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NGO supports 1,847 orphans and children in Kaduna

Women and Youth Awareness Empowerment Network ( WOYAEN ), an NGO, said it improved living standard of 1,847 orphans and vulnerable children in Kaduna State in 2017 with funding by USAID.
Dr Rakiya Shonekan, WOYAEN Executive Director, told the News men on Monday that the beneficiaries received basic health services, nutrition, shelter, care, education and psycho-social support.
She said that the exercise was carried out by 700 caregivers in 680 households in nine communities in the state.
The communities included Kakau, Nasarawa, Goningora, Trikania, Unguwan, Sule, Unguwan, Lusawa and Kudenden in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
“On health issues, we provided the beneficiaries with deworming tablets, vitamin A, zinc, supplement, HIV testing and counselling, care and support and referrals, among others.
“For shelter and care, we reintegrated the orphans into families, provided clothing support and foster parenting, among others.
“We equally encouraged school enrolment and retention, particularly the girl-child and carried out awareness campaign on gender equality to fight against discrimination,’’ Shonekan said.

Read Also: NGO donates to refugees in Cross River

On nutrition, she said that the NGO had improved the capacity of vulnerable households to produce a variety of nutritious foods.
She added that the NGO also cultivated soya beans, groundnuts and potatoes to support the most vulnerable households in some selected communities.
“We equally carried out sensitisation to caregivers on the importance of adequate infant and young child feeding,” she said.
The director said that the economic status of the caregivers were also upgraded to enable them provide the needed basic needs to beneficiaries for un-interrupted development to adulthood.
She said the caregivers had also been equipped with vocational skills for income generation, livelihood opportunities and financial literacy, focusing on micro enterprise fundamental skills.
She identified the skills areas to include power of negotiation, record keeping and value addition with a view to helping their businesses.
“We also carried out series of advocacy visits to mobilise relevant stakeholders to support ongoing effort toward improving the livelihood of women, youth and orphans and vulnerable children in communists.
“We would also encourage recreational activities, life skills support and train caregivers on positive parenting, provide legal services and create gender awareness in child protection and social support, ’’ Shonekan said.

NAN

February 5, 2018
3,000 members of PDP, Accord Party, LP, SDP decamp to APC in Oyo

No fewer than 3,000 members from the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Accord Party(AP),Labour Party(LP) and Social Democratic Party(SDP) decamped to the ruling All progressives Congress(APC) in Olorunsogo Local government area of Oyo State.

Leading the thousands of members of four political parties to the APC in the council area, a Medical Practitioner and PDP chieftain, Dr. Usman Bolaji Abdulfatai (Ashfau),stated that they resolved to leave their respective parties to join the ruling APC ,as a result of good works of President Muhammadu Buhari in governing the country and as well as Senator Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo state.

Other leaders of defectors were; a retired military officer, Sunday Alabi(old soldier),former secretary to the Local Government, Alhaji Jimoh Olajide(Oroo) and Hon. Seyi Bamikunle. The decampees were from all the ten (10) wards in the local government area of the State.

The defectors who moved in thousands along the major roads, including; L.A .Primary school road, Idigba ,Ibukun Olu area and Kishi –Ilorin road in the headquarters of the Local government with victory songs, before later assembled at NUD Primary School, Igbeti for their integration into the ruling party.

It will be recalled recently that President Buhari had declared that millions of Nigerian would soon join the ruling APC in order to record success for the party in the forthcoming general elections in the country.

But, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had berated the President Buhari over the statement, saying that the ruling party would soon be empty, adding that those relied upon by the President would soon leave the APC to join the PDP in a bid to wrest power from unperforming administration of Buhari.

Dr. Abdulfatai who said that defectors moved out of bondage of four political parties, describing the parties as moribund and noted that the achievements of APC in government of Oyo State nay Nigeria have silent their former parties’ leader. He therefore urged other politicians that remained in the listed parties to park their things and join the progressive ruling party for the betterment of the country and her citizens.

