Nigerian Idol 3 finale; Femi Kuti, D'Banj, Omawumi, all hail Moses

Moses Obi-Adigwe has become the first male contestant to emerge winner of the third season of Nigeria's most-viewed TV reality show, the Nigerian Idol! The 22-year-old could not contain his joy as he stuttered over and over again, "This is a new beginning in my career and life... you don't understand!"

Like in previous seasons, Etisalat Nigeria delivered, as promised, a brand new SUV and a 7.5-million-naira cheque to the new Idol, who will also get a recording contract worth another N7.5 million. First Runner-up, Debbie Rise drove home in a brand new Kia Picanto, also courtesy Etisalat Nigeria.



 All the excitement was witnessed on TV by millions of Nigerians home and abroad. But you can be assured that the atmosphere in the Dream Studios, where the grand finale took place, was full of contagious squeals. Fever pitch escalated when D'banj, Omawumi and Kaffy performed. Former Idol, Yeka Onka was also on stage to perform one of her captivating songs.

The star performance of the night was that of multiple Grammy Award nominee and Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti, who doubled as one of the judges on the show.

Kuti and the other judges, Yinka Davies and Jeffrey Daniels were full of praise for both Moses and Debbie Rise. Friends and families of the finalists also showed up to celebrate with their own. Moses' sister, Rhoda, leapt on stage when the announcement was made while his brother, Prince, grinned proudly. Debbie Rise's parents proudly supported their daughter as she stepped off the Nigerian Idol 3 stage and friends swarmed around her.

The Top 12 contestants were not left out of the glamour and celebration, as they gave a group performance. Efezino, Jay Feel, Abasi Akang, Safeeyat and the others also stepped up on stage to embrace Moses, who dissolved in their arms and cried happily.
This season, the Nigerian Idol website enjoyed over 30 million hits, while on Facebook, over 96,000 friends were added. Ahead of season 4, we now wait to see if Moses will continue to make Nigeria and Africa proud, just like Mercy and Yeka who recently performed at the O2 Arena in London, courtesy of Etisalat.

 

“I want my wife’s condition be kept private” – Jonathan bars governors from seeing First Lady

Cracks have emerged in the camp of ailing first Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, as Mr. President gave a strict instruction to the German hospital that a delegation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which recently visited Germany where the First Lady being hospitalized should have no access to First Lady.

A highly reliable source confirmed the governors are not happy that they could not have access or know the current health status of the First Lady whose offices as the First Lady and a Permanent Secretary to the Bayelsa state government remain empty since her departure.

The delegation, led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, included Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Jonah Jang of Plateau, Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina States.

The source said, “The governors, though in Germany for a different reason, had hoped to extend the African courtesy and hospitality to the first lady when they received the cold treatment from the ambassador.”

Another reliable source said Ambassador Abubakar following Jonathan’s instruction barred the governors from seeing the First Lady, insisting that his wife’s condition be kept entirely “private and secret.”

“The ambassador and other officials at the Nigerian embassy in Germany made sure they kept Mrs Jonathan’s whereabouts and condition secret,” the source said. “The governors became frustrated and stopped trying.” The source

Spokesperson to the president, Reuben Abati and his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe declined comment on the issue.

The alleged “food poisoning” that landed Dame Patience Jonathan in a German hospital has continued to generate ripples in the country as several Nigerians and informed commentators continued to condemn President Goodluck Jonathan and his advisers, for not deeming it fit to inform Nigerians on the true state of his wife’s health.

The absence of official statements from the president’s office has given room to speculations, rumours and innuendoes, thus making Mr. President more vulnerable to attacks.

LASU students on rampage, disrupt exams

One hundred (100) level students of Lagos State University, LASU, (Main campus) Tuesday, protested alleged decision of the school management not to reduce their school fees.

Our sources said the students were reacting over the rumour making the rounds on the campus that the management had no intention to effect a cut in tuition as promised during their admission into the school.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State government, as part of moves to douse the rising tension caused by the increase in the tuition of LASU students, said the proposed fees would only be paid by incoming students that would gain admission into the school in years to come.

The student were however, directed to pay N193,750 for Arts/Education; N223,750 for Social and Management Sciences; N248,750 for Law while those in Communication/Transport, Sciences, Engineering and College of Medicine paid N238,750, N258,750, N298,750 and N348,750 respectively as against old fees which ranges between N25,000 and N62,500.

The protesting students it was gathered, were supposed to be writing one of their GNS papers today but have refused to take the paper so as to register their grievances.

It was also gathered that the Students Union Government, SUG, the umbrella body of every student in the institution has dissociated itself from the protest.

