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Spotify reveals 2020 most-streamed songs

Aisha John-Mark
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Drake, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa and The Weeknd are among the most-streamed artists of 2020, according to figures from Spotify.

https://twitter.com/spotifycharts/status/1333640435596750848

Drake was the most popular artist in the UK, reclaiming the number one position from Ed Sheeran.

The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights was the most-played song in the UK, while Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent was the top album.

And Bad Bunny was the biggest artist globally, amassing 8.3bn streams.

https://twitter.com/spotifycharts/status/1333639653770080256

The Puerto Rican star’s second album YHLQMDLG notched up 3.3 billion streams, followed by The Weeknd’s After Hours and Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding (You can read more about Bad Bunny’s success at the bottom of this article).

Harry Styles’ Fine Line and Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia took fourth and fifth place respectively.

Spotify said the most popular genre of 2020 was pop music – reflecting a rise in happier, uptempo music during the pandemic.

Podcaster Joe Rogan was responsible for the service’s most listened-to podcast. Other popular shows included Rosie and The Times’ daily News Briefing.

Spotify’s music streaming rivals are due to release their end-of-year statistics in the coming week; and the Official Charts will reveal the UK’s biggest songs of 2020 at the end of the year.

Agricultural Biotechnology Forum holds 2020 Media awards

Ime Njoku
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Ene Okwanihe, Abuja

The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (Nigerian chapter) has held its annual media awards to celebrate the media and journalists who have supported agricultural biotechnology through their reportage.

 It’s was all about appreciating the power of information, its ability to transform human perception when it comes to accepting new ways of doing things as the efforts of  journalist over the years in Nigeria has helped the common man in the country have better understanding of what Agricultural biotechnology mean and what they stand to gain by accepting it.


The annual Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa media Awards is a platform for journalists in the agriculture and science beats to showcase in-depth knowledge in the field of Agricultural biotechnology reportage.

The Country Coordinator Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa (Nigeria chapter) Dr. Rose Gidado in her address, said it was important to recognize the work of journalists in science as false information is increasingly being spread to undermine the big role science plays in solving present-day problems.

She said “Journalists serve as a bridge between science and society as they play a crucial role in informing and educating the public and policymakers on advances in science and technology including agricultural biotechnology”

Dr. Gidado said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists were relentless in their reportage of agricultural biotechnology.

 “I would like to express appreciation for the invaluable support provided by journalists and editors who despite the Covid-19 pandemic became unstoppable – they devised various ways and means to ensure that issues of agricultural biotechnology received necessary media coverage”

On his part the Acting Director General/CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Alex Akpa applauded the resilience of journalists who despite the lock down in the country made sure agricultural biotechnology was given prominence in their reportage.

“The year has been a very challenging one for all of us but that has not stopped us from celebrating these tireless journalists who even under the lock down, kept us informed of what is happening especially on issues of agricultural biotechnology. They have performed extremely well, with their help; our stories were able to reach all the nooks and crannies of this Country”

Professor Akpa stated that the most important thing about biotechnology is its ability to assist in solving some of the challenges that conventional breeding cannot handle.

“Apart from providing solutions that hitherto were not available, the technology is also proving to be a valuable tool in our quest to mass produce quality food for the teeming population”

He said the agency is utilizing biotechnology in a new approach to yam seedlings production in the country targeted at contributing to Nigeria’s food security.

“We have already set a target of 5 million yam seedlings for this year with more than a million already produced and distributed to farmers”

“At NABDA, we have been working hard to use the technology to fast track as well as contribute to Nigeria’s food security agenda. NABDA has more than 31 Bioresources Development Centres across the country”

The big winners of the night were Vincent Yusuf of Daily Trust Newspaper who won the best OFAB media award in the Print category while Rabbi Momoh of Radio Nigeria received the award for best in the Radio category , also Ngozi Onyejiakwu of Africa Independent Television AIT took the OFAB Best media awards in the TV categories and overall Best OFAB media award for 2020 in Nigeria.

