Robbers on the rampage on Lagos Island, kill two

Different gangs of armed robbers operating on motorcycles on Wednesday caused a stampede on Lagos Island as they went on the rampage in some areas.


Photo file
Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro
Two persons, whose identities could not be ascertained as at press time, were reportedly shot dead by the robbers.

The confusion forced many banks, especially on Victoria Island to beef up security around their premises, while some others hurriedly closed to customers.

One of the victims was reportedly killed by the robbers near the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, while the other was killed close to some banks on Victoria Island.

The intervention of mobile policemen attached to Police Mobile Force 2, Keffi, led by Mr. Patrick Ejedawe, a superintendent of police, later led to the arrest of two of the robbers.

One of the suspects, who identified himself as Ifeanyi George, was paraded before journalists while drenched in blood at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, shortly after he was arrested.

Amidst groaning and requesting for water, George told journalists that he was operating on motorcycle with one Sherriff.

One of the victims of the robbers‘ raid, Bolarinwa Segun, said he was robbed of N410,000 in front of a bank located on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, shortly after he withdrew the money.

He said, ”I have been to some banks where I was turned back. They said they were not attending to customers because of robbers. I later found one (bank) that opened to customers at Akin Adesola.

“I withdrew the money and kept it inside an envelope before putting it inside a polythene bag.

”Immediately I stepped out of the bank, a guy ran towards me with a pistol and snatched the money from me. He quickly mounted a waiting motorcycle and ran away. Some commercial motorcyclists who witnessed the scene from a safe distance mobilised and pursued them.

“Mobile policemen around Falomo joined in the chase towards Onikan roundabout before they veered towards MUSON Centre where they had a collision with a Toyota Corolla car.

“A mobile policeman shot one of them but the rider escaped. They recovered some of the money.”

The robbers, THE PUNCH learnt, stationed themselves at different spots close to the bank premises with the aim of robbing unsuspecting customers.

A top police source told our correspondent that policemen initially had difficulty in arresting the suspects because they (the policemen) did not want innocent citizens to be killed in the process.

Another Booted from Top Model's Body Beautiful

And now there are seven, bringing the collective weight of the remaining America's Next Top Model contestants down by at least 30 pounds.
Find out whose award-show-faux-pas picture was not in Tyra Banks' hands at the end of tonight's episode…
Unfortunately, Lauren Brie Harding didn't just turn blonder this season—she got blander, too.
Targeted for her waning personality and mannequin-like presence, the 20-year-old student from Virginia (second from right) became the latest aspiring catwalker to be eliminated from ANTM.
Tyra & Co. spotlighted Lauren "It's just me" Brie's inability to convey any emotion in recent weeks during photo shoots and, despite the fact her I've-fallen-and-I-can't-get-up Fiercy Awards pic showed a beautiful girl, the judges started attributing L.B.'s success to the hair-and-makeup guys instead.
Almost run out of town, meanwhile, was Sheena Sakai, who's been slipping in the judges' eyes from week to week. (They obviously don't care that, so far, she's the nicest girl in the house.)
The buxom Harlem resident is a good-tempered, willing listener—and she promptly toned down the hooch appeal when Tyra asked her to—but she let her eyes get away from her tonight in her someone's-stepping-on-my-dress photo.
On a more promising note, Marjorie Conrad's nerves got the best of everyone else for a change. The wide-eyed fille won tonight's pose-off challenge—utilizing her bird-like limbs to evoke a starving French girl a more appealing Hunchback of Notre Dame—and was rewarded with an $8,700 diamond pendant from Rafinity, a prize she shared with Analeigh Tipton, who picked out a $3,200 peace sign necklace from the L.A. jeweler.
The oft terrified-looking Marjorie also kicked butt when she took to a bathroom stall to pose as an award show attendee who had to pee but couldn't quite maneuver out of her full-length gown.
Another favorite from the photo shoot, despite not being able to zero in on a "signature pose," was Analeigh. The adorable Sacramento, Calif., native fully embodied the role of bitchy interviewer and she finally got Paulina Porizkova to admit that the girl is model material.
Also still in the running to go abroad in two weeks, not to mention become America's Next Top Model, are Joslyn Pennywell, who recaptured some of that early-cycle magic in her someone's-wearing-my-dress photo; boxing enthusiast McKey Sullivan; runway flasher Samantha Potter; and control queen Elina Ivanova, who cried for goodness sake and still couldn't sell emotion in her film.
So, are you surprised that Lauren Brie took a bow this early in the competition? Who should walk the runway plank next week? Was Tyra really known that much for her fierce stare back in the day? They walked the walk, now you talk the talk...

NIGERIA SAFE FROM GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS - WORLD BANK

Following wide spread fears of the global financial crisis presently distressing many of world’s large economies, the World Bank has at last assured that the effect, after all, may not impact negatively on the Nigerian economy. The assurance is coming barely one month after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had similarly, during its latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting envisaged a minimal impact of the global financial turmoil on the Nigerian economy, owing basically to what it referred to as very strong macro-economic fundamentals. But the World Bank believes that with the Nigerian banking system not having significant foreign ownership, especially in the United States, for instance, it stands the least chance of experiencing the current turbulent situation of the U.S. banking system. Presently, Nigeria and South Africa which have the largest economies in Africa have foreign ownership share of just less than five percent compared with a developing country average of about 40 percent. Secondly, the World Bank believes that even if the present financial market turmoil results to a global recession, for oil exporters like Nigeria whose reference budget price is below $70, a drop in oil price would not be as damaging as in the past episodes. Again, the Bank envisages there could be a ‘cut-back’ in foreign capital inflows into the African region which could seriously affect growth and poverty but with Nigeria’s current Aid assistance from donors standing at about only one percent of its budget, such low inflows might not really affect the country’s economy. At a Video Conference organised by the Bank to brief the African press and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on crucial global and regional issues in preparation for it’s up-coming Annual Meetings in Washington Mid-October yesterday, Shanta Devarajan, World Bank’s Chief Economist expressed these views but warned that caution should be taken in formulating and implementing policies to avoid impact of the financial crisis on the Nigerian economy. BusinessDay, p.4

Study: More employees checking work e-mail in off hours

NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Soto, general manager of an advertising firm in Philadelphia, has a complicated relationship with his BlackBerry e-mail phone.


A new study found that 22 percent of U.S. workers said they check office e-mail "often" on weekends.

He felt "awful" and out of touch when he was without a BlackBerry for two days because his unit fell overboard when he was sailing on the Chesapeake.

At the same time, if he could turn back the clock five years, to before the BlackBerry took over corporate America, he would do it "in a minute."

"If everybody also threw their BlackBerrys away, I would too," he said, chuckling. "The only problem is, in my industry, it makes me more competitive."

A study published Wednesday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that workers in general have mixed feelings about the increased use of e-mail and the Internet in the last few years.

In a survey of 2,134 adults in March and April, 96 percent used e-mail, the Internet or cell phones. Of them, 80 percent said these technologies have improved their ability to do their jobs, and 58 percent said these tools have given them more control over when to work.
But 46 percent also said these devices increase the demands that they work more hours, and 49 percent said that the technologies make it harder to disconnect from work when they should be off.

Half of the respondents who were employed and had e-mail said they check their work e-mail on weekends, and a full 22 percent said they checked office e-mail "often" on the weekends, up from 16 percent who said the same thing in 2002.

