₦airaland Forum

Google is hiring massively this year and Africa is not left out in the hiring spree. If you are interested in working for Google, check out the jobs below and/or share with your network.

The full list of positions and appropriate links here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/10/google-africa-hiring/

How did he get 1 million + Twitter Followers? D'banj, Don Jazzy and co don't even have up to 100,000.

https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/pastorchris.png



http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/07/pastor-chris-oyakhilome-1-million-twitter-followers-operates-fast-growing-social-networking-site-yookoscom/

Thisday and BGL PLC recently launched a stock market index called the Thisday-BGL 50. The index is the first of its kind in the local media landscape. It will be maintained by the THISDAY-BGL Index Committee, a team of BGL and THISDAY market and index analysts who meet regularly.

THISDAY-BGL 50 is to become the leading indicator of Nigerian equities, reflecting the risk and return features of the market on a regular basis.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/07/thisday-bgl-launch-stock-market-index/

Mohammed Namadi Sambo (PDP)

Until May last year, Namadi Sambo was the People’s Democratic Party governor of Kaduna State, a state regarded as the political headquarters of the northern region. He had run the state sine 2007 until he transferred his services to the federal level following his nomination for the vice presidential slot by President Goodluck Jonathan after the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Prior to his nomination, the media had touted several names in the media as possible nominees, some of whom were politically ahead of Mr. Sambo for the number two position. Among them was Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who handed over power to Mr. Sambo in Kaduna State; deputy governor of Sokoto State, Murktar Shagari; secretary to the government of the federation, Yayale Ahmed; former military administrator of Lagos State, Buba Marwa; Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido; and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Usman Nafada.

Born in 1954, Mr. Sambo, an architect and native of Zaria, had occupied various government positions, including membership of the Kaduna State Executive Council as commissioner. He heads some standing and ad-hoc government bodies, including the National Economic Council, where he and the 36 state governors sit to determine the economic direction of the country. He also heads a team constituted by the president to ensure the completion of power projects. That team comprises one governor from each of the geo-political zones and other technocrats.

Therefore, Mr. Sambo is coming into the presidential contest with a lot of experience in public administration — not that he has done well on all of those beats. No other vice presidential candidate has such credentials. For those who say experience counts in governance, this may be a plus for the ticket he shares with his boss, Mr. Jonathan. Today, by virtue of the position he occupies, Mr. Sambo is the political leader of the north, though this has been challenged on a few occasions by some people. But the vice president may need to work harder to deliver the votes of the north, a crucial section of the country, whose people are still angry over the dumping, by the PDP, of the zoning/rotation of presidential power between the two main political regions — north and south.

Although the results of the January 13 presidential primaries ended in favour of Mr. Sambo and his boss, it exposed the vice president as not being popular among his people. The result showed that Jonathan got 82 votes in Kaduna against Atiku Abubakar’s 41. Besides, analysts say that the zoning controversy may give sympathy votes to Muhammed Buhari, whose party, the Congress for Progressive Change, is gaining ground in the north and some other parts of the country. But others believe that Mr. Sambo does not have to worry because most of the northern votes will go to the ruling PDP.

Gbolahan Babatunde Bakare (CPC)

When on Monday, the fiery Lagos-based preacher was announced by the Congress for Progressive Change as running mate to Muhammadu Buhari via a press statement, many were surprised. He heads the popular Latter Rain Assembly, which he founded several years ago.

Although a lawyer by profession, Mr. Bakare went into activism when last year, he and a few other Nigerians started the Save Nigeria Group. The group played a major role in the successful demand for the transfer of power from ailing President Yar’Adua to his deputy, Mr. Jonathan. Since then, Mr. . Bakare has been in the news. But Mr. Bakare’s nomination did not come easy. A NEXT source said that Mr. Buhari had a hard time convincing his associates to agree to the idea of the preacher as his running mate. First, the pastor is not a card-carrying member of the CPC, neither is he a politician.

It was learnt that at several meetings in previous weeks in his suite at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, Mr. Buhari who had realized that the alliance talks with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was headed nowhere, insisted that he needed a man of integrity and character from the southwest geo-political zone to pair with. Soon the name of the preacher began to feature in the media in the last three weeks. Before then there were speculations that the former military strongman would run with former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu if the alliance worked. Others whose names featured at that time as possible running mates were former Anambra State governor, Chris Ngige; his Ekiti State counterpart, Niyi Adebayo; former Lagos State attorney general, Femi Osinbajo and Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

“He (Buhari) reckons that Bakare fits into this bill,” said our source last Thursday. “That doesn’t mean that no other Nigerian came into his purview. It was essentially that some of them are not affiliated to the CPC or our alliance partners.”

