Transfer: Nigeria’s Orban Tipped To Replace Kane At Spurs

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August 12, 2023

Nigerian striker Gift Orban has been tipped to replace Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur with the former’s future with KAA Gent uncertain.

Kane is reportedly close to leaving Tottenham for German champions Bayern Munich and the English Premier League club is believed to have set its sights on Orban.

Gent manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck has admitted that he is unsure whether the talented and promising player will stay put at the Belgian Pro League club for the 2023/24 season.

“I don’t know if he will still be playing with us in September. We must prepare for what may still happen and, above all, strengthen the core. We are working hard on it,” Vanhaezebrouck told Voetbalbelgie.

Considered to be one of the best young players in the world, Orban, who is yet to represent Nigeria at any level, is known for his speed, strength and finishing inside the box.

The 21-year-old impressively netted 15 goals from 16 matches Pro League matches for Gent last season having joined the club from Norway’s Stabæk Fotball in January this year.

His contract with Gent will expire in June 2027.

Ronaldo Still King, Attracts $3.23 Million Per Post On Social Media

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Emenike Agu

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August 12, 2023

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Cristiano Ronaldo has yet again left the competition behind as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was named Instagram’s top earner for the third year in a row.

Ronaldo, who in July was ranked as the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes for the first time since 2017 following his move to Saudi Arabia, has now topped the 2023 Instagram Rich List, a global marker of online influence.

The list, compiled by Instagram scheduling tool Hopper HQ, is based on internal and publicly available data on how much each user can charge for a post on Instagram and YouTube.

The Portugal forward brings in a massive $3.23 million per Instagram post, according to Hopper HQ, as he nears 600 million followers on the social media platform.

To little surprise, Ronaldo’s closest rival on the list is Lionel Messi, with the Argentina World Cup winner attracting almost $2.6 million for each post.

This puts the two football giants ahead of not only every other sports star but also celebrities such as singer and actress Selena Gomez, reality star and make-up mogul Kylie Jenner and actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

Only two other athletes — Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and Brazilian footballer Neymar — made it to the Top 20.

Neymar brings in almost double the amount that his Paris St Germain team mate Kylian Mbappe does per post.

“It’s still shocking to me that the annual money made on the platform increases every year,” Mike Bandar, co-founder of Hopper HQ, said.

“Yet, what fascinates me more is the consistent players at the top. It’s apparent that the glitz and glamour of traditional celebrities still holds power over the new ‘influencer’ status.

“Ronaldo and Messi not only dominate the pitch, but also the digital sphere as it’s clear they personify the power of personal branding and the influence it holds over us ‘ordinary’ people.” The highest earning influencer on Instagram, TikTok star Khaby Lame, is number 40 on the list. Ronaldo earns almost 10 times the amount Lame brings in for his Instagram posts.

Godswil Akpabio Stadium To Host Super Eagles 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

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Emenike Agu

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August 12, 2023

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The Godswil Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo will host all the Super Eagles home fixtures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made the announcement during a visit to Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno in Uyo.

The 30,000 seater ground will also stage the Super Eagles final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Sao Tome and Principe on Sunday, September 10, 2023.

It would be recalled that the magnificent edifice hosted all Super Eagles home matches in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The first two rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will be played between November 13 and 21.

The Super Eagles are drawn in Group D along with South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho.

The winners of the group will advance to the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, while the best runners-up will playoff for an additional place for Africa.

EPL: Man City Begin Title Defence With 3-0 Win At Burnley

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Emenike Agu

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August 12, 2023

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Haaland enjoyed a spectacular first year at City, scoring 52 goals in all competitions — including 36 in the league — as Pep Guardiola’s team won the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble.

Erling Haaland has started his second season in English soccer just like his first — with two goals in a win to open Manchester City’s title defense in the Premier League.

The Norway striker dispatched clinical finishes in the fourth and 36th minutes on Friday as City eased to a 3-0 victory at Burnley, a promoted team managed by City great Vincent Kompany, in the first match of England’s top division. Defensive midfielder Rodri scored the other goal.

