Coordinated approach critical to financial education for entrepreneurs – Experts

Financial experts have said that a coordinated and integrated approach is critical in the provision of financial education for entrepreneurs.

The experts spoke at a roundtable recently organised by Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and Barclays Bank.

The experts noted that more and better synergies among all players in the financial environment are needed, and it is also important to shift mentalities and develop a real entrepreneurial culture.

The debate was organised to discuss how to deliver more efficient financial and entrepreneurial education and to identify alternative approaches of providing the right skills and services to entrepreneurs.

Among other things the debate revealed that entrepreneurs, who often lack the financial literacy skills required for the complex business decisions they face, need to better understand their financing needs and options, and to be aware of the support and services available to them.

In his opening remarks, Othmar Karas, MEP stressed that “Entrepreneurial spirit and basic economic knowledge needs to be already instilled in children and students. The earlier they learn about debt, savings and credit, the less likely they are to struggle in the future and the more likely they will become active and productive participants of the economy”.

Manos Schizas, Head of SMEs Affairs at ACCA said “The evidence on the effectiveness of financial literacy interventions is clear: success is elusive.

Source: Vanguard

UCH expresses concern over lassa fever in Ibadan

The University College Hospital
(UCH), Ibadan has expressed
concern over rising cases of Lassa
fever in the Oyo State capital and
its environs.

The coordinator of the teaching
hospital’s Response Team for
Outbreak of Diseases and
Emergency, Olusegun Fasina,
raised the alarm in an interview
with an online media outfit,
Witness Nigeria, at the weekend.

According to him, the number of
patients diagnosed with Lassa
fever had increased steadily in the
last two months.

He said the management was
particularly worried about the
development because the ailment
belonged to the same family of
hemorrhagic fever like the
dreaded Ebola disease virus (EVD),
which had raised global concern in
recent times due to the level of
fatality it had caused, especially in
some parts of West Africa.

“Within the last two months, we
have had about 80 samples
suspected of hemorrhagic fever.
Out of the 80, we are having close
to 27 being positive. That is about
35 to 40 per cent. That is very
high,” he said, while calling for
urgent action to stem the tide.

The response team’s spokesman
said though not all the cases were
from Ibadan, most of them were
based in the ancient town.

He explained that the UCH was
able to diagnose the sufferers
because it had state-of-the-art
equipment to detect complex cases of unresolved fever in less than 24 hours, as well as well-skilled personnel to manage the situation.

His words: “When the blood samples of suspected cases are
taken, we put them in a cooler
called ‘sample boxes’ to prevent
officials taking the samples for
isolation from being infected. We
label the cooler as ‘highly infectious’. The sample is processed
and within six hours, we have the
result.

“With that procedure that we have
in UCH, and the results we have
got so far, we can say there is an
increase in cases of Lassa fever in
Ibadan, and by extension, the
state.”

Being a referral hospital, UCH, he
said, only had access to cases
referred to it as well as those of
individuals who presented
themselves after administering
series of antibiotics to battle their
fever-like ailments without
improvement in their conditions.

That, Fasina added, raised higher
levels of fear on what would be
happening in lesser cities and
villages across the state where
victims may never be diagnosed
even after they might have died.

“Judging by what we have in
Ibadan, I imagine what will be
happening to my people in Saki,
Sepeteri and other places in their
category within the state.

Hemorrhagic fever genres are
easily contracted through animals,
particularly the domestic ones.

These people are farmers. All the
bats that they say we should not
eat in Ibadan are delicacies there.

You say we should not eat bush
meat, but they are eating rat like
anything there. And that increases
the risk of being infected,” the
medical microbiologist noted.

SUN

WHO officially declares Nigeria Ebola-free

Nigeria has been declared officially free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, the World Health Organisation says.

Africa’s most populous country won praise for its swift response after an infected Liberian diplomat brought the disease there in July.

The WHO officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday.

The outbreak has killed more than
4,500 people in West Africa, mostly in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

An estimated 70 per cent of those infected have died in those countries.

BBC

Rat-racing the Vicious Cycle of Poverty

There is only ONE difference btw a failure & a success- it is called the extra mile.

Spectators celebrate the success of others, shouting while burning their energy.

In the end, the successful ones smile to the bank, while the spectators spend time counting their expenses on a non-yielding venture.

By the break of dawn the names of the successful ones make headlines, while the spectators spend more money buying tabloids to complete the Vicious Cycle.

God said, 'My people perish because they lack knowledge.'

Most of us lack knowledge- a good example is a jobless fool who flashes an expensive gadget, maintained by begging for alms.

We mostly believe in impressing the people around us at the expense of our future.

Expensive shoes;
Expensive shirts;
Expensive suits;
Expensive watches;
Expensive phones;
Expensive perfumes;
Expensive belts; etc.

But your income is less than $2/day. Can you escape the Rat-racing in the Vicious Cycle of Poverty? Think again my friend!

A mentor said;

'Look them straight in the eyes and say the truth. The worst that will happen is stepping on their toes- be ready to apologise if they confront you, but those who will confront you, are the foolish ones in the audience.'

©Mondayspeaks

FG hopes to secure Chibok girls’ release by Tuesday

The Nigeria government hopes to secure the release of over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram militants latest by Tuesday, a senior source at the Presidency told Reuters on Saturday.

He, however, declined to comment on where the transfer would take place.

“I can confirm that the Federal Government is working hard to meet its own part of the agreement so that the release of the abductees can by effected either on Monday or latest Tuesday next week,” the source told Reuters on
telephone.

Source: Nation

Tortured

Our subconscious
A reservoir
Filled with impending memoir
Of abysmal tortures;

In a wink
It sprouts in a slink state
Giving room for the covered foolishness innate
To, our name, drag in the mud- those stink;

The hows and whys
Never once known
Our every move calculated like a raging cyclone
Dragged in the mire, we opt for cries;

In pains, candles at nights burn
Deep knowledge we crave
Into books we dug, our all, gave
Naive we were, that life is in turn;

Out of the cocoon
We run around like hawkers
Behind every gorilla, stealthily like stalkers
Our oblivion, widely spread with rune;

Tortured in the womb
Tortured at birth
Tortured all through as we journey on earth
Beyond, we’re tortured by crawlies beneath the tomb.

© Mondayspeaks

Alicia Keys stands in solidarity with mothers of Chibok girls

Photo by Dailymail

A heavily pregnant Alicia Keys joined a small group of protesters outside the Nigerian consulate in New York on Tuesday demanding the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

“Bring back our girls now,” shouted the small crowd led by the Grammy-winning 33-year-old New York RnB singer-songwriter, who wore jeans and wrapped her hair in a black scarf, on the sixth month anniversary of their abduction.

