ICT Scheme To Empower Young Scholars

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated a project to distribute Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment at secondary schools and higher institutions in the country.

The equipment will be distributed under the Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) and Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI).

NCC Zonal Controller in Port Harcourt (Rivers State) Mr. Austin Odo disclosed the plans.

He spoke on behalf of the newly-confirmed Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Umar Garba Danbatta at the ongoing first Ebony Youth Development Submit on ICT in Education.

The event is held at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Odo briefly touched on the prevailing issue of poor service offered by the mobile network operators.

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Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode Promises Free Education

Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, has promised to continue in the footsteps of the Former Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, in the area of free education in the state.

Ambode said this on Tuesday at the 2015 Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation National Art Competition for Nigerian Secondary Schools.

The competition which is in its 10th edition saw both public and private schools across the country, put in to win the much desired prize.

Representing Ambode at the occasion was the Special Adviser to the FG on Education, Hon. Bankole Obafela-Moore, who said the state government, under the management of Akinwunmi Ambode, is working towards funding of free education both at the primary and secondary school levels in the state.

Obafela-Moore appreciated the NNPC and Chevron group for demonstrating the spirit of corporate entity.

According to him, the competition will “discover more talents in arts and students will be rewarded particularly.”

Six hundred art entries were said to have been received from 400 schools across the country after judges from non-governmental agencies were employed for the screening.

10 finalists each emerged from the primary and secondary schools category, making 20 overall.

Each of the finalists were presented with awards, after which the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in each category were presented with scholarships.

The 3rd position received the sum of N65,000, 2nd place, N75,000, while the 1st position got N100,000. The scholarships will run for three years.

Commending the efforts of the initiators of the yearly Scholarship, winner of the Senior School category, 15-year-old Ukaegbu Christopher from Hallel College Boarding, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said it is a rare privilege given to the Nigerian students by the organizers.

Ukaegbu encouraged his fellow students to work harder and not give up.

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Tanzania Singer Diamond Ends Collaboration With Nigerian Artistes

After collaborating with some Nigerian artistes such as Iyanya and Davido, the Tanzanian star Diamond has declared he is done with the West African brothers.

According to Bongo 5, Diamond said this at Cloud FM, revealing that his last collabo would be K-Cee and after that no more Nigerians.

He said this is to avoid any similarity in his music and that he has achieved the goal of penetrating his music into Nigeria.

The ‘Number One’ hit maker also revealed other African music artistes Ferre Gola and Togo’s Too Fan have requested to have a collabo with him.

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President Buhari Talks With Governors Over Workers Salaries

President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow meet with Nigerian state governors over the unpaid salaries to workers in some states.

Although not officially affirmed yet, the meeting is expected to focus on the morality of sourcing funds for the governors to enable them defray the debts owed their workers.

“The President has graciously accepted our approaches to him to help us. Some of us are owing workers over nine months’ salary arrears and this has brought activities in the public service to a standstill.

Salaries owed to state workers are estimated at N110 billion.

We hope the President helps this time,” a top government official in Osun state, one of the worst hit states said.

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The U.S Donates $5Million To Fight Boko Haram

The United States on Tuesday pledged $5 million to help fund a multinational force in its fight against Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.

In January, the African Union announced the agreed-upon force of 7,500 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.

However, fearing it would undermine Nigeria's sovereignty, the country's former President Goodluck Jonathan was slow in moving forward on the force's creation, the BBC reported. President Muhammadu Buhari accelerated its formation after his election in April.

The U.S. pledge comes after Buhari attended last week's G7 summit in Germany, where he requested more international help against the terrorist group.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has waged war seeking an Islamic state in Nigeria. The group has been blamed for countless suicide attacks, military assaults and kidnappings.

On Monday, suicide attacks in Chad that killed more than 20 people were blamed on the group, as were late May bombings that killed nearly 60 people at a market and a mosque in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri.

The Maiduguri attacks came just days after Buhari's nomination. The former military officer had said he would move the Nigerian military's command and control center from Abuja to Maiduguri "until Boko Haram is completely subdued."

The Boko Haram insurgency has killed an estimated 13,000 people and left over a million displaced from their homes. In March the terrorist group became the latest to declare its dedication to the Islamic State, which is based in Iraq and Syria.

