Brentford has dented West Ham Top Four Battle in a 2-0 victory to move away from relegation zone.
They also suffered ahead of Thursday’s Europa League second leg against Lyon with defender Kurt Zouma forced off injured in the first half.
Second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney saw Thomas Frank’s side climb to 13th on the table, 12 points clear of the bottom three, to all but confirm their Premier League safety.
Roma coach José Mourinho has poured encomium on Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema following his unselfish way of playing football.
Mourinho said “The best compliment we could give to Karim Benzema is to say that he was Cristiano’s favourite partner at Real Madrid.” And for Cristiano to fall in love with another striker, it means that this one does a lot for him and all the players around him. Probably the only #9 I know who isn’t selfish in his game. He is a great collective player.
He further stated” the way Karim interacts with other players is fantastic. he is getting old but his body seems to be getting younger. He really takes care of himself. His life has changed a lot in his younger years. He is a fantastic professional. Karim is absolutely incredible.”
This indeed is a magnificent tribute from the Special One, to Karim Benzema.
Benzema has scored 24 goals in La Liga and 11 in the Champions League this season
The Ebonyi State Overseas Scholars’ Association (EBSOSA), has called on Nigeria to move towards knowledge based economy where the best brains are appointed into the critical sectors based on merit. The president, Dr Francis Onwe who made the call on Saturday during the award of excellence ceremony held at the International Conference Centre frowned at the rate at which despite having one of the best brains in the world, Nigeria has remained poor.
Dr Onwe who is also a consultant community health physician advised that ‘the era of appointment for political compensation and recycling of people in government should be avoided’. The consultant noted that Nigeria’s reliance on oil economy has done more harm than good to the country. He advised the leadership of state governments across Nigeria, particularly Ebonyi State to embrace industrialisation, warning that ‘very soon there will be zero oil economy with no federal monthly allocation’.
Onwe advocated for the ‘urgent establishment of three cement industries, one in each senatorial zone under a private- public partnership’. This, the consultant said would only help to mitigate the damage already done to the economy.
Declaring the event open, Prof Chuka Abara enjoined the universities in Nigeria to be producing for the industries and not for the industries to be producing for the universities. The don said that the investment into the educational sector should be taken seriously to avoid the current situation where education is relegated to the background.
In his remarks, the founder of the HiPACT programme on which Ebonyi indigenes benefited from Overseas scholarship, ‘Uncle’ Sam Agha Egwu frowned at the way some of the awardees failed to honour the invitation and said it speaks a lot about the priorities of the state. He commended the leadership of EBSOSA, calling the association a seed that has germinated into a big tree.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of award of excellence to eminent personalities who have distinguished themselves in human empowerment and other areas of endeavour. Some of the awardees include beneficiaries of Hi-PACT, Dr Nnanna Igwe and Prof Afam Icha-Ituma, the Vice Chancellor, Coal City University, Enugu all of who pledged to remain supportive of the association’s scholarship trust fund.
The reigning African champions faced an uphill task to defeat Canada the number six ranked team in women’s football.
Canada are also the reigning Olympic women’s football champions following their triumph against Sweden in Tokyo 2020.
The two sides will meet again for the second game in the B.C. leg of the celebration tour on Monday in Langford, B.C.
Saturday marked the first time the Canadian and Nigerian women’s teams play against each other since April 2019 when Canada took a 2-1 victory in a friendly game in Spain.
FCT (Abuja) – The Bills for the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic , Abiriba and the Federal College of Education, Arochukwu both in Abia North of Abia State have been granted first and second readings respectively by the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday.
The educational bills sponsored by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu received the legislative assent of the members of the Red Chambers during Wednesday’s plenary following unanimous voice votes in favour of both bills.
Recall that the second passage of the proposed Federal College of Education, Arochukwu Bill comes a day after it passed first reading following its presentation to the Senate by Abia-North Senator , Orji Kalu on Tuesday.
Leading the debate on the Bill , Kalu pointed out that the objective of the Bill is to amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act Cap F8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, in order to pave way for the establishment of the Federal College of Education Arochukwu, Abia State by upgrading the existing Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, to Federal College of Education.
Urging his colleagues to support its second reading the former governor recalled that previous attempts in the 7th and 8th Assemblies to upgrade the existing facilities at the Abia State College of Education(Technical),Arochukwu to become a Federal Tertiary Institution failed due to the absence of a Bill which seeks to Amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act, which this bill seeks to address.
