Three students dead after Nigeria school kidnapping, says principal

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June 21, 2021

Three children have died following a school kidnapping of 94 students and eight staff in northwest Nigeria this week, the establishment’s principal said on Sunday.

The kidnapping for ransom is the latest in a series of such incidents in northern Nigeria, with a sharp rise in abductions since late 2020 as the government struggles to maintain law and order amid a flagging economy.

The two girls and a boy were found dead, two with gunshot wounds in their legs, said Mustapha Yusuf, principal of the federal government college in the remote town of Birnin Yauri in northwest Nigeria’s Kebbi state.

Nine abductees escaped or had been rescued but the kidnappers held the rest, with security forces wary of staging a rescue attempt for fear of harming the children, Yusuf said.

The kidnappers “have been taking cover under the students … They are in the bush,” he said, adding that bandits had used students’ phones to call parents and demand a 60 million naira ($146,341) ransom.

Former Nigeria Coach Siasia’s Match Fixing Ban Reduced To Five Years

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Angel Gimalo

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June 21, 2021

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FILE PHOTO: Football - Ghana v Nigeria International Friendly - Vicarage Road. Watford, England - 11/10/11 Samson Siasia - Nigeria Coach Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed Leicester

Former Nigeria national team coach Samson Siasia, who was banned from the game for life for match-fixing by world governing body FIFA, has had his sanction reduced to five years, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday.

FIFA had said in 2019 that Siasia was “guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics” and also fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000).

However, CAS said the imposition of a life ban was “disproportionate for a first offence which was committed passively and which had not had an adverse or immediate effect on football stakeholders” while the fine was also set aside.

“The panel acknowledged the need for sanctions to be sufficiently high enough to eradicate bribery and especially match fixing in football,” the CAS said.

“However, the panel considered in the particular circumstances of this matter that it would be inappropriate and excessive to impose a financial sanction in addition to the five-year ban since the ban sanction already incorporated a financial punishment in eliminating football as a source of revenue for Mr Siasia.”

Siasia, 53, played as a striker for the Nigeria national team and later coached various national youth sides before a spell as senior coach in 2016.

Accesspreneur Challenge: Access Bank Rewards NYSC Members With N15M

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Precious Obazee

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June 21, 2021

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Access Bank Plc has rewarded serving members of the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with over N15 million in its third edition of Access Bank Plc’s youth business challenge competition, Accesspreneur, which was held across five states of Nigeria recently.

The event, which held across five states, produced five top winners that won N1 million each while others were rewarded with consolation cash prizes totaling N10 million during the final business pitch.

The challenge took place simultaneously across five NYSC camps in Abuja, Osun, Enugu, Nassarawa and Rivers States.

Speaking on the initiative, Executive Director, Retail Banking, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu, said: “The challenge is aimed at promoting entrepreneurial aspirations among talented corp members.”

He added that so far, the competition has proven to have a great impact on youth empowerment in the country as more entries were received during the current challenge.

The pilot phase of the Accessprenuer challenge competition by Access Bank was in partnership with the NYSC Skills Acquisition & Entrepreneurship Development took place across three states (Ogun, Enugu and Abuja) in February this year.

The scheme was designed to train corps members on business plan writing, after which a competition will be held to select the top winners with bright and feasible business ideas within the mandatory 21-day Camp orientation exercise.

UBEC Commences Inspection Of Model Schools Across Nigeria

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Precious Obazee

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June 21, 2021

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Board Chairman, Universal Basic education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Usman Kyuka, and the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, have commenced inspection of model schools being built nationwide by the commission.

This was contained in a statement by UBEC’s head of public relations and protocol, David Ejika Apeh, on Sunday, in Abuja.

At one of the sites in Karshi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the chairman noted that the commission was happy with the level of work done and “before the end of the year, majority of the schools will be delivered.”

Kyuka noted the determination of the Federal Government to bring education close to the Nigerian children with the latest technology available.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi said the model schools would consist of “pre-primary, primary school, JSS, ICT training hall and sports facilities.”

He stated that “model 1”, divided amongst the geo-political zones would be sited in Imo, Bauchi, Edo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Lagos states and the FCT.

