I5 FACTS ABOUT NEWLY APPOINTED INEC BOSS, AMINA ZAKARI

1. Amina Bala Zakari, Nee Husaini Adamu, was born on the 23rd of June 1960.
2. She hails from Kazaure Local Government of Jigawa State.
3. Mrs Amina Bala Zakari, she completed her elementary education at Shekara Girls Primary School, Kano in 1971 and proceeded to the prestigious Queens College Yaba, Lagos for her Secondary Education where she obtained her School Certificate/WASC in 1976.
4. In 1976, she proceed to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1976 for a degree programme. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Pharmacy with a Second Class Upper in 1980.

5. She had her National Youth Service Programme at the Federal University of Technology, Bauchi between 1981 -1982, where she set up a Pharmacy and Drug Store Dispensary as her service year project.

BUHARI APPOINTS AMINA ZAKARI AS INEC CHAIRMAN AS JEGA BOWS OUT

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mrs Amina Bala Zakari as the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the conclusion of the term of office of Prof. Attahiru Jega.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Barr. Danladi Kifasi, who conveyed the appointment in a letter, said it was with effect from 30th June 2015 until the appointment of a substantive Chairman.

Mrs. Zakari until her appointment is presently a National Electoral Commissioner at INEC.

BANK VERIFICATION NUMBER: ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A lot of Nigerians hitherto cannot understand what Bank Verification Code is, its essense and implication. To some it is just one of those useless initiatives of government that looses its significance as soon as it is established and some believe that the stress of queuing for registration outweigh the benefits of BVN itself. 

Well, i wouldn't  blame nobody but i must say the initiative is nonetheless worth the energy, stress and strains. 

Check answers to questions that will convince you of the benefit of BVN here: http://www.bvn.com.ng/BVN_FAQ.pdf

9 BASIC THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BANK VERIFICATION NUMBER (BVN)

A scene in Lagos

A lot of questions have been raised about CBN’s new Bank Verification Number (BVN) directive and many account holders are still clueless as to what it is about. Below is all you need to know about the initiative:

1.         Your BVN provides you with a unique identity that can be verified across ALL Nigerian Banks (it is not peculiar to one Bank). Therefore, registration in one bank covers all accounts an individual may hold with other banks.

2.         The BVN ensures that your bank accounts are protected from unauthorized access.

3.         It reduces fraudulent activities on bank accounts.

4.         Your BVN is accepted as a means of identification across ALL Nigerian Banks.

5.         A small temporary registration acknowledgement slip will be issued to you, followed by an email or SMS conveying a similar information.

COMMENDATION AS PARAKOU UNIVERSITY (BENIN REPUBLIC) STUDENTS VISIT FUTA

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has been described as a citadel of excellence.  The commendation came from a contingent of exchange students from the University of Parakou, Republic of Benin.

Receiving the students who were in FUTA for a study tour as part of their exchange programme at the Obafemi Awolowo University, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Tunde Arayela expressed optimism that their visit would open new vista for them and enrich their knowledge of the West African sub region.

MISSING EX-FUTA VC FOUND DEAD, KILLED BY HIS DRIVER AND SECURITY GUARD

Proffessor Ilemobade.

A former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure FUTA, Prof Albert Ilemobade, who was declared missing last Monday June 22nd has been found dead. His decomposed body was found inside a store at his residence in the Ijapo area of Akure,the Ondo state capital.

NASIR EL-RUFAI RECORD AS GOVERNOR OF KADUNA IN ONE MONTH

Governor, Kaduna State

I welcome you all with humility and gratitude to the very first Town Hall meeting we are hosting as a government. It is not yet one month since we were sworn-in, but to the extent that it has pleased Allah to bestow His grace upon us, we have set about doing the work of change that you mandated us to do.

During the campaign, we promised that we shall be engaging and interacting with the public regularly. We pledged that we will provide you regular updates and listen to your feedback, including criticisms and suggestions. Here, we are before you today to do as we pledged. As we have started, so we intend to continue, always striving to get better at achieving results.

SOAKED WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS, SINGED WITH THE FIRE OF HELL

Gospel preaching is a serious endeavor. And the mantle of preaching isn't to be worn flippantly.

Because God is God, and the Bible is his word, the heralding and exposition of that word is central to the corporate life of his redeemed people. In his message at the inaugural Together for the Gospel Conference, John Piper explains why.

God did not ordain the cross of Christ or create the lake of fire3 in order to communicate the insignificance of belittling his glory. The death of the Son of God and the damnation of unrepentant human beings are the loudest shouts under heaven that God is infinitely holy, and sin is infinitely offensive, and wrath is infinitely just, and grace is infinitely precious, and our brief life — and the life of every person in your church and in your community — leads to everlasting joy or everlasting suffering. If our preaching does not carry the weight of these things to our people, what will? Veggie Tales? Radio? Television? Discussion groups? Emergent conversations?

