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AGN holds candlelight service for late Nollywood veterans Mr Ibu, others in FCT

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AGN holds candlelight service for late Nollywood veterans Mr Ibu, others in FCT

The Actors Guild of Nigeria held a candlelight procession to pay tribute to late Nollywood actors John Okafor, popularly known as ‘Mr Ibu’, Amaechi Muonagor and Zulu Adigwe.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the thespians, alongside fans and friends of the late veterans, gathered for the procession at the Unity Fountain on Monday night in Abuja.

The procession was led by Emeka Rollas, National President of the AGN, alongside veteran actors Kenneth Okonkwo, Zack Orji, and Sidney Idiala, among others.

In a heartfelt display of respect and emotions, the attendees took turns to pay tribute to the fallen heroes for their contributions to the Nigerian film industry.

Mercy Salma, FCT mayor of AGN, said the event was to show appreciation and honour for the life and times of the late actors.

“These are Nollywood veterans who put smiles on the faces of Nigerians during their lifetime, so we should celebrate their legacies and memories.

“They have both the young and the old Nigerians, and even across Africa and beyond as their fans.”

“So this procession is to show that we love them and appreciate their sacrifices and contributions to our industry and nation at large,” she said.

In his speech, Emeka Rollas said the procession was to demonstrate the solidarity that exists in the actors guild and to reflect on the moments they shared with the late thespians.

According to the AGN helmsman, the candlelight service was also an occasion for actors to reflect on how they want to be remembered at the end of their works.

“This is a season of sorrow for us at the AGN, our hearts are filled with grief over the loss of our three veteran members.

“But as the saying goes, when someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.

“The Late John Okafor, Amaechi Monaugor and Zulu Adigwe lived a life that exemplified brilliance and inspired emulation.

“They also lived a life that burned so that others’ paths were lit, and they made impact on society through their profession.

“Today we are here to honour them, not only by profoundly feeling and expressing our loss, but also to remember their amazing personalities.

“They all played unique and special roles in all of our lives and the acting profession and they were loyal colleagues and special friends to many of us.

“Today, we honour these men as we recall special moments , they were living proof of how fine a person can be, caring hearts to their friends and colleagues, loving and devoted father to their children.

They gave their all in their acting careers as they worked with passion, integrity and energy and our hearts and prayers are with their families at this most difficult time,” he said.

On his part, Kenneth Okonkwo, foremost Nollywood actor said their commitment to their profession was part of what made the Nigerian film industry a toast of fans.

According to him, they were driven by the passion to join the industry which was why they rose to their peak and made indelible marks.

He urged young artistes to focus on value delivery and shun the rush for quick monetary gains for them to make their marks in the industry.

“As one of the pioneer actors in the industry, I was connected personally to each of them that came to Nollywood at that time, and I can tell you that they were all driven by passion for acting.

“Wherever they are today, we should appreciate what they have contributed towards the growth and development of our industry,” he said.

NAN reports that the high point of the event was prayers for the repose of the departed souls and for the Nollywood industry, as well as prayers for Nigeria.

Rotational presidency not a priority for Nigeria now

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Rotational presidency not a priority for Nigeria now

The Chief Spokesperson, Peter Obi/Datti Baba-Ahmed Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 election, Alhaji Yunusa Tanko, has said that reforming the electoral process is much more needed now than the proposed single-tenure rotational presidency, to deepen democracy.

Tanko, a former National Chairman of the defunct National Conscience Party, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, said reforming the electoral process would guarantee the emergence of credible leaders across all levels of government.

According to him,  deepening democracy to guarantee the emergence of credible leaders should be one of the key things to consider in the ongoing process of amending the Constitution.

“These (single tenure of six years and rotational presidency) are things that will be decided by the Nigerian people when the time comes.

“They are not things that should be on the front burner of discussions at the moment now.

“This is because what we need actually at the moment is for us to have an electoral reform that would dovetail into credible elections.

“Once we have that, we shall be talking about the tenure of office,” he said.

Tanko said that the National Assembly should not focus on tenure of office but on deepening the electoral process to promote democracy.

“Let us reform the electoral system to make it clean and clear so that we can have credible elections,” he said.

Also, speaking with NAN, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, said that a rotational presidency and a single term of six years for the president and governors were good ideas.

He, however, said rotational presidency might not be consistent with democratic principles.

Yerima, also a rights activist, said: “It is good, the only problem I have with it is the rotational aspect of it. We must allow it to be democratic.

“He who has the number should take it, and he who does not produce the number should be patient and wait for his time.

