Deputy Governor and Shehu of Borno escape bomb attack

A suicide bomber blew himself up near the Maiduguri Central Mosque in the capital city of Borno State, killing himself and at least five others.

It was gathered that among the dignitaries that were observing Friday prayers at the mosque were Deputy Governor Zannah Mustaphar and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Kyari. Both men were evacuated alive after the attack. It is not yet clear if any was injured.



Several other people were injured in the attack, and have been taken to nearby hospitals.

Witnesses said a boy of about the age of 15 was noticed walking towards the two dignitaries as they exited the mosque after the prayers.

Security aides were said to be suspicious of the manner in which the boy approached the two men, and tried to apprehend him, while shielding the VIPs.

At that moment, the bomb was detonated. Security officials said five people have been confirmed dead so far in the blast, with two soldiers among the critically wounded.

“Five people have been killed and six others injured in the Maiduguri Central Mosque suicide bomb attack,” said Sagir Musa, spokesperson for the Joint Task Force in the state.

Source: Daily Times

Cowbell Milk supports Olympics with national consumer promo

 

Appoints Chioma Ajunwa-Opara as Promo Ambassador

Cowbell Milk, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited has launched a national consumer promotion targeted at creating fun and excitement around the 2012 Olympic Games. The promo is tagged “Cowbell Olympic Medal Rush.” The promo which was unveiled last Friday in Lagos is expected to run for three months.

Besides the promo, Cowbell Milk is also the Official Milk of the Nigerian contingents to the 2012 Olympics Games in London.

Chief Keith Richards, managing director of the company said the promo is intended to create opportunity for consumers to win cash prizes up to N50, 000, and that, 10 lucky star prize winners will be treated to an all expense paid trip to the London 2012 Olympics.

Consequent upon this, Richards said Chioma Ajunwa Oparah, the 1996 Olympics gold medal winner and the first African to win such a coveted title, has been appointed as the Promotional Ambassador throughout the duration of the promo.

Richards however stressed that the promo has the approvals of relevant authorities such as Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

To participate in the promo, Mr. Olusegun Koleoso, Business Development Manager of the company, said consumers should detach a coupon or sticker in the promotional packs of 400g sachet, 400 gram tins, 500g box and 900g tins and stand a chance of winning gold, silver or bronze, which will be instantly redeemed for cash of N50, 000, N30, 000 and N20, 000 respectively at any branch of Zenith Bank nationwide.

Also, cartons of Cowbell 400g sachets will be given as consolation prizes.

Cowbell Milk Brand Manager, Mr. Abiodun Ajiborode, said the promo intends to reward loyal consumers, adding that, it will also entrench the Cowbell brand in the minds of the consumers while creating fun and excitement around the brand.

Commenting on the bold initiatives the company is taking in various social responsibility programmes as well as promotional efforts, Ajunwa-Oparah said this is the first time a company will come and give Nigerians the opportunity they have been looking for.

“It has been a long time we have been looking for companies to come and embrace sports in Nigeria. And more especially at the big glamour games like the Olympics. We need people to support all our athletes and this is what we have seen today. The company has partnered with the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), and I know that a lot of money would have been committed."

“You can also see what the company is doing in the Cowbell Football Academy, grooming the younger ones, and at the same time, the National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC), which has become something enviable in Nigeria,” Ajunwa-Oparah added.

 

Cowbell Milk has been in the Nigerian market since 1993. It is currently the No.2 milk powder brand in Nigeria with strong commitment to national nourishment and innovative corporate social responsibility such as National Secondary School Mathematics competition, Grass root soccer, Parasoccer and so many others.

Part-time programmes in Nigerian Universities suspended

The National Universities Commission has announced the suspension of all part-time programmes run by universities in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Julius Okojie Okojie said the suspension of the part- time programmes was to enable the regulatory body “streamline” them.

He said the work of the universities’ regulatory body was becoming more difficult because of the “products of the system” and urged the institutions to cooperate with the NUC to evolve a more focused and credible system.

“For now all part time programmes have been suspended. We are going to streamline them.

“No university should have more than 20 per cent of their student population on part-time with excess capacity to teach. All part time programmes must be located on campus. We do not want satellite campuses anymore,” he said.

The executive secretary said henceforth universities must score over 70 per cent in all areas of assessment, including the provision of library facilities before it would be accredited.

“But if your library facilities are poor or sub standard, even if you score over 70 per cent, you will not be considered fit enough for accreditation,” he stated.

Okojie said that out of the 31 programmes evaluated for the NOUN, 30 were accredited.

He said that four programmes of the university were granted full accreditation, 26 others accredited on interim basis while one programme was denied accreditation. 

