Total E&P Donates $500,000 to IDPs in North-east

The Nigeria National petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Total E&P Nigeria Joint venture, has donated five hundred thousand US dollars to the Nigerian Red Cross for rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in North-east Nigeria.


A statement issued yesterday by the Deputy General Manager,  Media and Public Affairs of Total E&P, Mr. Charles Organ, said the intervention plan was launched on December 1, 2015 in Gombe State, one of the areas affected by the insurgency.


According to the statement, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Total E&P,  Nicolas Terraz, said,  “This initiative which is part our social responsibility is in support of efforts to improve conditions in the camps and help the affected persons return to their livelihood.


Terraz, who was represented by the Executive General Manager (Corporate Social Responsibility & Medical Services), Mr. Vincent Nnadi, said NNPC/Total E&P Nigeria Joint Venture “is deploying some resources to assist in this direction and has chosen the Nigerian Red Cross Society as our partner in implementing this initiative.”


According to him, “The initiative is a 12-month intervention programme designed to achieve: Short term relief through the distribution of food and non-food items to the very vulnerable groups of female-head households, widows, orphans, the infirm and the aged; Support livelihood activities of the able-bodied to accelerate their economic recovery and self-reliance; and boost psychosocial support activities like provision of safe playing and learning spaces for the  children and restoration of family links for families torn apart, among others.


He also said the initiative would broaden the scope and reach of community health activities like immunization, malaria prevention and treatment of ailments; and also provide safe and adequate water supply, environmental sanitation and personal hygiene promotion.
Representatives of NNPC-NAPIMS, the Gombe State Government and the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), witnessed the presentation


The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, who received a delegation of the company at his palace in Gombe the state capital, commended Totals, initiative in supporting efforts to rehabilitate the IDPs.


Source: Thisday

Buhari Appoints Bashir Ahmad As Personal Assistant On New Media

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Bashir Ahmad as his new Personal Assistant on New Media today




Mr. Bashir will oversee President Buhari’s communications and engagement on social media and new media platforms.

Mr. Bashir, who is twenty-four years old, is from Kano State and was the Online Editor for the Hausa version of Leadership Newspaper. Prior to working with Leadership Newspaper he was an online editor and reporter with Rariya Hausa Newspaper and was the Personal Assistant on New Media to Sam Nda-Isiah, the publisher of Leadership Newspaper.

Mr. Bashir also worked with the Buhari Support Organization (BSO).

Source-Sahara reporter

Prof Aina appointed as Caleb varsity’s new VC

A seasoned administrator, Prof. Ayandiji Daniel Aina has been appointed as the third substantive Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria. According to a release issued by the Registrar of the University, Mrs. Folake Okor and made available to newsmen, Prof. Aina until his appointment was the Provost, College of Management and Social Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.

The Professor of Political Science and Public Communication has formally taken over the Vice-Chancellorship of the university from the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof.Olufemi Oludimu, following the expiration of the tenure of the substantive Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju. An embodiment of experience at a top level of university administration, Prof. Aina carved a monumental niche as President/Vice-Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State (2011-2013). 

Earlier, the renowned Political Scientist had impacted positively at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State as pioneer Head of Department of Political Science (1999-2003) and successively as substantive Dean, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences (2003-2006). Prof.Aina pioneering profile soared when he was saddled with the responsibility of building the Postgraduate School from the scratch following his appointment as the first Dean in 2010. 

Thereafter, the university Don was appointed Dean of Bussiness School in the same university(2013-2015). Prof. Aina appreciable impact is not limited to Babcock University, as a matter of fact, he extended the tentacles of his midas touch to Osun State University, Ede, Osun State as foundation Head of Department of Political Science and International Relations in 2009. Two years later, the revered Scholar took a quantum leap with his appointment as President/Vice-Chancellor, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State ( 2011-2013 ). 

As God would have it, history has repeated itself by beckoning and smiling afresh on Prof. Aina with his appointment as the third substantive Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria. However, Prof.Aina landmark achievements is not limited to academic community, he had earlier cut his teeth as a senior Journalist for ten years in the old Daily Times of Nigeria Plc where he rose steadily to the post of Assistant Director (1989-1999)

SOURCE: VANGUARD

Jumoke The ‘Agege Bread Seller’ Lands Her First Magazine Cover, Modelling Contract & Top Internship….. Read The FULL Grass To Grace Story

Her name is OLAJUMOKE ORISAGUNA, and today she covers the This Day Style magazine. TY Bello also shared Jumoke’s story on her Instagram.

