Today marks a significant step forward in Nigeria-UK relations as we concluded an impactful meeting with the @DavidLammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, on his first official visit to Nigeria and Africa.
The meeting elevated our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership and established a Bi-National Commission, which will be implemented through six key pillars: fostering growth and job creation, enhancing national security, prioritising the safety and dignity of our citizens, deepening international cooperation, modernising our development approach, and fostering closer people-to-people ties.
In line with the Tinubu Doctrine of 4-D Diplomacy and the Renewed Hope 8-point Agenda, Nigeria and the UK affirmed their commitment to working together on job creation, local value addition, renewable energy, tackling illicit financial flows, multilateral reform and resolving international crises, alongside other areas mutual interest.
Today, Nigeria welcomes the UK Foreign Secretary on his first official visit to Africa in his current role. This visit marks a significant step forward in the relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, setting the stage for a strategic partnership that will benefit both nations.
During the visit, Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (OON) met with the UK Foreign Secretary to discuss areas of mutual interests, including economic growth, security, and sustainable development.
In a landmark moment, the two Ministers will also sign Terms of Reference (ToR) to establish a Nigeria-UK Binational Commission, creating a structured framework for deeper and more consistent cooperation.
naptu2: Images of starving Ethiopian kids, some of them too weak swat away flies from their face, circulated widely in 1984. The BBC was very instrumental in spreading these images. They produced several news clips about the civil war, separatist movement, drought, famine and devastation in Ethiopia. Those clips left me with the impression that Ethiopia was a desert country that was perpetually at war.
These news items about poverty, starvation and suffering moved an Irish musician named Bob Geldoff to want to do something about it. He mobilised the most famous British and Irish musicians to record an album to raise funds to provide food, drugs and other aid to suffering people in Ethiopia.
This led to the creation of the super group called Band Aid and a humongously popular song that was number 1 at Christmas in 1984. The song was produced by Midge Ure and Band Aid were:
•Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & the Gang) •Bono (U2) •Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats) •Adam Clayton (U2) •Phil Collins (Genesis and solo artist) •Chris Cross (Ultravox) •Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats) •Sarah Dallin (Bananarama) •Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama) •Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats) •Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats) •Boy George (Culture Club) •Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) •Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) •John Keeble (Spandau Ballet) •Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) •Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) •Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran) •Marilyn •George Michael (Wham!) •Jon Moss (Culture Club) •Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) •Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) •Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) •Francis Rossi (Status Quo) •Sting (The Police) •Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) •James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang) •John Taylor (Duran Duran) •Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) •Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang) •Midge Ure (Ultravox) •Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) •Jody Watley •Paul Weller (The Style Council) •Keren Woodward (Bananarama) •Paul Young
And shoutouts from •Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, Bruce Watson (Big Country) •David Bowie •Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) •Paul McCartney
Many other famous artistes contributed other songs to the album.
Band Aid inspired the American singer, Harry Belafonte to do something similar in the US. Belafonte has always been involved in African-American civil rights issues in America and in the fight against apartheid and poverty in Africa (Belafonte is of Jamaican descent).
Belafonte was able to get many famous American singers to form the super group United Support Artistes For Africa (USA For Africa). They got Quincy Jones to produce the song and Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie to write it.
(Many other famous artistes, e.g. Prince, contributed songs to the album).
USA For Africa were:
• Lionel Richie • Stevie Wonder • Paul Simon • Kenny Rogers • James Ingram • Tina Turner • Billy Joel • Michael Jackson • Diana Ross • Dionne Warwick • Willie Nelson • Al Jarreau • Bruce Springsteen • Kenny Loggins • Steve Perry • Daryl Hall • Huey Lewis • Cyndi Lauper • Kim Carnes • Bob Dylan • Ray Charles
• Dan Aykroyd • Harry Belafonte • Lindsey Buckingham • Mario Cipollina • Johnny Colla • Sheila E. • Bob Geldof • Bill Gibson • Chris Hayes • Sean Hopper • Jackie Jackson • La Toya Jackson • Marlon Jackson • Randy Jackson • Tito Jackson • Waylon Jennings • Bette Midler • John Oates • Jeffrey Osborne • The Pointer Sisters • Smokey Robinson
The Canadians (Bryan Adams, etc.) also got together and produced this wonderful song (Gosh! I LOVE the chorus of this song).
