An 18-year-old, hijab model, Shatu Garko has emerged as the winner of the 2021 Miss Nigeria beauty pageant.
Garko beat 17 other contestants at the beauty pageantry to become the first hijab-wearing model to wear the Miss Nigeria crown.
The event occurred at the Landmark Centre for Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria
Nicole Ikot was the first runner up and Kasarachi Okoro glitch the second position in the contest
Garko, a horse-riding lover, represented the North West region of Nigeria during the pageant.
She was crowned as the 44th queen of the competition during the coronation ceremony held in Lagos on Friday night.
She was awarded the cash prize of N10 million, a luxury apartment, a car and an ambassadorship deal.
Next Titan contestants explore product advantage of Heritage Bank’s Octiplus
Nsikak Ifet, Head, Content and Digital, Heritage Bank Plc; Kyari Bukar and Chris Parkes, judges of The Next Titan, during the board room judging session of the Heritage Bank’s 2nd task to housemates, themed, “Show Your Innovation,” held in Lagos.
Heritage Bank’s advanced all-in-one digital banking experience; Octiplus’ product benefits were explored by the Next Titan contestants for its ground breaking innovative solution, crafted to meet the demands of the ever-growing active banking populace.
Presenting their tasks, themed, “Show Your Innovation,” during a boardroom session, eight (8) of the contestants were expected to create compelling video advert for octiplus and its prime product awareness.
However, at the end of the Heritage Bank’s second task, the participated housemates successfully identified the non-vanilla features of the digital app which were that personal investment savings could be done with the app as well as group savings usually known as “esusu.” Aside the regular features that were known by all including Payment features, buying of airtime, pay bills, flight bookings, movie tickets and one of the most interesting features that was mentioned, was that with Octiplus, you can add all your debit cards from other financial institutions to this App and enjoy easy banking, easy life.
MD/CEO of the Bank, Ifie Sekibo disclosed that Heritage operates with a philosophy to offer world-class banking services with guaranteed convenience on the platform of simplified service innovation, leading technology solutions and experience-driven relationship management.
Reviewing the presentations of contestant’s individual tasks, Sekibo who wasrepresented by the Head, Content and Digital, Nsikak Ifiet commended some of them on the marketing strategies adopted, captivating messages which highlighted product advantage, abilities to identify the target audience and the clear call to action with relevant information.
He advised the contestants not to de-market competitions’ products when promoting their own brand. According to him, it is important to focus on your product, what it has to offer and the value it will give to the consumers.
Chris Parkes, boardroom judge of The Next Titan; Victoria Sotunde, Group Head, Head Office Audit, Internal Audit, Heritage Bank and Kyari Bukar, boardroom judge of The Next Titan, during the board room judging session of the Heritage Bank’s 1st task to housemates, themed, “Show Your Innovation,” held in Lagos.
To ensure a balanced form of assessment during the boardroom session presided over by the experienced panel of Judges and in the spirit of meritocracy, each contestant was given a time limit to strictly adhere to during their presentation. After which, each Judge meticulously took out time to allot their assessment on each contestant with constructive criticism.
Five of the eight contestants who presented before the panel were saved and will remain in the house until the grand finale of the show. The successful contestants include; Victor Emaye, Joy Badaki, Esin Mariah, Dolapo Quadri and Adausu Taiwo, while the evicted contestants who were meant to give their final words before leaving the house were Omobolaji Shittu, Fiberesima Ibi and Orji Hyacinth.
Also, the Judges of the boardroom session comprised Chris Parkes, Kyari A. Ebuka and Nsikak Ifet.
AB Rollings Set To Launch And Open A Pop Up Store In London This Sunday
Top fashionista, Abiodun Odukoya and his upscale fashion house A.B Rollings Clothiers, is a fashion lovers dream come true, because of ABR‘s ability to uniquely combine fast and slow fashion together, under thesame umbrella and with great ease and precision.
The fashion house whose vision is always constant – to rule the world of fashion and provide the needs of fashion savvy buddies – is at it again.
The fashion outfit which had origin in the lively streets of Surulere, Lagos, has come a long way since the heady days of the ’90’s when it catered to the needs of fashion buffs in Lagos. The fashion house has grown into a recognized and trusted brand now straddling three continents with flagship stores in Lagos and London.
