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PETER Odemwingie opened his Albion account in style in Saturday’s 1-0 winover Sunderland and promptly set himself a target of at least ten goalsthis season.
•Osaze Odemwingie
The Nigeria striker helped his new team-mates earn a valuable three points in their first home game of the campaign.
And he was delighted to prove wrong those who doubted his decision tojoin the Baggies after their opening-day 6-0 defeat at Chelsea.
“I can’t say a number but between ten and 15 goals for a striker, minimum, is a good result and I hope to at least achieve the minimum,”said Odemwingie.
“With that I think the club will be satisfied with my performance, but I hope I can do more.
“I know people asked questions about whether it was the right move forme, but they played against Chelsea in the first game and most of thegoals were from set-pieces so I had to take that into account.
“I knew that with more concentration we would be okay, because there were too many mistakes in that game and we were playing againstChelsea, which is not easy.
“Six was too many, but I saw some quality and I knew it was the right move.
“The people who didn’t want me to leave Lokomotiv asked if I was sureabout leaving, and there were little jokes, but I believed it would beokay.”
After what has been a hectic schedule for the 29-year-old ace, he is now hoping to find some time this week to pick out a song to sing forhis Baggies initiation — and work on his dancing for future goalcelebrations.
“They told me that at an away game I will have to sing,” he quipped.
“I will find a song.
“As for my goal celebration.
“My friends from Belgium, my uncle and some friends from London came towatch the game on Saturday and they were sitting over there.“Iremembered they were there so when I scored I ran over there.”
Reports from Sky Sports News yesterday claimed that Nigerian and Inter Milanstriker Victor Obinna has had a medical at West Ham.
It was reported earlier this week that the Hammers were in talks with Obinna over personal terms.
And an agreement has now been reached with the 23-year-old undergoing a medical on Wednesday at Upton Park.
Hammers boss Avram Grant is desperate to bolster his attacking options after seeing his side score just once in their first twoPremier League games and then scrape past Oxford in the Carling Cup.
Grant turned to Obinna after being forced to put his efforts to sign Machester City’s Felipe Caicedo on hold and Inter were willing to loanout the Nigeria international.
The former Chievo frontman went close to a move to Everton two years ago only for work permit problems to scupper the deal.
He has scored 11 goals in 34 internationals for Nigeria and played two games at this summer’s World Cup before scoring once in Inter’s 3-0friendly win over Manchester City in the USA earlier this month.
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An Onitsha, Anambra State, Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Ngozi Okoye, on Wednesday remanded a 21-year-old student of the University of Lagos, Mr. Chukwuemeka Muodieze, in prison for allegedly raping and defiling a 13-year old girl, Obiageli Elom, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The police prosecution said that the accused person at about 12 noon, early in August, this year, at No. 37 Anam Street, Omagba Phase II, Onitsha, unlawfully and forcefully had carnal knowledge of Obiageli, a groundnut hawker.
It said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 204 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
The prosecution told the court that the accused, who was on a holiday in Onitsha, had lured the victim into his relation‘s residential apartment on the pretext of buying groundnut from her.
The prosecution further said the accused grabbed his victim, tore her dress and engaged her in a marathon sex from 12 noon till about 6pm.
Okoye adjourned further hearing in the case to October 20 to enable the State Director of Public Prosecution advise on the matter.
The prosecution contended that it was only when the victim managed to free herself from the accused‘s custody that she abandoned her tray of groundnuts, blood-stained pant and raced to her parents to recount her experience.
The prosecution showed the court a medical report from General Hospital, Onitsha, which certified that there was a penetration and ejaculation in the victims’ genitals which was injured in the process.