He said “The Bill technically consists of 3 Clauses namely: Amendment of Federal Colleges of Education Act Cap F8 Cap N143 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, Amendment of first schedule to the Principal Act and Citation. We would by passing this Bill for further legislative process bring the dreams and aspirations of not just the good people of Abia State but all Nigerians, to have access to good federal government tertiary education.
Stressing the importance of the institution to the Nation’s educational system, Kalu said the proposed College of education will produce competent Teachers for secondary schools in the country.
“We desire to have this Bill passed into law because education is highly valued and considered as a social service. We know that it is a tool for change, growth and acts as a steering engine for national consciousness and development.
“Therefore, no nation or society can strive to function effectively in the absence of education without proper collaboration with education and information to produce skills, knowledge, competencies, and as well enhance the development of human potentials to promote technology, Kalu concluded.”
Lending his support to the Bill, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Boroffice stated that the establishment of the college of education would increase the number of qualified Teachers to teach in secondary schools in the country. Boroffice also advocated for the establishment of a secondary schools commission to discourage uncertified Teachers from practicing in secondary schools.
He said the existing College (Technical) provides limited access that by expanding the scope to a Federal College of Education barricades will be removed.
In his contribution Senator Adamu Aliero( Kebbi Central), rallied the Senate to grant the bill second reading, Aliero said that establishment of the Federal College of Education will incur less financial burden since the human and infrastructural resources are already in existence.
“Unlike most of the other bills seeking the establishment of educational institutions that usually incur a lot of costs, this one is already in existence. What the sponsor of this bill ( Senator Orji Kalu) is asking us to do is to upgrade the institution. The facilities are already there , the teachers are already on the payroll, the structures are also there, if it is upgraded as time goes on there might be need to add more. This is a very straightforward bill and I believe no one will be opposed to its second passage and I urge my colleagues to support it since it has no serious financial implications, Aliero said.
The bill passed second reading after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Earlier on Wednesday the Senate granted first reading to a bill for the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic Abiriba. The bill titled “Federal Polytechnic Act (Amendment) Bill , 2022 (SB. 980) is fronted by Orji Kalu.
Report from Ukraine suggests that Russian troops “are regrouping and conducting reconnaissance” for an offensive in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk, the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in an update on 42nd day of fighting.
Meanwhile, United States and other countries have submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Human Rights Council urging it to suspend Russia.
At 10 a.m. on Thursday, United Nations General Assembly will continue its emergency session to discuss the matter.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the draft resolution mentions reports of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” as well as “violations of international humanitarian law.”
The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada were among the countries that requested that the resolution be considered.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States’ ambassador to the United Nations, used photographs from Bucha, Ukraine, in a speech in Romania, advocating for Russia’s suspension from the Human Rights Council.
“We receive devastating reports every day, especially yesterday, about how little they care about human rights. “Russia’s Human Rights Council membership is a farce,” she remarked.
Photos and video of bodies left behind as Russian soldiers departed in Bucha, near Kyiv, have sparked outrage and prompted suspicions that Russian forces committed war crimes. Russia has denied that civilians are being targeted. Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, has alleged that the images were “fabricated.”
Abuja – Media Mogul and Chairman of Roots Television Nigeria, Dumebi Kachikwu, on Wednesday, officially declared his interest to contest for the office of President during the 2023 presidential election.
Apart from revealing that he will be running for office of President on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kachikwu, during a virtual broadcast, titled: “My Opening Argument” on Wednesday, vowed to initiate public service reforms, eliminate corruption and win war against terrorism.
He also promised to ensure that men and women enjoy equal opportunities, welfare for teachers, support technology-driven education and healthcare system to stop medical and education tourism abroad.
He also pledged to eliminate corruption by ensuring that Nigerian workers are paid better salaries, build modern cities and ensure that all nook and cranny of the country have better amenities, world class health facilities and accessible and affordable internet services.
He promised to redirect the vast energies of youths to productive venture like trading with their technological skills rather than engaging in online scams popularly called ‘yahoo yahoo.’
He said if elected President, he will collaborate with state governments to invest in power generation, build broadband internet infrastructure and limit states and private sector to distribution activities only.
Kachikwu outlined 20 reasons why he should be elected the next President of Nigeria, as follows:
“Together we can design a new menu for our people. We will rebuild Nigeria from the ground up and do away with the faulty and archaic colonial foundation that now characterises our current existence. We must define our common charter as Nigerians and constitute a new nation that is not only inclusive for all but guarantees equal rights and expressions to all irrespective of tribe, tongue and religion.
