Former Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala Receives Another International Award

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was one of the distinguished recipients honoured at an all-star event in New York on December 1 for services to humanity and the fight against poverty and HIV/AIDS. She received the award from two respected international advocacy groups, ONE and RED, alongside Bill & Melinda Gates, philanthropist Mo Ibrahim and former New York Mayor and media mogul, Michael Bloomberg.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and her co-honorees were recognized at a grand event marking the tenth anniversary of the advocacy groups. Former US President Bill Clinton and current Vice President Joe Biden were in attendance. Top comedian and CNN presenter, Trevor Noah host the event.

In her response to the honor, Okonjo-Iweala said “I thank ONE and (RED) for this recognition. It is an inspiration to work harder on the issues of social and economic development that have always been my passion. I’m also grateful to my country for the opportunities to serve. I will always be proud to be a Nigerian.”

ONE is an international campaigning and advocacy organization of more than 7 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. It was co-founded by Bono, to raise public awareness and work with political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency so governments are accountable to their citizens.

ONE works closely with African activists and policymakers as they fight corruption, promote poverty-fighting priorities, monitor the use of aid, and help build civil society and economic development. ONE’s work is strictly politically non-partisan. (RED) was founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver to make it easy for people and businesses to join the fight against the deadly virus.

Throughout the past decade, (RED) has raised more than $320 million with the help of companies like Apple and Coca Cola towards the fight against HIV

Governor Ayo Fayose suspends Secretary to the State Government - See Reasons

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has suspended the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Modupe Alade, for alleged incompetence. Alade, before her appointment was the Treasurer of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation prior to the 2014 Ekiti governorship election.

According to the statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi and made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, November 3, the suspension would last for three months.

The statement also disclosed that Fayose directed Head of Service (HoS), of the State, Dr Gbenga Faseluka, to oversee the office pending her resumption. Alade retired from the state civil service as a Permanent Secretary. She also worked in ministries of education and local government affairs.

Voted Most "Ugliest Girl" Response To Cyberbullying Goes Viral - Must Read

A high school student's response to online bullying is winning praise from friends and family, who are proud of her bravery in the face of a mean-spirited post. Lynelle Cantwell was in math class Monday in Holy Trinity High in Torbay when she learned she and other students had been ranked in an anonymous online "straw poll" called "Ugliest girls at hth," which was posted on the social media site ask.fm.

The site allows people to make anonymous posts and comments. "It outraged me ... all of these girls are hurt because of this one person who has no heart or sympathy for anything," she told CBC News on Wednesday.

"I wanted to be the bigger person, and instead of fighting fire with fire, I decided to fight it a different way and make something that was really negative into something really positive."After thinking about the hurtful poll for the rest of the day, Cantwell decided to respond on Facebook Tuesday with
her own message.

I even wonder why they voted her as the "most ugliest girl". I mean, do you think she cheated? She is no were near ugly.

What do you think?

Gunmen Murder APC's Deputy Ward Chairman In Bayelsa State

Unknown gunmen on Wednesday, Dec. 2, killed the Odi Ward 1 deputy Ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Diseye Dickson, ahead of the Saturday's governorship election in the state. The killers, who were dressed in military uniform, invaded the Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa around 11:00pm and shot him dead after their target had escaped, The Nation reports.

Report said they had planned to abduct Chief Watson Ogoriba, the elder brother to a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Warman Ogoriba, but their target managed to escape and contacted the police. They killed Dickson while shooting their way out of the community.

The APC in state has however pointed accusing fingers at the People's Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party was behind the attack.

“It was the case of failed kidnap attempt and it could also be political. Everybody knows that Warman is the leader of the APC and his opponents may have decided to abduct or even assassinate his brother so as to weaken him”, a source in the community told The Nation. Incumbent Governor, Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva of the APC are the major contenders in the Dec. 5 governorship poll.

Source: NAN

The Hard Truth About Salary Earners In Nigeria Today - Must Read

HARD ANALYSIS: Got this offer from a very good analyst @ Exlink Lodge Blog. Ask yourself, where you fall in

Divide your SALARY by 30 days and see what you get (i.e. the number of days in a month and see the funny thing about your salary plan).
For example,

(1) An average level-12 worker in the state government civil service earns NGN 60,000.
**** And this translates to NGN 60,000÷30= NGN 2,000 every day. This is LESS THAN the amount made daily by an AVERAGE HAWKER in the city.

