YAWA. BVN ALERT

Allow me to introduce you to the next big thing in the world of comedy. YAWA is definitely the most immersive comedy skit on the Internet. It tells the story of the day-to-day life of a typical street hustler named Kalistus. In every episode of YAWA, Kalistus is up to a new conning trick to get his daily bread.

In this fifth episode tagged  “BVN ALERT” we see Kalistus as a re-branded hustler who takes up the role of a CBN Customer Care Agent assisting Nigerians with fake reactivation of their blocked bank account and Debit Card fix. Watch this episode as it guarantees to make you laugh and put some smiles to your faces.

YAWA was nominated for the prestigious Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA) 2016, in the Best Short film/Online Video Category.

YAWA is created, produced and directed by the talented KASSIM BRAIMAH, while the lead character is played by the fast rising talented comedian/actor SIFON OKOI.

Watch previous Episodes of YAWA below

First Lady, Aisha Buhari Set to Launch Her “Get Involved Initiative” for Malnourished Children

The First Lady, Her Excellency Aisha Buhari is set to formally launch the Get Involved component of her Future Assured Initiative.

Get Involved is an initiative aimed at raising awareness on the issues of Malnutrition,  advocating for the underprivileged women and children; and victims of insurgency in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. It is painfully true that 2.5million children are malnourished in the country and without intervention, 500,000 children will die this year, thus the urgent need for extraordinary interventions.

In addition, the Get Involved Initiative Programme provides well meaning individuals and organisations the opportunity to contribute their quota to ending the menace of malnutrition in Nigeria.

It is against this background  that companies and manufacturers have been invited to display their products for donor patronage.

Date: August 29th to September 3rd 2016
Time: 9AM to 5PM Daily
Venue: International Conference Centre, Abuja

Earlier this month, the initiative launched the #GetInvolved Campaign to raise funds for children in need.

Help save 500,000 children’s lives this year. Take a picture holding up the hashtag #getinvolved with details on how to donate to this initiative. Will you get involved? Please send help to needy children, please give milk, blankets, socks, underwear. Do you have to share?

Wife of the Vice President Dolapo Osinbajo, photographer TY Bello and Leila Fowler have already joined the cause by taking a photo of themselves and the hash tag.

Beyonce & Jay Z step out for the Premiere of Usher’s New Movie “Hands of Stone”

The ‘Hands Of Stone‘ U.S. premiere held yesterday, August 22, at SVA Theater in New York City.

The movie, which stars Robert De Niro as legendary trainer Ray Arcel and Edgar Ramirez as Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán also features musician Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard, a one-time undefeated lightweight champion.

The movie focuses on how, at age 72, Ray Arcel comes out of retirement to coach world-class Roberto Duran. Ray Arcel became a mentor to the ferocious fighter, convincing him that winning ultimately comes down to strategy. After scoring knockout after knockout, Roberto Duran prepared for a bout against Sugar Ray Leonard. Five months later, on Nov. 25, 1980, the two titans meet for an infamous rematch that makes boxing history.

The premiere was attended by the leading cast and crew as well as a couple of Hollywood heavyweights.

Power couple Beyoncé and Jay Z came out to support Usher and they were spotted backstage at the event looking quite stylish in their matching suits. Beyoncé and Jay Z were dressed in coordinating grey ensembles with Beyoncé in a plunging double-breasted jacket with matching pin-striped pants and Jay Z in a white dress shirt and suit.

Suspected Fulani Herdsmen Allegedly Killed RCCG Pastor & 2 Others in Kaduna

Pastor Luka Ubangari of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Unguwan Anjo, has been killed by gunmen alleged to be Fulani Herdsmen on Sunday night.

PUNCH reports that the deceased was killed alongside 2 others near Godogodo in the Jema’a Local Government Area of  Kaduna State.

Ubangari was said to have been ambushed, shot and killed while on his motorcycle  after an evangelical visit to Golkofa, also in the area.

The killing comes few days after Governor Nasir el-Rufai, visited Godogodo and Sanga districts, in the Jema’a and Sanga local governments areas to assure the residents of improved security, promising to arrest the perpetrators of the attacks by suspected Fulani Herdsmen in the area

Speaking to PUNCH, a source, who craved anonymity said:

We were happy that Governor Nasir el-Rufai visited and assured us of improved security and that the killers would be found and punished.

