Thousands of worshipers escaped death by the whiskers as four powerful blasts rocked Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Tudun Wada area of Jos North Local Government of Plateau State.
The blasts were said to have gone off in quick succession at about 8am Sunday morning.
No death was however recorded.
Details later.
Farida Bedwei is a disability-rights advocate and one of the participants at the recently-concluded International Conference on Disabilities held in Lagos. She talks about rights of persons with disabilities with GBENGA ADENIJI
Tell us about yourself.
I am Farida Nana Bedwei. I hold an Institute for the Management of Information Systems diploma and a diploma in E-Technology. I also have a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and a project management professional certificate from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. I am a member of the Ghana Institute of Management.
I am a seasoned software engineer with over 17 years experience in building mobile and enterprise applications with extensive knowledge in architecting and deploying mobile value-added services and banking applications for the microfinance industry.
Where did you start work?
I started work at Soft Company Limited (now known as the Softtribe), as a software developer and later moved to Rancard Solutions Limited. At Rancard Solutions, I worked from 2001 to 2010. I progressed from the position of solutions analyst to senior software architect.
What were your functions at Rancard Solutions?
At Rancard Solutions, I was responsible for the development and maintenance of the mobility platform which connected the mobile networks to the content providers. I have in-depth knowledge about the technical architecture of mobile network messaging gateways and the associated protocols.
In 2010, I moved to G-Life Microfinance where I designed and implemented new products and services and managed the software solutions as well as vendor relationships.
What do you do now?
Since April 2011 to date, I have been the co-founder/chief technology officer of Logiciel Limited, located in Accra, Ghana. It is a technological solutions company with the primary focus of building mobile and financial software for the West African market. My key achievement has been the successful implementation of gKudi, a web-based (clouded) banking software suite for the micro finance industry, designed to be accessible on mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well as on desktop systems used by over 160 micro finance institutions nationwide.
Have you won any award for your prowess in the Information Technology industry?
Some of the awards I won included Legacy and Legacy Maiden Ideas Award in 2011, Government of Ghana’s National Youth Achievers Award and the Special Award, 2012. Besides, in 2013, I won the Most Influential Women in Business and Government in Africa award, from the CEO Magazine, South Africa.
From 2013 to 2015, I was a member of The Girls in ICT Committee inaugurated under the ministry of communication to encourage females to pursue careers in Information Technology. I am a board member of the National Communication Authority. Ghana. I featured on the British Broadcasting Corporation Africa (Radio) as well as DW Radio and many other local programmes. In February 2015, I was on the Cable News Network African Voices
What is your view about the International Conference on Disabilities which you were a participant?
I am happy that people are beginning to be aware that individuals with disabilities have rights. People involved in fields related to disabilities are beginning to see that it is a problem. The problem of persons with disabilities is not only limited to the individuals with disabilities. It is a national problem that should be addressed as such by everybody.
What are the lessons you learnt from the conference?
I think much has been said and talked about. It is important that we focus on the major issues addressed at the conference in order to tackle whatever the challenges are. The challenges confronting people with disabilities differ when one examines the disability of each of them. In Africa, we talk
The three-day visit is expected to discuss ways of partnering with Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram and explore ways of combating corruption in Nigeria. President Buhari will meet with President Obama on July 20th in the White House.
Five State Governors including those of Oyo State, Imo State, Edo State and two others will accompany President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States when he meets President Barack Obama in Washington, DC on July 19th, 2015.
The five Governors are separate from an 18-man delegation made up of top aides and political associates of the President. The former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi, the former Vice Presidential candidate to Buhari Tunde Bakare, and former member of the House of Representatives Farouk Adamu will be on the Presidential delegation.
In addition to these delegates, President Buhari will bring along top civil servants, representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, and representatives from economic policy and foreign affairs think tanks.
The three-day visit is expected to discuss ways of partnering with Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram and explore ways of combating corruption in Nigeria. President Buhari will meet with President Obama on July 20th in the White House.
Apart from the documented 444 murdered victims, hundreds of wounded persons and thousands newly displaced, all from a surprising fresh onslaught by Boko Haram on scores of communities and towns in at least six northern states of Nigeria, the questions on the lips of Nigerians monitoring the carnage would all meet at some point. Was the inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015 in which he promised to stamp out Boko Haram shortly, just a brilliant prose with no work plan for execution?
