We’re ready for Ondo poll, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it has put machinery in motion to ensure that the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State is free and fair.
The electoral body confirmed that 1,654,205 legible voters who registered for the last 2011 general elections will be participating in the poll.
The INEC Director of Voters Registration, Mr. Emmanuel Akem, spoke in Akure, the state capital, at the public presentation of soft copies of the voters’ register to the 13 political parties that are participating in the election.
The INEC director explained that the female represented 50.10 per cent and the male 49.80 per cent of the electorate.
Akem said the voters’ register statistic showed that the students’ category has over 400,000 eligible voters.
He said: “The total number of persons registered during the 2011 voter registration in Ondo State is 1,654,205. The Addendum figure is 7,539, while the voters’ figure is now 1,646,666. Female voters carry the majority 50.10 per cent and the Male, 49.80 per cent.”
The Residential Electoral Commissioner (REC) Akin Orebiyi said INEC has provided enough logistics to ensure that its officials are not compromised during the poll.
He assured that electoral materials would arrive various units across the state before 8am to prevent irregularities.

Emeka Ossai And Wife Welcome Twins!

Early this morning, Nollywood actor, Emeka Ossai and his adorable wife, Jumai welcomed a set of twins in the United States Of America. Jumai gave birth to a girl and a boy. The mother and her babies are said to be doing well.

This are the first children Emeka's family is getting from his 5-year-old marriage to Jumai.

A very big Congratulations to the couple!

Military officers describe penalties in new Lagos Traffic Law as extreme

Some military officers on Thursday described the penalties attached to some sections of the new Lagos State Traffic Law as extreme.
The officers expressed their views at an enlightenment forum, organised for naval officers and men at the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos.
Some naval officers and ratings at the forum urged the Lagos State Government to review the law in conformity with the realities of life.
They pointed out that not many low-income earners could afford to pay the fines prescribed by the law.
Group Capt. O. A. Akinyele, of the Nigerian Air Force Logistics Command, said the law would create criminality and encourage corruption, particularly in a situation where offenders could not afford to pay fines.
Also, Lt.-Col. B.A. Oguntayo, of the Nigerian Army Special Investigation Board, Apapa, urged the government to allow others on essential duties to use the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lane.
Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, said the forum was organised to educate naval personnel on the new traffic law to enable them to know the dangers of violation.
Ikioda, who was represented by Cdr. Henry Babalola, the command’s operation officer, said the Nigerian Navy was committed to its personnel obeying the law.
Ikioda said the command would register its staff buses for the use of BRT lane through the Naval Headquarters to reduce daily traffic problems in the city.
The forum was attended by Mr Adebayo Olusoji, the head of operation, Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Office, and Mr Nseobong Akpabio, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, Lagos.
Earlier, Olusoji, had called on officers and ratings to respect the Traffic Law and be more disciplined on the roads to avoid embarrassments from traffic officials. (NAN)

Comedian Klint Da Drunk & wife celebrate 5th wedding anniversary

The top comedian and his pretty wife Lilien, celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary yesterday. The couple have two kids together. Congrats to them!

Bill Gates tops 2012 Forbes list of richest people in America

Forbes has released its 2012 ranking of America's richest 400 billionaires...and Bill Gates remains the nation’s richest man for the 19th year running. See the top 10 below...

1. Bill Gates, Medina, Wash., $66 billion
2. Warren Buffett, Omaha, $46 billion
3. Larry Ellison, Woodside, Calif., $41 billion
4. Charles Koch, Wichita, Kan., $31 billion
5. David Koch, New York City, $31 billion
6. Christy Walton & family, Jackson, Wyo., $27.9 billion
7. Jim Walton, Bentonville, Ark., $26.8 billion
8. Alice Walton, Fort Worth, Texas, $26.3 billion
9. S. Robson Walton, Bentonville, Ark., $26.1 billion
10. Michael Bloomberg, New York City, $25 billion