“However, this is not really our problem, but it is good. One term for any leader to rule and get away.”

NAN reports that a bill seeking a single term of six years for the President and state governors was brought up recently by 35 members of the House of Representatives.

The bill also canvasses the rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The 35 legislators, under the auspices of Reformed-minded Legislators, said both proposals would lead to a reduction in the cost of governance.

The spokesman for the group, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, added that the move would unite the country ensure seamless power transition and promote the development of the country.

NAN

Nigeria’s one million subscribers on learning passport excites UNICEF

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Nigeria's one million subscribers on learning passport excites UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund has said hitting one million subscribers on the Nigeria Learning Passport was a testament to the collective commitment to ensuring that every child in Nigeria has access to quality education, regardless of their location or circumstances.

The UNICEF in a press statement on Tuesday, announced that the Nigeria Learning Passport has reached a remarkable milestone of one million subscribers, describing it as a milestone in educational access in the country.

UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, said, “This platform is bridging the educational gap and providing opportunities for children to learn and thrive, especially in remote and underserved communities.”

Munduate said, “The groundbreaking digital learning platform was launched to ensure continuous learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and has now become an essential tool in providing quality as well as uninterrupted education to children across Nigeria.

“The NLP is a result of a collaborative effort between UNICEF, the Federal and State Ministries of Education, and key partners among others including Microsoft, Airtel, IHS Towers, Sony, Botnar Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

“It offers over 15,000 curriculum-aligned educational resources, including interactive lessons, digital textbooks, and self-paced learning modules, designed to cater to students from primary to secondary education levels, and for teachers and parents,” Munduate said.

The UNICEF Nigeria Representative also said, “The Nigeria Learning Passport has been instrumental in addressing the educational disruptions caused by the pandemic, and most recently by natural hazards and attacks on schools, ensuring that children continue to learn in a safe and supportive environment. The platform’s user-friendly interface has made it accessible to learners.

“The soon-to-be-launched offline capability will also make it accessible to learners with limited internet connectivity, further promoting inclusivity in education.

“The key features of the Nigeria Learning Passport include a comprehensive Curriculum: Covering core subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English, and Social Studies, available in local languages – English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, Interactive Learning: Engaging learners with videos, quizzes, and interactive activities, free to use platform, and Data-free usage on an Airtel SIM Card.

“For offline Access; it allows students to download content and study without an internet connection, and teacher resources: providing educators with tools and materials to support effective teaching.”

Scientists develop fully edible robots with organic materials

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A team of scientists is combining robotics and food to build entirely edible robots. This innovative idea was revealed by physically combining food and technology.
Under the direction of RoboFood researchers, this ground-breaking research project has the potential to revolutionize environmental management, health care, and culinary experiences.
Experts from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Wageningen University in the Netherlands, the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) are involved in the project, which aims to address the difficulties of combining robotics with organic, biodegradable materials.
READ ALSO:Chinese robotics company develops bot with near-human capability
Systems called edible robots are made to sense their surroundings, analyze data, and carry out tasks—all while being safe to consume. This idea contradicts the conventional wisdom that robots are inert, heavy, and non-disposable.
Rather, soft, biodegradable, and organic materials are used to create edible robots. This creative solution may cut down on electrical waste considerably and open up new uses across a range of industries.
The post Scientists develop fully edible robots with organic materials appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Charly Boy mocks ex-Gov Amaechi waiting for commercial flight at airport

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Charly Boy mocks ex-Gov Amaechi waiting for commercial flight at airport
Veteran Nigerian entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has mocked former Rivers State governor, and former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, after he was seen sitting in the departure lounge of the Abuja Airport waiting for a delayed flight.
Charly Boy, also called Area Fada, who posted the picture of the former Rivers State governor on X (Former Twitter), noted that it was a humbling experience for Amaechi who was not used to such when he was in government.
According to him, Amaechi has been used and dumped by the Buhari government.
In the post he titled “Time & Tide: Nigerian Mumu Leaders’, the self-styled Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM), said:
“Once your reign is over:
1. The hypocrites are gone.
2. The sycophants are gone.
3. The bootlickers are gone.
4. The MOPOL security men are gone.
5. DSS are withdrawn.
6. Soldiers are re-assigned.
7. FAAN staff no longer shake or shiver at your presence.
8. You no longer have access to Rivers State aircraft.
9. You cannot afford to charter an aircraft from your personal income.
Then Amaechi has to stay in the same departure lounge in Abuja with me (an Alagbado man), waiting for an aircraft that was delayed for 1 hour.
Whatever position you occupy presently that makes you believe that you are superior to your colleagues, please remember that it is temporary.
Power is transient.”

