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Chadwick Boseman’s Widow Simone Accepts His Golden Globe Award With Emotional Speech

Koko Lawrence
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Chadwick Boseman’s Widow Simone Accepts His Golden Globe Award With Emotional Speech

Chadwick Boseman’s widow Taylor Simone Ledward has accepted the star’s Golden Globe on his behalf. The star passed away last year at the age of 43 after a private four-year battle with cancer.

Since his tragic passing, Chadwick has been recognised in the film industry for his stellar on-screen work as he won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

The actor beat Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Gary Oldman (Mank), and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian) for the gong, which his proud wife accepted in an emotional speech.

Simone said Chadwick would “thank his ancestors”, as her heartbreaking speech saw host Renée Zellweger and his Ma Rainey co-star Viola Davis shed a tear. In her words:

He would thank God. He would thank his parents, he would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifice.

Heartbroken Taylor Simone, who married the actor before his death after the pair got engaged in October 2019, said her late husband would thank “his incredible team”. She said:

He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice that tells you can, that tells you the keep going, that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history. And I don’t have his words but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love, so thank you HFPA for this opportunity to do exactly that. And hun… you keep em coming. Thank you.

Boseman Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and secretly battled the disease. He even filmed the entire Black Panther film during his diagnosis, without telling the world of his condition.

Ghana President receives free coronavirus vaccine amidst rejection

Cleopatra Okohai
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Ghana President receives free coronavirus vaccine amidst rejection

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana on Monday became the world’s first recipient of a coronavirus vaccine from Covax, a global scheme to procure and distribute inoculations for free to “poorer” countries.

“Richer” countries have surged ahead with inoculating their population, but many “poorer” countries (according to news report) are still awaiting their first vaccine doses.

“It is important that I set the example that this vaccine is safe by being the first to have it so that everybody in Ghana can feel comfortable about taking this vaccine,” the 76-year old president said before receiving a shot of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in a live broadcast.

The first lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo also received a shot, one day before the rest of the 600,000 doses are deployed across the country.

Ghana’s food and drug authority last month authorised the Indian-made vaccine and Russia’s Sputnik V, as the government aims to target 20 of its 30 million population by year’s end.

Read Also: COVID-19: I’d rather miss Olympics than take vaccine – Blake

Last Wednesday, Ghana was the first country to receive vaccines from Covax, led by Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Some 145 participating economies are set to receive 337.2 million doses by mid-year – enough to vaccinate a little over 3% of their combined populations.

Covax has said it hopes to raise the figure to up to 27% in lower-income countries by the end of December.

Ghana has recorded 84,023 Covid-19 cases and 607 deaths since the start of the pandemic, although the true figure is believed to be higher due to lack of testing.

Schools reopened in January after a 10-month closure, but large social gatherings are banned and land and sea borders have remained closed since March 2020.

Despite the vaccine roll-out, the president said that all the current restrictions to curb the spread of the virus were to remain in place.

It is also important to note that there have also been wide concern on the safety of the coronavirus vaccine. Another angle is the need to enforce vaccine on African countries that have been labelled poor and must be aided by richer countries in procuring the vaccine.

Mistrust and patchy communication have contributed to growing scepticism about Covid-19 vaccines in African countries, with people getting warier of Covid-19 jabs than they would be of other vaccines.

The high level of skepticism and wariness can be traced to suspicion of government elites and some vaccine mishaps

One prevalent theory, for example, holds that the Covid-19 vaccines are designed to quell Africa’s population growth. The adverse effect of vaccine shots on some people further sealed the fear of covid vaccines in the heart of many.

in any case, some countries have refused to take part in vaccination.  In late January, Tanzania’s President John Magufuli dismissed Covid jabs as “dangerous for our health”.

Nigerian-British Actor John Boyega Wins First-Ever Golden Globe Award

Koko Lawrence
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Nigerian-British Actor John Boyega Wins First-Ever Golden Globe Award

Nigerian-British actor and filmmaker, John Boyega, has won his first-ever golden globe award for best supporting actor in a TV series at the 78th edition of the ceremony that held last night.

Boyega was nominated for starring as Leroy Logan in Amazon’s anthology series, Small Axe. He took to his verified Instagram to acknowledge his win.

In the caption section of a picture he posted which detailed his win, the actor wrote, “All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH.” Several stars around the world have taken to his comment section to congratulate him.

American actor Jamie Foxx stated that he deserved the award. He described Boyega as a force to be reckoned with. “Yesssssss!!!!! Big ups!!! Well deserved and this is just the beginning. I have the pleasure of working with you at this moment and I can tell you right now that you are a force to be reckoned with congratulations on tonight and keep inspiring and entertaining the universe,” Foxx said.