With over two decades experience, A.B Rollings which started from a one stop store on Adelabu Street, in Surulere, Lagos many years ago has continued to meet the fashion needs of diverse clientele in Africa, Europe and America. The fashionpreneur, Abiodun Odukoya enthuses “at A.B Rollings there is something for everyone. We meet the needs of the young and the not so young, men and women, black and white and in all shapes and sizes”.
Word reaching us is that the fashion house is set to launch in London – to the general public – having gotten a nod of approval from a host of Nigeria and U.K’s finest connoisseurs of high end fine fashion.
A.B Rollings is set for the next phase of expansion as one of Africa’s finest, Obi Cubana is set to collaborate with the fashion house.
It would be recalled that a couple of weeks ago Obi Cubana, a Nigerian socialite stopped by at the A.B. Rollings Clothiers store in London, to buy some exclusive clothes and ordered for some personalized bespoke outfits.
Obi Cubana is so impressed with the brand that he is investing in it now and with a firm commitment to continue to work with the fashion house as he forays into the fashion business.
Come Sunday the 19th of December 2021, the clothing store is set to launch its Bespoke, Suits, Blazers, Footwear and accessories store on Brook Street, Mayfair London.
This event is an epoch making one for a fashion house out of Lagos. Many celebrities and celebutanties are set to support their man ‘Biodun Oduoya, popularly known as “Father Rolling” as he and the fashion house he built glides smoothly into a new era of expansion across continents still with the undiminished vision to meet the fashion needs of all fashion lovers who choose A.B Rollings.
Karen Akpagher And Premiere Academy: The “Truth” They Are Trying To Bury By Noah Christopher
Nearly six months ago, Premiere Academy entered media spotlight when news broke that one of its students, Karen Happuch Akpagher, had died in a hospital in Abuja. The news of the death of the 14-year old diabetics’ patient which occurred on 22nd June, 2021 soon became a hot issue as several media stories authoritatively claimed she was raped to death, sodomized and forced into an oath of secrecy to booth.
Expectedly, the Nigerian Police, first through the FCT Police Command and, later, the Office of the Inspector General of Police, promptly commenced investigations into the matter same June, leading to an autopsy conducted in July. Several other government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, the Directorate of Quality Assurance, National Human Rights Commission and a few other external bodies also waded into the case by conducting probes and investigations on diverse scales and to cover different angles. The Premiere Academy PTA and Board also conducted internal investigations. However, despite all the probes, answer to the key question of Who/What killed Karen has not been found. Interestingly, none of these probes has indicted the school or led to halting its operation.
Perhaps, tired of waiting for official police reports on the autopsy and investigation and seeking to prevent the issue from being swept into silence, Lemmy Ughegbe, an Abuja based journalist, human rights activist and school proprietor instantly activated his NGO, Coalition of Gender Based Violence Responders, to promote the cause of championing justice for Karen Akpagher. With Karen’s mother by his side, Lemmy Ughegbe and GBV Responders have launched a coordinated multi-pronged advocacy spanning media and political institutions, with the aim of getting the death of Karen hanged on Premiere Academy. The evidence, according to the media interventions by the group, is a report allegedly issued to the Akpagher family by Queen’s Hospital, Abuja that said decomposed condom particles were found in the late teenager’s genital, in addition to dead spermatozoa. No audio or video recording of the victim accusing the school or any staff of raping or sexually molesting her; no notation on rape or sexual molestation in the victim’s diary (from which a few media stories have lifted entries); no conclusive report from the autopsy witnessed by all parties and supervised by the police; no report from the police or any private investigator has surfaced to back the claim of rape to date.