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was the biggest dollar loser. The company’s lackluster IPO in May resulted in a huge drop in market value that cut the value of his shareholdings almost in half, costing him $8.1 billion in net worth. That dropped Zuckerberg from No. 14 on the list to No. 36. See more at Forbes.com

123 Nigerians spend over N500 billion on private jets

The acquisition of private jets by Nigerians, for business or pleasure, has increased in the last three years, according to the president of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers. He said in the last one year, the number of private jets acquired by wealthy Nigerians have more doubled. 123 Nigerians which includes billionaire business men like Mike Adenuga, Ifeanyi Ubah, Aliko Dangote, Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Peter Odili, Nduka Obaigbena, ex bank MDs, politicians, business moguls, oil companies and banks have spent over N500 billion buying very expensive private jets.

In the last one year, at least five Hawker 900 XP jets have been bought and each cost $14.9million. Five 800 XP at $13 million and at least two Hawker 4000 at $21 million have been bought.

Many of these private jets are parked at the apron near Arik Air hanger and at the General Aviation terminal near Aero Contractor's terminal. It costs at least N80 million to maintain these jets annually and over 500 expatriate pilots and engineers working on these private jets.

Bye bye N5000 note: Jonathan orders Sanusi to stop controversial plan

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday finally bowed to pressure as he directed the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, to suspend the planned introduction of N5,000 note.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed the development to State House correspondents in Abuja.

Abati told journalists that Jonathan’s latest disposition to the issue was based on the need for more “enlightenment and consultation”.

He said, “The introduction of the new note is being suspended for now to enable the CBN do more enlightenment on the issue.Yes, President Jonathan has directed that the implementation of the new N5,000 note be suspended for now.

“This is to enable the apex bank to do more in terms of enabling Nigerians understand why it proposed it in the first place. So, for now, the full implementation is on hold.”

The CBN, in a statement on Thursday, also confirmed that it had received a presidential directive to stop action on the currency restructuring plan.

The statement by the apex bank’s spokesperson, Ugo Okoroafor, reads, “The CBN hereby informs the general public that the President, on Thursday, September 20, 2012, directed that further action on the approved restructuring exercise be stopped.

“It is important to stress that till date, no contract whatsoever has been awarded by the CBN in connection with the printing and minting of the new currency notes and coins. Consequently, no currency note or coin has been printed or minted under the proposed exercise.”

The planned introduction of the note had attracted a huge outcry in the public domain. Those against the move had hinged their position on the fact that it could worsen inflation in the country.

They also said it was contrary to the apex bank’s cash-less policy.

PUNCH

Nationwide fuel shortage may linger for two weeks

The nationwide fuel shortage, which started about a week ago, may linger for at least two more weeks, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation waits for security clearance to repair the damaged point on the System 2B pipeline at Arepo in Ogun State.

Sources in the industry told our correspondents on Thursday that the repair which might begin next week could last at least seven days.

One of the sources added that the fuel supply shortage could only end after the repair of the line

The System 2B pipeline moves about 11 million litres of fuel per day, almost one-third of national daily consumption. It pumps petrol from Atlas Cove Offshore depot, Lagos to Satellite depot in Ejigbo, Lagos; Mosimi depot, Ogun State; Ibadan depot, Oyo State; Ilorin depot,Kwara State; and Ore depot, Ondo State.

But an NNPC spokesman, Dr. Omar Ibrahim, told one of our correspondents on Thursday, that the corporation hoped to be able to move men and materials to the point for the repair work in a couple of days if security people gave the green light.

North maps out plans for 2015 elections

Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu

The North on Thursday began move for the 2015 general elections, saying that it would join forces with other section of the country to realise its goal.

The Arewa Consultative Forum, which made this known in Kaduna after its meeting, said part of the strategy was to bring everybody in the region together regardless of ethnic or religious affinities.

The Northern governors had in May, this year through their Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mua’azu Babangida Aliyu said the region would form a formidable force despite their different political leanings and go into the 2015 presidency.

