Looking Glass: List of World's Highest Paid Athletes 2016...Mayweather is Dethroned

 In the latest Forbes' List of world's highest paid athletes 2016, former top earner, Floyd Mayweather has been dethroned by another another outstanding superstar.

Real Madrid superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo

Two athletes have dominated the top of Forbes’ annual look at the highest-earners in sports over the past decade and a half: Golfer Tiger Woods landed the No. 1 spot 12 times, while boxer Floyd Mayweather ranked first three of the past four years.

 But with Mayweather hanging up his gloves and Woods hampered by injuries, there is an opening at the top. Filling the gap is the biggest star in the biggest sport on the planet. This year, soccer icon, Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $88 million over the past 12 months from salary, bonuses and endorsements. Ronaldo is only the second team athlete after Michael Jordan to rank as the top-paid since Forbes began tracking athlete earnings in 1990.

 It is a good time to be a world-class athlete in a popular team sport. TV money is fueling massive increases in player salaries across baseball, basketball, football and soccer. The cutoff for the top 100 athletes is $20.8 million, up $2 million over last year.

 Ronaldo’s Real Madrid contract is worth more than $50 million a year in salary and bonus and runs through 2018. He triggered one of those seven-figure bonuses by leading Real to the Champions League title when he found the back of the net on the clinching penalty kick.

 The three-time FIFA player of the year is a marketing juggernaut earning $32 million off the pitch by our count. He kicked off a contract extension with Nike NKE +1.06% last year worth $13 million a year (Nike is partnered with 50 members of the top 100). Other Ronaldo endorsement partners include Tag Heuer, Herbalife , Pokerstars, Clear Shampoo and more. He has his own line of suits, cologne, shirts, shoes, underwear and hotels under construction.

 Ronaldo’s massive social media presence is a boon to marketers, encompassing 215 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He posted 255 times on social media promoting a brand over the last year. Those posts generated $176 million in media value, according to Hookit, which tracks sponsorship value in social and digital media.

 Fellow global soccer superstar Lionel Messi ranks No. 2 with earnings of $81.4 million. Messi earned bonuses from Barcelona and chief sponsor Adidas when he racked up his fifth FIFA player of the year award in January. Messi’s total earnings from sponsors were $28 million. His Adidas pact is worth more than $10 million annually, and he also has endorsement relationships with Huawei, Tata Motors , PepsiCo PEP +0.67% (Gatorade and Lay’s brands), Gillette and Electronic Arts EA -1.31%.

 Our earnings figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses paid out between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016. Endorsement incomes are an estimate of sponsorships, appearance fees and licensing incomes for the same 12 month period based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders. We do not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees and we don’t include investment income (click here for a more detailed methodology and the numbers behind the top 100).

 The 100 top-earning athletes hail from 23 countries and compete in 10 sports, with Americans (65) and baseball players (26) the most numerous. Over the last 12 months, they banked a cumulative $3.15 billion, 29% of which came from endorsements and appearances.

 The NBA’s LeBron James ranks third with total earnings of $77.2 million and leads 18 basketball players on the list. Nike signed James to the first lifetime contract in the company’s 44-year history at the end of 2015 (Michael Jordan is presumed to have a lifetime deal in all but name). Sales of James’ signature shoes are down over the past 12 months, but if sales rebound and the four-time MVP can move product after his NBA days are over, the contract will likely pay out more than $1 billion.

 King James has gone Hollywood with his SpringHill Entertainment production company and multi-platform media company Uninterrupted, which got a $15.8 investment in December from Time Warner TWX +0.36%. James made his big-screen debut in the summer of 2015 in the movie Trainwreck. James is also set to star in the sequel to the 1996 Jordan movie-vehicle Space Jam.

 The new Nike pact and TV vehicles pushed James’ off-court earnings up $10 million to $54 million. His NBA salary is headed for a bump next year, too, with the league’s salary cap about to explode thanks to the start of the NBA’s new $24 billion TV contract next year, triple the prior deal annually. James can opt out of his existing Cleveland Cavaliers deal and secure a pact starting around $31 million.

 Roger Federer is the top-earning athlete in an individual sport with $67.8 million over the past 12 months. He leads a group of seven tennis players, including Serb Novak Djokovic, who lands in the top 10 for the first time at No. 6 with $55.8 million.

 It has been four years since Federer captured his 17th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2012, but he remains the top player off the court with $60 million from endorsements and appearance fees. Federer generated millions from playing four matches in the Indian Premier Tennis League in December. His endorsement portfolio is filled with long-term deals with global brands like Nike, Rolex , Mercedes-Benz and Credit Suisse.

 The top two earners on Forbes’ 2015 athletes list both took big cuts after their record paydays. Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao earned $300 million and $160 million, respectively, for the 12 months ending in June 2015 after their bout in May 2015 produced the first $600 million night in the history of sports. Both fought once over the last 12 months and claim they are now retired. Mayweather ranks No. 16 with earnings of $44 million, while Pacquiao lands at No. 63 with $24 million.

 Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are the only two women to make the cut for the second straight year, but the tennis stars flip-flopped spots thanks to new endorsements for Williams and bonuses from her historic three Grand Slam 2015, while Sharapova has been sidelined most the year after a failed drug test. Williams earned $28.9 million (No. 40) and Sharapova ranks No. 88 with earnings of $21.9 million, off nearly $8 million (click here for more on the world’s highest-paid female athletes).

 

The top 10 list is as follows:

 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - football ($88m/£60.6m)

 

2. Lionel Messi - football ($81.4m/£56.1m)

 

3. LeBron James - basketball ($77.2m/£53.2m)

 

4. Roger Federer - tennis ($67.8m/£46.7m)

 

5. Kevin Durant - basketball (£56.2m/£38.7m)

 

6. Novak Djokovic - tennis ($55.8m/£38.46m)

 

7. Cam Newton - American football ($53.1m/£36.6m)

 

8. Phil Mickelson - golf ($52.9m/£36.46m)

 

9. Jordan Spieth - golf ($52.8m/£36.39m)

 

10. Kobe Bryant - basketball ($50m/£34.46m).

 

See the full list HERE

 

Forbes

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Boko Haram Terrorists Now Trapped in Sambisa Forest Nigeria Military Says

 The Nigerian military has made a new revelation about the deadly Boko Haram sect in their base in Sambisa Forest.

 

Nigerian Soldiers

 The Nigerian military has revealed that the feared enclave of the Boko Haram, Sambisa Forest, has been demystified and the insurgent group still trapped in the hideouts cannot come out to launch attack on the rest of the nation.

 The military made this revelation on Wednesday.

 Addressing a press conference to highlight the successes of the Nigerian troops against the Boko Haram insurgents in recent weeks, the Commander of the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East (Operation Lafiya Dole), Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the forest is completely surrounded by the Nigerian troops and there is no escape for any insurgents still holed up there.

 Irabor said it has become impossible for the insurgents still holed up in the Sambisa Forest to get out or for them to have access to civilization to get any supply.

 He said the soldiers are only waiting for the insurgents holed up in the forest to surrender as life has become unbearable for them.

 He said if they do not come out soon enough, the troops would move further into the forest to level it.

 He however assured that there is no escape for any insurgent still trapped within the forest as the troops have taken positions at all access routes leading into and out of the forest.

 Further details later

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Looking Glass: How Stephen Keshi Will be Remembered

Nigerians woke up to the super-shocking news of Stephen Keshi's death earlier today and the one thing that is clear to all is that the man will never be forgotten.

 The death of the former Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi came as a huge shock and has thrown the football world into a state of mourning.

 54-year-old Stephen Keshi passed away in the wee hours of today June 8, 2016, according to his relatives and close associates.

 One of his close friends revealed that “He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness, but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife.”

 Although Nigerians have continued to react to the loss, below are five things the ‘Big Boss’ will be remembered for.

1. Leading Nigeria to win AFCON 2013 

Stephen Keshi led the Super Eagles to win the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Nigerian appeared at the 29th edition of the tournament as minnows. 

 The team began the competition on a rather poor note with 1 – 1 draws against Burkina Faso and Zambia respectively, in their opening two games at the tournament. Nigeria defeated Ethiopia 2 – 0 in their final group game to proceed to the quarter final stage against the star-studded Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.

 An Emmanuel Emenike freekick with a Sunday Mba strike gave the Keshi-led team a 2 – 1 win over the Ivorians. Nigeria defeated Mali in the semis and overcame Burkina Faso in the final to win the tournament for a third time. This feat confirmed Keshi as the second person to win the AFCON tournament as a player and coash, having also won it in 1994 as a player.

2. Stephen Keshi assisted many African players to move to Europe 

 Keshi played alongside Austin Eguavoen in California as the backbone of the defence for the short-lived Sacramento Scorpions. Chidi Nwanu, Odertey Lamptey, Okechukwu Ajah, Philip Osondu all played in Belgium with the influence of the ‘Big Boss’.

 Keshi also discovered many great players including Justice Christopher, Dele Ayenugba and Sunday Mba. 

3. The issues that led to his sack as the Super Eagles coach

 It would be recalled that in 2002 Keshi was assistant to Shuaibu Amodu when Nigeria qualified for the World Cup, but the pair were sacked and replaced by Adegboye Onigbinde before the showpiece in South Korea and Japan.

 The ex-international was re-appointed in 2011 and won the AFCON in 2013. He led the team reach the second round of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Keshi’s Super Eagles lost 2 – 0 to Le Blues of France in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the following day, the coach controversially announced his resignation, saying certain people were trying to “sabotage” him.

 By 2015, Keshi’s contract expired and citing lack to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives, the gaffer was relieved of his job.

4. First African coach to successfully qualify two African nations (Nigeria and Togo) to the World Cup Finals 

 The Big Boss led the Togolese national football team to an unprecedented qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

 Having secured Togo’s unlikely qualification, he was promptly replaced by German coach Otto Pfister prior to the World Cup finals, after Togo showed a dismal performance and failed to advance to the knock-out stage in 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

 There was also a reported row with the Hawks captain Emmanuel Adebayor.