Former Arsenal striker, Henry scores from a corner in MLS game [

Thierry Henry has still got the va va voom. During his amazing time at Arsenal, the former France international scored it all – from the simple tap-ins to the outrageous efforts. And the ex Barcelona star is still working his magic in the MLS in the US. with a few seconds left in New York Red Bulls’ match against Columbus Crew, the striker lined up a corner kick. And although there were several players, including Tim Cahill, waiting for his delivery in the box, he opted for the audacious – swinging it in from an impossibly-angle. It was his second of the game and Red Bulls’ third, as they ran out 3-1 winners.

Boko Haram's spokesman Abu Qaqa Feared Dead

The camp of the Jama’atu Ahlus Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram was thrown into a heavy turmoil on Monday following the murder of its spokesman, Abu Qaqa and the apprehension of its two top commanders the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) Mariri neighbourhood of Kano after a gun duel.

According to spokesman for the Joint Task Force in Kano, Ikediche, Abu Qaqa and his cohorts meet waterloo when they refused to stop for a search by officers of the Kano State Joint Task Force (JTF) as they opened fire on the Volkswagon Golf car leaders of the sect were travelling in.

Mr. Iweha who confirmed that incident disclosed that a lady was among those arrested.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, however declined comment on the incident.

Crack Ya Ribs LIVE in Abuja – Experience Julius Agwu, Iyanya, I Go Dye, Timaya, Dan D’Humorous, Funny Bone & More – Sunday 30th September 2012

After staging spectacular concerts in Glasgow, London, New York, Houston and Dallas, Superstar Nigerian comedian and musician, Julius Agwu is billed to thrill all Abuja residents at the 2012 edition of Crack Ya Ribs show set to take place on Sunday 30th September 2012 at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

Speaking on the anticipated show, Julius Agwu who will be launching his TV show – Jokes Apart soon, said “The Abuja edition of this year’s Crack Ya Ribs is my independence gift to Nigerians as we return after the summer tour. Not forgetting the fact that this year marks 12 years of Crack Ya Ribs and it has been repackaged with some fresh ideas to keep the brand going. We have made it bigger by turning it to a Pan-African event and that informed why there were performances from Ghanaian leading music and comedy stars at the London show. With our current plans for the Abuja show, lovers of quality entertainment are in for a good time.”

And they will definitely be having a fun day as some of Nigeria’s most wanted comedians and musicians will be present live to keep you entertained all night long. To deliver rib cracking jokes alongside Julius Agwu are I Go Dye, Senator, Dan D’Humorous, Funny Bone, Osama and Triple White.

For non-stop musical entertainment, Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya and Kukere master, Iyanya will be live on stage to perform some of their hottest tracks.

It promises to a fun filled night that the residents of the Nation’s capital city will never forget. See you all there LIVE!

Date: Sunday 30th September 2012
Time: 5 PM
Venue: Transcorp Hilton, 1 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja
Ticket Prices: Regular N 5,000 | VIP N10,000 | Table N 300,000
Ticket Locations: You can get your tickets at the following places;
Drumstix, Wuse II, Abuja
Steady Plaza, Abuja
Ground Square, Abuja
Exclusive Stores, Plot 1202, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja
Silverbird Cinemas, Plot 1161, Memorial Drive, By Musa Yar’adua Center, Central Business District, F.C.T, Abuja

NAPTIP rescues 10 Nigerian girls forced to work as prostitutes in Cote d’Ivoire

National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) yesterday Saturday 15th September, 2012, announced that they rescued 10 Nigerian girls forced to work as prostitutes in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

NAPTIP said the 10 rescued sex workers are from Edo, Delta, Rivers and Benue states, with Edo topping the list with six girls.

NAPTIP said the rescue operation was done in collaboration with the regional bureau office of Interpol in Abidja and carried out based on a tip-off. The agency said the rescued girls will undergo medical screening, counseling and eventually rehabilitation.

Fuel shortage hits Lagos, others

Major cities across the country experienced severe fuel shortage over the weekend as motorists formed long queues at the few filling stations with fuel.

In Lagos, motorists were seen queuing to buy fuel at Ogba, Ikeja, Berger, Ikotun, Akute among other placs withing the metropolis.

However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation blamed the shortage on the continued closure of a vandalised NNPC System 2B pipeline at Arepo, Ogun State.

In an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, the NNPC spokesman, Mr. Fidel Pepple, said the closure of the Arepo line was a major setback for the corporation.

Pepple said, “The solution to the problem lies in us putting the line on stream. And now, we are unlikely to resolve that as soon as possible because security must be guaranteed at Arepo before repair works could be completed.

“We have product, but we can’t continue to pump through the bad line and have product wasted.”

