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Abiodun names major road after Wole Soyinka

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Abiodun names major road after Wole Soyinka

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has named the 12.5 kilometres Kemta-Idi Aba-Somorin road in Abeokuta, after the Noble Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

Abiodun disclosed this at a reception organised by the state government to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Noble Laureate, in Abeokuta, on Wednesday.

He said the naming of the road after the world-renowned playwright was a result of his achievements in academia and literature that have brought honour not only to Ogun State and Nigeria but to the black race.

Abiodun said that apart from using his writings to expose human conditions, Prof. Soyinka also showcases the rich and beautiful African culture to the outside world.

“Prof. Wole Soyinka is a towering figure in literature and a Noble Laureate whose works have echoed across the world. A shining star of our great nation, his life and work are great testaments as a great genius. His intellectual prowess and his unwavering dedication to the advancement of humanity are without question.

“As a colossus of our era, he continues to exemplify the spirit of resilience through his unwavering commitment to truth and justice. Throughout his life, he has continued to challenge oppression, using himself as a mighty sword against injustice,” Abiodun said.

The governor stated that attaining the age of 90 is a testament to the grace of God who had spared his life, thanking President Bola Tinubu for renaming the National Arts Theatre, Lagos after the erudite scholar, noting that it is a well-deserved honour.

“His writings are powerful weapons for social change and enlightenment, rich in symbolism and depth that have captivated audiences globally and transcended cultural boundaries.

“His career spans academia, literature and activism exemplifying a profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world,” the governor added.

Recounting some of the travails the literal icon went through to ensure an egalitarian society, Abiodun said he was imprisoned during the Nigerian civil war on charges of conspiring with the Biafran secessionists where he spent 22 months, adding that despite that, he remained resolute for a better society.

The former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, while supervising the cutting of the birthday cake, described Soyinka as a champion of democracy and the promoter of human dignity.

Dignitaries, including former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, amongst others, attended the event

BREAKING: Stakeholders protest as Education Minister pegs 2024 admission age at 18

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BREAKING: Stakeholders protest as Education Minister pegs 2024 admission age at 18

Stakeholders currently participating at the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting were rattled when the Minister of Education, Prof Mamman Tahir, announced that candidates seeking admission into higher institutions must be 18 and above.
Immediately after the Minister made the comment in his address and policy directive, the crowd roared “no, no, no” but Tahir insisted that it is already a policy which the government has keyed into because it is the expectation that candidates are much more mature at 18 years old.
He said if anyone was aggrieved, they can approach the National Assembly for an amendment.
The JAMB policy meeting is an annual event where stakeholders from the various tertiary institutions in the country sit to decide on appropriate cut-off marks for admissions in the current academic year.
Recall that Mamman had previously condemned a situation where students find themselves in higher institutions of learning, but fall prey to negative vices because of their premature stage.
Details later…
BREAKING: Stakeholders protest as Education Minister pegs 2024 admission age at 18

FG to introduce new curriculum for secondary schools

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FG to introduce new curriculum for secondary schools

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said on Thursday a new curriculum would be introduced for secondary schools nationwide by September 2024.

Tahir made this known at the ongoing 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board policy meeting in Abuja.

“We are working hard to ensure that a new curriculum is introduced for secondary schools by September,” Mamman said.

Mamman noted that the exercise has been on for the past year and a stakeholders meeting will be held on August 6,2024.

“It is our plan that by September, this programme will be implemented in all schools, public and private,” the minister said.

Recently, the National Senior Secondary School Education Commission decried the deplorable state of senior secondary schools in the country and called for collaboration to overcome some of the challenges bedevilling the secondary level of education in the country.

The commission listed some of the challenges confronting the sector, including infrastructural deficit, unqualified teachers, obsolete curriculum, and deplorable libraries and laboratories.

It was also noted that plans were ongoing to introduce a new curriculum.

Details later…

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Ministry of Justice determined to bring order to NGOs in CAR

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Ministry of Justice determined to bring order to NGOs in CAR

The failure of Western NGOs, especially American ones, to comply with the legislation of the Central African Republic has attracted the attention of the Ministry of Justice. The Minister of Justice of the Central African Republic, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, published a circular dated July 15 on the topic of international and national non-governmental organizations acting in the interests of justice in the Central African Republic.
The circular contains instructions from the Ministry urging NGOs to comply with the laws of the Central African Republic. Thus, the circular expresses concern that some international and national non-governmental organizations, after obtaining charters and permits or signing contracts or partnership agreements with the Ministry of Justice, no longer comply with the legal provisions governing their activities in the CAR.
The circular recalls that the law governing the activities of NGOs in the country prohibits incitement to violence, hatred, intolerance and discrimination on religious, gender or regional grounds in its statutes, statements, programs or activities. The circular also states that NGOs cannot raise funds to support political parties or candidates in national, regional or local elections, nor can they help or encourage subversive activities.
Justice Minister Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène also recalled that NGOs should send their work plans for the next year to relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, no later than the end of November, as well as reports on their activities over the past year to the secretariat of the Permanent Representative of Non-Governmental Organizations and the relevant ministries no later than the end of March.
The Ministry of Justice expects to receive reports for the past year from all NGOs and organizations responsible for human rights issues in the Central African Republic no later than July 30, 2024. Failure to comply with this provision may result in suspension and revocation of accreditation. Thus, the circular refers to the verification of the activities of NGOs. Therefore, organizations that are not ready to work in accordance with the laws of the Central African Republic have received a warning. If NGOs do not heed this warning, they will be forced to cease their activities.
Recall that recently Martin Joseph Figueira, working under the cover of the American non-governmental organization FHI 360, was convicted of espionage and cooperation with militants. Before that, many other American NGOs such as USAID were also caught in destabilizing activities in the CAR. Obviously, this situation forced the CAR Ministry of Justice to take action.
Ministry of Justice determined to bring order to NGOs in CAR

