Gates, Dangote Foundation seal N19.7bn deal to reduce malnutrition

The Dangote Foundation on Thursday sealed a partnership worth $100m (N19.7bn) with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation towards ending malnutrition in Nigeria within the next five years according to Punch.

The agreement was sealed in Abuja by the President Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who signed on behalf of the Dangote Foundation while Mr. Bill Gates signed on behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The agreement was witnessed by members of the international community  as well as top officials of government such as the Ministers of Health, Education, Agriculture, Planning and Budgeting.

Speaking on the motivation behind the agreement, Dangote said "despite its rapid economic growth, Nigeria was still ranked as the second country in the world with high rate of under nutrition".

He said more worrisome was the fact that the country was also rated as the second highest in terms of stunted growth owing to malnutrition.

"Currently, there were about 11 million children in Nigeria experiencing under nutrition with the North East and North West region accounting for the highest percentage of under nourished children."

"Owing to its vital role in child health, growth and cognitive development, better nutrition would be essential towards unlocking the potentials of the next generation of Nigeria."

“Over the past few months, Dangote Foundation has gone through a strategy revision exercise and we arrived at a conclusion that the biggest challenge confronting us as we work at reducing childhood death is reducing the level of malnutrition in Nigeria."

“Globally, Nigeria has the second highest level of acute malnutrition rate at 13 per cent and at least five of all the children under the age trove years that died in Nigeria do so as a result of malnutrition."

“Stunting which is chronic malnutrition is the second highest in the world which is about 37 per cent."

“We have to ensure that children who are already malnourished receive help and are prevented from dying while we improve the conditions that led to them being malnourished in the first place.”

In his address, Gates said the agreement would enable the two foundations to begin a joint process that would strengthen the collaboration within the next five years.

He said programs that would be implemented under the pact would include community based approaches and proven interventions linked to behavioral change, fortification of staple foods with essential micronutrients and community management of a cure malnutrition investment in the local production of nutritious foods.

"One of the key objective would be to improve the livelihoods o households by supporting nutrition-sensitive agricultural programs that can increase family income, improve diets and empower women and youth."

Gates said, “Nutrition is one of the highest impact investments we can make in Nigeria’s future growth and prosperity".

With Punch

Arms Procurement: Dasuki’s Trial Stalled, Case Adjourned Till January 22

The case which is before Justice Hussein Baba Ahmed was stalled following a letter from the Counsel to Mr Dasuki, according to Channel Television.

The Counsel to Dasuki claimed that he is before an election tribunal matter in Kogi State, and as such the court should adjourn the case till January 22, to enable him defend his client.

As a result, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, therefore adjourned the case till Friday, January 22 for trial to commence.

On Wednesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Federal Government to produce Col. Dasuki in court on February 16 and 17, 2016 for trial.

Justice Ademola Adeniyi, in his order, said the court has not excused the former National Security Adviser from being present in court to face the criminal charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Bizarre two-legged frogfish stumps scientists

      MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND TE PAPA TONGAREWA VIA FACEBOOK

This fish, believed to be a Frogfish, was washed up on the beach at the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.

The curious all-black creature — believed to be a Frogfish — was found washed ashore in shallow water in the country’s Bay of Islands.

Holidaymakers Claudia Howse and James Beuvink found the frog-like fish and sent it on to the Museum of New Zealand to discover exactly what it was.

Experts at the Te Papa Tongarewa museum believe it is a rare type of Frogfish and shared pictures of the unusual animal on Facebook.

“This weird creature is likely to be a species of Frogfish, but we won't know until we have a chance to examine it closely,” said the museum in a statement.

“Frogfishes have the fastest bite of any vertebrate. Their mouths expand at the speed approaching a 22 rifle bullet — and that's in a medium 800x denser than air.”

The frogfish has fins on both sides of its body that have evolved to be leg-like and are generally found living on the seabed.

The fish are known to be cannibals and regularly eat shellfish, other ocean dwellers and each other.

They are found in both tropical and subtropical oceans and seas, except the Mediterranean Sea, according to Mirror Online.

Edo 2016: No candidate yet —Odigie-Oyegun

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Wednesday, disclosed that the party does not have an anointed candidate for the 2016 Edo governorship election, according to Nigerian Tribune.

The APC national chairman dropped the hint during a meeting with APC governoship aspirants for the Edo State governoship seat at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said, “Once I open my mouth to support any candidate, it hampers my ability to be objective and fair in the process. The moment you begin to tell anybody why don’t you step down, the next question is what is in for me?”

“The APC has recorded credible primaries with examples being the presidential primaries and primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Even in the case of Bayelsa State where there were issues, the party cancelled the first primaries and and ordered a fresh exercise — all in a bid to achieve credible primaries.”

“The party assures of credible primaries for the Edo State governorship when the time comes and with the right credentials,” he stated.