Also speaking, Seyi Bamikunle and Sunday Alabi, disclosed that the need to leave their various parties necessitated by the lack of focus, vision and internal democracy within their respective parties.

Earlier,the leader of the ruling party in the Council area, Dr. Ahmed Ayinla, while receiving the decampees on behalf of the State Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, at the Integrated New members mini programme held at the NUD primary school, Igbeti playing ground during the week, he noted that the event was remarkable for the the APC members annd loyalists in the local government area and Oyo State in general, promising the new members that their interest would be jealously protected and they would not regret their coming to the APC.
He saluted the courage of the decampees to take the bull by the horn in dumping their former parties to join the progressive party for building of new Nigeria, urging the new and old members to work as a team for the success of the party in the future elections.

Other APC leaders who received the defectors were; Former secretary to the Local Government ,Hon. Festus Adediran,APC Chairman in the local government ,Mr. Idowu Abdulwaheed, First Council Chairman of the area,Mr. Azeez Akanji and the party Chieftain, Alhaja Oyinade.

February 5, 2018
KOWA Party to hold supplementary state congress in Lagos

The KOWA Party said on Monday it would organise a supplementary state congress, to achieve its 30 per cent affirmative action in appointive positions for women in the party.

The National Secretary of KOWA, Mr Mark Adebayo, told our News men in Lagos, affirmative action was imperative and strong in the party and that it would not be compromised.

“The reason we need to plan a supplementary state congress is that it is very disappointing that during our Saturday congress, no single lady came out or even showed interest to contest for the only position meant for women.

“Article 11 of our constitution states that 30 per cent minimum of members of national, state, local government, ward executive, including the board of trustees, shall be women.

Read Also: KOWA urges Obaseki to be magnanimous in victory

“This is a reflection of what is happening in the larger society.

“We will give a new date so that we can come and organise a supplementary state congress to see that we meet up with the 30 per cent requirement of the law.

“We cannot have an all men executive in Lagos, a state which is regarded and seen as a micro-Nigeria. It will not tell well of us.’’

According to Adebayo, this is part of the female apathy toward politics.

He said that factors such as a lack of proper communication could be a hindrance to women showing interest in elective positions.

The party scribe urged women to come out more to contest elective positions in the country and to do away with the needles sentiments they held on to.

“To succeed, women must do away with unnecessary rivalry, gossip, disagreements of all dimensions and be committed as a military ready for a revolution.

“Women have all it takes to challenge men to a political fight as well as the numerical strength and are equally educated as the men.

“In 2015 the only woman presidential contestant was from KOWA Party, which was the first in the political history of Nigeria.

“So the time for women to dominate the political landscape is now,’’ Adebayo said.

NAN

February 5, 2018
NFL: Eagles stun Patriots for first Super Bowl title

In the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday defeated the New England Patriots in Minneapolis to claim their first ever Super Bowl title.

The Eagles were underdogs throughout the NFL playoffs, and just as most expected little from fictional Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa, few onlookers outside the City of Brotherly Love expected them to beat the defending Super Bowl champions.

But Philadelphia, who embraced their lowly status with some players wearing dog masks throughout the playoffs, stunned New England with a 41-33 victory to cap a remarkable turnaround after finishing last in their division a year ago.

“We’ve been doubted since Day One,” said Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, who caught what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. “This team, no one picked us. We come out here and we’re World Champions.”

The victory set off a wild celebration among the team’s many green-clad supporters who made the trek to chilly Minneapolis, while uplifting music from “Rocky” blared through the speakers above a field covered in silver and green confetti.

The Eagles limped into the post-season with an offense handicapped by a seemingly hopeless backup quarterback following an injury to Carson Wentz in December, but Nick Foles proved more than ready to shine on the game’s biggest stage.

Foles, who nearly retired after an underwhelming 2015 season with the St Louis Rams, showed no nerves playing in his first Super Bowl and went toe-to-toe with Patriots counterpart Tom Brady, a five-time Super Bowl champion.

“I felt calm,” said Foles, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after throwing three touchdowns. “We felt confident coming in and we just went out there and played football.”