“Today is my son’s birthday, so I stand in solidarity with the mothers of the Chibok girls,” Keys told AFP of the northeastern Nigerian town where the girls were snatched on April 14.

The star, who has sold more than 30 million singles across the world and is expecting her second child in December, held up “#bring back our girls NOW” signs with the others.

“It is so atrocious and horrible, the fact they have been gone for six months and have not been found,” Keys said, adding that it was vital for people to keep up the pressure for their release.

“It is important now more than ever because it is that pivotal six months time,” she said. “It is too long.”

“Nigeria needs to find these girls,” she said. “We as an international community have to support them finding these girls.”

Keys, who recently set up a movement called “We Are Here” to fight for greater social justice, said the world must show solidarity.

“These girls represent so much. They represent girls who are kept from education, they represent girls who are treated as property, they represent girls who are raped and have to live in violence as a weapon of war,” she told AFP.

Reed more...

Another health worker tests positive for Ebola in US

CDC: ‘A second healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the index patient has tested positive for Ebola’ – statement

Texas officials: ‘A second health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States has tested positive for the disease’ – statement

CNN

Nigerian Soldiers returning from Liberia to be quarantined

About 850 Nigerian soldiers on peacekeeping mission in Liberia are to be quarantined for 28 days when they return to the country in March 2015.

There are two battalions of the Nigerian Army in Liberia. Investigations revealed that soldiers in one of the battalions were drawn from the 331 Artillery Regiment, Kontagora.

A source said on Sunday that the Army personnel were scheduled to return to the country in January but that their arrival would be delayed till March 2015.

According to the source, when they arrive in the country in March 2015, they will be quarantined in Gwagwalada, Abuja for 28 days before being allowed to go to their formations.

It was gathered that the soldiers returning from a similar mission in Sudan were not likely to be quarantined because Sudan had not recorded any Ebola case.

Read more...

EXTROVERTS

Dedicated to: All extroverts

Let's go!
Where to? I'm set
Outside no dey taya u
4 wia? Make I die inside this boring
house?
I be extrovert biko...

We keep our body up and alive by being with other people, spend most of our time with activities and lesser time personally. We think as we speak, to make conversations long and interesting.

Ever active in social situations, get updated easily without missing a single gist.

Being alone all day seems strange, let alone a 'house arrest' without any means of communication. That's "hell on earth."

We are outspoken, and spill out whatever idea lies in us without a second thought.

We have strong belief in ourselves, but could be very difficult to correct. We fight for our rights with all courage and try every possible means to win an argument, even with parents.

We easily express our feelings to anyone and even some of us speak in raw forms, not minding how coded some words should be kept.

So quick in voluntaries, even if we aren't capable, our trial means
a lot.

Whenever you see us out for a dance, take a keen look, and you'll notice some can't dance at all but would still try to move their bodies just to feel among. We believe we can do it!

Even with the little things we possess, we still show off as one with a lot. Being inferior is out of our dictionaries.

We make friends easily and tend to lose some easily without getting much hurt, unlike introverts that would stick to just one person and get hurt after losing such.

To Extroverts: Only if you know what you've got. Think deeply, you are capable of multitasking. Use what you have to bless others. Take note of great extroverts and develop your potentials.

If you are the talkative type, don't use it without manners. Many introverts really wish they have what you have.

To Introverts: We all are humans, forgive them whenever they act rude Or annoying. We are opposite in behaviours. Learn to understand human differences.

What if your soulmate is one?

Each one of us is a character, play your role and work towards perfection.

By: Oluwatosin Faith Kolawole

INTROVERTS

Dedicated to: All introverts

Lets go!
No...I think I'm okay this way
Aren't you bored?
No I'm not
I'm an introvert.

Our lifestyle seems boring to so many people. We love being alone and reminiscing, focusing on our own feelings, minds and affairs.

Deep thoughts keep creeping its way in and then we have lots of secret just because we have few friends around.

Sitting, eating, talking, playing, reading, singing alone has been our hobby ever since, even though it's never other people's kind of life.

We are reserved and would spend our time on a single activity rather than multitasking. We prefer being ourselves to social situations.

You would never see us come out to the dancing floor in a party and dance like others would do. We go deep thinking.

Yes! we are shy, but not always. We seem coded and some people think we are complicated, not until they have close intact with us.

When other friends keep playing around and catching fun, you won't find us there and even if some of us get to play along with them, we pull out when its getting too long.

Everyone is gone out to see one friend or the other, but we are still in the room, thinking of things that don't have topic or doing what we like doing when alone. We have just few close ones around that we tend to play so much as we can with and even feel free with them till they tell us we are stubborn.

Parents atimes misunderstand us and tend to flare up. But instead of explaining better, we have tears mixed up with our words and they flow uncontrollably all because we want to defend ourselves. How painful!

We are emotional and feel very bad when we get hurt. Only few of us learned how to control our feelings. So many things other people call fun are boring to us.

Even when we have a gorgeous look on us, we don't usually feel we are. We just stay stationed and watch other people move freely.

Some of us feel 'beautiful,' while some feel 'ugly.' We easily swing moods. We can decide to talk and play today, and in the next few minutes or hours, we are back to the cool headed style.

Not everyone of us is gentle- the truth is, 'most of us are gentle, while some of us are quiet'.

So many of us don't feel loved, and in that case, we go into reckless relationships- masturbate when alone, do cruel things and even hate ourselves.

Introverts are humans, extroverts should please love them no matter their level of being an introvert.

Many of us are that way because we aren't exposed to so many things, some because of challenges or depression and others are just that way, its their lifestyle.

To introverts: your life would be a complete mess to all and yourself if you do not have Jesus. I have Jesus and I have lots of specialities in me. So how on earth would I hate myself?

If you engage yourself in so many things, you won't feel it, even when you are alone. You can be a blessing to all even while being a reserved type. While writing this, I've been alone for over two hours and I'm safe even with writing. You are alone doesn't permit you to do bad things- have sex with your heart, think lustfully and the likes.

You want love? Jesus truly loves you, and when you have him, you won't feel rejected, being shy would get out of your dictionary.

Remember! You are special. Therefore there are treasures in you no one has. I love you all.

By: Oluwatosin Faith Kolawole

How To Curb Lassa Fever, By Health Minister

THE Federal Ministry of Health has warned that 29 million Nigerians are at risk of contracting Lassa fever.

Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said this during the commemoration of World Lassa Fever day, Saturday, in Abuja.

