Precious EsobePrecious Esobe

2023 CAF Award, Full List of Winners

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CAF 2023 AWARD

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held its 2023 awards on Monday, December 11, 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. Below is the full list of winners at the 2023 CAF Awards: 2023 Men’s Player of the Year – Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) 2023 Women’s Player of the Year – Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) 2023 Men’s Coach of the Year – Walid Regragui (Morocco) 2023 Women’s Coach of the Year – Desiree Ellis (South Africa) Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Yassine Bounou (Morocco) Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) Read also: Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Amotekun Arrest 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo Goal of the Year – Mahmoud Kahraba’s 2023 National Team of the Year (MEN) – Morocco 2023 National Team of the Year (WOMEN) – Super Falcons (Nigeria) 2023 Men’s Young Player of the Year – Lamine Camara (Senegal) 2023 Women’s Young Player of the Year – Nesryne El Chad (Morocco) 2023 Men’s Interclub Player of the Year – Percy Tau (South Africa) 2023 Women’s Interclub Player of the Year – Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco) 2023 Club of the Year (MEN) – Al Ahly (Egypt) 2023 Club of the Year (WOMEN) – Sundowns Ladies (South Africa)

Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community

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Legislators

The Legislators’ Northern Caucus has promised the citizens of Kaduna State N350 million on Monday, 11th December 2023, to help restore Tudun Biri, a hamlet in Kaduna State that was unintentionally bombed by the Nigerian Army last week. A bomb that was meant to drive out criminals from Tudun Biri, in Kaduna State‘s Igabi Local Government Area, went off target, killing an estimated 120 innocent persons and injured numerous others. Alhassan Doguwa, the leader of the Northern House Caucus, declared on Monday, 11th December 2023, that he planned to travel to the region to offer condolences to the families and survivors. The legislators expressed their condemnation of the tragedy and their willingness to support the government in restoring normalcy to the area in a statement that the Kano congressman personally signed. “The Northern caucus has announced a monetary donation of Mr. Speaker and that of the Northern regional caucus of the Federal House of Representatives amounting to the sum of N45 million cash,” the statement said in part. Read Also: Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster “The Northern caucus is to provide for various developmental projects ranging from the provision of health care facilities, blocks of classrooms, water boreholes, and a community town hall worth N350 million to support the Federal Government’s efforts in rebuilding the community.” Even as they bemoaned the ongoing violent campaigns by bandits and other criminal elements throughout the nation, the legislators praised “The charitable commitment of the Nigerian military and other security agencies for their patriotic commitments to combat the upsurge of insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities that plagued some parts of the country.” “Against the backdrop of such unshakable recurrent mishaps, the caucus has resolved to pay a condolence visit to commiserate with the government, and the leaders of the Tudun Biri community on Monday, 11th December 2023 to commiserate with survivors of the unfortunate incident,” the lawmakers said. “The purpose of the visit is to obtain firsthand accounts of the events that occurred and to enable the collection of valuable data to prevent such incidents in the future. “The caucus applauds the Tinubu-led Federal Government for addressing victims’ welfare and reaching out to them promptly.” The legislators have agreed to follow up with the Federal Government to make sure the victims and the community receive the proper compensation that the federal government promised. The legislators are prepared to offer the compensation’s legal foundation and to make sure that the compensation plan fairly represents the family of the deceased. The statement went on, “The caucus thanks the Government and governor of Kaduna State for keeping to their responsibility of protecting law and order in the state and appeals to the affected community and the leaders to remain calm and law-abiding.”

