2017-05-28 - » TEELAMFORD | No.1 Home of All Needs

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Five Star Music Appoints New Manager

Popular Nigerian musician, Kcee officially unveiled a new manager today. Before now, Kcee was managed by Soso Soberekon, but today he took to Instagram to announce a change in his management. His new manager is Dike Chidozie. It's however not clear why he parted ways with Soso but his carefully worded statement reads;

'To my fans and clients, Five Star Music unveils new expansion and growth plans. As the label continues to grow, it is also important to grow our man power, skills and improve on our strategy and client relations. In view of this, the label has officially appointed a new manager. Henceforth, all bookings and activities relating to Five star music should be directed to Mr Dike Chidozie.
Thank you, Signed, Management.

UNBELIVEBLE! This is certainly how it would sound to many people. How could it have been true, others may ask.

But whether you are in a state of unbelief or not, this is to reveal that most of the released Chibok school girls can hardly speak English.

Indeed, as you read along, you will ponder and arrive at some conclusions on why students, who were in Senior Secondary School class three as of the time of their abduction by Boko Haram insurgents, could not speak English.

While indications to this effect emerged when the Minster of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Aisha Alhassan received 82 Chibok girls, findings by Saturday Vanguard across the states in the Northeast geopolitical zone produced more shocking revelations.

She had said that her Ministry would ensure the girls learnt how to speak English so they could be able to sit for Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations. To achieve this, it was learnt that the Federal Government has concluded plans to enroll the girls in junior secondary school class three.

It was gathered that the poor standard of education in Northern Nigeria made the inability of the girls to speak English possible. Saturday Vanguard learnt that the girls like many in that part of Nigeria lacked quality education right from primary school. For instance, in Chibok and other communities in Borno, there is no nursery school. Students were often enrolled directly into primary schools, so long as they had attained the age of 10 or 12.

Also, in most cases, the teachers were not adequately remunerated while lessons were done in unconducive environments.

Similarly, most of the public schools lack teaching materials, depriving the teachers and students the opportunity to learn, embark on research and development. Most of the teachers resort to using vernacular especially when teaching subjects like physics and chemistry.

In most cases, vernacular was used as the official communication means while conducting assemblies and town hall meetings. Likewise, the poor financial status of parents and guardians was found to be another factor. For instance, in Chibok community, there is no single private school, students who could even afford to be enrolled into private schools travel to Maiduguri, Adamawa and Gombe for quality education.

Another factor is the method of employing teachers in the Borno State Teaching Service Board, (TSB) which is characterised by favouritism. In one of his interviews, the state governor, Kashim Shettima admitted thus: “In 2011 WAEC examinations, only three students at one of the government secondary schools in Borno North Senatorial District were able to pass five credits.

Unfortunately, those lucky three students were not indigenes of the state, as their fathers were serving soldiers at Monguno Military barracks then”. A teacher in Chibok, who identified himself as Mr. Amos Dawi said, “Apart from the poor quality of teaching materials as well as unqualified teachers, the students themselves are not helping matters, as most of them devote their interest to farming instead of dedicating themselves into learning.

“More so, it will interest you to note that government girls secondary school, Chibok and other schools in the state have no English or Mathematic teachers.” Also, an educationist, Dr. James John attributed the problem to lack of training and retraining of teachers by the Borno State Teaching Service Board.

He said teachers mostly those living in the rural areas attend workshops. An escaped schoolgirl who pleaded anonymous for security reasons told our Correspondent thus:”Another major reason is the current trauma which the girls are undergoing.

Each time we open our mouth to speak English, we believe the Boko Haram terrorists are still watching us, so we quickly switch to our dialect or Hausa language which is our dominant language in the north without realizing it. Boko Haram hates anything Western Education and English language is one of them.”

Tech: Google's Waymo Begins Testing of It's Autonomous Truck

Amid the tussle with Uber on the theft of its self-driving car technology, Google’s Waymo has started testing its own autonomous truck. According to a report in BuzzFeed, Waymo’s self-driving truck was spotted in a photo and the development was later confirmed by the company.

A spokesperson from Waymo — Google’s self-driving car arm — said that it took “eight years of experience in building self-driving hardware and software and conducting a technical exploration into how our technology can integrate into a truck.” Safety was the focus of the expansion into the sector, the spokesperson said, with the aim of reducing “thousands of trucking-related deaths each year”.

Waymo confirmed that it was only testing one vehicle at the moment and it was still manually driving it on a public road in order to collect data. Its rival Uber has already delivered its first shipment in a self-driving freight vehicle last August — a short time after it bought trucking startup Otto for $680 million.

Waymo and Uber became fierce rivals when the former sued and filed a lawsuit against the latter for allegedly stealing trade secrets and self-driving technology from it. The lawsuit argued that former Waymo manager Anthony Levandowski took information when he left the company and later co-founded Otto in January 2016. Earlier this week, Uber fired Levandowski for allegedly stealing some 14,000 documents from Waymo.

A young woman in Brazil probably thought she’d come up with a foolproof way of smuggling drugs when she masqueraded as a pregnant woman.

Police wouldn’t search a pregnant woman, right? Wrong.

The 24-year-old brunette created an elaborate fake bump, which was stuck to her stomach with lengths of tape and then covered with clothes. Inside the “belly” was 3kg of cocaine.

A man travelling with her was reportedly also arrested.

It is not clear what punishment, if any, the pair received.

This is not the first time a woman has tried smuggling drugs by pretending to be pregnant.

Hmmmmm!. End of time pregnancy. Lol.

Funmi Ewebiyi, one of the popular voices on radio stations in Abeokuta, Ogun State has died.

She died last week after a long battle with breast cancer and details of her burial activities have been released. Late Funmi will be buried on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 in Abeokuta.

Until her death, she worked at different times as a freelance broadcaster, presenter, newscaster with OGTV, OGBC, Paramount FM and Rockcity FM, all in Abeokuta, Ogun State. She is survived by an only son.

May her soul rest in peace, amen.

Tech: Microsoft Mistakenly Releases Internal Windows 10 Builds

Microsoft has apologised for accidentally releasing builds from some of its internal branches for PC and mobile that were rolled out due to the “inadvertent deployment” to the engineering system that controls the release of builds to the Windows Insiders. Microsoft was forced to apologise late on Friday night after some confidential and internal Windows 10 builds were leaked and it has now reverted the issue to ensure these development builds do not reach more people, Dona Sarkar, Microsoft’s head of its Windows Insiders programme, wrote in a blog post.