He pointed out that despite the discovery of Lassa fever in Nigeria in 1969, the disease has posed serious threat to public health, “especially with the rapid expansion of its frontiers, from an initial very few states to 26 states and the FCT.”

Chukwu, who was represented by the Minister of State in the ministry, Dr. Alhassan, said: “It is estimated that at least 29 million Nigerians, representing about 17 per cent of the nation’s present population, are at risk of contracting the disease. We should note that Lassa fever is of both regional and international importance. Over the years, outbreaks of Lassa of varying magnitude and severity have occurred in Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. During these outbreaks, the case fatality can be as high as 50-80 per cent in untreated cases.”

The Minister pointed out that the country is confronted with outbreak of Lassa fever yearly in several parts of the country, with increasing magnitude and intensity. He said that in 2012, the outbreak occurred in 26 states of the federation, with a total of 1944 cases, 207 deaths including deaths of doctors and nurses, and a resulting case fatality rate of 10.65 per cent.

The outbreak, he said, necessitated a national review, which among others recommended the setting up of a National Lassa Fever Day to encourage Nigerians to take measures to prevent the disease and eventually eradicate it.

Chukwu noted that the epicentres of the disease have always been Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Oyo, Taraba, Ondo, Lagos, and Benue States, but recent outbreaks have indicated that the geographical spread is expanding and that more states are at risk of the outbreak.Risk for Lassa fever, according to the Minister, remains inability of the public to recognise the disease and its means of transmission to others.

Associated factors for the spread, he said, include:

• poor environmental sanitation, which allows the proliferation of rats;
• poor personal hygiene;
• overcrowded condition in slums and squatter settlements; and
• bush burning.

Others are drying of foodstuff in the open and on the roadside.

Meanwhile, the Minister explained that Ebola Virus Disease, which currently ravages three countries in the West African region and constitutes threat to the world, has higher fatality rate than Lassa fever.

Dengue, another hemorrhagic fever within the category of the two diseases, Chukwu said, has a less fatality rate than Lassa and Ebola. “All the diseases cause bleeding,” he said.

Source: Guardian

Thunder struck and killed three teenagers dead in Ogun State

Thunder strike has killed three teenagers in Ogun State. The teenagers, Sunday Mulero, Dare Olaife and Sodiq Segun, were killed on October 10, 2014, at about 6pm at Ijale Ijaka Street in Ijoun, Ayetoro area of Ogun state.

The information made available to the Police Public Relations Officer of the command by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ayetoro Division revealed that they were playing outside their house when the thunder struck and killed them instantly.

The DPO with his police operatives, who responded to distress calls put to them, rushed down to the scene to possibly rescue the teenagers but they were confirmed dead immediately on arrival at the hospital.

The Commissioner of Police Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye, has described the incident as unfortunate. He sympathised with the families of the deceased and prayed for God’s mercies and protection over other members of the affected families.

The Police boss has advised the parents to warn their children to desist from playing under heavy rainfall or engage themselves in any dangerous activities.

Culled from Punch

Ebola: New case confirmed in Texas, as health care worker tests positive

A Texas health care worker who treated US Ebola victim Thomas Duncan before his death has tested positive for the virus, officials say.

“We knew a second case could be a reality, and we’ve been preparing for this possibility,” said Dr David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, died at a Dallas hospital on Wednesday.

The health worker has not been named.

Duncan tested positive in Dallas on September 30, 10 days after arriving on a flight from Monrovia via Brussels.

He became ill a few days after arriving in the US, but after going to hospital and telling medical staff he had been in Liberia, he was sent home with antibiotics.

He was later put into an isolation unit at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas but died despite being given an experimental drug.

It is not clear at which point the health worker, who has tested positive in a preliminary test, came into contact with Duncan.

The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, has resulted in more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases, and at least 4,033 deaths.

Source BBC

Fire in UNILAG

Pastor Okotie lacks the moral right to question Pastor Oritsejafor-

The Christian Association of Nigeria has sais that Pastor Chris Okotie lacks the moral right to challenge Pastor Oritsejafor.

The association stated this in reaction to the demand by Okotie that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor should resign as CAN President over the alleged involvement of his aircraft in the controversial $9.3m smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli.

Okotie, on his church’s Facebook page, said;

"Considering the collateral damage Pastor Ayo’s close relationship with the President has done to the Christian community, it is fit and proper for the Pastor to resign immediately as CAN President to salvage what remains of the battered image of the association."

“This is without prejudice to the on-going investigation on the matter.
Denials of his culpability by the Federal Government, CAN officials and his own recent defense, does nothing to reduce the moral burden this whole saga places on his shoulders. As the titular leader of Christians in Nigeria, there’s now a serious crisis of confidence on his leadership and he ought to respond to it by resigning from his exalted position."

In responding to Okotie's submission, the Director of National Issues of the association, Mr. Sunny Oibe, told SUNDAY PUNCH that Okotie was looking for popularity through Oritsejafor. He said;

"Is Chris Okotie a Christian? How many wives has he? He should go and sort out himself. Even the government has exonerated Pastor Ayo of all the allegations. So, who is Okotie? Well, it is laughable if Chris Okotie should demand that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor should resign as President of CAN."

"Chris Okotie should remove the log in his eyes before he begins to see a peck in somebody’s eyes. Pastor Ayo had a soaring integrity before he was elected the President of CAN. Who elected Chris Okotie to become the spokesperson of Christians in Nigeria?"

"CAN will not like to join issues with Okotie because doing that will amount to making him popular. He is looking for popularity which he doesn’t have through Pastor Ayo and he is not going to get it."

Culled from Punch

The taking down of Linda Ikeji’s Blog

The taking down of Linda Ikeji’s Blog has created some sort concern in me. It’s rather disheartening to hear of such thing.

Did she actually plagiarize? If yes, then a lot of other bloggers and news agencies are equally guilty of same.

Is there really anything like exclusivity when it comes to news reportage? I beg to disagree on this- what you publish is what you hear from someone, who could be termed the original owner.

Exclusivity really comes to play when it comes to intellectual property- poetry, articles etc.

So how did Linda Ikeji commit plagiarism? Most contents of her blog are news items (entertainment and otherwise), and I still wonder how she fell a victim here. Most likely, this is a case of witch-hunt.

She had tried to run away from plagiarism, but I think she was looking in the wrong direction. And her jealous competitors struck from behind- I sent her an article some weeks ago for publication. I did this because her blog already enjoys huge traffic, compared to mine, which is new. She never published, neither did she respond to my mail- I don’t hold this against her in any way.

Plagiarism is a colossal crime, but the Nigerian situation has given room for such crimes to thrive all along.

