Europa League: Nigerians Who Can Wreck United

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September 15, 2022

It’s not very usual to see Sheriff Tiraspol leading a group which consists of the likes of Manchester United and Real Sociedad. But with a thumping away win over Omonia Nicosia, the Moldovian side sit atop the Europa League Group E.

They will have to be in an even focused demeanour on Thursday (today) as the Red Devils from Manchester take a trip to their homeland in an attempt to seal their first away win in Europe this season.

Having dealt with the threat of now injured Nigerian striker Sadiq Umar in their opening 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad in their opening group clash, United are poised against Umar’s little known countrymen Iyayi Atiemwem and Rasheed Ibrahim Akanbi, who were both on target for Sheriff, as they saw off Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho’s Omonia Nicosia 3-0 away from home.

Midfielder Akanbi with a goal and an assist and Atiemwen with another from the spot as Uzoho watched from the bench.

Akanbi was on fire against Omonia, as the disguised forward scored one – inside two minutes – and assisted another to set up his two direct goal contributions. He had two shots, 35 touches 13/22 passes, two chances created, 3/4 ground duels, one tackle, 100 per cent successful dribbles and a yellow card.

The Nigerian is playing for the first time in Europe this season, as Sheriff had a totally different line-up in the Champions League last season. The midfielder will be hoping to make the most of his game time against one of the big clubs in Europe today.

Against Omonia, Akanbi was very well supported by defender Armel Zohouri, as the right full-back managed to make two key passes for his teammates, one of which resulted in a goal for the hosts.

From a defending point of view, all the laurels go to Cedric Babolo and Gabi Kiki as the centre-back pair will be expected to maintain their record of six interceptions every game. Akanbi, Zohouri, Babolo and Kiki will be four players to keep an eye on, in this game.

Atiemwen will be hoping to add to his goals tally after converting from the spot in their opening group win. The 26-year-old forward, who began his career at the youth side of hometown club Bendel Insurance in Benin City, can count on his experience at this level to wreak havoc against visiting Manchester United.

The winger made a cameo appearance in the Champions League against Manchester City in 2019, while starring for Dinamo Zagreb, as the English giants ran out 2-0 winners.

Manchester United are aware of the threat of the Nigerians, as well as Guinean Momo Yansane, and admitted it on their website ahead of today’s clash.

“Guinean international forward Momo Yansane could be one United will have to keep tabs on, given his tally of 12 goals for Stjepan Tomas’s side last season,” United wrote on their website.

“Fellow striker Iyayi Atiemwen is also considered a handful too, given his former pedigree with Dinamo Zagreb. Finding the net twice already this season, the 26-year-old will be bidding to build on his European tally. Finally, fellow countryman to Atiemwen, Akanbi is perhaps Sheriff’s most dangerous forward, known for his speed and trickery down the left flank. Registering five goals and two assists in 13 games so far this season, the Nigerian moved from Turkish side Kocaelispor this summer and has certainly hit the ground running in Moldova.”

United’s Premier League game last weekend was cancelled due to the passing away of Queen Elizabeth II, but they will be hoping to make this away trip count. Erik Ten Hag’s men have won two of their three outings since this season began.

The Molodovan hosts have shown real strength in their backline, not conceding a single goal in their last three fixtures and also not conceding more than one goal in each of their last 12 games now.

Amusan, Brume, Symbols Of Nigeria’s Athletic Future, Sports Minister Says

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Emenike Agu

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September 15, 2022

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Women’s 100m Hurdles gold medalist Tobi Amusan of Team Nigeria and Women’s Long Jump silver medalist Ese Brume of Team Nigeria celebrate following their events on day ten of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 24, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has described the duo of Commonwealth Games gold medalists, Tobiloba Amusan and Ese Brume as symbols of the future of the country’s athletes.

Dare stated this at the unveiling of the sprint stars as the Premium Trust Bank Brand Ambassadors in Lagos on Thursday.

Tobi Amusan early in 2022 created a new World Record in the Women’s 100m hurdles at the World athletics championship in Oregun, U.S.A.

Brume on her part won a bronze medal at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo before adding medals at the World Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

Dare called on corporate organisations and individuals to support the athletes in order to further develop them.

“The corporate world should invest in the athletes and they won’t regret it.

“These athletes never relented after getting the desired support as they have been thriving in their performances,” he said.

“Even at the big stage, the athletes knew they had it in them and they never stopped and when the time came, they showed up big time.

“I want to thank Tobi for doing that job in Oregon, U.S.A., where she broke and set two records in one night. I say thank you to Tobiloba Amusan on behalf of Nigeria.