Was his diatribe on the terrorists and his renewed pledge to route the insurgents mere bravado; a politically-right outing to woo everyone as the messiah, while knowing deep inside him he had no such capability?
Many of the residents who may have been inspired by the president’s speech to return to the war ravaged village of the North-East, especially in Borno State, only to narrowly escape renewed violence may be wondering if Buhari spoke in good faith.
But those who still have faith in the president are wont to argue that it is too early to expect the man to wipe out a six-year-old orgy of murder in less than two months. They are likely also going to argue that those in opposition to the ruling APC are using the tragedy for political advantage. Ironically, it was the inability of the last government to cage Boko Haram that helped to swing winning votes in favour of the former, the opposition APC.
Meanwhile, there is no running from the fact that eradicating Boko Haram within the days that Buhari has been in power would be too ambitious a project in scope and content given what the President met on ground.
The most worrying factor, however, is that instead of ebbing, the deaths and destruction caused by Boko Haram seem to be galloping compared to the pre-May 29 era.
This is despite the moving of the military command to Maiduguri, Borno State capital and epicentre of the violence which has so far claimed estimated 100,000 lives since the move by Boko Haram to declare Nigeria an Islamic Caliphate started in 2009..
But, Boko Haram is not only the group causing blood and tears to flow, even though many thought the situation ought not to get worse, given the hope Buhari inspired in the suffering communities, especially in the Middle Belt, when he came on board.
From Benue to Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna, the tales of night marauders stalking sleeping communities and killing defenceless citizens remain a daily occurrence.
Senator Danjuma La’ah, representing Southern Kaduna at the Senate, penultimate week, addressed a press conference in Kafanchan, 180 km south of Kaduna metropolis, to register his displeasure with the state of security in his zone. La’ah, the only senator on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the North-North-West Zone, said: “After several days of silence from the government of Kaduna State over the most recent killings of law abiding natives of Southern Kaduna, I have decided to make public my resentment over the development.
“On the 5th June, 2015, Ayagan village in Bajju Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State was invaded by well armed men. Four people were killed and several others injured when the invaders fired into a crowd of mourners, unprovoked.
“Till date, no culprit has been caught, nor has the state government made any announcement in its effort, if any, at apprehending the killers.
“On the 11th June, 2015, one Tanko Nyam, 45, of Kyari Daddu village in Jaba, LGA, was ambushed by yet another set of gunmen and killed leaving behind his wife and five kids.
“Then on the 17th of June, 2015, gunmen attacked the village of Katsak, Atakad Chiefdom, Kaura LGA, leaving behind nine dead bodies and 13 persons critically injured as early as 8am.
“This government was brought to power
“Preliminary investigation conducted by the Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate of the NDLEA revealed that Ibiteye’s action is in contravention of the money laundering prohibition Act 2011 as amended,” the NDLEA said.
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized $2.1 million from suspected money launderers at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Nigeria.
In a statement released today, the NDLEA disclosed that its anti-narcotic agents intercepted and seized $2,198,900 “on the grounds of suspected money laundering at the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA2) Lagos.”
The agency also arrested 46-year-old Ibiteye John Bamidele in connection with the seized funds. The NDLEA statement, signed by its head of public affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, revealed that the suspect was arrested as he was about to fly to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“Preliminary investigation conducted by the Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate of the NDLEA revealed that Ibiteye’s action is in contravention of the money laundering prohibition Act 2011 as amended,” the NDLEA said.
The agency also disclosed that the suspect “alleged that the money belongs to one Dr. Martins Olufemi Thomas, a medical practitioner in Lagos. Investigation conducted by the Agency did not link the money to proceeds of narcotics. However, a country having insurgency challenge cannot afford to ignore suspicious movement of large amount of money.”
The statement added that the NDLEA’s chairman, Ahmadu Giade, had ordered that the suspect and the seized funds be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further action.
The NDLEA revealed that the suspect claimed to operate a bureau de change business. It quoted the suspect as saying, “I used to work for Ebi Bureau de Change at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja before I established my company with the name ND&C Global Investment Limited which is yet to be fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). One of my clients, Dr. Martins Olufemi Thomas, gave me the said amount to take to Abuja. I was arrested by NDLEA officers while checking-in the money at MM2 on my way to Abuja
An educationist and Director of Cayley College, Dr Mary Iyayi, has called on educational institutions to focus on talent development which is key to developing the innate potentials of the students. The need to improve the mind of the students also helps them engage in better self-expression which aids learning capabilities.