5. Passion for the Super Eagles 

 He was a key player of the Nigerian national team and appeared at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, played in five African Cup of Nations championships and was a part of the team when they won the 1994 African Cup of Nations.

 Despite being a defender, Keshi scored 9 goals for the national team in his 64 caps between 1982 and 1984. Having finished professional playing career, he got special coaching education in the USA and was appointed to manage the Super Eagles on three different occasions, which he later won in 2013.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Former Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi is Dead

 Former Super Eagles Coach and one time defender of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is dead.

 A tweet on the Nigeria Football Federation's handle, @thenff, says the legend died in the early hours of today (Wednesday).

Also Ademola Olajire, an Assistant Director of Communications in the Nigeria Football Federation, said that Keshi died after he was rushed to an hospital in Benin after complaining of his legs. He said that Keshi had problems with his legs and that he could not stand for long.

 More so, Valere Hounandinou, an Assistant Coach to Keshi, confirmed to Vanguard that "last week Stephen Keshi complained to him that he was having irregular heart beats and he advised him to go the hospital".
The former international football player and coach, lost his wife, Kate, last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Keshi has coached the national teams of Togo and Mali, qualifying the former to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
In his last job with Nigeria, he won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ta Nformi Dr Christopher Fomunyoh Rounds Up Cameroon Wide Humanitarian Tour

In slightly above one year the President of The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF), has gone to all of Cameroon’s ten regions. From the Far North Region in early 2015, he has been crisscrossing various localities in the other regions doing what it seems are his preferred passions; humanitarian actions and encouraging civil society initiatives.

And his presence in Ebolowa, in the South Region on June 6, 2016 completed the circle when Insitut Catholique Bonneau had more text books added to their library by TFF. Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh expressed regrets at the dilapidated state of this institution that was very renowned in the past years.

Earlier, the TFF president made courtesy stops at the governor of the South Region Felix Nguele Nguele and the Legion Commander of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Anne BELLA NKOTTO, who happens to be the lone female in that position in the country. A brief stop at the Divisional Officer of Mbalmayo ended the South lap of the trip.

However, the TFF humanitarian scheme seems to be a real caravan. Without any break it was on the outskirts of the nation’s capital of Yaounde the next day. This time it was Lycee de Nkolodoum that benefited from the over 20,000 collections found in its library in Bamenda in the North West Region of Cameroon. It should be recalled that over ten institutions in the Centre Region had benefited from this generosity.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ta Nformi Dr Christopher Fomunyoh Rounds Up Cameroon Wide Humanitarian Tour

In slightly above one year the President of The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF), has gone to all of Cameroon’s ten regions. From the Far North Region in early 2015, he has been crisscrossing various localities in the other regions doing what it seems are his preferred passions; humanitarian actions and encouraging civil society initiatives.
And his presence in Ebolowa, in the South Region on June 6, 2016 completed the circle when Insitut Catholique Bonneau had more text books added to their library by TFF. Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh expressed regrets at the dilapidated state of this institution that was very renowned in the past years.
Earlier, the TFF president made courtesy stops at the governor of the South Region Felix Nguele Nguele and the Legion Commander of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Anne BELLA NKOTTO, who happens to be the lone female in that position in the country. A brief stop at the Divisional Officer of Mbalmayo ended the South lap of the trip.
However, the TFF humanitarian scheme seems to be a real caravan. Without any break it was on the outskirts of the nation’s capital of Yaounde the next day. This time it was Lycee de Nkolodoum that benefited from the over 20,000 collections found in its library in Bamenda in the North West Region of Cameroon. It should be recalled that over ten institutions in the Centre Region had benefited from this generosity.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

PEATTU, TAC, BATU, CETTU React to Attempts by Higher Education Minister to Harmonize Educational Programmes in State Universities

HERE BELOW IS THE PRESS RELEASE IN REACTION TO ATTEMPTS BY THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO HARMONISE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN THE STATE UNIVERSITIES

 PREAMBLE
Following a joint meeting of members of the National Executive Bureaux of the Presbyterian Authority Teachers’ Trade Union (PEATTU), the Catholic Education Teachers’ Trade Union (CETTU), the Baptist Teachers’ Trade Union (BATTU) and the Teachers Association of Cameroon (TAC) on Friday 03/06/2016, the National Presidents and their closest collaborators examined the unpopular proposal to harmonise the teaching programmes in the state universities. Inter alia, the four teacher trade unions resolved to join their voices to other voices that had been earlier raised to make the following observations and come up with the following conclusions:

