Nigerian Government Sends Forth Super Eagles As President Buhari Urges Team To Soar In Cameroon

By

-

January 6, 2022

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, on Tuesday night sent forth the Super Eagles to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon with a dinner.

The well attended event was held at the Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja.

The Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismail Abubakar, the Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Development(FEAD), Dr Simon Ebhojiaye, Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)2nd Vice President, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi and board members, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and Yahaya Kwande were in attendance.

Also at the event were the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Femi Adeagbo, NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire and NFF Director of Finance, Charity Kadiri.

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare in his address to the team, read by Prince Clem Agba, said the Super Eagles are being sent forth as Nigerian ambassadors and worthy representatives to Cameroon as the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament begins in a few days.

According to him, “Mr. President believes this Super Eagles squad has the skills and talents to excel at the AFCON in Cameroon and over 200 million Nigerians are fully behind you.

“Three times we have been Champions of Africa by winning the Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON), that was in 1980, 1994 and 2013, and many other times we have ended as losing finalists and bronze medalists but this time around we want you to strike gold in Cameroon on the 6th of February, 2022 when the tournament’s final match will be played.

“We have followed your preparations for this tournament and have seen the challenges that you have faced with the late release from your clubs, the Covid 19 protocols, injuries and other factors, we urge you not to be deterred by these and rather see these obstacles as stepping stones to your success and glory. We are also appealing to you to demonstrate that Nigerian spirit of determination, focus, resilience, discipline and conquest on and off the pitch.”

Dare also urged the players to have self belief and trust in the coaching crew led by Augustine Eguavoen.

“You have to believe in yourselves, be confident in your own abilities and show trust in your coaches and officials.

“As you carry the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians, be assured of the support of the Federal Government.

“Be patriotic, defend the green and white of Nigeria, fight for her pride and honour like the true soldiers and warriors that you are and this nation will

celebrate you further upon your return,” The Minister added.

In his own remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismail Abubakar thanked the Super Eagles for their patriotism and said the dinner was the Ministry’s ‘little’ effort at encouraging them to giving their best and excelling at the biennial continental football showpiece. Nigeria’s campaign in Cameroon begins on the 11th of January, 2022 against Egypt in Garoua.

Novak Djokovic: Australia Cancels Top Tennis Player’s Visa

By

Emenike Agu

-

January 6, 2022

0

World number one men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic has had his visa to enter Australia dramatically revoked on his arrival in Melbourne, amid a huge backlash over a vaccine exemption.

Djokovic was held in the airport for several hours before border officials announced he had not met entry rules.

He was then taken to a government detention hotel. A court will decide on his deportation on Monday.

The row is around an exemption he had to play in the Australian Open.

Tournament organisers said the Serbian player, who has said he is opposed to vaccination, had been granted medical exemption by two independent medical panels organised by Tennis Australia, the body that runs the event, and Victoria state.

The decision infuriated many in a country that has seen a surge in Covid-19 cases, and where over 90% of those over 16 are fully vaccinated. People have also had to endure some of the world’s strictest restrictions and some still cannot travel between states or internationally.

On Wednesday, border officials said the 34-year-old had “failed to provide appropriate evidence” for entry after arriving from Dubai. He is now being held at a hotel in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton which is used for immigration detention.

“Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia,” the Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a statement.

Djokovic’s team challenged ABF’s decision, and a hearing at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has been scheduled for Monday.

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison denied Djokovic was being singled out and said no-one was above the country’s rules. But he added that Djokovic’s stance on vaccination had drawn attention.

“When you get people making public statements – of what they say they have, and what they are going to do, and what their claims are – well they draw significant attention to themselves,” Mr Morrison told reporters.

Though Djokovic’s reason for an exemption has not been disclosed, Mr Morrison said contracting Covid-19 in the past six months was not among federal criteria for one.

Mr Morrison, who had initially said he would support the Victoria state’s decision about the exemption, is now being accused of politicising the issue. The prime minister himself is under pressure amid the Covid-19 surge, and a federal election is scheduled for May.

Separately the country’s deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, said Djokovic should be deported if he had not told the truth.

“Then he’s taking the sovereign capacity of another nation for a joke,” Mr Joyce told the BBC. “You can’t just wander around the world thinking that because you’re really rich you’re really above the laws of other nations”.

The row prompted Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to say Djokovic was a victim of “harassment” and that “the whole of Serbia” supported him. Mr Morrison denied the visa cancellation was because of “any particular position in relation to Serbia”, describing the nation as “a good friend of Australia”.

Outside the hotel where Djokovic was being held, supporters of the tennis player expressed anger at his treatment. The player’s father, Srdjan, said his son had been held in a room guarded by police at the airport. “This is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world,” he said in a statement.