Looking at the situation at hand, I strongly believe that giving credits to sources of news items on your blog or website is enough to take away plagiarism, while there needs to be permission before republishing items like poetry, articles etc.

If Linda Ikeji actually breached such, then she is actually guilty. And looking at the length of time this duel actually, I think there was enough time for correction. Just maybe she wasn’t given enough time after the notification from Google.

Google has taken down my blog once- it was attributed to a video I posted on Youtube. I guess the video was misinterpreted by many viewers, but it was posted for the purpose of educating young parents on child molestation.

Google sent me a notice by mid-morning, and my account was terminated by evening of the same day before I even had the time to respond to the notice.

To me, I think that decision was harsh and sudden. Would it not have been fair for Google to just take down the video?

For bloggers on the Google platform, I will advise caution- while you are avoiding plagiarism, don’t ever link your blogger email to Youtube. You don’t know which video will pull you down.

Pulling down an entire blog could leave the blog owner depressed- it’s tantamount to setting ablaze the consignments of a businessman, which he has spent years trying to procure.

©Mondayspeaks

Bishop Oyedepo is the richest Pastor in the World

No surprise here. The General Overseer of Winners Chapel, Bishop Oyedepo is the richest pastor in the world according to a list that was released yesterday by Richestlifestyle.com.

Out of the 10 richest pastors in the world as of 2014, 5 of them are Nigerians.

List below:

Here is the top 10 richest pastors in
the world as of 2014.

10) Joseph Prince - Net worth: $5
Million (Singapore)

9) Chris Okotie - Net worth: $10
Million (Nigeria)

8) Matthew Ashimolowo - Net worth: $10 Million (Nigeria)

7) T.B. Joshua - Net worth: $15
Million (Nigeria)

6) T. D. Jakes - Net worth: $18 Million (United States)

5) Billy Graham - Net worth: $25
Million (United States)

4) Creflo Dollar - Net worth: $27
Million (United States)

3) Benny Hinn - Net worth: $42
Million (United States)

2) Chris Oyakhilome - Net worth: $50 Million (Nigeria)

1) David Oyedepo - Net worth: $150
Million (Nigeria)

LIB

First US Ebola victim, Thomas Eric Duncan, dies

The first person to be diagnosed with Ebola within the US has died, Texas hospital officials have said.

Thomas Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, was being kept in isolation in a Dallas hospital and receiving experimental drugs.

Earlier the US announced new security procedures at entry points to check travellers for symptoms of the virus.

More than 3,000 people have died in West Africa in the worst Ebola outbreak yet.

While Duncan was the first person to be diagnosed within the US, three American aid workers and a
photojournalist contracted the virus in Liberia.

       "It is with profound sadness
        and heartfelt disappointment
        that we must inform you of
        the death of Thomas Eric
        Duncan this morning at 7:51
        am," a spokesman said in a
        statement.

The news came shortly after US Secretary of State John Kerry urged all nations to boost their response to combat the virus.

    "More countries can and must
     step up," he said in a joint press
     conference with his British
     counterpart Philip Hammond.

The US has pledged as many as 4,000 troops to the region, while the UK is sending 750 military personnel to Sierra Leone.

Duncan, a Liberian national, tested positive in Dallas, Texas, on 30 September, 10 days after arriving on a flight from Monrovia via Brussels.

After going to hospital with symptoms, he told them he had been to Liberia but was sent home with antibiotics.

Four days later, he was placed in isolation and given an experimental drug to treat Ebola, but his condition continued to worsen.

Pònmò Consumption is Dangerous to Health –NILEST

The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, Dr. Isuwa Adamu, on Tuesday warned against the consumption of animal hides and skin, known locally as ponmo.

Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the consumption of the product as meat substitute was dangerous to health.

He said scientifically, ponmo did not have any nutritional value to human health.

“In fact, it is not advisable for you to consume ponmo in the sense that some of the animals killed and used for ponmo actually have skin diseases.

Some of these skin diseases are such that boiling them ordinarily may not kill the bacteria,’’ Adamu said.

He added that some of the animals killed had been ill and undergoing injections but the rearers went ahead to kill them, leaving the buyers vulnerable to chemicals in the animal skin.

The DG said, “Some of the animals because of the ailments that they have gone through are sometimes treated by way of injection with chemicals.

“People don’t allow these chemicals to complete its cycle and be removed from the body; they sometimes go ahead to kill these animals.

“So, if you consume the ponmo, the tendency is that you are consuming the chemicals directly because the skin part of the animal retains most of the harmful substances.

“Remember your skin is the major protective organ of your body and your skin harbours so many of the harmful things that are supposed to penetrate into your body.”

He added that the skin of animals harboured so many of the harmful waste materials that the body secretes and boiling only could not remove some of those wastes.

The NILEST boss said the institute was putting up efforts to sensitise the public and advice governments on policies that will help to reduce the consumption of animal skin to the barest minimum.

According to him, ponmo consumption is a national and traditional issue and that just putting up laws may not really help to stop it.

Adamu advised the government to come up with policies that could be
enforced to reduce the consumption of hides and skin as meat substitute.

He added that this would enhance the quality and quantity of raw hides and skin available to meet the demands of the tanneries.

NAN

Ebola Break ends today in some states

The Punch reports that Schools in at least 11 states of the country are set to resume a new academic session today (Wednesday) after a forced holiday occasioned by the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.

The states which had earlier shunned the September 22 resumption date announced by the Federal Government, picked October 8, as a more realistic resumption date to enable them to put in place the logistics required to prevent the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease and also observe the Eid-el-Kabir holiday.

Some of the states commencing academic activities today include Rivers, Benue, Lagos, Ekiti and Oyo.
Others are Kano, Kogi, Akwa -Ibom, Ebonyi, Ogun and Kwara states.

However, some states such as Niger, Zamfara and Adamawa, will resume on October 13.

Read more...

Baby factory discovered in Anambra

Anambra State Police Command has uncovered a baby factory where women with unwanted pregnancies are harboured till delivery, after which the babies are sold to interested buyers, with or without their mothers’ consents.

Consequently, the suspected owner of the baby factory has been arrested and detained by the police for allegedly selling one of the new born babies for N700,000, without the mother’s consent.

A source said the suspect, who is from Imo State, whose name was withheld by the police for security reasons, was alleged to have opened a maternity home at Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State where she nurtured the babies after birth and then sell them to prospective buyers.

The source hinted that the deal that landed her in police custody started on August 27 when a baby boy was born.

According to the source, the suspect had on August 28, a day after the delivery, sent Adaku, mother of the baby, to a nearby compound to fetch a gallon of water to bathe the baby, which she obeyed.

It was gathered that on returning from the errand, she discovered that the suspect had disappeared with her baby.