(2) A freshly EMPLOYED GRADUATE BANKER in most NIGERIAN BANKS earns an average of NGN120,000 monthly.
***So everyday, you get NGN120,000÷30= NGN4,000 as the daily value for your work-life. By implication, this is LESS THAN the amount earned DAILY by an AVERAGE DRIVER in d city and in some villages.....

(3) If you are a FRESH GRADUATE EMPLOYEE in some oil companies, you earn an average of NGN300,000 monthly. So in a day your WORK-VALUE is NGN300,000 ÷ 30= NGN10,000
**** This is LESS THAN the daily amount earned by an IRRIGATION FARMER supplying vegetables to Lagos MARKETS, a TIPPER CAR DRIVER supplying sand for three BLOCK INDUSTRIES and CONSTRUCTION SITES just 3 times a day and DRIVERS of DANGOTE TRUCKS who have bought off the trucks at scrap value and are using them to convey products between villages and the cities for just five business owners.

--------->>>HOPE BY NOW, IT IS SINKING IN, RIGHT?
And when there is an ISSUE in the FAMILY that requires FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, the DRIVERS, HAWKERS and the rest are looking up to you with a WHITE COLLAR JOB.

(4) If you are an NYSC MEMBER, you DON'T need to be told that:
*****NGN19,800÷30 = NGN 660 is your worth on a daily basis.

I hope you know that PURE WATER SELLERS who own a shop, a pepper soup joint and a small TOYOTA COROLLA car to distribute pure water to five restaurants earn MORE THAN you & WHEEL-BARROW PUSHERS working on contract for three warehouses probably make MORE MONEY than you EACH DAY ............

We shouldn't end at satisfactions from these earnings. We should be more proactive, create room for more income and strive to diversify our streams of income. The earlier you wake up and smell the coffee, the better for you......

I know of someone right now who will say this is too ideal to be true but take your time and do this analysis over and over again, and you will grasp the crux!!!

STOP waiting for the Government to feed you, feed yourself and help the Government feed others. That is where we are in this age.

DO have an Entrepreneurial week ahead!!!

DAAR Communication Releases Statement As its CEO Dokpesi Is Released On Bail

DAAR Communication, owners of AIT and Raypower have released a statement over the arrest of their Chairman, Raymond Dokpesi. It eads ....

On Monday Nov 30, 2015 whilst attending the 70th birthday celebration of former Minister and PDP stalwart, Professor Jerry Gana, the Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc. received a telephone call from the Ag. Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu inviting him to the visit the EFCC Headquarters to provide some clarifications and documentation regarding some transactions involving the Office of the erstwhile NSA during the 2015 Presidential election campaigns. 

On Tuesday Dec 1, 2015 around 2.00pm, High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi honored the verbal telephone invitation and voluntarily drove himself to the EFCC Headquarters in the company of his son, Raymond Dokpesi Jr and a legal representative of the Chambers of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in the person of Barrister Justin Omogbemeh. It is pertinent to state that the contrary to news reports, he wasn't arrested nor was he even formally invited, as there is no letter of invitation. At the commission, he was requested to shed more light on some payments that were made to him through the office of the erstwhile National Security Officer to the former President, Mallam Sambo Dasuki. 

High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi made his statement on the various media exposures and campaign transactions, which were dutifully carried out across most broadcast, print and social media in and outside Nigeria. Surprisingly, rather than been allowed to go home, a free man, or at most on administrative bail, in self recognizance, High Chief Dokpesi was kept by EFCC operatives, with onerous bail conditions imposed for his release. It is theses conditions that we are now attempting to perfect for his immediate release.

Signed Raymond Dokpesi, Jnr For the Dokpesi Family

Stop Running From Boko Haram – Buratai Warns Troops In Gulak, Gajigana

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai yesterday visited Gajigana, Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State, which was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists on Sunday. He was received and conducted round troops’ deployment by the Commander 5 Brigade and the Commanding Officer of 243 Battalion.