“We apologise for this inconvenience and thank you for being a Windows Insider,” Sarkar added, saying Microsoft will not release any new builds this week. The Windows Insider by Microsoft is a programme that allows users who own a valid Windows 10 license to sign up for early builds of the operating system previously only accessible to developers. The term build refers to the process by which source code is converted into a stand-alone form that can be run on a computer.

Microsoft said although it has put blocks in place to check the dissemination of the build, a “small portion” of Windows 10 users still received them. What is worrisome is that Windows 10 testers who installed the mobile build, had their phones into a reboot loop which led the devices to crash. To come out of this problem, testers will have to recover and wipe the device using the Windows Device Recovery Tool.

Meanwhile, Windows 10 testers who installed the PC build will have to wait for Microsoft to publish a newer build or roll back using the recovery option in Windows 10 settings.

A former Texas beauty queen was found not breathing in her home on May 30.

Police were called to the 1800 block of Mathers Mill Trail at 6:31 a.m. and discovered 31-year-old Margaret Ann Garza.

Round Rock police say her death is under investigation.

Garza took on many roles in pageantry and acting, including being crowned Ms. Texas Belleza Latina in 2007 and Ms. Belleza Latina International in 2008, according to her obituary from Joe Jackson Funeral chapel.

She attended Alexander High School in Laredo and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from TAMIU.

“She gained her love of nature, riding horses, shooting guns, and all things cowboy from her #1 Cowboy, her Daddy. And from her mama, it was having pride in a nice clean home, her love of cooking, and her respect for others,” her obituary read.

No information is currently available as to the nature of her death.

Tech: Toyota's Flying Car to Light The Olympic Flame at Tokyo 2020 Summer Games

Engineers, supported by Toyota Motor Corp, demonstrated their flying car on Saturday, which they hope will be able to light up the Olympic flame for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.

“Cartivator”, a start-up group of about 30 engineers including some young Toyota employees, started to develop a flying car “SkyDrive” in 2014 with the help of crowdfunding. Head of Cartivator, Tsubasa Nakamura, said that while the car was still at an early stage of development, the group expects to conduct the first manned-flight by the end of 2018.

During their demonstration, the current test model was able to get off and float on the ground for a few seconds. Nakamura said the design needed more stability so the prototype would be able to fly long and high enough to reach the Olympic flame.

Engineers of Cartivator are aiming to make their flying car the world’s smallest electric vehicle, which can be used in small urban areas, and hopes to commercialize the car in 2025.

Last month, Toyota Motor and its group of companies agreed to invest 42.5 million yen ($385,000) in the project for the next three years. Nakamura said the group is working hard to improve the design, hoping to receive further investment from the company.

Companies in the world have been competing to develop the first flying car or vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles. Uber Technologies Inc announced its plan to deploy its flying taxi service by 2020 in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Dubai. Airbus Group is also working on developing its flying car under its division called Urban Air Mobility.

But makers of “flying cars” still face hurdles, including convincing regulators and the public that their products can be used safely. Governments are still grappling with regulations for drones and driverless cars.

Court Sentenced Young Boy To Life Imprisonment For killing His Friend Because He Likes a Facebook Photo of Girlfriend

15-year-old Alex Pititto is facing life in jail for shooting to death his best friend in Italy. Alex (pictured left ) fatally shot 19-year-old Francesco Prestia (pictured right) because he liked a photo of his girlfriend on Facebook, this, he interpreted as a sign of disrespect.

Alex is the son of 'Ndrangheta mafia boss Salvatore Pititto, known as 'El Tio', or the Uncle. He had long suspected his friend of having feelings for his girlfriend so when he saw the Facebook like, he called his friend to a meeting in a remote field and gunned him down. Francesco was left dead in an olive field in Mileto, Italy, with three bullets in his chest.

Alex later turned himself in to police and led them to the olive grove where he had left his friend's body.

Before the fallout which led to him killing his friend, Alex had been so close to Francesco and recently shared a photo of them with another friend on Facebook, with the caption:

“Friendship is something in the mouth of everybody, but in the heart of not too many people."

The deceased's family have gone on Facebook to pay tribute to their son. One message on Facebook from his family read:

"You were so perfect that angels wanted you with them. We miss you a lot. Travel well, prince."

Pititto's family is one of the lynchpins of Italian organised crime. His father, Salvatore, 49, his mother, Maria Antonia Messiano, his brother and his cousin were arrested in January in a police anti mafia operation called Stammer.

Bryan Robson Tipped Paul Pogba as Manchester United Future Captain

Manchester United's longest-serving captain Bryan Robson has tipped Paul Pogba as a future leader at Old Trafford.

Pogba, 24, rejoined United last summer for a world-record transfer fee of £89.3 million, having left for Juventus in 2012.

Nobody played more games for United than the France international this season, and he scored nine goals for the club, including the opener in the 2-0 win over Ajax in the Europa League final.

But the expectations raised by his transfer fee and strong performances for Juve and France in last summer's Euro 2016 have led some pundits to criticise his first season back in England.

Former United midfielder Robson, however, says Pogba will eventually take over as captain at Old Trafford.

"I think he's improved us. When he's been missing we've missed something," the ex-England captain told Press Association Sport.

"He maybe dwells on [the ball] a bit too long for a central midfielder sometimes -- you want to move it quicker -- but Paul has got real ability and he can see a pass that splits defences. When he's not in the team, we don't have that.

"I think if Paul starts improving his performances, he could be a captain for United who leads by example."

Robson's former teammate Gary Pallister agrees and believes Pogba also brings a physical presence to the team that has been lacking in recent seasons.

Both Robson and Pallister were record signings when they joined United in 1981 and 1989 respectively so can understand the pressure that a big fee can bring.

"I think he'll be better for a bit of a rest and the hype of the transfer fee has played its part in that," Pallister said. "And he's just lost his father, which is tough. I think with a full preseason behind him, you'll see the best of Paul Pogba.

"He's got that infectious way about him, he loves life and he seems to really enjoy playing football, so I think he'd be the type of player to follow. If Pogba starts playing the way we know he's capable of, he ticks all the boxes for [the captaincy]."

Robson, who was club captain at Old Trafford between 1982 and 1994 and also led England 65 times, added Ander Herrera is another player with leadership qualities, while he praised Antonio Valencia's "determination" -- a trait he wants to see players such as Phil Jones and Chris Smalling add to their games.

United finished the Premier League season in sixth place, 24 points behind champions Chelsea, but Robson is adamant the campaign was a success as the club won three trophies and qualified for next season's Champions League, something they failed to achieve the year before.

That failure sealed Louis van Gaal's fate as manager and he was replaced by Jose Mourinho last summer.

"People dismiss the Community Shield but as a player you always wanted to win it because it gives you confidence going into the season," Robson said. "And the EFL Cup was a good win -- Southampton gave us a really good game in the final.

