Pray For Our Success At World Cup, Super Eagles Beg Nigerians

The Super Eagles are seeking the prayers and support of Nigerians as they prepare for the World Cup tournament in Russia.

Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, revealed this on Wednesday during a telephone interview said “We just want Nigerians to pray for us, we have worked hard and we want Nigerians to support us with their goodwill,”.

According to Ibitoye, the national team is confident of making the nation proud based on its level of preparation.

He added, “This team will make them (Nigerians) proud and everything will be good. I am absolutely sure of that.”

The Eagles media officer made the plea two days after the team departed their base at the Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria, to Russia for the World Cup tournament – Nigeria’s sixth appearance.

Since emerging from an appropriately – styled ‘Group of Death’ in the African qualifying series,

The Eagles were the first African team to qualify for this year’s World Cup and they have been drawn in Group D with longtime rival, Argentina, as well as Croatia and Serbia.

In the course of their preparation, the team played a series of friendly matches with Argentina, Poland, Serbia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, England and Czech Republic, during which they won two, drew one, and lost three.

Sweet victories over Argentina and Poland were followed by defeat by Serbia, a draw with DR Congo and losses to England and the Czech Republic.

Nigeria’s first match at the World Cup is against Croatia on Saturday, with the Eagles logging a balanced record of having won their opening match at the World Cup on two occasions, drawn once and lost twice.

On the three occasions, the team won their opening matches in 1994, 1998, 2014, and progressed to the Round of 16.

But the outcomes of the England and Czech Republic friendlies have become worrisome for Nigerians and other concerned individuals.

Former Eagles Technical Adviser Jo Bonfrere warned the players to avoid playing for individual glory if they must achieve the desired results at the competition.

Bonfrere, who was a guest on Channels Sports Tonight on Tuesday, also claimed the technical crew was adopting a system the players do not seem to understand

FG declares Friday June 15, Monday June 18 public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Friday, June 15 and Monday, June 18 as public holidays to celebrate the 2018 Id-el Fitr.

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. M. Umar in Abuja on Monday.

He congratulated the Muslim faithful on a successful completion of the Ramadan and enjoined all Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to pray for the peace, unity, prosperity and stability of the nation.

Dambazau stated that it was government’s desire that “all Nigerians be inspired by the virtues gained during the holy month of Ramadan to live a life of sacrifice, charity and love for one another.”

He encouraged all Nigerians to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in taking the nation to greater heights.

The minister wished all Nigerians a happy, peaceful and rewarding Id-el Fitr celebration

OAU Matriculates 8,158 Students

The Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ), Ile-Ife, on Wednesday matriculated 8, 158 students and warned them against social vices.

Prof. Eyitope Ogunnbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, gave the charged, while addressing the students during the 2017/2018 academic session matriculation ceremony at the Oduduwa Amphitheatre of the university in Ile-Ife.

Ogunnbodede urged the newly admitted students to desist from any anti-social behaviours capable of disrupting the smooth running of the university.

According to him, the university has zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractices, violent behaviours, flagrant disregard to constituted authority and sexual harassment.

He said that the warning was imperative to safeguard their studentship and ensure successful academic career in the institution.

“I will strongly advise that you steer clear from these deplorable behaviours and other similar vices in order to safeguard your studentship and ensure successful academic career,” he urged.

Ogunbodede appealed to all “freshers’’ to support the management for all hands be on deck and shun indiscipline in order to complete every session on scheduled.

He observed that their admission to the university coincided with a period of near economic recession in the country, when funds were not readily available for constant provision of municipal services.

He, however, assured them of the readiness of university authority to address issues affecting students as promptly as possible and give priority for the provision of essential needs.

Ogunbodede advised them to combine academic excellence with culture of “omoluabi” in a challenging, competitive and diverse academic environment.

“Omoluabi” is being ones brother’s keeper.

He urged them to beware of their colleagues who would want to lure them to join bad groups.

The matriculating students had undergone two weeks orientation to familiarise themselves with the university’s environment to enable them inculcate the ethics of the institution.

NAN

Professor Babatunde Osotimehin Annual Essay Competition

Entries are invited for the First Professor Babatunde Osotimehin Annual Essay Competition (PBOC).

