2014 World Cup: We Must Go Beyond Second Round - Keshi

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed his 2014 World Cup target is to surpass the country’s best performance of reaching the Round of 16.

Nigeria got to the Round of 16 at USA 1994 and France 1998, but have since failed to go beyond the group stage in Korea-Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010.

Top Nigeria football officials have said they will not set a World Cup target for the Super eagles in Brazil so as not to put them under undue pressure.

But Keshi has now said he hopes to lead Nigeria to improve on these records by at least reaching the quarterfinal, which is also the best performance by an African team and has been achieved by Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).

“I am looking out to get a very good squad for the World Cup and go beyond Nigeria’s record in the previous World Cups,” Keshi told Brila FM on Monday.

Nigeria are drawn in Group F along with Argentina, Bosnia-Herzogovina and Iran.

Keshi has proposed a pre-World Cup training camp in the United States of America from May 25.

African champions Nigeria have also picked a training base in Sao Paolo and are due to play a friendly on March 5 in Europe as part of the build-up to Brazil 2014.

Nelson Mandela to be laid to rest on December 15

South African President Jacob Zuma has made public that former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral will be held on Sunday, December 15 in Qunu in the Eastern Cape, Mandela’s ancestral home. Speaking at a media briefing in his second public address since Mandela died on Thursday night, Mr Zuma said in a brief speech that the government was grateful for the dignified manner in which the local and international community had responded to the news of Mandela’s death.

He said that this Sunday, December 8, had been declared a day of prayer and reflection, and he called for all people to gather in churches, mosques, synagogues and in their homes to pray and to reflect on Mandela’s life. Mr Zuma said the main event of the 10 days of national mourning would be an official memorial service held at the FNB Stadium (Soccer City) in Nasrec, near Soweto, on Tuesday, December 10.

From December 11-13, Mandela’s remains would lie in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he was inaugurated as the first president of the democratic South Africa in 1994.

Mr Zuma said several memorial services were expected to be held in all provinces and regions in the coming week.

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said the funeral arrangements were handled by the Mandela family, the African National Congress (ANC) and the government.

Nelson Mandela Foundation spokesman Sello Hatang said earlier on Friday that the organisation was not planning any activities and its role would be limited to providing support to the family and the government.

World Football Stars Comment on Nelson Mandela's Death

Video - Nigerian Man Survives 3 Days At Bottom of Atlantic

Wonders shall never cease to happen in Nigeria! Praise God! He didnt resign to death and his hope was rewarded.

D’Banj, Don Jazzy meet again at Ice Prince concert

Over the weekend, Choc City rap artist Ice Prince held his highly publicised Fire of Zemani concert but tension only heightened when fans watched with batted breath, as two Nigerian music heavy weights Don Jazzy and D’banj walk deliberately towards each other.

The ice cracked when they both broke into smiles, gave each other bear hugs and even shared a ciger… it was a great sight.

*Don Jazzy, D’banj, Dr Sid at Ice Prince Fire of Zemani concert

This is the second time this year, these two are meeting in public and exchanging cheerful pleasantries. First had been at the wedding ceremony of Dotun Ojuolape of Cool fm and D’banj’s sister Dotun. They had even performed together on stage.

Fans hurdled around them and cheered them on.

Ice Prince’s Fire of Zemani which held at the Eko Hotel and Suites attracted performances from Chip and Ruby, with Sunny Neji making a surprise guest appearance. Ice Prince came on stage and held everyone hostage; delivering incredible track lists from his new album.

Guests included a host of celebrities including Dele Momodu, Don Jazzy, D’banj, Ikechukwu, Dr SID, Waje, Dammy Krane, Tunde Ednut, Rita Dominic and many more.

Fans are hoping against hope that D’banj and Don Jazzy will work together again, but they have left no indication that will be happening soon…we can only keep our fingers crossed.

Jonathan Sick- Nigerian president has medical treatment while in London

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan received medical treatment on Thursday while on a visit to London, his office said, describing it as "precautionary" and saying his condition was not serious.

Jonathan, who turned 56 on Wednesday, was scheduled to be at an investment meeting in London on Thursday but was not well enough to attend.

"President Jonathan has since been examined by competent medical practitioners. He has been advised to rest for a few days," the presidency said in a statement.

"The Presidency wishes to assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan's condition is nothing serious and that the medical attention he has sought is only precautionary."

Multichoice Donates E-Learning Centre To Schools In Plateau

MultiChoice, a partner of DSTV has handed over a world class e-learning resource centre for students in 10 public secondary schools in Plateau State.

The e-learning facilities were unveiled at one of the centres in Government Secondary school West of Mines Jos during the commissioning of the laboratory.

According to Mr Timothy Okwu, public relation executive of MultiChoice, The e-learning project is part of their corporate social investment in the society.

