NYSC Nasarawa Extends Service Year of 33 Corps Members

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February 17, 2022

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it has extended the service year of 33 Corps members in Nasarawa State for absconding from their places of primary assignment during the service year.

Coordinator of the scheme in the state, Abdullahi Jikamshi, made this known in Lafia on Thursday during the Passing-out Parade of the 2021 Batch “A” corps members.

Jikamshi said the affected corps members would have their service year extended or repeat the entire service year in accordance with the provisions of the NYSC bye-laws.

He applauded the 1142 corps members who successfully completed the service year without any disciplinary issue, urging them to be good ambassadors of the scheme wherever they find themselves.

“I wish you God’s grace as you enter into the labour market, may you be highly favoured.

“For those of you who have decided to be entrepreneurs and not job seekers, may you be equally fruitful in your endeavours,” he said.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State applauded the outgoing corps members for their invaluable service to the state.

Sule, represented by Mr Lucky Yargwa, the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, said the many life-transforming projects carried out by them had contributed to the development of many communities.

“In some cases, a number of you stepped down life-changing skills you acquired through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the NYSC, teaching members of your host communities the skills that will empower them economically.

“We acknowledged the role played by you in the state’s health sector, including the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers programme.

“Under the auspices of this programme, you are complementing our efforts towards ensuring that our people have access to basic medical care in no small measure,” he said.

No sugar scarcity, production not reduced – FG

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Cleopatra Okohai

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February 17, 2022

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The Federal Government on Wednesday refuted claims of imminent sugar scarcity in Nigeria and stressed that there was also no reduction in the production of the commodity.

It warned operators in the sector to desist from making unnecessary propaganda capable of distorting the progress being recorded in Nigeria’s sugar production industry.

In an advertorial published on Monday, BUA Foods Plc had alleged that Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc suspended sugar sales because the 2022 raw sugar allocation had been declined by the government. Flour Mills had since debunked the claim.

BUA had also accused Dangote Sugar of halting sales of the product in a bid to create scarcity and force prices to go up.

Reacting to this in Abuja at the public presentation of the approved 2022 presidential raw sugar quota allocations to representatives of refineries in the sector, the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Zacch Adedeji, warned operators to stop raising false alarm.

He said, “Only yesterday, the attention of the council was drawn to a publication in some sections of the media credited to BUA Foods on the suspension of sugar sales.

Given the strategic importance of the sugar value chain to the Nigerian economy, the council wishes to state that there is no known stoppage in sugar production by any of the operators as a result of compliance issues or on the council’s mandate.”

Search, Rescue Teams Comb For Survivors As Deadly Landslides Wreck Brazilian City

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Angel Gimalo

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February 17, 2022

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Almost 100 people have died in landslides and flash flooding in the Brazilian city of Petrópolis, reports say.

The city, which is located in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro, was hit by torrential rainfall.

Houses in hillside neighbourhoods were destroyed and cars swept away as floodwaters raced through the city’s streets.

The Rescue Efforts

Search and rescue teams are combing the mud for survivors.

Reports said 24 people had been rescued alive so far, with 94 confirmed deaths. Videos shared on social media showed extensive damage and vehicles floating in the streets.

“The situation is almost like war, cars hanging from poles, cars overturned, lots of mud and water still,” Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro said.

With 35 people reported missing, he said that the search and rescue efforts would continue non-stop.

Petrópolis is a popular tourist destination in the hills above Rio de Janeiro which used to be the summer getaway for Brazil’s monarchs in the 19th Century.

But after a month’s worth of rain fell on the city in just three hours, much of its regal charm lay in ruins, with homes and shops destroyed by the flooding.

In one of the worst-hit neighbourhoods, up to 80 houses were hit by landslides.

“The water came very fast and with great force. My loss was 100%. Our life was already tough with the pandemic and this tragedy still comes,” shopkeeper Henrique Pereira said.

Around 300 people are being housed in schools and shelters, and charities are calling for donations of mattresses, food, clothing and face masks.

“I found a girl who was buried alive,” Wendel Pio Lourenco, a 24-year-old resident, said while heading to a local church in search of shelter.

“Everyone is saying it looks like a war zone.”