Time & TidesNigerian Mumu Leaders
Once your reign is over:
1. The hypocrites are gone.2. The sycophants are gone.3. The bootlickers are gone.4. The MOPOL security men are gone.5. DSS are withdrawn.6. Soldiers are re-assigned.7. FAAN staff no longer shake or shiver at… pic.twitter.com/nGHDwkAl1m
— Charly Boy Area Fada 1 (@AreaFada1) June 18, 2024

The post Charly Boy mocks ex-Gov Amaechi waiting for commercial flight at airport appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Tinubu departs Lagos for Ramaphosa’s inauguration

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Tinubu departs Lagos for Ramaphosa’s inauguration

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, departed Lagos for Pretoria to attend the inauguration of the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Nigerian leader left the Presidential wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on a Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft around 11:06 am.

The president, who will return to Nigeria after the ceremony, was escorted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Sanow-Olu, his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat and other government officials.

The presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, had said in a statement that Tinubu would attend the inauguration of Ramaphosa following his re-election as President for a second term.

According online had reported that Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term after his humbled ANC cobbled together an unprecedented coalition government.

Lawmakers in Cape Town voted overwhelmingly to put Ramaphosa back in office for another five years after the May 29 general election produced no outright winner.

The election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the African National Congress of the late Nelson Mandela.

The party that led the anti-apartheid struggle won only 40 per cent of the vote and, for the first time, lost its absolute majority in parliament.

The ANC however, struck a deal to form what it calls a government of national unity.

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Microsoft announces $7bn investment in Spain to develop new AI data centres

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Microsoft, an American multinational corporation and technology company, has revealed plans to build new data centers in the Aragon area of Spain, which would come with a price tag of more than $7 billion (€6.6 billion).
In keeping with Microsoft’s intentions to invest in constructing a new AI center outside of Madrid, the data centers will be constructed outside the city of Zaragoza.
In a statement released on Monday, José Luis Escrivá, Spain’s Minister for Digital Transformation, affirmed the investment ambitions.
The aforementioned investments follow a similar move by AWS and other recent worldwide data center projects disclosed by Microsoft.
READ ALSO: Microsoft reacts to EU complaints over children’s data privacy
According to Microsoft, Spain’s cloud and AI industries will profit from its new digital infrastructure in Madrid, possibly creating over 70,000 new jobs and €10 billion in GDP by 2030.
“Microsoft’s new data centre region will provide cutting-edge, sustainable and secure AI solutions for Spain and the rest of Europe,” stated the Minister.
“It is a great satisfaction that Microsoft is once again betting on Spain for the deployment of state-of-the-art infrastructure and services, thus contributing to the positioning of our country at the forefront of digital transformation,” he added.
The post Microsoft announces $7bn investment in Spain to develop new AI data centres appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Stop storing cooked food in refrigerator for more than three days -NAFDAC

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Stop storing cooked food in refrigerator for more than three days -NAFDAC

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Administration and Control, Prof Moji Adeyeye, has urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days.

Adeyeye warned that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death.

Adeyeye made this known in a statement on Tuesday signed by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola.

Adeyeye, who said this in commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day with the theme, ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected’, urged stakeholders in the food supply chain to take deliberate actions to institute a food safety culture in their operations to mitigate food hazards and risks that could compromise food safety.

The World Food Safety Day celebrated annually on June 7 was established by the United Nations General Assembly task force in 2018 to raise awareness and encourage efforts to prevent, detect and address public health risks linked to unsafe food.

The statement partly read, “She however, urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days, warning that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death.”

Adeyeye remarked that food safety is not only important for public health but a sine qua non for economic development and food security.

She noted that food safety is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone from producers to consumers needs to play their part to ensure food safety.

According to her, the campaign aims to promote global food safety awareness to strengthen efforts of preventing, detecting, and managing foodborne risks globally by highlighting the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents.

“Let us all stay true to the statements ‘food safety is everyone’s business’ and ‘food safety is a shared responsibility’ as we celebrate this year’s World Food Safety Day. Working together, we will continue to strengthen our food safety system, ensuring its resilience, robustness, and preparedness for the unexpected,” she said.

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 600 million – almost one in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food, and 420,000 die every year, resulting in the loss of 33 million healthy life years.

WHO said $110bn is lost yearly in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries.

Also, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs Eva Edwards, alerted that foodborne diseases are expensive, yet they are preventable.

