Welcome to Geophilworld's blog: 05/25/16

Wednesday 25 May 2016

NBTE to Accredit 475 Academic Programmes in 62 Institutions in Southwest, Northeast

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), on Wednesday said it would accredit no fewer than 475 programmes in 62 institutions in the South West and North East zones of the country in 2016.

Dr. Masa’udu Kazaure, the NBTE Executive Secretary, said in a statement issued in Kaduna, that the 475 programmes comprise Higher and National Diploma courses.

The statement added that 83 other courses would be verified during the exercise, which commenced on April 18th and would terminate on September 23.

“The exercise would be carried out in over 62 institutions, comprising 32 polytechnics, seven colleges of health technology, 12 colleges of agriculture and 11 specialized institutions. This was in fulfilment of the board’s mandate of accrediting academic programmes offered in all Technical, Vocational Education and Training institutions that falls outside universities,” it added.

According to the statement, the verification of the courses may be delayed due to late passage of the 2016 budged by the National Assembly.

It therefore directed institutions in the affected zones to check details of the exercise on the board’s websites,www.nbte.gov.ng.

It also asked the institutions to complete the self-study questionnaire for the programmes before the arrival of the visitation teams.

Indonesia government signs law to chemically castrate child rapists

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia on Wednesday signed an emergency decree on child sex offenders to be chemically castrated and planted with microchips.
The regulation was issued following no less than two rape and murder cases in which the victims were teenagers.

“Extraordinary crime requires extraordinary measures,” Joko said, announcing the new law at the presidential palace.
The government has described recent attacks on teenagers as a “crisis”.
Joko said in his address that the attacks had disturbed public order.

“The decree also allows judges to hand down life sentences or death sentences to people convicted of child rape,” Joko said.
He said that the minimum sentence would be 10 years. “Convicts can be micro chipped for easy monitoring by authorities and their names may be published,” he noted.

This month a court on Sumatra Island sentenced seven teenagers to 10 years in prison for raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl in April.
In another case that sparked outrage this month, two men were arrested on the outskirts of Jakarta for allegedly raping and killing an 18-year-old girl by assaulting her with a wooden hoe.

Photo: Getty Images

Spice TV: “On The Couch” is Back for Season 3 with New Mum Ariyike Akinbobola

Spice TV On The Couch Ariyike Akinbobola (3)

It’s a new season of Spice TV’s “On The Couch” with new celebrity guests and a brand new couch.
SPICE TV’s unique talk show is back for an all new season with host and new mom Ariyike Akinbobola returning to an amazing new set, fresh new topics on real issues and her guest panel discussing and debating all things love, intimacy and relationships, without holding back!

Spice TV On The Couch Ariyike Akinbobola (1)

On this new episode of #OTC guests are asked, “Are you fabulous, single and successful? Would you tone down your success in order to find a partner?”
Join celebrity guests; media Personality Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi, singer Dil Ajufo and the beautiful Divine Ukaogo as they hash it out!

Spice TV On The Couch Ariyike Akinbobola (2)

Siasia tells players, "Report to camp now or forget Rio Olympics"

Coach Samson Siasia has handed down a warning to all invited foreign–based players for the Suwon Invitational Tournament to report to camp today or forget about making the team to the Games.

Siasia handed down the deadline after Monday evening’s training session at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, Abuja.

Expressing displeasure that most of the players invited for the Suwon Tournament have arrived Nigeria but are not willing to report to camp, the coach said the only way he can select players for the Olympics is when they train together as a team, adding that no player will walk into his team without earning it.

“It is annoying that these boys have not placed the same importance myself and other members of the technical crew have placed on the Olympics. I have information that aside one or two players who are involved in their team’s play–off games, the others have arrived the country but have just refused to report to camp.

“If they don’t report to camp on time, how can I work on them to know their level of adaptability to my game plan? It’s frustrating sometimes. Except for Saturday Keigo who reported to camp on Sunday, the others have not bothered to report.”

Coach Siasia disclosed that if any of the invited overseas –based players thinks because he has been registered for the competition in South Korea and as such cannot be dropped, he has a surprise for that player.

The affected foreign–based players are: Amuzie Stanley, Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Sodiq Popoola, Saviour Godwin, Taiwo Awoniyi and Nathan Oduwa.

Oba of Benin: Edo state govt approves appointment of Prince Eheneden Erediauwa

Following the demise of the renowned monarch, Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, Edo state government has approved the appointment of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the new Oba of Benin.

A statement signed by the Secretary to State Government, Julius Ihonvbere and dated May 24th, says the appointment takes effect from April 29th 2016. The statement reads;

“It is hereby notified for general information that in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 19 (1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979 (as amended) and by virtue of all other laws enabling it in that behalf, the Executive Council of the Edo State Government of Nigeria has approved the appointment of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin, with effect from 29th day of April, 2016.”

Actress and former Face of Lux Olaide Olaogun shares more pics of her newborn

Nollywood actress Olaide Olaogun and her husband Babatunde Ojoro welcomed their first child early last month in the U.S. The couple got married in December 2015. See more photos below

Check out what Rotimi Amaechi allegedly says about Nigerians

Nigeria's Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says Nigerians have run out of patience with the current administration because “their pocket is getting dried”.