Repair works at the vandalised pipeline were stopped last week after suspected vandals killed three NNPC engineers at the site.

Our correspondent gathered that the shortage might grow worse in the course of the week.

The President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, South-West branch, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, told our correspondent that loading of products at Lagos depots had dropped by over 70 per cent.

He said, “The situation is not improving at all; it has rather worsened. A depot that can serve about 200 trucks per day, now serves between 40 and 50. Last week it was between 70 and 90.

“Now, marketers are not willing to incur any extra costs. They don’t want to transport products to places outside their depot areas. Right now they are not going to the far east, north or south-south.”

“Government should do the right thing now. Most of these marketers have investments in Nigeria, and can’t just run away like that. So, government should engage them so that we can address this problem.”

About N200bn is currently being owed the oil marketers by the Federal Government.

Also speaking to our correspondent, the Chairman, Independent petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (Western Zone), Mr. Olumide Ogunmade, said the association’s members were also having challenges loading products.

He said the pipeline explosion at Arepo had compounded the problem as most of its members that were loading from Ogun State had been referred to Apapa.

“This is affecting the movement of product. Our members are now loading from Apapa. But the process is slow. We however believe it will stabilise soon,” Ogunmade said.

In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Sunday, motorists accused petroleum marketers of hoarding petrol to create artificial scarcity. Some of the filling stations in the city sold a litre of petrol for N115, while others sold it for N150.

A motorist, Mr. Kunle Folarin, said that he had become frustrated after his efforts to buy fuel in three different filing stations were unsuccessful.

Folarin said that the attendants in many of the filing stations in the town collected bribes, ranging from N100 to N300, before selling fuel to motorists.

Another motorist, Sunday Abolarin, corroborated Folarin’s claim, adding that the fuel scarcity in the town was the creation of the marketers.

“Many of the marketers have fuel but they don’t want to sell because they are expecting an increase in the pump price of fuel. I don’t know what this country has become,” he said.

Most of the stations visited by our correspondent in Abeokuta on Sunday were shut and without attendants.

The NNPC mega station on Moshood Abiola Way was shut on Sunday evening. At Atinsola filling station near Ayetoro Garage, attendants sold fuel at N110 per litre. At World Oil filling station, Ibara, the sale of fuel was said to have been stopped by the attendants at about 2pm, while the long queue of motorists at the station was ignored.

The queue at filling stations in Enugu State grew on Sunday as motorists found it difficult to buy fuel. The queue, The PUNCH observed, were prominent at major filling stations in Enugu where the product is sold for N97, as against N110 at small filling stations.

A motorist at NIPCO filling station, in New Haven, said the queue had always been at major filling stations in the state because “these filling stations sold at N97 per litre and that is the cheapest one can buy.”

The motorist, Mr. Maurice Okafor, said, “The queue is always less at the smaller filling stations because they sell for N110 and it is only those that can afford it that go to such places, but the line at big filling stations has increased because most of the smaller stations do not have the product.”

Another motorist, Mrs. Elizabeth Onyia, said, “I always buy fuel at those unknown filling stations because you would never meet a queue there. But since yesterday, it has been difficult to buy fuel at any of the small stations and that is why many of us opted to come to NNPC, Bontus, Juhel and the rest of them. As you can see, the line here is agonising.”

Vehicular queue witnessed last week at the NNPC mega filling station on Sapele, has however not cleared completely, though it had thinned out by Sunday evening.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, the Acting General Secretary of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Mr. Isaac Aberare, said the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC should be held responsible for the resurfacing of fuel queues in the country.

“The Secretary, Petroleum Tanker Drivers Unit of NUPENG in Abuja just spoke on television that there is no strike. If the fuel scarcity in Abuja persists, then the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of NNPC should give an explanation,” Aberare said.

National honours awardees stranded in Abuja …as FG fails to provide accommodation, flight tickets

MOST of the recipients of the 2012 National Honours were stranded in Abuja on Sunday as the Federal Government failed to provide them accommodation as it was the practice in the past.

The honours are expected to be conferred on the recipients on Monday (today) at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. A total of 149 recipients will be conferred with national honours with Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga, receiving the highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

Most recipients, especially Abuja non-residents, who arrived in Abuja on Sunday evening discovered that the government made no provision for their accommodation and flight tickets.

During former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, all awardees were each provided with accommodation or N50,000 in lieu of it.

They also received the same amount of money for flight tickets.

A senior government official, who disclosed this to one of our correspondents in Abuja, said the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was usually saddled with the task of arranging accommodation and flight tickets for the honourees.

The official said, “You see, it is wrong for you to invite people from all nooks and crannies of the country to Abuja without making any preparation for their accommodation, transport and even feeding.

