In another big move, one of Africa’s most influential entrepreneurs, Tony Elumelu, has announced a five-year endowment of The Future Africa Awards prizes. Recognised by the World Bank last year as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, The Future Awards Africa, which is in its 8th season, is presented in partnership with the African Union Commission and Microsoft. “The future of Africa is in the hands of brilliant young minds such as these,” said Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation. “Our endowment, which looks to the long term, will not only support the…
Author: tech
By Gracious Akujobi The Super Eagles game with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa billed for Durban on Wednesday, has suffered another setback with Chelsea’s star, Mikel Obi, opting out of the international friendly tagged the Mandela Challenge. Top striker Emmanuel Emenike and defender Kenneth Omeruo had earlier pulled out of the match due to injury and change of club respectively. Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya disclosed that Mikel Obi has informed the Head coach Stephen Keshi that he would not be able to make the trip due to personal reason. “It is true that Mikel has withdrawn from…
By Gracious Akujobi No fewer than 11of the National U-17 men’s soccer team, the Golden Eaglets have failed the Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) scan which was carried out on the players. A total of 30 players were presented for test but only 19 scaled through the test which is used to verify the authentic age of the players. The 11 players that failed the test have been asked to leave the Eaglets camp immediately. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme who disclosed this to Prompt News Online said Coach Manu Garba has been directed to…
There is no doubt about it – the registration of the All People’s Congress (APC) is very well received and acclaimed. The dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had become worrisome and a threat to our democracy. The nation had already become hostage to a ruling party which, in spite of its many disappointing showings over the past fourteen years, boasted it would be in power for sixty years (though it is not clear to me the calculation used to arrive at that number). With the coming of the APC, those who wish for change both at the state…
The Federal Government on Monday took a second look at the recent report of the African Development Bank (AFDB), which stated that the economic growth did not translate into job creation or poverty alleviation in the country. According to the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, the report lacks appropriate and illuminating global context. In a statement, the Minister also noted that the report covered 2006-2010, saying it did not take into account various achievements that have been recorded by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the area of job creation and poverty alleviation. Maku, argued that contrary to the report,…
Suspected Islamic militants wearing army fatigues gunned down 44 people praying at a mosque in northeast Nigeria, while another 12 civilians died in an apparently simultaneous attack, security agents said Monday. AP reports that Sunday’s attacks were the latest in a slew of violence blamed on religious extremists in this West African oil producer, where the radical Boko Haram group, which wants to oust the government and impose Islamic law, poses the greatest security threat in years. It was not immediately clear why the Islamic Boko Haram would have killed worshipping Muslims, but the group has in the past attacked…
By: Gracious Akujobi Head coach of Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, has advised Mikel Obi to shut his ear to people who are advising to quit Chelsea FC but rather for him to remain and fight for his position. Fans from different quarters have expressed fear that Mikel may not fit into new coach Jose Mourinho’s plan for this season and as such have told the mid field ace to move elsewhere to save his career. But Keshi believes that Mikel, should be able to hold his own in the star-studded Chelsea FC squad pointing out that going elsewhere would be…
By Gracious Akujobi Only three players, John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Fegor Ogude are expected on Tuesday morning in Durban on time for Wednesday prestige Mandela Challenge friendly against Bafana Bafana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa. The Eagles arrived Durban from Johannesburg on Monday morning after a six hour over night flight from Lagos to Johannesburg. The team was led by Head Coach Stephen Keshi with four home stars, Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke, Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona. The NFF President, Aminu Maigari, who is expected for the game will also hit town on Tuesday. When the…
By Gracious Akujobi Union Bank and Dodan Warriors of Lagos have qualified to represent the Atlantic Conference in the DSTV Nigeria Basketball league. In the final match played in Lagos, Union Bank defeated Dodan Warriors 79-73 points in the final game of the Atlantic Conference. Head coach of the victorious Union Bank team, Chris Okoh expressed confidence in the two teams that have qualified from the Atlantic conference to give a good account of themselves when the final four begins. “I am happy my team is one of the teams representing our conference for the final four. Though, we beat…
By Gracious Akujobi Former Chairman of Kano Pillars Football Club, Muhammed Tukur Babangida has said that it was high time state governments quit club ownership for the game to move forward. Babangida, who led Kano Pillars to win Nigerian league title in 2009, while congratulating newly promoted Nigeria National League side Giwa FC of Jos, said that the more privately run clubs we have in the league the better. He said that Nigeria can only boast of playing real professional football when individuals, communities and corporate organizations take over the ownership of clubs in Nigeria “I think our league will…