Many klilled during muslim procession

A large explosion on Monday rocked a major Shiite ceremony in northeast Nigeria’s Yobe state, an area repeatedly attacked by Sunni Islamist group Boko Haram, multiple witnesses said. The blast targeted a procession of worshippers in the Tsohuwar Kasuwa area of Potiskum city, said witness Ibrahim Maina. The targeted worshippers were gathered outside a seminary in the Tsohuwar Kasuwa area of Potiskum city after visiting the palace of the local emir, said Maina and a police officer who requested anonymity. Maina blamed the explosion on “a bomb” which went off 10 metres (32 feet) from the emir’s palace. “It was a huge crowd and many of them were affected,” the policemen said, declining to estimate a death toll. “The priority is to rescue the injured.” Potiskum is the economic capital of Yobe, which is one of three northeastern states under emergency rule since May of last year because of the insurgency. The area has seen repeated violence, including attacks on the minority Shiite community. In July, four Shiites were killed in a bomb attack blamed on Boko Haram at an open-air mosque in the Dogo Tebo area of the the city. Shi’ites worldwide yearly marked the 10th day of the Muslim new year as the festival of Ashura, an event that defines Shi’ism and its rift with Sunni Islam. The festival is used to commemorate the slaying of Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein at the battle of Kerbala in 680. AD

Sally Mbanefo

Sally Mbanefo defines the ideal characteristic nigerian woman of mixed ancestry-haly nigerian and half european.exceptionally beautiful .this charming lady is the director general of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation(NTDC). She is a lawyer, wife, mother and a style icon. The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, is the first of six children born to a former Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a one-time chairman, Body of Benchers, Chief George Uwechue who is also the Owelle of Ogwashi-Uku.she is quite beautiful to the extent that you may doubt if she ever lived lI grew up like most girls of her yiouth during her yound days .she is graduate of university of lagos one of nigeria premier universities About her childhood she says;My mom is European and my father, African but the African influence got a better part of me. However, my appreciation of European culture gives me a happy mix of the best of both world.many of my siblings are intyo the legal profession and hence i cannot be different.Growing up around different cultural influences gave me an appreciation of Nigeria’s diversity and the realities of a globalising world. My childhood has equipped me to thrive in any place I find myself. It has also given me an independent and caring spirit.A graduate of Law from the University of Lagos, Mbanefo naturally chose the legal path since most of her siblings took to the law profession. “My dad and mum bohe conviction to go into law practice was not the only parental influence she received. “My parents also taught me the importance of hard work, love for each other, discipline, industry, service and respect for a common humanity and above all the fear of God. My dad being a senior advocate instilled these values in us quite early in life and this has contributed to my career in the corporate world,” she says. A philanthropist and founder of the Sally Mbanefo Foundation, she has this to say about the plight of the poor: “The poor are first and foremost Nigerians with privileges and rights. You cannot fight poverty through charity alone. You need profits to fight poverty. The sustainable way out of poverty is to give people decent jobs. This is why we insist on social impact and benefits for every program or project we embark on at the NTDC. Poverty is an emergent outcome and needs to be understood holistically. We are marshalling resources around our three-point strategic imperatives of rebuilding the tourism corporation; growing the tourism value chain for