Gov. Peter Obi bags Best GOV AWARD, EMPOWERS 5000 YOUTHS

Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, today bagged the best performing governor on the eradication of polio in the southeast from Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation at a massively attended ceremony at the Women’s Development Centre in Awka, 

Speaking while presenting the award to Gov Obi which went with a cash prize of N120 million, the minister of state for health, Dr Mohammad Bate said the award was not by chance as Gov Obi had distinguished himself in the health sector which he observed had resulted in the provision of ambulances to hospitals, accreditation of schools of midwifery and the wonderful partnership with the Church and described the Anambra example as a total package, noting that the state had remained polio free in the past five years.

Responding Gov Obi thanked the minister for coming to the state to present the award on behalf of Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation and noted with satisfaction that it was not one of the awards anyone could suspect as having been bought and said the state government would match the N120m it received with another N180m which would be ploughed into the building of ten more health centres in the state.
Recalling some of his strides in the health sector, the governor cited the state’s first teaching hospital as an example.
‘What happened was that the government of the day admitted medical students without a medical school in place and the assessors said they would not accredit the university but I pleaded with them when I came in to give me two or three years to put a teaching hospital in place but they could not believe me as they thought it impossible that a teaching hospital could be built in two, three years. It was one of them that pleaded with them to give me a chance and they did. When they returned at the appointed time they were shocked to see the teaching hospital in place. It has since become the fastest teaching hospital to be built in Nigeria,’ Obi stated to the applause of the packed audience.

In a similar development the governor has splashed N60m on the second and final batch of 5000 youths under the Anambra State Youth Empowerment Programme (ANSYREP). While handing over the cheques of N100, 000 to each of the successful candidates, Gov Obi charged them to use their money judiciously in order to justify the state government’s faith in them, even as he charged them to shun thuggery in the forth coming elections in the state.

He expressed satisfaction with the fruitful results already being yielded by the programme and restated his government’s readiness to continue to support the youth.

In his speech the coordinator of the programme, Dr Okey Ikechukwu, commended the governor for accepting to support the programme and disclosed that the governor did not submit any list of candidates to them but had told them to ensure the programme worked. He noted with satisfaction that many of the beneficiaries had made a success of the money and training given to them.

A member of the state legislature Hon Nikky Ugochukwu, congratulated the governor on his award and said it was expected, given his unprecedented achievements in office and also commended him for his youth friendly disposition.

The two events were attended by top government functionaries, traditional rulers, student nurses and stake holders. 

Caption for the picture

Gov. Peter Obi (right), receiving the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for the best State in the Eradication of Polio in the South-East from the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate (left) at the Women Development Centre, Awka, today 

Gov. Peter Obi(4th left) with some youths, among 5000 Anambra youths that received N100,000 for Youth Empowerment programme under ANSYREP Programme at the Women Development Centre, Awka, today.

Genevieve Nnaji, Desmond Eliot, Jim Iyke others for African Film Critics’ Awards

 

Organisers of this year’s Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) has rolled out a retinue of heavy weight names with Genevieve Nnaji, Desmond Eliot, Ramsey Nouah and, Jim Iyke amongst others making the list of nominees.

Organisers of this year’s Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) has rolled out a retinue of heavy weight names with Genevieve Nnaji, Desmond Eliot, Ramsey Nouah and, Jim Iyke amongst others making the list of nominees.

The award which is in its third season will take place at the Warner Theatre, Washington DC, USA on Saturday 14th September 2013.

The NAFCA awards  recognises excellence of professionals in the African film industry.

Other African acts nominated for the prestigious award in different categories are Majid Michel, Beverly Naya, Jackie Appiah, Iretiola Doyle, Genevieve Nnaji, Kofi Adjorlolo, Charles Novia, Yvonne Nelson, Van Vicker, Joseph Benjamin, Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo, Kunle Afolayan, and Emem Isong amongst others.

Popstars 2Face Idibia, P-Square, Flavour and Timaya are also nominated for awards.