But Osita Okechukwu, an ally of Mr. Buhari, however, told NEXT last week that Mr. Buhari knew Mr. Bakare through his activism.

“The general (Buhari) came to know about Bakare through his activities in SNC. He was impressed that he was able to convene the SNC at that time to save Nigeria’s democracy,” Mr. Okechukwu said.

“Secondly, he was also impressed that Bakare did not align with Jonathan for having helped Jonathan to come to power. He didn’t see him as IOU. So Bakare demonstrated the principle of integrity and transparency.”

On why Mr. Buhari chose a running mate from the southwest and not southeast as was the case when he ran on the ANPP platform, Mr. Okechukwu explained that the former head of state perceived that, “the southeast governors, especially Peter Obi of Anambra State, were found to be too deep in PDP as if the PDP is their grandfather.”

But choosing Mr. Bakare may not translate to electoral fortunes for Mr. Buhari, who is making his third and perhaps last outing as a presidential candidate. First, Mr. Bakare is an activist and a preacher. He has no track record as a politician and therefore has no political structure like his boss. The SNC structure and his flock may not bring enough electoral value needed for a presidential contest. Again, some Nigerians still see the preacher as a man not to be trusted. Reference is easily made to his famous prediction about the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who he said would die before taking office. That was shortly after Mr. Obasanjo was elected president in 1999. Mr. Obasanjo went on to be in power for the next eight years.

Although Mr. Buhari chose the preacher to kill the belief that he is an Islamic fundamentalist, some still mischievously regard the Buhari-Bakare ticket as a somewhat Muslim-Muslim ticket. Mr. Bakare, an Egba man from Ogun State, was a Muslim but he converted to Christianity. Yet, others say both Messrs Buhari and Bakare are two strong characters who may not work together. Even so, Mr. Bakare is coming into the race with strong credentials. He is influential in the civil society and the Christian community and all this is certain to attract some votes to the CPC. Mr. Bakare is also of the progressive bent and has a lot in common with ACN.

John Odigie-Oyegun (ANPP)

Against all political calculations, John Odigie-Oyegun emerged as the running mate of Ibrahim Shekarau, the presidential flagbearer of the opposition All Nigeria People’s Party, last Monday. He is the oldest of the group having been born in 1939. He studied economics at the University of Ibadan. His choice shows that the ANPP has not broken the pattern of choosing one of their executive members as running mates. Mr. Odigie-Oyegun is the deputy chairman of the party, south. In 2007, Mr. Buhari, while in ANPP, ran with Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, the then party chairman. The retired general had run with former senate president, Chuba Okadigbo in 2003.

ANPP spokesman, Emma Eneukwu, explained to NEXT last Thursday that Mr. Odigie-Oyegun’s choice was meant to balance the old and the young. Mr. Shekarau is in his 50s. According to him, the Kano State governor was looking in the direction of the ANPP chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu as running mate, but that the party’s leadership decided against it for two reasons. First, it did not want a repeat of what happened in 2007 when Messrs Ume-Ezeoke and Buhari disagreed on issues although they were running on the same ticket. Secondly, since Mr. Onu hails from the southeast geo-political zone, it would be politically wise to look at the direction of another zone in the south.

But a NEXT source said the party was desperate to find a way into the south-south region, where Mr. Jonathan is from. The calculation was that that would not only split the votes in the region, it would also give the people of the region a sense of belonging, that if ANPP formed a government, they would have one of their own in government to address the problems of the oil-producing region.

How well the ANPP’s calculation will work remains to be seen. Analysts say Mr. Shekarau’s choice of running mate was a mistake on the part of a party that is desperate to take over power. Mr. Odigie-Oyegun is believed to be a politician without a strong political structure as was the case in 1993 when he beat the famous Igbinedion family to win the Edo State gubernatorial race on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party. That may be true to some extent because the ANPP is practically non-existent in Edo and the south-south region.

But Mr. Odigie-Oyegun comes to the contest with experience. He ran a state government for about 20 months between 1992 and 1993. He is a retired permanent secretary and a party man. This may be an advantage for the ANPP and also for its government if Mr. Shekarau wins. As Mr. Odigie-Oyegun told NEXT in a telephone chat last Tuesday, “I am coming with integrity and principle, and I assure you my ticket with Shekarau is the best you can find today.”

