Friday 10 April 2020

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Postpones 2020 Entrepreneurship Programme and TEF Forum until 2021

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In response to the current crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, the entrepreneurship-focused African philanthropy, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, has announced the difficult decision to postpone the 6th edition of its Entrepreneurship Programme and the TEF Forum until 2021. Given the paramount importance of public health and safety, this sadly is the only appropriate course of action.
TEF 2020
 In the meantime, the Tony Elumelu Foundation will provide free training on TEFConnect while working with policymakers, governments, and development finance institutions to catalyse additional support for African entrepreneurs post coronavirus. TEFConnect will also host critical information around the pandemic to safeguard the health and safety of all Africans, as well as curate impact stories from African entrepreneurs creating innovative solutions to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
Health and safety are our priority, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation urges everyone to stay safe and observe the health precautions outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), national governments and other relevant health organisations. 

Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu
CEO
The Tony Elumelu Foundation
Lagos, Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala Gets International Monetary Fund (IMF) Appointment

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IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva names a group of prominent individuals to serve as her new External Advisory Group.The eminent group from around the world draws on high-level policy, market, and private sector experience to provide insights to enhance the Fund’s ability to serve its membership. 
 
Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala


 The new group will provide perspectives from around the globe on key developments and policy issues, including policy responses to the exceptional challenges the world now faces due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its economic impact.
Ms Georgieva said, “Even before the spread of COVID-19 and the dramatic health, economic, and financial disruptions it has brought, IMF members confronted a rapidly evolving world and complex policy issues.”
Kristalina Georgieva
“To serve our membership well in this context, we need top-notch input and expertise from the widest range of sources, inside and outside the Fund.
“Toward this end, I am proud that an exceptional and diverse group of eminent individuals with high-level policy, market, and private sector experience has agreed to serve on my External Advisory Group.
“Today we had a dynamic discussion to gain their insights, and to receive informal reactions to our ideas and approaches,” she added.
The advisory group is expected to meet a few times in a year with the IMF’s Managing Director, Deputy Managing Directors, and a sub-set of IMF department Directors.
The members of the Managing Director’s External Advisory Group are:
Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance Minister of Nigeria
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister of Singapore and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Ms Kristin Forbes, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mr Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia
Lord Mark Malloch Brown, former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
Mr Feike Sijbesima, Honorary Chair, DSM, Former CEO, Royal DSM
Mr Raghuram Rajan, Professor, University of Chicago
Ms Ana Botín, Group Executive Chairman, Santander
Ms Carmen Reinhart, Professor, Harvard University
Mr Mohamed A. El-Erian, Chief Economic Adviser, Allianz
Mr Scott Minerd, Chief Investment Officer, Guggenheim Investments
Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Chair of ActionAid International
Source: IMF


COVID 19 CASE UPDATE

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Seventeen new cases of #COVID19 have been reported as follows: 8 in Lagos 3 in Katsina 2 in FCT 1 in Niger 1 in Kaduna 1 in Anambra 1 in Ondo As at 09:30 pm 10th April there are 305 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. 58 have been discharged with 7 deaths


Three cases previously included as Lagos state cases have been transferred to Ogun state. The three cases live in satellite towns in Ogun close to Lagos Therefore, Lagos State has reported 163 confirmed cases while Ogun State has reported 7 confirmed cases.

305 confirmed cases 58 discharged 7 deaths Lagos- 163 FCT- 56 Osun- 20 Edo- 12 Oyo- 11 Bauchi- 6 Akwa Ibom- 5 Ogun- 7 Kaduna- 6 Enugu- 2 Ekiti- 2 Rivers-2 Kwara- 2 Delta- 2 Benue- 1 Ondo- 2 Katsina-4 Niger- 1 Anambra- 1  

Source: ncdc.gov.ng

Monday 1 July 2019

INEC National Review Meeting on the Conduct of 2019 General Elections -- by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

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On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I welcome party leaders to our first meeting since the conclusion of the 2019 General Elections. 
The Commission has promised the nation that it will undertake a major national conversation on the future of our electoral process.  
Having concluded our in-house reviews, today marks the beginning of our consultation with stakeholders. 
This is an auspicious occasion to, first of all, hear from those who actually fielded candidates for 1,558 constituencies in which elections were held in 2019 & deployed agents to 119,973 PUs as well as the various levels of collation of results & declaration of winners.


