Photos: Pres. Buhari recieves former President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Rock

President Buhari this afternoon received former President Goodluck Jonathan at the state house Abuja. Speaking with state house correspondents after their closed door meeting which lasted for 20 minutes, Jonathan said he was in Aso Rock to brief President Buhari of his recent international engagements. More photos after the cut.

Photos. Edo state local government workers stage protest over unpaid salary arrears

Edo state local government workers are currently staging a protest in the state over their unpaid salary arrears. The angry workers say the local government authorities have not paid their salaries ranging from two to eighteen months. More photos after the cut.

#Rio2016: Ese Brume ranks 5th in Long Jump Final, Divine Oduduru fails to Qualify for 200m Final

Divine Oduduru (L) and Ese Brume (R)

Nigeria’s track and field athlete, Ese Brume, 20, came in fifth in the finals of the women’s long jump event at Rio Olympics.

The event was won by U.S.A’s Tianna Bartoletta after jumping 7.17m. Ese lept 6.81m to come in fifth.

Similarly, Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru, 19, could not qualify for the finals of the men’s 200m race. He ranked 7th in his heat after clocking 20.59secs.

Image from keshi burial rite

With My Last Respect , i say Rest In Peace The Boss , here are the Photos From The funeral Burial Of Late Stephen Keshi , in Benin City Nigeria , More Photos From Stephen’s Keshi Funeral Service In Benin will come soon.

Read Tributes From Friends below.
TRIBUTES TO STEPHEN KESHI
Just like yesterday, I recall several write-ups and publications during the troubled times with the Football chiefs then as the Super Eagles gaffer
But when administrators sacrifice professionalism for mischief and devilments, of course they had their way but posterity has vindicated him. The immediate replacement nicknamed Pep Guardiola of Africa …the end is now a story. As the Yoruba adage say” Pasan ti won fi na Iyale…(complete the rest) meaning the cane used to flog the first wife, is still harbored for the 2nd wife. Of course the rest is history.
Up till now Nigeria has no substantive coach!

Military bombards Lagos, Ogun creeks, scores feared killed

There was pandemonium on Thursday in the Arepo area of Ogun State and some part of Lagos State after the military bombarded the base of suspected militants in the states.

The PUNCH learnt that scores of militants were reportedly killed in the joint military operation which lasted for more than one hour.

A source said the military attacked Fatola, the base of the militants, adding that houses around the area were shaken by the impact of bomb explosions on the Ijaw militants.

He said, “There has been a lot of commotion. The Nigerian Air Force bombarded Fatola, in Arepo, which is the base of the militants. They are shelling the place with fighter jets. Some soldiers also surrounded the area to make sure that if any of the militants should run out, they would be gunned down.”

A resident said people in the area had started fleeing their homes due to the bombardment.

Another resident in the Imushin area of Ogun State told our correspondent that two aircrafts were involved in the operation, adding that only one base of the militants was attacked.

He said, “An aircraft had actually been surveying the creek for the past three days. But a second one joined this evening around 6pm. All we heard was a sudden bomb blast released from the second aircraft. But it appeared that some of the militants had fled into the bush. There are four major bases of the militants in the creek and they are led by two men- OC and Agbala. If the military can get these two people, then they would have succeeded in clipping the wings of the militants.”

A community leader, who claimed to have spoken with one of the officers, said, “The military officer said residents should not panic because it was a military exercise. I also gathered that the casualty figure was high and that a lot of the militants had been killed.”

The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the operation, saying it involved the army and the navy.

He said, “The military only conducts its routine operation for the purpose of denying the vandals and other criminal elements from causing terror in the area. The operation, codenamed, Operation Awatse, was initiated by the defence headquarters to dominate the area with a view to flushing out all manners of criminals including militants and saboteurs. The operation involved the joint forces of the navy and army and it has been successful.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the police were part of the operation.

She said, “The Nigerian military and policemen from the Lagos and Ogun commands are part of the operation. We are sweeping through the waterways where we share boundaries to end the activities of the militants. It is a continuous exercise and we cannot tell the number of casualties.”

