Saturday, September 14, 2013

PHOTOS: Meet Actress, Stella Damasus' Beautiful Daughter

PHOTOS: Meet Actress, Stella Damasus' Beautiful Daughter


Nollywood actress, Stella Damasus finally shows off her daughter.
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The actress took to twitter to tell her fans her daughter would be working with her on a new drama web series "MIX MATCH".
In her tweet “Great working with my daughter on the set of MIX MATCH”.
The actress has been in New York with her lover and movie producer/ director,  Daniel Ademinokan filming the new drama web series.
Ademinokan’s new project is titled 'Mix Match'. This will be a drama 'based on the lives of the members of a biracial family living in New York City'.
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Jonathan’s blow to affirmative action

Jonathan’s blow to affirmative action


When President Goodluck Jonathan appointed 14 women as ministers in a cabinet of 46 members, women activists and supporters of the president celebrated it. Indeed, in June this year, First Lady Patience Jonathan publicly attributed the success recorded by her husband to the performance of the women in his cabinet.
“Two days ago, the President read his mid-term report to Nigerians. He and his team have done very well. Women are the powerful people in that cabinet,” she was reported as saying at a dinner she held for women at the Presidential Villa, Abuja in commemoration of Democracy Day.
Shortly after that revelation by the First Lady, President Goodluck Jonathan was celebrated through the presentation of a 320-page glossy book titled, “Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: Champion for Women.” Jonathan was hailed for the opportunities his administration gave to women to serve Nigeria.
Indeed, less than two weeks ago, Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Fund (NSITF), Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, said as far as women representation in government was concerned, the womenfolk never had it so good in the history of Nigeria as they are currently doing in the     Jonathan   administration.
Olejeme, who was speaking at a fundraising dinner in honour of the wife of the Belizean Prime Minister, Kim Simplis Barrow, said apart from the 14 women ministers in Jonathan’s government, many other women are holding sway as diplomats and or heads of several parastatals. Even President Jonathan himself has had reasons to boast about his ‘women-friendly’ administration.
Last Wednesday’s sack of ministers has rubbished that ‘colourful record’. President Jonathan decided to show five out of the 14 women in his cabinet the way out, in what was seen as a big blow to the much touted affirmative action. Those who were asked to go are  Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, Minister of Education (Jigawa); Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafaya, Minister of Environment (Kaduna); Lady Amal Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (Rivers); Olusola Obada, Minister of State for Defence (Osun) and Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, Minister of State for Power (Niger).
Those who escaped the president’s hammer are  Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance; Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources; Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology; Hajia Zainab Maina, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development; Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources; Princess Stella Oduah, Minister of Aviation; Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT); and Professor Viola Onwuliri,  Minister of State (1) for Foreign Affairs.
Many observers have also aired divergent views over the sacking of the five women ministers, with most insinuating political undertones.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), while condeming the sack of the five female ministers, said “this act contradicts President   Jonathan’s claim to 32 per cernt affirmative action for women, since about 70 per cent of the ministers sacked are women,” adding that “the action did not only negate Mr. President’s transformation agenda, but also makes mockery of our country’s effort towards women empowerment, gender equality and inclusiveness in the national political arena.”
Fateema Bello, a public affairs commentator based in Jimeta, Adamawa State, says “no doubt, the ministers sacked by the president, especially the women, couldn’t have been shown the way out based on performance. It is instructive to note that the affected women are from states where the governors are seen as opposed to President Jonathan’s ambition.”
Also speaking, Director of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, says  “I don’t think they were sacked because they were women, I think they were sacked because they were unfortunate to have people who supported their entry to the ministerial positions.”
He said when these ministers are being replaced, there should at least be the same number  of women to be returned.
A member House of Representatives Nkoyo Toyo says “President Jonathan has been consistent with support for women and the removal of the women is not a failure on their part, but an indication of the fact that we have not reach a position in the country that we need to make this kind of change without rancour.”
Michael Daelle, a women activist in Kaduna, said President Jonathan should look beyond politics when appointing replacements for those he sacked. “Some of us have not forgotten the promised made by the president that he was going to appoint many women to top government positions. He fulfilled that. Now that another chance has presented itself, the president must not go back on his words.”
Brief on the casualties
Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i (Jigawa) was born in 1958. She is former Dean, Faculty of Education at the Bayero University. She was Commissioner for Health and Commissioner for Education and Science in Jigawa State before she was appointed as Minister of Education. Many said she was sacked because of her governor’s (Sule Lamido’s) seeming opposition to Jonathan’s presidential ambition.
Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi (Niger), like Ruqayyatu, had to give way because she was nominated by Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, one of the ‘rebel’ governors behind the New PDP. Weekly Trust learnt from credible sources that Zainab, who is apolitical, had offered to broker peace between her governor and the president. However, the president wants someone who can tame the governor for him.
Hajia Hadiza Mailafiya (Kaduna), Minister of Environment, should have been spared since the governor, a protégé of Vice President Namadi Sambo, is not having any issues with President Jonathan and has always sided with the president’s camp. But observers say the president is not leaving things to chances and is looking for an astute politician.
Amal Pepple (Rivers) was Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) before she retired. When she was appointed as Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, many said it was a good choice. But coming from Rivers State, where Jonathan is locked in a battle of wits with Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the humble lady had to go to make room for someone in the class of Nysom Wike, now supervising Minister of Education that is openly fighting Amaechi. Pepple had also tried to broker peace between Jonathan and Amaechi, but did not succeed
For Olusola Obada, former deputy governor of her state (Osun), was sacked because she was nominated by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is now the Secretary General of the New PDP faction. Obada had been an advertiser, lawyer and seasoned politician
.