"Now, if that had been it, you'd say it's been an OK season. But to go and win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League, you've got to say it's a very good season, especially when you consider the way the team were going.

"OK, we won the FA Cup [under Van Gaal] but we weren't playing the football the fans wanted to see and the squad was a little bit weak. [Mourinho's] four signings improved the squad [last summer], so you've got to say it's a very good season."

15 Children Were Killed Through Botched Vaccination

At least 15 children have died from a botched attempt to immunise them against measles in rural South Sudan.
32 other children suffered symptoms of fever, vomiting and diarrhoea but eventually recovered.

South Sudan's health ministry on Friday blamed the deaths on human error.

It was discovered that unqualified and untrained health workers used same syringe without sterilising it for the campaign and they failed to store the vaccine properly.
It was also discovered that the botched campaign used people as young as 12-years-old to administer the vaccine.

Riek Gai Kok, South Sudan's health minister, said the deaths occurred in Nacholdokopele village in Eastern Equatoria state, where about 300 children aged up to five years old were vaccinated from May 2 to May 5.

“The team that vaccinated the children in this tragic event were neither qualified nor trained for the immunisation campaign," said Kok.

An investigation supported by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF found that the deaths were caused by severe toxicity resulting from the administration of a contaminated vaccine, All Jazeera reports.

The untrained vaccination team used a single reconstitution syringe for multiple vaccine phials throughout the entire four-day campaign, and kept vaccines in a building without adequate cold storage facilities.

Do you go with this?

Tech: Is Technology Portfolios Still Going To Top The Stocks In US?

Technology shares have led US stocks to record highs and are expected to continue to rise, but as market value becomes concentrated in the largest companies, some are beginning to look for the next rally leader.

The technology sector of the S&P 500 has risen roughly 20 percent so far in 2017, led by Apple,
Alphabet, Facebook and Microsoft. The only other company with comparable gains in market value this year is Amazon, a market darling not in the tech sector despite being a big player in cloud services and data storage. “These are the dominant players in their specific spaces and the hottest areas in tech,” said Daniel Morgan, senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust Company in Atlanta, highlighting their exposure to the cloud and artificial intelligence.

“You will continue to see money flowing into those names. People want to be exposed to the hottest areas,” he said. Active funds have continued to throw their money behind the leaders with a record overweight on the technology sector, according to BofA/Merrill Lynch data going back to 2008.

But more than a third of the 2017 gains in the S&P 500 have come from these five companies, and the concentration of the advance has some investors jittery. “Given how significant the (large cap) leadership has been year to date, I kind of think you need to find another group to produce that leadership,” said Jim Tierney, chief investment officer of concentrated U.S. growth at AllianceBernstein in New York.

Echoing Dell, Cisco, Intel and yes, Microsoft itself, the leaders of the Y2K tech boom, these new “five horsemen” have added more than $612 billion in value to the stock market this year. Their 2017 gains alone could buy the 85 smallest companies of the S&P 500. Their combined value, near $3 trillion, is not far from the market value of all the other components of the Nasdaq 100.

NOT THAT EXPENSIVE, BUT…
This tech rally has come hand in hand with heightened expectations for profits. Investors are currently paying $18.50 for every $1 in earnings expected over the next 12 months in the sector, compared to the more than $40 they paid during the dot-com bubble and even the $20-plus seen during the most recent market peak in 2007.

Tech sector earnings are expected to grow 11 percent in the second quarter after rising near 21 percent in the first, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S data. However, with gains of more than 33 percent for Apple, Facebook and Amazon, near 25 percent for Alphabet and 15 percent in Microsoft, compared to a gain of 8.5 percent for the S&P 500, the room for more upside is declining.

Despite expecting gains upward of 20 percent for the rest of the year on the so-called FANG stocks – Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Alphabet – and their ilk, analysts at Fundstrat recommended in a Friday note balancing portfolios by scooping up the year’s underperformers: banks, energy and telecoms.

They are not alone in searching for exposure outside technology. “We’re most overweight in technology but I don’t want to stay too long at the party,” said Alan Gayle, director of asset allocation at RidgeWorth Investments in Atlanta. “What I’m watching for is an opportunity to lighten up on tech exposure and put it into some of the more cyclical areas,” he said. “Financials are going to be catching a tailwind.” AllianceBernstein’s Tierney bets beyond tech on healthcare, the second-largest sector weight on the S&P 500.

“Healthcare has really lagged the last 18 months or so. They could certainly pick up the mantle.”

Do Keep Calm! There Is Always A Reason For Your Pains

There is a strong believe that a side to suffering we miss when we focus solely on our pain rather than on God’s greater purpose. If you can see the purpose behind the pain, you can find the way out of this lie.

If you can see the purpose beyond the pain, you will understand God’s ability to leverage the suffering in your life for greater things.

If your suffering won’t go away, it might as well go to work.

Hard times have the capacity to deepen your faith and the faith of those around you. And when you submit your situation to God, he can purify your motives and teach you wonderful things that you can only learn when suffering humbles you and forces you to pay attention to the deep work the Holy Spirit is doing inside of you.

I’m not suggesting God hurts us on purpose just to watch us squirm in agony. On the contrary; God doesn’t hurt us. The world we live in does. Things are breaking down here on earth. People hurt each other. Greed and violence and war and deception are everywhere, and you can’t get away from the constant cycle of sickness, poverty, and death. God doesn’t create these things to hurt you. He is the very One who wants to rescue broken people from these evil forces. And how does God do that? What is his plan to redeem humanity from the curse?

It begins with Jesus. God sent his own Son to this earth to live a sinless life and die a horrible death in our place, so that we would not have to be punished for our sin and rebellion.

It continues, however, with us. The plan God began with Jesus was handed off to God’s people, Christians, to carry on. Jesus himself promised that we would do even greater works than he did, simply meaning that billions of Christians can accomplish unimaginable good in this world for the glory of God when we understand that God wants to use us in his plan. “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

And how does he use us, exactly? One way is through our suffering. Consider these words written by Peter, the disciple who spent years with Jesus only to deny him at his crucifixion, and then was restored to lead the New Testament church:

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Pet. 2:20–21)

Does this mean it is God’s will for me as a Christian to suffer? At first glance, the answer seems simply... yes. But let’s consider a more nuanced reading of these verses.

This Scripture states that it is God’s will not that you simply suffer aimlessly, randomly, or mindlessly but that you suffer for the purpose of doing good and, more importantly, that you endure that suffering.