National Review Meeting on the Conduct of 2019 General Elections: Engagement With Political Parties, @ Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. PHOTO CREDIT: TWITTER.COM

From the outset, I must acknowledge the support of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) which has worked closely with the Commission at national and State levels to mobilise citizens for effective and peaceful participation in the electoral process... ranging from voter education, party primaries and nomination of candidates, electioneering campaigns and orderly conduct before, during and after the elections.
We have together done a lot but more needs to be done. As we continue to strive for the improvement of the electoral process, the political parties are no doubt critical to the realisation of this objective.We have already conveyed to each political party the range of issues to be discussed at this meeting. We are also aware that many of you are familiar with previous efforts to reform the electoral process.In the last eleven years, wide ranging recommendations have been made by several committees on electoral reform, notably the Uwais Committee (2008), the Lemu Committee (2011) and most recently the Nnamani Committee (2017).

The various Committees made essentially similar recommendations. They identified the need to re-examine the extensive responsibilities of INEC, the roles & responsibilities of the security agencies during elections, the imperative of internal democracy within political parties issues of inclusivity with particular reference to marginalised segments of our society (women, youths and persons living with disabilities), voter inducement which has now assumed a new dimension with vote-buying at polling units on election day, reform of the electoral legal framework, violence and hate speech during the electioneering process, and appropriate sanctions for violators of our electoral laws.

 It is important to remind us that as we review the 2019 General Elections in order to identify successes, challenges and the way forward, we should also ask ourselves the extent to which we have complied with the extant laws.I wish to remind you that the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) requires each political party to submit two election expenses reports to the Commission.First is the disclosure of material contributions received from individuals and corporate bodies three months after the announcement of the results of the General Election as provided for in Sec. 93(4) of the Electoral Act. So far, no political party is in compliance.
Secondly, parties are required to submit audited returns of their election expenses within six months after an election as provided for in Sec. 92(3)[a] of the Electoral Act. Although we are still within the time frame provided by law, so far only one party has filed its returns. Similarly, the Commission notes that only one presidential candidate has submitted financial expenses report.
We wish to remind leaders of political parties of their obligations under the law.

 
The conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates for the 2019 General Elections was indeed very acrimonious resulting in a number of court cases on the participation or otherwise of political parties and candidates in elections in many constituencies.
This has made the management of electoral logistics and post-election litigations more challenging to the Commission. At the moment, there are 809 cases challenging the conduct of primaries by political parties in regular courts across the country.

This figure is more than the number of petitions challenging the conduct of the main election currently before the Election Petition Tribunals nationwide.
It is therefore imperative for political parties to build their capacities for internal democracy, voter mobilisation and financial procedures. Effectively run political parties are crucial to our democratic consolidation.I want to reassure you that for our part, the Commission will continue to work with IPAC as enshrined in the Code of Conduct for political parties. In the next few months, Governorship elections will hold in Bayelsa and Kogi States. The elections will hold simultaneously in the two States on Saturday 16th November 2019.

The Commission has already released the timetable and schedule of activities for the elections. Party primaries are scheduled to hold from 18th August to 5th September 2019.The deadline of 5th September 2019 is firm and fixed. The conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates must be transparent and democratic in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 87 of the Electoral Act as well as our regulations and guidelines. The Commission expects strict compliance by all parties that wish to nominate candidates for the elections. No nomination arising from primaries conducted after the deadline will be accepted by the Commission.

So far, three political parties have given us notices indicating the dates for their primaries for both Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections.The Commission once again reminds party leaders to do the needful. In doing so, you should indicate not only the dates but also venues and time for the primaries. I urge you to avoid persistent rescheduling of your primaries or late minute change of venue which sometimes disenfranchise your members and make effective monitoring by the Commission difficult.Where political parties opt for direct primaries, there should be proper register of members otherwise it will amount to conducting an election without the voters’ register.

We look forward to a robust engagement with political parties at this meeting. I am confident that at this meeting, party leaders will make wide ranging proposals for the review of our electoral and democratic processes. I want to assure you that we shall give expeditious consideration to the actionable recommendations from this meeting that fall within the powers of the Commission to handle administratively.We shall also work with IPAC to ensure that the required amendments to the legal framework are given speedy consideration by the National Assembly.The work of the Commission is continuous. As we prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections, we are also preparing for a bye-election in Plateau State. Late last week, we received the declaration of vacancy from the Speaker of the State House of Assembly in respect of Pengana State Constituency following the death of its elected member shortly after he was declared winner in the State Assembly elections held nationwide

This will be the first bye-election so soon after the General Elections and barely a month after the inauguration of the State Assembly. A date will be announced by the Commission before the end of this week.
Once again, I welcome the leaders of parties to this meeting. We look forward to a robust engagement and welcome your contributions to the improvement of our electoral process and the consolidation of our democracy. 

BY   Prof. Mahmood Yakubu



MEET THE 21 BIG BROTHER NAIJA HOUSEMATES SEASON 4

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This is the first time since Big Brother Naija kicked off that all of the House drama, intrigue, and suspense will take place on Nigerian soil. With every homecoming comes the usual excitement and expectations. Naija is definitely excited about this Homecoming and filled with expectations.


