Wole Soyinka Emerges First Awolowo Leadership Award Recipient

Famous Nigerian writer and human rights activist Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has emerged the first recipient of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership after days of careful screening of the numerous nominees by both the selection and technical committees for the exercise.

Read the full report on The Guardian.

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Majority Of Nigerian Christians Are Empty

A typical Nigerian Christian crusade. Nigerians love to join mammoth crowds at miracle crusades. But after the crusades, they return to their cheating, lying, stealing, killing and other horrible and terrible acts of corruption and wickedness.

There cannot be true Christianity without spirituality.
That is why the Word of God said that those who must worship God, must worship HIM in Spirit and in Truth. But as can be seen, the Christianity practiced by most Nigerians is empty, because they don't worship God in Spirit and Truth.
The hypocritical eye service and lip service of the millions of church goers cannot move mountains, because they are just empty barrels making the loudest noise, but without power.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

~ Matthew 5:13 (New International Version)
 

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

~ John 4:24

Their falsehood and hypocrisy have only shown that they have no consciousness of the Holy Spirit of God which is the true essence of Jesus Christ and the spiritual power of true Christianity.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

~ Psalm 145:18

Without the Holy Spirit, a believer is empty and powerless.

The spirit of God can only manifest where there is truth.
Even when King David fell, he begged God not to take His Holy Spirit from him. Because without the Holy Spirit, a Christian is powerless and will just be swayed and tossed about in the world and can be wasted by unbelievers and the enemies of Truth.

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

~ Psalm 51:11 (New International Version)

Read the following from 2 Timothy 3 (New International Version) and you will fully understand what is happening to Christianity in Nigeria and why majority of Christians give in to corruption and wickedness.

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

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Best Jobs of 2013

Best Jobs of 2013*To see the full rankings for each of our industries, visit the following pages:
The 100 Best Jobs 
Best Business Jobs 
Best Construction Jobs 
Best Creative Jobs
Best Healthcare Jobs 
Best Social Services Jobs 
Best Technology Jobs


19 Dec 2012 15:00 Africa/Lagos

U.S. News & World Report Announces the Best Jobs of 2013 Rankings

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- All jobs aren't created equal. In fact, some are simply better than the rest. Today, U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best Jobs of 2013 rankings. The 100 occupations selected offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job security, and span across six industries: business, construction, creative, healthcare, social services, and technology. The Best Jobs rankings and career profiles will be available exclusively at usnews.com/careers.

(LOGO: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100603/PH13717LOGO)

By including rankings for the top professions, the Best Jobs of 2013 allow job seekers to better evaluate occupations that should most appeal to their needs and qualifications. A few jobs that made a showing on both the 2012 list and the new 2013 list include occupational therapist, school counselor, and civil engineer. New to the 2013 list are jobs like IT manager, dental hygienist, and market research analyst.

"To help our readers make sense of an increasingly complex job market, we're continuing to grow our rankings and data on employment opportunities," said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News. "Lining up your interests, education, and skills with what employers are looking for is a big challenge. There are good options out there, but you need good data to find them."

The jobs U.S. News  selected are some of those expected to have the greatest hiring demand from now until the year 2020, as determined by the Labor Department. Employment growth was also a factor in determining each job's overall score, as was median salary, future job prospects, unemployment rate, and the occupation's estimated stress level and work-life balance. Best Jobs of 2013  job profiles contextualize this information while also providing tips from industry leaders on the proper training to pursue, how to get hired and advance, and what type of work environment to expect.

19 Dec 2012 15:00 Africa/Lagos
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U.S. News & World Report Announces the Best Jobs of 2013 Rankings

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- All jobs aren't created equal. In fact, some are simply better than the rest. Today, U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best Jobs of 2013 rankings. The 100 occupations selected offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job security, and span across six industries: business, construction, creative, healthcare, social services, and technology. The Best Jobs rankings and career profiles will be available exclusively at usnews.com/careers.

(LOGO: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100603/PH13717LOGO)

By including rankings for the top professions, the Best Jobs of 2013 allow job seekers to better evaluate occupations that should most appeal to their needs and qualifications. A few jobs that made a showing on both the 2012 list and the new 2013 list include occupational therapist, school counselor, and civil engineer. New to the 2013 list are jobs like IT manager, dental hygienist, and market research analyst.

"To help our readers make sense of an increasingly complex job market, we're continuing to grow our rankings and data on employment opportunities," said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News. "Lining up your interests, education, and skills with what employers are looking for is a big challenge. There are good options out there, but you need good data to find them."

