Ministers are round pegs in round holes, says President

President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled his cabinet yesterday. He heads the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as minister. Thirty-six other ministers took the oath of office.

The portfolio of the others are Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers)—Transportation, Chris Ngige (Anambra)—Labour and Employment, Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti)—Solid Minerals, Babatunde Fashola (Lagos)—Power, Works and Housing and Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano)—Interior.

Others are: Aisha Alhassan (Taraba)—Women Affairs, Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi)—Science and Technology, Kemi Adeosun (Ogun)—Finance, Abubakar Malami (Kebbi)—Justice, Hadi Sirika (Katsina)—Minister of State for Aviation, Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa)—Water Resources, Solomon Dalong (Plateau)—Youths and Sports, Ibe Kachikwu (Delta)—State for Petroleum.

Also sworn in are Osagie Ehanire (Edo)—Minister of State for Health, Audu Ogbeh (Benue)—Agriculture, Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom)—Budget and National Planning, Lai Mohammed (Kwara)—Information, Amina Mohammed (Gombe)—Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Nasarawa)—State, Environment

Others are: Anthony Onwuka (Imo), State for Education, Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa)—FCT, Adamu Adamu (Bauchi)—Education, Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia)—Industry Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto) State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Khadija Bukar Abba (Yobe), State for Foreign Affairs

Other portfolios include Claudius Daramola (Ondo)—State, Niger Delta, Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu)—Foreign Affairs, Monsur Dan-Ali (Zamfara)—Defence, James Ocholi (Kogi), State for Labour, Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), State for Budget, Mustapha Shehuri (Borno)—State for Power, Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)—State for Agric, Isaac Adewole Folorunsho (Osun)—Health, Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River)— Niger Delta, Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger)—State for Solid Minerals, Adebayo Shittu (Oyo)—Communications and Muhammadu Buhari—Petroleum.

The inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) came over five months after President Buhari took office.

Buhari urged the cabinet members to bring the desired change to Nigerians.

He said: “The ministries have been rationalised and reduced to 24. Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them, not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions.”

Despite the various challenges facing the nation, including terrorism, kidnapping and failing oil prices, he maintained that his administration had made progress in the past five months.

Stressing that he was running an “inclusive” government, Buhari said the government’s business is now conducted transparently.

According to him, the Treasury Single Account (TSA)introduced by the government is now making more money available for government business.

Of the ministers, he said round pegs are now put in round holes.

Said the President: “Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited.

“We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world.  And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country.”

He went on: “I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities.

“Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.

“With the inauguration of ministers, our government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect of the economy and in other areas.  While working hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of a sharp decline in the price for the commodity, we are determined to diversify the economy in agriculture to enhance employment and explore solid minerals as a major revenue earner.

He said that the primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items as well as solid minerals.

According to him, his administration intends to pursue policies that will generate massive employment for millions of Nigerian youths.

On security and corruption, Buhari said: “We shall also continue with greater determination and focus to pursue our goal of ensuring improved security for our country and its citizens, and without letting up on our fight against corruption.

“Our commitment to defeat Boko Haram and all the threats it constitutes remains as strong as ever.  So is our resolve to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigerians.

“While recognising the challenges we face and the need to surmount them, let us not fail to note the progress we have made in the short life of this government, as an indication of how much better we can do as a people driven by patriotism and a common resolve to do things right.

“On the moral sphere, trust is slowly but steadily being re-established between the government and the people. Now, when the government speaks, the people listen; and when the people’s expectations are not met, they appreciate that it is not for lack of commitment or trying on the part of government. In effect, government business is now being conducted with transparency and cynicism is waning as a result.”

On the TSA, Buhari said: “The Treasury Single Account has resulted in the blocking of financial leakages in the public sector, making more funds available for the business of governance and ensuring the welfare of our citizens.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has also assisted more than 30 states of the federation with concessionary loans to offset salary arrears for their workers.  On the monetary side, the CBN has also implemented country-specific and innovative policies that have helped to stabilise the exchange rate and conserve our reserves.

“Over all, our economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive growth.  Regardless of the present challenges we are confronting, I believe all Nigerians will keep hope alive and sustain their optimism about the future of our economic well being.”

At the ceremony were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Mahmoud Mohammed.

Also at the ceremony were the National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and APC National Leader Chief Bisi Akande.

The inaugural Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was held in the Council Chamber shortly after the ceremony.