The intense battle for the N60 million grand prize will continue on the dedicated 24-hour live channels of BBNaija - DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 29 - which ise\ available on all DStv package.

Speaking on the season premiere of the Show, John Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria said this is the company’s way of making the content more accessible to lovers of the show. “This promises to be the most exciting edition yet of the Big Brother franchise on the African continent. Big Brother Naija continues to amass a growing following across the continent and we want to guarantee fans that they’re in for a thrilling season.” “We are giving fans more reasons to follow and enjoy all the moments the show promises to bring”, he said.

bbn bedroom

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AVALA


Saidat “Avala” Balogun’s highest point of her life is when she gave birth to her daughter and her single, ‘Give me a chance’. The budding singer studied music and business at York College in Queens, New York. It’s no wonder then that her top artists include one of the city’s most famous exports, Mary J Blidge. Just like the Queen of Hip Hop, the Ogun State native has ambitions to spread her music all over the world.



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DIANE


Diane Yashim describes herself as an easy going girl whose favourite outfit is a shirt, trousers and sneakers. The model and aspiring cook is also a graduate of the University of Debrecen in Hungary. Studying and living there was an eye-opening experience she’ll forever be grateful for. One of the highlights of her life is being chosen as a Big Brother Naija Season Four Housemate and she says that nothing would make her quit the game. She adds that she likes to try new things and wants to see the whole experience through.

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 EIIA


Victoria “Ella” Nnabuchi is no stranger to the limelight. She was a runner up in a popular music talent search show and she’s a television presenter, voice-over artist, actress and model. She also enjoys dancing, singing, reading, writing, travelling and poetry. The industry preaches that one should fake it until they make it. Not Ella, she says it’s better to “faith it, until you make It.” 




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ESTHER


Esther Olaoluwa Agunbiade is proud of her beauty and brains. The 22-year-old Lagos based lawyer was called to the bar at just twenty-one years old. She’s also very athletic and loves to show off her figure. Her favourite outfit? A white off the shoulder, bodycon, short dress. “Who says a girl can’t embrace all aspects of who she is?” she questions. 




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 FRODD
Chemeka Frodd Okoye is a soft-spoken Investment Adviser and Sales Executive from Anambra State. The 28-year-old believes family is everything and that’s why he lists paying for his mother’s surgery bill as one of the proudest moments of his life. He says nothing can make him quit Big Brother and even if he had a million dollars, he would still participate in the game because “the experience can never be bought.” 



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IKE


26-yer-old Steve Ikechukwu Onyema, is originally from Imo State, but bides his time between Houston, Texas and Maryland, Lagos. He’s loud and colourful and loves to entertain because “you only live once”. When he lost his business in 2013, Ike had to move in with his girlfriend. Luckily, things are looking up for him now. In his downtime, you will find Ike eating steak and vegging out on the couch watching his favourite movie ‘No Country For Old Men’. Not even a family loss would make him quit the game. And if he was rich, he would still do it for the experience. 

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GEDONI



 Ekpata Gedoni is a fashion entrepreneur who likes to keep it simple with a dash of sophistication. The 31-year-old Cross Riverian enjoys basketball, soccer, taking walks and cleaning the house! His other talents include writing poetry and drawing portraits with pencil. 




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 JACKYE


Just like her spirit animal the lioness, Jackye is a fierce hunter who led her software engineering team to winning a contract to build a Fintech app for one of the biggest companies in Africa. The 23-year-old has only had one boyfriend her entire life and she relaxes by watching football, playing games and eating spaghetti, her favourite meal. Her life mantra is, “I never lose, either I win or I learn.” 



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 ISILOMO



Lagos resident, Isilomo Braimoh is single and ready to mingle. An HR manager at 27, Isilomo has an MA in Human Resource Management with professional certification. She winds down from her hectic job by engaging in sports, outdoor activities, food, music and travel. A lover of all things music, her favourite songs are currently ‘Middle Child’ by J.Cole and ‘Daz How Star Do’ by Skiibii Dazz. 



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KHAFI



Police officer Khafi Kareem believes that you can have it all if you believe in yourself. She is not only hoping to win the prize money but she wants the exposure that being in Big Brother Naija House brings so that she can do societal good. What people don’t know about her is that she is secretly talented in spoken word, singing and dancing. She is an Ekiti native who resides in London. 



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 JAFF



When it’s time to let loose, Jeff blasts Drake’s ‘Take Care’ and Burna Boy’s ‘Rock Your Body’. Originally from Anambra but now residing in Jos, Jeff is a 30-year-old banker who believes in taking things one day at a time. His go to food is a dish of beans, yam, amala, ewedu and gbegiri. Jeff also enjoys swimming and dunking a few on the basketball court. 