NOTE
That Minister Fame Ndongo had first mooted this nefarious scheme some time last year with the aim of completely scrapping the teaching of Common Law in state universities, but hostile reactions from Anglophone education stakeholders had forced him to defer the decision.
That the recent move to make Common Law only a Masters degree course confirms Anglophone fears of programmed cultural genocide with sinister implications in favour of the Francophone educational system and at the expense of its Anglophone counterpart; after all, how many students seeking only professional stability usually continue with post-graduate studies?
That the Constitution of our beloved fatherland, like the 1998 and 2001 laws of orientation for education and higher education respectively and our distinctive daily existence all lay official and practical emphasis on our bilingual, bi-cultural and bi-jural composition, with the unequivocal assertion that the existence of two educational sub-systems is sine qua non.
Consequently therefore, that the teaching and use of both Common and Civil Laws remain sine qua non fundamentals and inalienable rights in our bilingual and bi-cultural context, by virtue of the different historical backgrounds of the respective Anglophone and Francophone peoples
That high-handed attempts like these at snuffing out one system while openly displaying bias for the other are treasonable and should be punished by the laws of the land, especially given that even the Dschang, Yaounde I and Soa universities seen as Cameroonian models feature in unenviable 133rd, 144th and 166th positions in the African classification of universities.
That there is the need, given the fickleness observed in policy implementation in Cameroon to the disadvantage of the English speaking population, for teacher trade unions and civil society organisations to stay alert so as to continue to safeguard the educational and consequently the cultural heritage of the minority Anglophone community.
That they fully support the stand taken by the University of Buea and Bamenda chapters of the National Teachers of Higher Education (SYNES) deploring such sleight of hand attempts by the Minister of Higher Education at harmonising “university programmes to enhance the mobility of students from one university to another”, when the hidden agenda is to abolish the teaching of Common Law in Cameroonian Universities, so as to asphyxiate and kill the Common Law Practice in the our beloved fatherland.

HAIL
The fact which from reliable sources indicates that the Minister’s proposal was roundly deplored by the teachers of the Anglophone Universities of Buea and Bamenda.
The eminent professors who mustered courage to openly oppose their errant boss, noting that such an unprecedented move will obviously go a long way to awaken the consciences of those other top-ranking Anglophones who have always allowed party sympathies to befuddle their reasoning or been cowered into silence for fear of losing positions of influence.
The creation of the Cameroon Education Forum (CEF) that militates for the creation of two education councils, as previewed by the 1998 Law of Orientation, to take care of the two educational sub-systems within the Cameroon system, that advocates that the pedagogic chains be split in such a way that no one system can arbitrarily clog the wheels of the other.

CALL ON THE MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION
To give respect the laws of the land – the Constitution, the Laws of Orientation of 1998 and 2001, etc – so as to ensure that peace continues to reign in our beloved fatherland.
To respect the dreams and aspirations of Cameroonians by allowing the peaceful co-existence in our Higher Education institutions of those programmes that inform the different ways of life of the Cameroonian people.
To avoid provoking the patriotic and peace-loving Anglophone populations with such high-handed, biased and unpatriotic schemes, hidden agendas of cultural annihilation, because they only go to remind of the hurtful losses that these willing re-unificationists have had to sacrifice in the name of the union.

WARN
That all Anglophone pressure groups, whether directly linked to education or not, will continue to work in synergy in order to ensure that no such arbitrary, nefarious and sinister decisions with glaring insidious consequences are taken to destroy the lofty dreams that the fathers of this nation had in mind before forging the 1961 Re-unification.
That the consequences of any social unrest the result of such provocations will be burden to borne solely by these scheming fawns manipulating from high office rostrums. 

DONE IN BAMENDA THIS 03rd DAY OF MAY 2016.
The Presidents
PEATTU CEWOTU BATTUC TAC
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Lesson from Nigeria: Government Opens Special Account for Recovered Loot

The Federal Government has set up a special account to save the slush funds recovered from corrupt Nigerians.

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

The Federal Government has set up an account for the stolen funds it recovered in the last one year.

The Muhammadu Buhari-led government revealed on Saturday that N78, 325,354,631.82; $185,119,584.61; £3,508,355.46 and €11, 250 had been recovered from alleged looters, an amount which adds up to over N115.7bn using the official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The funds were said to have been recovered separately by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation; Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, said an account had been set up for the funds.
“An account has been set up for it and at an appropriate time, what is going to be done with the money will be made public. The amount that is available in that account will be announced and what will be done with the money will be publicly announced,” he said.
The committee chairman, however, said the N1.9tn in cash and assets, which had been frozen by the Federal Government, were still under legal contention and thus could not be touched.
He added, “Regarding the funds frozen under the interim forfeiture, the Federal Government can’t touch it for now because certain cases have not been concluded and the forfeiture is interim because technically, the court can order the release to the owners if the occasion demands it but if it goes the other way, there will be a permanent forfeiture order and that is when the properties would accrue to the government and would therefore be used for the benefit of Nigerians.”

Regarding the naming of alleged looters, Sagay said there was no legal impediment in shaming alleged thieves.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

N300m Disappeared from Senate President's Bedroom? - Bukola Saraki's Side of the Story

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Sunday said burglars stormed his country home in Ilorin, Kwara State, and carted away N12 million 2 weeks ago at an administrative quarters in the house.

 

SaharaReporters’ Story Full of Falsehood and Exaggeration

 

The report yesterday by SaharaReporters about a burglary in the Ilorin home of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki contained series of falsehood and at best an exaggeration of an incident which happened two weeks ago in which N12 million was stolen by some unknown persons inside the Administrative Office located next door to the house.

 

In a statement, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity stated that the unknown persons broke into the safe in the Administrative Office and stole the N12 million.

