Italy goalkeeper and winner of the Most Valuable Player title at the just-concluded Euro 2020, Gianluigi Donnarumma has joined French team, Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
The 22-year-old saved two penalties as the Azzurri beat England in a shootout to win the tournament for the second time in their history.
Donnarumma, who has signed a five-year deal at PSG, announced earlier this week he was leaving AC Milan after his contract expired.
“I am very happy to be part of this great club,” he said.
“I feel ready to take on this new challenge, and continue to grow here.
“With Paris, I want to win as much as possible and give joy to the supporters.”
Donnarumma has 33 caps for Italy and has been their first-choice keeper under head coach Roberto Mancini.
He made 251 appearances for Milan in all competitions after earning his debut at the age of 16.
He played in all but one of the club’s Serie A games in 2020-21, helping them finish second and securing a return to the Champions League after a seven-year absence.
AC Milan have already signed a replacement for Donnarumma in France’s Mike Maignan, who helped Lille beat PSG to the Ligue 1 title last season.
Donnarumma is PSG’s third free transfer signing this summer, with Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, 30, joining after leaving Liverpool and 35-year-old Spain defender Sergio Ramos, moving after his Real Madrid contract ended.
PSG have also signed Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi, 22, from Inter Milan on a five-year deal.
HOW CUSTOMERS’ INCREASED TRUST IN FIRSTBANK’S *894# USSD BANKING CAN BOOST THE FINANCIAL INCLUSION DRIVE
The path to financial inclusion holds different marketplace barriers and opportunities in different countries, but the push continues because of proof that an increase in economic activities among the financially vulnerable can reawaken a comatose economy. For Nigeria, the last three years have seen significant growth of the financial inclusion rate from 56.8% in 2016 to 63.2% in 2018. FirstBank’s *894# USSD banking service is playing a key role in it.
FirstBank’s *894# USSD banking initiative is already averaging about 99 million transactions monthly, with a naira worth of (N’m) 370,543 on these transactions. This figure includes the undergraduate doing a mobile airtime recharge; the trader receiving a mobile payment from a customer; the IT person hurriedly buying a data bundle to keep business afloat; the anxious father paying his daughter’s hospital bills for treatment to commence, and the busy worker in Lagos transferring money to his parents in the village since he cannot get to a banking hall.
This is just a rough sampling of the financial transactions that amounted to over N3.6 trillion in transaction value on the *894# USSD banking service in 2020. There is practically no financial emergency that the USSD service does not come in.
The problems that the *894# USSD service from FirstBank of Nigeria Limited is solving is the only justification for the rapid traction it has gained since it was introduced in 2015. It is easy to see Nigerians trust and confidence in the USSD system, with the Bank rapidly growing from 9.5 million customers on the USSD feature to 12.26 million customers within the last year. Over 1.02 million of the figure, are customers who registered in the first 6 months of 2021.
The first and perhaps the most attractive feature of USSD banking has got to be that it can be done from any kind of phone and without any form of internet connectivity. Although smartphones are getting more common, there is still a high poverty rate and many financially vulnerable people who cannot access internet banking. The internet penetration in Nigeria is still below the ideal, so users have to deal with poor internet connections in some areas.
That is why this kind of banking service that can be accessed without internet connectivity is ideal for the financial inclusion drive. The *894# USSD feature can be used across the four major GSM network operators in the country, meaning there is no added demand on the users.
Getting started on the service is as easy as dialling *894*0#, and creating a pin. With that done, you can do airtime and data purchase for yourself and other parties, transfer funds to other accounts, make a BVN enquiry, check your account balance and get a mini statement.
For non-customers, this feature allows you to open a bank account in a couple of minutes without having to visit the banking hall. You can open a bank account, receive your account number immediately and start transactions on it right away. The claims of “instant banking, anytime, anywhere” can’t get more real than this.
There is even an added security step, requesting a second-factor authentication (2FA) for transfers above N20,000 as a way to secure customers from being ripped off their funds. There is a cumulative maximum daily transfer limit of N100,000 to both FirstBank and other banks accounts.
Crisis Rocks Synagogue Days After TB Joshua’s Burial, As Leadership Rejects Wife As Successor
It appears all is not well in the Synagogue Church of All Nations, as stakeholders of the church took a U-turn and debunked the news that Mrs Evelyn will be taking over the affairs of the church after her husband.