Yunusa Tanko (NCP)

Until his nomination as running mate to the National Conscience Party’s presidential hopeful Dele Momodu, Yunusa Tanko was an contestant to the House of Representatives to represent the AMAC/Bwari federal constituency of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Thus, the announcement of his emergence a vice presidential candidate came to many as a shock. The 45-year-old Mr. Tanko from Kano State is not new to the position. He was running mate to Osagie Obayuwana who ran for the presidency in 2007 on NCP’s platform. Mr. Tanko, a chartered accountant and an MBA holder, is the national secretary of the NCP as well as the secretary of the Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN), a group of 23 opposition parties, floated to oust the PDP from power. He is also a secretariat member of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) led by Tunde Bakare. He also served as assistant national secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP). Before he went into politics, Mr. Tanko worked as head of accounts, National Population Commission, Kaduna; and as head of revenue, Nigeria Immigration Service, Kano. He is currently head of finance, Team Nigeria Trust Fund Limited, FCT, Abuja. The politician is coming into the race with a rich background in activism and politics and experience. He may likely attract some northern votes for the NCP during the election.

Besides, he is viewed as a ‘detribalized’ Nigerian. As somebody who gained his early education (primary and secondary) in Lagos, the southwest people may also see him as one of their own. Also, having been in politics for long, Mr. Tanko has a structure and may also have the sympathy of the civil society community.

Sunny Ugochukwu (ACN)

Of all the running mates that emerged last Monday, that of Sunny Ugochukwu came as the greatest surprise. His name was forwarded by the Action Congress of Nigerian as the running mate to Nuhu Ribadu, the party’s presidential standard bearer. He was Mr. Ribadu’s campaign manager before his choice. Mr. Ugochukwu, an indigene of Anambra State is a US-based education consultant and businessman.

His choice is believed to be merely a stop-gap one. His name was reportedly forwarded because of the difficulty in shopping for a reputable character for the vice presidential slot of the ACN. It was learnt that Mr. Ribadu wanted Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister and currently managing director of the World Bank, but the ACN leadership allegedly kicked against it. Therefore, there is the possibility that Mr. Ugochukwu will be replaced. But if he is not replaced, Mr. Ugochukwu will hardly be an electoral asset for the ACN. Although a successful businessman, he is not known politically.

He has neither the home base nor political structure to enhance the chances of the former EFCC boss, who himself is a political neophyte. However, he comes along with integrity and character, which are strong assets in today’s politics. Besides, Nigerians in Diaspora may also have a sense of belonging, believing that one of their own has finally made it to the top political contest back home. This may be an advantage.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Environment/5673112-146/the_men_who_would_be_number.csp

Africa’s leading crooner and Artist of the Year at last year’s MTV MAMA awards, 2 Face Idibia will be live on BET next month via an exclusive interview with Lola Ogunnaike for an upcoming BET International segment to air in 50 countries.

Here is a pic of Lola and 2 Baba on set…
https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lolaand2baba.jpg

More: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/06/watch-2-face-idibias-bet-international-interview-airing-month/

The Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday (Saturday) announced a two-day extension for the ongoing voter registration exercise, Punch reports.

According to INEC’s Director of Information, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, the extension is going to be operative only in areas where the exercise did not begin on schedule or where there were identified problems of logistics.

In INEC’s official release, it indicated that “INEC will undertake a mop-up exercise in areas where the ongoing voter registration exercise could not commence early due to communal conflicts, over-population, technical or logistical challenges.

“The mop up voter registration will be from Sunday, February 6 to Monday, February 7, 2011.

More: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/06/inec-grants-2-days-voters-registration-rsvp/

True. It will be nice to hear why GEJ though. I have always wondered why one would pick GEJ over Ribadu.

Why Goodluck Jonathan?

Between, Goodluck Jonathan, Nuhu Ribadu, Pat Utomi, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Shekarau, Dele Momodu & John Dara, who is the best candidate to lead Nigeria in 2011?

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/05/winner-nigerias-2011-elections/

WikiLeaks cables: Nigeria pressured UK to drop charges against politician

By Heidi Blake

Britain is keen to secure an agreement allowing the transfer of more than 400 prisoners back to Nigeria. There are currently more than 1,000 Nigerian inmates in British jails – costing the taxpayer around £40m a year.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought 170 corruption charges against Mr Ibori in December 2007, but a court in Asaba cleared him in 2009, saying there was no clear evidence on which to convict.

