Former Military President Of Nigeria Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda Covers Vanguard Allure

 Today, Sunday, 28^th April 2013 edition of Vanguard Allure, one of Nigeria’s most popular glossy insert magazine sees Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda (Rtd) on the cover.

In the exclusive interview, the “Maradonna” or “Evil Genius” as he is popularly referred as talks about his late wife Maryam, lessons from life and leadership.

JAMB: 1.2m may not gain admission –Minister

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufa’I, yesterday said out of 1.7 million students that sat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), 1.2 million may not be able to gain admission to universities of their choice.

The minister who stated this during an inspection of students that sat for the examination in Abuja said the space that is available is barely 520,000 for federal, states and private institutions in the entire nation

Why I left my husband in Switzerland’-Jennifer Eliogu

Jennifer Eliogu is one of the growing numbers of Nollywood stars who are engaged in inter-continental marriages.

“As I told you – my husband is based in Switzerland, and after some years there, we reached the painful but practical decision that I should move back to Nigeria to continue my career in acting. I do not have problems with an inter-continental marriage, but in my own case, I did not want to be a full time house wife.

“My husband is very comfortable with my decision, and it has not affected our marriage in any way. Yes, as with most marriages, we have had our fair share of challenges, but overall, my husband is the best man I could ever aspire to have and seven years after we got married, the flame of passion remains the same.”

Nigerian Student Provides A Way To Track NEPA Failure And How To Get Free Electricity

MIT grad student Chidube Ezeozue devotes energy to his fellow Nigerians.

“Electrical outages are a huge problem in Nigeria,” says Ezeozue, who is pursuing dual master’s degrees in MIT’s Technology and Policy Program and in electrical engineering and computer science. “The outages really interrupt everyday life.”

Nigeria’s supply of electricity is severely limited, resulting in rolling outages: Power is cut off every few hours and redirected to neighborhoods that were previously in the dark. While Nigerians know to expect these power cuts, they rarely know when the outages will happen, or how long they will last.

Since his admission to MIT in 2011, Ezeozue — who received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Nigeria in 2008, followed by three years of work at a software startup — has created an app, with his brother, that crowdsources information about Nigerian power outages. With the app, called NepaSituation, people living in Nigeria can report outages. This data, when merged into an algorithm developed by Ezeozue, can help Nigerians predict when power outages may strike their neighborhoods, and how long those outages might last.

“With over 100 million cell phones in Nigeria, we knew it was an important resource we could tap into,” Ezeozue says. “It took a while to come up with this algorithm, because the outages are pretty randomized, and the app is only as good as the number of people who enter outage data.”

But Ezeozue has delved into more than just tracking the problem: He is also working to address Nigeria’s chronic energy shortage.

“I started a company that is working to provide solar electricity to businesses and families at zero upfront cost,” Ezeozue says. The company, SolarKobo, was recently funded by a seed grant from MIT’s Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship, where Ezeozue is a fellow.

“Nigeria has plenty of solar energy available … for as low as $25 a month, we can make this resource available to those who are interested,” Ezeozue adds.

When he is not working toward the betterment of his homeland, Ezeozue researches machine learning and prediction algorithms in the research group of Una-May O’Reilly, a principal research scientist in MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

What Is Wrong With This Toni Tones

2014 Corvette Stingray to Cost $2,395 More Than Its Predecessor

According to Mashable.com, the 2014 Corvette Stingray debuted in January, but among all the impressive stats and glossy pictures was one crucial missing piece of information: its price. On Friday, Chevrolet solved that riddle, saying that the revamped sports coupe will sell for a base price of $51,995 when it's available this fall.

Until now, Chevrolet would only say the price of the 2014 Corvette would be affordable for anyone who's able to buy the current model. But given the impressive upgrades for the upcoming 2014 Corvette Stingray, few aficionados believed that its higher-quality interior, aluminum structure, extra 20 horsepower (comparing 430 hp of the base 2013 Corvette vs. 450 hp for the 2014 model), and other upgrades would result in a vehicle for the same price as its predecessor.

I Caught My Father In Bed With My Wife

I caught my father in bed with my less than a year old wife.

Ironically this happened a day after she told me that she was carrying my baby. The strange thing is that my father and wife are behaving as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. My father simply got up from my matrimonial bed and ordered me to follow him.