For winning the overall best in Nigeria Pretty Onyejiakwu will be representing Nigeria at the continental level of the awards come December 2020. She went home with two plaques, a laptop, ipad and cash price of five hundred dollars.

 In the last four years, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa has continued to recognize outstanding journalists from its operating countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, for their coverage of agricultural biotechnology and its benefits to society.

The event brought together stakeholders in the agricultural science sector and the science sector in Nigeria and Africa and it was hosted by OFAB Nigeria, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation AATF and the National Biotechnology Development Agency NABDA.

Asisat Oshoala foundation Football4girls tourney Kicks-Off in Lagos

Aisha John-Mark
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First vice-president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi AkinwunmI took the kick-off at the 2020 edition of the Asisat Oshoala football tournament on Tuesday at the Agege Stadium.

Ossy Angels took Heroes Queens apart by thrashing them by 6 goals to nill, scoring 3 goals in each half to book their place in the semi-finals.

The second match between SGH Queens and Aseyori ended in a goalless draw, but it was the SGH Queens, who progressed to the semi-finals, after winning the penalty shootout 3-2.

Just like the second game, the third match between Future Stars Queens and FC Phoenix Queens also ended in a goalless draw. Phoenix Queens came out victorious, after their goalkeeper saved the last penalty in sudden death, to help her team win 5-4 on penalties.

The last game of the day was an interesting encounter between Papa Soccer Angels and Victory Queens, and both teams went at each other from the get-go. It was Victory Queens who laughed last as they won by a single goal from the spot-kick in the first half.

The semifinal games promise to be even more exciting, as Ossy Angels will take on FC Phoenix Queens, while SGH Queens will battle it out with Victory Queens for a place in the final.

Semifinal matches will be on the 2nd of December at the Agege Township Stadium.

PDP withdraws from Kano Local Government election

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Jack Acheme & Tukur Arab, Kano

The Kano Chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP) has withdrawn all its candidates from participating in the forthcoming Local Government elections in the State.

The local government election is scheduled to come up on the 16th January, 2016.

The party said the withdrawal was necessary because it does not believe in the sincerity of Kano State Election Commission (KANSIEC)

It alleged that election results have already been allocated to certain candidates even before the conduct of the election.

The PDP caretaker chairman in Kano, Danladi Umar Abdulhameed at the Press briefing held in Kano said that the withdrawal is in a bid to give peace a chance to reign in the state.

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President Buhari presides over 26th virtual cabinet meeting

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Timothy Choji, Abuja

The 26th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council is in session at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with President Muhammadu Buhari chairing the meeting.

The weekly meeting, which started at 09:00 GMT, has the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, physically attending.

Ministers physically present at the Council Chambers are Ministers of Information, Lai Mohammed, Justice, Abubakar Malami, Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Also physically present are  Ministers of Special Duties, Geroge Akume, Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, State Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, State Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba and that of State Power, Goddy Agba.

Other members of the cabinet are participating in the weekly council meeting from their various offices in Abuja.

Details later.

Nnenna.O

Oghenekaro Etebo set for January Stoke City Return

Aisha John-Mark
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Oghenekaro Etebo is set for a return to Stoke City in January with Turkish giants Galatasaray ready to cut the Nigerian loan stint short.

The midfielder linked up with Fathi Terim’s side on a one-year loan deal in September.

Etebo has however failed to make much impact at the Turk Telekom Stadium, starting just three games.

Overall, the Nigeria international has featured in seven league games without a goal to his name.

Turkish outlet Fanatik, reports that Galatasaray are looking to cut Etebo’s loan stint by cancelling his contract.

That will see the former Warri Wolves star return to Sky Bet Championship club Stoke City in January.

The 25-year-old moved to Stoke in 2018 from Portuguese outfit CD Feirense and spent the second half of last season on loan at Spanish club Getafe.

He is under contract at Stoke until 2023.

Nigeria, Switzerland to support vulnerable people through the WFP

Ime Njoku
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Ene Okwanihe, Abuja

The World Food Programme in collaboration with the Nigerian government and the Swiss government has provided support in the form of cash and food items for vulnerable Nigerians and small businesses affected by COVID-19 in the country.

