled in the university is the Institute of Education. A senior lecturer and acting director of Institute, Dr Kamaru Usman, told Saturday Sun that the administration has done so well in the area of upgrading the institution.
Usman said: “We have two buildings, one newly constructed about four years ago by the Sandwich students with the support of the university; but this particular building here has been in existence for many years. We were before at the former MRS before we moved here, but this particular building was decked, it was not roofed, it was this administration that roofed it.

Then most of our doors that were becoming so bad were changed, including the windows. In terms of academic activities, we are holding our conference annually since the inception of this administration; we have executed a lot of grants and making a lot of contacts with external bodies. Of recent, we had an MoU signed by the university, we are part of the MoU with the Kentucky University, USA. We also had a visitor from one of the frontline universities in Britain who came to talk about forming an alliance with our Institute and we have had some programmes on gender and childhood education.”
He agreed that the new VC has brought great relief to the citadel of learning, as he pointed out: “People say seeing is believing; at times people address you the way you dress, even when you don’t have anything your outlook matters; the outlook of the university has really promoted our image.
“I wouldn’t lie; the man has really tried, except that the money is not flowing as it used to be; the money is not coming, but every other thing, discipline-wise, things are getting better; in academic, we are at good standard. Recently, we are listed third in Africa; so academically we are making progress.”
Also a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Greg Ezea, told Saturday Sun that his department got a face-lift from the administration of Okolo, as their building was re-roofed and the floors tiled with marbles.
Ezea said that the department was also given a digital TV for its studio and a 30 kva generator to ensure regular power supply.
Besides, he said that Okolo approved a PhD programme for the department and recruited eminent professors to run the programme.

Projects and municipal services
Saturday Sun also spoke with the man on whose shoulders rested the numerous renovation going on in the university, Dr. Anene Moneke, a senior special assistant to the VC on projects and municipal services, who summed up that the institution has become a one huge construction yard.
He said: “There are actually many projects going on here and most of the projects we are doing currently are the ones we are doing with internally-generated revenue. We have other projects, like the ETF project, which is a special and normal intervention, but what we have been trying to do is to use internally-generated revenue to start doing things in modules because everything we are doing is part of the general picture to create a positive learning environment. And we believe that because of the competitive demand on the available scarce resources we have to prioritise; but whatever you do let it be the general picture or goal of what you want to achieve.
“We know that without the students being here, we won’t be here, the students are the reason we are here; so, first of all, we want to recreate the learning environment to assist them achieve their goals in life and that was why we started with the hostels.

You can see that the hostels for a very long time were not touched; so we started by re-doing the toilet ends, after that we changed the windows, most of them were broken and all the roofs were leaking and we are also doing the landscaping of the hostel areas and when we finish we will paint. We are digitalising the classrooms; if you go to the GS, we have finished tiling all the classrooms, we have two big theatres we want to rehabilitate, we have restored the seats in the classrooms, and all the classrooms will now get smart boards for teaching. There are a lot of things still going on; I see the place as a worksite, maybe in the next one year everything will start coming out because there are so many things going on at the same time.

“I must also say that it is, one, to have vision, two, being determined to drive your vision to fruition; I think that is actually what is propelling the vice chancellor; at times he doesn’t take no for an answer, he believes definitely that as you are trying to achieve your goal you are going to come across a lot of problems, but you should think about the solutions.

“We have had challenges, but once these challenges come up we are thinking about the solutions to move ahead. Like in the water and energy problems, they are now part of the routine because now I know that if the light goes off for five minutes everybody starts to call me, but before now for weeks running nobody will complain; it is a major determination of the administration to make sure that water and electricity, that is, municipal services are available at any time. We are not there yet, but we have made a lot of progress, trying to make sure that water and light are available 24\7.”

Moneke also said that the International Scholar Village being constructed would help them quarter scholars, who would come to the university to help build its academic content.
“Nobody grows in isolation; it is when you go out that you know exactly what other people are doing and most times try to imbibe the positive things they are doing. And the VC thinks that there is no way we can say that we are world-class university without having strategic alliances with other world-class universities all over the world.

