Bishop weds 109 couples

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Bishop weds 109 couples

Most Rev. Mathew Audu, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Saturday in Masaka wedded 109 couples and urged in-laws not to interfere in their affairs.

Audu, who was on his third pastoral visit to St. Martin`s Catholic Church, Masaka, appealed to relatives of the new couples to allow them to build their marriages.

“As newly wedded couples, you must love each other just as Christ Jesus loved the church and died to set souls free.

“You must respect each other’s feelings; care for each other, share views and reason together in peace and unity.

“You must not allow a third party to come into your matter; always invite God to intervene in your case.

“Ensure that you are coordinated in all your dealings and make the word of God your standard, your pillar, your faith and your hope.

“If you can keep these entire commandments, your marriage will be perfect and other couples will want to copy from you,’’ he said.

The Bishop, who also confirmed 1,390 faithful, blessed 56 Eucharistic Ministers and 76 lectors, saying the blessing would strengthen their faith.

He said that the confirmation and the blessings the members received would energise them to evangelise to people and win more souls into the kingdom of God.

Audu said that confirmation in the Catholic Church was the sacrament which reaffirmed a person’s status in the church.

He advised the members who were confirmed to keep doctrines of the Catholic Church and ensure that they carried out responsibilities given to them diligently.

“The Catholic Church sees confirmation as a rite in which grace falls on the person confirmed as they announce their commitment to God and the Church,’’ he said.

Earlier, Rev. Fr. Jude Maigari, Parish Priest of the parish, said that the mass wedding was a culture imbibed by the church to enable couples with little finances wed in the church.

He encouraged the couples to heed the advice given by the bishop saying it would help them to live in peace and harmony.

Pictures of the making of first Ghanian Miss African Continent

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How Ghana produced first Miss African Continent

Ghanaian crowned first ‘Miss Africa Continent’ 
  Barefoot, wearing traditional costumes including animal hide skirts and elaborately beaded headdresses, the contestants strutted the stage before Ghanaian Rebecca Asamoah was crowned the first Miss Africa Continent. The 24-year-old dental hygienist beat 11 finalists drawn from an original list of 40 contestants from across the continent in the inaugural pageant at Johannesburg’s Gold Reef City casino on Saturday night. Runner-up was Michelo Malambo of Zambia, while South Africa’s Jemimah Kandimiri was placed third. The swimsuit contest was also a departure from the beauty contest norm, with contestants wearing black t-shirts and tight shorts while dancing barefoot to music such as “Africa” by Mali’s legendary afro-pop musician Salif Keita. The pageant is the brain child of South African film producer Neo Mashishi, who says it aims to empower young African women. “This is the first ever Miss Africa Continent,” said Mashishi, adding that it had been five years in the making. “This is about Africa, we are selling Africa to the world, and we are proud to be Africa”. “The way everything was done was African, we didn’t emulate anything from Miss Universe, or Miss World,” he said. Asamoah, who wore braids, entered the stage in a traditional Ghanaian Ashanti gold-coloured beaded crown and then returned in a evening dress made from the country’s trademark kente cloth. She walked away with a grant to study business management at Monash university in Johannesburg. Runner up in the 2015 Miss Ghana competition, Asamoah said she wanted to see young people help uplift the continent. “There are a lot of things to be fixed in Africa — water, education, environmental issues,” she told AFP. “My main concern is the empowerment of youths… so we can work hand in hand and put our continent in the best place it should be.” In the weeks running up to the event, the 12 finalists embarked on a series of pre-pageant activities, including showing off their culinary skills in cooking traditional meals from their native countries. Ultimately, the organisers hope to involve the continental body, the African Union, “so our winner can play a role in uplifting Africa”and spearhead campaigns to fight Africa’s woes such as malaria, poverty and xenophobia.

Oshiomhole increases Workers’ Minimum Wage from N18, 000 to N25, 000

Oshiomhole increases Workers’ Minimum Wage from N18, 000 to N25, 000 
Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Sunday announced the increment of the National Minimum Wage from N18,000 to N25, 000 with immediate effect, for employees in the State Public Service. He also promised prompt payment of outstanding arrears of salary to the staff of Local Government Councils in the state. Oshiomhole who made the announcement on Sunday at the grand finale of activities to mark the 2016 Workers Day, said that plans had also been concluded to pay staff of Egor Local Government Council who were being owned 13 months arrears of salary, within the next two weeks. Explaining why the council was omitted from the bailout to local government councils in 2015, he gave the assurance that the Edo Government had been meeting with the Central Bank of Nigeria and that within the next two weeks, the funds would be released and staff of the council would be paid in full. He also explained the reason behind the non -appointment of Caretaker Committees for the 18 local government councils in the state, after the end of the tenure of the immediate-past local government chairmen. According to him, “rather than appoint caretaker committees for the councils and pay them because they are politicians, we directed the Heads of Personnel Management in the councils to hold forth, so that those monies would be used to run the councils and pay salaries,’’ he said. The governor said even if the price of oil goes to zero per cent, Edo workers would get their salary alerts before the end of every month. He assured that he would not use his office to put hardship on any of his workers. Earlier, the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Orhue Marshall, appealed to government to enlist workers in the state in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). According to him, this would enable them to have access to quick and cheap medical facilities, like their colleagues in the Federal Public Service.