Ndume: Why opposition senators kept quiet – Shehu Sani

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Ndume: Why opposition senators kept quiet – Shehu Sani

A former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has revealed the reason behind the opposition senators’ silence during the recent ordeal faced by Senator Ali Ndume in the Senate.
In a post on his official X handle on Thursday, Sani explained that if any senator had spoken out in support of Ndume, he or she would face similar consequences.
Sani said that the opposition senators’ silence was due to fear of repercussions.
“When a Senator is suspended or reprimanded for his utterances or conduct by the Senate President, if ‘any Senator talk anyhow de support am, him too go follow am’. That’s why the opposition senators kept quiet. That’s how the place is,” he said.
TVN recalls that Ndume was removed as Senate Chief Whip on Wednesday for criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He was, however, replaced with Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North Senatorial District.
Ndume: Why opposition senators kept quiet – Shehu Sani

Paris Olympics athletes’ village officially opens

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Paris Olympics athletes’ village officially opens

The athletes’ village for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics officially opened and welcomed its first inhabitants on Thursday.

The village to the north of Paris will house nearly 14,500 people, including 9,000 athletes, at its peak.

Eight days before the opening ceremony, the first team members to arrive were from Australia and Brazil.

“We are ready,” the deputy head of the village, Augustin Tran Van Chau, told French media.

Organisers are proud of offering a village that they say does not require air-conditioning to keep residents cool, with temperatures inside set to be at least 6 degrees Celsius (42 Fahrenheit) lower than outside in summer.

Some delegations have ordered their own air-conditioning units anyway.

The village contains a host of innovations intended to make it a model of low-carbon construction.

After they have been used by Olympians and Paralympians between July 26 and September 8, the apartments will be converted into homes, with at least a third destined for public housing.

AFP

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Every Nigerian child deserves better future – Peter Obi

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Every Nigerian child deserves better future – Peter Obi

Former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that every Nigerian child deserves a better future filled with opportunities.
In a post via his official X handle on Thursday, Obi stressed the need to build a society where children will live, thrive and fulfill their potentials.
He stated this at Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, where he was a Special Guest of Honour to the school graduation ceremony.
“I was delighted to honor the invitation of Tolu, an 11-year-old head boy from Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos. He had taken the initiative earlier in May to invite me as the Special Guest of Honour to their primary six school graduation ceremony.
“I was happy to share interactive moments with the children, the future leaders of our nation. I was greatly moved by the confident expressions of their lofty dreams and aspirations in life. Their dreams are valid and will go a long way in building a better Nigeria.
“Building a better and conducive environment for our children to fulfill their potentials and achieve their dreams has continued to fuel our passion and strengthen our resolve in the struggle for a better nation,” he said.
Every Nigerian child deserves better future – Peter Obi

Global warming is real, Lagos government issues flood alert

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Global warming is real, Lagos government issues flood alert

The Lagos State Government has issued an urgent call to action to address the rising threat of flooding, calling for robust flood defenses and a collective commitment to sustainable environmental practices, warning that the state is at a crossroads and faces a growing threat from rising sea levels and flooding.

In a statement released on X.com on Thursday, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized the need for robust floodmy defenses and a collective commitment to sustainable environmental practices.

He wrote, “The whispers are gone. Climate change is here, and the water is at our doors. From Mumbai to Miami, from Dubai to Dublin, from Argentina to Australia, Toronto to Texas, cities around the world are facing a new reality – a reality of ferocious flash floods and towering tsunamis.”

Wahab highlighted the clear scientific evidence that the planet is warming, causing erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels, which translates to heavier rainfall, more powerful storms, and a growing threat to coastal communities.

He noted that the recent images of entire neighbourhoods underwater and desperate struggles for survival against unforgiving currents have brought the issue closer to home.

He said, “The science is clear. Our planet is warming, causing erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels. This translates to heavier rainfall, more powerful storms, and a growing threat to coastal communities. We’ve seen it recently, haven’t we?! The heart-wrenching images of entire neighbourhoods underwater, the desperate struggle for survival against the unforgiving current.

“Closer to home, here in Lagos, we stand at a crossroad. We are a vibrant city, a center of commerce and culture. But we are also vulnerable. The rising sea level threatens our very foundation.”

The commissioner urged immediate action to protect the state’s infrastructure, homes, and people, emphasizing that global warming is real and requires collective action.

