Pres. Obama sends message to Nigerians ahead of 2015 elections

In a video posted on Youtube today by US Embassy Nigeria, US president Barack Obama sent a message to Nigerians asking them to stand up against violence and express their views peacefully during the upcoming election. Transcribed version of what he said in the video below...

Hello. Today, I want to speak directly to you—the people of Nigeria. Nigeria is a great nation and you can be proud of the progress you’ve made. Together, you won your independence, emerged from military rule, and strengthened democratic institutions. You’ve strived to overcome division and to turn Nigeria’s diversity into a source of strength. You’ve worked hard to improve the lives of your families and to build the largest economy in Africa.

Now you have a historic opportunity to help write the next chapter of Nigeria’s progress—by voting in the upcoming elections. For elections to be credible, they must be free, fair and peaceful.

All Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear. So I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections—and that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during, or after the votes are counted. I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence.

And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins. Successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent challenges you face today. Boko Haram—a brutal terrorist group that kills innocent men, women and children—must be stopped. Hundreds of kidnapped children deserve to be returned to their families. Nigerians who have been forced to flee deserve to return to their homes.

Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress. I’m told that there is a saying in your country: “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.” Today, I urge all Nigerians—from all religions, all ethnic groups, and all regions—to come together and keep Nigeria one. And in this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America.

Lol. People can find trouble! Between Dele Momodu and a follower

Lol. Na wa for some Nigerians and how they can like to find trouble. So this afternoon, Ovation publisher and staunch APC supporter Dele Momodu re-posted a photo of the lady in black on his instagram page and one of his followers @chinenye4600 asked him a hilarious question. He wrote "Excuse me sir, dis girl u r always putting up, is it part of the 'Change' we should expect?". Lol. Imagine. Mr Momodu was gracious enough to reply. See more after the cut...

D'PRINCE FLAUNTS BUNDLES OF CASH

He says he woke up to this..What a way to wake up!!

RIHANNA GOES BRA LESS FOR DINNER

Well, it's no news that Rihanna isn't exactly modest with her attires..On Saturday night,the pop star stepped out for dinner in nothing but a coat and shorts....
Still the baddest!

 

It’s Burna Boy’s New Swag! See the Star’s 2015 Look

When Burna Boy hit the scene in 2012, one of the first things which stood out was his unique style! The SpaceShip Entertainment CEO is now displaying his look for 2015.

Are you feeling it?


 

Let’s Kick Out Kidney Disease as Peter Rufai, Fred Amata & More Play at the Kidney Trust Fund Charity Football Match!

Let’s kick out Kidney Disease!

Insurance company, AIICO Insurance Plc has collaborated with The Bowtie Club to fight against Kidney Disease which has over 20 Million Nigerian lives affected. In this regard, they have organised the Charity Football Match led by Victor Ikpeaba, Peter Rufai and Taribo West among other celebs like Bryan Okwara and Ene Maya Lawani. These Nigerian football legends would be squaring up against Nollywood veterans led by Fred Amata and comedian AY Makun.

The event promises to be a very exciting one with other teams from Sahara Group and the Galacticos joining the derby.

According to the organizers – “The Tournament is being organised in honour of Ganiyat Ogunfoworin who recently lost her life in India while battling the Kidney Disease, and who on her death bed asked The Bowtie Club to do all in its powers to ensure that more Nigerians do not go through the harrowing experience she just did.”

The tournament, scheduled to hold annually, will also see the launch of the Kidney Trust Fund aimed at raising N200 Million for kidney patients via social media. The Fund would be held in custody of the CSL Trustees Limited, a Member of the FCMB Group, who will ensure the efficient utilization of Kidney patients. It will also be hosting winners of a raffle draw at an exclusive dinner.

Tickets are available on www.dealdey.comDate: Saturday 21st March 2015
Time: 10AM
Venue: Campos Mini Stadium, 5 Joseph Street, Igbosere, Lagos Island, Lagos
Contact: For further inquires, visit their website: www.kidneytrustfund.org | Call: 08074444373, 0905325791 or 07033739427

Bamidele Onibalusi: 4 Ways Nigerians Can Make Money Online

Recent research from digitXplus has revealed that Nigeria experienced a growth of 102% in internet adoption between 2009 – 2013; that’s a total of 62.4 million Nigerian internet users in 2013, a significant increase from 30.9 million internet users in 2009.

