₦airaland Forum

…the Super Eagles defender is campaigning in partnership with the END Fund and Common Goal

Nigeria national team defender William Ekong has started a campaign to draw attention to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect more than 120 million Nigerians. In partnership with the END Fund and Common Goal, William appears in a 48 seconds public service announcement where he calls on affected Nigerians to seek free treatment.

Neglected tropical diseases are a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases that affect more than 1.5 billion of the world’s most impoverished people, including 869 million children. They include intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), river blindness, trachoma, and lymphatic filariasis.

Preparing to represent the Super Eagles at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, William is hoping that every Nigerian will participate in the free treatment campaigns from several END Fund partners across the country.

“Like the rest of the team, I joined Common Goal because I wanted to use football as a tool to make a difference. I’m proud that we’re partnering with the END Fund to challenge every Nigerian to tackle neglected tropical diseases or NTDs,” said William.

“600 million people in Africa need treatment for these diseases with over 120 million living in Nigeria alone.

“Football is a powerful force in Nigeria and as a footballer and parent, I believe we should do everything we can to end these preventable and treatable diseases that stand between you and your goals.

"So the next time a health worker comes to your school, community or place of worship make sure you take the free medicine that they are giving out. Keep the ball rolling – spread the word to your family and friends and let’s be the generation to beat NTDs,” he concluded.

Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director and National Coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, described the campaign as an important opportunity to bring attention to NTDs in the country.

“We are very delighted to have William join the Federal Ministry of Health and our partners in Nigeria’s fight against neglected tropical diseases, we hope that this campaign helps to highlight the importance of the fight against NTDs in Nigeria and across the continent,” Dr. Anyaike said.

The campaign will run on local radio and television stations during the months of June and July across the following states: Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. It will also feature on digital platforms nationwide as well and include targeted SMS messaging.

To read more: http:///WTEkong

LuciferElohim:
Rejected feminists.


The organisers should bring the finale winner to Obalende here let's see if Moshood or Quadri will be waiting for one idiot legeh-legeh girl tying rope on her waist to shout "hia!" first before he will attack.


They're lucky I wasn't there cuz I would have injured many of them in anger sef.
I don't even know why I'm just seeing rubbish everywhere on Nairaland today.
No be only karate, na karashika.

Rubbish!

*spits

Why are you so angry? Be happy that women are making use of their time doing good things.

It's not everyday one sees women participating in Karate. I was at the 5th Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship recently and what I saw was very impressive.

The championship is the only female Karate tournament in West Africa. I believe that women should play sport and these days when sexual assaults and other issues are increasing, Karate and other self-defence arts definitely are good.

Karate has recently become an Olympic Sport and will make its maiden appearance at Tokyo 2020. Hopefully, one of these ladies will make it that far.

But be careful, these women kick ass!

See pictures below:

I have been keenly following the lead up to the 2018 World Cup and I notice how the tournament is being promoted by television broadcasters. Last week, StarTimes released their promo for Russia 2018 and it is a collection of nostalgic Nigeria moments told through the eyes of a young boy who watched his first tournament with his dad during USA '94 (watch the promo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi2q6aniaTY&t=1s)

The story follows him until 2014 in Brazil. The promo picks out some key moments in the campaigns of the Super Eagles over the years.

So I started thinking about the moments that stood out for me through the years when I first watched Nigeria play at USA.

While our first ever World Cup goal by Rashidi Yekini is a cogent highlight, I personally remember the moment when Emmanuel Amuneke was injured by an Italian defender that led to his replacement. I think that once he was replaced, the threat of our attack was nullified and we went on to lose that game.

Over the years, I have made several memories and I can't wait to make new memories at Russia 2018.

StarTimes will show all the 64 matches of the World Cup live and in HD for as low as N1300 while their phone app will stream the mundial for N600.

Anonymity and silence – Is the Nigerian Prisons Service shielding the killer of Benjamin Okoli?

By Bamitale Phillips

The mood at the Okolis’ residence along NEPA Road in Akure, the Ondo State capital, needed no fortuneteller for any mystic explanation. It was just common sense that it would be an unusually dull and pathetic first day of the year for the family.

Their breadwinner, Benjamin, who had kept the family going with his okada motorcycle taxi business was no more. He had been cut down in his prime by an overzealous official of the Nigeria Prisons Service about five months ago.

It is a sad scenario that has been complicated by the loud silence of prison authorities over the case and underground moves to transfer the erring officer out of Ondo State to evade justice.

For till now, the officer who killed Benjamin Okoli has not been publicly named. Officials of the NPS who claim that a “high powered investigation” is going on will not even divulge the name of the warder.

While the bereaved parents were short of words to narrate how Benjamin met his untimely death, his elder brother Emmanuel who also looked up to him for financial support several times eventually summoned the courage to speak to TheSunshineTimes.com.

“On ‎15th July 2015, Benjamin was on his way home along Arakale Road from where he had gone to buy fuel when he was arrested by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officials who handed him over to men of the Ondo State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIB) of the Nigeria Police,” said Emmanuel.

“His offence was that he had contravened an order by the Ondo State government which had temporaily put a ban to okada riding at that time. Benjamin was therefore detained for no fewer than ten days before he was finally arraigned at the Olukayode Magistrate Court on 5th August, 2015.