Perverting Cause of Justice…
In what appears like frustration by failure of the coordinated campaign to nudge the relevant state and non-state institutions into a mob-styled condemnation of the school, the GBV Responders has further accused the school of blocking the Akpagher family from getting justice. The coordinated social media campaign to push this viewpoint claimed because the owner of the school is a highly connected Nigerian, he was using his connection to obstruct justice for Karen. However, to accuse a school that has opened its doors to and provided its officials for not less than sixteen (16) investigations, invitations, probes and interviews on this Karen matter by several interested bodies from June 25th to December 9th of persecuting the cause of justice seems unfair. Curiously, a check at the school revealed that the GBV Responders that has been championing this claim was one of the NGOs that visited the school on July 3rd to conduct an investigation. Others that have also visited the school, apart from the Police, include the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Council (2nd July), Directorate of Quality Assurance, FCT Headquarters (2nd July), NAPPS, FCT Chapter (9th July), Abuja Municipal Area Council (9th July), Federal Ministry of Education (8th October), Association of Nigerian Female Students, FCT Chapter (22nd July), NANS, FCT Chapter (22nd July) and FCIID (Severally between 9th November and 9th December).
None of the visitors has accused the school of non-cooperation or obstructing investigation. This may be what has prompted the school to continue to declare that it has nothing to hide and would always welcome every noble effort made to get to the bottom of this sad event.
In trying to prove its innocence and disprove the charge of perverting the cause of justice, the school said it has written three letters to the police pleading for the public release of the autopsy report and report of investigation in the case. From copies sighted, the first letter dated 27th August, 2021 was addressed to the FCT Police Command while two other letters dated 1st December, 2021 and 6th December, 2021 respectively were addressed to the Inspector General of Police. While the police acknowledged receipt of the three letters, it has not responded to any of them or granted the school’s prayer. It is doubtful if the school’s action fits the charge of obstructing the cause of justice
Twisting The Story To Fit A Purpose…
It appears in order to get the school hanged for the allegation of rape, efforts had to be made to show that Karen left the school premises on the 19th June in “serious pains and barely able to walk” (to quote a respected columnist and social commentator who has weighed in on the matter) when she went home, never to return to the school.
Facts are sacred. So, here are a few incontrovertible facts our investigation turned up on how Karen left the school campus on the fateful day.
First, she was picked from school by her mother in person (together with an uncle of hers who had always been coming to pick and drop her on the mother’s instruction). She walked out of the school gate unaided, carrying her luggage to meet her mother. Her mother received her; they rode in the same vehicle and was taken home by her mother. It is doubtful that if she was in pains and unable to walk or manifesting any sign of unwell, the mother would not make immediate contact with the school and/or take her straight to the hospital. But, the mother drove with her from the school without any complaint and they went home together.
Moreover, she was at home with the mother from 19th to 21st when the mother said she developed a health crisis that made her to be taken to the hospital IMMEDIATELY on the 21st.
School’s CCTV clips on You Tube (https://youtu.be/hqOa2jg_Ym8) shows Karen in school from 17th June to the moment she exited school on the 19th. Before leaving school, she went to see an ophthalmologist outside the school, on the mother’s instruction, same 19th June. School’s academic record also shows she wrote CA tests on Friday, 18th June.
Could a 14-year old have been so super human to hide her pains effortlessly and appear bubbly while undertaking all the multiple tasks that filled her day in the manner the late Karen did?
The late Karen, it should be recalled, was a Diabetics’ patient constantly under strict health watch. She had been diagnosed to be diabetic since age nine years.
DNA As A Way Pointer…
The House of Representatives has directed that DNA test be conducted on all male staff of Premiere Academy, to fish out the alleged rape culprit. While the directive is commendable, our investigation shows that there is need to even cast the net wider in view of certain peculiarities uncovered about the Akpagher family environment.
For instance, it was discovered that Karen has two elder brothers who were also students of same Premiere Academy with her. While one graduated in 2020, the other was still a student in the school until after the unfortunate event.
She also has a custodian uncle who, it was discovered, was always going to pick and drop her in school. Unconfirmed report said this uncle organised a birthday party for Karen and some of her friends in a restaurant in town on April 10th to mark her 14th birthday. The uncle, it was further learnt, took her to the party.
It was also learnt that the same uncle picked only Karen from school during the id-el-fitri break on 12th May while leaving his brother behind to observe the break in school. This, from investigation, was found to be a departure from the regular practice of picking and dropping both students together.
Upon further probe, it was discovered that while the said Salah break was meant to end on 16th May, Karen was only returned to the school by her uncle on 23rd May, clear 7 days after resumption.
