Homeless World Cup: Amokachi Appointed Team Nigeria Ambassador

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May 10, 2023

Amokachi is lending his fame and expertise to a cause that is close to his heart, the Homeless World Cup

Former Super Eagles forward Daniel Amokachi, a household name in Nigeria, known for his outstanding football prowess, has been named as Team Nigeria’s Ambassador for the Homeless World Cup.

Amokachi is lending his fame and expertise to a cause that is close to his heart, the Homeless World Cup. The Former Nigerian International and Atlanta 96 Olympic Gold winner was announced as “TEAM NIGERIA” Ambassador by Team Director Yomi Kuku in Abuja, Nigeria on Tuesday.

During the signing ceremony, Amokachi said, “I am excited to be an Ambassador of Nigeria’s Homeless World Cup Team to bring awareness to the tournament. Football is a powerful tool that can be used to bring people together and promote social inclusion.

“I believe that events like the Homeless World Cup are essential as they provide a platform for homeless and vulnerable people to showcase their football talents, get recognised and significantly empower them.

“I am committed to giving my best to Team Nigeria to the Homeless World Cup by championing its values across Nigeria on and off the pitch. The former Club Brugge, Everton and Besiktas player used the occasion to announce the immediate deployment of his personal pet project; Daniel Amokachi Foundation as a partner of the Homeless World Cup.

Mr Kuku, who is the country representative of the Search and Groom Youth for Development Centre expressed excitement about the value and the opportunity to work with Amokachi.

He said, “We are delighted to have Daniel Amokachi on board. His fame and experience in football will be invaluable in raising awareness for the tournament and the cause we stand for.

“We believe that football can transform lives, and we are committed to making a difference in the lives of the homeless and vulnerable communities and individuals through this project across Nigeria.”

The Homeless World Cup is an annual street soccer event that brings together homeless people from across the world to participate in a football tournament that seeks to promote social inclusion and empowerment. The 2023 edition of the Homeless World Cup is slated to be held in Sacramento, California in July with 70 countries in attendance.

Amokachi’s ambassadorial role is a testament to his passion for football and his desire to positively impact the lives of people. It is a reminder that football is more than just a game but also an avenue for social change.

ITV Hit With 4165 Complaints Following Coronation Comment

By

faith Jegede

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May 10, 2023

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British television network, ITV has been hit with 4,165 Ofcom complaints after Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh called the Buckingham Palace balcony ‘terribly white’

Andoh who appeared as a guest during ITV’s coverage of King Charles III’s Coronation, made the comment when the royals were standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the traditional Red Arrows fly past.

The 60-year-old, who plays Lady Agatha Danbury in the Netflix show, said: ‘Looking at all those young people, there is a bit of me that has gone from the rich diversity of the Abbey to the terribly white balcony. I’m very struck by that.

‘I am also looking at those younger generations and thinking: ”What are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?”

At the moment Ofcom has received over 4,165 complaints, making it the most complained about moment this year.

In comparison, Jeremy Vine’s Channel 5 show was hit with 2,250 complaints after a discussion about junior doctors’ pay dispute.

Andoh’s comments led to a backlash on social media, with one Twitter user asking: ‘Why is it OK to dismiss a white family for being white?’

Andoh later appeared on BBC Radio 4 to clarify what she meant and apologise saying, ‘I think I upset a few people yesterday.

‘I was talking about the day and how marvelous it was and then looking at the balcony at the end and suddenly going: ‘Oh it’s so white!’ because the day had been so mixed and I didn’t mean to upset anybody.’

The BBC is also facing backlash for that interview after presenter Paddy O’Connell tells her that she’s got nothing to apologise for

Again, Tinubu Departs Nigeria for Europe

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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May 10, 2023

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The President-elect, Bola Tinubu on Wednesday departed Nigeria for Europe on a working visit.

While in Europe, Tinubu will finetune the transition plans, programmes, and policy options with some of his key aides without distractions.

During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

A statement by his Media Aide, Tunde Rahman said: “Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up.

“Asíwájú Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.

“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.

“The President-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security.”

Before he left the country, Tinubu met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by the Joint Task Team of the House.

He is scheduled to return shortly for preparations towards his official swearing-in as the 16th President of Nigeria on May 29, 2023.