Haaland enjoyed a spectacular first year at City, scoring 52 goals in all competitions — including 36 in the league — as Pep Guardiola’s team won the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble.

He opened last season with a double at West Ham in a signal of what was to come and he made another statement at Turf Moor, even if it didn’t completely satisfy Guardiola. The City manager came onto the field at halftime and remonstrated with Haaland as they walked toward the tunnel, even flicking away a camera that was following the pair.

“We are still in the start phase of this marathon but I’m not stressing. I’m relaxed,” Haaland said. “I have to keep on developing and enjoy the chaos around me and perform on the pitch.” It wasn’t the perfect evening for City, which is bidding to become the first team in English soccer history to win four straight top-flight league titles.

Kevin De Bruyne, starting for the first time since coming off early in the Champions League final with a hamstring problem, lasted 23 minutes before needing to be substituted after pulling up.

Guardiola said it was a recurrence of the same problem.

“It’s a pity — he has recovered well but now we have lost him for some time,” Guardiola said.

Also during the first half, City defender Rico Lewis was struck by a lighter thrown from the crowd as he lay on the ground near the corner flag after being fouled. Burnley said a fan had been removed from the stadium by police in an incident that further ruined its return to the Premier League after one season away.

Haaland gave City the lead with his first touch in the game when he latched onto Rodri’s nod-down from De Bruyne’s right-wing cross and sidefooted a finish into the bottom corner.

His second goal was more spectacular and came after Julian Alvarez laid off a cross from Kyle Walker. With his back to goal, Haaland sent a first-time shot on the turn off the underside of the crossbar and into the top corner.

Haaland was without a goal in his last six matches for City, including the loss to Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the Community Shield on Sunday.

“I just have to keep on working, keep relaxing and not to focus on negative things,” Haaland said.

Rodri, who scored City’s winner in the Champions League final against Inter Milan in June, smashed home the third goal from close range in the 75th minute after Burnley failed to clear a free kick into the area.

Burnley ended the game with 10 men when Morocco winger Anass Zaroury was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Walker deep into second-half stoppage time. The referee initially gave a yellow card but upgraded it after viewing the pitchside monitor.

City, which gave a debut to center-back Josko Gvardiol as a second-half substitute, next plays Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. It’s a match between the winners of last season’s Champions League and Europa League.

Harvana University to Offer Kiswahili Language Courses in Tanzania

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 11, 2023

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Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma says the University of Havana in Cuba is set to start providing Kiswahili language courses in the next academic year.

Mwinjuma revealed this during the sixth Kiswahili Language and Literature Association (Chalufakita) international symposium, while he called upon the association to stick to creativity to further promote the language worldwide.

He said Tanzania President, Samia Suluhu Hassan has done a lot to promote Kiswahili around the globe and the efforts are yielding results, the University of Havana in Cuba is going to offer Kiswahili programme at the institution.

The deputy minister further commended Chalufakita for its efforts towards uniting various Kiswahili stakeholders within and outside the country.

He also urged the universities in Tanzania to prepare Kiswahili teaching curricula, while the government is also finalising the review of culture policy of 1997, especially for the language improvements.

He said that plans to establish Kiswahili learning centres in various Tanzania embassies are underway, as part of the government efforts to promote the language globally.

Chalufakita Chairman, Mussa Hans said that the Association, in collaboration with various stakeholders, sticks on Information and Technology (IT) system use, for the wide spread of Kiswahili all over the country.

He said the symposium titled ‘Position of Kiswahili nationally and internationally’, was for Kiswahili language discussion as a product, so that it could bring in more benefits.

Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Simon Sirro affirmed that the majority of people in Zimbabwe are eager to learn Kiswahili while private schools are also seeking to have the subject being taught in schools.

He said there are two Kiswahili classes in Bulawayo and Harare cities.

He added that the language is also taught at the University of Zimbabwe.

University of Ibadan Gets N1bn TETfund Grant For Research Centre

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 11, 2023

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Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has set aside the sum of N1billion for the establishment of the Diaspora Research Centre at the University of Ibadan.

