Grammy award-winning singer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has described being a Nigerian woman as a miracle.
Naija News reports that the Oscar-nominated diva, in a recent interview with Kiss FM, London, United Kingdom, said that Nigerian women are the most blessed even though it is challenging.
She, however, said despite the hardship of being a Nigerian, there is a blessing attached to it if one utilizes their talent and takes it to where it would be appreciated.
She said, “Being a Nigerian woman is a miracle. Because being a Nigerian, for anybody, is tough. But I think if you can tap into your gifts and own who you are and be unapologetic about it, and take that to the world, that is an honour.
“I think Nigerian women are the most blessed. I won’t say the most blessed but everybody is blessed in equal manner but Nigerian women are very special to me. They are very dear to me and I believe that it is such a huge blessing to be a Nigerian woman and to be living in this time.”
I Will Love To Be A Single Mum In A Movie
Meanwhile, Tems, has expressed hope of acting in a movie someday soon.
The Grammy-award-winning singer said during an interview with BBC in London that she would love to play single-mum roles in movies.
[NaijaNews]
Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble has stated it plans to dissolve on-ground operations in Nigeria and turn its country into an import market.
The Chief Financial Officer of the group Andre Schulten stated this during his presentation at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference.
The company explained that it is difficult to do business in Nigeria as a dollar-denominated organisation and the macroeconomic reality in Nigeria is responsible for its latest strategic decision.
What the company said
- Mr Schulten stated, “The other reality that arises in some of these markets is that it gets increasingly difficult to operate and create U.S dollar value. So when you think about places like Nigeria and Argentina, it is difficult for us to operate because of the macroeconomic environment.”
- “So with that in mind, we are announcing a restructuring program with the intent to adjust operating model and adjust the portfolio to ensure that we maintain the portfolio discipline that has brought us to this point. The restructuring program will largely focus on Nigeria and Argentina. We’ve announced that we will turn Nigeria into an import-only market, effectively dissolving our footprint on the ground in Nigeria and reverting to an import-only model”
It further explained that the decision will help the company focus on markets that have the highest potential.
Reacting to questions bothering on the effect of the company’s planned restructuring in Nigeria and Argentina on its overall group’s portfolio, the CFO explained that Nigeria is a $50 million net sales business.
Compared to its overall portfolio worth $85 billion, the company does not anticipate any material impact on the group’s balance sheet from a sales or profitability standpoint.
Backstory
The current macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria have negatively affected foreign USD-denominated companies in Nigeria. In August, drug maker GSK announced it’s ceasing operations in Nigeria and appointing a third party to take over distributions.
These companies have often cited difficulty in sending back U.S. dollars outside Nigeria. The Central Bank has acknowledged it has a forex backlog to the tune of around $7 billion
President Tinubu has instituted reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment into Nigeria, but it seems in the short term it has only brought more hardship.
[Nairametrics]
SPORTS minister John Enoh has insisted that the federal government is as interested as ‘thirsty’ Nigerians in how the Super Eagles fare in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament will be held in Cote d’Ivoire from January 13 to February 11, with Nigeria and 23 other teams participating.
The Super Eagles have won the AFCON title three times but their last triumph was in 2013, and they were eliminated in the round of 16 the last time out in Cameroon in 2022.
Enoh, who succeeded Sunday Dare as sports minister months ago after being appointed by President Bola Tinubu, has warned the Super Eagles not to fail this time and promised the full support of Aso Rock.
“Our country is so passionate about football, such that amidst all other sports, football is about the only sport that has an entry in the nation’s national budget,” Enoh said while meeting with Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Gusau and Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro in Abuja.
“That is how important football is because whatever happens to it, happens to us as a country.
“After 10 years, the country is thirsty to win the AFCON. It will matter a great deal to the Nigerian people, and the Government of President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“It is important to not just leave the task to the NFF alone, but the Government is also interested in being able to tell the Nigerian people what is being done in that regard.”
The Super Eagles are drawn in Group A for the tournament and will battle Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea and hosts Cote d’Ivoire for round of 16 tickets.