Therefore, God does not orchestrate purposeless suffering in your life but rather, on the contrary, redeems your suffering, giving you the grace to endure it for the purpose of serving as a witness to the power of the gospel. People — our children, our spouse, our friends, our boss, our extended family, even skeptical nonbelievers — will observe the way we handle suffering, and they’ll learn from us.

When they see us endure the same kind of hurts and hardships they experience while remaining humble, faithful, and prayerful before God, they’ll pay close attention, curious about the source of our strength.

To put it another way: there is always a bigger story encompassing the painful place in which we find ourselves. God is always up to something much bigger. And while we may not focus on or even be aware of the bigger God-story in the midst of our suffering, the God-story is still there.

When it comes to suffering, sometimes the way we overcome is to simply, humbly, and faithfully endure.

Nothing testifies to the deep, authentic reality of God’s presence in the life of a believer like watching that believer keep their eyes on Jesus while enduring hell on earth. Observing a Christian cry out to God in confusion, pain, and anger, while maintaining the faith to keep calling, to keep weeping, to keep reaching out in hope and trust, is perhaps the greatest apologetic for the Christian faith the world will ever see. Our suffering has the power to change those who are watching us suffer.

"I Wants To Stay More at Chelsea" - Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard has signalled his intention to stay at Chelsea "for a couple of years" and says that he is focused on helping the club retain the Premier League title next season as well as compete in the Champions League.

Chelsea secured a second title in three seasons earlier this month before ending the campaign with a Premier League record 30 wins. Hazard played a key role, registering 16 goals -- his highest tally since arriving at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2012 -- together with five assists.

Late in the season, reports claimed that Real Madrid had made the Belgium international their top summer transfer target as they continue to pursue the "Galactico" policy of signings that has seen Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric swap the Premier League for the Santiago Bernabeu in recent years.

But the speculation linking Hazard with a move to the Spanish capital has receded in recent weeks and having insisted on numerous occasions that he is happy at Chelsea, the former Lille man has now provided the clearest indication yet that he sees his future at Stamford Bridge.

"I'm good here," Hazard told Singaporean newspaper the Straits Times. "I'm at one of the best clubs in the world and I think I'm gonna stay for a couple of years. I'm very happy. You can see [from my performances] on the pitch that I'm happy.

"Next season, we will have the Champions League to play but we want to keep the Premier League trophy in Chelsea. It's going to be hard but we know [people] expect a lot from Chelsea now. But now is the time to think about holidays."

Antonio Conte is looking to bolster his Chelsea squad significantly this summer as he prepares for a return to the Champions League next season, and the Premier League winners have reportedly identified Everton striker Romelu Lukaku as the top target to replace Diego Costa if he leaves Stamford Bridge.

"He's a great player, a great guy and a good friend but he will have to make his own choice," Hazard said of Belgium teammate Lukaku. "He's still young, only 24, but every season he has scored a lot of goals in the Premier League and this shows he's a good striker because the Premier League is very tough. But it's not my job to say we need him, the owner and manager are there to buy players. We will see."

The expectations of your hearts shall not be cut short...keep faith alive. All your good wishes will surely come.

Tech: Mobile-friendly Webpage of Ministry of Finance Launched By Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday launched a mobile-friendly common landing webpage of the Ministry of Finance (www.finmin.nic.in) to provide a single-point access to all websites of five departments under the ministry.

“The website is mobile format friendly across all platforms viz. Android, Windows, and iOS. The new website also has features of in-built search options, enabling text to speech, language translation, and visitor analytics, among others,” a Finance Ministry statement said here. Jaitley also launched the new website of the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry — wwww.doe.gov.in.

“With diversification of the information and communication technologies (ICT) landscape, it has become absolutely imperative for the government websites to bring in qualitative and quantitative transformations in the wake of changing user expectations,” the statement said.

“As part of the Digital India Programme, the upgraded common landing webpage of the Ministry and the new website of the Department of Expenditure is a major step towards standardisation and improvement in presentation and content delivery using the Content Management Framework. Both are GIGW (Guidelines for Indian Government Websites) compliant,” it said.

The Railway Ministry recently launched free Wi-Fi at 28 stations on Konkan railway in Maharashtra in line with the Digital India Initiative in May this year.

With Inputs from IANS

7 Merit of Drinking Water Early In The Morning; Number 3 Is Superb

Since almost half of the body is made up of water, drinking several cups every day is one of the simplest ways to better your health and lifestyle.

Notwithstanding, what you may not be aware of is that there is an easier way to enjoy the amazing benefits of water and improve your general wellbeing.

All you have to do is to drink water after you wake up in the morning. It may sound so easy but many people do not do it. Perhaps after reading these benefits of drinking water in the morning shared by Jumia Travel you would imbibe the habit.

1). Deal With a Headache
The human brain is made up of 85% water. So, if there is the absence of enough water in the brain, it can lead to serious headaches. You can drink water in the morning to stop these aches.

2). It Rehydrates Your Body
When you wake up after a sleep marathon, your body will be dehydrated. No matter the amount of water you drank the previous day, your body will still lack water in the morning.

3). It Ease Menstrual Pain
Every month, women suffer from cramps which can sometimes be unbearable. Drinking water helps to reduce the water retention in the vagina which causes cramps thus easing the pain.

4). Reduce Arthritis
Your joints are filled out with fluid that can increase or decrease depending on your water intake. This fluid also reduces due to tough activities and ageing. Drinking water in the morning helps your body to restore fluid so that your joints can move freely.

5). Boost Your Kidney Health
A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine and often severe pain in the abdomen. You can tackle kidney stone by downing lots of water, especially in the morning.

6). It's Absolutely Refreshing
Gulping water after you wake up in the morning is absolutely refreshing and makes you feel good.

7). Get Rid of Unusable Toxins
Water can assist in flushing toxins (a toxin is anything that damages the body) out of your body. This is because while you are asleep your body cleans itself, restores lost energy and balances hormones.

After the cleanup, toxins and other waste materials will be released and wait to be flushed out. So, to clear these toxins, you should drink water in the morning.

Photos: Result of Heavy Rainfall In Delta State

As shared by someone who the impact of the rain live. See another photo below..

Former US President, Barack Obama criticized his successor President Donald Trump for announcing on Thursday that the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, characterizing the decision as America vacating its leadership role on the world stage.

Obama, who has refrained from commenting on his successor’s every action in office, did not name Trump in his statement, but nonetheless made clear that he believes Trump’s plan to exit the 2015 agreement will hurt America, economically and otherwise.

“The nations that remain in the Paris Agreement will be the nations that reap the benefits in jobs and industries created,” Obama said. “I believe the United States of America should be at the front of the pack.

But even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got.”