Checkout Nigeria New Ministers And Various Ministries Where They Will Work

 The president, Mahammadu Buhari read out their various ministries after they have taken their oaths today Find full list below...
QuoteAbubakar Malami- Minister of Justice
Geoffrey Onyeama- Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mohammed Dan Ali- Minister f Defence
Adamu Adamu- Minister of Education
Anthony Anwuka- State minister of Education
Kemi Adeosun- Minister of Finance
Okechukwu Enelemah- Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
Aisha Abubakar- State minister Industry, Trade and Investment
Chris Ngige- Minister of Labor and Employment
James Ocholi- State Minister of Labor and Employment
Mohammed Bello- FCT Minister
Abdulrahman Dambazzau- Interior Minister
Udoma Udo Udoma- Minister of Budget and National Planning
Zainab Ahmed- State Minister Budget and National Planning
Emmanuel Ibe Kachiukwu- State Minister Petroleum resources
Babatubde Fashola- Minister of Power, Works and Housing
Mustapha Shehuri- State minister Power, Works, and Housing
Audu Ogbeh- Minister of Agriculture and Rural development
Heineken Lokpobiri- State minister Agriculture and Rural Development
Chibuike Amaechi- Minister of Transportation
Hadi Sirika- State Minister Aviation
Isaac Folorunsho Adeoye- Minister of Health
Osagie Ehanire- State Minister Health
Aisha Alhassan- Minister of Women Affairs
Usani Uguru- Minister Niger Delta Affairs
Claudius Omoyele Daramola - State minister Niger Delta Affairs
Adebayo sh*ttu- Minister of Communication
Lai Mohammed- Minister of Information
Amina Mohammed - Minister of Environment
Ibrahim Jibrin- State Minister of Environment
Suleiman Adamu- Minister of Water Resources
Solomon Dalong- Minister of Youths and Sports
Kayode Fayemi- Minister of Solid Mineral
Abubakar Bwari- State Minister Solid Minerals
Ogbonnaya Onu- Minister of Science and Technology 

Genevieve Nnaji screens new movie, Road to Yesterday

          Genevieve Nnaji

IT was a gathering of movie pundits on Tuesday as star actress, Genevieve Nnaji, played host to the media for a screening of her very first movie, Road to Yesterday at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lekki,

Addressing the gathering, director of the movie, Ishaya Bako, said that making a movie of such magnitude was a pretty interesting experience. “I would say I am blessed with a very fantastic cast and crew and people that were very dedicated to creating a story like this. It is not really an everyday story which was really risky but at the end of the day, we tried to stay true to the story,” he said.

A movie about intrigues and the intricacies of a stormy marriage, Road to Yesterday explores several storytelling techniques that snowball into one all-revealing road trip. Produced in partnership with Africa Magic, the movie tells the story of a couple in a shaky marriage. To make things work, they have to visit the past to unearth secrets which further weakens their shaky foundation.

Regional Director, Mnet Africa Magic, Wangi Mba-Uzokwu, described the movie as one great production. “At Africa Magic, this is part of what we do. We invest in talent; we invest back in the industry. One of our focus is building an industry, obviously starting from Nollywood in Nigeria and then going out to the rest of Africa. We are really proud to be a part of this exciting project. We saw it as it was developing and decided to partner in a co-production capacity and it is something that we will keep doing,” she stated.

Co-producer of the film, Chinny Onwugbenu, stated that one of the missions of Road to Yesterday is to tell the Nigerian story our own way. “That was why we did this. We are proud of Road to Yesterday. I think it is a way to tell the African story now because we do experience love, heartbreaks and difficulties in marriages. We made sure to invest in Nollywood. We are going to be on Netflix, we are going to be on a couple of global platforms,” Chinny said.

https://youtu.be/lHdLRrUocOA

Brain composition and function and why we need good brain nutrition

More than ever before in history, the human brain needs to function well and has many more functions to do than before.  On the other hand, what we eat, drink, breathe, or consume in various ways in the twenty first century is very different from what our ancestors consumed. With an average person living in an industrialized country consuming an estimated 4 kilograms of food additives per year (http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/d/diet/), how does feeding affect brain function?  There are clearly recognized brain degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and brain cancer.  There are also functional disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, confusion, loss of memory, mania, the violent brain, the sluggard brain, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, sexuality disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, etc.  Ultimately, brain disorders define personalities or result in personality changes and social disorders. How much of brain degeneration or dysfunction is due to the kind of food consumed?  How can we eat to keep the brain functioning well?  Surely, the internal physical and chemical conditions within the brain matter. The structure and functions of the brain are well summed up by Daniel Chiras in Human Biology, Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

The brain controls the internal biological rhythms of each person.  The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is thought to be the master clock, the automatic timer of many body functions. The pineal gland in the brain secretes a hormone that controls the SCN. Modern life and the environmental factors that it brings to us can affect our natural brain regulatory functions. Our bodies, including the brain, are ever tending towards a balance, a process called homeostasis. The more well-fed and fit we are, the better our balancing.

Life is full of cycles.  Some are general, e.g. the sleep-wake cycle; some are sex-related, e.g. the menstrual cycle in women.  Life itself is a cycle from the dependent infancy, the transformed adolescence, the mature adulthood, to the waning geriatric.  The brain naturally plays a great part in all these changes.

The brain maintains ordinary vital functions such as breathing and the functioning of the heart.  The breathing  center in the medulla of the brain is the principal controller of breathing.There are many centers in the brain that control various aspects of life. The nerve fibers in the brain operate through conduction of electrical and chemical signals.

The largest mass of the brain, the cerebrum, forms 80% of the brain.  The cerebral hemispheres are involved with signal integration, sensory reception, and motor action. The cerebrum controls voluntary movements in the body, receives sensory information from the body, forms associations of  signals, produces complex intellectual activities such as planning and ideation, and stores memories of past sensations. Specific cortical areas function in hearing, vision, taste, and smell.  The cerebrum principally deals with functions that are under our consciousness.