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Following the crisis which rocked the University of Ado-Ekiti on Monday whenGovernor Segun Oni and other prominent persons in the state were stonedby irate students, the police in Ekiti State on Wednesday arraigned sixstudents of the university before a Magistrate’s Court on a five-countcharge. The students were arraigned before Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye for an alleged breach of peace, unlawful gathering,unlawful damage to properties, causing injuries while rioting andassault on police officers by stoning. Although the police arrested 10 students following the crisis and paraded all ofthem before journalists on Tuesday evening, six of the suspects werearraigned on Wednesday. Those arraigned were Oluwatuyi Olufemi, 24; Isiaka Muri, 25; Fadoju Olubode, 19; Lawal Oluwaseyi, 18;Oladeinde Kehinde, 24; and Akinsola Busuyi, 24. The prosecutor told the court that he would call five witnesses to testifyin his favour and he gave the names of his witnesses as A.V. Olubodun,B.C. Ogunleye, Gabriel Jacob, Ayomide Ayo-Oluwa and one SUPOL Giwa. He, however, asked for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file. Counsel to three of the accused students, Mr. Kayode Akinwunmi, who urged thecourt to grant his clients bail, said that the suspects had alreadyspent two days in police custody. He promised to produce them on theadjourned date. Before adjourning the case till October 8th, 2010 for hearing, the magistrate granted the accused persons bailin the sum of N10, 000 each. The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department in EkitiState, Mr. Suleiman Isa, while parading the suspects before journalistson Tuesday evening, had said that the students damaged no fewer thansix vehicles during their protest. But some of the students interviewed denied being involved in the protest. UNAD students had on Monday protested the hike in the fees charged fresh students of the university. The students, who were unable to see the governor in their earlierprotests, had used the opportunity of Oni’s visit to the school toregister their anger about the new fees. But the peaceful protest later became chaotic as some students hurled stones at thegovernor, who had insisted that he would not reverse the fees but wouldrather give the university authorities the approval to increase thefees by a maximum of 25 per cent every session. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mohamemd, 28, claimed that his friend did not only touch the breast of his 18-year old wife, Aishat, but held it.
The incident happened at Shop 10, Shopping Complex, Jakande Estate, Isolo, Lagos where Mohammed owns a shop.
He disclosed that when he saw him touching his wife’s breast, he fought him and reported the incident at the Ejigbo police station.
The accused, it was learnt, confessed to the police when he was arrested that he was only playing with the woman when he went to her shop to buy an item.
He denied touching her breast as claimed by the husband.
He was charged to court for assault, an offence the police claimed, was contrary and punishable under Section 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap.31, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and sought to make peace with the complainant. The complainant told the court that he decided to forgive the defendant because of the Ramadan period and warned him to desist from touching his wife’s breast.
The magistrate, Mrs. M.B. Folami, said that since the husband who is the complainant has written a letter to withdraw the matter, she has no option than to strike out the matter.
She subsequently struck out the matter. .
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Workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), on Wednesday, begin an indefinite industrial action.
The workers are protesting the nonpayment of their monetisation arrears among others. The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees, had on Monday, released a memo instructing all members to lock all the gates to PHCN's offices and installations nationwide..
The workers' strike is coming two days before President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to unveil his power generation and distribution blue print. The workers are also protesting the procedure that government plans to adopt in the privatization of power distribution.
Mr Jonathan had, on Monday, approved the sale of 11 power firms, which are subsidiaries of the power company. The government insisted that this move will help to checkmate the high aggregate technical, commercial, and collection losses suffered in the course of electricity generation and distribution in the country.
VANGUARD:
Siasia
The Swedish coach took charge of the Super Eagles for the World Cup in South Africa, delivering very little while being paid over the odds.
Erico insists that Siasia should be on par with Lagerback in terms of wages as he is likely to do a much better job in the long run, whileat the same time slamming the country’s fascination with foreigncoaches.
“The problem with us in Nigeria is that we tend to underrate what belongs to us and overrate what comes from outside Nigeria, even whensuch foreign thing is inferior to ours,” Erico told Trustsports.
“If you could afford to pay a foreign coach about 1.5 million dollars for just five months, nothing should stop you from pay a localcoach as much as that, if you are not suffering from inferioritycomplex.
“Siasia is a good coach who has paid his dues at the age_grade levels of football and an ex_international.
Siasia is currently at an impasse with the Nigerian Football Federation over his proposed wages and Erico is backing him to fightfor what he deserves.
“The time has come for the indigenous coaches to demand for what is due to them and I fully support what Siasia is demanding for from theNFF,” Erico added.
“They claim not to have money to pay Siasia, but they had money to pay Lagerback, who failed to live up to expectations of millions ofNigerian fans, just because he is white.”
The tests were conducted by Jean-Paul Mulders, a Belgian journalist, and Marc Vermeeren, a historian, Telegraph reported. The pair tracked down 39 of Hitler’s living relatives throughout Europe and America to obtain saliva samples which ultimately suggest African and Jewish ancestry.
Based on reports by NewYorkDailyNews.com, the Haplopgroup E1b1b (Y-DNA) chromosome found in the samples is rarely found in Western Europeans.
Instead, “it is most commonly found in the Berbers of Morocco, in Algeria, Libya and Tunisia as well as among Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews,” Vermeeren said in Knack, the Belgium magazine in which the findings were published.
Hitler’s ancestry has been questioned before as historians suggested he is of Jewish ancestry, but this time there is scientific evidence to back up the claim, and to add to it.