Essay Topics: Participants are to select 1 of the 4 topics to write on:

1. Alert or Alarm: Nigeria’s Population Projection and Meeting Family Planning Needs.

2. New Solutions to a Recurrent Pain Point; Protecting the SRH of Adolescents and Young People in Nigeria.

3. If Comprehensive Sexuality Education is the Solution, What are the Real Problems and What are the Drivers?

4. Expanding Sexual and Reproductive Rights Options for Women, Retaining Choices, Remaining within the Boundary of the Law; without Agitating Culture.

Guideline for Essay Entries:
1. Essays must be independent and original;
2. Entries should be between 2500 to 3000 words (references excluded);
3. Essays must be written and typed in English using Arial font type, size 12 with single line spacing;
3. All plagiarized essays will be disqualified;
4. All resource materials used should be referenced using A.P.A style;
5. Participation is open only to citizens between ages 15 and 30 that are resident in Nigeria;
6. Only one entry is permitted per person;
7. All entries must be original and hitherto unpublished. The copyright for all entries will be transferred to the organizers;
8. Participants deem it fit for the organizers to use their details and entries for promotional purposes;
9. All entries must be submitted on or before June 11, 2018;
10. Please note that entries that do not match the above specifics will be automatically disqualified.



The essay competition seeks to enrich conversation and research on the continual and untiring quest for brilliant solutions as a means to drive the much desired demographic dividends.

Top 10 essay entries from the competition will be compiled into an anthology and launched during the award ceremony to be held during the First Professor Babatunde Osotimehin Annual lecture scheduled for June 26, 2018.

Entries closes on June 11, 2018

If eligible and interested, kindly click here to participate.

Paradigm Initiative Digital Rights Fellowship For Undergraduates (Fully Funded)

Paradigm Initiative is pleased to announce its fully funded Fellowships to the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum 2018.

The fellowship is open to all undergraduates in their penultimate year (year before final year), irrespective of field of study.

Selected fellows will be sponsored to attend the 2018 Nigeria Internet Governance Forum in Abuja in July 2018. The fellowship will cover flight, accommodation and per diem.

Selection will be based on the following criteria:


Keen interest in ICT Policy issues in general, and Digital Rights in particularWillingness to complete a final year project related to Digital Rights, irrespective of field of study and angle (legal, technical, social, etc) of approach to the relevant issuesAvailability to travel to — and from Abuja — between July 1 and 4, 2018

Fellows who dedicate their final year thesis to a digital rights issue may also be supported by Paradigm Initiative in their research.

If you would like to secure one of the five (5) fellowship slots, please do the following:

Record a 3-minute video of yourself speaking on what “Digital Rights” means to you as a young Nigerian.Upload the video online and share on social media, using the hashtag #NIGF18withPI, and copy @ParadigmHQFill this form and make sure to include the link to your video:

You must complete all three steps above before 12 midnight June 15, 2018, when the competition will end. Please note that applications after this deadline will not be considered.

If you are eligible and interested, kindly click here to proceed with your application

#NIGF18withPI

Application For COC To BSc. Entrepreneurship & Industrial Extension Ongoing

The Obafemi Awolowo University has announced it is providing an opportunity for suitable and qualified PART-1 students who have already secured admission to the University for other courses to apply for a change of course to the above mentioned program - BSc. Entrepreneurship and Industrial Extension.

Qualified candidates must possess O'Level credits at not more than two sittings in the following subjects:

(i) English Language and Mathematics, plus
(ii) One Social Science subject (Economic/Government/Geography)
(iii) Any two from (Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Agricultural Science/Literature-in-English/Yoruba/Igbo/Hausa/CRK/IRK/History).

The university has said it will give "special opportunity for first respondents."

To proceed to apply, click here.



Goodluck!

JOHESU Agrees To Suspend Strike Tomorrow

In consideration of the plight of health-seeking public and to give room for an amicable resolution of its dispute with the Federal Government, the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, on Wednesday agreed to suspend its 44 days old strike on Friday June 1, 2018.

This decision followed the intervention of the National Industrial Court, NIC, which offered to take over the mediation process between the striking health workers and the government.

Before now, an NGO, the Incorporated Trustees of the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation, KHRFI, had obtained a court order against JOHESU; mandating the health workers to suspend their industrial action on the 21st of May, 2018.

But, in pursuit of its constitutional rights to either comply or challenge the Court order, JOHESU filed an appeal at the Appellate Court.

However, the leadership of JOHESU decided to sheath its sword and direct the members of the union to resume duties since the NIC, as a neutral and impartial organ of the Judiciary, has mandated its mediation centre to take over the negotiation and reconciliation processes within the next 24 hrs in the interest of the public.