 

The incident had since been reported to the police and the Kwara State Police command are investigating the matter with a view to nail the culprits.

 

“There is therefore no truth in the claim by SaharaReporters that the money ran into hundreds of millions, that it was in foreign currency or that the incident happened in Dr. Saraki’s room. The amount was simply in Naira. Also, the money has nothing to do with Kwara State Government.

 

“For the umpteenth time, we need to reiterate the fact that SaharaReporters’ fixation that any money spent by Saraki or that is in his possession is from Kwara State Government is unfounded, unwarranted, lacks any basis and irresponsible. We wonder whether Saraki was such a poor man before 2003 when he was elected Governor that he could no longer own any money without SaharaReporters attributing the source to the State Government.

 

“In its usual unethical and disgraceful haste to assassinate the Character of the Senate President, SaharaReporters ignored the simple professional practice for it to contact the Police to find out the facts of the incident. It merely created its own usually fictional story and published it.

This is an online publication that cares not about its credibility or the journalism credo that facts are sacred and opinion is free.

“We call on all members of the public to ignore all the claims in the story. Dr. Saraki will allow the police to do their work and unravel the person or persons behind this theft in the Administrative Office”, he stated.

 

Signed,

Yusuph Olaniyonu

Special Adviser (Media and Pubicity) to the Senate Presiden

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Looking Glass: What You Need to Know about GUFAYA Vocational Training Institute for the Destitute GUVOTID Nkambe

GUFAYA Vocational Training Institute for the Destitute GUVOTID Nkambe, is the citadel of profession education in Donga Mantung Divisio. On May 27, 2016 marked it 23 years of continued existence by organizing an "Open Day" to the public. Addressing invitees, the Director Abanda Marcel disclosed that GUFAYA started as a documentation centre in 1993 with just one rover type-writer yet the zeal by it founder to contribute towards changing lives has produced the tangible results that now call for celebration. He said that by 2002, GUFAYA bought her first ever computer while the number of trainees increased to 10. Though Madame GUFAYA had 10 students who were very excited to be trained on ICTs, she also needed some skills to be able to use the new device. "Luckily enough, there was a transition at the CNPS Nkambe and one very hansome young man from our brotherhood Region was the Jesus Christ in Computing" thus Mr. Mufor Francis, a computer wizard did his best to set the pace by empowering the founder on how to use the computer. This was when operating a computer in a village setup was synonymous to practicing witchcraft. Many would remember the ecstasy and jubilation that saluted the first document that was printed by the then Divisional Delegate of Agriculture. By 2013, GUFAYA had trained over 100 youths and with this success story, the vision for its transformation was tabled to the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training for approval. Fortunately, on April 19, 2014, Zackari Perevet endorsed the file for creation of the first vocational training institution in Donga Mantung Division.
It should be recalled that GUFAYA Vocational Training institute for the Destitute GUVOTID, went operational in September 2014 that same year; with 18 trainees and at the end of that academic year, the number moved to 31 trainees. Today, a total of 60 trainees are being trained in the various fields of specialization in both Level One and Two. The three departments are:
· Office Automation/Secretary-ship
This department is endowed with 10 Computers, Printers, Photocopies, and all that it takes for a secretary to be trained.
· Body Care and Hair Dressing
The trainees are trained in body care, massaging, ETC
· Catering and Hospitality Management
This department also runs an outdoor catering service that empowers trainees in active professional activities. The service is able to manage a population up to 1000. It is endowed with a gas and firewood kitchen, utensils etc.
In GUFAYA, the training of trainees is 70% practical and 30% theory. Besides, the trade subjects, students also study some general subjects like, English Language, French, Maths, Citizenship, Environmental Science, Computer Task, Computer Application (excel, Access, etc),Internet, Integration and Professional Life.
It is for this reason that Madame Ajara, Fourth Deputy Mayor of Nkambe Council was categorical that GUFAYA is a source of inspiration and the future of young girls. On his part the Asssitant Divisional Officer for Nkambe expressed gratitude to the founder Madame GUFAYA and staff for transforming lives adding that professional education is the key to self employment.
GUFAYA it is worth mentioning enjoys very good collaboration from the Divisional Delegation of Employment and Vocational Training, the Administration, SAR/SM Nkambe, GSS Nyanji. GTC Mbot and the National Youth Council.
However, Madame GUFAYA says the institution is looking forward partnering with goodwill persons to continue to empower youths in the various trades. Though contributing significantly in non-material benefits (such as social peace, democracy, tolerance, social capital, social integration)GUFAYA has not had the opportunity to benefit from any subvention or support. As the institution clocks 23, this is an opportunity for the general public to offer scholarship to some trainees and or give some donation says Abanda Marcel.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

At CPDM Section Conference in Italy, Peace/Security Researcher Applauds President Biya in the Fight against Boko Haram

On May 28, 2016, the CPDM in Italy held it Second Section Conference. During that conference, one of the keynote speakers Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah, peace and security researcher presented a paper on the "Menace of Territorial Integrity, Reaction of the Diasporas". In his presentation the researcher who hails from Donga Mantung in the North West Region focused on the efforts of the Ad hoc Committee charged mobilizing resources to support the country in the fight against Boko Haram. 

