The National Press Club of South Africa has named President Cyril Ramaphosa as the 2018 Newsmaker of the Year.
This annual award, hosted by the National Press Club since 1980, awards a newsmaker in a calendar year based on the amount of media coverage received as well as the impact thereof.
Nominations and motivations are received from members of the press club and a final decision is made by the executive committee of the club.
The National Press Club is the largest club of its kind in South Africa, representing working journalists.
“The newsmaker award is neither an accolade nor is it criticism – it represents the dominant themes of the 2018 news cycle,” said Club chairman Jos Charle.
Following the 54th ANC National Conference at NASREC in December 2017 and the resignation of former President Jacob Zuma in February 2018, President Ramaphosa became the fifth President of South Africa.
Since then, he has been a consistent feature in political and economic news in South Africa.
“The decision to name Cyril Ramaphosa as the newsmaker was an easy one as his election as President, the ‘New Dawn,’ ‘Ramaphosa and ‘Thuma Mina’ dominated the 2018 news cycle,” said Charle.
In February 2018, President Ramaphosa promised South Africans that he would focus his attention on cleaning up governance issues and driving an economic turnaround.
“All eyes have been on President Ramaphosa as he navigates a damaged state and a fractious political environment that includes cabinet reshuffles, state capture, corruption as well as failing state-owned enterprises,” Charle says.
The National Press Club is synonymous with the Newsmaker of the Year award.
Over the years the Club has recognised many newsmakers. Previous recipients include President Jacob Zuma, former presidents Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk and Thabo Mbeki and Hollywood star Charlize Theron and #FeesMustFall.
Last year, Gupta Leaks were named the Newsmaker of the Year and the recipient of the award was the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism.
The annual Newsmaker of the Year function is expected to take place in Pretoria later this year.
African Legacy International Football Club has declared its preparedness to assist youths in the country to fulfill their destiny in life through sports.
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, African Legacy International Football Club, Engr. Innocent Ogu, stated this on Wednesday at the occasion of “Talent Hunt Project” at the national stadium, Abuja.
Ogu asserted that despite the fact the football sporting activity has become part of African culture and tradition with huge investment potentials, there are still challenges of poor management, lack of adequate funding and police defect on the part of government.
He pointed out that African Legacy football club was not ignorant of these ills, adding that the club has resolved to carve a new beginning in Nigeria football history, by way of reinventing football values through adequate investment and partnership across the globe.
According to him, “We consider the football industry as a veritable instrument for sustainable national development and will ensure that the benefit of engaging in active football by every nation is also realized in Nigeria.”
Ogu stated that the roles of volunteers/supporters club in sporting activity cannot be underestimated as their roles have remained indispensable, saying that supporters club serves as a morale booster for both players and managers in every game.
He said, ‘African Legacy International Football Club believes that the basis for volunteerism do exist in traditional African culture if well harnessed to realistically address the needs of football clubs across the globe”
He however said that, youths if given opportunity of proper engagement through sporting activity, would serve the society appropriately.
“However, we consider our current efforts as a means of contributing to national development and part of our social responsibility to the Nigerian nation.
“We deeply appreciate the contributions of our current volunteers and supporters club, as we earnestly seek more volunteers in our quest for a very distinctive status in the global football family” he said.
Ogu disclosed that the club needs 50 players for now, but over 500 footballers seeking to be picked by the club were present at the football pitch, national stadium, Abuja.
Some dignitaries, who attended the occasion, were Chairman, Eurotech, Mr. Guliana Cella, Nigerian First Olympic Gold Medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport, President, Ezenna Youth Football club, Fednard Uba,
Others are Prophet Biodun Lawal, General Overseer, Light of Glory Prophetic Ministry International, Mrs. Favour Edit Edet, President, Raphka Global Foundation, Mr. Michael Chukwunyerenwa, CEO Ages Dominus Events among others.
New Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, Rev Joseph Hayab addressing witnesses shortly after been Sworn-in
New Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, Rev Joseph Hayab addressing witnesses shortly after been Sworn-in
By Amos Tauna
The new chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kaduna state chapter in northern Nigeria, Rev. John Joseph Hayab said he is ready to go to prison by saying the truth against any government policy that is unacceptable to the general public.
In an acceptance speech after taking the oath of office as the new CAN chairman in the state, Rev. John Joseph Hayab said, “I commit to being courageous in speaking out the concerns of the Christian community. So, l undertake to pursue, without fear or favour, the freedom of religion and worship guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution and the United Nation’s Charter.”
Rev. Hayab added, “Any leader that feels the Christians in the state are against him is an ingrate. Southern Kaduna elected the present administration in the state in 2015 and so is a major stakeholder in the state.
