MTN presents the MTN Leadership Seminar with Dr Farrah Gray

In its continued commitment to empowering dreams and enriching lives, MTN in the last four years has brought in renowned speakers like Les Brown, Chris Gardner and David Plouffe to speak to Nigerians on topics bordering on entrepreneurship, strategy, motivation amongst others. Formerly tagged the MTN Motivational Series, the project has been revamped and repackaged as the MTN Leadership Seminar to bring more value to her customers and the general public. 

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The MTN Leadership Seminar is the first of its kind in Nigeria with the objective of:

-          Enabling MTN customers move on ahead in life and business

-          Inspiring the CAN-DO spirit in them.

-          Creating a conducive atmosphere for networking

-          Creating opportunities for budding entrepreneurs through the N30 Million Grant and a 6 month mentorship programme with Dr. Farrah Gray.

This year’s Seminar promises to be bigger and better and will feature Dr. Farrah Gray, a young American businessman, investor, philanthropist, author, syndicated columnist, and motivational speaker who became a millionaire at the tender age of 14. The seminar will hold from Tuesday, April 24, 2012 to Friday, April 27, 2012 in 2 locations in Nigeria. The theme of this year’s event is “Breaking the Success Myth”.

The MTN Leadership Seminar will also feature activities beyond talk and will include a first-of-its kind initiative called the MTN Budding Entrepreneur Business Grant. The initiative  will see  3 entrepreneurs go home with the sum of N20 Million for the best idea and N5 Million each for 2 and 3rd great ideas respectively in order to pursue their business ventures.  Avid social network faithfuls would  have noticed “If I had 30 million Naira” twitter hash-tag and Facebook question which served as a pre-cursor to the initiative with Nigerians of all works of life dropping their two cents on the topic   .

About Farray Gray

Farrah Gray is an American businessman, investor, philanthropist, author, syndicated columnist, and motivational speaker. At just 29, he has been able to put in more in a lifetime than most will. Dr. Farrah Gray was named as one of the most influential Black men in America by the National Urban League's Urban Influence Magazine and Ebony Magazine recognized him as an entrepreneurial icon, business mogul and best-selling author. Raised in the impoverished South side of Chicago, Dr. Gray defied the odds and became a self-made millionaire by the age of 14. At the age of 21, he received an Honorary Doctorate degree of Humane Letters from Allen University. This was in recognition of his ingenious economic mind and distinguished commitment to the development of values such as leadership, integrity and scholarship. In his rise from poverty to national and international prominence as an entrepreneurial icon and pre-eminent power speaker, Dr. Gray has inspired millions around the world.

Date	Time	Location	Activity	Venue
24th April	9am	Lagos	Breakfast session with CEOs and MTN Platinum Plus members Theme: From Success to Relevance	Sky Lounge, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island
25th April	6pm	Lagos	Leadership Seminar Theme: Breaking the Success Myth	Harbour Point, 4 Wilmott Point Victoria Island
26th April	6pm	Port Harcourt	Leadership Seminar Theme: Breaking the Success Myth	The Atrium, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt
27th April	2pm	Lagos	Youth Seminar Theme: Breaking the Success Myth	Main Auditorium, University of Lagos

To register to get an invite visit www.mtnonline.com/leadership

To upload your business plan visit www.mtnonline.com/leadership

Relevant links to Farrah Gray

HCI Books - Farrah Gray Publishing, Inc.
Publishers Weekly: Farrah Gray launches FG Publishing
CNN: "Up from the Past: African-American Firsts" Interview
CNN: "How To Start A Business In This Economy" Interview

UNILAG Challenged Convention- Inaugurated E-Learning. Introduces On-Line or Correspondent for Student’s Education.