#PunditIslamic: 10 GREAT GOALS TO ACHIEVE THIS RAMADAN

Eat, drink and be moderate

Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it’s hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we’re supposed to learn self-control, not self-indulgence. Let’s try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.

Give in charity

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let’s open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Whatever you can give, it’s the intention that counts.

#PunditSundaySermon: SPEAK THE TRUTH WITH TRUTH, BE THE OPPOSITE OF AN HYPOCRITE

Knowledge doesn’t terminate on the knower. We don’t learn in order to conceal, just like a lamp isn’t lit to be put under a basket (Matthew 5:15). We learn in order to express — to lead others in seeing and savoring what we have seen and savored. And that means we don’t merely say it, but that we say it effectively.

To encourage this kind of communication, John Piper recently explained four characteristics of helpful speaking and writing to new graduates of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He counsels communicators to say what they’ve seen with truth, with logic, with pictures, and with love.

WHY I SLEPT WITH MY GRAND-DAUGHTERS- 75YEARS OLD MAN

Exclusively crazy things has entered Africa! Read what this Insane man say caused him to sleep with his grandchildren. This happenings are foreign to Africa, where did they come from and how do we get out of this? this is a discussion that must agitate all sons and daughters of Africa.
Surely, we must retrace our steps back to honourable African culture.
 Check Out:  http://thenationonlineng.net/new/why-i-slept-with-my-granddaughters-75-year-old/ …

MARRIAGE: HOW REALLY LONG CAN LOVE LAST?

Credit: Nigerian Tribune

At a wedding reception I attended some years ago, the chairman of the occasion, in his advice to the couple said, “Love has done and completed its work in this relationship today in bringing the two of you together. What remains now is for tolerance, respect, trust, submission, etc, to continue where love has ended.” He was simply saying that all love does in any marriage is to attract the two people involved together. After this, some other virtues must take over from love if the marriage must survive.

MARRIAGE: THINK LIKE A WIVE BUT ACT LIKE A SEXY MISTRESS

Wives should learn how to be their husbands’ mistresses in order to keep the marriage secure. This is not to say that it is their sole responsibility to keep the marriage; rather, it is to enable them to play their own part in keeping their marriages. I am a strong advocate that a woman has all it takes to keep her marriage. All that she requires is the will. Once there is the will, there will be a way.

Being great emotional beings, women are wired to be great lovers. So, it should not be difficult for a woman to love and express her love as it is the sustenance of every marriage. Every wife should endeavor to be her husband’s lover. When this is achieved, her husband will have no need of a mistress.

MARRIAGE: DO WIVES ALSO BEGS FOR SEX?

Credit: PunditAfrica

In many instances, the issue of sexual dissatisfaction is treated as a male problem or issue: it is the man who is never sexually satisfied; he is the one who is always asking for more sex, and yet never satisfied. And as a result, the emphasis is on how to ensure sexual satisfaction for the man.

However, the truth of the matter is that wives also cry for sex. I mean, more sex. Many wives are dying on the inside, craving for more sex from their husbands. They wish their husbands had more time for sexual activities with them; that their husbands had more power packed into their manhood to ensure greater pleasure; that their sex life is above the ordinary; that their husbands do not turn down so often, their sexual requests.

MARRIAGE: WHEN IN-LAWS BECOMES OUTLAWS?

Credit: PunditAfrica

For this reason a man shall leave his mother and father and cling to his wife, the two shall no longer be two but one.” No doubt we must have heard this common biblical proclamation one or two times at wedding ceremonies.

What follows from the presiding pastor or spiritual mentor often times will be the fact that the new couple should be left alone by parents and family members from both sides; the bride and the groom, so that they can live their life and build their own family.

Most often than not, this admonition does not hold water with some parents as they take delight in meddling with their children’s new home? Ifeoluwa, got what she did not bargain for few weeks after her wedding. During courtship, her mother-in-law whom she fondly calls mum related very well with her and whenever she was in any gathering where any mother-in-law maltreats their son’s wife’s is being discussed she would tell anyone who cared to listen that she was sure she would enjoy her mother-in-law as she sees the mother she didn’t have in her.

Her tale however changed, just few weeks after her wedding. According to her, her newly wedded husband was opposed to the fact that she wanted his mother to stay a little with them after their wedding.

SEXUAL OFFENCES BILL: PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA WRITES SENATE, SEND AHMED YERIMA TO THE GUTTER

Professor Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has added his voice to the growing opposition over the sexual offences bill hurriedly passed by the immediate past Senate of the 7th National Assembly. He wrote a letter to the present set of senators.

Read below:

Dear Friends and Comrades,

Regretfully, I am unable to be with you tomorrow morning. However, I extend a warm embrace to you in your resolve to keep within Nigeria’s short memory the events that have been central to the attainment of our democracy – warts and all – enjoyed today by you and me. June 12 remains the true Democracy Day despite the unprincipled efforts of some prime beneficiaries of that struggle to expunge it from a people’s chronicle.

