Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congratulates David Mark, on his victory in Saturday re-run election

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu-Sheriff, has congratulated the former Senate President, David Mark, on his victory in Saturday’s Benue South Senatorial re-run election.

This is contained in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Sunday in Abuja.

Modu-Sheriff said that the development left no one in doubt of the popularity of Mark and that of the PDP not only in Benue,
but also in other states of the federation.

He described Mark as a valuable statesman and national leader intensely needed in the Senate.

He also commended Nigerians for their renewed support for the PDP and its candidates as demonstrated in recent elections across the country.

He noted that ``it is instructive to note that the PDP had won 70 per cent of all the polls conducted since May 29, 2015.

"This is a development that underlines the fact of PDP deep roots and popularity as a brand, irrespective of the transitory setback of the 2015 general elections.''

Modu-Sheriff, therefore, urged members of PDP to respond to the gesture by Nigerians by uniting behind the ideals of the party and visions of its founding fathers.

He said this was important to reposition the party for the challenges ahead.

In this regard, Modu-Sheriff said that the leadership of the party were working very hard to ensure that "we have a strong party poised to regain power in 2019.

“Finally, we reiterate our call to all PDP elected and appointed office holders across the country to reciprocate the renewed support by Nigerians.

"They should redoubling their efforts in patriotically exerting themselves in serving the people in line with the models provided by the ideology of our great party."

With NAN

'I DONT NEED LECTURES', MUSEVENI TELLS EU AFTER POLL CRITICISM

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Picture: Isaac Kasamani/AFP.

President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday dismissed European Union and US criticism of Uganda's presidential election, telling foreign observers not to lecture him.

Museveni, in power since 1986, was declared the winner on Saturday but Kizza Besigye, his main challenger, who was under house arrest on Sunday, called the election a sham. Another candidate, Amama Mbabazi, said it was “fundamentally flawed”.

The EU observer mission said Thursday's vote had been conducted in an “intimidating” atmosphere. Chief observer Eduard Kukan said it had been undermined by a “lack of transparency and independence” at the electoral commission.

But Museveni, 71, dismissed the idea that the commission had favoured him and his National Resistance Movement (NRM).

“They are wrong, they are not serious,” Museveni told reporters in his country home in Kiruhura, southwestern Uganda. “I told those Europeans ... I don't need lectures from anybody.”

Museveni has presided over strong economic growth but is accused at home and abroad of repression of dissent and failing to tackle rampant corruption. Critics also say he wants to rule the nation of 37 million people for life, emulating other African leaders who refuse to give up power.

Museveni last clashed with Western donors in 2014, when Uganda passed a law that imposes harsh penalties on homosexuality.

Several EU countries cut aid, as did the United States, which also imposed visa restrictions and cancelled a regional military exercise. In total, more than $100 million in aid was halted or re-directed - a significant blow for a country that depends on foreign aid for about 20 percent of its budget.

However, Museveni has also won favour with the West by sending troops to Somalia to battle Islamist militants with ties to al Qaeda.

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who led a group of Commonwealth observers, said the poll “fell short of meeting some key democratic benchmarks”.

The United States also criticised the handling of the vote and raised concerns about the house arrest of Besigye, who was in detention for the fourth time in a week and alleged that his electronic communication had been blocked.

US Secretary of State John Kerry called Museveni on Friday to voice concern over the harassment of opposition figures and the shutdown of social media in Uganda, where Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp have faced outages since election day.

“Mr John Kerry rang me and I told him: 'Don't worry, we're experts in managing all those things (elections)',” said Museveni.

Besigye on Sunday urged his backers to demonstrate for his release.

Besigye's supporters clashed with police on Friday when officers stormed the headquarters of his Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Last Monday, police fired bullets and tear gas towards protesters, who responded by hurling rocks and erecting street barricades.

FA Cup: Chelsea travel to Everton in quarter-finals

Chelsea will travel to Premier League rivals Everton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Manchester United and League One Shrewsbury play their fifth-round tie on Monday, and the winner will host West Ham.