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China Promises To Support Nigerian Space Technology

China will help Nigeria develop its space technology to meet up with those of developed economies, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiao Jie, has said.

Jie made the promise when he visited the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) in Abuja.

He said China would facilitate the establishment of an assimilation centre in Nigeria where serious space work would be carried out.

According to the Chinese ambassador, China would also help Nigeria in its quest to launch satellite on its ground.

Responding, the NIGCOMSAT Managing Director, Abimbola Alale, said Nigeria would continue to tap from China's wealth of experience in space technology.

She said space technology could help increase Nigeria's revenue base if adequately utilized.

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Nigeria Vs USA (Women's World Cup)

NIGERIA VS USA (WOMEN WORLD CUP)

After playing Sweden to a nil-nil draw — a score salvaged because of a brilliant play by Meghan Klingenberg — the USA looks to cement their Group D supremacy in the Women's World Cup against Nigeria.

The two teams, first and last in the Group D standings respectively, play on Tuesday, June 16 in Vancouver.

Though the USA hasn't played its best soccer thus far, there still exist many reasons to believe they remain one of the top contenders.

As their last game in group play approaches, several story lines beyond soccer surround the USA. Hope Solo's off-pitch resume now includes a letter from an angry Senator Richard Blumenthal.

The U.S. Soccer Federation is defending the embattled goalie. Alex Morgan's knee injury continues to limit her minutes. And ESPN's resident foot-in-mouth, First Take anti-feminist Stephen A. Smith made a lame joke about the players' hair.

But on Tuesday, all eyes will be on the beautiful game itself, so here's all you need to know about the match between the USA and Nigeria.

INFORMATION ON HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH

The match takes place at 8:00pm E.T.

FOX will air the match between Nigeria and USA.

You can stream the match live on FOX Sports Online.

In Nigeria, you can listen to the commentary on Brilla FM while in other countries on Sirius XM.

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Nigeria Score Late And Lucky Goal To Draw With Sweden

Francisca Ordega scored a late equalizer for Nigeria to earn a 3-3 draw with Sweden in their Group D Women's World Cup opener on Monday, signalling that Africa will be heard from during the month-long tournament.

A day after Germany crushed the Ivory Coast 10-0, the Super Falcons restored African pride with an all-out attacking style that won over the fans and shocked the fifth-ranked Swedes.

With Sweden hanging on for the win, Ordega ran onto a perfect pass from Ngozi Okobi and confidently fired the ball past charging goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl in the 87th minute.

Nigeria had Sweden on the back foot for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 down at halftime after an own goal by Desire Oparanozie and a tap-in from Nilla Fischer, both scores coming off Sweden corners and the product of loose defending.

But the speedy Nigerians continued to press forward in the second half and were rewarded for their enterprise as they scored twice in a three-minute burst from forwards Okobi and Asisat Oshoala, who out-muscled Fischer for the ball at the top of the penalty area and then coolly slotted home.

The reeling Swedes were quick to respond, regaining the lead at 3-2 when substitute Linda Sembrant kneed a cross past Nigeria's goalkeeper Precious Dede.

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200 Nigerian Students To Cheer The Super Falcons Against Sweden

At least 200 Nigerian students in Winnipeg have been gathered to cheer the Super Falcons to victory against Sweden in their opening FIFA Women's World Cup game today.

President of the University of Manitoba Nigerian Students' Association (UMNISA), Oyindamola Alaka, said the Nigerian students in the province are utterly glad to have the African champions playing their two opening preliminary games in Winnipeg.

According to her, students of African origin and Nigerian community are heavily behind the Super Falcons to reach the next round at the expense of two-time winners USA, Australia and Sweden and even winning the desired trophy.

"We are very excited to see them play. It is a great experience having the Nigerian team here in Winnipeg. We were filled with joy because for some of us, this is a once in a life time opportunity.

"We are going to watch the game at the stadium and we would be cheering them via social media too.

"Winnipeggers think the Super Falcons are great and strong players and that they would definitely make it to the finals," the University of Manitoba student leader said.

Nigeria will open their campaign against Sweden on Monday with the tie billed for 3pm local time and 9pm Nigerian time at the Winnipeg Stadium.

 

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