It was gathered that several phone calls she made to find out the whereabout of the suspect were futile as her line was switched off.

The source stated that when the suspect eventually showed up about a week later without the baby and was confronted by Adaku, she simply asked her to allow her to rest.

The suspect was later arrested by the police for another offence. When she was released from custody and was confronted again by Adaku, she replied, “Can’t you see I am just returning from police custody?”

It was also learnt that it was at this point that Adaku contacted one of her cousins who lodged a complaint at Police Area Command Headquarters, Onitsha, and the suspect was arrested.

She confessed to the police that she had sold the baby to someone at Obosi for N700,000, after which she took the police to Obosi where the baby boy was recovered.

Vanguard

Photo News: Home of US Ebola victim cleaned up by HAZMAT as family members are quarantined under heavy guard

The family of an Ebola patient who were quarantined in an apartment over fears they could have contracted the deadly infection have been relocated to a secret location after their home was finally decontaminated.

America's first Ebola victim Thomas Duncan, 42, may have had contact with around 100 people before being quarantined over the deadly virus at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on Sunday

Health officials have said 10 people in the area are now considered to be 'high risk' after coming into contact with the infected patient while another 40 are being monitored closely in case symptoms arise.

Cleanup crews were able to decontaminate the apartment by collecting bed sheets, towels and a mattress used by the infected man before he was hospitalized, as well as a suitcase he is believed to have brought back from Liberia.

According to ABC News,  the hazmat team also found that Duncan had slept on every single mattress in the house, not just the one that had been previously assumed.

Also, children who were in close contact with the man who has Ebola attend a particular school - causing some panicked parents to temporarily remove their kids.

Full report

Successfully transplanted womb produces healthy baby in world's first

A 36-year-old Swede has become the world’s first woman to give birth after receiving a womb transplant, medical journal The Lancet said on Saturday, describing the event as a breakthrough for infertile women.

The healthy baby boy was born last month, it said. Both mother and infant are doing well.

Weighing 1.775 kilos (3.9 pounds), the baby was born by Caesarean section at 31 weeks after the mother developed pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition, the journal said.

The woman had a genetic condition called Rokitansky syndrome which meant she was born without a womb, although her ovaries were intact.

The surgeons said the exploit smashes through the last major barrier of female infertility — the absence of a uterus as a result of heredity or surgical removal for medical reasons.

'Absolute uterine factor infertility is the only major type of female infertility that is still viewed as untreatable,' they said in a paper published by the British journal.

The replacement organ came from a 61-year old woman, a close family friend who had been through menopause seven years earlier. The organ was transplanted in a 10-hour operation last year.

The recipient underwent in-vitro fertilisation, in which eggs were harvested from her ovaries and fertilised using sperm from her partner, and then cryogenically preserved.

A year after the transplant, a single early-stage embryo was inserted into the transplanted womb. A pregnancy test three weeks later was positive.

The womb encountered a brief episode of rejection, but this was successfully tackled by increasing a dose of corticosteroid drugs to suppress the immune system.

     "Our success is based on more
      than 10 years of intensive
      animal research and surgical
      training by our team and opens
      up the possibility of treating
      many young females worldwide
      that suffer from uterine
      infertility,” the Lancet quoted
      Professor Matts Braennstroem
      of the University of Gothenburg,
      who led the operation, as
      saying.

    "What is more, we have
     demonstrated the feasibility of
     live-donor uterus
     transplantation, even from a
     post-menopausal donor."

Rokitansky syndrome — Mayer-
Rokitansky- Kuester- Hauser syndrome to give it its full name — affects approximately one in 4,500 newborn girls, previous research has found.

The options open to women with this disorder, or who have had a hysterectomy, are adoption or having a baby through a surrogate mother.

But surrogacy is not allowed in many countries because of ethical, legal or religious reasons.

The unnamed Swede was one of nine who received a uterus from live donors under Braennstroem’s
programme.

Two of them had to undergo hysterectomy within a few months, either because the womb became infected or blood flow to it became clotted, the paper said.

The other seven women began menstruation during the first two to
three months, and the transplanted organs remained viable during the first year after the operation.

Two other transplant attempts have been reported elsewhere, but neither resulted in a live birth.

The first, carried out in Saudi Arabia in 2000, ended in failure after three months when the uterus became necrotic and had to removed.

The second, carried out in Turkey in 2011, entailed a uterus that was transplanted from a deceased donor, resulting in pregnancies that
miscarried within six weeks.

PMNews

Mutiny: Okoh Urges Jonathan, Military to Forgive Convicted Soldiers

THE Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the military authorities to spare the lives of the Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death over allegations of mutiny.

He noted that even though military laws are very strict, there was the need to temper justice with mercy considering the huge number of lives lost in the country in the fight against insurgency.

Answering questions from journalists at the 2014 Communicators Conference in Abuja, the Primate said:

     "The soldiers have invested
      their lives in the defence of the
      nation, they shouldn’t only see
      their error; they should equally
      see the good they have done. It
      is left for Jonathan to
      reconsider. Human beings can
      make mistakes; it is a good
      thing to forgive. The war
      against Boko Haram has
      consumed so many people and
      we shouldn’t add more."

     "Military law is a very strict law
      but we appeal that they temper
      justice with mercy and spare
     their lives."

He stressed the need for Nigerians to shun violence, insurgency, religious bigotry and tribalism, adding that we should build a country that gives hope to the future generation.

According to him, Nigeria was supposed to be very mature at 54.

     "We are not where we ought to
      be because we have not been
      fair to ourselves; we have
      brought a lot of obstacles to
      our march to progress like the
      issue of Boko Haram,
      kidnapping, tribalism and
      sectionalism and other vices
      that have brought setback to
      our growth and development."

     "We need to allow the overall
      common good of the people
      otherwise we can’t make it. This
      administration should be our
      transition into the fuller life;
      there should be no
      retrogression.”

Guardian

Fresh violence in Plateau

In this report, the Vanguard says renewed violence has erupted in four villages in the Bachit District of Riyom Local Government area of Plateau State as 12 persons were reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen and many houses including that of late Senator Gyang Dantong burnt.

The midnight raids which took place Thursday also saw one security personnel attached to the Special Task Force, STF killed.

A villager who did not want to be named said the four villages were attacked simultaneously at about 1am and hundreds of people displaced.

However, Majority Leader and Member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dem who confirmed the attack said nine people were killed in a simultaneous attack carried out by Fulani herdsmen who also burnt houses including that of late Sen. Gyang Dantong.

Dem added that rumours had been ongoing since last week about impending attacks on the communities but no one believed them because of series of meetings which had been held and the fragile peace which residents were enjoying for sometime now.

