President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the names of 7 persons to the National Assembly for confirmation as ministers as replacement for those who resigned to seek elective positions.
In the letter read by the Senate President on Tuesday, Buhari said the nominees would replace the former ministers that resigned from his cabinet.
The letter read in part, “In accordance with Section 8 Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I hereby forward the underlisted ministerial nominees for your confirmation.
Mr. Wassim El-HusseiniMBC PR – (L-R) Olutayo Olatunji – Category Manager Beverages at Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Wassim El-Husseini – Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Olabisi Joseph – President of Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), Lanre Balogun – Executive Secretary of National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF) and Babs Ogunade representing the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) during the Press Conference of the 22nd Milo Basketball Championship at the Nestlé Head Office on Monday
By Bisade Ojoye
Nestlé has announced the 2022 finals of MILO Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship at a press conference. The draws to determine the pattern of play at the finals were also held during the event. Twelve teams will play in the finals: six each in the male and female categories.
The finalists include Government Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State; Akpur College, Gboko, Benue State; St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State; David Hall College, Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos State; Government Girls Secondary School, Bukavu, Kano State; and Queen Amina College, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna State in the girls’ category.
In the boy’s category are Dutse Model International Secondary School, Jigawa State;Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT; King Amachree Academy, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Topfield College, Ajugunle, Apapa, Lagos; Victorroti Private Secondary School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Bishop Dimieari Grammar School, Obom, Bayelsa State.
The Championship started this year with over 10,000 teams participating at the State preliminaries. The winners from the first stage went on to the Regional Conference stage where the finalists who will play in the National Finale emerged.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Mr. Wassim El-Husseini said “For over two decades now, Nestlé has been at the forefront of grassroots sports development in Nigeria through the Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship. We continue to do our utmost to help shape a healthier and happier generation of Nigerians by encouraging them to participate in sporting activities. MILO Basketball Championship also provides a platform to help children imbibe values that set the right foundation for their future. They learn grit – perseverance through hardship, courage to overcome fear, ability to work in a team, self-belief, respect, and leadership.”
Also speaking at the press conference, the Category Manager – Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Mr. Olutayo Olatunji said “The MILO Basketball Championship now brings together over 10,000 schools every year. This Championship started with less than 500 schools in 1999. The school game has grown beyond being just a sport to a passion that helps to discipline the body and mind. We thank our long-standing partners who have been part of the success of the MILO Basketball Championship for these 22 editions – the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF)”.
According to the National President of the Nigeria Schools’ Sports Federation, Olabisi Joseph, “Nestlé Nigeria PLC has made significant contributions to the growth of sports in Nigeria and the creation of a bright future for young people by supporting and promoting basketball in schools.” She said further, “Every year, our schoolboys and girls look forward to participating in the biggest grassroots basketball championship in Africa, which is fondly called MILO Basketball.”
Mr. Lanre Balogun, Executive Secretary of the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NSSF), who also spoke at the press conference said, ”This Championship continues to grow from strength to strength, thanks to the commitment of our sponsors, Nestlé Nigeria PLC. We will all agree that 22 years of continuous sponsorship in the life of any organization is highly commendable and worthy of emulation. Therefore, Nestlé Nigeria PLC deserves all the accolades for maintaining the sponsorship of this event.”
The draws grouped the six teams in the girls’ and boys’ categories each into groups ‘A’ and ‘B’. In the girls’ category, St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, Government Girls Secondary School, Bukavu, Kano State and Queen Amina College, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna State will play in group ‘A’, while David Hall College, Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos State, Government Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State and Akpur College, Gboko, Benue State and will play in group ‘B’.
In the boys’ category, Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT, Bishop Dimieari Grammar School, Obom, Bayelsa State and Victorroti Private Secondary School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State will play in group ‘A’ while Topfield College, Ajugunle, Apapa, Lagos, King Amachree Academy, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Dutse Model International Secondary School, Jigawa State, will play in group ‘B’.
The first Conference – Savanna Conference – was hosted at the Sanni Abacha Stadium, Kano, from May 7-13, 2022. The states that make up this Conference are: Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Zamfara, and host Kano. Others are Gombe, Katsina, Bauchi and Jigawa. The girls from Government Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State, won in the girls category while the boys from Dutse Model International Secondary School, Jigawa State won in the boys category.
The Championship then moved to the Ilorin Township Stadium, in the Kwara State capital, for the Central Conference from 14th to 20th of May. The states invited to play at the Central Conference are Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and host Kwara. Others are Benue, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and the F.C.T (Abuja). Akpur College, Gboko, Benue State emerged Champions in the girls’ category, while Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT won in the boys’ category.