While Nollwood’s finest and Lion Heart actress, Genevieve Nnaji congratulated the star as she simply wrote, “Congratulations love.”

Patience Ozokwor fondly referred to as Mama G, also wrote, “Congratulations.”

Mikel Arteta to replace Koeman at Barcelona

Chris Ottah
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Mikel Arteta to replace Koeman at Barcelona

Barcelona football club’s presidential hopeful, Joan Laporta has lined up Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as replacement for Ronald Koeman, according to RAC1.

Presidential favourite Laporta had publicly backed the current manager to remain at Camp Nou.

But should Koeman leave either by sack or mutual consent, Laporta has identified current Arsenal boss as the one to take over at Camp Nou.

Recall that Laporta had recently officially announced the individuals he will work with should he win the elections that will take place later this month.

Laporta, a former President of the club, along with his running mate Rafael Yuste, announced that former Barca goalkeeper, Victor Valdes and Mateu Alemany would work with them if they emerge winners.

Laporta, a former President of the club, is the favourite to win the elections.

When to be concerned about your toddler falls

Chris Ottah
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When to be concerned about your toddler falls

It’s inevitable that toddlers will stumble and fall because it’s part of growing up. But how well-equipped are they to handle these potential injuries?

Paediatrician, Dewald Buitendag, says toddlers’ bodies are designed to handle certain blows. Cerebrospinal fluid surrounds a child’s brain, and buffers and protects it when he accidentally bumps his head. He adds that they also tend not to tense up like adults do when they fall, and this limits sprains and fractures.
It’s also very important that when your child hurts himself, be it by tripping, falling off an object or rolling off the bed, that you remain calm. You’ll be surprised at just how resilient he is.

Falls you should take seriously

Despite the common injuries your toddler will suffer, there may come a time when you need to seek medical advice:

  • Falls from a counter top, changing table, high chair, jumping castle or a jungle gym need to be carefully assessed, as well as falls down stairs, or on hard surfaces where your toddler’s head takes most of the impact, says Dr Buitendag.

Post-fall examination

  • Once your toddler has been injured, check her body for cuts, swelling or large bumps.
  • Apply pressure with dry gauze to cuts that won’t stop bleeding, and take him to the doctor or casualty unit for further assessment. If he’s reluctant to move an arm or leg, he may have sustained a sprain or fracture.
  • Ice packs can also be applied to swellings and bumps to prevent them from getting bigger.
  • Dr Buitendag says that a child should be taken to casualty immediately if he has lost consciousness, if his pupils differ in size, if he’s confused, drowsy or difficult to wake, if he has weakness in his arms or legs, is vomiting, or has had a convulsion.

Prevention measures indoors

  • Put safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs in your home.
  • Cover sharp corners with soft material.
  • Always strap your child into a car seat.
  • Never leave your toddler alone on a bed or couch.
  • Install shatterproof glass in sliding glass doors and floor-level windows.
  • Remove loose rugs and clutter.
  • Clean up spills immediately.

Prevention measures outdoors

  • Choose parks and play areas that have soft ground and grass.
  • Don’t let your toddler play on a trampoline with no safety net.
  • Be very alert at jungle gyms and jumping castles.
  • Always keep an eye on your toddler when he plays with other children.
  • Ensure that pools and ponds are covered or fenced off.

Although it can be exhausting, apart from the advice and prevention measures given, you will have to resign yourself to keeping a watchful eye on your toddler most of the time. Invariably, injuries happen when nobody has been watching.

Jangede abductions will be the last – Buhari

Chris Ottah
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Jangede abductions will be the last – Buhari

The minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that the abduction of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangede, Zamfara state will be the last in the country. 

Last Friday, gunmen attacked the school located at Talata-Mafara local government area of the state and abducted 317 students. 

This is the third abduction of schoolchildren in the northern part of the country within the past three months.

Sirka, who led a delegate of the federal government to Zamfara to commiserate with the people, said Buhari is saddened by the abduction of schoolchildren. 

The minister said the government has the resources and wherewithal to contain the criminals. 

“This abduction of the female students in Jangebe will be the last as the federal government has reorganised the security architecture of the country to nib all the atrocities of these criminals,” NAN quoted him to have said.

“The president is saddened by the abduction of the students from Jangebe and reassures you that the government has all the resources and wherewithal to contain these criminals.

“Buhari also commended Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara’s efforts against armed banditry and promised continued support to bring lasting peace.

