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Davido gives a very Detailed Explanation on Sophia Momodu, his Daughter Imade and Dele Momodu’s Role

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Music star Davido has shared more details about his current predicament with baby mama Sophia Momodu as they continue to battle over the custody of their 7-month old daughter, Imade.

 

The music star shared all the text and supporting images on his Instagram page this morning and deleted everything an hour later.

 

In this piece he explains why he has acted in certain ways and also sheds more light on details about Sophia Momodu.

 

Read the lengthy (and detailed) piece below.

 

Birth of Imade Adeleke

 

When the second trimester of Sophia’s pregnancy was closing, she tortuously announced to me that she was in the family way.

 

My mind was bemused, and so was my soul confused. But I quickly realized that nothing more could be done to alter my status as a father-to-be. I knew that i was not ready to be a dad. Still, I adjusted myself to the realities of my new situation and the consequences of my past personal indiscretions.

 

I made the determination that I was going to be a good dad. I also reasoned that my blunder is not enough pretext to make me a husband. I was just 21. And so I decided to be a responsible dad without being husband to the mother of my baby. I never was in love with Sophia neither was marriage ever in the offing.

 

Without knowing for sure that I was the real dad of the baby, I entrusted Sophia to the services of a private hospital for both pre-natal and post-natal medical cares. An apartment at Lekki was leased for 2 years, and paid for by me. The burden of medical bills, feeding, transportation and sundry costs rested on my person. No family member of Sophia including Uncle Dele Momodu rose to help nor guide Sophia.

 

I own my property at Lekki and had allowed Sophia to stay in the house because she claimed that she knew nobody in Lagos and that her father was deceased whilst her mother was resident in Abuja. For real, Sophia was a drifter without a dime, education nor career. My compassion, ignorance, naivety and poor judgment had combined to make me a victim to a much older lady with super cunning sense that was mixed with a vicious and diabolical nature. I stand accused but calmly accepted my responsibility for the sad misadventure that caused me to be a seat-mate with Sophia on a plane that was flying nowhere.

 

All along, I have only been generous with Sophia without knowing for sure I was the father to the baby she was carrying. On May 14, 2015, Sophia delivered her baby named Imade. It was after Sophia had delivered the baby that DNA testing medically confirmed that I was indeed the biological father of our child named Imade.

 

Once this status was obtained, Sophia started to apply maximum financial demands on me. I bought all the baby things and fully furnished her apartment. Sophia knew well how to spend money and yet contributed zero to the vast expenses that I incurred. None in her family contributed even a fake coin to the cost of having Imade.

 

Uncle Dele Momodu, now the pompous moralist, never visited Sophia nor even delivered an ordinary greeting card to Imade nor to her mum. Throughout the many months that Sophia stayed at my house when she claimed she has no family in Lagos, Uncle Dele Momodu and his bossy wife never showed up at my house to say hello to either of us.

 

When the going was good, Sophia had told me plenty things about her uncle Dele Momodu that I need not repeat here. And she never invited me to go with her to visit him and I don’t have the knowledge that she ever visited him throughout the time she stayed in my house. She always explained that a visit to Uncle Dele was needless and unnecessary. Uncle Dele Momodu never liked, and still does not like Sophia. He is now just grandstanding because Sophia had a baby for a fairly prominent family and famous Davido.

 

The case of Mrs Momodu baffles me even more. Why did she not think it necessary to move to Sophia’s apartment to help her out and show her the tricks of motherhood when Imade was newly born. Not once did she visit Sophia and her baby until December 2015. She gave neither care, love nor financial support to Sophia. Now, at 7 months old, and a child with special medical needs, Mrs Momodu rushed to the Lagos Airport to make an awful botch of her standing as a mother: Mrs Momodu certainly not a good person. She put time and energy to prevent my daughter and I, the real father of Imade, from travelling aboard to keep an appointment with the American Hospital, Dubai. At the point of dying in November, 2015 Imade had been rushed to this medical facility in Dubai, where she received helpful and adequate treatment, and was duly returned to Nigeria, without any side excursions.

