The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Six-year-old Nigerian is Africa’s Microsoft Specialist

    A six-year-old pupil Damilare Akano has emerged Africa’s youngest Microsoft Specialist in the Certiport international certification examination organised by New Horizons Nigeria at its just-concluded Summer Camp in Lagos.

    He came tops in the Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2016 examinations with a score of 871 out of 1000 points, followed by Master Toluwalese Ayoola Kwaku, a 10-year-old boy who scored 825 while Kolawole Praise Akano, an eight-year-old, scored 800 points.

    They, alongside 200 other puils, participated in a month-long summer camp tagged Nextgen IT Experts organised by New Horizons Computer Learning Systems Limited, and were trained in various Information Communication Technology (ICT) courses such as Microsoft, Multimedia, Robotics Engineering, Drone Technology, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Coding.

    With this performance, Damilare, a primary one pupil, has become the youngest in Africa and indeed, one of the youngest in the world to achieve this feat.

    Damilare, Kolawole and Toluwalase, pupils of Scholar Crest International, Omole, Lagos among others, participated in the summer camp across the country.

    New Horizons, a United States-based organisation with offices in 85 countries is the world’s largest independent ICT training organisation.

    In Nigeria, New Horizons empowers over 50,000 pupils to success yearly in over 100 schools and 15 universities.

    Among the schools powered by New Horizons are Dansol, Doregoes, Vivan Fowler, Princeton, Honeyland, Phidel, Pottersland, Woodland, Startrite, Lightway, Surstart, First Age, Awesome Kids, Sunrise, Great Height, spring, Benford and NOWA Schools, among others.

  • BREAKING: Court orders Sowore’s release

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to forthwith grant freedom to detained convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a ruling on Tuesday, directed that Sowore, who was also presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in the last presidential election, be handed to his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who is to produce him for arraignment whenever he is required.

    Read Also;  Court strikes out DSS application to detain Sowore

    Justice Taiwo noted that since a charge has already been filed against Sowore, he should deposit his passport and other travel documents to ensure his availability for trial.

    The ruling was on an application for bail, which Falana argued early on Tuesday.

    Details shortly.

     

     

     

     

  • BREAKING: $9.6b verdict: Senate summons AGF Malami, Emefiele, NNPC GMD others

    The Senate has summoned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and other relevant government agencies to brief it on the details of the Gas contract to the Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited and the $9.6billion penalty awarded against Nigeria.

    Details shortly…

  • JUST IN: Senate to inaugurate Standing Committees Wednesday

    Senate will on Wednesday inaugurate its standing committees at plenary.

    President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan disclosed this after a closed-door session on Tuesday.

    The Senate had on resumption from its annual recess immediately went into an executive session.

    Lawan said that the Senate resolved during the executive session to inaugurate all its Standing Committees at plenary on Wednesday.

    Read Also: Senate may review security architecture, says Lawan

    He said the Senate also resolved to await the presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper as well as the 2020 budget proposals by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He, however, did not give a definite date when the two important communication from the executive would get to the National Assembly.

  • Tribunal judgement: Gov. Sule pledges more people-oriented programmes

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has assured the people of the state of more people oriented programmes following the Election Petitions Tribunal dismissal of the case against his election.

    In a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria in Lafia on Tuesday, Sule said “the time has come for us to come together and move our dear state forward”.

    “The task to lift Nasarawa State to the next level is a task for all sons and daughters of Nasarawa State and all men of goodwill.

    “In the last two days, the overwhelming victory that the people of Nasarawa State gave me at the March 9 gubernatorial election was again reaffirmed by the Election Petitions Tribunal.

    “Let me use this opportunity to thank the Almighty Allah who saw us through the campaigns, the elections and the victory without loss of lives.

    Read Also: Sule woos investors to Nasarawa State

    “It is because God’s holy presence and guidance has never departed and will never depart Nasarawa State that all the 10 aspirants who contested with me on the platform of the APC still stood by me through the campaigns and our victory at the polls.

