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The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, has vowed to report vice-chancellors of universities running illegal and unaccredited courses to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for prosecution.
He said this on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja.
Besides, he noted that intellectual decay had set into the university system due to politics of appointment of heads of departments and the effect of the just-suspended strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which made lecturers to stay off duty for almost six months.
He said, “We (NUC) are amazed about the number of vice-chancellors that visit ICPC everyday.
“All these unapproved courses that some universities are running, the vice-chancellors are in trouble because ICPC and NUC are not going to take it. We have to address the issue – including misapplication of fund for projects.”
Describing the situation as “academic corruption”, Okojie said the commission had started sensitising universities on what constitutes violation of law with a pilot study already ongoing in a few universities.
“ There is what we call academic corruption. If you employ students that are not supposed to be in the system, it is corruption,” he added.
Okojie said NUC would provide information on universities running illegal courses to the ICPC.
The NUC boss recalled that seven Nigerian universities were among the 15 that won the regional competition for African Centres of Excellence.
He said an additional three had been included in the list of winners to increase it to 10 from Nigeria that will get $8 million grant each. source-punchnews
Walmart shoppers were given an early Christmas present when Beyonce paid a visit and bought them $37,500 (£23,000) in gift cards.
The Single Ladies singer, 32, bought a doll for her toddler Blu Ivy at the store in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, on Friday night, as well as a copy of her self-titled new album.
She wished everyone in the store a Happy Christmas and then gave away 750 $50 (£30) gift cards, before leaving for her concert in Boston.
Beyonce made a surprise visit to a Walmart store in Tewksbury
The surprise album earned her a place in history as she became the first female to reach number one on the Billboard charts with her first five studio albums.
The 32-year-old bought 750 fifty dollar gift cards for shoppers
It features 14 new songs and 17 music videos, and marks her return to the music business after giving birth to her daughter in 2012.
She also bought a copy of her new album titled Beyonce
Two singles, XO and Drunk In Love featuring her husband Jay-Z, were also released last week.
Beyonce said even though she worked hard on the new album, she had her doubts minutes before its release - and even wondered if people were going to hate it.
The singer's fifth album debuted at No 1 on the Billboard charts after it was released without the public knowing.
"Beyonce" sold 617,000 units in the US in a week and has sold more than a million albums worldwide.
But the singer said she was "terrified" and "scared" the night the album came out because the launch was risky.
Travellers are still struggling with transport problems after a night of widespread storms caused flooding and power outages and toppled hundreds of trees.
Earlier there were no train services to or from Gatwick airport in West Sussex and power problems at its north terminal meant that only British Airways flights were departing.
From 1pm all passengers were told that all other flights would leave from Gatwick's south terminal.
Passengers complained of a lack of information and spoke of four-hour delays.
Fire crews rescued motorists from cars Pic: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
In Dorset fire crews rescued around 25 people from cars trapped in floodwater.
Fire control said rescuers helped get people out of stranded vehicles in the Sturminster, Blandford, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Wimborne areas.
In Shropshire, a woman was killed and a man seriously hurt in a car crash which happened in "difficult weather conditions".
The south of the country has had some respite from the stormy weather but parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland are still being battered by strong gales and heavy rains.
Engineers are working to restore power to as many as 130,000 homes across the country, with no guarantee the lights will be back on in time for Christmas Day.
A number of train companies were unable to run any early-morning trains and when services did eventually start they were subject to delays and cancellations.
Network Rail (NR) said more than 200 trees had come down on lines during the last 24 hours and there had been "a further 100 major incidents discovered on top of that".
It added that in southern England the storm damage had been greater than that of the 'St Jude's Storm' a few weeks ago.
Customers are being advised to check the latest travel situation before starting their journeys.
The fatal crash in Shropshire happened near Shrewsbury just after 9.30pm on Monday.
The departures board at Waterloo station shows dozens of cancelled trains
West Midlands Ambulance Service said in a statement: "Weather conditions at the time were very difficult.
"On arrival, crews found three cars at the scene. Firefighters were undertaking life support on a woman in one of the cars.
"Sadly despite all efforts, it was not possible to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene. A man from the same car was assessed but was uninjured.