The Eagles, who won three championships in the pre-Super Bowl era, had long been a tormented franchise and lost in their only two previous Super Bowl appearances, including to the Patriots in 2005, but dug deep to bring home a championship.

Trailing by a point late in the fourth quarter, the Eagles moved ahead for good when Foles connected with Ertz on a 11-yard touchdown to put his team ahead 38-33.

Philadelphia missed a subsequent two-point conversion attempt to leave the door open for the Patriots with a little less than two-and-a-half minutes to play.

But in a game when both offenses moved up and down the field effortlessly and combined for a Super Bowl record 1,151 yards, Brady had the ball swatted from his grasp and it was recovered by Philadelphia to all but seal New England’s fate.

The Eagles went on to kick a field goal to extend their lead to eight points and prevented the Patriots from engineering a last-minute, game-tying drive.

Up 15-6, the Eagles had a chance to build a comfortable lead towards the end of the first half but intended receiver Alshon Jeffrey deflected a Foles pass that was intercepted by Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon steps from the end zone.

The turnover proved costly as the Patriots marched 90 yards back down the field in less than three minutes, in a drive that was capped by a James White touchdown to pull within 15-12.

However, the Eagles replied with an impressive drive of their own that resulted in a touchdown on a gutsy trick play on fourth down from the Patriots one-yard line.

The Eagles, opting not to kick a field goal, snapped the ball to rookie running back Corey Clement, who flipped the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who then threw to a wide-open Foles for a walk-in touchdown and a 22-12 halftime lead.

It marked the end of a wild opening half that included missed extra points, a missed field goal and a botched Patriots attempt at a trick play of their own when a wide-open Brady failed to haul in an intended pass.

The Patriots looked poised to collect a record-tying sixth Super Bowl in 17 seasons when Brady threw his third touchdown — this one a short pass to Rob Gronkowski with about nine minutes to play — to give his team their first lead of the game, 33-32.

But the Patriots had no answer for the Foles-led Eagles.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick took the blame for the loss while Gronkowski, who was playing in his first game since suffering a concussion two weeks ago, said he knew his team was going to be in for a battle.

“You just knew that it was going to be a shootout the whole game and it was going to take all 60 minutes,” said Gronkowski. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t come up with the most opportunities to make to win the game.”

Brady finished with a Super Bowl record 505 passing yards and three touchdowns but could not deliver when it mattered most, his desperate pass falling to the ground in the end zone as time expired.

“Losing sucks. That’s part of it,” said Brady. “You try to win and sometimes you lose. That’s the way it goes.”

The Patriots now enter an off-season some feel could mark the beginning of the end for their dynasty after a media report in January about a rift between Brady, Belichick and owner Robert Kraft.

The trio has denied reports of any off-field tension but there will be no shortage of attention paid to their every move between now and next season.

The game, played under a translucent U.S. Bank Stadium roof while temperatures outside plummeted, capped a season during which NFL ratings dropped after many players kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and as the league’s concussion protocol entered the spotlight.

But no player protested while Grammy Award-winning pop singer Pink performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the year’s most-watched U.S. television broadcast, attracting an audience of more than 100 million viewers.

NAN

February 5, 2018
Metuh attends court on stretcher

*Judge postpones trial to March 14

Olisa Metuh was brought to court today on a stretcher in compliance with an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja that he must attend court or have his bail revoked.

Justice Okon Abang in a ruling on January 25, rejected a medical report tendered by Lawyers of the Former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claiming he was on admission in an hospital.

Instead, the judge ordered Metuh to attend court today or have the bail earlier granted him revoked.

In compliance with that order, his lawyer ensured he was brought to court early today in a white ambulance, belonging to the National Hospital, Abuja.

Read Also: Attend court Feb. 5 or be returned to prison, judge tells Metuh

He was later taken into the courtroom on a stretcher, with the assistance of some medical personnel, friends and relations.

He was covered with a white cloth, with an opening only in his head area, possibly to allow him breathe. He had bandage on his legs and neck area.

Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited are being tried on allegations of corruption and money laundering.