The other parts of the brain: the cerebellum, hypothalamus, and brain stem regulate functions that are not primarily under consciousness, such as the heartbeat, breathing, and various hormonal, neuronal, and organic homeostatic functions. The cerebellum controls the synergy of the body’s muscles and helps to maintain posture.  When damaged, the victim can suffer from such conditions as spasticity, or jerkiness. The hypothalamus controls many autonomic functions such as appetite, body temperature, water balance, blood pressure, and sexual activity.  It controls the pituitary gland which produces many hormones that regulate various body functions. Working with the hypothalamus, is the limbic system which is the site of instinctive behavior and emotion.  Instincts preserve life: a woman’s protective urge over her children, a man’s territorial assertion, and the fight-or-flight response to danger are all fundamental. Emotions such as fear, anger, hatred, love, pleasure, anxiety, happiness, etc., are regular responses in life.  The brain stem with its reticular activating system (RAS) controls many body functions in conjunction with the hypothalamus and also regulates swallowing, coughing, vomiting and digestive functions.  The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord. The RAS projects into the cortex and controls information to the cortex.

The brain is cushioned by meninges containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the protective skull. Infections and toxins can affect the meninges and CSF, causing meningitis.

The brain continually functions in learning and short-term and long-term memory, in the consolidation of short term memory into long term memory, and in the recall or remembering of information.   The brain is also important for processing pain and avoidance of danger.  The brain’s electrical activity is measured by the electroencephalogram which depicts various waves and these are seen to vary during sleep and wakefulness.

Naturally, the brain is complex and important and every human being is dependent on its well-being and good functioning for living his or her best life.  Unnatural realities of modern life also require our brains to be fit.  There is a lot of evil in the world and we are constantly bombarded by it and our brains need to remain normal through good nutrition and mental fitness in thinking and prayer.  You never know when you would meet the effects of climate change and artificial atmospheric radiation or the “fallen man”: a cheating cashier,  a devil-like stalker,  a manic predator, a poisoning rival, a wicked saboteur,  a stupid vandal,  a  malicious oppressor, a hate-filled fanatic, an evil eye, a bad mouth, destructive envy, careless greed, a corrupt official, a disloyal member, a scheming banker, an atrocious fraudster,  a freakish  religionist, a dangerous zombie, an unchecked ideologist, a pathologic liar, a perfect player, a reckless capitalist, a heartless opportunist, etc.  No, I am not compiling an encyclopedia of evil.  In fact, each of us may wear one or more of these caps every now and then or even continually.  The beast in the world is real and we may all play predator and we may all play prey.  Many people end up with some form of mental illness actively or passively.  Presently, nearly 1 in 5 Americanssuffers from mental illness each year (http://www.newsweek.com/nearly-1-5-americans-suffer-mental-illness-each-year-230608).  What about the developing world lacking good statistics.  The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2001 that about 450 million people worldwide suffer from some form of mental disorder or brain condition, and that one in four people meet criteria at some point in their life (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_mental_disorders). The best prophylaxis the world needs is for each of us totryto be our best selves and to be mentally fit for restraint or response rather than to allow evil to reign inside or outside of us.  We will examine nutrition for the brain as a factor of mental fitness.

Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

Swaziland, Nigeria World Cup Qualifier: Oliseh arrives Sunday with five pros

• As Eagles depart Swaziland 7am next Thursday

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh is expected to arrive Nigeria from Belgium on Sunday (November 8) where he has been recuperating from a viral infection. The Eagles coach will fly in with five of the  foreign-based players invited for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Sihlangu Semnikati Swaziland on November 13, an official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said.

The official who refused to disclose the names of the players hinted that the six home-based players invited by the coach will also hit the team’s Abuja camp on the same day.

“Let us forget who the players are for now and focus on the match,” said the official.

Oliseh will take charge of the team’s training after a two-week compulsory rest in Belgium as advised by his doctors.

Meanwhile, Eagles will travel next Thursday aboard a chartered Arik aircraft to Swaziland for the encounter that will be played at 7pm at the Somhlolo Stadium.

The team will fly straight from the FCT capital at 7am. 24 players were invited for the double header by Oliseh.

How ICT impacted MDGs in 15 years

Recently, the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda was held in New York with a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly. The  summit was also meant for governments to make their final assessment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which global leaders agreed upon in the year 2000. It is evident that in the past 15 years, the ICT revolution has not only impacted on the MDGs but driven global development in an unprecedented way.

The Wired World: A graphic representation of the Internet

According to ITU study on ICTs,  the report indicated that ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society. Experts say technological progress, infrastructure deployment, and falling prices have brought unexpected growth in ICT access and connectivity to billions of people around the world.

For instance, statistics have shown that in 2015 alone, there are more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, up from less than 1 billion in 2000. Out of this number, 3.2 billion people globally are said to be using the internet of which 2 billion are from developing countries.

Internet  penetration

Globally, the ITU study showed that 3.2 billion people are using the internet and expected to do so by end 2015, out of which 2 billion are from developing countries. For every internet user in the developed world, the report said there were about two in the developing world. However, about 4 billion people from developing countries are said to have remained offline, representing 2/3 of the population residing in developing countries.

Of the 940 million people living in the least developed countries (LDCs), only 89 million use the Internet, corresponding to a 9.5 per cent penetration rate. Specific achievements in the last 15 years of ICT growth

Mobile cellular subscriptions

The report postulated that by end 2015, there will be more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions, corresponding to a penetration rate of 97 per cent, up from 738 million in 2000, an indication that global internet penetration grew 7 fold from 6.5 per cent to 43 per cent between 2000 and 2015.

Mobile broadband

In a similar trend, mobile broadband is said to be the most dynamic market segment; globally, reaching 47 per cent penetration in 2015, a value that increased 12 times since 2007.