Similarly, a 2014 Phillips Consulting study titled Online Shopping Report: A study of current trends in online shopping in Nigeria, revealed that internet usage in Nigeria has grown from just 200,000 users in the year 2,000 to 57 million users in the year 2012, essentially positioning Nigeria as “one of the fastest growing internet consumer markets in sub-Saharan Africa.”

While there are many explanations for the suddenly massive explosion in Internet adoption in Nigeria, there is no doubt that a lot of Nigerians are looking to the Internet for greener pasture.

We’ve undoubtedly heard about Linda Ikeji, Uche Pedro, Jason Njoku and other leading Nigerian entrepreneurs making a fortune online, and we’re convinced that we can make the Internet work for us.

However, it is very important to realize that the key to creating sustainable income from the Internet, as a Nigerian, isn’t to be gullibly sucked into online survey or paid to click scams. Instead, you have to focus on a reliable online business model that works.

I’ve been making a serious living online since 2010, and my success story has been extensively publicized in publications here in Nigeria and abroad. Based on my experience in the past 5 years, I want to share the 4 most effective ways Nigerians can create a sustainable source of income online.

Start a Service-Based Business
Many Nigerians who want to make money from the Internet fail because they think the process is much different from building a real business offline.

It isn’t.

Of course, with the internet your reach is significantly increased, and perception of value online is more than it is offline. You also don’t have to worry about qualifications and startup costs.

However, the premise is still the same thing: you are building a business, and a business only thrives by offering value to others.

Don’t get sucked into the idea of making money while you sleep, or the idea of making money without doing anything; for most people, that’s a pipe dream.

One of the most effective ways to make money online as a Nigerian is by starting a service business based on a skill you have; it could be design skills, writing skills, motivation skills, business skills, health skills, agriculture skills or other skills that can benefit others.

If you have knowledge that can help people get measurable results in one aspect or the other, you can create a a service based business online.

Start a Blog
Blogging is another sustainable source of income for Nigerians who can get it right

Now, pay special attention to my emphasis on “getting it right”.

The problem with most new Nigerian bloggers is that they have heard about Bella Naija, they have heard about Linda Ikeji and they assume that the best way for them to make money from a blog is by starting a blog, placing adverts all over the blog and then expecting income. It doesn’t work that way.

Linda Ikeji’s blog and Bella Naija can command the massive income they make due to the massive reach they have, which involves a lot of efforts over the years; they also have an advantage of being pioneer bloggers in Nigeria. These are advantages you don’t have; at least, not yet.

If you want to make money from a blog, instead of hoping and waiting for income that might never come by putting adverts all over your blog, look for a sustainable income model that will deliver solid results real quick.

Here are some sustainable income models:

Build your blog around a service you offer
Whether you’re a freelancer or consultant, make this information clearly available on your blog. You’ll need very little eyeballs to your blog to start making money through this approach; this is an approach I have been using for years now

Create a product of value to sell on your blog
For example, farming is a big deal here in Nigeria with a lot of people having interest in fish farming, poultry farming, crop farming, etc.

If you have experience in this area and create an ebook and video packages aimed at helping people start their farms, you’ll get people who want to start real businesses buy from you in no time.

Promote other people’s businesses
Now, this approach isn’t as effective as the ones earlier listed, but it can be much powerful than waiting to make money through ads on your blog. Look for someone who sells a product that readers of your blog might be willing to buy, and partner with that person to promote her product in exchange for percentage of sales you make.

The above 3 income models are very practical and sustainable, and you’ll start seeing results without having to get tens of thousands of people to read your blog.

Work as a Freelancer
There’s also high demand for freelancers in the international space, and there are legitimate companies willing to pay talented freelancers irrespective of where they’re from.

You could be a freelance designer, a freelance programmer or a freelance writer.

With freelance writing for example, you can make anything from $50 – $200 per article regardless of you being from Nigeria. I know this because I’ve done this extensively over the past few years.

Try to look for companies, in Nigeria or abroad, looking for freelancers to help them with tasks they don’t want to employ people for online. Reach out to them to see how you can help, and in exchange you’ll get paid for your work.

Furthermore, there are lists of websites that pay writers all over the internet and here’s a recent one I published on my blog. This can be handy if you want to purse an online career as a freelance writer: 110 Websites that Pay Writers

While most of the websites featured in the above list will offer to pay via Paypal, considering that Paypal is not Nigerians, you can reach out to them to see if there’s an alternative way to get paid; depending on what you have to offer, you’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to make a compromise.