On 14th April 2012, the entire DLI Students gathered at the Unilag Main Auditorium for a never seen before convergence in the annals’ of the establishment of the Distance Learning Institute, as far as Student Field could chronicle. The E-learning challenges the face-to-face contact with lecturers and with materials provided remotely via internet facilities. It was a beehive of activity; students were thronging into the expansive Auditorium. Infact it was filled up to a point of overflowing. I saw the 100Level Student share the spots with contemporaries, I also observe the 200, 300, 400 and 5ooLevels respectively hoarding together to catch a glimpse of DLI Director Prof. Olufunke Lawal on the rostrum. The interior of the hall was illuminated with ludicrous amount of razzmatazz orchestrated with elegant design.

I was unchanging, unwavering and really not stable at the event; I was level-headed and was more committed in assisting the DLISA Exco’s for a more secured arrangement. Despite the long changing posture of proper arrangement, I was still able to chronicle record of happenings of the event in a chronological order.

The DLI Director, Prof. Olufunke Lawal elaborated extensively on the students’ expectation on resumption.

She made mention of ELC center which is under construction were student can come in to read and do research on-line...
She also particularizes and expands on the collaboration and partnership under the direct delegation of the DLI deputy director Dr Kuton with CITS to make available a wireless internet available within DLI compound for all DLI students free of charge...She also assured DLI students of the availability of course materials, wish will be available on online and also on a DVD cd.....

Dr Kuton entreats to the students’ to remain steadfast, and also plead in anticipation for their procrastinated results.
He urged the students with an emotional appeal for forgiveness which involve the reconvening of the Senate committee deliberation for speedy approval.
He promise that senate will be sitting for their meeting before the end of this month and that his assuring DLI student that the result will be available on-line before the end of this month(DLI website...www.dli.unilag.edu.ng)............


Also on behalf of DLI students i sincerely appreciate my Com. Sulaimon Adeola Sheriff, Hon. David Tom, Hon. Ajasa Taiwo, Hon Biobaku Adeoye
and all other DLISA Exco's for always fulfilling their promises. Overall best student in year 1 last session collected the check of #108,500...
and so many students won latops,blackberry,flash drives,dictionaries and modems.......

Great support from our great Gov's. & Dep's... Iheoma Thompson, Jaiyeola Hammed(Lalas),Olufemi Owoade, Akinduro Dapo,Sunbo Adeyi,Oluwafemi Rufai,
Jude Nwachukwu,Ejikam Basil,Omalichanwa Ikenna,Igwe,Mr samson, E.Ofia. etc ....tanx for your presence....

Special appreciation to friends ........chief Okey wilson,mr Chris Ekaegwu,mrs Olaitan Fabunmi,mr Isiaka Yusuf(youngest),Ishola khadijat,
Oriyomi Lawrence,Oluagwu Ngozi,Olufemi Hassan,Anthony O Odiniya,Adewale Fatai,OJomu Taiwo Hassan,mr Felix anyawu,Olaide Docemo,
Innocent Inyama,Nathaniel Olatunji,Prince Adeoye Adelaja,Ogboriefon,Joel Adepoju, Joseph Okey,Adeleke Mayowa.

I also appreciate the pressence of The Studentfield Team- my self Hammed B.(Bill Gates of DLI), Iheoma T, A. Dapo, J. hammed(Lalas), O. Rufai

Boy sells kidney to buy iPhone

(AFP) – A teenage high-school student in China sold his kidney for an illicit transplant operation and used the proceeds to buy an Apple iPhone and iPad, state press said on Friday.

The 17-year-old boy, who was paid 22,000 yuan ($3,500), was recruited from an online chatroom and is now suffering from kidney failure and in deteriorating health, the Xinhua news agency said.

A surgeon and four others have been arrested and are facing charges of illegal organ trading and intentional injury.

The kidney donor, only identified by his surname Wang, agreed to the April 2011 operation in the central province of Hunan without his parents consent, the report said.

One of those detained was a hard-up gambler identified as He Wei, who acted as a middle-man between a hospital worker and the teenager. He was paid 220,000 yuan.

Health ministry statistics show that about 1.5 million people in China need transplants, but only around 10,000 transplants are performed annually.

