News

Latest news from Nigeria on Nigeriaa2z.com. catch up with A-Z news and information from Africa’s most populous country in West Africa via our teams in Kaduna, Warri, Lagos, Abuja and Kano.

Edibi Debunks Report Of NRA’s Neglect

FIFA Assistant referee, Peter Egan Edibi has debunked media reports accredited indicating that he is angry with the leadership of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, for abandoning him insisting that he never granted such interview.

The report which emanated from Supersport.com stated that Edibi, who is the only Nigerian referee officiating at the ongoing 2013 AFCON in South Africa had been abandoned by the NRA even as his appearance at the tournament will boost the image of the referees association and Nigeria.

However Edibi who has featured at AFCON 2008, 2010 and 2012 said the report is nothing but the figment of the writer’s imagination.

He said he has not been abandoned by the NRA and even if there was such thing, he knows the right channel to follow in addressing it.

Edibi explained that he has a cordial relationship with his association and was shocked to his marrows when he was quoted as saying he has been abandoned by the NRA.

Edibi said apart from causing him very serious embarrassment, the said report was capable of tampering with his concentration on the crucial assignment on ground.

“ I was shocked to read in the media that I said I have been abandoned by the NRA. The report is false in its entirety for I have not granted such interview to anyone. It is a product of the writer’s imagination.

“ I have a very cordial relationship with my association and the football federation. Even if I have issues with any of the bodies, I know how and where to channel such concerns.

“ At my level, I know what to say and what not to say. I am truly shocked by the report and I feel it has been written in bad taste”.

Edibi expatiated that the aspect of the report which embarrassed him most is where he was quoted as praying for the Super Eagles to win in South Africa.

“ As an experienced FIFA graded referee, I don’t need anybody to remind that I must remain impartial at all times. So you can only imagine my shock when I read in that same report that I prayed that Eagles should win the championship. This is not possible”.

The Cross River State born referee who is on the FIFA preliminary list for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil therefore called on all those concerned to disregard the report in its entirety.

“ I urge everyone to disregard the report which has truly traumatized me. I have continued to receive calls and messages from concerned people who want to know if actually I granted such interview”, he said

Continue ReadingEdibi Debunks Report Of NRA’s Neglect

Annan, Tafida, Others Extol Anyaoku @ 80

Former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan has described Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, as an `` impeccable public officer and astute diplomat’’.

Annan stated this on the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration organised for the former Commonwealth scribe on Saturday in London.
He said in an interview with the Western Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that ``the celebrant has done a lot for the world and the Commonwealth of Nations where he gave his best for 34 years’’.

``This is a wonderful celebration for a man who has done so much for his country and the world.

``I am personally happy to be here to honour him, celebrate him, and to wish him another 30 years.

`` He is so youthful. I have never seen a younger 80-year-old man like him and I wish him sound health because the world still needs him,’’ Annan said.

Annan urged young Africans to aspire for greatness by emulating Anyaoku’s exemplary leadership.

`` I encourage young people to begin to assume responsibility, they do not have to be old to be responsible and assume leadership,'' Annan said.

``We are moving on and the next generation should be taking over.

Continue ReadingAnnan, Tafida, Others Extol Anyaoku @ 80

We‘ll Resist Governors’ Attempt To Truncate LGAs Autonomy – Senate

The Chairman of Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, on Sunday said he would spearhead a nationwide protest to resist moves by State Governors to oppose local governments’ autonomy. He said it was unconstitutional for the governors not to...

Continue ReadingWe‘ll Resist Governors’ Attempt To Truncate LGAs Autonomy – Senate

Jonathan Reiterates FG’s Commitment To Providing Quality Education

Lagos, Jan. 19, 2013 (NAN) President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Lagos reiterated his administration’s commitment to moving Nigeria forward through qualitative education at all levels.

Jonathan gave the assurance at the second convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The president was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa’i,

He noted that education played a critical role in any country’s economy, saying that the Federal Government would give priority attention to the education sector, if I must realise its transformation agenda.

``We shall put in more efforts in supporting the tertiary institutions for them to be able to attain their mandate.

``As you are aware, government has approved the establishment of three more universities which will further serve as a means of creating an environment conducive for realising national transformation.

``Efforts are also being made to improve the quality of teachers in our schools in order to give birth to quality products who would drive our economy,” he said.

The president said that the Federal Government would step up efforts in encourage the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, to facilitate Nigeria’s realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in education.

He congratulated NOUN’s graduands and charged them to be good ambassadors of the institution, adding that Nigeria would rely on them to proffer solutions to its many challenges.

``Our doors are always open for suggestions on how to move the country to the next level,’’ he said.

Speaking in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Rufa’i said that henceforth, universities must ensure that graduands’ certificates were ready before convocation.

``We will no longer graduate students without issuance of certificates on the day of graduation.

``It is worrisome to see our young men and women roaming the streets in search of jobs without their certificates,” the minister said.

She congratulated NOUN management for issuing certificates to the graduating students at the convocation arena.

Earlier, the NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, appealed to the Federal Government to increase the institution’s budgetary allocations, to enable it to tackle its challenges effectively.

Tenebe said that it was in recognition of NOUNs’ contributions to the development of tertiary education, particularly in ODL, that Nigeria’s bid was accepted to host the Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF7) in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).

Tenebe said that the forum would hold in December 2013.

Tenebe urged the graduating students to contribute their best to national development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 7,220 students were conferred with degrees in various fields at the ceremony.

A total of 3,601 graduands received postgraduate awards.

NAN also reports that no first class was recorded.

NOUN did not specify the number that graduated in the various classes.

one of the highpoints of the event was the award of a posthumous `Honorary Causa' to the late Minister of Education, Prof. Babs Fafunwa.

 

Continue ReadingJonathan Reiterates FG’s Commitment To Providing Quality Education

Nkwocha Says Negligence Killing Female Football

Super Falcons striker Perpetua Nkwocha on Saturday decried the declining standard of female football in Nigeria, attributing it to negligence by the concerned authorities.

Nkwocha told newsmen in Lagos that poor oganisation and neglect of the Nigeria Women Professional League (NWPL) had hindered the growth of various female national teams.

``The quality of the NWPL is affecting the national teams. I say that because it was exhibited at the 2012 Africa Women Championship in Equatorial Guinea where we did not do well.

``The Super Falcons especially do not have quality players anymore.

``If the league can improve, then we can have strong and formidable national teams," said Nkwocha who is currently playing for Sunnana SK Club of Sweden.

Nkwocha also canvassed equality in the administration of the male and female teams, saying that preference should not be accorded to the male teams.

``The Nigeria Football Federation and fans usually focus more on the men when it comes to competitions.

``And in terms of the Nigeria Premier League, the men are even more recognised, it is not fair," she said.

She appealed to sponsors to identify with the NWPL and female football to ensure it grew and become strong like their foreign counterpart

``Why do you think countries like U.S.A, Sweden and Brazil are strong in the world today? It is because they invest in their female teams," she said.

 

Continue ReadingNkwocha Says Negligence Killing Female Football