Describing the accord as “the first-ever global agreement to set the world on a low-carbon course and protect the world we leave to our children,” Obama said it was only possible thanks to “steady, principled American leadership on the world stage.”

Tech: Samsung Galaxy S8 Pirates of The Caribbean Special Edition Launched; Rumored Pink Edition Leaked (Photo)

After the global launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ two new editions of the same models have surfaced online. According to a Weibo listing, a Pirates of the Caribbean edition of the Galaxy S8 has been launched in China, while both the S8 and S8+ are expected to arrive in a new Pink (or Rose Gold) finish. Images of the same leaked out on Chinese social media network and the were first reported by PriceRaja.

The rumored pink version of the phone is expected to be available in Samsung Galaxy S8 and samsung Galaxy S8+ models and the specifications are expected to remain the same as before.

The limited edition Galaxy S8 model has the logo of the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The version officially went on sale in China on Thursday with a price tag of CNY 5,988 (approximately Rs 56,500).

The smartphone includes a customized phone case, buckle ring and the theme of Pirates of the Caribbean theme printed on to the case (image above). The limited edition Samsung Galaxy S8 will only be available in 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of internal storage variant.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ arrived in India back in April 2017. While the initial variants came with 4GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage, Samsung Mobile India on 1 June announced a new 6 GB RAM/128 GB internal storage variant of the Galaxy S8+. The new model is priced at Rs 74,990.

May our prayers and the sincere thoughts of our hearts reach the Throne of Grace and get desirable answers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

The Association of Umudiana-Ndi Nnewi Movement, Anambra state chapter, has threatened to go on a hunger strike if the Department of State Services (DSS) fails to release the chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah.

The group made this known in a statement issued and signed by Prince Iwuchukwu Victor and Comrade Ejiofor Igboegwu, the chairman and secretary of the association.

The association urged the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership, youth associations, human right groups and student union associations to rise to the occasion and ensure that Ubah is released from detention.

The group said they were not against the investigation of the oil magnate, adding that he should be released in line with the rule of law.

”It is unfortunate that Dr Ubah’s contributions to the economic wellbeing of this nation through creation of employment for thousands of Nigerians could so easily be forgotten by the powers that be. Our brother, Ubah never deserved the treatment he is being given by his accusers,” the movement said.

The group insisted that keeping Ifeanyi Ubah in detention could be a plot to destroy his image by those who are worried by his progress in business.

Tech: Manufacturing of New Jeep Compass SUV Commence India, To Arrive In Dealerships From Q3 2017 (See Photo)

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced the rollout of the first 2017 Jeep Compass SUV in India from join-venture facility in Pune. This is one of the four locations (globally) where the new 2017 Jeep Compass SUV will be manufactured. The FCA’s Ranjangaon manufacturing plant will be special because it will be the company’s only RHD plant in the world, one that will also cater to export demands.

The plant as per the report has been set up with a total investment of $280 million with a new paint facility.

The rollout of the plant was attended by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, FCA COO Paul Alcala, FCA India president and MD Kevin Flynn, Gurpratap Boparai, CEO, FIAPL and Girish Bapat, guardian minister, Pune.

The 2017 Jeep Compass was unveiled in India in April 2017. For now the introductory price is expected to be set to Rs 16 lakh.

The SUV features a brand new design compared to the old model and features a 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol engine that delivers about 160 PS and 250 Nm. The diesel option delivers 170 PS and 350 Nm.

Both engines are literally futureproof when it comes to compliance. Both are BS-IV compliant and can be scaled up to meet BS-VI as well and are mated to a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed automatic for the petrol models. The SUV offers a multitude of drive options with features like Jeep Active Drive, Selec Terrain Traction management system and more.

Manchester United Goal Keeper, David De Gea Faces Real Madrid Dilemma But United Confident He Will Stay

It is becoming an annual event: The tug-of-war between Manchester United and Real Madrid for goalkeeper David De Gea is unleashed with each opening of the summer transfer window.

United have won the last two battles and now they're heading for a third. It could be the last. Or maybe not.

Having come so close to signing De Gea in 2015, Real Madrid have made no secret of their search for a replacement for Keylor Navas. So keen were they to sign De Gea two years ago, they were willing to send the Costa Rican to Old Trafford as a makeweight.

Navas has won the Champions League and a Spanish title at the Bernabeu and could add a second Champions League title in Cardiff on Saturday. But, as far as Real president Florentino Perez is concerned, he is not a
Galactico. Not in the same way that Spain's No. 1 is.

Sources have told ESPN FC that United are confident De Gea will stay. He's got two years left on his contract with the option of another and, more than that, the 26-year-old has given no indication that he wants to leave -- privately or in public. That's not his style, anyway.

Jose Mourinho was key in convincing De Gea to stay last summer but the United manager does not make a habit of keeping players who would rather be elsewhere. He didn't want to sell Juan Mata to United when he was in charge at Chelsea; he wanted to keep Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay in January. But they all wanted to play more regular football and Mourinho let them leave, albeit reluctantly.

Commitment to the cause is central to the atmosphere Mourinho wants to create in the dressing room. It would be harder to jettison one of the world's best goalkeepers, as opposed to squad players like Schneiderlin or Memphis, but Mourinho doesn't beg players to stick around. Whoever they are. Even when asked about the future of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after he scored the winning goal in the EFL Cup final in February, Mourinho said: "We don't beg but if needed, United fans go to his house and sit there all night."

Mourinho has also shown with his actions that no player is bigger than the club. He kept faith in No. 2 Sergio Romero in the Europa League final, his biggest game as United manager, and Wayne Rooney's status as club-record goal scorer has proven to be no obstacle in leaving him out of the squad.

So De Gea faces a dilemma this summer. It should be no surprise that a footballer who grew up in Madrid would, at some stage, like to play for Real Madrid. There are personal issues at play, too, with his girlfriend, singer Edurne Garcia, splitting her time between Spain and England.

Eventually, though, it will be too late. Perez will, eventually, turn his attention to other options like Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois or Milan prodigy Gianluigi Donnarumma.

It is different for an outfield player. Cristiano Ronaldo deferred his move from United to Real Madrid for 12 months in 2008, but a goalkeeper is either first-choice or he's not. And interest in De Gea would disappear if Courtois, Donnarumma or someone else signed up to be Real Madrid's goalkeeper for the next decade.

United certainly hope that is how the saga will end, preferably sooner rather than later. And it becomes a more likely scenario with every approach that United successfully bat away.

Whatever happens this summer, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is in a strong position. He was fighting a losing battle in 2015 knowing De Gea only had a year left on his contract. This time, the odds are stacked in his favour and he would demand a world-record fee for a goalkeeper before even considering letting De Gea leave.