 Household with Internet

The proportion of households with internet access at home recorded another substantial growth which increased from 18 per cent in 2005 to 46 per cent in 2015.

Fixed broadband

On the contrary, the fixed-broadband uptake is said to be growing at a slower pace, with a 7 per cent annual increase over the past three years and is expected to reach 11 per cent penetration by end 2015.  The report also revealed that the proportion of the population covered by a 2G mobile-cellular network equally grew within the same period from 58 per in 2001 to 95 per cent in 2015.

3G mobile broadband

The 3G mobile broadband coverage, according to the ITU survey is extending rapidly and into the rural areas. 1n 2011 alone, 3G recorded 45 per cent population coverage out of world population of 7 billion. In 2015, its population coverage hit 69 per cent out of world population of 7.4 billion and rural population coverage hit 29 per cent out of world rural population of 3.4 billion people. This is also as its urban population coverage hit 89 per cent out of world population of 4 billion.

The Digital Divide in 2015

By end 2015, 34 per cent of households in developing countries are expected to have internet access, compared with more than 80 per cent in developed countries. In least developed countries (LDCs), only 7 per cent of households is estimated to have internet access, compared with the world average of 46 per cent. While, internet penetration in developing countries stands at 35 per cent; LDCs lag behind with only 10 per cent.

In Africa, one in every 5 people is said to be using the internet in 2015, compared to almost 2 in 5 people in Asia and Pacific, and 3 in 5 people in the CIS. However, it was further revealed that mobile-broadband penetration levels are highest in Europe and the Americas, at around 78 active subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Africa is the only region where mobile broadband penetration is found to have remained below 20 per cent, with fixed-broadband penetration standing at less than 1 per cent in LDCs. Africa and the Arab States stand out as the regions with the fewest fixed-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, at less than 1 and less than 4, respectively.

Broadband now affordable in 111 countries

The study recorded that in 2014, the price of fixed or mobile broadband plan corresponds to less than 5 per cent of average growth (GNI) per capital in 111 countries, thus meeting the Broadband Commission target. The global average price of a basic fixed-broadband plan (52$) is 1.7 times higher than the average price of a comparable mobile-broadband plan of (30$).

In developing countries, average monthly fixed-broadband prices (in $) are 3 times higher than in developed countries; mobile-broadband prices are twice as expensive as in developed countries.

Fixed broadband subscriptions

According to the survey, fixed-broadband uptake remained slow in developing countries and particularly in LDCs, where penetration rates stood at 7 per cent and less than 1 per cent, respectively. While the prices of fixed-broadband plans dropped sharply between 2008 and 2011, especially in developing countries, they have been stagnating since then and even increased slightly in LDC.

FIFA accepts 7 presidential candidates, David Nakhid excluded

FIFA has accepted seven presidential candidates to stand to replace incumbent Joseph Blatter at an extraordinary congress in 2016, excluding former player David Nakhid, the world football governing body said on Wednesday.

An online statement did not give specific reasons for not accepting the bid of Nakhid, a former Trinidad and Tobago international, saying only that FIFA’s member associations have proposed, in due time and form, seven candidates.

Gianni Infantino, the general secretary of the sport’s European organization UEFA, Bahraini royal family member Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Liberian football association head, Musa Bility confirmed their bids on deadline day.

Also standing are UEFA president Michel Platini, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, South African businessman and apartheid-era political prisoner Tokyo Sexwale and ex-FIFA official Jerome Champagne.

Platini was the favourite before being suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee for 90 days along with Blatter, awaiting an investigation into a 2 million Swiss franc (2.06 million dollars) payment by FIFA to the former France player in 2011.

Due to his ban, Platini would not yet have his candidacy processed by the committee in charge of the election. “Should such a ban be lifted or expire before the FIFA presidential election, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee would decide.

“Also, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidature concerned,’’ the statement said. However, the other six were to be assessed by the committee and would undergo integrity checks carried out by the investigatory chamber of the FIFA ethics committee. The election will take place at an extraordinary FIFA congress in Zurich on Feb. 26, 2016.

Should I stop eating meat? No need, experts say

The UN’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) warned Monday that processed meats like sausages and ham cause bowel cancer, and red meat “probably” does too.

Does this mean we should stop eating meat?

By the IARC’s own account, meat has “known health benefits”.

And the agency says it does not know what a safe meat quota would be — or even if there is one.

Other specialists insist the report is no reason to drop steak from the menu, though it is probably wise for big eaters of it to cut back.

Meat is a good source of key nutrients like zinc, protein and vitamin B12, they point out, as well as iron, which humans absorb more easily from meat than from plants.

“This decision doesn’t mean you need to stop eating any red and processed meat,” said Tim Key, an epidemiologist at Cancer Research UK.

“But if you eat lots of it, you may want to think about cutting down. You could try having fish for your dinner rather than sausages, or choosing to have a bean salad for lunch over a BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich).”

Nutritionist Elizabeth Lund from Norfolk in England said obesity and lack of exercise were a far bigger cancer risks.

“Overall, I feel that eating meat once a day combined with plenty of fruit, vegetable and cereal fibre plus exercise and weight control, will allow for a low risk of CRC,” she said, referring to colo-rectal cancer.

“It should also be noted that some studies have shown that if meat is consumed with vegetables or a high-fibre diet, the risk of CRC is reduced.”