If I had been able to join you, I would most certainly have asked you for help. It has to do with the nation’s latest alleged legislative stance against sexual abuse – molestation, rape, pedophilia etc. I am only a layman, not a“learned brother”, so any help from the learned is earnestly solicited. The question on my mind is this: is that legislative reinforcement not merely a case of rubbing Vaseline on leprosy?

BEFORE NIGERIA, THERE WAS GHANA BY PROFESSOR AKIN OSUNTOKUN

Professor Akin Osuntokun

The typical Marxian line is that incontinent intra ruling-elite squabble always carries with it the risk of playing into the hands of its class enemies; and could be generalised as a manifestation of the ubiquitous internal contradictions of capitalism and self-destructive tendency towards the commitment of class suicide. The altercation between Theophilus Danjuma and former President Goodluck Jonathan lends itself to the interpretation of this analytical school of thought and, fleetingly, averted my mind to the possibility of a replay of Jerry Rawlings style purge of the Nigerian ruling class. To a lesser degree, a similar behaviour was on display at the rancorous commencement of the eighth National Assembly. Danjuma said: “What we are hearing is that the treasury of the country is empty at the federal level. A debt of $60 billion would be left behind for the incoming government…I’m calling on the new administration to investigate what happened to our monies as soon as Buhari takes over power on May 29.

JUNE 12: BUILDING THE FUTURE FROM THE PAST

For many Nigerians, the June 12, 1993 presidential election was the point at which the nation’s political landscape was heading for a change as it was believed that personalities from a section of the country were the ones dominating the leadership of the country. Hence, it was believed that the crusade of the Hope ‘93 train ushered a paradigm shift, creating a new quest for alternative leadership outside the then existing caucus. The popularity and eventual victory of businessman turned politician, late Chief MKO Abiola in a poll he ran on the platform of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP), is still considered unprecedented in the democratic history of the nation and was greeted with massive celebration across the length and breadth of the country. On June 12, 1993, Nigerians could see a reflection of their choice at the poll taking precedence thereby summoning hope that all is not lost after all for the country. It is on record that Abiola won in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as well as in the military barracks.

TALE OF TWO CITIES: LESSONS FOR AFRICA FROM USA & USSR

The year was 1945. And it was the end of World War 2. Most of Europe lay in ruins. The war had either exhausted or eliminated the pre-war ‘’ Great Powers’’. But two superpowers emerged, with conflicting ideologies, signalling the end of one war and the beginning of a new one: The Cold War.

1945 heralded a bi-polar world dominated by the US and the Soviet Union. These two nations, allies in the war, raced to spread their ideologies across the globe. One thing they had in common was military might. But that was where the similarities ended. Who was going to win the cold war? History gradually revealed. In October 1917, the Soviet Union became the first nation to ever attempt Marx-Engel's Utopian communist dream.

ANYONE CAN QUIT, HAVE THE COURAGE TO WIN #INSPIRATION

Arise Nigeria

Ask yourself this question, what am I really aiming at? To rise against overwhelming odds? Or to beg off with a beautiful sympathetic excuse. The world will always give you the opportunity to quit trying, one of the most powerful success principle ever preached is ‘’NEVER GIVE UP’’. Granted, it may be the toughest point of your life, but who has a smooth ride to success?

Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds; the purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace and the brightest thunderbolt from the darkest storm. The obstacles of life are intended to make us better not bitter. They are merely a call to strengthen not to quit your resolve to achieve worthwhile goals. The Chinese have this proverb that says ‘’the gem cannot be polished without friction nor man perfected without trials, it seems that trials are the necessary preparations for greatness.

MEET LEE KUAN YEW? THE GAGANTUAN NATION BUILDER WHO BUILT SINGAPORE FROM THIRD WORLD NATION TO FIRST

Lee Kuan Yew

Few gave tiny Singapore much chance of survival when it was granted independence in 1965. How is it, then, that the former British colonial trading post is a thriving Asian metropolis with not only the world’s number one airline, best airport, and busiest port of trade, but also the world’s fourth-highest per capital real income? The miraculous story of that transformation can only be told by and even credited to Singapore’s charismatic, fearless, controversial statesman and founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Rising from a legacy of diverse colonialism, the devastation of the Second World War, and general poverty and disorder following the withdrawal of foreign forces, Singapore now is hailed as a city of the future. 

Delving deep into his own meticulous notes as well as previously unpublished government papers and official records, lee, in his best-seller book, ‘’From THIRD WORLD to FIRST- the SINGAPORE STORY: 1956-2000’’, detailed the extraordinary efforts it took for an island city state in southeast Asia to survive at that time. Lee explains how he and his cabinet colleagues finished off the communist threat to the fledgling states security and begin the arduous process of nation building: forgoing basic infrastructural roads through a land that still consisted primarily of swamps, creating an army from hitherto racially and ideologically divided population, stamping out the last vestiges of colonial-era corruption, providing mass public housing, and establishing a national airline and airport, equipping schools with one computer for every two students and connecting every home to a broadband network.