The acting Police spokesperson, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, promised to call back our correspondent, but he had yet to do so as of press time.

APC wins Imo rerun election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Ben Uwajumogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Imo North Senatorial District rerun election held on July 28.

Uwajumogu scored 56,076 votes to defeat Mr Athan Achonu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 43, 815 votes.

Prof. Arinze Agbogu, the INEC Returning Officer for Imo North Senatorial District, who announced the result in the early hours of Friday, said the outcome was a summation of scores of July 23 and that of July 28 exercise.

Uwajumogu, had scored 48,921 on July 23, while Achonu, of the PDP, scored 40, 142 votes which made INEC to declare the rerun inconclusive.

Agbogu said that available data before him showed that Uwajumogu had majority of lawful votes cast, and therefore returned elected for the Imo North Senatorial District.

Similarly, INEC declared Mr Nkenna Nzeruo of the APC winner of Oru East State Constituency, while Mr Collins Chiji also of APC was declared winner for Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

The two state constituencies’ elections were equally declared inconclusive due to reported cases of violence that marred the exercise in some communities in the two areas on July 23.

Uwajumogu told journalists in Owerri that he was highly elated over the victory, adding “my gratitude goes more to Gov. Rochas Okorocha whose structure helped me to win this senatorial election’’.

Indonesian newspaper apologises over execution story error

An Indonesian English-language newspaper on Friday apologised after it ran a front-page story erroneously declaring that 14 drug convicts had been executed.

Indonesia executed four convicted drug traffickers just after midnight Friday, after the attorney general’s office said 14 death-row inmates would be put to death.

The Jakarta Post said the paper had been printed before it learned that only four convicts, not 14, were shot by firing squad.

The Post’s chief editor, Endy Bayuni said the story was accompanied by a photo showing a sister of Pakistani drug convict Zulfikar Ali, who was among the 10 spared, weeping while holding his portrait.

“The failure to do the verification before running the story is completely unprofessional and a serious violation of the main principles of good journalism.

“The Jakarta Post sincerely apologises to all our readers, particularly to all those affected by the story, for this major failure,’’ Bayuni said.

I didn’t receive N3tn allocation as governor – Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said on Thursday that he did not receive over N3tn allocation as governor of Rivers State.

He said therefore he never squandered such amount as alleged by his successor, Nyesom Wike.

Amaechi said this at a stakeholders’ a stakeholder’s meeting on the London Summit on Anti-Corruption and the Open Government Partnership.

The event was co-organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice and  the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, Justice For All project.

Amaechi said the Rivers State people were aware of how much he received while he was governor, adding that his successor was only fabricating lies against him.

He said, “Within that period we insisted on engaging the indigenous communities on how much we received and how we spent the money.

“That is why I feel that after this ministerial appointment, I should do everything possible to stay away from government because in spite of all the forms of transparency I introduced in government, one man could begin to tell lies to Nigerians and Nigerians believe him.

“The governor of Rivers State said I squandered N3tn. I did not receive up to N1.8tn as governor both from IGR and funds from federal allocation. So, how could I have squandered money I did not even receive in the first place? You can see the politics of lies and lies.”

Amaechi insisted that he was not corrupt and challenged anybody to bring up evidence to the contrary.

He said, “As Minister of Transportation, I run an open and transparent system. I believe in name and shame.

“What name and shame does is, if you name and shame those of them who don’t have conscience they won’t come to public functions.

“I do have conscience. In fact, it was the word corruption that brought me to this occasion because I wanted to see who will get up and say to me, ‘this is evidence that you are corrupt.’

“We went to court against the Rivers State government on their allegation of corruption against me. The Court of Appeal said, produce that document that found this man (Amaechi) guilty of those crimes and up till today he (Wike) has not produced it.”

Earlier, in his speech the Attorney General and Minister of Justice  Abubakar Malami, said, “ As you are all aware, President Buhari made fighting corruption one of the pillars of this administration’s policy. Since assuming office, every effort has been made to build on and expand on what was initiated by previous governments. Amongst these key priorities is the need to recover stolen funds and to pay back to the Nigerian society what they have lost to corruption.

