Meet Chimamanda Adichie As She wows Kenyan fans at Book launch

The award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 36, is in town for a week of book launches, public lectures and a gala dinner to mark Kwani Trust 10th Year Anniversary.

"The best part about #KwaniAt10 is the fact that they got Chimamanda (Adichie) to come," tweeted popular literary blogger, Wamathai. 
A sentiment many a book lover shares of the Nigerian author whose pen stroke is said to increasingly resemble her idol, the late Chinua Achebe.
Kwani Trust, describing itself as a Kenyan-based literary network dedicated to developing quality creative writing and committed to the growth of the creative industry, couldn't have picked a better guest to fly in.
Fairly little is known about her studies in medicine and pharmacy at the University of Nigeria.
Perhaps her degree in Communications and Masters in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University would be more palatable to her following in light of who she has become - Africa's daughter and much acclaimed teller of tales.

To the world, she is a sight to behold. When she checked into the Westhouse Hotel on Wednesday evening, this age-defying, chocolate-skinned personification of calmness had no airs about her.
In her flat ballerina shoes, comfortable pants and orange top, Chimamanda looked every inch like the girl next door; making easy conversation with the hotel aids at her disposal.
The day that followed saw her join the who's who in Nairobi along with the Kwani Trust Board of Trustees over dinner with only the slim Mathari River sweeping between them and the Karura Forest.

Reading after reading by Binyavanga Wainaina, Yvonne Adhiambo Ouwor and others followed while she smiled, laughed a little; going deep into the night surrounded by Kenya's literary giants.
When she took to the podium, the short time that was hers was spent between her hair reflections, a reading from Americanah, her latest novel set in both Nigeria and the United States and, abounding praise for a Kenyan author, Yvonne Adhiambo Ouwor, whose novel she is reading with great intrigue.
Of hair, she expressed her marvel in Nairobi's women who wear their hair natural.
She called it "inspiring" that after every weave-wearing lady she came across, one with an Afro do would come along making it seem "equally normal", much to her delight.

Hair is no small conversation for Chimamanda. In her Channel 4 interview earlier this year, she called it a "political thing" one by which people make assumptions and that society through the media had taken the liberty to define straight hair as what constitutes beautiful.
"When you look at women's magazines, and these things matter and what is on television, what the society tells us is beautiful, its straight hair. And so we have young girls growing up with that in their heads. It’s something I want to talk about, I want to address and want to challenge".

In her latest novel, Americanah, she touches on the hair issue - weaving it into her picture of the complexity of cross cultural relationships.
Americanah will be launched in Kenya on November 29 alongside Yvonne Adhiambo Ouwor's debut novel, Dust.
It took her five years to write Americanah and, believe it or not, she still wants to make changes in the book. "I'm a slow writer.It takes me a while to be happy with a sentence. I do a lot of rewriting and revising. I'm a bit obsessive," she admitted in an interview, her alto thinly laced in her native accent.
Obsessive or not, Chimamanda is loved and her titles hailed as ‘unputdownable’, to say the least; wooing the reader's mind into her world of Fufu among other Enugu favourites.

An ardent reader at the event claimed to have learned Igbo words from her trips down the pages Chimamanda wrote and while she is convinced that Half of A Yellow Sun is the best title yet, she's keen to check out Americanah.

It’s that sense of belonging that she carries with her in her title and her outfits that makes her a darling of the continent. Not so much the 19 awards and nominations to her name, dating back to 2002.

To date, her most recognisable works remain Purple Hibiscus (2003) which was well received, Half of A Yellow Sun (2006), based on the Biafra War and Thing Around Your Neck ((2009), a collection of short stories.
Now Kenya takes in Americanah tonight at its launch clinging to the hope that the film, Half of A Yellow Sun won’t take much longer to stop over as well. Watch trailer here.

5 Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs

A decade ago, I helped found a business dedicated to helping entrepreneurs bring their business ideas to fruition. I've mentored and coached hundreds of entrepreneurs since. Many of my students have licensed their ideas to powerful companies or brought them to market themselves through venturing. I've often wondered what differentiates successful entrepreneurs from their peers. Are there certain qualities they share? I think so. But I also think it's important to acknowledge that timing, luck and simply being in the right place at the right time play a part in many success stories.

Decades of personal experience and mentoring have taught me that successful entrepreneurs share these five qualities:

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1. An unwavering passion.
The advice to do what you love has become a bit of a cliché. Everyone says, "Find your passion." But that's easier said than done. Being an entrepreneur demands commitment and dedication -- more than most jobs do, I'd argue. If you're ambivalent or mildly enthused about your product or service, that's not going to sustain you through the highs and lows that will inevitably occur. If you find something you love enough to want to share it with others, that love will fuel and give you purpose.

2. Open-mindedness.
The most successful entrepreneurs I know never forget how much they can learn from others. They ask for advice. They're flexible. They soak up the best practices around them like a sponge. Fear of failure can make it easy to grip onto your vision with an iron fist, but rigidity won't serve you.

3. The desire to be an expert.
Entrepreneurs like a challenge. If they didn't, they'd probably have chosen another line of work. But as exciting as it is to consider a new field, high-achieving entrepreneurs know the benefits of staying in the same industry for a while are immense. When you spend years in the same industry, you learn its history. Knowing what's been done before can help you identify how it can and should move forward. In the meantime, you'll build a network of relationships to support you in future endeavors, especially when times are lean. Those relationships are invaluable.

4. A forward-looking approach.
Successful entrepreneurs are always thinking ahead. They may stray from their roadmap, and that's okay, but they have one in mind. Having a clearly established set of goals will keep you from getting stuck. Your goals may be constantly evolving, but if you don't know where you want to go, chances are, you won't get anywhere.

5. A constant flow of ideas.
Having one project that's doing well is great. But the successful entrepreneurs I know don't rest on their laurels. Instead, they're constantly asking themselves, "What's next?" They understand that being a successful entrepreneur is a lifestyle choice, not a destination.

Embrace these qualities and you will become a better entrepreneur.

Stephen Key

The author is an Entrepreneur contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Kris Jenner 'ashamed' of Kanye West video

Kris Jenner is reportedly "ashamed" of Kim Kardashian's appearance in Kanye West's 'Bound 2' video and thinks it is "degrading"..

The showbiz matriarch - who is also her daughter's manager - only got to see Kanye West's new video two days before it was made public and is said to have told the brunette beauty that appearing topless in the promotional film is "degrading" and damaging to her credibility.

A source said: "Kris went ballistic, telling her daughter this is worse than the 2007 leaked sex tape that Kim made with her ex-boyfriend Ray J, because that was meant to stay private, while this was meant to go public. She started crying, saying how ashamed she was to see her daughter being 'forced into something so degrading'. She's saying that Kim's destroyed all of her credibility."

And Kim's sisters are also said to have been critical of the video and Kanye's influence over her.

The source continued: "The family are appalled, because it's just not like Kim. Everyone is blaming Kanye and questioning just how much he controls Kim.

"Kourtney told her she thought the video was disgusting and disrespectful, to the family and all their relatives, but also questioned why Kim did it."