 

What then suddenly propels the fear or dangerous love of Mr & Mrs Momodu for Sophia? I deeply sense this couple never loved Sophia nor her late father. They also resent her mum, and probably are jealous that Sophia ever became a mum herself, and thus, wish that Sophia’s daughter who is also my daughter, must needlessly perish.

 

Where is the inherent value in a callous human ploy that directly intends to prevent a child from receiving necessary medical care aboard once the biological father, David Adeleke, the child’s grandfather and all my siblings who are uncles and aunties to Imade are booked to fly on this essential medical trip to which we have attached a restful family vacation? Sophia ain’t a member of our family, period.

 

Surely, Sophia was not with Imade when she first visited Dubai, and yet Imade was promptly returned to Nigeria. And no one said Sophia cannot come to Dubai except that I declared that I don’t want the trip to seem like a spousal get-away. Sophia ain’t my wife and I refuse to let any action conspire to make us look like a couple. She seemed unable or unwilling to pay her way to Dubai. Also, her boastful Uncle, alas, refused to volunteer to pay her way to Dubai. I never suggested to an elder what he should take up as his personal responsibility if indeed he cared at all for Sophia as his robust involvement in our odd relationship wishes to establish. Mr Momodu never bought the ticket but wanted to enforce his cosine to join my family on this Dubai trip.

 

Dangerous lights are furiously blinking red around my daughter, Sophia and my person. Uncle Dele Momodu and his wife are providers of the energy espousing the idea of a needless death to my daughter. I now say it loud and clear, should my daughter die, this strange couple are mainly responsible. Mr Dele Momodu should just leave me and my family alone! His daughter is not who had a baby for me, and he has been too much of an absentee uncle to Sophia to have any traction on the moral authority that commands the soul and heart of this matter. Sophia Never formally introduced him nor his wife to me, at any time. Why are they now crowding my space and that of my daughter?

 

Custody, Lifestyle and Imade’s Loss of Wellness

 

In May, the same month Imade was born, Sophia settled in her fancy apartment for which I paid a hefty bill for a 2 year lease. Her baby was healthy. And she seemed happy. I would take care of all the financial needs of Imade and still pay Sophia a living allowance of 300,000 Naira plus utility bills.

 

Within a matter of weeks, Sophia was missing and lusting for the streets of Lagos, especially the glitzy night life. She often left Imade home for clubbing, binge drinking and a life of debauchery and deviant living. She would sleep all day and party all night. When awake, she was addicted to the telephone and cannabis. She paid the baby no attention at all and seemed to despise motherhood and parenting.

 

Imade was in her custody for 2 straight months, unchallenged and uninterrupted, until the baby took badly and severely ill in July. Imade cried, ceaselessly, for 48 hours. She was rushed to the hospital where her condition confounded medical experts. Several tests were conducted on her and later on the mother. Medical reports, herein attached (exhibit 1), proved that Sophia’s blood was polluted to the maximum level with cannabis and she had by the process of breast feeding infected her child with complicated medical conditions associated with the use of alcohol and especially cannabis. The trouble spot for Imade was her lungs. She had difficulty breathing largely because of the contaminated breast milk and the severity of the “Second Smoke” of marijuana inhaled by the poor child.

 

Credit: Bella Nija

“Pay attention”: Air Peace shares new way Nigerians get cheaper flight from US

Nigerians have praised Air Peace profusely for its decision to start offering flights to London

Many Nigerians travel from the US to the UK to take advantage of the inexpensive airfares between the US and Europe

Despite the challenges, Air Peace has provided Nigerians with a dependable and effective substitute

Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has over 3-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

 

Air Peace has received a plethora of praises from Nigerians for its choice to begin flight service to London. They claim that the decision was well-considered and is paying off.