This was disclosed when the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the Acting Director, Public Affairs of TETFund, Abdulmumin Oniyangi said NIDCOM struck a deal with TETFund to ensure the seamless operation of diaspora research centres in the country.

While expressing her admiration for TETFund’s transformative action, the NIDCOM boss, Erewa Dabiri noted that the Diaspora Research Centre would be the first of its kind in Africa with immense potential to shape the landscape of research and development in the continent.

She informed the management of TETFund that the NIDCOM is in contact with the University of Ibadan, where the Diaspora Research Centre is to be cited to discuss groundwork, models, and implementation plans for the completion of the project.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, who received the delegation of NIDCOM, commended the Commission for their nation-building efforts, and advocacy for collaboration on research.

The TETFund Executive Secretary said the Diaspora Research Centre to be domiciled in the University of Ibadan followed the recommendation of NiDCOM.

The Executive Secretary added that an allocation of N1billion was provided in the Fund’s 2023 budgetary allocation under the Special Intervention Initiative of the Fund for the establishment of the Diaspora Center for Research and Development.

He said that the allocation letter has been given to the University of Ibadan in May 2023, with the recommendation that the Institution submits implementation plan for the effective take-off of activities.

While re-emphasising TETFund efforts and commitment to research and development, Echono announced that an additional sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira was also allocated to the University of Ibadan under the 2023 budgetary allocation Designated Projects as fund assistance for Global Research Centre at the institution.

The Executive Secretary while stating the importance of the facility to the global research community said the Centre is proposed to house a rich collection of African Diaspora and Transnational Studies resources, including textbooks, archival documents, audio and video tapes, online resources, microfilms, and other related materials.

Echono while briefing on the implementation plan from the host Institution stated explicitly that the University of Ibadan is presently perfecting plans for signing of the MOU with NIDCOM, which is the collaborating institution that has been interfacing with TETFund on Diaspora Centre of Excellence project together with NIDCOM.

The University has also initiated the search for a TETFund-accredited firm to set about the design of the structure in conformity with the value of the awarded grant while interfacing with the University of Ibadan.

University Of Ilesa Inherits Huge Financial Debt From Osun College Of Education — VC

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 11, 2023

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The management and Staff of Ilesa University, Osun state said that it inherited huge financial liabilities totaling about N400 million from the authorities of the state College of Education, Ilesa.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Taiwo Asaolu who made this known on the occasion of the familiarization visit of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi to the university, explained that the large inherited sum was in the form of unpaid bank loan, unpaid internal allowances (Le. peculiar and hazard allowances) to staff for about 56 months, running into about N400m, debt to illegal miners and so many other startling debts.

He added that other inherited items are, many abandoned vehicles, abandoned equipment, dilapidated buildings and abandoned toilet facilities.

He assured that despite this, the university management team has forged ahead to make the institution a classical one, listed some of their achievements in this short period of time as “right placement of both the academic and non-teaching Staff of the erstwhile College into the University staff structure.”

Organised a strategic re-orientation training programme for the Management team, Ag. Deans, and Ag Heads of Departments to help them understand and fit into the workings of a university system.

He said Selected academic staff were also trained on the use of teaching and learning software recently installed across all Faculties, Departments and the University Library, Training on the NUC CC-MAS.

While commending Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke for making the right decision by appointing a man of high pedigree, a professional accountant and an accomplished Politician as the first Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, he added that It is our sincere prayer that your tenure will witness unprecedented growth and development in the University.”

The Council Chairman said appreciated and commended the great work that has been done since the University took off.

Prolonged Drought Deepens Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis

By

Angel Gimalo

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August 11, 2023

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In parched brown hills in north Afghanistan, Abdul Hahad tears stalks of wheat out of the arid earth. In the third year of water shortages and high temperatures, his harvest is barely enough to support his family.

The 55-year-old farmer from Nahr-e-Shahi district in Balkh province used to plant two or even three wheat crops a year but in the last three years he has only been able to grow one. The yields from his nine acres of land are dwindling year by year.

