Stephanie Linus Appointed As Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA in Africa

Nollywood diva, Stephanie Linus  has been appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal Health in West and Central Africa by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on United Nations' International Women's Day, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

The event attracted both the local and international news media organizations, including the BBC and Reuters. Notable Nollywood actors, producers and directors, including Bond Emeruwa, Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey, Yemi Blaq, Femi Branch, Gabriel Afolayan and other VIPs were at the event.

Be Bold for Change: Invest More in Young People and Women

Be Bold for Change: Invest More in Young People and Women

~ By Mabingue Ngom, Director for West and Central Africa Region, United Nations Population Fund .

To ‘be bold for change’ Governments must take the bold step to put money in smart investments. Two of the smartest investments for Africa are investing in young people and in maternal health.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, Be Bold for Change, echoes the need for bold action to accelerate gender parity, eliminate maternal mortality and invest in young people especially young women and girls. Taking bold action requires setting the right priorities, ensuring equitable distribution, and avoiding the costly mistakes of the past. Therefore the most important question is ‘where do we put our money, time and resources to get the maximum return?’

Nigeria: Corruption Has Changed Hands

When the "CHANGE" political mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC) attracted majority of Nigerian voters and secured the mandate of the electorate in the 2015 presidential election, Nigerians expected the new national ruling party to change the  corrupt system of government of the former national ruling party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) after misruling Nigeria for 16 years with the institutionalization  of corruption. But many of them seem to be disappointed by the shortcomings of the new administration of the government under President Muhammadu Buhari. He is the most fearless Nigerian Head of State to fight corruption since when he was a military Head of State from December 31, 1983 – August 27,  1985.  And his anti-corruption policy made the corrupt ruling class not to support his previous presidential campaigns and he was defeated in the presidential elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011. Then in December 2014, he became the presidential candidate of the APC after he compromised his rigid principles as an anti-corruption crusader and the powerful leaders of the political ruling class supported him to win the presidential election of 28–29 March, 2015, by defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan; the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate in a general election.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Prof. Wole Soyinka and Populism

Retired general, Chief Olúṣẹ́gun Mathew Okikiọ́la Aremu  Ọbásanjọ́ , GCFR, is the first Nigerian leader to become twice Head of State of Nigeria; first as a military Head of State from February 13, 1976 – September 30,  1979 and later as democratically elected civilian Head of State and 12th President of Nigeria from May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007.

Chief Ọbásanjọ́ and the famous Professor Wole Soyinka, first black man to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 are from the same Ogun State in south western Nigeria, but Soyinka has never hidden his aversion to the personality of Ọbásanjọ́.
The following is the opinion of Ọbásanjọ́ on Soyinka during a press interview for his 80th birthday to be celebrated tomorrow, March 5.

When you aspired to be United Nations Secretary General, Wole Soyinka kicked against it. But you don’t seem to have forgiven him?

You’re absolutely wrong. I don’t hold a grudge. Wole Soyinka is not God. And I don’t believe there’s any human being that is absolutely right. Wole Soyinka has what I believe he has. He’s a gifted person in his own way. But Wole Soyinka is not an oracle. I will not accept Wole Soyinka making cathedral statement on everything. I don’t believe that anybody could do that. So it’s not a question of forgiveness. When Wole Soyinka does what I believe is right, I will commend him. When he says what I believe is not right…Wole Soyinka is a populist and I don’t believe in populism.

A Pastor and Apologist of the President of a Satanic Government

A man who claims to be a pastor is the shameless apologist of a former President who turned the State House into a rendezvous for cultists and demonic embezzlers of public funds who hid their stolen millions of dollars and jewelries in caskets. ceilings, pits and other strange places in Nigeria.  They turned the country into a banana republic of bandits and cultists who looted the nation, murdered innocent people and caused the deaths of more than 20, 000 Nigerians, including children and women murdered by the Boko Haram  that would have been defeated if the former President and his gang of corrupt public officials and their partners in crime did not  misappropriate the federal revenue allocations for national security during the most corrupt and incompetent government in the history of Nigeria since independence from British colonial rule.