 

Air Peace shares alternative to getting cheaper flight

Many Nigerians who have used Air Peace to travel to London or have used the service for a loved one have expressed pleasure. Photo Credit: Air Peace Source: UGC

This is coming three months since the airline’s inaugural, successful trip from Nigeria to London, which prompted the new accolades.

 

Many Nigerians who have used the airline to travel to London or have used the service for a loved one have recently praised the airline for giving Nigerian citizens an alternative option, eroding the previously exorbitant airfares on the route, and upending the duopoly of direct flights between Lagos and London.

 

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Speaking with THISDAY,Toyin Olajide, the chief operating officer of Air Peace, expressed that, despite the difficulties, the airline has given Nigerians a reliable and efficient alternative option and promised to keep operating the Lagos-London route.

 

She also revealed that the economy class on the Air Peace Lagos-London trip has been fully booked for the next sixty days.

 

On Sunday, June 30, 2024, the flight was run, and 41 of the 42 business class seats were occupied.

 

She said:

 

“But our system did not advertise our first-class seats, an error which has been corrected. So, what it means is that we recorded a very high load factor, as only the 12 seats in the first class and one business class seat, making it 13 seats, were empty out of the 274 seats capacity aircraft. We thank Nigerians. We appreciate the fact that they are happy with the airline.”

Nigerians take advantage of low-cost flight

She also said that Nigerians take advantage of the low-cost US-European flights by flying from the US to the UK, where they book Air Peace to Lagos.

 

From there, they take the reasonably priced Nigerian carrier to Lagos, thereby saving a significant amount of money as opposed to taking a direct flight from the US to Nigeria.

 

In order to save money on flights from Nigeria to China via the Middle East or other hubs, Chinese nationals living in Nigeria as well as Nigerians travel on Air Peace to London and China Southern Airline to China.

 

The COO also disclosed that Air Peace has emerged as the go-to airline for Nigerians travelling with elderly parents to the US and the UK due to its growing popularity as a means of transporting Nigerians’ parents to the UK and back home.

 

The COO said:

 

“Because our cabin crew have imbibed the African ways of attending to the aged, many Nigerians prefer to use Air Peace to fly their aged parents. We care for them as we care for our own parents. Members of our cabin crew pay extra attention to them and ensure they are happy. We take extra care to serve them. In fact, some Nigerians send their parents unaccompanied through our airline.”

Air Peace breaks silence following overwhelming demand

Legit.ng previously reported that Nigerians expressed their interest to board Air Peace owned by Allen Onyema after he launched a Lagos to London route.

 

In a public notice, the management revealed that they received an overwhelming increase in demand and interest in their newly introduced London route.

 

In the notice shared on their official page on Facebook, they revealed that due to the high demand, they increased the number of seats available.

Ogun partners FG to reconstruct 14 roads

The Ogun State Government says it is partnering with the private sector and the Federal Government on the rehabilitation of many roads in the state in its drive to bring succour to residents.

 

The state government said no fewer than 120 roads across the 20 local government areas of the state were being considered for rehabilitation.

 

It added that it was partnering with the Federal Government to reconstruct 14 roads in the state in line with the vision of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

 

The Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, in a statement made available to The PUNCH through his media office on Sunday, disclosed these at a book launch event held in Lagos.

 

There has been agitation from residents of the state on the dilapidated state of several roads across the state with many residents taking to the popular microblogging app, X.com, to express their dissatisfaction.

 

According to Onasanya, the state government is harnessing the potential of Public-Private Partnership to address the challenge of infrastructure and boost the economic growth of the state.

 

“The state is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Works for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of an additional 14 roads in line with the resolve to bring succour to the people,” Onasanya said.

 

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He said since the inception of the PPP initiative in Ogun State, projects such as “the Ogun State Agro Cargo Airport, Housing Development projects, Energy Generation, among others, have continued to thrive coupled with the conducive atmosphere created for PPP which has placed the state solidly as the industrial capital of Nigeria.