With the emergence of the COVID-19 in the world, many vulnerable people’s source of livelihood was brought to a halt as countries around the world and the African continental announced lockdown to prevent further spread of the Pandemic.

Most countries have opened up for business after the worse phase of the pandemic but nothing is the same for  small businesses and vulnerable people in the society as they struggle to recover from the damages caused by the effects of the Pandemic on their businesses and source of livelihood, be it farming or trading.

Different organisations rose up to the challenges of supporting these vulnerable people and businesses in Africa and the world.

In Nigeria, cash and food items were distributed in a distribution exercise led by the World Food Programme to residents of Karon Majiji a suburb in the Nigerian Federal Capital city, Abuja.

The World Food Programme Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Paul Howe said the WFP is injecting the total some of two million dollars into the local economies of the three hotspots of Kano, Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria.

He said the Government of Switzerland supporting with part of the funding while the Nigerian Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development is providing 2,000 metric tons of food from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Strategic Grains Reserve to tackle the rising food insecurity in the country.

Dr. Howe said it’s the first time WFP is expanding into urban centres in Nigeria to serve people and families affected by hunger and severe food insecurity caused by COVID-19.

“WFP has been in Nigeria for four years but we’ve worked in the North east of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe state but because of COVID-19 and we saw the impact on people in the urban areas, they don’t have their livelihood the way they use, the economy is not quite as strong as it was so they also are hungry and so we are reaching people in Kano, Abuja and Lagos with this particular programme”

The country representative noted that the programme is a one-off two months distribution exercise to meet the need of people and also target the right people who actually need the support.

The Programme Director, World Food Programme, Barbara Clemence who expressed satisfaction with the mode of distribution said the door to door distribution is the best way to reach the indigents in the community.

She added that the monies were being distributed to the people using the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

On his part the Chief of Garki, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Usman Nga-Kupi appreciated the WFP’s support to his people as the support will go a long way in impacting the lives of his people.

“It will impact positively in the lives of my people, one it would help in the area of feeding their families, two it would improve their economic status because they would trade with the money and whatever they get as interest they can sustain themselves and their families”

Two aged women, Hadiza Bako and Aisha Adamu were part of the beneficiaries, speaking in Hausa Language, they both thanked the World Food Programme for remembering them and hoped to use the support to impact their communities.

Nigeria handling recession better than many countries – APC UK

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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By Aanya Igomu, Abuja

Nigeria is handling the economic recession as a result of COVID-19 better than many other countries.

The Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, United Kingdom chapter, Prince Ade Omole stated this during an interactive session with journalists at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

Prince Omole said President Muhammadu Buhari has been sensitive with the plight of people and is working on creating more employment for the youth.

“Talking about the economy, it is a global thing. If you remember, it’s not just Nigeria that is in recession at this present time, there are a lot of countries that have actually gone into recession. People are borrowing helter shelter and the reason for that was actually upon by the COVID-19 pandemic which is actually global. In fact, most countries are actually doing worst than Nigeria at this present time. We have a President and a government that is actually responsive, at least in terms of economy because if it wasn’t that responsible like I can tell you that by now, only God knows where we would be by present time. I did mention that as of today, we have just increased from 500, 000 to 1 million N-Power Youths that will be employed. That means that this same government despite the challenges is still trying even though with low income, the economic issues brought upon us by COVID-19 we are still trying to survive and we will overcome this,” he said.

Speaking on rotating the office of the president of Nigeria to different geopolitical zones in the country, Prince Omole is hopeful that the Presidency will leave the north to the southern region of the country in 2023.

He added that even though zoning is not in the constitution, it is the right thing to do.

“There are few divergent views regarding zoning but personally, I believe it is the right thing to do. It is a step in the right direction and it just gives everybody a chance to actually have a shot at the presidency or any other office in the country.