“God Almighty will definitely expose those who are causing disaffection between Christians and Muslims in the state. Instead of bringing the people together, they are the ones causing division in the state.”
He explained, “l will intensify dialogue with our Muslim counterpart to build mutual trust, peace and religious harmony, and seek for fairness, justice and equity as key components for any meaningful development in the state.
“CAN will work with noble Muslims to ensure that no leader in our state or at the federal level exploits our religious differences to cause division among the citizenry.
“As Article 38 of the constitution of Nigeria on Freedom of Religion states that every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship. CAN Kaduna state shall uphold and demand freedom of religion.
“Just as UN’s declaration attests that the disregard and infringement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or whatever belief, have brought, directly or indirectly, wars and great suffering to mankind, especially where religion is engaged to promote sectionalism generating acrimony, l shall not relent in bringing to the awareness of the Nigerians and the international community and act of government or any institution which infringes the rights of Christians in the state.”
Rev. Hayab added, “Accordingly, as stakeholders in the state, CAN will liaise with government and its agencies, but, above all, will speak ‘truth to power’ when the leaders do what is not acceptable by the general public.
“While aware of my fundamental human rights as a citizen to freedom of choice and l am positive that it ought to be respected, l will not lead CAN Kaduna state into any form of partnership. As an organisation, CAN is concerned about what happens in our land, therefore, will sensitise our people on the danger of supporting or voting to power political candidates with divisive tendencies.
“As CAN, we do not belong to any particular political party but affirm that as political parties field in candidates for elections, they must allow the eligible voter the choice to make.
“Accordingly, CAN reminds government and its agencies at all levels that the principles of equity and fairness are none negotiable for a peaceable Society.”
Zambia on Thursday called for closer collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the negative effects of climate change.
Zambia’s Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme said at a World Bank-led Climate Investment Fund meeting in Morocco.
“Collaboration between the public and private sectors is vital in tackling the challenges that climate change is posing to humanity, the environment and economies,’’ Chiteme said.
The minister also said that Zambian government has developed a multi-sectoral approach to tackle climate change, adding that challenges remained.
“We have faced challenges in attracting private sector financing and effective participation.
“However, with the additional financing coming on board late last year, we will manage to mobilise private sector investments in economies such as agriculture, natural capital and by providing technical support to relevant beneficiaries.
“It is critical to respond to climate change, using a proactive and strategic approach across all sectors in an integrated manner,’’ he said.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the landlocked Sub-Saharan African country has been experiencing the adverse impact of climate change.
“The adverse impact of climate change include an increase in the frequency and severity of seasonal drought, occasional dry spells, increased temperatures in valleys, flash floods and changes in the growing season,’’ UNDP said.
Indonesia on Thursday condemned Vanuatu for allowing an exiled Papuan separatist leader to meet United Nations Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet.
Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometres.
Indonesia also handed her a petition for a vote on self-determination.
Benny Wenda, Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, tweeted that he had presented the petition, which he claimed was signed by 1.8 million Papuans, to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva on Friday.
Wenda, who has lived in Britain since 2003, joined a delegation from the tiny Pacific state of Vanuatu that had been scheduled to meet Bachelet.
“The action of Vanuatu was very disrespectful and incompatible with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter,’’ the Indonesian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Hasan Kleib, said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Indonesia will never back down in defending its territorial integrity,’’ Kleib said.
Kleib said an invitation for a UN human rights delegation to visit Papua, extended in 2018 during a visit by Bachelet’s predecessor to Indonesia, still stood.
“A scheduled is being arranged and hopefully, it can be done in 2019,’’ he said.
Indonesian security forces have launched a security operation in Papua’s Nduga district after separatist rebels killed 19 construction workers and soldiers in early December.
The separatist movement claimed that no fewer than seven civilians had been killed in the operation and thousands had fled to the jungle in fear of the military.
Papua declared its independence from the Dutch in 1961, but two years later Indonesia launched an operation to annex the western half of the island of New Guinea.
Jakarta completed the take-over of Papua in 1969 with a UN-sponsored vote that separatists claim was a sham.
The Kaduna State Government with support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday began a three-day training for budget and nutrition officials, and civil society organisations on tracking nutrition budget in the state.
Malam Salisu Lawal, Director Development Aid Coordination, Planning and Budget Commission, explained at the opening of the training in Zaria that the goal was to ensure efficient use of government resources.
Lawal said that the government has in recent times increased nutrition budget and created budget lines in some key ministries, departments and agencies.
He stressed that tracking of such budgets was key to making the desired impact towards improving the nutrition of women and children in the state.
According to him, tracking government commitments and expenditure on nutrition is important and will serve as a tool for achieving the goals of food and nutrition policy in the state.