We lost 14 members, N33m in two attacks – Bodija traders

IBADAN– TRADERS in Bodija market, yesterday, counted their losses in attacks by unknown gunmen which left 10 of their colleagues dead.  While speaking on the sad incident at Bodija Market, Public Relations Officer of the market, Mr.  Emiola Akeem, said they had lost a total of 14 members and more than N33 million in the two attacks.

He said: “On May 5, this year, four of our members were murdered in cold blood and N11 million was stolen from them. This time again, after killing them, they stole N22 million we contributed to buy beans and fish.”

Meantime, even as business activities resumed generally at the popular market, the section for beans sellers was deserted with all the shops locked up. The traders who managed to come only gathered in clusters discussing the sad incident.

One of the traders, Mrs. Bola Lawal, said the action was just to sympathise with their dead colleagues.

She said: “We closed our shops just to mourn our dead colleagues. Look at their shops there. They were very nice and hard-working young men. See what these evil people have done now?”

Emiola said he had prevailed on some angry youths who wanted to attack our Hausa colleagues, adding: “We cannot protest in Oyo State. The state government did not do any evil to us. It would be unfair if we now go to the secretariat to protest. It is not the state government that failed, it is the Federal Government.”

According to him, his members would never go to the North again to buy goods.

He said the relatives of the slain traders in the first attack were even fighting them asking why they allowed their people to travel to North when they knew the place was not safe.BY OLA AJAYI:

Vanguard gathered that of the 10 men killed in te latest attack, only nine corpses were brought as the 10th body was said to have been dismembered through several machete cuts.

The image maker said a special prayer would be held in honour of the deceased soon.

 

Anambra First in EU Programmes - Planning Commission

Caption for the pix above. Gov. Peter Obi (right), with The Commissioner for Public Utilities. Emeka Nwankwu (left) during the flag off of the effective implementation of the tenth European Development Fund Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Project Phaze Two at Awka.

National Planning Commission says that Anambra State ranks number one in the implementation of European Union programmes. He noted that Anambra's outstanding performance has set pace for others. The Commission spoke through its Desk Officer, Mr. John Akunze during the flag off of the effective implementation of the tenth European Development Fund Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Project Phaze Two. Governor Obi was speaking while launching the programme in Awka.

Mr. Akunze explained that the programme will enhance access to safe water and sanitation as well as Integrated Water Resources Management. He explained that the programme will enhance access to safe water and sanitation as well as Integrated Water Resources Management.

Speaking at the event, Governor Peter Obi called for effective implementation of the ten European Development Fund on Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Project Phaze Two. He explained that Anambra State was chosen for the tenth EU water and sanitation programme because of its outstanding performance in the ninth EDF among the EU focal States.


The tenth EDF Programme aims at consolidated on achieving the key objectives of providing sustainable water supply and improving sanitation by avoiding the shortcomings of the past.

While thanking the donor agencies and development partners for their support, he urged benefiting communities and other stakeholders to take full ownership of the projects.

The Commissioner for Public Utilities, Water Resources and Community Development, Mr. Emeka Nwankwu said this phase of the programme would in the next four years provide support for the finalization of policy and institutional reforms at the Federal level and in the six EU focal States and sustain improvement on water governance through provision of technical assistance and capacity development.

Mr. Nwankwu disclosed that Governor Obi administration has in the last seven years rehabilitated over thirty regional urban and small town water supply schemes and over four hundred and fifty Rural Water Supply schemes in communities primary health centres, schools and markets

Ubah Suffers from Complex – Obi’s Aide

 