“It’s been three years since the drought started, wells and the river have almost dried up. We don’t even have enough drinking water, you can see all our land has dried up,” he said, as he sat near a pile of wheat beneath the sun in heat of 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Persistent drought across Afghanistan is taking its toll on farmers, its economy – a third of which is generated by agriculture – and food security.

Experts say the drought is exacerbated by climate change which leads to intensifying pressure on water resources. The Global Climate Risk Index says Afghanistan is the world’s sixth most affected country by climate-related threats.

With little functioning irrigation, Afghanistan relies on snow melting in the mountains to keep its rivers flowing and fields watered during the summer.

But Najibullah Sadid, a water resources and environment expert and Research Associate at the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute in Germany, said as temperatures rise, precipitation falls and with less snow, the summer melt is not feeding into rivers as much as it used to.

United Nations Completes Removal Of Oil From Decaying Tanker Off Yemen

By

Angel Gimalo

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August 11, 2023

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The United Nations said on Friday it had completed the removal of more than 1 million barrels of oil from a decaying supertanker off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, averting a potential environmental disaster.

U.N. officials and activists have been warning for years that the entire Red Sea coastline was at risk, as the rusting Safer tanker could have ruptured or exploded, spilling four times as much oil as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska.

The war in Yemen caused the suspension of maintenance operations on the Safer in 2015. The ship is used for storage and has been moored off Yemen for more than 30 years.

“It is a major moment of having averted a potentially catastrophic disaster,” said Achim Steiner, administrator of the U.N. Development Programme, which coordinated complex efforts to remove the oil from the ship.

Salvage crews operated for 18 days in a coastal conflict zone riddled with sea mines, amid high summer temperatures and strong currents, to offload the oil from the vessel.

Steiner said the U.N. raised more than $120 million for the operation, which required the purchase of a second tanker for the offloaded crude, aircraft waiting on standby to release chemicals to dissipate the oil in case of a spill and policies with more than dozen insurers to underwrite the operation.

“It was literally until the last minutes that we looked at this operation as one that had to ensure the highest degree of preparedness of risk mitigation,” Steiner said.

“The best end to the story will be when that oil actually is sold and leaves the region altogether.”

There is no agreement on how such a transaction will proceed and U.N. officials in Yemen will soon begin negotiations with the country’s conflicting groups in an attempt to agree on how to share the proceeds of a sale of the oil, which is majority owned by Yemeni state firm SEPOC.

Bayero University Kano Secures Scholarship For 500 Indigent Students

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 11, 2023

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The Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Sagir Adamu-Abbas says notable politicians and wealthy individuals have provided funds to assist 500 students by giving them scholarships as a measure to assist them settle their registration fees

This is just as Adamu-Abbas disclosed that the cost of running the university is beyond imagination as they spend over N100 million on running costs monthly.

He said this while speaking with the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), adding that the university has got funds to assist less privileged students in the university by securing scholarships for 500 students who are finding it difficult to pay.

He said the scholarship was received from politicians and philanthropists in the state such as Sen.Rufa’i Hanga who sponsored 200 students and A. A Rano sponsored 100 students among others and promised to consult more of his friends to sponsor more students.

He said the University also introduced welfare packages for their staff such as non-interest loans from Microfinance banks payable within six months.

He said that the delegation sent by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf met with the university management and discussed how to assist students with the registration fees.

He said the management of the University will review the deadline for closure for the 2023/2024 academic session.

He then noted that the university considers Journalists as important and relevant to the development of any nation.

He also disclosed that the university equally introduced a kind of job scheme for students, whereby they were engaged to render some services to the university and they were paying N15,000 monthly.

He stated tat at the initial stage when this was introduced over 2,000 students applied, while 120 of them got the offer, promising to jack up the numbers very soon, all these are to assist students who were facing financial constraint

The Chairman Correspondent Chapel, Aminu Garko, commended BUK’s efforts for providing education in Nigeria.

Garko reiterated the chapel’s determination in partnering with the institution in promoting and disseminating news aimed at portraying the good work to attract more people to tap the resources provided by the institution.