He said normalcy was restored as a result of intervention of the operatives of the Special Task Force, but called for adequate security measures in the affected communities to enable the villagers continue with normal activities.

Hon. Dem also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the victims with relief materials to cushion the effect of the attack.

Politics: Tinubu, Mark visit Obasanjo, held separate closed-door meetings

Obasanjo’s Hilltop residence in Abeokuta played host to Senate President, David Mark, and former Lagos State Governor and national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Friday.

Both men held separate closed-door meetings with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. And after their meetings, they said the issues discussed bordered on the state of the nation.

Emerging from the venue of the meeting, Tinubu who came ahead of Mark, said he had discussion with Obasanjo on "some of his former boys" who would vie for elective positions in the 2015 general elections, especially the Presidency.

He said,

     "We are here to pay homage to
      our former President and
      discuss with him because he
      has a number of influences in
      the political sphere."

     "We need to talk to find out his
      thinking about Nigeria and the
      future. We need to seek his
      observation on some of his
      former boys who are running
      for Presidency in our party."

He, however, said there was nothing worth celebrating about Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary since the country remained “an invalid baby in incubator.”

Mark who arrived later at about 2 pm, also described Obasanjo as the father of the nation with a wealth of experience.

The Senate President told journalists after the meeting that he had come with his team, including Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the PDP Women Leader, Mrs. Josephine Anenih; and Senator Polycarp Nwite, among others to discuss with the former President and raise some basic issues that affect both the party and the nation.

He said,

    "We discussed issues that will
     move Nigeria forward because
     Chief Obasanjo’s love for
     Nigeria is unquantifiable. So,
     we had a good discussion with
     him."

Boko Haram: 4-day curfew imposed in Borno by military

The military y e s t e r d a y
announced a four-day curfew in
Borno State following intelligence
report indicating plans by Boko
Haram to attack public buildings,
places of worship and markets.

Spokesman of the 7 Division of the
Nigerian Army Maiduguri, Colonel
Sani Usman, a Deputy Director of
Army Relations (DDAPR), said
intelligence available to security
agencies in the state shows that
Boko Haram planned to attack
various places including praying
grounds during the Muslim festival
using improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). The curfew, according to
him, takes effect from Friday
evening till Monday morning.

“Report at the disposal of the
security agencies reveals that
Boko Haram terrorists have
perfected plans to launch multiple
bomb explosions in Maiduguri
metropolis and other major towns
across Borno State during the Eid-
El-Kabir celebrations 2014 using
motorcycles, tri-cycles, etc. Their
main targets include Sallah praying
grounds, markets and other public
places.

“In view of this, all manner of
vehicular movement are banned in
the entire state from 5pm on
Friday, October 3, 2014 to 7am on
Monday, October 6, 2014.

Members of the general public are
advised to perform their Eid-el-
Kabir prayers at praying grounds
nearest to their respective
residences,” Usman said through
the statement.

He said necessary security
measures are being implemented
by security agencies in the state
but warned residents “to comply
fully with this embargo.” He said
defaulters will be severely
sanctioned, adding that workers on
essential services such as hospitals
and fire services with clear
identification will be exempted
from the restriction of movement.

He appealed to people to report
any “suspicious movement of
persons or vehicles around their
environment to the nearest
security agencies.”

Sun

US SENDS MEDICAL EXPERTS TO STUDY HOW NIGERIA TACKLED EBOLA

HEALTH PERSONNEL IN PROTECTIVE KITS AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY (12/8/14).
Photo Credit: VanguardNgr.com

Stunned by the entrance of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, into America, the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention has despatched its personnel to study how Nigeria contained the killer disease.

The US reported on Tuesday that it has discovered a case of EVD in Dallas, Texas, but its health officials said “the crisis is under control and the public has nothing to fear.”

A statement released by US CDC Director Tom Frieden said “it’s clear the nation needs a quick and thorough response to its first Ebola patient.”

He said although Nigeria was not completely out of the woods, “their extensive response to a single case of Ebola shows that control is possible with rapid, focused interventions.” Apart from Nigeria, the US will also visit Senegal to study its model.

Frieden said “the best practices in Nigeria and Senegal suggest the U.S. should monitor all individuals who may have been exposed to Ebola and establish a dedicated management and response system.”

Senegal has had no new reported cases of Ebola since Sept. 18 while Nigeria has not reported new ones since August 31, US health officials are expected in Nigeria which it claimed had the best practices in combating Ebola Virus disease which entered into Nigeria through Liberian born American citizen Mr. Patrick Sawyer whose index case was reported on July 20, 2014.

Nigeria is expected to officially announce today that the remaining two potential Ebola patients will exit the 21-day observation period.

How Nigeria stopped the spread of Ebola

According to US CDC, “Nigeria’s first reported case of Ebola surfaced July 20, when Patrick Sawyer landed in Lagos from Liberia and exposed 72 other passengers to the virus. Nigeria’s Health officials quickly issued notifications and tracked everybody who may have been in contact with Sawyer.

“Nigeria also established an Ebola Incident Management Center to handle the potential outbreak and developed a staffing plan that executed a social mobilization strategy that reached more than 26,000 households of people living around the contacts of Ebola patients.”

The deadly virus has killed more than 3,000 people in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia in the largest outbreak ever recorded.

How Senegal contained Ebola

Senegal confirmed its first Ebola case Aug. 29 after a man, traveling from Guinea on Aug. 14, took ill and showed symptoms of the disease. This prompted a quick response, including an experienced and trained staff that was prepared to contain the Ebola outbreak.

The procedure led to the identification of 67 contacts who were placed under quarantine, monitored for 21 days and showed no symptoms of Ebola.

Panic in America

The man who imported Ebola into US was found to have travelled to Liberia without informing the authorities and did not disclose the nature of his ailment to the nurse that attended to him.

Reports from Texas yesterday said that the Nurse who attended to the man has also taken ill for Ebola in Texas.

A spokesman for Texas Health Presbyterian said the patient had walked into a Dallas emergency room on September 26, without knowing that he contacted the deadly virus and left after he was treated. He then returned to the facility on September 28 where it was determined he likely had Ebola and was isolated. He tested positive Tuesday, health officials said.

Following the lapse on the part of the hospital officials, questions are being asked amid panic across the country. The CDC has thus advised that all medical facilities should ask for patients with symptoms consistent with Ebola for their travel history.