“There has been growing concern in recent times on how much the federal, states and local governments allocates in their annual budget to improve nutrition status of women and children.
“This training is primarily organised to equip nutrition officials in local government areas and relevant MDAs, as well as civil society organisations with budget tracking skills to ensure effective use of resources.”
The director thanked UNICEF, Save the Children International, Alive and Thrive, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria and other development partners for supporting the state to address its nutrition challenges.
Mr Adama Abdul of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, commended the Kaduna state government for making necessary effort to keep track of nutrition spending in the state.
Abdul said that tracking nutrition budgetary allocation would enable the government and development partners to know how far they have come in terms of budget releases and implementation.
Mr Isah Ibrahim, Nutrition Advocacy Advisor, Save the Children International, described the training as timely, stressing that the move would strengthen government commitment toward improved budgetary allocation and releases.
Ibrahim, nonetheless, called on the state government to increase nutrition and create budget lines for nutrition intervention in relevant MDAs for maximum result.
He also urged the government to consider the rate of inflation when allocating funds to nutrition related activities to meet up with market realities and reach out to as much children as possible to improve on the nutrition situation in the state.
China and the United States are ahead of the global competition to dominate artificial intelligence (AI), the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) published on Thursday.
The study found U.S. tech giant IBM had, by far, the biggest AI patent portfolio, with 8,920 patients ahead of Microsoft with 5,930 and a group of mainly Japanese tech conglomerates.
China accounted for 17 of the top 20 academic institutions involved in patenting AI and was particularly strong in the fast-growing area of “deep learning”, a machine-learning technique that includes speech recognition systems.
“The U.S. and China obviously have stolen a lead.
“They’re out in front in this area, in terms of numbers of applications and in scientific publications,’’ WIPO Director-General, Francis Gurry, told a news conference.
U.S. President Donald Trump has accused China of stealing American innovations and technology and has slapped trade tariffs on $234 billion of Chinese goods to punish Beijing.
China said in December it resolutely opposed “slanderous’’ accusations from the U.S. and other allies criticising China for economic espionage and stealing intellectual property and company secrets.
Gurry acknowledged there were accusations about China’s behaviour but there was no doubt it had embraced the global intellectual property system, with the world’s largest patent office and the largest number of domestic patent applications.
“They are serious players in the field of intellectual property,’’ he said.
The WIPO study analysed international patent filings, scientific publications, litigation filings and acquisition activity and found there had been as many patent applications for AI since 2013 as in the half-century since the term was coined in the 1950s.
Patent applications in machine learning include techniques used by ride-sharing services to minimise detours.
It has an average annual growth of 28 per cent between 2013 and 2016, the last year for which data is available, because of an 18-month period before confidential applications are publicly disclosed.
Much of that growth came from deep learning, which overtook robotics as it ballooned from 118 patent applications in 2013 to 2,399 in 2016.
The single most popular AI application was computer vision, used in self-driving cars and mentioned in 49 per cent of all AI-related patents.
“The study showed how technology had followed science,’’ Gurry said, with the 2013 boom in technological applications coming 10 years after a similar surge in scientific publications.
However, the world did not have any reliable way of measuring the quality of patent applications.
“If you did, you wouldn’t need a venture capital industry,’’ he said.
An Abuja High Court Wednesday, 30th January, 2019, denied disbarred Lagos Lawyer, Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye bail in the case of his alleged involvement in the murder of late Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.
Federal High Court 33, Gudu, Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi refused to grant an application for bail filed by Ugwuonye, ordering that he remains in Prison custody. He is therefore to remain in Kuje prisons till the charges against him are determined by the Court.
Opposing his bail application earlier, the Head of Legal Department at the FCT Police Command, James Idachaba described Mr. Ugwuonye as “an unrepentant offender and a contemnor, capable of jumping bail and interfering with the trial”, if granted bail.
Idachaba tendered Certified True Copies of Facebook posts made by Mr. Ugwuonye, describing them as prejudicial, arguing that “If he could do this while in custody, he will do more if released on bail.”
Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye was charged before a High Court in Abuja, alongside four others over their alleged involvement in the dastard killing of Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.
The charge, with number CR/20/2018, between the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command (complainant) and Ephraim Chukwemeka Ugwuonye and four others (defendant) centers on Criminal Conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery and culpable homicide.
Other accused persons charged along side Ugwuonye are: Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ikechukwu James Ezeugwu.
The Charge Sheet reads in part:
“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Chukwuemeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’, on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Criminal Conspiracy when you agreed with amongst yourself and robbed one Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon (now late) of her property and killed her. You therefore committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 6 (b) of Robbery and Fire Arms (special provisions) Act Cap. RII LFN 2004.”