He has been to a lot of places and we have entered into MoUs with these people and, of course, when these people come here they need a place to stay and we also know the kind of accommodation they offer us when we go there. So, he also decided that there is need for us to develop an area where we will put accommodation for these people who will come here to help develop our curriculum and academic content; that is what informed the development of the International Scholar Village,” he disclosed.

Before they came in two years ago, Moneke said that obviously the university was no longer an academic environment, as it was more like a commercial environment, having shanties here and there to the extent that some people were trading in the classrooms and offices.

“But right now, all the illegal structures, once we get to a place we want to develop, we remove the illegal structure; we are trying to recreate the vision of the founding fathers of the institution. Now, if you are driving through the campus, you will see people using the pedestrian walkways, before people didn’t know what pedestrian walkways are, but now they use them happily. In the next three years, here will never be the same again; people will be able to see what we have been able to do with the little resources at our disposal,” he promised.

Enugu Campus
The feat recorded by Prof Okolo was not only in the Nsukka campus of the university, as his secretary and communication manager, Mr. Gab Ndu, told Saturday Sun that he had equally achieved the same feat in the Enugu campus, where many projects are also ongoing.
According to Ndu, Okolo recently, in company of some principal officers of the university, the VC took an inspection tour of some ongoing projects at the Enugu campus.

Some of the projects inspected, he said, include, the Centre of Excellence for Business Studies, which will provide accommodation for postgraduate studies in business studies in the university, including Economics, Finance, Accountancy and Business Management. He said that the complex also includes a four-star hotel, which will provide accommodation for students that are expected to come from across the globe. The building sponsored by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to be completed in a few months time.

The other project visited by the team, he added, include the Centre for Environmental Management and Control (CEMAC) sponsored by the Shell Petroleum Development Company expected to be an international centre for research, training, teaching and consultancy on environmental matters.
Not done, after the inspection tour, he said that Okolo and his team retired to the Moot Court for a critique session on the design for the proposed new medical centre for the Enugu Campus.

He disclosed that the VC said the proposed medical centre would be a 120-bed hospital that would take care of the health needs of the students, staff and community neighbours, adding that the centre was one of the transformational projects aimed at making UNN a 21st Century institution.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/july/30/national-30-07-2011-12.html

edicolove:
@Hangout

First of all, you made way too many assumptions. I didnt say i hate all Nigerian music. I did list some examples of naija music i like, e.g. MI, Wizkid, Asa, Tuface, Waje, Nice, Flavour, the list is long. But i will still criticize them when they do crap. If they do well, i will praise them too. I just tell it as it is. i dont fake to make people happy. I dont know too much really like you said. I just know the normal thing. the problem is that way too many Nigerians know way below the normal thing. Anyone can just come on air and lie and there are no real statistics anywhere. That I say the album is trash is based on certain criteria. 1. They are not upcoming artists. they have a minimum standard they must attain. 2. Off course my opinion does not mean I may not listen to them once in a while but it doesn't burst my bubbles. and it doesnt mean some people will not buy the album. even the worst artists still sell CDs. But you must understand that criticisms are not meant to stop album sales. they are meant to improve the quality of the work from the artists. If you dont criticize them, they will spew crap over and over again. And please stop using the word hating. It is a crap gangsta word used in the ghettos. It is too demeaning. The word is criticizing and you should not be afraid of it except you dont trust yourself. When Tuface's "enter the place" album flopped, he was heavily criticized and his response was to go back to the studio and come out with a master piece. Only me and Implication and other tracks in that album was a brilliant way to respond to criticisms. On current rating, PSquare's Forever and Buleya are not doing well. They get good airplay because PSquare spends a lot on promotions. Alaba, Radio, TV. You notice they are doing a lot of promo for the album on sound city and others. PSquare dont normally do this. But they had to do it because the response is poor. From their last album, they havent been doing fine. The mistake the last time was to promote "Danger" first. It was a wrong move and they tried to correct it later but it already affected the album momentum. I am just giving you insider info of how the industry works. Wizkid is the rave right now and it will take[b] a very good album to shut him down[/b]. Notice how he shut Iceprince down? PSquare are popular of course[b] in some African countries like seria leone, kenya.[/b] But most of the shows they performed you saw on youtube, they performed as opening acts. The big Nigerian artists out there are Ayo, Nneka, Asa, Femi, Seun, Ara, before you start talking about Tuface and the rest. Only the ones I listed above hold regular concerts in europe and America. All others only perform in club shows. You can also add Ayefele to that list. Yes I said Ayefele. He did a 13 state tour in America. The highest audience PSquare had in their US tour was about 4 thousand people in New York which was great really. The other shows were flops.