Harping on the evolution of the war against Boko Haram insurgents Blaise Nkfunkoh said that in his opinion the war is yielding fruits "thanks to the decisive action of our national armed forces and the President of the Republic His Excellency Paul Biya, who has chosen to confront this threat by taking the bull by the horns".He revealed that "according to the main theories of military strategies in situations of asymmetric warfare when groups move from one open strategies of attack to defensive strategies and hidden, it is a clear sign of their weakness". To him, Cameroon Armed forces will eradicate the presence of Boko Haram in northern Cameroon. This victory he added is determined by three concurring factors; namely: The action of surveillance, identification and monitoring by the air forces (air force) that crisscross the national territory day and night has helped to repel the attacks of Boko Haram.

The Second factor he emphasized is based on the management of land troops (Battle Field Management System) which allows the active coordination of all elements and enhances the action common. "Finally, the action of our marine forces in the Lake Chad area to protect and secure the people living in northern Cameroon".Blaise Nkfunkoh used the opportunity to commend the efforts deployed by the Head of the State His Excellency Paul Biya at the international level through his participation in the intergovernmental conference on the security issue, which was held in Abuja, Nigeria on May 4, 2016. He concluded that Investment Forum of May 17- 18 2016 is "the most obvious sign of the victory of our country against terrorism".

Here below is the Full Presentation in French

2^nd Section Conference Rome Italy - 28th May 2016

By Mr. Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah

Commissaire au compte de la Section RDPC Italie et Responsable Opératif de la Commission Ad Hoc chargé du suivie et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la section RDPC Italie.

1)    Etat des travaux au sein de la Commission ad Hoc chargé du suivi et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la Section RDPC Italie

By Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah

Commissaire au compte de la Section RDPC Italie et Responsable Opératif de la Commission Ad Hoc chargé du suivie et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la section RDPC Italie

Dans la première partie de mon intervention, j’ai présenté l’état des travaux au sein de la Commission ad Hoc chargé du suivi et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la Section RDPC Italie. Sous l’invitation de son excellence Mr. DOMINIQUE ASSOMO, cette commission a été mise en place lors de la première conférence de section du RDPC Italie, qui s’est tenu a Udine le 6 Février 2016 avec pour but la récolte de dons en nature et en argent pour soutenir notre cher pays le Cameroun dans sa lutte contre le terrorisme international. Au cours de cette première réunion, trois personnes avaient été nommé comme membre de la Commission ad hoc et cette deuxième conférence a permis d’intégrer les membres de la commission, l’équipe passe ainsi de trois à sept membres.  

De décembre jusqu’à ce jour, la commission ad hoc s’est concentrée sur la définition de stratégies opératives pour la mise en place du projet qui se résument en trois points :

Considérant que nous avons 17 cellules en Italie, nous prévoyons d’impliquer de façon opérationnelles toutes les cellules.

Le deuxième point consisterait à vérifier la possibilité de faire une grande campagne auprès des supermarchés pour la récolte de denrées alimentaires.

Le dernier point consiste en une collecte de fonds à travers la réalisation d’initiatives auprès de nos membres et de tous les ressortissants camerounais en Italie.

Dans les semaines à venir nous comptons commencer effectivement avec les activités de notre commission.

II) Meeting Politique : rencontre avec les Militants de Rome :  «  ménace de l’intégrité territoriale, réaction de la diaspora »

By Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah

Commissaire au compte de la Section RDPC Italie et Responsable Opératif de la Commission Ad Hoc chargé du suivie et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la section RDPC Italie

Au cours du meeting politique, rencontre avec les militants de Rome, j’ai traité du thème : «  ménace de l’intégrité territoriale, réaction de la diaspora »

J’ai présenté l’évolution de la guerre contre le groupe Boko haram. A mon avis, l’effort de guerre est entrain de porter ses fruits grâce à l’action déterminante de nos forces armées nationales et au Président de la République Son excellence Paul Biya, qui a choisi d’affronter cette menace en prenant le taureau par les cornes.

Selon les principales théories de stratégies militaires en situation de guerres asymétriques quand les groupes passent d’une stratégies ouvertes d’attaque à des stratégies défensives et cachées, cela est le signe évident de leur affaiblissement. Je crois donc que nos forces seront en mesures d’éradiquer la présence de Boko Haram dans le Nord du Cameroun. Cette victoire est déterminée par trois facteurs concordants :

L’action de surveillance, d’identification et de monitorage des forces de l’armées de l’air (air force) qui sillonnent le territoire jour et nuit a permis de repousser les attaques de Boko haram. En second lieu, la gestion des troupes de terres (Battle Field Management system)  à travers un système informatique efficace de communication qui va du simple soldat sur le champ de bataille au commandant permet la coordination active de tous les éléments ce qui renforce l’action commune. Enfin, l’action de nos forces marines dans la région du lac Tchad permet de protéger et de sécuriser les populations vivant dans le nord du Cameroun.

Cette action conjointe de nos forces a éviter qu’à ce jour le groupe terroristique Boko Haram aie pu planter son drapeau de mort et de destruction sur le territoire de notre cher pays.