Manchester United: Richard Arnold To Replace Ed Woodward As Chief Executive On 1 February

By

Emenike Agu

-

January 6, 2022

0

Richard Arnold will replace Ed Woodward as Manchester United’s most senior executive on 1 February.

Woodward stated his intention to leave his role as Executive Vice Chairman last spring amid the fallout from the doomed European Super League project.

Arnold, 50, joined United in August 2007 and has been the club’s managing director since 2013.

He will become chief executive in a change of title from Woodward.

“I would like to thank Ed for his tireless work on behalf of Manchester United during his nine years as executive vice-chairman and 16 years with the club,” said United co-chairman Joel Glazer.

“We are now looking forward to Richard and his leadership team opening a new phase in the club’s evolution, with ambitious plans for investment in Old Trafford, the strengthening of our engagement with fans, and continued drive towards our most important objective – winning on the pitch.”

Woodward’s time in charge has not been a successful one.

He replaced David Gill in 2013 when the club won the last of its 20 league titles. Since then, United have suffered an alarming fall in status.

In that time they won the FA Cup in 2016, plus the Europa League and EFL Cup in 2017.

However, they have failed to mount a realistic challenge on either the Premier League title or the Champions League and in November, Woodward sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager, the fourth time he has been forced to dismiss his own appointment ahead of schedule.

Arnold has been in charge of day-to-day operations at Old Trafford and is widely credited with building bridges with United’s major fans groups. In his previous role as commercial director, he was viewed as one of the biggest influences behind the club’s huge commercial growth.

“I am honoured to have the chance to serve this great club and its fans,” he said. “I am determined to return that honour in any way I can.”

Woodward will remain on the football club board until the end of the season, which will involve attending a couple of meetings.

However, he will not stay on in a consultancy role as had previously been suggested.

CAF Reduces AFCON Attendances At 60-80% For Matches

By

Emenike Agu

-

January 6, 2022

0

Attendances at the Africa Cup of Nations will be capped at 80% of capacity for games involving hosts Cameroon, and 60% for all other matches at the tournament.

The move by organisers Confederation of African Football (CAF) comes following consultation with the Cameroon government regarding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Spectators must be fully vaccinated and present a negative test result in order to attend games.

Just 2% of people in Cameroon have had both vaccination jabs, according to figures from Our World in Data but reports indicate there has been an increase in the number of people in the country trying to get vaccinated so they can buy tickets for the competition.

“CAF will continue to monitor the situation and the evolution of the health conditions and adapt measures if needs be,” said a statement from African football governing body.

Cameroon open the tournament against Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, which has a capacity of 60,000, on Sunday (16:00 GMT).

Cameroon’s Group A opponents Cape Verde have reported several cases at their pre-tournament training camp, with coach Bubista revealed to be among their latest positive tests.

Blue Sharks have six players – including two goalkeepers – isolating ahead of their match against Ethiopia on Sunday.

Senegal, runners-up in 2019, delayed their departure for the tournament after Saliou Ciss, Mamadou Loum and Habib Diallo tested positive, with other cases suspected.

Tunisia forward Seifeddine Jaziri and winger Youssef Msakni have also tested positive this week.

Jaziri was top scorer at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar in last month, with four goals as Tunisia reached the final where they lost 2-0 to Algeria.

Meanwhile, Msakni is set to appear at his seventh successive Nations Cup.

Kyrie Irving: Brooklyn Nets Point Guard Returns After Vaccine Controversy

By

Emenike Agu

-

January 6, 2022

0

Kyrie Irving returned after Covid-19 vaccination controversy to help the Brooklyn Nets claim victory in Indiana.

In December, the Nets reversed an earlier decision that the 29-year-old could not play until he was vaccinated.

The NBA All-Star can now play part-time but will miss games in areas that require players to be jabbed – including the Nets’ New York home.

Able to make his season debut in Indiana, the point guard scored 22 to help Brooklyn win 129-121.

Playing for the first time since June, Irving helped the Nets overturn a 19-point deficit and end a three-game losing streak.

Throwback Thursday – Edith Warner’s Heroic Missionary Work In Nigeria

By

Angel Gimalo

-

January 6, 2022

0

The steamer S. S. Boma rode off the coast at Lagos, Nigeria on this day, October 28, 1892.

It had sailed from Liverpool forty-eight days before, aiming at no fixed schedule but staying in each port as long or as short a time as it needed.

The deck bustled with activity as goods were lowered into a surf boat for transfer to a branch steamer.

Eager at the prospect of going ashore were Edith Warner and two missionaries traveling with her–Sidney Hill, the newly appointed bishop of the territory, and his wife.

The Boma had not been built with women passengers in mind; and the food served–mostly salt beef–had been enough to give her a queasy stomach even apart from the motion of the sea. But the transfer was certainly no more dignified.