To our shock, Pastor Luka Ubangari was ambushed, shot and killed as he was riding his motorcycle after an evangelical visit to Golkofa. He was killed by Fulani men who were out to remove us from our ancestral lands.

Another source also told PUNCH that two days after the murder of Ubangari, suspected herdsmen attacked Ningon village, 6km from  Gwantu, headquarters of Sanga LGA, killing two persons and seriously injuring another person.

The President of the Ningon Community Development Association, Nuhu Tukura, said that the community was attacked on Sunday night and  two natives, Gambo Sule, 38, and Benjamin Auta, 35, were killed by gunmen.

He added that the police only arrived on Monday morning following a distressed call put on to them on Sunday night.

“At 8:45pm Sunday night, Gambo Sule, 38, Benjamin Auta, 35, were killed by unknown herdsmen.

We are seriously troubled by all these happenings. Now, we don’t even know what we can do to have rest. Our farms, we cannot go, and our houses we cannot live in. What else shall we do?

We called the police immediately the incident occurred around 8:45pm on Sunday night, but they did not come until around 7:30 this morning (Monday).

We are pleading with the state government to help us with security and assist us in feeding. Most farmers are afraid to go to the farm and there will be food scarcity problem this year and the next,” Tukura said.

The Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the incident to PUNCH, however said that only one person was killed.

• “When the people learnt of the invasion of the attackers, the police in the area swiftly moved in with APC (Armoured Personnel Carriers) to chase away the attackers. However, one person was killed. Our men acted quickly to save the situation,” Usman said.

Teenager Stabs, Slashes throat of Pregnant Girlfriend | Says the Idea to Kill her was Gotten from a Google Search

A 19-year-old undergraduate, Ade, who allegedly stabbed his 19-year-old pregnant girlfriend twice on her stomach, and slashed her throat, has revealed how a Google search suggested the idea to him.

Narrating the incident to Nigerian Tribune, Ade said:

I met my girlfriend about two months ago on Facebook. We had a mutual friend and I added her. She accepted my request and we got to know each other. I proposed a relationship to her and she accepted. We had sex only once on July 4. I did not protect myself.

On August 10, she told me that she was pregnant. The next morning, on Thursday August 11, she called me that her parents wanted to see me. I went to her parents at Alaro area of Ibadan and they wanted to know what my intention was on the pregnancy. I suggested that she had an abortion but they said they could not abort for their daughter because it was against their belief. I told them that I would get back to them on Monday, August 15.

I left for home confused, but on the way home, different thoughts went through my mind because I didn’t want my parents to know. I didn’t want to disappoint them. I was with my phone at home and I picked it and typed ‘What to do if my girlfriend does not want to have an abortion on Google’. It brought out different options that I can deny, which I didn’t deny.

Another option was to convince her to have an abortion, which did not work. There were also other options but the last one was that I could kill her. I chose that option because she was the only one who knew my house and I believed that if I killed her, no one would be able to trace my house and I would get away with my action.

To kill, Google gave me an option to use poison, which I knew no pharmacy would sell to me. Other options were to use a gun or a knife. Knife was easy to get, so I went to the market same day to buy a knife and returned to her house. I did not meet her at home so I called her and waited for her. When she came in, I attacked her with the knife but she was resisting. I stabbed her on the right and left sides of her stomach and slashed her throat.

Unfortunately for me, her screams got to a neighbour and he came in. Coincidentally, he is a policeman so he handcuffed me and I was arrested. It was the fear of disappointing my parents that made me take the action.

Tribune reports that the suspect, who is a 100-level student in a university in South-West Nigeria is currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Oyo State Police Command, over an alleged murder attempt.

The incident took place on Thursday, August 11, at the residence of his girlfriend’s parents at Sango-Alaro area of Ibadan at about 2:30PM

The girlfriend’s neighbour, Sergeant Ayeni Oluwafemi, after hearing the cry for help, arrested the suspect who he found with a knife, and called for assistance to save the girl.