Much of the increase can be attributed to increased use of wireless e-mail devices like the BlackBerry, made by Research in Motion Ltd. Of those who have such gadgets, 40 percent say they often check work e-mail on weekends. A quarter often check in even when on vacation.

"The scariest thing was when I was on vacation a couple of years ago, and my BlackBerry rang. I was in the middle of the Sahara Desert!" Soto said.

Checking work e-mail is considered much more important for people making more than $75,000 a year than it is for low earners, just as high earners are more likely to have longer hours. Also those who work for large corporations are much more likely to be checking their e-mail "constantly" at work, compared to those who work for smaller companies.

For workers in general, it's unclear whether e-mail alone is increasing the amount of work. Other studies show that people have worked roughly the same number of hours every week for the last two decades. In the Pew study, 17 percent said e-mail had increased their work hours, while 6 percent said the opposite -- that e-mail reduced the time they had to work.

The survey was conducted by phone, and the respondents were called randomly. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4 percent.cnn

South Africa elects Motlanthe president

CAPETOWN, South Africa (CNN) -- South Africa's Parliament chose the deputy president of the ruling ANC party, Kgalema Motlanthe, as interim president Thursday to replace outgoing President Thabo Mbeki, the African National Congress said.

Kgalema Motlanthe would remain in office until elections in South Africa next spring.

Mbeki resigned last weekend at the request of the ANC, which holds a majority in the National Assembly.

Motlanthe, a left-leaning intellectual with roots in South African labor unions, will be sworn in Thursday. He will remain in office until the general elections, now scheduled for April.

The new interim president is a former political prisoner under the apartheid regime who spent 10 years at the infamous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was also incarcerated.

After more than a third of the cabinet resigned after Mbeki's ouster, Motlanthe is under pressure to put together a government that will inspire confidence among investors jittery about South Africa's political stability and direction.

ANC President Jacob Zuma, who defeated Mbeki in an election for the political party's top job in December, is widely expected to win the nation's presidential contest.

Ten days after Zuma was chosen as ANC leader, prosecutors indicted him on corruption, fraud and racketeering charges.

A judge threw out the case this month, calling it invalid, and accused Mbeki's government of political interference. Prosecutors could still revive the case.

Mbeki led South Africa for nearly 10 years before announcing Saturday that he would step down.

In his speech, he listed several of his accomplishments, saying that under his leadership, the country has had the longest period of sustained economic growth in its history and has reached out to indigent people in an unprecedented way.

TONY TETUILA IN NITE CLUB BRAWL

Former Remedies star Tony Tetuila is not the kind of guy that looks for every opportunity to cause chaos or pick up a fight. But the 33 year old act lost his cool last Friday during a night out with friends.

According to eye witness accounts, Tetuila was partying in the VIP area of Club Papas (a night club domiciled in K’s Place, Victoria island, Lagos) when the incident occurred. ‘‘He got involved in a heated argument with one of the bouncers’’, said a source who was also lounging in the club’s VIP section. ‘‘The guy must have said something very nasty because Tony was very upset and he lost his cool’’.

More than two people got injured in the process, as Tony threw his wine glass, injuring one of the club’s bodyguards in the head. Attempts by friends to hold him back proved futile as he tried to break lose, and wrestle the bodyguard.

Club owner Frank Okamigbo was not seen on the scene. But known names who witnessed the altercation include Banky W, Kaha, Jude Okoye.

‘‘It was a complete show of shame’’, said a source who witnessed the incident. ‘‘No matter what happened, Tony should not have reduced himself to the level of fighting with bouncers, and even injuring one of them’’

It was claimed that one of his friends, a certain Kentro World act called Flo also threw a can of beer at one of the bouncers.

Police was not called in.

And Tony continued to dance away all night, as the injured bouncer had to excuse himself from work and treat his wound.

WHYWE HAVEN’T SUED ANITA BAKER - PROMOTERS

American soul diva Anita Baker may have to meet the organisers of her foiled Nigerian concert in court, if se fails to refund the fees she was paid for the concert.


A director at Kilimanjaro, the organisers of the event Mrs Toyin Adekoya told me on Tuesday that the company may resort to legal action, if Baker’s representatives do not refund the performance fees through their booking agent.
Adekoya told me ‘‘we have made a request for refund through the booking agent we used, and they have not said they are not making refunds. So, the issue of legal action has not yet come up. If they do not make the necessary refunds, then we will decide what to do’’.

However, speaking the mind of her company, she expressed deep regrets over the failed concert, maintaining that the company will ‘‘never’’ secure the services f the 50 year-old diva again. ‘‘We chose her because of her wide fan base in Nigeria, but we were completely disappointed by her actions when she came over. Our main regret is the disappointment felt by all those who came to watch her perform and were disappointed’’.

Baker had ignored a high-profile audience waiting to see her perform at the Expo centre, Lagos on Saturday August 30, after her reps said she was uncomfortable with the hall arrangement and technical quality.

No one has been able to say whether a clause in her contract, or a rider to the organisers specified her preference for theatre-style settings as opposed to the banquet style which is characteristic of most high profile events in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the organisers continue to make refunds to disappointed guests, as they count their losses and hope to get back a large chunk of Anita Baker’s fees to cushion part of the losses.