The “model 2” schools, according to him, would be sited in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Borno, Kano, Sokoto, Anambra, Ebonyi, Akwa ibom, Cross River, Ekiti and Oyo states.

The National Consultant for the project, Mas’ud Abdulkarim, said going by the level of cooperation among the contractors handling the model schools, the project should be delivered before the stipulated dates.

U.N. Special Envoy Jolie Visits Refugee Camp In Burkina Faso

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Angel Gimalo

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June 21, 2021

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Actor Angelina Jolie speaks during the World Refugee Day at the refugees camp in Goudoubou — Actor Angelina Jolie, U.N. Refugee Agencys special envoy speaks during the World Refugee Day at the refugees camp in Goudoubou, Burkina Faso June 20, 2021. Picture taken June 20, 2021. REUTERS/Ndiaga Thiam NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie visited on Sunday a refugee camp in Burkina Faso housing refugees fleeing jihadist violence in Mali, and praised the country for welcoming the displaced despite its limited resources and battling its own insurgency.

Burkina Faso, like its neighbours Niger and Mali, is reeling from violent attacks by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State that have killed thousands and displaced millions in the three countries.

“I’m here to show my solidarity to the Bukinabe people who continue to welcome the displaced brothers and sisters despite terrible attacks and challenges, sharing what little they have at a time when other countries with far more have closed their borders and their minds to the refugees,” Jolie said.

Her trip marked World Refugee Day, which is held every year on June 20.

The actress and refugee activist was speaking at the Goudoubou refugee camp, around 15 kilometres (9 miles) outside the northeastern Burkina Faso town of Dori, close to the Sahel tri-border area which has been the epicentre of the violence.

Burkina Faso suffered its worst attack in early June when 132 residents of the village of Solhan in Yagha province, bordering Niger, were killed by insurgents, causing more to flee.

Around 1.2 million people are displaced due to the violence in Burkina Faso, which is hosting over 22,000 Malian refugees who have fled similar jihadist violence at home. Around 11,000 are at the Goudoubou camp.

Among the refugees in the camp was 22-year old Hawa Diallo, who said she fled Mali with her family due to attacks by jihadists.

Her family first settled in the Burkina Faso region of Djibo but had to pack up and leave again following increased attacks in the area between 2019 and 2020.

“We first settled in Djibo and then Mentao where there was peace until violence started in 2019-2020. We were afraid so we fled, we fled in the bush, we left our belongings, we left people who could not walk behind, after that we were brought to Goudebou,” she said.

The United Nations said on Friday that number of people around the world forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution and human rights abuses has doubled in the past decade to reach 82.4 million.

“The truth is we are not doing half of what we could and should to find solutions to enable refugees to return home,” said Jolie.

Jordan Ex-Royal Court Chief Pleads Not Guilty To Destabilising Monarchy

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Angel Gimalo

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June 21, 2021

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A former Jordanian royal court chief and a low-ranking member of the royal family pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of agitating to destabilise the monarchy, one of their lawyers said.

Prosecutors had referred to a military court the case of Bassem Awadallah, an ex-royal court chief and finance minister who played a big role in the drive to liberalise Jordan’s economy, and Sherif Hassan Zaid, a distant relative of King Abdullah.

During the first session of the trial on Monday, both pleaded not guilty, according to Mohamed Afif, Awadallah’s lawyer.

The pair were arrested in early April when former heir to the throne, Prince Hamza, was placed under house arrest over allegations that he had liaised with foreign parties over a plot to destabilise Jordan, a close U.S. ally in the Middle East.

Proceedings against Prince Hamza, who along with Awadallah had been under investigation for some time, were later dropped after he pledged allegiance to King Abdullah.

Charges against Awadallah and Zaid include agitating to undermine the kingdom’s political system and acts that threaten public security and sowing sedition. Both carry sentences up to 30 years in prison.

Monday’s trial was closed to the media.

Awadallah is among the closest economic advisers to Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a matter that complicated the judicial investigations, according to officials familiar with the affair.

Amman turned down Riyadh’s request to hand him over, they added, without elaborating.