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All was well, until Dame Patience Jonathan and her chief host, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi got to Okrika – the First Lady’s home town.
The governor was explaining by video his school project in Okrika, saying there must be demolition of some buildings to have space for the schools.
Mrs Jonathan cut in, grabbed the microphone and said the governor should reconsider the way he was going about the demolition. An attempt by Amaechi to explain the situation sent the First Lady boiling..
She shouted at Amaechi: "Listen!, you must listen to me!"
The governor was embarrassed, like a scolded school pupil. The audience hailed Mrs Jonathan, goading the First Lady on.
The President’s wife, however, described land as a serious issue in Okrika and told Amaechi to always avoid "must" when talking about waterfronts’ demolition. The governor never mentioned "waterfronts", but Mrs. Jonathan went on: "I want you to get me clear. I am from here (Okrika). I know the problems of my people. So, I know what I am talking. I do not want us to go into crises. We are preaching peace and we must maintain peace at any time.
"But what I am telling you is that you always say you must demolish. That word ‘must, you use is not good. It is by pleading. You appeal to the owners of the compound, because they will not go into exile. Land is a serious issue."
Downcast, Amaechi shunned a reception organised for the First Lady. The reception was, however, not on the programme.
Mrs Jonathan hurriedly left for Abuja. Her planned visit to Port Harcourt prisons, where the Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu, was expected to release some prisoners, was cancelled. So was her visit to the new Model Secondary School at Ebubu-Eleme, among others.
A civic reception in honour of the President’s wife was held at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt on Monday. Her pet programme, Women for Change Initiative (WFCI), was launched.
This was followed by a state banquet/Award Night at the Government House, Port Harcourt, where the former Miss World, Agbani Darego, who hails from the state, and some women were honoured for their outstanding contributions to society.
ABEOKUTA – THE Ogun State House of Assembly has alleged that theExecutive attempted to bribe it with N 1 Billion to facilitate thepassage of its request for approval of a N100 billion Bond.
The House however said that the approval of the Bond request would only be obtained after an open debate with members of the executive onthe propriety of the Bond.
Speaking at an Executive Session of the House after receiving the report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee, the Speaker; Mr.Tunji Egbetokun said “I have been personally offered goodies which Irefused. I have been offered N12 million for a single meeting by one oftheir peacemakers.
“We have been offered N1 billion but I have said that they should allow a single debate on all the issues in contention on the Bond and Ican assure them that we will move straight from the venue of the debateto plenary and pass it if we are convinced. We should have an opendebate. Let them sit with us and we will bow to superior argument, butin the absence of superior argument, the Executive should bow”
On the issue of Supplementary appropriation, the Speaker said that the House was rejecting the Bill saying that according to the findingsof the Finance committee what was needed was a realignment of theBudget.
“If they spend contrary to the Budget, it is misappropriation. All they are requesting for in the Supplementary Budget have been takencare of in the 2010 Budget”
On the non release of the funds of the House, members agreed that they should do all that could be done legally and constitutionally toensure the release of the funds even including going to Abuja.
Egbetokun explained that despite the non release of the fund of the House, Governor Daniel has spent almost N1 billion for his office asagainst the N700 million approved in the Budget.
Earlier presenting the report of the Finance Committee, Mr. Job Akintan explained that the Bond was broken down to 2010; N26 billion,2011; N34 billion and 2012; N40 billion adding that all the projectslisted to be financed or refinanced by the Bond have been given to theHouse before as to have been financed by Federal Allocation andInternally Generated Revenue in the 2010 Budget.
He said “we got debt cancellation of N26 Billion and just about three years after we are now saddled with debt of another N28 billion.And on this N28 billion, we are going to pay N48 billion in five years;so how much are we going to pay on N100 Billion Bond?
In her contribution, Mrs. Adijat Oladapo lamented that the Executive has refused to obey the law stipulating that all loans must be approvedby the House of Assembly adding that even without the approval, theState funds was been deducted from source every month to the tune ofN1.2 billion.
The Deputy Speaker; Mr. Remi Hazzan in his contribution said that the State Government has “been consistently inconsistent in theinformation been given out on the Bond issue at every occasion. Theyare desperately in need of the Bond”
ORILE-AGEGE 2010:
PREAMBLE
Orile- Agege LCDA amongst other local governments in LagosState, is unique in itsantecedents, its component units, and its location.
