The good, the bad and ugly side of social media networks

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Social Media

It would be recalled that before the coming of social media networks in Nigeria, Nigerians have relied on signs and symbols as major means of communication. Also, receiving and sending telegrams, writing of letters and the use of analog telephones were the order of the day.

The technological innovation that brought about the Internet ushered in a new dawn in human communication channels. The Internet not only provided a bigger platform, it also became the mother of all inventions that gave rise to further development of different applications as well as software to make human jobs and communication much easier.

That was how the means of communicating with one another, sharing messages, photos and files became important. That quest was aided by the creation of Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatapps, Skype, Wikipedia, Linkedln, Reddit, Pinterest and others. These are innovations of different individuals who thought out of the box. Today, these inventors are not only billionaires, but forces to reckon with globally.

No doubt, social media networks were invented with the positive intention of easing communication and making every other thing that has to do with communication less cumbersome. For example, it helps in connecting with lost friends, making new ones and being constantly in touch with one another.

Social media networks have also been abused by users in many ways. Before now, school children and students wrote good letter writing, because they were tutored in the act of article and letter writing. They can easily make correct sentences. But today, many of these children can neither write nor speak good English, because of the negative influence and use of the social media.

With the introduction of the Blackberry, popularly known as “BB” into the Nigerian market by Research In Motion (RIM), the situation became worsened. Men, women and children spend half of their daily hours pinging with old and newly made friends. Some are so addicted to it that they eat with one hand and ping with the other. Some married women ping all through and forget to prepare dinner for their family or attend to their little babies. Some marriages were broken, because of the influence of the social media.

Many people have lost their Social Security Numbers and others have had their credit card information compromised. Several hearts have been broken; every now and then people are promised fake love on Twitter, Facebook etc. and at the end, their hopes and love are dashed and some killed in the process.

Trusts have been abused and people robbed of their valuables. People populate social media networks with horror and pornographic pictures, without considering that under-aged children visit them on a regular basis. This development has negatively influenced these under-aged children and has increased juvenile delinquency in the society.

Still fresh in memory of Nigerians is the case of an Abuja-based lady, late Miss Cynthia Osukogu, who met a man on Facebook and later travelled to Lagos to meet the man. But unfortunately for her, she was allegedly killed in a mysterious circumstance by the man in a hotel room at Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos.

Also recently in Lagos, Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command arrested a woman in Agbor, Delta State for drugging her man friend in a hotel in Ojodu area of Lagos State, carting away his car, laptop and mobile phone.

Mitchel Harrold, 37, from Warri, Delta State, was arrested after the operatives traced her through a car dealer in Lagos.

It was alleged that the Harrold had on January 19, 2017 at about 5:30pm, together with her man friend, a medical doctor, who she met on social network called Badoo, checked into a popular hotel (name withheld) in Ojodu, Berger, with the plan to spend the night.

Harrold had after settling down allegedly gone to get a malt drink and yoghurt, while the boyfriend was taking his bath.

According to the victim (names withheld): “I went in to take a bath and when I returned, she had gone to buy some drinks. I took the malt drink and yoghurt and I slept off. I slept off at 6:00pm and woke up around 2:00pm.When I woke up, my laptop, car key and phone have gone.”

There are several cases like the above-mentioned ones across the country on daily basis. But they are not made public or reported in the media for fear of stigmatisation or victimisation. It is for this obvious reason that the Nigerian Senate sometime ago tried to pass a bill to regulate the use of the social media networks by Nigerians. Although the attempt was severely criticised by many people, some still believe that there is urgent need for such regulations, considering how the networks are being abused.

Social Media Week Pushes New Frontiers In Technology Development
By Adeyemi Adepetun
The 2017 Social Media Week (SMW) Lagos has come and gone. But it has left an indelible mark in ICT development in Nigeria.

SMW Lagos, which held at Landmark Event Centre, Oniru, from February 27 to March 3, was part of the global Social Media Week conference that occurred simultaneously in four cities: Hamburg, Germany; Jakarta, India; Lagos, Nigeria and New York, USA.

The week-long conference brought together thought leaders, key stakeholders and the public to explore and share ideas on how social media impacts industry, government, civil society and culture.