The Equatorial Conference was hosted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu from 21st to 27th of May 2022. The states that make up this Conference are Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and host Enugu. Others are Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo and Anambra. St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State won in the girls’ category while King Amachree Academy, Port Harcourt, Rivers State won in the boys’ category.
The fourth and final Conference – Western Conference which comprised: Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and the host state, Oyo was hosted at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital from May 28 to June 3, 2022.
Others are Edo, Delta, Osun and Kogi. At this Conference, David Hall College, Obalende Ikoyi, and Topfield College, Ajugunle, Apapa, both from Lagos won in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively.
As it is the tradition of the Championship, four best losing teams were also invited to participate in the grand finale. In the girls’ category both Government Girls Secondary School, Bukavu, Kano State and Queen Amina College, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna State emerged best losing teams from the four Conferences while Victorroti Private Secondary School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Bishop Dimieari Grammar School, Obom, Bayelsa State emerged in the boys’ category from the four Conferences.
These six teams will jostle for the coveted prices of a Champions trophy, cash prize, basketball kits and lots of other MILO goodies in both the boys’ and girls’ categories of the Championship. This year, the National Finals will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos from June 25 to July 1, 2022.
The final games will be played in both the girls’ and boys’ categories on Thursday June 30, 2022.
Lafarge Africa Set To Hold 5th Edition of Concrete Ideas Series Lafarge Africa Plc., a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions is set to hold its public policy thought-leadership series, Concrete Ideas 5.0, which is scheduled to take place at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on June 28, 2022.
Now in its 5th year, Lafarge’s Concrete Ideas series have become not only a high-profile platform for the discussion of construction and real estate sector policies but also deliberations on broader public policy problems. The concrete ideas platform embodies Lafarge Africa’s thought leadership interventions and has become a catalyst for the attainment of sustainable change, continuous improvement and commercial success within the sector.
Since its launch in October 2020, the sessions have been attended by leaders of several professional bodies in the construction sector as well as senior government officials, including the Honourable Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN who has participated in three sessions and the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite.
According to Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor, Head, Corporate Communications, Lafarge Africa Plc, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to chair the fifth edition and lead other renowned experts both in the public and private sector of the construction industry in the discussion to proffer far-reaching solutions and recommendations at the event.
Frank-Durugbor added that the fifth edition would allow key stakeholders and participants to share their voices and learn from a broad spectrum of speakers in the Nigerian built and construction landscape.
“The fifth edition with the theme: Building Up Safely: Government – Industry Collaborations; gives us a unique opportunity to take a vibrant and enticing look at how high-rise buildings could be a solution to the problem of scarcity and high cost of accommodation in urban centres in Nigeria. We believe this could be a spur of investment in the construction and real estate sector of our economy and we are looking forward to another engaging, informative and robust session from key speakers and participants at the event.”
Other renowned experts invited to participate at the event include Dr. Idris Salako, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development; Engr. Monsurat Aramide Adeoye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure; Kehinde Osinaike, General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA); Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA); Mrs Olajumoke Akinwunmi, Acting Chairman, Purple; Saadiya Aliyu, MD/CEO, Urban Shelter Limited and Femi Yusuff, Head, Mortar, Innovation & New Product Development, Lafarge Africa Plc.
The concrete ideas series continues to attract key players within the public and private sectors. Lafarge working with leading stakeholders in the built and construction industry has created a succinct and coherent policy blueprint from the public policy series. This new policy blueprint is expected to be unveiled at the event.
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has said his administration would not discriminate in the construction of roads regardless of their status as far as they have potentials that would promote economic activities in the State
The governor who stated this when he inspected the ongoing construction of the 25 kilometres Illisan- Ago-Iwoye road, said his government would repair or construct any road that would bring in more investors and enhance the economy of the state.
According to the governor,” we will ensure that roads, regardless of whether they are owned by federal or state are given attention. We will ensure that we repair or construct them so that we can bring people to our state to come and invest which will in turn enhance the economy of our state and people.
“This Illisan-Ago-Iwoye road is a Federal Government road but it is one of the roads we feel that we should construct. It is a road that criss-crosses about four local government areas. It is one that leads to our International Airport and our premier university, that is the Olabisi Onabanjo University and it is an economic road that leads to Oyo and Osun states.