This new Nigeria must come first before any other identification. It will be our common bond as we do away with all colonial relics of division, mistrust and hatred.
“No longer will we engage based on Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba or North and South but on the basis of Nigeria, our only fatherland. We will resist all those who make religion and tribe their mantra. It will no longer be business as usual. We will zone out all proponents of zoning and usher in a Nigeria that promotes merit, character and knowhow above primordial sentiments.”
“Every component part of Nigeria is blessed with those who have the talents and abilities to pilot the affairs of Nigeria and we must create the enabling environment for these people to emerge in government and governance. Nigeria will no longer be associated with mediocrity as we will invest in our citizens, our greatest asset. The toga of lazy youths won’t stand as we build the greatest workforce on earth. We must build a workforce that knows today and understands the demands and dictates of tomorrow. We can no longer be in conflict with what we don’t know as we make policy somersaults over modern age financial instruments like bitcoins.”
“We cannot be seen to be banning and unbanning platforms like twitter that define the expression of the modern man. No longer will our citizenry be driven to the dark web and unconventional means of communications as they seek to hide from a repressive Government.
Government is and should be a big brother and not a big bully. Millions of our citizenry still live without light and potable water in the year 2022. This is unconscionable.”
“There is no rocket science to generating power, neither is there magic in distributing power. Our debilitating challenges are man-made and we must use an iron fist in crushing those whose decades of evil practice in our public service space have led us to the brink. We will treat those who sabotage our nation and way of life as saboteurs.”
“We can’t have different rules for different criminals. If you do the crime, you do the time. If given the privilege to lead you my first executive interface with the National Assembly will include a bill, I have dubbed the Nigerian Patriot Act. It is a bill of equality and fairness. It is a bill that says we are all in this together. It is a bill that ensures that public servants cannot use the privileges they cannot provide to the common man.
“If you desire to be in the public service, you must use the same services the masses use. No private or foreign schools for our families, no private or foreign hospitals for us or our families, no generators or boreholes in our homes. If we desire efficient and effective education, healthcare, utilities, etc we must make it available to all so that we may all equally benefit from it.”
“We must resist the wicked urge to take on sovereign debts that benefit a few but repaid by all. We can no longer borrow to build bridges and highways that lead nowhere when the internet is the highway of the future. Borrowings must satisfy the criteria of commercial viability while providing much needed basic amenities.”
“We need governors who understand that the internet is the highway of the future. As you build roads you must build critical broadband infrastructure. We will make broadband available and affordable for all because this is the only leverage our kids have to compete in the new world.
“I will work with the State Governors on a plan that sees the Federal Government investing in national trunks for power and telecoms while the state governments and private sector participants focus on in state distribution. We will harness all sources of energy to provide power to our people while giving preference to clean energies.”
“We must replan our cities and build-out modern infrastructure so as to reverse the rural urban migration that threatens most of our communities. It makes no sense to allow the brain drain occasioned by the migration of the middle class when all they seek is security, jobs, good and affordable homes, healthcare, constant power, etc. I will make these a standard in all our cities.”
“Visionless leadership cannot continue to lead our people astray. We must elevate our millions of farmer to
agripreneurs and and transition farming to agribusiness. We will secure our farmlands and protect our men and women from those who seek to do them harm. Our farms will no longer be known as killing fields but the food factory of Africa, providing millions of good paying jobs for the middle class.”
“For too long our people have cried. Men and women are being butchered, orphans and widows created by the minute by a war sustained by the greedy who profit from defence contracts and the blood thirsty, who seek to destroy our way of life. We will confront them headlong and destroy them. This war will be fought on our terms. We will arm all the willing and able to rid our nation of foreign invaders. We will take the fight to their camps as we arrest and prosecute their sponsors.
“We will no longer close one flank and leave another flank open for further incursions. The full might of the Nigerian army and the united will of the Nigerian people will confront our enemies. Our army will have clear instructions on what to do to the enemy. Our borders will be closed to all those who seek to harm us because we now know the enemy is the enemy irrespective of religion, tribe and tongue. War is war and Nigeria will win this war.”
“My administration will revenge the lives of all soldiers and civilians killed. They will pay a huge price for their folly and be told in no uncertain terms that Nigeria is not a no man’s land. This is my promise. The sanctity and dignity of life will be restored under my watch. Ritual killings, trade in body parts and kidnappings have no place in civilised society. We will rid our forests of scam artists masquerading as native doctors who promise riches to the weak and lazy. We will protect our young men and women from these predators.”