Edwards emphasised the significance of food as a necessity for human life, stressing that it can also be a source of harm if not handled properly.

She stated that food safety emergency response must be anchored on a multisectoral, collaborative, integrated one-health approach across the health, agriculture, and environment sectors, the tiers of government including relevant external partners and non-governmental organisations.

‘’Let’s all play our part in promoting the culture of good hygiene practices in our homes, communities, and food establishments. Together we can ensure a safer and healthier food supply for everyone,” she noted.

Kogi bans traditional procession in Koton Kafe

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Kogi bans traditional procession in Koton Kafe

The Kogi State Government has banned the traditional procession in Koton Kafe in the Kogi Local Government Area of the state for security reasons.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, announced the ban in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lokoja.

Fanwo said that security reports indicated that all was not well in the Koton Kafe community, following alleged plans by some people to foment trouble in the area.

He said that the ban was aimed at maintaining peace in Koton karfe and its environs in Kogi Local Government  Area.

“The proactive ban is aimed at curbing plans by some elements in the area to disturb the peace of the ancient town.

“Governor Usman Ododo has reiterated his administration’s commitment to peaceful co-existence among all Koton karfe people.

“He will always leave his doors open to listen to complaints and grievances rather than resort to violence,” he said.

The commissioner urged all concerned to strictly abide by the ban, warning that violators would be treated as enemies of peace and the state.

He said that the decision by the government was aimed at protecting the rights of the Koton karfe people and all citizens.

Fanwo urged law enforcement agents to enforce the ban under the laws of the land.

According to him, Koton karfe people should be committed to peace and harmony as the government was prepared to protect them from violence.

Earlier, former Governor Yahaya Bello on January 8 removed Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isah-Koto as the Ohimege-Igu Koton-Karfe.

Isah-Koto was also the Chairman of the Lokoja/ Kogi Local Government Area traditional council.

Isah-Koto, who was removed and deposed to Rijau Local Government Area of Niger, was replaced with Alhaji Saidu Akawu-Salihu.

(NAN)

Customs to clamp down on private jet owners, summons Dangote, Adenuga, Adeleke, 77 others

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The Nigeria Customs Service has moved to clampdown on owners of private jets in the country, as no fewer than 80 operators and owners of such jets in the country are expected to appear at the headquarters of the Service in Abuja with their aircraft import documents.
Some of the prominent Nigerians who own private jets include Aliko Dangote, Founder of Dangote Group; Mike Adenuga, CEO of Globacom Ltd; Adedeji Adeleke, President of Adeleke University and elder brother to Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke; Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace and Arthur Eze, CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum.
Others are Igho Sanomi; Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, CEO of The Ibeto Group; Apostle Johnson Suleman – General overseer of Omega Fire Ministries; Dr. ABC Orjiako, Chairman and co-founder of Seplat Oil and Femi Otedola, Chairman of Geregu Power Plc and FBN Holdings Plc.
The special aircraft import verification exercise is expected to commence on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 and is expected to last for 30 days, according to a public notice issued by Customs.
The notice read in part, “The Nigeria Customs Service announces a verification exercise for privately owned aircraft operating in Nigeria. This exercise aims to identify improperly imported private aircraft without documentation, ensuring proper imports and maximum revenue collection.”
According to the notice, owners and operators of private jets in the country are to come with some relevant documents.
These include aircraft Certificate of Registration, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s Flight Operation Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Maintenance Compliance Certificate, NCAA’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flights, and Temporary Import Permit (if applicable).
READ ALSO:Customs CG, Adeniyi, dismisses report of age falsification
The latest plan to clamp down on operators of improperly imported private jets came more than one year after the Federal Government suspended the action.
In the past three years, the government had planned to recover import duty running into billions of naira from some private jet operators who had used certain technical loopholes to evade the payment of import duty.
A few private jet owners paid the mandatory import duty after the Hameed Ali-led NCS took some significant steps to recover the revenue.
However, several owners and operators of private jets in the country have yet to pay the statutory duty.
Many private aircraft operators in the country have allegedly explored technical loopholes in the regulation to fraudulently obtain a Temporary Import Permit from the Nigeria Customs Service instead of paying the statutory import duty on their imported aircraft.
The TIP, which is valid for an initial period of 12 months, can be extended by six months twice, according to the regulations.
National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday, confirmed the verification exercise, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
“All we are doing is to ensure maximum revenue collection for the Federal Government. Relevant sections of our extant laws and regulations will guide our actions and inaction during and after the exercise.”
The post Customs to clamp down on private jet owners, summons Dangote, Adenuga, Adeleke, 77 others appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

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