Firstly, it is made up of the original native indigenes including the Awori Communities ( OLABUA, OLAROKU, ISALE-ODON,IDOGOUN & MAGBON) a vibrant “mini – Nigeria” in the compositions of Yoruba,Hausa and Igbo people “Settlers” mainly Lagosians moved en masse to the OrileAgege L.C.D.A, an upland population which is as cosmopolitan as any other partof Lagos, and a high-brow influx of Nigerian elite in Arigbanla, Williams,Omotoye, Labak, Alexander and Oko-Oba IV housing estate.
Secondly, this admixture of urban and rural people is strategically placed at the most popular and constantly used gatewayto Lagos fromthe West Coast of Nigeria.
Thirdly, though a high density residential L.C.D.A., with a population of over 800,000 people, it boasts of avery rich cultural heritage as it is made up of 55% of its indigene which areof course the Awori people.
In one word, Orile-Agege L.C.D.A provides a milieu providentially suited for, and deserving of an instrument ofSocial and Cultural mobilization which is being put together by MapiokMultimedia and Community Initiative.
CONCEPT
The concept is to hold an annual socio-cultural festival, to motivate and mobilizethe entire populace (800,000 strong), young and old, in Orile-Agege L.C.D.A,towards a common endeavour, that will promote the Spirit of nationalism,patriotism and togetherness.
And, in the process harness the potentials of the L.C.D.A, in such a way that it will benefit its peoplesocially, economically and culturally.
Orile-Agege 2010 (OrilAg 2010) is the proposedmedium for this social and cultural mobilization.
3. GOAL/MISSION STATEMENT
Motivation and Mobilization of the entire populace, young and old, towards a commonendeavour, i.e promoting nationalism, patriotism, togetherness and at the sametime making the whole world know our rich cultural heritage.
4. OBJECTIVES
v Foistering inter-ethnic andinter-cultural interactions
v Highlighting andstrengthening cross-cultural affinities whilst at the same time, educating ourpeople about their difference with a view to exploiting these differences forthe common good, and also teaching the Youth and Old alike, our tradition,culture and norms
v To boost the profile and enhancethe visibility and viability of Agege LGA and it LCDA (Orile-Agege) vis-à-visother LGAs and LCDAs in LagosState, and the country asa whole
v To celebrate our Country’s Independence i.e. Nigeria’s 50th GoldenJubilee and to keep the spirit of the Awori people alive.
5. POLICY
v To help our youths learn howto work together as one, how to plan and execute projects, keep them off thestreets, and assist in combating anti-social and societal ills
v To highlight the economicactivities in the LCDA thus assisting in boosting trade and commerce
v To highlight ourlocal/cultural heritage thus encouraging internal tourism and perhaps with timeeven international tourism
6. WHEN?
The proposed date is 1st of October, every year. This date is common toall Nigerians and has neither a religious nor ethnic colouration.
The first edition is the year, 1st of October, 2010
7. WHAT FORMAT?
The format is as approved at the Inaugural meeting, which was held on Sunday 2nd of May, 2010, at 1, Oshobu Street, OffOrile Road, Orile-Agege, Lagos.
This section should be read pari passu the attached organogram.
a. Cultural: This would be by far the largest division. As earlier mentioned, Agege is a“mini- Nigeria”all cultural groups that express the desire to participate should be encouragedto do so.
b. Youth Organizations: Cultural, social, sports, schools, “Fanti” etc.
c. Trade and Commerce: Market groups, shop and business owners, artisans,transporters etc.
d. Special Interest Groups: Police, Navy, PHCN, Telecom companies, Fire services,Medical services etc.
e. Others: PTAs, Residents Associations, Social Clubs, Societal Associations, CommunityDevelopment Agencies etc.
A programme ofActivities, including a provisional Budget, as approved the Central planningCommittee, is attached to our letter of request for sponsorship.For several hours the combined team of security operatives prevented the students of the University of Ado Ekiti, UNAD, from disrupting a public lecture organised by the university, as the students trooped out in large numbers protesting what they described as astronomical hike in school fees.
The lecture had in attendance Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi and the state governor, Engr Segun Oni.
The enraged students who had gathered at the main entrance of the university, matched from the gate to the main auditorium, immediately they sighted Governor Segun Oni who came to the university with his newly acquired bullet proof Merzedez Benz.
Led by their president, Kehinde Okunuga, the students who had earlier sought an audience with the governor to address them and speak about what the government was doing to reduce the fees to no avail, chanted anti-government songs in which they made some unprintable remarks about the government and its educational policies.
The students leader who lamented the type of suffering some of the students were presently going through, said a lot of the students were self sponsored.
