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Helen (surname withheld) will be 20 years on October 10. But she now bears a burden that is too heavy for her age. She was gang-raped in January this year and was diagnosed with HIV last month. Due to the heart-rending experience and the medical diagnosis that followed, the once cheerful and vivacious Helen now wears a long face as she carries with her the psychological burden of the experience. After secondary school in 2008, Helen wanted to further her education, but being the fifth of 11 children comes with its own challenge. “Na the condition of no money, na im prevent me from going further,” said Helen when asked why she had not bothered to continue her education. Despite her background, Helen was unperturbed. Determined that she would return to school some day, she began working as a cleaner in a big firm at Lekki, Lagos, from where she hoped to save for school. She had worked there for almost a year before the tragic episode that altered her life dramatically took place. It

Singer turned Punch Columnist Etcetera writes on why Fuji music is dangerous. Read below... Fuji music and I got divorced at a street carnival on October 1st, 2010. I just couldn’t take it anymore and thought it best that we went our separate ways. I guess the feeling was mutual because that was the same day I recovered my sanity and my personal cool. What would I become if I wasn’t aware of myself anymore? Unlike many adults, I have no stomach for music that makes me want to vandalize my home and for some crazy reasons; I have discovered that some fuji songs that are popular right now make you want to assess your mental state. The simple truth is one can’t remember any of such songs getting posted daily on blogs. I can only recognise a handful of artistes mentioned by some die-hard and unrepentant fanatics in my hood. There was a period in time when it was actually important to know who was who, and who was better than the other lyrically or vocally. Then, having fuji songs on yo

Oritse Femi whom a lot of people are now forced to reckon with after dishing out hits upon hits has said his story has changed and things are now better for him. Speaking with a Punch reporter, Oritse Femi said he charges N3m per show and he could do 20states in a row, making him earn about N60m per brand concert. Here is how he explained it in his own words; “Things have definitely changed. Nowadays, I don’t charge less than N3m to perform at a concert. Sometimes the concerts are funded by multinational companies and we have to tour 20 states. Multiply N3m by 20 states and you will understand what I am saying. The situation has indeed improved”. He bagged 4 nominations at the just released Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2014 Nominees List

Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah, has challenged the incumbent, Governor Godswill Akpabio, to publish how much he has paid him (Mr. Attah) and past leaders of the state as pension. This followed claims by Mr. Akpabio that the government had been spending huge resources in taking care of former governors as well as deputy governors and their spouses. Mr. Attah, who spoke in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, also berated journalists, especially those who recently interviewed the Akwa Ibom state governor, for not asking Mr. Akpabio pertinent questions about his management of the state resources. He said, “If Godswill Akpabio says he conceived the new law to put a ceiling to the expenses made on previous leaders of the state, somebody should have had the guts to ask him how much he has been paying to the past leaders. “You journalists are afraid of Godswill Akpabio and that is why you have always shied away from asking some pertinent questions.”

Comedian Julius Agwu and wife Ibiere celebrates their 6th wedding anniversary today May 31. They got married on May 31st 2008 and are blessed with two kids, a girl and a boy. Congrats to them.

The body of 20 year old Naizi Evah from Edo state who was stabbed to death in her hostel at the Vaal University of Technology in South Africa willd arrive Nigeria on Tuesday June 3rd for interment, family sources have revealed. Her Zimbabwean boyfriend, who is the chief suspect in the murder, was earlier arrested by South African police but has been granted bail pending the outcome of investigations. At a tribute ceremony in her honor at the University premises this week, friends were seen weeping as they shared their experiences with the deceased young lady. One of her friends, Ripfumelo Mukhavele said late Naizi and her boyfriend had a turbulent relationship as they were always breaking up and making up but they never suspected it would end like this. Niazi's elder brother, Michael Evah who was present at the tribute night for Naizi said a case has been filed with the South African police but is hoping that the case is not swept under the carpet.

The actress looked lovely as she stepped out at a movie premiere held at Silverbird Galleria, Lagos last night. She was styled celebrity stylist Jeremiah Ogbodo of Swanky's Signatures Styling.

Leading Nollywood stars Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo, Desmond Elliot and Uche Jombo, yesterday, signed mouth-watering endorsement deals as new ambassadors of the New Nation project at the Dukwe headquarters in Port Harcourt. Founded and sponsored by the Dukwe global organization, the Kill The Killer campaign is aimed at spearheading strategic campaigns against diabetes and high blood in the society.