Senate Recess Delays New Ministers’ Appointment

Nigerians anxiously aw-aiting President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s new cabinet will have to wait a little more.
However, the list of the prospective ministers is ready and only waiting for the Senate, which is at present on recess, for the confirmation of the nominees.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which lasted exactly two hours and presided over by President Yar’Adua, the Minister of Communications and Information John Odey said the announcement of a new cabinet would be done at the President’s discretion.
Asked if the cabinet reshuffle was discussed at the FEC meeting, Odey said: “Definitely, there is a way forward because council resolutions have been passed today and the structure as listed to you has been approved.”
On when to expect the new cabinet, the minister replied, “That is at the pleasure of Mr. President. All cabinet ministers and members are at the pleasure of Mr. President and of course that will be done by Mr. President himself.”
But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Olusegun Ade-niyi, said in a chat with State House correspondents last night that the ministerial list had been completed and was only waiting for the Senate, which at present is on recess, to confirm the new ministers.
“Well, the cabinet reshuffle is not a public relations gambit for the President. It is based on the need to galvanise government and improve on service delivery by identifying areas where there ought to be changes and bringing in new talents that would do the job.
“That process I can assure you is completed but since the Senate, which is the confirming authority, is currently on recess, there is no wisdom in creating vacuums at a period finishing touches are being put on the 2009 budget.
“The better part of next week is public holiday, so there is no hurry and I know the President to be a very painstaking person when it comes to crucial decisions as in this instance. And perhaps to assure you I have not been gagged, you can quote me on that, there will be a ministerial reshuffle,” he added.
However, the fate of ministers nominated from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) remains unknown in the impending cabinet reshuffle as their political parties are yet to be contacted.
Two ministers from ANPP and one from PPA are currently serving in the President Yar’Adua’s Gover-nment of National Unity (GNU).
The National Chairman of ANPP, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, told THISDAY last night that his party was yet to be contacted on the impending cabinet changes.
“We are members of the GNU, but I can tell you that up till this moment, the President is yet to contact us on the planned cabinet changes. We nominated ministers to the GNU and therefore we ought to know what is happening. Though we defer to him that as the Commander-in-Chief and President, he may choose not to contact us,” the ANPP chairman said but refused to accept that the refusal of the President to contact the party was responsible for the latest outburst against PDP.
He insisted that PDP was a cancerous political party without any idea to move Nigeria forward.
A source from the office of PPA National Chairman also told THISDAY that the party was yet to be contacted.
Also yesterday, Adeniyi denied insinuations in some section of the media that Tuesday’s oath of secrecy administered on political office holders serving in the State House meant they were being gagged.
He said: “It’s been discovered that the special advisers and the chief economic adviser were not supposed to be part of the oath taking as they like ministers and permanent secretaries had already been sworn in by the President.
“The oath taking is a public service ritual that ought to be in our file and it was the new State House Permanent Secretary who discovered the omission on the part of many of us and insisted we all had to do it. While it imposes responsibility on public officials, it is not an attempt to gag anybody and I can say categorically that nobody can gag me.
“I have even discovered that there was an error because the oath of secrecy is not for myself, the Chief Economic Adviser and other special advisers who, like ministers and permanent secretaries, had already been sworn in by the President.
“If it was an attempt to muzzle the media as it is being erroneously interpreted to mean, why would we make it public and allow the event to be covered by the same media? That is not realistic. I allowed reporters in because there was nothing to hide otherwise, we could have done it secretly. The truth is that it was a mere procedural thing and the idea that it is targeted at the media is not, and cannot be correct. I would never be part of such an exercise and neither would the President allow such to happen,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the restructuring of federal ministries, which increased the number of the ministries from 22 to 28, as announced September 10.
FEC also granted approvals for the awards of some contracts which included contract for the completion of the University of Abuja Permanent Site’s core ring road project in favour of Messrs Exsa (Nig) Ltd, in the sum of N57,430,424.86.
The initial cost of the project was about N642 million before the contractor was asked to carry out variation as there was no fund to continue the project which had at that time reached about 65 per cent completion stage.
Another contract awarded was the one for sole sourcing of surveying and geomatic equipment for three universities in favour of Messrs Geoqinetiq Limited in the sum of N496, 502,150.58.
University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria were the three beneficiaries under the second phase of the project.
The phase one of the project covers four institutions; Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal School of Survey, Oyo, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu and Federal Polytechnic Nekede were approved by FEC last year.
The project which is in response to the President’s initiative of revamping Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) is under the sponsorship of Education Trust Fund (ETF).
The purpose, according to Odey, is to develop and deliver a geomatics capacity building initiative to transform seven institutions of higher learning as identified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and ETF, into world class geomatics centres of excellence.
FEC also gave anticipatory approval for a credit worth $250million and $200million for the proposed 3rd National Fadama Development Project (FADAMA III) and support of Community and Social Development Project (CSDP).
The total project cost for the FADAMA III project is $450 million out of which $250 million is IDA credit.
The highly concessional credit facility has 0.75 per cent service charge per annum on the amount withdrawn and it is payable over 40 years with a grace period of 10 years.
The balance will be sourced among the three tiers of government as follows: Federal Government $23 million, state governments $77 million, Local Government $40 million and communities $60 million.
The minister said 20 per cent of the communities contribution would be in kind (materials and labour) while Global Environment Facility (GEF) is expected to provide grant in the sum of $7million.
The objective of the proposed FADAMA III project, according to Odey, is to increase the incomes of users of rural water resources on a sustainable basis.
He noted that the project has six components that would be executed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources over a period of five years (2009-2013).
The 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expected to benefit from the project.
The community project, which is targeted at promoting the use of participatory planning, budgetary and monitoring process is aimed at increasing the access of the poor rural people to improve social and natural resource infrastructure services.
According to the minister, the project fits into the programmes of NEEDS, President Yar’Adua’s 7-point Agenda and the country Partnership Strategy Framework agreed with World Bank and DFID.
The credit, he further said, would be on lent to participating states on the same terms and conditions in which they are offered by IDA to the Federal Government.
However, a subsidiary Credit Agreement is to be executed between the Federal Government and the participating 24 states.
But in what appears to be a subtle protest over the United Nation’s non-recognition of Nigeria’s contributions to the South-South Development Cooperation (SSDC), FEC frowned on the UN Secretary-General’s 2007/2008 speeches, which did not reflect the country’s contribution. thisdayonline

Nigeria has potentials to lead the world — Israeli envoy

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Moshe Ram, has posited that Nigeria has the material and human resources to be the leading country in the world. Ambassador Ram said this in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday when he called on Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
He said with the endowment of natural resources, Nigeria could be atop if the resources were properly harnessed.

Ram opined that what his nation, Israel, lacked in natural resources, it has in human resources, which, according to him, had been used to turn round its fortune.

With commitment and development of the educational sector, the Ambassador said Nigerians too could positively change the face of their country.

Ram, who commended Oyinlola for the development of the state, said the country could better be appreciated when every part is touched.

“Nigeria can better be appreciated when one visits other parts outside Abuja. This is a great country.”
In his remarks, Oyinlola noted that his administration’s partnership with Israel had been successful.
According to him, no nation could be developed without recourse to education, adding that his administration has given adequate attention to the sector.

The governor added that a number of exchange programmes had taken place between the state and Israel in the areas of education, agriculture and others.

He said efforts would always be made to foster broader unity for the benefit of the country and Israel.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between an Israeli firm and the state on waste management conversion worth $10millon. vanguard online

Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, dies in America

The protracted cancer of the bloodstream which has kept ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig bed-ridden for months, finally claimed his life at about 6.00a.m on Tuesday in Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America.

Craig, who has suffered greatly from the ailment, died at Mayo Clinic where he was receiving treatment thus putting a final stop to his 40 eventful years as broadcaster-producer at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). Aged 60, the late Craig was loved by all and sundry as he was a household name among television loving Nigerians, both old and young.He is survived by wife, Dr Kehinde Craig and three children.

It would be recalled that the late Yinka Craig battled with his ailment for months before the Lagos State government donated the sum of N15 million out of the N38 million needed for his treatment. The donation enabled Craig to be flown to America where h e was hospitalized. Following this, hopes were raised that the once bubbling and humorist broadcaster would bounce back to life and return to his beat at the N TA. It was, therefore, a tragedy to learn of his death yesterday.

Loved and highly respected by the high and the low, the late Craig was a favourite of top government functionaries, politicians, industrialists, monarchs and diplomats. He was also until his death, a man of many parts. He was known to be multi-talented, quick-witted and incredibly knowledgeable about many things. He exhibited his knowledge about astronomy and space technology, as well as computer science, outside entertainment for which he was most popular. Aside this, Craig was equally knowledgeable about sports, politics and oil explorations.

He was, among others, a comedian with an incredible mastery of rib-cracking anecdotes, just as he was an entertainer extra-ordinaire and a talented instrumentalist – he used to play the guitar the same way he was perfect on the piano and saxophone. He was also a singer and composer aside being a voracious reader.

As a thorough professional, the late Craig spent most part of his life in radio and television. He was an outstanding broadcaster with a knack for innovative programmes. He was a major and favourite anchor of such programmes as Newsline, Sports and AM Express. One of his closest friends who was quite devastated by Craig’s ailment described him as “a broadcaster who warmed the hearts of his audience with his immutable style of presentation, genteel humor and a characteristic toothy smile. His 40 years in broadcasting, from the days of the old WNBS, is almost as old as the history of broadcasting in independent Nigeria.”