“You may recall that during the London Anti-Corruption Summit, President Muhammadu Buhari presented a country statement on actions that would be implemented by the government of Nigeria on anti-corruption reforms.”

She Leads Africa: Find Out How You Can Overcome 5 Common Business Startup Challenges

probably one that’s 6 months old. You’ve achieved the significant part of your dreams but what to do when your business becomes a stubborn child?

Whatever you do, don’t look it in the eyes or try to confront directly. We’ve got ways to overcome some common challenges associated with start-ups to help.

Finances
This is a broad category that I will break down into capital, cash flow and frugality.

When it comes to capital, the source that you pick matters. Going along with family and friends will definitely be easier but may not challenge you to see little gaps in your business plan. Unless of course, your family or friends are well versed with the business world. Considering an investor or venture capitalist that funds start-ups would be a good way to go about it. Investors have prerequisites and question aspects of the business plan prior to the receipt of the capital. This in turn builds a certain level of confidence as you start out.

Savings are another option that can keep you out of debt initially. But whatever you do, ensure you have passed the plan through mentors in business who can analyze your business plan and anticipate any red flags. So will it be Aunt Kabuga, an independent investor or savings? Your pick.

In terms of cash flow, tracking revenue versus expenses is paramount. Even without extreme accounting expertise, it is important to track your books of account…what you pay suppliers, employees, your sales team and what you are raking in return as revenue and eventually attain as profit.

Frugality as an overall pointer of finances cannot be overemphasized. When starting out, you are essentially bootstrapping to keep expenses on the low. Find affordable suppliers, use wise but pocket-friendly sales tactics, and cut down on luxuries.

Market research
I find that this is one of the most underrated business issues. We are living in a world of massive data yet, many businesses fail to do their homework well before starting out. You may have the big business idea figured but you must be willing to anticipate and forecast market trends. Or else, you could end up building the business in your head than at the actual marketplace.

Research involves a variety of mechanics and even better, a combination of these mechanics. You will need some hours on the computer and in some cases, may have to buy data to check on competitor information. The target market will be your next best source of information. You need to sell something that people need. Sometimes, people don’t know what they need till you sell it to them, so you could check on that too. Research also involves anticipating various changes that could affect the business and mitigating against such.

Prioritization
Do you build a fancy website, set up a cool office hub or start out by working from home? A number of businesses are encumbered by unnecessary expenses as they set up shop because they lose focus on priorities.

A detailed business plan will map out areas that need fundamental attention and those that can be invested in later. Otherwise, you will keep having revenue that you can’t amounts to nothing. It also helps to frequently ask the question, “If I were to eliminate one thing in my business right now, what would it be?”

Prioritization also depends on your principal motive of starting the business. Were you genuinely seeking to make money by serving a need in society or were you escaping the 8 to 5 employment vortex? The former is a lot more solid and while the latter is valid too, you might be surprised that as you start out your business, you need an 8 to 8.

Pricing
The way a business prices its commodities when starting out is critical. Many proprietors price too low initially and do so emotionally. After the low penetration price, the business begins to crawl weakly and are forced to effect a surge which consumers may not have anticipated. It then becomes harder to gain loyalty. Pricing rationally and suffering from an initial low market share would have been much easier. As Maya Angelou said, “Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it.”

Besides, only you can relate to the hours you put into the business. Therefore, charge accordingly, not desperately or emotionally.

The one-man guitar show
Are you taking on too many roles that you need help? This can take on a heavy toll on your business. While it’s alright that initially you are the strategist, salesman, accountant and admin, consider getting some professional help once in a while. When you can afford some more, hire great talent to sort you out. The two important aspects you really need to consider, especially if they are not your core specialization, are legal and accounting expertise.

Too much time in business could make some relations suffer as you play a one-man guitar show. You also need to maintain your support network of family and friends.

We wish you success in all your businesses as you work through the challenges and would love to get your thoughts and contribution on the topic!

