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UK opens application for Chevening scholarships

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The United Kingdom, on Tuesday, announced the opening of the application for Chevening Scholarships.

The announcement, which was contained in a statement from the British High Commission in Abuja, noted that prospective scholars can apply from August 6 to November 5, 2024, through the online portal at chevening.org/apply.

This announcement follows the selection of 32 scholars from Nigeria for the current academic year.

The statement reads partly, “Applications for Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK open today – from August 6 to November 5, 2024. Applications are to be submitted via the online application form at chevening.org/apply

“The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to pursue any eligible master’s degree at over 150 UK universities, along with access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

“The call for new applicants follows the selection of 32 scholars from Nigeria, who won an award to study at a UK university this year.”

The Head of Scholarships at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, Emma Hennessey, highlighted the programme’s impact.

“Chevening Scholars, Fellows, and Alumni use the skills and knowledge they gain while studying in the UK to drive change, promoting better lives and safer places for people around the world to live, work, and thrive.

“Chevening represents the very best of the UK and the world, and our scholars become part of the global Chevening network of over 57,000 alumni. I am continually inspired by the passion and commitment of those in the Chevening community and I look forward to receiving applications from the next generation of leaders,” Hennessey noted.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, emphasised the programme’s inclusivity and the transformative potential for successful applicants. 

Montgomery stated, “If you are passionate about driving change, whether on a local or global scale, if you want to be the best at what you do and have the imagination to inspire others, then a Chevening Scholarship could be the perfect opportunity for you.

“There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ scholar. Your age, race, gender, religion, and cultural background do not matter to us. We want to see that you have energy, curiosity, compassion, a clear vision for your future and the ability to achieve your goals.

“Our alumni network is full of dynamic influencers who have shared the same experience that you will. They can offer encouragement, mentorship, advice, and contacts. When you return home after your studies you should feel well-equipped to start making a real difference in Nigeria.”

Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals from all backgrounds who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills required to become future leaders, and can show how a UK master’s degree will help them to create positive change in their country.

The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at over 150 UK universities while gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

Since the programme started in 1983, over 57,000 professionals have had the opportunity to take their careers to the next level through Chevening.

Over the past five years, Chevening has awarded almost 8,000 scholarships. Over 57,000 Chevening Alumni around the world comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

Seyi Law reacts to video of northern leader decrying insecurity in the region

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Nigerian comedian Lawrence Oluwaseyitan Aletile aka Seyi Law has reacted cynically to a video on social media of a Northern leader decrying the spate of insecurity in the region.
The humour merchant was reacting to a throwback video of a Northern leader, Professor Usman Yusuf, decrying the state of security in the region despite having leaders in high places.
Usman Yusuf also stated that President Tinubu could not come and bring peace to the North but the Northerners must bring peace to themselves without the intervention of the military.
‘’We had a Northern President from Katsina for eight years. Before he came, we did not have a single IDP. All our local governments were safe. Now, in Katsina state, 22 out of 34 local governments are under siege. Borno is more secure and safer than Katsina. We had a President who was from there.
READ ALSO: Comedian Seyi Law calls out President Tinubu over new CBN 0.5% charge policy
‘‘That is the feeling of Northerners. We need to look at ourselves. And now here we are, we have a Vice President who is from the North. We have a Speaker who is number four and is from the North. We have an SGF from the North. We have the most senior Military officer who is from the North. We have all the Ministers of Defence from the North. We have the Minister of Police from the North. We have the National Security Adviser from the North.
‘‘President Tinubu would look at us and say you guys have no excuse not to bring peace to your land, so it is up to us to look at ourselves in the mirror. President Tinubu from the SouthWest cannot come and bring peace to us. It is us that must bring peace to ourselves. It is not the military that will bring peace to us,” Yusuf said.
While reacting cynically to the video, Seyi Law in a post on his X account, Seyi wrote that Northerners ”continue to damage their territory” because they want to reclaim power or because they ”hate another group.’’
‘’If you like, continue to ruin your region because of the quest for power or the hate for another tribe.”
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Shehu Sani tells Senators how to impeach Akpabio