The city’s mayor has declared a state of emergency and President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on an official trip to Russia, has said he will organise immediate help for the victims.

It is the latest in a series of heavy rains to hit Brazil in the past three months, which scientists say are being made worse by climate change.

Petrópolis and the surrounding region were previously hit by severe storms in January 2011, when more than 900 people died in flooding and landslides.

Adesanya Defeats Whittaker Via Unanimous Decision To Retain UFC 271 Crown

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Emenike Agu

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February 17, 2022

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Israel Adesanya of Nigeria kicks Robert Whittaker of Australia in their middleweight championship fight during UFC 271 at Toyota Center on February 12, 2022 in Houston, Texas.

Israel Adesanya, early yesterday morning, successfully defended his middleweight title against Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 271, winning the bout by unanimous decision.

In what was a rematch of their first fight two-and-a-half years ago, Adesanya’s ability to control distance, counter strike and defensive wrestle were too much for his Australian-born challenger to overcome as The Last Stylebender took his UFC record to 22-1.

Adesanya took the belt from Whittaker to kick off his title reign at 185 pounds, and the Nigerian has now added the man affectionately known as Bobby Knuckles to the list of challengers, who have failed to take his crown.

With the win over Whittaker, Adesanya now has one or more wins against everyone in the top five of the middleweight division outside of Jared Cannonier.

The win is also Adesanya’s 11th consecutive victory as a middleweight in the UFC, only two behind the record set by UFC legend, Anderson Silva, as the Last Stylebender continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest to ever step foot in the Octagon.

In truth, Whittaker, whose UFC record now drops to 23–6, performed better this time around than in their first meeting, and indeed got better through the fight, but four out of those five rounds belonged to Adesanya as he landed some outrageously effective outside leg kicks, and never found himself in any real danger.

Adesanya took the early lead in the fight, peppering Whittaker with leg kicks in the opening round but also scored an early knockdown with a precise left straight.

Whittaker was able to land a takedown in Round 2, but it didn’t take long for Adesanya to work his way back to his feet.

Adesanya’s ability to control where the fight took place was the biggest story as the fight developed. Whittaker had some success when he doubled up his jab, but Adesanya met most of his attacks with a sharp counter-punching.

That advantage temporarily switched to Whittaker for a moment in Round 4 as the Aussie was able to capitalize on an Adesanya mistake to take his back and attempted a standing rear-naked choke but he couldn’t get it locked in.

In the end, it was the New Zealand-based Adesanya who had the upper hand for the majority of the fight and his latest win marks the end of a good week for The Last Stylebender. On Wednesday, his management team announced a new contract with the UFC.

Adesanya knows what he brings to the UFC and was eager to make sure that his value was appreciated by Dana White and the rest of the organisation.

“The thing I want to know is what’s my value to the company,” Adesanya said. “You can’t undersell my value, if you are, you’re kidding yourself. I bring so many different looks to this company.”

More than anything, Adesanya gives the UFC a dominant champion with a fan-friendly style. He may have come up short in his attempt to be a two-division champion against Jan Blachowicz, but there’s no disputing his place as the preeminent 185-pounder in the sport right now.

Leighton Saopolo Lead Lagos Clean Sweep With Open Cup, Oba Of Lagos Cup

By

Emenike Agu

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February 17, 2022

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Leighton Saopolo were the biggest winners in the opening week of the 2022 Lagos International Polo Tournament, which came to a befitting climax with teams from the host state sweeping all the three prizes at stake.

Lagos Dangote set the pace with an emphatic victory against Centaur to clinch the debuting Adedapo Ojora Cup, before title holders, Leighton Saopolo, successfully defended the Lagos Open Cup and the Oba of Lagos Cups respectively.

In a tense final witnessed by a capacity crowd that included former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu, Leighton Saopolo scored in the first minute of the game that went neck-to-neck, hitting 9 to 8 to deny Almat Petrogas their first major title in Lagos.

Before the Open Cup cracker, the duo of Seyi Oyinlola and Bowale Jolaosho had earlier defeated Centaurs to keep the Oba of Lagos title for the fourth consecutive year. They are bracing for a treble at the Majekodunmi Cup, which begins today.