Mehn you are so wrong.
P square, Tuface music cuts across the african continent.
Anywhere you see an African man including the west indies, P square songs reign supreme. Big yes.
I dont know where you get all ur deductions from but you are giving too much wrong information here.
Who knows wizkid? He's just like any up coming artist that still needs to do more work.
WTF? wizkid shut ice prince? haba,

marocguy:
i think chintua isnt stable, and bluetooth,dissapointing, u are beta than this man.
Ileke idi,pls advise chintua on the dangers of living a sad life,pls. Share experiences if you can. Thanks

One thing is sure about the Nigerian press.
Anything about Ojukwu is a quick and fast money racker for them.

I dont believe in negotiation now, first bombard their hideouts then return to the round table.

The immediate past Military Adviser and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations was Lt Gen Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, just retired some months back.
But I still doubt the strength about the Nigeria army.

[quote author=alj_harem link=topic=490918.msg8821444#msg8821444 date=1312040654]can you stop throwing insults and discuss like a man ok!

Now what is your problem ?[/quote]I am so glad you get the message now.
Peace.

[quote author=alj_harem link=topic=490918.msg8821361#msg8821361 date=1312039794]instead of calling me names why not address the issue

why can't it hit the front page?[/quote]Your stupidity no get part 2.
If in your life thats worth a fp, then there's a big problem.

seanet02:
We all know Nigeria can never be better until it is divided

Nigeria can never divide.
Any group that tries secede will see shege. Bombs and missiles this time.

[quote author=Rhino.5dm link=topic=722365.msg8819346#msg8819346 date=1312014541]Just listen to their latest crap called ALBUM. . .copy, edit and paste at its best. Thieving-wannabe-superstars.[/quote]Name one superstar in Nigeria and I will name all the hit songs of p square right from their 1st album to the recent.
They are made superstarzzzzzzz. Go die fool, nothing can change their superstar status.
Quit hating, it's eating up your immune system.

You know naija, evrything is hype, hype and hype.

I know you will never miss this thread.
Though not new but Big ups to UNN.

In as much Nigerians cry for electricity, are they ready for a nuclear plant?
Which town or city will host the plant? lol.

Someone said beside Aso rock or the National Assembly. Do you agree? lol.

BY VICTORIA OJEME
ABUJA — As part of efforts  to boost Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity, the Federal Government is set to sign an agreement with the Russian Federation that will culminate in the building of the nation’s first nuclear power plant.

Consequently, Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Ita Oko-Bassey Ewa, yesterday in Abuja, received a 7-man delegation from the Russian Federation, preparatory to the signing of a draft project implementation agreement between the two nations for the proposed nuclear power plant.

Ewa disclosed that the proposed power plant was a major component of the agreement between the two countries in 2009, saying” a draft project implementation agreement has been prepared and ready for signing”.

The Minister, who regretted the delay in the consummation of the agreement since 2009, assured that “follow up meetings are now being initiated to discuss modalities for its implementation.”

He noted that Nigeria was in dire need of diversifying its energy generation base as part of the overall goal of making the nation’s energy sufficient, adding that “government activated the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC, as the pivotal promotional agency to achieve the objective.

Speaking earlier, Director-General of the Russian State Corporation, RUSATOM, and leader of the delegation, Mr Nikolay Spassy, stressed that nuclear power plants were a safe method of generating electricity, assuring that the Russian Federation had an enviable record in the building of such plants.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/russia-to-build-nigerias-first-nuclear-power-plant/

BY EMEKA MAMAH

A Professor of Biotechnology, James Ogbonna has said “the future of man on earth depends to a great extent on Biotechnology because it potentially has solutions to all our problems,’’ including creating “human spare parts’’. Ogbonna spoke while delivering the 61 annual lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, yesterday.

He also said Biotechnology has been helping to ensure increase in crop and farm animal productivity as it has the potential of causing the production of enough food to feed the world.

