All Akunyili’s costly and noisy rebranding campaign, could not secure the rebranding of the country’s image; Youths like Kevin demonstrate that another country is possible

It was a gathering of the who’s who in the nation’s business and political firmament at Minna, yesterday, to await the arrival of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), his son, Mohammed, and the body of the former First Lady, Mrs. Maryam Babangida, who died of ovarian cancer in a U.S hospital on Sunday

The Federal Government Monday night hosted the Green Eagles for qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa next year.
They rewarded them with gifts. Coach Shaibu Amodu got a jeep and N1m in cash. His assistants, Daniel Amokachi, Alloy Agu and Fatai Amoo, got half a million naira each.

Shaibu Amodu, Eagles Chief Coach, has promised to live up to expectations in next month’s African Cup of Nations in Angola. Amodu made the promise after he was given a brand new jeep of undisclosed model and brand for his efforts in qualifying the nation for the South Africa 2010 World Cup finals.

Chairman of Bayelsa United, Chief Victor Baribote’s quest to land in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Board, received a major boost yesterday in Abuja with Premier League clubs from the South-South zone endorsing his candidacy.

Eagles Players were excited over the customised wrist watches given to them by the Presidential Task Force for their qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. While the players were given watches, the Chief Coach, Shaibu Amodu, was given N1 million and a new jeep and his three assistants were given the sum of N500,000 each.

Nigeria boxing federation president, Rotimi George Taylor, disclosed yesterday that there are plans to keep Nigerian boxers in top shape for the competitions of 2010 including the Commonwealth Games in India.

Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) chief coach Obisia Nwamkpa has called for grass-roots competitions as a way of promoting boxing in the country.

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), says it will begin next year with two cadet championships preparatory to the African Junior Championships in Congo in April.

The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) is to hold the Top 8 National Championships in both male and female categories from Jan. 15 to Jan. 24, 2010 in Abuja.

WASHINGTON—The 23-year-old Nigerian man accused of the attempted Christmas Day bombing of an American airliner apparently turned to the Internet for counseling and companionship, writing in an online forum that he was “lonely” and had “never found a true Muslim friend.”

An intelligence official said that because Abdulmutallab had not previously been entered into the system as a terrorism suspect, procedures did not include such checks. Administration officials said these apparent gaps are among those to be studied in the review Obama has ordered.

By Enyim Enyim ONITSHA—Former transition caretaker committee chairmen of local governments in Anambra State led by Sir Michael Okoye, who were appointed by Governor Peter Obi have defected to the Action Congress, AC, alongside more than 500 members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA to support Dr Chris Ngige for the 2010 governorship poll. […]

Ohaneze-Ndi-Igbo, a socio-cultural group, says it will formulate and support ideas that will lead to a free, fair and credible governorship election in Anambra State.

No fewer than two persons died and several others seriously injured in three separate road accidents which occurred Monday night in Benin City, Edo State capital.