The Chief of Army Staff while fielding questions from journalists that accompanied him, stated that he was there to see things for himself, asses the situation and give necessary directives.

Speaking further with the Commanders, he expressed dissatisfaction with the troops conduct and warned that such incident should not repeat itself.

The troops were reported to have fled their base after Boko Haram members nearly overpowered them in Gulak. Buratai also called on the public, especially those residing in the affected area to support and cooperate with the troops by exposing suspected Boko Haram terrorists that live among them.

He stated that the recent wave of attacks by terrorists in Gulak and Gajigana should be seen as isolated, assuring that adequate measures were being taken to deal decisively with any such occurrences. The COAS also assured that the military and the security agencies would continue to improve their performances.

He was accompanied by the Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Acting Director Military Intelligence and the Acting Provost Marshal (Army). Also on the entourage were representatives of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Police attached to the Military Command and Control Centre. The troops, during the Gulak attack, killed 3 Boko Haram terrorists, while a number escaped with gun shot wounds. One soldier lost his life.

They recovered a Toyota Hilux, 1 PKM gun, 1 General Purpose Machine Gun, 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade tube and 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb. Other recoveries include, 1 Charger, 7 Boxes of 7.62mm Link, 1 GP 340 Hand Held Radio, 4 Boxes of 7.62mm X 54mm Ammunitions, 3 Anti Riot Hand Held Grenade, as well as 30 Cleaning Kits, 2 Packets of Artillery Primers and 97 pieces of Zela fuse.

The location have also been reinforced and the troops are now poised for any eventuality. Army said the troops were further pursuing the escaping terrorists and also exploiting to further block such kind of incursion.

MTN Nigeria Fine Reduced From $5.2 To $3.4 Billion As CEO Resigns In Fallout

Fine payable by the end of December, Nigerian regulator says MTN's chairman will consider penalty, to consult further. The Nigerian telecommunications regulator cut the fine imposed on MTN Group Ltd. to $3.4 billion from a record $5.2 billion and the chief executive officer in the country quit as part of a wider management shake-up at Africa’s biggest mobile-phone operator. The shares gained 1.2 percent to 148.49 rand as of 9:32 a.m. in Johannesburg, valuing the company at 274 billion rand ($19.1 billion). The stock is still down about 22 percent since the penalty was made public on Oct. 26.

The Nigerian Communications Commission decided to reduce the levy after considering a request from the company, Johannesburg-based MTN said in a statement on Thursday. MTN named Ferdi Moolman, the former CEO of the company’s Iran unit and most recently the chief financial officer of MTN Nigeria, as head of the Lagos-based operations, replacing Michael Ikpoki, who resigned.

The Nigerian regulator imposed the fine on MTN for failing to meet a deadline to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers. Group Chairman Phuthuma Nhleko took an executive position in November and led negotiations with the NCC after CEO Sifiso Dabengwa quit.

Reduction Considered

Nhleko will “immediately and urgently re-engage with the Nigerian authorities before responding formally,” MTN said in the statement. “All factors having a bearing on the situation will be thoroughly and carefully considered before the company arrives at a final decision.”

The initial fine of $5.2 billion was more than MTN’s total sales in Nigeria in 2014 and the equivalent of about 37 percent of the group’s total revenue. A full payment would have exceeded the revenue the Nigerian government made from oil in the second-quarter, and more than double the state’s non-crude proceeds, according to central bank data. MTN’s largest shareholder, the Public Investment Corp., in November called on the board to take greater responsibility for the fine.

The company decided to reinstate its previous reporting structures to boost oversight, leadership and compliance across 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East, the company said in a separate statement. Jyoti Desai will be group chief operating officer, based in Johannesburg, while Karl Toriola will be vice president for the West and central African region and Ismail Jaroudi will play the same role for the Middle East and north Africa. Amina Oyagbola replaces Akinwale Goodluck as head of regulatory and corporate affairs in Nigeria.

