Knocks As Nike Unveils New Eagles Jerseys

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September 16, 2022

Reactions have trailed the new Super Eagles jersey released by kit manufacturer, Nike, on Thursday,

The Eagles, through their Twitter handle posted the new apparel designed by the American company.

The home jersey is all green, with eagle designs on the shirt, while the away kit is a white shirt with green neckband and green shorts.

Fans of the three-time African champions took to Twitter to express their displeasure and unhappiness at the design by Nike.

Afolabi Abayomi wrote on Twitter @Affoo76, “Nike have stared tie and dye for our jersey? This green colour isn’t appropriate at all.”

Ghana’s national team football fan page also took a swipe at the jersey, posting beneath the pictures, “Is this punishment for not qualifying for the world cup… Very ugly kits.”

Onuoha Udochukwu added, “If the plan is to irritate opponents so that they don’t mark our players, I think this is the perfect jersey for the job. As we did not qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, now we have a talking point.”

Elaigwukings Elaigwu, @elaigwukings also believes the home kit is the worst in history.

“The home kit is worst, it look more like Aso-ebi uniform.”

“Ilesanmi Ayodeji added @IlesanmiayoO, “Are there no Eagles players available to model in this new jersey? I think something is wrong with the NFF. Is this how the Portuguese or the German national team unveils their new kits without their players? This rubbish must stop.”

While David Clinton @8_TrigramCFC loves the away kit, he expressed displeasure at the home kit.

“The white kit is lit but the green looks like an Ankara.”

The Super Eagles are expected to wear the new kits during the international friendly against the Desert Foxes of Algeria on September 27.

Ondo Governor Proffer Measures To Tackle Health Sector Challenges

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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September 16, 2022

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Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu says government is looking into critical challenges facing the health sector in the state with the aim of finding solutions to tackle them.

The governor made this known when he played host to the executive members of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA Ondo state chapter.

He said measures to address these challenges would include employment of more health workers to boost health care services in the state; procurement of more equipment and payment of outstanding allowances of medical practitioners.

The governor disclosed that the ongoing construction work at UNIMED facility in Akure and Ondo town would soon be completed to further boost health care delivery in the state.

Earlier, the chairman NMA Ondo state chapter Dr Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe applauded the governor for being proactive in the area of security and improved infrastructure.

Dr Adeyemi-Osowe sought more collaboration between government to address brain drain among health workers.

Tennis Ranking Thrills Aruna, Nigerian Women Lose Spots

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Emenike Agu

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September 16, 2022

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Reigning African table tennis champion, Quadri Aruna, is thrilled to have moved one step up in the current International Table Tennis Federation World Ranking for men’s singles

Aruna, who defeated Egyptian rival, Omaar Assar 4-3 in the keenly contested final at the ITTF competition in Algeria last week, is now ranked 14th in the world following his remarkable feat in the competition.

The 33-year-old amassed 500 points at the ITTF competition to unseat Tim Boll of Germany, who previously occupied the 14th spot.

Reacting to his upward ranking, Aruna said, “Indeed, it is a kind of consolation. I’m very happy, everything happens for a reason. I hope to improve on this. Algeria is a country I will never forget. It’s my first time there and I won, it will be an everlasting memory for me.”

Aruna’s countryman, Taiwo Mati, moved up 63 spots 91st in the ranking, his highest ever placing.

The 17-year-old, who reached the semi-finals of the men’s singles in Algiers, where he eventually lost to Aruna, chalked up 175 points at the competition.

He becomes the sixth top-ranked African player in the world, behind Aruna (14), Omar Assar of Egypt (22), Saleh of Egypt (66), Ibrahima Diaw of Senegal (72) and Mehdi Bouloussa of Algeria (86).

Bode Abiodun and Olajide Omotayo also dropped seven and eight steps in the month under review to rank 121st and 125nd respectively.

Duo Azeez Solanke and Rilwan Akanbi dropped to 223rd and 326th after they lost 14 and 25 places each.