The family are now planning to urge the reality star - who has five-month-old daughter North with Kanye - to join them for group therapy.

The source told heat magazine: "They are considering an intervention. They think Kim is really struggling and 'all over the place' since she had baby North. Kim has never let herself be this influenced before when it comes to her image and brand. So everyone wants to go into family therapy sessions - they sit the person down and tell them they are all worried and have therapy as a group."

Meet The Man Tinubu Wants to Take Over as Governor in Lagos

Strong indications have emerged that the leadership of All Progressives Congress in Lagos have acquiesced to the request of Christians in the state for a Christian governor in 2015. The candidate of choice is Ayo Gbeleyi, the present Commissioner of Finance in the administration of quintessential Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The decision to present a Christian candidate emerged after due consultations with eminent Christian leaders and clerics who have promised to mobilise other faithfuls to vote enmasse for the party if a Christian emerges as gubernatorial candidate in the state. The leadership of the APC, after a thorough search, have found a willing and reliable Christian candidate in Ayo Gbeleyi, a thoroughbred professional known for his exceptional brilliance and intelligence. Since the searchlight has beamed on Gbeleyi, Christian leaders are delighted that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only heeded to their demands but responded accordingly. They had argued that Moslems have successively governed the state since the inception of democracy. It is just fair and equitable to allow a Christian to govern Lagos, given the fact that successive governors of the state since 1999 that democracy returned have been Moslems. Besides, they argued that the three Senatorial seats are occupied by Moslems.

The call for a Christian governor, observers of politics in the state reasoned is not to ignite any religious crisis but to ensure balance and equity. Observers opined that the efforts of successive administrations in the state in areas of governance, accountability and reliability are not and should not be exclusive of faith or religion. A thoroughbred candidate like Gbeleyi, they posited, is equally suitable for the exalted post. With his pedigree and insights in public service, finance, procurement, construction, project management, etc, he is, no doubt, a round peg in a round hole. It could be recalled that he single-handedly planned and made a major breakthrough with his well-thoughout Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative in Lagos.

While he served as the Director-General of the parastatal, he also doubled as the Senior Adviser to the Executive Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on the project. Over time, his visionary leadership amid pressure, necessity and even adversity on several projects in his purview yielded unprecedented positivity and growth that sooner than ever, Lagos becomes an envy spot in PPP.

Commendable is his ability to work seamlessly with the Ministries Department Agencies (MDAs) to realise and institutionalise Lagos of our dream and the government strides to make the state a Megacity is achieved. The beauty and elegance we see in the services of the Bus Rapid Transit, (BRT), Lekki-Epe Toll Concession, the Independent Power Plant, Oluwole and Tejuoso Market Developments, Adeniran Ogunsanya Ultra Modern Shopping and Retail Commercial Centres are some of the lofty ideas he has shared and executed with the support of the purposeful leadership in the saddle of governance in the state. Asiwaju Tinubu, after wide consultations with all interest groups and political blocs in the state, is optimistic that Gbeleyi with his background can effortlessly manage the internally generated revenue of over N18billion of the state and continue in the stride of previous governments to make Lagos an enviable commercial base. It takes a visionary leader to fish out a promising successor.

Asiwaju, from all ramifications have proven that he knows one when he sees one. His ability and confidence in his choice of BRF as his successor has proven his insightful leadership. He will not go wrong with Ayo Gbeleyi. According to reliable sources, Gbeleyi, in readiness for the task ahead, has not only received the nod of top ans formidable stakeholders in politics, he has built a financial war chest in excess of N8 billion to prosecute his electionering campaign. His readiness from all fronts, our sources hinted, gives Asiwaju a strong conviction that he is the man for the job and other contenders are pretenders.

He has also built a formidable media team to actualise his dream. For Gbeleyi, it has been a calculated rise to the top. His recent appointment on the recommendation of his immediate past boss, the former Finance Commissioner, Hon. Tokunbo Abiru, the express approval by the Executive Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and the state’s Assembly speak volume of his character and disposition towards public service. With his record of service, wisdom and support from all stakeholders and the people of Lagos State, Hon. Ayo Gbeleyi is poised to steer the ship of the state to greater heights

5 Ways To Get Those Killer Abs

 

You can be at the top of any game with those chiselled six-pack abs. You can't deny the fact that a ripped core earns respect at the drop of a hat. Impressive as it may sound, getting those killer abs is mean business. But if you have the right strategies and pointers to guide you to a swashbuckling physique, you are not far from that goal.

And guess what? We give you five simple ways to get those abs in place without having to even lift a finger, leave aside eccentric working out for hours in the gym. Did we just hear a round of Thank-Yous, mate?

 

Have A Drink After Workout - Sounds good, right? We knew you would love it. Just a small clarification: we mean a tall glass of high-quality whey protein shake and not alcohol. Protein is required after a workout in order to repair broken down muscle tissues. This in turns results in greater muscle growth, and eventually a faster metabolic rate. That, of course, leads to more fat-burning and uncovers your abs in the course.

 

Catch Some Shut-Eye - Sure, sleep is a luxury in today's world. But getting sufficient sleep is a vital element if you want to get chiselled abs in no time. Incomplete sleep at night equals a slower metabolic rate, a higher cortisol release and less energy to complete your workout the very next day. Result? The abs remain a mystery under your skin.

 

Bust Stress - Happy and tension-free life is equally important to reveal those abs. Not only will it make you feel better on a day to day basis, but will also reduce release of cortisol and hence, discourage fat accumulation in the midsection. Music, healthy foods or pets-anything that helps you kick stress out of the window is your friend.

Bid Goodbye To Beer - Alright, saying no to beer is impossible. How about cutting it down to a minimal amount? Beer is higher in carbs, which will get converted to body fat in a hurry. Combine this with the alcohol content, and you pave the way for a fat-gain situation. Instead, opt for liquor-based drinks with calorie-free mixers like water.

 

Eat More Omega Fats - If you are a fish-eater, indulge in as much as possible. If not, opt for nuts. Both contain a good amount of omega fats which help you lose weight and cut fat. You could also look for fish oil supplements.

Who said abs are built only in the gym? We have reasons enough to prove it wrong. Try these and tell us about your progress. You will be surprised with the results and we will be happy to help you...yet again!

Age Differences In Relationships Does it Affect the Success of Such Relationships Especially Marriage?

Age differences in relationships have caused many love relationships to end even before they could start. For many men and women but especially women, the age gap between them and someone they wish to date or marry matters to them a lot. And while age difference mostly bothers men in one way it bothers women in two different ways: When they are older than a relationship or marriage prospect. When a relationship or marriage prospect is much older than they feel comfortable with. For the men it's usually a question of: Can they date or marry a lady older than them? It matters to them less if they're much older than a woman. In fact many men would prefer it that way.

Age Difference in Marriage The tradition or what is expected is that a man be reasonably older than the woman he's dating or chooses to marry. And I guess that makes sense since a man is supposed to be the head of the woman it only seem reasonable that he be older. However some men and women have demonstrated that it doesn't have to be. They believe love matters most in the success of a relationship than some numbers game. Some of these men have gone ahead to marry women older than them and women married men much younger than them. No matter how much the society frowns at it, it's a trend that has come to stay.