 The Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Obi on media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem has condemned in strongest term the reference to his Boss, Gov. Peter Obi as an animal by Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, describing such “diatribe” as he called it as “evidence of a sick mind, who does not know his left from his right and who is dependent on people to think for him.” Obienyem argued that any right thinking person, even if his imagination which has already deceived him to believe that he would become the Governor, continues to deceive him to believe that the Governor is his greatest enemy, would not use such a language to describe a Governor, remotely or directly.
In a statement made available to the press yesterday, Obienyem further prescribes psychiatric test for those seeking public office, insisting that for a Governorship aspirant to call a sitting Governor an animal for whatever reason is a clear manifestation that he is not “fit and proper to occupy public office.” He said that even idiots and nonentities would not use such a word
On the promise by Ubah that he would not probe Obi if he became the Governor Obienyem said that a reasonable man in Ubah’s position would have spared himself unnecessary embarrassment by trying to find out why, among those who have signified interest to contest the Governorship election, he, Ubah, is the only person making unguarded and uncouth statements. “The man in question, who does not want to probe Governor Obi, is himself under probe by many financial institutions that said he owed them. He is only walking freely on the streets by the grace of injunctions that would not last forever”, Obienyem said.
On the issue of Obi sleeping in Ubah’s house now and then, as he claimed, Obienyem who said he was not aware that his house was heaven, said that the Governor did not even know where the man lived not to talk of having visited his house.
Finally, on Uba’s claim that he would fight insecurity and create jobs when he becomes Governor, Obienyem noted that that was the only sensible statement in Uba’s statements, saying that he should be encouraged to tell the people what he would do for them if elected and not to “engage in acts that defy rationality in response to obvious feeling of inferiority complex.”
“The man should also go on and tell us in which language he would write his budgets, hold discussions and meetings as a way of assuring us that his Governorship would not be a collective assault on the psyche of Anambra people”, Obienyem concluded.

Tonto Dikeh Advises, “say No To Drugs And Weed”

The National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully tamed the Nollywood star, Tonto Dikeh, when they threatened her with jail term over a post and picture on marijuana the actress put online, which generated controversies these few days. Tonto Dikeh was forced to deny posting the words and pictures even though it was done on her own platform. Tonto regretfully took to twitter to advice her fans to stay away from drugs and marijuana, which she reportedly earlier encouraged. She wrote today, “All the best. Do some good things this month (July) and Say No to Drugs and of course, weed (marijuana).”

DAVIDO Is My God, I’m Worshiping Him Now – Upcoming artiste Ado Replied [See Photo]

…Upcoming Musician, ADO tells Journalist….
I can’t believe this; some people are now worshiping DAVIDO because he is rich and famous. An Upcoming musician based in Lagos is obsessed with DAVIDO to an extent of even ‘worshiping’ him.
In a brief chat with journalist, the aspiring Hip-Hop artist whose name is AJISAFE SUNDAY BABATUNDE but prefers to be called ADO disclosed that he has only two Gods. One is God almighty and ‘Almighty Davido’.
The artist who is preparing to launch his first album sees DAVIDO as a big MENTOR and has even released a track entitled “Davido I won’t let you down”
The song is already enjoying massive airplay in radio stations across Lagos in just one week it was released.
When asked if he has seen DAVIDO before, he said no but he is looking forward to meet him. In his words;
“I have not seen him before, I tried sending him email, he did not reply. I don’t have his phone number. There was even a day I went to his house, his gate man did not allow me In. I was disappointed”.
Despite his continues rejection, the talented HIP-HOP artist, ADO is determined to succeed in his music career.
What do you guys really think of this dude..

Photos: President Bush in Zambia

Former President of the United States of America, George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush travel to Livingstone, Zambia to renovate a cervical cancer clinic as part of the Bush Institute's Global Health Initiative. June 28, 2013. Photo by Paul Morse. See more photos>>>

George W. Bush Initiative

Gov. Akpabio fires domestic aides as N40 million cash disappears from own bedroom