Re-echoing the position of the governors, the pan-Northern socio-political organisation at the end the joint meeting of its National Executive Council and the Board of Trustees said it had begun strategising for the 2015.

PDP gives defectors 30 days to return

Peoples Democratic Party has given defectors wishing to return 30 days to do so.

This decision was taken at the meeting of the National Working Committee of the party at its national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur,said this in a statement on Thursday.

He, however, said the defectors could only return to the party through their wards.

The statement read, “In keeping with the on-going efforts to promote reconciliation within the party, the NWC decided as follows:

“That the PDP umbrella is big enough to accommodate everybody and therefore calls on all those who left the party, or are not actively working with the party, for any reason(s) to return to the party through their wards.

“That this exercise (should) be carried out within 30 days from now and that ward chairmen and secretaries should register such returning members without inhibitions.”

Tukur advised anyone not allowed to go through this process to report to the national secretariat.

He called on the six zonal national vice-chairmen to ensure compliance with the directive.

He said the PDP NWC was also setting up zonal reconciliation committees which he said would handle lingering disagreements and forge a more united party.

Shan George Opens Up On Sex Allegation With Tee Mac Omatsola's 21yrs Old Son + Tee Mac's Side Of The Story

A few days back news went viral on social networks that Nollywood star actress, Shan George allegedly slept with four band boys of former PMAN president, Tee Mac Omatsola. It was also reported that she was warned by Tee Mac to stay off his 21-year-old son, who the report said Shan was having a romantic affair with.

The actress cum producer has come out to deny the story. She claimed some people are pained that she is making progress and are out to destroy her reputation.

Halima Abubakar Going The Nikki Minaj Way? Check Out Her New Look!

Is Nollywood actress/producer, Halima Abubakar going the Nikki Minaj way???

 

 

Culled: Alabamauncut

Mikel Obi Apologises For Costly Champions League Error, Deletes Twitter Account!

Mikel John Obi, Nigerian and Chelsea Midfielder has apologized for the mistake at the Champions League Opener yesterday Wednessday 19th september 2012. Chelsea FC who are the Champions League Title defenders let Juventus grab a vital draw at home after Mikel Obi Misplaced a Pass. Mikel needlessly gave the ball away 10 minutes from time and then failed to prevent Claudio Marchisio playing Fabio Quagliarella into space for the equaliser, with David Luiz also all at sea. He was Later Taunted by Chelsea Fans on Twitter and that lead to him deleting his account.

Mikel said.

"If I want to make up an excuse, I can," Mikel said. "But, for me, I gave the ball away. I put my hands up, we move on.

"I'm sorry about the mistake, but there are no excuses."

Arik Air Suspends Domestic Flights Leaving Hundreds Of Passengers Stranded: Full Statement Released By The Company!

Arik Air yesterday morning suspended all its flights out of Lagos leaving passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport stranded, accused the aviation Minister Mrs Oduah of seeking part ownership of the company..

Read the full text of a release obtained from the airline on Wednesday.

“Due to persistent hostility of the Ministry of Aviation, with a minister who is demanding a 5 percent equity in a business where she has no investment and FAAN management, which has culminated in the use of FAAN staff to stop the airline operations and lock in checked-in passengers in Lagos this morning, Arik Air has suspended all domestic operations until further notice. This issue bothers on personal interests, and not payment of bills; since FAAN has been collecting”.

Premium Times further noted that the action has affected the Abuja and Port-Harcourt Airports as well. Hundreds of passengers across the country are now stranded as a result of the suspension.

Ruggedman signs new act ‘Mbryo’

Nigerian music industry adds one as veteran rapper Michael Stephens popularly known as Ruggedman officially signs Oghenemene Omofiri known as Mbryo under Rugged records.

M.Bryo is the first artist formally signed under the Rugged records; Ruggedman had been the only act on the label.

The signing took place  on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at Touch studios in Ikeja.

The Delta State-born singer will release his official debut single titled ‘Take Over’ in a few weeks. He will also feature on Ruggedman’s album, along with other artists like Terry G and Fumbi.