This year’s own was the fifth edition. It attracted people from all walks of life. The Executive Governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; the Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom); Executive Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Halima Dangote; Nollywood Actress, Kate Henshaw; Music Artists, MI Abaga, among others.

The SMW Lagos has evolved into Africa’s largest digital media and business conference. During the five-day conference several topics were dissected.

At the opening ceremony, the Chief Product Officer at Facebook, Chris Cox, focused on using video as a tool for creating strategies, as a tool for creating immersive experiences.

According to him, users can leverage videos to create an authentic immersive experience, in a way that grows community around a particular niche.

At The Guardian hosted session, which focused on The Future of Digital Publishing: Breakthrough Storytelling-Content Marketing Today, the panel discussants, which included Creative Photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi; Founder, Tribe85 Productions, Jadesola Osiberu, and others, spoke on emerging trends in content creation and distribution; how to build a structured and effective content marketing plan; how content creators grow from creating in their own small niches to a more diverse audience; different platforms and working with brands; and how major brands are working with content creators to drive better outcomes in marketing sales and corporate communications.

For improved development in the ICT sector, panelists at another session also raised the need for the Federal Government to tackle high cost data and bridged infrastructure gaps in the country.

Suspected killers of Cynthia Udoka Osokogu at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja

According to the Client Service and Strategy Director, Ventra Media, Tomiwa Aladekomo, Nigerians should be creative in their story telling, “if we are to project Nigeria and indeed the African brand positively to the world.”

He stressed that live streaming can transform Nigeria’s media landscape if adequately explored, but Aladekomo was quick to mention that such adventure was still hugely challenged by high data cost and poor infrastructure in Nigeria.

Backing Aladekomo’s call for a fall in data cost in Nigeria, Film Maker and Creative Director, Ndani TV, Jadesola Oshiberu, noted that mobiles, especially the smartphones are turning people to global reporters, stressing that live video and streaming help pass the African message or story across.

At the Business Day-hosted session titled, ‘Perception and Reality: Harnessing Opportunities in Digital Journalism,’ panelists agreed that the transition from print to digital journalism is gradual and expensive process hence investors must ensure that there is viable business model if one is to succeed online.

Business Day Editor, Anthony Osae-Brown, highlighted that if one creates valuable content, people will be willing to pay to access such information.

While imploring traditional media journalists to learn to use digital tools such as social media, videos and photo editing in order to stay relevant, Chief Operating Officer, Red Media Africa, Sola Obagbemi, was quick to caution that the ethics of journalism must be preserved even in this fake news era.

She urged journalists to use social media, among other tools, to verify news stories before publishing.

Experts also X-rayed how mobile is driving digital payments at the event.

At the ‘Future of Payment and Impact on Businesses in Nigeria,’ hosted by Visa, the MD, Visa West Africa, Ade Ashaye, said customers are increasingly becoming digital. He stressed that the relevance of today was digital payment through mobile.

He explained that different types of payment were beginning to converge on the mobile phones, “whether it is Internet payment, which result in delivery of services or app payment at the supermarket or solutions such as Uber, all these services from different technology companies are converging on the consumers mobile phone.”

From his perspective, the Founder of Paga, Tayo Oviosu, the future of digital payment is enabling ubiquitous, seamless and interactive solutions with mobile technology being central to it.

Meanwhile, gender issues added colour to the week-long event.  For instance, speaking on the topic: ‘Using Technology & Social Media To Counter Violence Against Women And Girls,’ Coordinator, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the issue of pornography should also be addressed in the Cybercrime Act 2015.

Vivour-Adeniyi said that there should always be legislations consistent with time, because violence against women and girls happened in different ways to curb the occurrence.

The Executive Director of Stand To End Rape (STER) initiative, Oluwaseun Osowobi, said that social media has contributed significantly to rape, violence against women and girls.

To counsellor at Mirabel Center, LASUTH, Mrs. Joy Onoriose, 70 per cent of perpetrators of violence on females and minors, especially, were familiar to their victims. She said mothers need to educate their children on what rape is, build their confidence to report any of such cases.