Martin Juaregui broke from the bowling in to score the quickest goal of the festival so far, but Manuel Crespo equalised in kind and pivoted Almat, parading Ibrahim Haliru, Habib Buhari and Felipe Marquez, to a 4-1 lead in the second chukka.

The lead was soon wiped out with two quick fires from Juaregui and Ratamar to draw level in the third chukka and reclaimed the lead 9 to 7 in the fourth chukka

Juaregui and Ratamar were the chief predators for the Lagos side, as they held on till the end despite Crespo, a former MVP of the Lagos International Polo Tournament, netting the final goal to finish 8 to 9.

Today, five teams from Abuja, Kano and Lagos will start the journey for the event’s biggest prize, the Majekodunmi Cup.

In the fixtures, Kano Lintex and Abuja Almat team will play in the opening game of the Majekodunmi Cup series, just as action will begin in two subsidiary prizes, the Lagos Heritage Cup and the Italian Ambassador’s Cup.

For another year running, the prestigious festival host a renowned and faithful collection of sponsors with GTCO leading others like ChapelHill Denem, MTN, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO), Metro Capital, Arbico, Vueve Clicquot and Coronation.

Lagos Ready For National Judo Trials, Says Hammed

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Emenike Agu

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February 17, 2022

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Chairman, Lagos State Judo Association (LSJA), Sheriff Hammed, has assured Nigerians that the state is prepared to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games national judo trials, which was earlier moved from January to this month.

The tournament, which serves as athletes’ selection for the 2022 Commonwealth Games holding in Birmingham, England, was earlier scheduled to hold from January 26 to 29 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

But it was rescheduled to hold from February 22 to 25 at the same venue as the earlier date clashed with zonal eliminations for the 2022 NUGA Games to be hosted by the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Over 300 judokas from across the country are expected to participate in the three-day tournament.

The LSJA chairman said the event would give the state opportunity to showcase its facilities and the support the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has been receiving from the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led government.

“We are excited to welcome the best judokas from across the country in Lagos. We are poised to stage a hitch-free event and we believe we will continue to raise the profile of the sport in a state regarded as Nigeria’s hub of sports.

“There is no doubt that the postponement would afford the athletes opportunity to train well and be prepared for the challenge, as only the best will make it to the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Hammed lauded the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), led by Dr. Musa Oshodi, for considering the state as the host of the tournament, which is the first major competition since the new board came to being last year.

Australia’s Victoria Bids To Host 2026 Commonweath Games

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Emenike Agu

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February 17, 2022

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Australian state Victoria said Wednesday it was in exclusive talks to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

It is planned to hold events across Victoria, whose capital city is Melbourne if it secures the multisports games, said the state’s premier Daniel Andrews.

“Victoria is Australia’s sporting state, and, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition,” Andrews said.

“We would hope to have the majority of events in our regional cities to display the best of Victoria, create jobs and housing and infrastructure that will deliver for the long term.”

Victoria last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2006 when events were focused on the state capital Melbourne.

The state said it had signed a “heads of agreement” for exclusive negotiations on hosting the competition again in 2026.

The agreement was signed with the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia.

“Victoria is one of the world’s greatest sporting states and there is no doubt it has the venues, infrastructure and people to stage a world class edition of the Games,” said Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin.

Australia’s Gold Coast in Queensland was home in 2018 to the last edition of the “Friendly Games”, as the Commonwealth Games are called, attracting more than 4,000 athletes from its 54-nation members, almost all of whom are former territories of the British Empire.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games are due to be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8.

Expert says Lack Of Oxygen At Birth Can Cause Epilepsy

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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February 17, 2022

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A Professor of Neurology, in University of Nigeria Nsukka, Dr. Ikenna Onwuekwe, has urged physicians and new mothers to pay good attention to babies during childbirth, noting that poor oxygen supply to the brain of a newborn can cause epilepsy.

Onwuekwe made this call on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen. he further stated that unborn babies whose mothers are infected with rubella – a contagious viral infection can also be exposed to the neurological disorder, adding that babies can be exposed to risk factors while in the womb.

Onwuekwe explained that, “The causes of epilepsy in children can be divided into perinatal and non-perinatal causes. Perinatal causes include viral intrauterine infections such as rubella among others.”