“This road had been abandoned for about 12-16 years, thereby inflicting untold hardship on our people, and a lot of inconveniences to our students as well as affecting the economy of the communities along the road.
“The people don’t want to know whether the road belongs to the federal or state government. Each time they travel on a bad road, they geo-locate their pain to where their feeling is and as a responsive government, we are living up to their expectations”. Abiodun stated.
He said that the poor condition of the road had, in the past affected the people who are mainly farmers as their farm produce perished before reaching the markets.
Abiodun who expressed satisfaction on the level and quality of work done on the road.
“In the course of our campaign, we promised that we will do this road to if we are voted for. Today, I am glad we have fulfilled that promise. Though this road is a dual carriageway, we have constructed one lane to ensure that at least a journey that takes about one and a half hour is now 15 minutes. It will also allow our people to take their farm produce to the market. This road has alleviated their pains and sufferings, and has now affected them positively, economically “, he noted.
The governor also stated that his administration has constructed the Ijebu-Ode-Epe, Sagamu-Abeokuta, and the ongoing construction of Atan-Lusada-Agbara roads, all, which belong to the federal government, maintaining that the roads are in line with the deliberate plan to ensure that development is equitably distributed to all parts of the state.
So-Safe Corps Officers, Bode Olude Division have recovered stolen motorcycle while on routine patrol of the state
Early hours of June 16 2022, during the heavy downpour, they noticed 3 motorcycles coming towards their direction along Aigoro road, the officers attempted to stop them but they ignored the officers & accelerated, the swift officer chased them and eventually one out of the (3) three motorcycle with registration number 939UL, Engine Number HF5AM17A7928, TVS product was recovered while the criminals ran away.
According to a release signed by ACC Moruf Yusuf, Director of Information and Public Relations, while So-Safe was preparing to move the motorcycle to the Divisional Police Headquarters at Bode Olude, some people came to the Divisional Office of So safe Corps and identified the recovered motorcycle as one motorcycles stolen from their house near ‘Fear of God Block Industry’ , Onward pure water, Oke Ola, Bode Olude.
The owner of the motorcycle, Mr. Ahmed Aina came with all necessary documents & his neighbours attested to his ownership, as such, after necessary information and documentation the motorcycle was released to him.
A House Of Representative candidate for Badagry Federal Constituency under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Sesi Whingan has enjoined residents of the area to participate actively in the forthcoming elections by obtaining their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and engaging potential political leaders on real issues prior to the election.
Whingan who stated this at the official report on the names shortlisted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the primary conducted on 27th, May, 2022, to the people of the area, assuring his loyalists and members that his name was dully submitted to electoral body to contest for the house of representatives.
“We believe, it is now time to show greater love for our great party (APC) by mobilizing for more support from the general public, via massive sensitization and persuasion on the benefits of their registration and collection of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs)”, he said
On the list of candidates submitted to the electoral body, Whingan said “In fact, the list which contain the names of candidates elect for the House of Representative that comprises of flagbearers in the various federal constituency had been sent to the INEC, we have cross checked it, and it is okay.
“We are glad to inform you that your choice candidate, Hon. Sesi Olwaseun Whingan’s name is in the list, as Badagry Federal Constituency candidate for House of Representative of the party”, he added
He hailed the leadership of the party (APC) for their commitment and doggedness applied in chosen the right candidate for the position, he also appreciated the youths and women wing of the constituency for their prayers, patient and perseverance, promising that he would not let them down and pay them with utmost responsibilities.
He then charged the federal government to ensure massive improvement in security and economic issues even at the twilight of the administration, saying people were expecting to sleep with the two eyes closed.
Liverpool have agreed to sell Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich for a deal worth up to £35m. News of Mane’s impending move came as the Senegal star took part in a parade around his country and returned to play football on a muddy surface in his home town Bambaly. The game saw former Senegalese internationals Papiss Cisse and El-Hadji Diouf also playing with a large crowd watching on.
Mane, although cherished by those associated with Liverpool, tends to receive only a fraction of the attention and acclaim afforded to his team-mate. It has been that way ever since the Egyptian’s arrival, a year after his, in 2017.
He departs, however, having played a similarly crucial role in the club’s transformation during Klopp’s tenure, leaving an indelible mark on Liverpool and indeed on the Premier League as a whole.
His arrival from Southampton in 2016 signalled the start of the glorious chapter that followed. Mane was, after all, Klopp’s first major signing. Fast, ferociously aggressive and ruthlessly efficient, he came to embody Klopp’s Liverpool perhaps better than anyone else.
