₦airaland Forum

In exactly 11 days from today, music and fashion will enter a unique partnership to excite the fashion-forward circle of Nigerians. Africa’s most robust digital music service, Music+, in partnership with cool Nigerian Fashion brand, ‘24’, will launch a limited edition collection of a trendy fashion item!

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Do you love music? Or is fashion your thing? Or maybe it’s both? Whichever it is, Music+ has got you covered with this! It is a first of its kind, happening on Nigerian soil.

August 12th is the date when the #MusicPlus24 piece will be formally introduced at a strictly-by-invite exclusive event in the bustling city that never sleeps, Lagos.

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Don’t forget, Music+ is your one stop shop for your musical needs that gives access to hundreds of thousands of songs from your favorite artistes. Download, stream and create your own unique playlist on Music+. Send MUSIC to 5900 to get started.

You can also be a part of the exclusive launch experience. Use the hashtag #MusicPlus24 to find out more online.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/music-24-apparel-partner-launch-musicplus24-exclusive-collection/

The one day shopping experience for plus sized ladies brought to you by Lushstyle and About that curvy life is back this August with its anniversary party sponsored by Dearcurves Plus size Fashion.

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Shop from over 25 fashion, health and beauty vendors while you mingle with other beautiful curvy women

This edition we promise to amp up the fun with a wider variety of vendors, free cocktails/finger foods and loads of giveaways.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: August 28th 2016

Venue: The Social Place, 33 Sinari Daranijo Street, Victoria Island

Time: 12pm- 7pm

For further information contact us on:

Lushstyleng@gmail.com,

erumu@popupplusafrica.com

latasha@popupplusafrica.com

08023029243

Instagram: @popupplus

Twitter: @popupplus

Snapchat: @popupplus

Facebook: Pop Up Plus

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/pop-plus-exclusive-shopping-event-curvy-woman/

The Lagos State Government has again paid the sum of N891 million to 324 retirees from the mainstream civil service, local governments, state universal basic education and other parastatals for the month of July, 2016.

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Speaking at the 29th Retirement Benefit Bond presentation ceremony recently, the Director-General, State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mrs. Folashade Onanuga advised the beneficiaries to use the lump sum payment by their respective Pension Fund Administrator judiciously.

She emphasized that the State government has fulfilled her own part of paying the retirees’ entitlements and that it is now left for the Pension Fund Administrators /Annuity Service Providers to fulfil their part of the arrangement by ensuring that monthly payment to retirees are made.

While reiterating that the commission will continue to monitor the activities of pension operators to guarantee that they continue to fulfil their obligations to the State retirees, Onanuga implored beneficiaries to seek professional advice when making an investment decision with their payment.

It will recalled that the sum of N16,336,552 billion had already been paid to 3,924 retirees by the Lagos State Government as accrued pension rights through LASPEC from August 2015 to July, 2016.

In a related development, a non-governmental organisation, ‘Comfort the Discomfort International Charitable Foundation’ has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for his magnanimity on the regular payment of pension and arrears to retirees, especially in view of the economic downturn in the State and the Nation at large.

According to the Chairman of the NGO, Pastor J.O. Odetunde, “You took the bull by the horn at a time many States in the federation are indebted to those who are still in active service”, applauding the administration for implementing programmes with humane disposition which portrays it as a government for humanity and posterity.

However, it urged the government to consider provision of health packages such as routine medical checks and free medical facilities at public health institutions to the retirees as well as making recreational facilities available for them to manage loneliness and enhance unbroken interrelationship among the retirees, stressing that the recreational activities could be zoned on Local Government basis.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/lagos-pays-n891-million-324-retirees/

Nigerians are now at home with the superlative performance of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in terms of infrastructural development, security and human capital development. As a result, several associations are now hosting their National and International Events in Rivers State.

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One of such groups is the Nigerian Guild of Editors. The Leadership of the Guild met with the governor for a pre-national conference breakfast meeting.

In this interactive session with the standing committee members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike talks about his projects, the rerun elections, foreign scholarships and security issues in the state.

Excerpts :

WHY WE ARE OPEN TO HOST NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.
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Let me thank the Nigerian Guild of Editors for bringing their Annual General Conference to Rivers State. One important benefit of this conference is that it will let the public know that Port Harcourt is safe , Rivers State is safe. To let you know that several international and national conferences have taken place here in the last one month. In the course of the last one month, we have had the AMAA here, we have also had the Magistrates Association of Nigeria National Conference. We will be hosting the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association , the Federal High Court Judges Legal Year, the Conference of Chartered Arbitrators and the PDP National Convention. That shows that all the rumours you may be hearing are not true. Apart from that, these national conferences will boost our economy. We have several hotel bookings, local transport and feeding as well as other benefits that will accrue to residents of the state. The state government will also make revenue in terms of taxation.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDIA
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When they say we have three arms of government, I don’t agree. I believe the the Media is the fourth arm of government. Why do I say so. Everybody depends on the information from the media. Information is key. Information is the raw material for decision making . It is important that you always publish information that will promote democracy. Part of the reason the coup failed in Turkey was because of the publicity from the media.
The media should help this country to let the world know what Nigeria is facing.
For me as a governor, this is an opportunity and not a right. When you have this privilege, you use it for the benefit of the people. We know what we passed through to get to this point.

MY STRUGGLES AS A GOVERNOR
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Nobody has had the type of legal tussle we have had. Mine started before my inauguration. Of course, attempts were made to make sure that I was not inaugurated. To tell you how bad it was, I was not allowed to use the police ceremonial vehicle for my inauguration. We had to borrow from Ondo State. We thank God that has passed but I have to give you the background.

Thereafter, the legal tussle continued until January 27, 2016 when we were free to move forward. If you compare from June, May 29 was on Friday and work started on Monday. From that time to January 27, 2016, it was one problem or the other. From the Tribunal to the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court . When you have such problems, you hardly can be focused. But I thank God that we were focused and we did not allow that to distract us.

INITIAL CHALLENGES RESOLVED
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When we came on board, we inherited four months salary arrears and six months pension arrears. We give God the glory that we have been able to pay all. The then Sharks of Port Harcourt, Dolphin and Rivers Angels were owed for eight months. We were able to clear that. And we said , with the economy, it would be difficult for us to maintain three clubs. For Sharks and Dolphin , we had to merge them to form Rivers United. The club is doing well and it is contesting for the league.

ON FOREIGN SCHOLARSHIPS
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Some people may say that there are children who are on oversees scholarships whom they claim the state has abandoned. That is not true. We must tell ourselves the simple truth. Yes before, the state under the previous administration was getting N20billion, but now we get N3billion to N4billion monthly. You have to prioritise and tell the people the reality . I am not against giving out scholarships when you have the resources. At the time we came, the state was owing about N4billion on these foreign scholarships. If you pay the N4billion debt, that is not the end. You have to pay for those at different levels of study. Scholarship is good to encourage our people. But there are certain courses you don’t send people abroad to study because our universities offer such programmes. Why would I send students abroad to study English Language, Social Studies or Political Science? But we are ready to offer scholarships to students to study peculiar courses in medicine and engineering.

We said look, it is not possible for the state as it is now to fund scholarships in courses that are offered here in Nigeria. We agreed to pay off for those writing their final year examinations which amounted to N1.8 billion. Those of them studying English, Political Science and Accountancy, we said that we will still give you scholarships, but it will be in Nigerian universities. We expect them to return to take this offer. To say that they would remain on the state’s account is not possible. Some of them, their parents are rich and they are not from poor background. Yes, there are few from poor background. Some scholarships are for children who are not from Rivers State. In some instances, they were political scholarships. As it is today, we don’t have the funds to continue with such scholarships.

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT
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We decided to commence our infrastructural development from the State Capital because that is where the first time visitor lands. When you get a bad impression about the state capital, this impression is likely to force you out of the state. If you see bad roads in the state capital, you are likely to have negative impression of the state. We took a decision to fix the roads and other infrastructural needs of Port Harcourt City. They were really bad at the time we assumed office. We also resolved to use reputable construction companies to carry out the works. We engaged Julius Berger, CCECC, CGC, Setraco. In fact, the whole of the city has been handled by Julius Berger and CCECC. That is why you see quality roads with no potholes in the state capital. You can see within the Government House, Julius Berger is restoring the old Brick House, the former administrative office of the state. They are also building a chapel of worship.

I had a policy that even though we did not start some of the roads, when we feel that they are relevant we will complete them. Why do you abandon relevant projects where public funds have been committed. When we took that decision, some criticised us, saying start your own. The problem we have in this country is leaders insisting on starting their own projects. All projects that had bearing with the needs of the people have been completed. That is why today, you will hardly find abandoned projects in the state. Look at the law faculty at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. Since Okilo , nobody wanted to complete it. But we have completed it and it is the best in the country, with electronic and traditional libraries and other state-of-the-art facilities. See our roads. The whole of Diobu , the whole of Borikiri have had their roads reconstructed. If you are a Port Harcourt person, you will appreciate the massive development that is taking place. For the past ten years, we have never had Street lights. We made it a policy to fix Street lights on all the major streets in Port Harcourt. Since you are in town, take off time in the night and drive through Ikwerre road, Aba road and other major streets to appreciate the transformation taking place. This has also enhanced security.