The huge gap has led to a thriving illegal market for organs.

Executed prisoners remain the main source of organs used in transplant operations due to the lack of voluntary donations, Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu was quoted by state media as saying last month.

International human rights groups have long accused China of harvesting organs from executed prisoners for transplant without the consent of the prisoner or their family — charges the government has denied.

Culled from The Nation

New leaders for LASU Law

For students of the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University (LASU), the election for the 2011/2012 leadership is about the most competitive in the history of their association. From time, the faculty’s election is regarded as the most vibrant not because of the money spent on campaigns but the strategies and the gusto deployed in the process.

The two-week election period keeps students on their toes. Everybody seems to watch the dealings. One more feature is that nobody can predict the results before election because any slight mistake might be held against the admired candidate. This year’s election was a bolt from the blue as a perceived greenhorn defeated the experienced and popular. 

“It was again an affirmation of the faculty’s custom,” explained an unperturbed 500 Level student, who pleaded anonymity.

Opening of hostilities started with the setting up of the LASULAWS Independent Electoral Committee (LASULAWS IEC) by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC). The eight-man committee composed of two members from each class had Abdulrahman Yussuf, in 500-Level, as Chairman. Mubarak Tijani, in 400-Level is the Returning Officer while Alphonsus Inegbedion was the secretary.

The IEC lifted the ban on political activities on February 17. Consequently, the timetable and procedure for elections into the executive and SRC were released. After the sale of forms, screening of aspirants followed. Twenty-seven were screened for the SRC; two were dropped. Fifteen were screened for the executive. 

On March 1, election into the SRC were conducted. At the end of that election, five members emerged from each level except in 500-Level where four candidates emerged unopposed.

Later, a presidential debate was held at the Okunnuga Hall. The hall was filled to capacity with students willing to listen to what the four presidential aspirants had in store for them. At the debate organised by Black and White, a Law student magazine, and monitored by the IEC, the panelists were Afizah Atanda, Abigail Ojelabi; former Vice-President of LASU Student Union, Ope Falase and Tomilola Sangoremi; all 500-Level Law students. Many attested to their competence in grilling the presidential aspirants on their administrative ability. Questions were on the challenges and prospects of the faculty.

The publisher of Black and White magazine and the coordinator of the debate, Adetunji  Akinyemi, also in 500-Level, said his group organised the debate to reinforce the emergence of the best candidate for the faculty. 

“We believe that if the electorate had some time with the candidates to see how they stand, it would be able to choose and vote wisely”.

The manifesto day decided the fate of the aspirants. Beginning with the office of the Assistant General Secretary, the candidate with the immaculate promise was applauded and acknowledged. At the turn of the president, the stage took another dimension as students were attentive to every word uttered by the candidates.

Yussuf Lawal, former Sport Director, who wanted the top job, said: “Having transformed the face of sports and reignited sporting activities in the faculty, now if voted president, I’ll ensure we have a befitting Law dinner, renovate students’ common room, and see that we have a first of its kind students’ welfare packages and retreats”.

Oladipupo Ajayi is the former Public Relations Officer. He had a two-point agenda: academics and welfare. According to him, academics borders on student’s results, tutorials and aiding their academic excellence. On extra curricula activities, he promised to facilitate students’ internship at the ministry of justice and legal departments of organisations.

Kujembola Adeoye, perceived as the greenhorn, made academics his focal point. He had represented the faculty in various moot and debate competitions. 

He said: “I have represented the faculty in debates, moot and mock trials where the flag of LASULAWS has been held high”. He promised to “organise symposia and seminars, publish a LASULAWS jurist Law journal, set up a committee on students’ results, set up a counselling unit to address students’ academic and emotional problems, organise a gorgeous law dinner, and organise a southwest regional moot competition”.

Yaqub Eleto, the former General Secretary, recounted what he called his “tremendous contributions to the policies and administration of the change team that led to the development of the faculty”, saying: “I am experienced enough to pilot the affairs to the much awaited promise land.”