Since the 2013 success, the Super Eagles have struggled at AFCON, failing to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 editions and the only medal they have won since then was bronze in 2019 under Gernot Rohr.
[NaijaTimes]
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has identified the lack of accountability and impunity as the reasons why Nigerians do not trust political parties.
Akpabio, however, noted that repositioning the parties would help restore public trust and confidence in them.
The Senate President, represented by Anambra Central Senator, Victor Umeh, spoke at an event organised by the Kukah Centre in Abuja, where he insisted that political parties have helped in sharpening Nigeria’s policies and governance.
He said political parties have provided platforms for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process, noting that it would be remiss of Nigerians not to acknowledge the issues that have marred the country’s democratic culture.
“These issues have led to a decrease in public trust and confidence in political parties.
“It is disheartening to witness citizens’ disenchantment with the very institutions that should represent their interests and safeguard their democratic rights.”
[Nigerianeye]
Kaduna airstrike: Killing of civilians won’t stop fight against terrorism – Defence Minister vows
AdminMinister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has vowed that the unintentional killing of several civilians in an airstrike by the Nigerian Army in Agabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State will not stop the fight against insurgency and terrorism.
The minister made the vow when he visited victims of the airstrike on Wednesday.
Matawalle, together with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Kana, led a high-level delegation to the state to convey the Federal Government’s sympathies to the victims.
Mr Henshaw Ogubike, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
While denouncing the tragedy, the minister stated that the struggle against insurgency and terrorism would continue.
He added that the terrible occurrence will not dissuade the administration from fighting terrorism.
“We are not going to relent in our fight against terrorism because these criminals must be defeated. We are going to continue fighting the criminals till we succeed against banditry and other criminalities in this country.”
Matawalle, who was also at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna, where the injured victims were being treated, stated that the visit was on President Bola Tinubu’s instruction.
He assured the Kaduna State Government of the Federal Government’s commitment to assisting the victims’ families.
He added that the government would form an inquiry panel to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident to prevent it from reoccurring.
In his reaction, Governor Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Balarabe, expressed heartfelt condolences to the affected families and assured of support to the victims’ relatives.
[DailyPost]
Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has debunked claims on some media platforms that the 2024 Budget has allocated N21 billion for his accommodation.
The former speaker was reacting on his verified X handle, @femigbaja, to the report, which provided an alleged breakdown of budget details taking care of items for the office of the Chief of Staff, in the budget estimates presented to the National Assembly by President Tinubu last Wednesday.
The report, which found its way into several online news outlets, claimed proposed N104 million for the purchase of computers and printers for ‘local travel and transport for international training,’ his office is to spend N579 million, while ‘miscellaneous’ is expected to gulp N103 million.
The report also claimed a further breakdown of the proposed budgetary allocations showed that the reconstruction and repair of the CoS’s official residence is to get N10 billion.
Computer software purchase for his office is purportedly expected to gulp about N10.1 billion and N290 million is allocated for purchase of vehicles.
However, in the response posted on his X handle, Gbajabiamila said the report by the news platforms is false as there is no provision in the 2024 Budget proposal for the renovation of his official residence, noting that he lives in his own house.
He explained that the sums mischievously quoted by online news outlets and those he called fake news merchants were for the renovation of the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos, to overhaul the information management and communications facilities in the Presidency to meet modern standards and to provide vehicles for the staff of the Presidency.
He said: “I have seen social media commentary regarding the 2024 Appropriation Bill, particularly the provisions under the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. Owing to the erroneous nature of these reports, it has become necessary to clarify that there is no provision in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for the renovation of any residence for the Chief of Staff to the President. I live in my private residence.
“The sums mischievously quoted by online bloggers and fake news merchants are for renovating the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos, to overhaul the information management and communications facilities in the Presidency to meet modern standards and to provide vehicles for the staff of the presidency.
“The sums proposed for these projects are clearly stated in the budget proposal and bear no resemblance to the deceptive online commentary.
“This administration welcomes and encourages scrutiny of government expenditure; this is why the Budget proposal is publicly available. However, healthy public debate about government actions requires us to be responsible with our utterances and engage based on facts rather than insinuations and falsehoods.”