Together with Salah, he helped redefine expectations of wide forwards, reaching double figures for goals in six consecutive seasons and scoring at least 20 in four of them. His overall total of 120 puts him 14th in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts.
The numbers cement his Liverpool legacy while the consistency of his output, as well as the pivotal role he played in the club’s first title triumph in 30 years in 2020, ensures Premier League greatness too.
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has appointed two clerics as Consultants on Religious Matters.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, the consultants are Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya for the Christian faith and Sheikh Iskeel Lawal, better known as Sugar for the Islamic religion.
The statement stated that with their appointments, Bishop Akin-Akinsanya who is the present chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Sheikh Lawal, the Wakilin Musulumi of Yorubaland including Edo and Delta States, are to ensure inter faith relationship and religious harmony in the state.
Their appointments, “is also in recognition of the role of religion in ensuring the social welfare and wellbeing of the citizens as encapsulated in the “Building of Future Together” Agenda of the present Administration in Ogun State”, the statement added.
The governor noted that though Ogun has been known for religious harmony and tolerance, the two Consultants are expected to work together to further deepen and enhance inter faith harmony in the state.
Abiodun, in the statement, charged the appointees to bring their wide spiritual experience to bear on their new assignment, expressing confidence that their appointment will further put the state on global map of religious harmony and collaboration.
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya has reiterated the State Government’s commitment to sustaining the provision of support to farmers as part of its efforts to boost food production in the State.
She made the assertion at the quarterly sensitisation programme organised by the Lagos State Agricultural Inputs Supply Authority (LAISA) for farmers at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja. Explaining that LAISA has been at the forefront of supplying farmers in the State, Ms. Olusanya affirmed that high-quality inputs such as farm implements, agrochemicals and seedlings are made available at affordable prices.
The Commissioner, represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olatokunbo Emopkai, said the State Government has established eight Farm Service Centres in five divisions of the State to give farmers easy access to quality agricultural inputs and ensure that the agency remains a One-Stop-Centre for agricultural inputs supply to farmers in Lagos.
Also speaking, the Acting General Manager, Market Research & Development, LAISA, Mr. Olatoyinbo Ojuri, appreciated the Ministry of Agriculture for being consistent in supporting the agency to provide qualitative service to farmers across the State. Ojuri also appreciated and commended the farmers for their commitment to providing ample food for residents in Lagos State, stressing that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to supporting their efforts through LAISA.
The management of Bauchi State-owned Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, has suspended a senior staff member of the institution, Raliya Kashim, for campaigning for the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
The letter announcing the suspension was signed by Maimako Baraya, the polytechnic’s spokesman.
Bauchi State is governed by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr. Kashim is the deputy general manager of consultancy services of the polytechnic.
In the letter, Mr Baraya said Mr Kashim knew that the state’s public service rule prohibits civil servants from participating in partisan politics.
“The employee recently posted videos containing campaign materials of the presidential and the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is a clear violation of the code of ethics for public servants,” he said.
“The management of the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic wishes to categorically state that the institution is a professional entity governed by rules and it shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all employees respect the laws of the institution.
“We wish to assure the general public that there would be no sacred cow and it will never be intimidated by the activities of political jobbers, fifth columnists and enemies of the state,” he said.
In a separate letter signed by Mr Baraya, the institution said Mr Kashim’s suspension was not politically motivated.
“The action taken by the management against the employee in question was consequent upon the above. Any attempt by anybody to elude any motive from any quarter is a cheap attempt to score political gains.
“For the avoidance of doubt and for the information of the general public especially the good people of Bauchi State, the management of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi wishes to state categorically that the institution is a professional entity governed by rules and regulation and having achieved this feat it shall leave no stone unturned in its determination to ensure that all its employees maintain the highest level of professionalism and respect for the rules of the institution,” Mr Baraya added.
Efforts to get Mr. Kashim to respond to this allegation was thwarted by his refusal to pick his voice calls to his number.
Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO), former Chief of staff to Governor Governor Kayode Fayemi has won Ekiti State Governorship election held yesterday, Saturday.
Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanjo
Oyebanji who contested the election on the platform of All Progressives Congress won the election with 107, 913 ballots to beat Social Democratic Party candidate, Olusegun Adebayo Oni who had 42,122 and People’s Democratic Party flagbearer, Olabisi Kolawole who got 42, 838 votes
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