Monday, 5 October 2015

Nigeria will keep foreign currency restrictions for now to preserve the country’s currency reserves amid falling oil revenues but the Central Bank of Nigeria will ease the rules in the long-term, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said. The current “restrictions are definitely short term. There is no question about that,” Reuters quoted Osinbajo as telling… [Read More…]

US to give Buhari $2.3bn to fight poverty

OCTOBER 5, 2015 :

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Federal Government has signed a $2.3bn assistance agreement aimed at fighting extreme poverty with the United States Agency for International Development.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Akande said the agreement would help the government to combat extreme poverty among Nigerians over the next five years.

He said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government while the USAID Head of Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Michael Harvey, signed on behalf of the US government during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week.

He quoted Osinbajo as noting that since President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the US President Barack Obama in the White House in July, the Nigerian government had seen better cooperation from the US.

The Vice-President also noted that there had been great deal of interaction on how the present administration intended to implement its agenda, saying the interaction was because the US wanted the government to succeed.

“The issue of the extreme poverty of a vast majority of Nigerians is a very important issue for us. It is at the heart of our economic policy. You can’t have that vast number of poor people and don’t plan around that and for us this is crucial and absolutely important,” Osinbajo was reported to have said.

The Vice-President also lauded the inclusion of the North-East among the areas of focus in the agreement, adding that there was a consensus in government to address the problem of out-of-school children and the observed drop in enrolment figures in parts of the nation.

He promised that the present administration would continue to lead a transparent and an open government, clean up the business environment and emphasise a bottom-up approach to economic planning.

The $2.3bn assistance will cover activities from 2015 through 2020, with the objective of helping Nigeria reduce extreme poverty in a more stable and democratic society.

It is expected to stimulate inclusive economic growth, promote a healthier, more educated population and help strengthen good governance.

The USAID director said the agreement would provide a solid foundation for the two countries to partner to reduce inequalities across the country.

Check out the wide margin between Sokoto & other states in the Common Entrance cut off mark..

The highest is 66 while Sokoto is 15 and 7 for boys and girls respectively.Wow! See the rest after the cut..

Monday, October 5, 2015

The Next Titan 2 holds Lagos Auditions tomorrow October 6th

After successful Auditions in Abuja and Port Harcourt on Tuesday 29th September, and Thursday 1st October, 2015, respectively,the Lagos Zonal Audition of The Next Titan, Nigeria’s Entrepreneurial Reality TV Show, will hold tomorrow Tuesday 6th October, 2015 at Water Parks/Aquatic Hotel, Toyin Street Ikeja, Lagos.

The Next Titan is proudly Nigeria’s entrepreneurial Reality TV Show, where entrepreneurially talented and business minded young graduates compete to win Five Million and a brand new car to start their business idea.In this process, thousands of contestants through entries are shortlisted to pitch their business ideas at Auditions Centresin threedifferent zones in Nigeria; and the final Top 16 contestants with brightest ideas will live together to compete by carrying out weekly business tasks and challenges around the city of Lagos for 10 weeks on television, and with weekly evictions in the boardroom by the judges.

The Season 2 Judges are business leaders in Nigeria, and they are KyariBukar, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group; Tonye Cole, CEO, Sahara Energy Group; Lilian Olubi, CEO, Primera Africa Securities; and Chris Parkes, CEO, CPMS Marketing Solutions. Season One was highly intriguing with 10 weeks of wits, nerves, education, suspense and fun by arguably 16 of the most dogged young aspiring-entrepreneurs in Nigeria. IroghamaOgbeifun from Port-HarcourtZone emerged the winner, and she went home with Five Million Naira and a brand new Ford Focus Car plus mentorship from some of Nigeria’s business leaders.

Today, IroOgbeifun is the CEO ofHairven Ltd (A multi hair care products company) in Lagos and Port Harcourt, and has created jobs for over 15 people. Season Two promises to be bigger and more exciting; and the Lagos Auditions will holdon Tuesday 6th October, 2015 @ Water Parks Hotel Toyin Street Ikeja, Lagos. 8:30am prompt. Season Two also promises more prizes asides from the grand prize of Five Million Naira, and a brand new 2015 Ford EcoSport , 2 of the Top 16 will also be the beneficiaries of Ten Million NairaEntre Fund and business incubation for 2 years by a partner of the show,Quick Fix Ltd.

The Headline Sponsor of the Season Two of THE NEXT TITAN is HERITAGE BANK,with Associate Sponsorship ofSIFAX GROUP, and Supporting Sponsors areSHELL, NIGERITE, BRISCOE FORD, COURTEVILLE PLC, QUICK FIX, AERO and LASAA. Do you have a good business idea that can earn you a prize of five million naira?But you have got to face auditions judges first.Come tomorrow 6th October to Water Parks/Aquatic Hotel by 8:30am to present your business ideas.

Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Abuja Attacks

niyi at INFORMATION NIGERIA - 6 minutes ago

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for twin bomb attacks on Kuje and Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. The group confirmed this in a message posted on social media on Sunday evening. The claim of responsibility on Twitter was signed by Islamic State in West Africa Province, used by Boko Haram since ... more »

Abuja bombings: Buhari visits victims

OCTOBER 5, 2015 : OLALEKAN ADETAYO 48 COMMENTS

President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with a

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday visited victims of the blasts that rocked Kuje and Nyanya, Abuja on Friday night at the National Hospital where they are currently receiving medical attention.

Buhari was accompanied by Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and some top government officials.

He was conducted round the wards where the victims are recuperating by the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Jafaru Momoh.

His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, later issued a statement saying the President wished the survivors of the attack full and speedy recovery.

Adesina added that the President reassured the survivors that the Federal Government would take full responsibility for settling their medical bills.

Luck also smiled on a young girl currently receiving treatment for a gunshot injury she sustained when armed robbers attacked her family as the President offered to offset her bill.

He was said to have directed his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, to settle the N268,790.00 medical bill of the young girl in the Paediatric Ward of the hospital.

“The girl’s mother, Deborah Stephen, had broken into tears on seeing President Buhari. She told him that her daughter had been shot by armed robbers who raided their home and that the family could not afford the medical bills,” the statement read in part.

The President visited the intensive care unit, the paediatric unit and general wards of the National Hospital.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director lauded the President for the visit.

He said the visit would help the patients’ recovery by giving them a greater psychological sense of being valued and loved by their country.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Police C\ommand on Sunday said that it had arrested 69 cattle rustlers and other notorious armed robbers in the last one month.

The state police Commissioner, Mr. Muhammad Katsina, disclosed this when he visited Gidan-Kare village in Sumaila Local Government Area.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the village had been deserted by residents due to incessant attacks by armed bandits.

NAN also reported that the police commissioner was in the village to assess the security situation and map out strategies to rid the area of the menace.

Katsina said of the 69 arrested, 46 suspects were among the most wanted armed bandits in the area while the remaining 23 suspects were arrested for cattle rustling.

Vatican priest fired after coming out as gay ahead of key summit on family

A Polish monsignor announced he was "happy and proud" to be a gay priest on the eve of a large synod set to discuss Catholic teachings on lesbian and gay believers. The Vatican has stripped the priest of his position.

Father Krzysztof Olaf Charamsa said he wanted to challenge Church's "paranoia" towards sexual minorities, stating in two interviews published Saturday that he was in a relationship with a man.

"The clergy is largely homosexual and, unfortunately, it is also homophobic to the point of paranoia but paralyzed by the lack of acceptance for its own sexual orientation," he told the Polish version of "Newsweek" magazine.

Charamsa also said he was "happy and proud" to of his identity, in the remarks published by the Italian daily "Corriere della Sera."

'Not humane'

The 43-year-old Polish theologian has been living in Rome for the last 17 years, where he also worked as a mid-level official in the Vatican's doctrine office.

"It is time that the Church opened its eyes to gay believers and understood that the solution is it proposing - total abstinence and a life without love - is not humane," he said.

The Catholic Church teaches that being gay is not a sin but also that homosexual acts are.

Charamsa's move comes only a day before Pope Francis is due to open a large synod on marriage and family in Vatican. The meeting is set to last three weeks and involve 270 Catholic bishops, who could also review Vatican's approach to gay relationships, alongside other issues on the agenda.

Still a priest

Immediately after Charamsa's coming out, the Catholic Church dismissed the priest from his post the congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, where he has worked since 2003.

In a Saturday statement, the Church officials said Charamsa's personal situation merited "respect," but added that his statements aimed to "subject the Synod assembly to undue media pressure." The Vatican also stated that Charamsa's statements appear "very serious and irresponsible."

Although Charamsa is no longer allowed to work at the Vatican or its pontifical universities, he remains a priest. The issue of his defrocking remains to be decided by his local bishop.

'Open your eyes'

The Polish cleric held a press conference with his partner, a Spanish gay rights activist, in Rome on Saturday.

"I dedicate my coming out to all gay priests," Charamsa said, adding that he had plans to write a book about his time at the Vatican. "I wish them happiness even if I know that most of them will not have the courage to make the gesture I have made today.

"To my Church, I want to say that I reject and I denounce the current atmosphere of exasperating homophobia," he added. "Open your eyes to the suffering of gay people, to their desire for love."

dj/sms (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa, epd)