He said although the ‘’use of human embryonic stem cell is controversial but adult stem cells are now isolated from the brain, intestine, hair, skin, pancreas, bone marrow, fat, teeth, muscle and blood,’’ pointing out that ‘’these adult stem cells are used to produce vital organs and less controversial.

His words: ‘’Can we now imagine a world with sufficient quality food for all, where there is no energy scarcity; with very clean and safe environment and ready cure for all diseases threatening human existence now?

‘’A world where human beings can decide to design and “produce” the type of human he needs on earth? A world where man will be living for 150 years or even longer?

‘’Biotechnology is saying that it is possible and has demonstrated some of these.

“It is now possible to produce crops that are resistant to various diseases and pests; that can mature much faster and produce higher yields even on poor soils; crops that are more nutritious with much longer shelf-life, bio-fortified food crops, diet food stuff for diabetic patients and people that require special diets, edible vaccines from plant sources; farm animals that grow faster, produce better quality meat, cow and other animals that produce large quantities of good quality milk, birds that lay more than two eggs every day, sheep that produce more and better quality wool.
‘’The application of Biotechnology has already led to several-folds yield increases in many plant species.

‘’Some of these crops/plant products have been commercialized, others are being tested in experimental farms while others are at various stages of development. It has been applied to crops like potato, rose, cotton, corn, tomato, rape seed, rice, wheat, barley, yam and tobacco.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/biotech-can-create-human-spare-parts-%E2%80%94-don/

Nigeria needs 200years to catch up with America.

BY MICHAEL EBOH
Lagos — The Federal Government has ordered Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to immediately commence the repair and rehabilitation of some failed sections of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, who gave this directive, yesterday, expressed concern over the frustration faced by commuters plying the road, considered as one of the busiest and most economically critical roads in the country, serving as gateway to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the Apapa ports.

Onolememen, in a statement said: “The Federal Government has directed Julius Berger to immediately commence emergency repairs on this failed section of Apapa-Oshodi road, by Rainbow end when going to Oshodi, so that members of the public can get a reprieve.

“The government is also concerned and worried about the frustration of commuters over this failed section of the road and has promised to attend to the problems urgently.”

Lagosians, and indeed, Nigerians, have faced untold hardship for years over the collapse of major sections of the road.
Commuters on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, are daily faced with potholes on the entire stretch of the roads and the threats posed by trailers and tankers on the road.

A couple of days ago, a tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of petrol fell, while trying to negotiate some of the bad spots on the road. This led to a gridlock for the whole of the day, bringing activities in the area and the entire state to a halt, as vehicles were barred from using the road for fear of igniting a fire outbreak.

This and many more are the woes of commuters on this road on a daily basis. The road has become a death trap for most unsuspecting drivers and there is hardly any day that passes without either a container falling or accidents of different kinds.

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, had in February absorbed itself of blame over the collapse of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, saying that it was not part of its mandate.

FERMA, through its spokesperson, Mrs. Maryam Sanusi, had said that rehabilitation of the road has already been awarded by the Federal Government to two construction companies, making it impossible for FERMA to undertake the repairs.

She said, “Oshodi-Apapa Expressway Section I (CH 0+000 to CH 7+000) has been awarded to Messrs. Borini Prono Nigeria Limited, and Oshodi- Apapa Expressway Section II (CH 7+000 to CH 23+000) awarded to Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the road under reference is under an existing contract and FERMA does not work on a road under construction or rehabilitation contract.

“Government’s decision to award the road for rehabilitation was borne out of a technical evaluation which indicated that only a complete rehabilitation of the route will ease the perennial problem of that section. This is considering the level of deterioration of the road.

“Construction and rehabilitation, the kind of remedy fit for Oshodi – Apapa Expressway, are major civil engineering works that are clearly outside FERMA mandate and the level of funding available to the Agency.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/fg-orders-julius-berger-to-begin-immediate-repair-of-apapa-oshodi-road/

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA – Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, will be honourned in Houston, the United States of America, next week, for his contribution to the growth and development of mankind, Nigeria and Edo State in particular.

Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora and Foreign Matters to the Governor, Mr Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma in a statement, said the Mayor of Houston, Anise Parker will present to Oshiomhole, the key to the city of Houston.