 

“Key road networks have also been rehabilitated and expanded through PPP, including the reconstruction of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway while the Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos Expressway would be rehabilitated through a concession arrangement based on efficient resource management.”

 

He added that a pragmatic approach to road rehabilitation involved strategic engagement with critical stakeholders, including royal fathers, community and religious leaders as well as lawmakers at the state and federal levels.

 

Onasanya stated, “Not less than 120 roads, spread across the 20 local governments in the State, were submitted for rehabilitation while works have commenced in many locations.”

 

Also speaking at the book launch, former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said governments across the world were very keen on using PPPs to deliver infrastructure and public services to find more ways to meet the huge demand for infrastructure financing as traditional public funding sources always fall short of the investment needed.

 

He lauded the commitment of the Ogun State government to infrastructure development, which, he said, led to the Federal Government’s approval of the concession of the Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos expressway to the state.

 

He described the concession as “a step in the right direction which is also capable of generating employment opportunities, and growing the economy.”

Startups that go into administration are basically dead

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Unfortunately, startups that go into administration are basically dead

There’s a dark joke circulating in the Kenyan startup scene right now that once a startup enters administration, which is technically a form of bankruptcy, it will never recover. The end usually involves administrators selling off assets to repay creditors, leaving founders with nothing but a series of explanations to make.

 

“Few companies in Africa emerge from administration,” I have been told by over five industry experts.

 

But is this always the case? What leads to such failures, especially when founders have poured their heart and soul into the product and survived increasingly cautious investors demanding rigorous due diligence?

 

The reasons why the administration of a startup sometimes leads to the closure of a business are fairly common for those familiar with the startup landscape.

 

First, it is worth understanding that the world of startups thrives on innovation and taking calculated risks. But with great risk comes the possibility of failure. Despite that the dream might be to bring new life to a struggling startup from closing shop, the reality is that for most, administration marks the end of the road.

 

For lack of a softer phrase, a “failed startup” that chooses to pick the administration way becomes subject to many financial obligations, including but not limited to outstanding bills, debts owed to suppliers, and legal liabilities. Unlike sole proprietorships, startups are typically separate legal entities. This means the startup itself, rather than the individual founders, bears the responsibility for these debts.

 

Creditors, mostly venture capitalists/investors and service providers, want to recoup some of their investment. Based on their legal agreement, there is always a party that needs to be paid first. Secured creditors with collateral like legal claims take priority and take ownership of assets before anyone else.

 

Unfortunately, and through no fault of their own, investors and equity holders often find themselves at the back of the line. In many cases, their entire investment disappears. Shares become less valuable as the startup’s assets are simply not enough to cover their initial contribution.

 

Sometimes, amidst the rough administration process, there might be salvageable assets; intellectual property (IP) like patents, copyrights, or even core technology could hold value. The company might attempt to sell these assets to recoup some losses, but these sales rarely come close to covering the total financial crater left behind—and in some cases, the sale does not materialise considering buyers usually do not want to own “dead” assets.

 

Why does the administration come knocking, per numbers?

According to a study by Founders Factory, two of the biggest hurdles involve funding and market fit. Another study in 2022 by Skynova revealed that a lack of financing dooms nearly half (47%) of startups. Economic uncertainty and dwindling investor confidence only make this issue worse.

 

The same Skynova study also showed that 58% of founders regretted not conducting deeper market research. There are cases when startups enter a market not yet receptive to their offering, which ideally shows that these companies are neglecting customer needs. In some cases, some startups fail to fully see the importance of adapting to changing consumer preferences.

 

What is happening in Kenya

Kenya’s startup scene can make a solid case study for successful startups, but recent high-profile failures raise questions about navigating the path to success. Three major startups—Sendy (e-logistics), iProcure (an agritech), and Copia (B2C e-commerce)—all entered administration despite recording growth at the start.

 

A closer look reveals a common trend: these startups secured significant funding (tens of millions of dollars actually) but struggled to adapt to changing market conditions.