In my living room, he gave me a cheque of N25m to buy myself a car of my choice while my wife went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. The whole thing appeared to be like a movie as I looked from my father to my wife. A presence more powerful than me held me down, preventing me from going after either my father or wife.

Late Dagrin’s mother broke

It’s three years Oladapo Olaonipekun popularly known as Dagrin died in an auto crash. Saturday Beats gathered that three years down the line, the mother of the late rap artiste, Falilat Olaonipekun, is broke. A Blackberry message made the rounds during the week, soliciting for support for the deceased’s mother.

The message stated that as Dagrin was being remembered by fans, his mother should also be put into consideration. The message read, “DAGRIN is ALIVE. Yes in our hearts, he is evergreen. It has been three years since our loving Dagrin passed on to rest in the Lord! Show Dagrin’s mum some love, drop your widow’s mite in her Acct- First Bank branch Acct- 3046543524 Olaonipekun Oluwakemi Falilat.”

The Top 10 BILLIONAIRES That Dropped Out Of School

Our parents encourage us to finish schooling so we could have a better life in the future. This has been the pattern of heritage being passed on from generation to generation. There is no doubt that studying would help everyone to fight illiteracy, and achieve the kind of life that everyone dreams. However, according to history, there are people who never finished any degree, and even skipped classes just because they have other things that they want to pursue in life. Who would have thought that these people would one day exceed not just comfortable life, but would even be part of the top 10 school dropout billionaires in the world? Get to know the path, struggles, and success that they trudged in order to reach the state of being known, popular, and enjoying the abundance of life.

Dance Queen Kaffy: My Mum Encouraged Me To Go Into Prostitution

Kaffy the dance queen is not moved whether she's loved or not, neither is she going to deny it that, she was once encouraged into prostitution by her mother. When they say wonders shall never end, some people may not readily understand until they hear some life testimonies that leave the mouth agape, such is the candid disclosure of popular dancer and musician Kafayat popularly known as Kaffy.

She dropped the bombshell about how her mother nearly made her go into prostitution so as to make ends meet. The talented dancer revealed this while she was addressing a group of youths at a programme held not too long ago.

DANA Airline Introduces Mobile Check-in Device For Passengers

The management of DANA Airline on Friday said that it had introduced mobile check-in device for passengers, which was first of its kind in the aviation industry in Nigeria.

Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, Head of Commercial of the airline, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that the new device could issue boarding passes to passengers before they reach the check-in counter.

``With this recent launch, DANA has become the first airline in Nigeria to use this solution.

What will you do if you were the bride

She still want more of him before his gone.

15-Year-Old Boy Stabs Fellow Schoolmate To Death

A 15-year old boy has been charged with the murder of a teenager stabbed to death on a bus.

Derek Boateng, 16, was attacked in broad daylight on the 393 bus in Highbury New Park, north London, at around 3pm on Tuesday.

He was airlifted to hospital but died yesterday.

A police spokesman said: ‘The 15-year-old boy from Havering will appear in custody at Highbury Corner Youth Court accused of the murder of 16-year-old Derek Boateng.’

Police say Boateng, who has three older sisters, was attacked following a row with another teenager. It was the fifth stabbing of a teenager in London in the past four days.

Ladies, See The Dangers Of Fixing Weaves

Dear Naija ladies, this could be you many years from now if you keep fixing them weaves. 

So think about it.

Banky W, Former US Presidents To Speak At Oxford University Conference

R&B singer Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W has been selected as one of the distinguished speakers at this year’s edition of the Oxford University Pan Africa.

He will represent Nigeria once again at the annual Pan African Conference which will hold on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the Oxford Union in Oxford, London.

Others included to speak at the conference are former US Presidents, Reagan, Nixon and Carter, Malcolm X, Mother Theresa, The Dalai Lama, David Cameron, Senator John McCain among others.

The Oxford University Pan African Conference since its inception has been the foremost gathering of African students in the United Kingdom.

Nigeria spends N41b on champagne annually

Nigeria spends an average of N41.41 billion on champagne yearly and is rated as the second fastest growing market in the world for champagne.