Ian Johnson of the UK-based Institute of Food Research, said meat consumption was “probably one of many” factors contributing to relatively high rates of bowel cancer in the United States, Western Europe and Australia — parts of the developed world where more meat has traditionally been eaten.

However, “there is little or no evidence that vegetarians in the UK have lower risk of bowel cancer than meat-eaters,” he said.

The specialists point out that the cancer risk posed by a meaty diet was statistically much lower than other factors like tobacco smoking and air pollution.

The IARC report “does not mean… that eating bacon is as bad as smoking,” said University of Reading nutrition expert Gunter Kuhnle.

“Processed meat can be part of a healthy lifestyle — smoking can’t”.

According to the World Health Organization, bowel cancer is the third most common type, with some 900,000 new cases every year, and 500,000 deaths.

Generally, dietary advice is to limit red-meat intake to once or twice a week, said nutrition professor Tom Sanders of King’s College London — the equivalent of about two steaks or three hamburgers.

“The problem with this issue is that food is not like tobacco — we have to eat something.”

Water down your cancer risk with watermelon

Watermelon is a “wonder fruit” and the perfect example of food that can help you stay hydrated. The juice is full of good electrolytes, not only great on a hot day, but also helps to quench the inflammation that contributes to conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, and even cancer.

                                                                                                                                                                        Watermelon contains mostly water but the refreshing fruit is loaded with goodness. Each juicy bite is loaded with powerful nutrients. Like other fruits and vegetables, watermelons may be helpful in reducing the risk of cancer through their antioxidant properties.

Most of the most important antioxidants in nature, such as vitamin C (which boosts the immune system), vitamin A (which maintains eye health), and vitamin B6 (which augments brain function), are found in watermelon.

Two important anticancer agents, carotenoid and lycopene are are present in high quantities in watermelons. As a matter of fact, watermelon has the highest concentration of lycopene of any known fresh fruit or vegetable.

Lycopene is a phytonutrient, which is a naturally occurring compound in fruits and vegetables that reacts with the human body to trigger healthy reactions. It is also the red pigment that gives watermelons, tomatoes, red grapefruits and guavas their colour. Scientists have taken notice of watermelon’s high lycopene levels.

Lycopene has been widely studied in humans and found to be protective against prostate, lung, colorectal, endometrial, and breast cancers. Lycopene has also been shown to help prevent heart disease. It has also been linked with heart health, bone health and prostate cancer prevention. It’s also a powerful antioxidant thought to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Watermelon’s high levels of lycopene are very effective at protecting cells from damage and may help lower risk of heart disease. The lycopene in watermelon makes it an anti-inflammatory fruit. Lycopene is an inhibitor for various inflammatory processes and also works as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals.

To really maximize your lycopene intake, let your watermelon fully ripen. The redder your watermelon gets, the higher the concentration of lycopene becomes. Beta-carotene and phenolic antioxidant content also increase as the watermelon ripens. Nevertheless, all parts of the watermelon are good. There are a lot of nutrients throughout, including the white flesh nearest the rind.

Watermelons are rich in electrolytes (sodium and potassium), nourishing the body by not only replacing the electrolytes lost through sweat, but also by hydrating cells and maintaining the water balance. And because of the higher water content and lower calorie content than many other fruits, watermelon delivers more nutrients per calorie – an outstanding health benefit.

Try this great tip today. Cut a medium or large watermelon into small pieces and remove the seeds. Take about two cups of the diced watermelon and put into the blender. Add strawberries and some yogurt or milk and a little honey. If you want it a bit thicker, add a couple of bananas or avocado for added taste. Blend and enjoy!

300 houses submerged, as River Benue overflows its banks

MAKURDI—A sudden surge in the water level of River Benue has left over 300 houses and huts submerged, with many families rendered homeless in Makurdi, the state capital.

The unexpected flood, which also swept away property and valuables worth millions of Naira, may have created a major humanitarian crisis in the town and it’s environs.

Among the worst hit areas are Wurukum, Wadata Rice Mill, Agboughoul, Kutcha Utebe and Gydo Villa area settlements, while all the buildings that are less than 500 meters from the shore of the river and those directly behind the New Garage Road are also facing the prospect of going under the fast rising river.

One of the victims and resident of Wadata Rice Mill settlement, John Agboyi, said residents of the area were taken aback by the unanticipated flood.

“Its strange, we went to bed last night, only to wake up this morning to discover that flood water has overtaken our homes and neighbourhood, all we did was to battle to rescue some of our property from the fast rising flood water,” he said.

At Kutcha Utebe where families were seen moving their property from their homes, a resident, Terhile Fidelis, said the flood washed away most of his property before he could mobilize enough support and help to move them away.

He said: “My worry is that I do not have anywhere to go to with my family at the moment. I just can’t understand why this sudden rise in water levels cannot be adequately tackled by the government.”

Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Nick Wende, on the issue failed as he did not pick his calls nor reply to the message sent to his phone.

Photos: President Buhari departs for India

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, departed Nigeria, via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on a 4-day official visit to New Delhi, India.