NBC Barred From Imposing Fines on Broadcast Stations

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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May 10, 2023

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A Federal High Court Abuja, on Wednesday, gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from imposing fines henceforth on broadcast stations in the country.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also set aside the N500,000 fines imposed, on March 1, 2019, on each of the 45 broadcast stations.

Justice Omotosho held that the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations.

He further held that the NBC Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law.

He said the court would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law.

He said that the commission did not comply with the law when it sat as a complainant and at the same time, the court and the judge on its own matter.

NBC Bars Broadcast Stations From Reporting Details Of Terror Attacks, Naming Victims

The judge agreed that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, being a subsidiary legislation that empowers an administrative body such as the NBC to enforce its provisions cannot confer judicial powers on the commission to impose criminal sanctions or penalties such as fines.

He also agreed that the commission, not being Nigerian police, had no power to conduct criminal investigation that would lead to criminal trial and imposition of sanctions.

“This will go against the doctrine of separation of powers,” he said.

Omotosho held that what the doctrine sought to achieve was to prevent tyranny by concentrating too much powers in one organ.

“The action of the respondent qualifies as excessiveness” as it had ascribed to itself judicial and executive powers.

The NBC had, on March 1, 2019, imposed the sum of N500,000 each on 45 broadcast stations in the country over alleged violation of its code.

However, the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda had, in an originating motions marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021, sued the NBC as sole respondent in the suit.

In the motion dated November 9, 2021 by its lawyer, Noah Ajare, the group sought a declaration that the sanctions procedure applied by the NBC in imposing N500,000 fines on each of the 45 broadcast stations on March 1, 2019 was a violation of the rules of natural justice.

The lawyer also said that the fines were in violation of the right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap AQ) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The group argued that this was so because the code, which created the alleged offences of which the broadcast stations were accused, was written and adopted by the NBC, “and also gives powers to the said commission to receive complaints of alleged breaches, investigate and adjudicate the complaints, impose sanctions, including fines, and ultimately collect the fines, which the commission uses for its own purposes”.

They, therefore, sought an order setting aside the N500,000 fines purportedly imposed by the NBC on each of the 45 broadcast stations on Friday, March 1, 2019.

They also sought “an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the respondent, its servants, agents, privies, representatives or anyone acting for or on its behalf, from imposing fines on any of the broadcast stations or any other broadcast station in Nigeria for any alleged offence committed under the Nigerian Broadcasting Code”.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho described the NBC’s act as being ultra vires.

He held that the fines imposed by the NBC as punishment for commission of various offences under its code were contrary to the law and hereby declared as unconstitutional, null and void.

The judge also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the commission from further imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.

Tony Blair, Okonjo-Iweala To Speak At NGF Induction

By

faith Jegede

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May 10, 2023

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The Nigeria Governors Forum will hold its induction ceremony for new and returning governors between Monday and Friday next week.

Abdulrazaque Barkindo, NGF’s media director, said President Muhammadu Buhari will give the keynote address at the induction that would accord the governors — including former ones — an opportunity to share experiences to further strengthen service delivery to the Nigerian people at the subnational level.

Barkindo said, “Speakers are invited from all over the world from heads of governments, members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry and other categories of guests who have accomplished and distinguished history of service to their people to inspire the governors to hit the ground running,”.

“On this occasion, the current Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams and two former American governors, Terry McAuliffe of the State of Virginia and O’Malley Martin Joseph of Maryland are gracing the occasion.

“Perusing their performance resume, O’Malley became renowned for reducing crime while McAuliffe focused on healthcare provision and education.

“Eric Adams, the Mayor of New York City, which, if it were a country, would have the ninth-largest gross metropolitan product (GMP) of $1.66 trillion, is visiting Africa for the first time, and is known to have applied digital methods to fight crime in NYC.”

The media director said Peter Anyang Nyongo, governor of Kisumu County in Kenya “who transformed Kenya’s hospital fund to a national health insurance fund, reduced poverty” will speak at the event.

“Also invited to the NGF induction are Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, the Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa and President William Ruto of Kenya,” he added.

“Nearer home, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Dr Akinwumi Adeshina of the African Development Bank, bring their experiences to bear on the occasion. They are all slated to speak at the event.