Southwark Crown Court froze UK assets of £17m allegedly belonging to Mr Ibori after the EFCC passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Ibori, who denies all charges against him, was arrested in Dubai last May after the intervention of the global police agency Interpol.

Dubai’s highest court has ruled in December he could be extradited to Britain to face corruption charges.

Mr Ibori’s sister, Christine, and his alleged mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, were convicted of money laundering and sentenced to five years in prison at Southwark Crown Court last June.

Britain and Nigeria currently have a voluntary prisoner transfer agreement in place, allowing for the transfer of prisoners on case-by-case basis, only if both governments and the individual inmate all give their consent to the move.

Negotiations over a more comprehensive compulsory agreement are ongoing.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice refused to comment on whether the Nigerian government had pressured Britain to drop the case against Mr Ibori.

He said: “The United Kingdom and Nigeria have a prisoner transfer agreement in place. The scheme allows for the transfer of prisoners between Nigeria and the UK where the consent of both states and the prisoner is obtained. A separate compulsory transfer agreement is currently being negotiated.

“We believe that prisoners should normally serve their sentences in their own country – freeing up prison spaces and saving the taxpayer money on enforced removals.”

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/04/wikileaks-cables-nigeria-pressured-uk-drop-charges-ibori/

Pastor Bakare told PM News this morning that God had a hand in his decision to join politics and become a running mate to Buhari, quoting Psalm 78: 70, 71 to back up his claims.
Psalm 78:70,71 reads: “He (God) chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.”

Bakare also quoted Romans 13:1, which says “…For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God, to further back up his claims.
With this the cleric said any power that be were ordained by God and that people were just being sentimental about his decision to contest as running mate to Buhari, adding that like God took David from being a shepherd to become king, he also could go higher.

“A shepherd can transit from pasturing a church to ruling a nation. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. There is no authority not ordained by God,” he said.
When asked that Jesus Christ rejected the position of being a king when the Israelites wanted to make him one and that he should emulate the example of Christ, Bakare said Christ rejected that because he had a mission to die for the whole world.

“Christ came for a purpose and he even said my kingdom is not of this world,” he said, saying that should not be misconstrued for Christians not to go into politics.
“I did not accept the offer to be Buhari’s running mate because of fame and popularity; I already have that. I took it because I want to serve my generation according to the will of God and to change things.

“I did not lobby for the position but when Buhari called, I accepted the offer. I consulted with those who mattered and with top echelons in christendom and they gave me the go ahead. We want to change Nigeria perpetually,” he stated.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/04/pastor-bakare-god-told-run-buhari/

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Speaking with journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, Mrs. Sarah Jubril,  said the “one vote” she recorded during the party’s presidential primary will continue to haunt Nigerian women.

According to Thisday, reflecting on the single vote recorded by her at the PDP presidential primary, she said: “That vote was of me, by me and for me. That vote has been seriously pricking the conscience of women, Nigerians, PDP Board of Trustees and the political class. I thank God for not allowing any other vote to cause confusion. I sympathise with the ignorance of the women which is till now affecting the conscience of women in Nigeria. Why are the womenfolk trying to use the media to call me serial contestant sarcastically? I have forgiven them. The political class should stop hijacking the conscience of Nigerian women who constitute the engine of the nation.”

Thoughts??

More: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/04/sarah-jibril-vote-continue-haunt-nigerian-women/

In a recent telephone conversation with CP-Africa, the Nuhu Ribadu campaign organization confirmed today that Dr. Sunny Ugochukwu has been picked as Mallam Ribadu’s running mate for the upcoming 2011 elections.

However, doubts and controversy about Mallam Ribadu’s commitment to his pick and the circumstances surrounding the selection process remain. Here are some commentary to this effect…

PM News Nigeria:

“Despite the fact the Mr Stanley Ugochukwu has been sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the running mate of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in the 2011 Presidential elections, PM News can reveal that the search for a viable Vice Presidential candidate for the for the former anti corruption czar is still on.
Sources told PM News yesterday told PM News this morning that the name sent to INEC yesterday is a stop gap and that the real candidate that will run alongside Ribadu will emerge between this evening and latest tomorrow. The source indicates that the ACN presidential candidate will use the window provided for substitution of candidates by INEC to bring in his final choice of Vice President.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, former Nigerian Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister and currently, a managing director at World Bank has been variously rumored as a likely running mate for Ribadu. PM NEWS can however not confirm if she is still one of those being considered for the position. Other leading presidential candidates submitted the names of their running mates alongside their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday.”