"A man in his 30s from a second car was trapped for over half an hour. He had suffered facial, hip and leg injuries. A woman in the third car was uninjured."
A man's body was also pulled from the River Rothesay in Ambleside in Cumbria, while a woman died in a river in Gwynedd, North Wales.
Flooded tracks in West Horndon, Essex, show the challenge facing rail firms
Five teenagers were also hurt in a separate incident after their car rolled over in "wet and windy" weather conditions north of Wolverhampton, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
Some 900 passengers were stuck on the Spirit of Britain ferry outside Dover for 15 hours as it was considered too risky to enter the harbour.
The ship left Calais last night and managed to dock safely at around 7.30am.
Shortly before the ship reached Dover, Digvijay Rathod told Sky News: "Many people haven't slept. I have 53 people to take care of. There are mothers, there are children who have been sick.
"It's been a tough night - people just want to get home. We left Calais at 4pm and we were supposed to reach here within two hours."
Families in Edenbridge, Kent, say water levels are rising in their street
The Environment Agency has issued hundreds of flood warnings across all of England and Wales, with a severe flood warning - the highest level warning of danger to life - in the South West, where properties are expected to flood.
People travelling on First Great Western's service from London Paddington to Devon and Cornwall were left stranded at Taunton in Somerset shortly before 1am because of flooding and signal problems.
Passengers described delays after leaving London before the service was terminated at Taunton with First Great Western then having to put people on buses and taxis to get them to their destination.
Tim Field from the Energy Networks Association told Sky News that it was not possible to promise that power would be restored to homes cut off by the storm in time for Christmas Day.
Passengers on a Calais to Dover ferry spent a miserable 15 hours at sea
He said: "We've been able to restore about 60,000 properties yesterday evening and last night but with the storms that have come in, people are waking up this morning to find themselves without power.
"We've been facing some very difficult conditions. Fallen trees have brought down power lines and blocked roads, which has affected engineers' progress."
The RNLI released footage of the rescue of a Labrador swept out to sea and thought by its owner to be dead.
The RNLI released dramatic footage of dog rescue at sea
The pair had been out walking when it went into the waters off Sea Palling, on the north Norfolk coast, and was taken away by the tide.
The Environment Agency Flood Line can be contacted on 0845 988 1188 for advice and up to date information.
Christmas Day is expected to be calmer with just a few wintry showers in the north and west, while Boxing Day looks mainly fine, but stormy conditions look set to return on Friday.
Vodkha ( Sammy Olatunde ) is a young and incredibly talented contemporary
artiste who has diverse talent and creativity in music.
His debut single Skinpololo which is released under the Toxicbeatz
imprint (home to Y.liikar and Mr Casual) has a melodious feel and the kind of
flow to get u stepping on the dance floor. With this amazing piece of work
which should be a club banger soon and also Vodkha's debut single, there's no
doubt that he's delivery in his next work will be one to watch out for. Vodkha
is also a producer and has shared the stage with Jayru and Durella at the Miss
Ogun pageant and also performed alongside with the ToxicBeatz crew at the Green
Awards, Lasu Law Dinner, Artbeat Ent, Elegushi and The Miss Lasu Pageant 2013.
Download, Enjoy and Share!!!
Follow Us On Twitter:
#SkinpololobyVodkha
@ion_vodkha
@eyi_TAYO_
José “Pepe” Mujica shot back on Friday
at the president of the International Narcotics Control Board, a U.N. agency,
for saying that his administration refused to meet with the agency’s officials
before legalizing marijuana this week.
Mujica batted down the criticism, insisting
that his administration is open to discussing the law and accusing the INCB
President Raymond Yans of applying a double standard by criticizing Uruguay,
even as U.S. states pass laws to legalize recreational marijuana consumption.
“Tell this old guy not to lie”,Mujica told reporters, according to Colombian daily El Espectador.“Any guy in the street can meet with me.
Let him come to Uruguay and meet with me whenever he wants…He thinks that
because he’s in an international position, he can tell whatever lie he wants”.
The INCB president said on Wednesday he was“surprised”that the Uruguayan government“knowingly decided to break the universally agreed and internationally
endorsed legal provisions of the treaty".