[TheNation]
VIDEO: Three months after marriage crash, Bolanle Ninalowo steps out with actress Damilola Adegbite
AdminThree months after announcing the end of his marriage to wife, Bunmi, actor Bolanale Ninalowo, has stepped out with actress Damilola Adegbite.
There were speculations weeks back that the pair were an item.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the actor confirmed the speculation by sharing a video of himself with Adegbite with the caption, “That hateful energy – too pricy! Love dont cost a thang #LovePeaceAndLightOnly. Maka #BOLDAMEE ♥️.”
Adegbite was married to Ghanaian actor, Chris Attoh. The marriage, which produced a son, Brian, crashed in 2017.
[Punch]
Delta State Police Command says a yet-to-be-identified officer who allegedly shot a motorist in a viral video has been arrested and detained.
The Delta Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, who made this known in a post on his official X handle, expressed disappointment over the unprofessional conduct of the officer.
It was learnt that the erring officer who was on a stop and search on the East-West Road, Ughelli town, opened fire on the victim after an argument.
The motorist whose identity is yet unknown, was according to the viral video, shot on the leg and stomach.
Sharing the video on his X page, the PPRO said, the “Nigeria Police Force does not and will never tolerate unprofessional conduct from any personnel.
“On this premise, the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass ordered the immediate detention of the erring Police Inspector.
“The injured victim is being treated. Meanwhile, the CP urges members of the public to remain calm, as he guarantees justice,” he said.
Watch video here.
Media
The Mokopane Regional Court in South Africa has sentenced a 35-year-old woman, Tshepho Mogoshadi Mphahlele, to 15 years imprisonment, over the gruesome murder of her twin sister at Ga Mogotlane village in Limpopo.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the woman was found guilty of brutally killing her twin sister on January 18, 2023.
"During the trial, the court heard how the accused attacked her twin sister after they got into a heated argument and she stabbed her with a knife several times until she died at their residence,” Mashaba said. After the murder, Mphahlele chopped her sister’s body up with an axe, before fleeing the scene.
She later handed herself over to the Moletlane police station on January 20, and she was then arrested.
''The case was assigned to Sergeant Rodney Mothiba, and he diligently worked on the case to ensure that the accused was denied bail until she was found guilty,” said Mashaba. “The accused was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for the murder of her twin sister.” Hadebe added that no person has the right to take away someone’s life, even after being provoked.
More...
In a video shared online, Korra alleged that Justin Dean has failed to contribute towards their children’s health care, food and others. She said she recently got a mail from their daughter, June’s school informing her that Justin hasn’t paid his own portion of their her school fees and that they may have to expel her. She said all she is asking for is for Justin to pay his own part of their children’s support.
She said if Justin has money to pay a lawyer, why can’t he pay $850.
‘’I have been paying for June’s school fees from July. Infact, he just stopped paying and didn’t tell anybody until the school sent me an email that they were going to expel June from school. So I told them ‘Please, send me all the bills he hasn’t paid’ and then moving forward from then, I started to pay in full from the middle of the year until this end of the year and still he has not not paid. I am not lying, I have receipts of the payment’. I have no business with this man if it is not for my daughters.’
Speaking further, she said
‘’Thank God for independence and thank God for him saving me. I have no business with him, I can take care of myself. I don’t your alimony, I don’t want your child support. I just want you to pay your 50%’’
More details have emerged after a Nigerian man killed his wife in the United Kingdom.
According to information gathered, the tragic incident happened at 259 Exning Road, Newmarket, Suffolk — a suburban terrace in the market town of West Suffolk.
It was gathered that the lifeless body of Taiwo Owoeye Abodunde, a nurse and mother of three was found lying on the floor of her living room.
The police’s grim discovery was an unplanned encounter, prompted by a follow-up visit related to a previous report of assault made against her estranged husband, David Olubunni Abodunde, according to a correspondent from TheNation.
According to the police, the visit was scheduled as “a pre-arranged meeting to gather evidence in relation to the assault allegations made against Olubunni Abodunde on November 27 by Taiwo, which led to his arrest.”