Each of the 10 schools is equipped with laboratory containing a TV set, a HD PVR decoder, satellite dish, a power generator set, uninterrupted power system (UPS), a set of chairs and desks for the laboratory, among others, avails students access to educational TV channels that include: Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC Knowledge, BBC World, History Channel, Animal Planet and Mindset Learn, etc

According to Okwu, "The project introduced to impact critically on the knowledge levels and understanding especially of technical subject areas by students in underprivileged environment, is in its 9th phase and has been introduced to 255 schools in 25 states of the federation. Its extension to 10 public secondary schools in Plateau State brings the total to 265 in 26 states across the country.”

World Bank Votes N2bn to Tackle Erosion in Imo State

  The Sector Manager on Environment and Climate Change Matters, World Bank African Region, Beniot Bosquet, who disclosed this in Owerri  on Tuesday  said the fund was approved to tackle erosion at Umueshi in Ideato South, Ihioma-Ogbaeruru in Orlu and Eziala Obizi in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Areas.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to Gov. Rochas Okorocha,  Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo,  quoted Bosquet  as making the pledge when his team paid courtesy visit on the governor. He said that other erosion sites such as those found in Ezem Azu Uruala in Ideato North and Umuezealaibe in Isu Njaba Local Government were awaiting approval by the World Bank. It quoted Bosquet as saying that the Nigeria Erosion and Water Shade Management Project (NEWMAP) was set up by the bank in conjunction with the Federal Government.

The joint efforts, the statement said, were to tackle environment and climate change issues in the South East.

Bosquet called on the Imo Government to support the intervention through the payment of its N400 million counterpart fund in order to access the approved amount.

The governor expressed gratitude to the World Bank team for its interest in the development of the state.

He said the state would pay part of its counterpart fund to ensure that the work commenced in earnest.

30% Of Children In North East Are Out Of School

Former Commandant, Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji, Major-General Mohammed Isa (rtd) has revealed that over 30 percent of our children of school-age have stopped school due to the security situation in the that part of the country.

He also disclosed that the situation has obviously affected foreign direct investment into Nigeria's economy as investors are now discouraged.

The former commandant, was speaking yesterday in Kaduna at a conference organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kaduna Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Also speaking at the occasion, the Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu decried what he described as lack of ideological base for the nation’s political parties.

ASUU Strike: FG To Open Nigerian Varsities Nextweek With Or Without ASUU

The latest news coming your way on ASUU strike is that the FG is set to open Nigerian Universities with or without ASUU, according to ScanNews Nigeria.

President Goodluck Jonathan will on Monday, November 4, meet with the leadership of ASUU at the Presidential Villa.

An official of the Vice President’s office who pleaded anonymity told Scan News that all hands are now on deck to ensure that the Universities resume next week.

The President will at next Monday’s meeting present to the ASUU leadership the administration’s last concession for them to call off the prolonged strike.

A source at the Presidential Villa noted that if ASUU fails to call off, the Federal Government will then resort to plan B, which will be to compulsorily open the Universities, using the instrumentality of the governing councils and the school managements.

Already, most of the governing councils of the Universities have started meeting to work out modalities for the compulsory re-opening of the Universities should ASUU fail to honour the personal request of President Jonathan.

It was gathered that security report available to the Presidency may have necessitated this line of action to salvage the Universities system from the direction it is facing at present.

Source: Osun Defender

Imo House of Assembly Confirm 12 Commissioner Nominees

The state assembly has confirmed 12 commissioner nominees sent to it by the state governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha for screening.

The commissioner nominees are:

Prof. Uba Nnabue - Njaba L.G.A
Lady Nma Love    - Okigwe L.G. A
Dn. Chike Okafor - Obowo L.G. A
Chief Nick Oparandudu - Owerri North L.G. A
Ifeanyi Nwachukwu     - Ezinni Ihitte L.G. A
Mrs. Uche Ejiogu     - Ihitte Uboma L.G. A
Jerry Okolie - Orlu
Com. Uch Nwoaosu - Nkwerre L.G. A
Ugochi Nnanna Okoro - Owerri West L.G. A
Ichie uchebest Mbanaso - Orlu
Com. keneth Emelo - Ideato South L.G. A
Prof. Okey magnus Okoro - Ohaji Egbema L.G. A

In another development, the 4-member adhoc committee led by Mrs Ngozi Pat Ekeji that screened members of ISOPADEC management has screened chairman and members except Mr. Ugochukwu Nwokeoma.

The house also adopted the committees recommendation that the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. matthew Irondi Ukaegbu who hails from Ngor-Okpala be comfirmed accordingly. Chief Charles Obioha was not comfirmed as ISIEC chairman as he failed to present himself for screening.

The house has also asked the Governor to submit another nominee to represent Owerri Zone.

Nigeria Needs A Female President

Governors Adams Oshomhole and Babatunde Fashola of Edo and Lagos States respectively say it is not bad for Nigeria to have a female president sijce the male leaders have failed the country.

The duo spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2013 National Women Conference organized by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, held at the Eko Hotels and Suits, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Tuesday.