In a prompt reaction to Craig’s death, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State said yesterday that Craig’s exit is not just a great loss to the state, but also to the country and the journalism profession.
Daniel, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Adedayo, also observed that the late Craig could be listed among the first 11 who have done the country proud in his chosen profession.

According to Daniel, Craig was “one of the first 11 of TV professionals in Nigeria. His passion, professionalism and sense of patriotism in a profession that prides itself as an epitome of quality service was almost without equal…” We pray that Almighty will grant his family, friends and colleagues the fortitude to bear the loss.”

However, all efforts by Daily Sun to contact his family proved abortive yesterday as a close friend informed of the incident. The man who spoke anonymously confirmed Craig’s death but declined to comment or give his tributes saying “we are just trying to contact his wife (Dr Kehinde Craig) and I don’t think we should start lamenting his death on the pages of the newspaper.”

Also, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, described the death of the sportscaster, as shocking and a great loss to Nigeria. Fashola, in a press statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Oyeyemi Bamidele, said the renowned broadcaster would be greatly missed by Lagosians having lived all his life, and attained professional excellence in Lagos.
While expressing his condolence to the bereaved family and friends, Governor Fashola, beseeched God Almighty grants them the strength to bear the loss.

Also expressing pains and shock at the demise of the T.V presenter, his former colleague and ex-Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alhaji Danladi Bako, described Craig as a quintessential gentleman.
“He remains one of the most efferverescecy, most professional and most irrepressible broadcaster, Nigeria ever had. He knew a bit of everything and everything about a bit,” Danladi noted.courtesy sunonile

JEREMY PIVEN REVEALS HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OMISSION!

A beaming Jeremy Piven spoke to ET backstage at the Emmy Awards moments after he won the Best Supporting Comedy Actor award for his role playing Ari Gold on HBO's "Entourage."
Watch Jeremy continue his acceptance speech to our cameras, in which he explains that he forgot to thank the cast and crew of "Entourage" while on the Emmy stage. He also tells ET about his silent, heartfelt thank you to his father!
Sunday's award is Jeremy's third Emmy win in the same category for the series. etonline

TED MCGINLEY AND INNA BRAYER OUSTED FROM 'DWTS'

They're second to go!
Their dancing days are numbered! Actor Ted McGinley and his pro partner Inna Brayer became the second pair to get voted off "Dancing with the Stars."
"I'm gonna miss everybody, it's been a lot of fun," Ted said on Wednesday night's results show. "I know there's a lot of guys at home on the couch with a beer in hand having a chuckle at me -- and thank you for that."
"I'm so proud of him," Inna admired. "He's come such a long way."
Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo were the other pair seemingly up for elimination, prompting judge Len Goodman to say: "This shows that nobody's safe. Anybody can be in the bottom two!"
Musical performances by Jesse McCartney and the Jonas Brothers lifted spirits -- Joe Jonas even danced mid-song for a few beats!

Warner Bros. Studio turns 85 this year, an anniversary now marked by two of the most recognizable symbols of success, High Hollywood style: a No. 1 summer blockbuster -- "The Dark Knight" -- and a long, thoughtful PBS biopic.

The three-part “You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story," which premieres tonight, is written and directed by Time magazine film critic Richard Schickel, and is based on his book by the same name. It bills itself as a five-hour walk through the studio's history.

But the "this" you must remember is that the film is essentially a birthday present from Warner Bros. to itself, an endless toast rather than a purely journalistic examination. Which is perfectly fine, of course.
And Schickel has certainly constructed a rich, tasty birthday cake. There are layers of Hollywood history ordered both chronologically and by theme, filled with commentary from players, stars and critics (including our very own Kenneth Turan) and iced with a series of delicious film clips.

Certainly there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours than watching Martin Scorsese wax lyrical about "Baby Face" or "Bonnie and Clyde," or hearing an elderly James Cagney dismiss the modern methods of acting -- "we worked six, sometimes seven days a week," he says at one point. "It was factory work, but it was the job and you did it."

Just don't come looking for behind-the-scenes dirt, deal-making, career-breaking or even much in the way of historical tension. Things like Bette Davis' famous flouting of her Warner Bros. contract and Jack Warner's "friendly testimony" before the infamous House Committee on Un-American Activities are mentioned, but only in passing.

In fact, most things are mentioned only in passing. Even with five hours to play with, it's difficult to explore 85 years of any influential company too deeply, much less one that employed the likes of Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Davis and Joan Crawford. And that's just the early years.

Narrated by Clint Eastwood, who has worked with Warner Bros. extensively, from the "Dirty Harry" years, through his Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby," "You Must Remember This" opens in 1923, when Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack officially incorporate their new motion-picture company. These first two hours, which take us to 1950, are perhaps the most interesting, if only because this was when the studio was at its purest. No television to compete with, no subdivisions, no multimedia marketing -- the brothers just made movies. Lots of movies, that created many of our most beloved stars.

Warner Bros. started with Rin Tin Tin and worked its way up, through John Barrymore and Al Jolson, coping first with the advent of sound -- which the brothers initially had little regard for except as a means to convey the clash of swords in their swashbucklers -- and then with a country transitioning from post-World War I bubble to pre-World War II bust.

The films of the 1930s remain among some of the industry's strongest, particularly at Warner Bros., which unlike many other studios starkly addressed social issues. Sex, drugs, and the almost obsessive fears of a floundering working- and middle-class were all served up in films such as "Baby Face" "Heroes for Sale" and "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang." (Note to viewers: You might want to have a pad and pen ready for your next trip to Netflix or Amazon.)

Although the studio embraced all manner of themes and genres, from swashbucklers to gangster films to Looney Tunes, the early years set a philosophical and political tone that would define Warner Bros. for the coming decades -- a willingness to explore the darkness, but buoyant in its belief in America (see "Yankee Doodle Dandy").

Using subtitles like "The Gathering Storm," "The Reluctant Romantic," "Dreaming Democracy" and "A Touch of Insolence," Schickel lays out an über-narrative extolling the studio's finest films and greatest stars. In a way this is an impossible task -- there is just too much ground to cover.

Still, some structure is required to keep the film from becoming simply "Warner Bros.' Greatest Hits," which is essentially what it becomes on the second and third nights, when we move through the low points of the '60s through the industry renaissance of the '70s and '80s.

By the time we reach present day, Schickel's thematic thread begins to fray, and in its place is a series of critical commentary about films such as "Bonnie and Clyde," "Mean Streets" and "Unforgiven." While most of us are happy to wallow in conversation about our favorite movies, the most interesting observations come from Eastwood and George Clooney, who both speak with something like longing of Warner Bros. as being the last studio that still feels like a studio.

While so much of moviemaking is outsourced and freelanced, underwritten by hedge funds and multitiered distribution deals, there is something comforting in the fact that Warner Bros. still occupies the bit of Burbank it has occupied since 1929 -- still marked by the signature water tower bearing the initials that have indeed meant so much to so many for so long. eonline.com

Hugh Hefner: Relationships "In Transition"

Rumors of Hugh Hefner and his girls calling it quits have been greatly exaggerated.

The Playboy captain just told me that he is very much still dating Holly Madison, Kendra Wilkinson and Bridget Marquardt.