Source: VanguardNGr

For Love

Today, I'll pour out my inky emotions
On these thirsty pages of love
So they can spur my overflowing passion
To your pinnacle of billowing care

Today, let me go back to time immemorial
And chew on the reminiscent of your smile
That inspired my heart crust
And made me a persona of sweet tingles

Today, Let me stare into oblivion
Wishing I could capture the sky
And pluck an emollient star
To be presented anytime you made a wish

Love, I am baptised by your care
Soaked by your understanding
For you gave me your heartbeat
When I cracked mine on the rock of selfishness

Lo, like the law of demand
As  the price of time fades
My quantity of glee for you basks higher

Let us forever be -always affection
Stapled on the grace of the lord-to caution
Soar in his mercies of peace with moderation
Forever, till death do us path-ne'er division

I LOVE THE CHURCH

SAD: FAMILY OF 5 DIE OF FOOD POISONING IN THEIR HOME

Nigeria’s independence day, which was widely celebrated yesterday, has turned sour in Itamaga area of Ikorodu as a family of five, including four boys and their mother, were found dead in their residence. The bodies were found in their uncompleted building located on 8, Kunle Owooade Close.

According to eyewitnesses, they were last seen on Friday before their bodies were found on Tuesday, with three of them already decomposing. One died on the way to the hospital.

Three of the children were found in one room, while their mother had soiled herself and was with her last born in another room when sympathisers broke into their apartment.

The alarm was raised around 8pm on Tuesday, when neighbours noticed an offensive oozing out of the building.

They had called emergency numbers in the state, which did not yield a positive result until yesterday.

According to the residents, sympathisers were astonished that they could not receive any assistance from the much publicised emergency numbers.

The sympathisers also invited Policemen from Ikorodu Division who rushed to the scene, but did not offer any assistance, suspecting a case of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

The incident has been generating controversy in the neighbourhood as some attributed it to food poisoning.

Naijezie

Nigeria at 54, How Independent are we?

I woke up this morning, to be greeted by darkness. ‘But today is the 1st of October, the acclaimed day of Nigeria’s Independence,’ I thought to myself. This silent and rhetorical question popped up in my mind- ‘how independent are we?’

My mind flashed back to the days of growing up as a lad. I recalled counting the number of days of uninterrupted power many years ago. And my memory served me right- it was straight 6 days. And when it was interrupted, it was restored in less than 2 hours for another uninterrupted journey of 5 days- this continued for a while.

Today, that trend has gone into the ‘trashmill’. And I keep wondering if we would ever have 5 straight days of power without interruption again. Obviously, our power supply system falls short of what we can term ‘independent’.

Many years ago while growing up in the outskirts of Surulere, Lagos, I remember a construction company (name withheld) digging every street to lay huge water pipes, in the name of providing us with portable drinking water.

It is difficult today to pass through a street in Lagos without coming across at least two buildings with borehole water, no matter how short the street is. Our water resources still fall short of what can be termed ‘independent’.

Several years ago, graduates from Nigerian universities ranked among the best in the world- they even had jobs waiting for them before completing their youths’ service. At least, I can point to Achebe, Soyinka, Emeagwali, Clark, Obadan, Iyoha, Agbadudu, Okhuonofua, and many more that you know (please add). Unfortunately, that story can no more be found in our archive- most of our graduates today can’t even speak good English, let alone write a formal letter. And those who can, will walk the streets, in black pairs of trousers that have turned brown, in search of jobs that are not available.

Independence, in the context of our educational system seems to mean every government official having their own private educational institution as we see today. And very soon, a three-bedroom apartment will be used as a university campus.

I was taught in school that agriculture used to be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy until the discovery of the black gold (crude oil) in the mid-twentieth century. As a result of that discovery, our groundnut pyramids disappeared; our oil palm plantations was taken away by another country- and oil palm is the mainstay of that country’s economy today. Unfortunately, many young Nigerians have made that country their destination for ‘greener pastures’.

I fall short of words to describe our agricultural sector, knowing that our country is blessed with fertile lands.

A serving governor described one of our political parties as being mainly in pursuit of stomach infrastructure. The leader of that party responded soon after that stomach infrastructure means putting foods on the table of the average Nigerian. Yet, a bag of rice is sold for N10,000.00 ($62.50). How many households can afford this on a minimum wage of N18,000.00 ($3.75/day)? We truly are independent!

Every sector of our economy is flawed- politics, education, communication, business, arts etc. ‘The promise of building good roads’ has become a common campaign slogan on the lips of our political aspirants- things that are supposed to be a normal part of our everyday living.

It is not the Nigerian nation that is independent; it is the poor man, who provides almost everything for himself:

   -We provide our own power- 
    Generators;
   -We provide our own healthcare-
    Quacks;
   -We provide our own education-
    Private Schools;
   -We provide our own water-
    Boreholes;
   -We provide our own security-
    Vigilantes...

If it were possible, we would have provided our own roads.

Nigeria is a cap wide enough, but lacks the head big enough to wear her!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NIGERIA!

©Mondayspeaks

Shocking: 19-yr-old SSS3 student impregnates mother while testing love charm

Residents of Asaba, Delta State are yet to recover from the shock of how a 19-year-old Godwin (not real name) allegedly impregnated his mother while testing his love charm.

According to report, the boy, famously known as Ekenem, was said to have gone to a native doctor, who allegedly prepared a love charm for him to use on his mother and one of the matrons in the college where he is a boarding student.

It was gathered that the husband of the woman, who has been away for some time outside his Port Harcourt operational base, denied being responsible for the pregnancy during interrogation.

But the victim, the suspect’s mother, while speaking to journalists said, “I did not know how it all happened, but all I can say is that a young man who looked like my son suddenly found his way into my room at the wee hours and I was speechless”, adding that the whole exercise had remained inexplicable.

Speaking at the police headquarters to journalists, the suspect said,

“I am deeply sorry for all that has happened, I did not mean to do this. I saw myself falling in love with her after the love charm prepared for me."

"I have to confess because I know by so doing, God will touch her mind and I know she will forgive me. I suddenly found that I was making love to mum when I thought the charm will not work, and upon the revelation, I threatened to kill her and the matter was reported to the police," he said.

DSP Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, who confirmed the report, disclosed that the boy had since been arrested over threat to life.

Source: NigerianMonitor

'Shekau is not Boko Haram,' by Dipo Oludase

When news trickled in that the self- acclaimed and audacious leader of the dreaded Boko-Haram sect had been killed in a face-off with the Nigerian Military or was it the Camerounians?

One would have expected that such a breaking news would have sent the nation into a frenzy of some sort. But strangely, the people welcomed the news with so much skepticism.

Can anyone really blame them? Such news is not new anymore, people don't really know who and what to believe anymore. They seem not have the luxury of premature celebration only to wake up to another video by another Shekau, protraying our leaders as comedians that will rival the likes of Basket Mouth.