Read her story as shared by TY Bello on instagram and see pictures below:

“Olajumoke a bread hawker from the Sabo market bakery, walked entirely by coincidence unto our set of our Thisday style shoot for @tiniegram The moment didn’t look special at all. If anything she stood there a little confused .. Some people asking her to leave the set and others asking her to stay . I signaled if it was OK to take her photograph and she agreed and I pressed on my shutter so she could move ahead . My main subject of interest was the Okada driver that had slowed down just before she arrived.  Okada riders have that cool Lagos vibe and always happen to add a bit of swag to street portraits.

I was wrong to have paid her such little attention. Every frame with her in it was perfect .. I had found a second subject in the Tinnie’s story .. A young beautiful hawker who could have served as a love interest of some sort. Digitally I made the red in her dress match @tiniegram sleeves to create a connection between them .
When the magazine came out last week and the images hit social media , I was proven right this girl split the limelight with the main subject effortlessly… questions and comments started to fly: Was she a model? How did we convince the model to balance all that bread on her head . The buzz about her multiplied when I clarified that she indeed wasn’t a model at all but simply stumbled on our set. I immediately begone my search for her. If so many felt she was beautiful enough to be a model.. Then maybe she was mean to be one. I was going to find a way to make it happen. I had assistants leave word with people in the area we shot her and to my delight the very next day, she showed up at my studio.

“Aso kan na ni mo wo kiri Lana…” Jumoke the ‘model’ the Internet had been searching for speaks almost no English. She explained how she had worn the exact outfit in our photograph the day before and someone showed her her own photograph on his phone from face book. A mallam led her to my studio that morning.

She narrated her journey to Lagos… A hair stylist from Ire in Osun state but not making enough profit between she and her husband, a sliding door installer in from same village, to care for their two young children.
At the invitation of a distant relative who knew someone operating a bakery, she relocated Lagos with her 14 month old daughter to give bread hawking a try, leaving her husband and older 5 year old behind .

As I listened to her, I wandered if the beauty I had seen on my screen as I edited my image was a fluke… well, until she smiled… I realized that I was wrong… I had in fact underestimated the beauty of this 27 year old woman. As always, it was her eyes and of course her perfectly chiseled features that jumped out at you when she chuckled. This lady belonged in front of my camera. After a conversation with her husband telling him the story of our meeting, I decided I was going to photograph her that very afternoon… Within an hour, Bimpe Onakoya, one of Nigeria’s leading makeup artist and Zubby one of my favourite hairstylist were at my studio to work magic. They had both followed the story online and were more than happy to put in their very best for her.
Olajumoke, with curly extensions out ,revealed a short natural Afro that beautifully hugged her face @Bimpeonakoya also had decided to keep the make up minimal… She stepped in front of my camera and I almost couldn’t recognize her. She moved different too. Jumoke looked straight into my lens emoting like she had done this all her life…. I knew we had found a star.”

During the course of the day, @emaedosio who was making a short documentary about the process had asked her what she really wanted to do .
‘Ka ma kiri Buredi ko suwon ‘ she explained that bread hawking wasn’t the most profitable business but put enough food on her table . It also put a roof over a head .. Howbeit a roof she shared with scores of other hawkers .

She was a trained hairdresser back in Osun state but her family could not afford the necessarily ‘freedom ‘ ceremony ; a passing out ritual that gives a trainee a sometimes unwritten permission to start a full fledged salon .
We all decided that the make over would be incomplete if it ended at the studio . Every one started to reach out to their contacts and through Bimpe we were able to get her a meeting with Ugo the pioneer of Make-me salon .

As a result of the buzz she generated from the Thisday cover Our model is now close to starting an internship at @makemesalon and has been offered a additional internship with @sarisignature a famous Lebanese owned salon on the island island .

To pay Jumoke her model fee from her first job in front of the camera we called @_ujumarshall one of Nigeria’s And matched her fees .She’s been offered a modelling contract with the help of @godsonukaegbu from a @fewmodels .She’s also had @payporte reach out to her to be model on their next billboard campaign .

This is clearly only the beginning of another chapter in Jumoke’s story . Though it seems accidental it s clearly Devine .

Just this morning ,mentor of mine offered to foot the bill for her accommodation ,education as well as her child’s .. This finally makes it possible to be finally reunited with her husband and older child .

