The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • The Voice Nigeria 3: Yemi Alade drops three talents in knockout stage

    The Voice Nigeria 3: Yemi Alade drops three talents in knockout stage

    By Gbenga Bada

    Yemi Alade’s six-talent team was in the spotlight as the ongoing The Voice Nigeria season enters the knockout stage in week seven.

    While the three other coaches – Falz, Waje, and Darey Art Alade – had the opportunity of stealing any of the talents after their performances, some members of Yemi Alade’s team failed to make it to the next round.

    With the six talents – Toscene, Loven, Vanilla, Ewa, Tim Ayo, and Kitay – serenading the viewers and coaches in the knockout stage, Yemi Alade was tasked with deciding the fate of the three talents that moved to the next stage tagged Battlefield.

    Three talents in the Yemi Alade’s team namely Vanilla, Kitay, and Toscene became the first three to make it to the next stage, Battlefield.

    Loven, who admitted to forgetting his lyrics, failed to convince any of the coaches to be stolen and was sent to the danger zone where he ended his journey after a rendition of Wande Coal’s ‘Away.’

    In the same vein, Ewa’s rendition of Ariana Grande’s ‘Dangerous Woman’ failed to coerce the coaches into allowing her to continue her journey on the reality show. Timi Ayo’s recreation of Rotimi’s ‘Love Riddim,’ also got him into the danger zone and eventually out of the competition.

    An emotional Yemi Alade, who saved Toscene after her performance, urged the evicted talents to keep fighting and doing what they do best till they are heard.

    The week ended with the show’s headline sponsor, FirstBank promising to reward viewers with the FirstBank moments through its social media handles.

    Sponsored by FirstBank, Baba Ijebu, and produced by Un1ty, The Voice Nigeria further showcases the bank’s role -through partnership – in enabling Nigerians by passionately empowering and investing in youths while giving voice to everyone.

    FirstBank’s Corporate Communications Group Head Folake Ani-Mumuney reiterated the bank’s commitment to strengthening the creative industry which is fast growing into a multibillion-dollar business, with the potential to be a leading contributor to Nigeria’s GDP soon.

  • Ajebo: Primary school mate inspired Tegwolo’s character

    Ajebo: Primary school mate inspired Tegwolo’s character

    By Sampson Unamka

    Comedian Ajebo has revealed what inspired his popular character in skits, Tegwolo.

    In an exclusive chat with The Nation, Ajebo narrated how one of his primary schoolmates inspired the character.

    “I had a classmate in primary school, we used to mock him and call him bicycle sit head, he was very stubborn so when I was creating this character I was like all these children that their head is shaped like this bicycle seat can be very stubborn and then that was it,” he began

    Continuing, the comedian said, “And then I wanted to relive my childhood experience, most of the things I put out in Tegwolo are my childhood experience, the days of condense, sisi pelebe, ofio, when we played on the street, we played football on the street without a shirt, we played in the rain, I was a rough player growing up and I was a child that my parent discovered on time that I was different.

    “You know the way you will catch a child doing something wrong and you will beat the child up, my mum still reminds me and tells my wife till now that beating didn’t work for me but guess what just have a proper conversation with me as a child and that was all so for me that was how I grew up.”

  • Eid al-Fitr: A time to renew Nigeria’s pact with destiny- Dan Orbih

    Eid al-Fitr: A time to renew Nigeria’s pact with destiny- Dan Orbih

    As Muslim faithful in Nigeria and around the world mark this year’s Eid al-Fitr, Chief Dan Orbih has described the holy commemoration as a unique opportunity to “not only reconnect to the Almighty’s sacred purpose for mankind, but also one for Nigeria and indeed all Nigerians to renew their pact with destiny”.

    In a statement he issued to mark the Islamic celebration, Chief Orbih wished Muslims the full blessings of the holy month of Ramadan, and prayed that the culmination of the fasting period would usher in a period of lasting spiritual refreshing and commitment to the wellbeing of humanity.

    He said: “Muslims in Nigeria and around the world have gone through a most sacred period of spiritual cleansing, devotion and rededication. It is my earnest prayer that the deepest desires of their hearts for themselves, their families, religion, country and humanity be granted”.

    Chief Orbih also reflected on some of the pressing challenges facing the Nigerian state, and urged Muslims, and indeed all Nigerians, to recommit to the urgent mission of helping Nigeria surmount its challenges and regain its pride of place in the comity of nations.

