The United Nations refugee agency appealed on Tuesday to Ethiopian authorities for access to 96,000 Eritrean refugees in the northern Tigray region, where it said food is believed to have run out during the month-long conflict.
The spokesman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Babar Baloch, told a Geneva news briefing
“Our extreme worry is that we hear about attacks, the fighting near the camps, we hear about abductions and forced removals, so this is very important for us to have that access to go and see what has happened over there,” he said.
The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan has approved the appointment of Professor Adebola Ekanola as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University.
The approval was given at the Council’s meeting, held on Monday, based on the recommendation of the Senate.
A short statement by the Institution’s ’s Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, said the Council’s meeting was presided over by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Nde Joshua Waklek Mutka.
Before his appointment, Professor Ekanola served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Director of Office of International Programmes (OIP) and the Dean, Faculty of Arts, among other appointments, in the University.
Barak Obama recently gave Drake his stamp of approval to portray him in a movie about his life, should one ever get made.
While there currently isn’t a biopic on the life of the former US president in the pipeline, Drake hasn’t kept his desires a secret. When asked if he would be happy with Drake portraying him, Obama commented in an interview that:
“I will say this. Drake seems to be able to do anything he wants. I mean, that is a talented, talented brother. So, if the time comes and he’s ready, you know…”
Chatting to Complex’s “360 With Speedy Morman”, Obama revealed that Drake had his family’s ‘stamp of approval’, hinting that his daughters wouldn’t mind.
Speaking to Paper magazine, Drake had explained that he religiously watched Obama’s addressDrake had revealed that he always pays attention to the inflections in Obama’s voice and never changes the channel when the former president does come on.
Drake had continued to say that he is actually pretty decent at impressions, despite no one signaling that they are interested in him for the role just yet: “If you ask anyone who knows me, I’m pretty good at impressions. Slowly but surely, I’m not in the study mode because nobody’s called me about anything, but I just pay attention so when the day comes I’m not scrambling to learn how to speak like him.”
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Indonesian city of Bandung neat lines of teepee-style tents are set up each evening on a patch of lawn in front of a large screen.
Known as ‘Cinema Under the Stars’, the outdoor camp-style movie space opened two months ago in the capital of Indonesia’s most populous province of West Java with the aim of keeping people both entertained and socially distanced.
“Movies are usually watched indoors… but now we have this outdoor cinema with the view of Bandung,” said 20-year-old local resident Lidia Utari.
“And what’s more interesting is that they use tents here, so I wanted to give it a try,” she added.
Supplied with pillows, blankets and snacks, each tent is also equipped with hand sanitiser and disinfectant in line with health protocols, organisers say.
Moviegoers sit at the entrance to the tents with small tables in front with food and drink, all lit up by candlelight.
“We started this business during the pandemic, that’s why we were brainstorming about how to attract visitors as people have a thirst for entertainment in times like these,” said Ilham Fahri Suhada, one of the organisers.
With more than 530,000 infections and 16,000 deaths, Indonesia has the highest number of coronavirus cases and fatalities in Southeast Asia.
Some health experts say limited testing and contact tracing, as well as a high positivity rate – the infection rate per person tested – indicate actual rates may be far higher.
Unlike many neighbours, the world’s fourth most populous country with 270 million people has not had national lockdowns but has instead imposed localised social restrictions.
While tents may not provide much additional protection from the virus, film-goers seem content with the setup.
The Sokoto State Commissioner for Careers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd), has appealed to the Nigerian Army and federal government to redeploy more security personnel to States facing banditry and other security challenges.
Colonel Moyi (rtd) made the call in an interview with newsmen on the security update in Sokoto State.
The Commissioner noted that Nigerian security operatives were one of the best in the world, but they need motivation and the right equipment to face the challenges of today.
He called on residents of the state to support the government and security operatives in their efforts to curb banditry.
He challenged the residents to be law abiding and cautioned them against indiscriminate and unjust killing of the Fulanis because that has always been the trigger to senseless killing of innocent souls.