jobs and revenues; and reinventing how tourism is operated in Nigeria. Our programs and projects are designed to deliver 500,000 jobs in 3 years. We are determined to fight the ills that beset women and children in our society.” Among other talents, the half Italian-Swiss, half Nigerian is a very skilled painter who has loads of artistic works to her credit. “My most remarkable painting is a landscape piece that I did outdoors for 18 hours. Painting gives me a big picture view of life and opens me to creative problem solving while appreciating and empathising with the human angle in every situation of life,” she says. Sally’s hobbies include sailing, learning languages, swimming, jogging, among others. “As a way of relaxation, I exercise daily and find time for quiet meditation with my creator. I wake up very early for mass and return to prepare for work and from work, back home to family. This is very much my daily routine,” she adds. Opening up more about her job as the DG of NTDC, she says, “It’s an exciting job. It gives me opportunity to add glamour to tourism in Nigeria. I am appealing to corporate Nigeria to please do the same. Tourism has the capacity to add more jobs and grow Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product. There is a need to change mindsets and worldviews about domestic tourism among individuals and corporate Nigeria. We need Nigerians to key into the idea of patronising our holiday resorts. It is our patriotic duty to invest in the local economy. Tourism holds enormous potentials but we need to create local demand to grow the industry. We have over 500 tourism sites in this country and Nigerians need to visit these sites.” On the wrong first impression that people always have about her, she says, “I am usually underestimated but then, it is to my advantage. Also, people think I am white but later find I am very Nigerian and can speak our local dialects. “Juggling my duties as a wife and DG? That is easy. I would not advice women to abandon the home front just because they are in public office. I do domestic chores myself which is like workout for me. I enjoy cooking especially for loved ones.” Asked what determines her style, Mbanefo who has learned to create her signature look says “I look at the weather and what the occasion demands. Other times it’s the ‘feel good’ factor and probably the meeting agenda. “My accessories are my smile, my spiritual confidence, my eye contact and gait. I am very brief on jewellery. An obsession with jewellery can distract one from other important things like school fees for the under privileged. So I just wear earrings to indicate my womanhood. “My favourite colours include a combination of cafe au lait, mocca, coffee brown and beige. For fabrics, my domestic tourism trips are opening my eyes to the varieties we have in Nigeria. “as the NTDC director general tbhizs job has affected has my style. Prior to now, my dressing consisted more of turtle necks, dark suites and high heeled shoes. Now I dress to project Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. From my tours within Nigeria, I have acquired a lot of adire, batik and Ankara. As I travel around Nigeria, I will continue to expand my wardrobe to reflect our diversity. I have also remained stylish without seeing any need for high heels.” But there is one thing she would never be caught wearing. “I would never be caught wearing a transparent dress. “A look into my handbag would reveal my rosary and my divine mercy prayer pamphlet,” she says. A widely travelled woman, Mbanefo says there are still places she would love to visit. “I look forward to exploring Nigeria more. I have done visits around the South-South and South-West and some North-Central cities. I am looking forward to visiting Taraba, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Bauchi and Gombe.” And her role model? “I wish I lived in the era of Queen Amina of Zaria. But my admiration for Mandela’s and Mother Theresa’s exemplary lives continues to give me inspiration