At a panel session, with the theme: ‘’Parenting in an era of Technology,” a session hosted by Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), speakers urged parents to apply wisdom as they train their children in an era of technology.

The Founder of LagosMums, Mrs. Yetty Williams, said that today’s children were born in the computer age, hence, were more and better positioned to using technology.

Human Resource Consultant, Prof. Yomi Fawehinmi, said that parents should be aware of technologies and allow the children to use them. From her perspective, an educational technologist, Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola, said that parents should help introduce the children to sites on the web that would assist them to develop.

Executive Director and daughter of Africa’s richest man, Halima Dangote, spoke on “Women in Technology Session” sponsored by Dangote Group. She identified a gender gap, saying more women need to be empowered and encouraged to take up roles in the tech sector.

However, despite the increased focus on gender gap in the work place and the society, significant gains have been recorded by organisations invested in integrating and empowering women entrepreneurs.

Dangote said worthy of note is the “Dangote Foundation multi-billion naira micro grant initiative,” which targets rural women across the federation. The women empowerment initiative provided financial resource to women beneficiaries and also cell-phones to help connect and share information in a progressive way.

Negative Side Of Social Media Networks
People naturally join social networking sites to catch up with old and current friends, to share life events and opinions, and to be part of a community in general.

Organisers of the Social Media Week, which ended in Lagos. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

However, investigations have shown that these online communities, to some extent are not safe for nascent minds. Apart from academic decay, social media networks have promoted sexual immorality and covert prostitution to an alarming level. People have equally lost their hard earned fortunes through some interactions they had through the social media platforms.

Some of these platforms have equally led to the death of some people, who fell to the antics of their online assailants.

Social media abuse is not limited to this part of the world alone. Last year, in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA there was a report about a 13-year-old Nicole Lovell, who was found dead by the side of the road, three days after she disappeared in the middle of the night.

Report had it that in the months leading up to her death, the teen had been chatting with men on social media, and it has been reported that that was where she may have met the man charged with murdering her, 18-year-old Virginia Tech freshman David Eisenhauer.

Nicole’s father, David, said as soon as he learned about his daughter’s death, he “knew” that social media played a role. He said that around Christmas, he and Nicole’s mother learned that the teen had been frequenting various chat sites.

“We found out that Nicole had been on social media talking to inappropriate people. For a 13-year-old little girl, I thought some of the things that were said were inappropriate from my daughter,” David said in a report.

Among her social media activities, Lovell said Nicole was chatting on the popular messaging app Kik, which is reportedly used by as many as 40 per cent of American teenagers.

Indeed, the social media has enormous advantages, but also comes with its own demerits.

Speaking to The Guardian, a telecoms expert, Kehinde Aluko, noted that social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace allow you to find and connect with just about anyone, from a coworker in a neighbouring cube to the girl whom you attended secondary school together 30 years ago, saying browsing these sites can make you feel connected to a larger community, but such easy, casual connection in an electronic environment can also have its downside.

Quoting Cornell University’s report on social media, Aluko said social media sites could make it more difficult for us to distinguish between the meaningful relationships we foster in the real world, and the numerous casual relationships formed through the platform.

By focusing so much of our time and psychic energy on these less meaningful relationships, our most important connections, he fears, will weaken.

Another issued raised by Aluko is the Cyber-bullying. He explained that the immediacy provided by social media is available to predators as well as friends. He stressed that kids especially are vulnerable to the practice of cyber-bullying in which the perpetrators, anonymously or even posing as people their victims trust, terrorize individuals in front of their peers.

“The devastation of these online attacks can leave deep mental scars. In several well-publicized cases, victims have even been driven to suicide. The anonymity afforded online can bring out dark impulses that might otherwise be suppressed. Cyber-bullying has spread widely among youths, with 42 per cent reporting that they have been victims in the time past.”

Aluko also hinted that social media platforms decreased productivity. He said while many businesses use social networking sites to find and communicate with clients, the sites can also prove a great distraction to employees who may show more interest in what their friends are posting than in their work tasks.

According to him, Wired.com posted two studies which demonstrated damage to productivity caused by social networking: Nucleus Research reported that Facebook shaves 1.5 per cent off office productivity while Morse claimed that British companies lost 2.2 billion Euros a year to the social phenomenon.

