The Nation Newspaper

Tag: praise

  • Ambrose earns Celtic goalkeeper praise

    Ambrose earns Celtic goalkeeper praise

    Celtic record-breaking goalkeeper Frazer Forster has praised Nigeria’s Efe Ambrose and the other defenders for his clean sheets this season.

    English man Forster has surpassed Charlie Shaw’s 92-year record of 10 consecutive clean sheets.

    A formidable central defensive pairing of Efe Ambrose and Virgil van Dijk, form the reliable spine, and they are ably supported in the full-back berths by Mikael Lustig, Adam Matthews, Darnell Fisher and Emilio Izaguirre.

    But what Forster considered key to their success was the understanding gained through familiarity – a vital commodity according to the minder.

    “It´s been brilliant,” he said. “Virgil has been absolutely fantastic since he walked through the door and we know how good a player Efe is, and he´s been top drawer as well.

    “We have been playing with those two at centre-back and Emilio has been his usual self all season. He is so consistent and is another top player. The right-back slot has changed a little bit through injuries but whoever has come and played has done well.

    “We have done well through having that consistency – we all know each other´s games now and we are all used to playing alongside one another.”

    He added: “It´s fantastic to have such a settled back-four as you get so used to playing with people. I will know what Virgil is going to do before he receives the pass through playing that game-time.

    “It makes a huge difference and we have seen that over the period I have been at Celtic. We have had the back-four fit and consistent and that makes a big difference, and it makes keeping clean sheets a lot easier.”

  • Maigari deserves praise for National teams’ successes – Oladipo

    Maigari deserves praise for National teams’ successes – Oladipo

    President General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Olalere Oladipo has declared that the present NFF administration headed by Alhaji Aminu Maigari deserves tremendous praise and commendation for the successes that have been recorded by the National Teams in the past few years.

    Speaking at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday, when he led a delegation of his Club’s executive council and some members to pay homage to the nation’s football-governing body, Oladipo contended that Maigari’s humility, team spirit, sobriety, administrative acumen and ever-ready listening ear have played a huge role in the accomplishments.

    “As far as those of us in the Supporters Club are concerned, the recent successes of our National Teams would not have been possible without your excellent leadership qualities and listening ear. You are also a very lucky man. The Almighty God, not man, has put you on this seat.

    “Every Nigerian football fan and Nigerians of goodwill everywhere will continue to be grateful to you for returning Nigeria football to strong reckoning in the international sphere,” said Oladipo, who has led one of the world’s most colourful, disciplined and organised Supporters Clubs in the past 24 years.

    The visit came only hours after the Supporters Club decorated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR as Grand Patron, at a gorgeous ceremony inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.

    Responding, Maigari commended the efforts of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, acknowledged as a strong motivational force by several Nigerian legends, in being the extra man for Nigeria National Teams in every match, praising their commitment, personal sacrifice and investment in the Nigeria game over the decades.

  • Aganga, Busari praise Dangote Sugar

    Aganga, Busari praise Dangote Sugar

    Minister for Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has commended the management of Dangote Sugar Refinery on its remarkable progress towards meeting its sugar backward integration project targets.

    According to a statement, Aganga who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Lateef Busari while on a working visit to Savannah Sugar Company Ltd, Numan Adamawa State, over the weekend, expressed satisfaction at the level of positive changes seen in the company since its acquisition by Dangote Group.

    The visit, which coincided with Savannah Sugar 2013/2014 harvest season afforded the minister and the team from National Sugar Development council an opportunity to inspect Savannah Sugar facilities first hand and appraise the progress made so far in the sugar company in line with Federal Government’s New Sugar Master Plan introduced two years ago.

  • World leaders praise Nigeria on $1tr global trade deal

    World leaders praise Nigeria on $1tr global trade deal

    World leaders have lauded Nigeria’s initiative that facilitated the first-ever global trade reform agreement, which has the potential to add $1 trillion to the global economy.

    The agreement followed five-days of negotiations in Bali, Indonesia.

    The outcome is an offshoot of the work done at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Eighth Ministerial Conference in Geneva, where it was agreed that the WTO should end the fruitless years of negotiations and identify key elements of the Doha Round, where agreements could be reached with a view to delivering a package in those areas.