Northern Lights are:
•Bryan Adams •John Candy •Joni Mitchell •Burton Cummings •Anne Murray •Gordon Lightfoot •Mike Reno (Loverboy) with Liberty Silver •Carroll Baker, Ronnie Hawkins and Murray McLauchlan •Véronique Béliveau, Robert Charlebois and Claude Dubois (in French) •Bryan Adams with Donny Gerrard (Skylark) •Alfie Zappacosta with Lisa Dal Bello •Carole Pope (Rough Trade) and Paul Hyde (The Payola$) •Salome Bey, Mark Holmes (Platinum Blonde) and Lorraine Segato (The Parachute Club) •Tom Cochrane (Red Rider) •Tommy Hunter •Martha Johnson •Eugene Levy •Frank Mills •Kim Mitchell •Paul Shaffer •Graham Shaw •Jane Siberry •Sylvia Tyson •Barry Harris •Catherine O'Hara •Wayne St. John
If you didn't hear me before, I said, THIS IS PERFECTION!
This was my introduction to Michael Jackson (the solo artiste) and it left me wowed. The video was perfect (to my 1980 mind), the tuxedo was perfect, the dance steps were perfect, then just listen to the music!
I play music and I have noticed something that happens in my head. I separate songs into each musical instrument and I study what each instrument does line by line. I once made money off a friend of mine because I told him that a certain song contains a certain line (on the keyboard) and he didn't believe me so we had a bet. That line was quite obscure, but he heard it when I played the song to him and I won my money.
The arrangement of this song is excellent. Every instrument is excellent. The percussion is unbelievable.
This (and the video in the last post) is how videos were before Thriller.
Do you know that there is a Nigerian version of this song? I'll post a video of the Nigerian version one day.
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (1979)
naptu2: This song is absolutely perfect. The video is perfect, the arrangement is perfect, the dancing is perfect and the singing is perfect. Everything is just perfect.
This was my inteoduction to Michael Jackson (as a solo artiste). The Nigerian version of this song will be in my next post.
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (1979).
Back, on the block, so we can rock With the soul, rhythm, blues, be bop and hip hop Back on the block Back on the block
Ice-T
Ice-T, let me kick my credentials A young player, bred in South Central L.A., home of the body bag You wanna die, wear the wrong color rag
I used to walk in stores and yell, "Lay down" You flinch an inch AK spray down But I was lucky 'cause I never caught the hard time I was blessed with the skill to bust a dope rhyme
All my homies died or caught the penzo Lost their diamonds, cops towed their Benzos Livin' that life that we thought was it Fast lanin', but the car flipped
I'm not gonna lie to ya, 'cause I don't lie I just kick thick game, some people say why? 'Cause I'm back on the block, I got my life back So I school the fools about the fast track
I get static from the style of my technique Profanity, the blatant way in which I speak But the Dude knows the streets ain't no kiddie game You don't know the Dude? Quincy's his first name
He told me, Ice, keep doin' what you're doin', man Don't give a damn if the squares don't understand You let 'em tell you what to say and what to write Your whole career'll be over by tomorrow night
Rap from your heart, and your heart's with the street Rap on my record, man, Kimiko, send Ice the beat The Dude is def no doubt, what can I say? The man can roll with Ice-T or Michael J
Chorus
Back Back on the block Back Back on the block
Back, on the block, so we can rock With the soul, rhythm, blues, be bop and hip hop Back on the block Back on the block
Melle Mel
I'm back, on the block, on the screen I'm on the wax, I'm on the stage, I'm on the scene I'm on the case, just like an attorney The Dude took me on a magic journey
To dance in France, alone in Rome On the farmlands of Nebraska, the cold of Alaska The heat of the motherland to be with my brother man On top of a snowcapped mountain I'm scoutin'
What another man saw in a race of people To see him give his life for the price of equal The highest wisdoms, the richest kingdoms The song of songs we heard David sing them
He showed me me when I was young and hung out He showed me makin' love, even showed me strung out He showed me poppin' nines, standin' on a rock But tears came to my eyes when he showed me my block