Talking about privacy, he observed that said social networking sites encourage people to be more public about their personal lives. “Because intimate details of our lives can be posted so easily, users are prone to bypass the filters they might normally employ when talking about their private lives. What’s more, the things they post remain available indefinitely. While at one moment a photo of friends doing shots at a party may seem harmless, the image may appear less attractive in the context of an employer doing a background check. While most sites allow their users to control who sees the things they’ve posted, such limitations are often forgotten, can be difficult to control or don’t work as well as advertised.”

From his perspectives, the Director-General, Delta State Innovation Hub (DSHUB), Chris Uwaje, said predominantly, the first principle of social media is about information dissemination, which is one that governs human development.

Uwaje said social media doesn’t have the cohesiveness and truth layer. However, the DSHUB boss predicted that social media would in the future be embedded with truth layer. He noted that today, everybody is enjoying the freedom of communicating because a governance culture is missing. “I think by now, we should calibrate and govern it. We should not just be examining the negativity. It should be how we make the platform improve lives. It is amazing to know how this has become addictive in our society today.”

According to him, “the bottom-line should be about making social media better through a truth layer, which without it; it makes people to become to peddlers of anyhow news.”

Uwaje, who said to examine the negative side of social media, there was need to get to the beginning of the revolution so as to be able to put things in proper perspective, however, said “ the very bad aspect of it is how people commit suicide through the platform. People are also getting training on how to build atomic bomb; the state now uses it to manipulate things. The Big Brother thing is another down side of it.”

To him, there is need to a draw a line on frequency of use and what should come online. “Like I said earlier, a truth layer is missing in social media. But I am sure that it will be embedded in the platform in the future.”

To an ardent Internet user, Jolade Kosoko, with social media, this false sense of comfort and trust can be very misleading. “We know couples who met on Facebook or BBM groups and are still together. If you ask them if they took security measures to protect themselves when they first met, many will confess that they did not. We hear of friendships built on twitter and BBM, where the first meeting was in the home of one of the friends. The truth is anything can happen. You have to be savvy and wise.”

Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau, also blamed social media for escalating herdsmen/farmers clashes across the country.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mvHYYW

Day world leaders, Nigerians converged in Abeokuta for Obasanjo

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); his Ogun State counterpart, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (right); former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (2nd left) and former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Koffi Annan (left) during the grand opening of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta last Saturday

Last weekend in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun, the gateway state was an unusual one. It was a friendly Saturday and Sunday with a clement weather. There was unprecedented beehive of activities, heavy vehicle and human movements. Especially on the two major roads that lead into the capital from two different directions, namely, The Presidential Boulevard and The MKO Abiola Way.

It was not the birthday celebration of Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun or home coming of the Acting president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who hails from the state. It was all for a man who had scored so many firsts in his life and has continued to do so unhindered, even as an octogenarian.

This was no other person than former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who marked his 80th birthday and have his dream project, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, first of its kind in Africa commissioned.

Although, the event was a week-long one, it came to an end last weekend with the crème de la crème from within and outside the country in attendance.

As early as 8.00am, guests and invitees have started arriving at the library complex. Among the early birds were prominent Nigerians, politicians, former and incumbent presidents of some African countries and others. Some of them lodged at Green Legacy Resort, which is within the library complex. For guests coming from outside, you must wear a tag provided by the orgainsing committee, before you could be allowed access into the complex.

Before 9.00am, the expansive parking space in the complex was fully occupied. Guests were asked to go and park at the MKO Abiola Stadium, from where they were conveyed to the venue in an air-conditioned bus.

The library complex and other buildings within its premises, which sits on 32 hectares is strategically located at the intersection of two major roads that lead into the city of Abeokuta from two different directions, namely The Presidential Boulevard and The MKO Abiola Way, is a sight to behold.

The complex which had adjoining buildings to include a hotel, museum, church, mosque, gallery, amusement park, amphitheatre, bamboo groove bar, Squash court, a stream, senior citizen centre, youth rock, cultural village, parking lot and others, is a community of its own.