Some Couples with Age gap between them There are many couples across the world with age gap between them, average citizens and celebrities; but especially celebrities. And the celebrities have been more daring in age gaps they settle for. Some even have over a decade age gap between them and their women, the men being the younger in the relationship.

Some Celebrity Men Who Married Older Women

Soul E and Ure Queen Okezie. Ure was 11 years older than Soul E. I'm not sure if they actually got married but they surely were in a relationship for sometime.

Peter Okoye of P-Square musical duo and Lola Omotayo. Lola is said to be 6 years older than Peter. Peter and his twin brother Paul was born 18 November 1981. Although as to Lola's date of birth, no one is saying. They've had two children together, a son and a daughter.  Lola Omotayo and Peter Okoye of Psquare are now married. Peter proposed to Lola with a Range Rover Envogue early August, 2013.

They got married Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the Ark Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. A wedding that was attended by many of the big names in Nigeria Entertainment industry.

Dare Art-Alade and his wife Deola Ayeni. Deola is 8 years older than Darey yet they've been married for over 5 years and so far had two children together.

Usher Raymond and Tameka Foster. Tameka is 8 years older than Usher. Yet they were once married and had two children together.

 

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey. Mariah is 11 years older than her husband Nick yet they've been married for some years now and the couple had a set of twin on their third year wedding anniversary. So…

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Does Age Differences in Relationships Affect the Success of the Relationships?

If I have to answer to that question right away I'll have to say Yes, a couples age difference can affect the success of their marriage and No it can't. That must sound confusing for you but if you keep reading I'll clarify that in a bit.

Yes it can affect the relationship if both parties are not comfortable about the age difference especially the man if he's younger; because then he's likely to over react to everything the woman says or does easily taking it as a sign of disrespect something he probably wouldn't have read any meaning to if it was coming from someone he was older than.

For example he could take it as being disrespected because he's younger even when the woman was only trying to make a joke about something. And also because he's younger he may always try to do things to prove he's head in this house which could be too much to handle by the woman. And you can't fault him because in the society we find ourselves men who marry older women are always under pressure to prove that despite they are younger they are the head in their household.

And for the relationship of older women who are married to younger men to work, the woman must be willing to be extra submissive so that she is not always misunderstood as being disrespectful to her husband because he's younger. So she has to be twice as humble and ready to give her partner the respect he deserves. And usually this is hard to do especially when these women are well to do in the society and worst if they are richer than their mate. It's never easy to make a relationship work when the woman is richer and more influential than the husband and this is true even in the traditional age gap relationships.

Men in such relationships are quick to feel inferior and neglected. So these age gap relationships have more challenges to cope with. And No, it won't affect the success of such relationships because it's like any other relationship; for it to work both parties have to put equal amount of effort. And if an age gap relationship doesn't work out it's not necessarily because of the age difference in the relationship; though it's easier to conclude that way. For example Usher's marriage to Tameka ended because of issues of infidelity. And that's something common with many relationships especially celebrities relationships.

Darey Art Alade's marriage with Deola and that of Nick Cannon to Mariah are some of the best examples that age gap doesn't have to matter in a marriage. These couples are having the best times of their lives together. Proof that couples can still have successful marriages even with many years between them. Possible Reasons Men Marry Older Women They are in love and really don't care about the age difference. Older women sometimes come with less drama of insecurities common with younger women and stability too. Older women sometimes means independent, financial security and generosity and younger men who are less influential with average incomes see these women as quick means to the good life. And if the women don't mind being used and the men don't mind serving a mama then who are we to complain right?

-Nigerianweddingguide

Man Leaves Secret Fortune Worth $187.6 Million to Wash. Charities

A Washington state man has left a fortune worth $187.6 million to charity, after spending his life keeping his wealth a secret by coupon clipping and riding the bus.

Jack MacDonald, who died at age 98 in September, left his fortune to Seattle Children's Hospital, the University of Washington School of Law and the Salvation Army. MacDonald's family says few people outside his immediate family knew he was wealthy.

"Our family has lived with the 'secret' of Jack's generous fortune for more than 40 years, all while being amazed at his frugal lifestyle and modest demeanor," said Regen Dennis, MacDonald's stepdaughter. "He was quirky and eccentric in many ways, and always stayed true to himself by acting on his convictions to do the most good with his wealth."

MacDonald, who worked as an attorney for three decades, was able to amass his wealth by investing money he inherited from his family. He had no biological children of his own and his wife, whom he married in 1971, died in 1999.

Doug Picha, the president of the Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation, knew MacDonald for 30 years and said in spite of his wealth, MacDonald lived in a modest one-bedroom apartment and never showed off his fortune.

"I mean he loved a good deal, he clipped coupons and his shirt was maybe just a little tattered," said Picha. "He was proper and old school, but very shy."

Apparently MacDonald would often visit multiple grocery stores to take advantage of deals and one time bought so many cans of frozen orange juice on sale, he needed to find an additional stand-alone freezer to fit them all.

Picha said MacDonald prided himself on "shepherding" the money from his family inheritance through the stock market so that it would be used for charities after his death.

"I think he just really enjoyed the fact that all of this wealth would be transferred onto those three charities," said Picha. "I think he felt he was a steward of [his parents'] funds."

Picha said a few of the charities had a special connection to MacDonald.

MacDonald's mother was a volunteer at Seattle Children's Hospital and after her death MacDonald became more involved with different hospital events over the years. He was also a graduate of the University of Washington Law School.

The $187.6 million gift will be given through a trust. The three organizations will receive a portion of the income earned from the trust with 40 percent going to support the Seattle Children's Hospital and 30 percent going to student scholarships at the University of Washington School of Law.

The Northwest Division of the Salvation Army will receive a portion of the interest of the trust or $2.8 million in the first year.

Picha said a few years ago he remembered MacDonald's stepdaughter asked him what he would like to be remembered as.

"He said, 'a philanthropist,'" recalled Picha. "And he will be."

The Worst Business Plan Mistake Entrepreneurs Make

Years ago, I was hired by a group of entrepreneurs to write a business plan I will never forget. That is because we made a fatal business planning mistake that caused the venture to lose it chance at VC funding.
The founders had a personal connection to one of the VC partners and they seemed interested in the business ideas. It felt like everything was set up for success until we met with them in person.