(NAN)

Meeting between DSA/Alumni and Class reps,Faculty presidents & Students Leaders held yesterday, which lead to a whole lot of relief and hope for the betterment of our great institution University of Lagos (UNILAG)

 The outcome of Afebalola's meeting between the principal officers and the student leaders of the school took place today with a whole lot of relief and hope for the betterment of our great institution.The meeting was graced with the presence of the acting V.C.Professor A.A. Bello,President alumni association Professor Laide Abass,Deputy Vice chancellor Professor Jide,Principal officers student affairs, Dr, Mrs Shoremiku,Dr adebayo also present was all the student leaders representing different faculties(faculty presidents),Class reps,members and so on.

The Acting v.c. commiserated on the demise of the late V.C. by honouring him with a minute silence.He also appreciated the role the students played during the burial program.he stated that the name Unilag still remains to exist and will continue to exist.He stated that UNILAG was enacted by the act of parliament and that student should go about their normal academic activities and shun demonstration that the name UNILAG still remains by the grace of GOD.

Scholars on 4.5 upwards should come to [DSA OFFICE] as from 4pm on Monday to Friday to collect their forms for bursary.Professor Laide Abbas[ALUMNUS PRESIDENT] also hinted and presented his argument why the name UNILAG should remain to the presidency and to the floor of house of representatives.

[i] Unilag is branded name that is globally accepted and as a name that is trusted.

[II] Unilag is a living organism that is branded after a federal character that is represented far beyond personal sentiments.
[III] Unilag is professional institution producing men of integrity and honour in different fields of life.

He stated that the whole house of representatives are with us in this struggle.student should take advantage of www.gopetition.com to append their signature and referendum in support of the name UNILAG.students should also write individual letters to Honourable reps in support of this struggle, the can also get details of their constituency representatives from DSA OFFICE.The matter is still in court and about 15 senior advocates of NIGERIA volunteered their interest to help us in this struggle.THIS struggle is not a local struggle it goes beyond the shores of NIGERIA, but also the great AKOKITES in diaspora.LONG LIVE GREAT UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS!LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

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###IHEOMA THOMPSON.....Gov. Acc YR3........Reporting###

Students at the event

Alumni President Addressing the students

Dean Students Affairs

Students at the event

Students at the event

Students at the event

Students at the event

Students at the event

Students at the event

Students at the event

Students at the event

Students at the event

UNILAG introduces ‘UNILAG forever’ to discredit renaming of varsity

The University of Lagos has introduced a new badge to discredit the renaming of the institution after the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola by the Federal Government.

The badge, which carries the inscription, “UNILAG forever,” was distributed to members of staff and students at a news conference by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday.

According to the chairman of the University of Lagos branch of the union, Dr Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, who was accompanied by his counterparts from the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Drs Segun Ajiboye and Biodun Badmus and the National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr Demola Aremu, the badge is one of the steps being taken by the union to work against the renaming of institution.

He said, “we have mapped out plans to persistently reject the renaming of the University of Lagos. The renaming of the University of Lagos after 50 years of existence, is one of such actions that have been taken to an absurd level.”

He further said that government’s action would be challenged legally, while describing the pronouncement of President Goodluck Jonathan as a wrong and immoral decision intended to gain cheap popularity.

Following the submission of the amended bill that set up the University of Lagos to the National Assembly by the president recently, the academics vowed to storm the public hearing to thwart the decision of the government.

According to Ogbinaka, the union has gathered the support of eminent lawyers, including Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to argue its case both at the law court and during the public hearing.

In another development, the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers has condemned the renaming of UNILAG, calling on the government to rescind its decision.

Culled: Nigerian Tribune

Written by Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos

See what a dog did to a little boy...

Mothers please keep animals away from your children. Continue to see what a dog (not the one pictured above) did to a little boy...*viewer discretion advised*

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 Source lindaikejiblog 

Money Laundering: US Freezes Nigerian Embassy's Accounts

Bank of America, M&T Bank and Wells Fargo received directive from the US government to close the accounts of the Nigerian embassy in Washington and its consulate in New York on suspicion of money laundering after traffic on the various accounts raised a red flag. 

$3.6 million dollars was said to have entered and left the accounts in under a month, the latest transaction being the withdrawal of $50,000 in hard cash by a top embassy staff.

The decision to freeze the accounts is sequel to intelligence report generated by a panel comprising representatives of the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Treasury, unknown to Nigerian embassy officials, to monitor wires and traffic in all the accounts operated by the embassy.

 

As part of efforts to resolve the issue, the auditor-general of the federation and a team of auditors left for the US to begin auditing the accounts of the embassy. Efforts by embassy officials to open new bank accounts with other American banks have so far been politely turned down. 

The US have also ignored all requests by the federal government to unfreeze Nigerian embassy’s bank accounts in Washington, DC, and New York. The move, according to sources, is setting the stage for a potential showdown between the two countries with Nigeria also threatening to reciprocate by freezing the US embassy’s accounts in the country. 

Source: Leadership