Paul Walker’s Daughter Honors Late Father At ‘Fast And Furious’ Movie Premiere

By

faith Jegede

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June 21, 2021

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Of all the themes in the fast and furious franchise, the value of family is probably the most reoccurring both on and off air.

After almost 10 years since the passing of Paul Walker, one of the original cast members,his daughter, Meadow Walker, attended the premiere of the latest sequel on Friday night in honor of her father.

The 22 year old model, alongside the film’s cast and crew, remembered Paul at the launch of the latest addition titled “F9” in Los Angeles.

Since Walkers death in 2013 at the age of 40, the “Fast and Furious” family have embraced his daughter as one of their own and made it their mission to keep the late actor’s memory alive.

Jordana Brewster, who played Walker’s love interest in several “Fast and Furious” films, shared a photo of herself greeting Meadow inside the premiere theater with the caption “Family forever”. Meadow’s reply on the post was, “Love you” with a handful of heart emojis.

Actor Vin Diesel, who shared a deep bond with Walker both on and off screen and is Meadow’s godfather, also honored the late actor on the day of the event with a photo of himself and Walker from the “Fast Five” premiere back in 2011 with the caption “On my way to the premiere … you will be there in spirit,” .

Diesel has spoken a lot about his love for Meadow over the years. He commented that seeing her with his daughter Pauline, whom he named after Walker, is “one of the most beautiful things.”

“She takes good care of me. … She’s the first person on Father’s Day to wish me Happy Father’s Day,” he said. “There are moments when I see her playing with Pauline and it hits me so deep ’cause I can only imagine what my brother sees when he sees that. … I feel very protective. It goes beyond the movie.”

“The whole point of the ‘Fast and Furious’ saga is the idea that brotherhood can be created by bond and not necessarily blood,” Diesel added.

2023: Nigerians Will Resist Any Move To Extend Your Tenure – Arewa Youths Warn Buhari

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Emenike Agu

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June 21, 2021

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The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has rubbished claims that President Muhammadu Buhari may extend his tenure due to insecurity.

AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima, said Nigerians would resist any attempt by Buhari to extend his tenure beyond 2023.

According to a report by Daily Post, Shettima urged Buhari to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan, who addressed insecurity, a few weeks to the general elections.

According to Shettima: “I do not think the president will descend so low to that extent, and of course if he attempts such, Nigerians will resist it because the constitution does not allow it.

“If there are any security issues that will warrant that, they should quickly address it before the 2023 elections.

“We have seen instances where Jonathan took three weeks to fight insurgency so elections could be held, so if that is the case, we still have a long term before the election. I’m sure Buhari can do the mobilization and order that anyone found wanting, especially bandits and terrorists, are dealt with.

“Once this is done, we can use one year to address and forge ahead with the election. For the president or anyone to say due to insecurity, he would sit behind and defy the constitution is insane. We run a constitutional democracy, and we are not in Banana Republic; Nigeria is a sovereign nation.”

WHO declares an end to second Ebola outbreak in Guinea

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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June 21, 2021

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The World Health Organisation has officially announced the end of second Ebola outbreak in Guinea.

The outbreak which was declared in February, had 16 confirmed cases and seven probable infections with 12 lives lost, according to WHO figures.

The limited size of the latest flare-up has been credited to experience from the 2013-16 epidemic, which killed more than 11,300 people mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“I have the honour of declaring the end of Ebola” in Guinea, WHO official Alfred Ki-Zerbo said at a ceremony in the southeastern Nzerekore region where the disease surfaced at the end of January.

International rules meant that Guinea had to wait 42 days — twice the virus’ incubation period — without a new case before declaring the epidemic over.

That wait was over on Friday, weeks after the last person was declared cured on May 8, according to a senior health ministry official.

Health Minister Remy Lamah also declared the outbreak finished “in the name of the head of state” President Alpha Conde.

Saturday’s event in a health ministry building was attended by around 200 people including local religious and community leaders.

“We must also thank the communities who pitched in to overcome the disease,” the WHO’s Ki-Zerbo said.