On the sidelines of the meeting, an aspirant, Ilenre Austin Emuan, said: “All aspirants were invited for a meeting with the national leadership of APC to have a discussion as far as the campaigns for the Edo State governorship election is concerned and it was a fruitful meeting.”

“As we know, the political climate in the state is getting warmer, hence, the party felt we had to meet so that we could be reminded of the party manifesto, ideology and the fact that everyone should embrace the rule of fair play and above all, to assure everyone of us that all the aspirants will be given a level playing field.”

“Of course, there are a lot of insinuations going around that there is an anointed candidate, but today, all that has been laid to rest. I can say that many of us left with so much confidence about APC and in the process of the forthcoming primaries in Edo State,” he stressed.

Aspirants present at the meeting include: Ilenre Austin Emuan; Dr Don Pedro Obaseki and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor.

APC mentors PDP on 'Change'

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The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that it is using its members to draw political capital from it as funny, silly and unfounded allegation.

The governing APC pointedly said it has no hand whatsoever in the in-fighting and resultant implosion being witnessed in the PDP's hierarchy.

The party in a statement said perhaps the wind of Change has blown through the PDP camp and thereby enable many PDP members to realise the need to embrace and enforce change.

The APC statement which was signed by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni however said that PDP members who are genuinely inspired by the APC-led administration are welcome to the APC fold.

Buni said it is the right of the PDP members to abandon a sinking ship and join one that is smooth-sailing.

Buni further said; “The APC marvels how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to blame everyone but itself for its self-inflicted problems which has led to the sorry state the PDP finds itself.

“In monitored media reports, PDP's National Secretary, Wale Oladipo was quoted saying that some PDP members were being "used by the APC, to draw political capital from the present challenges facing our party [PDP].

“What could be funnier than such silly and unfounded allegation? The PDP now sounds like a broken record with its daily conspiracy theories blaming external forces and unseen hands for its electoral misfortunes, in-fighting and mind-boggling corruption charges and on-going probe of some PDP leaders and the immediate-past PDP-led administration.

“The question begging for answers is: Why does the PDP choose to grope in the dark while reality stares it in the face?

“Did the PDP not know that it will one day pay for the impunity, recklessness and shocking mis-management of the country's common wealth perpetuated under its watch for 16 years?”

Real Madrid ranked the richest Football Club

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Real Madrid are the richest football club by revenue for the 11th straight year and La Liga rivals Barcelona have leapfrogged Manchester United into second, according to Deloitte's Football Money League.

Real topped the list published on Thursday, with an annual revenue of €577 million as the combined figure for the top 20 Money League clubs rose by eight percent to a record high of €6.6 billion.

Barcelona's stunning success on the pitch in 2015, when they claimed five of the six trophies on offer, including La Liga and the Champions League, helped them move above Manchester United, who fell to third.

It was the first time that the top three clubs in the Football Money League have all passed the €500 million revenue mark.

Spanish giants Real, who clinched a record-extending 10th European Cup in 2014, were buoyed by an increase in commercial revenues which rose by €22.7 million from the previous season.

Although Manchester United slipped down the table, the outlook for the record Premier League winners remains positive.

Tim Bridge, Senior Manager at Deloitte, said their return to Champions League football this season as well as a number of commercial partnerships would only strengthen the business in 2015-16.

"With this in mind, it would not be surprising to see United top next year’s Money League for the first time in 12 years," he said in a statement.

Premier League clubs remained the major force in the Money League, nine English teams making the top 20 with revenues totalling €3 billion.

Chelsea fell one place to eighth while London rivals Arsenal, who currently top the Premier League, climbed to seventh.

Manchester City and Liverpool were the other two Premier League clubs in the top 10, in sixth and ninth places respectively.

"With the new round of Premier League broadcast deals set to deliver greatly improved domestic broadcast revenues in 2016-17, we expect to see Premier League clubs cementing their places in the top 30 in the coming years, with potential for some of these to climb into the top 20,” Bridge said.

Bayern Munich fell from third to fifth place, their lowest position since 2006-07 and were overtaken by Paris St Germain, the only French team in the top 20.

Ibadan Royal Battle: Seriki chiefs wants to stop Adetunji as Olubadan

The Seriki, has headed for the court to stop the Oyo State Government and the Olubadan-In-Council from installing the Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, as the Olubadan of Ibadan land.

The Head of the acclaimed line, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, and five others yesterday filed a motion seeking an order compelling the government and the Olubadan-In-Council to install Oyediji as the Olubadan.

Oyediji, 89, and others based their prayer on a 1989 Supreme Court judgment, which ordered the recognition of the Seriki as the third line to produce the Olubadan.

According to him and the motion filed by his lawyer, A.G. Adeniran, before the Oyo state Chief Judge, Justice Mukthar Abimbola, the Olubadan -in-Council had since 1989 when the Seriki line obtained a Supreme Court judgment in their favour, denied them the opportunity of being admitted into the Olubadan line.

The businessman alleged disregard for rule of law on the part of the Olubadan -in-Council. He said he was the next to be installed Olubadan based on the said judgment.