Chika Uwazie: 3 Tips For Making Your Work Place Could Be The Fun Place

When it comes to the Nigeria movie industry, Nollywood, Eucharia Anunobi needs no introduction as she hit limelight with the movie Glamour Girls way over two decades ago. Perhaps what many do not know are the bold steps she took as a woman to get to the enviable position she now occupies; as well as her exploits in Christiandom as an Apostle of Christ. Eucharia AnunobiEucharia Anunobi Be it on screen or in real life and now on the pulpit, screen diva turned preacher, Apostle Eucharia Anunobi looks tough, strong and beautiful; qualities that have played a huge role in what she has become today. Woman’s Own encountered her during a mentoring workshop for youths tagged Faith & Talent Junction and she shared those bold steps that women can learn from and also use to excel. Read on. Impact of being an Apostle on career? By the grace of God, I gave my life to Christ on 17th March 1997 at Holyghost Power Ministeries Church, Adeniyi Jones. Apart from born again being a renewal of mind, it’s also an acknowledgement of God as master of your life. It is also the ability to recognise who you are and what you should be. It makes you a colossus. Years ago when I gave my life to Christ, most of my acting colleagues were laughing at me but because I discovered who I am and who I was and still to be because I gave my life to Christ very early, I am a movie legend. This is why I act my roles very well. Still acting and modeling? “I was once a beauty queen. For a year they gave me money, a salon was taking care of my hair, fashion houses made my clothes for that year. I’m a fashion model and I’m still modeling in case someone needs me, I dey there full ground. As a matter of fact, I paid my way through university through modeling. My colleagues were laughing at me that my mates are busy doing aristo, seeing governors and going to clubs in VI and Ikeja, you chose going to church. They said something is wrong with me, with all my brilliance, but today, by the grace of God, where I go or sit they can’t.“I have a first degree in English Language, a Masters in Social Work and I’m a Doctor in waiting. I did my Masters in LASU. We began as 78 students, only 48 passed. Out of the 48, only 2 people had the aggregate to qualify for their PhD. And Eucharia Akuwa Anunobi happens to be among the 2. The other one was a lady as well. In everything, I make my boast in Jesus Christ. I went back to school just about 6 years ago so it is not too late for anyone whether male or female to go back to school. There’s need to go back to school and get education even if you are 75 years old. “ Reason for success?“Man has nothing to do with God’s promise in your life which means that no man has the power to stop your destiny or talent from bursting out. So if you are a Christian deep in the Lord, hang on to his promise because he never fails. If he has said you will be a great dancer, caterer, preacher, actress, you will end up as such. As long as your vision will impact lives, help the society and glorify God, pursue it. In my case, I come from a privileged home, I’m ajebo. We lived at no 5 Musa Yaradua Victoria Island. In fact we were the last set at Federal School of Arts and Science. I have As in English, Government, Literature etc, at the end, I wanted to go to University and I’m the first born but my father said he had no interest in training the female gender in his family after secondary school. With all his riches and my brilliant result he refused to sponsor me to University except the boys. He abandoned me on the way and that was how at the age of 16, I started fighting for my destiny. This was what made me begin seeking God at a very early stage.“ How did you pull through?“A good friend, Peter Ononiwu who knew me back then said I have the endowment to become a model and that was how I started modeling. I was on so many fashion shows at the time. I was determined to show my father that I am not a mistake of creation, there’s a reason God made me a girl. On my own I said a girl must be somebody. After all, Christ came through a woman and when he resurrected it was a woman that saw Him first. There is a special grace God gave to women and that’s power of intuition. A woman with Christ is a destiny finder and helper. So, by the grace of God I passed Jamb and got into University of Nigeria Nsukka and for the 4 years on campus, I paid my school fees all by myself. I am Eucharia all by myself. There’s a reason why God allowed my father to turn his back on me and my sisters. If I had it all perhaps, I wouldn’t have discovered who I am and wouldn’t have been as successful as I am today Advice? We are amazing creatures but sometimes people are confused about the meaning of talent. This is what defines and distinguishes you. Naturally it is left to you to discover. You don’t need anyone to help you discover your gift. Unfortunately, some people don’t understand who they are or what they should do to become relevant or make money. Sometimes you know your talent but nobody has discovered or acknowledges what you are; but with God on your side, with faith, helpers of destiny will help you nurture that talent. I’ve always looked up to the God who made sure that I come from Mbaise, because at some time I said God, why was I born in Nigeria? But some years back, I discovered that there was a reason that I am a Nigerian. You know there’s too much heat here and I don’t like heat but when I go abroad I love it. By the way that’s the only reason I like it abroad, otherwise I like it here in Nigeria. The reason I was born here is because other places are saturated. This is where there’s space for me. I have never craved to live abroad. I’ve discovered that a lot of people abandoned their lives here and travel abroad only to waste. So discover that thing you love doing and that you do effortlessly, nurture it and see yourself unstoppable.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/girl-father-refused-sponsor-university-eucharia-anunobi/