Guests took their time to move around the complex, with uniformed and plain-cloth security personnel and organisers of the event standing at strategic locations for assistance.

The chief promoter of the library, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo arrived the venue early. Decked in traditional Yoruba attire with a cap to match, Obasanjo moved round the complex, exchanging greetings and joking with some guests.

Seeing the factional chairman of the crisis-ridden, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, Obasanjo asked him: “What are you doing here? Sheriff answered, ‘I am here in my capacity as chairman of the biggest party in Africa. There was wild laugh among the guests.

With the arrival of the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the event commenced at about 12:00 pm with the official opening of the library complex by President of Liberia and chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, former president, Goodluck Jonathan, Chairman, Board, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Dr. Christopher Kolade and others.

After this, guests including serving and former ministers, governors, captains of industry struggled to gain entry into the complex to be part of the guided tour of the library, which was led by Obasanjo.

After the tour, Obasanjo and other prominent guests started arriving the library’s 1000 capacity conference hall, where the master of the ceremony and former executive secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Peter Okebukola was already handy on the podium. On the seats were names of the expected occupants tagged by organisers of the event. Okebukola appealed to those who have no seat or business being there to find seats anywhere within the library complex.

With the conclusion of national anthem and protocols observed, Obasanjo took the stage to deliver his welcome address, but not without pausing intermittently to crack jokes. In his address, the former president disclosed how he conceived the idea of the project in 1998, how it commenced 12 years ago and those who made it possible financially and otherwise.

Those he specifically thanked for their efforts included members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) namely, Co-chairman, Ambassador Christopher Kolade, Co-chairman, Hon. Carlton Masters.

Other members include Ahmed Joda, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, Prof Akin L Mabogunje, Chief Olatunde Abudu, Chief Obafemi Olopade, Prof. Joy Ogwu, Mrs Nike Akande, Prof. Peter Okebukola, General Martin Agwai (rtd) Chief Bayo Ojo, and Dr. Eke Agbai.

Also not left out was the management team of the OOPL led by the deputy chief coordinator, Ayodele Aderinwale and others. While recognising the former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Obasanjo jokingly said that Anyaoku was his in-law who has not finished paying him for his wife.

He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to former military Head of the State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) who was present at the event. He described him as a man who did his ‘worst’ by not only releasing him from prison, but also granted him a presidential pardon that made him eligible to contest the 1999 presidential election to the shame of his political opponents, who had wanted to bring him down.

When Obasanjo asked former and serving governors and ministers to stand up for recognition at different time, the likes of former governor of Jigawa and Kano states, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Rabiu Kwakwanso stood up twice as former ministers and former governors. Obasanjo quickly asked: “Lamido and Kwankwaso na wa for you people, you still want to carry double honours here? You people have to choose one. Everybody in the hall laughed.”

In continuation of his recognition to some personalities, Obasanjo asked if former Ogun State governor, Segun Osoba was around. When the people said yes and Osoba stood up, Obasanjo cleared his throat, waited for some minutes, keeping everybody in quiet suspense.

Obasanjo said: “Segun I want to thank you immensely for allocating this piece of land for this project with my small concessionary fee. But your successor said that I did not pay enough, but that is a story for another day. The incumbent governor has shown total commitment to this project, by rebuilding the complex fence and gatehouse.

“For those who opposed this project, either out of ignorance or mischief, I forgive you all, because with God all things are possible.”

The ex-president said: “One thing I learnt early in life is that no matter how you plan, something must surely go wrong along the line. We planned this event well, but we did not factor in the overwhelming population we have here today. I must apologise to the former president of Benin Republic, Thomas Boni Yayi, whom I pushed down when I was struggling to enter the library after the commissioning.”

Obasanjo said the complex and its adjoining outlets have employed more than 500 workers.

“While conceiving this project, we also considered the means of sustaining it. We created other revenue generating avenues within it. We have employed almost 500 workers”

The Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo in his speech said: “Obasanjo gave me an elbow when I told him that I could not see very well his score in one of his academic report cards while we were on tour of the library. I later discovered that he scored 91 in that course.

“Obasanjo is a strong believer in one detribalised Nigeria. He is a world statesman. This could be confirmed with the presence of world leaders here today.”