First, she had to be lowered into the surf boat then paddled to the local steamer and hauled up by a crane to its deck.

But once these swaying rides down and up were done and the rest of the cargo transferred, the steamer began to move toward shore. Edith’s thirty-three years as a missionary in Africa were about to begin.

A couple months after she arrived, she steamed with Mr. And Mrs. Hill up the Niger to Onitsha.

Africans crowded the shore to gaze at the unfamiliar sight of white women. They nicknamed her Omenwa, which means “pet child” for they thought she was Mrs. Hill’s daughter.

Edith never thought of herself as a heroine. A calm woman with a gift for music, her role was quite different from that of Mary Slessor, who worked 150 miles away.

She was not a great adventurer, challenging African chiefs and judging local disputes as was the Scotswoman.

But Edith won hearts through steady years of teaching African daughters.

Like Mary Slessor, she tried to protect the twins that Africans threw away, for their belief taught that twins were cursed. In 1899, she opened a place to rear these unfortunates.

Her main work was to teach organization, music, catechism and practical skills such as baking.

But Edith had adventures enough. She made her first mission trek in 1896. In this and other trips she discovered what it meant to be the first white woman–often the first white person–ever seen.

Hundreds of Africans gathered just to see her. However, on later trips, she was driven away from villages that were hostile to the government.

On one trek, she suffered from heat and rain. The home where she was supposed to rest had collapsed.

The local Africans had never before seen a white person and were terrified. They refused her a place to stay. Weary as she was, she had to march on in darkness. Through all such adversity, she maintained a good humor.

It is hard to measure the influence of a woman such as Edith. Thanks to the training she offered, pastors were able to find wives who shared their concern for the things of Christ.

Because girls from enemy villages became school friends, tribal rivalries were healed.

The sweet music her skilled fingers drew from her violin attracted listeners to Christ.

A slave girl, who was converted to Christ through Edith’s teaching, returned to the very people who had cruelly sold her to tell them about Christ.

In 1924, Edith had to return to England for an operation. She passed on the following year.

Once Upon A Time – Jan. 6 – 1902 – Edith Warner Sets Out From Asaba, Nigeria, To Become First White Woman To Visit East Niger

By

Angel Gimalo

-

January 6, 2022

0

786 Martyrdom of St. Abo in Tsibili, Georgia. A Muslim perfumer from Baghdad, he had become a Christian and attempted to strengthen Christians and win Muslims to Christ.

1494 Columbus and his men celebrate the first mass in the Americas, on Isabelle Island, Haiti.

1649 The English Rump Parliament votes to put Charles I on trial for treason and other “high crimes”.

1771 First baptism takes place among the Moravian converts of the Saramaccas people, near where the Senthea River empties into the Surinam River. Chief Arabina, the mission’s first convert is baptized.

1835 The Swedish Mission Society is founded.

1850 Conversion of Charles Spurgeon who will become one of the most notable pastors of all time. He had entered a little Methodist church because of cold and snow where a deacon told him to look to Christ. “I can never tell you how it was but I no sooner saw whom I was to believe than I also understood what it was to believe and I did believe in one moment.”

1902 Edith Warner, a Presbyterian missionary, sets out from Asaba, Nigeria, to become the first white woman to visit the East Niger.

1912 Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture at the Geological Association (Geologischen Vereinigung) at the Senckenberg-Museum, Frankfurt.

1941 US President Franklin Roosevelt makes his “Four Freedoms” speech (freedom of speech and worship; freedom from want and fear) during his US State of Union address.

1948 Janani Luwum converts to Christianity in Uganda. He immediately asks his family to pray that he won’t backslide, but rather lead a godly life. Eventually he will become an archbishop and will be executed by the brutal dictator Idi Amin.

1987 Astronomers at University of California see 1st sight of birth of a galaxy.

1992 Naimat Ahmer, a Christian educator and poet in Pakistan, is stabbed seventeen times in earshot of students by a Muslim who claims Ahmer has insulted Mohammad. Ahmer taught that Christ is the only way to salvation.

2021 Supporters of President Donald Trump storm US Capitol in Washington during congressional certification of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s win, resulting in five deaths and prompting evacuation of lawmakers and vice-president Mike Pence.

HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY

TODAY IN FILM & TV

1975 “Wheel Of Fortune” debuts on NBC-TV.

TODAY IN SPORT

1681 First recorded boxing match is engineered by Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle; his butler vs his butcher.

DO YOU KNOW THIS FACT ABOUT TODAY? DID YOU KNOW?

1942 Pan American Airlines becomes the first commercial airline to schedule a flight around the world (“Pacific Clipper”).

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS FACT ABOUT TODAY? WOULD YOU BELIEVE?