Chorus
Ba-ba-back on the Ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block
Tevin Campbell (and the Andrea Crouch Choir)
Stokie's just Stokie, mama (Stokie's Stokie) And one by one each woman he kiss (He kiss her and she gon' fall in love) Stokie's just Stokie, you know? (Stokie's Stokie) Till someone shows that they care enough (Ain't nothin' gonna bother Stokie much)
Some say they can't take it no more (Comin' here, comin' here startin' stuff) But Dude is back on duty fo' sho' (Back on the block to stay) They say he ain't gonna be with it (Comin' back, comin' back to the street) But Dude he know you'll never forget it (Back on the block to stay)
Big Daddy Kane
Back up and give the brother room To let poetry bloom to whom it may concern or consume As I reminisce before this the bliss that exist But now we brought about a twist
'Cause I remember reading of my people bleedin' Put through slavery and killed for bravery We shoulda got our freedom much sooner You never seen a Blackman on The Honeymooners
But now somehow we've learned to earn, to grow, to show The elevation of a people built is so
Jesse Jackson, Miss America a black one No more livin' for just a small fraction
I was once told by the Dude that knowledge is a food To nourish, so to conclude This from an Asiatic descendant, Big Daddy is shocked Yo Q, we back on the block
Chorus
Back Back on the block Back Back on the block
Back, on the block, so we can rock With the soul, rhythm, blues, be bop and hip hop Back on the block Back on the block
Kool Moe Dee
An everlasting omnipresence is my present State of being, seeing the unpleasant Sight of righteous souls live like peasants The mind stunts growth in adolescence
My insight enables me to enlight The weakest of minds, and I put 'em in flight As I transcend, a-scend or de-scend Re-create, re-incarnate and re-send
The powerful spirits of our ancestors For those that don't know how God blessed us Because man messed up, the media dressed up Lies perpetrated as truth, and it left us
Confused, but I've seen it all before From Babylon to the Third World War I'm more than a man, I'm more like an entity Back on the block, and this time my identity is the Dude
Chorus
Ba-ba-back on the Ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block
M'yeke, yeke, yeke, wena (Kha'mye, kha'myeke wena) Yo khala, khala, khala, u mama (Yo khal'u mama khe)
M'yeke, yeke, yeke, wena (Kha'mye, kha'myeke, wena) Yo khala, kha, 'yok 'shaya u baba (Yok shaya u baba khe)
(Ooh wow ooh wow ah, ooh yeah e yeah e ah)
Back on the block Ba-ba-back on the Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on the Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on the block
Quincy Jones
Now I would, I would contend that ah The rappers rap is here to stay♫
Quincy Jones ft Ice T, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel - Back on The Block (1989).
naptu2: I've got a confession to make. I didn't know the lyrics of this wonderful song when it was released in 1980, so what I used to sing was
I know Farridah.
Then I graduated to "I know Korea", before I eventually got the lyrics.
This was one of those watch night songs.
You see, although there were power cuts back then, it was quite rare for them to last more than 5 hours. The power was usually back after one or two hours. So, if there's a power cut that has gone on for more than 5 hours (especially if they don't bring back the electricity before nightfall) then we'll know that there's a major fault.
Old Man would bring out his battery powered radio and you'll hear this kind of songs. Then they'll announce that there's a fault and tell us exactly when electricity would be restored. And they always restored it when they said that they would.
I can't find the album version, but this is the closest to it.
daveP: I still insist she's using it to take a jab and even the hyping of Bankole shows she doesn't know what she's saying too. The conclusion of what she meant you just said it now in your post. And that's why i maintain my pov on how she reasons. What is the % of FBs in the last decade that warrants such a stance from her? Are they up to 50% that can make us to now try agree with her?