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 KIMOPRAH



Bubbly television presenter Kim-Oprah, believes that nothing is impossible to achieve. The African beauty achieved the impossible when she represented Nigeria at the Miss Intercontinental World Beauty Pageant. Kim-Oprah is not just a pretty face she owns a business and her favourite book is ‘Smart Money Woman’ by Arese Ugwu. There is nothing that would make her quit the Big Brother House because she is not a quitter. 


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MERCY


26-year-old Mercy Eke is a video vixen and businesswoman based in Lagos. She loves cooking, swimming, travelling and dancing. No matter the setbacks, Mercy always picks herself up and does her best. “I’m grateful for each and every day. Being alive today is already the highest point of my life”. When she’s not dancing, singing or rapping, Mercy makes time to enjoy her favourite food: white rice and pepper soup. If she had a million dollars in her account, would Sugar still be in the BB Naija game? “Yes, I would. I want the fame. The popularity is very important for my business”. 

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 MIKE



Mike Edwards is a husband, CEO and athlete who doesn’t know how to quit. The highest point in his life was the day he got married to the love of his life. Mike owns the first Black-owned cigar line in the United Kingdom and he’s also a professional athlete. The lowest point in his life was when he was banned from representing Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He’d still come to the Big Brother Naija House even if he had a million dollars because he never backs down from a challenge.


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NELSON



Nelson Allison, Mr. Universe Nigeria 2018, is single and looking. When he is not consulting or modelling, he enjoys sketch drawing, working out, watching movies and cooking. If he were a world leader, he would ensure that both the poor and the rich had equal opportunities. Nelson believes that it’s not over until the fat lady sings.



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 OMASHOLA



 Model and Entrepreneur Omashola is originally from Delta State, but now calls Lagos home. He loves playing basketball, cooking and “being in the water, even though I can’t swim”. Putting his life’s motto “If you want it, go get it – don’t just sit down” into action this year, Omashola got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. But the worst happened; she turned him down! Now single and focused on building his brand, Omashalo comes into the Big Brother Naija House ready to make his dreams come true.


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 SEYI



Oluwaseyi “Seyi” Awolowo has had many highs and lows in his three decades of existence. The bubbly entrepreneur once tried to commit suicide but has since risen above that dark period of his teenage years and has turned his life around. He is committed to his journey of self-acceptance, his girlfriend and his beliefs. He demonstrates the latter with a “Jesus’’ tattoo across his arm. Seeing his own face on a billboard for the first time is one of the highest moments of his life so far.


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SIR DEE

Sir Dee, real name Atteh Daniel Tioluwa, is a banker and graphic designer from Kaduna State. He loves football, board games and movies. His favourite of all time? Any of the movies in the Lord of the Rings franchise. Sir Dee, who is in a relationship, believes in being “the best version of myself at all times” - and counts whistling as one of his secret talents. If he were an animal, this 27-year-old would be a lion. “I am kingly, dignified, but will not hesitate to defend those I love”. As much as the prize money is important, winning is not Sir Dee’s ultimate aim. “The fact that I will be disconnected from everyone I know will have to form new  relationships in an enclosed environment, is very exciting to me”. 
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 TACHA



 Tacha has always wanted to be on Big Brother Naija. It comes as no surprise then, that getting picked to be a Housemate this season, is the highlight of her life. This spunky 23-year-old Rivers State native lives her life like her favourite musician Cardi B does; “Do no harm but take no mess”. Talented at making strategic money moves, Tacha would pick her phone over sleep, any day. Although losing her mom weighs heavily on her, the experience has taught Tacha she is as strong as an eagle, one of her favourite animals.


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 THELMA

26-year-old Thelma Ibemere lives her life by one simple motto: “Only hang out with those who bring out the best in you, not the stress in you”. Although this vivacious Hair and Beauty practitioner is currently in a relationship, she believes nothing could have kept her away from her destiny; being in the Big Brother Naija House. When she’s not running her hair business, Thelma finds time to dance, travel and read. Her favourite book of all time? ‘Talent Is Not Enough’ by James C Maxwell. If Thelma had a million dollars in the bank, would she still be in the game? “Of course, I would! Because of the fame. The only thing that would make me quit is a wedding, or pregnancy.”. 
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 TUOYO


 Psychotherapist, fitness coach and “part time stripper” Tuoyo loves working out, reading books, watching movies, listening to his favourite musicians Davido and J Cole and cuddling (even though he is single). Although life has been good to this energetic 23-year-old, not being shortlisted for an important Navy and Airforce entrance examination left him staring at an uncertain future. Luckily, a shot at fame and fortune on this season’s Big Brother Naija has given him another shot at making his dreams come true.



 from big-brother-houseamates