Hurray, Cement to sell for N1000 in Nigeria

The goodnews now in Nigeria is that cement is to be sold for just N1000 as Dangote Group the major producer of this essential product has decided to slash the price from current N1700 per bag to just N1000.Really for those who has since been trying to own their own house then this is the time to celebrate .the announcement was made by Alhaji Aliko Dangote the owner of Dangote Group that engages in production of cement in large scale production across Nigeria and 17 other african countries.Really the high of cost of cement is responsible for the high cost of accommodation in major cities inn the nigeria .and with this major sklash if implemented then the cost of accommodation will drastically reduce across the country .A step that will make cement cheaper than it has ever been since 2005, the new price regime announced by the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, said the Company has pegged the Dangote 32.5 cement grade at N1,000 per 50 kg bag, while the higher 42.5 grade is to sell for N1,150 per bag..now iy t will reduce the cost of building a house in nigeria and this will go a long way in reducing cost of buying or renting accommodation in the country. The new prices exclusive of the Value Added Tax (VAT), represents about 40 per cent discount on the prevailing market price of the product which is currently sold for N1,700 irrespective of the grade, across the country.

Cynthia murder case adjourned

The legal drama that follows a case of this nature seems to have started. The hearing of the murder case of Cynthia Osokogu was today, Friday, October 5 adjourned to November 5, 2012 The prosecuting council for commissioner of police, Lagos state John Aroh pleaded that the case which was initially TA/52/2012 be amended to TA/52A/2012. He further pleaded that the charges be replaced forth with. Following this appeal, the trial magistrate Aka Bashorun accepted the consolidation of the case into one track sheet and the new nine count charges including, rape, murder, robbery, false pretense and felony were read out to the five suspects: Okwumo Nwabufo, Ezike Olisaeloka, Orji osita, Maduakor Chukwunonso and Gideon Okechukwu. Two new count charges were also read out to the persons of Ezike Nonso and Ezeaka Chinonso for receiving of stolen goods in form of Cynthia’s blackberry phone. The seven suspects who were present in court confirmed that they understood the charges against them. Meanwhile, Ezeaka Nono who was initially granted bail on the basis that the charge of receiving a stolen good was bailable has also been remanded till the next hearing. The case has been adjourned for hearing on November 5, 2012... Read More at thenet.ng/2012/10/cynthia-osokogus-murder-case-adjourned-till-november-5-2/ Follow us: @theNETng on Twitter | theNETng on Facebook

Reyhaneh Jabbari executed

by trying to defend herself against a presumed rapist and killing the man instantly this Iranian lady has been executed by the same courts in her country that serious abhors rape 26-year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari, who was convicted for murdering a man she accused of trying to rape her, was killed by hanging in Iran on Saturday, October 25, 2014 despite a global campaign for her release after seven years in prison. A Tehran court sentenced her to death in 2009 for killing Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi, a former employee of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence who she said tried to sexually abuse her, and Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the verdict despite a legal challenge. In her final message to her mother, Sholeh Pakravan, recorded on the day she learnt she would be executed, she expressed her belief that she would have been murdered that night if she had not fought back.... before the hanging was staged she wrote a letter to her mother Sholeh Pakravan to have hope and below is a copy of the letter Dear Sholeh, don’t cry for what you are hearing, the world did not love us – it did not want my fate. In the court of God I will charge the inspectors…and all those that out of ignorance or with their lies wronged me and trampled on my rights and didn’t pay heed to the fact that sometimes what appears as reality is different from it. My body would have been thrown in some corner of the city, and after a few days, the police would have taken you to the coroner’s office to identify my body and there you would also learn that I had been raped as well. The murderer would have never been found since we don’t have their wealth and their power. I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to have a grave for you to come and mourn there and suffer. I don’t want you to wear black clothing for me. Do your best to forget my difficult days. Give me to the wind to take away, I wanted to embrace you until I die. I love you.’...

Prepare to head to Calabar Festival 2014

Dear reader,are you bored and tired and currently thinking of where to go and have fun?if yes then the ideal place is in Nigeria .you can find the 2014 Calabar festival fascinating and wonderful and you will have the opportunity to experience a life African street carnival.The 2014 Calabar festival is on its way to commence in December 27 this year. The Carnival Calabar often referred to as Africa’s biggest street party has become for Cross River State and its people, an ideal tool for tourism and ultimately Socio-economic development. Ten years after it was introduced into the state by the former governor, Donald Duke, the private sector has now taken its full ownership for onward sustainability. According to the state’s Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, while unveiling the 2014 Carnival theme which is themed ‘’Celebration Time’’ at the Millennium’s Park in Calabar the Cross River State capital, ownership by the private sector would open more window of opportunities for all sectors of the economy. The Deputy governor used the occasion to flag off the first dry run ahead of the main event scheduled for December. The unveiling was followed by three mock rehearsals on different occasions along a 12km route to get the floats ready and in shape for the mega show. According to tourists who frequent the city at this period, the Carnival Calabar is always a time they look forward to for originality and content which is usually displayed by five competitive bands; The Bayside Band (Blue), Passion Four (Green), Seagulls Band (Red), Master Blasta (Orange) and Freedom Band (Yellow). The bands are expected to work hard to interpret the theme of the carnival come December 27, 2014, through their dance, float, and costumes as it affects the people of the state. Marking its 10th year anniversary and the last carnival to be witnessed by the present administration while in office, the State Government has promised that the 2014 Carnival Calabar would leave participants and viewers across the world with many surprises. NOTE. I JOHN THE AUTHOR OF THIS BLOG HAVE DISPLAYED

TWO PHOTOS FROM LAST YEARS EDITION OF THE FESTIVAL TO CAPTURE YOUR IMAGINATION