The jobs U.S. News  selected are some of those expected to have the greatest hiring demand from now until the year 2020, as determined by the Labor Department. Employment growth was also a factor in determining each job's overall score, as was median salary, future job prospects, unemployment rate, and the occupation's estimated stress level and work-life balance. Best Jobs of 2013  job profiles contextualize this information while also providing tips from industry leaders on the proper training to pursue, how to get hired and advance, and what type of work environment to expect.

For more information on the Best Jobs of 2013 rankings, as well as a wealth of job-search and career advice, please visit http://www.usnews.com/careers or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a multi-platform, digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. U.S. News & World Report's signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report

CONTACT: Alexi Turbow, Careers-PR@usnews.com, +1-202-955-2155

Web Site: http://www.usnews.com

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Biafra Was Not A Country, But A Suicidal Mission

Source: Uploaded by user via Re-Branding Nigeria on Pinterest

I have read several reactions to Chinua Achebe's controversial memoir There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra and said that the great Nigerian writer is entitled to his own pains and tears and so is every living victim of that suicidal mission called Biafra. My memories of the nightmares of the Nigerian civil war are well illustrated in my Memories of A Refugee Child included in my true life confessions Diary of the Memory Keeper published on Amazon Kindle Fire.

The worst victims of that war were the innocent children and their mothers. And they were more in the figures of over 1,000,000 military and civilian casualties of Biafra. There were survivors, but there were no victors, because we all lost more than what caused the war; the massacres of the Igbos in the northern regions of Nigeria and even though the civil war officially ended on January 15, 1970, after two years, six months, one week and two days of the worst conflict in Africa since World War Two, Igbos are still being attacked and murdered in the northern states till date.

It is a waste of time to wrestle with the ghosts of the past by digging up the skeletons of the dead. As we say in Igbo, "Nkiruka", meaning the future is greater and the sooner we face the dawn of a new day, the better and stronger we would be in the nation building of a New Nigeria for our mutual benefit. God bless Nigeria.

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Obama is 2012 TIME Person of the Year

Source: Uploaded by user via Re-Branding Nigeria on Pinterest

19 Dec 2012 14:51 Africa/Lagos

The 2012 TIME Person of the Year: President Barack Obama
Plus: Exclusive Interviews with Obama, Tim Cook and Mohamed Morsi

NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TIME names President Barack Obama the 2012 TIME Person of the Year. In an exclusive interview with TIME, Obama discusses the economy, his reelection and legacy. Plus, TIME has the first look at four official White House photos, including one of Obama writing his Newtown speech while watching Sasha Obama's ballet rehearsal this past Sunday. TIME also shot exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and a rare portrait of the President. Read the stories and see the photos, cover and videos now on TIME.com and tablet and on newsstands Friday, December 21.

www.time.com/poy . #poy2012

For the sixth year in a row, TIME names a Person of the Year shortlist — No. 2 Malala Yousafzai, No. 3 Tim Cook, No. 4 Mohamed Morsi, No. 5 Fabiola Gianotti — each of which will be featured for the first time on four additional covers inside the magazine. Plus, this year's TIME Person of the Year cover features a silver border — only the fourth cover in TIME's 89-year history without the trademark red border.

See the cover: http://ti.me/HKI7
See White House photos: http://ti.me/WGrIiF
See TIME's exclusive behind-the-scenes photos : http://ti.me/TypMYf

EDITOR RICK STENGEL ON TIME'S SELECTION OF OBAMA AS TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR: " We are in the midst of historic cultural and demographic changes, and Obama is both the symbol and in some ways the architect of this new America…. For finding and forging a new majority, for turning weakness into opportunity and for seeking, amidst great adversity, to create a more perfect union, Barack Obama is Time 's Person of the Year 2012."

http://ti.me/WnJers

TIME EXCLUSIVE: OBAMA TELLS TIME OF HIS RE-ELECTION, "2012 may have been more satisfying a win than 2008…. I think it was easy to think that maybe 2008 was the anomaly, and I think 2012 was an indication that no, this is not an anomaly."

On a new Obama-era coalition: "For all the divisions that you read about in our politics -- and many of them are real and powerful -- the truth is, is that we have steadily become a more diverse and tolerant country that embraces people's differences, and respects people who are not like us. And that's a profoundly good thing."

The December 31, 2012 Person of the Year issue of TIME goes on sale on Friday, December 21.

SOURCE TIME

CONTACT: TIME PR Hotline, +1-212-522-4800

Web Site: http://www.time.com

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Punch Reporter Stopped From Filing on Gov. Sullivan Chime's Health

Enugu state governor Sullivan Chime.