“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’ on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Armed Robbery when you armed yourselves with cutlasses and other offensive weapons, attacked and robbed Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon ‘F’ (now late) of her Accura ZDX Jeep with registration number RSH 225 AH Abuja gray colour, one Samsung Galaxy phone, one Itel 1408 phone, one Iphone and Ipad and other valuables….”
“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’ on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Culpable Homicide, when you intentionally attacked one Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon ‘F’ (now late) with cutlasses and other offensive weapon and killed her, when you both knew that death is the probable consequence of your action. You thereby committed offence contrary to and punishable under section 221 of the penal code law.”
Similarly, Mr. Ugwuonye is facing a fresh 10-count charge of extortion, impersonation, injurious falsehood and false information.
The Charge, with number CR/19/2018, between the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command (complainant) and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye (defendant) is also before a High Court in Abuja.
The Charge Sheet reads in part:
“Extortion by threat of accusation of an offense punishable by death, Injurious falsehood against the Nigerian Police, Injurious falsehood against David Aiyedogbon, Giving false information with the intent to mislead public servants, Obstruction Public Servant in the discharge of his functions, Insultive or abusive language against the Nigerian Police Force, Influencing cause of Justice and Inciting Public disturbance.”
Others are: “Failing to assist Public Servants, when bound by law to assist, when you were aware about the investigation into the killing of late Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon to arrest the killers whom you knew and had prior knowledge of how one of the suspects Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu escaped from Nigeria immediately after committing the offence without arresting or giving the Police useful information as to who is to be investigated for the sad killing; Impersonation, when you have reasons to know that your name has been struck off of Legal Practitioners roll by the Supreme Court of Nigeria even when you knew that you have been disbarred and your name struck off the roll of Legal practitioners in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Ugwuonye is already facing two other criminal charges and two civil suits bothering on defamation and false evidence.
It would be recalled that Mr. Ugwuonye was first arraigned alongside two Abuja-based lawyers, Nsikak Udoh and Farouk Khamagam before a Chief Magistrate Court for their alleged criminal roles in the disappearance of missing (now late) Abuja woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.
Emeka Ugwuonye is charged with false evidence and injurious falsehood, contrary to sections: 158 and 393 of the Penal Code; while the other two lawyers are charged with criminal conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, giving false information with intent to mislead a public servant contrary to sections 97, 364, 179, and 178 of the Penal Code.
Ugwuonye had claimed in the exhibits tendered before the court, to have overwhelming evidence that the missing woman, Charity Aiyedogbon was dead, and that she was killed by her estranged husband, David Aiyedogbon. He is yet to tender any evidence in support of his claims.
His trouble started when, in different posts on his Facebook group, Due Process Advocates- DPA, he said:
“I now have overwhelming evidence that Mr. David Aiyedogbon killed his wife, Chacha. David has an idea of the kind of evidence at my disposal.”
In another post, he said: “this is the headless and dismembered body of Charity Aiyedogbon (posting a corpse on his DPA Facebook group). DPA has been able to identify this as her body within the limits of resources at our disposal.”
“I will describe David as a low-life and cold-blooded murderer of his own wife.”
“…the issue is not whether Emeka’s account is accurate or not, but, rather, the issue is whether Emeka has evidence that would send David to the hangman. Yes, I do…”
When invited by the Police to produce the evidence, after several meetings, Ugwuonye was unable to produce any, to substantiate his claims.
Ugwuonye is already facing N10b defamation suit filed by Mr. David Aiyedogbon. The Suit, with number CV/2750/16, before Justice Peter Kekemeke of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 14, Apo Abuja, also prays that the defendant be ordered to pay the cost of the suit.
Meanwhile, the other two Abuja-based lawyers, Nsikak Udoh and Farouk Khamagam, charged alongside Ugwuonye have allegedly confessed in writing to the Police that they forged the signature of their missing client (now late), Charity Aiyedogbon in a suit filed at Federal High Court, Lokoja and served on Mr. David Aiyedogbon, two weeks after the mysterious disappearance of Charity Aiyedogbon. The suit has since been resolved in favour of Mr. Aiyedogbon.
Their trouble started when, those believed to be close to the missing woman were quoted as saying that she went missing on the 9th of May, 2016, but her lawyer, Nsikak Udoh, handling a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lokoja on 29th April, 2016 against 29 respondents, including her biological children and former husband, David Aiyedogbon, claimed she (Charity) came to his house on the 18th of May, 2016.
Following questions arising from the lawyer’s claim of meeting with the missing woman eight days after her purported disappearance, the Police invited him for questioning wherein he allegedly confessed that her signature was forged.