The police report indicated that they arrived at 259 Exning Road, Newmarket, Taiwo’s home address, at 9:55 am on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Upon entering the residence, they discovered her unresponsive on the living room floor. Despite prompt medical attention, paramedics declared Taiwo dead at the scene.
Olubunni Abodunde, the husband, was found inside the residence and subsequently arrested on suspicion of her murder. He was then taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and later appeared at Ipswich Crown Court and Suffolk Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also investigating the force’s response as officers had been called to the address earlier. A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We can confirm we have received a referral from Suffolk Constabulary in relation to this incident and we are carrying out an assessment to determine what further action may be required from us.
” The intervention of IOPC was prompted by a suspicious failing by the Police over a previous correspondence with the Taiwo’s family on November 27, 2023, over previous assault.
The Police added: “On Monday 27th November 2023, Taiwo contacted Suffolk Police reporting an assault by Olubunni on her that day and a further assault from 15th August 2023. Olubunni was arrested on suspicion of both assaults at 10:23am 27/11/2023. He was released from police custody at 6:20pm 27/11/2023 with police bail conditions. The Police Bail conditions imposed were: Not to go to 239 Exning Road, Newmarket, CB9 0AY. Not to contact Taiwo Abodunde directly or indirectly except via a third party to arrange child contact.
“The incorrect address of 239 Exning Road, Newmarket on the bail condition should have in fact been recorded as 259 Exning Road, Newmarket. When Suffolk Police attended Taiwo’s address on Tuesday 28th November, this was for a pre-arranged meeting to gather evidence in relation to the assault allegations that were made against Olubunni Abodunde on 27th November which led to his arrest. Because of these recent police contact with Taiwo, Suffolk Constabulary have made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
“We will keep you updated on this process. We also want to make you aware we initially identified two scenes in relation to what happened but following our enquiries we have removed one scene, but one remains in place. This continues to be a location where evidence is present.”
More than anything else, this chance finding by the police of the dead formed a leg in the intrigue and misfortune suffered by a family that was enmeshed in marital distrust, domestic abuse and the struggle for economic survival right out of the sleepy towns of Ipoti Ekiti and Igogo Ekiti. The late Taiwo was a native of Igogo Ekiti and Olubunmi from Ipoti Ekiti. They both met at Otun Ekiti in 2004 during a 7th Day Adventist Church social-religious camp for young people. It wasn’t love at first sight, but Taiwo would later agree to date and marry Bunmi following persistent pressure and persuasion from the husband.
Both Ipoti Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area and Igogo Ekiti in the Moba Local government area are located in Ekiti state -Southwest geopolitical region of Nigeria. Known for its myths and festivals, the two towns are roughly 15 miles of each other. Igogo Ekiti is popular for its royal folklore of Queen Oronsen who while married to King Rerengejen fled the palace in anger because of the conspiracy against her. She would be immortalised with a terra cotta image near ‘Igbo Oluwa’ a sacred forest in the town. Natives make annual ritual sacrifice of different articles, such as dried fish, colanut, alligator pepper, and bitter cola in return for her spiritual protection of the kingdom.
Interestingly, the tradition and folklore of Ipoti Ekiti is also woven around a wife who was assured after Ifa divination that she would have three male issues on the account of faith, belief and offering to placate the gods. The late Taiwo and her estranged husband, Olubunmi Abodunde, have three male children David 16, Daniel 14 and Jetemi 11. The husband, Olubunmi Abodunde, 47-year-old self-declared engineer migrated to the United Kingdom in November 2022 with the three children to join his wife of 17 years. But their marriage, which withstood several challenges, soon began to disintegrate over controlling behaviour, domestic violence, allegations of infidelity and distrust. He became verbally violent, kept throwing fist and calling the wife unprintable names, said Adekunle Owoeye, the twin brother to the late Taiwo.
It’s hard to overstate what a cataclysmic episode this was for the couple and the people of the two neighboring towns of Igogo and Ekiti where the case had dominated airwaves and street conversation since last week. Adekunle Owoeye, speaking on behalf of the late Taiwo’s family recalled an incident some years back in Igogo Ekiti when Bunmi and Taiwo attended an event where the couple exchanged hot arguments and fists over where to sleepover after. Bunmi was said to have hit the wife and the mother-in-law who protested his violent behaviour. The matter was later resolved by the two kings of the towns; the Onigogo of Igogo Ekiti HRM Oba Sunday Adewunmi, Okinbaloye the 1st and the Olupoti of Ipoti Ekiti, HRM Oba Oladipupo Kolade.