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President Muhammadu Buhari, departing the Nnamdi Azikwe, International Airport, Abuja, on 4-day official visit, to New Delhi, India, on Tuesday (27/10/2015)

President Muhammadu Buhari, departing the Nnamdi Azikwe, International Airport, Abuja, on 4-day official visit, to New Delhi, India, on Tuesday (27/10/2015)

Renewables to top Global Power Growth by 2020 – IEA

By Sebastine Obasi

RENEWABLE energy is expected to represent the largest single source of electricity growth over the next five years, driven by falling costs and aggressive expansion in emerging economies, the France-based International Energy Administration, IEA, said in its annual market report.

Pointing to the great promise renewables hold for affordably mitigating climate change and enhancing energy security, the report, warns governments to reduce policy uncertainties that are acting as brakes on greater deployment.

“Renewables are poised to seize the crucial top spot in global power supply growth, but this is hardly time for complacency,” said IEA’s Executive Director, Fatih Birol, as he released the IEA’s Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2015 (MTRMR) at the G20 Energy Ministers meeting. “Governments must remove the question marks over renewables if these technologies are to achieve their full potential, and put our energy system on a more secure, sustainable path.”

The report noted that renewable electricity additions over the next five years will top 700 gigawatts (GW) more than twice Japan’s current installed power capacity. “They will account for almost two-thirds of net additions to global power capacity – that is, the amount of new capacity that is added, minus scheduled retirements of existing power plants.

Non-hydro sources such as wind and solar photovoltaic panels (solar PV) will represent nearly half of the total global power capacity increase,” it added. The report sees the share of renewable energy in global power generation rising to over 26 per cent by 2020 from 22 per cent in 2013. This is considered a remarkable shift in a very limited period of time.

“By 2020, the amount of global electricity generation coming from renewable energy will be higher than today’s combined electricity demand of China, India and Brazil.” It also showed that the geography of deployment will increasingly shift to emerging economies and developing countries, which will make up two-thirds of the renewable electricity expansion to 2020.

China alone will account for nearly 40 per cent of total renewable power capacity growth and requires almost one-third of new investment to 2020. It noted that renewable generation costs have declined in many parts of the world due to sustained technology progress, improved financing conditions and expansion of deployment to newer markets with better resources.

Angry Letter to Nigerian Youth: The future is here with us

By Bayo Adeyinka

My dear Nigerian Youth,

It was Albert Einstein that said “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it”.

That, unfortunately, is what you are doing. You complain about the problems and challenges but that’s all you do. You follow the same people who created the problems and eulogize them to high heavens. You are guilty of lack of depth and originality. Your level of thinking is pedestrian. Since no one can rise beyond the level of their thinking, you have remained at the aboriginal state of being- the same with your progenitors. Universities and tertiary institutions shape and mould their products such that they stand out in the originality of their ideas.

Alexandria, the first University in the world was a centre of enlightenment. Harvard turns out products who impact the world. Yale and MIT products leave their indelible footprints everywhere they go. Our own local universities and tertiary institutions churn out mass ignorance. They produce graduates who should know but don’t even know that they don’t know.

You only have weight and occupy space. Your constant thought is only about today while you don’t seem to know that tomorrow is already here with us. You wallow in the past while your contemporaries the world over leave you behind. Africa is behind the Western world by almost 250 years. You know what that means? You’re a relic. You’re a museum piece. You’re stuck in your ways. You’re becoming a liability to the entire world.

While youths all over the world are innovating and inventing things, all you do is to fight over one politician or the other. You carry placards at the screening of ‘wannabe’ ministers when your brains actually need screening. There is no other country in the world where people love their oppressors like you do. You think you change governments but all you do is change one oppressor with another.

While the demographics of leadership the world over is getting younger, yours is getting ancestral. The youngest person in your government’s cabinet is 48 while the oldest is 68. Justin Trudeau, the new Prime Minister of Canada is 43. If he were to be a Nigerian, he won’t even get a cabinet position. In 1973, Yakubu Gowon was 39 years when he visited Canada and shook hands with Justin Trudeau who was barely 2 years then. Today, Justin Trudeau is the Prime Minister.

The future is here with us while we remain stuck in the past. While others are carrying the destiny of their nations, you are carrying the bags of politicians. In 2012, 19-year-old Proscovia Alengot Oromait was elected as a member of parliament. Now 22 years old, she is the youngest person ever elected to office in not only Uganda but the entire African continent. While some are solving the problems of their nations, you Nigerian youth are one of the problems of the continent.

Does it not bother you that once you’re above 40 years, you have lesser years to spend as you arrive at the departure lounge of life? Should you not be thinking about the future more than the present? For instance, by 2050 Nigeria will hit the 1b population mark. Thirty five years before 2050, we are still stuck in subsistence farming. We can’t feed 170m people now so how can we feed 1b people? We can’t provide housing for 170m people now, so how can we provide housing for 1b people? While the rest of humanity is trying to land on Mars with 200,000 applicants vying for just 100 slots, we still find it difficult to run an airline.

While Fulani cattle run amok on people’s farms in Nigeria as a result of the archaic nomadic husbandry being practiced, future cities are being built elsewhere to raise cows on rooftops. Within five years, Europeans will swipe their smart phones or watches to pay for most goods and services, use phones as digital wallets, use them to borrow money, invest it and transfer it to other countries while we are still stuck with brick and mortar.