people think about “work” they don’t always imagine “fun”. The truth is that work can be absolutely fun.

“Why should it be fun?” you might ask. Well, a fun workplace has numerous benefits which include;

• Healthy Company Culture
• Employee Retention
• Increased Productivity
• Employee/Job Satisfaction
• Employee Engagement and so much more.

As a leader, you always have to think of innovative ways of making your employees love work because they are your biggest asset afterall.

Here are some tips on how to make your workplace fun;

Make Lunch Breaks Fun
So I remember when I was in primary school, during our break time, we would go outside to eat, play and just run around. It was really refreshing to do that especially after three long hours behind the desk listening to our teachers teach us stuff we didn’t even want to learn (but we had to).

You can encourage your staff to have their lunch in a different environment other than their cubicles. It could be outside on a sunny day, kind of like a picnic  (imagine the amount of fresh air they would get) or in a common/game room (if you have any). They could watch TV or funny Youtube videos while they have lunch or do a little aerobics/yoga, play some board games etc. The ideas are endless, you just have to decide the best option for your workspace.

Always Celebrate/Recognize Milestones
It is very important to recognise and celebrate milestones/achievements. That way, your employees will always feel loved and will continue to love working with you.

There are a number of ways you can do it;

• Always saying “please” and “thank you”.
• Public recognition.
• Gifts/Incentives/Benefits
• Little Parties

Extreme Makeover; Office Edition
I have seen a few Nigerian business owners revamp their office spaces and it worked out quite well for them, in terms of “a more fun workplace”.

Can you imagine how excited your employees will be when they find out their office has a new look?

It might not be within your budget to get new office furniture and all that expensive stuff. Not to worry, you can still give your office space a new look by simply changing the color of the walls. You can make it even more fun by giving your office walls simple yet creative designs.

Although, I must advise you to be careful with the colour choice because different colors have different meanings but that’s a blog post for another day!