Amotekun Arrests 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo

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Amotekun

On Monday, 11th December 2023, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun, paraded no less than sixty-two individuals who are purportedly involved in a range of criminal operations around the state. The suspects were detained in several locations throughout the state’s eighteen local government districts, according to the state security corps. The State Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, paraded the suspects at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, the State Capital, and explained that the arrests were a part of the corps’ efforts to make sure the holiday season was free of crime. He claimed that with the help of other sister security agencies, Amotekun was able to make the arrests. Read also: Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued  NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community “Distress calls received, surveillance activities of Amotekun men, and all the security agencies in the state, inclusive of the Police, the NSCDC, the DSS, and the Nigeria Army, in various joint operations, led to the arrest of these suspected criminals,” Adeleye stated. “This ember month patrol is strategic because we are committed to ensuring the safety of people travelling via the state’s highways as well as the lives and property within Ondo State. All told, we were successful in apprehending roughly fifteen kidnappers. A few of them were armed.” “However, the sharp-eyed agents managed to apprehend a few of them, particularly in Akure North Local Government’s Ala/Dada/Ago Oyinbo axis. Additionally, there are some alleged kidnappers terrorising the Elegbeka axis in the state’s Ose LGA. Among them are armed robbers who were actually apprehended in the city of Akure as well as individuals who specialise in shoplifting.” The commander mentioned that one Usman Garuba, who was detained on charges of kidnapping and arson, was among the suspects. It was claimed that the suspect, an ex-convict, had set fire to a community. “Garuba was apprehended in the vicinity of the Ala/Dada/Ago-Oyinbo axis. He has successfully abducted more than nine victims and demanded a ransom. He once led five other people back to a village at night and set a community on fire because the villagers had tried to resist him. Thus, he is in our care and was previously incarcerated,” Adeleye said.

NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster

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Aisha Bello

The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) lost one of its veteran newscasters, Aisha Bello Mustapha. The news of her passing broke out in the early hours of Monday, 11 December 2023. The journalist passed away in Abuja following a brief illness.  In the 1990s and 2000s, Aisha was a well-liked face on NTA network. Zainab Sabo, a family friend, who verified the death said that she will be buried later in the day in accordance with Islamic customs. Read also: Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued Legislators Promise e N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community “On Monday, 11 December 2023, the funeral prayer will be held at Abuja Central Mosque.”  Zainab said, “Mama (Aisha) is indeed dead, and we are going to miss her, and we pray God bless her soul.” However, the illness which led to her death is yet unknown.  The late journalist spent 35 years working in the media profession until her retirement in May 2022.

Advertising:10 Tips to Creating Effective Advertising Contents

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Advertising

Advertising is a marketing approach that uses a captivating message to urge people to take action in order to promote and sell items or services. Advertising’s goal is to impact people’s views and behaviours towards a product or service by using multiple mediums such as print, television, radio, web, outdoor billboards, and social media. Advertising works by capturing people’s attention with a compelling message that speaks to their wants and desires. Emotional appeals, humour, celebrity endorsements, narrative, and other strategies are used by advertisers to produce a persuasive message. The goal is to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and increase sales by communicating the benefits and value of the product or service. Advertising can also target specific populations based on demographics, interests, and behaviours. This article is, therefore, aimed at revealing how to create appealing and effective contents that will create good awareness to businesses and also foster growth.  10 Tips to Creating Effective Advertising Content There are numerous crucial components to creating appealing and memorable advertising messaging. Consider the following strategies: Understand your intended audience: Understand who you’re attempting to target, as well as their needs, desires, and preferences. Conduct market research and create customer profiles to obtain insight into the demographics, behaviours, and motives of your target consumer. Tell an engaging story: Storytelling is a strong method for emotionally connecting with others. Create a story about your product or service that is relatable, memorable, and appealing to your target audience. Engage your audience by using tales, humour, or real circumstances. Emphasise benefits and unique selling points (USPs): Communicate the value and benefits of your product or service clearly. Emphasise your uniqueness to distinguish yourself from competitors. To back up your claims, use convincing language and actual examples or facts. Create a powerful title or hook: A strong headline or tagline that piques interest will capture attention and stimulate curiosity. Make it memorable, brief, and powerful. To differentiate yourself from the competitors, consider using wordplay, humour, or emotional responses. Make use of imagery and graphics: Make use of eye-catching, high-quality visuals that reinforce your message. Images, movies, or graphics can frequently more successfully convey emotions, advantages, or ideas than words alone. Make sure your images are consistent with your brand and leave a lasting impact. Keep it basic and to the point: Avoid overloading your audience with too much information or complex thoughts. Concentrate on conveying a clear and straightforward message that can be easily comprehended and recalled. Avoid using jargon or technical phrases that may confuse or alienate your readers. Be honest and relatable: Make an effort to develop a true and sympathetic relationship with your audience. Demonstrate empathy, comprehension, and real-life scenarios that represent their experiences. Make your commercials more relatable and trustworthy by using real people or relatable characters. Use repetition and consistency: Use comparable imagery, taglines, or themes to create consistency across your advertising campaigns. Repetition helps to strengthen and remember your message. However, avoid becoming overly repetitive to the point of discomfort. Call to action: Give your audience a clear and appealing call to action that tells them what you want them to do. Whether it’s completing a purchase, signing up for a subscription, or visiting your website, a persuasive and actionable message will lead people to the required action. Test and optimise: Monitor and measure the effectiveness of your advertising messages on a regularly. Conduct A/B testing to compare various techniques and identify the most effective strategies. Solicit input from your target audience and make changes based on what they say. It is important to remember that producing appealing and memorable advertising messaging is an iterative process. Making a lasting effect on your audience involves experimentation, innovation, and adaptability.    