Samuel Boboye dropped 12 places to rank 246 while Orok Etim and Amadi Omeh are ranked 414 and 415 respectively.

In the women’s category, Nigeria’s top-ranked player, Fatimo Bello, also slipped five steps from 60th to 65. Bello is the only Nigerian in the Women’s Top 100.

Edem Offiong dropped three steps from 112 to 115 while Funke Oshonaike is currently ranked 146th in the word after she lost seven places in the ranking for the month of September.

Abosede Odusanya and Cecelia Akpan both lost 11 places to rank 221 and 251 in the world respectively.

Esther Oribamise and Ajoke Ojomu, who both starred at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, also slipped to 316th and 317 as well.

Ex-International Fuludu Explains PFAN’s Stand As Court Stops NFF Election

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Emenike Agu

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September 16, 2022

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Former Super Eagles midfielder, Edema Fuludu, has explained why the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force went to court to stop the elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) slated for September 30 in Benin City, Edo State.

Football-loving Nigerians were shocked yesterday following an order by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court 5, Abuja, which directed that the NFF’s September 30 Election be put on hold and that parties should maintain status quo. He adjourned further proceedings to October 31, 2022.

According to a statement by the chairman, PFAN Task Force, Harrison Jalla, Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order at about 9.45 a.m. yesterday, while presiding over a matter in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2022 between (1) Harrison Jalla, (2) Chief Rumson Victor Baribote, (3) Austin Popo, (4) The Registered trustees of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) (Trading under the name and style of Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria) (PFAN) VS (1) Nigeria Football Association (NFA) (Trading under the name and style of the Nigeria Football Federation) (NFF), (2) Amaju Pinnick, (3) Minister of Sports and Youth Development.

“The plaintiff approached the court in mid 2021 after due process, demanding an amendment to the NFF statutes 2010 for equal representation for all the five statutory bodies making up the Nigeria Football Federation in terms of voting rights and representation on the NFF board, its congress and Sub/Standing Committees.

“The court had earlier in the month of June 2022 hearing adjourned further proceedings in this matter to October 31, 2022. In between and in their usual characteristic manner of having no regards for the laws of the land, the defendants brazenly fixed election for September 30, 2022 in spite of an interlocutory application pending before the court. Consequently and ruling in an exparte application moved this morning by (1) Dr. Celsius Ukpong (2) Chief Rumson Victor Baribote and Fayeneniga Jacob, all representing the plaintiff, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the NFF September 30 Election to be put on hold and that parties should maintain status quo.” Jalla said.

Speaking yesterday, PFAN Task Force’s Secretary, Fuludu explained that failure by the various candidates aspiring to succeed Pinnick as president of the NFF to agree on their request for amendment of the statute after the election led to the court order.

He said: “For sometime now, we have been having meetings with the various candidates on the need to amend the statute. The plan is for any one that emerges president at the September 30 election to amend the statute as soon as he comes on board so that all stakeholders can have full representation in the NFF board.

“But nobody is willing to sign with us. In other words, we are not sure they will implement it after the election. Now, we have to ensure the statute is amended before we go into the election,” Fuludu stated.

Niger State Health Insurance Scheme Cater To Vulnerable Groups

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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September 16, 2022

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Niger State government in North central Nigeria, has planed to take care of the poor and vulnerable groups as beneficiaries of its contributory health insurance scheme.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who stated this during the launching of the Niger State Contributory Health Scheme in Minna, the State Capital during the week, mentioned that the government has set aside Equity funds from the Consolidated Revenue in the 2022 Budget appropriation for that purpose.

The Governor who further said the state took interest in introducing health insurance known as “Nicare,” to protect families and households from catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditures in seeking the much-needed healthcare services, implored the well-to-do in the society to support the vulnerable to have access to health care provisions.

The Governor added that the Nicare scheme is for both the formal and informal sectors which would be made compulsory for all residents.