    “Today I pay homage to my family, our great party, the APC and honour the eminently qualified citizens who contested with me in the APC. Without your support, it would have been more difficult to win the elections in the very first place.

    “To you, my dear and great people of Nasarawa State, I say thank you for the love, faith, belief and trust you have shown in me.

    “To my fellow brothers and sisters on the opposite end of the political divide, I am extending my hand of fellowship once more to you to join us in building of a Nasarawa State.”

    The governor called for all stakeholders to put all differences aside and join in making the state the pride of local and foreign investors.

    (NAN)

  • BREAKING: Tribunal judgement: Atiku files Appeal at Supreme Court

    Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 23 election, Atiku Abubakar has formally filed an appeal against the judgement of the presidential election petitions tribunal at the Supreme Court.

    The appellants want the apex court to hold that the tribunal erred in its decision to dismiss its petition against the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Atiku and his party filed the appeal on five grounds.

    They alleged that the panel of the presidential election tribunal erred in law “when they relied on “overall interest of justice” to hold that the second Respondent’s (President Muhammadu Buhari) exhibits R1 to R26, P85, and P86 were properly admitted in evidence.”

    They also alleged amongst other reasons that the tribunal erred in law “when they held thus: “My firm view is that Section 76 of the Electoral Act is clearly inapplicable to the issues under consideration.

    “The form referred to are the form to be used in the conduct of the election as FORM CF001 had been taken care of in Section 31 of the Electoral Act and the said FORM CF001 is tied to the steps laid down in the said Section 31 of the Electoral Act.

    “More importantly, the law is firmly settled that a candidate is not required by the Constitution or the Electoral Act to attach his certificates to FORM CF001 before the candidate can be considered or adjudged to have the requisite educational qualifications to contest the election.”

    They also alleged that the tribunal erred in law when they held thus: “There was/is no pleadings in the Petition to the effect that 2nd Respondents failure to attach his certificates to Form CF001 amounts to lack of educational qualification to contest the election.

    Read Also: Atiku on tribunal’s judgment ‘I won’t give up until there is justice’

    “In other words, the issue of failure to attach certificates which have been flogged throughout the length and breadth of the Petitioners Address (es) in Reply to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents final written address is not the case of the Petitioner in the pleadings. No issue was joined on nonproduction of certificates or failure to attach them as an infraction of section 131, 137 and 138 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

    “All submission about the failure to produce certificates or attach same to CF001 is hereby discountenanced. Even if it can be said that the submissions made are in tandem with the Petitioners Pleadings on issues 1 and 2 the fact remains that none of the facts pleaded were proved or established as required by law.”

    Details shortly…

  • Doctor performs abortion on the wrong woman

    A doctor performed an abortion on the wrong woman in South Korea after mixing up two patients.

    The victim, from Vietnam, visited a hospital in the Gangseo district, Seoul, where doctors confirmed she was six weeks pregnant on August 7, the Korean Times reports.

    She was told she needed a nutritional injection but a nurse reportedly injected her with an anaesthetic instead.

    The nurse also allegedly had the wrong patient’s chart which was for another woman who needed an abortion because of a missed miscarriage where the foetus had died but had not miscarried yet.

    A doctor is believed to have then performed the surgery on the wrong woman without checking her patient chart.

    The patient was unaware she had been given an abortion until she noticed some bleeding and another doctor confirmed it.

    The Gangseo Police Station announced it was investigating the incident on Monday.

    Read Also: Two medical doctors in trouble over death of pregnant woman

    A doctor and a nurse were detained at a hospital in western Seoul on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury, according to the Korean Times.

    The case will soon be sent to the prosecutor’s office, a police spokesperson reportedly told CNN.

    “The doctor and nurse have acknowledged their fault,” police said.

    Abortion is illegal in South Korea, apart from in certain cases, such as rape or incest, or when the foetus could be life-threatening for the mother.

    Women who terminate a pregnancy can face fines of up to two million South Korean won (£1,340) or one year in prison, while medical professionals can face prison terms of up to two years.