I’ve asked my self over and again why all of this is happening . One thing is clear .. This woman here is no charity case .. We met her in the middle of her hustle … The woman works hard.. Seven days a week .. With a family to support .. But with dignity ..who pays that much attention to how she looks as she’s about to hawk bread … ?Arranging the bread so delicately like it was worth much more .. Making sure she left the bakery while it was steamy and hot … Every body likes their bread hot . .. All of this even when it’s clear that her profit in a day is between N300-500 .
This is the story of so many Nigerians .. The young house selling gala in traffic… The woman braiding hair under the bridge .. Nigerians work hard and we go it with style …

This has taught us and I hope everyone reading to pay a little attention ., to those clearly working hard around us .. You may have your own wahala to deal with .. But nothing gives you a bigger break from your troubles than just making life easier for someone else .. Give an orange seller a N1000 note and she may be able to take the next day off to attend to herself and her children .

Jumoke is sorted … I personally believe so with all the doors opening up for her but This story is more about the ‘jumokes’around you . Who put in all the work but just need a little push .You may not be able to help every one but as I learnt from someone I really respect … In your own unique way …. Do for the ONE what you would have liked to do for ALL.

Jumoke ooo.. Wants to be a hairstylists but secretly nurses a fantasy to act in a Yoruba film one day .. I know she’ll be a nollywood hit .. She did great in front of my camera and understood how to work the tiniest emotional nuances .She may not speak much English but can read and write in Yoruba

SOURCE:  http://woman.ng/

5 Quick Things To Know About The Lagos City Marathon

This coming weekend will be one of fun, excitement and a benign exhibition of the tourism potentials of a state which is on its way to becoming a mega city. It’s not a surprise because Lagos has always been the pacesetter when it comes to novel events, remember the Lagos Countdown? And of course, it’s the economic heartbeat of Nigeria. Many will go as far as saying ‘No Lagos, no Nigeria’.

Drums roll…welcome, the Lagos City Marathon which derbies on February 6th. A marathon hinged on bringing local and international athletes together to experience the hospitality, nerve racking hustle, entertainment, art, sport and the swashbuckling side of a burgeoning city. If you are participating in the marathon, here are some quick things you need to know. Get your trainers on Saturday and join over 40 international runners in the first Lagos City Marathon.

The route
This is perhaps the most important information that all participants should have at their finger tip. The start point (7:30am) is The National Stadium Surulere while the finish point is Eko Atlantic. In between, the runners will go through popular stops like Ojuelegba, Anthony, Maryland, Ojota, Ogudu, Third Mainland Bridge, and Federal Palace Hotel among other places. The distance to be covered is 42.195 kilometres which is less than three hours.



 
Running numbers
To be eligible for the race, you must collect your running number. You can collect it at the Teslim Balogun stadium which is a stone throw from the National Stadium. Don’t forget you need a means of identity and confirmation received via email to receive your running kits. The numbers can be collected between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm.

Registration closes on 4th February
For Nigerians that like to do things at the eleventh hour, they still have ample opportunity to register to run in the marathon. Go online and register. Registration is very simple. Put your money where your mouth is. No bragging!

$50,000.00 up for grabs
Converting 50,000 dollars to the black market rate of the naira will give you a staggering amount. But if this is not enough to motivate to participate, what about the sound of 1 million naira for the 1st male and female Nigerian to cross the finish line? It’s not about winning but participating. Notwithstanding, money has always been an excellent motivating factor in any engagement.

50,000 Marathoners are expected
Imagine the huge logistics that will go into organising the Lagos City Marathon in a city like Lagos. So, you have to forgive any hitches. On the part of the government, maximum security, refreshments, ambulance services and entertainment are guaranteed. For runners, it’s advisable to leave your car and other valuables at home, arrive early and follow instructions. You are assured of a pleasant time at the marathon!


Source: http://septin911.com/

How to Appear Way Smarter Than You Actually Are

Today I am going to share a post about intelligence. We live in a world that praises formal education and the appearance of intelligence. Often times, those without a formal education get branded with the “dummy” label even if many of these people are just as smart as or smarter than someone with a degree. The points I am going to share below will help you to increase your overall intelligence and appear “smarter” to those around you.