Mercedes-Benz is developing a system that will learn your schedule, tastes and even moods after a short while. For example, it knows that you leave the house every weekday at 7:30 a.m. to take your kids to school and the right temperature you always want in your car. Based on GPS and satellite data, it quickly learns your preferred routes and tracks real-time traffic problems, so it can suggest detours to help you save time. The car can even tune the radio to the Inspiration FM channel until you drop off the kids, at which time it will recommend Wazobia FM. In the afternoons, it knows you usually prefer Classic FM. A car can make smart decisions but you can’t.

Almost 3,000 cars and trucks equipped with prototype vehicle-to-vehicle(V2V) devices have been driving around a city in Michigan, over the past year-and-a-half as part of a pilot program by the University of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Transportation. What they are doing? Cars equipped with these devices emit beeps when they detect potential hazards such as another vehicle entering an intersection, a pedestrian, a patch of ice or even their driver speeding too fast around a curve. It is expected that these devices could prevent up to 76% of crashes on American roads. All we do here is to erect speed-breakers. We are always arriving very late. The first ATM in the world was installed in 1967. Nigeria’s first ATM was in 1990- twenty three years late.

Why am I so angry with you? Shouldn’t my anger be directed at your dealers erroneously called leaders? It’s because the destiny of this nation lie in your hands and you know not. A nation is as hopeless as its youths. A nation is as helpless as its youths. A nation is as creative as its youths. A nation is as clueless as its youths. A nation is as energetic as its youths. The strength of a nation lies in the promise of its youths. The greatness of a nation lies in the potential of its youths. A nation’s destiny is then essentially that charted by the young population. Whatever a nation will be, look no farther than the youth. I look at you and I’m afraid for Nigeria.

You are a mass production from the factory of ignorance. You are victims of a dysfunctional society. You are inheritors of an estate of crass foolishness. You are like Nabal of whom it was described that folly is with him. All you know how to do is wear designer labels- from Gucci to Prada, from Versace to Armani- you’re obviously well dressed but you’re a well dressed fool. You refuse to dance to the beats of the future rather preferring to wallow in the shallowness of the past. Wole Soyinka described his generation as a wasted generation. Will you be wasted also?

It is time to force your way to relevance. It is time to take responsibility for the future because the future will not be inherited- it will be earned. Stop playing the blame game. Stop blaming your circumstances because you can rise in spite of them. Stop blaming your ancestors because they bequeathed a legacy of ignorance to you- they don’t know any better. Organize rather than agonize. Don’t just think outside the box. Throw away the box. You have the numbers- use them to force a real change. As you ask questions, go further by seeking answers. Rather, be the answer. As you talk about the challenges, go further by seeking solutions. Rather, be the solution.

Find your niche. Faajihub was started when a cousin of Olaotan Oladitan, who’s one the founders, was coming in from the United Kingdom for her wedding. It was a challenge for her finding the people needed to make the event a success. Faajihub now has at least 700 vendors of different kinds. Faajihub is solving the problem of choice in event management. Brian Bett is a Kenyan agriculture techpreneur who designed a locally made greenhouse for the equivalent of N250,000.

The cheapest greenhouse in Nigeria is about N1.5m. Brian is solving the hunger problem. GoMyWay is a ride sharing service started by Damola Teidi, a model in her 20s. Damola is solving the transportation problem. Hotels.ng was started by Mark Essien and has over 6,000 hotels on its portal. Mark is solving the hospitality problem. PrepClass is an app by Olumide Ogunlana aimed at helping students prepare for exams. The app assists you to identify your weak points apart from the core functionality of preparation for exams.

Olumide is solving our educational problem. Jobberman, one of the top jobs websites in Nigeria was started by the trio of Opeyemi Awoyemi, Ayodeji Adewunmi and Olalekan Olude in 2009 during the famed ASUU strike. Jobberman is tackling the employment challenge. What problems are you solving? Stop merely existing. It’s time to start living. Let your life be a contribution to humanity and not a contamination to humanity. The future is already here with us.

Beat the heat with glamorous sunglasses

Glasses

As the scotching heat continue to beat down, it’s time to get some form of protection. Get your self a nice pair of sunglasses. It will not only protect your eyes from the hot rays, but nothing says instant glamour like a pair of gorgeous sunglasses.

Make that simple Saturday outfit extra ordinary with a pair of sunglasses. Be safe be chic.

Music meets Runway set for its 5th Edition

Music Meets Runway (MMR) is back and the 5th edition is to take place on Tuesday, 22nd of December, 2015 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.


Run by Le Reve Events, the annual celebration fuses the best of fashion and music in Africa, bringing together some of Africa’s finest creative artists, showcasing their talents to a huge audience.

This year’s Five-Star Special Edition show will celebrate MMR’s fifth anniversary and its contribution to the fashion and music industries, as well as the official launch of the MMR Foundation – “Empowering Lives” and the introduction of the MMR Recognition Awards, which will honour excellence in crafts.

Since 2011, MMR has featured fashion designers such as Deola Sagoe, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Ituen Basi, Tsemaye Binitie, Mai Atafo and much more. Some of the music artists who have performed on the stage include Wizkid, Davido, D’banj, Femi Kuti, Tuface, Tiwa Savage, among many others. This year’s designers and musicians (to be announced in November) will be performing to a bigger audience than ever before.

The MMR Foundation has been in existence since 2011 and its aim is to support and empower emerging talent across the arts. The mission statement for the MMR Foundation is “Empowering Lives’’, which is done through providing young entrepreneurs start-up capital or giving them an opportunity to break into the international market.