“So, I think it is the right thing to do even though it is not part of the Constitution. It is more of a gentleman’s agreement. Now, as we know, it (presidency) has been in the North and hopefully, it will come to the South this time around. We have read reports about chieftains from both sides of the divide saying that the North is having it for eight years, it is time for the South to have it for another eight years. So, it is a gentleman’s agreement that should continue for the greatness of the country. It is the right thing to do and we believe that that will happen come 2023,” he said.

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EU to improve cooperation with Morocco on migrants

Hauwa Mustapha
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The European Union wants to improve cooperation with Morocco for the return of the later’s citizens who don’t qualify asylum or refugee status in the bloc, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson said.

“I am here with a mandate to negotiate readmission and visa facilitation, we will see how the discussions go,” she said during a press briefing at the beginning of a two-day official visit.

“An ageing Europe needs labour, and irregular arrivals are frightening European citizens (…): For me, having fewer irregular arrivals and sending back those who are not allowed to stay is closely linked to visa facilitation and legal migration,” she explained.

In the midst of the migration crisis in the Canary Islands, her first visit to Morocco also aims to “continue discussions” on readmission mechanisms launched by Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska last week during a visit to Rabat.

Illegal arrivals in the Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa “have increased by more than 1000%” this year, “it seems that more than half of the migrants are Moroccan and it is important to know how to ensure that they return,” the commissioner said.

Johansson also plans to discuss with the Moroccan authorities their “needs” in terms of migration management and the “means necessary for shared benefits”.

Since 2018, Morocco has received 343 million euros of European aid on various programs (police training, education, etc.), according to data released Tuesday.

The European Union sees each year between two and three million regular arrivals (workers, students or refugees) from different countries of the world. About half of those who enter legally leave.

Last year, there were about 100,000 expulsion decisions, about a third of which were followed by effective return, mostly to Ukraine and the Balkans, according to figures released.

Yvla Johansson, who is leading the reform of the European migration pact, pleads for greater efficiency in the return of illegal migrants to their countries of origin and considers it a priority to obtain “good readmission agreements”.

Hauwa Mustapha

National Park Service partners with NTDC on ecotourism, domestic tourism

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Zeniat Abubakar, Abuja

The National Park Service is set to partner with the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC for the development and promotion of ecotourism in Nigeria.

The Conservator General, National Park Service Dr Ibrahim Goni, disclosed this when the Director General of NTDC, Mr Folorunsho Coker paid him a courtesy visit at the park headquarters in Abuja.

Goni noted that the collaboration is aimed at uplifting and promoting the ecotourism potentials of the Service and for the diversification of the country’s economy.

“We have to re-emphasise the issue of positivity so that Nigerians can lead other African countries in tourism – ecotourism and domestic tourism.”

“We are working to make Nigeria one of the best tourism destinations in the world, Nigerians should look inward at what we have and patronise our own,’’ Goni said.

In his response the NTDC Boss Mr Coker, said that the growth of Nigeria is Pan-Nigeria and the growth of Africa is Pan-Africa.

“The rest of the world has a problem, Europe has a problem, America has a problem, and at least in the next five years I don’t see anybody really stretching their hand out to come and visit us or help us”.

“But if Africans are helping Africans, Kenyans who have animals are exchanging livestock with Nigeria or South Africa, the Ethiopians who know how to fly planes are extending roots to Nigeria and vice versa, the days of Nigerians going to donate their money abroad, for me, is gone”.

“If you want to make money from Nigeria, come and join us here, let’s make the money together, you can take part of your own away but leave our own here”, Coker explained.

He said that countries around the world are categorically writing it into law banning cars that use petrol 2030 and that will definitely affect the prices of oil.

“It tells us quite clearly that even though oil is about 38 dollars to a barrel today, there is going to come a point well into the future that oil won’t be worth very much.”

“Therefore, let’s start looking at alternatives that we have and in this sense, Nigeria is truly a rich country.”

“Apart from the physical side of tourism attractions that you see, God has even blessed us beyond that in terms of what Nigeria is great for and known for,” he added.

The NTDC boss noted that the Service’s potentials, if properly exploited, will also help curb crime across the nation.

He applauded the Nigerian National Service for its collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure it meets global standards.

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