    (www.newsnow.co.uk)

  • INEC, EiE, others to screen political film, ‘4th Republic’ in universities

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) have partnered with the producers of political thriller, ‘4th Republic’ to screen the movie in communities and universities across Nigeria.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the movie features Nollywood heavyweights Kate Henshaw, Eyinna Nwigwe, Bimbo Manuel, Linda Ejiofor, Yakubu Mohammed and Sani Mu’azu.

    The screening partnership also includes the Junior Chambers International (JCI) and National Orientation Agency (NOA).

    Produced by Griot Studios Ltd and Amateur Heads Productions, ‘4th Republic’ follows Kate Henshaw’s character (Mabel King) as she races to become Nigeria’s first female governor but is caught up around a heavily marred election.

    Directed by Ishaya Bako, said that the objective of the film was to raise awareness and stir conversation on the Nigerian political and electoral terrain.

    It explores the dynamics of politics in Nigeria, the necessity of a better political class, the presence or lack of women in politics and the importance of a fair and incorruptible judiciary.

    NAN reports that the film was screened in Bayelsa state on Tuesday as a follow up to the Lokoja screening on Sept. 16 with political stakeholders present.

    Both screenings were organized ahead of the Nov. 16 gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

    Speaking at a screening of the film, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Director of Voter Education at INEC said, “We believe that voter education should be done through as many media as possible.

    “This is art, and Nollywood is one of the frontiers that we think can reach millions of Nigerians”

    Also, Mrs Ruth Ogun, Director of Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilisation at NOA added that the film will help citizens know that election violence has no gain.

    Read Also: PDP urges INEC to warn Bello, APC against violence

    She said, “The movie describes to us, vividly the issues that arises during elections. With this film, it is shown that there is no gain going the violent way.

    “This is a very good tool and platform in getting the message across. For us, it is a partnership for positive development.”

    Director of the film, Bako said, “I think it is interesting that the film has gotten such strong and positive responses in each of the screenings we have had.

    “I am grateful that all the hard work from the cast and crew is paying off in this way with such support and collaboration.

    “From our fantastic funders, the MacArthur Foundation and OSIWA to a progressive indigenous IT firm, Softcom and their visionary CEO Yomi Adedeji and now government agencies and civil society actors.

    “These planned screenings show the power of film to bring people together and also stir conversation about some of the more important issues that affect us in society today.”

    NAN reports that the partnership with the producers, INEC, JCI and EiE Nigeria will see the film shown in about 18 universities, across the six geo-political zones in the country.

  • World leaders set to speak at UN, with Trump in focus

    World leaders will begin the annual days of speeches at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s address expected to draw much of the focus.

    Trump is speaking amid worsening tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

    While the U.S. president has not ruled out meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rowhani, who will address the assembly on Wednesday, the chance of that happening seems unlikely.

    Tensions have been rising between the two nations ever since Trump pulled Washington out of a 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers, in spite of no sign then of violations by Iran.

    The agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

    Trump has since been imposing tough sanctions on Iran, seeking to cripple the country’s economy and force the country to change its foreign policy.

    There have been concerns in recent months that the countries could go to war, most recently after an attack on a Saudi Arabian oil field, which is largely being blamed on Tehran.

    Read Also: Trump names Robert O’Brien as new national security adviser

    Iran rejects responsibility. Trump says he is showing restraint, for now, and is not launching strikes.

    Also addressing the UN on Tuesday will be Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, among others.

    The General Debate section comes a day after the UN held a major summit on climate change.

    Trump will hold a series of bilateral meetings during the day, including with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Iraqi President Barham Salih.

  • Eights newborns die in fire at Algerian hospital

    Eight newborns died in a huge fire that broke out at the maternity unit of an Algerian hospital on Tuesday, the civil defence authority said.

    The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday at the hospital in Oued Souf, an area 700 kilometres South-East of the capital Algiers, according to the authority.

    Read Also: Two medical doctors in trouble over death of pregnant woman

    The babies died of burns or smoke inhalation, it said, adding that 11 other infants and 65 people, including 37 women, were rescued.

    In 2018, a huge fire ripped through the same hospital, causing damage to large parts of it.