“The federal government will continue its partnership with the Zamfara government and its citizens in resolving the security challenges facing the state.”

On his part, Bello Matawalle, governor of the state, said he believes in the president and his efforts in fighting insurgency, adding that the abducted students will soon regain their freedom. 

“I strongly believe in the president and his effort in fighting all forms of insurgence and urge him to improve on the nation’s security,” he said. 

Nigerians would be shocked if they knew those behind the schoolgirls’ abduction – Matawalle

Chris Ottah
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Nigerians would be shocked if they knew those behind the schoolgirls’ abduction – Matawalle

The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, on Sunday said he had many revelations to make about the attack on Government Girls’ Secondary School, Jangebe on Friday, when over 300 students were abducted.

The governor, who stated this when 17 Emirs in the state paid him a sympathy visit over the abduction of the schoolgirls, said Nigerians would be shocked to know the people behind the abduction of the girls.

Also during the visit, the Emir of Anka and  Chairman of Zamfara state Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Anka, berated President Muhammadu Buhari over the upsurge in killings and kidnappings by bandits in the country.

Recall that gunmen on Friday attacked GGSS Jangede, and abducted over 300 girls, while seven of the girls escaped while they were being taken into the bush.

The attack occurred almost two weeks after bandits abducted 27 students and 15 workers of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.

Before the attack in Kagara, bandits had struck in Kundu village, also in Niger State and abducted passengers of the state transport service bus.

Commenting on the rising insecurity in the country, the Emir of Anka blamed the Federal  Government.

He said, “The Federal Government is in total control of the security operatives in the country and not the state governors, as such the President is the one who has failed to address the issue of insecurity.”

In his response, Matawalle thanked the Emirs for the solidarity visit and assured  them that he would not abandon his peace accord with the bandits no matter what the people would say.

He said “As we await the arrival of the released kidnapped students of GSSS Jangebe at the Government House today, I want to inform you that there are many revelations in relation to the abduction of these students.”

“Many people will be surprised to hear those people behind the abduction of these innocent children.”

“They are not comfortable with the progress I am getting as a result of my peace initiative and they want to do all they can to sabotage my efforts”.

“I will insha Allah succeed at the end of the day and they will bury their faces in shame,” said the governor.

Meanwhile, there was confusion over the release of the schoolgirls on Sunday. While top government officials and the state governor said they had been released, an online newspaper, The Cable reported the state Commissioner for Information and Culture,  Suleiman  Anka, said they had not been released.

But earlier on Sunday, the governor while receiving Emirs, who visited him, said government was awaiting the arrival of “the released kidnapped students of GSSS Jangebe at the Government House today  (Sunday).”

As the confusion over the release of the girls worsened on Sunday, the governor and other top government officials left the Government House where they had been awaiting the arrival of the students.

None of them told journalists, who were at the Government House, where they were going, but a top source told one of our correspondents that they went to Anka, a distance of 79 kilometres to the state capital.

Also on Sunday, a high powered Federal Government’s delegation led by o the Minister of Aviation Alhaji Hadi Sirika, condoled with state government over the abduction of schoolgirls at GSSS Jangebe.

Delivering his speech on behalf of the President, Sirika said the Federal Government was deeply concerned with the abduction at the GSSS Jangebe.

He stated, “The President is deeply concerned and worried about the abduction of students in Zamfara State and other states where such incidents occurred”.

“The President is assuring all Nigerians that the issue of banditry and other forms of insecurity challenges will soon come to an end”.

The minister further explained that the abduction of the schoolgirls in Jangebe would be the last abduction in schools in the country, adding that “strict measures would be taken to avert the recurrence of such event.”

He expressed disgust over the banditry activities , assuring Nigerians that the menace would soon come to an end.

“The Federal Government has the capability to get rid of banditry and will do so without further delay”.

Matawalle thanked the Federal Government for the concern and assured the delegation that, the Jangebe students would be brought back before the delegation reached Abuja.

Matawalle however called on the security agents to cooperate with each other in order to achieve success in the fight against banditry.

According to the governor, the problem of lack of cooperation among the security agents was responsible for their inability to get rid of banditry.

Amid the confusion over the release of the schoolgirls,  the News Agency of Nigeria reported that Matawalle told the Federal Government’s delegation that the students would be released soon.

He said the state government was working with repentant bandits to facilitate the safe rescue of the schoolgirls.

“We are using the leaders of the repentant bandits to rescue the schoolgirls from the kidnappers. Very soon, we are going to witness the release of the abductees,” NAN quoted him to have said.