    The world’s trade ministers said the “helpful” leadership of the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga (who chaired the MC8), helped in the early resolution of the contending issues at the just concluded Ninth Ministerial Conference (MC9).

    The Swiss delegation commended Nigeria’s leadership of the MC8, saying it helped in no small way to reach the MC9 consensus.

    The delegation, which has invited Aganga to Davos in January, said members want to continue engagement with Aganga in view of the quality of leadership he displayed.

    It said Aganga’s experience would help address many issues.

    The 159 member countries of the WTO came to Bali for the MC9, knowing that it was either a deal was struck regarding the three packages on the table or the WTO will lose its integrity.

    “For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered. This time, the entire membership came together. We have put the ‘world’ back in the World Trade Organisation,” WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo told exhausted ministers after the long but fruitful talks.

    There were three main items in the package – trade facilitation (to streamline customs procedures and minimise unnecessary border delays, delivering jobs and opportunities in times of unemployment and slow growth); agriculture and development issues, which apply mainly to Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

    On the whole, agreements were reached at the end, including the reaffirmation of the non-discrimination principle of Article V of GATT 1994; public stockholding for food security purposes; duty-free and quota-free market access for least developed countries, among others.

  • Monarchs praise Saraki, Ahmed

    Traditional rulers under the aegis of Ilorin Emirate Magajis/Alanguas Forum (IEMAF) yesterday pledged their loyalty to the political leadership of Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki.

    The chiefs also warned those they described as “alien politicians” not to destabilise the peaceful and harmonious relationship amongst residents.

    They said their declaration of support for the scion of the famous Saraki political dynasty became necessary in view of the unfolding political development in the country.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, the monarchs said Saraki’s contributions to the state’s development in the past one decade qualified him to be the state’s political leader.

    Ilorin Emirate is made up of Ilorin East, West, South, Asa and Moro local government areas.

    The statement reads: “We, the undersigned traditional chiefs appointed by the Emir of Ilorin, have unanimously resolved to support the political leadership of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki.

    “Our decision is based purely on their unequal track records of unprecedented achievements in the state and beyond.

    “We, therefore, pledge our continued unalloyed support and loyalty for their present political mission, which we considered justifiable.”

  • Praises for service

    The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (FEDPOFFA) has been praised for providing necessary support for quality service delivery and compliance with SERVICOM Charters.

    Deputy Director, Personnel Management Department and NODAL Officer of SERVICOM Unit of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Prince Oyetunji Josiah gave this commendation at a meeting with the Management when he led an inspection team to the Polytechnic.

    Oyetunji expressed satisfaction with the methods applied by the FEDPOFFA SERVICOM Unit in addressing complaints of workers and students.

    He said they came to this conclusion after interacting with students and some workers.

    The FEDPOFFA Rector, Dr Mufutau Olatinwo said the polytechnic is complying strictly with the SERVICOM Charters because of the benefits of doing so.

    He promised that the institution will continue to ensure quality service delivery in all departments and units.

    Also at the meeting were the Deputy Rector, Administration Dr. Ayodele Olaosebikan, Registrar, Alhaji AbdulHamid Raji, Bursar, Mr. Paul Adegbemi and the NODAL Officer and Head of the Polytechnic’s SERVICOM Unit, Mr. Gabriel Soko.

     

  • Sammie Okposo takes Praise Party Live to America

    Sammie Okposo takes Praise Party Live to America

    AWARDS winning singer and Globacom Ambassador, Sammie Okposo will be rocking United State of America this summer with some of his colleagues from Nigeria. The singer is exporting his concert having held a successful Lagos edition last Easter.

    Tagged Sammie Okposo Praise Party Live, the concert will kick-off on August 13 in New York, Atlanta and Maryland. Nigerian singers already on the bill are Nikki Laoye, Bouqui, Tim Godfrey and Frand Edwards. Talks are however still on to feature gospel superstars, Micah Stampley and William Murphy.