“Other speakers include the National Security Adviser, Major-General Mohammed Babagana Monguno, who will be speaking on managing security in the states, with Kaduna Governor, Malam Nasiru el-Rufai, Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the DG DSS among others, as panellists.

“The same Induction program will also deal with how to seamlessly ease the outgoing governors to a life after office. The last two days of the week will be occupied by activities of the First Ladies.”

Napoli Open Contract Talks With Osimhen

By

Emenike Agu

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May 10, 2023

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The official Napoli radio station says club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is negotiating a new contract with victor Osimhen’s agents.

Radio kiss Napoli has a special deal with the club that gives them direct access and often provides information that is released in conjunction with the directors.

On Monday evening, it reported that de Laurentiis was having direct negotiations with Osimhen’s agents over a new contract after they won their first Serie A title in 33 years last Thursday.

The 24-year-old has a price-tag of well over €100m and is on track to be crowned Capocannoniere with 23 goals in 28 Serie A appearances so far this season.

Meanwhile, Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti says the Nigerian striker has a great personality.

The super eagles forward on Sunday became the highest scoring African in Serie A history after netting Napoli’s winner in their 1-0 win over Florentina at the stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

In their first game after clinching the title, Osimhen saw one penalty saved before scoring another as Napoli continued their scudetto celebrations. The goal helped the Nigerian leapfrog George Weah to become the highest scoring African in Serie a history.

Amusan to Headline Jamaica’s Racers Grand Prix

By

Emenike Agu

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May 10, 2023

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World record holder, Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, will headline the 100m hurdles event at the racers grand prix, which makes its return to Jamaica’s national stadium on June 3, in what is expected to be an afternoon of world-class track and field.

Amusan has raced at only two meets so far this outdoor season, but is ranked number seven in the world with a season’s best 12.59 seconds set at the tom jones invitational in Florida in mid-April.

Seven athletes are so far confirmed for the event, including Jamaicans, Megan tapper, the Olympic games bronze medallist; world u-20 champion, Kerrica hill; and Crystal Morrison, while American Tia jones — who ran 12.44 seconds at the recent drake relays— is the second-ranked sprint hurdler now.

The schedule sees two heats for the 100m hurdles, with the final set for 8:20 pm; it is expected that more athletes will be added.

Amusan shocked herself and the world when she ran 12.12 seconds, a new world record in the semifinals, at last year’s world athletics world championships at new hayward field, Eugene, Oregon.

12 Year Old Confronts School Board

By

faith Jegede

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May 10, 2023

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A student called out his school out for punishing him for wearing a T-shirt that said “there are only two genders” as the child’s family considers legal action against the school district.

12-year-old student, Liam Morrison, at Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, addressed his school committee last week and that circulated online. As of Monday afternoon, the video has received 3.9 million views.

The video, taken from a school committee meeting on April 13, shows the student explaining that he “never thought that the shirt I wore to school on March 21 would lead me to speak with you today.”

“On that Tuesday morning, I was taken out of gym class to sit down with two adults for what turned out to be a very uncomfortable talk. I was told that people were complaining about the words on my shirt, that my shirt was making some students feel unsafe,” he recalled.

“They told me that I wasn’t in trouble but it sure felt like I was,” added Morrison, recounting that school officials said he must remove his shirt before he could return to class.

When I nicely told them that I didn’t want to do that, they called my father,” he said. Morrison noted that his shirt contained “five simple words” proclaiming “there are only two genders.”

Morrison insisted that the words on his shirt amounted to “nothing harmful, nothing threatening, just a statement I believe to be a fact.”

“I have been told that my shirt was targeting a protected class,” he continued. “Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights? I don’t complain when I see pride flags and diversity posters hung throughout the school. Do you know why? Because others have a right to their beliefs just as I do.”

Morrison said he received no pushback from his classmates or teachers due to the shirt: “Several kids told me that they supported my actions and that they wanted [a shirt] too.”

“I was told that the shirt was a disruption of learning. No one got up and stormed out of class, no one burst into tears. I’m sure I would have noticed if they had.”

Morrison outlined examples of actions he witnesses on a daily basis that constitute “disruption of learning,” including “kids acting out in class.” He lamented that “nothing is done” to address disruptive behaviour.