It was earlier reported that the wife of the late founder of SCOAN has been chosen to take over the affairs of the church.
The platform noted that elders of the church met and declared Evelyn the successor to the televangelist.
This comes after late Pastor TB Joshua died on Saturday, June 5, 2021, days before his 58th birthday
However just a few days before the burial week, the stakeholders of the church debunked the news that Mrs Evelyn will be taking over the affairs of the church.
According to Dr Gary Tonge Freng, who spoke on behalf of the church, claimed no one has been appointed to lead the affairs of the church at the moment. On if there is someone in the church to take over the miracles performed by the late tele-evangelist, Freng said that the decision is a spiritual matter and not an administrative one.
“It’s not about machinery. It is about suitable people, and it’s about the move of the Holy Spirit. So there is simply no administrative answer to the question because it is not an administrative issue”, he told City People.
The decision of who will assume the role of General Overseer, according to another source will be a unanimous decision of a cabal within the church referred to as the 5 wise men.
WHO ARE THE 5 WISE MEN
The 5 wise men are the prophet’s sons who were profoundly influenced by T.B. Joshua. Those who have heard them preach or see them show God’s power can know where the grace comes from. Despite the fact that they were released by the prophet and are having an effect in their respective communities, they owe their lives to T.B Joshua and remain devoted to him.
Under T.B.’s supervision, the 5 wise men all served as pastors in SCOAN. Joshua was imprisoned for a long time; one of the Wise Men is said to have served for eight years before being released.
The wise men’s names are Wise Man Racine, Wise Man John Chi, Wise Man Harry, Wise Man Daniel, and Wise Man Christopher, in no particular sequence. Although it may be difficult, these men have a strong desire to carry on their father’s legacy and step in his footsteps.
NOBODY HAS BEEN TRAINED TO SUCCEED TB JOSHUA?
A top aide who worked closely with the late TB Joshua but instructed not to be quoted had said that everyone is confused in the church right now as nobody expected this sudden death.
“For successor, he did not train anyone to succeed him. I am not aware of any succession plan in this church. There is none of the pastors that have been trained to succeed him. I would have known if any exists.
“But to the best of my knowledge, nobody in this church has been trained to succeed him, not even the 5 wisemen” he stated.
The inside source was asked if the entire SCOAN can operate without a substantive leader, he said “Very likely. That is what is going to happen. His shoes are very large. If there has been anybody that he earmarked to succeed him, we would have long noticed it in the church here.
“The person’s activities, actions and inactions would have indicated the direction of succession. After all, I am an inner member of his caucus.
“For now, the wife has taken charge. There are instructions on what to do and how things would go. In all of this, no service is in the programme. Services have been suspended,” he disclosed.
‘Military Men Shot Four People Because Of N3,500 Key Starter’ – Ladipo Market Officials
Society gazette reports that the officials of the largest spare part market in west Africa, Ladipo Market have spoken about the incident that happened yesterday which led to the death of one and injury of three people.
In a press conference held some minutes ago, the officials made it known that men of the Nigerian Air Force came to the market to lay claim to money refund of a key starter worth N3,500 one of them bought from the market.
The trader who sold it to them didn’t agree to their request because the period of warranty which is one week already elapsed. This led to round of arguments between them and created scenes that later turned violent.
It was also stated that nobody hit or slapped the officers as claimed before they started shooting traders in the market. After it all, about four people became victims with one dying and three getting gunshot wounds.
The officials made it known that they proceeded to the office of the NAF but had to leave because of the intimidation. They therefore vowed to take the case to the highest authority to get judgment.
At the moment, the market is on lock and key as a way to protest the unfortunate incident.
The Treasurer of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sumbo Ajose, has died.
It was gathered that Ajose reportedly died in the United States of America on Tuesday, 13th July, 2021.
According to information, she had been battling for her life with an undisclosed illness for a while and was on a sickbed receiving treatment when she died.
Confirming her death, the Party’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, described it as “sad and unfortunate.”
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State, Kabiru Amadu, has formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Society gazette reports that the lawmaker formally announced his defection to the APC on Wednesday.
Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, read the letter of defection from Amadu at the plenary.
Amadu is the last of the six members from Zamfara who had earlier declared their defection at the state level along with Governor Bello Matawalle.
The lawmaker from Zamfara blamed the crisis in the PDP for their defection to the APC.