In a research conducted by Euromonitor International, between 2006 and 2011, Nigeria achieved a compound annual growth of 22 percent in champagne consumption.
Total champagne consumption reached 752,879 bottles (75cl) in 2011, higher than consumption in Russia and Mexico; therefore, placing Nigeria among the top 20 champagne markets in the world.

I left Catholic because the problems in Africa require more spiritual fervency – Tinsel Star, Victor Olaotan

I left Catholic because the problems in Africa require more spiritual fervency-Tinsel Star, Victor Olaotan

All roads led to Troy Lounge Ogba as V-Channel, an entertainment cable channel on Star times (Channel 221), hosted ace actor, Victor Olaotan at its bi-weekly ‘V-Night Out’ party.

The event which started with red carpet by 10pm, was a fun-filled atmosphere as guests and fans alike, trooped in to have a wonderful time with the respected Nollywood sta. It was a night of excitement and merrymaking.

Ini Edo’s Marriage In Trouble

According to Global News magazine; in a typical African society like ours, there are certain norms and behaviour expected of married women, and there are those looked upon as taboos especially when the women are not in company of their husbands.

It is therefore surprising that more than three years after she tied the knot, Ini Edo Ehiagwina is still of the belief that she is still that explosive single lady.

These days, Ini Edo has been caught behaving more irresponsibly than when she was still a spinster. The plump dark-skinned actress who got married to Philip Ehiagwina, a US-based Nigerian divorcee has not come to terms three years into her marriage that she’s actually married, as she has at several times be sighted very odd hours at clubs in drunken state.

Fathia Balogun’s Sister, Grace In A Show Of Shame!

It was recently reported that the younger sister of the Yoruba top actress and producer, Fathia Balogun, Grace, had more than what she bargained for when two lovers fought like tigers over her.

As the story goes, Grace, we learnt, was at an event where she had her two lovers present. She was dancing with one when the other called for her attention. The two socialites, we were informed, challenged each other in a free for all fight as their aides started exchanging all kinds of weapons to fight for their lover, Grace’s attention.

But for the rapid intervention of OP MESA anti-crime squad, the fight would have recorded death; it only left many people seriously wounded.

Nollywood Actress Stella Damasus Clocks 35

Happy birthday!

New $100 Bill to Debut in U.S. This October

The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that a new U.S. $100 bill — first announced back in 2010 — will debut on Oct. 8, 2013.

This is only the fourth time in U.S. history that the $100 bill has been redesigned.

Originally, the bill was supposed to appear in 2011, but production delays held the new currency back. What makes the new bill so special? According to the Federal Reserve, it is more secure and should be much harder to counterfeit, thanks to a 3D security ribbon and other features.

MTN vs ETISALAT: Who really Ported our Saka? The man who created the character speaks

Well, as a Professional, I wouldn’t want to respond to the Saka menace going on in town but then I keep getting emails upon emails from students, clients, fans and friends. People keep asking me several questions; why on earth did Saka port?

Relatedly, I went for a Strategic meeting with the Executive Board Members of a renowned bank, and the story came up again. In fact, they played the commercial and applauded the sheer brilliance of MTN. I actually heard one of the Excos saying ‘I’m going to port immediately.’ So I asked them: what worked for you in the commercial? Majority of them said ‘we just love this Saka man’
There’s nothing as powerful as that cultural connection and that humanness factor we display as brands. As I watch from a distance the recent Saka phenomenon I can only bow to this timeless advertising principle. Culture eats Strategy for breakfast. Hats off.

King 2face covers Bubbles Magazine

 

Wow! This is beautiful.

"I'm the female version of my dad" - Dominique Oputa says

Dominique Oputa is the last child of the areafada himself, Charly Boy. She currently lives in Atlanta where she's studying Fashion and Design in the University of Arts Institute. Her dream is to become a famous designer some day. Like her famous dad, Dominique has tattoos and piercings and is very fearless. In this interview with New Wave Productions, she talks about her life in the US, her father and his influence in her life.

Are you happy to be home; would you settle in Nigeria or you would finally settle abroad?

This will always be home for me, at least, it’s comforting to know one is with family, and I am glad to be home. I missed home, mum and dad. Things may not be what it should be, but home is it. There were too many things I took for granted before I left, but now I know better. When I’m done with schooling, I will be back home, to do my own thing too, even though, the weather is killing me right now”.