Agbonayinma who noted that the Mayor was recognising the governor for his contribution to the survival and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and Edo State as a labour leader as well as a governor, added that the honour was also based on the governor’s declaration of one man, one vote.

He disclosed that Governor Oshiomhole will receive the US congressional recognition, adding that former Senate President and present Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim had once be honoured by the Mayor of Houston.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/american-varsity-to-honour-oshiomhole/

BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA— AUTHORITIES of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where the ailing former Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu is receiving treatment, has debunked media reports that the Ikemba Nnewi’s condition had deteriorated, insisting that he is in a stable condition.

A statement signed by the hospital’s Public Relations Manager, Mr. Joe Wise, and made available to Vanguard read: “We have been requested by the family of General Odumegwu-Ojukwu to clarify newspaper reports regarding his stay as a patient at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

“General Odumegwu-Ojukwu was admitted to Royal Berkshire Hospital as an emergency patient from the Lynden Hill Clinic. He was suffering from a chest infection for which he received treatment. His condition is stable.”

“Contrary to reports published in a number of newspapers, the General has not suffered any further strokes; he is not on a life support machine and has not been on one at any time while a patient in the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The General’s treatment is being funded privately.

“Any further media enquiries should be directed to the public relations department, but further statements will only be issued at the request of the General’s family.”

Vanguard recalls that there was heightened tension in the country early this week following reports by some on-line publications that Ojukwu had a relapse.

However, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Bob Onyema debunked the report, describing it as the handwork of those who do not mean well for Igboland.

Senior special assistant to Governor Peter Obi on media and publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem said yesterday in Awka that since the governor observed that people were using Ikemba’s sickness for other purposes, he directed his aides not to make further comments on him. Rather, he said, people should always remember him in prayers.

Obienyem said Obi is solely responsible for Ojukwu’s medical bill, which, he said, the governor had refused to make public, adding that the governor’s assistance was that of a son to his father which should not be sensationalized for any reason.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/ojukwu-in-stable-condition-says-london-hospital/

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr Sam Saba, yesterday, warned all his board members and directors across the federation, to shun kickbacks from corrupt politicians, saying death would be better for anyone of them caught in the act.

Saba, who stated this at a one-day retreat organised for top officials of the CCB drawn from the 36 states of the federation, in Abuja, yesterday, decried what he termed an uncanny penchant by public office holders to short-change the government in their assets declaration form, noting that “the war against corruption in public service is far from being over.

“It is obvious that we shall continually face challenges in our operations given the nature of our mandate. However, how we view these challenges defines us.”

Do we choose to see the challenges as stepping-stones or as obstacles?

“I believe that the right choice for us in the Bureau is to choose to see challenges as opportunities along the way for us to use, so we can achieve more, develop further and ultimately actualise more of our goals.

“We therefore need to introduce new thinking and approach where feasible and we need to stop what isn’t working. In essence, the retreat is an avenue for soul searching, for us to talk to ourselves and to take a fresh look at our mandate and mode of operation.

We need to create a vision whereby our name becomes synonymous with excellence, innovation, honour, integrity, transparency, accountability and outstanding quality of service delivery. This simply means that we need to promise less and deliver more every time.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal Gunmi, yesterday, inaugurated the 8th Executive Committee of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Abuja branch.
The CJ, who performed the ceremony in his chambers yesterday, tasked the new FIDA Exco’s to ensure strict respect for the rule of law in their official conducts, stressing that they should shun acts capable of attracting scorn for the entire judiciary.

Those who took oath of office yesterday were, Mrs Iyabode Ognuseye as the new FIDA chairperson, Mrs Ozioma Izuora, Doris Ikpeze, Kate Okoli, Ngozi Ikenga, Ijeoma Alisi, Patience Okoh and Alheri Blessing.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/take-bribe-and-die-ccb-boss-warns-board-members/

Katsumoto:
Dude,

No one cares whether they were Anioma, Ngwa, Owerri, etc to you; to the rest of the world, they were Igbo. Plain and simple; you can't sort out the issue of who came from where amongst yourself. Quit debating like a dummy.

Also, you are a bloody liar.