With hard evidence emerging and the Nigerian Military confirming the report, it has become difficult to refute the claim and we can only accord a well desreved honour to them for their heroic and courageous effort (especially in recent weeks), in routing the insurgents that have perpetrated so much evil leaving untold destruction of lives (Christians and Muslims) and properties in its wake.

Now that an increasing number of people now believe that Shekau is
dead (though some still habour doubts, including the US). Is it the right time to roll out the drums and start singing victory songs, for the begining of the end of Boko-Haram? History resoundingly echoes with facts that it will be foolish and baseless to assume that the death of Shekau is the end of Boko-Haram.

Boko-Haram is an IDEOLOGY that preceded Shekau and will definitely outlive him. The death of Osama Bin Laden did not bring about the end of Al-Qeada. Equally fresh in our memories is the death of the leader of Al-Shabab, Somali's version of these stone-age blood thirsty monsters.

Within days of the death of their leader, they appointed a new leader and claimed responsibilities for four cordinated car bombs that claimed several lives.

What then could be the ideolody behind these terrorist groups that binds them so strongly and has made it almost impossible for them to be rided of, even if their leaders are killed? All these groups and others with similar agenda have told us with their mouths that they are "Freedom Fighters" in a revolutionary Jihad (Holy war) against all infidels (Non Muslims).

It is an open secret that they claim they are fighting or better put "striving in the cause of Allah", a cause they claim is an obligation for all muslims.

Shekau said in one of his speeches: "To the people of the world, everybody should know his status, it is either you are with us the Mujahedeen (Jihadist) or you are with the Christians...we know what is happening in this world, it is Jihad war against Christians and
Christianity. This is what I know in Quran. This is a war against Christians and democracy and their constitution."

"Allah says we should finish them when we get them. We will die killing and slaughtering them, if you meet infidels in battle field, brethren just harvest their necks. Allah said it and not Shekau."

Many muslims (moderate muslims) refutes these claims and say that these terror groups are not muslims and that their activities have no basis in Islam and/or the Quran. I have read the Quran and some hadiths (I suggest everybody should go and read it themselves).

The assertions of these moderate muslims is only 'politically correct'. On the contrary there are verses in the Quran that literally justify and instructs these terror acts and even sound like or corroborate Shekau's speech above.

For time and space lets look at just two:

      Quran 9:29 "Fight those who
      believe not in Allah nor the last
      day, nor hold forbidden which
      hath been forbidden by Allah
      or His Messenger (Muhamad),
      nor acknowldge the religion of
      truth (Islam), even if they are of
      the People of the Book
      (CHRISTIANS AND JEWS), until
      they pay the Jizya with
      submission and feel subdued."

      Quran 8:12 "I will cast TERROR
      into the hearts of disbelievers
      (NON MUSLIMS). Therefore
      strike off their heads and strike
      off every finger-tip off them."

Whether these verses are not "open-ended" instructions (just relevant within the context of history and not today) or has been taken out of context by religious zealots to champion an extreme and perverted brand of Islam like many moderate muslims claim is still a subject of debate amongs muslims themselves.

But to outrightly say it has no basis in Islam is arguable. Moderate muslims claim that Jihad is a war fought in self defence against non-muslims and moreso there are rules of engagement.

The muslim world is still divided on what the concept of Jihad really is, and what constitute its purview in the 21 century.

The death of the leaders of these terror has never ended any of them, though it may weaken their structures, dample their morales and cause factions, but as long as ds ideology exist Boko-haram will persist.

The death of Shekau is a laudable feat by the Nigerian Military but they must not rest on their oars, THEY HAVE JUST WON A BATTLE, THE WAR IS STILL ON!

God bless Nigeria

Dipo Oludase

Obasanjo enrols for Ph.D. at 77

A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has enrolled for an MA/Ph.D. in Christian Theology at the National Open University of Nigeria.

His admission letter titled, ‘‘Provisional admission for postgraduate programme – 2014 session’’ and dated September 29, was signed by NOUN Registrar, Josephine Akinyemi.

It reads, “With reference to your application for admission to a postgraduate programme of this university, I am pleased to inform you that you have been offered a provisional admission for postgraduate course leading to the award of MA/Ph.D. Christian Theology in School of Arts and Social Sciences of the university with effect from the date of completion of first registration.”

Obasanjo, who arrived the Victoria Island headquarters of the university on Tuesday morning in a black Lexus jeep with number plate Lagos APP 769 DB to receive his admission letter, gave insight into why he was returning to school at 77.

He explained that he chose to acquire the doctoral degree in Christian Theology in order to acquire more knowledge about God.

“I do not want to be a pastor. I only want to know more about my God and to serve Him better,” said the former President.

Punch

Sallah: Lagos offers free ride to residents

Lagos State Government is to provide free bus ride to residents on Saturday, October 4, 2014 as part of measures to ease movement of commuters during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration across the state.

Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, in a statement, yesterday, said that commuters along the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, route will enjoy free ride from Mile 12 to CMS while those on the Bus Franchise Scheme, BFS, will ride free on Ikotun-Igando-Iyana-Ipaja-Ikeja.

Mobereola urged Nigerians to reflect on the significance of the celebration which is sacrificial giving and not reduce the festival to mere eating and drinking.

Vanguard

Ebola: US health authorities confirm outbreak in Nigeria contained

The Ebola outbreak in Nigeria is
almost over, after an ordeal that
began in July when a sick man
with United States-Liberian
citizenship flew there from Liberia,
US health authorities said
yesterday.

The virus’s incubation period is 21
days, and after two of these
periods have passed without any
new cases, officials can declare an
outbreak over. Therefore, since
there have been no new cases
since August 31, Nigeria should be
able to announce a formal end to
its outbreak on October 12, a
spokesman for the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
told AFP.

Meanwhile, the last three people
monitored due to potential
exposure to an Ebola patient will
end their 21 days of follow-up for
signs of symptoms later this
week.”The last three patient
contacts will exit their 21-day
follow-up on October 2 strongly
suggesting the outbreak in Nigeria
has been contained,” the CDC said
in a statement.

While Nigeria may be able to
declare victory over Ebola, its
outbreak was far smaller than in
nearby Guinea, Sierra Leone and
Liberia. The death toll from the
world’s worst Ebola epidemic has
claimed 3,091 lives in five West
African countries out of 6,574
infected, according to the World
Health Organization.

The outbreak in Nigeria began July
20 when Patrick Sawyer, a dual
US-Liberian citizen, boarded a
plane to Lagos, a densely
populated city of 21 million
people.