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Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator, on Tuesday highlighted the only possible way to impeach Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Sani said a senator must initiate Akpabio’s impeachment by consulting his colleagues and garnering enough numbers to push for his impeachment.
He, however, warned that such a senator would be suspended till the next election if the move fails.
Posting on X, Sani wrote: “Removing Akpabio is only possible if a Senator consults his colleagues and gets enough votes to initiate an impeachment.
“If the plot fails, the Senator may go on suspension till the next election.That is it.”
This is coming when a popular activist, Aisha Yesufu had called for Akpabio’s impeachment following his comment before the commencement of the EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
Yesufu has said: “Dear Senators. “It is time to impeach Godswill Akpabio. It is still one of you that will replace him as Senate President.”
Her remark came as Akpabio said they would be eating while aggrieved Nigerians hit the streets to protest against President Bola Tinubu.
Shehu Sani tells Senators how to impeach Akpabio

Delta pays N130bn out of N465bn inherited debt

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The Delta State Government says it has so far paid over N130 billion out of N465 billion to reduce the debt profile of the state.

The Executive Assistant (New Media) to the Delta State governor, Mr Felix Ofu disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking to journalists in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

He said “This administration inherited N465 billion and as of March 2024, Sheriff Oborevwori-led government had been able to pay over N130 billion to reduce the debt profile of the state.

“The government of Sheriff Oborevwori know that every debt accumulated will not only be at the neck of the people but our unborn children.

“Before now, surplus is being misused but this Oborevwori-led government has saved over N205 billion surplus through prudent management. It has never happened since the creation of Delta State. 

“In all this, the Oborevwori-led government has not borrowed any money since he assumed office on May 29, 2023. So, when people are asking what he is doing with the huge money coming to the state, it baffles me.”

Ofu said that the government had executed a lot of projects in the state with the money accruing to it, noting that Oborevwori can not be accused of mismanagement of funds

In addition, the Executive Assistant (Media) to the governor, Mr Nobert Chiazor described the N78 billion contract by Julius Beger as iconic in the history of Delta State.

He said that the contract is currently changing the look of the Warri axis, insisting that Oborevwori runs an open and transparent government.

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EndBadGovernance: Group demands release of activists arrested by DSS

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The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, has called for the unconditional release of some activists arrested by the Department of State Service, DSS at the nationwide protests.
TVN reports that some activists, who are among the organisers of the ongoing end bad governance protests have been arrested by DSS.
The arrested activists  include Michael Adaramoye and Babatunde Oluajo.
The group in a statement made available to TVN on Tuesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bosah Chinedu, commiserated with the families of those who lost their kinsmen during the protests.
The group said it considers President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broadcast speech of Sunday August 4, 2024 as a display of arrogance and insensitivity towards the harrowing plight and hardship of Nigerians.
It maintained that Tinubu used the broadcast to double down on his failed anti-people reform policies that have imposed monumental hardship on Nigerians.
“CDWR commiserates with the families of the injured and those whom security agents killed. We appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Nigerian Bar Association and other pro-masses organisations to openly condemn this ongoing repression of the protesters.
“CDWR at this moment demands the reversal of all anti-people policies including the reversal of petroleum prices to pre-May 2023 level; reversal of electricity tariff to pre-May 2023 rate; an end to the floating and devaluation of the Naira; an end to all neo-liberal and anti-people policies such as privatisation and deregulation of the power and oil and gas sectors; for free and quality education and healthcare; respect for democratic rights to freedom of protest and dissent etc.
“CDWR considers President Tinubu’s broadcast speech of Sunday August 4, 2024 as a display of arrogance and insensitivity towards the harrowing plight and hardship of Nigerians. He actually used the broadcast to double down on his failed anti-people reform policies that have imposed monumental hardship on Nigerians and tokenist programmes that make no real impact.
“Aside from the usual grandstanding, Tinubu did not address the demands of Nigerians put forward by the protesters. Since President Tinubu increased the price of petrol and electricity tariffs astronomically including the floating of the Naira (Naira devaluation) and hiked school fees, monstrous hardship has been imposed on Nigerians, crushing many Nigerians into deeper poverty and misery.
“The ideal expectation from a listening and sensitive president is to reverse all the anti-people reform policies but that did not come from Tinubu, typical of a capitalist leader who fully subscribes to neo-liberal program, as he arrogantly reiterated the continuation of these ruinous anti-people policies. President Tinubu’s speech also ignored the current repression of protesters by the security operatives”.
EndBadGovernance: Group demands release of activists arrested by DSS