Source 

Comedian Basketmouth rebrands

Basketmouth and Efe Omorogbe at 2face’s 37th birthday celebration

Popular Nigerian comedian, Bright Okpocha, otherwise known as Basketmouth has chopped off his locks.

The 34-year-old entertainer announced on Twitter, his decision to change his looks after eight years, ‘And after 8 years….I eventually decided to change the look’ @basket_mouth tweeted.

According to him, his decision was necessitated by his need to re-brand himself, stating that he had carried the look for nine years and although it has become part of his looks, he felt mentally static, having the same lock style for that long. ‘In these 9 years, a lot has changed except my looks’ he added.

Earlier in the year, musician, Timaya did same shortly after the birth of his daughter in May.

Basketmouth is one of the ambassadors of Globacom and currently owns the emBARssy bar along with few friends.

Are you feeling the new look?

NIGERIAN ENTERTAINMENT TODAY

Nigerian Idol enters year 3

Season 2 winner Mercy Chinwo

The popular music talent show Nigerian Idol is back with its third season!

The third season was was launched on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at a media event held in Lagos.

Also, returning to Idols for another thrilling season are the judges; US singer-dancer, Jeffrey Daniels, veteran singer Yinka Davies, and Charly Boy. On Air Personality, Ill Rhymz also returns as this year’s host. Tiwa Savage, who co-hosted last year, is however, conspicuously missing in action.

The Nigerian Idol show has also expanded its search cities from four to five; adding Owerri to the list. Other search cities are Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Benin.

Auditions with start on October 13, 2012 in these five cities. The show will begin broadcast on cable and terrestrial TV on December 15, 2012.

This year’s prize money is a whooping sum of N20m – a N7.5m recording contract, N7.5m cash prize and an SUV worth N5m.

Past winners of the music reality show include Yeka Onka (season 1) and Mercy Chinwo (season 2).

Source 

University Of Ibadan Professor Kolawole Olu-Owolabi Slumps And Died On The Street!

The Dean of Faculty of Arts at the University of Ibadan, Professor Kolawole Olu-Owolabi aged 51 yesterday slumped and died at Mokola Roundabout Ibadan. His body has been deposited in the mortuary.

The death of Professor Olu-Owolabi will be the third in two years in the same Faculty. In Nigeria’s premier university, founded in 1948. According to some reliable sources at the university, the dean, who came out of his car at Mokola with the aim of buying something suddenly collapsed.

However, the people around called the police who responded immediately and took him to an unknown hospital where he was confirmed dead. Professor Olu-Owolabi who became dean last year August1, 2011 was former Head of Department of Philosophy between October 2002 and 2004.

He bagged B.A. in Philosophy in 1983 and a PhD in Philosophy 1989, both degrees from the University of Lagos.He then returned to the Obafemi Awolowo University where he obtained LLB in 2006 and proceeded to the Law School Abuja between September 2006 to June 2007.He equally bagged LLM in 2010 from OAU.

Born in Ikene Remo in Ogun State on May 30, 1961, Professor Olu-Owolabi hailed from Igbogila, Yewa-North Local Government.He is survived by wife and two children.

Don Jazzy salutes D’banj, 2face, JJ

MAVIN Records boss, Don Jazzy says he’ll always appreciate the help and support of ex-label mate and partner D’banj when he was starting out as a young producer.

In a series of messages posted on the micro blogging site, Twitter, the 30-year-old producer also mentioned former boss, JJC, singer 2face and his label artistes, D’Prince and Wande Coal, describing them as useful and instrumental to his success as a producer and a label executive.

Thanking D’banj for making him a ‘Don,’ Jazzy praised Wande Coal for blessing his beats. He gave thanks to 2face for being an inspiration and shouted out JJC, whom he said helped him hone his production skills to perfection.

High expectations as airlift of 95, 000 hajj pilgrims begins today

ALL is now set for today’s airlift of the first batch of the 95,000 pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia for the 2012 hajj.