On election day, proceedings started at 10am and lasted till 2pm. At the end of the collation and counting, Kujembola Adeoye defeated the others to emerge the President. Oluwakemi Oyekangun defeated Pelumioluwa Sangosanya to become the Vice-President. Other winners are Kingsley Okhai (general secretary), Gbenga Folorunsho (public relations officer), Oluwaseun Tijani (assistant general secretary), Ibukun Bamgbose (director of protocol), Abdul Ganiu Salisu (sport director) and Temitope Rufai (exchequer).

The new executive was sworn in by Tope Kuti, the Chief Justice of LASULAWS High Court. After this, President Kujembola swore-in the members of the SRC and conducted the election to the principal officers of the house. The officers are Abubakar Musa (speaker), Olawale Adeniyi cleark), Jibola Salvador (deputy speaker) and Olayinka Aregbesola (chief whip).

Culled from The Nation

ActionAid Nigeria, CSACEFA decry poor JAMB exam performance

 ActionAid Nigeria and Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) have decried the poor performance in the recently concluded Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

The organisations in a statement by the Communications Adviser of ActionAID, Onyinyechi Okechukwu  noted that the yearly release of overwhelmingly poor examination results by examining bodies like the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the National Examinations Council (NECO) and Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) have become an unwelcome ritual.

According to Andrew Mamedu, ActionAid Nigeria’s Education Programme Manager, “the recently released 2012 JAMB examination results showed only 10 percent out of the 110,724 scoring above the cut-off mark of 170 in the core subjects including English language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geography. The 2012 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) had 72, 243 candidates scoring 250 and above while 336,330 scored below 170”.

Mamedu said, “these poor results stem from years of neglect of the education sector and inadequate attention to education policy frameworks, which leads to poor educational standards and learning achievements”. Another reason he noted, is the over-emphasis on theoretical knowledge at the expense of technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial education which has triggered overwhelming demand for university education.

Wole Samuel, Policy Advisor, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) said the achievement of Universal Basic Education (UBE) is fundamentally dependent upon the quality of education through quality teacher recruitment and training, targeted school funding, improved numeracy and literacy. 

He further noted that increase in funding for content and quality, which should include provision of funds for teachers training and adequate infrastructure is fundamental to improving the quality of education in the country.

The two organisations called on the federal government to make provision for citizens to legally demand quality education and set measurable benchmarks in the education sector that will link education managers from the top to bottom to a performance driven framework.

They also called for evidence-based decision making, performance monitoring and increased space for stakeholders’ participation in target setting, implementation and performance measurement in the education sector.

ActionAid Nigeria is a non-governmental organisation working with the poor and excluded; promoting values and commitment in civil society, institutions and governments with the aim of achieving structural changes in order to eradicate injustices and poverty in the world. ActionAid is registered with the Nigeria Corporate Affairs Commission as a national organisation, and an affiliate of ActionAid International with its international headquarters in Johannesburg South Africa.

CSACEFA-The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) is a coalition of over 500 NGOs working to achieve the goals of Education for All in Nigeria. The coalition engages in consultation and advocacy processes with a broad range of stake holders including governments and donors on how to redefine, input and shape the education policy in Nigeria.  

Culled from The Nation

Pictures of coffins placed in front of UNIBEN Bursar's residence

This looks like a scene straight from Nollywood but it's not. This is real life. Dr May Nwoye, the Bursar of the University of Benin, woke up Friday morning March 30th, to find two coffins and some juju objects in front of her residence, located at the senior staff quarters in the university premises. By that same night, a smaller coffin with a doll was found, not in front of her gate this time, but in front of her door...

Not only that, my sources in Benin say the woman has been receiving death threats on her phone and a few weeks back, her security was withdrawn by the school authority. Plus since the coffin was found in front of her residence, no UNIBEN security has visited the house.

  

Juju in front of her home

 

  

They got a priest to burn the coffins

  

Mrs Nwoye's residence

 

 

culled from LIB