7 Health Benefits of Afforestation

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7 Health Benefits of Afforestation

Do you know that the trees around our environment are beneficial to human health? Even though most people, including government institutions, have resort to bring down these trees, a process known as deforestation; however through afforestation we can bring back these trees and they can continue to provide us with such health benefits as immunity boost, air purification etc. Learn more about afforestation and its health benefits in this article. Afforestation is the process of creating a forest, or a stand of trees, in an area devoid of forests. It entails the intentional planting of trees in places that were previously devoid of trees or where the amount of forest cover has been reduced as a result of human activity like deforestation or natural disasters. It plays a significant role in promoting sustainable development, reversing climate change, and restoring ecosystems. It contributes to better biodiversity, prevents soil erosion, improves water quality, increases carbon sequestration, and offers communities a number of social and economic advantages. Large-scale efforts like creating new forests on enormous swaths of land can be accomplished by afforestation, as can smaller-scale initiatives like reforesting damaged land or urban greening. Health Importance of Afforestation Trees are essential to human health and welfare. The following are a few of their benefits to human health: 1. Air purifiers: Trees capture airborne particles and hazardous pollutants by absorbing carbon dioxide. A fully grown tree has the capacity to absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, improving human health and the quality of the air. 2. Stress reduction: The calming influence of trees on the body and mind lowers stress levels and elevates mood. Research have indicated that being in nature—especially around trees—can help lower anxiety and despair. 3. Better mental health: Children’s attention, memory, and cognitive function are all enhanced by trees, which also aid to lessen the symptoms of ADHD.  4. Natural cooling: Trees provide natural shading, which lowers the temperature in urban areas and cools the surrounding air. 5. Boost immunity: Studies have shown that exposure to nature, including trees, can boost the immune system and improve overall health. 6. Increase physical activity: Trees provide an attractive environment for outdoor recreation, which can increase physical activity and promote cardiovascular health. 7. Reduce noise pollution: Trees absorb sound, which reduces noise pollution in urban areas and can result in better sleep and less hearing loss. In summary, trees are vital to human health, its health importance can never be over emphasized, and should be protected and preserved for the future. Plant a tree today and improve your health tomorrow and for the future generation.