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THE Defence Headquarters on Friday said it had got wind of a fresh plan by some interest groups to embark on a renewed campaign aimed at attracting international condemnation and indictment of the Nigerian military and its operations in the northern part of the country. According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, the said campaign is to rely heavily on doctored and falsified audio-visual materials, some of which are already trending in the social media. This, it said, would be coordinated and funded by a prominent political leader whose state is presently under the state of emergency. The statement read: “The details of the plan, which is already being fine-tuned by a group of media professionals, (are) to be presented for the final ratification and funding by the political figure. The design is expected to forcefully whip up sentiments of genocide allegedly targeted against a particular religious group. “The planners of this cr

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger has no intention of leaving the Emirates this season or the next if reports in the media are true. British Media reports that the Frenchman has signed a new three year-deal that will keep him at the club until 2017. The deal is believed to be worth £24million. There were fresh concerns over the former Monaco coach staying at the club after the end of last season; a season that brought him 'word to mouth' with Chelsea's Jose Mourinho where the Portuguese coach tagged him a 'specialist at failure' shortly before the elimination of Arsenal at the hands of Bayern Munich in the second round of the UEFA Champions League. However, winning the FA Cup the fifth time since he took over the helms at the club with an almost 'de-motivated' team has convinced others especially Mourinho who ended the season without any silverware that Arsene Wenger is not a failure. The club has also restored confidence in the 64 year old Wenger who

27 people have been killed in two separate auto accidents in Sokoto and Edo states. In Sokoto, a night accident at Tudun-Dukiya village near Dogon Karfe, Sokoto state left at least 13 people dead. The accident occurred between a Peugeot J-5 bus travelling from Jos to Illela and a Toyota Starlet car travelling from Illela to Sokoto. In Edo State, no fewer than 14 persons lost their lives also in an auto crash along Benin-Okene highway. The incident, which occurred around the Ewu slope in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, involved a 15-seater Toyota Hiace bus and truck, which was said to be coming from Abuja. An eyewitness said that the incident occurred when brakes of the truck failed and ran over the Toyota bus coming from the opposite side. It killed the 13 passengers and the driver.

The media adviser to the ailing former NAFDAC DG Prof. Dora Akunyili has debunked the rumour going round that the former Minister of Information is dead. See the statement released via her official Facebook page. Pls disregard the rumour about Prof. Dora Akunyili’s purported death. It’s the same baseless rumour circulated every 2/3 days by some people for reasons best known to them. They have been at this for about 4 weeks now and are likely to continue, since they apparently derive pleasure from doing so. The situation, as confirmed by former Anambra Governor Peter Obi, who visited Dora in the hospital earlier this week, is that she is getting better. Thank you all. -Isaac Umunna, Media Adviser to Prof. Dora Akunyili, Lagos, May 30, 2014. It could be recalled that on the former governor of Anambra state Peter Obi visited her earlier this week.

Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has expressed delight over the recall of 2,700 of the 4,000 of the state’s indigenes earlier disengaged by his Abia State counterpart, Theodore Orji. The governor’s position was made known through a release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo. “The government of Imo State has received with delight the report that the Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji has, in his wisdom, reinstated the non-indigenes of the state, who were sacked from the state’s civil service some time ago,” Okorocha stated. Commending his Abia State counterpart for the gesture, Okorocha said Orji appreciated the concern of most Nigerians, especially the Igbos, over the sacking of the non-indigenes from the state’s civil service, with all those affected coming from the other states in the South-East. “Those who spoke against the action when it was taken, didn’t do so out of malice or hatred, but out of the concern that such initiative

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) on Friday described the killing of Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrisa Timta, as irresponsible, callous and a declaration of war on the traditional institution. It also expressed shock and disbelief at the assassination attempt on the lives of Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Mamza and Emir of Askira, Alhaji Mai Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Askirama by gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect. The Borno State first class traditional rulers were abducted on Friday while travelling to Gombe State for the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe, Shehu Abubakar, who died earlier in the week. The condemnation of the dastardly act was contained in a statement issued in Minna by Israel Ebije, the Chief Press Secretary to the Forum’s Chairman Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State. Aliyu, who described the killing as “irresponsible, callous and an affront on the traditional institution and collective heritage of Nigerians” lamented that the attack cam

Nigerian-American student Omotayo Adeoye (pictured above) went missing after attempting to commit suicide. Omotayo, a student of High School of Mathematics and Science, had attempted suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge Thursday afternoon May 29th around 3.30pm. According to Sahara Reporters, New York Police say they were told by eye-witnesses that Omotayo jumped from the bridge and hit the Hudson River but astonishingly survived the jump as she was seen surfacing from the river shortly after jumping and then swimming towards the New York bank of the Hudson river. She hasn't been seen since then. Police officials told SR that Adeoye is “still considered missing” and that their investigation in this case is ongoing.