But Mujica dismissed the criticism as a double standard, pointing out
that the U.S. states of Colorado and Washington have already legalized weed and
that both of the states’ populations individually exceed Uruguay’s 3.4 million
inhabitants.
“Do they have two discourses, one for Uruguay and another for those who
are strong”?Mujica
asked.
Uruguay’s Senate gave its final approval Monday to a law legalizing the
consumption of marijuana creating a government-controlled market for the soft
drug’s production and sale. Those wishing to smoke marijuana recreationally
must register with the government and limit their intake to 40 grams per month,
or whatever they can reap from up to six plants they may grow at home.
But Uruguay’s president said he’d faced international pressure,
including from neighbouring Brazil, for pushing ahead with his effort to end
marijuana prohibition.
“There’s always going to be pressure”,Mujica told Brazilian daily A Folha de São Paulo before the law passed.“There’s an apparatus in the world
that lives by repressing, and it costs a lot of money”.
Whew! Good news for weed smokers...you have a president as your main
supporter...lol. I agree with the president about the double standards though.
Tiwa Savage and Sidney Esiri aka Dr Sid, both from Mavin records have been announced as hosts for the The Headies 2013 – Nigeria’s biggest and most prestigious music awards.
According to the organizers of the awards, the pair have been selected in line with the awards’ tradition of picking talented and inspiring entertainers, to front an awards ceremony that parades some of the continent’s biggest entertainers.
Tiwa Savage has earned a place for herself as one of Nigeria’s favourite artistes since the release of her 2010 debut single Kele Kele Love. The song which was released while Tiwa was still in the US, topped charts instantly but it was the follow up single ‘Love me, Love me, Love me’ that won the hearts of many.
Speaking on The Headies 2013, Tiwa says; ‘Being the 8th year, it’s not easy to be consistent in a country like Nigeria. So Kudos to the organizers to have an award by Nigerians for Nigerians…it’s always sketchy when the nomination list comes up, like this year. We are not going to touch on that, we’ll just wait for the night and address those issues and we’ll go ‘all Kanye West’ on the awards…’
Joining the newly married singer at The Headies 2013 is her label mate Dr Sid.
SID got his chance in front of the mic when he was made a member of Da Trybe, and given a spot on the song that caused a revolution in Nigerian Hip-Hop scene, ‘OYA’ in 2002 alongside Sasha, 2-Shotz, Timi, DEL, and the Trybesmen (Eldee, Kb and Freestyle). But for his need to finish up his degree at the University of Ibadan, where he graduated as a Dentist, SID wouldn’t have suspended his music career.
And after working for three years at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr SID made a tough decision to quit practicing as a dentist for full-time music business. It’s 2013, and the young man couldn’t have made a better decision. With many hit songs to his credit, Dr SID is a doctor of music.
He couldn’t hold back his excitement over the organizers’ decision to choose him as a co-host for The Headies 2013.
‘I’ve been trying to host this event for the past 6 years, I’ve waited to be called to no avail and this year I’m hosting. Wow! I’m so emotional right now, I’m glad for this opportunity,’ Dr SID expressed.
The Headies 2013 will hold on Boxing Day, December 26 at the Ground Ball Room of the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.
Now in its 8th year, The Headies (also known as the HipHopWorld Awards) is Nigeria’s premiere honours event for urbane music and hip hop culture. Produced and presented to match some of the biggest awards shows from around the world, The Headies annually celebrate deserving Nigerian music stars, giving honour to whom it is due, and encouraging many to step up their game in order to enter the prestigious Headies alumni.
On Friday, August 23, 2013, music producer Babatunde ‘OJB Jezreel’ Okungbowa left the shores of Nigeria in company of the woman we can call his guardian angel, with no clear-cut assurance that the kidney transplant they were going for would be successful. It was a matter of chance – life and death.
Weeks later, the news of his successful surgery in India littered the internet, with follow-up pictures, showing Jezreel with his Indian Doctors, Nurses and his wife as proof that all was well.
However, that was nothing compared to the viral reports that his return (November 30), generated. OJB has become more popular than he ever was, not only in the entertainment setting, but to many who had never paid attention to showbiz. His popularity has grown widely and compassionately.