Dr Iyayi who spoke during the recent literary day celebration of the school stated that there should be urgent focus on preparing students to develop platforms for self-expression which helps them distinguish themselves among their peers. She added that a literary day which has several programmes affords the students the opportunity to showcase their innate potentials while also providing avenue for interaction and bonding.
According to her, there should be focus on activities that will enable students improve their minds and showcase their potentials for impact. This is one thing that will enable them identify their core areas of strength in life.
She asserted that the literary day provides ample opportunity for students from other schools to interact and exchange ideas which improve their minds and create fertile ground to promote learning. She added that the literary day is one of the avenues the school utilizes to prepare the total child for a challenging future.
In the drama which was a major feature of the literary day, its theme focuses on violence which does not aid societal development. It also underscores the need for peace and mutual understanding among people. A major highlight of the day was a debating competition amongst invited schools on the topic of corruption and terrorism where the students showcased their public speaking prowess.
The contest concluded after three rounds. Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls took first position, Unique Heights Schools came second while Dansol High School came third. There was also a talent display through the Saxophone and violin by the students of Cayley College which added glitz and glamour to the event.
Drama as Court sends ex-Gov Sule Lamido to prison
KANO -There was a mild drama Thursday in Kano between former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido and the Deputy Chief Registrar of Federal High court, Barrister Solomon Akpedah when the former was excused to move to a waiting van for a journey to Kano central prison.
The Peoples Democratic Party stalwart was docked for 28 count charges alongside his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, and one Wada Abubakar in connection with alleged corruption and money laundering of over N1.34 billion.
The former governor shortly after he lost his freedom, following the refusal of the court to grant his bail application exclaimed, ‘you mean I’m now a prisoner.’
But the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, Solomon Akpedah who was handy responded swiftly to cool a heavily traumatised Jigawa born politician, as he quickly said ‘no sir, you are not a prisoner’
Justice Evelyn Anyadike while ruling on the bail application said that all the four accused persons should be remanded in Kano prison pending the appointment of a vacation judge to decide the veracity and other wise of the application.
Justice Anyadike said, “the case is hereby adjourned for hearing to September 28th, while the four accused persons are to be remanded in prison custody in Kano”.
The trial Judge who explained that she was in Kano by Fiat, further ruled that “the case will be handed over to a vacation Judge to listen to the bail application while the Judiciary goes on vacation next Monday.
There was rioting between students of Ekiti State State University (EKSU) and the management of one of its affiliate colleges, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education in Noforija, Epe Lagos State where some students were allegedly brutalized by security men drafted by the school to disperse them.
Heard the riot was over the failure of MOCPED to present the results of students of the College to the Senate of EKSU for approval which would enabled the affected students obtain certificates.
Beautiful new photos of actress Toyin Aimakhu. See more pics after the cut...
Following the fall in global oil prices, the Central Bank of Nigeria on the 25th of November devalued the Naira from N155 to N168 a Dollar. Reasons Why The Naira is Trading Above 200 to a Dollar
However the Naira is currently trading at above N200 to a dollar. How did we get here? There are two main reasons:
CBN Policy:
Last week the CBN issued a new circular restricting the BDC and other authorized dealers from buying dollars at the Interbank. Nairametrics says this immediately caused an artificial scarcity as most BDCs did not have dollars to sell and also had very little to buy.
The interbank market also spiked as scarcity dealers held back whilst trying to figure out what their next move would be. What happened next was that those who had dollars even saw reasons to hoard it even more speculating that things could get worse. The CBN is basically not interested in defending the naira on behalf of those who buy dollars at the black market or without official documentation.
Dollar demand from Politicians:
As the elections draw near, there have been a huge surge in demand in dollars from politicians, government officials and the private sector, according to Nairametrics.
The uncertainty about who will win is making them sell a lot of their naira denominated assets sharply. They believe now matter the outcome some perceived friends of whoever loses may be victims of witch-hunting and so they are stashing up dollars just to ensure they have options,
Inadequate Dollars for Local Traders:
This is the period when traders who import goods for sale make orders as proceeds from Christmas sales fills up and waiting to be deployed for the new year. The CBN policy insists that dollar can only be sold to those with approved Letter of Credit, hereby limiting the amount of available dollars which instigates a scramble for the few remaining.