It's good news at last, away from the fees-hike crisis facing OAU. The Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife, has signed a framework of understanding for the exchange of lecturers and other educational resources with The University of The Gambia, (UTG),  Sere Kunda. Signed on Wednesday, during the visit of the Vice Chancellor of the UTG, Professor Muhammadou MO Kah's five-day visit to the OAU, the deal will last for 10 years. According to a Star Africa report, strengthen their individual, institutional and collective academic programs and further develop important linkages, cooperation and friendship. Student Pulse understands that the foundation for the MoU was born two years after an OAU delegation, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole, visited The Gambia. In April 2014, OAU's Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Professor Ayobami Salami, made another visit which let to the MoU between the two institutions.

Network Africa looks at how far things have gone concerning bringing back the missing schoolgirls in Nigeria, amidst claims by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, that the military had located the girls. Demonstrators in the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, however, have vowed to carry on with their protests. South Sudan is relying heavily on the international community as more funds are also needed to save the people of Central African Republic. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says more assistance is needed in an overcrowded and flooded South Sudanese Refugee Camp where almost 100,000 people are sheltered in tents. Illegal immigration is also on the rise, as migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa penetrate the United Kingdom in search of greener pastures at all cost.

Competent security sources confirmed that the Gwoza emir is dead. Some sources said he died of heart attack while fleeing into the bush after the gunmen had fired several vehicles at their vehicle which forced it to stop. “Already, arrangement is being made to bring his corpse to Gwoza from Shafa. His corpse was found in the bush,” a source said. The emir of Uba, who is said to be younger had escaped while many of the people in their entourage have been reportedly abducted by the attackers. It was gathered that most of the vehicles in the convoy have been set ablaze. Latest story from Uba Emirate indicates that the emir, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza has narrowly escaped. One of his in-laws confirmed to Daily Trust that  he spoke with the emir by phone who confirmed to him that he was ok. However, there is no certainty on the where about of Emir of Gwoza, Ahaji Idrissa Timta. It was gathered that the two of them were in the same car when the suspected gunmen ambushed them.

While promoting her stage play, Hear Word, where she plays a sexually active old woman, veteran actress Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, said old people still enjoy sex and some are quite sexually active. "I am an old woman in the play and in real life. I am 73. The society doesn't think older women exist anymore, nobody thinks they feel anything. The people around old women never realize they are going through a turmoil, nobody cares about them. So what I am trying to portray is that it's not over until it is over. That an old woman is still alive in more ways than one, they still have sexual urges, people forget an old woman is human. An old woman enjoys her sexual life more when she no longer thinks about children's school fees, when the children have all gone to their husband's houses or in some cases the boys have married and it remains only the old woman and her husband. It never crosses our mind that these old parents can still get on whenever they like. Do you know th

Here are the 10 most corrupt police forces in the world. 10. Pakistan Police. Pakistan’s police has been ranked among the most corrupt institutions in the country in a survey by an international anti-graft watchdog. Many citizens believe that the police is the most corrupt sector of the Pakistani government. Police brutality, extortion bribery and arresting innocent citizens are all crimes that have been committed among Pakistan’s police forces. 9. Russia Police. Russian government is no stranger to corruption, especially within its police force. Within recent years, facts have surfaced about the corruption and crimes being committed by Russian police officers. Police brutality, extorting bribes and arresting innocent citizens are all crimes that have been committed among Russian police forces. In order to ensure monthly quotas and make ends meet, Russian police turn to corruption and bribery. 8. Sudan Police. Sudan is one of the most corrupt countries for various reasons. Not

Nollywood producer-director, Charles Novia has condemned singer Tiwa Savage‘s new music video. The Nigerian Pop singer released her much talked about racy video ‘Wanted’ on May 28, 2014. It has garnered over 60,000 views in less than 24 hours. The visuals directed by Mr Moe Musa in the UK can best be described as sexually suggestive. Many including Novia has disapproved of the content. On Twitter, the director wrote, ‘Rihanna and Beyonce and all other Yankee gals doing the Unclad video stuff at least have originality in their insanity. This one is…smh‘‎. He also complained about the source of Nigerian artists’ inspiration. ‘Rihanna exposes her bosoms and booty and a mad fever grips almost every female act in Nigeria to also show their own t*t*. Haba!’ and advised that the thin line between art and lewdness be maintained. ‘When you start exposing punanies & manlinesses in d name of silly ‘art’ , then those shouting ‘hypocrisy’ shd let their kids go Unclad to sch‘, he said.