SECURITY IN THE STATE
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As regards to security, I have always maintained that nobody should politicise security. Because when you begin to politicize security, the society will be in trouble. I think I am the only state governor who has had more than four Commissioners of Police since I became governor. Each time, they change a Commissioner of Police when an election is approaching. When the election is over , they bring another one. That is how they change the Director of the DSS. This is not helping anyone. When a Commissioner of Police is settling down to plan with the state government on how to improve security, they transfer him, bring another person and the process starts all over. I ask myself what is the benefit of these frequent changes. There are people who believe that there should be crisis in this state. Who will it benefit if there is crisis? When we had cases of kidnappings, instead of others to sit down with the state to resolve the challenge, they started making unreasonable remarks. So I ran to God to pray. God now helped and the problem has been transferred to other states. Now, we have kidnapping everywhere in Nigeria. In some states, they kidnap diplomats and traditional rulers .Kidnapping is almost gone here. It is not by my power , it is by God’s grace. When they said they will declare State of Emergency here, I said God save me and He saved me by pushing insecurity to other states. Kidnapping is now a national crime.

ON PIPELINE VANDALISM
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This is the only state that you have not seen oil pipeline vandalism. I believe in the unity of this country. I believe that if the economy collapses, the state will collapse. We are doing everything to make sure we don’t have that kind of crisis here. What the Federal Government should do is to give us support to consolidate our security measures.

RIVERS STATE IS FOR PDP
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There are states that traditionally belong to a political party. Even in the United States , you have states that are for Democrats and those that are for Republicans. You also have swing states. In Nigeria, there are states that are traditional to some political parties. Rivers State is one of such states. It belongs to the PDP. When you use force to attempt to collect it, you cause crisis. People will resist. When you want to steal the mandate of the people, it is more heinous than other crimes. Stealing the mandate of the people is a serious crime and it is worse than armed robbery. The difference is that while the ordinary armed robber uses arms to steal money, this political armed robbers use arms to steal votes. When you are armed to snatch ballot boxes, is it not armed robbery? It is even worse . If you have in mind to commit election robbery, the people will resist it.
That was what happened during the March 19 rerun elections. They came to rig us, so that they will have the number in the Assembly to impeach me. You know they cancelled over 90percent of the Assembly seats and everything for the National Assembly. So they came to rig the elections. I told them to have a rethink because it would not be easy to do that in Rivers State.

UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENT OF ARMED FORCES FOR THE RERUN ELECTIONS
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I have never seen the kind of security I saw during the March rerun elections . Even if Obama comes, there would not be that kind of security. I thought even the President has never had that kind of security. It was unbelievable. I make a state broadcast as an incumbent state governor, some other person would go and make a broadcast. The Federal Government behaved as if nothing was happening. I knew it would be difficult because when you push a people to the wall, they react. We resisted them. The same people who said there was no election, are now the persons at the Tribunal saying that they won. When they claimed there was no elections, now they are saying they should declare them winners. I have never seen such a thing in my life. People came out in Press Conferences that there were no elections, but today they are saying they won.

RIVERS STATE IS PEACEFUL
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They say Rivers State is not peaceful and I say that Rivers State is very peaceful. Since there were no elections, have you been hearing of killings? That tells you that the reports of insecurity were only sponsored for political gains. When they come now to say we should make peace, I agreed because I am a peace maker. Even though it was a set up because nobody told me that I was invited for a peaceful meeting. I was invited to go and see the DG of the DSS without knowing that something was going on. If you look at the pictures, I was alone. I didn’t go with anybody thinking that I was going to see the DG. Reaching there I saw the other people. I am not against peace, but what I am discovering now, calls for vigilance. Nigeria is to big for you to think that you will plan and nobody will know. Nobody will take me by surprise. You told me to make peace and I am making peace. But what I am seeing now shows that there is a game going on. As I speak to you, they have transferred all key senior policemen and they are bringing people they think will do their bid. The one that is shocking is the police officer who caused serious crisis during the March 19 rerun elections. He was queried and transferred out of Rivers State, now they have brought him back. The same security people who said we should make peace are doing a different thing. Tomorrow, you will say there is no peace in Rivers State. Do we need to deceive ourselves? Rivers State is a critical state as far as Nigeria is concerned. You can’t take our mandate by force. As I speak with you, there is nothing I can’t do for Rivers State. I can lay down my life for the state. If you like , bring American marines, the worst that will happen is that they will kill all of us. If that is the sacrifice, so be it. I don’t when we agree on something, you start doing a different thing, it is not the best.

MY INFORMATION TO INEC :
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I wrote to INEC use your staff for the rerun elections. Leave these university people. Why? You don’t know where their loyalty will be. I schooled at the University of Port Harcourt, so I know all the lecturers. I know who is a supporter of PDP and I know who is a supporter of APC. Rivers State is the only state holding elections, so go and take all your staff , bring them here, let them conduct free and fair elections. Because they appointed the Vice Chancellor of the university, they made him compile names of their loyalists as returning officers, took same to INEC and INEC approved. There was no problem. But the problem started when they saw the results from the field. When they noticed that the APC was not winning, they ran away. There was nobody to collate the results. Then the elections became inconclusive. I just can’t understand. Even if it is your father’s younger brother, bring him. Results will come from the field and he must collate the results. When results come from the field, you won’t see the returning officer, he has taken off and they say it is inconclusive. And they reschedule.

FAILING PROPAGANDA
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They intensified propaganda that once you land in Rivers State, kidnappers will abduct you at the airport. But you have been here for days and you have experienced the security. Lies are easy to sell, but they don’t last. They have a terminal period. When the terminal period comes the truth takes over. This Port Harcourt you have come will expose you to the truth. I will give INEC all the support to conduct free and fair elections. This is only one state. What happens in 2019 when they conduct elections for the whole country. I have told my people to be prepared. If you are sleeping, don’t sleep again. This peace we are making, I suspect they want to come without us knowing. Let’s be prepared. I don’t trust these people. INEC can announce election any day. They did it in Abuja. When they fixed elections on a working day. Nobody is travelling.

PDP WILL CONTINUE TO WIN IN RIVERS STATE
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Do the elections 200 times, it will be the same results. They are only postponing the day of reckoning. They are trying to cover the political inadequacies of one man. They say they don’t want him to be embarrassed. But there is no embarrassment. It is the voice of the people that matter. Elections are the prerogative of the people. It has nothing to do with the political image of anyone.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/pdp-owns-rivers-state-governor-wike/

The Lagos State Government kick-started discussions on partnership for the development of agricultural commodity value chain with Niger State aimed at ensuring food security and job creation for the two States and the country at large.

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The partnership, which is the second of its kind that the Lagos State Government under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is entering, was said to be directed at considerably boosting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of not just the two States, but the the country.

Addressing journalists after paying a courtesy visit on Governor Ambode at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the discussion basically centered on how to explore the comparative advantage of the two States to the benefit of Lagos and Nigeria.

He said: “It was a private discussion. It was just to say hello to him (Governor Ambode) and we did not discuss much. Part of our conversation, we discussed agriculture and we specifically discussed how we can partner with Lagos State to support agriculture to the benefit of Lagos State and Nigeria at large.”

It was gathered that discussion on the partnership is still at the preliminary stage, while more would be revealed on modalities as to how things will pan out as regard the partnership going forward.

Governor Ambode had earlier entered into partnership with Kebbi State also on development of agricultural commodity value chain. The agreement, aside being aimed at the production of 70 per cent of Nigeria’s rice requirements annually, also principally centres on boosting the production of wheat, ground nut, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, cows among others.

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He said: “This relationship is visionary and it is also a pointer to the fact that the two states have decided to openly support the vision of Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The change mantra which President Buhari has been preaching is what this whole relationship is all about that we must look inward. We must start to reintegrate our economy in such a manner that we must not continue to import what we can produce and we must create a value chain where we have comparative advantage to do so,” Governor Ambode had said.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/lagos-niger-mull-partnership-agriculture/

In continuation of the on-going cost-cutting and efficiency drive in the utilization of public funds by the present administration, the Federal Government has banned the procurement and distribution of conference bags, T-shirts and other souvenirs at events and activities such as Conferences, Workshops and Seminars organised and funded by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)

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The new measures were approved by President Muhammadu Buhari following recommendations by the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and conveyed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministers of Finance and Budget and National Planning, by the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, for implementation.

The directive which is a recognition of the fact that in a period of lean financial resources in the face of huge national infrastructural deficit, wasteful and unnecessary expenditure on overheads such as on souvenirs and conference bags were luxuries that the government must eliminate to release funds for infrastructure and services such as health and education that would have direct positive impact on the wellbeing of the citizenry and promote economic development.

The directive also contained specific guidelines that would reduce the cost of printing Invitation Cards, Programme of events, Brochures, Folders and Note Pads. Among the guidelines are that they should be in black and white and limited to only one page and in the case of Brochures they should be streamlined to contain only essential information.

Similarly, the directive has banned the printing of unnecessary publications and books of short shelf life which have no real value to the concerned public institutions or the citizens.

While noting the need for the citizenry and other interested parties to be aware of the initiatives, activities and programmes being implemented by the government, the MDAs were directed to save costs by uploading such publications on their websites which have the added benefit of wider visibility, and print only limited number of hard copies of such publications.