 

As the meeting developed, I became painfully aware of a problem. I wondered anxiously whether my clients saw it too, but couldn't tell. They gave no sign.
The plan itself wasn’t the problem. It conceived a specialty computer product that would have addressed a real need for a large market of middle managers and small-business owners. The team had the experience and background it needed. We had a good-looking well-edited document, a detailed financial model and convincing market statistics. We had a good summary slide deck.
The problem, however, was that I had done the plan, built the financial model, written the text and shepherded the document through the painful coil binding, yet I wasn’t part of the team. I didn’t want to be. I was getting my MBA, in my early thirties, married with three kids and my part of this venture was writing the plan, period. I needed the money to pay tuition. I couldn’t afford to jump into a startup.
And my limited role might have been okay except that the three founders never really got into the plan. It was a hurdle they paid me to jump for them. Every meeting we had behind the scenes, generated new changes, so I would go back to the basement computer at the business school, and re-run the financial model. Since the team of three didn’t include a financial person, they left all the tweaking to me, which meant I was the only one who knew the plan. I’d re-run my financial model, edit the text, and publish a new version of the plan. They read paragraphs here and there, glanced at the numbers, but stuck with the strategy and left the details to me.
At key moments when VCs would ask critical questions, all heads would turn to me and I would answer. I knew the plan inside out. But I was the only one who did. It was my plan.
The same scenario played out at every meeting we had. The three entrepreneurs assumed that business planning was a function they could always delegate to someone with special skills, while they generated high-level strategy. However, founders who don't know their own plan aren't very convincing. So, in the end, they didn’t get financed, and the planning didn’t work.
A business plan should be measured by results, and in this case, good as the plan document may have been, it was a part of a failure.
The lesson here is as clear as day and as much a problem today as it was then. In general, business plans have to be the work of business owners and managers, not outsiders. A business plan can last only a few weeks without revision, so the idea of a finished plan is flawed. And business plans are about business execution and management, which means those in charge have to own the plan in the intellectual sense.
In those rare cases when having a specialist develop a plan as a consulting job could work, the owners must make very sure they still own it, know it, and live it. After all, it is their business.

source: entrepreneur

Nigerian Judge Frees Two Lebanese Terror Suspects Accused Of Hezbollah Connection, Sentences A Third To Life imprisonment

 

An Abuja  Federal High Court judge today sentenced Talal Ahmad Roda, one of the three Lebanese nationals  arrested in connection with  illegal possession of weapons and Hezbollah connection to life imprisonment which, the judge ordered must be run concurrently.

Two other co-accused person, Mustapha Fawaz, the owner of a popular Amigo Supermarket and Abdallah Tahini were set free by the judge.

Giving the ruling today Justice Ademola Adeniyi said that there was no room for judicial discussion as to the first and second accused persons, he subsequently ordered that they should be released immediately with their personal belongings  released to them.

Regarding the third suspect, the judge ruled that the he was guilty of all the five counts of illegal possesion of weapons and conspiracy as he was found at the location of the arm cache in Kano.

Islamic police destroy 240,000 bottles of beer

Reuters reports that Islamic police on Thursday destroyed 240,000 bottles of beer taken from vehicles and Christian owned shops in Kano.

Under sharia, alcohol is banned in most states northern states.

According to Reuters’ report, such raids have negatively affected Christian minorities living in the state.

"The sharia officials have crippled my business," an alcohol shop owner, Johnson Ikechukwu, told Reuters.

"I feel seriously cheated over the seizure and destruction of my beer."

ASUU's fresh demands 'sabotage'

A lecturer at the University of Calabar, Dr Edidiong Ebitu, has described the new demands by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as an act of sabotage of the education sector.

Ebitu made the declaration on Friday in Uyo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The teacher, who is a senior lecturer in the Department of Marketing at the university, said he was in support of the federal government's directive that lecturers should resume classes.

"The various branches of ASUU had already voted to resume classes. The over four-months strike has done enough damage to the system.

"The president had made reasonable concessions, so ASUU should resume for other things to fall in place," he said.

However, reacting to Ebitu’s views, the Secretary of the University of Uyo Branch of ASUU, Dr Aniekan Brown, debunked the claim that ASUU was making fresh demands.

"ASUU is not making fresh demands, ASUU is asking for the implementation of 2009 agreements.

"If any ASUU member says ASUU is making fresh demands, I doubt if that person is an ASUU member, that person is not informed," Brown said.

NAN reports that ASUU is demanding among other things, immediate payment of all outstanding salary arrears and allowances of members withheld during the strike.

The union is also demanding a written commitment from the president that N225 billion will be committed to funding universities annually for the next four years.

The Federal Ministry of Education had on 28 November, directed the authorities of federal universities to re-open classes immediately and to treat lecturers who refused to resume work as having resigned.

NAFDAC closes 54 sachet water factories

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday said that the agency had sealed 54 table water producing factories in the Niger state.

The NAFDAC Coordinator in Niger, Mr Dadi Mantum, said this at news conference in Minna.

He said that the 54 sachet water factories were closed in Suleja and Minna for allegedly contravening the agency's regulations.

Mantum said that the agency took the action following tip-offs that the factories were operating illegally, adding that the factories were closed as part of efforts to protect public health.

He stressed that NAFDAC would strive to be more proactive, warning that it would sanction any individual or organisation found wanting in compliance with extant regulations on water packaging.

"It is the simple laws that we are going to enforce. These include laws on hygiene, cleanliness, proper storage of water, proper mode of transportation and employment of correct personnel.

"We have decided that these simple laws would be enforced.

"Acquisition of equipment is not enough. In fact, these producers buy equipment which is quite expensive.

"We, however, need to enforce the laws on hygiene so as to guarantee that the sachet water being produced is fit for human consumption," he said.

The NAFDAC coordinator identified lack of personnel as one of the limitations which constrained the agency from getting to the grassroots regularly.

Mantum said that with the assistance of the state government, task forces were being set up to carry out the enforcement of health standards in the rural areas.

"We are constrained when is comes to reaching out to the people in the rural areas as regularly as we do with the people in urban areas.

"That’s why there is still much disparity between monitoring in the urban and rural areas," he said.

Get Your Battle Plan Ready

In his new book Die Empty,Todd Henry explains how even bright and skilled people can become stagnant in their career and introduces approaches to help them create work they can be proud of. In this edited excerpt, Henry outlines strategies for identifying your priorities and your passions. Die Empty will be released September 26.
No army would charge into battle without understanding the battlefront. It would be mass suicide. Yet, many of us do this daily with our work. While most people have a good sense of the tasks and projects they're accountable for, they haven't taken the time to consider what they really care about and how it will find form in their work. They are lost in the fog of war.
   
Priorities are difficult. When you choose one thing to focus on, you automatically choose not to focus on others. You cannot fight on every front. You must choose you battles wisely and win them every time. These questions I've outlined below help you establish those all-important battle lines.

What will you stand for today? What will you refuse to compromise on, no matter what? What will define your terms of engagement?
One of my favorite mission statements is from the Boca Restaurant Group: "Blow People Away." It gives everyone from chefs to managers to servers an actionable operating code by which to approach their work. "Did I blow them away?" The question becomes a frame for evaluating every customer interaction, every meeting and every decision employees make. It's their chosen battle line. What's yours?

Your battle plan: Look at your calendar and your task list. Think through potential challenges you may face, and how you will deal with them if they arise. What will you refuse to compromise on? What battles will you be required to fight? How will you blow them away?