How do we then tell the story of this man of the moment, who has been to hell and back, without giving credit to his stronghold – his God and the 1st of his 3 wives, Mama J.? Despite discouragement from family and friends, Mama J still donated one of her kidneys to save her husband. The woman was adamant to let OJB live, even when the doctors told her she would be cut all the way to her back and one of her ribs would be removed to enable them take her kidney. As frightening as that sounds.
‘I will say she is a courageous woman,’ OJB admits.
In their first interview since they returned last week, OJB and his wife, Mama J open up to HipHopWorld, exclusively, telling us all that needs to be told about what they went through – the pain, the gain, the hate and the love…
OJB speaks at the HipHopWorld secretariat
Why did you come back secretly?
You know it’s a public thing, yet personal too and after the surgery there were lots of restrictions like don’t shake hands, don’t hug people, always put on a surgical mask if you have to go out, for the next six months. So I just have to be careful.
What were your thoughts when you were told you would undergo a kidney transplant?
It was scary because I find it hard to take an injection let alone cutting the body for surgery. I didn’t really welcome it but with time I had no choice than to give in to the idea and hope for the best.
What has changed about your Lifestyle and how often do you take your medication?
I’m more disciplined now especially with hygiene and sanitization. I have to take my drugs like 8-9 times a day. Even when going out I have to have a plan so that I don’t miss my medication. Emotionally my focus is wider because after going through a life threatening situation, my perception of things changed. I value life now. As for diet, you know sometimes we want to be stubborn eating amala, eba and all the heavy foods but it has to be in small portions. To avoid weight gain because I ended up having two surgeries i.e. aheart and kidney surgery because the doctors said there was a problem with the heart which led to the kidney failure. So it’s less starch and more vegetables and protein for me.
OJB and Mama J, during the SAVEOJB campaign days
Well, some are born with it that way, others could be through high blood pressure or diabetes but mine was due to my sleeping pattern and it kept affecting me with my knowledge. Then I used to sleep as late as 1:00am and awake at 4:00-4:30am and head straight to the studio. I was getting not more than 4hours of sleep a day. I was told it could have resulted to stroke because it started from the heart and then to the kidney but I thank God for exempting that stroke part.
What do you have to say about the controversies that surrounded donations towards your kidney transplant?
Well, there are well meaning and bitter people in Naija. Most people were just complaining and these people didn’t even donate. All the figures flying in the air then were just fake and make-belief from different angles because if we had the money we wouldn’t have the governor donate N16million. Lots of chequesthat some people donated bounced. I don’t want to mention names and when we called them to come for their cheques they didn’t come for it. We didn’t want to talk about it in the media because it was about saving a life.
What would you like to say to people that have supported you?
What I would like to say to all the people that supported me like I’ve kept saying is, I can’t reward you. I can’t give you anything, it is only God that will reward you and I pray from the depth of my heart that God will enlarge you and whatever you have given me, God will give you in large fold. It wasn’t just about the money but about saving a life and they did that, saving a whole family. I’m saying God bless them.
After the surgery in India, OJB had every reason to smile
How would you describe your wife, who volunteered to donate one of her kidneys?
I will say she is a wonderful person because it is one thing if God is telling you to do something but another to do it. It takes a lot of courage to actually do it. Just as Jesus had made the water for Peter to walk on, Peter needed a lot of courage to take that step and that was what she did at that dying minute. Even when the doctors came to tell her that they would have to cut her all the way to the back and would have to remove a rib so they could have access to the kidney and if after that you still go ahead to do it then that is serious courage. I will say she is a courageous woman.
We heard that you are lodged in a hotel for now because your house is undergoing reconstruction?
Yes. Someone by the name Felix Edebo actually spoke to me about that before the surgery and advised I should do a reconstruction because of hygiene during recovery. I was reluctant because of finances, he said he’d give me a call and before he left he gave me $1,000USD. Days later, he called and asked for my account details and paid in N6 million for the reconstruction and still told me he had a gift for me, and then he gave me the keys to a Land Rover jeep. We are having an extension to a bungalow which will be the main house, because the way the house was structured originally had studio with it. It needs to change, people come into the studio a lot and I have to control the hygiene. So I have to separate the two in order to sanitize the house.