Help the Non Tech Savvy Set Up an Online Presence
A byproduct of the surge in internet adoption in Nigeria is that hordes of people want to have a presence online, and this includes small businesses and corporations.

These businesses will need a website, social media presence and other forms of exposure for their business online. If you have tinkered with the internet before, know a lot about WordPress, HTML and how to setup a website, then this can be a source of income for you.

Help other people who are just getting started online setup their online businesses; most of these people probably already have a business model, and you’d be guaranteed to make a fine and sustainable income by helping them setup their websites and other things necessary to effectively operate online.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Syda Productions 

About Bamidele Onibalusi

Bamidele Onibalusi is a Nigerian blogger and entrepreneur, as well as the founder of Writers in Charge, a top blog for writers worldwide. He has been featured in Forbes, Digital Journal, as well as in several publications locally and internationally. You can follow him on Twitter via @youngprepro.

Let the Competition Begin! The Etisalat-Sponsored Nigerian Idol Kicks Off with Theatre Auditions

It’s been 3 weeks of drama, hilarious performances and vocal discovery as the Etisalat Sponsored Nigerian Idol commenced on Sunday 1st March 2015 on nationwide stations with regional auditions.

Now the games are over, it’s time for serious business as the judging trio of Yinka Davies, Dede Mabiaku and Darey Art-Alade are set to prune the selected 100 contestants to the Top 30 in a brutal vocal battle this weekend.

According to Modupe Thani (Head, Events & Sponsorships, Etisalat) – “The Etisalat Sponsored Nigerian Idol is aimed at discovering and promoting musical talent from across Nigeria, in line with Etisalat’s commitment to consistently encourage and empower Nigerian youths to achieve their dreams through various identified passion point.”

It was gathered that to secure their place in the Top 30, the lucky 100 were placed into groups and required to sing their way through the proverbial clutter in order to shine above the rest. Each having a part to sing in the selected song for each group, which would see some contestants blossom naturally while others will fade into the background of the Nigerian Idol stage.

 

This weekend promises to be packed with a lot of twists, turns, and fun moments as the judges are looking for more than bravery this season. Those adjudged with enough quality to make it to the Top 30 will fight it out for a chance to be part of the top 12, and ultimately, one of them will become Nigeria’s next Idol.

The only thing left to say is…”Let the games begin!”

Aisha Buhari Says “PDP is Using Religion as a Cover to Loot Nigeria”

Apc Women rally: From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and wife of APC presidential candidate, Hajia Aisha Buhari, during Apc Women rally, at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.

Aisha Buhari, wife of APC presidential aspirant, Muhammadu Buhari, has accused PDP of using religion as a front to loot Nigeria.

She made this statement during an APC rally in Benin city, Edo State held at the Ogbemudia Stadium yesterday, Vanguard reports.

Here are excerpts from her speech:

“They have been painting Buhari black using religion, but I am happy today that Nigerians have discovered that PDP is using religion as a cover to loot Nigeria. They have grounded the country. Whoever talks to you about religion in this country is a liar, he wants to loot. He wants to loot the little resources Nigerians will enjoy. Say no to religious politics, they are using it to deceive the people.

When my husband is elected, insecurity, girl child trafficking, suffering of widows in the South-East will come to an end. There must be a cultural design that will accommodate widows in the South-East and a policy that will make a girl child comfortable in this country. Our girls do not need to leave Nigeria to prostitute abroad, it is not our portion. Our portion is to train our children to be future leaders.

Girl child trafficking can be considered as one of our problems in the South-South zone. I know there is unemployment here too. Unemployment is the major cause of brain drain and girl child trafficking. Gen. Buhari is a leader, he led Nigeria years ago and he is coming back now to sanitise the system. For those who are saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear is.
They should not be afraid because we are all yearning for change. There is insecurity in the country, bad healthcare system, decay in the educational sector and there are other basic necessities that our people are lacking. I think Nigeria needs Buhari now.”
Photo Credit: Vanguard/Barnabas Uzosike

Photos: Nicki Minaj shows off curves in sheer performance outfit

The rapper wore this sheer outfit for her performance in Amsterdam last night. Right pic of her and her dancers. She's currently on her ThePinkPrint European tour.