With the various stakeholders and airlines pledging to keep to the terms of hajj operations, there are growing optimisms among the potential pilgrims and state governments that the exercise would be a huge success.

The officially designated air carriers at the weekend pledged to ensure that they complied with the agreed terms of their contracts.

Muslim leaders also met at the weekend to tutor their followers on the hajj rules and the need to be hood ambassadors of Nigeria.

The Guardian learnt that 85,000 of the pilgrims would go through the normal pilgrimage route while 10,000 would use the international route.

The four approved airlines, which last Thursday signed agreements with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) are Marx Air; Kabo Air; Med View and Meridian Airlines. They agreed to position their aircraft at the designated airports on time; offer good-in-flight services such as feeding, medical kits and to accept the penalty for failure.

Funke Akindele gets surprise birthday party

Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele-Oloyede, who turned 35 on Friday, August 24, 2012, was recently treated to a surprise birthday party organised by her beau, Almaroof Oloyede.
The actress, who was reportedly whisked away after a hard day on the set of her upcoming movie, ‘Oro Omo’ was shocked when she found out about the plan, but soon got over the surprise and settled down to fully enjoy her party.
Dressed in a bright red dress with ruffles, Funke smiled as she posed with her five different cakes, the most elaborate of which was the Louis Vuitton cake…

Happy birthday to 2face Idibia

 

The music super star is a year older today! Wishing him many more successful years ahead.

Peter Okoye Replies Critics - 'Speaking good English doesn't put food on my table'

Minutes ago, Peter Okoye of P'square fame took to his twitter timwline to bare his mind on the issue of "Speaking Good English" ... although he didn’t mention names …

Abi o, na the 'take home' be the main thing....true talk.

Usher says he regrets getting married

American singer, Usher Raymond has disclosed his regrets about his bitter experience with marriage.

The  33-year-old performer mentioned this during his interview with talk show host, Oprah Winfrey on the programme,Oprah’s Next Chapter aired on OWN.

According to him, he deeply regrets his decision to get married and blames the failure of his marriage on the possibility of his unpreparedness for it, adding that he feels like kicking himself in the butt for doing so.

‘I say kicking myself in the butt because I always felt like maybe we weren’t ready. And maybe this wasn’t the time or the way to do it. Part of that I think played into the demise of it’, he said.

Usher who recently lost a step son, has been going through difficulties with ex-wife Tameka over the custody of their remaining children.

‘I am not wanted by the Police’ – Davido releases statement

Pop star Davido has released an official statement denying the news of him being wanted by the Nigerian Police Force over the on-going assault case involving him and a taxi driver.

On Saturday, September 16, 2012, Crime Digest of Punch Newspapers reported that the Assistant Inspector General of Police had ordered the arrest of the popular pop singer.

Davido however debunks the news in his statement released to NET a day later after the news broke;

‘I want to assure all my beloved fans and friends that, I am not wanted by the police and no officer in the Nigerian police gave an order for my arrest. I went to the police some weeks ago to give a statement and cleared my name‘, Davido said in the statement released through his manager Asa Asika.

The 19-year-old insists that he did not beat up the now-popular Taxi man Femi Ajibola who claims he was assaulted by Davido and that even Susan (Davido’s supposed lady-friend who hired the Taxi man’s services) has denied the news too.

‘I did not beat up any taxi driver and the lady that hired the taxi driver and all those that are involved in this matter have made statements to the police and none of them mentioned my name except the taxi driver who claims that a large sum of money was missing in his taxi. In fact the lady in question stated that she was not beaten by anyone and that nobody assaulted the taxi driver.‘, Davido explains.

He laments that he is being blackmailed but he will not give in to it

‘This is a case of blackmail, and I have resolved not to succumb to any blackmail for money. And to all those that are involved in this conspiracy to bring me down, I want to remind you that God Almighty himself got me to where I am today in my music career and you will not succeed in your devilish efforts to bring me down‘.