The union president disclosed that some of his colleagues who had earlier gained admission into the institution had voluntarily withdrawn their studentship since the hike in fees
Efforts by some state officials who accompanied the governor to the university and their lecturers to convince the students on the need to suspend their action proved abortive.
But Mr Governor who maintained his cool throughout the period the action of the students lasted, however told the audience when it was the time for him to make a remark that the students should decide whether they wanted the fee regime to stay or be reviewed .
The governor who happens to be the visitor to the university, said UNAD had a tradition of increasing fees in every four years, saying “the students are free to say whether they prefer annual increase or quarterly increment.”
In the lecture which is entitled’ Nigeria Defence Policy and Democracy; issues and prospects was almost marred but by the vigilant security operators
At the end of the lecture, the security operators dispatched the students who had formed a ring round the auditorium by shooting teargas canisters.
His journey into stardom started on a massive high when he played Okonkwo in Nigeria Television Authorities production of Chinua Achebe's award winning book THINGS FALL APART. A role that made him the most recognized face on Nigerian nay, African television and has mostly defined his contribution to Nollywood.
A man voluble and eloquent, a national award winner, the and a man whose sons have towed his line by becoming notable actors themselves Pete Edochie (MON) has very strong views about Nollywood and what is going on in Ibo land..
We caught up with him in his Enugu Town home. With two jeeps and a couple of other cars parked in the garage he cut a perfect picture of affluence. It was ten in the morning. He had just come in from Abuja but his living room was already filled with people who had come to tap from his wealth of wisdom. He offered us palm wine when we arrived.
“We are Ibos. In Iboland we do not offer you Cocacola or Beer. Traditionally we offer our visitors Oji (Kola) or palm wine. I am a titled man and I have to observe tradition and culture. This is who we are, this is what this generation is forgetting and that is why things are going wrong everywhere? The Oji represents the things that bind us that is why it is called Oji which means 'Ojikotara' that which glues us together. So when you give somebody Kola it is an expression of the unity that we are advocating for.” We learnt several other lessons on the Ibo culture and tradition for the one hour we spent with Ogadagidi, the Ononenyi of Nteje Pete Edochie but we also came with our own questions that we wanted to ask.
IT has been a long time we have seen you in any movie. What are you doing now?
Nigeria is going to get its first Saint very soon. The Reverend Father, Iwene Tansi. The process has been going on for a long while now and it is almost complete. I decided to shoot a movie on his life which was researched very well. When I finished the movie, I took it to the Vatican and it was approved and I was told to take the film round the country which is what I am doing. The response has been absolutely amazing. We have to look into all that we have in Nigeria and stop doing movies that insult the intellect. People should start thinking about leaving a legacy for the coming generations.
What are the draw backs of the movie industry as it is presently constituted?
The people who are making movies are children and most of them are unintelligent. The person who is playing the Igwe roles in all the movies these days is Olu Jacobs. He is not an Igbo man. Simply do not understand why somebody who does not speak the Igbo language, who does not understand the culture, the mind and the psychology of a people should be the one playing those roles. This is the reason why those roles are not being properly interpreted. Have you ever seen a woman beside a Northern Emir. But I watched a film where people had to help hold Olu Jacobs wife in the movie and he basically raped her because she refused to have sex with him and he was supposed to be the Igwe in the film. That is an absolute insult to the traditional stools of the Igbo people. If he knew better he would have advised the producers of such a movie or should never have even taken part in it at all.
Haven't you done a movie from another culture that you do not understand fully?
I was part of the movie, Amina, but that was different because I grew up in the North and I understand the culture very well. You have to know a people to understand them. You also have to understand the appurtenances of office they occupy before you can apply them.
What about the new trend of governors of the South- South Sates in particular using much younger actors as advisers in their cabinets, while people like you who are matured and knowlegable and who have also been given national awards are left out in the cold?
I do not have any problems with anybody being made an adviser. personally . Ononenyi does not need anything else from anybody. I have been given so many honors in life. I am a titled man, I am the chairman of the rebranding project in Nigeria and I am a National awardee so why would I be in such a hurry to be a governor's adviser. The truth is this, if those in power choose to use little children as advisers then what they will get is the advice of little children. It is a shame really that people ignore those who have something to offer society.
There have been running issues in the Actors Guild of Nigeria AGN. Issues of leadership between Emeka Ike, Segun Arinze and the rest of them. You were invited to mediate on the matter, what happened?