When proceedings opened, Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) told the court that his client was in court in obedience to the court’s order, but was not in a good state to stand trial.

He sought a month’s adjournment within which Metuh would have been fit enough to stand trial.

Lawyer to Destra, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) agreed with Ikpeazu’s position.

Prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir did not object to an adjournment, following which Justice Tsoho adjourned to March 14 for possible continuation for trail.

At the conclusion of proceedings around 10.15am, Metuh was again moved out of the courtroom, still on the stretcher, into the ambulance stationed close to the court’s main entrance.

February 5, 2018
Zuma ‘rejects ANC request’ to stand down

South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma has defied his party and refused to step down, according to media reports.

He and senior members of the African National Congress (ANC) held talks on Sunday but no details of their meeting have been released.

Facing corruption allegations, Mr Zuma was replaced as ANC leader in December.

Read Also: Zuma again denounces ‘monopoly’ white economic power

Party leaders, who may be trying to oust the South African Head of State before his State of the Nation address later this week, will hold an emergency meeting on Monday.

Julius Malema, an opposition leader and former ANC member, said on Twitter that Mr Zuma had been asked to stand down but had refused.

He was regarded to have spent time in prison for his part in the fight against apartheid, most of the way through his second – and last – term as president.

Under his rule, the civil service has expanded, HIV/AIDS rates have decreased, and his plans for development have won support across the political spectrum. But the Zuma presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption and his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, was elected the leader of the ANC party in South Africa in December on an anti-corruption platform.

BBC

February 5, 2018
First Bank ATMs dispense N2.8 trillion

First Bank of Nig. Ltd. says its Automated Teller Machines ( ATMs ) dispensed over N2.8 trillion from January 2017 to December 2017.

The bank’s Group Head of E-Business, Mr Chuma Ezirim, said in a statement in Lagos on Monday that the bank also accounted for 37 per cent bill payment services on ATMs in the nation’s banking industry.

In the statement made available to our reporter, Ezirim said that about 402,102 bill payments were made through Firstbank’s ATMs in 2017, while airtime worth about N1.7 billion was purchased through the machines.

The official said that the bank had the highest number of ATMs, having deployed 2,897 of the machines across the country.

He said that the bank would continue to cater for the financial service needs of its customers in line with its strategy to drive convenience and ease in banking.

“The bank’s ATMs have unique functional features which include bills payment, cash transfer, air-time top-up, cash deposit, among others,’’ he said.

According to him, the bill payment option is the non-cash transaction feature on the ATM that makes it easier for customers to pay for cable TV subscriptions, post-paid phone bills, and pre-booked airline tickets, among others.

He noted that the transactions could be executed through the quick teller option on any of the bank’s ATMs.

“First bank is currently responsible for over 15 per cent of inter-bank transactions and 21 per cent of airtime vending.

“As active mobile network users in Nigeria are over 142 million, and the need to recharge is in the increase, the bank’s ATMs also provide the platform for easy top-up.

“To further enhance convenience, Firstbank’s ATMs operate the cash deposit function which allows customers to deposit funds without entering a banking hall.

“The bank’s ATMs are also equipped with cardless functionality that makes it easier for non-bank customers to deposit or withdraw money from the ATMs without a debit card,” he said.

He said that the developments were aimed at meeting the needs of the bank’s customers and reaching out to the under-banked and the un-banked.

“Our mission is to remain relevant in the lives of our customers by continually working and making banking services a more convenient experience,’’ he said.

February 5, 2018
Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe , others over campaign funds

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) has been commended for investigations into the embezzlement of government money by previous administration to fund the 2015 elections.

The group, Coalition of Youths Congress of Nigeria said what EFCC is doing is instructive as another election year approaches and expressed the hope that those involved in diverting public fund to finance elections must be punished to deter others in future.

The group, which addressed journalists on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was reacting to the arraignment of a former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State, Mr. Raymond Dabo and the Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Plateau State, Evangelist Lyons Sunday Jatau who were dragged to court over allegation of embezzlement of N450 million belonging to the federal government.