 

Copia, for instance, ventured into loan services and suffered heavy losses from defaults.

 

Even after securing more funding in 2022 and pivoting to order fulfillment only, Sendy couldn’t turn its business around, and it eventually shut down in August 2023.

 

iProcure, another Spark Fund recipient, ultimately chose administration due to an undisclosed debt.

 

The trend worsened because, in an attempt to revive itself, Copia laid off its entire workforce and sought further investment but found no takers. It has since started liquidation processes, which means it is on the path to a permanent exit from the market. Sendy, too, has failed to report any significant progress in over a year.

 

The fate of iProcure is not clear yet. While the administration process is ongoing, the trend suggests a likely business closure.

 

Let’s not forget that these companies raised a lot of money: iProcure raised $17.2 million from investors to expand and develop its technology stack. Despite raising $20 million in January 2020 in a funding round led by Atlantica Ventures, Sendy went into administration after failing to find a buyer. Copia raised over $123 million.

 

“The PR around these companies was always about how much they have raised, not what they are doing and the impact they are having. My hope and prayer is that we start focusing more on the important metrics, not the vanity ones,” Ali Kassim, a serial entrepreneur, and a regular startup commentator, told me a few weeks ago.

 

And which are these important metrics?

 

“Path to profitability,” he clarified.

 

The focus on profitability makes sense since it determines the difference between sustainable growth and burning through investor funds on high salaries or launching products that would likely fail.

 

Lastly, note that I have not yet discussed startups burning through investor funds through high salaries or launching products they know are likely to fail. That is a post for another day.

 

Credit: Kenn Abuya, Senior Reporter – East Africa

 

 

Analysis: Is GTCO a Buy, a Hold, or a Sell? 

Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) is one of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria and one of the five largest commercial banks in the country, also known as FUGAZ.

 

The year 2023 was a fantastic year for the tier 1 bank, with the share price gaining 76% and closing at N40.50.

 

The year 2024 has not been as sizzling as 2023; however, it is up 16.74% year to date and is one of the best-performing FUGAZ stocks this year, closing last week at N47.35 per share.

 

This elevated the market capitalization to N1.39 trillion, ranking it as the most capitalized banking stock.

 

Despite currently trading below its 52-week high of N53.05 (reached on April 2, 2024), GTCO is still above this year’s average price of N42 and its 5-year average of N28.

 

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This performance suggests strong investor confidence and positive sentiment towards the stock, primarily based on its financial performance.

 

Financial Performance

The group reported a pre-tax profit of N609.308 billion in 2023, a significant increase from N214.154 billion in 2022. In the first quarter of 2024, the bank’s pre-tax profit surged by 587% year-over-year to N509.349 billion, already exceeding half of the 2023 total.

 

Commercial banks are not only rated for their bottom-line performances, especially from a regulatory standpoint. One of the most important regulatory prudential ratios is the capital adequacy ratio (CAR), which the central bank set at 15%.

 

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GTCO surpasses this, posting a CAR of 21.08%. The bank has set a target of 24.5% in 2024, indicating a proactive strategy to strengthen its financial stability and resilience against potential losses.

 

Additionally, the bank has proposed a N500 billion capital-raising initiative detailed in the June 11, 2024, Red Herring Prospectus, set to launch in July. This initiative aims to bolster the CAR, support strategic growth, and meet the new N500 billion capital requirements mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

 

GTCO is required to raise additional equity capital of N361.813 billion to meet the new capital requirement of N500 billion set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banks.

 

These impressive figures raise the question: Is the stock properly priced to reflect the fundamentals?

 

Valuation Analysis

As stated earlier, GTCO is set to embark on a rights issue to raise capital and meet the recapitalization targets set by the central bank.

 

While the details are not yet out (as of the time of writing this article), a key point of interest will be the share price at which the rights issue will be offered.

 

The stock closed the week at N47.35 per share and is one of the most expensive banking stocks in the country. So, is this price fair?