Yet despite the posturing between United and Real Madrid, Woodward and Perez, the decision, ultimately, is down to the player. United are convinced De Gea is happy: He is among the highest earners at the club and, privately, has admitted his appreciation of the support he has received from the fans after coming so close to leaving. He was won over by Mourinho's charm last summer and sources have told ESPN FC he is satisfied United are showing the right ambition.

The Champions League is the one thing missing from his CV and United will be back in the competition next season. The question he must ask himself, though, is whether he would be happier in Madrid. And whether, if he says no this time, he would be comfortable never getting the opportunity again.

Comedian Julius Agwu and his wife Ibiere are celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary today, May 31st.

The wife wrote; “……. and 9 years later. STILL STANDING. #GodandGodalone #WeddingAnniversary”

The couple are blessed with two kids, Zahra & Zadok. HWA!

With Android O all set to deploy this year, Google has started pushing developer previews to Pixel and Nexus users. While it is obvious that the final build will arrive only after the next-generation of Pixel smartphones are announced, it seems that the first OEM to confirm the update for its devices is OnePlus.

According to a tweet by OnePlus CEO and founder, Pete Lau, the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T will receive the upcoming Android O update. While he hasn’t confirmed a launch timeline, we can expect it to arrive a month or two after the official builds are out. Of course this is just a presumption considering Android Nougat arrived about three months after the update released on the Pixel and Pixel XL.

It is good to know that the company is already high on the heels of getting the new update, especially when they have a new flagship to launch. Rumors suggest that the new OnePlus 5 could launch this month and will feature a dual-camera setup. It is also expected to feature the latest Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6 GB or up to 8 GB of RAM and the usual 64 GB and 128 GB storage variants. The company has been sending out teasers on Twitter as well, hinting that the launch is not too far.

There is some bad news too, as according to the official OnePlus forums, the OnePlus 2 will not be getting the Android Nougat update. That is going to disappointing as owners of the handset have been waiting patiently for the new update.

A pregnant woman on Saturday, May 26, allegedly set her husband and herself ablaze over alleged infidelity at their Sabon Gari residence in Kano, five weeks after their wedding.

It was gathered that the woman accused her husband of infidelity after she overhead a phone conversation between him and an unidentified woman. She snatched the phone with him and threatened to do something bad.

Later same night, she poured fuel on an already burning gas cooker which exploded and engulfed her and the husband.

The woman died at the scene of the incident while the husband suffered severe burns. He was rushed to Fortress Hospital at Sarki Yaki and later to another undisclosed hospital where he died yesterday. The remains of the couple had been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary. The couple are from Awka, Anambra State.

Spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, DSP Musa Majiyawho confirmed the incident, said detectives from the command has commenced an investigation.

Arsene Wenger Stays at Arsenal as He Continues His Work as Team Head Coach

Arsene Wenger has signed a new two-year contract at Arsenal to end speculation surrounding his future. After another season of failure in the Premier League and Champions League, did the club make the right choice?

We asked our Arsenal experts Andrew Mangan, Tom Adams and James McNicholas, for their opinions.

Is keeping Arsene Wenger the right decision for Arsenal?

AM: In the circumstances, yes. Arsenal are simply not set up for change at the moment. The club is as unstable as it has ever been, and Wenger leaving now would leave them with too much to do in a short space of time. Not just from a managerial point of view, but also when it comes to players coming and going, as well as preparation for next season.

TA: Yes and no. Arsenal do need change to sweep through the club and the best thing for the future would be if they parted ways with Wenger. That said, the fact there was no evidence of a succession plan, coupled with the euphoria of beating Chelsea so well in the FA Cup final, means the timing was all wrong to take such a huge decision. They essentially just kicked the can down the road, and in the circumstances it makes sense.

JM: Personally, I believe that Arsenal would benefit from a new manager. However, the club is in no real position to make a change. The uncertainty over Wenger's contract has dragged on for far too long, and it appears as if no real contingency plan has been put in place. The FA Cup triumph has inevitably changed the atmosphere around the club and made the idea of Wenger staying more palatable. However, his poor performance in the Premier League and Champions League mean his time with Arsenal ought to have been up.

Why did Arsenal choose to stick with Wenger?

AM: The lack of suitable candidates, for one. The fact that this might also allow them to properly plan the transition from a legacy manager to a new man by putting in place structures which the modern day coach needs to work under. There's also the fact Arsenal are very risk averse anyway, and probably see the risk of change as outweighing the risks of staying with a manager who, at the very least, produces consistency season after season.

TA: For the simple reason that the alternative course of action would have plunged the club into chaos. Arsenal were completely unprepared to remove their manager of 20 years. There were a lack of candidates to target, no structure in place to mitigate the fallout, and not enough football expertise in the boardroom to make a successful managerial change. They took the safe option, and winning the FA Cup made the whole thing much more palatable.

AM: I'm not sure they did. Ultimately it was Wenger's call -- he has continually retained the support of Stan Kroenke and it's been the manager's desire to stay on that has resulted in this outcome. Arsenal don't seem capable of properly holding their manager to account.

What needs to change now?

AM: Over the next two years Arsenal have to make substantive changes. The academy needs a new boss; some kind of director of football appointment needs to be made -- even if it's one that, for now, doesn't have the authority it has at other clubs. Recruitment and scouting are areas that require significant improvement too, and part of Wenger's remit over the next two years must be to help implement those things.

TA: Arsenal need to ensure they don't just go through this whole process again in two years. It appears unlikely there will be a director of football -- Wenger has basically ruled that out -- but they need to start the long transition to a new manager in two years. Arsenal need to develop a structure that could survive Wenger's exit, revamping departments like coaching and scouting and bringing in a senior figure who can provide some continuity, allowing Wenger to be gradually phased out over the course of his new deal.

JM: Wenger needs to embrace the 3-4-2-1 system that has rescued Arsenal's system from disaster. The Gunners look significantly more solid, and it's a real concern with the security of a new contract behind him Wenger will return to his cavalier ways and his dysfunctional formation.

Prediction for next season?

AM: So much depends on what they do for the rest of the summer. If they can keep Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, add one or two more players of similar quality, and clear out some of the deadwood, then they could have a chance of competing for the Premier League title. They have a lot of work to do to ensure all of those things happen though, and whether they're capable of that will become clear soon enough.

TA: A decent start which will cause a groundswell of optimism followed by a crash in the spring. Nothing new really. Seriously, the pattern is very well established under Wenger now. It would take a huge outlay on world-class players to really make them title contenders. And that won't happen.