1979 The Village People’s Y.M.C.A becomes their only UK #1 single. At its peak it sold over 150,000 copies a day.

Dowen College To Remain Shut As Other Schools Resume – LASG

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

January 6, 2022

0

The Lagos state government has said that Dowen College in Lekki, will not reopen until the investigation into the death of the Junior student of the school, Sylvester Oromoni, reaches an advanced stage.

This is as all primary and secondary school in Lagos resumed second term, 2021/2022 academic session on Tuesday, January 4 as directed by the State Government.

Recall that Oromoni died on November 30, 2021. His family alleged he was beaten by some of his seniors days before he died.

Following the public outrage generated by the incident, the Lagos state government on December 3, 2021, ordered the indefinite closure of the school.

An assistant director in charge of the public affairs unit, Ministry of Education, Ganiu Lawal, In a recent interview, said very soon the school would join others to resume but “not until ongoing investigations into the unfortunate incident reach an advanced stage.”

Lagos Govt. Directs The Establishment Of Comprehensive Schools

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

January 6, 2022

0

Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, has appealed to stakeholders to establish comprehensive schools across the state to provide a suitable career path for students based on their intelligence, intellectual, and skill competence.

Speaking at a strategic stakeholders’ meeting at The Zone, Workforce Group Gbagada, Lagos, Adefisayo noted that such schools would produce students who can fit into the workplace requirements.

The project will kick off this 2022 as directed by the governor.

The commissioner, who joined the event virtually, explained that this initiative gives the students opportunities to maximise either academics or vocation/skills acquisition.

“The motive will reduce the increasing rate of school dropout and actively engage the students in their various skills interest. The additional knowledge gained will positively give them a source of living while still in school and encourage them to be employers of labour,” she said.

Adefisayo informed the stakeholders that the forum was organised to brief them on the plans of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to use comprehensive schools to turn the state’s education system around and solicit their views, opinions and support towards actualising the vision.

According to the commissioner, the engagement with the various stakeholders is also expected to collate manpower needs of private organisations and how students of the proposed comprehensive schools can add value to these organisations to reduce the state’s unemployment rate.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Solape Hammond, emphasised the significance of introducing comprehensive schools, saying some students have a pathway in academic pursuit while others are more interested in vocational skills acquisition.

She opined that vocational schools are the bedrock of the construction, manufacturing, digital/technology world.

The Executive Director, Lagos Business School Enterprise Development Centre, Peter Bamkole, also the Chairman, Advisory Committee, Lagos State Comprehensive School Programme, listed the subject categories for students which are; Agriculture, Tech/Digital Skills, Beauty/Events, Building/Construction, Media/Entertainment, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Communication and other areas.

Commending the Lagos government’s proactive measures in securing a better future for the students, the Chancellor of WellSpring University, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, said through this initiative, the government will get the best out of the students and turn out people fit for purpose as they can practise various skills.

The stakeholders strategic meeting was graced by top government functionaries comprising a body of permanent secretaries and tutor generals, heads of ministerial agencies, etc.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Faults IPOB’s Ban Of National Anthem In Schools

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

January 6, 2022

0

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex social-cultural Igbo organisation, has rejected the recent directive by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to schools in the South-East to stop recitation of Nigeria’s National Anthem.

The group had in a New Year message directed all public schools in Igbo land to replace the National Anthem with Biafran Anthem.

But, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has cautioned that the vocalisation of Biafra Anthem in all public schools in the South-East will attract the attention of Federal Government to rescind on the request of Igbo leaders to release the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

A statement issued by the Secretary General of the Chidi Ibeh-led Ohananeze, Okechukwu Isinguzoro, warned that the Federal Government might unleash attack on the South-East, adding that it was capable of fertilising the basis for possible military raids on all public schools in the region.

“We are saddled with the obligation to speak the truth to IPOB and others at all times, especially to prevent projects that will endanger the lives of Igbos by both internal and external organisations, reciting of Biafra anthem in public schools is now prohibited, forbidden and proscribed, as southeast is still an integral part of Nigeria.

“We cannot afford to mislead, misinform and discombobulate our pupils into trending into a path that will attract grave consequences for Ndigbo, reciting the Biafra anthems in public schools is an invitation for the military invasion to the southeast”.

“Ndigbo should flout such despicable orders of absurdity, as it will be the rationale for future deployment of military Tucson fighter jets to southeastern Nigeria, rather than the enforcement of vocalizations of Biafra anthems in public schools, Ipob should join Ohanaeze in the promotion of Igbo language, cultural heritage, and values in all southeast public schools, this is the best way to get our youngsters to remain committed and imbibe to the cultural values and heritage of Ndigbo,” he stated.

Isinguzoro, however, alleged that the recent insecurity challenges in the South-East were created by killer herdsmen masquerading as cattlemen to perpetrate heinous onslaught against local communities.