"The reality is the girls and I are all together," Hefner said.

He quickly shot down reports that Madison has been seeing Mindfreak illusionist Criss Angel.

"Holly shares my bed on a nightly basis," Hef said.

And Hef had a lot more to say...

Hefner does acknowledge that the relationships are "in transition."

"Are there going to be changes in the relationships, I'm sure there are going to be," Hefner said. "I think that in the future, the girls are going to, in time, be dating others and moving out of the mansion, and when that happens we will not be keeping it a secret," Hefner said.

He says he's not surprised by the constant gossip and false rumors because the girls have become celebrities in their own right because of the success of E!'s The Girls Next Door.

Season five premieres Oct. 5, and Hef and the girls have committed to a season six if there is one. eonline.com

Nigeria needs $17.5bn to modernise railways –World Bank

Nigeria will require about $17.5bn to modernise its railway system, World Bank Country Director, Mr. Onno Ruhl, has said.

In a paper presented at the just concluded conference on the revitalisation of railway infrastructure in Abuja, Ruhl said studies estimated capital cost of conversion from the present narrow gauge railway to standard gauge at between $1.5m and $5.0 m per route km.

“For a railway system of about 3,500 route-km, this would translate into an investment of between $5.25 and $17.5bn,” Ruhl said in the paper which was made available to our correspondent on Monday.

In order to improve on infrastructure, Nigeria is seeking investments in the railway sector in order to match the increasing rate of freights and passengers.

Last Tuesday, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Mazi J. C. Nwankwo said Nigeria would require about $15bn in the next 10 years to fix its dilapidated railway sector.

Ruhl, however, said from an economic and financial viability point of view, the modest traffic volumes of five to 10 million tonnes per year of freight and nine million passengers would not support the high level of investment on gauge conversion.

“There were also alternative recommendations that the present narrow gauge railway, after rehabilitation, could effectively meet the expected traffic volume for the foreseeable future (10-20 million gross tonnes per year) and render competitive service quality,” he said.

According to him, the narrow gauge railway was quite capable of transporting 100 million tonnes of freight per year at competitive costs as was the experience in South Africa where about 150 million tonnes of freight moves on the same type of gauge.

While citing several research studies on the prospects of the railway sector, Ruhl said it could be conservatively estimated that a rehabilitated and an efficiently operated railway system in Nigeria had the potential of growing freight traffic volume to 4.2 million tonnes over a period of four to five years (by 2010) on the narrow gauge system.

“In subsequent years, the traffic by rail would grow further in line with seven to eight per cent rate of economic growth of the country,” he said.

According to him, the traffic volume on the narrow gauge system can possibly grow to 5.6 million tonnes by 2015 and to 7.5 million tonnes by 2020 assuming an average growth in traffic volume at six per cent per year.

“At the same time, it was conservatively estimated that railways, when restored, would possibly carry about nine and 10 million passengers per year by 2010,” he added. punch online

Dancing With the Stars Returns: Lance Kills It, Brooke and Toni Strut, Jeff and Rocco Stumble

Lisa O'Connor/ZumaPress.com, Jeff Frank/ZumaPress.com, Joe Kohen/Getty Images, Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Dancing With the Stars kicked off its three-night seventh-season premiere extravaganza tonight, with all the sequins, tuxes, predance jitters, trips to the emergency room and Bruno Tonioli metaphors that such an endeavor entails.

While all 13 contestants had a go Monday, only 12 will dance Tuesday and then, on Wednesday, yet another will get the boot, leaving 11 to tango on in week two.

But in the meantime, find out who starred, who stunk, what the judges said, what we think and then—if you have any energy left—tell us what you thought...

Cody Linley: The 18-year-old Hannah Montana star and closet beat-boxer has great potential. With all that teenage energy, he matched two-time champion Julianne Hough cha-for-cha in the opening dance of the season. His footwork wasn't perfect, but he moves well and has a great attitude, not to mention a partner who, if all else fails, can keep all eyes on her with costumes such as that backless, one-sided fringed number she was sporting tonight. Well done!
Judges Said: 18; "I'm just freaking out that both of you—your combined age—is younger than my age," judge Carrie Ann Inaba fretted.

Rocco DiSpirito: We were glad to see that Karina Smirnoff was still able to wear a barely there dress despite all the pasta the celebrity chef appeared to be feeding her—mainly because this duo's going to need all the help they can get, considering DiSpirito couldn't land a toe-heel lead to save his life. All of which makes us wonder, did Smirnoff sprain her ankle on purpose?
Judges Said: 14; "A fox-trot on the brink of chaos," per Bruno.

Toni Braxton: It was a bit nerve-racking watching the 40-year-old singer after she revealed that she had recently been diagnosed with microvascular angina, which occurs when not enough oxygen is making it into the heart. But Braxton's body rivals the female pros and she cha-cha'd like a natural, curing our stage fright in one session. This could finally be Alec Mazo's chance to reclaim that season-one glory.
Judges Said: 22; "Everybody knows I like my divas—slinky, sultry, sexy—and you are all of that," Bruno growled.

Maurice Green: The Olympic track star started off in the middle of the pack, ably dancing a fox-trot but not necessarily to the extent that we think Cheryl Burke will be winning another disco ball any time soon. But we know that Green's feet can really fly on a good day, so if he survives to dance a mambo tomorrow, it'll give us a better sense of what he's capable of.
Judges Said: 18; "I feel like I should call you Mo James Brown," Carrie Ann offered.

Brooke Burke: The 37-year-old mother of four (including a 6-month-old) has moves to spare and a tummy to envy. Suited up in skintight pants, Burke didn't suffer from the stiffness that has afflicted DWTS' past model contestants, such as Josie Maran and Paulina Porizkova. Instead, she gave Derek Hough his first-ever week one lead by trotting out a graceful, sexy cha-cha.
Judges Said: 23; best dance of the night.

Ted McGinley: The 50-year-old Married With Children star could have been the Steve Guttenberg of the bunch, but instead the handsome actor donned a tux and proved a dashing partner for DWTS newcomer Inna Brayer. Sure, there were mistakes and there was a bit of a sitcom dream-sequence element to it. But unlike Rocco, the man knows how to lead with his toes.
Judges Said: 18; "At moments you had the elegance of Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief—and then you turned into Steve Carell in Get Smart," per Bruno.

Lance Bass: First off, there was some butt-kicking choreography from former So You Think You Can Dance finalist Lacey Schwimmer, a welcome addition to the pro fold and Hough's main rival for resident hot young thang. As for Bass…Worst dancer in 'N Sync, our foot. The 29-year-old popster fulfilled all of his boy-band potential and more, instantly becoming a front-runner by acing a technically complicated, hot 'n' sexy cha-cha right off the bat. They should have received a 24, but Len Goodman is a fuddy-duddy.
Judges Said: 22; "A cha-cha-cha for now!" Bruno declared.

Cloris Leachman: Flashing some intense cleavage in a gorgeous blue gown, the Oscar-winning 82-year-old is the oldest contestant the show has ever had. While Leachman could easily prove to be a fan favorite, especially for those who always enjoyed watching their grandparents cut a rug, there technically isn't much to watch, dancewise. But we recommend keeping her around, if for no other reason than we feel she's the contestant most likely to drop an F-bomb on live TV.
Judges Said: 16; "I've always wanted to be a [boy-toy], and this could be my chance!" said Len. And there's no need for Carrie Ann to fret—Leachman and partner Corky Ballas (Mark's dad) have a combined age of 129.