Mercy Aigbe Vs Linda Ikeji: Who Rocked The Outfit Better? See Photos

Denim on denim is the reigning outfit for Nigerian celebs.Many celebs like Genevieve Nnaji,Mide Martins,Mercy Aigbe,Linda Ikeji and others have been spotted rocked the outfit.Between Mercy Aigbe and Linda Ikeji,

Who wore the outfit better?

This Is Hilarious - See Landlord's Heartwarming Gift To Not So Lucky Family

A certain Mike who has been struggling got a bit of reprieve from a source anyone would least expect...his landlord. In a note shared online, the landlord named Jack foregoes rent for December in order to enable Mr Mike give his family a proper Christmas.


Isn't this hilarious. I bet this man should be a CNN hero. What do you think?
 

Pharrell Lists His Magnificent Miami Mansion For Sale - Photos

American Singer and songwriter, Pharrell has listed his Miami mansion for sale at $10.9 million after buying it for $12.5 million in 2007.The two-story property has five bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms and a three-story living room featuring an elegant staircase as well as Pharrell's interview by Michael Jackson adorning the walls. There’s also a rooftop terrace with pool, an outdoor barbecue area as well as a home theater complete with red leather seats. See some photos after the cut...
 

My Husband Raped My Cousin In Our Matrimonial Home, Wife Tells Court

A 31-year-old -trader, Oluwaseyi Ajofoyibo, on Tuesday at the Igando Customary Court, Lagos state, accused her husband, Kamoru Ajofoyibo,33, of allegedly raping her cousin in their matrimonial home. Oluwaseyi also told the court that her husband was in the habit of beating and blackmailing her at the slightest provocation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluwaseyi with her two children, ages seven and two, had since moved out of her matrimonial home to Badagry. "My cousin came to my matrimonial home, asking me to help her appeal to her mother over a misunderstanding; I left the house for a night.

"When I returned, my cousin told my neighbours that my husband tried to rape her in our matrimonial home. "When she was probed further, she confessed that he succeeded in raping her.

"As a result of his action, I told him I was going to visit my parents in Badagry, but I packed my belongings and left with my sons.

"I rebuffed several attempts by our families for me to return to my matrimonial home.

"He then came and forcefully took away one of our sons. I want my son back, that's why I brought him to the court. We were not legally married. He refused to pay my dowry," Oluwaseyi said. Her husband, Kamoru, who resides at Osunba Street, Igando, a suburb of Lagos, did not deny raping his wife's cousin nor forcefully taking the couple’s seven years’ old son.

“We were not having any misunderstanding. She said she wanted to visit her family in Badagry and I gave her N30,000. "She said she would spend two weeks, but two weeks turned to months, and months turned into years. "Our families called a meeting, she refused to talk, and she was not moved with the tears from her mother’s eyes.

"I relocated my son to my brother’s place in Badagry because I needed to be seeing him regualrly.

"I know I have made some mistakes and I'm sorry,’’ the 33 year-old-trader said.

The President of the court, Mr A. L. Omilola, in his ruling, told the couple to come for the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) on Dec. 16.

Omilola adjourned the case till Jan. 16 for further hearing. For more you can visit exlinklodge.com

Kelly Rowland Shares Adorable Photos With Her Lovely Son

Kelly Rowland hmmmm, has been a long long time since we heard anything about her. How fast one can drop out of the limelight if music is not on her side anymore. She shared this adorable pictures of her with the soon.

I must say that is a cute little baby their. More pics below..........

Nnamdi Kanu: MASSOB & IPOB Disagree With Each Other

Meanwhile, members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) opposed the order, saying they were not informed of the plan.

There have been calls from various groups in the South-East, for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Radio Biafra director.

To further show their resolve to continue the protests till Kanu is released, the  Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) ordered traders in Abia state not to open their shops.

Meanwhile, members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) opposed the order, saying they were not informed of the plan.

Speaking to Daily Post, MASSOB’S assistant national director of information, Sunny Okereafor, said "MASSOB condemns the order closing down markets. MASSOB is not aware of such order, we totally condemn it. The markets should be open and people be allowed to go about their businesses.

“There is hardship in the land and you are talking about closing markets; is this not a way of causing more suffering to the same people we want to liberate?”

Recently, Ohaneze Ndigbo joined other Igbo groups to also call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.