19 Dec 2012 04:00 Africa/Lagos

Nigerian reporter stopped from filing on governor's health

NEW YORK, December 19, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- State security agents in Southeast Nigeria blocked a reporter from filing a story Saturday evening about the status of a governor who hasn't been seen for several months. The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned this act of crude censorship.

At about 11:30 p.m. local time Saturday, seven plainclothes men accosted Ozioma Ubabukoh, a reporter with private media group Punch Newspapers, at the entrance of his home in Trans-Ekulu in the southeastern state of Enugu, according to local journalists and news reports. Ubabukoh told CPJ the men identified themselves as agents of Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS) and seized his telephone before ordering him to take them into his home. Two of the men threatened to "rough him up" if he didn't cooperate, Ubabukoh said.

The agents confiscated and searched his laptop and ransacked his home, according to Ubabukoh. They told him their mission was to prevent him filing a story about Enugu state Gov. Sullivan Chime, who has not been seen publicly for three months. Other publications reported Saturday, without citing sources, that Chime had died in India. Ubabukoh had previously written articles on Chime's ill health, including one published October 14 which brought the situation to public attention. State commissioner of information Chuks Ugwoke dismissed that story as "outright falsehood" and claimed the governor was on vacation, but he has still not been seen publicly.

At about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, the agents told the journalist to retrieve his laptop and phone from under his car, Ubabukoh said.

"State security agents have no business censoring news coverage, and they certainly have no right to use force and intimidation against a reporter doing his job," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita from New York. "Nigerian officials should publicly repudiate this crude effort to keep an important story from citizens."

Ugwoke did not respond to CPJ's requests for comment, while SSS spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar declined to comment.

Christopher Isiguzo, vice president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists' southeast zone, told CPJ the union would file a petition with the Police and State Security Service over Ubabukoh's case.

Ubabukoh had also reported that police officers attached to Gov. Chime's wife attacked and threatened to shoot Mike Agada, a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria, on October 26 as he tried to take pictures at a funeral ceremony she attended.

Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)


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Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
19 Dec 2012
06:18	WCC and RABIIT express sadness over the death of Kaduna's governor
06:01	Busy 2012 for American Red Cross with 113 Large Disaster Responses in 42 States
04:00	Nigerian reporter stopped from filing on governor's health
03:40	Africa: Global Counterterrorism: A Progress Report

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK TO READ THIS SEASON:

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Beware of Fake and Evil People on Facebook

You cannot love God if you cannot love your brother or sister. God himself said so.

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

~1 John 4:20, Holy Bible (New International Version)
 

Moreover, it is evil to conceal evil and worse to conceal an evil doer.
When we expose evil and evil doers, we are warning others of the dangers these evil doers can cause. And the sooner we get rid of evil doers who refuse to repent the better, healthier, richer and safer we would be. As our Messiah Jesus Christ warned us: By their fruits you shall know them. (Matthew 7:16, Holy Bible).
Actions speak louder than words.
Beware of the wolves in sheep clothing among us, even on Facebook.

The dishonest, hypocritical liars, greedy and wicked Nigerians who come on Facebook posing and posturing as good people, but plan and plot how to cheat, lie and steal and even kill others. Do not BEFRIEND anyone on FACEBOOK until you find out and verify the way they live and what they do in their homes and where they work.

Save yourself from these evil, greedy and wicked wolves among us before it is too late.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

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The Top 6 Most Popular Actresses in Nollywood

1. Genevieve Nnaji remains the numero uno, the number one most popular Nollywood actress.

The pie chart below shows the top six most popular actresses in Nollywood according to a 2012 survey conducted by NOI Polls to show firsthand the perception of the Nigerian public towards this industry. Results from the snap poll indicate that Nollywood films are very popular among Nigerians since 98% of the respondents surveyed acknowledged that they watch them. Results also show that comedy (40%) and drama (39%) are the most preferred genres of film in Nigeria followed by romance (14%). The major factor that attracts people to watch certain films is the Actor/Actress involved. This clearly shows that casting the right actor/actress in a Nollywood is a key success factor. Even though the majority (48%) rate Nigerian films as good, the majority also agree that the main area films have to improve on is their storyline.

2. Mercy Johnson Ozioma.

3.Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde.

4. Funke Akindele-Almaroof Oloyede.

5. Ini Edo-Ehiagwina.

6.Patience Ozokwor.

Source: Uploaded by user via Re-Branding Nigeria on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Re-Branding Nigeria on Pinterest

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Champions of Our Time DVD Selling Fast in Nigeria

The much awaited DVD of the multiple awards winning Nigerian movie Champions of Our Time is already selling at several outlets in Lagos and other cities.