    He said: “Nigeria’s battle with devastating insecurity, economic crisis, coronavirus, ethno-religious strain and failed leadership, requires devotion to duty and commitment of purpose by all Nigerians if lasting solutions are to be found.

    “Nigeria is at a critical point and we cannot wait even a single moment longer to rally round a common purpose and drive to fix the deep rot.”

    Orbih urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be awake to his responsibilities and steer the ship of state from disaster.

    He also called on other leaders in the country to develop solutions to Nigeria’s many ills, noting that a multi-pronged approach was required to rescue the country.

    “We have a date with destiny. We have pact with destiny. Nigeria cannot afford to fail. We must not fail,” he concluded.

  • Israel, Hamas trade deadly rocket fire

    Israel, Hamas trade deadly rocket fire

    A confrontation between Israel and Hamas sparked by weeks of tensions in contested Jerusalem escalated as Israel unleashed new airstrikes on Gaza while militants barraged Israel with hundreds of rockets.

    The exchange killed a number of militants yesterday and civilians in Gaza and at least three Israelis.

    The barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip and airstrikes into the territory continued almost nonstop throughout the day, in what appeared to be some of the most intense fighting between Israel and Hamas since their 2014 war.

    The fire was so relentless that Israel’s Iron Dome rocket-defence system seemed to be overwhelmed. Columns of smoke rose from many places in Gaza.

    The United States urges both Israel and the Palestinians to avoid “deeply lamentable” civilian deaths after air strikes by the Jewish state in response to rocket fire in Gaza, US State Department spokesman Ned Price tells reporters.

    By late yesterday, the violence extended to Tel Aviv, which came under fire from a barrage of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. A 50-year-old woman was killed. The outgoing volleys set off air raid sirens across the city, and the main international airport quickly closed.

    Hamas said it launched a total of 130 rockets, its most intense strike so far, in response to Israel’s destruction of a high-rise building in Gaza earlier in the evening. The sound of the outgoing rockets could be heard in Gaza.

    As the rockets rose into the skies, mosques across Gaza blared with chants of “God is great,” “victory to Islam” and “resistance”.

    Israeli soldiers took cover as a siren sounds warning of incoming rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon.

    One rocket struck a bus in the central city of Holon, just south of Tel Aviv. Medics said three people, including a 5-year-old girl, were wounded and the bus went up in flames.

    Since sundown Monday, 28 Palestinians, including 10 children and a woman, were killed in Gaza, most by airstrikes, health officials there said. The Israeli military said at least 16 of the dead were militants.

    Two women were killed by rockets fired from Gaza that hit their homes in the southern city of Ashkelon – the first Israeli deaths in the current violence. At least 10 other Israelis have been wounded since Monday evening.

    After those deaths, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said officials decided to “increase both the strength and rate of the strikes” against militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

  • Putin, Biden to discuss strategic stability, arms control

    Putin, Biden to discuss strategic stability, arms control

    United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to maintain dialogue on strategic stability issues, such as arms control and emerging security issues.

    Ambassador Robert A. Wood, the U.S. permanent representative to the Conference on Disarmament said yesterday.

    “President Biden and President Putin have agreed to explore strategic stability discussions on a range of arms control and emerging security issues.

    “We are in the process of preparing for these discussions,’’ Wood said at the Conference on Disarmament Plenary Thematic Debate.

    Biden said last week that a tentative meeting between him and Putin was being arranged for June.

    The White House has recently announced that Biden invited Putin to meet in a European country.

    Earlier in May, Biden said he was hoping to meet with Putin in June.

    The Kremlin reported that a possible date for the meeting was being discussed. (Sputnik/NAN)

     

     

  • China population hits over 1.4b

    China population hits over 1.4b

    China’s population on the mainland has reached more than 1.411 billion, up by 5.38 per cent from the previous census in 2010, the latest census data showed yesterday.

    The census, the largest of its kind across the world, helps China figure out its population size, structure and distribution as well as the latest demographic changes and trends, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    The census conducted in 2020 was expected to offer strong statistical support for the country to advance high-quality development and formulate more targeted strategies and policies to promote long-term and balanced population development, the NBS said.

    A total of 679,000 census-taking institutions were created in the country’s provinces, cities, counties, townships and villages, and more than seven million census takers were organised to document demographic information door-to-door across the country.