To Sirleaf, the chairperson of the event and President of Liberia, commissioning of the library was an act of faith.

“A nation must be reading three things-the past, the present and the future. That was what this project represented. When history and technology met, it becomes life. Obasanjo is a great man, who has always done great things for humanity.”

From the Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun to Prof. Akin Mabogunje, speaker after speaker, it was all praises for Obasanjo, his vision and exploits. At about 3.00pm, he and his dignitaries proceeded to commission the Baytus Salam mosque.

At the 2000 capacity Marquee event centre, guests were entertained with the best of drinks, music and food. It was there that former president, Goodluck Jonathan described Obasanjo as a man of vision.

“This library will serve humanity. I thank the promoter and his dedicated team that made this dream a reality.” Also in the same vein, President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma, former president of Malawi, Joyce Banda, former secretary-general of United Nations, Kofi Annan, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and other prominent personalities spoke glowingly about the man, Obasanjo

Despite the hectic nature of the Saturday event, many had expected that Obasanjo would be tired. But to the surprise of many, he woke up very early on Sunday morning and commenced his birthday celebration with a Squash competition.

After the competition, which lasted from 7.00am to 9.00am, Obasanjo took his guests, especially those who were not there on Saturday to a guided tour of the library between 9.00am to 11.30am.

From there, Obasanjo, his guests and family members proceeded for his birthday thanksgiving church service at Chapel of Christ the Glorious King church situated around the library complex.

The officiating priest, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and national president of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Mr. Supo Ayokunle described him as a many of many firsts. He explained how Obasanjo as Head of State in 1976, encouraged the formation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and later built a magnificent edifice called Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.

Delivering the homily titled “God’s faithfulness to man,” retired Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Prelate Sunday Mbang described Obasanjo as the best president Nigeria had ever had. He charged leaders to be of good behaviour and ensure that they use public office to touch life positively.

In his prayer, General overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye prayed for unity and peace and asked God to protect and provide for the celebrant and Nigerians at large.

At the end of the service, guests were ushered into the Marquee event centre, situated opposite the church for refreshment. On hand at the event centre to entertain the people was former renowned Yoruba juju music maestro, now gospel artist, Ebenezer Obe.

Dignitaries at the event include, former president of Ghana, John Kuffor, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Femi Otedola, Otunba Fasawe, Senator Nnenadi Usman, Ebite Ukiwe, Publisher, The Guardian Newspapers Limited, Lady Maiden, Executive Director, The Guardian Newspapers Limited, Mr Toke Alex-Ibru, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Senator Andy Uba among others.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2noPFO7

Reps decry neglect of Osamese over stolen kidney in Italy (Read full details)

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House of Representatives<br />

The House of Representatives yesterday decried the neglect of Julie Osamese, whose kidney was surreptitiously harvested by doctors in Italy.Julie, a mother of one, who is a legal immigrant in Italy, had gone to the Ospedale Maria Vittoria Cibrario Hospital in Turin, Italy sometime in November 2008 to complain about her poor health only to discover that her kidney was tampered with by doctors who attended to her.

Chairman of the House committee on Diaspora matters, Mrs. Rita Orji, who met with Mrs. Sweet Okundaye, an assistant director in the department of international and comparative law disclosed that Osamese is now in a critical condition in Italy.

Orji who drew the attention of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to the issue since last year expressed surprise that the ministry is yet to institute a panel of inquiry into the matter with a view to seeking redress as well as determine the role of the staff of the Nigerian High Commission in Italy accused of negligence.

Orji also noted that it was unfortunate that the authorities are not doing enough to avert the unlawful deportation of Nigerians in diaspora. She also dropped the hint that the committee would be disposed to allocating adequate funds to the international and comparative law department of the Ministry of Justice to be able to protect the rights of Nigerians in diaspora starting this year.

Okundaye who acknowledged that her outfit had been working in tandem with the foreign affairs ministry on the issue recalled a similar instance of how the intestine of a 26 years old boy was removed in an inexplicable circumstances recently in Poland.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lqr1f9

Again, government amends charges against Saraki at CCT (Read full details)

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Bukola Saraki

For the third time, the Federal Government yesterday moved to amend charges against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) added two additional charges bringing the charges to 18. Saraki was original charged with 13-count charge on September 22, 2015, and was latter re-arraigned on April 28, 2016, on an amended 16-count charge.