His manager had this to add: ’These are all false. I’m sure you all know we have been in the states shooting videos for the last two weeks‘, Asa Asika says.

Davido returns to Nigeria on Sunday, September 23, 2012.
Source

Man Caught With Dead Baby In A Suitcase (Photos)

No full details yet but according to people the man in the picture above was caught at Tipper garage near Gwarimpa in Abuja yesterday with a dead baby stuffed in a suitcase. He was said to have been arrested on a tip off...but another source said that the conductor of the bus he entered asked him to bring his suitcase so it can be stored properly and the man vehemently refused. The suspicious conductor asked him what was inside the suitcase and he refused to say. As the man tried to leave the bus, the conductor and others seized the suitcase from him and found the dead boy inside.

Fan Speaks On Desmond Elliot's Rumoured Death

The entire city was thrown into chaos when the news of Desmond Elliot's death went viral on the internet.

On Friday September 14, 2012, someone wrote on Facebook that Elliot was dead. They posted what appeared to be a death picture. But then at the end of the post, they added a “qualifier” which read “And please don’t panic because its just a shot from the yet-to-be released Movie.

”Just days ago fans were asking if Morgan Freeman had died this September 2012. Now, Desmond Elliot joins Freeman and Bill Nye among the latest celebrities to be struck by fake death reports this month. Today’s tale derives from Facebook, once again.

Fans, nevertheless, are irate. Elliot is a Nigerian actor with more than two hundred credits to his name. But 12 hours ago, a Facebook account posted a picture of a man covered in blood. The text that went with the image read “BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian Actor Desmond Elliot found Motionless, drown in his blood in a Hotel in Nigeria”.

The fake report claimed that Elliot had been murdered in a hotel room. The false report later stated “Movie fans who first heard the news in Nigeria are in shaking feathers and Investigations are going-on of who might be behind his murder”. But at the bottom of the Facebook post, the author wrote”And please don’t panic because its just a shot from the yet-to-be released Movie”.

Other websites, however, have since taken the body of the fake report, re-posted it to readers, but omitted the “please don’t panic” section, fan told us.

NIGERIAFILMS

Varsity students protest: We are being sexually harassed

STUDENTS of Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH,  protested over alleged sexual harassment of female students, molestation and extortion by some staff of the institution.

The students, numbering about 2, 000, blocked traffic at Eleven-Eleven Bus Stop on their way to the Government House, Calabar  to register their grievance.

Some of the placards carried by the students had inscriptions such as, ‘Sexual harassment of female students’, Female molestation’, ‘Extortion of money from students’, ‘No better CRUTECH, No better Cross River’, ‘CRUTECH, no better lecture hall’.

CRUTECH Students Union president, Mr Ekong Eka, accused the state government of neglecting students of the university, adding that, two months ago, some groups of people came to the school to tell them that government wanted to pay them bursary.

Presidential Reception: Paralympian gold medalists get N5m each, national award

Abuja- President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja rewarded members of the Nigerian team to the 2012 London Paralympic Games and the national under-20 women football team.
At a reception held for both teams at State House Banquet Hall, Jonathan announced the conferment of the Member of the Order of Niger (MON) on six 2012 Paralympic gold medallists.
The six athletes had won gold medals at the Games where Nigeria placed 22nd overall among 164 participating countries, and finished third behind Tunisia and South Africa among African countries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria, with a team of 29 athletes and 19 officials, won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals at the Paralympic Games.
The six gold medallists, who are all powerlifters will be decorated on Monday in Abuja, including Yakubu Adesokan, who set a new world record in the men’s -48 kg.
The rest are Grace Anozie, Ivory Nwokorie, Loveline Obiji, Joy Onaolapo and Esther Oyema.
Jonathan also announced a cash reward of five million Naira for each gold medallist, while the five silver medallists were rewarded with three million Naira each.
The two bronze medallists in the Paralympic team were also rewarded with two million Naira each, while the team officials were each rewarded with N2.5 million.
Other members of the Paralympic team who did not win any medal at the Games, which was held from Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, were also rewarded with N500,000 Naira each.
The president further announced a reward of one million Naira each for the women football team, also known as the Falconets, while their officials are to receive N1.2 million each.
The Falconets had finished fourth at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals held in Japan from Aug. 18 to Sept. 8 in Japan.
Jonathan who noted that no amount of money or award would be enough to reward the gallant sportsmen and women said the reception was a modest recognition of their achievements.
“This is a modest recognition, which is just a token in our appreciation of your efforts. It is not the value of the money, but the recognition of your achievement, which is much more than any reward,’’ he said.
The president praised the athletes, saying they gave hope to the Nigerian youths and those that are physically challenged.