Champions of Our Time tells the extraordinary story of two exceptionally brilliant young girls from opposing ends of the social spectrum. They both nurse ambitions of becoming the next winner of the prestigious St. Flairs Foundation Quiz Competition. However, their quest unravels a web of intrigue, high-stakes politicking, corruption in high places, and a culture of neglect and discrimination against the physically challenged amongst us. Suspense-wrapped scenes in the movie showed how far the players went to achieve their dreams in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

The screenplay was written by the award winning screenwriter Chidi Nwokeabia and directed by award winning filmmaker Mak Kusare and Charles Inojie

The movie is a production of Macnuel Productions Limited in Nigeria and starring top Nollywood stars Segun Arinze, Joke Silva-Jacob, Ngozi Ezeonu, Ejike Asiegbu, Ayo Adesanya, Charles Inojie, (introducing) Treasure Obasi and Feyisola Ewulomi, Paul Adams, Ejike Metu and others.

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Cars.com Announces "Best Of 2013" Award Nominees

17 Dec 2012 15:00 Africa/Lagos

Cars.com Announces "Best Of 2013" Award Nominees

CHICAGO, Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com, the premier online resource for buying and selling new and used vehicles, today announced its editors' nominees for the site's highest honor, the "Best Of 2013" Award. Nominees include the BMW 3-Series, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Ram 1500, Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ and the Toyota Prius.

"Each year, automakers roll out upwards of 70 brand-new or redesigned cars," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's Editor-in-Chief. "From those, we choose the very best new or fully-redesigned cars that represent change, innovation, forward thinking and a breath of fresh air."

Cars.com's editors' "Best of 2013" finalists include (in alphabetical order):

Best of 2013 Award Nominee

2013 BMW 328

Best New Luxury Sedan: It seems every time BMW updates its venerable 3 Series, auto publications laud it as the "best ever."

Best of 2013 Award Nominee

2013 Honda Accord

Best New Midsize Sedan: The 2013 Honda Accord might best the best redesign of the midsize sedan segment.

Best of 2013 Award Nominee

2013 Honda CR-V

Best New SUV: The carmaker's crossover has long been lauded as a benchmark and its redesign solidifies its status.

Best of 2013 Award Nominee

2013 RAM 1500

Best New Pickup: This new 1500 is that it now offers class-leading fuel economy, a segment-exclusive 8-speed transmission.

Best of 2013 Award Nominee

2013 Scion FR-S

Best New Sports Car: The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ provide a driving experience that's tragically rare nowadays.

Best of 2013 Award Nominee

2013 Subaru BRZ

Best New Sports Car: The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ provide a driving experience that's tragically rare nowadays.

Best of 2013 Award Nominee

2013 Toyota Prius c

Best New Hybrid: The Prius c ups the ante with an EPA-estimated 50 mpg in combined driving at about $5,000 less than its Prius sibling.

"There is no shortage of great cars on the market these days," said Olsen. "However, these seven cars, representing a variety of segments, buyers and lifestyles are what we consider to be the best of the best. Car shoppers can be assured that a Cars.com award nominee has our highest seal of approval and is a worthy investment."

For more information on Cars.com's Best of 2013 Awards and Lifestyle Awards, visit www.cars.com/awards. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2013 at the Cars.com Award Gala during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. To find these cars or any other car at your local dealer, click here.

ABOUT CARS.COM

Cars.com is an award-winning online destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. Cars.com offers thousands of new and used vehicle listings, consumer reviews, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and many other tools. Cars.com put millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including A.H. Belo (NYSE: AHC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

SOURCE Cars.com

CONTACT: Ethan Hertzberg, 312.601.5685

Web Site: http://www.cars.com

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17 Dec 2012
16:32	Oando Energy Resources Announces Appointment to Board of Directors
14:30	Cheniere and Total Sign 20-Year LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement for LNG Exports from Sabine Pass
13:00	Reporte de Rabobank: México, Brasil, Polonia, Nigeria son mercados con alto potencial de crecimiento para el vino, al igual que China y Corea del Sur.
09:22	Un nuevo informe señala una ralentización de la lucha contra el paludismo
05:02	UK Minister for Africa offers condolences on Nigerian helicopter accident.
04:54	Nigeria: Ground-breaking ECOWAS Court judgment orders government to punish oil companies over pollution
04:52	Nigeria: Ground-breaking ECOWAS Court judgment orders government to punish oil companies over pollution
04:07	REUNION A ABIDJAN SUR LA SECURITE MARITIME DANS LE GOLFE DE GUINEE

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