WE have come a long way in all things, including the attempt to checkmate that big monster called corruption. The joke is told of how a machine that catches thieves was invented outside these coasts. That machine was dispatched to us to help catch those big thieves around.

Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Human Rights Day last week. Many civil society groups and non governmental organisations held meetings and events to commemorate the day. At all the events, the conclusions were the same, that the Federal Government urgently needs to do more for Nigerians to enjoy basic rights, citizens of more developed societies enjoy.

Over three days, the World Innovation Summit for Education(WISE) witnessed a diverse range of innovations, experiences and emerging new ideas from around the world. From funding to curricula, from conflict and reconciliation to new skills, from assessment to improvement of the quality of Attendees, laureates and speakers came to WISE to advance international dialogue and propose realistic and effective solutions as well as new ideas.

From the deeps of the quagmire that is the endangered professional boxing in Nigeria beckons the lone surviving hope, in the form of Olusegun Ajose who is compelled to sacrifice his own Christmas and New Year pleasures as he pursues what looks to be a career defining assignment early in the new year.

NOTORIETY has its place as the death of Obioma Nwankwo, also known as Osisikankwu, shows. Why the jubilations? Why the expectation that the death of this individual will mark the end of kidnapping and criminality in Abia State ?
Expectations like these minimise the depth of challenges from the social complications of a problem that was left for too long.

Diamond Bank has announced that it has lend over N8billion to support the small business in the country despite the global economic lull . As a supporter of SMEs in the country, Diamond Bank is a lender to small operators and has promised to even boost their operations more next year.

THE late Chief Anthony Okotako Enahoro had a truly chequered political history that spanned well over sixty years. During this period, he took off from the Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe political camp as a member of the nationalist National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, NCNC, (he edited some of the newspapers in the Zik Group, though he was never a registered member of the Zikist Movement) and moved to the pro_regionalist Action Group led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Once again, neither side will change its position or accepts the demands of the other side as talks between Lagos State governor and leadership of tertiary unions over implementation of FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement, have ended in deadlock.

Not a few Nigerian, perhaps, received with much gusto the news of the exit of Emmanuel Ayoola JSC (Rtd) from the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission, popularly called, ICPC, as chairman. It will be recalled that when he was appointed chair of the Commission to replace Mustapha Akanbi, JSC, (Rtd) quite a number of informed minds viewed his appointment with mixed feelings.

Nigeria coach Samson Siasia will begin his tenure with a trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend to watch the big Premier League matchup between Chelsea and Manchester United.