Patience Jonathan made news in Dubai newspaper; 'The Khaleej Herald'

 

The first paragraph reads - Food control officials in Dubai have said that they are unaware of an alleged food poisoning in the emirate that has allegedly affected the Nigerian first lady, Patience Faka Jonathan, who is under treatment in Germany. Read the rest on the paper above...

 

Source: Lindaikeji

Celebrating Agbani Darego

Agbani Darego in 2002

In 2001, she shocked the world, beating over 70 gorgeous girls to emerge as Miss World.

Young, beautiful and natural, Agbani Darego is a young woman full of promise. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, she is the sixth of eight children. At the age of two, she moved to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and says her childhood was loving and memorable, although it was tainted by the death of her mother, who passed away due to breast cancer when Agbani was eleven.

She attended Bereton Montessory Nursery & primary school, Federal Government Girls College (F.G.G.C) Abuloma, where she was awarded ‘Most distinguished Alumni’ in 2010, and the University of Port Harcourt, where she studied Computer Science for a year before her foray into the pageant world.

In 2001, she achieved great success when she won Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN).

During her reign as MBGN, she represented Nigeria in the 2001 Miss Universe competition, held in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. She placed among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh. She was the only black semi-finalist that year – and the only finalist to wear a one-piece swimsuit as opposed to the more popular bikini. Encouraged by her position at Miss Universe in 2001, Agbani then competed at the Miss World pageant in November 2001, which she won, becoming the first native Sub-Saharan African to claim the title, a victory widely welcomed in Nigeria.

Agbani was honoured with the Nigerian national honour ‘Member of the Order of the Federal Republic’ (MFR) after her win as Miss World in 2001.

During her reign, she visited a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Puerto Rico, the United States, Germany, Italy, China, Spain and France. She was a public favourite, as for the first time in the history of the Miss World Pageant; TV Viewers were invited to participate in the Final Vote. Since then, Agbani has made appearances at and judged the Miss World pageant, as well as Miss England, Miss Bulgaria, MR Scotland, Miss Tanzania and the Most Beautiful girl in Nigeria pageants.

In 2002, she relocated to London for two years. There, she signed with Top Modeling Agency Next Model Management and worked, strutting the catwalks during Fashion Week, gracing Magazine Editorials, and clinching the distinguished beauty endorsement with L’Oreal, which ended in 2005.

In 2003, she made the move to New York, where she signed with Next Model Management NY for four years (2003 – 2007), and later moved to Ford Models NY; featuring in numerous beauty and fashion advertising and commercials, including Avon, Christian Dior beauty, Sephora, Target, and Macy’s, to name a few. She graced more pages of several magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Allure, Trace, Stitch, Cosmopolitan, Essence magazine , working with respected designers like Oscar de la Renta, Marc Bouwer, Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren, Gianfranco Ferre, and eminent Photographers Annie Leibovitz, Markus Klinko, and Richard Burbridge.

Always the multi-tasker, she then decided to finish up her education in 2007, enrolling at the prestigious New York University (NYU) where she majored in Psychology, graduating in 2012.

Agbani currently works with Ford Models NY and often shuttles between New York & Lagos.

Culled from www.agbanidarego.com

Photo Credit: Lalo Yasky/WireImage