“The lawyer we engaged was able to secure his bail based on stringent conditions and that was what we were trying to sort out when my brother tried to escape, which I think was a fallout of the inhuman treatment he had all through his illegal detention at Olokuta Medium Prison, prior to his docking.

“He was, however, caught alive immediately, unharmed, unarmed and returned to the black maria that brought him to prison that day in the presence of everybody though badly beaten and mercilessly tortured.”

It was thereafter that the story took a sad turn. A trigger-happy officer took the law in his own hands.

“Some minutes later, we heard some gun shots right there and that was the last we saw or heard of our brother,” said Emmanuel, while sobbing as he continued his narration.

Emmanuel noted that it has been difficult to get to the warder to tell the world why “he murdered our brother in cold blood and he has continued to evade justice.”

He said the suspect and his colleagues, after the shooting, immediately rushed Benjamin to the State Specialist Hospital in Akure where he was pronounced dead and dumped his corpse in the morgue.
Benjamin Okoli

“We were forced to cough out 42,000 naira for the autopsy ‎after which we had to raise another money for his burial in Kogi state,” he said.

“He was a very hard working young man, he was into tiles fixing and had used the okada riding business to augment things for himself and the family.”

Emmanuel appealed to the state government through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, to come to the aid of his family in getting justice.

“We also want the Comptoller General of Prisons and the Inspector General of Police to step into this matter,” Emmanuel concluded.

Mr Orlu Mills, the family lawyer, has equally vowed to pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

Mills showed TheSunshineTimes.com a copy of the petition sent to the Police Commissioner.

“Information at our disposal showed that the warder who shot Benjamin was just a trigger happy cop as he was not among those who pursued him in the initial place,” Mills said.

“We are aware the police have commenced investigation on the matter and have requested the prison authorities to hand over the warder to no avail.

“We foresee a conspiracy by the Olokuta Prison authority and by extension the Nigeria Prisons Service to sweep the matter under the carpet.

“They should just hand him over as we have overwhelming evidence against them. This is not the change we voted for in Nigeria. There must be an end to imunpity, and extrajudicial killings if this country must progress. Nobody is above the law of the land,” Orlu said.

However, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Prisons Service, Ondo State Command, Barrister Tunde Ogundare told TheSunshineTimes.com that the matter is “under investigation” at the headquarters under instructions from the Comptroller General, Dr Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu.
Peter Epkendu

“When a matter is under investigation,” said Ogundare, “it doesn’t behove on any officer to speak on the matter. So that is the true position of things.”

While declining to name the under-investigation official, Mr Ogundare maintained that the officer who shot Benjamin did so in “the line of duty” and “under the rules of engagement,” a statement that signifies the attitude of the NPS towards the matter at hand.

In his reaction to allegations that the Police has done little in apprehending the suspect, after almost five months, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph pleaded for time to make clarification to state the position of the force.

Still mourning the loss of their loved one into the New Year, the Okoli family are insisting that justice must be done as soon as possible to ‎serve as a deterrent to other trigger happy warders.

“Our parents’ health has deteriorated greatly since the death of Benjamin while my other siblings have not been finding it easy to pay their school fees. Justice must be done to aleast assuage part of our great loss,” said a distraught Emmanuel.



Additional reporting by Lasun Arokoyu

Link: http:///1TwYm33

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• Work effectively and in partnership with our current agency and brand partners, local Goal.com editorial teams and management team in London
• Help create a strong team culture working towards the company’s goals, ensuring delivery of individual as well as Group targets
• Ability to develop and maintain good relationships with all stakeholders within the business
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• A minimum of 5 years experience in media advertising sales with recent experience of digital media an advantage
• Proven track record of negotiating and delivering multi territory/market sponsorship initiatives for global brands
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Following the successful launch of Goal.com Nigeria we have set ourselves ambitious goals to build on our position as the leading digital soccer brand in West Africa. We rely on a high level of personal initiative, motivation and honesty. Being at the forefront of digital media rights exploitation with a steady stream of new technologies and products being introduced, we need people who have the confidence to learn on the job and can cope with new challenges. We are looking for functional excellence combined with entrepreneurial flair. You must have:

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• Well connected in digital advertising arena, especially within soccer related brands and agencies


Applications now closed. Thank you.

Some of the big names are on winter holiday (Russian league) and so are most of the regular scorers (Norway, Sweden, Finland).

Haha Nigeria's biggest players are now based in Russia? How times change

Why have the bigger names not been scoring in Europe? Our administrators are messing up and our players cannot find the back of the net for their clubs. Which way Nigerian football?

Sad

I recently stumbled upon a new Twitter handle called Goal.com Nigeria and was wondering if anyone has an idea if the website has launched a Nigeria version or are about to. There's not been much activity on it though.

Being the biggest football website in the world, methinks it would be awesome to see Nigerian football on their site consistently, even though our game is messed up at the moment.

Anyone with information about the site's Nigeria links should share please.

I think Botswana were undone by that early red card. It made them lose rhythm and allowed the Guineans to ride roughshod over them.

Pity

I'm amazed at how Ghana easily defeated Mali 2-0. I think Ghana will get into the last four but they will find it tough when they meet any of the co-hosts.

I believe that Guinea might get a draw against Ghana in their last game but it may not be enough to go through as Mali would defeat Botswana to earn a QF ticket