“Prolonged labour or complications around birth causing impaired oxygen or blood supply to the brain with consequent brain damage can lead to epilepsy.”

“Neurological infections after birth such as meningitis may also lead to epilepsy in children.”

He, however, clarified that there is a difference between epilepsy and isolated seizures which can occur from multiple causes.

Onwuekwe also noted that epilepsy can be treated successfully with medications and if necessary, a surgical procedure.

He said that children with epilepsy can develop normally and continue their education, while adults with the condition can be responsible members of family and society.

“social support always helps people with epilepsy. It is imperative to continue public health education to remove the stigma and eliminate discrimination surrounding epilepsy.”

He added that, “False teachings such as it being a curse or due to evil spirits or being untreatable must be refuted vigorously. A lot of ignorance about epilepsy has been known since the history of man. It is not infectious and cannot be spread by having sex. Patients with the condition can get married and have normal children in most cases,”

Study reveals Gestational diabetes could cause cardiovascular diseases later in life

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Cleopatra Okohai

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February 17, 2022

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A study by researchers of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine has indicated that women who have gestational diabetes while pregnant could develop some cardiovascular diseases later in the future.

The researchers said while previous studies have confirmed that women who have gestational diabetes are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, there has, however, been little scientific knowledge about why they are having these health conditions and the specific cardiovascular risks that they could have in the future.

The researchers disclosed this at the 42nd Annual Pregnancy Meeting of the Society, noting that the range of cardiovascular diseases include coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, mitral regurgitation, and atrial fibrillation.

To discover the particular heart diseases, the researchers used the health information of about 500,000 participating women from the UK Biobank.

They looked at the cardiovascular health of 219,330 women who had delivered at least one baby from 2006 to 2010.

The results, they said, showed that out of that number, 13,094 women developed cardiovascular problems, adding that the findings also confirmed that women with a history of gestational diabetes were at greater risk of a variety of cardiovascular problems.

The risk, they said, increased with age, adding that after adjusting confounding variables in the study, women with a history of gestational diabetes were still confirmed to be at an increased risk for a range of cardiovascular conditions

Speaking on the research to Eurekalert, one of the study’s authors who doubles as a maternal-fetal subspecialist and associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Seoul National University College of Medicine said the study shows the extent of heart problems that can arise long after birth.

“We’ve known that gestational diabetes can lead to heart problems. This research shows us the extent of heart health problems that can arise long after someone has given birth.

“The next step is to look at what kind of preventative measures can be taken during pregnancy to hopefully prevent cardiovascular disease from developing later in life,” the researchers said.

Throwback Thursday – Story Of St. George’s Town, First Permanent English Settlement On Islands Of Bermuda

By

Angel Gimalo

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February 17, 2022

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St. George’s, also known as the Town of Saint George or Saint George’s Town, is the first permanent English settlement on the islands of Bermuda.

It definitely is the place where the whole story about Bermuda began, with Bermuda’s first people who were shipwrecked survivors of the Jamestown bound Sea Venture.

This happened in 1609, when they were caught up on Bermuda’s treacherous reefs, and began building two new ships.

The people who decided to stay behind officially settled St. George’s in 1612, making it the capital of the islands until 1815.

Built in accordance with the advance from that time, the lanes in the town are wide enough just for horses and carriages.

The narrow roads still retain their original names, some with reference to local characters and activities such as Aunt Peggy’s Lane or Printers Alley.

Aunt Peggy by the way was a slave who lived for long and was known to keep a watch on the town as she sat by the window of her house and chatted freely to all those who passed by.

Nonetheless, its importance was great during the American War of Independence, when the locals helped the Americans to get the gunpowder from a St. George’s magazine which supplied the forts around the city.

The city center of St. George’s is King’s Square, where reenactments from 17th century are held throughout the year. Not just that, the whole city is covered with history.

There is the old Saint Peter’s Church, which is in fact the oldest surviving Anglican and oldest continuously occupied Protestant church in the Western hemisphere, the State House, Tucker House and many more.

As an outstanding example of the earliest English urban settlement in the New World, together with the fortifications which illustrate the development of English military engineering, it has been put on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2000.

TODAY

Nowadays, many tourists, mostly Americans and British are visiting this historic city which in fact still has its importance as it had in the past.