It would be recalled that the Efficiency Unit was established by the present administration to promote fiscal prudence on overhead expenditure thereby releasing resources for the development of vital national infrastructure.

Signed
SALISU NA’INNA DAMBATTA
Director (Information)
July 31, 2016

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/fg-bans-conference-souvenirs-cut-cost/

When will they call us now! Sheybi na Aug dem be talk.

When it comes to fulfilling one’s destiny, Anu is that person that fits into that description and category. Anu Osilesi who is well known to everyone as “Anu” is a Nigerian, U.S based Gospel/Inspirational recording
artist who has contributed heavily into the gospel world and also communities. Anu is not only a gospel/inspirational recording artist, but she is also the Brand ambassador for Vomoz Communications, the best global
information, communication and Technology (ICT) Company in the world.


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Apart from being the Brand Ambassador the company, she is also the anchor for Vomoz Media, one of many department carved out of Vomoz Communications on their documentary series on churches around the world, which created a limelight and insight to many churches like Winner Chapels, Christ Apostolic church, The redeemed Christian Church of God around the world, Mountain of Fire and many more. She also the host for “Unknown Business” a TV reality series of African Business around the World, which is getting ready to air on many Networks soon.


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Anu is also the only Gospel/recording Artist that was honored and privileged to interview one of the most respected and spirit-filled Pastor in the world, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God during the documentary about Festival of Life Worldwide which will be airing soon. She was also chosen to be the one to interview the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi during his official visit to the United States to bridge the gaps among the Yoruba at home and in diaspora, and also to identify with children of Oduduwa among the Africans-Americans in the United States.



A woman of many hats like so many call her, Anu continue to serve in the house of God as a member of the choir at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Temple, Laurel, Maryland U.S.A even with her busy schedule. She also displayed her leadership role as the Coordinator of Women of African Origin in Music Ministry (WAOMM) in the United States of America.

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It has been two years since we enjoyed new music from Anu, and according to her, she always follow the guide of God in everything that she does. Anu described the last two years as most fulfilling years of her life, through
many open doors, getting her second degree and most importantly great growth in which God play a major role through her music. Anu who is currently working on her Album is set and ready to release the highly anticipated new single called “Higher” which she features another great gospel artist Izzy. This music testifies to the goodness of God over our life, and we must continue to lift him higher at all times; produced by Nimix. This New Music is certainly a hit every day, trust me you cannot sit still while listening, enjoy this wonderful song and be blessed by it.
Remember you must continue to lift God higher in everything that you do.

https://m.soundcloud.com/anumusic1/higher-anu-ft-izzy


On social media:

Instagram: @anumusic1 @nimix4u @iam_izzybeatz @vomoz

Twitter: @anumusic1 @nimix4u @iam_izzybeatz @vomoz

Facebook: @anumusic1 @nimix4u @iam_izzybeatz @vomoz

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/new-music-higher-anu-ft-izzy/

Better days are ahead for the management, players and supporters of the Oyo State-owned Shootings Stars Sports Club and Crown Football Club of Ogbomoso following the promise of a lifeline by the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

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The governor made the promise during a visit to the Lekan Salami stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, training ground of the 3SC, popularly called the Oluyole Warriors, on Friday.

He hinted that the state government would restructure the clubs, while it would also finance and revamp its facilities to heighten the enthusiasm of the players and supporters in them.

The governor used the occasion to apologise to the clubs for the seeming lack of adequate attention from the state government, which he blamed on the poor financial status of the state.

The governor commended the coaching crew and players of the team for posting impressive performance in recent times, which he described as encouraging and worthy of renewed support by the government and sports lovers.

Urging the teams to guard against complacency, Ajimobi promised to make up for the lost ground by giving full attention to the welfare of the clubs.

Ajimobi said, “They have done very well and we are very encouraged by their exemplary performance. I decided to visit 3SC to boost their morale and to promise them moral, physical and financial support.

“I seek to apologise for not doing this for long, but I am happy you all know where the state stands on the issue of finance. But I am more than happy to inform you that we are getting out of that situation.

“We all know the importance of sports in developing the moral, mental and physical fitness of our youths and an avenue to re-direct their interest from social vices and make them useful to the society.

“Government will restructure the clubs, finance and revamp their facilities to heighten the enthusiasm of players, supporters and management bodies.”

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The governor promised the players and fans of the 3SC of his intention to watch their next match against Sunshine Stars of Akure on Sunday.

The General Manager of 3SC, Mr. Rasheed Balogun and the team’s coach, Mr. Gbenga Ogunbote, expressed their delights at the presence of the governor at the training ground.

Balogun added that no amount of support from any quarter could boost the players’ morale more than the governor’s presence and words of encouragement.

He promised that the team would work harder to move from its presence position on the league table to the top spot, with the renewed support of the governor.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/lifeline-3sc-crown-fc-ajimobi-promises-improved-funding/

Award winning producer and Nollywood giant, Emem Isong will be speaking at SCRIPT IT! – A 2 day workshop for aspiring and existing screenwriters looking to make it in the Nigerian Film, TV and media industry.

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The workshop is convened by award winning screenwriter Rita C. Onwurah writer of several Nollywood movies & TV shows like Meet The In-Laws, Damage, Desperate Housegirls – The series, Head Over Heels (A Studio 84 Production for Africa Magic). She was also a script editor with Ebony Life TV.

She will be facilitating this event along with some other seasoned writers who will be taking the participants on writing for film, TV and various aspects of media.

The workshop will take place on Thursday & Friday, 25th & 26 August 2016 and the venue is Afriville: 4 Eric Moore Road, Surulere.

Course fee is N25, 000 inclusive of lunch and course materials.

Interested participants are to make payment into

Diamond Bank Plc.

Account name: HEXAGON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

Account number: 0062732788

Once payment has been made, the participant is to send a text message with his/her full name, date of payment & teller number to 08027758887 or 08034015745 or email hexagonnigeria@gmail.com for confirmation and completion of registration.

Limited seats are available and on a first come, first serve basis.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nollywood-producer-emem-isong-speak-2-day-workshop-screenwriters/

Diamond Bank Plc on Thursday released its H1 2016 performance scorecard on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showcasing considerable growth in key financial parameters.

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Analysts and industry watchers had, because of the harsh macroeconomic outlook,forecasted sluggish growth and greyed result for the period, but the interim report and accounts of the bank for the first six months of the year surpassed industry expectations as total comprehensive income rose by 13.3 per cent yearonyear to N16.3 billionas against N14.4 billion recorded in comparable period of 2015. Non-interest income surged by 33.4% to N26.5 billion, reflecting the successful efforts targeted at improving this income line and also the focused strategy of management, which were sharpened at improving digital functionality and widening financial inclusion.

Profit BeforeTax (PBT) remained modest and stable at N10.5 billion while Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at N9.1 billion, thus meeting shareholders’ expectation for the period under review and showcasing the strategic strength of the management creatively configured to surmount the turbulent macroeconomic environment and the tough regulatory framework facing the financial services sub-sector.


The Bank improved on its credit creation by 28.6 per cent as loans and advances to customers grew from N763.6 billion in the same period last business year to N982.3 billion. Also, loans to other banks jumped by 30.7 per cent to N78.5 billion in H1 2016 from N60.1 billion in the corresponding period last year, while its retail customers grew to over 13 million with 7 million of these opening accounts in the last 2 years. Also, the Banks digital leadership in the financial services sub-sector gained ascendency as its Diamond Mobile Apps usage increased from 1.6 million to 5.1 million while volume increased from 1.3 billion to 5.5 billion year on year.


The Bank sustained a strong top line growth with the asset base surging to N1.970 trillion from N1.753 trillion in the same period last year, representing 12.4 per cent increase.

Commenting on the Bank’s H1 performance, Uzoma Dozie, Chief Executive Officer stated that despite the economic headwind, the Bank would remain resilient and sustain the positive growth throughout H2.

According to him, the Bank’s strong liquidity and capital adequacy ratios plus its digital transformation have rightly positioned it to meet customer obligations and offer service deliveries that are beyond banking.

He said: “With the domestic economy contracting, the Nigerian banking industry has faced a number of challenges over the last six months. Nevertheless, in the first half of 2016, we have remained resilient in weathering these headwinds and there are real bright spots in our income streams, as well as noteworthy cost reduction, which gives us confidence going into the second half of the year.Due to actions taken and an ongoing prudent approach, our regulatory capital remains strong. This position of strength helped offset the one-off impact of the recent devaluation of the naira, as acknowledged by Fitch Ratings when they affirmed our B rating with a stable outlook. Liquidity of the bank also remains high and is well above the guidance ratio stipulated by CBN.

Although year on year impairment charge grew by 45.6 per cent to N19.0 billion, reflecting the Bank’s continuation of prudent provisioning, which is aimed at strengthening performance in the years ahead; its operating costs and interest expense are shrunk by 10.7% and 27.5% respectively compared to H1 2015, reflecting success of the cost control initiative and low cost deposit strategy.