What do you know you should be doing, but have been ignoring? Frequently, entrepreneurs and creative professionals have an idea in the back of their mind that excites them when they consider it but they fear will become overwhelming and fail once they work toward it. One young entrepreneur that I met had been tossing around the idea for a business without even taking the smallest steps to make it happen. Every time we got together, he'd mention the idea and how great he thought it could be. Finally, I told him, "I don't want you to say another word about that idea. I think it's great, but it's not real. It's just an idea. Unless you're going to take a step toward making it happen I don't want to hear about it again." He looked at me with wide eyes. I don't think anyone had spoken to him so honestly before. By all indications, most people just told him how great the idea was, and how it was going to be huge – someday. We agreed that rather than talking about it, he would take one small step each day toward making it happen. Action defines reality, and "potential" is nothing but unproven, hypothetical value.
Your battle plan: Make a list of the things you know – deep down – you should be doing, but haven't taken action on. What are the logical next steps and what can you do right away?

Where are your "open loops"? These are the unfinished projects, the halfhearted efforts, or the unreconciled relationships. They are the projects that you're afraid to say no to, but deep down you know that you can't commit to. These must be either acted upon and made a priority, or immediately closed and put aside. If you have too many open loops in your life, your ability to focus on mission-critical things is diminished. You must become good at pruning your projects and commitments so that you have energy available for your most important work.
Your battle plan: Make a list of your open loops and be as exhaustive as possible. Examine your list and dedicate fifteen to thirty minutes today to act on an open loop and make progress in a meaningful way to close it.

The key takeaway is this: To avoid aimlessness, you have to stand for something. Don't allow aimlessness to rob you of years of your life. You will ultimately be remembered for – and your body of work will be built upon – the battles you chose to spend your time fighting. Act with urgency and diligence today to define your throughline and your battles, then carefully allocate your focus, time, and energy on things that matter to you. There are battles that only you are equipped to fight, and while I can't tell you what they are, I suspect you probably already know at least some of them. You need to act, and you need you to do it now. Run to the battle.

The author is an Entrepreneur contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

 

Supplementary election: INEC commences distribution of materials in Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of materials for the supplementary governorship election in Anambra scheduled for Nov. 30. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited INEC headquarters in Awka on Thursday, reports that many officials of the commission were seen collecting the materials. The materials collected include inks and ballot papers, while the result sheets were still being waited for. An official who spoke to NAN under the condition of anonymity said she was at the headquarters to collect the materials as was directed.

She confirmed that she had collected ink and ballot papers, but that she was yet to collect the result sheets for the exercise. Mr Frank Egbo, INEC’s Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the distribution of materials in an interview with NAN.

He added that the commission had been having several meetings to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free. NAN recalls that INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had announced Nov. 30 as date for the Anambra supplementary election after the commission’s meeting on Nov. 22 in Abuja. He said the supplementary election would hold in 210 polling units across six local government areas (LGAs) of the state, where elections were cancelled. Jega had said there were no sufficient grounds or pieces of evidence to warrant a total cancellation of results of the Nov. 16 election which were already announced.

Learn how to fight off cancer

NO one wants to get cancer. True, it is possible to do everything “right” and still end up developing the disease.
But a surprising amount of cancer is preventable -- in fact, a stunning one-half to two-thirds of our risk is in our control, many experts now believe. For example, about a third of all cancer deaths in the United States each year are linked to diet and physical inactivity. Cervical cancer, which is linked to human papillomavirus, (HPV) can be avoided with vaccination.
“A proper diet, exercise, stress management and social support could go a long way toward addressing the vast majority of health problems” -- including cancer, says Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine programme at the Mayo Clinic. It just comes down to adopting -- and sticking to -- some simple habits.

Eat right
Load up on antioxidant-packed superfoods, like blueberries and kale, to keep cancer away, right? Yes, fruits and vegetables are a crucial part of a healthy diet (and antioxidants do seem to thwart tumors, at least in laboratory studies -- see “Anticancer Foods,” right).
But in recent years a more sophisticated understanding of how food affects our cancer risk has emerged.
“Individual foods aren’t the answer -- it’s the overall dietary pattern that likely makes the most difference,” says Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity at the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Translation: We should be focusing not just on what we eat, but on how much. Obesity is a key culprit in a number of diseases, from diabetes to heart conditions, and it might contribute to cancer as well, in different ways.
After menopause, for instance, extra pounds can keep oestrogen levels high, which can push breast cells to divide more aggressively, in some cases leading to tumours.
Two small changes that help you stay in shape and may lower your cancer risk: First, eat more fruits and vegetables -- any kind, but especially brightly coloured ones, which are high in antioxidants. Consuming at least five servings a day can significantly lower your chances of getting cancer, Doyle says.
Second, have less red meat and more plant-based proteins such as beans and tofu. Cooking red meat at high temperatures releases compounds that, when digested, have been linked to some cancers.
“The good news,” Doyle notes, “is you don’t have to change absolutely every single thing to see a real difference in your risk.”

Squeeze in exercise
Doctors are increasingly aware that being physically active goes hand in hand with eating well when it comes to preventing cancer.
Investing in a healthy diet but not getting enough exercise could negate the benefits of all that responsible eating; working out fanatically but overdoing it on high-calorie favourites would not do your body much good, either.
Some studies have linked higher levels of physical activity with lower levels of breast cancer, although the reason for the association isn’t exactly clear. (Exercise might adjust your hormonal balance to make it less hospitable for tumuors to grow, or trigger metabolic changes that make cancer less likely.)

How much is enough?
Though there’s no specific anticancer formula for exercise, (yet) the ACS recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity -- walking briskly, gardening, playing tennis, whatever you like.

Manage stress
Constant stress over months and years may drive the body’s systems to extremes -- contributing to an increased risk for heart disease and even a weakened immune system, which can create fertile ground for tumuors, experts believe.
While no studies directly connect stress to your cancer risk, a link isn’t unrealistic: Laboratory and animal research has shown that hormones released in response to stress can actually help a tumuor grow -- they may promote the formation of blood vessels that tumuors need to survive.
So minimising stress might help ward off cancer. One simple way to start: As soon as you wake up, think about five things that make you happy and why they do, says Dr. Amit Sood, chair of the Mayo Clinic Mind Body Initiative.
That keeps your brain from falling into worry mode, and staying there for the rest of the day. “Think of cancer as a weed,” Sood says. “We change the soil so the weed doesn’t grow. “

Get enough sleep
While we slumber, both our body and brain are hard at work, repairing tissues and tuning up neural connections. People who skimp on the eight to nine hours that the average adult needs tend to have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes -- and possibly cancer.
In a large study of Japanese women, those who slept less than six hours a night over several years were more likely to develop breast cancer (though that might have been due to family history or other factors for which researchers didn’t control).
Another study that did control for family history, published in the journal Cancer, found that people who slept that little were almost 50 per cent more likely than subjects who got seven hours or more of rest to grow colorectal adenomas -- precursors to colon cancer.

Why?
Being deprived of the sleep hormone melatonin might be the cause. Normally, melatonin levels in your body peak at night, triggered by the absence of light, and drop during the day. But when production of the hormone is interrupted, it can have serious effects: Recent findings from a long-term study revealed that nurses who were on call more frequently at night had higher rates of breast cancer than those who worked days.
That doesn’t mean you will absolutely develop cancer if you work nights or if you can’t always snag a solid seven hours of shut-eye -- just that your overall risk might be higher. But the research does suggest that it’s beneficial to keep melatonin flowing -- say, by lying in the dark instead of turning on the lights if you wake up in the wee hours. It also tells us that getting a good night’s sleep should be a top priority.
          