JM: If Arsenal lose Sanchez, it's going to be very difficult for them to force their way back into an increasingly competitive top four. Arsenal's best chance of returning to the Champions League may come via the same route Jose Mourinho's Manchester United took this season: the Europa League.

Android Pay launched in Canada on Wednesday, with support for a number of major banks at launch, and additional banks to be added soon. The Android Pay debut in Canada was teased at Google’s I/O developer conference keynote earlier this month, and reported as imminent last week by MobileSyrup.

The launch today includes support for Visa and MasterCard credit and debit, as well as Interac debit cards (starting June 5) from leading national banks BMO, CIBC and Scotiabank, as well as from smaller regional and specialist institutions like ATB Financial, PC Financial, Desjardins, Banque Nationale and ATB Financial. Android devices running version 4.4 of the OS or higher will be able to add cards from these banks and make mobile payments at compatible, tap-enabled terminals – which are actually very prevalent in Canada.

American Express and Tangerine support are “coming later this summer,” Google says. The noteworthy absentees from this list of supporting financial institutions are RBC and TD, which are the largest of Canada’s “Big Five” banks. Both RBC and TD do support Apple Pay, though, indicating a willingness to support mobile payment options. Spencer Spinnell, Google’s Director of Emerging Platforms, would only say at a launch event that it “expects banks will come on board over the next several quarters.”

Spinnell also noted at a launch event that the progress of Android Pay represents the result of a tremendous amount of work, since it means bringing together and satisfying a large number of stakeholders, from merchants, to financial institutions, to payment networks and to customers.

Unlike Apple, Google doesn’t charge transaction fees to any parties involved for use of Android Pay (Apple charges banks).

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Android Pay uses NFC tech to transfer tokenized payment information from the device to a merchant terminal. Like Apple Pay, which launched in Canada last year, Android Pay doesn’t pass on your actual original payment card details to a merchant, but instead generates a unique token to use for transactions. To use it, once you register your card you simply wake your device, authenticate using one of your phone login methods, and tap it to a payment terminal. Also, once your cards are registered, if they’re lost or stolen, you can use Android Pay to remotely lock or wipe or disable your card.
Android Pay first launched in the U.S. in 2015, and has been rolling out to additional markets gradually since then, covering 12 in total. Other new markets coming online this year include Brazil, Russia, Spain and Taiwan, and Google will also be offering improved loyalty card integration on the merchant side. Android Pay also works in-app with a range of partners, including Uber, 1-800 Flowers and more.

Android Pay has had 1.5 million new registrations per moth on average in the U.S. alone, Spinnell said, which he argued is all the more impressive given the current state of the contactless payment system in America, which lags its equivalents in Canada, the UK and other countries. He said that one in three Canadians who own smartphones have used their device to pay for something, and noted that in Q4 2016, Canadian contactless payments rose 120 percent. Spinnell also noted that eight out of 10 Canadian retailers support NFC capability, making the market an ideal target for an expansion of Android Pay.

See below..

A father left 17 Camels as an Asset for his Three Sons.

When the Father passed away, his sons opened up the will.

The Will of the Father stated that the Eldest son should get Half of 17 Camels,
The Middle Son should be given 1/3rd of 17 Camels,

Youngest Son should be given 1/9th of the 17. Camels,

As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the sons started to fight with each other.

So, they decided to go to a wise man.
The wise man listened patiently about the Will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one camel of his own & added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 camels.

Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will.

Half of 18 = 9.
So he gave 9 camels
to the eldest son.

1/3rd of 18 = 6.
So he gave 6 camels
to the middle son.

1/9th of 18 = 2.
So he gave 2 camels
to the youngest son.

Now add this up:
9 + 6 + 2 = 17 &
This leaves 1 camel,
which the wise man took back.

MORAL and LESSON below..
The attitude of negotiation & problem solving is to find the 18th camel i.e. the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times.

However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able to reach any!

Is this interesting or not?.
Alright, share your thoughts.

5 Things You Should Avoid Eating Before Bed In Other To Have a Sound Night’s Sleep

It’s a soothing feeling to feel sleepy and be able to get on your bed and go straight to sleep without any disturbance or disruptions. Eating foods at the wrong can cause such disturbance.
So we bring to you 5 foods you should never eat before bed to have a beautiful night’s sleep.

1). Chicken
Chicken or any type of protein tends to interfere with your sleep if consumed at night or before bed. This is because digestion typically slows down while you’re sleeping and if you eat a significant portion of protein before bed, it further slows down digestion and the meal takes a much longer time to digest. Therefore, rather than focusing on sleeping, your body is instead focusing on digesting. However, combining carbohydrate foods with protein can help tip the balance in favour of a good night’s sleep.

2). Sugary Snacks/ Sugary Foods
This is an obvious one; however there is still a large number of people who eat these foods before bed. This is ill-advised because, like proteins, sugary foods or snacks are slow to digest, much slower to digest than other foods. As a result, rather than your body relaxing to sleep, it will be working to digest the sugary food which can significantly interfere with your sleep.

3). Coffee
While this is technically a drink not food, this is another one you should stay away from at night. This is mainly because the caffeine in coffee stimulates your nervous system and keeps you awake and active throughout the night. However, if the intention is to remain awake through the night, then it’s fine. You should only be careful not overdo this, as abuse of caffeine can lead to hyperactivity and other problems associated with caffeine abuse. It’s much better to find a way to get your work done during the day to give your body time to rest at night, as nature intended.

4). Spicy/Peppery Food
No matter how much you love spicy or peppery foods, it’s best to eat them earlier in the day rather than at night. Spicy and peppery foods can cause heartburns when taken at night, which can significantly interfere with what was meant to be a sound night’s sleep for you.

5.) Fatty Foods/Greasy Foods
This is especially associated with most fast food meals and should be avoided not only before sleeping but in general, to maintain good health and well-being. The fat contained in fatty and greasy foods stimulates the production of stomach acid which can cause heartburn, so fatty or greasy foods are best avoided at night to prevent waking up with a very uncomfortable heartburn in the middle of the night.

Who Wore It Better Between Tiwa Savage and Porsha Williams? (See Photos)

Who rocked the Bfyne swimwear better? Tiwa Savage rocked hers in her new music video, All over while RHOA star, Porsha Williams rocked hers to her Yacht party recently.
See photos below..

So who do you think rocks it better?.

Effective 3 Things To Do To Maintain Your Mental Well Functioning

You know that one friend who always keeps it completely 100% with you? She's not afraid to tell you the truth and asks the really hard questions others are afraid to ask.

We all need this friend and we love her because we know her honesty is sincerely out of love for us and a desire to see the best for us.

Can I be that friend for you today and ask you a very important question?