Trump hits out at Clinton, Cruz ahead of Indiana primary

Trump hits out at Clinton, 
Cruz ahead of Indiana primary 
 Donald Trump hit out hard at Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz on Sunday, sounding unapologetic two days ahead of a key primary in Indiana he says will decide the Republican presidential race. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, the Republican frontrunner concentrated on attacking Clinton, doubling down on his much-criticized statement that the likely Democratic nominee’s only appeal to voters is the “woman’s card.” “She’s done a lousy job in so many ways and even women don’t like her,” he said. “But it is the woman’s card and she plays it and I will let you know in about six months whether or not she plays it well, but I don’t think she’ll play it well.” “If she were not a woman she wouldn’t even be in this race,” he added. The real-estate billionaire also targeted Cruz, dismissing his closest Republican rival’s criticism of Trump’s endorsement by former boxing champion Mike Tyson, whom Cruz called a rapist. “No big deal, I didn’t have a meeting or anything, I haven’t seen Mike in years,” Trump said. “This guy is a real liar,” he added of Cruz. “That’s why we call him lyin’ Ted Cruz.” Trump dismissed Cruz’s endorsement by Indiana Governor Mike Pence this week, calling it “the weakest endorsement anyone has seen in a long time.” “I think he gave me more of an endorsement than he gave Cruz,” he added. Asked whether a victory for Trump in Indiana on Tuesday would clinch the nomination for him, Trump said, “Yes, it’s over,” adding, “I think it’s over now.” A Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday gave Trump a 15 point lead in Indiana.

600,000 jobs for Nigeria - Osinbajo

Over 600,000 Nigerians to benefit 

from Buhari’s tech drive – Osinbajo

Published on April 30, 2016 by pmnews  

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has stated that over one hundred Nigerians will benefit from the technology and innovation plan of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Osinbajo who said Buhari’s administration is geared towards instituting a new culture of probity and accountability in governance stated that, “it’s a new day in Aso Rock”.

Nigeria’s vice president revealed FG’ tech plans while speaking today at The Platform, a public engagement forum organized by the Covenant Church led by Pastor Poju Oyemade.

Informing the forum of the Buhari presidency’s for technology and innovation, he stated that government would be establishing an Innovation Fund this year which would deploy significant resources for the aim of creating opportunities to the youth to access fund for innovation and entrepreneurship.

He highlighted other plans as follows:
– Establishment of technology innovation hubs across the country; 2 super hubs ( in Lagos and Abuja) and 6 regional hubs in the
six geo-political zones in partnership some major technology companies;
– 65,000 young Nigerians to be trained in hardware and software services and in animation;
– to create a reservoir in technology capacity that can be exported annually abroad like the case of India;
– on June 23, 2016, Federal Government would launch a Presidential Technology Innovation Initiative targeted at 50 Nigerians
engaged in innovative start-ups to be mentored by major technology innovation companies
– bursary award to 100,000 STEM undergraduates developing their interest in programming, robotic and animation technology,
in addition to deploying technology in the training of the 500,000 teachers that are expected to be employed under the social
investment of government this year,
– VP’s Office to institute a literary prize in poetry and short stories during independence anniversary to encourage field of
humanity/arts

Prof. Osinbajo also used the occasion to implore millions of youths in the country to join the vanguard for change under “a New Tribe of Nigerians” saying “we must not blink, no shaking until we turn this country around.”

Earlier, the Vice President commended the conveners of the platform, Pastor Poju Oyemade and his team for their tenacity and unwavering belief in the nation’s development. He noted that “the Platform has through the years become a foremost opportunities for ideas and intellectual innovations in Nigeria.”

See how Ambode , Tinubu ,Osoba rocked Jazz Festival in Lagos

 Ambode, Tinubu, Osoba rocked Jazz Festival

Published on May 1, 2016 by pmnews

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); his Wife, Bolanle; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his Wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during an evening of Jazz Music with the Governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Saturday, April 30, 2016.

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A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Senator Gbenga Ashafa were among dignitaries that graced the Lagos international Jazz Festival hosted on Saturday night by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The event was in commemoration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Jazz Day which held on 30 April of each year.

The event was tagged “Evening of Jazz”.

R-L: Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his Wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during an evening of Jazz Music with the Governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Saturday, April 30, 2016.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); his Wife, Bolanle; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his Wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during an evening of Jazz Music with the Governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Saturday, April 30, 2016.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); his Wife, Bolanle (middle); Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Wife of former Governor Ogun State, Mrs. Derin Osoba and her husband, Aremo Olusegun Osoba during an evening of Jazz Music with the Governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Saturday, April 30, 2016