HRM Oba Sunday Adewunmi, Okinbaloye said he was very disheartened to hear about the sudden demise of the late Taiwo because of the hard-work put in by the royal house to make the marriage work and the guidance he provided for Taiwo to help the family in their pursuit for better life overseas.
“My sister had endured a lot of assaults from Bunmi over petty marital issues,” said the twin brother Adekunle Owoeye.
Adekunle described the past 18 years as a ‘living nightmare’ for the late sister. But he added: “I was elated and relieved that my sister was traveling overseas where domestic violence cannot happen. She had not long earlier retrieved her academic certification from the husband after he hid it for 10 years over envy to stop Taiwo from earning her own income independently.”
The relocation was indeed ominous as family members recalled the worry and excitement that greeted the news of their relocation to the United Kingdom. Elder Ayo Abodunde, who is an uncle to the husband, said he was very happy but also worried about the couple given the previous intervention of third parties in their issues.
“I counselled Bunmi to be very patient and understanding when dealing with women and especially a wife. I told him that he has to avoid any situation that will lead to arguments and fights, especially because of their children and the domestic law in the new country.”
He added that the tension is now very high in the two towns over the sad development. “I have now arranged for our family to go to Igogo Ekiti on Wednesday (today) to visit and engage the other family (late Taiwo’s) on the way forward.
A neighbour living near the unfortunate home of the couple in Newmarket described her routine observation: “I came home to see that the whole street was just covered in police and ambulances, but two days prior there were police. I knew it was something really bad with the amount of police here and the way they were not telling anyone anything. Normally they say something, but they were very hush-hush.”
Another added:
“It’s just awful, everyone is really shocked. I used to see some young boys kicking a ball about in their garden.”
In a condolence note penned through his social media handle, the Kehinde Owoeye said; “I want to tell the entire member of Owoeyes’ family to stay calm (though painful) as justice will be served on the killer in due course; be rest assured. I want to thank UK Govt, Detectives Peter, Amy and the hired Private investigators, as well as the Nigeria Embassy in London for their professionalism. To the Onigogo of Igogo-Ekiti and sons and daughters of Igogo, with a lot of our friends especially in the United Kingdom, we say thank you for your efforts so far. To the people that came from far and near to console, we appreciate.
“To my mum, though it’s an irreplaceable loss, please take heart (though not easy), it’s only God that can console you divinely. To the entire Amuludun dynasty, please NO to derogatory post, calm down as we await his trial in the Court of the UK. Thanks for your understanding the children are currently being taken care of by the UK social services.”
The lifeless body of a 16-year-old girl, Machaka Radebe, has been found two days after she was reported missing in Free State, South Africa.
Machaka's body was discovered with a stab wound in an open field in Bloemspruit in the early hours of Monday morning, December 4, 2023.
Machaka was last seen by her brother on Saturday afternoon, December 2.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, who confirmed the development in a statement said the siblings were asleep at their home in Rocklands and when her brother woke up, he noticed that Machaka was not in her bedroom.
"He tried to call her but her mobile phone was answered by an unknown male demanding cash or his sister will die," Kareli said.
Kareli said the brother called his mother and they reported the matter at the Kagisanong police station where a case of kidnapping was opened.
Police are appealing for information that can assist in the investigation into Machaka's murder.
They are urged to contact Colonel Bolsiek on 082 466 8530.
Meanwhile, police in the Free State are pleading with teenagers to stop providing or sharing personal information with unknown people online.
"We also wish to advice young girls not to agree to meet with anyone they met on social media,” Kareli said.
A Nigerian clergyman, Prophet Okeke, has stirred reactions online after he cautioned his church members about the amount of money they give to God as offering.
In the video, Prophet Okeke asked why his church members would have N1million and give God N500.
According to him, it is only an oracle that accepts such offering. He added that the amount people give as offering shows how much God has their hearts.