Anuforo is from Imo
Chukwuka is from Nnobi in Anambra
Onwuategwu is from Nnewi, Anambra
Chude-Sokei is from Onitsha
Obienu is from Oba, Anambra
Oji (one of the original three planners) is from Umuahia, Abia.
Nzeogwu is from Okpanam, Delta
Ifeajuna is from Onitsha (u are correct about this)
Okafor is the only one I don't know where he comes from.
We all know Ademoyega is Yoruba, so no point. Whether he was Ijebu, Egba, Ekiti; he was a Yoruba son.

Aghaya was not a plotter; he was arrested but he wasn't prosecuted like a few others.

So it was the British that separated Onitsha from Asaba, and not River Niger? It appears you keep beating your record.


We are still waiting for the author of that crap you posted.


Yes he came back for more thrashing.

I think He's from Delta. ika to be precise. (Will confirm)

lol,

pek:
It was Ogbonna Onu that  first called Abia God's own state and his reason was because the name Abia appeared in the Bible. (cant remember the passage). this is not true. My uncle was the secretary to the committee in the creation of Abia state. ABIA acronmy of  Aba, Bende, Isikwuato and Abiriba. Your argument that it is from the 4 big LG does not hold water because Isiala Ngwa is far bigger than Isikwuato and Bende is very small. The elders chose the four towns i mentioned because they represent the four zones of present day Abia state.

I think you missing the point. Before the creation of Ebonyi state,
Aba represented Ngwa and Ukwa region,
Bende Region also had Arochukwu and Ohafia,
Isuikwuato had Isuochi and some parts of IMO.
Afikpo represented their region. Cant remember the names.
All these places were very large and had representattives.
With state creation, everything changed.

To address the poor power supply situation in the country, the Federal Government will spend about N881bn over the next three years. The huge capital outlay will cover areas such as generation, transmission and distribution, as well as exploitation of renewable energy sources, EMEKA EZEKIEL reports.



Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji



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The Federal Government is planning to spend N880.97bn on the power sector from now till 2013 as part of renewed efforts to guarantee adequate electricity supply to domestic and industrial users.

This is contained in a document on the Federal Government's proposed investment in the power sector, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent from the National Planning Commission in Abuja on Friday.

According to the report, the money is expected to be spent on power generation, transmission and distribution from regular sources and alternative energy sources.

A breakdown of the proposed expenditure indicates that N37.601bn will be spent on the overhaul and rehabilitation of seven existing power generation plants across the country; N314.180bn on the rehabilitation and expansion of transmission, distribution and infrastructure networks; N53.565bn on the construction of additional gas supply infrastructure and N27.688bn on the construction of coal-fired power plants in Enugu, Benue and Gombe states.

Similarly, N15.040bn will be spent on the construction of 215 megawatts Low Pour Fuel Oil powered generation plant in Kaduna; N786.22m on the construction of the 10MW Katsina Wind Project; N2.290bn on the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project; while N51.275bn will be spent on the construction of the 700MW Zungeru Hydro Power Project.

Other projects that the government intends to invest substantial amount of money on in the next three years are the solar rural electrification projects in four communities in Cross River, Ogun, Bauchi and Katsina states (N16.681bn); the construction of a 230MW dual power plant using crude oil and gas in Badagry (N5.230bn); small and medium hydro power plants in various locations (N4.102bn); non-priority projects (N162.752bn) and unspecified projects (N189.783bn).

The document states, "The total proposed investment in the sector between 2011 and 2013 is N880.97bn. This will cover investment in four major areas comprising power generation, transmission, distribution and alternative energy. Power is a critical infrastructure for sustainable economic growth and development. This is because most economic activities are dependent on affordable and adequate energy for effective operation.

"It is critical for reducing the cost of doing business, enhancing productivity and quality of life. The inadequate provision of power has a pervasive impact on socio-economic activities and consequently on the living standards of citizens in Nigeria."

According to the country's Vision 2020 economic blueprint, Nigeria is expected to generate, transmit and distribute 35,000MW of electricity by the year 2020.

The strategic objective for the power sector, according to the blueprint, is to ensure that it is able to efficiently deliver adequate, qualitative, reliable and affordable power in a deregulated market, while optimising the on and off-grid energy mix.