I was invited alright but if people invite you into something because they think that you are wise enough and old enough to give them the advice they need to forge ahead, they should also trust that can proffer useful advice for them. One thing though that I have never done is to put my hand into something that fails. I have never been associated with failures. Whatever I have done in life has succeeded so when they called me in and suddenly people started talking about why I should be the one to settle the crisis, I took my hands away and decided to concentrate on running my life and my business. I am too old and too busy to burn my reputation.
What about the slide in quality in the Industry?
You should ask the critics and the experts. I am an actor and I make sure that whatever I do has to be of quality. You have been watching my films. You have directed and written some of them so you should know. I felt that people like Wole Soyinka would institute an award and reward excellence not the charade they do in Bayelsa. Let those who understand what we do in Nigeria be the ones who will determine who has succeeded in their calling.
Away from the pressures of work and National duties, how do you relax?
Before my kidnap I use to take walks in the evenings but I do not want to take that chance again. I stay in my house now with my people, drink my palm wine, read my books and say my prayers. I am content with myself and what I have.
That brings us to your kidnap. You have never really said anything much about it.
Because there is nothing much to say. I was coming from church when I was kidnapped. The boys who kidnapped me are a product of a system that has failed itself and its citizens. They did not do anything to me. They had utmost respect for my person and I was released promptly.
What about money? How much was paid to them?
I am not answering that question. I do not know whether money was paid to them or not. I do not know how much was paid if anything was. I think that is a private matter. The only thing is that I am doing everything to avoid a repeat performance.
Should Nigerian Film makers who are basically Ibo's, being that the first notable movie made in Nollywood was an Ibo film concentrate on making language films?
I do not know. The reason for making movies in English was to reach larger audiences but that does not denigrate from our making our films in the language we understand and in the culture we are from. I think we really should make more Ibo films and subtitle them. That way we can reach larger audiences with our message and promote our culture and traditions. Thank God now that we now have stations like Odenigbo and Kpakapndo whose sole goal is to promote the Igbo language and culture.
From flags to Facebook, 22-year-old Jimena Navarrete has quickly made it clear what she plans to promote as the world's newest Miss Universe — her home country of Mexico.
"I want the whole world to know about my country and my people," the Guadalajara native said after beating 82 competitors for global bragging rights at the pageant in Las Vegas.
"I imagine that they're all going crazy in Mexico right now," she said through an interpreter. "I'm extremely proud and I'm sure they're very proud, too."
She donned a flowing red dress, strutted confidently in a violet bikini, and said onstage that the Internet is indispensable and requires parents to impart family values.
The model-turned pageant queen then posed for pictures with a Mexican flag and Mexico's last Miss Universe as congratulations from her countrymen came pouring in.
"Her triumph is a source of pride and satisfaction for all Mexicans, who see in her the fruits of perseverance," Mexican President Felipe Calderon said in a statement. Immediately after her win, Calderon said on Twitter that her victory would help Mexico's image as a country.
"We won, long live Mexico!" Navarrete said on her fan page on Facebook, spurring 478 "likes" and 218 comments in about one hour.
She was cheered by Spanish-speaking reporters clamoring to talk with her after the pageant, and twice answered questions about Arizona's recent immigration law.
"Every country has the right to impose and enact their laws," she said, wearing her new sash and sparkling tiara. "But I tell you that all the Mexicans and the Latins that are living here in the United States are hardworking people — people who want to improve on their quality of life."
The Miss Universe pageant is known for grabbing headlines — and Navarrete appears ready to make her mark.
She's Mexico's second Miss Universe. Lupita Jones — Navarrete's national pageant director — won in 1991. Navarrete has been modeling since she was 15 and came to Miss Universe after winning for Jalisco, then Mexico, in the country's Nuestra Belleza pageant.
Navarrete replaces Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela. She also spoiled a bid by Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson from giving the South American country a third consecutive victory. Neither Gibson nor Miss USA Rima Fakih made the top 15 finalists.
With fans in some 190 countries watching on television and keeping tabs on social networks, Navarrete and her competitors introduced themselves while wearing over-the-top national costumes. They then danced in silver and black dresses for the show's opening number before the last 15 finalists were announced.
The final 15 walked in swimsuits while Cirque du Soleil musicians played Elvis Presley songs including "Viva Las Vegas." The last 10 impressed in their gowns while John Legend and the Roots played a soulful medley including "Save Room."
By the end of the show, seven of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter had to do with the pageant, its contestants, its judges or owner Donald Trump. The mogul co-owns the pageant with TV network NBC.
The show was without any major gaffes, except for Miss Philippines' answer when asked what her biggest mistake in life was and how she fixed it.