“I do understand that the APC government has succeeded in weaponizing poverty and hunger, but we mustn’t let our basic decency as human beings be eroded. If you can use the internet for Yahoo, you can use the internet to trade. We will guide you and teach you the rudiments of digital commerce. We will build technology parks in every senatorial district in Nigeria that will serve as incubation centres for digital jobs, research and development. We are an English-speaking nation and we will use this to our advantage to provide services to people all over the world from the comfort of our homes.”
“We are the technology generation; technology will be used to leapfrog Nigeria from third world to developed nation. Nigerians are the brains and engine rooms of most nations why can’t they do the same here? No sensible nation allows their best and brightest to leave. We will reverse this ugly trend. Nigeria will work again for everyone.
“We will turn our hundreds of kilometres of beach front land to international tourist destinations providing jobs to our people and bringing much needed foreign exchange.
“We will build first class hospitals not just for our citizens but for foreigners desiring first class medical services. We will defend our future by sufficiently investing in education. If this generation has missed it, the next generation must get it right. We owe this to ourselves. Our schools will have modern teaching aids and learning systems and our kids equipped with smart devices. We will retrain all our teachers and pay them better because they are our first line of defence. Our women will join us on the table of equality. They will be respected and promoted. They will be afforded the same opportunities men have. If they can do it, they will do it.
17 Promote Arts, Music Industry
“The Arts won’t be mere lip service in my administration. It only makes sense that our movie and music industry are supported. They have made us proud and still make us proud. Investing in and promoting that industry is not only patriotic, but it also makes perfect business sense. The technology exists to correct their decades long problem of distribution and piracy. This we will do.”
18 Eliminate Corruption By Removing Predisposing Factors
“In this new Nigeria we won’t keep on shouting corruption when our very foundation is corrupt. We will engineer systems and processes that ensure that our citizens don’t turn to corruption by default. We will pay a fair pay for hard work. We will no longer cheat our citizens with the ridiculous minimum wage we offer knowing that we leave them no other option but to steal.
“My dear Nigerians, I have no money to share to you but my love I will give you. I will always lead in love and by example. I have told your story today because mine is not as important as yours. I am you and you are me. We mustn’t continue to recount the sorrows of yesterday. We will fight for today and defend tomorrow. This we can do. This we must do. This is why I am running for the office of President of Nigeria. It is the office of the Nigerian people. Under my presidency, this office will serve the Nigerian people. This is my promise to you. I need your support on this journey because without you I can’t do it. This is our collective fight. It is a generational fight for our today and the future of our children.
“The odds are heavily stacked against us. We don’t have instruments of coercion or oppression. We don’t have looted funds to buy votes. We don’t have mainstream media on our side. We don’t have the party structure of the APC or PDP but we have the peoples structure. I stand today on the wings and aspirations of over 215 million Nigerians. I represent your hopes and dreams of a Nigeria that works. It is possible and we will make it happen come 2023.
“Tell every man woman and child that Dumebi has come. Let the echo of Dumebi has come ring from every doorway. Go to the market places and tell them Dumebi has come. Dumebi has come is the cry of freedom. 2023 is our year of freedom. I love you all. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless you all.”
Lafia -. Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has emphasized on the need for Nigerian graduates to acquire technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills towards self-reliance.
Engineer Sule made the call while speaking as a special guest at the commissioning of the NYSC skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development centre, at the Magaji Dan Yamusa NYSC Orientation Camp, in Keffi, on Monday.
According to the Governor, the high turnover of graduates from institutions of higher learning across the country, makes it imperative that Nigerian graduates acquire not only degrees but also skills that will make them self-reliant and employers of labour.
While commending the director general and management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), for siting the project in Nasarawa State, he promised that his administration will not only patronise the products here but will find ways to work together the NYSC as team.
He said the inauguration of the skills and technical skills acquisition centre, is in line with the policy thrust of his administration, aimed at empowering youths with skills to make them self-reliant.
Engineer Sule expressed optimism that the inauguration of the skills acquisition centre couldn’t have come at a better time, with Olams Nigeria Limited investing USD100m in the vicinity of the centre.
He specifically commended the NYSC DG, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for the vision to redefine and reinvigorate the scheme and for turning the NYSC into a revenue generating facility for the federal government.
The Governor equally appreciated the first civilian governor of the state and national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, for his vision to establish the NYSC camp.
It would be recalled that only recently, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Skills Acquisition Institute in Lafia, while on a two-day working visit to the state.