 

One of the most popular valuation metrics is the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E), which measures the share price of a stock as a multiple of its earnings. The closer this figure is to one or below one, the cheaper the stock.

 

Using GTCO’s current share price of N47.35 and its trailing twelve months earnings per share (EPS) of N33.27, the stock has a P/E ratio of 1.4x. This compares to the banking sector average of 2.91x.

 

This lower P/E ratio suggests that the stock is undervalued compared to its peers, indicating that investors are paying less for each unit of earnings relative to other banks.

This could be seen as an opportunity for investors if they believe that GTCO’s earnings will continue to grow.

Another valuation metric is the price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio, which adjusts the P/E ratio by the stock’s earnings growth. Similarly, a PEG below 1x suggests that the stock is undervalued relative to its earnings growth potential and may offer attractive growth at a reasonable price, appealing to growth-oriented investors.

 

Boosted by its recent performance, GTCO has a PEG ratio of less than one, making it attractive for growth-hungry investors.

Additionally, the group’s strong capital assets appear to be reflected in its higher price-to-book ratio of 0.70, compared to the banking sector average of 0.63.

 

This suggests that investors value each unit of GTCO’s book value more highly than that of its peers, possibly due to perceived higher asset quality or expectations of better future profitability.

The expectation of better future profitability also aligns with its higher price-to-sales ratio of 0.82 compared to the sector average of 0.52x.

GTCO’s valuation metrics, including a low P/E ratio, a reasonable P/B ratio, and a relatively higher P/S ratio, combined with a very low PEG ratio, suggest that it might be an attractive investment, especially for those looking for growth opportunities at a reasonable price.

 

Besides valuation dynamics, GTCO is known for its dividend payouts. In 2023, it paid a dividend per share of N3.2, marking a 3.23% increase from the previous year. The stock currently has a dividend yield of 6% based on its current share price, and this could likely increase as we expect the bank to raise its dividend payout ratio.

 

Continuing this trend, the bank is expected to declare an interim dividend for the recently ended half-year, enhancing its appeal as an investment, especially for income-oriented investors.

 

Overall, investors should consider other factors such as market conditions, the bank’s strategic initiatives, and broader economic factors before making an investment decision.

 

Credit: Idika Aja

72 Nigerian railway engineers trained in China return

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The Federal Government has received 72 Nigerian graduates trained in China by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company.

The graduates were sponsored by CCECC as part of their corporate social responsibility to study Railway Engineering and other transportation-related courses.

 

The Director, Press and Public Relations, Transport Ministry, Olujimi Oyetomi, said this in a statement on Saturday.

 

At the reception, the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, highlighted the government’s commitment to Indigenous participation in the railway industry, emphasizing the significance of the National Local Content Policy for Railway, developed in 2018.

 

This, according to the Minister, is borne out of the realisation of the enormous roles played by the rail transport subsector in the country, which further made the government introduce the “Advocacy for Enhanced Local Content in Nigeria’s Infrastructure Development based on Nigerian – Chinese Bi-lateral Agreements” and thereafter, directed the Federal Ministry of Transportation to look at various steps to ensure effective implementation of the policy.

 

He noted that the event marked a success of the Ministry’s initiatives.

 

“The outcome of today’s occasion depicts one of the success stories of the Ministry of Transportation’s initiative, as CCECC has accepted to train Nigerians in China as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility,” the statement read in part.

 

Alkali expressed optimism about the graduates’ contributions to the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize the railway sector. He mentioned the 25-year Railway Modernization Plan and the Ministry’s support for the policy through on-the-job training programs.

 

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He further explained that the Ministry of Transportation supports the policy by engaging them as engineers and technicians through “On the job training programmes.”

 

Representing the Vice President, Ibrahim Hadeja, commended the graduates for their good behaviour and thanked CCECC for their role in developing Nigeria’s infrastructure and manpower. “This initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of enhancing local content in Nigeria’s infrastructure development.