Speaking further, Dozie stated that despite the catalogue of challenges facing the sub-sector, which wereexacerbated by the recent devaluation of the naira and foreign exchange scarcity, culminating in backlog of unpaid salaries and wages for individuals, Diamond Bank has continued a diligent implementation of its focus on curtailing cost. According to him, this has resulted in 10.7% reduction in operating expensesand 3.8% drop in employee benefit expenses for the period under review. The Bank also integrated further its retail offering and the supporting infrastructure with the opportunities created by its value chain marketing approach in the corporate and business banking segments.

“In the last few months, evidence has shown that the new strategy and initiatives to curtail costs are proving successful and are reflected in the bank’s financial indicators. This is reassuring. Year on year, costs came in lower and as we conclude the organizational restructure, we expect to harvest more savings from operational and employee expenses. The primary benefits of this however are the resources that we have freed up to provide improved services to customers. Having done this, we are optimistic that the Bank is in the right markets and has the wherewithal to excel and create value for shareholders in the long run,” stated Dozie.

About Diamond Bank Plc

Diamond Bank Plc began as a private limited liability company on March 21, 1991 (the company was incorporated on December 20, 1990). Ten years later, in February 2001, it became a universal bank. In January 2005, following a highly successful Private Placement share offer which substantially raised the Bank’s equity base, Diamond Bank became a public limited company. In May 2005, the Bank was listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange.Today, Diamond Bank is the fastest growing retail bank in Nigeria with a track record of high quality banking solutions for customers. It’s the lead driver of financial inclusion and enhanced customer experience through innovation and technology. Regarded as supporter of lifestyle trends, it mobile banking app, “Diamond Mobile” currently has over 1 million active subscribers on its platform. Diamond Bank has over the years leveraged on its underlying resilience to grow its asset base and to successfully retain its key business relationships. It has also played a leading role in partnering with domestic and International bodies such as Women’s World Banking, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MTN etc. to create easy access to financial services for the unbanked.

Press Release


Diamond Bank Records Stable Growth in H1

Diamond Bank Plc on Thursday released its H1 2016 performance scorecard on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showcasing considerable growth in key financial parameters.

Analysts and industry watchers had, because of the harsh macroeconomic outlook,forecasted sluggish growth and greyed result for the period, but the interim report and accounts of the bank for the first six months of the year surpassed industry expectations as total comprehensive income rose by 13.3 per cent yearonyear to N16.3 billionas against N14.4 billion recorded in comparable period of 2015. Non-interest income surged by 33.4% to N26.5 billion, reflecting the successful efforts targeted at improving this income line and also the focused strategy of management, which were sharpened at improving digital functionality and widening financial inclusion.

Profit BeforeTax (PBT) remained modest and stable at N10.5 billion while Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at N9.1 billion, thus meeting shareholders’ expectation for the period under review and showcasing the strategic strength of the management creatively configured to surmount the turbulent macroeconomic environment and the tough regulatory framework facing the financial services sub-sector.

The Bank improved on its credit creation by 28.6 per cent as loans and advances to customers grew from N763.6 billion in the same period last business year to N982.3 billion. Also, loans to other banks jumped by 30.7 per cent to N78.5 billion in H1 2016 from N60.1 billion in the corresponding period last year, while its retail customers grew to over 13 million with 7 million of these opening accounts in the last 2 years. Also, the Banks digital leadership in the financial services sub-sector gained ascendency as its Diamond Mobile Apps usage increased from 1.6 million to 5.1 million while volume increased from 1.3 billion to 5.5 billion year on year.

The Bank sustained a strong top line growth with the asset base surging to N1.970 trillion from N1.753 trillion in the same period last year, representing 12.4 per cent increase.

Commenting on the Bank’s H1 performance, Uzoma Dozie, Chief Executive Officer stated that despite the economic headwind, the Bank would remain resilient and sustain the positive growth throughout H2.

According to him, the Bank’s strong liquidity and capital adequacy ratios plus its digital transformation have rightly positioned it to meet customer obligations and offer service deliveries that are beyond banking.

He said: “With the domestic economy contracting, the Nigerian banking industry has faced a number of challenges over the last six months. Nevertheless, in the first half of 2016, we have remained resilient in weathering these headwinds and there are real bright spots in our income streams, as well as noteworthy cost reduction, which gives us confidence going into the second half of the year.Due to actions taken and an ongoing prudent approach, our regulatory capital remains strong. This position of strength helped offset the one-off impact of the recent devaluation of the naira, as acknowledged by Fitch Ratings when they affirmed our B rating with a stable outlook. Liquidity of the bank also remains high and is well above the guidance ratio stipulated by CBN.

Although year on year impairment charge grew by 45.6 per cent to N19.0 billion, reflecting the Bank’s continuation of prudent provisioning, which is aimed at strengthening performance in the years ahead; its operating costs and interest expense are shrunk by 10.7% and 27.5% respectively compared to H1 2015, reflecting success of the cost control initiative and low cost deposit strategy.

Speaking further, Dozie stated that despite the catalogue of challenges facing the sub-sector, which wereexacerbated by the recent devaluation of the naira and foreign exchange scarcity, culminating in backlog of unpaid salaries and wages for individuals, Diamond Bank has continued a diligent implementation of its focus on curtailing cost. According to him, this has resulted in 10.7% reduction in operating expensesand 3.8% drop in employee benefit expenses for the period under review. The Bank also integrated further its retail offering and the supporting infrastructure with the opportunities created by its value chain marketing approach in the corporate and business banking segments.

“In the last few months, evidence has shown that the new strategy and initiatives to curtail costs are proving successful and are reflected in the bank’s financial indicators. This is reassuring. Year on year, costs came in lower and as we conclude the organizational restructure, we expect to harvest more savings from operational and employee expenses. The primary benefits of this however are the resources that we have freed up to provide improved services to customers. Having done this, we are optimistic that the Bank is in the right markets and has the wherewithal to excel and create value for shareholders in the long run,” stated Dozie.


About Diamond Bank Plc

Diamond Bank Plc began as a private limited liability company on March 21, 1991 (the company was incorporated on December 20, 1990). Ten years later, in February 2001, it became a universal bank. In January 2005, following a highly successful Private Placement share offer which substantially raised the Bank’s equity base, Diamond Bank became a public limited company. In May 2005, the Bank was listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange.Today, Diamond Bank is the fastest growing retail bank in Nigeria with a track record of high quality banking solutions for customers. It’s the lead driver of financial inclusion and enhanced customer experience through innovation and technology. Regarded as supporter of lifestyle trends, it mobile banking app, “Diamond Mobile” currently has over 1 million active subscribers on its platform. Diamond Bank has over the years leveraged on its underlying resilience to grow its asset base and to successfully retain its key business relationships. It has also played a leading role in partnering with domestic and International bodies such as Women’s World Banking, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MTN etc. to create easy access to financial services for the unbanked.

He said: “With the domestic economy contracting, the Nigerian banking industry has faced a number of challenges over the last six months. Nevertheless, in the first half of 2016, we have remained resilient in weathering these headwinds and there are real bright spots in our income streams, as well as noteworthy cost reduction, which gives us confidence going into the second half of the year.Due to actions taken and an ongoing prudent approach, our regulatory capital remains strong. This position of strength helped offset the one-off impact of the recent devaluation of the naira, as acknowledged by Fitch Ratings when they affirmed our B rating with a stable outlook. Liquidity of the bank also remains high and is well above the guidance ratio stipulated by CBN.

Although year on year impairment charge grew by 45.6 per cent to N19.0 billion, reflecting the Bank’s continuation of prudent provisioning, which is aimed at strengthening performance in the years ahead; its operating costs and interest expense are shrunk by 10.7% and 27.5% respectively compared to H1 2015, reflecting success of the cost control initiative and low cost deposit strategy.

Speaking further, Dozie stated that despite the catalogue of challenges facing the sub-sector, which wereexacerbated by the recent devaluation of the naira and foreign exchange scarcity, culminating in backlog of unpaid salaries and wages for individuals, Diamond Bank has continued a diligent implementation of its focus on curtailing cost. According to him, this has resulted in 10.7% reduction in operating expensesand 3.8% drop in employee benefit expenses for the period under review. The Bank also integrated further its retail offering and the supporting infrastructure with the opportunities created by its value chain marketing approach in the corporate and business banking segments.

“In the last few months, evidence has shown that the new strategy and initiatives to curtail costs are proving successful and are reflected in the bank’s financial indicators. This is reassuring. Year on year, costs came in lower and as we conclude the organizational restructure, we expect to harvest more savings from operational and employee expenses. The primary benefits of this however are the resources that we have freed up to provide improved services to customers. Having done this, we are optimistic that the Bank is in the right markets and has the wherewithal to excel and create value for shareholders in the long run,” stated Dozie.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/diamond-bank-records-stable-growth-h1/

Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to provide accommodation for corps members posted to the FCT.

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Kazuare made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when the Chairman of AMAC, Mr Abdulahi Candido visited him in his office. He also requested for land in the AMAC area to be used as farmland by corps members to boost agriculture in the FCT.

Kazuare commended the AMAC chairman for the cordial relationship between the council and the NYSC and promised to sustain it.

In his remarks, the AMAC Chairman commended the NYSC for its contributions toward the development of the Council, especial in the area of manpower.
Candido said it was a tradition in the council for the chairman to visit the institutions under its jurisdiction to further strengthen their relationship.

He said that the council would look into the accommodation request, adding that the council would strive to make the corps members comfortable.