He said most people were more interested in having resources in their “pockets” than the structural changes that the federal government planned to put in place.

The minister, who said there was no money to run the government, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government underestimated the challenges ahead of it.

He also appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience, assuring them that they would have the course to rejoice.

He was speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at a forum organised by NAN.

“We encountered challenges; were we expecting to encounter those challenges? Yes; did we think that we will meet the quantum or volume of those challenges?” he asked.

“We didn’t anticipate that things were this bad. We thought you go to government and there would be money for you to run government and others.

“Now you have the situation where there is no money to run government. I hate to use the word difficult; I hate to use the word impossible but we met things close to difficult and impossibility.

“That is why Nigerians are impatient; they want to see results and for them, change is not about change in structure, it is about change in their pocket.

“Because their pocket is getting dried and they wanted us to put some more resources in their pocket.

“What I usually say to people is that we beg you to give us time; we will achieve our objective if you give us time and we will both thank God for that opportunity.”

Amaechi also said his ministry will in a few years formulate policies that will ensure proper regulation of land transportation.

He said the federal government needs over $50.9 billion in the next five years to develop transportation infrastructure.

“We need over 50.9 billion dollars in the next five years to develop infrastructure and 50 billion dollars is not a joke,” he said.

“One of the infrastructure we are trying to develop is the railway infrastructure; the president has kindly agreed that he will fund it because the contract was awarded by Obasanjo, the former president; he awarded the contract for Lagos to Kano.

“President Jonathan awarded the contract for Lagos to Calabar, what the president has agreed to do is to fund it; he said can we fund the ones we have already awarded; no more awards until we have developed the ones we have awarded.So we are focusing on the Lagos to Kano railway and the Lagos to Calabar rail line.If you look at the communities surrounding this rail line; Lagos to Kano will start from Lagos to Ibadan; it will impact on so many sectors of the economy including housing; people who ordinarily will not be able to pay for house rent in Lagos can live in Ibadan, can live in Ogun and come to work in Lagos.”

He blamed the cause of road mishaps more on poor infrastructure rather than the quality of mass transit buses being used.

Responding to a question on the payment for the use of trolleys at the airports, Amaechi said the situation was not peculiar to Nigeria.

“There are so many airports you go to and you have to pay for the use of trolleys,” he said.

“In Washington DC for instance, you have to put your dollar in and pick your stuff; it is not a Nigerian thing alone.

“An airport runs itself. If it’s viable, somebody will come and say he wants to supply trolleys because he knows that he will make money from it.

“I am not saying they are not right, but I am saying it’s a thing that is very rare. There are areas you go, you get free trolleys and there are areas you go and you pay and Nigeria is one of those areas where you pay for their use because an airport should run itself.”

Ijaw Youth Council Berates Nigerian Billionaire Mohammed Indimi For Donating N4.2bn To American University

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has reacted angrily to the reported donation of 4.2 billion naira to an American University by Niger Delta oil made billionaire, Mohammed Indinmi, labelling it “an irresponsible and a global wastage of Niger Delta resources”.

In a statement signed by Eric Omare, the spokesman of IYC worldwide said “it is sad and provocative that Mr. Mohammed Indinmi who operates in different parts of the Niger Delta region and has failed woefully in his corporate social responsibility to the host communities could donate such a whopping amount of money to a private institution in far away America whereas the communities and people hosting his company, Oriental Energy wallow in poverty.

Mr. Indimi has no single record of contribution to community development in Nigeria, not even in the terrorist ravaged north east.

“We state that the money Mr. Indimi wasted in far way America is Niger Delta money and the people of the region must work towards recovery all their resources in the form of oil blocks awarded to people like Indimi.

IYC called on youths of the Niger Delta region to close ranks and work towards addressing the aged – long injustice of past Nigerian Presidents awarding oil blocks to their friends and relatives while the people of the Niger Delta region wallow in poverty.

Omare hinted that “The forthcoming IYC conference of Niger Delta youths on Thursday, the 26th of May, 2016 in Warri, Delta State provides the opportunity to start the journey. Niger Deltans must reclaim their resources.”

Jay Z Signs Tiwa Savage To Roc Nation

Ace American rapper and showbiz mogul, Jay Z has approved the signing of Nigerian songstress, Tiwa Savage to his Roc Nation.

According to the report, Jay Z, is impressed by Tiwa’s catalogue and profile, and sanctioned the signing yesterday (May 24, 2016). The deal was reportedly put together by Roc Nation’s Briant Biggs and Shawn Pecas.

Although details are still sketchy however, it was gathered that an international management deal is now firmly in the kitty of the songstress baring any last minute emergency. A formal signing ceremony is yet to take place just an official confirmation is yet to be made by the American company and the singer.

With the deal, the singer will become the first Nigerian artiste to be signed to Roc Nation joining the likes of Rihanna, Big Sean, DJ Khaled, among others.

It would also be the climax of a topsy-turvy period characterized by a well-publicized bitter separation with her hubby, Tunji Balogun otherwise known as Tunji Balogun.

The Forte Oil and MTN Ambassador who is currently signed to Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records was last seen in a private jet with her son enroute Dubai.

expressng.com