    Courtesy: CNN.

Mary J. Blige wanted to wed Michael Jackson

Mary J. Blige used to be obsessed with Michael Jackson when she was younger and thought she was going to marry him.

Mary J. Blige wanted to marry Michael Jackson.

The 'No More Drama' singer was a huge fan of the late King of Pop and had a huge crush on him when she was growing up.

She admitted: "As a kid, I was in love with Michael Jackson, and I just knew I was going to marry him someday."

Mary nearly didn't become a singer as she was so good at doing people's hair and thought she would end up doing that full time.

She added to Us Weekly magazine: "Growing up, I was the preferred hairstylist for all of my friends.

The star also talked about her backstage rituals and how she always has a soothing drink to help loosen and warm up her vocal cords before giving a concert.

She said: "I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in all of my hotel rooms."

VIDEO: Unkindest Cut Of All-Governor Adams Oshiomhole's Mean Words To A Poor Woman

 

This video shows Governor Adams Oshiomhole ostensibly leading officials of the state to sanitize the city of Benin, the Edo State capital. In the course of his tour of duty, he came across a widow roadside hawker.

The poor widow knelt before the imperial governor, a former labour leader, begging for her little means of livelihood to be saved. She pleaded that she's widow. But her pleas fell on the governor's deaf ear. In what could be regarded as the most unkindest cut of all, the governor said the widowed woman should "go and die"!

Homosexuality in Africa

Homosexuality is illegal in about 38 African countries including Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. Individuals found guilty of homosexual acts are often arrested, imprisoned and even beaten to death. Here’s an overview of related incidences from various African countries which rocked international headlines this year.

Zambia

Zambian gay rights activist Paul Kasonkomona's trial commenced in October after he was arrested in April and charged with soliciting for immoral purposes for arguing for gay rights during a television show. The police were ordered to arrest him for promoting homosexuality and during his first court appearance in November, the trial was adjourned when the recording of the television programme failed to play. A sodomy conviction carries a sentence of up to 14 years in Zambia.

SENEGAL

During his first extended trip to Africa since he became president of the United States, Barack Obama visited Senegal in June for the first leg of his tour. He called on African countries to decriminalise homosexuality and give gay people equal rights. Senegalese president Macky Sall reportedly said Senegal was a "very tolerant country" but was "not ready to decriminalise homosexuality". Sall said although Senegal was not ready to change it's laws, it "does not mean we are homophobic." Senegal is, like Gambia, a Muslim majority country.

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has in the past called homosexuals "unnatural" and "filth". He also said they are "worse than pigs, goats and birds" and reportedly even threatened to behead them. "If you take men and lock them in a house for five years and tell them to come up with two children and they fail to do that, then we will chop off their heads. This thing (homosexuality) seeks to destroy our lineage by saying John and John should wed, Maria and Maria should wed... Obama says if you want aid, you should accept the homosexuality practice... We will never do that," said Mugabe.

GAMBIA

Gambian president Yahya Jammeh said gays are a threat to human existence when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in September and allegedly criticised other countries for regarding homosexuality as a human right. Jammeh said homosexuality is an epidemic which will be fought by Muslims and Africans. He added, "Homosexuality in all its forms and manifestations which, though very evil, antihuman as well as anti-Allah, is being promoted as a human right by some powers." Convicted homosexuals can face up to 14 years in prison in Gambia.

SIERRA LEONE AND SENEGAL

In November, a top EU court (the European Court of Justice) ruled that homosexuals from African countries including Sierra Leone, Uganda and Senegal may be granted asylum in EU member states after the Netherlands asked for advice about three gay citizens of the above mentioned countries seeking asylum there.

UGANDA

Retired Briton Bernard Randall (65) was charged with trafficking obscene publications after images of him having sex with a Ugandan man were printed in a Ugandan tabloid in November. Randall claims his laptop was stolen by robbers while the Ugandan man faces charges of acts of gross indecency which could see him jailed for up to seven years if found guilty.

Uduaghan Nominates Dead Man For Board Appointment

Members of the Delta State House of Assembly were on Tuesday thrown into a state of astonishment when they discovered that one of the seven persons nominated by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for appointment into the Delta State Tourism Board had died a while ago.

Last week, Mr. Uduaghan had included the name of James Youmu in a list of nominees for the state’s tourism board that was forwarded to the legislature for screening and confirmation. Mr. Youmu has been dead

The other nominees for the same board are Efe Afe, Peter Okolotu, Hyacinth Iyere, Amah Agbajoh, Abel Eyube and Joe Morg.

There was a mild drama during the screening when Mr. Youmu, the fourth nominee on the list, was called up. Mr. Afe, a former member of the state assembly who was screened as the chairman of the board, immediately told the House that the said James Youmu had died even before the names were sent for screening.

The embarrassing situation raised eyebrows among lawmakers. The strange incident became a new chapter in the governor’s controversial actions regarding the membership of the state-owned agencies and parastatals.

Last week, a prominent member of the Delta State House of Assembly had told SaharaReporters that he was dismayed that the governor sent a list of nominees for the boards of state-owned agencies after the governor had sworn in the nominees into office three months ago. The legislator said that the governor’s belated action was “evidence that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has lost focus.” 

Other legislators also told SaharaReporters that they were taken aback by the governor’s letter forwarded a letter with the names of nominees after he had inaugurated them, thereby violating the law. “Why did His Excellency send us names of nominees for state boards for screening and confirmation when the boards were inaugurated by the same governor some months ago?” one of the state lawmakers wondered.

Several of the legislators wondered why none of the governor’s aides had warned him against inaugurating boards without first forwarding the names of their members to the state assembly for vetting and approval, as demanded by law.

A letter titled “Request For Confirmation Of Nomination Of Chairmen And Members Of Certain Boards” and personally signed by Governor Uduaghan was accompanied with a list of nominees to be screened for appointment into the Delta State Tourism Board, Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri; Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, and Delta State Rural Development Agency.

The latest development, where a dead man’s name appeared on the governor’s list, caused consternation among Deltans who went to the state assembly to witness the screening and confirmation exercise. “Who come put dead man for board?” one of the spectators mused, speaking in pidgin language.

-Saharareporters

Asari Dokubo Released By Beninoise Gendarmes

The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who was   arrested  yesterday in Cotonou, Benin Republic has been released.

Mr.  Dokubo was released after President Goodluck Jonathan personally intervened on his behalf with the Beninoise President Yayi Boni.
Festus Keyamo, a civil rights activist and personal attorney to Mr. Dokubo confirmed his release

Dokubo, who once bragged openly that his arrest will lead to the demise of Nigeria spent 36 hours with the Beninoise gendarmes before his release around 1 AM Nigerian time today.

President Jonathan reportedly deployed a jet to ferry Mr. Asari to Abuja a few hours after his release.

Beyonce kicked out of the Pyramids?