Police, military didn’t fire live ammunition during protests

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The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday, said the police, military and other agencies involved in the management of the #EndBadGovernance protest did not use excessive force on protesters.

He noted that rather, there were attacks on security agents deployed to manage the protests.

Egbetokun disclosed this at a meeting of security agencies heads in Abuja.

He also said the military and police did not use live ammunition during the protests.

Egbetokun said, “The police and the military and indeed no other security agency involved in the management of this protest has deployed excessive use of force. Instead, what we had were attacks on security agents during the protest. From our record, there were no shooting incidents by the police.

“The police or military did not use any live ammunition in the management of these protests. Instead, we have had cases where our officers were injured and are in critical condition as we speak.

“I will dismiss that as fake news and very wrong allegations. We didn’t use excessive force at all. We didn’t even deploy the whole of our strength in this protest even when it turned violent. We have water cannons we did not deploy, we have rubber bullets, we didn’t use. All that we have used is teargas and nothing more. “

Egbetokun also disclosed that the police were not overstretched by the protests, adding that during the protests, several other criminals were nabbed.

He added that other criminal activities were recorded during the protests except for kidnapping.

Egbetokun said, “We were not overstretched; we had standby units that we didn’t deploy in managing this protest. Even while the protests were going on, a number of them were arrested.

“Hoodlums who committed armed robbery were arrested. The only thing we didn’t have was kidnapping. But any other offence that was committed we paid due attention to those criminal activities. “

Egbetokun said no Armoured Personnel Carrier was hijacked by the protesters in Kaduna state.

He said, “The situation in Kaduna is that we didn’t even deploy APC for the protest. The APC you saw was deployed to the Government House in Kaduna. Protesters went to the gate and as the driver was driving out, those protesters climbed the APC. And what the driver did was to make a U-turn and go back to the front of the Government House gate. It wasn’t a case of hijacking APC.”

Speaking on the takeover of the Abuja stadium by police, the IG said personnel were deployed there to ensure the protection of peaceful protesters.

He said, “We didn’t take over the stadium, we provided security there. We assured those who approached us and told us about their intentions to stage peaceful protests. We asked them to go to a particular location and that if they went there we would provide security.

“We have said on several occasions that we recognise the rights of citizens to protest peacefully and that for as long as they remain peaceful, the police will be there with them. We didn’t take over the stadium.”

Alvarez set for Atletico transfer as Man City agree £81.5m deal

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Atletico Madrid has reached an agreement to acquire Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez for £81.5 million.
The deal includes an initial payment of £64.4 million (75 million euros) and potential add-ons of £17.1 million (20 million euros).
This would set a new record sale for City, exceeding the £50 million Chelsea paid for Raheem Sterling in 2022.
Read Also: Messi ‘enjoying the last battles’ as Argentina reach final again
Alvarez had mentioned he would decide on his future after Argentina’s run in the 2024 Olympics football tournament, from which they were eliminated by hosts France last Friday.
The Argentine, who joined City in 2022 in a £14.1m deal from River Plate, has scored 36 goals in 106 appearances for Guardiola’s side.
Alvarez won the Treble during his first season at the Etihad and the striker featured during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar midway through the campaign.
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Nationwide Protest: ‘Resign now’-Ex-Rep member, Onyegucha to Tinubu