Oshiomhole stated that the feat achieved by the late former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher is yet to be rivaled till this moment, saying that the woman was able to take Britain to an enviable height.

“There are evidences around the world where women have led. There is no question in my mind that we need to create a level playing field for the women,” he stated.

Red Hot Chimamanda dazzles in BFI London Film Festival Premiere of “Half of a Yellow Sun”

's sensational writer, Chimamanda Adichie On Saturday 19th October 2013 was the center of attraction as the adaptation of her best selling novel Half of a Yellow Sun premiered at the 57th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon West End, London, UK.

For the premiere, the Nigerian novelist sizzled in a red dress. She styled the dress which features an edgy cut-out on the skirt, gold drop earrings and gold sandals.

She completed the look with red lipstick as well as a rich Nigerian hairstyle famous in the 60s and 70s.

Amos Adamu's 3 year Football Ban Ends

BBC sports has reported that the 3 year ban from football places on Nigeria's former FIFA executive committee member Amos Adamu has ended.
He was sanctioned for bribery after being filmed asking undercover reporters for $800,000 and was not allowed to take part in the 2010 votes.

The bribery scandal three years ago implicated Adamu and five other officials in corrupt behaviour and plunged Fifa into turmoil weeks before the votes which saw Russia chosen to the 2018 World Cup and Qatar selected as the host for the 2022 event.

Adamu, who is free to work in football again after the ban ended on Sunday, said: "I can only thank God it is over.
I hold no grudge against anyone

Hunger Level In Nigeria Has Fallen - Global report

Well this is some cheering news to start the day.

According to report published by International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI, hunger levels in Nigeria has decreased in the last eight years, but has remained at am "alarming" level in Africa.

The report showed that Nigeria's index dropped from 16.3 in 2005 to 15 in 2013.

Safe and comfortable levels are below five. Burundi has the highest at 38.

The report identifies Africa generally among other regions with a high level of hunger which, it says is alarming.

This is contained in the 2013 Global Hunger Index (GHI) released by IFPRI, Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide.

The report said global hunger is decreasing as the 2013 World Global Hunger Index score has fallen by 34 per cent from the 1990 GHI score.

However, world hunger still remains serious, with 19 countries suffering from levels of hunger that are either alarming or extremely alarming, it adds.

Nigeria's Billionaires Turn To Agriculture

Indigenous investors who have made fortunes in other sectors of the economy are now increasingly investing in agriculture under the new dispensation of agricultural transformation agenda.

The new commercial farmers, seeing the prospects in the agricultural sector, are putting huge investments into agribusiness investments.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this to the audience at the Agribusiness Forum 2013, an annual programme for Africa, organised by the European Marketing Research Centre (EMRC) based in Brussels, Belgium. “Our billionaires used to make money” from other sectors, including oil, “now, they are moving back to the farm,” he noted.

The theme of the EMRC forum 2013 is ‘The Agri-Food Sector: A Catalyst for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Africa.’ The minister was optimistic about the prospect of agriculture, as he said “the future of Africa is bright. We need to secure that future,” and “agriculture as a business is what is needed to secure that future.” The minister gave specific examples. “We have treated sorghum as a subsistence crop before now. We are now turning sorghum into a cash crop,” he said.

Do you think Super Eagles Deserved The Win?

For the most part of the match, the Ethiopian team were the dangerous side with their sharp movement and threatening forrays into the Super Eagles 18 area. The Nigerian team were really outwitted by the Ethiopians and were almost chasing shadows.

Do you think the Super Eagles deserved their victory over the Walya Antelopes?

World Bank Partner Federal Government To Recover Abacha Loot

The last may not have been heard about the much publicized million dollar loot of former military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

The federal government has announced it was collaborating with the World Bank to recover about 185 million euros transfered to some commercial banks in Liettenstein in Central Europe by the Abacha regime through some shell companies.

According to coordianting minister of the conomy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the recovery effort started 14 years ago under the Obasanjo regime when about $500 million were also repaid by banks in Switzerland. She also said the funds received will be used to finance rural development projects accross the country.

Manchester United DID try to snap up Arsenal star Mesut Ozil

MANCHESTER UNITED made a late dash to try to sign Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, it has been revealed.

United were chasing a number of targets on deadline day in the summer window, including Ander Herrera but were foiled.

They ended up getting Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini, although had to stump up £27.5million.

United had showed interest in Ozil in the summer, but dithered over lodging a bid for the 24-year-old who joined Arsenal for £42.4m.

The Red Devils have tried to play this down but a source close to the club, said: "United made a call. 

Kenny Moyes, David's brother who is an agent, was trying desperately to get hold of Ozil's agent

Source close to Manchester United

"Kenny Moyes, David's brother who is an agent, was trying desperately to get hold of Ozil's agent. 

"I think that by the time they managed it it was too late."

Ozil has gone on to make a flying start with the Gunners, who currently top the Premier League.

Is this further proof that Marouane Fellaini was a last resort? Leave your comments here