L’engagement du Chef de L’Etat son Excellence Paul Biya au niveau international non est plus à démontrer, cela s’est traduit en sa participation à la conférence intergouvernementale sur la question sécuritaire qui s’est tenue à Abuja au Nigéria le mois  3 e 4 mai 2016.

La tenue le 17 e 18  mai d’une importante conférence sur les potentialités d’ investissements au Cameroun est le signe encore plus évident de cette victoire de notre pays sur le terrorisme.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Niger Delta Avengers Challenge Buhari to a War

Unrepentant Niger Delta Avengers have reiterated their commitment to the destruction of oil facilities in the south-south region against the defiant stand of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, said yesterday that in spite of the federal government’s deployment of fighter jets and the military in Delta State, it would not relent in its violent attacks on critical oil installations in the region.
The group, which said the heavy presence of the military would not stop them from their planned action that would shock the whole world, noted that Gbaramatu, now under military siege, was just one kingdom out the several Ijaw kingdoms spread across seven states.
The group, in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Brig-Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, said emphatically, “it is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest”.
It alleged that some people (names withheld) benefitting from contracts for pipeline surveillance were behind the military invasion of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the guise of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers.
It queried: “The question is, why the innocent people of Gbaramatu, why the innocent pregnant women, why unleash terror on the aged people of Gbaramatu? Must you waste all these innocent blood just to secure the pipeline surveillance job?”

The militant group berated the International Community and the United Nations for looking the other way while the military occupied the kingdom.
The NDA also took a swipe on Tompolo for accepting the treatment being meted on his people wondering whether he would still refer to them as criminals.

The railings of the militants provided the opportunity for the Nigerian Army of not wanting to embrace dialogue yesterday.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. J. Hamakim, at the ‘State of the Nation Conference’, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja yesterday said the Army had not ruled out dialogue with the group
Speaking on the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers in the oil rich region, Hamakim said that dialogue with the group was not yet a realistic option.
He was responding to a submission that government should explore dialogue with the Niger Delta militants instead of applying force that could further worsen the nation’s oil production in the region.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Lesson from Nigeria: Presidency Officially Reveal the Day Recovered Assets will be Publicly Published

 The Presidency has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has not rescinded his decision to publish the multi-billion stolen funds recovered by his administration from those who looted the nation's treasury.

President Buhari

 

Speaking on Channels Television’s programme, 'Sunrise Daily' on Monday, just a day after Nigeria marked its Democracy Day, Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said President Muhammadu Buhari has not rescinded his decision to publish the amounts that have been recovered by his administration from those who had allegedly looted the nation’s treasury.

 The conversation, 'Assessing Buhari’s One Year In Office' saw the President’s spokesman addressing several controversies generated by the President’s national broadcast on Sunday.

 It was reported that the President’s Democracy Day speech was widely criticised because it failed to address the promise to publish the amounts of funds that have been recovered and from whom they were recovered since the anti-corruption campaign started.

 Shehu expressed surprise that the issue had generated so much negative reactions from Nigerians, explaining that the President did not cancel his decision to announce the seizures that have been made.

“What he (President) said was that the Minister of Information will be making a pronouncement on this, and this is going to happen when work resumes on Tuesday.

“This is likely going to be out by Wednesday, or latest by Thursday. So nothing has changed from the position that there will be disclosure.

“The President has given the authorisation that these assets that have been taken back from those who took from the treasury be put out there. So my view is that nothing is lost.”

 He said that the directive by President is that “money on account” in the CBN should be disclosed. He explained that there were also many accounts that have been frozen by investigating agencies.

 He named the Police, EFCC, ICPC and the Office of the National Security Adviser among those handling the matter, so the Presidency expects “that there will be a snapshot of where they stand with the ongoing investigation and the recoveries when that disclosure is made.”

 

One Year Lost

 

The presidential spokesman disagreed with the view by some Nigerians that the Buhari administration had lost one year, as it has failed to achieve some of what it promised to achieve in the first year.

“The President had focus; he knew what to do from the beginning. He identified the problems of this country, putting the security of the country on top of the heap.

“He said repeatedly, ‘this country must be secured, there must be peace in this country for you to develop and manage it very well.'

“And I think that he has done for this country what others had failed to do for four to five years in which they had allowed problems like Boko Haram to fester.

“A street protest in Maiduguri had grown into a city-wide phenomenon, a problem for neighbouring states and all of the Lake Chad, in fact, a global phenomenon with the linkage to ISIS.

“President Buhari within one year is about to bring Boko Haram to a closure. This is massive,” he said.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Meet the Prophet Who Gave 32 Cars to Nollywood Stars and Others

 The Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly Abuja, Joshua Iginla, who gave out 32 cars to selected Nollywood actors and cash other gifts has opened up on why he made the move on his birthday.

Pastor Iginla

 We reported it here earlier last week that an Abuja-based man-of-God, Pastor Joshua Iginla of Champions Royal Assembly in Kubwa Abuja, gave out 32 cars including 16 SUVs to se­lected Nollywood actors and cash gifts among others to the less-privileged at his birthday celebration which was held at his church premises on May 22nd. 