Colonel Moyi reiterated their readiness to protect the lives and properties of their citizenry.
Universal Studios Japan will open its new Nintendo themed area on February 4, the Osaka-based theme park said on Monday, after pushing back the opening from the summer due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The “Super Nintendo World” area will feature Mario Kart races and other attractions based on Nintendo games, according to Universal Studios Japan.
“Super Nintendo World” had originally been scheduled to open in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which have also been delayed due to the pandemic.
President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the healthy relations existing between Nigeria and Slovakia.
The President stated this when he received the outgoing Ambassador of Slovak Republic to Nigeria, Peter Holasek on Monday, congratulating him on remarkable five years in Nigeria, thus making him one of the longest serving Ambassadors in the country.
The Nigerian leader wished Mr Holasek a successful tour of duty in his next assignment, as he leaves Nigeria after five years.
“I congratulate you on behalf of Nigeria, and myself, on a successful term. Thank you for the long service and I hope your next assignment will be more successful,” President Buhari said.
Recounting the high-points of his tour of duty, Ambassador Holasek said he was happy and proud that relations between Nigeria and his country had improved tremendously in the past five years.
“I have facilitated visits of Slovak and Nigerian officials to our two countries. Nigeria is Slovakia’s largest trading partner south of the Sahara, and there are even prospects of better relations, going forward,” the Ambassador said.
A team of high level officials representing the Executive and Legislative arms of government was in Maiduguri on Monday to deliver a message of condolence and solidarity with the government and people of Borno State following the recent boko haram killing of 43 farm workers.
The Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan spoke for the team and the Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari representing President Muhammadu Buhari presented a joint message, on behalf of the President.
President’s condolence message In the message, President Buhari expressed the condolences of the government and people of Nigeria and gave strong assurances of his continuous commitment to fighting insurgency and all forms of insecurity in Borno State and all over Nigeria.
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, President of The Senate Dr Ahmad Lawan, Chief of Staff to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari, NSA Maj Gen Babagana Monguno, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Patami and SSAP Media and Publicity, Mallam Shehu Garba during a Federal Government Delegation on condolences visit over the killing of more than 40 Farmers in Zabarmari Village, Maiduguri Borno State. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. NOV 30 2020.
The President committed himself to making more resources available to the military to prosecute the war, adding that he will “work closely with neighbouring countries on bilateral and multilateral levels to ensure that there is no hiding place for the terrorists.
“Nothing is more important than ensuring the security of lives and property of the people. Everything is secondary when security is at a stake.
“As we mourn the loss of our sons in Zabarmari, the Armed Forces have been given the marching order to take the fight to the insurgents, not on a one-off, but on a continuous basis until we root out the terrorists”, the President said.
President Buhari commended Governor Babagana Zulum for his leadership in running the affairs of the state.
Governor Zulum commends president In his response, Governor Zulum thanked the President for “ensuring relative peace since his assumption of office,” stating clearly that the situation was much better than he met it.
The Governor presented a number of requests on behalf of his people, including that the youths of the state should be enlisted in military and paramilitary organizations to play their roles in the defence of the nation.
He called on the federal government to assist in the repatriation of Borno indigenes in camps in neighbouring countries and requested the National Assembly to tweak the draft budget now before them to allow better allocation of resources for the Northeast sub-region, which he alleged is being side-lined.
Act of madness At the palace of the Shehu of Borno, His Eminence Abubakar Umar Ibn Garbai, the traditional ruler described as “madness,” the gruesome killings and urged his subjects to pray and offer useful information to the security agencies.
He thanked President Buhari for his efforts in returning normalcy to the state.
“Before this administration came, all 27 local councils and the Emirs had migrated to Maiduguri. We had no power from the National Grid, Telephone services were discontinued and the airport was closed,” he said, commending the President for changing all that for the better.
The delegation was also in Zabarmari, Jere Local Government where the incident took place.