Leadership Editors:

“But for the secret political manoeuvres by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors, observers said Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the ACN presidential flagbearer, would have been a formidable candidate in the April polls. An insider said Ribadu, who was adopted as the presidential candidate of the ACN on January 14, is having political disagreement with Tinubu and some of his loyalists.

Dr. Sunny Ugochukwu, a United States of America-based educationist, was picked yesterday as the presidential running mate to Ribadu.”

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/01/nuhu-ribadus-campaign-confirms-sunny-ugochukwu-pick-doubts-controversy-remain/

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu recently picked Dr. Sunny Ugochukwu, a U.S. based educationist and businessman as his running mate for the upcoming 2011 elections according to Leadership Editors. Until his recent appointment, Dr. Ugochukwu served as Mallam Ribadu’s National Campaign Director. He hails from Anambra State.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/01/nuhu-ribadus-campaign-confirms-sunny-ugochukwu-pick-doubts-controversy-remain/

Interviewed by Ifedayo Adebayo, 234NEXT

Why did you accept to run with Muhammadu Buhari?

If you understand my passion for this country, demonstrated over the years, I want to see a Nigeria that works in my lifetime and that was one of the motivations that started the Save Nigeria Group. In all my ministerial life, maybe three quarters of my messages are all on Nigeria and what is happening to the country at large.

In October last year, after meeting so many political gladiators, some of them are now party candidates. I came across so many of them, and I can say today that so far, one of them that I have found worthy in terms of credibility is Buhari. He needs to just build bridges with others so that we can win this election. All the time I was doing that, I never knew that I was going to take part in the political process other than just mobilizing people to vote in the 2011 elections, but all I know is that he wants me and when he made the call to ask me if I would consider running with him, I made consultations, and at the end of the day, I felt this is one way to contribute to the future of my country.

Before he called you, did you ever contemplate seeking an elective post or going into politics?

Not in 2010, not in 2011. I never considered running for any offices. As a matter of fact, in all that you have been reading or listening to, I said so that I am not going to take part in the political process other than mobilize the people.

So it was his call that led to your change of mind?

Well, I think so, and because of the situation in my country. Whether one person is running or the other person is running, I think that all Nigerians should be running. I am being modest. I think that all Nigerians should wake up and rise up now to do what is right.

Critics are saying that religious leaders should not go into politics. What do you say to them?

In Romans 13, the Bible says that every authority that exists is ordained by God and he calls those in government, ministers of God almighty. So ministry is not limited to the pulpit. Ministry is whatever you are doing to serve God and humanity.

President Goodluck Jonathan is enjoying an incumbent’s privilege. does that worry you?

Well, as a matter of fact, President Jonathan himself is a child of necessity. It is the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua that brought him into the office and I respect that office, and the truth is if Nigerians are not troubled and Nigerians are getting what they should get, nobody would even be thinking of contesting an election against him. I know there are professional politicians who seize every four years for them to rise up, but if someone is doing a good job, running against such a person is a vision stud. You will lose everything, including your resources and efforts. But right now, the cry of an average Nigerian is ‘anything but PDP’, but we are not just going to replace them with just anybody. We need to get credible people and we will move this nation forward and pull it from the brinks.

Do you mean that Nigerians deserve more than what the present government is giving?

Exactly. Even looking [at the past] 50 years, Nigerians deserve better.

Was the Save Nigeria group created for the purpose of Buhari’s presidency as it has been speculated?

Well, you can do some investigation yourself, because now you want me to be a judge in my own court. At the time Save Nigeria Group began, it was to address a major and vital issue — the issue of power hijack. Those who were not elected to serve in the office of the presidency of the country were exercising the authority to do what they liked. It was the health issue that took President Yar’Adua away that brought us into the streets. It was not PDP or CPC that took us to the streets. It was after that time that we now began to start thinking of 2011 to be the year of the voters and the year that our citizenship must be enlightened; social mobility must be restored and sovereignty must be the lot of our people. We must choose the best, the most competent and the country people must be free to express themselves at the polls. That was the purpose for the SNG; it has nothing to do with this party or that party and it has never teamed up with any political party.

Many believe that Buhari is a religious fanatic. How do you see him?

I have had the privilege of sitting with him, to see his environment, to see what he does. He relates with all kinds of people from different backgrounds, different walks of life and different religious persuasions. To be fair to him, yes, he is a good muslim. As you know, by God’s grace, I am also a practising Christian and if such a man can say today that he is appointing a pastor to be his running mate, does that not confirm he is not? So that is it.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/02/01/interview-pastor-tunde-bakare-speaks-nomination-acceptance-buharibakare-bb/

Gen. Muhamadu Buhari (Rtd.), the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, has picked Pastor Tunde Bakare, the convener of the Save Nigeria Group, as his running mate for the April presidential election.