She's just fanning embers for what is not under threat. In Falcons currently, fBs no even reach 7. In a few years, the ones in the team would be gone. And homebased will take over. FBs are the exceptions right now. If they're getting raves, it is because they're good. For now, foolish move by her.
naptu2: No, I'm not arguing about all that. I believe that Nigerians that are born abroad are Nigerians and have every right to play for Nigeria, just like other Nigerians and I believe that this does not stop the football authorities from having developmental programmes here in Nigeria. Everybody should compete for positions and the best person should be selected, no matter where he or she was born.
I'm just pointing out that she was referring to the U-17 coach, not the Super Falcons coach.
In this case, I am clarifying that she is talking about home based players being developed from U-17 and U-20 into the Super Falcons vs foreign born players being called up to the Super Falcons.
daveP: Naaah. It doesn't stick. Our u17 has been almost 100% homebased. Infact I can't remember a foreign born at u17 level. For u20, na Dike i remember and like other Nigerians that love talents, we still can't forget Courtney till date. She came, saw and showed us her worth. Just 1. Atterval in 2022 didn't even get minutes. Just 1 spot for her. That's why Simeone's treatment didn't make sense. She was eager to rep. She was demoted to u17 and still didn't get picked.
And then Ngozi sat, looked and thought this was sensible to drop a poll for when FBs are just getting binary numbers slots on the cadet teams? 😂
She's actually dumber than i thought and that's why I don't think it is about Flamingos. And if it is indeed about the flamingos, then she needs to goan learn statistics all over again cos it is not making sense. But one conclusion, dumb!!!
Kai!
Calm down, click on the link, read and understand. Don't be in a rush to react.
She posted a video reel of the U-17 team. She said that they were good and well coached. She said that she and many others came up from the U-17 and U-20. She was calling on the NFF to groom home based players from the U-17 and U-20 into the Super Falcons, rather than bringing in foreign born players into the Super Falcons.
Click on the link, watch the video, read the post, calm down and understand.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, this morning, received the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Mr. David Lammy (@DavidLammy), in courtesy call to the State House in Marina. Mr. Lammy arrived Nigeria on Sunday in his first trip to Africa to discuss UK’s new approach to the continent.
As part of his African tour, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Rt. Hon. David Lammy today paid a courtesy call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Hon. Lammy praised the Lagos State Government’s development strides especially in transportation, the environment and infrastructure. He said the UK is open for continuous business with Lagos and would want to see more collaborations between London and Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his response, thanked the visiting UK envoy and his entourage, telling them the historic importance of the seat of Government in Lagos, which dates back almost two centuries. The Governor said that the Greater Lagos vision is to make the city the economic hub of the world, noting that this is the driving force behind the Government’s developmental strategy and efforts as encapsulated in the THEMES+ agenda.
The Governor reiterated the his administration’s commitment to the full growth of the State’s creative economy, infrastructural development and sustainable policies on the environment.
Lagos is the first port of call for Hon. David Lammy, since the new Labour Party assumed office about two months ago.
RealityKings: But if the teleprompter stop working, she could have just flowed with the speech of it were genuine expression.
Well, most people that have problems with their teleprompter don't just continue with the speech (there's a reason for that). Some joke about it (eg Obama and Trump), some complain, etc.
A speech is not just about use of English, there are important consequences and implications and that's why speeches are usually written.
As Dr Doyin Abiola said, no important personality delivers a speech without it being written (depends on the nature of the speech).
The Musk-man has posted 3,000 times on Twitter in the last month. Most are pro-Trump disinformation and outright lies. Remember, he has skin in the game. Consider his posts accordingly.
Elon Musk @elonmusk
I can’t believe you counted how many posts I’ve made lmaooo
Elon Musk @elonmusk
Stephen, you pay more attention than my biggest fans 🥰
I have a long collection of famous teleprompter problems on my diary. It features George W. Bush, Barrack Obama, Donald Trump, Olusegun Obasanjo, Tiwa Savage and the British sitcom Yes Prime Minister. I am going to add this to the collection.
Cardi B was about to deliver a speech to endorse Kamala Harris, but her teleprompter stopped working. Someone had to come onto the stage to give her a phone and she read her speech from the phone (see video above). That led to this exchange between her and Elon Musk.
aka @akafacehots
LMAO Cardi B's teleprompter was broken and she had no idea what to do for over a minute until someone ran on the stage to give her a phone to read off. Holy embarrassing.