The Chairman said that the Council had initiated an AMAC Investment Property Development Company which had been approved for the purpose of housing projects.

He said the Council was working on a mass housing scheme that would enable people have houses and also help the council to generate revenue.
Candido assured the NYSC of exploring other areas of partnership so as to strengthen the bond between the two institutions.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nysc-urges-amac-build-lodges-corps-members/

Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has given a seven days ultimatum to Representative Abdulmumin Jibrin to tender an unreserved apology to him and retract all allegations made against him or face legal action.

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In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs to the Speaker, Turaki Hassan, stated that the demand was contained in a letter written and addressed to Representative Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Also, the House of Representatives has described the allegations against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and some Principal Officers of the House by former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmunin Jibrin as a misrepresentation of the person of the Speaker, the leadership and the entire chamber.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrasak Namdas who stated this while briefing National Assembly correspondents on the matter said Representative Jibrin’s mishandling of the 2016 Budget nearly fractured the cordial relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/speaker-yakubu-dogara-gives-rep-jibrin-7-days-apologize-retract-statement/

Nigeria’s Senate committee on Foreign Affairs has begun the screening of 47 Ambassadorial Nominees appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and sent to the Senate for consideration.

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A total of 15 out of the 47 Nominees were screened by the committee on day one of the exercise, and the nominees are career diplomats who will oversee Nigeria’s missions abroad.

It was observed that the nominees made very good submissions in their responses to questions posed by the senators in terms of policy statement.

One of the female nominees, Mrs. Vivian Okeke in her submission on the difficulties facing Nigerian Missions, highlighted the need for improved funding of the various missions to help the country achieve the desired goal of promoting its interests.

Pressed further on her knowledge of foreign economic blue print, the nominee explained that“China got their economic prosperity right because their President as at the time of their recession decided to shut its doors against import from other nations and was busy rebuilding China through domestic policy approach.”

She also stressed that if Nigeria could configure its foreign policies with the interest of benefiting from resources abroad, it would help the situation immensely.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senators Ita Enang, while reacting to some of the issues raised from the meeting, applauded the 8 man committee headed by Senator Monsurat Summonu, for their efforts in getting the best out of the nominees.

According to a statement by Senator Ita Enang, the screening exercise had taken off on a sound note. “May I state that the nominees were able to respond to questions asked them, and also recited the National Anthem and Pledge when called upon.”

“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the effort of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sumonu, and members of the committee, for the intellectual and thorough manner in which the exercise is being carried out.”

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, June 9, released the list of Ambassadorial nominees. It was contained in a letter sent to Senate president Bukola Saraki which he revealed on the floor of the Senate during that day’s plenary session.

The screening exercise continues at Room 204 New Senate building, National Assembly complex Abuja.

Nnenna.O

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nigerian-senate-begins-screening-ambassadorial-nominees/

Lagos State has recorded an upsurge in this year’s Primary six placement test into Junior Secondary School 1 with a total number of 168,843 pupils from State-owned public schools and their private counterparts taking part in the test.

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The test which held in 255 designated centres across the State was adjudged one of the best ever recorded by the State as question papers and answer scripts known as the OMR sheets were delivered by officials at the respective centres ahead of time.

Speaking on the exercise, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Ganiyu Oluremi Sopeyin, who monitored the exercise stated that the exercise was successful, largely because the State government leveraged on past experience and proffered solutions that made the exercise successful.

“All these minor hitches were immediately addressed peacefully without harassment or molestation”, he said, adding that the upsurge recorded can be attributed to the renewed confidence in and the improved standard of public education in the State.

He reiterated government’s commitment to provide qualitative and quantitative education in a conducive atmosphere in the State, adding that, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode approved the employment of an additional 1000 teachers to further strengthen the education sector.

Dr. Sopeyin also expressed gratitude to all the State government officials who ensured the tests conducted were hitch-free.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/lagos-records-upsurge-placement-test/

The Tricycle Riders in Iju- Ishaga area of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly on allegations of assault by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the area.

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The spokesman for the angry riders, Ramon Oladeji, stated that members of the NURTW always mandate them to carry passengers and alleged that whenever they do not have passengers on their tricycle, the vehicle would be seized, taken to the police station and not released until ransom has been collected.

Another representative of the protesters, Mr. Olatunji Olayemi, blamed the NURTW Chairman, Mr. Okigbo of masterminding the difficulties being faced by tricycle riders.

While responding, Hon. Mojeed Fatai, Chairman, House Committee on Transport implored the members to remain calm and peaceful.

The Chairman stated that the only two unions recognised by the State are the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and demanded that they align themselves with either of the two recognised unions.

He however, assured them that necessary action will be taken as soon as the House is formally notified, promising that the House would consequently invite the leadership of the NURTW to state their position on the allegations.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/keke-riders-protest-assault-nurtw-members/

SME Connect Nigeria (www.smeconnectnigeria.com ) is giving FREE ONE MONTH SOCIAL MEDIA PUBLICITY to interested SMEs.

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All you need do is send us what your deal or offer with high quality images to smeconnectnigeria@gmail.com and if it meets up with our T&C, we will publish it to over 16k people on our social media platforms..

Good luck guys and dont forget it’s just for a month.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/sme-connect-nigeria-giving-one-month-free-publicity-small-businesses-heres-qualify/

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE COMMISSIONING AND FLAG-OFF CEREMONY OF ABUJA (IDU)-KADUNA STANDARD GAUGE TRAIN SERVICE ON TUESDAY, 26TH JULY, 2016

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Protocol.

I am delighted to be here today to commission the Abuja – Kaduna railway track and flag-off the Abuja-Kaduna train services (Passengers & Freight) on Nigeria’s first ever Standard Gauge Rail track to go into operation. This project was conceived by a previous administration, started by the last government and I am pleased to complete and commission it.

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2. It is on record that between 1963 and early ‘80s, Nigeria had a vibrant rail system which conveyed agricultural and livestock and solid mineral resources to Lagos and Port Harcourt sea ports from where they are exported to other parts of the world. It is our vision and hope that those good old days will soon be back with us and indeed in a more prosperous way with the restoration of rail transport system which today’s occasion symbolises.

3. The construction of the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge rail track commenced in 2009 and happily, seven years after, we are on the threshold of presenting to Nigerians a Standard Gauge Railway Train Service that will be safe, fast and reliable. The Abuja-Kaduna train service will provide the much needed alternative transport link between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State, a corridor which has a huge potential for industries, agricultural activities and a growing labour force.

4. The Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and his team have put great efforts in the last few months to ensure the successful completion of this project under this Administration. Completion and Commissioning of this project is indeed in keeping with our vision of bringing about the desired change to make life easier for the generality of Nigerians through the development and provision of the necessary social and physical infrastructure.

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5. In this regard, I wish to assure Nigerians that most State capitals and major commercial and production centres will be linked with railway system as a way of bringing about rapid socio-economic development and improving the quality of life of the Nigerians and promoting social & regional integration.

6. Furthermore, I wish to also reassure Nigerians that due attention will be placed on pursuing the 25-Year Strategic Railway Master Plan which is aimed at rehabilitating the existing 3,505km narrow gauge rail line and developing and constructing new standard gauge rail lines across the country.

7. As we celebrate the symbolic return of rail service today I wish to reiterate the commitment of this Administration to pursue with greater vigour and determination rehabilitation and construction of other rail lines including the major Lagos-Calabar and Kano-Lagos lines.

8. As we get down to work, I look forward to flagging off many more lines outlined in our transport policy programme.

Thank you, and safe journey to all our travellers.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/president-buhari-abuja-kaduna-train-commissioning-speech/

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the Legendary Leadership Lessons conference is to inspire, motivate and empower young Nigerians who are or who wish to be in positions of leadership. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn key leadership skills such as integrity, honesty, determination, courage, commitment, passion, confidence, goal-setting and positivity. Speakers will share lessons from their own experience in a bid to motivate and inspire conference delegates.

Keynote: The Importance of Visionary Leadership on the Economic Development of Nigeria (Mr Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant-Media and Publicity to Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo)

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PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS



Other Distinguished Speakers/Panelists

Panel Discussion 1: Politics and Journalism, Lessons from the Last Decade/Lessons for Future Leaders (Osikhena Dirisu, Tolu Adeleru Balogun and Victor Mathias)

Panel Discussion 2: Gender and Identity, Turning Barriers to Leadership Opportunities (Kate Henshaw, Lola Shoneyin and Arinola Giwa)

Panel Discussion 3: Politics and Governance, how Young People can make a Difference (Gbenga Olorunpomi, Nnamdi Anekwe, Demola Olarewanju, Oluseun Akinrinoye and Ibilola Essien)

Dress Code: Business/Smart Casual

Refreshments will be available

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PROFILES

Arinola Giwa is a passionate copywriter and digital marketing professional with experiences in advertising, banking, technology and telecommunications. She won the Cannes Young Lions competition in 2013 and represented Nigeria in the cyber category in France. Arinola is also an inspirational writer and blogs regularly for www.diaryofmsgenesis.com.

Lola Shoneyin is a published author with three collections of poems and two children’s book. Her award-winning novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, was published in 2010. Shoneyin is the Director of Ake Arts and Book Festival. She lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

Kate Henshaw is a talented actress and one of the very best in the Nigerian Movie Industry. The gracious mother of an adorable daughter is known to give her best in whatever she does. Her wealth of experience and rich character has earned her a place in the hearts and minds of many. She is a well respect figure that people see as an example of who a role model should be.