The Governor commended all the various stakeholders that contributed to the success of the establishment and for the development of the health sector.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muhammad Makusidi, who commended the Niger State government for the support in actualizing the objectives said, “The Niger State Contributory Health Scheme is a healthcare financing reform that would operate on the principles of harmony, risk-sharing and pooling of resources for the provision of affordable, accessible and qualitative healthcare to all Nigerlites on a sustainable basis.”

Disconnection Event Wins Astronomy Photograph Of The Year Award With Comet Picture

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Angel Gimalo

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September 16, 2022

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A rare photograph of a comet that will never be seen from Earth again has won a prestigious photography prize.

The image shows a piece of Comet Leonard’s tail breaking off and being carried away by the solar wind.

The comet made a brief appearance to Earth after being discovered in 2021, but has now left our Solar System.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich in London runs the Astronomy Photography of the Year competition and called the image “astonishing”.

It also awarded two 14-year-old boys in Sichuan, China, the prize for Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year.

The images are on show in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in London from Saturday.

“Comets look different from hour to hour – they are very surprising things,” explained the winning photographer Gerald Rhemann, from Vienna, Austria.

The picture was taken on Christmas Day 2021 from an observatory in Namibia, home to some of the world’s darkest skies.

He had no idea that the comet’s tail would disconnect, leaving the sparkling dust trail in its wake.

“I was absolutely happy to take the picture – it’s the highlight of my photography career,” he told newsmen.

Astronomer Dr Ed Bloomer, who was one of the competition judges, said the image was one of the best comet photographs in history.

“The perfect astrophotograph is the collision of science and arts. Not only is it technically sophisticated and projects the viewer into deep dark space, but also it’s visually arresting and emotional,” Dr Hannah Lyons, assistant creator of art at Royal Museums Greenwich, told Newsmen.

The judges looked at more than 3,000 entries from around the world.

Kano Pillars Looking Good As Volleyball Premier League Begins

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Emenike Agu

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September 16, 2022

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Defending champions, Kano Pillars, yesterday defeated 2021 National Division 1 League champions, Kada Kings, in the opening match of the 2022 Nigeria Volleyball Premier League.

The premier league, which started on Wednesday, will run till September 26 at the indoor sports hall of Akure Stadium, Ondo State.
Former champions, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will today meet Sunshine Spikers, while NSCDC will face Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

In a local derby, youthful OFFA VC will begin their campaign against newly promoted Kwara United VC, while Nigeria Correctional Service will test their firepower against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Spikers, led by coach Elishama Elam.

In the women’s category, Kada Emeralds will be up against Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service with the longest serving volleyball player, Dorathy Egbim, will face Benue Queens, two newly promoted sides, Kwara United and Zamfara Queens, will slug it out in the third women’s match.

Defending champions, NSCDC, began the bid to hold on to their title, yesterday, when the met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Spikers in the last match.

The technical representative on the board of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Martin Melandri, said five male and four female matches would be played yesterday and today.

Melandri added that the new FIVB rules would be applied in this year’s premier league, as agreed by the coaches, referees and stakeholders.

1.6 Million Evacuated As Typhoon Muifa Lashes Eastern China

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 16, 2022

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High winds and heavy rain lashed China’s densely populated east coast, after Typhoon Muifa forced around 1.6 million people to leave their homes and grounded most flights at Shanghai’s main airports.

Muifa is the strongest tropical cyclone to hit Shanghai — home to more than 25 million people — since record-keeping began in 1949.

However, there were no immediate reports of any deaths or casualties.

At least 426,000 people were evacuated in Shanghai and another 1.2 million people were taken to temporary shelters in neighbouring Zhejiang province.

Heavy rainfall led to traffic tailbacks and floods in several areas of the Yangtze river delta region, a major global manufacturing hub.

Giant waves were seen crashing onto the coastline in Hangzhou bay, to the south of Shanghai, and national radio reported a landslide in Ninghai County in Zhejiang province.

Packing winds of up to 125 kilometres (78 miles) per hour, the storm made landfall at 12:30 am Thursday (1630 GMT Wednesday) in Shanghai’s Fengxian district.