According to news published in the Punch newspaper online, Buhari announced this today through his spokesperson, Mr. Yinka Odumakin. He said his choice was based on the need to put the best feet forward in what promises to be a decisive political challenge for the soul of Nigeria.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/31/nigeria-april-election-buhari-picks-bakare-running-mate/

WINNERS OF THE FUTURE AWARDS 2011 (Ongoing; watch out in the next few hours for more updates on www.cp-africa.com)

Iroye Tolulope - Best use of Technology (Magic Box)

Clarence Peters – Screen Producer of the Year

So Sick - Music Producer of the Year

Bridget Awosika – Designer of the Year

Janet Nwose - Creative Professional of the Year

Emmanuel Etim - Excellence in Public Service (Africa Union Commission)

Tokini Peterside – Corporate Professional of the Year (Communications Manager, GD Netter)

Tolu Ogunlesi - Journalist of the Year (NEXT)

Bode Pedro - Business Owner of the Year (Veda Technology)

Debo Olaosebikan – Best Use of Science (Silicon Laser)

Vincent Enyeama – Sports person of the year

FAB Magazine - Magazine of the Year (Listen to our recent audio interview with FAB Magazine’s Editor in Chief here)

Seyi Law – Comedian of the Year

Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu – Young Person of the Year (Read our interview with Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu here)

Mercy Johnson – Actress of the Year

Banky W - Musician of the Year

Matse Uwatse - On-Air Personality of the Year (Radio)

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/30/nnaemeka-ikweguonu-bode-pedro-tolu-ogunlesi-debo-olaosebikan-emerge-winners-future-awards-2011/

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc36_RN6624?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0[/flash]

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By Arukaino Umukoro

Like Tunisia, like Egypt … and maybe, like Nigeria?

Since the world woke up to the news of the anti-government revolts in these African countries, a likely scenario in Africa’s most populous country has been a major discourse across internet forums and social media platforms among many Nigerians. The scenes have being played put as mind images, should Nigerian politicians dare mess with the April general elections and votes don’t count. The probable scenario? Like their African brothers, Nigerians may take to the streets and vote them out of office with their voices and feet.

If it were to happen in Nigeria, it may not be like what the world has witnessed in these more-Arab-than-African countries, with different sets of beliefs and orientation. Many Nigerians, who have endured longer years of abysmal leadership and bottled up grievances, may not effectively handle a sudden change from absolute political power to people’s power. Just imagine what a frustrated, angry, bitter, violated citizen would do the very moment the tables turn in his favour; a massive people’s revolt may become unevenly heated and degenerate into a violent, bloody protest. Frustrated citizens may be relegated by known and unknown criminals, political thugs, and power-crazy politicians who would want to take advantage of it – after they may have spirited their loved ones out of the country to safer climes – probably Europe or the US.

Nigerians must be wise. Knowing some politicians harbour ulterior motives, most would gladly seize any opportunity to consolidate power, by any means necessary. We have seen the way they have fought in the National Assembly over a morsel of political bread, how they have crushed opponents in their blood thirst for power, how they have turned political differences into modern day gun fights and communal wars. That Nigerians should not tolerate any more of failed leadership is not the issue, but it must be done right, without causing further harm to our fragile nationhood.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/28/tunisia-egypt-nigeria/

* Voting machine supply setback, glitches delay registration

* Lawmakers amend electoral act to allow more time

(Releads, changes headline, adds details)

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Nigeria's parliament has voted to amend the country's electoral act to allow more time for registering voters for April's nationwide polls, after supplier problems and technical glitches caused delays.

Successfully registering an estimated 70 million people is key to ensuring elections are more credible than in the past.

An electoral roll riddled with fictitious names and omitting legitimate voters, combined with ballot-stuffing and intimidation, marred previous votes in Africa's most populous nation so badly that observers refused to sign off on them.

Both of Nigeria's houses of parliament have in the last two days voted in favour of amending the 2010 electoral act to allow voter registration to be completed 30 days before the elections rather than 60 days.

Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), told Nigeria's Senate the voting registration process was behind schedule because voter capture machines arrived late and fingerprint scanners were faulty.

http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFLDE70P23N20110126?feedType=RSS&feedName=nigeriaNews&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

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By Adebayo Oluwaseun

So, you have decided to brave the odds and set up your own business? Congratulations! You have joined a critical mass that serves as the life-blood of any economy, whether big or small – entrepreneurs. However, to succeed on this challenging but rewarding adventure, you need to be guided so you don’t end up in the pitfalls that dot the business landscape. Many entrepreneurs and business owners have ended up ruining their projects because they weren’t properly informed. You will do well to follow these tips and guide as you start off your business.

• Be motivated by a need to provide solutions to problems. Why exactly are you setting up a business? To make profit? For self-gratification? To compete? These may be legitimate reasons to set up a business but the need to solve a problem should be the prime motivator because businesses that focus on solving problems outlive others. Think what life would be like if we didn’t have the telephone companies, the computer manufacturers et c. These businesses will always be needed because they are meeting needs in our lives and work. Before you start up your business, ask what needs or problems you want to solve. If you have not found any, look for one and let it motivate you.

• Study your market. Now that you have identified a need, ask yourself: “who are those in need of my product or services?” Don’t start up a business when you have not understood the market you intend to serve. Ask critical questions like: who are those who make up the market? Are they young, middle-aged or old? What’s their income range? Tastes? What’s the competition in the market like? Is the market saturated or is there room to accommodate new entrants? These questions are critical to the survival of your business. Take time to research them.

You will need to do a feasibility study of your market in order to answer the questions you have asked and many more. Many new businesses have failed because they entered the wrong market or did not properly understand the market they entered into. Don’t go their way; study your market!

• Have a business plan. You are convinced you have a fighting chance. Isn’t that so? You should then map out a plan on how you hope to succeed. Your business plan helps you to think through the factors critical to the success of your business. It answers questions like: how do I hope to get financing? What strategies are in place to capture market share? Where would my business be located? Will I serve more than one location? Your business plan must be comprehensive and realistic. In seeking financing from investors and financial institutions, a good business plan can do the magic and help you attract the capital you need.

• Register your business. A registered business has legal status. Some clients will not do business with you if your company isn’t registered. You will not be able to take advantage of regional and international opportunities if you don’t register your business.

• Get professional advice. One major mistake many entrepreneurs who are just starting up do is to assume they can do everything. They refuse to let the experts handle professional matters. You should not tow that line. Get a legal adviser to handle legal matters and negotiations. Let a professional accountant handle your financial documents and statements. Don’t hesitate to consult professionals when you need their services. It may cost you a little more, but, ultimately, their inputs will positively impact on your business.

• Start within your means. Many big businesses today started small. The capital grows with the business. Don’t get neck-deep in debt to start your business. You may not have access to huge capital now; start with what you have and you’ll find that as you grow, the needed funding will come.

• Get adequate exposure. You have started your business and are very hopeful. Get the word out. Let the market know you are there to service it. Produce fliers and bills showing your products and what you have to offer. Advertise in the local newspaper. If you are a professional, advertise in your professional association’s newsletter and publications. Participate in trade fairs and exhibitions where your business gets huge exposure at a relatively low cost. Another cheap way of attracting exposure is through publicity since you are not paying for it. You can also make branded t-shirts and other items carrying your business name and logo.

• Guarantee customer satisfaction. Make customer satisfaction your watchword from the outset of your business. Your customers are the life-blood of your business. If they keep coming back to you, your business will survive and thrive. The surest way to kill a business is to make your customers unhappy. So, ensure you serve your customers well.

• Be creative. Business creativity can help you attract tons of patronage. Take the Virgin Group founded by Richard Branson for example;they are always pushing the frontiers in terms of business creativity and that has been a vital key in their runs of successes. Look for non-conventional ways of offering a service. Try and add a personal touch when attending to your customers. This will attract their interest and make them keep coming back because they know you took efforts to be creative.

As your business grows, you will discover new strategies to nurture it. Be open to change and quick to spot changing trends so you can adjust your business to them. The only thing constant is change and it is so in the business world. After all is said and done, be positive and believe your business will thrive as you give it the time and attention it requires.

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/25/start-business-9-tips-success-aspiring-entrepreneur/

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More: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/24/scenes-videopictures-asas-upcoming-single/

Chimamanda Adichie during a recent interview,

“Writing a novel is an emotionally exhausting experience, when writing about the Biafran it’s very normal to fall into despair. Writing is a process of recalling history, I usually cry while writing.”Her face lights up when talking about young writers in Nigeria, “People in Nigeria are writing a lot of fiction, non-fiction, there’s lot of writing going on and a lot more publishing going on, it’s all very exciting.”