Jonathan’s blow to affirmative action

Jonathan’s blow to affirmative action


“Two days ago, the President read his mid-term report to Nigerians. He and his team have done very well. Women are the powerful people in that cabinet,” she was reported as saying at a dinner she held for women at the Presidential Villa, Abuja in commemoration of Democracy Day.When President Goodluck Jonathan appointed 14 women as ministers in a cabinet of 46 members, women activists and supporters of the president celebrated it. Indeed, in June this year, First Lady Patience Jonathan publicly attributed the success recorded by her husband to the performance of the women in his cabinet.
Shortly after that revelation by the First Lady, President Goodluck Jonathan was celebrated through the presentation of a 320-page glossy book titled, “Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: Champion for Women.” Jonathan was hailed for the opportunities his administration gave to women to serve Nigeria.
Indeed, less than two weeks ago, Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Fund (NSITF), Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, said as far as women representation in government was concerned, the womenfolk never had it so good in the history of Nigeria as they are currently doing in the     Jonathan   administration.
Olejeme, who was speaking at a fundraising dinner in honour of the wife of the Belizean Prime Minister, Kim Simplis Barrow, said apart from the 14 women ministers in Jonathan’s government, many other women are holding sway as diplomats and or heads of several parastatals. Even President Jonathan himself has had reasons to boast about his ‘women-friendly’ administration.
Last Wednesday’s sack of ministers has rubbished that ‘colourful record’. President Jonathan decided to show five out of the 14 women in his cabinet the way out, in what was seen as a big blow to the much touted affirmative action. Those who were asked to go are  Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, Minister of Education (Jigawa); Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafaya, Minister of Environment (Kaduna); Lady Amal Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (Rivers); Olusola Obada, Minister of State for Defence (Osun) and Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, Minister of State for Power (Niger).
Those who escaped the president’s hammer are  Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance; Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources; Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology; Hajia Zainab Maina, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development; Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources; Princess Stella Oduah, Minister of Aviation; Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT); and Professor Viola Onwuliri,  Minister of State (1) for Foreign Affairs.
Many observers have also aired divergent views over the sacking of the five women ministers, with most insinuating political undertones.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), while condeming the sack of the five female ministers, said “this act contradicts President   Jonathan’s claim to 32 per cernt affirmative action for women, since about 70 per cent of the ministers sacked are women,” adding that “the action did not only negate Mr. President’s transformation agenda, but also makes mockery of our country’s effort towards women empowerment, gender equality and inclusiveness in the national political arena.”
Fateema Bello, a public affairs commentator based in Jimeta, Adamawa State, says “no doubt, the ministers sacked by the president, especially the women, couldn’t have been shown the way out based on performance. It is instructive to note that the affected women are from states where the governors are seen as opposed to President Jonathan’s ambition.”
Also speaking, Director of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, says  “I don’t think they were sacked because they were women, I think they were sacked because they were unfortunate to have people who supported their entry to the ministerial positions.”
He said when these ministers are being replaced, there should at least be the same number  of women to be returned.
A member House of Representatives Nkoyo Toyo says “President Jonathan has been consistent with support for women and the removal of the women is not a failure on their part, but an indication of the fact that we have not reach a position in the country that we need to make this kind of change without rancour.”
Michael Daelle, a women activist in Kaduna, said President Jonathan should look beyond politics when appointing replacements for those he sacked. “Some of us have not forgotten the promised made by the president that he was going to appoint many women to top government positions. He fulfilled that. Now that another chance has presented itself, the president must not go back on his words.”
Brief on the casualties
Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i (Jigawa) was born in 1958. She is former Dean, Faculty of Education at the Bayero University. She was Commissioner for Health and Commissioner for Education and Science in Jigawa State before she was appointed as Minister of Education. Many said she was sacked because of her governor’s (Sule Lamido’s) seeming opposition to Jonathan’s presidential ambition.
Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi (Niger), like Ruqayyatu, had to give way because she was nominated by Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, one of the ‘rebel’ governors behind the New PDP. Weekly Trust learnt from credible sources that Zainab, who is apolitical, had offered to broker peace between her governor and the president. However, the president wants someone who can tame the governor for him.
Hajia Hadiza Mailafiya (Kaduna), Minister of Environment, should have been spared since the governor, a protégé of Vice President Namadi Sambo, is not having any issues with President Jonathan and has always sided with the president’s camp. But observers say the president is not leaving things to chances and is looking for an astute politician.
Amal Pepple (Rivers) was Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) before she retired. When she was appointed as Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, many said it was a good choice. But coming from Rivers State, where Jonathan is locked in a battle of wits with Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the humble lady had to go to make room for someone in the class of Nysom Wike, now supervising Minister of Education that is openly fighting Amaechi. Pepple had also tried to broker peace between Jonathan and Amaechi, but did not succeed
For Olusola Obada, former deputy governor of her state (Osun), was sacked because she was nominated by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is now the Secretary General of the New PDP faction. Obada had been an advertiser, lawyer and seasoned politician
.