Jeffrey Ross: Edyta Sliwinska needed more than her legwarmers-and-nothing-else ensemble to salvage this cha-cha. The curse began early this year, as the stand-up comedian and Friars Club roastmaster needed a trip to the emergency room earlier Monday after getting poked in the eye during rehearsal. So, we'll just blame his scratched cornea for his lack of coordination...yup.
Judges Said: 12; Carrie Ann noted that it didn't look as if he was having much fun out there.

Kim Kardashian: The reality-TV star came down with a slight case of modelitis (symptoms: stiffness, weird look on her face, unflattering hair), but she moved well and seems really, really excited to be there. Defending champ Mark Ballas has his work cut out for him.
Judges Said: 19; a better score than most, but they said she needs to work on her approachability.

Susan Lucci: More than one Daytime Emmy isn't the only thing beyond the soap star's grasp. Freakishly toned, yes, but the 62-year-old Lucci is going to have to lose the heavy-handed (or footed, in this case) approach if she wants to make it out of week two. This lady's got a lot of fans, so we think they're going to let her slide tomorrow and Wednesday. And Tony Dovolani is going to have to come up with some innovative choreography, if he dares.
Judges Said: 15; meaning Cloris Leachman outdanced her.

Misty May-Treanor: The two-time Olympic gold medalist has the good fortune to be paired with Maksim "Look at Me" Chmerkovskiy, who has enough female fans on his own to buy his partner at least a few weeks. Not that May-Treanor's going to need his help—her body's slammin', and she didn't look all Monica Seles uncomfortable while dancing an elegant fox-trot.
Judges Said: 21; "I have never seen anyone dance a fox-trot with such intensity," Carrie Ann observed.

Warren Sapp: Just when we were thinking that the roly-poly football star did himself no favors by wearing one of Emmitt Smith's old suits, his toes started twinkling. This Super Bowl winner can move, and Kym Johnson's finally got herself a shot at the title.
Judges Said: 21; "You're a great big bundle of joy!" Len exclaimed.

So, there you have it for tonight. Who do you think has a shot, and who would you like to see hang up their dancing shoes for good? courtesy-eonline.com

THE TOP 3 BANKS IN NIGERIA- MY RATING

ZENITH BANK OF NIG.

1) Awards & Achievements


Zenith Bank remains outstanding in the pursuit of excellence and commitment to high quality service, a result of which has enhanced our performance in the year under review.

Euromoney
arrow Best Bank in Nigeria (2008)

Vanguard Bankers' Award
arrow Best Bank in ICT (2008)
arrow Best Bank in Export Finance (2008)

This Day Award of Excellence
arrow Bank of the year, 2008
arrow Corporate Citizen of the Year, 2008
arrow CEO of the Year, 2008
arrow Most Corporate Socially Responsible Company in Nigeria, 2007


KPMG
arrow Most Customer-Focused Bank (2008)

Africa Investor
arrow Africa's Bank of the Year (2007)

Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE)
arrow Quoted Company of the Year (2007)

top of page
Back to top

African Banker
arrow Most Corporate Socially Responsible Bank in Africa (2007)

Federal Inland Revenue Service
arrow Best Collecting Bank (2007)

Fitch Ratings (AA-) 2007
arrow "The ratings reflect adequate levels of capitalisation and the potential
that capital levels will be further enhanced"

Standard and Poor's (BB-) 2007
arrow "The stable outlook balances the bank's ability to benefit, in terms of
size, profitability, from strong macroeconomic growth"

Web-Jurist Award (2002, 2004, 2005 & 2006) Phillips Consulting
arrow Best Bank Website in Nigeria
arrow 1st Overall rating

The Banker, Financial Times of London
arrow Bank of the Year (2005)

2)
GUARANTY TRUST BANK

RATINGS

Our financial capacity to meet obligations as they fall due has been recognized by several rating agencies.

* Agusto & Co, (one of the foremost credit rating agencies in Nigeria) has reaffirmed the Bank's triple A (Aaa) risk rating every year for the last four years. Guaranty Trust Bank plc is one of only two banks in Nigeria with such a rating.

* In 2005, Fitch, one of the foremost international rating agencies assigned the Bank a double A minus (AA-) risk rating in recognition of the its strong domestic franchise, good quality assets and sound earnings record. This is the highest rating ever received by any Nigerian or West African based bank.

* In 2006, Standard & Poor's, another international rating agency assigned the Bank a double B minus (BB-) risk rating. The Bank is the only Nigerian financial institution with such a rating, which is the same as the Agency's Sovereign rating for Nigeria.



RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

The Bank has over the years been a recipient of several awards for superior financial performance, customer service delivery, excellent share performance, management efficiency etc. some of these are:

* Nigerian Stock Exchange President's Merit Award - 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006
* Bank of the Year 2005 - ThisDay Awards
* Banker of the Year 2006 - ThisDay Awards
* Brand of the Year 2007 - ThisDay Awards
* Subject of case studies:

o Harvard Business School,
o Cranfield University
o Lagos Business School

* Africa's top 23 2005 - Africa Business Magazine
* Highly Commended Bank of the Year Award in Africa 2005 - African Investor
* ISO 9001:2000 Certification 2006 - International Standards Organisation
* $350 million debut Eurobond issue; the first of its kind by any financial institution in West Africa
* Most Respected Financial Institution in Nigeria 2006- Pricewaterhouse Coopers:
* Most Customer friendly Bank 2007 - Vanguard Awards
* Best Bank for Brand Development 2007 - Vanguard Awards
* Deal of the Year Award 2007 - The Banker Magazine Awards
* Listing on the London Stock Exchange 2007
* Best Bank in Mobile Banking Awards 2007 - Nigeria Telecoms Awards
* Brand of the Year 2007 - Lagos State Enterprises
* Grand Prix Award for Reputation and Credibility - 2007 Fortune & Class Enterprise Awards
* Corporate Best Practice Award - 2007 Fortune & Class Enterprise Awards
* Best Work Place Award - 2007 Fortune & Class Enterprise Awards
* Most Respected Company in Nigeria Award 2007 by PricewaterhouseCoopers & BusinessDay Survey Awards
* Sectoral Award for the Financial Services Segment 2007 by PricewaterhouseCoopers & BusinessDay Survey Awards
* Runner up in the 2007 Most Respected CEO in Nigeria Award 2007 by PricewaterhouseCoopers & BusinessDay Survey Awards
* Winner of the Nigerian Stock Exchange 30th Annual President's Merit Award for the 2006 financial year
* Transaction of the Year 2008 by ThisDay Newspapers
* Most Customer Focused Bank (Retail) 2008 by KPMG
* Bank of the Year 2008 by Vanguard Newspapers
* Best Bank in Corporate Governance 2008 by Vanguard Newspapers
* Most Customer-Friendly Bank 2008 by Vanguard Newspapers
* Best Architectural Bank Branch 2008 by Nigerian Institute of Architects
* Deal of the Year 2008 for Nigeria by The Banker Magazines published by Financial Times, London
* Best Bank in Mobile Banking 2008 by Logica Communications Limited organizers of the Telecoms Awards

3)UNIVERSAL BANK FOR AFRICA



Awards 2008
ThisDay Corporate Social Responsibility Award

UBA Foundation, the social responsibility harness for the entire company, was voted as the most Corporate Socially Responsible organization in Nigeria in 2007, clinching the highly contested ThisDay Newspaper Award.