AWARDS: Since her first major movie role in “When the Sun Sets”in 1991, Kate Henshaw has acted in over 300 movies. She won an award in a Leading Role in African Movie Academy Awards 2008, she also won The Best Actress Award at The ZAAFAA African Film Academy Awards 2015 and Nollywood Face of the Year at the 2015 City People Entertainment Awards. She also received The Smile Widows Home Humanitarian Award.

CHARITY WORK: She is one of the ambassadors for a charity called “Project Alert” that fights against violence and rape of women and children. She was made an Evans Inspire Ambassador in 2008 (Evans publishing saw the need for a role model who could encourage the youth beginning from primary school), Ambassador as a Golden Link for the National Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme, Goodwill Ambassador of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund.

Osikhena Dirisu (Osi Suave) is one of the most respected and in demand radio and television personality in Nigeria, Osi is not only one of the biggest personalities but has been at the cutting edge of electronic media and entertainment since 2005 with 10 years of experience in radio and live events. His electronic media career started at Silverbird’s Rhythm 93.7FM Benin in 2007 as an undergraduate at the University of Benin pursing a degree in Sociology and Anthropology which he graduated with high honours. Osi created and presented SOUL’D OUT a show laced with high octanes of wit, fine humour and infectious energy which carried on till 2010 when he graduated and moved to Lagos to join Rhythm 93.7FM Lagos before moving to the Beat 99.9Fm in 2011.

Osi has gone on to make numerous appearances for media campaigns Such as Microsoft West Africa, MTV Base, VJ Search, MTV Africa Music Awards, South African Tourism, Smirnoff Ice, Guinness, Gidi Mo, Moet and Chandon, Martini Nigeria, Dusse, Uber Nigeria, Hennessy, The United Nations backed one campaign, We Chat, Spirit of Lagos, Union Bank, South African Airlines, African International Economic Law Network, Procter and Gamble and Johnnie Walker. From 2011 till date, Osi has hosted the No.1 night show on radio and he currently Co-hosts the No. 1 breakfast show in the country “The Morning Rush.”

Demola Olarewaju is a writer with a background in Nigeria’s political history, party tendencies and ideological activism developed during his days as a Students’ Union leader in the University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. Incisive and not afraid to be controversial, Demola maintains an opinion blog at www.demolarewajudaily.com as well as writes columns with Nigeria’s major websites YNaija and The Sheet. @DemolaRewaju on twitter was the 2011 online campaign coordinator (later Personal Assistant) for Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi – a Lagos gubernatorial aspirant under the PDP. He was also the coordinator of KoroNation, a political movement for Senator Musiliu Obanikoro during the 2014 Lagos PDP primaries which later teamed up for Jimi Agbaje, the eventual candidate of the party in Lagos, 2015. Also in 2015, Demola became the Deputy Director of Social Media for the Goodluck Jonathan Independent Campaign Organisation in Lagos State.

Dr Dipo Awojide is a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Management at Nottingham Business School. He takes a genuine interest in the development of individuals, teams and organisations. In the last 3 years, he has taught Managing and Leading Strategic Change, Exploring Strategy and Innovation, Enterprise and Business Development, International Business and Global Strategy (MSc/MBA), and International Business Environment.

As part of the personalisation and experiential learning team at NBS, he mentors over 330 students on the Personal and Professional Development module. He helps them be the best they can be thus inspiring academic, personal and professional development. He is a member of the British Academy of Management and the African Academy of Management. Dr Awojide is credited with developing an Ambidextrous Organisational Culture Model for Companies in the European Union.

Oluseun Akinrinoye works in the Tax & Regulatory Services division of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he provides advice to various clients on diverse Nigerian regulatory, commercial and tax issues. His experience include advice on corporate & finance structuring; contract review & structuring; international taxation; mergers & acquisition including due diligence & tax health checks; tax audit and investigation. He was recently involved in a value transformation engagement worth almost $1m for a client in the oil and gas industry.

He graduated with First Class Honours in Accounting, from Obafemi Awolowo University, and he topped the department and the Faculty of Administration as the Best overall Graduating Student despite his involvement in active student politics. He also won several prizes while writing the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria qualifying exams. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at the age of 22, he is an Associate member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.

Nnamdi Anekwe-Chive is a banker and a Security Intelligence Expert. He has extensive experience in managing Small Scale and Medium Enterprises and Business Development. As a Security Intelligence Expert, has featured on BBC Africa, Radio France International, Al Jazeera America, Channels TV and scores of Radio Stations in Nigeria, to provide professional analysis on the Boko Haram insurgency and Political developments in Nigeria. He has a degree in Political Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and a Masters of International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. He is also a Certified Security Specialist.

Victor Mathias is a Channels Television Presenter and Producer with local, national and international experience. A graduate of Political Science from the University of Maiduguri, Victor is known for his distinctive baritone and is a presentable, intelligent, well-spoken and responsible journalist.

Victor has covered stories in Nigeria and abroad, ranging from the Boko Haram insurgency, health, social issues, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) among others He is the pioneer presenter and producer of Channels Television’s flagship social media powered programme, Channels Beam and a news anchor.

Hon. Gbenga Olorunpomi is the Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Nigeria. He has spent the last 8 years working in the Nigeria media space with special emphasis on the deployment, content development and monitoring of digital media tools. He has headed teams of highly-skilled communicators, researchers, digital marketers and social media enthusiasts to organise, customise and operationalise the online assets of several clients, which include Etisalat, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, The Economist, The Orderly Society Trust, The Lagos State Government, The Osun State Government, The Federal Government of Nigeria, etc.

He ran what he calls ‘The Method Room’. This is a centre of expertise tools and techniques that allow the team to drive social connections across all programs for our clients’ brands and businesses. His Social Marketing Management skills help ensure the success of our clients’ brands’ social marketing efforts through a combination of strategic vision and executional know-how applied across a range functions.

Tolulope Adeleru-Balogun is an award-winning radio show host and a journalist with over 8 years experience. She started her career in radio before venturing over to tv. She spent a number of years in front of the camera with ITV Abuja and NN24 before taking up the challenge of heading a new radio station’s flagship show. Tolulope currently hosts a daily political show on Nigeria’s number 1 talk, news and sports station, 99.3 Nigeria Info. With her show, she has been successful in setting the pace of many discussions while informing and galvanizing her audience to action.
Tolulope has been trained by some of the best from CNN, Al-Jazeera, etc. She has also received additionally training from Google, the Goethe Institute and most recently the BBC. She is a CNN Journalism Fellow, and continually strives for the best. Tolulope is also a media trainer as well as media consultant. She is very active on social media and believes change can start with just a conversation and just a speech band.

For sponsorships and more information please contact info@btdtltd.co.uk or call +447553590302 or +447703500097

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/legendary-leadership-lessons-4-saturday-30th-july-oriental-hotel/

Registrations open as Turf Season begins search for Nigeria’s best youth football talent with the ultimate prize of a football contract in Europe at stake.

Turf Season is searching for the best youth football talent in Nigeria to take to Europe. If you have got skills or now someone that plays great football and deserves to win the grand prize of a football career opportunity in Europe, please visit the link to sign up now http://www.turfseason.com for more details.

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Turf Season is a football reality TV project for promoting football talents. There is no doubt that Nigeria has a huge deposit of talents in the grassroots. The fact that we have won the FIFA U17 World Cup five times at this level already over-emphasizes this. However, the career opportunities for them have been very few and as such many beautiful football careers die early.

Turf season will celebrate these hidden gems and put them on Africa’s big screen expanding 20 weeks on cable and local television. With an estimated average of 50 million viewers per week across Africa, our project will be a robust platform for these players. Turf Season will give participating young talents the much-needed profile to attract and secure football career opportunities both locally and internationally.

Turf Season will also be an opportunity for these upcoming talents to learn about the football career as it will provide not just entertainment but an avenue for the Nigerian grassroots football talents to learn the rudiments of the football career.

The focus is not just football as participants will be required to learn other skills to help them cater for themselves after football.

Participants will be well-groomed and exposed to expert football knowledge and tutelage. They will also have to undergo physical, technical, tactical & psycho-social drills to merit a place in each episode. This will invariably teach audiences and players themselves what it takes to be on the turf.

Turf Season promises to be an exciting football project and it’s open to fresh football talents between the ages of 15 to 19, who have no professional experience in the game.

To participate in the upcoming auditions, visit http://www.turfseason.com for more details.

For sponsorship and advertising enquiries, kindly contact the project manager on 08125316507 or via email: info@turfseason.com

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/next-football-superstar-turf-season-registration-opens/

Disability is a physical or mental impairment that is perceived to limit one or more major life activities of an impaired person. While this appears a direct definition, Nigerians have ascribed various definitions to disability in different terms, concluding that persons with disabilities are abnormal persons who are offered mainly medical and charity gestures.

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Over the years, persons with disability in Nigeria have been marginalized in all spheres. These discriminating tendencies have deprived them of the basic opportunities entitled to every citizen thereby infringing their fundamental human rights.