Chris Brown reportedly threatens to sue Oprah if Karrueche slanders him on TV

MediaTakeOut is claiming that Chris Brown plans to fight back and has threatened to sue Oprah if Karrueche slanders him on TV. Read the report below...

"MTO just got word of an explosive bit of tea. Chris Brown is fighting back against the slander piece that Karrueche and Iyanla planned to air against him in two weeks.
We spoke to a member of Chris Brown's team who told us that yesterday Chris Brown's attorney fired off a cease and desist letter to Oprah Winfrey and her OWN channel. The letter basically says that they can not slander his name, or try and use his name or likeness in their show without his consent.

We're told that Chris spoke to his advisors and realizes that there is a BIG SLANDER CAMPAIGN being lodged against him. Instead of handling the way he USUALLY DOES SO - by BLACKING OUT on Instagram . . . he's going to handle everything PROPERLY and LEGALLY.
We asked whether they thought that Chris CEASE AND DESIST LETTER TO OPRAH was just an empty threat. They told us, "It's not empty at all, we will sue the F*CK outta Oprah, OWN, or whoever, if they slander Chris or use his name."
OOOOH it's about to go DOWN!!

Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Introduces Dress Code

The School of Early Childhood and Primary Education (SECPED) in Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos, have introduced a dress code for all categories of students in the department.

Mr Adeshina Sobulo, Head of Department, Primary Education told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the decision was taken at a recent Parents and Lecturers forum.

According to Sobulo, the students are expected to be on Sky blue shirt, red bow tie on trousers for boys, scarf tie and black skirt for girls.

He said that the dress code would be enforced at the initial stages on Tuesdays and Thursday.

“The exigencies came because of the way the students dress.

“By the time they are on their shirt and trouser or skirt, no part of their body will be exposed.

“Some female students have come to the school to complain about harassment by male students.

“On verification, you find out that the students were the first offender due to indecent dressing,’’ he said.

Mr Simeon Fowowe, Head of Department, Early Childhood Education, told NAN that the management of the school had earlier placed sanctions on indecent dressing.

“SECPED has gone a step further to offer dress code, this is to instill in the students proper dress sense as teachers to be.

“Children also learn from their teachers, so, they have to set examples starting from their way of dressing,’’ he said.

Fowowe said that the bases for SECPED, as teachers’ trainers were to incorporate care into the lives of the students.

He said that the same care given to the students should be translated and extended to the children to arouse their interest when the trained teachers start practicing.

The lecturer, however, emphasised the need for parental involvement in the education of the students at all levels.

“I don’t think there can be anything meaningful without parental involvement at any level of education.

“Particularly, at the Early Childcare Education, there has to be parents’ involvement.

“We really need to call the parents so that they can be aware of their wards or children activities in the school.

“There have been occasions where students have been expelled from school or female students refusing to go home because they were pregnant and so many cases,’’ he said.

Fowowe said that such students most times refused to go home and parents still send money to them without being aware of their ward or children’s plight. (NAN)

Nigerian arrested at Lagos airport with Indian hemp stuffed in packs of gala

 

Nigerians haven't learnt their lessons in properly checking a package given to you by a so called friends to deliver abroad. At least that's what this man is claiming...that a friend gave it to me.

Anyway, according to a report by Premium Time, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a man who was attempting to smuggle 35.115 kg of Cannabis sativa hidden inside Nigerian made sausage rolls to China.

 

 

The 33 year old man was arrested at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, during a screening of passengers. According to the agency, Mr. Ogbonna (the smuggler) confessed saying,

"My friend in China gave me N100k to take a bag to China. The last time I travelled to China, he assisted me,” said Mr. Ogbonna, a trader at the Onitsha main market. “When he gave me the money to take the bag containing gala to China, I thought he was doing me a favour I never knew he was digging my grave. After my arrest, I feel bad and regret my action. I am married with a child.”

If truely, then where is the friend??

Amber Rose steps out in see-through outfit...& doesn't wear panties

Last night Amber Rose was spotted leaving a club in a see-through outfit. She wore a bra but forgot (deliberately) to wear panties. And the photogs zoomed in. See that after the cut...

 

PHOTOS: See What Alleged GEJ Money Caused In Ogun State

What could be described as mayhem almost happened in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital on Wednesday, March 19, 2015, as some PDP’s chieftain engaged in a free for all fight over an alleged money reportedly given to them by President Goodluck Jonathan for his second term re-election campaign.