Writing: 7 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills

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Writing

Writing skill is the capacity to communicate successfully through written language. Effective writing uses language and syntax to express meaning, as well as style and tone to engage and connect with the reader. To be successful in a variety of disciplines, including education, business, and media, you need to be strong and master the art of pen. To do this successfully necessitates practice, a willingness to review, develop, and an understanding of language rules. Some Essential Writing Skills  Some essential skills include: Grammar and syntax: Correct grammar and sentence structure are used to communicate meaning.  Clarity is the ability to explain ideas in a clear and succinct manner. Tone and style: Using the right tone and style to interest the reader and convey the intended message. Coherence: The capacity to organize ideas and information logically. Creativity: Using one’s imagination and creativity to express ideas in a unique and captivating manner. Writing skills are critical for effective communication and professional success in today’s digital world. Strong writing abilities can help you stand out and communicate your ideas successfully, whether you’re writing an email, a blog post, or a business proposal. 7 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills Some practical ways to improve your writing skills includes Read Widely: The more you read, the more you’ll be exposed to different writing styles and different types of writing this can help you develop your writing style and improve your vocabulary and grammar. Practice Writing: Writing is a skill that requires practice. Set aside a few minutes each day to write something, whether it’s a journal entry, a blog post, or a short story. Edit your Work: After you’ve written something, go back and edit it. Look for grammar and spelling errors, and see if there are any sentences or paragraphs you can reword to make them clearer. Get Feedback: Share your writing with others and ask for their feedback. This could be a teacher, a friend, or an online writing group. Listen to their feedback and use it to improve your writing. Take Writing Courses: There are many online courses and workshops that can help you learn new writing techniques and improve your skills. Write for Different Audiences: Practice writing for different audiences, such as children, adults, or academics. This can help you develop your writing voice and improve your ability to tailor your writing to different audiences. Learn from Writing Experts: Read books and articles written by experts in the field of writing. You can learn a lot from their advice and tips. While writing skill is innate in some, others have to learn how to write. However, it is important to note that even an innate skill fades without practice, hence, the article provides us with some practical ways and tips on how to Improve our writing skill so as to remain on top of our game. Note that this article did not exhaust all the tips that will aid in writing skill development, however, the few noted here are essential.

We Can Make the World Better With Love

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Love Can Make the World Better

Children, parents, adults, blinds, young and old, soldiers, civilians, politicians, etc. all wish to live in a better world devoid of war, and other atrocities. However, attention is not given to an important aspect of life that would be helpful in achieving peace in the world. This aspect of human life is love. Love can make our world a better place. This article, therefore explores how love can make the world a better place.   Love has been defined in various ways. Good Therapy defined love as “A mix of emotions, behaviours, and beliefs associated with strong feelings of affection, protectiveness, warmth, and respect for another person. Love can also be used to apply to non-human animals, to principles, and religious beliefs”. Love involves powerful emotion towards people, animals, things, ideas etc. Here are some ways that love can influence the state of the world making it a better place: Ways that Love Can Make the World Better Compassion and empathy: Love fosters compassion and empathy towards others. When we love, we are more inclined to understand and feel the experiences of others, leading to kindness and a desire to help those in need. Building relationships: Love forms the foundation for strong and meaningful relationships. Whether it’s love between family members, friends, or romantic partners, these relationships can create a support system and contribute to a sense of belonging and happiness. Resolving conflicts: Love promotes forgiveness, understanding, and compromise in resolving conflicts. When love is present, it becomes easier to find common ground, communicate effectively, and work towards peaceful resolutions. Spreading positivity and happiness: Acts of love and kindness have a ripple effect, spreading positivity and happiness. When we show love to others, it often creates a chain reaction, inspiring others to do the same and cultivate a more harmonious and compassionate world. Promoting unity and acceptance: Love transcends boundaries such as race, religion, and nationality. It encourages acceptance, respect, and inclusivity, bringing people together and fostering a sense of global unity and understanding. Inspiring change and social progress: Love can be a driving force for social change and progress. It motivates individuals to stand up for justice, equality, and human rights, creating a more just and equitable society. While love alone may not solve all the world’s problems, it plays a significant role in creating a better world by promoting empathy, compassion, kindness, and connection among individuals.    