She was to die one month later; allegedly from a rape incident whose features, according to her mother and GBV Responders, left decayed condom particles in her genitals.
With the late Karen surrounded by two brothers who have their other male friends visiting the Akpagher home as well as an uncle who was found to have been mostly responsible for picking and dropping her in school, it is only fair and commonsensical to look way beyond the school in order to unravel the question of who could have raped the teenager, if indeed she was raped.
Justice Begins With Disclosures…
For justice to be done and seen to be done in the case of Karen Akpagher, the police needs to release the autopsy and investigations reports. So many questions begging for answers may remain unresolved until the Police reports are released. According to a cross section of analysts’ opinion, all parties in the case – the Akpagher family, GBV Responders and Premiere Academy – should jointly and individually put pressure on the police to do the needful rather than continue to throw mud around and promote wild, unfounded accusations. Unless the mud throwing is designed to achieve an end that the larger public does not yet know.
How God’s grace kept us throughout 2021 – Speaker Obasa
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has urged Nigerians not to despair but be thankful to God for His grace.
According to Dr. Obasa, it was only the grace of God that has kept Nigeria and Nigerians till December 2021 despite the many challenges the country and her citizens have had to face within the year.
The Speaker said this on Thursday at an end of the year thanksgiving and Christmas outreach organised for staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly and their wards at the Assembly complex.
He explained that the House had every reason to thank God for the year because of the successes it recorded in legislative activities including in the passage of bills, motions and resolutions that are meant to improve living, peace and happiness among the residents of the state.
“I will sing praises because, together with my colleagues, members of staff of this Assembly and my team at the Office of the Speaker, we recorded huge successes in terms of legislative activities this year,” Obasa said.
Concerning ‘Abundant Grace’, the theme of the thanksgiving, Speaker Obasa noted that the Bible is replete with verses emphasising the grace of God upon individuals which make them victorious each time they have to face some of the challenges of living.
In his sermon, Prophet (Dr) Samuel Kayode Abiara, the General Evangelist Worldwide of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), who was the guest minister, emphasised the need for Nigerians to be closer to God at all times.
It was indeed an evening of praise, worship, music and dance as a Nigerian leading pharmaceutical company, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited marked it’s annual end of year thanksgiving event to bring the year 2021 business to a close on Sunday in Lagos.
Welcoming the guests to the event appropriately tagged ‘a Season of Gratitude’, the Founder and Group Managing Director (GMD) of the company, Dr. Stella Okoli, OON, said it’s the tradition of the company at the end of every year, to thank God, give gratitude to Him, because He is the owner of everything. “He owns Emzor and He has taken Emzor this far.” She declared.
The GMD went further to thank the management team, members of staff of the company, all Nigerians as well as everyone that are part of the company’s success stories saying; “we appreciate your love and unflinching support for our company and your patronage of our wide range of quality pharmaceutical products throughout the years. You have lifted our spirit and strengthened our feet for the journey in the years ahead.”
Speaking further, Okoli said; “this is the 17th edition of the annual event, we thank God for His mercy, love and kindness and we know we wouldn’t be here celebrating today without special people like you. You have shown without doubt that Emzor holds a special place in your heart and you have demonstrated your fellowship with us in giving thanks to God for his kindness and mercy.”
In the same vein, in his opening remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the company, Emeka Okoli, who attended the event virtually said they need to give glory to God, emphasizing that “despite the global economic challenges, the company has continued to wax stronger. And most especially, in the outgoing year, the company has opened new grounds and made more positive impacts in the lives of the people.”
In his sermon, the Guest Minister at the event, Pastor Remi Oluboba of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 36, said “the best way to appreciate God is to praise Him and show gratitude for His kindness.
Speaking from the book of Psalms, the clergyman said; God’s instruction is to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: to be thankful unto Him, and to bless His name.”
Some of the highlights of the event were goodwill messages from a good number of dignitaries present at the event, which included Mopa Esuga, Chief of Party, US Phamacopeia, Patrick Lukulay from Sierra Leone among others. There was also the cutting of the anniversary cake as well as the Long Service Awards and Recognition of 95 members of staff of the company who have spent good number of years with the company ranging from 10 to 35 years.