Matawalle added that his administration “is going to continue with peace process with bandits, considering its impact in addressing security challenges facing the state”.

He commended  Buhari for sending the delegation to sympathise with the state over what he described as an “ugly act”.

Tinubu, Buhari weren’t arrested for demanding Jonathan’s resignation – Falana condemns Yakassai’s arrest

Chris Ottah
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Tinubu, Buhari weren’t arrested for demanding Jonathan’s resignation – Falana condemns Yakassai’s arrest

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the arrest of Salisu Tanko-Yakassai, a former Special Adviser on Media to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was arrested by the Department of State Services shortly after criticising President Muhammadu Buhari on Twitter.

Falana, who is the Interim Chairman, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond, said this in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘Asking Buhari to Resign is Not An Offence.’

The senior advocate said retired military officers and political party leaders, including chieftains of the All Progressive Congress have repeatedly asked Buhari to call it quits due to the worsening insecurity in the country and there was no justification for the arrest and detention of Yakassai.

He noted that in the National Assembly, there had been calls by legislators for Buhari’s resignation or impeachment on the grounds that criminal gangs have taken over the monopoly of violence in the country.

Falana said, since such concerned citizens were never arrested, the harassment of Yakassai is high handed, discriminatory and illegal.

The statement read in part, “It is on record that the APC and its leaders including General Buhari; National Leader, Bola Tinubu; Malam Nasir El-rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly called for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014 yet they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression at the material time.

 “Since the call for President Buhari’s resignation is likely to continue to be made by other concerned individuals and groups over the virtual collapse of the security architecture of the neo-colonial state it is pertinent to draw the attention of the State Security Service to the case of Arthur Nwankwo v the State 1985 6 NCLR 228 where the Court of Appeal charged the Nigerian people to engage in relentless criticism of democratically elected governments.

“In particular, Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed memory) had this to say: The decision of the founding fathers of the present constitution which guarantees freedom of speech which must include freedom to criticise should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided by the constitution must be resisted.”

The ASCAB chairman called for the immediate and unconditional release of Yakassai from illegal custody.

COVID-19: I’d rather miss Olympics than take vaccine – Blake

Chris Ottah
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COVID-19: I’d rather miss Olympics than take vaccine – Blake

Jamaican sprint superstar Yohan Blake has revealed his anti-coronavirus vaccine views after making shock comments that he would rather miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics than get the jab.

Blake, who won silver in the 100m and 200m at London 2012 and gold in the 100m relay in 2012 and Rio 2016, made the comments after organisers in Japan unveiled their plans to ensure athletes’ security with beefed up health protocols.

But the 31-year-old athlete remains unconvinced, and told the Jamaican Gleaner, “My mind still stays strong, I don’t want the vaccine.

“I would rather miss the Olympics than take the vaccine.

“I am happy. I don’t want to get into it right now, but I have my reasons.”

Organisers have said that as it stands athletes won’t need to be vaccinated to compete in Tokyo, but non-compliance with the strict safety protocols will see them ejected from the competition.

Among the rules put in place are bans on singing, hugging and shaking hands. Athletes must also avoid physical contact in the Olympic Village.

In theory, this means athletes cannot have sex in the Olympic Village — something which is usually rife — and they may not even be allowed to sing their national anthem on the podium, although that is unlikely to be enforced.

Athletes will be tested for COVID-19 every four days. Competitors and officials can only leave their accommodation to go to official venues and they cannot use public transport.

The effort to ensure the Tokyo 2020 Games go-ahead has been an embattled process of late, with more than 1,000 volunteers quitting over COVID-19 concerns and sexist comments made by former organising committee head Yoshiro Mori.

There’ll be no increment in petrol price in March – NNPC assures Nigerians

Chris Ottah
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There’ll be no increment in petrol price in March – NNPC assures Nigerians

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has dismissed reports that there will be an increment in the ex-depot price of petrol in March 2021.

A press release by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that the Corporation was not contemplating any raise in the price of petrol in March in order not to jeopardize ongoing engagements with organized labour and other stakeholders on an acceptable framework that will not expose the ordinary Nigerian to any hardship.

Obateru in the statement cautioned petroleum products marketers not to engage in an arbitrary price increase or hoarding of petrol in order not to create artificial scarcity and unnecessary hardship for Nigerians.

The Corporation further stated that it has enough stock of petrol to keep the nation well supplied for over 40 days and urged motorists to avoid panic buying.

It further called on relevant regulatory authorities to step up monitoring of the activities of marketers with a view to sanctioning those involved in products hoarding or arbitrary increase of pump price.

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