“That is against the African tradition of entertaining guests. Many of these awardees have never been to Abuja before and therefore, they don’t know how to find their ways.

“The usual thing is to reserve accommodation for these distinguished Nigerians. But I don’t know why things are like this in this country.”

Some of the awardees, as well as members of the organising committee, who spoke to our correspondents at the organising committee’s secretariat in Agura Hotel, Abuja, confirmed that they were not provided with accommodation and flight tickets.

A member of committee, who pleaded anonymity, said, “There was no provision for accommodation for the recipients; flight tickets were also not provided.

“They are to take care of those things. There is no big deal about that though it (taking care of honorees) had been the practice.”

One of the awardees complained to one of our correspondents about the non-provision of accommodation and transportation arrangements for the recipients.

The awardee, who was in company with his wife searching for hotel accommodation, said it was sad that the organisers of the award left them to fend for themselves.

Asked if he had been able to secure accommodation, the awardee replied, “no.”

He said, “I am trying to secure my own accommodation, since they did not provide any for us. The situation is quite inconveniencing. I don’t live in Abuja and here I am, hours after I arrived, I am yet to settle down. I have not had a bath and I have not changed my clothes.

“The arrangement should have been better; it should not be just (about) collecting the award.”

Asked if his children would be around to witness the event, he said, “The invitation said only two guests; I can’t bring all of them. So I brought my wife and a friend along.”

Our correspondents also gathered that many of the awardees were experiencing similar difficulties in securing accommodation, as most of the hotels in Abuja had been fully booked ahead of the event.

An employee of an hotel disclosed that some awardees started making reservations immediately the date for the conferement of the awards was announced.

In the same vein, security has been beefed up around the International Conference Center, venue of the event.

Unlike during the previous editions of the awards when recipients were allowed to bring in friends and relatives to felicitate with them, only two guests would be allowed to accompany each recipients this year.

As part of the security measures, our correspondent further learnt that movement in and out of the venue would be controlled. It was also learnt that no individual would be allowed to either drive personal cars or walk into the venue.

According to the arrangement that has been put in place, awardees’ guests and those involved in the organisation of the event are expected to converge on Eagles Square from where designated buses would convey them to the venue.

The measures, our correspondent further learnt, was to regulate the number of vehicles that would have access into the venue of the event.

Also, a limited number of journalists would be accredited for the event by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with the organisers relying more on State House correspondents that would accompany Jonathan to the event for the coverage.

The Nigeria Police had earlier assured that the national honours award ceremony would record no security breach.

Speaking against the backdrop of the protests over an anti-Islamic movie that rocked different parts of the world, including Jos, Plateau State and Sokoto State, Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, said that the police and other security agencies were ready to contain any security threat during the ceremony particularly from protesters.

“We are taking proactive measures to ensure water-tight security in the country and our strategies are working. The national awards ceremony will be hitch-free and our guests and awardees are advised to relax. It is a national day of honour and we have put in place the necessary arrangement to guarantee the security of lives and property,” Mba stated.

On Sunday, our correspondents who visited the venue of the awards were not allowed entry into the complex.

Security operatives, comprising men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and soldiers manned the gate. An armoured personnel carrier was also stationed by the gate.

Checks revealed that wedding receptions and other social engagements slated to hold in the ICC on Saturday were shifted to other venues following a directive from security agencies.

Wealthy Nigerians spend $6.5bn on 130 private jets

The growing penchant for private jets acquisition has cost wealthy Nigerians a sum of $6.5bn (N1.02tn) in the last five years. Aviation sources reveal that the luxury trend, which rose by 650 per cent between 2007 and 2012, is encouraged among the rich by the need for privacy, fear of insecurity and the urgency required by modern business, TUNJI ABIOYE reports

Private jet ownership in Nigeria has grown by 650 per cent, from 20 jets in 2007 to over 150 jets in 2012.

According to documents sighted in aviation agencies, the development means that wealthy Nigerians acquired, at least, 130 private jets with a sum of N1.02tn ($6.5bn) within the last five years.

This put the private jets aviation market in Nigeria (the monetary value of all private jets in the country) at N1.18tn ($7.5bn), using $50m as the average cost of each brand new private jet.

A private jet goes for between $40m and $65m, according to the websites of major private jets manufacturers, like Bombardier of Canada; GulfStream and Hawker Siddley of United States; and Embraer of Brazil.

According to findings, the common brands of private jets in Nigeria are Gulfstream 450, 550 and 650; Bombardier Challenger 604, 605; Global Express; Embraer Legacy and Falcons; and Hawker Siddley 125-800 and 900XP.