During the last decade’s outbreak, reluctance and outright hostility towards anti-Ebola infection control measures led some people in Guinea’s forested southeast to attack and even kill government employees.

“Community engagement, effective public health measures and the equitable use of vaccines” had this time been key to overcoming Ebola, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

The UN body said it had delivered around 24,000 vaccine doses to Guinea and that 11,000 people at high risk had received shots, including more than 2,800 frontline workers.

“We’ve beaten Ebola but let’s remain vigilant” read a banner unfurled at Saturday’s ceremony.

“We must stay alert for a possible resurgence and ensure the expertise in Ebola expands to other health threats such as COVID-19,” WHO Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that genetic sequencing showed links between the previous outbreak and the latest epidemic.

This year’s outbreak could have been caused by “persistent infection in a survivor from the West Africa outbreak” back then, the CDC said, emphasising “the necessity for strong and ongoing survivor programs” as well as more research.

Ebola causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding.

It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids, thereby leaving people who live with or care for patients mostly at risk.

Health Benefits of Cassava Flour

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 21, 2021

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Cassava is a starch-tuber that can be eaten as a whole root or root chips, or grated to make flour for things like bread and crackers. It is also used for puddings or drinks made with tapioca pearls.

Cassava is popular in many parts of Africa, Asia, and South American. Along with other roots and starch-rich foods like yam, taro, plantains, and potato, it’s a necessary part of the carbohydrate diet for millions of people.

Cassava flour is made by grating and drying the fibrous cassava root. It’s a great substitute for wheat and other flours. You can use it in any recipe that calls for wheat flour, making baking and cooking gluten-free meals easy.

Cassava flour is very rich in carbohydrates. A cup of cassava flour (285 grams) has about 110 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, and 4.5 grams of sugar. It’s also rich in vitamin C, with one cup containing close to the recommended daily value.

Cassava Flour and Your Health

Cassava flour can be helpful in many ways:

Cassava can replace wheat flour. It can replace grain-based flour or a gluten-free flour mix. It doesn’t have a strong taste, which makes it great for baking, thickening sauces, or making burger patties. Cassava flour is gluten-free. It is a great choice for gluten-free baking, ideal for people who have gluten sensitivities or disorders.

Cassava flour is low in calories, fat, and sugar. Compared with other gluten-free flours, such as coconut or almond, cassava flour has a low fat content. It has high water content and a lower calorie density than flours like corn, plantain, rice, coconut, sorghum, and wheat.

The best way to use cassava flour is to mix it with other nutrient-dense foods to boost fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Cassava flour is not harmful. But you shouldn’t eat it in its raw form, as it contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can turn into cyanide in the body.

Sweet cassava roots have less than 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of hydrogen cyanide on a fresh weight basis, and the bitter types have up to 400 mg per kilogram.

You can reduce cyanide content in cassava by cutting the roots into small pieces, soaking them in water, and then boiling, roasting, sun-drying, fermenting, or grating them. Processed cassava-based products such as tapioca flour have very low cyanide content.

Also Cassava Flour is known to have the following benefits

It’s allergy-friendly

Flour alternatives like cassava flour surely come in handy when it comes to accommodating food allergies and dietary preferences. According to registered dietitian Andrea Mathis, RDN, cassava flour is naturally vegan, plus free of nuts, grain, and gluten making it a great option for those with food sensitivities.

It contains useful nutrients

Thanks to the cassava root, this flour is a good source of vitamin C. “Vitamin C is important for immunity and skin health. It also features some manganese, which is an essential trace mineral, important for bone health.

It’s a great baking alternative

It’s a mild and neutral flavour, which actually makes it preferred in baking, when comparing to other gluten-free flours and since the swap is a simple 1:1 ratio, it makes for a super-easy substitution.

Take-home

Cassava flour is a great grain-free choice, known for its mild and neutral flavor. Not to mention, it’s totally allergy-friendly—ideal for anyone with gluten, nut, and dairy sensitivities. Plus, it’s practically foolproof to swap it in and out of recipes in place of standard flour. Of course, it does cost more than wheat flour and may be slightly more challenging to acquire. But all in all, it’s a fantastic flour substitution for any pantry.