Elon Musk @elonmusk
Another puppet who can’t even talk without being fed the words.
The Kamala campaign has no authenticity or true empathy.
Cardi B @iamcardib
I’m not a puppet Elon.. I’m a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me! I’m a product of welfare, I’m a product of section 8, I’m a product of poverty and I’m a product of what happens when the system is set up against you….But you don’t know nothing about that. You don’t know not one thing about the American struggle…. PS fix my algorithm
semid4lyfe: Egbon, perhaps you're right but on a norms, the babe no get sense.
Was there a need for the pollj?
Nigerians born in diaspora are also Nigerians and deserve a chance to play for the national teams at all levels.
Its the reason I was pissed when that Irish-Nigerian gal was tossed around from U-20 to U-17 and the coaches ended up not picking her.
Okobi displayed intellect myopia and scored an own goal with that post
No, I'm not arguing about all that. I believe that Nigerians that are born abroad are Nigerians and have every right to play for Nigeria, just like other Nigerians and I believe that this does not stop the football authorities from having developmental programmes here in Nigeria. Everybody should compete for positions and the best person should be selected, no matter where he or she was born.
I'm just pointing out that she was referring to the U-17 coach, not the Super Falcons coach.
Ondo Guber: Labour Party berates Channels TV for limiting debate to only APC, PDP
By Abdul Babajide Published on November 3, 2024
The Ondo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), has condemned the move by Channels Television to restrict the planned governorship election debate to only two political parties.
While stressing that the media outfit was ill-advised, Labour Party maintained that the decision was not the representation of reality in the state.
The Director of Publicity, Labour Party Campaign Organisation, Johnson Egbodofo, who berated the organisers for limiting the live debate to candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, explained that the LP as a party had drawn the attention of the organisers to the error while they promised to make amends, but nothing was done.
Egbodofo disclosed that the portrayal of the standard-bearers of the APC and PDP as two leading candidates ahead of the November 16 governorship election was a ploy to manipulate the choices of the people.
“The attention of the Labour Party and its candidates in the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled for the 16th day of November 2024 has been drawn to an advert by Channels Television of its planned live debate on Sunday, 3rd November 2024, for candidates of the ruling APC and PDP, which Channels ill-advisedly described as the two leading candidates in the election.
“As a media-friendly organisation and personalities, we took immediate steps to contact CHANNELS and its officials, particularly Seun Okinbaloye, who is the anchor of the debate, not to use the station’s authoritative media status to mislead but to accord the people of Ondo State and the station’s global audience the opportunities of a fair assessment of the status of the political parties and quality of the candidates for the election.”
The Ondo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), has condemned the move by Channels Television to restrict the planned governorship election debate to only two political parties.
While stressing that the media outfit was ill-advised, Labour Party maintained that the decision was not the representation of reality in the state.
The Director of Publicity, Labour Party Campaign Organisation, Johnson Egbodofo, who berated the organisers for limiting the live debate to candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, explained that the LP as a party had drawn the attention of the organisers to the error while they promised to make amends, but nothing was done.
Egbodofo disclosed that the portrayal of the standard-bearers of the APC and PDP as two leading candidates ahead of the November 16 governorship election was a ploy to manipulate the choices of the people.
“The attention of the Labour Party and its candidates in the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled for the 16th day of November 2024 has been drawn to an advert by Channels Television of its planned live debate on Sunday, 3rd November 2024, for candidates of the ruling APC and PDP, which Channels ill-advisedly described as the two leading candidates in the election.
“As a media-friendly organisation and personalities, we took immediate steps to contact CHANNELS and its officials, particularly Seun Okinbaloye, who is the anchor of the debate, not to use the station’s authoritative media status to mislead but to accord the people of Ondo State and the station’s global audience the opportunities of a fair assessment of the status of the political parties and quality of the candidates for the election.”
Politics › Re: British And Nigerian Foreign Ministers Meet In Abuja by naptu2(op): 4:22am On Nov 05, 2024