Top aviation officials told our correspondent on Friday that Nigeria currently rivalled China as one of the two fastest growing private jet markets in the world.

An official with in-depth knowledge of the situation, who spoke under condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said most of the jets were bought by top politicians, oil magnates and other business moguls in Nigeria.

He explained that the economic downturn in Europe and the United States had made Nigeria and China to become two of the fastest growing private jet markets in the world.

He said, “Two countries buying private jets now are China and Nigeria. Europe and America are going through turmoil; so, their people are no more buying. This accounts for the trend that whenever some of the private jet manufacturers develop any new jet, they take them to Nigeria and China.”

“The private jets in Nigeria are owned by top politicians, oil magnates and business moguls. It is difficult to get the real identities of owners of some of the private jets in Nigeria because they buy them through some foreign companies in North America, especially the US. The foreign company then leases it to another company in Nigeria.”

Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that there were still several private jets on order by wealthy Nigerians. Some of the jets, it was learnt, would be delivered this year, while others would be delivered in 2013 and 2014.

A top official of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, who asked not to be named, said representatives of the owners of the private jets on order had already notified the agency about the order. This, he said, was necessary for the purpose of registering the aircraft in Nigeria. According to him, some of the private jets also come with foreign registration credentials.

The Managing Director of Aero Airlines, Captain Akin George, had recently commented on the increasing number of private jets being parked at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He particularly lamented the fact that most of the private jets carried foreign registration credentials. He had subsequently called on the authorities concerned in the country to make registration processes in Nigeria friendly and attractive.

During a recent visit to Abuja, our correspondent observed that over 40 private jets were parked at the terminal.

The CEO of another airline also said that during political meetings or big functions in Abuja, over 50 private jets were usually seen parked at the Abuja airport.

These, he said, were different from the ones parked at the Lagos and other major airports across the country.

“If you go to the old local wing at the Abuja airport, there is virtually no place to park private jets again,” he said

Just on Thursday, a team of officials from the headquarters of Bombardier in Canada arrived at the Executjets Private Hangar at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to showcase one of their latest private jets, Global 6000.

The team was led by the Sales Director, Africa, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Mr. Robert Habjanic, who said that the team was on a tour of 12 cities in Africa, including Lagos. Habjanic, who spoke with a few aviation journalists, told our correspondent that Nigeria was the company’s largest market in Africa, with about 35 Bombardier-made business aircraft currently flying its airspace.

He said the team had also showcased the relatively new business jet in other parts of the world.

He confirmed that “private business in Nigeria has been growing tremendously in the last five years.”

He attributed this to the fact that “Nigeria is an emerging market.”

The growth in the purchase of private jets in Nigeria has also led to the development of multimillion dollars private jets hangars, where repairs and maintenance could be done in the country. Some of these include Execujets Nigeria Hangar, Caverton Hangar and EverGreen Hangar, all located at the Lagos airport.

Speaking on the development, industry expert, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, said, “The economy is expanding, with increasing investments within the country and the region. This will invariably necessitate instantaneous travel that scheduled airlines cannot provide.

“Also the privacy needed in a country filled with paparazzi can be an issue. Increasing political and religious issues are contributory. By and large, it will continue to increase if the economy continues with a lot of diversification inputs that naturally spread wealth.”

Suspected Boko Haram members wipe out an entire family in Kano

Four men suspected to be members of Boko Haram have shot dead a member of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, his wife, his 3year old daughter and his crippled brother staying with him.

Police sources said today that four men arrived on the bikes and entered the home of the yet to be identified NSCDC officer in Hotoron Gabas district. They locked the entire family in a room and shot them dead.

After the killing, the men jumped back on their bikes and sped off.

Its Don Jazzy again ....

Nigerian professor becomes first black VC of University of Illinois

An Ifon, Ondo born Professor, Ilesanmi Adesida, a former Dean, becomes the first black Vice Chancellor of University of Illinois, USA.

The 63 year old professor is a naturalized American physicist of Nigerian descent. He was the Dean, College of Engineering at the University before the University Board of Trustees selected him to be the next Vice Chancellor for Academics Affairs and Provost, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Professor Adesida assumed that position last month, August 2012.

Pants Down! Now That You’ve Been Caught, What Next?

You guys, this thing isn’t even funny again! Seriously, I don’t have a topic for today. No hot, no warm… not even cold topic sef! I’m completely empty and it’s not for lack of efforts. I was discussing with the team about what we should talk about. You know I’ve already established that we like to switch things up a bit. Love, lifestyle, academics, religion, love…. somehow or the other the matter always comes back to love/relationship matters. What did we talk about last week? I can’t even remember anymore. It’s not like my mind is that porous (okay maybe it is a little porous but hey!) but there’s so much to think about and do.