As victims of negligence, this category of people have gained global attention constituting a social group that is vulnerable to societal discrimination. Yet this has only compounded their tormenting experiences‎.



They are generally dispossessed of physical structures, employment opportunities, and leadership positions, improved educational facilities resulting to socio-political inequality, social stigmatization, and high level of illiteracy, open discrimination, insecurity, and exclusiveness resulting to high dependency on others without disability.



There have been cases of Nigerians deprived of employment opportunities, admission into schools, getting political appointments, etc. because of their disabilities with a confirmed report stating that Persons with disabilities constitute only about 3% of the work force.

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Seal of the Senate of Nigeria



According to a report of the National Baseline Survey on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria, 50% of PWDs had no schooling whatsoever and the use of necessary assistive devices by PWDs was limited and inadequate, consisting mostly of walking sticks, crutches, braces, walkers, and hearing aids. The main sources of assistive devices for PWDs across the nation were family, friends and PWDs themselves. Begging for alms was the most prominent source of their subsistence.



World Health Organization reports that over 20 million Nigerians are living with disability which makes them the largest minority group in the nation.



The Disability Bill seeking to provide succor to PWDs in Nigeria has been faced with a yoke of assent such that it has failed to be accented in two successive administrations after passage in the 6th and 7th assembly. This only goes to show the level of commitment to the plights of PWDs.



Both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the previous assemblies have showed consideration by passing this bill in accord for the executive to assent.



As enshrined in the Fundamental Rights provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended in January, 2011.‎ ‘‘Every Nigerian citizen is entitled to be conferred with equality of rights, obligations and‎ Opportunities before the law, the recognition of the sanctity of the human life and the maintenance and enhancement of human dignity’’.



Many developing countries in the world are availed with inclusive disability rights legislation and policy regimes where disabled people are involved at all levels in the society and not left as odds and tools for charity.



Unfortunately, this bill has often been compared to the petroleum industry bill, PIB that has remained with the national assembly since the 6th assembly and yet its significance if passed cannot be over emphasized.‎



The 6th National Assembly passed this bill on the 28th of September 2010; a lot of bills have been prioritized above bills like this, in a government that preaches full inclusiveness of the masses, the idea of humanity first is not inclusive of disabled Nigerians, they are seen as disabled first before human beings.



More often than not, policies to take beggars off the street have gained much attention because they constitute nuisance such that it has become a nightmare for state governors in the case of Kaduna State. A major occupation of PWD is alms begging how then do the government want to get them off the streets without a law that allows their rights to be upheld?

It is pertinent to note that, anyone could be disabled either naturally congenitally through unforeseen causes, accident or as one goes into old age.



Emphatically, 7th National Assembly on January 30th 2015 barely six months to the end of the assembly harmonized and sent the bill defending the rights of Persons with Disabilities for presidential assent that proved abortive.



On the 12th of July 2016 the 8th Senate passed the same bill for final reading; however with the travails of persons with disability and the burden of assent by previous administration, the timely passage of this bill has again awoken the wishes of PWDs whose greatest desire is for this bill to finally become law and ensure their full integration into the larger society.



‘‘With what the 8th Senate has done today by passing this bill for its third and final time in the Red Chamber, it is my hope that this National Assembly can finally break this jinx by getting it passed by the House of Representatives and assented into law by Mr. President” Senate president, Bukola Saraki stated shortly after the passage.



This hope means everything to over 22milliion disabled Nigerians whose believe their ability has been dashed and relegated as victims of negligence and an apparatus of charity. This bill for its worth seeks to provide for the establishment of a National Commission for persons with disability to cater for their education, health care while protecting their social economic and civil rights. It will also check and outlaw all forms of discrimination against them and put in place measures that will address their condition.



Disability is not Inability and there is ability in every disability in the words of Khang Kijaro Nguyen “Able does not mean enabled. Disabled does not mean less able.”



CYNTHIA FERDINAND U.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/disabilitybill-odds-persons-disability-nigeria-cynthia-ferdinand/

In a recent poll conducted by leading advisory and consultancy firm, KPMG, Diamond Bank was ranked as one of the top three most customer-focused banks in the country. Participating in a keenly contested category, the Bank emerged overall third best in the customer satisfaction index (CSI) with 73.5 points.

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This revelation was made at the 2016 edition of the Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey recently released by KPMG.

The survey which debuted in 2007, elicits feedback from customers and stakeholders across the retail, SME and corporate banking segments. It is a reflection of the levels of satisfaction and expectation of customers with respect to service delivery from their banks. The yardstick for evaluation includes convenience, products and services, client service, value for money and customer care.


Diamond Bank has maintained a customer-centric strategic mix; passionately leading the revolution in mobile banking innovations and financial inclusion of the un(der)banked in the country. Its mobile app is the most downloaded and registered in the financial services sub-sector, with over 1.5 million users.


The Bank’s Diamond Ye’llow account has remained the most successful in the country, with over 5 million account holders in two years and through its monthly DiamondXtra draws, Diamond Bank has given out N4 billion to its loyal customers in the last five years, while setting aside N600 million for its loyal customers this year.

The Bank’s chief spokesperson, Ayona Trimnell stated that Diamond Bank is very passionate about its customers, and is continually looking for ways to improve its services in line with developing trends.

She said: “Diamond Bank Plc is a customer driven bank and the quality of our services embodies our mantra which is centered on going beyond banking to achieve customer satisfaction. We are unflinching in our resolve to constantly deploy new technologies and digital applications to drive financial inclusion, convenient banking and enhanced customer friendly services. This rating is a confirmation of our resolve and focus, and reinforces our standing as a bank for the people”.


In its latest ranking, the global financial rating agency, Fitch, reaffirmed Diamond Bank’s rating of ‘BBB” +. Thus, affirming the strong fundamentals of the Bank to meet financial commitments.

According to Fitch, the strong regulatory capital ratios of the Bank have helped offset the one-off impact from the devaluation arising from Nigeria’s new FX regime. This translates to a stable outlook for Diamond Bank’s short-term and long-term foreign currency issuer default ratings (IDR).

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/diamond-bank-listed-top-three-customer-focused-banks-nigeria/

The leadership crises rocking the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife may have been laid to rest as the Senate of the Institution nominated Professor Anthony Elujoba as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University.

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This followed the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari as a result of several allegations of corruption levelled against the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole and his Successor, Professor Ayobami Salami.

Radio Nigeria Correspondent, reports that Professor Elujoba from the faculty of Pharmacy defeated Professor Abayomi Laminkanra of the Same faculty in an election contest with 251 to 5 votes.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/calm-returns-oau-appoints-prof-elujoba-acting-vc/

The Nigerian House of Representatives has pledged to contribute thirty-six million Naira (N36m), about one hundred and fifty thousand US Dollar($150,000) to the Internally Displaced Persons in the North East part of the country.

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This was contained in a motion of urgent public importance presented before the House to take care of the internally displaced persons undergoing difficult situations in the region, especially children and women.

Leading debate on the motion, Malam Sani Zorro sponsor of the motion said over fifty thousand malnourished children are currently facing life threatening situations as a result of malnutrition.

He said “The House is worried by the squalor, shelter deficit, general protection and assistance that has attracted the sympathy of the international community, donors, civil society organisations and international non-governmental organisation in the humanitarian field.”

The House also urged the Nigerian government to consider the immediate adoption of a national policy on IDPs and to appoint a substantive federal commissioner for refugees, IDPs, migrants and returnees.

The lawmakers also called for a sustained humanitarian protection and assistance protocol for an effective, efficient and verifiable supply of food and non-food items to the IDPs in the Northeast.

The House in the plenary also considered a report on the bill to establish North East Development Commission to receive and manage funds for the resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the North East region devastated by the activities of boko haram.


Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/house-reps-donates-n36m-idps/

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria is pleased to announce
the following vacancies for suitably qualified Nigerian candidates.

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Post Title:Programme Assistant
Level /Type of post:GS – 6 / Fixed Term
Location:Ondo
Duration:Up to 31.12.2017

Post Title:Admin Assistant
Level / Type of Post:GS- 5 / Fixed Term
Location:Ondo
Duration:Up to 31.12.2017

Post Title:Admin Assistant
Level / Type of post:GS-5 / Fixed Term
Location:Bauchi
Duration:Up to 31.12.2017

Post Title:Graphic Assistant
Level/Type of post:GS- 6 / Fixed Term
Location:Abuja
Duration:Up to 31.12.2017


For details on the job description and application process, please visit https:///YhBZEz7nLO. Note that closing date for all listed positions is 1st August 2016.


UNICEF, a smoke-free environment, is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly women are strongly encouraged to apply. Zero tolerance of sexual abuse and exploitation is our policy.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/unicef-job-vacancies-nigeria/

Inspector General of Police has been sued for peace over the killing, on Monday, of Mr Lazarus Agai, the Saf Ron-kulere and First Class traditional ruler of Bokkos in Plateau by unknown assailants. The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Ibrahim Idris has ordered the DIG operations to bring killers to book.

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The Inspector-General of Police, Ag.IGP Ibrahim Idris, NPM, mni has directed the Deputy-Inspector-General of Police in charge operations, DIG Joshack Habilla to proceed to Plateau State with immediate effect to ensure the arrest of the killers of Chief Lazarus Agaie, the traditional ruler of Bokkos, who was murdered on his way from a farm alongside his wife, son and Police orderly.