    On why he’s taking the show to America, Okposo said it’s becoming imperative to keep promoting the brand all over the world. “Firstly, it’s all about reaching out and evangelising the word via gospel music. Secondly, it’s about promoting my music beyond the shores of Africa to reach out to my already existing fans and make new ones thereby creating a platform where they will be treated to the best of Sammie Okposo and same for other Nigerian artistes on the bill. Thirdly, it’s about creating an environment where Nigerian gospel artistes can interact and synergise with their counterparts from America with the possibilities of duets, publishing and marketing opportunities”.

  • Communities praise ‘good daughter’ Dabiri-Erewa

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has received praises from her constituents for bringing development to them.

    The leaders of nine communities in Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, that benefited from a solar power built by the lawmaker described her as “our pride in the National Assembly”.

    The chairman of Agura Community Development Association (CDA), Chief Saliu Olanrewaju Erubami, who described Dabiri-Erewa as a worthy ambassador, said: “The last time we tasted dividends of democracy in this community was 21 years ago during the days of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). It was when our daughter was voted in to represent us that we started having the feels of democracy again. We have never regretted voting for her and her party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).”

    His Igbonpa counterpart, Pastor Olohunlomotito Stephen said Dabiri-Erewa had proved beyond doubt that she is worthy of celebration.

    lhaja Fausat Amoke Taiwo from Ijede, who also praised her, asked for more. The longest road at Okoitan, was named after the lawmaker.

    The elated politician thanked the people, explaining: “No member of the House handles projects’ money; what we do is to table the needs of our people and lobby for their execution without having hands in who the contractors should be. It is the duty of the communities to prioritize their needs out of which we would pick the most pressing one and the sites for their projects without the interference of their representatives in the House.”

  • Olympiakos’ coach heaps praise on Martins

    Olympiakos’ coach heaps praise on Martins

    The coach of Olympiakos, Michel has conceded that his side were inferior to Obafemi Martins’ Levante over the two legs of their Europa League Round of 32 clash.

    Martins scored in both legs as Levante picked up a 1-0 away win on Thursday evening, to round off a comfortable 4-0 aggregate win to progress to the Last 16 where they will play Rubin Kazan.

    “We’ve been bad, Levante have been clearly better than us,” reflected former Sevilla boss Michel at full-time.

    “This should serve as a lesson to us in the future. Playing against a team as defensively organised as Levante prevented my players from reaching their potential.

    ” It is not to do with the players not wanting to create chances; they have not been able to. Our errors were then more for anxiety than any lack of quality.

    “We never had control of the game in the first half. After the goal against us we were nervous. That goal made the game almost impossible from the start.”

    Levante are currently 9th on the La Liga table after a series of bad results. They have not won in three games.

  • Salisu Yusuf: Eagles deserve all the praise

    Salisu Yusuf: Eagles deserve all the praise

    Salisu Yusuf, former Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach under Samson Siasia, has said that Eagles players and officials deserve all the accolades they are getting after the team proved virtually every Nigerian wrong en-route to lifting the 2013 AFCON trophy in South Africa.

    The Eagles were favourites to exit the Afcon when the team qualified to play against the Elephants of Ivory Coast in the quarter finals but the players’ self belief and the coaches psychological pep talk saw them prevail over the Didier Drogba-led side 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy.

    The team arrived the country early last week with the Federal Government giving them national honours, landed property and cash rewards among other freebies from philanthropists and State governments.

    “I told you the Eagles would win in South Africa. I know that a team that struggled the way they did in the first round will produce something special as the competition continues,” Yusuf told Goal.com.

    Yusuf said the team merited all the encouragement they can get from Nigerians as a means of gratitude for their superb display in South Africa where they won the trophy after a 19-year hiatus.

    “They didn’t play too well in the group stage because they were yet to get their bearing but once they clicked they became unbeatable to teams.

    “We need to know that what belongs to us is ours and we need to show our support till the very end. The Eagles proved many wrong but I believed in them from the very start.

    “They deserve all what they are getting now. It is their time they should relish it with fondness,” Yusuf concluded.

    The Eagles’ success in South Africa is the country’s third AFCON crown and the first title in 19 years. Christian Chukwu led the Green Eagles to the nation’s first title on home soil in 1980 and the current Super Eagles’ coach lifted the title as captain in Tunisia in 1994.