“Being a female writer comes with a lot of baggage but it doesn’t make me stop, I want to challenge those assumption- a small girl can write a political history,” she says with a fiercely intelligent look in her eyes."

http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/24/chimamanda-adichie-cry-writing/

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LAGOS, Nigeria: MTV has launched its first ever pro-democracy campaign in Africa ahead of the upcoming Nigerian elections.  Starting January 2011, the network’s global “Choose or Lose” voter mobilization campaign will be encouraging and empowering young Nigerians to exercise their right to vote.

To maximise youth voter registration for the April 2011 elections, MTV will use its appeal to launch a series of on-air promotional spots on African music channel MTV base (DStv Channel 322) and on the MTV base blocks on Nigerian terrestrial TV partners STV and AIT.  The promos urge Nigerian youth to determine their future and register before 29 January to ensure Nigeria’s largest ever youth voter turnout.

A key component of the initiative will include the release of a special music video fronted by Nigerian contemporary musicians entitled “Rep 4 Naija”.  The track, an upbeat hip hop/R&B number is a collaboration between Nigerian stars eLDee, Sound Sultan, Black Twang, Naeto C, D’banj and M.I,  The video for “Rep 4 Naija” was directed by top Nigerian video director Clarence Peters.

More: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/24/mtv-launches-choose-lose-campaign-nigerian-2011-elections-partnership-dbanj-naeto-mi/

A new “wikileak” reveals details about Yar’Adua’s ill health, kidney transplant and Turai’s influence. As was the case, with past leaks, most of it  contains nothing Nigerians did not know or suspect. However if you want to satisfy your curiosity, peep the entire document via the link below.


Excerpt…
xxxxxxxxxxxx also alleged that during Yar’Adua’s tenure as Katsina governor his wife, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, persuaded Yar’Adua to divert millions of dollars of public funds from the Katsina state treasury into private accounts.

Access the full document: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/24/latest-wikileak-yaraduas-health-reveals-details-ill-health-turais-influence-kidney-transplant

Funny but so true! Click here to find out why: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/20/africa-25-years-developed-world/

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Celebrating Progress Africa (CP-Africa.com) is seeking writers to document their experience during the 2011 Nigerian elections. Writers can pen their thoughts on voter registration, their thoughts about the candidates and their thoughts about the voting process.

To learn more about Celebrating Progress Africa, click here: http://www.cp-africa.com/about-cp-africa/

Interested writers should indicate interest by e-mailing: publisher@cp-africa.com

“The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative is supporting scholarships for underserved women to attend EDC Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management (CEM)”

Precious Okpala, the owner of Rock Solid Concept producer pure natural honey in Lagos, Nigeria, recently attended the five (5) months training in entrepreneurial Management at the Pan African University, Enterprise Development Centre as one of the scholars in a global entrepreneurship programme powered by Goldman Sachs.

She earned her Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management in December, 2009 and has been able to deploy all that she learnt during the programme to her business which has now experienced a drastic improvement. After the programme, Precious repackaged her product for better patronage; sales experienced a 100% increase and also created visibility for the product enabling penetration into big markets.

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative was launched two (2) years ago and was aimed at empowering 10,000 Women in developing and emerging economies across the world.

Full details here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/12/apply-goldman-sachs-womens-enterprise-leadership-program/

More,

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I believe some of those politicians secretly enjoy reading my Cartoons. They know I am just holding the mirror. I have received a couple of threats and reprimands, but they can’t deter me. - Asukwo E.B.

Read his exclusive interview here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/03/08/interview-with-nigerian-political-cartoonist-asukwo-e-b/

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More here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/12/top-10-nigerian-cartoons-asukwo-eb-2010/

By Sheriff Shittu

Wennovation Hub is a new innovation hub recently launched in Lagos with support from the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) and LoftyInc Allied Partners Limited (LAPL).

"Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) and LoftyInc Allied Partners Limited (LAPL), program partners in the recently launched Innovation Incubation Initiative (I-3), are pleased to announce the opening of the application window into the first permanent platform for business incubation in Nigeria.

The platform to be known as the Wennovation Hub ( www.wennovationhub.com ) occupies a thousand square feet exclusive space at ALF’s brand new headquarter facility at Lagos, in the capital city of Ikeja. The incubator will also have use of ancillary training and support space at the same brand new campus. LoftyInc will operate the facility in partnership with ALF."

Full story here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/01/11/wennovation-hub-launches-lagos-funding-ventures/