So, having established that I’m going to be winging it this afternoon, please bear with me as we talk about the recent developments on social media. The Battabox video went viral and all the ‘cool kids’ of the online community have latched onto it. For me, I was curious as to how these women would go back and face their men (real or imagined). If you found out that your man/woman was cheating and it was all over the internet how would you react? A few years ago, my friend found out that her boyfriend of 6 years had been cheating serially, and here they were about to get married. In her despair, my friend wanted out of the relationship. To her, trust and fidelity were the fulcrum of a good relationship and if that wasn’t there, then she wasn’t willing to go on with the proposed marriage. One of her aunts called her aside and told her that “all men cheat, it’s how you manage your situation that is different. There’s no reason why you should throw one man away because he cheats. How many do you want to discard?” It wasn’t the first I’d heard that kind of advice from older people. They supposedly know better than the younger folk..No?

I’m not trying to psycho-analyze why men cheat, TJ already tried to do that here. Neither am I trying to rant about the ills of cheating, Glory already did that here .I’m just curious as to what happens after! Do you walk out? Do you try to mend things? Do you confess to your priest? How do you deal with the breach of trust that has been reposed in another person?

As always, I like to see what it feels like when the shoe is on the other foot, I wondered aloud about how men handle when their wives cheat and someone told us of how a guy found out his wife was cheating and when he confronted her she confirmed that she was unhappy and dude went out and got her a nice new car.

So what do you do when you know that your lover/partner/husband-wife has been unfaithful? After that initial stage of outrage and betrayal do you think of the other ‘positive’ sides of the relationship or is cheating an absolute No-No?

What do you guys think?

Photo credit:theboxhouston.com, culled from bellanaija

Win 10 Million Naira for Your Business Venture! YouWiN!

YouWiN! stands for Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria. It is an innovative business plan competition aimed at job creation by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youth in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas. The first edition of YouWIN! launched in 2011 and the accomplishments of the 1,200 YouWiN! awardees were celebrated at the Presidential Villa on April 12, 2012. Click here for a list of all the winners.

YouWiN! Women is the second edition of the entrepreneurial scheme which is designed for only female entrepreneurs aged 45 years or less.Women in Management, Business and Public Sector (WIMBIZ), a female focused Nigeria based non-governmental organization was established in 2002 with the overriding vision “to be the catalyst that elevates the status and influence of women and their contribution to nation building.”

As part of their efforts to help elevate the profile and influence of women and their contribution to nation building, WIMBIZ announces its partnership with YouWiN!

In the first year, only 18% of the YouWIN! award winners were women. The aim is to increase the percentage of women who apply for the competition.

WIMBIZ is partnering with YouWiN! in the South West and South South States of the country, to expose women to the immense possibilities in the Nigerian business environment.

The winner stands a chance to win N10,000,000.00! The money is an equity contribution to the winner’s business.

Who can apply: Nigerian female entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-45 wishing to expand their existing businesses or birth a new business concepts.(proof of identity: International passport/Drivers License/National ID/Voters card is required). Interested applicants must have post-secondary school qualification. The proposed business venture must be within the national borders of Nigeria, and with the intention of employing Nigerian citizens. The proposed venture must not entail the production or distribution of weapons, alcoholic beverages, tobacco or/and gambling, or any activities in contradiction with the Nigerian constitution.
Minimum academic qualification: OND/HND.
How to apply: Attend any of the business clinics in the State nearest to you from the list below. You will receive assistance with registration and the application process as well as training on writing your business plans to ensure that YouWiN! Women win.

Click here to register online 

For people in Lagos, Osun & Ogun States: Saturday 22nd September, 2012
Oyo, Ondo, & Ekiti States: Sunday 23rd September, 2012
Delta, Rivers & Cross River States: Saturday 29th September, 2012
Edo, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States: Sunday 30th September, 2012

Entry closes on the 14th of October 2012. So hurry and go get your forms!

For more information: please visit website or contact Ayomide on 08034946249 or 08035946249 or email Ayomide@wimbiz.org

IK Osakioduwa’s ‘Tips To Getting A Man’; What Do You Think?

So yesterday IK Osakioduwa, a radio personality on Rhythm 93.7 started a tweet series on Tips To Getting A Man. Inspired by “trying to help ladies find guys.” IK is married with 2 kids so we’re not talking about a single man here.

Now I’m not one that believes in criteria on how to get/keep a man as people are different, and what’s good for one might be bad for the other, but the list is worth checking out.

I will say however that I strongly disagree with #5. Your style of hair really should not define if you can keep a man or not, so natural or not, it really shouldn’t matter, as long as your hair is not busted looking and un-kept.