The Land Rover jeep OJB was given as a gift from a certain Felix Edebo, the same man who funded the reconstruction of the producer’s Surulere home
When are you hoping to get back to work?
I guess my first work is going to be with P. Square. Hopefully we’ll be doing something as soon as possible, and then mix some of my old songs. Using my experience to help people is another thing I want to do and very soon I’ll start a foundation.
What lesson has this experience taught you?
It’s more spiritual really. I see it as, anybody that has God should be anxious for nothing’, because he has you in mind, you might think He doesn’t but He does. It has changed my whole perspective now.
What’s the surgical mask you are wearing meant for?
I have to go around with a mask for sanitization because when you have a kidney transplant your immune system goes down and your hygiene level increases to avoid some flu or bacteria, which could be worse. So when you see me on the way and I don’t shake you, don’t feel that ‘this guy is a snub.’ It’s just part of the precautions I have to follow.
*ON DONATING KIDNEY TO OJB: MY BROTHERS AND MOTHER WERE AGAINST IT, MAMA J. SAYS
OJB’s wife Mama J speaks to HipHopWorld, hesitantly.
You must be courageous, how did you make the decision to donate one of your kidneys?
Should I use the word ‘courageous’? I’d rather say it was just the grace of God
Many people would berate you for that kind of move, how do you feel?
Not that I have not heard a lot of people talk or say all sorts of things, but I’m not quick to judge or criticize somebody because I’m not in that person’s position. So the person talking needs to be in my position. You can say whatever because you are not in the situation. I was in that situation, facing the decision, it was a do or die situation. It’s either I do it or he loses his life. I didn’t give it for any glory or anything. I gave it because if he is alive, it is for my own good. So there is nothing to it, I didn’t see it as anything from day one, I asked God to help me and give me the courage and He did. Every step, every process was difficult because a lot of things they told me were enough for me to say I wasn’t doing again. If I should think about the cut, the pain affects some people psychologically because it goes to your brain and you can easily go mad if you are not strong enough. Even till now I still feel the pain, there are some positions you cannot sleep like you can’t sleep on your right side for too long, you can’t sleep on your left or face up. I still feel the pain but now it’s not the pain but the joy that everything is ok that keeps me going.
Did you face challenges from your family at all?
OH…of course I did. My brothers were like no oh you are not going to do it, my mum didn’t even talk to me. My dad was like what do we do, even if we tell you not to do it you will still go ahead, so let’s not waste time. It’s not just the fact that it’s OJB; he is my husband, the father of my children. I don’t know the reason I will not give him, there’s no reason I shouldn’t give him if I am the perfect match for it.
Apart from God, who would you be grateful to?
I want to be grateful to all Nigerians, in fact when the whole thing happened, the reaction of Nigerians shocked me and I was like ‘are you this big?’ Nigeria is a very wonderful country o! The reaction of Nigerians brought tears to my eyes because I was like yes, he needed help, and he said it. But I wasn’t expecting the massive response from people; everybody was coming from far and wide. Even people I don’t even know, people that he had helped longtime ago and has forgotten about it came. Governor Fashola himself, Lagos state as a whole and even the Governor of Cross River state. It was too much. In fact I want to say a big thank you to Nigerians, everybody and even you people that are here because it is something. Every contribution and penny went a long a way. I want to say thank you to everybody, yes God really used a lot of people.
Last year The Headies introduced the Veteran’s Night. The event which was held a day before the Headies was conceived to celebrate the achievement of Nigeria’s music stars of yesteryear’s. The maiden edition, which took place in Eko Hotel, was a resounding success with many of Nigeria’s music legends attending and watching with admiration as today’s stars sang their golden hits and classics.
CEO of Smooth Promotions, the producers of The Headies; Ayo Animashaun presenting a plaque to Orlando Julius
CEO of Smooth Promotions, the producers of The Headies; Ayo Animashaun with Daddy Showkey
Ayo Animashaun with fuji singer Salawa Abeni
The Veteran’s Night isn’t a one-time affair. This year the Veteran’s Night is taking place to celebrate and honour the achievements of our music legends. This year’s Veteran’s Night will hold at Lagos Oriental Hotel on Sunday, December 22 and it is sure to be another memorable occasion.