“Brume on her own part, hard a great time at the Olympics in Tokyo, when Tobi finished fourth in her race. The only person that could comfort her is Ese, not even her coach could do that.

“I am happy seeing the two of them here, happy to see what they have attained so far, Ese came third at the Olympics, but to us, it was a Golden Bronze, thank you because when you came to the Commonwealth Games, you did it again,” he said.

The Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Premium Trust Bank, Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, said the major goal of the bank was to support growth hence the maxim ‘Together for Growth’.

He said the bank decided to associate with the two renowned athletes to drive towards enabling the growth they put into their story.

“This should serve as motivation to other athletes who dare to be different and win no matter their background and obstacles they experienced.

“The story of the two athletes is similar to that of the bank. I can say today that, I am happy to see where Premium Trust Bank is today.

“We hope the partnership brings great impact to the athletes, the sports industry and the country,” he said.

NAN reports that the two athletes appreciated the bank for counting them worthy to be Brand Ambassadors and promised to maintain the standard expected of them.

Ogun Govt Begins Public Schools’ Decongestion, Converts Others

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 15, 2022

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The Ogun State Government says it has embarked on “radical decongestion” of public schools, listing 511 public secondary schools to be converted to model colleges in the state.

The government said it had begun the initiative with 42 flagship schools as model colleges, serving as the first phase with a view to raising the standard of education and encouraging talented pupils in public schools in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Ogun State, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said this at a media chat held in Abeokuta on the government’s scorecards in the education sector.

The Professor of Mathematics also explained that there is 120 percent increase in running cost for public primary and secondary schools in the state.

Arigbabu said the government has rehabilitated over 956 schools; abolished all forms of levies in public schools; approved N200 million as an Education Trust Fund for the development of Infrastructure in State Owned Tertiary Institutions among others.

He said “We have compiled a list of all schools that needs intervention and by the end of this. We have renovated 960 schools and we have supplied over 2,5000 tables and chairs to reduce and cushion the effects of the shortage of furniture in our schools.

“We have also upgraded and recategorize our schools, this is a new initiative in Ogun state which we call the Flagship school initiative.

“This initiative means that we are not starting model colleges from the scratch but we want to turn our colleges into model colleges. Where we are going is all the 511 secondary schools in Ogun state will better be model colleges.

“Now we have 42 of those schools, we want to solve the problem in our education sector. The 42 flagship schools are spread across the three senatorial districts of the state and to enter the school, there is usually a screening test.

“We have started systematically working on the Flagship schools with the standard of candidates to enter the schools, quality of teachers and also in terms of quantities and the decongestion of the population of those schools. Decongestion of class population is one of our goals in Ogun state. In our flagship schools, there is no classroom that is more than 60 pupils.

“To achieve this, we have given ourselves a six years goal and except we establish more schools and build more classrooms, we cannot achieve this goal and where we are going is to have a maximum of 40 pupils in a class.”

Orumen Urges Dare To Dismantle Cabals In Nigerian Football

By

Emenike Agu

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September 15, 2022

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Following recent events in Nigeria’s football scene and the state of the game, ace football commentator and a lawyer, Barrister Godwin Dudu-Orumen, has charged the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, to destroy the ‘cabals’ holding football hostage in the country.

The sports administrator noted that the running of football has been in the hands of a few people in almost a decade , adding it was time to destroy the ‘cabals’.

Dudu-Orumen, who also commended the recent Supreme Court judgement on the defunct League Management Company, noted that there were so many issues affecting the growth of football in the country just as many talk about FIFA/NFF Statutes and the role of the government.
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He said: “It is now time to put to test who a Third party is in the NFF Statutes. Sunday Dare (Sports Minister) may not be pleasing many persons and interest groups by some of his actions but l believe he has reasons to dare and cause unpleasant sensations here and there.

“ I want the minister to dismantle the cabal that has held Nigeria’s football hostage since the Makurdi coup which took out the Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima’s NFA Board and installed Sani Lulu and his co.

“We do not have a viable league, developmental football is comatose, and Super Eagles is roulette wheel for a few and some the group holding our football hostage by virtue of the undomesticated NFF Statutes wants to continue in office. No. Enough is enough. The extant Law for the governance of Football in Nigeria is the NFA Act of 2005 as Amended.

“Dare should shake the table some more. If FIFA comes, we take them to CAS for the correct interpretation of “Third Party” in football and we determine if the man who pays the piper can be correctly called a Third Party,” he said.