Elsewhere, Championship side Reading face Crystal Palace at home, while Watford will travel to the winner of Arsenal and Hull's replay.

Ties will take place across the weekend of 11-14 March.

Chelsea beat Everton in the FA Cup final in 2009 when Guus Hiddink was in his first spell in charge of the Blues.

"It was a long time ago. They are longing for revenge. We hope to maintain the flow we are in in the FA Cup," said the Dutchman, after his side's 5-1 win over Manchester City in the fifth round on Sunday.

Meet The Team Of 11 Men That Stand Behind The Richest Black Man In The World

Henry Ford  said “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” This is definitely one of the the mottos that Aliko dangote lives by. He has succeeded not just as an individual, but in building an amazing team which has made his outstanding success possible.

Aliko Dangote GCON is a Nigerian billionaire, who owns the Dangote Group, which has interests in commodities. The company operates in Nigeria and other African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo,Tanzania and Zambia.

Dangote is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 67th richest person in the world and the richest in Africa.Henry Ford  said “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” This is definitely one of the the mottos that Aliko dangote lives by. He has succeeded not just as an individual, but in building an amazing team which has made his outstanding success possible.

Aliko Dangote GCON is a Nigerian billionaire, who owns the Dangote Group, which has interests in commodities. The company operates in Nigeria and other African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo,Tanzania and Zambia.

Dangote is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 67th richest person in the world and the richest in Africa.

Despite his influence and power as a giant in the Nigeria Industrial revolution as well as Africa, Aliko cannot still not do without some influential people in his business.These are:

1. SANI DANGOTE
Alhaji Sani Dangote is Aliko Dangote’s brother. An established businessman with investments in key sectors of the economy including manufacturing, agriculture and oil services, he is the Group Vice President of Dangote Group. Alhaji Sani Dangote also sits on the Board of several other companies including Nigerian Textile Mills Plc, Nutra Sweet Limited, Gum Arabic Limited, Dangote Textile Mills Limited, and others.

2. ABDU DANTATA
Alhaji Abdu Garba Dantata, Aliko Dangote’s cousin, is the Group Executive Director(GED) in charge of Logistics and Distribution. Before he was appointed GED, he was the Executive Director, Sales & Marketing. As Group Executive Director(GED) in charge of Logistics and Distribution in the Dangote Group, he is responsible for coordinating the sales and marketing of all products manufactured or imported by the Group.

3. JOSEPH MAKOJU
Engr. Joseph Makoju is the Honorary Adviser to Alhaji Aliko Dangote. He has held this position from 2009 to date.

4. OLAKUNLE ALAKE
Mr. Olakunle Alake is the Chief Operating Officer of the Dangote Group, a position he has held since January 2007. He holds a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1983) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

5. KNUT ULVMOEN
A Norwegian, Mr. Knut Ulvmoen is the Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc in charge of Sales and Marketing and International Trade in the African continent.

6. SADAN BAKI
Alhaji Sada Ladan-Baki has about 30 years experience in public service and fund administration. He is a graduate of Economics from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He sits on the board of several companies and belongs to many professional associations.

7. DEVAKUMAR EDWIN
Mr. D.V.G. Edwin is the Group Managing Director / CEO of Dangote Cement Plc. He holds a Graduate and Masters Degree in Engineering from the Madras University in India and he is also a Chartered Engineer.

8. TAJUDEEN SIJUADE
Alhaji Tajudeen Sijuade, the Chief Financial Officer of Dangote Group, is a qualified Chartered Accountant (1984) with experience spanning 38 years. He joined the Dangote Group in October 1989 as a Chief Accountant.

9. USEN UDOH
Mr. Usen Udoh is the Group Chief Human Resources Officer of the Dangote Group. Mr. Udoh is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School and holds an MBA from the University of Leicester School of Management, his first degree being of Bachelors of Engineering (with Hons).

10. KUZHYIL RAVINDRAN
Kuzhyil Ravindran is the Chief Financial Officer of Dangote Group. A qualified Chartered Accountant, he is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

11. MANSUR AHMED
Engr. Mansur Ahmed is the Director, Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Communications of the Dangote Group in 2013. He has a first degree in Mechanical Engineering from Nottingham University (1972) and a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering and Administration from Cranfield Institute of Technology (now Cranfield University 1975) both in the United Kingdom.