16 year old Vincent Parker pleaded guilty yesterday to murdering his parents Carol and Wayne Parker last December. The boy says that there was no specific fight that prompted the brutal MURDER. The sadistic killer told authorities, ‘I just remember getting mad,’ Parker told the court. ‘It’s all from my dad. All this stuff like my dad taking away my iPod and stuff.’ The story gets worse. Vincent was an only child being raised by his hard working parents Carol, 57, and father Wayne, 55, in their Norfolk, Virginia home. They did everything right – they lived in a good neighborhood, and helped Vincent become an honor roll student. But he boy snapped one day . . . and turned into a moster. On December 19, 2013 Vincent left school early while his dad was still at work. He showed up at the family home and surprised his mother – by dousing her in pepper spray. vincent parker While the 57 year old woman was blinded and unable to defend herself, Vincent stabbed his mother in the eye, and t

Members of the presidential fact-finding committee on the abducted Chibok school girls yesterday May 29th paid a visit to Chibok community. In a statement signed by the committee spokesman, Kingsley Osadolor, the committee met with some officials of the Borno state government, including the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Musa Kubo, Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Bana Lawan, five district heads of the surrounding communities, Chairman of the Parent Teachers Association of the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, the principal and parents of the abducted girls. Some of the girls who escaped from their abductors were also present at the meeting. Read part of the statement after the cut... "Members of the committee visited the burnt-out structures of Government Secondary School, where the girls were abducted. The receiving party conducted members of the committee round the grounds of the school. The principal, vice principals, matrons of the hostels, as well as

According to breaking news report by Premium Times, Boko Haram men this morning kidnapped 2 first class traditional rulers in Borno State - the Emir of Uba, Ismaila Mamza and the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta. According to security officials who spoke with Premium Times, the emirs were seized by the gunmen around 10a.m today Friday May 30th near Shaffa while they were traveling to Gombe to attend the funeral of the Emir of Gombe, Shehu Abubakar, who died on Tuesday May 27th. (pictured above) The Borno state government is yet to issue an official statement on the abduction.

Popular smartphone brand Infinix recently introduced a new tablet to the market, as well as a series of giveaways to reward buyers. The new Joypad 8s is another high-end device from Infinix, and this promotion is in partnership with Konga.com. The Infinix Joypad 8s, beautifully designed in France, is sleek to the eye and for buying it via e-commerce shop, Konga, buyers stand to win loads of freebies including branded gift items, free nationwide deliveries and the star prize of  a new Hyundai i10 car. These offers are only open to the first 500 people who buy the tablet from Konga.com. Continue... Benjamin Jiang, CEO Infinix, corroborates this in a recent chat saying: "We want to offer customers the best Product, with the best quality, and to let people know about our intentions we are partnering with Konga to offer a brand new car to one of our lucky winners." The Joypad 8s comes with amazing specifications which include a 4.2.1 Android OS, a 204 x 142 x 8.8mm size,

A few months after giving birth to her second child, actress Dakore Egbuson has returned to acting. She's one of the cast of the play, Hear Word, happening this May. Speaking about how easy it is for her to return to work despite having two young children at home, Dakore said she has a great support system who help her with the kids and that marriage and motherhood hasn't slowed her down "My mom is with my kids at home. My nanny is also at home. By the Grace of God, I have a great support system. My husband is very understanding. They believe in what I am doing and encourage me to forge ahead, so I can give my all to my job. With balancing marriage, motherhood and work, I prioritize. The home first. And when my husband realizes I am deviating from my duty, I have to push myself back. Family first and once family has been taken care of, I can then fly. Yes, marriage slows people down if you allow it. I believe a woman can have it all but not at the same time. You have

This is the first picture of Sudanese woman Meriam Ibrahim, who was sentenced to death for apostasy, from inside the prison where she's being held. In this pic, Meriam carries her new born baby girl Maya, who was born this week in prison. Her legs were reportedly chained as she gave birth in prison. the 27 year old has been in prison for eight months now and is awaiting execution for doing nothing but marrying a Christian man. Right is Meriam's husband, Daniel Wani, with the new baby. Despite just given birth, it's being reported that Meriam will be given the 100 lashes that are part of her sentence in 2weeks' time unless she wins her appeal. Meriam has refused to renounce Christianity and Sudanese authorities are bent on the barbaric punishment despite mounting international outrage.