The rest of them? Well in my opinion it all depends on who you are talking to. Different strokes for different folks, but if I did have to give my own 2 cents, I’d say be yourself. No use faking it to snatch a man, and then reverting back and maybe losing him cos “he thinks you changed.“

Anyways, what do you think? Ladies? Fellas? Drop your thoughts.

10.Don’t pressure him to marry u with questions like “Where’s this leading?” Instead leave him if he’s taking too long.#IksTipsToGettingAMan

9. No matter what, never be rude or abusive to him in front of his friends. (Not even in jest) #IksTipsToGettingAMan

8. Have standards. Or you’ll find yourself in and out relationships too often and that’ll earn you a bad name. #IksTipsToGettingAMan

7. Learn to cook. Most guys like a girl that CAN cook. Yeah not all guys but MOST. So do yourself a favour and learn #IksTipsToGettingAMan

6. Don’t give it ALL up. Leave some for marriage. Perfect the art of giving previews. Nobody pays for free stuff. #IksTipsToGettingAMan

5. Make an effort. Try to look nice. Work out. Guys like babes. Get that Don King hair done, stop forming”Oh Naturale” #IksTipsToGettingAMan

4.Drop guys that take all ur time without really chasing u. They block other guys. No IWC= Intimacy Without Commitment#IksTipsToGettingAMan

3. Be careful not to be TOO INDEPENDENT. Learn to gain from your man’s presence in your life. Guys need to be needed. #IksTipsToGettingAMan

2.Make friends with married women. They know what guys want more than your single friends (that’s why they’re married) #IksTipsToGettingAMan

1. Learn to do solo trips. It’s just easier for most guys to step to a girl on her own, than one in a pack of girls #IksTipsToGettingAMan

Man caught with dead baby in a suitcase

Don't have the full details yet but according to people who sent me the photos, this man was caught at Tipper garage near Gwarimpa in Abuja yesterday with a dead baby stuffed in a suitcase. They said he was arrested on a tip off...but another source said that the conductor of the bus he entered asked him to bring his suitcase so it can be stored properly and the man vehemently refused. The suspicious conductor asked him what was inside the suitcase and he refused to say. As the man tried to leave the bus, the conductor and others seized the suitcase from him and found the dead boy inside.

Like I said, I don't have all the details...but will try to find out! How anybody can do this to a child...God forgive us!

linda ikeji

How to Fix a Slow or Freezing BlackBerry

Blackberry smartphone devices are known for fast email performance, including a broad range of features that make them viable mobile replacements for laptops and netbooks. Even though Blackberry devices have embedded operating systems, they require certain maintenance, such as an occasional reboot, actions that are common with computers. Fix a “frozen” or slow BlackBerry device with a simple power cycle, or soft or hard reset, to clear device memory.

1.The BlackBerry screen is frozen.
This problem happens on pretty much any computer-related device. Something happens and you suddenly can’t scroll up or down, or click on anything. It’s annoying, but there are actually two ways to fix it. You can perform a soft reset, which is done by pressing the ALT + CAP + DELETE keys on your handheld at the same time. If this doesn’t work, perform a hard reset. This is done by finding the RESET button at the back of the handheld. Sometimes, this button might be near the bottom, under the battery cover. Press the RESET button using a pin or paper clip. With either method, you shouldn’t lose any data.

2.The BlackBerry doesn’t send or receive email messages.
This problem could be due to the lack of GPRS service. GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service, and it’s what allows your device to access data. The first thing you should do is perform a soft reset. If that doesn’t work, perform a hard reset. After both resets, check your wireless antenna signal strength. The antenna should show GPRS. If you can still make phone calls and access the Web, then your GSM service is still available. Try sending yourself an email to does it work? If it doesn’t, call your BlackBerry provider. Sometimes, your service could be delayed due to a billing problem or to downtime on the network

3. The BlackBerry won’t synchronize properly.
When you have push email, there’s nothing more annoying than seeing messages you’ve already read still in your inbox after you’ve deleted them. Sometimes, BlackBerry users find that this problem happens, and there’s a number of causes as to why. This page from BlackBerry.com explains the causes and how to fix them.

4. The BlackBerry has backlight or screen delay problems.
Several people on some common BlackBerry forums have mentioned that their device is having backlight problems. These run the gamut from being unable to see the backlight at all to the screen delay flashing off too soon. Depending on which model you have, you can go into your Options or Preferences and select Screen/Keyboard. Here, you can adjust the backlight settings to your preferences. You will want to set the Backlight Timeout to your preferred time setting. This should extend the screen delay and stop it from coming on too soon

Rooney admits he may have lost his place to Van Persie

Manchester United striker, wayne Rooney, has admitted that the arrival of Robin van Persie, will force other forwards at the club, to raise their game on order to retain their places.