Throwback Thursday: Why Is The Department Called The Department Of State?

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 15, 2022

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September 15, 1789 – Congress passed “An Act to provide for the safe keeping of the Acts, Records, and Seal of the United States, and for other purposes.”

This law changed the name of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of State because certain domestic duties were assigned to the agency. These included:

Receipt, publication, distribution, and preservation of the laws of the United States;

Preparation, sealing, and recording of the commissions of Presidential appointees;

Preparation and authentication of copies of records and authentication of copies under the Department’s seal;

Custody of the Great Seal of the United States; and

Custody of the records of the former Secretary of the Continental Congress, except for those of the Treasury and War Departments.

Other domestic duties that the Department was responsible for at various times included issuance of patents on inventions, publication of the census returns, management of the mint, control of copyrights, and regulation of immigration.

Most domestic functions have been transferred to other agencies.

Those that remain in the Department are: storage and use of the Great Seal, performance of protocol functions for the White House, drafting of certain Presidential proclamations, and replies to public inquiries.

Messi’s Barcelona Return: It Doesn’t Just Depend On Him – Cesc Fabregas Opens Up

By

Emenike Agu

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September 15, 2022

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Former Barcelona midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has opened up on Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi’s potential return to the Blaugrana.

Fabregas, who now plies his trade for Italian second division team Como FC, highlighted that it would not be just Messi’s decision, adding that Barcelona will have to be open to the player’s return to Camp Nou.

Barcelona are eyeing a sensational return for their former captain Messi with manager Xavi making no secret of his desire to bring the Argentine back to Spain.

Even Barcelona’s President Juan Laporta, has expressed his desire to have the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner back at Camp Nou.

Speaking to RAC1, Fabregas, a former Chelsea and Arsenal star, said:

“It could be an option if Barça were open to it. It doesn’t just depend on him, it also depends on the club.”

Messi’s current contract with PSG will expire in the summer of 2023.

Beautiful Nigeria: Royal Palace Of Oba Of Benin

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 15, 2022

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The Royal Palace of Oba of Benin is notable as the home of the Oba of Benin and other royals.

The palace, built by Oba Ewedo (1255AD – 1280AD), is located at the heart of ancient City of Benin. It was rebuilt by Oba Eweka II (1914–1932) after the original building was destroyed during the 1897 war with the British.

The palace was declared a UNESCO Listed Heritage Site in 1999.

The Royal Palace of Oba of Benin is a celebration and preservation of the rich Benin culture.

Most of the visitors to the palace are curators, archaeologists or historians.

As an emblem of Bini culture, the palace main building should manifest elements that are representative of the proud indigenes of the Great Benin Kingdom and give expression to the values of Edo people in manners that are substantive and able to adequately capture the spirit of the proud ancestral Benin Kingdom – embodying the creative, artistic, literary, musical, linguistic, culinary, and political prowess of the Edo people.

Exploring Apra Harbor, Guam

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 15, 2022

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Apra Harbor is a deep water port located on the west coast of the United States territory of Guam.

It is home to both the commercial Port of Guam and Naval Station Guam. Formed by the Orote Peninsula in the south and Cabras Island in the north, Apra Harbour narrows to the south and then widens again to form an inner harbour.

The name of the harbour derives from the Chamorro word “apapa” which means low. Later, when the Spanish arrived the name was the same, nevertheless, a saint’s name was added and known as San Luis de Apra.

There are several streams that flow into the harbor from the hills of the villages of Piti and Santa Rita. The harbor is divided into several smaller bodies of water. The Commercial Port of Guam is located in the northeastern part of the harbor on Cabras Island and adjacent to the Piti Channel.

South of the port is Sasa Bay, a recreational area and marine preserve. Naval Station Guam is located further south at the Inner Harbor. The larger body of water to the east is called Outer Apra Harbor. In the past, the harbour was not used to its full potential because of its many reefs and coral heads.

Apra Harbor did, however, become a preferred site for foreigners who wanted to avoid Spanish authorities. In response to pirates or privateers that threatened Spain’s profitable galleon-trade and missionary efforts, several fortifications were built not only to protect from enemy attack, but also as a harbor that provided protection from inclement weather.

From 1737 to 1801, the Spanish government ordered the construction of three fortifications to defend the harbor. But Arpa Harbour became more important in the 19th century, when the whaling industry was reaching its peak.

By the end of the century, the whaling era was coming to an end and the island’s economy was in decline. When U.S. Naval Captain Henry Glass came into Apra Harbor on June 20, 1898 to claim the island for the United States he soon learned that forts Santiago and Santa Cruz had long been abandoned.