He was accused of making a false declaration of assets, operated foreign accounts while in office as Kwara State governor between 2003 and 2011, as well as collected governorship salary four years after his tenure had elapsed.

One of the two additional charges dated February 8, read: “That you, Bukola Saraki, whilst being the Executive Governor of Kwara State, on or about September 16, 2003, within the jurisdiction of this tribunal, did make a false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers on assumption of office as governor of Kwara State, by making a false assets declaration in that you claimed to have owned substantial and controlling shares in Carlisle Properties Limited and Tiny Tee Limited; and you thereby committed an offence under Section 15 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11 (1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and as incorporated paragraph 18 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).’’

Already, the Danladi Umar-led CCT Panel has endorsed Saraki to enter his plea to the fresh charge.Two prosecution witnesses had testified in the course of the trial and at the resumed hearing yesterday, the CCT boss had to interrupt the testimony of the Third Prosecution Witness, PW 3, Mr. Samuel Madujemu, over the amended charges.

The matter has been adjourned till February 23, for the charge to be read and the defendant takes his plea, and for continuation of trial.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kV9vm8

IAAF bars athletes from national switch…See full details

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Francis Obikwelu, one of the athlethes bar from national switch.

World athletics governing body, IAAF, yesterday decreed an end to nationality changes by athletes, saying the system has become open to abuse and that rules are being manipulated.

The body said it would set up a working group to agree new rules by the end of the year. In recent times, some Nigerian athletes have switched allegiance to other countries; with Olympics silver medallists, Francis Obikwelu (Portugal) and Glory Alozie (Spain) the most notable among them.

“It has become abundantly clear that with regular multiple transfers of allegiance, especially from Africa, the present rules are no longer fit for purpose,” Coe said on Monday.

“Athletics has to be based on national teams and is particularly vulnerable,” he added. “The rules do not provide protection necessary for individual athletes, they are open to abuse. Many federations regularly receive reports of athletes who are available for trade.”

The IAAF said the ban would not affect the 15 applications to switch allegiance, which have already been made. Unlike other sports such as football, athletics allows its competitors to switch nationalities even after they have represented one country at international level.

Several dozen athletes changed allegiance on the eve of last year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, the African representative on the IAAF Council, will lead the working group.

“The present situation is wrong,” Malboum said. “What we have is a wholesale market for African talent open to the highest bidder. Our present rules are being manipulated to the detriment of athletics’ credibility.

“Lots of the individual athletes concerned, many of who are transferred at a young age, do not understand that they are forfeiting their nationality,” he added.

“Some are running for countries but are not citizens of those countries … at the end of the comp they are not citizens of those countries, they don’t have any future.”

Meanwhile, some Kenyan stars hope the IAAF will come up with laws that will not infringe on athletes’ rights when it comes to change of nationality. Athletics Kenya athletes’ representative Milcah Chemos, who defended athletes who have changed their citizenship, said they only need to be guided on their contractual agreements and rights to avoid exploitation.

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NFF to support Pinnick’s CAF bid, plan Congo DR friendly for Eagles…See full details

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Amaju Pinnick

The executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday agreed to unanimously support its president, Amaju Pinnick, who is seeking a seat on the CAF executive committee.

There were discordant tunes among the membership of the NFF board when the news filtered that Pinnick had the ambition to challenge Benin Republic’s Anjorin Moucharafou for a slot on the CAF board.

Some of the NFF members then accused Pinnick of jumping the gun and not carrying others along in his campaign. But all seems to have been settled as the members yesterday unanimously agreed to support their president’s ambition.

The pledge of allegiance was one of the fruits of the board’s meeting yesterday, where the body also appealed to the Federal Government to ‘see Pinnick’s quest as a Nigerian Project and give him support.’

The CAF Executive Committee polls will hold at its forthcoming 39th ordinary congress scheduled for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Meanwhile, the NFF is planning a friendly game for the Super Eagles against Congo DR in London, as preparation for Nigeria’s Russia 2018 World Cup clash with Cameroun.