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An erstwhile member of the House of Representatives from Imo state, Uche Onyeagucha, has called on President Bola Tinubu, to resign as President or form a government of National unity.
Onyeagucha made this call on Tuesday in Owerri while reacting to Tinubu’s broadcast intended to address the nationwide ongoing protests against bad governance in the country.
The former National Welfare Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, said Tinubu’s broadcast added “serious fuel to the flame.”
He said he was among the Pro-Democracy Activists during the Regime of General Sani Abacha, adding that in their quest for Democracy in 1995, they both attended the World Conference on Democracy in Washington DC sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy, NED.
Speaking further, Onyeagucha told President Tinubu that they were both formerly in the opposition political parties of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
According to him, Tinubu has united Nigerians with his bad government and hunger, expressing doubt if his appointees were telling him the truth about the state of affairs in Nigeria.
“Your contempt and/or ignorance about the level of hunger and anger against your administration was perfectly captured in your Broadcast to the Nation on Sunday, 4th August 2024.
“Your broadcast to the Nation has added serious fuel to the flame. The anger of Nigerians against you and your administration is now unparalleled. Mr President Sir, respectfully under the circumstance, you have only two options left”
“You should dissolve your Government immediately and proclaim the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU). I pray that God will touch Nigerians to accept this option in the light of the contempt which you displayed against Nigerians in your Broadcast. You should resign as President and proceed immediately on Exile to enable Nigeria to start on a clean slate again. Sir, your failure to consider any of these options would very likely drive Nigeria into a Political, Economic, and Social crisis of huge proportion. I pray that you find the wisdom, courage, discipline, and statesmanship to act on my advice,” he said.
Nationwide Protest: ‘Resign now’-Ex-Rep member, Onyegucha to Tinubu

Ajayi Crowther University honours Ayo Banjo

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Ajayi Crowther University held a Night of Tribute and Service of Song on Monday for its pioneer Pro-Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo.

Prof. Banjo passed away on May 24, 2024.

The event was organised with the approval of the University’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and Governing Council, in recognition of Banjo’s visionary leadership and dedication to the establishment and growth of the university.

The ceremony, presided over by the former Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, ACU, Most Rev. Prof. George Lasebikan, was attended by all principal officers of the University, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, deans of faculties, heads of departments, staff, and representatives of the deceased’s family.

In a tribute read by the Vice-Chancellor, the Chairman of the University Governing Council, Dr. Olutoyin Okeowo, described Banjo as a rare gem of inestimable value.

He said, “Anyone who had the opportunity to meet him would know what he stood for. He was an astute institutional administrator with a rich record, having led various institutions including the University of Ibadan.

“He served as the pioneer Pro-Chancellor of ACU and later as chairman of its BoT. His tenure was marked by outstanding initiatives that helped develop the institution. He dedicated his life to academic excellence.”

In her tribute, Banjo’s daughter, Bunmi, mentioned that despite his busy work schedule, her father also devoted time to the development of the family.

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Falana warns protesters to guard against agitations for military coup

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Tuesday, issued a stern warning to protesters participating in the nationwide hunger protest, urging them to steer clear of “undemocratic forces” attempting to exploit the demonstrations to call for a military coup.
Falana’s caution comes after protesters in Kano State were seen waving Russian flags and chanting anti-government slogans, sparking concerns about the potential for external influence and unconstitutional regime change.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to peaceful protest, Falana, in a statement, emphasized the need for protesters to distance themselves from elements seeking to hijack the demonstrations for ulterior motives.
He warned that advocating for a military coup or displaying foreign flags constitutes an abuse of protest rights and may be considered treasonable felony under the Criminal Code Act.
Read Also: Why oil cabals are frustrating Dangote Refinery —Obasanjo
The lawyer noted, “While we support the right of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for a military coup in the country.
“It has become necessary to point out that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia, a country known for supporting unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the Government of Nigeria.
“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for an unconstitutional change of government.”
The legal practitioner further warned “those involved in the illegal campaign for another military rule,” adding that “they may be accused of engaging in the offence of treasonable felony in contravention of section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.”
Falana’s statement serves as a crucial reminder to protesters to remain vigilant and focused on their legitimate grievances, lest their movement be co-opted by forces seeking to undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
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