IGP Idris said those behind the gruesome murder of the monarch will be fished out in record time for prosecution, saying, this is why the Deputy Inspector-General of Police is sent to Plateau State. He further said it was pathetic to see the life of any Nigerian, irrespective of his or her status snuffed out by any criminal gang in whatever name.

The Inspector-General of Police said the death of the monarch, his family and orderly were particularly painful, but more painful when we take to reprisal attacks; he therefore advised the aggrieved to be patients with the Police in their investigation into the murder of the monarch.

IGP Ibrahim Idris said the Nigeria Police will leave no stone unturned in arresting the culprits, but need the collaboration of everyone with useful information, without over heating the already tensed insecurity challenges the country is going through. He assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police under his watch will ensure decency in the polity.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/igp-sues-peace-death-plateau-monarch/

The EFCC, Gombe zonal office, today, July 20th 2016, quizzed the former deputy speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon.Sace A.Dumba, the former caretaker chairman of Dass local government, Mohammed Suleiman Rabo and former chairman of People’s Democratic Party in Dass local government area of the state for sharing about five hundred million naira (N500 million) to twenty local government areas of the State for the re-election of the former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 general election.

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The bribe money was reportedly lavished on PDP stakeholders in all the local government areas of the State by the commissioner for finance, Garba Dahiru, during the administration of Isa Yuguda, the former governor of the State.
They admitted to the operatives of EFCC during interrogation that they signed and collected the said amount from Garba as to deliver PDP in all the local government areas of the State.
They also told the EFCC that the sharing formular was based on the population of each of the local government in which Bauchi local government collected forty eight million and twenty thousand naira (N48, 020, 000), Toro collected thirty two million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira (N32,490,000), while Ningi local government collected twenty eight million, two hundred and fifty thousand naira(N28,250,000).

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/efcc-quizzes-former-deputy-speaker-two-others-n500m-poll-fraud/

Today, July 20th marks the second year the highly dreaded Ebola Virus was brought into Nigeria by Late Patrick Sawyerr, a situation which put citizens of the country in a state of panic at the time.

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Following the encounter with Late Patrick Sawyerr, medical practitioners at First Consultants Hospital in Lagos together with the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh took immediate measures to stop the spread of the disease not caring about putting their lives on the line to save the people of Nigeria.



After the period of 93 days, the country was declared free from the virus by World Health Organisation (WHO). As we celebrate this day in history, we remember the brave roles played by Dr Ameyo Adadevoh, her team and the Government who together saved the country from a national disaster.

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The movie 93 days tells the story of these men and women who risked their lives to save the citizens of Nigeria from the consequences of the outbreak of the highly dreaded Virus.



Stars in the movie include Danny Glover, Bimbo Akintola, Tim Reid, Somkele Iyamah Idhalama, Alastair Mackenzie, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Bimbo Manuel, Charles Okafor, Gideon Okeke, and other talented actors.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlLdrsAW_10

Directed by Steve Gukas, 93 Days was produced by Pemon Rami, Bolanle Austen-peters, Dotun Olakunri and Steve Gukas.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/today-history-nigerias-first-experience-ebola-virus-disease/

In a bid to enhance to quality healthcare across Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Monday introduced a finance intervention scheme to assist private hospitals improve their facilities and operational environment.

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Addressing medical doctors at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike declared that the State government through a bank will make available loans to the private hospitals operating in the State.

According to the governor, the private hospitals loan scheme will cover hospitals in the urban and rural areas, with 500 health facilities billed to benefit from the programme.

He said : “These funds are not for the purchase of drugs. They are meant for the acquisition of equipment to enable private hospitals improve on the operational environment of their health facilities.

“I am introducing this programme because of the promise I made when I met with doctors before the elections. These funds will be accessed by private hospitals from across the State”.

He said that the state government will act as a guarantor for all the private hospitals that will access the loans. He added that the state government will pay the interest on the loans on behalf of the benefitting private hospitals.

“This will not be a programme for the political friends of the administration. It is a reach out to all private medical practitioners”, he said.

He announced the setting up of a seven-man committee to work out the modalities for accessing the loan.

The governor noted that the loans will be repayable in three years.

Speaking further, he assured the doctors that his administration will address the issue of multiple taxation by streamlining the taxes payable to the state and the local government areas.

He directed the State Attorney-General to withdraw the case instituted by the State Ministry of Environment against the Association of Private General Medical Practitioners.

The governor assured medical doctors in public practice of their welfare which includes the purchase of cars, training and re-training of personnel .

In his remarks, Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Furo Green commended the governor for setting up the scheme to assist private medical practitioners in the state.

Dr Green said that this is the first time the state government is intervening in the development of private health facilities.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Rivers State Association of Private General Medical Practitioners, Dr Henry Sota said that the programme initiated by the governor was God-ordained with the aim of reviving the health sector of the state.

The meeting attracted over 1000 doctors from the public and private sectors.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/access-healthcare-governor-wike-introduces-private-hospitals-loan-scheme/

Miss Quintessential Nigeria (MQN) is the Nigerian edition of a continental beauty pageant hosted by Big Brother Africa star Dillish Mathews, who is also the brand ambassador. The pageant stands for the advancing of sustainable developmental advocacy, policies and programs that promotes the growth of model1diverse communities in Nigeria as to assist to eradicate current problems.

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Dillish Mahews, who is Namibian by birth, has made herself an exemplary beauty queen who has used her entrepreneurial and humanitarian spirit to advocate for various causes across the African continent, whilst acting, modeling, and running her own business. The aim of the Miss Quintessential Nigeria beauty pageant is to discover and develop young African women like Dillish, and help them find their voice, and their roles in developing Africa.



MQN beauty pageant is open for young, unmarried ladies between the ages of 17-25 who will be contesting for the title of ’’Miss Quintessential Nigeria”. The pageant provides a forum for today’s young women to express their viewpoints, talents and accomplishments during the ensuing year and it provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals.

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Current partners for the pageant include HIPtv, The Sun Newspapers, Poise Nigeria and ONTV. These sponsors will also join MQN in running a campaign against child abuse/violence. It will tackle this problem through talk shows, seminars and road walk. As we know the girl child faces a lot of physical abuse in our society today. MQN is a forum that will create a solution for these problems using beauty queens.

One of the main features of MQN beauty pageant is to redefine the status of a beautiful woman thereby to empower them to fulfill the goals and objectives. Empowering women fuels thriving economics, spurring productivity and growth.

Interested Applicants can enter the contest HERE: http://www.mqnigeria.com/mqn-application
For sponsorship and partnership corporate bodies or individuals download the MQN Brochure HERE: http://www.mqnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/MQN-PROPOSAL.pdf

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/miss-quintessential-nigeria-hosted-dillish-mathews-big-brother-africa-chase-winner-2013/

NAN(Lagos): The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the recent lists forwarded to various tertiary institutions was for candidates that qualified for screening based on institutions’ capacity.

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The board’s Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, made the clarification on Sunday Lagos in a statement. According to the statement, they are in no way the admission lists.

It added that if, however, the number of candidates on such lists was not sufficient for existing vacancies, the institutions could source from the omnibus printout earlier sent to them by the board.

“The public and all tertiary institutions should note that admission will only be approved by the board after appropriate screening of the candidates by the institutions.

“The list which is made up of candidates who met the national cut-off point within the set criteria is then forwarded to the institutions,’’ it said.

The statement noted that the intention of the board was to ensure that available spaces were adequately utilised.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/jambs-list-not-final-condition-admission/

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government is very focused on the economy and has a definite economic plan.

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”Those who think we do not have an economic plan have not taken the pains to check out our plan,” the Minister said in Abuja on Thursday while receiving Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria Sadanobu Kusaoke.

”We are working to reflate the economy, provide more jobs, invest in infrastructure, power, railways and roads and by so doing create the enabling environment for industries to thrive,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said there were 34 priority actions to be implemented in the 2016 budget, listing some of them as increasing low interest lending to the Real Sector and implementing measures to achieve self-sufficiency and become net exporters of certain agricultural products.

He said Nigeria would achieve self-sufficiency in tomato paste by 2016, rice production by 2018, wheat production by 2019, in addition to increasing local production of maize, soya, poultry and livestock, among others.

The Minister expressed delight at the offer by the Japanese Ambassador to assist in developing the capacity of Nigerian film producers in the area of animation and children films.

”We don’t have enough films for children in Nigeria, and we run the risk of our children watching films that are inappropriate for their age and moral upbringing,” he said, adding that while Nigerian film makers are not lacking in creativity, technology for making animation poses a challenge.

Earlier, the Japanese Ambassador said his country would like to collaborate with the Ministry of Information and Culture in the area of cultural exchange and film industry.

Ambassador Kusaoke said he would want Nigerian movies to be shown in Japan and for Japanese films to be shown in Nigeria, in addition to promoting Japanese Culture in Nigeria.

The Minister later presented the Ambassador with copies of ”The Strategic Implementation Plan for the 2016 Budget of Change”, which documents the key short-term priorities of the Administration to place the economy on the upward trajectory as it is re-positioned for Change, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.

Source>>http://www.barbaric.com.ng/president-buharis-economic-plan-nigeria/