The Eagles have already sealed a friendly with Senegal also in London in March. According to africanfootball.com, the three-time African champions are shopping for African teams, who play the same type of robust football like World Cup rivals Cameroun, who on Sunday clinched a fifth AFCON crown in Gabon.

“Eagles will play two friendlies in London and already the Senegal game has been confirmed and now discussions are going on for a second game there against DRC, who also a robust game like Cameroon,” a team official said. Nigeria and DRC clashed in another friendly in Belgium in 2015.

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Ikoyi Club will continue to organize swimming competition for schools, says Segun Adekoya…See full details

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Secondary school children featuring in Ikoyi Club 1938 Inter-school gala swimming competition in Lagos last weekend. Photo: GOWON AKPODONOR

The out-going chairman of the Swimming Section, Ikoyi Club 1938, Segun Adekoya has said that the club derive joy seeing school children exhibit their talents any time they are given such opportunity.

Adekoya’s tenure as chairman of the Swimming Section, Ikoyi Club 1938, will end in March. He was two-time vice chairman of the Swimming Section before he was elected chairman where he has served two tenure.

He told The Guardian during the Inter-school Swimming Gala for Secondary Schools that he would continue to play his role in putting together swimming competitions that will benefit school children.

“We are always excited seeing school children display their talent inside the pool, and I will continue to play a part in organizing competitions for the kids whenever I have the opportunity to do so,” he said.

The Inter-school Swimming Gala for Secondary Schools, sponsored by Zenith Bank, was won by Grange School. The institution topped with 240 points after amassing 12 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medals. British International School finished second with 170 points (eight gold, seven silver and two bronze medals) while Children’s International Schools came third with 80 points (five silver and six bronze medals).

The star athlete for Grange School was 15-year-old Nulia Nwokolo who won four gold medals in 15-16 years butterfly girls; backstroke girls; freestyle girls and freestyle relay girls.
In some other individual awards, Amaka Kanu of XFactor team won the best overall female with Omooluwani Obatoyinbo of BIS going home with the best overall male award.

Individual per age category goes to Adewole Adekoye of Grange school as the best 11-12 male, while Amaka Kanu of XFactor won in the female category. The best 13-14 male goes to Obatoyinbo of BIS as Feechi Odinkalu also of BIS won the female category. Olaseni Adekeye and Nwokolo of Grange won the best 15-16 male and female respectively.

Adekoya promised that some of the students would be monitored, just as he was full of praises for the sponsors, Zenith Bank, and the parents for a successful competition over two weekends.

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Busari, Amao promise better Shooting Stars…See full details

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Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan

Still basking in the euphoria of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) hard-earned victory over Rivers United of Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the club, Gbolagade Busari, has expressed confidence in the team and the coaching crew’s ability to produce better results in subsequent fixtures.

The Oluyole Warriors defeated hard-fighting Rivers United 2-1, but the club missed many scoring opportunities in the Match Day Six week of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) played at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan during the weekend.

A first half strike by 3SC’s new kid on the block, Sunday Faleye, a second half goal by Jide Apena and United’s Lukman Mohammed lone strike for Rivers United, ensured that 3SC record its second victory, stopping the visitors’ unbeaten run in the top flight Premier League.

Speaking with The Guardian after the game, Busari said the coaching crew would work on the loopholes noticed against their opponent. “I can see that we lost so many scoring opportunities, which if our boys had utilised would have put us in a comfortable lead at the end of the first half of the match. We are happy we achieved victory all the same. We will definitely work on the grey areas noticed in that encounter,” he said.

Shooting Stars Head Coach, Fatai Amoo, while commenting on the lapses noticed in the team, said corrections will be made on the department of the team that need adjustment.

“We are delighted that we won the match, but we must give glory to God, and kudos to our supporters. At a period our boys were not doing well, our supporters stayed by us.

“I believed the boys did their best when they rallied round to win the game. They showed to our financial and supporters that they too can play the game. I know there are areas like the goalkeeping that we need to address before our next match. We will definitely do something about it in subsequent matches,” he said.

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