"In my 22 years of existence, I can say there is nothing major," Venus Raj said.
Before the pageant, Raj was rated among the top contestants in an online poll on the pageant's website. She finished in fifth place.
Asked by Olympic gold-medal figure skater Evan Lysacek how she felt about unsupervised Internet use, Navarrete said the Internet is important.
"I do believe that Internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time," she said through an interpreter. "We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family."
Lysacek was one of this year's nine celebrity judges. The others were actresses Jane Seymour and Chynna Phillips; actors Chazz Palminteri and William Baldwin; magician Criss Angel; MSNBC anchor Tamron Hall; drummer Sheila E.; and supermodel Niki Taylor.
Navarrete won a package of prizes including an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, plus jewelry, clothes and shoes fit for a beauty champion..
Campbell won the Miss Congeniality Universe award. Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul won Miss Photogenic Universe and a second award for having the best national costume.
First runner-up was Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, while second runner-up was Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell.
Fakih, a 24-year-old Lebanese immigrant from Dearborn, Mich., spurred celebrations among Arab-Americans when she won Miss USA. Pageant records aren't detailed enough to show whether Fakih is the first Arab-American, Muslim or immigrant to win Miss USA.
Miss USA has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren are officially divorced, according to a statement posted by their lawyers on the golfer’s website on Monday.
The statement said the judgement posted in a Bay County, Florida court provided for shared parenting of their two children.
“We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future,” the former couple said in the statement, which said that the children’s well being had been the “primary focus of our amicable discussions.”
“The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern,” Woods and Nordegren said. Financial terms of the divorce were not released.
The couple’s marriage hit the rocks very publicly late last year when Woods, who previously had enjoyed a squeaky-clean image, crashed his car outside their house, setting off a cascade of revelations about his repeated infidelities.
Woods was forced to take a five-month break from golf as he reportedly received treatment for sex addiction. The scandal cost Woods millions of dollars in sponsorship deals and he has yet to regain the form that made him the world’s best golfer for much of his career.
Tiger Woods: the world's top ten highest divorce settlements
Tiger Woods separation from Elin Nordegren is one of the most expensive ever divorces. Here is a list of what are thought to be the ten highest divorce settlements:
1. Rupert and Anna Murdoch - $1.7 billion
Rupert married Anna in the 1960s, with the pair remaining together for 32 years, having three children. They split amicably in 1998. The divorce was finalized in June 1999 when he agreed to let her leave with $1.7 billion. 17 days later he married Wendi Deng.
2. Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi - $874 million
Saudi businessman Adnan made his money as an international arms dealer for the Saudi royal family. He then launched his company Triad, based in Switzerland, owning banks hotels and real estate across the world. He married Soraya in 1961. Their 1982 divorce resulted in an estimated $874 million settlement.
3. Craig and Wendy McCaw - $460 million
Craig made his money turning a failing TV cable service into a successful business, eventually selling for $755 million. In 1981 he then acquired cellular phone licenses, eventually selling to phone company AT&T for approximately $12 billion, becoming its largest single shareholder.
The pair met at Stanford University when she tutored him, with them marrying in 1974. In 1995 divorce proceedings were initiated with Wendy wanting her share to support a $200,000 a month lifestyle.
4. Roman and Irina Abramovich - $300 million
It had been speculated that the settlement could have left her the world's richest ever divorcee. But according to Russian news sources, Mrs Abramovich settled for $300m (£155m). The figure included the value of homes in Britain and Moscow, as well as a yacht and private plane. At one point it was thought he would have to pay a settlement of at least $1 billion.
5. Michael and Maya Polsky - $184 million
According to court records, the couple married in the Ukraine in 1975, coming to the US in 1976 with "only four suitcases and $500 in cash.
After sighting irreconcilable difference in 2003, Maya Polsky filed for divorce from energy magnate Michael Polsky. In October 2006 a Chicago judge said Mrs Polsky was entitled to at least half of the couple's assets.
6. John 'Jack' Welch and Jane Beasley - $180 million
Welch is the former Chairman and CEO of General Electric, the technology and service conglomerate in New York, now ranked as the world's largest company. The couple married in April 1989, divorcing in 2003. While Welch had reportedly written a prenuptial agreement, there was a 10-year time limit. Beasley reportedly left with amount to be in the range of $180 million.
7. Michael and Juanita Jordan - $168million
The most expensive celebrity divorce in history. The former Chicago Bulls basketball superstar married Juanita Vanoy in 1989. They divorced in 2007. It is thought negotiations between the couple added £20 million to the final deal from an initial settlement. The marriage had shown signs of trouble in the past with Juanita filing for divorce in 2002, although they announced a reconciliation.
8. Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey - $150 million
When Diamond met Marcia Murphey, he was already married to his first wife. In 1994, they separated, she citing "irreconcilable difference".
The singer claims he willingly gave her the money.
9. Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving - $100 million
Amy Irving shot to fame in 1976 when she played the lone teen survivor in Carrie. Spielberg began to make a name for himself in Hollywood, following Jaws. The pair married in 1985, but the pair broke up four years later. He gave Irving, the mother of their son Max $100 million.
10. John and Beverly Charman - $95 million
The pair met in 1969 at school. When they married in 1976 neither had significant resources. In November 2003, Mr Charman, nicknamed "King of the London Insurance Market", told his wife he was setting up residence in Bermuda and their marriage was over. He initially offered her £6 million cash, but she argued that the sum was not enough. The judge decreed a fair settlement would involve him giving 37 per cent of his assets. Mr Charman had a subsequent appeal dismissed. It is thought to be Britain's highest divorce settlement..
The Beijing-Tibet expressway slowed to a crawl on August 14 due to a spike in traffic by cargo-bearing heavy trucks heading to the capital, and compounded by road maintenance work that began five days later, the Global Times said.
The state-run newspaper said the jam between Beijing and Jining city had given birth to a mini-economy with local merchants capitalising on the stranded drivers' predicament by selling them water and food at inflated prices..
That stretch of highway linking Beijing with the northern province of Hebei and the Inner Mongolia region has become increasingly prone to massive jams as the capital of more than 20 million people sucks in huge shipments of goods.Traffic slowed to a snail's pace in June and July for nearly a month, according to earlier press reports.
The latest clog has been worsened by the road improvement project, made necessary by highway damage caused by a steady increase in cargo traffic, the Global Times said.
China has embarked in recent years on a huge expansion of its national road system but soaring traffic periodically overwhelms the grid.
The congestion was expected to last into mid-September as the road project will not be finished until then, the newspaper said.
The roadway is a major artery for the supply of produce, coal and other goods to Beijing.
What appears to be a final solution to the epileptic power supply in the country was unfolded yesterday as government approved the steps for the sale of 11 power firms.
The firms are to emerge out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). This is coming as the government expressed deep concern over the high aggregate technical, commercial, and collection losses suffered in the course of electricity generation and distribution in the country.
At present, a large volume of electricity generated by the PHCN hardly gets to the final consumer due to technical reasons, including defective transmission and distribution lines, while billions of naira is lost every day due to the inability of the power company to collect accumulated revenues from debtor consumers, including government institutions.
But as part of the strategy approved last week for the core investors in the 11 power distribution firms created out of the PHCN, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) underlined the need for prospective bidders to demonstrate capacity to curb these losses.
How to move the sector forward
The selection of bidders, the privatization agency said, must not only be on the basis of “efficiency improvement - reduction of Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATCC) losses that they would achieve over a five-year period, but also that the preferred bidder “yields the highest net present value in terms of consequential benefits.”
The privatisation council, chaired by vice president, Mohammed Sambo, noted that the current ATCC losses, estimated at between 40 and 50 percent of the electricity distributed through the various power distribution companies, is unsustainable and must be halted if the country’s electricity industry is to be attractive for full private sector participation..
Under the proposed strategy, private sector operators are free to acquire controlling equity interest in any of the distribution companies with a view to rapidly improving its operational efficiency, while bidders would be allowed to bid on the basis of a trajectory of technical, commercial, and collection loss improvements capacity, unlike the traditional transaction approach where bidders merely bid on price for the equity shares.
The proposed method would be built around the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which establishes the commercial and economic indices and the financial model for the entire electricity industry.
As part of the 2001 Electricity Power Sector Reform (EPSR) initiated by the government, the PHCN Plc was in November 2005 broken into 18 new successor incorporated companies, consisting of six power generation companies (GENCOS), one transmission company (TRANSCO), and 11 distribution companies (DISCOS).
States can generate power
Apart from approving a minority equity interest for state governments interested in participating in the privatisation of the distribution companies, the privatisation council also approved the privatisation strategy for some of the generation companies and their assets.
They include the sale of PHCN non-operational assets located at Ijora, Calabar, and Oji River plants, with the divestiture method approved for the sale of Sapele Power Plc, Afam Power Plc, and Ughelli Power Plc, while Kainji Hydro Power Plc and Shiroro Hydro Power Plc are to be privatised through the concessioning process.