In spite of the abundant energy resources and huge government investments in the sector over the last 10 years, electricity supply has remained a serious challenge to Nigeria's socio-economic development.

Statistics from the NPC show that only about 40 per cent of Nigeria's population has access to electricity supply owing to inadequate transmission and distribution networks.

Nigeria currently lags behind in terms of access, quality and availability of public electricity supply.

Most of the nation's infrastructure in the power sector were built in the 1970s and 1980s, but due to lack of maintenance and expansion of facilities, the country has suffered significantly from epileptic and limited availability of electricity supply.

Ageing infrastructure, weak and radial network configuration and over-loaded transformers also result in frequent system collapse, high transmission and distribution losses and poor voltage profile.

However, the report states that the government is determined to revamp the sector by investing massively in critical areas that will accelerate the provision of uninterrupted power supply for industrial development.

It states, "The nation's transmission network is currently overloaded with a wheeling capacity of less than 4,000MW. It has a poor voltage profile, inadequate dispatch and control infrastructure, radial and fragile grid network, frequent system collapse and exceedingly high transmission losses, which is as high as 25 per cent compared with the three per cent in the United States of America, 0.5 per cent in Japan and 0.4 per cent in South Korea, due to low transmission grid voltages.

"Access to electricity supply is low with about 40 per cent of the national population - representing less than 60 million people -not having access to electricity. However, the Federal Government's broad vision for the power sector is to meet the demand for adequate and sustainable power in all the sectors of the Nigerian economy and in all parts of the country at affordable costs."

It adds, "The government will invest in direct electricity generation as well as providing an appropriate legal and regulatory environment for private sector participation. The overall target is to generate, transmit and distribute 16,000MW by 2013. Alternative energy technology will also be developed from coal and other renewable energy sources such as wind and biomass.

"However, government will continue regular maintenance of all power infrastructure, rehabilitate and complete all ongoing power projects, while putting in place incentives for private sector participation through the accelerated implementation of the Power Reform Act."

Abia is found in the Bible (KJV, I think) hence God's own state.
http://www.bible-history.com/links.php?cat=43&sub=934&cat_name=Bible+Names+A-G&subcat_name=Abia
But Abia is an acronym of 4 big LGs before Ebonyi was created.
Aba.
Bende
Isuikwuato
Afikpo( But Afikpo has been moved to Ebonyi state.)

[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=458875.msg8780216#msg8780216 date=1311531080]Physics,

I will understand the emotions of a strange African American demanding apology from a strange African for the losses of slavery. In fact I believe in and I am a proponent of the proposal to create an African reparation settlement for AA. Africa owes them, I don't care how long it has been.

On the other hand, I feel differently and have no belief or support for an apology or reparation or restitution to Biafra or any entity, individual or corporate that fought on the Biafran side.

An apology in our local customs is expressed and translated into the english word "sorry".  To the world and international obsevers is an admission of wrongdoing. Admitting wrongdoing then makes you culpable for whatever charges are trumped up against you and the victim then has a legitimate claim to a settlenment for their pain and losses.

Let us not forget, majority Igbo East of the niger has a strong sense of pride and spiritual attachment and for Oshimili, the birth place of Nzeogwu in the Anioma region, than he does for his own soil in umuahia or aba or owerri, or onicha or enugu. Prior to the January 66 coup Oshimili was not a consciously-spirited idea for the Igbo, but Nzeogwu became a hero and after his death his birthplace gained a Biafran status as the home of the brave and was thus elevated into a cultural idea for them. It is indeed reported that majority of the Igbo coup plotters were of Anioma region.

Why would Igbo want apology for Anioma and or any Biafran for the reprisal of a nationwide calculated terror that originated from Anioma Igbos on behalf of the entire Igboland?  It was no doubt an Igbo assault given the joy and cheers of Igbo voices jeering and ridiculing the Northerners.

Igbo owe apology to you Mid-Westerners of non-Igbo stock. True talk![/quote]You are an eeediiotttt.
How dare you come up with that crap.
You becoming so stoppuid. Opunu Oshi.
I pray you dont stop this stooppuuiiddd yarns till any Igbo runs you madddd.
You spend your entire life bashing anything Igbo, ehh, you go tire.