Past sponsors of the MMR event have included G.H. Mumm Champagne, Ciroc, Samsung, Mastercard, Le Reve Pieces – Jewellery, Union Bank, MTV Base, Spice TV, 99.9 Beat FM, Mud Makeup, Zaron Cosmetics and many others. The event provides an ideal opportunity for companies to effectively target their market and position their brand.

MMR offers various sponsorship deals for companies, allowing them to reach people working in the fashion and music sectors, as well as the wider business community and create an association between their product and their customers whilst having a great time.

Jennifer Olize, founder and creative director of MMR, said: “We’re so excited about this year’s Music Meets Runway event, which promises to be bigger, and more glamorous than ever before. We’ll be announcing the line-up in the weeks to come, we have very interesting elements to the event this year, so I’d urge companies and individuals to get involved and get prepared for THE event of the year”

The eight official FIFA presidential candidates

With Monday’s deadline reached, AFP Sport profiles the eight officially declared candidates for the FIFA presidency:

PRINCE ALI BIN AL HUSSEIN

The 39-year-old brother of Jordan’s King Abdullah was a member of his country’s special forces, specialising in parachute jumps. The prince was on the FIFA executive from 2011 until this year when he first challenged Sepp Blatter for the presidency. Prince Ali championed the cause of allowing women to play football in a hijab. He has repeatedly demanded greater transparency within FIFA and promised to increase the share of revenues sent back to the national associations. He has condemned the “backroom deals” that he says are one of the biggest causes of FIFA’s long-standing troubles. The prince has been one of the main advocates of releasing the Garcia report into the 2010 votes that gave the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

MICHEL PLATINI

One of the greatest footballers of all time and until he was implicated in a Swiss criminal investigation into FIFA, one of the sport’s most skillful politicians. After being co-chairman of France’s 1998 World Cup organisation, he became president of UEFA in 2007 and has since been re-elected twice. But the Frenchman’s 90-day suspension while FIFA investigates a 1.8 million euro ($2 million) payment from the world body without a written contract has seriously hit the chances of the man who was once hot favourite. Platini, 60, made his name as a sports administrator by pressing for football’s riches and decision-making to be spread between members.

JEROME CHAMPAGNE

The 57-year-old was a French diplomat in Oman, Los Angeles and Brazil before becoming a protocol advisor for the 1998 World Cup organisers. He joined FIFA in 1999 and rose to become deputy secretary general under Sepp Blatter, leaving in 2010. “I am not ashamed of the FIFA years,” he told AFP. Though not a footballer, Champagne was a freelance journalist for the magazine France Football. Champagne had tried to challenge Blatter in the election this year but could not get the required five signatures from national associations to enter. He has vowed to bring in greater transparency, stronger ethical standards and modernise the world body’s administration.

DAVID NAKHID

The mystery candidate in the FIFA race. Nakhid, 51, was captain of Trinidad and Tobagao and played club football with Grasshoppers in Switzerland, Waregem in Belgium and New England Revolution in the United States. His main administrative post has been running his own chain of football academies. Nakhid said it is time for football’s power to be moved away from Europe and that it will need a former player to reform the world body. “I cannot be reckless. I am committed to transformation that is fair and even-handed and will deal with all or any breaches and improprieties,” he said.

TOKYO SEXWALE

The South African anti-apartheid campaigner, who entered the race on Saturday, wants to make history by becoming the first African to head football’s governing body in its 111-year history. A former politician and one of his country’s wealthiest men Sexwale, 62, was jailed alongside Nelson Mandela. He served 13 years of an 18-year jail term on Robben Island on terrorism charges. A member of South Africa’s 2010 World Cup bid team he serves on FIFA’s anti-racism and anti-discrimination committee, likening racism to “a monster that is trying to infiltrate sporting fields”. He is also a FIFA media committee member.

SHAIKH SALMAN BIN BRAHIM AL KHALIFA

The soft-spoken Bahraini royal took over an Asian confederation in turmoil in 2013 after Mohamed bin Hammam was kicked out in disgrace, but he now enjoys an iron grip on the body. Enjoys strong backing from Kuwaiti powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad al Fahad al Sabah, one of the most influential figures in world sport and a major player in both FIFA and the Olympic movement. This year, Shaikh Salman was re-elected unopposed for a full, four-year term and became a FIFA vice president into the bargain. But he has been dogged by allegations that he was complicit in Bahrain’s harsh crackdown on pro-democracy activists in 2011, charges he denies.

GIANNI INFANTINO

The 45-year-old Swiss lawyer joined UEFA in 2000 and became general secretary in 2009. Multi-lingual, Infantino’s original role was to deal with legal, commercial and professional football matters. He was subsequently appointed as director of legal affairs and club licensing division in 2004. He worked on fostering close contacts with the European Union, the Council of Europe and governmental authorities. Prior to joining UEFA he had a lot of experience working in sport. He had been an advisor to various football bodies in Italy, Spain and Switzerland before then working as the general secretary of the International Centre for Sports Studies at the University of Neuchatel.

MUSA BILITY

President of the Liberian Football Association, Bility’s candidacy is something of surprise. He is one of a select band of Africans to stand for the presidency following current acting FIFA head Issa Hayatou in 2002, and Sexwale this time around. “If we are to change football, then we have to make sure that those (that) have been running FIFA for the last 20-25 years have nothing to do with it,” the 48-year-old Bility told the BBC after announcing his candidature.