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima, author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Testimony on the 2015 Presidential Election".
Click here to get the book on Lulu. Click here to get the book on Amazon.

Real Relief Launches Lifeshelter, a New and Innovative Low Cost Housing Solution

Real Relief Launches Lifeshelter®, a New and Innovative Low Cost Housing Solution

/PRNewswire/ -- Real Relief announced today the launch of Lifeshelter® , a unique shelter and rehousing solution based on an innovative concept that is ideal for rapid temporary rehousing in emergency situations , as well as being re - purposed for permanent housing . Lifeshelter® is a durable , modular , cost effective and reusable rehousing solution that meets a wide variety of shelter needs . Utilizing advanced technology , designed by Danish company EverShelter ApS , Real Relief will market , manufacture and sell Lifeshelter® worldwide .

Mean-Spirited or Careless? Regardless of Intention, ’Retarded’ Remains a Common Insult

Mean-Spirited or Careless? Regardless of Intention, "Retarded" Remains a Common Insult Heard Among Adults and Teens
4 in 10 adults feel there is nothing wrong with using "the R-word" to describe a thing or situation

NEW YORK, March 1, 2017  /PRNewswire/ -- The word "retarded" remains an ever-present, however unfortunate, expression in the everyday dialogue of Americans. What was once used as a non-derogatory term to describe someone with an intellectual disability or other developmental delay, has since become an insult, used to show contempt for another person, object, or situation. Whether its usage is malicious or merely careless, the offensive term's prevalence in Americans' vocabulary has yet to wane.

From teens to adults, a vast majority of Americans say they have heard another person call someone a retard (92% of adults and 91% of teens). Further, over half of adults and nearly half of all teens have heard the derogatory phrase directed towards a person who has an intellectual disability (56% of adults and 47% of teens). The lack of sensitivity doesn't appear to end with personal affronts, however. Nearly three in ten teens and four in ten adults agree there's nothing wrong with using the word "retarded" to describe a thing or situation (27% and 38%, respectively).

Click here to read the complete report.

Two Nominees Bearing the Same Surname Will Be Going Home With Oscars Tonight

As the entertainment world celebrates the 89th Academy Awards tonight, two nominees bearing the same surname will be going home with Oscars tonight.

See more details on Who Goes Home With An Oscar Tonight?.

Morocco Has the Fourth Biggest Film Industry in Africa

Morocco's film industry ranks second to the film industry of Egypt in north Africa and also attracts many foreign filmmakers for the exotic tourist attractions which have become some of the best locations for Hollywood films. The most popular films made in Morocco include "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), "The Living Daylights" (1987), "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), "The Mummy" (1999), "Gladiator" (2000), "Kingdom of Heaven"  (2005), "Kundun" (1997), "Legionnaire" (1998), "Hanna" (2011), "Hills Have Eyes" (2006), "Babel" (2006), "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" (2011) and parts of the TV series "Game of Thrones" and "Prison Break" have been shot in Morocco.

Queen Njinga: Overlooked African Female Ruler Gets Her Due

Queen Njinga: Overlooked African Female Ruler Gets Her Due
Dr. Linda M. Heywood presents Njinga of Angola: Africa's Warrior Queen to the community

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Feb. 24, 2017  /PRNewswire/ -- Queen Njinga of Angola is one of the most powerful and brave figures in African history. Her story is often overlooked in history books, but she was one of the most multifaceted rulers in history. At a book signing yesterday at Jamestown Settlement, Dr. Linda M. Heywood, professor of African History at Brown University, discussed her book Njinga of Angola: Africa's Warrior Queen and how Queen Njinga skillfully navigated―and ultimately transcended―the ruthless, male-dominated power struggles of her time.