Please note, I am in no way trying to devalue having a formal education. Additionally, information consumption does not equate to increased intelligence. Realize that whatever you learn must be retained AND practiced before you can have a complete understanding of how to do something. Let’s proceed:

Read
Read then when you are finished reading, read some more, and more. Reading will help to increase your vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills. Additionally, I find that reading helps to exercise your imagination and some of the best ideas I’ve had came to me while reading a book. If you’re not an avid reader, start with an easy book that you think you’ll enjoy or re-read a book you’ve read in the past (maybe something from high school). You can start by reading any type of book (fiction or non-fiction) but avoid magazines, blogs (ironic, I know), and newspaper as the bulk of your reading.

Improve Your Grammar
As mentioned above, you can improve your grammar by reading. But, if you still don’t know the difference between “there, their, and they’re” it will be worth while to read a grammar book or learn via tutorials, the web is full of this kind of information.

Mental Math
Can you calculate 12 x 5 + 7 in your head (the answer is 67)? In the modern world, technology aids us to an extent that we are neglecting our mental capacity. Knowing how to calculate simple math without the help of a calculator or a piece of paper can speed up your daily processes and save you from potential embarrassment in social situations. Good mental math skills are useful when shopping or dining (calculating sales tax, tips and discounts) as well as traveling (calculating currency exchanges). There are numerous other examples I can give but the point is that math is a large part of everyday life, learn it.

Stay Current with World Events
Read the Newspaper, watch the news. Get various perspectives on situations happening in our world right now. Having a good sense of what is going on in the world is an excellent way to make yourself a better conversationalist and makes you a more well-rounded individual.

Learn a New Skill
Become an “expert” at something. Everyone has their strengths, learn to develop your natural talents and people will respect you for mastering your area of expertise. You’ll become the “go to” person for whatever you chose to excel in. As the saying often goes, “Jack of all trades, master of none”. It’s good to be well rounded but in today’s day and age, the people with the most specialized knowledge are the most sought after.

I hope you found these tips helpful, if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments below. Always remember that becoming “smart” and staying smart is all about having a commitment to lifelong learning. Once you stop learning, your intelligence level doesn’t stay the same, as the world continues to grow and evolve your knowledge begins to expire = dummy. :-)


Source: http://woman.ng/

Chevron rewards outstanding students

Determined to sustain excellence in the education system, the oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has rewarded no fewer than six students for their outstanding performance in the essay competition instituted by the oil firm in Delta State.

The students are winners of the 15th edition of the Chris Ikomi Memorial Essay competition, with the theme: “Protecting People and the Environment.”

The yearly competition was instituted by NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture to immortalise Ikomi, a member of staff of the company, who was killed during the Warri ethnic crisis in 1991.

The winners in the Junior Secondary School category are Izibili Bella, a pupil of Springfield School, Sapele; Idris Taofeeq of Jenny Secondary School, Ekete; and Esiehor Oghene a pupil of Challenge Academy, Orhuwhorun.

In the Senior Secondary School category the winners are Ogbeide Christabel, an orphan and a student of Kudos Model School, Orhuwhorun; Emetitiri Oghenerunor of Challenge Academy, Orhuwhorun and Ojadovba Emuobonuvie, a student of Our Lady of Nigeria Secondary School, Oghara.

Of the 4,550 students, who entered for the competition at the Local Government Council level, only 450 qualified for the state finals in which the six students emerged for the final stage with three per category.

The General-Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) of the company, Deli Haastrup said the competition is an ideal way to manage conflict and instill essential life skills and knowledge for selfempowerment in the youths for nation building through creative thinking and writing.

He said: “Through this essay competition, we seek to continually remind ourselves of the loss which we suffer as a result of violence and invariably the lack of virtues of the skill of engagement.

The essay competition aimed at promoting the study of English Language usage among students in public and private secondary schools in Delta State, as well as boost fluency by means of articulating words and opinion excellently in English language.”

While he noted that the skills in English would, no doubt, have direct positive impact on the students’ studies, examinations and life after formal education, Haastrup explained that since the competition was launched in 2001, it has enhanced education standard in the state.

According to him, this is demonstrated through the topics, which he said “have tasked participants’ intellect and help in bringing about development.”

Haastrup, who was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Brikinn Esimaje, one of Chevron’s Area Managers, attested to the fruitful partnership between the company and the Delta State Government, saying the kinsmen of Ikomi have proudly identified with the competition and awards since its inception 15 years ago.


SOURCE: NEW TELEGRAPH