Lamido receives Ruqayyatu, thanks Jonathan

Lamido receives Ruqayyatu, thanks Jonathan



Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State yesterday thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for giving Jigawa two ministerial slots in the whole of the north and for appointing Professor Ruqayya Ahmed Rufai as the first female Mister of Education in Nigeria.
Lamido, who organized a reception for the former Education Minister at the Aminu Kano triangle in Dutse, said Jigawa people are grateful to President   Jonathan for the period given to Prof. Ruqayya to serve.
“We are here to receive Professor Ruqayya Ahmad Rufai, a worthy ambassador of Jigawa State who has served this country meritoriously. We are also here to thank President Goodluck Jonathan, a dear friend, brother, our political leader for appointing her a minister. We have no ill fillings, no grudges or anger over her removal. The President has not done any wrong by firing her and there is no political dimension to the sack contrary to popular opinion.”
Prof. Ruqayya thanked Almighty Allah who sustained and protected her throughout her tenure as minister. She also thanked Governor Sule Lamido for the confidence reposed in her and nominated her for ministerial appointment.
She also expressed her gratitude to President   Jonathan for the support and cooperation she said she received from during her tenure.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Oct 1: FG Orders 53 Gold iPhones For N12.5m Each

Oct 1: FG Orders 53 Gold iPhones For N12.5m Each


The cash crunch presumably afflicting the federal government has not prevented it from placing an order for 53 gold iPhones to mark Nigeria’s 53rd independence anniversary.
A United Kingdom-born businessman based in Dubai, Amjad Ali, unwittingly disclosed this when he spoke to the Independent of London.
“We will engrave them with the coat of arms, a shield and two horses,” he said. The 42-year-old Ali supplies royal families, governments, and minted customers across Russia, China and the Middle East with gold-plated devices that cost from £3,000 to £50,000 (about N780, 000 to N12.5m).
“We strip the units down and then plate them in copper, nickel and then pure gold,” he told the Independent. “We have limited units per region and each is numbered and placed in a handmade wooden box with a certificate of authenticity and wax seal.”
Ali typically delivers 50 devices a month, including Blackberries and iPads, but orders rose to more than 300 a month when the iPhone 5 was launched last year. He expects greater demand as the sixth-generation device was announced yesterday.
 The federal government has refused to meet the financial demands of striking university lecturers, claiming that meeting such demands would leave the government broke.
Minister of Information Mr Labaran Maku had said that activities of the federal government would be grounded if all the demands of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities were met.
Nigeria gained political independence from Britain on October 1, 1960, and has since marked the date with fanfare.
Reports of dwindling foreign reserves have been denied by the federal government. Nigeria is facing financial difficulties as crude oil theft and endemic corruption continue to bore huge holes in the nation’s coffers.
But the federal government has maintained silence over report that it plans to import 23 iPhones for the independence anniversary billed to take place on the first of next month.
Effort to reach Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati last night was futile as he could not be reached on phone.