Beyonce Knowles has hit back at allegations she was kicked out of the Pyramids in Egypt for being 'rude' by infamous archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass.

Beyonce Knowles has hit back at allegations she was kicked out of the Pyramids in Egypt for being "rude."

The 'Love On Top' hitmaker, who has a 22-month-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, with her rapper husband Jay Z, was reportedly told to leave the popular tourist attraction in 2009 by infamous archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, who is known as 'Egypt's Indiana Jones' because he was unimpressed with her behaviour.

The former Egyptian antiquities minister told The Independent newspaper: "Most people I take on tours are very nice and we become friends. But this lady... She said she would come at 3 p.m. but she came late. I said 'You have to say I'm sorry I'm late.' But she didn't open her mouth.

"I brought a photographer and she also had a photographer and a guard. When my photographer started to shoot, he said 'No, Stop! I am the one who says yes or no, not you.' I said, 'In that case since you almost hit my photographer and you are not polite - out! I am not giving you the privilege of having you on my tour.' I said Beyonce was stupid and I left."

But a spokesperson for the 32-year-old star claims the incident was fabricated and told E! News: "This never happened. The last time she was in Egypt was on tour in 2009. Nothing like this happened. Lies and more lies."

Two die at World Cup stadium

Part of the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paolo, Brazil has collapsed after a heavy-duty crane collapsed and left two workers dead.

Part of the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paolo, Brazil has collapsed after a heavy-duty crane collapsed and left two workers dead.

The Itaquerao was used by Brazilian top-flight club Corinthians, who have since moved their matches to Pacaembu Stadium while renovations are done.

The stadium is set to host the opening fixture of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will feature the host nation.

The crane, which is reported to be the biggest available in Brazil, collapsed while putting up the last frame weighing 500 tons.

Television images show that the metal structure buckled at the top and destroyed part of the stands.

The renovations were said to be 94 percent complete and was on track for the December deadline, when all 12 stadiums are meant to be handed over to FIFA.

The accident occurred during lunch-time when most workers were on recess, however, disaster reaction are searching for more casualties.

Spokesmen for Corinthians and construction company Odebrecht SA, declined to comment.

How to Transform Your Passion into a Successful Business

Starting your own business is like jumping on an emotional rollercoaster with the highest of highs and lowest of lows -- all the while, wondering if the ride will come to a screeching halt. Anyone can start a business but it’s infinitely harder to grow and sustain it. When a company faces challenges and falls on hard times (and it always does), it’s your passion and commitment that ultimately get the business through to the other side. If you don’t have a true passion for your business, everyone can sense it: your customers, team, advisors and investors.

That's why focusing on your mission is of the utmost importance. This will enable you to make faster decisions and help you manage through the rollercoaster ride.
Here are three steps to help transform your passion into a successful business:

Do you know enough? If not, start asking. You have a passion and want to start a business! Do you know enough about the industry? With industry background and know-how, you’ll be ahead of the curve and can hit the ground running -- producing products, building a customer base and forging your company vision.

If you have a great idea, but aren’t familiar enough with the field to get started, use your network, speak with people who’ve started businesses in your industry to help you get up to speed quickly. This is like building an informal advisory board of people who’ve gone through a journey similar to the one you’re embarking upon.

When I started NatureBox with my college buddy, Ken Chen, food was a passion of ours, but we honestly didn’t know much about running a food business. We began networking and discussing our idea with seasoned industry innovators to glean insights and learn strategies, tips and tricks for successfully running a food company. Our big breakthrough came when we attended a food tradeshow and met a few suppliers who were willing to work with us. Until then, we didn’t know how to find manufacturing partners.

Jump in. There’s really no better way to start than diving in head-first. In the beginning, you may not have your exact plan mapped out, and you’ll likely make significant changes to your model. But the benefit of starting a business around a passion is that you know why you’re doing it and can more easily overcome barriers that come up along the way. It’s this deep-rooted drive and enthusiasm that will keep you motivated and engaged with the product you’re selling.

Ken and I held other full-time jobs when we built the first NatureBox website. We used product photos taken on our cell phones. We were testing whether there was a market for people who wanted nutritious snacks delivered to their door and immediately saw opportunity -- more than 100 people signed up in a weekend. Now we had to decide if we were going to send our first orders or simply refund the customers, writing this off as a successful first-run test. This is where taking the plunge, is so important. There really is no better time than now to just go for it.

Surround yourself with others who share your vision. It’s no coincidence that everyone at NatureBox has an interesting story about how food shaped their lives -- whether it’s a personal weight loss journey like myself, food experience from a previous professional career, or a background growing up in an agricultural environment. We hire based on these shared experiences because they help shape the business.

Because you can expect long work hours and hard days in the beginning, personal drive and shared similar values with your colleagues will see you through this time. This enthusiasm translates to a positive customer experience. And that's what will build your business.

Turning your passion into a successful business not only allows you to be profitable while doing something you love, it helps set you up for lasting success. Most importantly, passion is central to making decisions that are in the long-term interest of the customer and the company, which will help you establish sustainability and longevity for your brand.

By Gautam Gupta

US Rapper Wale Arrives Nigeria

US Rapper Wale arrived Lagos yesterday for the ‘Step Up to VIP‘ event by Johnnie Walker holding this Saturday November 30, 2013 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria island.
Wale was supposed to be here for last weekend’s Ice Prince‘s ‘Fire of Zamani‘ album concert but couldn’t make it because according to him, the show promoters allegedly failed to buy his flight tickets.
More pics after the cut.

Victor Moses Named 2013 Nigerian Footballer Of The Year

Victor Moses was yesterday named the Nigerian Footballer of the Year,2013. He was conferred with the honour by the Nigerian Sports Award. Moses defeated John Obi Mikel and Sunday Mba who were the other nominees for the award.
In an elaborate ceremony at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi was presented with the Nigerian Coach of the Year award while Perpetual Nkwocha of the Super Falcons won the female footballer of the year.

Ball Sports Personality of the year award was won by Portugal based Nigeria table tennis international Aruna Quadri. He defeated Olumide Oyedeji and Ike Diogu, both of De Tigers.

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari won the sports administrator of the year award. He dedicated the award to every  Nigerian.

Blessing Okagbare won the Track and Field Star of the Year award while junior athlete Divine Oduduru won the discovery of the year award.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of DeltaState won the Sports Governor of the Year Award..

Mikel Obi however won the Sports man of the year award while Blessing Okagbare won the sports woman of the year award.

Interview:17yr Old Lorde Diss Drake and Nicki Minaj

17-year-old, New Zealand born songstress, Lorde, has given her opinion on high-rolling rappers in a candid chat with Interview Magazine.

The “Royals” singer spoke about the beginning stages of making her ‘Love Club EP,’ and commented on the music scene, mentioning the music of Nicki Minaj and Drake. ”The middle of last year I started listening to a lot of rap, like Nicki Minaj and Drake, as well as pop singers like Lana Del Rey,” says Lorde to Interview Magazine. “They all sing about such opulence, stuff that just didn’t relate to me - or anyone that I knew.  I began thinking, ‘How are we listening to this? It’s completely irrelevant.’ I basically just wrote what we were all thinking.”