It had earlier led to the cancellation of all flights to China’s biggest financial hub.

according to state news agency, Muifa previously hit the city of Zhoushan in Zhejiang on Wednesday.

Air travel slowly resumed in Shanghai as the storm moved north, but most flights from the city’s two main airports were cancelled Thursday morning, according to aviation data provider Flightradar24.

Operations at some of Asia’s largest container shipping ports in Shanghai and neighbouring Ningbo that were halted because of the typhoon were scheduled to resume later Thursday, according to statements from port officials.

Officials ordered all fishing vessels in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea to anchor in ports as northeast China braced for the typhoon.

The storm entered east China’s Jiangsu province on Thursday morning and the wind speed weakened to about 90 kilometres (56 miles) per hour, the Central Meteorological Observatory said.

The storm came soon after Typhoon Hinnamnoor hit Shanghai and its neighbouring region last week, causing the suspension of Shanghai ferry services and school closures in parts of Zhejiang.

Muifa is the 12th typhoon to hit China this year, according to state media.

Tropical storms, which are expected to increase as the planet warms, were sharply up in 2021, a report by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said earlier this month.

Governor Soludo Commissions Telemedicine Hub

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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September 16, 2022

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Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has officially commissioned the telemedicine hub in the state.

He said the hub is a starting point which will be used as a case study in 10 community healthcare centres within Oyi local government area of the state to experiment its effectiveness before linking it to other healthcare centres across the 175 communities in the state.

The governor who performed the commissioning ceremony at Comprehensive Medical Centre Awkuzu, in Oyi Council Area, where the hub is located, said it was part of his plans to boost the healthcare system in Anambra State. He said the new medical approach was to make up for the deficit in healthcare professionals in the state. The Telemedicine Centre is first of its kind to be launched in Nigeria.

He beckoned on Awkuzu community especially the youths to ensure adequate protection of the facility.

Dr.Afam Obidike, the state Commissioner for Health, in his address said, “The initiative will increase access and improve healthcare delivery in the state.”

According to Obidike, telemedicine is the use of telecommunication technology to remotely diagnose and treat patients from any location, adding that it could be through telephone conversation, e-mail or instant messaging conversation.

He said, “It is an innovative way of getting access and delivering healthcare through digital devices such as mobile devices and computers. Telemedicine means that you can be in the comfort of your home and book an appointment to see a doctor that is working anywhere in the world”.

The Commissioner added that the 400-500 primary health centres in the State will soon experience Telemedicine Hub.

Chief Emmanuel Nweke,The Oyi Local Government Area Transition Committee Chairman, while applauding the governor for the project, promised to ensure adequate security in and around the Hub.

The Telemedicine Hub was built by Adimma Awkuzu Association in partnership with Anambra State ministry of health.

Sudan Flooding: Death Toll Increases By 20

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Angel Gimalo

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September 16, 2022

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Flooding across Sudan has killed at least 20 people over the past week, Sudanese officials has announced, raising the official death-toll from the floods since the rainy season began in May to 134.

The office of Brig. Gen. Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Rahim, the leader of Sudan’s National Council for Civil Defense, said an additional 120 people were injured from the past week’s flooding.

Torrential downpours throughout August and early September — the peak of Sudan’s rainy season — have washed away roads, houses, and vital infrastructure across the country, cutting off supply lines to rural areas in need of humanitarian aid. According to the United Nations’ latest flooding report, some 286,400 people have been affected by the floods and 16,900 homes have been destroyed.

The civil defense council said this year’s deaths included 74 people who drowned, 32 who died when their homes collapsed, and six who were killed in water-related electrocutions.

The rural east and west of the country have been the most affected by this year’s downpours. On Wednesday, Sudan’s state media outlet, SUNA, reported that a newly built sugar factory near the eastern city of Kassala collapsed under heavy rainfall.

In 2020, flooding and heavy rains killed around 100 people and damaged more than 100,000 houses.