One of the sons of former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja, died yesterday Thursday May 29th in a fatal auto accident on Eko Bridge. Adebola Ladoja, who was driving a Volkswagen Golf car, was heading towards Lagos Island around 3.30pm when a DAF truck said to be on top speed lost control, rammed into the median of the bridge and then rammed into his car, crushing it and killing Adebola on the spot. "It took several hours before those who came to the rescue of the victim could break into the vehicle. He was trapped behind the wheel with blood gushing out of his head as a result of the impact,” an eyewitness said Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident and said the late Adebola's corpse has been deposited at the mortuary "On Eko Bridge, a Daf truck with registration number. JJJ 59 XA, driven by one Justice Oseghai, ran into a Volkswagen Golf car marked AKD 107 CJ, driven by Adebola Ladoja, son of the former Governor of Oy

News has it that Industry nite yesterday was fire and it very much indeed was. The TrippleMG squad were hot as the literally performed on water for their drenched-from-the rain fans. As expected,the Made Men Music Group; Iyanya, Emma Nyra, Tekno, Baci and Selebobo cannot be performing and a crowd with top celebrities will not show up, and show up they did. Nigerian multiple award winner Tuface Idibia who was seen partying with Wizkid in Houston a few days back was spotted at Maddox Lounge where TrippleMG launched their hot new album 'Evolution'. Tubaba attended the event hand in hand with his significant other Annie Idibia. Annie who has been tagged Tuface's ride or die chic is clearly proud of her husband and his accomplishments. Totally unfazed by rumours concerning her boo being unfaithful to her she proudly showed off a tattoo which had his name 'Idibia" and a musical note right next to it, this appears to be her second inking as her leg tattoo is pre

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, reacted to the news that he met with persons believed to be close to members of the Boko Haram sect, stating that he would not do so without the knowledge of the Presidency. Speaking to Channels Television at his hill top residence, he revealed that he was making moves to reach President Goodluck Jonathan before holding talks on the Chibok girls “but was surprised at how certain meetings have turned out”. “I cannot have a plan without the Presidency being involved”, he said, debunking claims that he was “going on a one man mission”. He insisted that it would be “idiotic” for him to have done so. He noted that he was beaten by Shehu Sani to letting the state and national authorities know the meeting had taken place and admitted that he owed them an apology. He added, “I have to involve the President and he also tells me this is what we are doing or this is what we are pursuing either in addition or along with what we are doing or n

ABOUT 50 protesting students of polytechnics and colleges of education were, on Wednesday, arrested by the police and detained in police stations in Yaba, Lagos. The students had organised a mass protest to air their grievrances over the failure of government to meet the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), which had led to closure of the institutions nationwide. According to reports gathered by the Nigerian Tribune, the students, numbering about 1,000, were harrassed and repressed with tear gas by the police at Alagomeji in Yaba, during the protest which started from Yaba College of Technology. The arrested students were detained at Adekunle and Sabo police stations, both in Yaba. Meanwhile, the Joint Action Front (JAF), whose members were part of the mass protest organised by the Concerned Students against Education Commercialisation (COSATEC), have condemned the repression of the peaceful pro

THE Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on Wednesday, said the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter- insurgency war has gone beyond Boko Haram Islamic sect to a broader war against Al-Qeada terror networks in North and West Africa. Badeh stated this in Abuja, when the Social Welfare Network Initiative (SWNI), a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based non-governmental organisations in Nigeria paid him a solidarity visit at Defence Headquarters. The CDS said the military and Federal Government were in a serious war far bigger than confronting Boko Haram, saying that Al- Qeada was now fully in charge of terrorist activities in the country. He, however, assured that despite the “formidable nature of the global terror network,” Nigeria will defeat them, while giving further assurance that the kidnapped Chibok girls will be rescued. “I will say this to you, we are fighting more than Boko Haram. We are no longer fighting Boko Haram but Al-Q

The Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Ahmed Jidda was a guest on Channels TV Breakfast show, Sunrise Daily this morning where he gave the state government's account on the missing Chibok girls and why Borno government appeared handicapped in providing security for the school girls on the night of the abduction. During the interview, the SSG said the initial number of girls abducted were 276 with 53 escaping and now remaining 223. He said with the recent return of 4 more girls, the number of girls now with the abductors is 219. He said the 77 girls shown in the recently released video by Abubakar Shekau have been identified by their parents and that the 57 girls that have so far returned are currently at the state Governments house where they are being taken care of. Continue... The SSG said the allegations that the abduction was stage managed by the Governor to stop extension of emergency rule was totally false and was discredited with the release of the vid

The Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna today May 29th revealed plans by President Jonathan to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram once they lay down their arms and embrace peace. The Minister revealed this while speaking this morning at the national Democracy Day programme tagged A day with young leaders of Nigeria. "President Goodluck Jonathan has also declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect. Series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace. Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the Federal Government, to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into the amnesty programme " he said According to the minister, over 300, 000 youths from the Niger Delta region have benefited from the amnesty programme of the Government. He said the beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme have turned from being militants to being wealth gen

In a symbolic blow to U.S. global financial hegemony, Russia and China took a small step toward undercutting the domination of the U.S. dollar as the international reserve currency on Tuesday when Russia’s second biggest financial institution, VTB, signed a deal with the Bank of China to bypass the dollar and pay each other in domestic currencies. The so-called Agreement on Cooperation — signed in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a visit to Shanghai — was followed by the long-awaited announcement on Wednesday of a massive natural gas deal 10 years in the making. “Our countries have done a huge job to reach a new historic landmark,” Putin said on Tuesday, making note of the $100 billion in annual trade that has been achieved between the two countries. Demand for the dollar, which has long served as a safe and reliable reserve currency in international transactions, has allowed the U.S. to borrow almost unlimited cash an

A young Chibok boy named Ibrahim Tilitili has confessed to razing a few houses in his small village in Mandara Girau village in Biu LGA of Borno state, Vanguard reports. Ibrahim later claimed a man named Mallam Sani, also a resident of the village, gave him N2,000 to carry out the arson. Ibrahim had set three houses ablaze, had caused serious panic and was getting ready to destroy more homes when some brave villagers apprehended him when they realized it was a lone attack. The youths had wanted to lynch the young boy when elders in the village intervened and he was instead arrested and taken to Sarkin Baka- renown hunter in Biu town, where he confessed to being instructed to set the houses ablaze. He then led the vigilante in the area to the man who claimed asked him to do it. Both were arrested and handed over to police in Biu town.

While answering questions at an interactive session marking Democracy Day at the International Conference center, President Jonathan said he has no reservations about appointing a youth as a Minister but said the elders must be around to guide the youth in carrying out the responsibilities of a Minister. He sid young people need the experiences of the elders to pilot the affairs of Nigeria. "You talk about mentors. I'm not saying youths cannot do certain jobs. anybody from the age of 25 and above can do any job. I remember when Rivers state was created, I was a Rivers man before Bayelsa state was created. The first Rivers state Military Governor Diete Spiff was about 28years old when he was appointed the military Governor of Rivers state. Gowon when he became Head of State was about 33years old so my Governor and the Head of State were youths but they worked with elders because I remember the cabinet members of Rivers state then were very matured people working with Diete S

D''banj won 'Best Selling African Artist' award at the 2014 World Music Awards which took place on Tuesday 27th of May at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco. D'banj performed at this event alongside artists such as Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Flo Rider, DJ Khaled, Ricky Martin, Tinie Tempah, Leonah Lewis and more!

Mr. President takes a ride in the first Made- in-Nigeria Nissan SUV!

Nigerian artist Brymo has joined fellow musicians such as Kanye West, Jay Z, Miley Cyrus, and Beyonce in becoming part of the curriculum at an American university. Some undergraduate communication studies students of the Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, have reportedly chosen to study Brymo as part of their project. The students are working on a project ‘Speech Communication 101’ and wish to use the singer as a case study for their project, after presenting a paper on his smash hit ‘Down’. ‘Just last month, our Communication students did lyrics decomposition of Brymo’s song titled ‘Down’. Success of the studies has prompted us to do further and more detailed studies of you, your music and your story. I write to inform you that as part of our yearly project work, my students will be studying you (your personality and music),’ said the notice, sent from the department of Communication Studies to Brymo and his management, and exclusively obtained by NET. The students, throu