The Dutchman has announced himself spectacularly, with four goals in two League games. And in the last home game against Fulham, Rooney started from the bench, before he came on and got injured. And according to him, that shows he is not guaranteed a starting place.

“For us as forwards, we need to make sure that when we play, we play well to stay in the team,” he said, speaking on Sky Sports to promote his book My Decade In The Premier League. “It’s great for Manchester United and I’m sure that will bring the best out of us.”

Rooney was also impressed by the way the former Arsenal skipper, had developed his game from a creative player to a proven goalscorer.

“Everyone knows he is a world class player,” he added. “He’s got great experience and now the way he plays, he scores more goals whereas in the first four or five years at Arsenal he played in behind a striker or out wide and now he has adapted his game which he has done incredibly so for the forwards in the side it is fantastic.”

Man sends wife packing for having triplets

The birth of new born babies was supposed to be bundles of joy and happiness to their parents, but the reverse was the case of Mrs. Zainab Siraju and her estranged hubby, Mr. Kabiru Yusuf. The 26-year-old woman was delivered of a set of triplet on May 4, 2012. Barely two days after the two boys and a girl arrived, her husband divorced her for giving him three babies at a time. But before throwing her out of their matrimonial home, Kabiru allegedly beat the mother of the triplet to coma.

After regaining consciousness three months later, embittered Zainab in an interview vowed that even if the father of her new babies made efforts to reconcile with her, she would never go back to a man who had no pity for her.

“Two days after I put to bed and was discharged from the hospital, I received the beating of my life from my husband for giving birth to triplet. The next thing was that he issued me a divorce letter,” she said.

The embattled woman, amidst uncontrollable tears narrated her ordeal in the hands of her run-away husband. This was even as she alleged that she was beaten up by her brother in-law for daring to make her case known to the media. However, Zainab whose marriage to Kabiru Yusuf was her second said she had no regret having the triplet despite the rejection by their father. Zainab also had three boys for her first husband but refused to disclose why her first marriage crashed. She simply said she might have been chased her out of her first marriage by fate to have her three bundles of joy for Kabiru Yusuf.

According to the mother of six, “Actually I was married before, but the marriage didn’t last. I had three children there who are presently with their father. I believed I left my first husband because I was destined to have triplet for Kabiru and these are my first delivery for him.

“But, since he divorced me for having triplet, I moved in with my parents in Tudun Wada here in Kaduna, where help has come from good people, who have been assisting me with money, food and clothes.”

The mother of six also disclosed that a few days after her return from the hospital, her husband’s younger brother also attacked her for disclosing her ordeal to the public through the media.

Asked if she would go back to her husband, Zainab said: “I will not go back to him even if he begs me because of his uncaring attitude, which I am sure he can’t stop. He didn’t take care of me despite the fact that he works at Panteka.

“He was aware before my delivery that I was carrying triplet. He was adequately informed, because we did scan and it was revealed that I was pregnant with triplet.

“I am not disturbed that I gave birth to triplet. I use this opportunity to thank God for blessing me with the triplet and I pray to God to bless them for me.”

On the issue of remarriage, Zainab also ruled out the possibility of testing marriage again, saying that she wants to concentrate and take good care of her six children.

“I’m not planning to re-marry. I want to take proper care of my children, give them good training and a sound education. So, I will welcome any job opportunity that comes my way to enable me take care of my babies.”

Contrary to the claim Zainab, Kabir Yusuf, a welder, denied that he divorced his wife for giving birth to a set of triplet. Yusuf accused his former wife of conniving with the media to tarnish his image, saying that he divorced her because she was has no regards for him or nay member of his family.

“I was surprised when my attention was drawn to a programme on DITV and some newspapers that I divorced my wife because she gave birth to a set of triplet. This, to me, was an insult because God gave me those children. Why would I maltreat her? I divorced her four months ago but the media reported it as if it was yesterday. She lied against me.”

He explained that trouble started when his wife refused to stay with his mother as culture demanded, adding: “My mother asked her to come and stay with her so that she could take good care of her but she refused the offer for reasons best known to her. In fact, she went further to insult my mother.”

Yusuf also refuted laying his hands on his ex-wife, “God knows I did not beat her. Instead, she held my clothes and beat me. I couldn’t retaliate because of her condition. It doesn’t make any sense for one to divorce his wife because she gave birth to three babies at a time. In fact, since I sent her packing, I have been feeding her and the babies and I bought the medicine prescribed at the hospital. I have left everything to God.”