15yr old Nigerian boy shot& stabbed in his home after being mistaken for gang member

A 15 year-old boy named Kieran Obazee was shot and stabbed on Friday Nov. 22 at his east London home by gang members in what police believe may have been a case of mistaken identity, Daily Mail reports. Fortunately, Kieran survived the vicious attack and but is in a serious condition in hospital.

     Five men wearing balaclavas and armed with kives and a gun forced their way into the home in Plaistow just before 3am on Friday.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Detectives believe the attackers were looking for a member of a gang and attacked him by mistake.

This morning a Scotland Yard spokesperson said: ‘The person who may have been involved in a gang was staying at the address and they may have been the target, but the boy who was attacked had no criminal background.’

Shocked residents of the estate in Plaistow told how they rushed to the injured boy’s aid after his terrified mum ran door to door screaming for help. One neighbour told how they administered first aid.

The neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said: ‘It was quiet on Thursday night, all I heard was the banging as they booted the door in and then another bang, but it didn’t sound like a gun shot to me at the time.’

The neighbour said they could see a woman banging on other neighbours’ doors and screaing ‘please help my son’ when they looked into the street.
Detectives believe the attackers were looking for a member of a gang and attacked the teenager by mistake

The neighbour said: ‘There was no sound of screeching tyres so they must have run or cycled off after attacking him.
‘I ran down and we went into their house, he was lying on the landing floor and there was a lot of blood on the carpet and on the wall.
‘His mum and sister had wrapped his leg up to stop the bleeding, the people trying to help him were panicking so I took over.
‘I kept him talking, he was going into shock and was really confused. He was bleeding a lot from his lower right calf and his sister was begging the paramedics to come quicker over the phone.
Paramedics arrived at the scene before taking the teenager, the son of a biochemist, to hospital.
The neighbour said: ‘It felt like ages before the paramedics arrived, I was so scared that there was a 15-year-old boy who was bleeding out.

‘Thank God he’s ok, he seemed like a regular lad from a regular family, it’s so shocking.
‘They were just a normal, nice family, who kept themselves to themselves. I don’t know why they would attack him, there’s been no-one like that hanging around their house.’
A police spokesman said: ‘Police patrols have been increased in the area in order to provide reassurance to the local community.’

The Trident Gang Crime Command are investigating the incident.

Yaba Tech’s Cult Gangs: Rector Accused Of Desperate Efforts To Victimize Whistle-Blower

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Kudirat Ladipo, has been accused of exploring desperate means to victimize Fatima Salau, a final-year student of the institution for daring to reveal how the school management props up and shields cult gangs, SaharaReporters has learned.

A lecturer at the institution, which is known as Yaba Tech, told SaharaReporters that part of Ms. Ladipo’s moves was to set up a panel which would be used to victimize the student after she had written her exam. Our correspondent was told that the whistle-blower, Ms. Salau, wrote her last paper on Thursday, November 21, 2013 and immediately received a letter from the school’s management to face an indicting panel. Her offense is that she reportedly stated that the institution’s top officials were responsible for the absurd increase in the number of cult members and their violent activities on the campus.

Several sources told SaharaReporters that the panel was clearly out to intimidate the whistle-blower when she appeared before them. They said the panel members informed Ms. Salau that she faced the risk of not receiving her statement of results for the Higher National Diploma (HND) she recently concluded. In addition, our sources disclosed that Ms. Salau was also warned that her National Diploma (ND), which she earned more than two years ago before enrolling for the HND, may also be recalled.

Ms. Salau, the public relations officer of the Lagos State chapter of the Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), spoke a few weeks ago on SaharaTV where she discussed the menace of cult groups at Yaba Tech. During her appearance, she disclosed that the spike in the violent activities of cult gangs, which led to a recent closure of the school by protesting students, was due to the strong backing cult members received from the management of the College.

Several weeks ago, students at Yaba Tech shut the school down after a suspected cult member used a bottle to viciously attack a fellow student in the Banking and Finance Department. Students were particularly irate as there had been no prior argument between the victim and the assailant before the attack was launched, leaving the victim with severe injuries.

To register their outrage over the assault, protesting students closed all entrances into the institution, barring any activity. They demanded that the culprit be identified and punished. The rector reportedly cut short a trip to return to campus and appease the students, promising to address the menace of cults. Several students told SaharaReporters that the rector subsequently failed to meet certain conditions the students gave for discontinuing their protest

The students’ demands included that the management take full responsibility for the treatment of the victim of the attack, identify and punish the culprit, publish the full list of all cult members on the campus, and eject cult members who reside on the campus especially in the Complex Hall residence.

“The cult members often boast that they are paid by the management,” said a former member of the Students Union Government (SUG). He added: “At a recent meeting, the management also told us that they would speak to the cult members to stop their nefarious acts. It all means they know each other, both the management and the cult gangs.”

Instead of meeting the students’ demands to curb cult activities and rusticate known cult members, the rector and some of her team of administrators seemed determined to go after innocent students. Students went on another round of protests after Yaba Tech’s management released an alleged list of supposed cult members. “The list did not contain names of cult members,” one student told SaharaReporters. “It was populated with names of innocent students, while the actual cult members who are well known to the management were deliberately exempted,” he alleged. Students rejected the list, describing it as a ploy by the management to shield the cult members. The students demanded that the management should start over and prepare a genuine list of actual cult members.

In her interview on SaharaTV, Ms. Salau stated that cult members were well known to the management, but added that the Rector, Ms. Ladipo, was “trying to be mother” to them all. The whistle-blower also disclosed that some cult members who are non-students reside on the campus of the college.

When our correspondent visited the college recently, numerous students who asked for anonymity accused the school management of funneling cash to the leaders of cult groups, thereby providing incentives for the violent gangs to increase. One of the students accused the rector of cultivating the cult gangs with pay-offs so that they would be handy for her husband, a politician who is reportedly mulling a run in the upcoming 2015 elections.

“Although we like the woman, but the truth is that she was the least expected to emerge as our rector,” said one of the students. “She became the rector through political influences, and I guess she is servicing the interests that gave her the office by helping to generate touts for their next round of election.”

A senior lecturer at the college told SaharaReporters that he was not aware that the rector was engaged in clandestine breeding of cult members for political purposes. He added, however, that the perception was damaging enough. “If some students believe that the person who runs this college was breeding a group of students who attack other students, then that is bad for the image of this revered institution and undermines the moral authority any leader must possess in order to lead effectively.” The lecturer added that the allegation was serious enough for the rector to resign or be removed.

In the meantime, SaharaReporters learned that the panel set up by Ms. Ladipo asked many questions of Ms. Salau but did not give her the opportunity to answer. Rather, members of the panel focused on detailing to the whistle-blower the likely vindictive actions the college could take against her for daring to expose the management’s indifference to the scourge of cult groups.

A lecturer told our correspondent that he learned that the panel members received a huge shock when they asked Ms. Salau whether she regretted her whistle-blowing action and she gave a resounding “No!” as her answer.