 

The Senate President, represented by Amos Yuhana said, “As a catalyst of change and transformation and a champion of progress, it is my distinct honour to welcome these extraordinary Nigerian graduates, who have returned to help us build the walls of our country.

 

“We have come to unveil the hidden treasures of these remarkable individuals who have traversed and chatted territories of learning in China and pushed the boundaries of human potential. They have returned to us now, not as mere travellers, but as professionals and with knowledge, skills, and burning desires to shape the destiny of our great nation.”

 

Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of China in Nigeria, Weng Yingqi, commended the graduates for returning to serve their country, emphasizing their role as exemplars for younger Nigerians. Use the knowledge and skills acquired to provide the backbone to accelerate the development of a great Nigeria he advised.

 

CCECC Chairman, Jason Zhang, expressed his company’s ongoing commitment to fostering cooperation between Nigeria and China. “This event is a further testament to greater cooperation between Nigeria and China, and we remain committed to deepening mutual understanding and bilateral relations,” he said.

 

The event culminated in the graduates signing employment contracts with CCECC, signifying their readiness to contribute to Nigeria’s railway sector.

Lagos to re-introduce monthly sanitation on Saturday

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Lagos to re-introduce monthly sanitation on Saturday

 

After eight years, the Lagos State Government has concluded plans to reintroduce monthly sanitation.

 

The re-introduced sanitation will launched next Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Lagos Island, according to a document sighted by The Guardian.

 

It was, however, not clear if the re-introduced monthly environmental sanitation would take the format of the cancelled monthly sanitation.

 

On November 23, 2016, the state government announced it was cancelling the monthly environmental sanitation following a defeat it suffered from a legal battle over the restriction of movement during the monthly sanitation.

 

But in announcing the cancellation then, the Lagos State government on said the decision to cancel the monthly exercise followed a resolution arrived at its Executive Council meeting which approved the need for a robust review of the environmental laws and procedures in the state to meet the present day challenges and to promote a clean and healthy environment.

 

The government noted that considering the present economic situation in the country, it was no longer appropriate to restrict the movement of people for three hours in a mega city like Lagos at a time when they should be pursuing commercial and entrepreneurial activities.

 

According to the government, in the last two decades, Lagos has grown exponentially into a mega city with the attendant huge environmental problems associated with managing a population of over twenty million people.

Series Review: ÒLÒTŪRÉ: THE JOURNEY (SEASON 1)

Series Review: ÒLÒTŪRÉ: THE JOURNEY (SEASON 1)

 

Rating: 8/10

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dayo: “Òlòtūré: The Journey” picks up seamlessly from where the first film left off, diving straight into the tension stirred by Oloture’s meddling.

 

This sequel does exactly what a good follow-up should do—it surpasses its predecessor in both depth and intensity.

 

The story is gripping in its stark and unfiltered portrayal of dashed hopes and abiding despair. Your spirit breaks in sympathy for the women whose experiences this tale is based on; women stripped of their humanity and treated like commodities.

 

Despite narrowly escaping a slaughter that killed all but two of them, Oloture remains determined to forge ahead on this seemingly doomed journey. I never quite understand why. Going home seems like the safer choice, especially after everything she has witnessed and experienced. The traffickers already think she’s dead, and she has all the information she needs for her story—whether or not her newspaper will support her.

 

Her relentlessness, even when returning home would be safer, adds a layer of complexity to her character.

 

While Oloture’s journey is compelling, it is Beauty’s storyline that truly held my attention. Her life, dragged into a never-ending nightmare, seemed doomed from the start. It’s heart-wrenching to see people surrender to a horrifying situation simply because they have no other options.

 

The performances are solid, with the cast delivering realistically embodied characters.

 

The storytelling is so riveting that you’re almost afraid to blink. Engaging dialogue, impeccable visuals, and impressive effects further elevate the storytelling.