So, the Americans settled in. Since then, throughout the WWII, the harbour has a major role in the American Naval history, and serves today as an important port and a popular recreation area.

Apra Harbor is also home to several shipwrecks that are popular with scuba divers. The two most well known wrecks are the World War I-era German merchant ship, SMS Cormoran, and the World War II-era Japanese freighter, Tokai Maru which lie side by side on the ocean floor.

Event Highlights Potentials Of Transport System In Nigerian Economy

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 15, 2022

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Green Achievers Award is a prestigious event organized yearly with a motivation to provide an excellent international platform for the Industry professionals, CEOs, Directors, Policy makers, Scholars in the field of Management, Logistics, Aviation Industry, Rail, Maritime Sector, and many more to share their knowledge and foster solutions in the recent trends in the field of Transport and Logistics globally.

Environment Correspondent, Gimalo-Angel Olowogoke reports that his year’s event held at Welcome Center, Lagos, South-West Nigeria.

Among the dignitaries that attended was CP. Selem Amachree

Commissioner Of Police, Airport Command who highlighted the importance of harnessing the potentials in the Transport Sector.

CP Amachree said there was no gainsaying in the fact that despite the potentials of transport sub-sector to act as a super catalyst to the development of the Nigerians economy, the sector still faces challenges ranging from insecurity across unpredictable cum operating environment because of operation and general maintenance.

Also speaking at the event, the convener and MD/CEO XSS Logistics Ltd, Amb. Dr. Samuel Eluka said the road transport sector declined 21.88 percent in the first quarter of 2022, from 10.44 percent contraction in the same period of 2021.

He also said the theme of this year’s conference, “Unlocking Potentials In The Transport Sector Of The Nigerian Economy” has been designed to embrace all in-progress matters related to unfavourable, but also challenging consequences of the global tasks, rendition of partner relationships, implementation of viable transportation to drive competitive advantage and also deliver ROI (RETURN ON INVESTMENT) initiatives towards greener transportation models, distribution channels and visioning future lines of the upcoming era and much more.

A Healthcare Technology Company., Emergency Response Africa highlighted the need for drivers and commuters to know what to do when there’s an emergency on a trip.

Speaking with LN247, Country Business Development Manager of Emergency Response Africa, Patrick Asuama, said the organization had emergency lines for people to get them.

The event ended with presentation of Awards to recipients with the highest going to Senator representing Abia Central district, Senator T.A. Orji.

Health Insurance now mandatory for Nigerians –NHIA

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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September 15, 2022

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The Nigeria Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act 2022, now makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians, according to the Osun Coordinator of the NHIA, Mrs. Nafisat Adekunle.

Adekunle stated this during an interactive forum with representatives of the Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies, health care facilities and Health Maintenance Organisation, on Thursday in Osogbo.

She explained that unlike under the old National Health Insurance Scheme, which made health insurance optional, the NHIA Act, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, now makes health insurance mandatory for all.

”The aim of the act is to enable Nigerians to have access to affordable and quality health care.

”Under the NHIA act, all Nigerians, irrespective of whether they are self-employed, government workers, private workers, vulnerable groups, retirees, corps members, are adequately covered,” she said.

Adekunle said that the agency has embarked on continuous community mobilisation and sensitisation of people at the grassroots on the need for them to key into the health insurance.

She appealed to service providers and health management organisations to always treat the beneficiaries of the health scheme with respect and dignity.

Adekunle said the interactive forum was organised to intimate stakeholders with the NHIA Act.

She said the NHIA act’s objective is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Also in his presentation, Mr. Abiodun Adeyemo, the NHIA head of programmes, who spoke on the rights of enrollees of the NHIA, said beneficiaries of the health insurance have the right to easy access to quality healthcare without hindrance.

Adeyemo said that the beneficiaries also have the right to know the cost of drugs component for their treatment to ascertain the 10 per cent co-payment, among others.

According to him, under the act, there is a package called GIFSHIP- for Group, Family, or Individual social health insurance programme.

Adeyemo said the GIFSHIP was to ensure that all Nigerians, whether in the formal or informal sector, individual or family, as well as the private firms have access to quality and affordable health care.

Also, Dr. Saheed Adeyemo, NHIA head of Standard and Quality Assurance, said that Osun had to be chosen as one of the pilot states for the NHIA medicine supply initiative.

Adeyemo said that the agency would continue to ensure that quality drugs were supplied and given to beneficiaries of NHIA by the service providers.