New PDP Opens Office In Port Harcourt

New PDP Opens Office In Port Harcourt


The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday opened its secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The new state secretariat is located along Forces Avenue, in Old GRA of the state capital.

You Won't Believe These Shocking Sex Traditions

You Won't Believe These Shocking Sex Traditions


Sexual intercourse can be regarded as one of the most curious part of life.
While some people attach spirituality to the act, others have some very interesting rules for when and how to have sex.
Check out some of the most shocking sexual practices around the world:
1. Adolescents allowed to have sex
In Polynesia, adolescents of are instructed in sexual techniques by an older experienced person, and during this period, it is permissible to have numerous sexual liaisons before settling down. Special "pleasure houses" are built to provide young people with their own place to socialize and have intercourse.
2. Premarital sex allowed after parents approval
The inhabitants of Tonga (South Pacific) allow premarital intercourse with permission of the girl's parents and the provision that conception won't occur. If pregnancy occurs, the offending couple must walk around the village naked for several days and apply a magic potion to the fence surrounding the community to prevent disease from infecting people.
3. Six-year-old girls allowed to have sex
In Trobrianders tribe, Papua New Guinea, girls begin to have sex at the age of 6-8 and boys at the age of 10-12. However, having a meal together before marriage is forbidden.
4. Widow inheritance
When a family man dies in the Lou community, in Kenya, there is something called a widow inheritance. This is when a widow must sleep with another man to cleanse the death of her husband and bring ritual renewal and regeneration.
5. Intimate cutting rituals to achieve manhood
The first portion of this Mardudjara Aboriginal rite in Australia, involves a barbaric circumcision. After he heals up, the male's sex organ is cut lengthwise on the underside. Blood is then dripped over a fire in order to purify it.
6. Unnatural sex abstinence in Romania
Decent and upright women in Romania do not perform unnatural sex other than the classic missionary positions. Even if they wanted to, their lovers probably wouldn’t let them as it is believed it is something that only prostitutes do.
7. Boys to stay away from girls for 10 years:
To become a man, boys from Sambia tribe in New Guinea are removed from all the females at the age of seven for 10 years. Among other traditions, they are required to ingest the semen of their elders.
8. Temporary Marriage:
In certain Muslim countries, a young couple who would like to have sex before they’re ready to marry can request a “temporary marriage”. They are allowed to pay for a short ceremony, with a written contract.
9. Egypt strange sexual practices:
The ancient Egyptians were so inspired by the act of self-stimulation that at the festival of the god Min, who represented Pharaoh's sexual potency, men seeking pleasure in public.
10. Polyandrous Society;
In Nepal, When families have more than one son, they simply marry all of their sons to one wife.
11. Pon:
In Indonesia, they celebrate a holiday called Pon. To receive such blessings, participants must spend the night with someone other than their husband or wife.
12: Sex Haven
In Cambodia, the Kreung people encourage the sexual independence of their daughters by building separate huts for them to sleep in.
13. Sex with donkey:
In Northern Colombia, it is common practice for adolescent boys to have sex with donkeys. It is like a rite of passage that a boy has to pass to become a man.
14. Paid to break virginity:
In Guam, there's a full time job for a man to break the woman's virginity, and they've paid to do that, because in guam law's a virgin woman isn't allowed to get married.
15. Making love to animals:
In Lebanon, people are allowed to make love with a female animal, if one is caught having sex with a male animal, he will be punished to death.
Which one do you consider the craziest? Do you know any more weird sexual practices that is not listed above. Share your views in the comments section below.