 In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the senior pastor of Champions Royal Assembly who gave out 32 cars, has opened up on why he made the move on his birthday.

 "It doesn’t matter to me if I trek home as I have given even the car that I personally drive. I can only drive one car and live in one house at a time. This understanding is what has taught me that when I die, others will inherit my assets. The beauty of life is not in its duration but in its donation.

"I have not seen some of the ben­eficiaries before in my life or spoken to them. I’m seeing many of them for the first time today. I am seeing Jide Kosoko for the first time," he said.

 Speaking on why he annually doles out posh cars to Nollywood acts, he said it was because many of them are poor but many people er­roneously think they are rich because of the kind of wealthy roles some of them play in the movies.

 "So this is my own way of correct­ing the wrong impression," Iginla said, adding that the fruits of Nollywood artistes are being reaped by pirates and challenged government to do some­thing to arrest it: "Nollywood actors and actresses are our ambassadors; they have projected the image of this country positively and so they deserve to be treated well," he said.

 Iginla also gave out cash running into several millions of naira to the aged, widows, orphanages and also offered scholarship to orphans from nursery school to university level.

 Recall that Pastor Iginla had in 2015 given 18 cars and millions of naira out as his birth­day gift and has been increasing the tally on a yearly basis.

 The beneficiaries of Iginla’s car gifts included; Prince Jide Kosoko, Francis Duru, Alex Usifo, Ngozi Osondu, Thelma Nwosu and Sun­day Omobolanle aka Aluwe.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum in Serious Trouble as UK Detectives Gather Evidence Against Her

 It is going to be hard and difficult times ahead for the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke as UK investigators land in Nigeria to gather evidence for her prosecution.

                                       Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

 Some investigators from the United Kingdom have visited Nigeria to gather evidence as part of the ongoing probe and preparation for the arraignment of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

 Diezani is under investigation over the missing $20billion oil cash, phoney crude oil lifting contracts, $115million poll bribery money, the $1.092b Malabu oil deal and the N5.2billion ($25m) oil cash paid by an Indian oil firm for an oil block.

 According to a report by The Nation, the UK team inspected the former minister’s multi-billion naira mansion, her £600,000 exotic wrist watch and gold and diamond jewelry which have been confiscated.

 It would be recalled that Mrs Alison-Madueke and four others were arrested in London on October 2, 2015 by the National Crime Agency( NCA). The NCA said all the suspects were released on “conditional police bail, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas”.

 Also, a London (Westminster Magistrate’s Court) on Marylebone Road had approved the seizure of $41,000 (£27,000) cash from Mrs Alison-Madueke and restricted her movement.

 Diezani has also been implicated in a $115m (N23, 299,705,000billion) 2015 poll bribery scandal involving some Independent National Election Commission officials, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the bank’s Head of Operations, Martin Izuogbe in connection with the scandal.

 With the way things are going, a prophet is not needed to forecast what the future holds for the former minister.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Lesson from Nigeria: University of Ibadan Moves to Eradicate 'Tomato Ebola'

Agric experts in Nigeria are currently congregating to resolve ways to kick the Tomato Ebola out of the country as it has greatly affected the availability of the product.

 Agricultural experts at the University of Ibadan, on Sunday, proffered solutions to the recent outbreak of Tomato disease, Tuta Absoluta, saying importing tomato seeds was not the best option.

 Dr. Morufat Balogun, a Geneticist, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that importing seeds to cushion the problem would further drain the nation’s foreign exchange.
She said the Federal Government should direct Plant Breeders/Entomologists to develop new tomato varieties that could adapt to the Nigerian environment.
“Tomato is a short duration crop that breeds fast; when an insect smells something in the plant that puts it away, it can’t feed on it.

“If the gene from such hormones is put in tomato, the pest will not feed on it. That will be a lasting solution.

“A cushioning solution will be when farmers grow their tomato in an insect screen environment, the insects can’t attack it.

“Tomato can be produced anytime of the year. So, government should build screen houses for farmers,” Balogun said.

 Another expert, Dr Biodun Claudius-Cole, a Plant Pathologist at the university, said management of the disease should be done using combination of biosecticide method, resistant crops, among others.

“Farmers need to practice good agricultural methods; they must have good land preparation as that manages soil burn, which is one of the problems of tomato. “They should also be encouraged with inputs and facilities that will help them produce tomato all year round.”

 

She said the government should ensure that crops like tomatoes coming to Nigeria were quarantined before allowed into the country. Claudius-Cole said the government should also put necessary measures to control the disease in affected states to stop it from spreading to other places.

 An entomologist from the same University, Dr Olajumoke Alabi, said farmers should use insecticide in a systemic way, if they should use it at all. “We can use bio-control agents like nematode, augmentation to suppress the pest population, we can also use cultural control, whereby farmers uproot and destroy infected crops.”

 Similarly, Prof. Olufemi Awodoyin, said government should support farmers to enable them produce crops like tomato. “In University of Ibadan we still have tomatoes that are not infected, cultivated in screen house. If we survived it other farmers can also survive it.”

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)