We salute Aliko Dangote and his incredibly efficient team!

Nigerian Med Professor Reveals Ground Breaking Progress In Cancer Cure At The University of Sussex

Prof. Isa (Right) and Sussex University Vice Chancellor (Left)

On Thursday, 11th February 2016, the Sussex Nigerian Society hosted Professor Isa Hussaini Marte, a Professor of Pharmacology, University of Maiduguri, a visiting Professor, University of Virginia, USA and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.

In an event titled “Meet the Nigerian Scientist” organized by the Society, Professor Isa discussed with the Nigerian students in Sussex about their discovery of Nigerian traditional herbs that show substantial efficacy against cancer, better than the currently used cancer drugs.

He described to our community how he moved to the US in the late 90’s after his Ph.D. and eventually developed to a competent scientist that received over $5 million of research funds for research into cancer.

Prof. Isa came to the University of Sussex on invitation by the School of Lifesciences of the University, to present his team’s discovery of the potential anti-cancer traditional herbs.

On Friday, 12th February, he was received warmly by the Vice – Chancellor of the University of Sussex, the Head of School of Lifesciences and other Professors, following which he was given a gift by the Vice – Chancellor.

Later in the Friday evening, Professor Isa delivered his research findings at the University’s Genome Damage and Stability Centre to experts and young scientists, in a talk that was brilliantly fascinating, titled – “Exploitation of medicinal plant compounds in the search for novel cancer therapeutic agents.”.

His talk explained how his team investigate the scientific rationale for the tradition uses of Nigerian Medicinal plants.

How they now discover novel plants with anti-cancer properties.

They have isolated and characterized the compounds from these plant sources and tested them against many cancer cell lines.He described to our community how he moved to the US in the late 90’s after his Ph.D. and eventually developed to a competent scientist that received over $5 million of research funds for research into cancer.

Prof. Isa came to the University of Sussex on invitation by the School of Lifesciences of the University, to present his team’s discovery of the potential anti-cancer traditional herbs.

On Friday, 12th February, he was received warmly by the Vice – Chancellor of the University of Sussex, the Head of School of Lifesciences and other Professors, following which he was given a gift by the Vice – Chancellor.

Later in the Friday evening, Professor Isa delivered his research findings at the University’s Genome Damage and Stability Centre to experts and young scientists, in a talk that was brilliantly fascinating, titled – “Exploitation of medicinal plant compounds in the search for novel cancer therapeutic agents.”.

His talk explained how his team investigate the scientific rationale for the tradition uses of Nigerian Medicinal plants.

How they now discover novel plants with anti-cancer properties.

They have isolated and characterized the compounds from these plant sources and tested them against many cancer cell lines.

He said “We are working to develop cancer therapy from Nigerian traditional plants. We have conducted an extensive screening of many plants with anti-cancer properties, tested them in cell and animal models. Our research has created an evidence base to demonstrate that eight naturally growing medicinal plants in Nigeria have strong anti-cancer properties, especially against breast cancer.”

Professor Isa also praised the “world-class facilities” at the University of Sussex and discussed possible collaboration with the School of Lifesciences regarding research.

The Nigerian Ag. High Commissioner in London, also attended Professor Isa’s research talk and was very impressed that such research is conducted in Nigeria.

He praised Professor Isa and encouraged him to continue his research as it shows promise for solving world problem and positively influences the global reputation of Nigeria.

The Ag. High Commissioner also held a Question and Answer session over Lunch with the Nigerian students in Sussex where he advised them to work hard in their studies and acquire useful skills that can drive the development of Nigeria.

Inspired by Prof. Isa’s talk, the Sussex Nigeria Society have launched a campaign to raise money for the Breast Cancer Association of Nigerian “BRECAN” to help disadvantaged women access free clinical breast examination and towards BRECAN’s awareness-raising campaigns.