In a welcome address, the Director General of the NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, said the inauguration of the North Central Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), as well as the NYSC bakery, water and garment factories, is in line with his cardinal policy thrust to reinvigorate the NYSC Ventures and SAED programme in order for the NYSC Act more impactful.
Earlier in a goodwill message, first civilian governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, traced the establishment of the permanent NYSC camp in Keffi, to his desire to fulfil the objective for setting up the scheme.
Senator Adamu explained that he was motivated by the objective of setting up the NYSC, especially the need to integrate Nigerians.
The national chairman of the APC noted that, with the high turnover of graduates from higher institions of learning across the country, no government can be able to give every NYSC member job, stressing that there is every need for Nigerian graduates to acquire technical and vocational skills towards self-sufficiency.
FCT (Abuja) -. A bill seeking to establish a Federal College of Education in Abia-North Senatorial District of Abia State has scaled first reading at the floor of the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday.
The bill sponsored by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu seeks the Amendment of Federal Colleges of Education Act Cap F8 Cap N143 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 , for the establishment of the proposed Tertiary institution to be sited in Arochukwu Local government area of Abia state.
Explanatory memorandum of the bill reveals that the bill seeks the establishment of the proposed institution in Arochukwu, Abia State by converting the existing College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, to Federal College of Education.
Following the reading of the title of the bill during Tuesday’s plenary by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya, the bill was passed for first reading after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Orji Kalu’s latest tertiary institution establishment bills adds to over 15 bills sponsored by the Federal Parliamentarian since assumption as a first time Senator at the National Assembly.
Kalu’s bills at the National Assembly have entered various stages of legislative input, in a related development, the Senate granted first reading to the Senate Chief Whip’s bill seeking to establish the Federal Tax Crimes Commission.
According to Kalu the Bill seeks to improve the tax administration system and revenue generation by the government through the establishment of a Tax Crimes Commission.
The bill, among others, aims to complement the Federal Inland Revenue Service in ensuring compliance with payment of tax; develop and implement national policy for tracking down tax defaulters; develop tax compliance strategies; provide for an efficient and effective mechanism in administering the Nigerian tax system and to protect taxpayers’ rights.
Other notable bills fronted by Orji Kalu include; A bill for an Act to Establish the National Foodbank , A Bill for an Act to Amend compulsory Free Universal Basic Act 2004 to provide for Increased funding of Basic Education in Nigeria Bill 2021.
Others are :A Bill for an Act to Amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Other Related Matters bill 2020; A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency ( Establishment ) Act, 2007 to provide for the prevention and control of Atmospheric Air pollution and other Related Matters there to Bill 2021; a Bill for an Act to Establish the Armed Forces Service commission to ensure the Federal character of the Armed forces pursuant to constitutional provision of Section 218 (4) and 219 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended,Bill 2021; a Bill for an Act to prescribe the number of Justices of the court of Appeal by increasing the number to Ensure speedy Administration of Justice. Pursuant to constitutional provision of Sections 237(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended Bill 2021 ; Nigerian Railway Corporation Act, 1955 N129 LFN 2004 ( Repeal And Re-Enactment) Bill, 2021; a Bill for an Act to Alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( As Amended ) to provide that the Federal Government and the State Governments shall have Concurrent Legislative Powers on Railway, and to provide for Matters Related THERETO, 2021 among others.
FCT (Abuja) – The Senate, on Tuesday, passed a bill to repeal and re-enact the National Commission for Colleges of Education Act of 1989.
Also passed was a bill to establish the Federal Polytechnic Orozo.
The bills were passed following the consideration of two separate reports by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETfund.
Senator Nora Ladi Daddut, in a presentation on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita, said the National Commission for Colleges of Education bill, among others, seeks to empower the commission to attract highly qualified personnel from the Federal Colleges of Education.
She added that the bill also seeks to make 65 years the official retirement age from service, as well as provide the commission with the powers to appoint, second or transfer an employee of other colleges or appoint new officer to deputize the Executive Secretary of the Commission.
She explained further that when passed and assented into law, the Commission would be empowered to determine the tenure and remunerations of the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission in consultation with the Minister of Education and/or any other Minister responsible.
On the bill to establish the Federal Polytechnic Orozo, Senator Daduut said the institution when established, would develop and offer full-time academic and professional programmes in Technology, Applied Sciences, Management and Administration, leading to the award of Higher National Diploma, Ordinary National Diploma and other certifications.
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