 

“Òlòtūré: The Journey” is a captivating continuation of a vital story. I look forward to seeing the next installment of the series.

.

 

Directed by: Kenneth Gyang

 

ÒLÒTŪRÉ: THE JOURNEY (SEASON 1) is showing on Netflix.

 

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Documentary Review: I AM CELINE DION

Documentary Review: I AM CELINE DION

 

Rating: 10/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Joy: You are not ready for the depth of vulnerability this documentary explores. Celine shares with the world her least confident and glamorous moments – dealing with a neurological disorder and losing the strength of her voice.

 

Celine loves music. It’s her entire reason for being, and it shows in this documentary.

 

Irene Taylor is a brilliant director. The beauty of this documentary rests on her shoulder, and she delivers! Of course, Celine is an incredible musician and has a moving story to tell, so the applause goes to both of them.

 

It is a powerful documentation of the life of a woman losing the most precious gift she has – her voice.

 

With up to 250 million record sales worldwide, multiple awards, and a very successful career spanning four decades with a net worth of $800m, Celine has a lot to be thankful for. But it hasn’t always been rosy as she reveals her struggle to keep her voice started 17 years ago.

 

The documentary addresses this in the kindest way. Singing is all she’s ever known, and as long as she’s alive, she’s always going to miss the power of that voice.

 

It was, after all, the voice that brought her to the limelight, so making this documentary is a gift to her fans.

 

Truth be told, “I Am Celine Dion” is not just for fans, it is for everyone. If you have the capacity to comprehend and be compassionate, you will find pieces of her story that connect to your humanity. We all can relate to some kind of loss.

 

Celine may not be able to sing like she used to, but this documentary makes good use of her voice by sharing her struggles, which, I would say, is just as powerful as her singing.

 

It’s in the simplicity of her life story. “I Am Celine Dion” is deeply emotional, heartbreaking, yet inspiring.

 

The last 15 minutes of the documentary was hard to watch. To share her most vulnerable moments of a health crisis with the entire world is brave.

 

May she find healing and comfort.

 

Directed by: Irene Taylor

 

I AM CELINE DION is showing on Prime Video.

 

Credit: movie10

EFCC asks Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria to watch-list Yahaya Bello

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked INTERPOL in three North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria to watch-list former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, it was learnt at the weekend

 

It was further learnt that the decision by the EFCC was based on credible intelligence.

 

Other countries where the ex-governor is put on the watch-list are Egypt, Libya and Sudan.

 

Sources in the anti-graft agency said many option are on the table in dealing with the Bello situation, which include but not limited to storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where the ex-governor is believed to be hiding.

 

The watch-list was activated ahead of the July 17th expected appearance of the former governor before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

Bello is facing a 19-count charge for alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds of about N80.2billion.

 

Although the ex-governor has denied the allegation, he has consistently failed to appear before the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite on June 13th and June 27th.

 

At the last hearing, he filed an application for the transfer of his trial to the Federal High Court, Lokoja.

 

Speaking in the situation, the EFCC source said: “Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking a concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa.

 

“We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon. We are determined to stop him from going on exile.

 

“From Singapore, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede was in Tunisia where he delivered a paper at a session on illicit financial flows. Thereafter, he had a meeting with all the Heads of INTERPOL in North Africa on the intelligence on the ex-governor.

 

“He formally asked INTERPOL to place Bello on Red Alert in all North African countries and it was accepted.

 

“The watch-list has taken immediate effect. He will be arrested in any part of North Africa.

 

“We took this step because we are suspecting that he had been bidding time not to be available for arraignment.

 

“We expect Bello to be in court to prove his innocence. EFCC has to do its work to avoid bad precedent.”

 

At the last hearing, Bello’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), applied to withdraw his appearance for his client.

 

But Adedipe drew the court’s attention to an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 to the Federal High Court, Lokoja.

 

He said the application was pursuant to Section 45 of the Federal High Court Establishment Act.