City People CEO of The Year Award

Tony Elumelu recieved the accolade, CEO of the Year 2008 at the 11th City People Awards for Excellence Ceremony

------------------Awards 2007-------------------

ICAN (Institute of Charted Accountants) HONOURS UBA PLC

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc added another feather to its cap at the weekend by winning the coveted Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Award for the corporate category. A recognition for the bank’s support towards the upliftment of Accounting profession in Nigeria.

The Award was bestowed on the bank at the Institute’s 2007 Annual Dinner and Awards ceremony held in Lagos.

ICT (Information and Communication Technology) AFRICA IN THEIR TITANS OF PURE GENIUS TECH AWARDED UBA PLC AS THE ICT DRIVEN BANK OF THE YEAR 2007

POWER SOLUTIONS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2007 FROM POWERCAP LIMITED AWARDED UBA AS THE POWER FRIENDLY BANK OF THE YEAR 2007

------------------Awards 2006-------------------

TONY ELUMELU WINS THE HIGHLY COVETED AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Thursday, 9th of November, 2006 at the luxury Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, Tony Elumelu, GMD/CEO of UBA Plc, emerged winner of the prestigious and highly coveted AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR award.
The AI awards, dubbed the “Oscars” of the African corporate world, are the only Pan African awards that recognise and reward exceptional business practices, economic achievements and investments across the continent, as well as corporate responsibility towards the society. It is organized by Africa investor; a United Kingdom based bi-monthly business magazine which targets international investors with an interest in Africa’s commercial development. This year's awards is the third, following successful ceremonies in 2004 and 2005 in Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa.
This Business Leader of the Year was the hotly anticipated finale of the 15 different award categories in a glittering ceremony that saw a stellar gathering of representatives of leading organizations and some of Africa’s best, including Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Professor Charles Soludo, Executive President of the African Business Roundtable & Chairman, NEPAD Business Group Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Kenyan Minister of Trade & Industry Dr. Mukhisa Kituyu, and Director, African Investment Advisory, Dr. Ken Kwaku, amongst many other distinguished guests, celebrating African excellence.

Tony Elumelu was voted winner in a strongly contested category, amongst finalists that include some of Africa’s finest and most successful Chief Executive Officers, including Phutuma Nhleko Group Chief Executive of the Telecoms giant MTN (South Africa), Papi Molotsane, CEO of Telkom (South Africa), Vimal Shah CEO of Bidco Oil Refineries, Kenya; the largest manufacturer of edible oils and fats and soaps in East and Central Africa, with operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Gerald Mahinda of East African Breweries which has extensive operations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and Jim Ovia, CEO of Zenith Bank.

UBA PLC WINS MERGER & ACQUISITION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 11TH THISDAY ANNUAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE.

On January 21, 2006, UBA Plc beat other banks namely; Intercontinental Group, Access Bank, PlatinumHabib and Skye Bank to win the Merger & Acquisition of the Year Award at the 11th Annual Thisday Awards. Below are excerpts of the citation on UBA at the awards ceremony which held at the Muson Centre, Lagos

“United Bank for Africa: August 1 2005, marked a watershed in the history of Nigeria's financial services industry, with the emergence of United Bank for Africa Plc as Nigeria's first mega bank following the merger of UBA and Standard Trust Bank Plc. Apart from its record as the first successful merger in the ongoing banking consolidation, the consolidated UBA's aggregate financial and non-financial strength clearly ranks it above its peers in the industry.

With a network of over 425 business offices across the country, balance sheet size of over N600 billion, and an active customer base of over two million, United Bank For Africa Plc ranks as the biggest on-line, real-time bank in Nigeria and indeed sub-Saharan Africa”.

UBA PLC WINS BANK OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 9TH CITY PEOPLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

Nigerian celebrity magazine; City People, at the Eko Hotel, Lagos on Sunday April 9, 2006 adjudged UBA as banker of the year 2005 on account of its historic merger with Standard Trust Bank and several initiatives embarked upon to bring banking convenience to the unbanked and the underbanked.

ELUMELU WINS BANKER OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 9TH CITY PEOPLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

GLOBAL EXCELLENCE BANKER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2006

CITY PEOPLE'S CEO OF THE YEAR 2006 & BANK CEO OF THE YEAR 2006


Other UBA awards include;

Award


Organizers

Bank of the Year 2005


Newsday Newspapers

Sales Promotion of the year 2006 Award


National institute of Marketing of Nigeria

Best Bank of the year (Social Responsibility)


Ikeja City Awards

Bank of the year 2006


Thisday Newspapers

NIGERIA FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM

White vertical stripe sandwiched between two green stripes of equal dimensions.

Symbolism of flag elements:
White stripe denotes peace and unity and is also symbolic of the Niger River bisecting the countryside. The green stripes represent agriculture.

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF NIGERIA

Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria's call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labor of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and
unity.

Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice
shall reign.

NIGERIA MAP



I LOVE NIGERIA,I LOVE MY FATHERLAND,I LOVE MY CONTINENT.

upcoming events in the month of september

20 Sep 2008 - 21 Sep 2008

The Julian Bluegrass Festival is the oldest festival of its kind in California. Many of the finest bluegrass artists today started out here in contests and in performances. The park is beautiful, and the town is a charming, historic gold mining town located approximately an hour's drive east of San Diego. A lovely, peaceful atmosphere and some excellent bluegrass music await visitors to this event.
The 38th annual Julian Bluegrass Festival takes place in 2008

Times
Sat 0900–1800; Sun 0900–1600.

Where?

Frank Lane Park (Venue)

Frank Lane Park
California

Getting There

Road: Detailed directions are available from the festival website

How Much?
TBC.

For More Information
World Tourist Attractions and Events Guide Cover
Buy The World
Attraction & Event Guide

Melissa Hague Entertainment (Tourist Info)
PO Box 2322
Escondido
California
CA 92033
United States

Tel +1 (760) 480 0086
Email melissa@mhentertainment.com

Website www.julianbluegrassfestival.com

Future Events

01 Sep 2009 - 30 Sep 2009
Date to be confirmed
The 39th annual Julian Bluegrass Festival takes place in 2009.

Where
As above

More Information
As above






Musica Contemporary Music Festival,
Strasbourg, France

Musica Contemporary Music Festival - © Musica Contemporary Music Festival
© Musica Contemporary Music Festival
20 Sep 2008 - 04 Oct 2008

The aim of Musica is to present important 20th century works in the light of contemporary musical trends. Audiences are encouraged to appreciate innovative and challenging interpretations of the great classics and also to discover new works from young composers. An extensive programme runs through 16 days at venues across the city. There is a definite bias towards youth, and this is reflected in the audiences, although music lovers of all ages are welcome. The festival also encourages collaboration between music, dance and theatre, and gives young musicians the opportunity to meet and exchange views with composers and performers from all over the world.

Times
1100-2200.

Where?

Palais des Fetes and various other venues (Venue)

Various orchestral concert venues including Palais des Fetes, Salle Erasme, Pole Sud, Opera du Rhin

How Much?
€5.50-110.