According to PM NEWS report, about 708 PDP campaign co-ordinators drawn from the 236 wards across Ogun State almost lynched the South West Zonal Secretary of the party, Chief Pegba Otemolu, for refusing to share the Jonathan’s money.

It was reported that trouble started when the National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju, and one Chief Pegba Otemolu failed to release the fund allegedly meant for the state co-ordinators to campaign for President Jonathan’s re-election.

PM NEWS reporter gathered that a 5-hour meeting held at a hotel on Quarry Road in Abeokuta, to sensitise all the 708 coordinators ended in a shouting match which resulted in the attack on the national officers of the party.

 

Sources at the meeting stated that trouble started when the national Auditor told the coordinators that the fund meant for them was not available at the meeting.
One of the co-ordinators, who pleaded anonymity, said that Adeyanju informed them that the money had not been deposited in the designated account.
It was gathered that when the co-ordinators knew the Auditor was lying, they consequently held the two party leaders hostage and insisted that they would not allow them to go until they release the fund meant for them.

The two party leaders were held hostage for hours after which some political thugs escorted Otemolu out of the hall and he quickly entered his waiting Honda Pilot SUV, the report stated.

But an attempt by the driver to whisk away his boss resulted in an accident which left one of the co-ordinators from Sagamu seriously injured.

The report added that the injured man is currently being treated in an undisclosed hospital in Abeokuta.

Investigation revealed that the incident sparked off anger as the other aggrieved co-ordinators pounced on Otemolu and bundled him out of his car which had hit the median and hit another parked car on the other side of the road.

It was gathered that Adeyanju took to his heels when he saw that Otemolu and other PDP chieftains had been roughened up by the aggrieved co-ordinators.

An attempt to get confirmation of the incident from the secretary of PDP in Ogun state, Chief Semiu Sodipo, proved abortive as he declined to speak on the matter.
This is happening two days after mixed reactions trailed allegations that some traditional rulers from the South-West were financially induced with foreign currencies by President Goodluck Jonathan during his recent visit to the zone.

While some leaders traced the allegation to the APC, with the claim that the APC was equally involved in inducing leading monarchs, Governor Babatunde Fashola on his part affirmed that the money allegedly received by the monarchs could change the face of infrastructure in any state.

Leaders from the South-West who vented their anger over the allegation included Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Senator Femi Okurounmu, national publicity secretary of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, national coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams and the Lagos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In reaction to the allegation, Ayo Adebanjo described it as cheap propaganda, saying the accused monarchs cannot be easily bought over.

'Tinubu stepped down for my husband', Aisha Buhari says

The wife of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari has said that the party’s National Leader, Bola Tinubu has been of great help to her husband.

Mrs Aisha Buhari stated further that Tinubu sacrificed his personal ambitions so that her husband could vie for Nigeria’s Presidency.

The APC candidate’s wife stated this on Wednesday, March 18, 1during the 4th town hall meeting of the Lagos Central senatorial district hosted by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“My husband, General Muhammadu Buhari has been contesting presidential elections for over a decade now, but this particular election is unique because our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu jettisoned his personal interest for the sake of Nigeria,” Mrs Buhari said.

Tinubu had earlier stated that he sacrificed his Presidential ambitions for Buhari and for the good of Nigeria.

Lol...see the note this man came home to...

The things you see online...:-)

Gorgeous in Pink! Rita Dominic is the New Keystone Bank Pink Account Ambassador

Screen Diva Rita Dominic was gorgeous in pink yesterday as she stepped out for an event.

The Nollywood actress attended the Keystone Bank Pink Account Launch and she was classy in a pink floor-length dress.

 

She shared photos of her outfit on Instagram and she captioned ‘On my way to @keystonebankng pink account launch yesterday.. Make up by @kosisoeze. Hey fam ❤#initiativeforwomen #empoweringwomen #pinkaccountforwomen #ambassador..’








The Keystone Bank shared a photo of Rita Dominic’s new campaign:

 

Photo Credit: Instagram/ritadominic | @keystonebankng

This guy says he looks like Usher..and gets an epic response! Lol

 

When I saw this on IG I couldn't help but laugh...What makes this hilarious is not the guy saying he looks like Usher (the singer)..it's the response. The person said 'of which church?'. I'm sure you all got the joke. Some people can be mean sha! Lol