Governor Godswill Akpabio

Three stewards working at the Akwa Ibom state governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, were on Friday summarily dismissed by the governor, Godswill Akpabio, over missing bundles of mint-fresh dollars valued at over  $250,000 (N40 million) kept in the governor’s bedroom, news website Saharareporters, is reporting.
The governor, who reportedly ordered the sack of the aides (described as political appointees) personally detected on Wednesday, during his visit to Abuja, that bundles of the foreign currency he left in his bedroom had been stolen while he attended a dinner with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock Villa.
According to the website, the missing dollars, kept in drawers  in the governor’s bedroom, were leftovers from a trough of hard currency stashed away in a private security safe in the apartment.
Governor Akpabio, the report says, expressed surprise that despite the near impregnable security in the lodge, coupled with the fact that the locks to that section of the lodge, including the governor’s bedroom,  were routinely changed each time such heavy cash is brought in, the money still disappeared in the manner it did.
While it was yet to be ascertained that the dismissed steward actually stole the funds, they are being punished for “apparent negligence in allowing the real culprits to gain access to the otherwise restricted area of the lodge”, the report says.
Saharareporters quoted a source close to the governor’s lodge as saying more heads might roll as investigations continue to find the identities of the other culprits involved in the theft of Mr. Akpabio’s cash.
The source reportedly claimed accusing fingers were being pointed at  another staff member at the lodge described as one of those in charge of the overall management of the apartment.
Pilfering of huge cash in the lodge has become a recurring event, the report adds.
“In one  instance, it was learnt that after bundles of cash disappeared under similar circumstances, the burglary proof and window protectors around the governor’s apartment were changed sometime last year after the perpetrators broke through the ceiling to gain access to the room where cash was stacked in ‘Ghana must go’ bags,” the website writes.
It recalls that a few years ago, the governor redeployed all the civil servants at the lodge and replaced them with political appointees and other private consultants he thought could be trusted.
The website says Governor Akpabio is scrambling to keep this latest incidence of theft in his bedroom under wraps.
The governor’s spokesperson could not be reached for comments Saturday night.
Well known for his profligacy, Mr. Akpabio is reputed for moving around with huge cash, in violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless economy policy.
In March this year, the governor openly donated N1million “lunch money” to party chairmen from the six states in the South-South geopolitical zone who had converged on Port Harcourt for a party reconciliation session.
In March 2012, three staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCo) attached to Arik Airlines were accused of stealing N1.5million from the luggage of the governor’s protocol attachee, Ebakabasi  Etuk, at Ibom International Airport.
The suspects were said to have stolen the money from the bundles of cash reportedly carried by the Akwa Ibom State government team on their way back from Lagos where Governor Akpabio was awarded the ‘Sun Newspapers Man of the Year’. Source: Premium Times

Wizkid, Banky W Impostor Nabbed

Press statement from EME's camp...

Nigerian pop star Wizkid has spoken out against his continuous impersonation by fraudsters. The hit maker, bugged by increasing complaints and reported incidents, says he's worried and beyond scandalised, that some bandits would go to any length to perpetrate evil acts and defraud innocent fans and customers.

The EME act spoke today in Lagos, while reacting to on-going investigations on recent discoveries and arrests. 

“It’s unfair that fraudsters will take advantage of unsuspecting victims. The culprit has been apprehended and all is being done to make sure such incidents don’t reoccur.” Wizkid said.

An EME impostor is currently in police custody. He was handed over to the police by his latest victim- Muyiwa.

Muyiwa also known as ‘Origin’ started transactions with the impostor, only to discover he was being duped and quickly handed him over to the police.

Meanwhile, EME Chairman Banky W who has himself been a victim of impersonation, says the label is putting all structures in place, while working with relevant authorities to make sure the trend is put to a stop.

Fake names, phone numbers and bank accounts have been set up to carry out such fraudulent activities. Some of the fake accounts these impostors use include "Bankole Wellington Banky W" on Facebook,Bankyw82@yahoo.com, emeonline82@yahoo.com,godwintom1@gmail.com,starboyentertainment@rocketmail.com. The only authorised contact for EME is bookings@empirematesentertainment.com

“Impersonating artists and record labels is apparently the new 419. This is not a unique problem to EME or it's acts, but a serious challenge to most major labels/artists as well as the fans and event organizers. We've done the best we can to streamline our processes so that anyone, anywhere can contact us at Bookings@empirematesentertainment.com or at +234 818 000 0000 and know that they have right information.” Banky says.

“It saddens us to know that crooks still try to take advantage of our fans and supporters but we are doing all we can to put the right info out and we hope that everyone takes note, so as not to fall into their traps.” He adds.

Wizkid does not take bookings or accept engagement payments into his account. He can only be booked through EME and/or his manager Godwin Tom.

The label says the Police will still apprehend more fraudsters.

Rihanna wears unbuttoned sheer shirt-dress to fashion show in Paris

Riri wore this oversized shirt dress with no bra to the launch of Chanel’s Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2013-14 collection in Paris. Would you wear this? The only thing I want here is the bag! Lovely!