EFCC Arrests Couple for N410m Fraud in Kano

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EFCC

Aisha Salihu Malkohi and her husband, Abubakar Mahmoud, have been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Aisha Mahmud of the Kano State High Court for defrauding Farida Ibrahim of N410,518,000. This was revealed on Monday, December 11, 2023, in a post made by the Financial Crimes agency on its X (formerly Twitter) account. The EFCC added that Malkohi’s arrest came about as a result of a petition filed by Ibrahim Mohammed Abdulrahman and Farida Ibrahim, who claimed that the pair had stolen their hard-earned money by pretending to give them automobiles and other goods from Saudi Arabia. However, when the defendants entered a not guilty plea to the offence that was read to them, Justice Mahmud decided to postpone the case to December 15th in order to consider the bail application. The statement read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Aisha Salihu Malkohi (a.k.a Ummitah, Arab Money) and her husband, Abubakar Abubakar Sadiq Mahmoud (at large) on five-count charges bordering on misappropriation of funds to the tune of N410,518,000 (Four Hundred and Ten Million, Five Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira only). “They were arraigned on Friday, December 8, 2023, before Justice Aisha Mahmud of the Kano State High Court sitting in Kano.” “One of the charges reads “that you Aisha Salihu Malkohi and Abubakar Sadiq Mahmoud (now at large) on or about 2022 in Kano, Kano state within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did obtain the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand Naira only (225,259,000) belonging to Farida Ibrahim between 6th January to 16th December 2022 into account bearing Abubakar Sadiq Mahmoud domiciled at Zenith Bank that the said money was paid to you for the purchase and supply of 64 cars, from Saudi Arabia facts which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1 (a) & (b) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offenses Act,2006”. “The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the five counts when they were read to her. “In view of her plea, EFCC counsel, Zarami Mohammed prayed to the court for a trial date. Defence counsel, G.I Abubakar moved a bail application for his client which was opposed by Mohammed. Justice Mahmud thereafter adjourned the matter till December 15, 2023, for a ruling on the bail application. She also remanded the defendant in EFCC custody pending a ruling on her bail application.” “Malkohi was arrested by investigators of the EFCC in Kano following a petition from two petitioners, Farida Ibrahim and Ibrahim Mohammed Abdulrahman alleging that she conspired with her husband and defrauded them of their hard-earned monies under the guise of supplying them with cars, gold, electronics and kitchen utensils from Saudi Arabia.” “Upon the receipt of the petition, the Commission swung into action and conducted a thorough investigation which so far revealed that the defendant had collected a total sum of N410,518,000 (Four Hundred and Ten Million, Five Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira only) through bank accounts belonging to her company, Golden Grass Hill International Ltd and her husband’s Zenith Bank account. Further investigation also revealed that the defendant, alongside her husband, who is still at large, diverted the monies into several bank accounts.”

Tinubu Dismissed FAAN, NAMA, NSIB, NIMET DGs

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Tinubu

Several Director Generals (DGs) of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development were dismissed by President Bola Tinubu yesterday, December 13, 2023. The President also stated their replacements. Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Advisor on Media and Publicity, revealed the information in a statement yesterday, December 13, 2023, in Abuja. According to the statement, the action was in keeping with President Tinubu’s resolve to elevate Nigerian civil aviation to international standards in terms of consumer protection and the advancement of the welfare of Nigerian travellers and other sector players. The statement reads: “Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Kabir Mohammed, has been removed from office and replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku as the substantive Managing Director of the FAAN.” “Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA), Mr. Tayib Odunowo, has been removed from office and replaced with Engr. Umar Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of NAMA.” “Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr. Akinola Olateru, has been removed from office and replaced with Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. as the substantive Director-General of NSIB.” “Director-General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Matazu, has been removed from office and replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of NIMET.” “Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Alkali Modibbo, has been removed from office and replaced with Mr. Joseph Imalighwe as the acting Rector of NCAT, pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, in accordance with Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022.” “Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, has been suspended from office to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to conduct an unfettered investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials in NCAA. Capt. Chris Najomo assumes office as the Acting Director-General of NCAA immediately.” In addition, President Tinubu gave his approval for the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to start a thorough hiring process for a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) main executives. The President expects the new leadership in this crucial area to treat the security, comfort, and convenience of the Nigerian people as paramount and inviolable in all of their administrative actions. He also wants the rapid construction of world-class policy design, execution, and regulatory frameworks to reposition the industry in line with his renewed hope agenda due to the significant cost of underperformance in the sector. The President’s orders listed above are all effective right now.