R-L; NSA Maj Gen Babagana Monguno, Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, Chief of Staff to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Communication, and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Patami, Mallam Shehu Garba and others during a Federal Government Delegation on condolences visit over the killing of more than 40 Farmers in Zabarmari Village, Maiduguri Borno State. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. NOV 30 2020
The local Imam, Alhaji Idris who responded on behalf of the community said they were touched by the President’s gesture, saying, “we are happy that the President is with us in our moment of grief. Tell him that we are very happy with him.”
Aside the Senate President and Chief of Staff to the President, the delegation included the House Majority Whip, Tahir Monguno, the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Musa Bello, Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Agriculture (State), Mustapha Shehuri and Works and Housing (State), Engineer Abubakar Aliyu.
Others are National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd) and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The Ministry of Industry Trade and investment has launched a programme known as the Young Professional Programme, YPP.
The Minister, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo says the achievement of economic development goals are dependent on professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness of the Nations workforce.
He said this during the launching of the YPP, organised by the Commodity and Export Department of the Ministry.
Mr Adeniyi said he was optimistic that the programme would contribute to triggering the engine of growth and development in the nearest future.
According to him, “The strategic role of well trained monitored youth in economic growth and development cannot be over emphasised, there is the need to strengthen capasity in the public sector which is one of the engines that drives most of the economic activities of the nation.
“In this era of globalisation prosperity of nations depends on not only the number of its workforce but also on the productivity of its workforce. However, productivity of the workforce depends on the skills and knowledge they have and how effective they are put to use.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Sanni Gwarzo who represented the Minister of State of the ministry, Maryam Katagum said the Youth Professional Programme has been identified as a veritable platform to provide skills development, coaching and mentoring as well as networking opportunities to emerging leaders.
“Globally young professional programs are used for human capital development which is an essential component in nation building, skilled human capital has been pivotal and considered to be one of the fundamental solutions to challenges of economic growth and development”. Mr Gwarzo said.
According to him, “This indeed the right platform of molding emerging professionals, we are looking forward to seeing the work plan going forward as well as witnessing the exploits of this great plans.”
He called on the Young professionals to be committed, dedicated and to imbibe valuable partnership skills while urging them to show good opportunity to others.
The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has pledged support the manufacturing sector for the continual growth and development of the Federal Capital Territory.
This commitment was made by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello when a delegation from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria led by its President, Engr Ahmed Mansur paid a visit in Abuja Nigeria’s capital
Malam Bello said that it has come to the realization of all that for Nigeria to develop as a nation, emphasis must be placed on the development of the manufacturing sector.
He added that that the COVID -19 pandemic which resulted in the lock down of countries around the world revealed that as a nation, Nigeria cannot depend on outsiders as the global lockdown resulted in the disruption of supply chains and manufacturing processes.
He also commended the foresight of President Muhammadu Buhari for policies in the agricultural sector that emphasized “growing what eat and eating what we grow” which shielded the nation from the worst of the pandemic by ensuring local food supply.
While pledging the support of the FCT Administration to the manufacturing sector, the FCT Minister said the Territory has over the years evolved from being just the seat of government.
He cited the efficient transportation network in terms of road, air and now rail, as well as the central location of the FCT and other programmes of government including the AKK pipeline passing through the Territory as areas on which the manufacturing sector can leverage to establish the FCT as an industrial hub in Nigeria.
Malam Bello also pledged the commitment of the Administration to the development of the industrial zones of Gwagwalada and Kwali as well as the provision of more security to the Idu Industrial Area.
Speaking earlier, Engr, Ahmed Mansur commended the timely intervention of the FCT Minister during the ENDSARS protests that the manufacturing businesses located at the Idu Industrial Area.
In the words of the Engr Mansur, “your timely intervention significantly reduced the impact on our members and the manufacturing sector of the economy. We like to thank you for this intervention”
He also reiterated the importance of the manufacturing sector to the national economy and said that MAN has over the years become a major voice of the Nigerian manufacturing sector and is therefore a strategic partner to the government in its drive towards the transformation of the economy.