“Why do the rules apply to one yet not another? I feel like these adults were telling me that it wasn’t OK for me to have an opposing view. Their arguments are weak, in my opinion,” he asserted.

After maintaining that he “didn’t go to school that day to hurt feelings or cause trouble,” Morrison summarized what he learned from his experience: “I learned that a lot of other students share my view; I learned that adults don’t always do the right thing or make the right decisions.

FG Orders Private Jets Removal From Abuja Airport

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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May 10, 2023

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The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria has ordered the immediate relocation of all aircraft stationed at the General Aviation Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja ahead of the inauguration of the new government scheduled for May 29, 2023.

FAAN said the removal of aircraft parked at the Abuja airport was necessary to enhance the safety of the airport during the forthcoming presidential inauguration.

Many of the aircraft parked at GAT terminal in Abuja are private jets belonging to wealthy Nigerians, firms and airlines.

The relocation directive was contained in a circular dated May 8, 2023, addressed to aircraft operators and signed by the Regional Manager, FAAN, Kabir Mohammed.

The circular with reference number: FAAN/ABJ/NAIA /RGM/NC/AM/1000/VOl-1 read in part,” This is to inform you of a need to temporarily relocate your aircraft to alternate airports due to the upcoming Presidential Inauguration slated for May 29, 2023.”

“The Presidential Inauguration is a high-security event, and in order to ensure the safety and security of parties involved, it has become necessary to temporarily relocate all aircraft parked at the GAT to alternate airports. To this end, you are kindly requested to relocate your aircraft on or before 22 May 2023.”

Reacting to the development, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and Chief Executive Officer of Top Brass Aviation, Capt Roland Iyayi, expressed concern that most of the aircraft parked at the GAT terminal at the Abuja airport is not serviceable.

As such, he said relocating them from the place might prove difficult.

“Most of the aircraft parked there cannot fly, so if FAAN is asking for aircraft be moved then it would suggest that there’s something they know that we don’t know. I don’t think it’s possible, most of the aircraft parked there are not entirely serviceable; if they are not serviceable how do you move them?”

Kogi PHC Boost Health Indices With Donation Worth N20m

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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May 10, 2023

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The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) has donated data materials and tools worth over N20 million to the Ministry of Health to enhance effective data collation.

Handing over the materials and tools to the Health Commissioner in Lokoja, Dr. Abubakar Yakubu, the Executive Director of KSPHCDA, said that the procurement of the data materials was facilitated by the agency’s Impact Project initiative.

Yakubu said the tools would assist the Department of Health, Planning and Statistics of the ministry in data collation and processing to enhance data analysis.

The executive director explained that the state has had challenges of its data not being reflected in the national statistics, due to the unavailability of materials and tools to transmit those data.

Yakubu said that the outdated data collation materials had led to the state recording a drop in its reporting from the relevant agencies responsible for data processing and evaluation in the country.

Yakubu appreciated the leadership of Impact Project, KSPHCDA, Ministry of Health, as well as international partners such as World Bank, among others for the collaboration.

He urged primary users of the tools to effectively utilised them by generating accurate data, report back to the state appropriately thereby enhancing the state’s health data capacity.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Zakari Usman, commended KSPHCDA for including the provision of the latest version of the data tools in their work plan to the ministry.

Usman, who was represented by the Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr Francis Akpa, described the action as evidence of synergy that existed between the ministry and all its parastatals.

He said that the tools would further enhance the ministry of health’s ability to report on the current data in the state.

The commissioner assured that the ministry would continue to leverage on other existing projects between the ministry and the agency.

The Programme Manager for Impact Project, Mr Theophilus Olorunmaiye, said that the data tools were the latest version in the market.

The items include; 825 copies of each of NHIS HF monthly Summary Form, Vaccine and Devices Requisition Ledger, OPD Register and TD Register, Monthly Immunization Summary Form, and HF Daily General Attendance Register.

Other items include 825 copies of HF Vaccine Utilisation Summary Form, VM IA/IB, Child Immunisation Register, HD Daily Immunization Tally Sheet, Health Facility Daily ANC Register; and 21 copies of LGA Summary Form.