Introducing the awardees, the company’s Head of Human Resources, Ego Onuoha said “the company is appreciating and rewarding them for their loyalty. They are the main reason behind the progress and trailblazing achievements of the company. It is always our tradition to appreciate the workforce. We see them as the reason for the company’s existence.”
In her closing remarks at the event which had on the bandstand, a gospel singer, Bidemi Olaoba, who ensured that the event is filled with right dose of music and dance; the company’s Executive Director, Uzoma Ezeuke, said; “we shall continue to thank God. He is the one that have made everything possible for us at Emzor.”
A former chairman of Zamfara State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Jamilu Aliyu Zannah has died.
He died on Thursday after a protracted illness.
Before his death, he was said to be eyeing the Senate to represent Zamfara Central zone in the National Assembly.
Reacting, Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle said he received with a heavy heart the news of the demise of Aliyu (Zannan Gusau), who is his close associate.
According to a press statement on Friday signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on media, Zailani Bappa, the news of his demise was “indeed a great test of the will from the Almighty God
North Korean citizens have been banned from laughing, drinking alcohol, or showing any form of happiness for 11 days as the country marks the 10th year anniversary of the death of former leader, Kin Jong Il who died in 2011.
Kim Jong Il ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, and was then succeeded by his third and youngest son, current leader Kim Jong Un who has now become a maximum dictator.
Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack on December 17, 2011, at the age of 69 after ruling the country for 17 years in a brutal and repressive dictatorship.
The order which was released on Thursday, mandates citizens to observe the “11-day period of mourning where they are not allowed to laugh, drink alcohol or make merriment of any form.”
A North Korean resident who spoke with Radio Free Asia (RFA), was quoted as saying:
“During the mourning period, we must not drink alcohol, laugh or engage in leisure activities.”
The resident added that during the mourning period, “North Korean residents and citizens are not allowed to go grocery shopping, especially on Friday, December 17, the anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death.”
“In the past, many people who were caught drinking or being intoxicated during the mourning period were arrested and treated as ideological criminals. They were taken away and never seen again,” he said.
“Even if your family member dies during the mourning period, you are not allowed to cry out loud and the body must be taken out after it’s over.
“People cannot even celebrate their own birthdays if they fall within the mourning period.”
Another source, a resident of the southwestern province of South Hwanghae, said police officers were told to watch for people who fail to look appropriately upset during the mourning period.
“From the first day of December, they will have a special duty to crack down on those who harm the mood of collective mourning.
”It’s a month-long special duty for the police. I heard that law enforcement officials cannot sleep at all.’
The dead body of the young National Diploma certificate holder, Lekan Odunare, who plunged into a lagoon in the Epe area of Lagos State on Tuesday morning, has been discovered.
Olamilekan’s body was found on Thursday, December 16. A video of Lekan sitting on the rails of a bridge before he dived into the waters has been making rounds on social media. Before he dived in, a man filming the scene was heard querying his intention.
Lekan, who is said to be a Ordinary National Diploma (OND) holder and a worker at Alaro City, a mega estate located along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, reportedly left behind a one-year-old child for his 19-year-old girlfriend.
The Emir of Daura has given an explanation as to why the son of President Muhammadu Buhari was given a title recently.
The president’s son Yusuf Buhari will be turbaned as the Taliban Daura on Saturday, December 18 and become the District Head of Kwasarawa.
The Emir, Alhaji Umar Farouk stated that the reason for offering Yusuf the title was to prevent him from strolling around Abuja and Yola, his mother’s hometown.
He said: “We are giving him this title to reciprocate all the good things his father, President Muhammadu Buhari, has done to Daura.
“Even if you don’t like Buhari, you know that Daura of today is different from what it were six years ago. So, to reciprocate this gesture, we gave him the title of Talban Daura, which he gave to his only son, Yusuf. This will prevent him from strolling around Yola (his mother’s hometown) and Abuja.
“From University of Transport Technology to Federal Polytechnic, to good roads networks and many other development projects, Daura is today better than some states in the country, development-wise.
“We have many sons in Daura who excelled have excelled, but do not want to be associated with it, so Buhari stands out among them.”