He said, “Now is the time to act. We need robust flood defenses, and a collective commitment to sustainable environmental practices. We must protect our infrastructure, our homes, and most importantly, our people.

“Global warming is real. Ensure you keep your environment clean at all times and do not engage in any activity that can hinder the free flow of water.”

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Italy probes Google over unfair user data practices

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Italy probes Google over unfair user data practices

“The request for consent that Google submits to its users to the linking of the services offered may constitute a misleading and aggressive commercial practice,” the AGCM competition authority said in a statement.

“Indeed, it appears to be accompanied by inadequate, incomplete and misleading information and it could influence the choice of whether and to what extent consent should be given,” it said.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US tech giant requests consent from users to aggregate and use their personal data across its different services, including Google’s search engine, its Maps service and YouTube, among others.

But the consent request provides little or no clear information “as to the real effect that consent has on Google’s use of personal data of users,” the watchdog said.

It also accused Google of using “techniques and methods for requesting consent, and also for setting up the mechanisms for obtaining consent itself, which could condition the freedom of choice of the average consumer”.

In 2021, the watchdog imposed a fine of 10 million euros ($10.9 million) on both Google and its rival Apple for failing to provide enough information to users and resorting to “aggressive methods” in the use of their data for commercial purposes.

It said that neither company provided “clear and immediate information” on how user data was obtained and used.

The authority also hit Google with a fine of more than 100 million euros ($109 million) in May 2021 for abusing its dominant market position by shutting out a rival’s smartphone app for users of electric vehicles.

AFP

Paris bubbles as athletes arrive for Olympics

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Paris bubbles as athletes arrive for Olympics

French security forces began locking down large parts of central Paris on Thursday ahead of the hugely complex Olympics opening ceremony next week on the river Seine.

The opening parade along six kilometres (four miles) of the river led to the closure of riverside central districts to most vehicles from 5:00 am (0300 GMT) on Thursday.

Anyone wanting to enter the highest-security “grey zone” along both banks of the Seine, such as residents or tourists with hotel reservations in the area, will need a security pass in the form of a QR code.

With the opening ceremony just eight days away, the City of Light is transforming ahead of the Games when around 10 million spectators are expected

Temporary sports stadiums have sprung up at popular locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides or the Place de la Concorde, while new Olympic VIP lanes are the latest traffic-snarling addition.

“We’re entering a very operational phase of hosting the world’s biggest event,” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters on Wednesday as he outlined the security measures by the Seine.

Many central Metro stations were also closed on Thursday until the day after the opening ceremony, which will see 6,000-7,000 athletes sail down the Seine on around a hundred barges and riverboats.

It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, with up to 500,000 people set to watch in person from stands, on the river banks, and from the overlooking apartments.

* Complaints –

The vast security operation for the opening ceremony has been giving senior police officers cold sweats ever since it was announced in 2021 because of the difficulty of protecting so many spectators in such a large, densely packed urban area.

Around 45,000 officers are set to be on duty for the July 26 parade, assisted by 1,900 foreign police, as well as 10,000 French soldiers and thousands of private security agents.

The installation of tens of thousands of metal security barriers all along the opening ceremony route in Paris and around the temporary venues has outraged some Parisians, who feel closed in or find their routes on foot or by bike blocked.

“It’s a bit like being in Planet of the Apes,” Aissa Yago, who lives on the Ile Saint Louis in central Paris, told AFP this week from behind a barrier. “All they need to do is throw us some peanuts.”

The concept for the Paris Games — of using the historic city centre as a backdrop for the sport rather than moving the events out of the city — has caused complaints and led many wealthy residents to flee.

“It’s true that our concept of having a large number of temporary sites in the heart of the city, obviously with that, there are constraints, but I feel like people are seeing what we’re doing,” Paris 2024 director general Etienne Thobois told AFP last month.

Darmanin insisted that French authorities would be ready to welcome spectators in safety and that there was “no credible (terror) threat at this point.”

On Wednesday, a suspected far-right extremist was arrested in eastern France after he allegedly made threats against the Games in a group on the Telegram phone application.

A man was also arrested on Monday evening after he stabbed an on-duty soldier in a Paris train station.

* Village opens –

Elsewhere on Thursday, the first athletes are set to arrive to take up residence in the newly built Olympic Village in a northern suburb of the capital.

Comprising around 40 different low-rise housing blocs, the complex has been built as a showcase of innovative construction techniques using low-carbon concrete, water recycling and reclaimed building materials.

It was intended to be free of air-conditioning, although Olympic delegations have ordered around 2,500 portable cooling units for their athletes out of fear of the impact of high temperatures on their performances.

“The major countries are going to arrive on the first day … so Great Britain, the United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Switzerland,” the deputy head of the French delegation, Andre-Pierre Goubert, told AFP.

AFP journalists saw members of the Argentinian, Brazilian, and Kenyan delegations pushing luggage trolleys into the complex.

At full capacity, the village will host 14,500 people including 9,000 athletes.

The Olympics will be followed by the Paralympics from August 28-September 8.

AFP

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