The leader of the group, Mr. John Pam said the anti-corruption stance of the present administration would ensure that such perfidy and use of money meant for the development of the country by politicians at the corridor of power would not happen again.

The trio would be arraigned on February 13, 2018 at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital on charges of receiving the money from the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to finance the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy.

At the first hearing of the suit, Ochekpe had told trial Justice Justice Musa Haruna Kurya that she gave the money to the late PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Plateau G.N.S Pwajok.

The group therefore urged EFCC to leave no stone unturned to make sure that money politics in Nigeria is discouraged and also to ensure that those in the custody of public fund do not deep their hands into the till to serve themselves.

“We are commending EFCC for taking these people to court so that when found guilty justice will take its cause, which will sound as a warning to others who may want to so corrupt themselves by diverting public funds meant for the provision of social amenities for our citizens. The interest of our group is to ensure corrupt free society and for the first time we have seen a government that is determined to rid this scourge from the country,” Pam said.

February 5, 2018
Migrant crisis: 16 bodies pulled from sea off Morocco

The bodies of 16 people have been pulled from the sea off the coast of Melilla, a small Spanish territory bordering Morocco.

Moroccan rescue services recovered the corpses after the crew of a Spanish ship spotted them in the water.

A medical official told AFP news agency all the dead were from sub-Saharan Africa, apart from one Moroccan.

It is thought they may have been hoping to reach Europe by sailing from Melilla, despite storm warnings.

Read Also: Don’t admit Morocco into ECOWAS -Stakeholders warn FG

Melilla, which is just 12 sq km (7 square miles), is a major crossing point for undocumented migrants seeking work or asylum in Europe.

It is one of only two EU land borders with Africa – the other being a second Spanish enclave, Ceuta.

A spokeswoman for Melilla’s authorities said earlier that “about 20” bodies had been retrieved.

The exact death toll has not yet been confirmed. Spanish rescue services resumed a search on Sunday morning.

The sea crossing between North Africa and southern Spain is increasingly favoured by migrants, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

So far in 2018, Spain has been the second most popular entry point for incomers to Europe. IOM figures say some 1,279 arrived there, while 4,256 went to Italy.

Not including those recovered this weekend, at least 243 migrants have already died or gone missing this year after trying to cross the Mediterranean.

BBC

February 5, 2018
Klopp furious as late Kane penalty kick denies Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp launched a scathing attack on referee Jon Moss and his officials after Harry Kane’s controversial last-gasp penalty kick gave Tottenham a dramatic 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Reds boss Klopp was furious that his side’s chances of a vital victory over their top-four rivals were wiped out in an incident-packed finale at Anfield.

After Victor Wanyama equalised for Tottenham with 10 minutes left to cancel out Mohamed Salah’s early opener, Moss and his linesmen took centre stage.

First, Tottenham were awarded a penalty kick for Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius’s foul on Kane, even though Klopp felt the England star was offside.

Kane’s spot-kick was saved by Karius and when Salah put Liverpool ahead in stoppage-time, Klopp must have felt justice was done.

But in the final seconds, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk nudged over Erik Lamela and Moss gave another penalty kick, with Kane this time converting from the spot.

Read Also: Klopp must take blame for Liverpool ’s poor defence – Schmeichel

Klopp confronted Moss on the pitch at fulltime and still had not calmed down when he spoke to the media.

“I am not allowed to go in their room until half an hour after. It was clear offside, unbelievable, I don’t know what they were discussing,” Klopp said of the first penalty kick.

Speaking about the second spot-kick, the German said: “Yes, Virgil van Dijk touches him, but we all know Lamela wants the touch and we all know there were so (many) hard fouls in the first half and we didn’t get any fouls.

“That was the level for the game today, but then a situation in the last minute like that? Wow! He (the official) wanted to be middle of interest and he is.

“It was clear two sides (of) high quality both wanted to win desperately, but the result was massively influenced by linesman decisions.

“We have to take it, that’s how it is.”

NAN

February 5, 2018