According to him, the alleged marginalisation of the Seriki line began since the last Otun Seriki, Chief Adisa Akinloye, was denied the opportunity before he died in 2007. He said that Seriki was the third line in the chieftaincy of Olubadan, adding upon the denial, the Supreme Court in 1989 ordered that Seriki line be included as the third line to the appointment of Olubadan.

Oyediji claimed that the problem with the Seriki line started with the making of the 1959 Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration which put Seriki under the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan and provided for the first time  that Seriki can only be promoted to Ekerin Balogun only if there are two simultaneous vacancies occurring in the Ashipa and Ekerin Balogun titles.

He explained that upon winning against the then Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Oloyede Asanke, and all the Chiefs in Balogun and Olubadan line, after challenging the said chieftaincy declaration, the Olubadan then prevailed on the Seriki chiefs not to insist on three lines for the Olubadan chieftaincy, but that rather chiefs in the Seriki line should cross to Ekerin Balogun and Ekerin Olubadan on the two lines whenever there is a vacancy in any of the two lines.

He said, the out-of-court agreement was that the Balogun and Olubadan lines would each have two steps of promotion from Ekarun to Ekerin in their lines before the Seriki line shall have its own promotion to Ekerin in any of the two lines.

Having been denied the opportunity for long and following the consecutive deaths of high chiefs Sulaimon Omiyale and Omowale Kuye from both sides in November and December last year, Chief Oyediji said that it was the time of Seriki to have a shot at the Olubadan, stressing: “When the agreement was reached, the late Oba Odulana was the only senior ranking high chief in the Olubadan line and we were in the same rank. If that agreement was followed, I am the next person to succeed him.”

In the new motion filed by his lawyer, Adeniran, dated 19/01/2016 marked I/421/07 seeking an amendment to reflect the earlier order of the court, he sought a declaration that “by the provision of the consent judgment delivered by the high court in suit No. I/313/88, it is the turn of the claimants to produce the next Olubadan of Ibadan on both the Olubadan line and the Balogun line”.

He also sought the order of the court “setting aside the purported appointments made by the 1st defendant (Oba Odulana) to fill vacancies existing in the chieftaincy titles of Ekerin Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Otun Olubadan and Balogun Olubadan of Ibadan since the 21st of November, 2008 up till the last appointment he made on the 1st of January, 2016”.

Oyediji also called for an order “setting aside the purported approval granted by the Governor of a Oyo state on the 5th of January, 2016 or thereabout to the appointments made by the 1st defendant on the 1st of January, 2016 to fill vacancies existing in the chieftaincy titles”.


With The Nation

N5,000 stipends: No statistics of unemployed Nigerians, says Minister

The Minister of  State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi (SAN), on Wednesday revealed that the ministry currently does not have data on the number of unemployed Nigerians according to Punch .

It requires the data to enable it prepare the template for beneficiaries of the proposed N5,000 stipends for the unemployed/ vulnerable Nigerians.

The minister said this while responding to questions from reporters at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, Abuja.

According to him, the ministry recently commissioned a firm to capture the data of the under-employed/ unemployed to enable it prepare the necessary template for the effective take off of the scheme.

He also explained that the ministry has written a memo to the President through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for it to take over the over 76 federal skills acquisition centres spread across Nigeria.

Ocholi said, “Before we got to where we are there is no data anywhere. There is no data of the unemployed.

“In fact, there is no data of the employed. It’s a bad situation but as we talk with you, we have experts working on the software and the various things which we have discussed with them on how to capture the data of the employed and the unemployed. And for those who are employed there are many who are in wrong places.

“There are many who are in jobs they don’t even enjoy and who want to have a job better than what they are doing right now.

“There is a firm that we sort for and is working with the National Directorate of  Employment, they have done a pilot scheme in Bwari and they have an office in Lobito Crescent right now and they are preparing for a mega scale on job profiling.”

He explained that experience has shown that there were people who have acquired a particular skill but are not suited for the kind of jobs they find themselves doing.

The current administration he noted was determined to provide an enabling environment for the private sector which is the driving force in the area of job creation to thrive.

In response to specific plans towards actualizing the disbursement of the N5,000 stipends to deserving citizens, the Minister said details were being worked out.

He, however, said beneficiaries will be categorized in such a way that graduates who will attend skills acquisition centres will be paid something above what they earned as youth corps members.

Ocholi said, “In other words, while being trained you earn something, that will bridge the gap between now and when they begin to open their shops and employ their own labour. Part of the N5,000 you hear may not actually end up being N5,000.

“For instance, if a graduate chooses to go and acquire a skill and is taken to a centre for skill acquisition and he was earning N18,000 or N19,000 or whatever the range is as a youth corper, he can’t come back here and start earning that N5,000 it can’t sustain him.

“For a graduate, he may need to get something higher to keep him or her while going through that skills acquisition centre but for the retraining programme which we talk about teachers. The details are being worked out by the technocrats.”

With Punch