Another batch of 21 Ghanaians has been deported from Nigeria, bringing the number so far deported on the orders of Nigerian two state governors to 45.

The Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra, Mohammed Musiliu Obanikoro, has however frowned upon the action, promising to wade into it immediately.

Earlier on July 14, 2011, 24 Ghanaians were arrested and deported to Ghana - unable to pick their belongings before the unexpected action. The batch was made up of 21 men, 2 women and a girl.

In both instances, the deportations were ordered by state governors in the most populous African country which runs a federal system in which foreign affairs, defence and internal affairs are the preserves of the federal government in Abuja.

Details available to Daily Guide suggest that the latest bout of deportation saw the rounding up of 21 persons upon the orders of the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, in Western Nigeria.

The deportees were arrested on July 16, 2011 and kept in confinement without allowing them to pick their belongings until their final forced exit from Nigeria a few days ago.

With the thought of leaving their belongings behind pinching them, the deportees were taken to the Nigeria/Benin border by road and handed over to the immigration authorities of that country.

The Beninois authorities then moved the deportees to their country’s border with Togo, Hilla Kondji, from where they were transported to the Togo/Ghana border of Aflao and handed over to Ghanaian authorities.

Daily Guide learnt that the deportees at this point were handed over to National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Ketu North District of the Volta Region.

Here, they were registered and taken through the standard procedure for deportees. It has emerged that no reason was proffered for their arrest and subsequent deportation to Ghana.

Ironically, more and more Nigerians, most of them without valid travel documents, continue to troop to Ghana for the purpose of mostly sojourning here.

Regarding the earlier deportation, Daily Guide was told that the Kwara State Governor who ordered the arrests did not also give any reason for the action he ordered in the state capital of Ilorin.

The treatment meted out to this group of Ghanaians was no different from the one they received at the hands of the Ondo State government in Akure, the state capital.

Observers of the relations between the two countries are apprehensive about the backlash of the Nigerian action which is in total contravention of ECOWAS Protocol.

In the 80s, the two countries were engaged in a reprisal action which saw each of them deporting aliens to their countries of origin.

Nigeria had also undertaken a mass deportation of Ghanaians from that country in a spree which earned the notorious mantra of ‘Ghana Must Go’. So many years after the unfortunate diplomatic incident, the mantra has refused to go because a bag has been named after it. The bag was the most preferred by Ghanaians returning home from Nigeria at the time.

It was Nigeria which started the deportation after demanding that every Ghanaian entering Nigeria should provide proof of possessing an amount of $50. Failure to provide led to outright deportation.

Ghana retaliated by also making similar demands, leading to the two countries engaging in a messy diplomatic row.

The authorities of the two countries sought an amicable solution to the diplomatic row which saw the withdrawal of the worrying trend eventually.

Until now, the ECOWAS protocol has held sway with citizens of each country, availing themselves of the opportunities thereof.

Ghana is home to third generation Nigerians completely assimilated into the mainstream citizenship of the country.

Descendants of Captain Glover’s 600 Hausa soldiers deployed to the then Gold Coast formed the Gold Coast Constabulary, a nucleus of today’s Ghana Armed Forces and police service.

Most of them married here after disbandment and have been finely assimilated into the country. It is therefore absurd when the two countries engage in such nasty diplomatic reprisals.

Ghanaian authorities might not want to go the way of their Nigerian counterparts but if they do, the repercussions could shake the foundation of ECOWAS.

Both countries, previously part of the British colony, spent same currency under the British West African monetary system.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Alhaji Musiliu Obanikoro, in an interview with Daily Guide, condemned the action of the governors, describing it as the work of overzealous public officials.

He promised wading into it with the view to reviewing the trend. “If it really happened, we would take action to remedy the situation. Ghana and Nigeria cannot afford to return to the old days. Our relations have improved so much that we cannot afford to allow a few officials to cause friction between us. I would take action. I condemn it in totality and would get to the bottom of it,” he said.

Regarding the suspicion that the governors were responding to the danger posed by the extreme Islamic grouping, Boko Haram, he said Ghana does not have Islamic extremists.

Source: Daily Guide
http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/201107/69860.asp

kasiem:
Let dbanj tell u guys what ikechukwu did to him.

Wetin happen?lol,