How's your mental wellness?
I know I spend a lot of time encouraging you spiritually but in honor of mental health awareness month I want to check in to see how you are doing in this area too?
I ask because as I become more aware of the need to take more care of myself mentally, I can look back on my life and see seasons where I didn't. I just simply didn't know how and I don't want that to be you.

So today I want to share with you 3 simple ways I've learned to maintain my mental wellness (and in turn the wellness of my marriage and family).

1. Be Still
Take time to sit quietly and process your feelings. I know, I know. You don't have the time. Between work, church, and cooking dinner all you want to do is watch Netflix. I get it. Me too.

But I've noticed if I don't take time to process why I'm feeling the way I'm feeling and thinking the thoughts I'm thinking, the negative feelings and thoughts have a field day because I'm not taking the time to stop them before they snowball out of control.

So I make it a priority to be still and ask myself questions like; why did that one comment from my husband set me off? Was it because I skipped lunch and was just hangry (hungry + angry) or was it something deeper? Something I can overcome with renewed thinking so that it doesn't happen again?

For me this type of mental processing doesn't happen while I'm running after the kids or folding a mountain of laundry. So I forfeit an episode on Netflix to simply be still and process. It always pays off in the long run.

2. Journal
Simply sitting quiet and thinking doesn't always work for me. Sometimes my mind can go a million miles per hour. Before I can finish one thought 12 more pop up. When my mind is this busy the only way to organize all my thoughts and feelings is to write them down. So that's what I do almost every day. There is something about seeing my thoughts on paper (or screen) that help me to process more clearly and regularly. If you’re like me and have a difficult time focusing your thinking, I encourage you to find a time that works best for you to journal and make it a habit.

3. Talk it Out
All your mental processing should not be done alone. I strongly encourage you to open up to a trusted friend about the thoughts that are going through your mind (yes, even the crazy ones). Sometimes we just need someone to tell us the thoughts holding us hostage to fear and anxiety are just not true. Or we need someone to tell us "girl you're not crazy for feeling that way". The Bible Says;

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. – Proverbs 27:9 NLT

Maintaining your mental wellness is not easy work but you are worth it. You deserve a healthy and happy life that overflows into the lives of your family, community, and world.

Another unidentified man has been beheaded and his body dumped along NTA road in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital. This sad incident comes nine days after a yet to be identified man was beheaded and his body dumped by the road side at Rumuosi junction behind Anglican church in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
See photo below..

Former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, on Tuesday said he would still take a shot at the presidency if the opportunity presented itself.

Duke spoke at a programme “The Nigerian Symposium for Emerging Leaders” held in Lagos.

He said though he once aspired to the position but did not emerge candidate of the PDP, he would still contest for the highest office in the country at the appropriate time.

Duke explained that it was because of his preference for the presidential seat that he did not vie for any federal legislative seat after serving out his terms as governor.

“I do not have the flair for the legislature; standing up and sitting down at the chambers to raise a point. That was why I did not contest for the Senate but the presidency, after serving out my term as governor.

“I have contested the presidency before; I will still give it a shot when the opportunity presents itself . I believe I still have the energy in me,” he said.

The former governor canvassed the reform of the country`s political system to accommodate wider participation and good governance.

He suggested the review of the electoral law to allow for independent candidacy.

He said Nigeria's democracy would fare better if young people, who form the larger proportion of the population ,took more active part in its political process.

He said most developed countries had young people as their leaders at one point or the other in their democratic history.

He, however, admitted that power was never given easily, urging young people to participate in the political process and use their prime to add value to the country.

“I want to urge young people in the country not to see leadership as if it belongs to some people, but do everything positive to be part of it.

“You can only make a difference at the prime of your life. You can actually add value now, not when you are above 50.

“So, you need to be part of the political process and play your part. It is your right to be there; nobody is doing you a favour.

“You represent more than 60 per cent of the population; you don’t have to beg for it. Just make effort to make that change and contribute your quota to nation building," he said.

New Laws For The Use of Movable Assets as Collateral For Bank Loan Been Approved By Nigeria Acting President, Osibajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has signed two new laws that will facilitate access to more affordable credit facilities for businesses in the country. The new Acts are the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017.

In a statement released by Osibanjo's spokesman, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesman, he said;

"The passage of these Acts would facilitate the achievement of the goals of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) set up by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2016 and chaired by the Vice-President to progressively make Nigeria an easier place for businesses to start and thrive".

Read the full statement below..

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has signed into law two bills from the National Assembly that will ultimately facilitate access to more affordable credit for Nigerians.

The bills which have now become ‘Acts’ are the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017.

‘The Collateral Registry Act’ ensures that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria can register their movable assets such as motor vehicles, equipment and accounts receivable in the National Collateral Registry, and use same as collateral for accessing loans. This in turn will increase their chances at accessing financing and tackle one of the major obstacles faced by MSMEs.

On the other hand, ‘The Credit Reporting Act’ provides for credit information sharing between Credit Bureaus and lenders (such as banks), as well as other institutions that provide services on credit such as telecommunication companies and retailers.

(A Credit Bureau is defined as a company that collects information relating to the credit ratings of individuals and makes it available to financial institutions, who need such information to determine an individual’s credit-worthiness and whether or not to grant loan applications to such individuals).

Access to credit is critical to economic growth and is considered to be the motor for driving private sector development. However, in Nigeria more than 70 per cent of private enterprises, typically MSMEs, have limited or no access to credit. Credit applications get rejected due to insufficient credit history and information for the lender to use to make a reasonable judgement, as well as unacceptable collateral. The two new Acts remove those obstacles for MSMEs.

Traditionally, banks only give loans to businesses that can provide fixed land and property as collateral. This shuts out MSMEs which usually own only movable assets like motor vehicles and equipment. The Collateral Registry Bill, 2017, will give confidence to lenders to utilise the Registry and thereby make credit available to MSMEs and individuals through the use of their movable assets as collateral.

The Credit Reporting Act now enables lenders to make reasonable judgement on whether or not to extend credit to an individual, and reduces the cases of bad loans.

On February 21, 2017, the leadership of the National Assembly publicly committed to passing the two bills as part of the 60-Day National Action Plan for Ease of Doing Business initiated by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). That promise was kept by the National Assembly last week with the bills forwarded to the Acting President for assent.

With the passage of these Acts, the existing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Guidelines regulating the operations of the National Collateral Registry and Credit Bureaux have now been replaced by formal legal frameworks.

The passage of these Acts would facilitate the achievement of the goals of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) set up by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2016 and chaired by the Vice-President to progressively make Nigeria an easier place for businesses to start and thrive.

Search Here

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Friday, June 2, 2017

Wednesday, May 31, 2017