    The census collected data including name, ID number, gender, marital status, education and profession of Chinese citizens.

    The figure does not include Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents and foreigners who live in the mainland’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, according to the NBS.

    Previously, the country conducted national censuses in 2010, 2000, 1990, 1982, 1964 and 1953.

     

     

  • Buhari lauds EU for trade, support to Nigeria

    Buhari lauds EU for trade, support to Nigeria

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the European Union’s (EU) investments in Nigeria’s growth, describing the regional union as Nigeria largest trading partner.

    The President spoke yesterday at State House, Abuja, while receiving in a farewell audience, the Ambassador/ Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS Ketil Karlsen.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the also pointed out that the EU has been of help to Nigeria in diverse other ways, including humanitarian support.

    President Buhari thanked the outgoing Ambassador for facilitating the visits of French and German leaders during his tour of duty, noting that it was during Prime Minister Angela Merkel’s visit that the door to relationship with Siemens of Germany on power was opened.

    Ambassador Karlsen, who spent four years in Nigeria, said he enjoyed “excellent collaboration” with President Buhari, and with Nigeria, saying the cooperation included trade, military, humanitarian assistance, and many others.

     

     

     

  • NWPL: Pelican Stars, Abia Angels survive relegation

    NWPL: Pelican Stars, Abia Angels survive relegation

    The duo of Pelican Stars Football club of Calabar and Abia Angels of Aba has escaped relegation at  the University of Benin Sports complex to  remain in the elite women’s league.

    Pelican Stars finished tops with five points on the table after playing a goalless draw against Ibom Angels in their last Play-Off game. They went into today’s match with four points from two matches.

    Abia Angels of Aba finished second place with  four points and zero goal difference to join  Pelican Stars as the second team to escape relegation and remain in the NWFL Premiership. Abia escaped by the whisker as they lost 3-2 to Dreamstar Ladies in the last game of the Play-Off.

    The Lagos team that also finished with four points, slide into relegation with a minus one goal difference.

    Dreamstar Ladies and Ibom Angels will now play in the NWFL Championship next season, while Pelican Stars and Abia Angels will continue their sojourn in the NWFL Premiership League. The final matches of the NWFL Premiership Play-Off today, officially marked the end of the Women’s Premiership League.

  • Manchester United 1-2 Leicester city: Man City are EPL champions

    Manchester United 1-2 Leicester city: Man City are EPL champions

    Manchester City has been crowned 2020-21 Premier League champions after Manchester United’s defeat to Leicester at the Old Trafford last night.

    Pep Guardiola’s side have had to wait to rubberstamp their latest triumph, following changes to the fixture schedule and their own slip-up.

    A late defeat to Chelsea last weekend as closest rivals United won at Aston Villa kept City’s champagne on ice but they finally reclaimed the Premier League title from Liverpool before kicking a ball again as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were beaten 2-1 yesterday after making 10 changes to their starting line-up.

    City have now won three Premier League titles and eight major trophies under Guardiola, who last year signed a new two-year contract to remain at the club until 2023.

  • Tokyo Olympics: Minister’s visit excites Anyanacho

    Tokyo Olympics: Minister’s visit excites Anyanacho

    By Olalekan Okusan

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare yesterday paid a surprise visit to the training camp of Tokyo Olympics-bound Elizabeth Anyanacho with a promise to support the 22-year-old quest for a medal.

    Being the first Nigerian woman in 16 years to qualify for the taekwondo event at the Olympic Games is at present slugging it out with six national champions in a special Olympic fight camp set up to boost her preparations.

    The national champions present at the special Olympic training fight camp organised by Olympic medalist Chika Chukwumerije include African Champion, Uzoamaka Otuadinma, African bronze medalists Juliet Dennis alongside national athletes Helen Okoko, Judith Usifoh, Peter Itiku and Ifeoluwa Ajayi.

    “I am happy with the intensity and level of training that I have seen here today,” the minister said. “I want to assure Elizabeth that, despite the constraint of resources expressed in recent times, the sports ministry will extend all possible support to ensure she achieves her podium dream in Tokyo.”

    He thanked the national champions that have been part of the special camp, while urging them to present a formidable resistance to Anyanacho which will further aid her training.

    “After the Olympics, sports and life will still go on. We will keep supporting all our athletes even after the Olympics is finished,” the minister assured.

    Anyanacho thanked the minister for the visit and presented souvenirs in appreciation.