When it comes to the Nigeria movie industry, Nollywood, Eucharia Anunobi needs no introduction as she hit limelight with the movie Glamour Girls way over two decades ago. Perhaps what many do not know are the bold steps she took as a woman to get to the enviable position she now occupies; as well as her exploits in Christiandom as an Apostle of Christ. Eucharia AnunobiEucharia Anunobi Be it on screen or in real life and now on the pulpit, screen diva turned preacher, Apostle Eucharia Anunobi looks tough, strong and beautiful; qualities that have played a huge role in what she has become today. Woman’s Own encountered her during a mentoring workshop for youths tagged Faith & Talent Junction and she shared those bold steps that women can learn from and also use to excel. Read on. Impact of being an Apostle on career? By the grace of God, I gave my life to Christ on 17th March 1997 at Holyghost Power Ministeries Church, Adeniyi Jones. Apart from born again being a renewal of mind, it’s also an acknowledgement of God as master of your life. It is also the ability to recognise who you are and what you should be. It makes you a colossus. Years ago when I gave my life to Christ, most of my acting colleagues were laughing at me but because I discovered who I am and who I was and still to be because I gave my life to Christ very early, I am a movie legend. This is why I act my roles very well. Still acting and modeling? “I was once a beauty queen. For a year they gave me money, a salon was taking care of my hair, fashion houses made my clothes for that year. I’m a fashion model and I’m still modeling in case someone needs me, I dey there full ground. As a matter of fact, I paid my way through university through modeling. My colleagues were laughing at me that my mates are busy doing aristo, seeing governors and going to clubs in VI and Ikeja, you chose going to church. They said something is wrong with me, with all my brilliance, but today, by the grace of God, where I go or sit they can’t.“I have a first degree in English Language, a Masters in Social Work and I’m a Doctor in waiting. I did my Masters in LASU. We began as 78 students, only 48 passed. Out of the 48, only 2 people had the aggregate to qualify for their PhD. And Eucharia Akuwa Anunobi happens to be among the 2. The other one was a lady as well. In everything, I make my boast in Jesus Christ. I went back to school just about 6 years ago so it is not too late for anyone whether male or female to go back to school. There’s need to go back to school and get education even if you are 75 years old. “ Reason for success?“Man has nothing to do with God’s promise in your life which means that no man has the power to stop your destiny or talent from bursting out. So if you are a Christian deep in the Lord, hang on to his promise because he never fails. If he has said you will be a great dancer, caterer, preacher, actress, you will end up as such. As long as your vision will impact lives, help the society and glorify God, pursue it. In my case, I come from a privileged home, I’m ajebo. We lived at no 5 Musa Yaradua Victoria Island. In fact we were the last set at Federal School of Arts and Science. I have As in English, Government, Literature etc, at the end, I wanted to go to University and I’m the first born but my father said he had no interest in training the female gender in his family after secondary school. With all his riches and my brilliant result he refused to sponsor me to University except the boys. He abandoned me on the way and that was how at the age of 16, I started fighting for my destiny. This was what made me begin seeking God at a very early stage.“ How did you pull through?“A good friend, Peter Ononiwu who knew me back then said I have the endowment to become a model and that was how I started modeling. I was on so many fashion shows at the time. I was determined to show my father that I am not a mistake of creation, there’s a reason God made me a girl. On my own I said a girl must be somebody. After all, Christ came through a woman and when he resurrected it was a woman that saw Him first. There is a special grace God gave to women and that’s power of intuition. A woman with Christ is a destiny finder and helper. So, by the grace of God I passed Jamb and got into University of Nigeria Nsukka and for the 4 years on campus, I paid my school fees all by myself. I am Eucharia all by myself. There’s a reason why God allowed my father to turn his back on me and my sisters. If I had it all perhaps, I wouldn’t have discovered who I am and wouldn’t have been as successful as I am today Advice? We are amazing creatures but sometimes people are confused about the meaning of talent. This is what defines and distinguishes you. Naturally it is left to you to discover. You don’t need anyone to help you discover your gift. Unfortunately, some people don’t understand who they are or what they should do to become relevant or make money. Sometimes you know your talent but nobody has discovered or acknowledges what you are; but with God on your side, with faith, helpers of destiny will help you nurture that talent. I’ve always looked up to the God who made sure that I come from Mbaise, because at some time I said God, why was I born in Nigeria? But some years back, I discovered that there was a reason that I am a Nigerian. You know there’s too much heat here and I don’t like heat but when I go abroad I love it. By the way that’s the only reason I like it abroad, otherwise I like it here in Nigeria. The reason I was born here is because other places are saturated. This is where there’s space for me. I have never craved to live abroad. I’ve discovered that a lot of people abandoned their lives here and travel abroad only to waste. So discover that thing you love doing and that you do effortlessly, nurture it and see yourself unstoppable.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/girl-father-refused-sponsor-university-eucharia-anunobi/

Moment crazy Cristiano Ronaldo fan runs into pitch to hug him (Photos

A fan shocked a football stadium in Marseille last night as he sprinted into the football field aiming for Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2016 quarter final game against Poland. Moments later around a dozen security guards rush after the fan, tackling him down to the ground and handcuffing him.

From the look on Ronaldo's face you could see how shocked he was as he tried his best to evade the over zealous Portugal fan.