The girlfriend is currently battling for her life at the Intensive Care Unit of a Hospital in South-West Nigeria.

• The Oyo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the report said that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.

Denrele Edun Joins Beauty Queens from India, Botswana and South Africa to Spearhead Positive Change with Aurora International Foundation’s Kits for Kids Initiative

For the past 3 years, the Aurora International Foundation has been quietly impacting the lives of needy kids in public schools in various states in Nigeria.Thanks to the recently concluded Kits For Kids Africa (IV) initiative held in Kwara State, the spotlight has been turned on Nigeria as a hub of development for Education and Tourism.

Beauty Queens from India, Botswana, South Africa visited Nigeria and were fully involved in the propagation of Education & Tourism in Nigeria as they travelled to various communities with the Kits For Kids Africa team & a few Nigerian celebrities, generously making donations of Brand New School bags, Sandals, Socks, Stationery, Exercise Books and many more to thousands of needy kids in public schools all the while enlightening them on the benefits of education and encouraging them to strive for greater heights in the future.

Equally notable, was the amazing photo shoot that was held at the highest waterfall in West Africa: Owu Falls. The scenery was indeed a beauty to behold – an untapped tourist hub…a diamond in the rough.

Speaking on the success of her foundation’s outing, ex-Miss Tourism Nigeria, Tomi Salami expressed her gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Microsoft, Zuma Energy, Bubbles and every single supporter who contributed in one way or the other to the success of Kits For Kids Africa; stating that supporting initiatives like this is a proper way to invest in the future.

• 
  She said,

  “Words cannot express how grateful I am to God, my ever supportive family, the Kwara State Government, all our sponsors/partners/supporters and every member of #TeamKitsForKids. It was truly an amazing experience – hectic and time bound but very rewarding. The children in the schools we visited were ecstatic! They were truly inspired to look beyond their circumstances & to hold on to bigger dreams. I hope we are able to receive more support and thus cover more grounds on our next outing. One of the highlights of our stay in Kwara State was our visit to Owu Falls. The feel of the ice-cold showers from the falls on our skin was mind-blowing. Legend says the water falls faster & more heavily when you call its name…We hope for investor interests & massive infrastructural development so that spot can be turned into a goldmine for tourism.”

  It was indeed an admirable effort and this speaks of the promise of even more to come all over the country & Africa as Aurora Charity Foundation continues striving to bring about positive Change.
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John Kerry Visits Sultan of Sokoto, Lauds his Efforts in Promoting Religious Tolerance

• FROM LEFT: GOV. AMINU TAMBUWAL OF SOKOTO STATE; THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MR JOHN KERRY; AND THE SULTAN OF SOKOTO, ALHAJI SA’AD ABUBAKAR III , DURING KERRY’S ARRIVAL ON A COURTESY VISIT TO THE SULTAN’S PALACE IN SOKOTO ON TUESDAY(23/8/16). 5898/23/8/2016/ BRM/BJO/NAN    

The United States’ Secretary of State, John Kerry, is currently in Nigeria.

On Tuesday, he visited the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar where he lauded the efforts of the Sultan in promoting religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.

He said that the Sultanate Council was building a community of tolerance for peace, progress and political stability in Nigeria.

He said that the United States would continue to identify itself with the Sultanate in strengthening religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.

He said that being the first secretary of state to visit the seat of the caliphate, all hands should be on deck towards strengthening religious knowledge among Nigerians.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar had earlier expressed delight at the visit.

He said that the council would continue to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians for the overall political growth of the country.

He explained that religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians remained the principal objective of the Sultanate in mobilising Nigerians to tolerate one another for peace, progress and political stability of the country .

Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who accompanied Kerry to the palace, said the state government would continued to strengthen peaceful coexistence among the people, irrespective of religious, tribal and political differences.

“We don’t discriminate on religious, tribal, ethnic or political affiliations, as we accommodate all for peace and harmony,” he said.

Kerry had a closed door meeting with Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar and some leaders of the two major religions.

Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Inuwa Abdulkadir, Deputy National Chairman of APC North West, were present during the courtesy visit on the Sultan.