For More Information
World Tourist Attractions and Events Guide Cover
Buy The World
Attraction & Event Guide

Festival Musica (Tourist Info)
6, rue des Charpentiers
BP 306
Strasbourg
Alsace
F-67008
France

Tel +33 (0)3 8823 4646.
Email info@festival-musica

Website www.festival-musica.org

Future Events

01 Sep 2009 - 31 Oct 2009
Date to be confirmed

Where
As above

More Information
As above

50 Tools that can Increase your Writing Skills

* Writing Tool #1: Branch to the Right
* Writing Tool #2: Use Strong Verbs
* Writing Tool #3: Beware of Adverbs
* Writing Tool #4: Period As a Stop Sign
* Writing Tool #5: Observe Word Territory
* Writing Tool #6: Play with Words
* Writing Tool #7: Dig for the Concrete and Specific
* Writing Tool #8: Seek Original Images
* Writing Tool #9: Prefer Simple to Technical
* Writing Tool #10: Recognize Your Story’s Roots
* Writing Tool #11 Back Off or Show Off
* Writing Tool #12: Control the Pace
* Writing Tool #13: Show and Tell
* Writing Tool #14: Interesting Names
* Writing Tool #15: Reveal Character Traits
* Writing Tool #16: Odd and Interesting Things
* Writing Tool #17: The Number of Elements
* Writing Tool #18: Internal Cliffhangers
* Writing Tool #19: Tune Your Voice
* Writing Tool #20: Narrative Opportunities
* Writing Tool #21: Quotes and Dialogue
* Writing Tool #22: Get Ready
* Writing Tool #23: Place Gold Coins Along the Path
* Writing Tool #24: Name the Big Parts
* Writing Tool #25: Repeat
* Writing Tool #26: Fear Not the Long Sentence
* Writing Tool #27: Riffing for Originality
* Writing Tool #28: Writing Cinematically
* Writing Tool #29: Report for Scenes
* Writing Tool #30: Write Endings to Lock the Box
* Writing Tool #31: Parallel Lines
* Writing Tool #32: Let It Flow
* Writing Tool #33: Rehearsal
* Writing Tool #34: Cut Big, Then Small
* Writing Tool #35: Use Punctuation
* Writing Tool #36: Write A Mission Statement for Your Story
* Writing Tool #37: Long Projects
* Writing Tool #38: Polish Your Jewels
* Writing Tool #39: The Voice of Verbs
* Writing Tool #40: The Broken Line
* Writing Tool #41: X-Ray Reading
* Writing Tool #42: Paragraphs
* Writing Tool #43: Self-criticism
* Writing Tool #44: Save String
* Writing Tool #45: Foreshadow
* Writing Tool #46: Storytellers, Start Your Engines
* Writing Tool #47: Collaboration
* Writing Tool #48: Create An Editing Support Group
* Writing Tool #49: Learn from Criticism
* Writing Tool #50: The Writing Process
courtesy :poynter institute

Military Won’t Be Intimidated in N’Delta

The Nigerian Armed Forces will not be intimidated by militants operating in the Niger Delta to abdicate its responsibility to defend the country, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike, has said.
Dike said the military was committed to its constitutional duty of defending the territorial integrity of the country, particularly in the Niger Delta, “and nobody can intimidate the military forces into abdicating that responsibility.”
The CDS made the remarks yesterday while on a working visit to the headquarters of the Joint (military) Task Force (JTF) in Warri, Delta State.
He was accompanied on the visit by military top brass which included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Adbulra-hman Bello Danbazau.
Also yesterday, former Delta State Governor James Ibori sued for peace over the escalation of hostilities in the Niger Delta
He said: “If there is a season for everything under the sun as the Bible says, there being a time for war and a time for peace, then this is the time for cessation of hostilities in the entire Niger Delta.”
Militants operating in the Niger Delta have declared an all out war, attacking and destroying oil facilities.
In the offensive launched last weekend, two flow stations in Rivers State believed to be operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Agip were attacked, leaving the militants and men of the JTF to trade accusations over the attacks.
The attacks on the oil facilities, which have allegedly resulted in more oil shut-ins were carried out as Dike visited military installations in Rivers State to assess the security situation.
Dike, who reaffirmed the position of the armed forces, however, admonished all military personnel to adhere to their professional disciplinary norms in order to effectively deliver on their constitutional obligation.
In a subtle but firm response to the reported threat of “full-scale war” on the country’s security personnel in the area by militants, the CDS stressed that the military would continue to work for the restoration of peace in the area.
He also charged the officers and men to respect the people especially the civilian population in their area of national service, but avoid any act that could tarnish the image of the armed forces.
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of performance by the JTF personnel, saying the on-the-spot assessment of the troops’ battle-readiness was the primary reason for his visit.
In his statement last night, Ibori said: “Having heard the anguished cry of the people of the South-South, President Umaru Yar’Adua is determined to end the suffering of the people, and has therefore approved a large scale intervention in the form of the Niger Delta Ministry to reverse the decades old under-development which the area has suffered.
“So, what is called for now is discussion over the activities and funding of the ministry and how best to make it meet the aspirations of the people. Owing to this, I call on all persons of goodwill to join in this peace effort. Hostilities must cease to give the development process the Federal Government has put in place now the chance to succeed.
“War is like malignant cancer; it usually spreads uncontrollably to other areas. Therefore both sides must listen to the voice of wisdom and stop the conflagration - now.”
Ibori called on the angry youths of the Niger Delta to have faith in the President and his new initiative.
According to him, “The Niger Delta and Nigeria need their energy re-channelled into really productive ventures. The educated among them should be encouraged to contribute their talents to the needed battle of speeding Nigeria and Africa on the part of swift development and global respect, and themselves towards personal fulfilment and glory. “The uneducated must face intellectual and skill acquisition to enable them compete in the national and global space.
“Fortunately, the focus of the new ministry is two-pronged. While one corrects the abysmal lack of infrastructure in the area, the other faces the task of upgrading the intellectual and talent pool of the area.”
According to Ibori, the youths of the area must take advantage of this by ending the hostilities; emerge from their camps and exploit the opportunities that now beckon.
To the militants, he said: “You have made your point. The whole world now knows that your grievances are genuine, and for the first time, the Federal Government is truly addressing them. In every journey, there is always a place to stop. Your predecessor in arms, the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro realised this, came out from the bush, and reintegrated himself into the society – after leading the first Niger Delta uprising in the 1960s. You too must do like-wise.”
In Port Harcourt yesterday, Dike also expressed satisfaction with the performance of JTF, though he said there might be some areas needing improvements.
The CDS thanked Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for providing a conducive environment for their men to operate in addition to helping out with some logistics.
He called for further cooperation between the state and the armed forces, pointing out that such cooperation had existed right from the time of the civil war.
Responding, Amaechi pleaded with Dike to do everything possible to improve on the present security situation in the state.
He regretted that those he called criminals masquerading as freedom fighters had unleashed terror on the state, but expressed happiness that JTF was working to restore normalcy.
In Bayelsa, the state Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, asked the Federal Government to urgently consider the establishment of a military command in the state.
Sylva made the call when Dike and Dambazau paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Yenagoa.
He said the call became imperative due to the strategic position of Bayelsa as a border state and one of the highest producers of oil, the mainstay of the nation’s economy.