The legislators cited the crisis in the Zamafara State chapter of the PDP which led to the dissolution of the state chapter by the national leadership of the party as their reason for defecting to the APC.
Society gazette reports that the biggest auto spare parts market in Nigeria, Ladipo Market is under lock and keys as traders express their displeasure over the killings and crisis that occurred yesterday during clash with military operatives.
The cause of the clash is yet unknown but reports have it that about three people were killed as a result of sporadic gunshot released by men of the Nigeria air force.
It is worthy of note that Ladipo Market has become an arena for violence, clashes in recent times. A similar incident happened some weeks ago.
Nigeria’s D’Tigers Honor Late Popular Singer, Sound Sultan
Nigeria Basketball players, D’Tigers has honour late renowned rapper, singer and songwriter, Sound Sultan with their warmup shirts.
Society gazette reports that the late singer, Sound Sultan died on Sunday at age 44 and was buried in the United States of America according to Islamic rights.
In the video shared on social media, the players were seen rocking shirts embroil with the late singer’s face against their game with Australia
They also had dedicated their victory over Team USA to Sound Sultan, who was a huge fan of Basketball and contributed a lot to the Basketball scene in Nigeria before his sudden death.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended sadness whilst sending his heartfelt condolences to the Fasasi family over the death of Sound Sultan
The Governor urged the deceased family, friends, associates, fans and entertainment practitioners to take the death of Sound Sultan as an act of God.
He said: “Sound Sultan’s death is painful. He was a bundle of talents, who used his God-given gift to advance the course of mankind. His music, artistry and interest in sports were all donated at every point for the development of humanity.”
Sanwo-Olu added that: “No doubt the death of a loved one is usually painful because it is irreparable but we must always take solace in God especially if the deceased had lived a good and fulfilled life, just like the late Olanrewaju Fasasi, who was a celebrated singer, comedian, rapper, songwriter and actor during his lifetime.
“Sound Sultan will be sorely missed by his family, friends, fans and the Nigerian entertainment industry as one of the pacesetters of modern hip hop music in Nigeria.
“Sound Sultan who was notable for using his music to speak against poverty, corruption, bad governance and societal ills in Nigeria, has left a vacuum that would take some time to be filled”.
“I sympathise with Sound Sultan’s widow, children, siblings, family, fans and colleagues. I pray that God will grant the late Olanrewaju Fasasi eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
I Use Dry Human Skull To Treat People Suffering From Chronic Headaches – Herbalist
A man who claimed to be a herbalist has said he uses human skull to treat people suffering from chronic headaches.
Semiu Oyewo, 38, was arrested with a dry skull along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road.
The suspect who was paraded by the Osun State Police Command headquarters at ring road, Osogbo on Tuesday said he never knew possession of a dry skull is an offence.
Parading the suspects at the state police command in Osogbo, the State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, said the herbalist, Oyewo was apprehended along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road with one human skull, snail and voodoo.
The police statement reads: “On July 7, 2021 around 8am, the police patrol team on routine highway patrol along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road, intercepted one Honda Accord vehicle with Reg. No. AGL 412 CD black colour driven by the suspect a 38-year-old man, Semiu Oyewo of Alamole area, Ondo road, Ile-Ife, searched the vehicle and recovered the exhibits.”
Speaking with journalists at the police headquarter, Oyewo said: “I am an herbalist, I didn’t know that having possession of dry skull is an offence. I even fought with the mobile police that arrested me. I want to use it to treat someone who is suffering chronic headache,”
Police said during the course of investigation and interrogation, the suspect confessed that, he is an herbalist and bought the suspected human skull from his co-herbalist one Ige aka Igwe of Apomu who had absconded.
While speaking the CP said “The said suspected human skull was bargained for twenty five thousand naira only (N25, 000.00) while he paid twenty thousand naira only (N20, 000.00) to later balance five thousand naira only (N5, 000.00).
“The Police navigated its investigation to the house of the arrested suspected and recovered various ‘Juju’ and fetish items which they hid in the bush.”
The hideout of Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, has been discovered by the Intelligence community in Nigeria.
Recall that the Department of State Services invaded that residence of the Yoruba Nation agitator in the Soka area in Ibadan, the Oyo capital.
According to the secret police, weapons found in his residence include assault rifles, bullets and machetes.
Meanwhile, two of his aides were killed and twelve other associates, including a woman, are being detained.
A source close to federal authorities in a discussion with Daily Post on Tuesday night, said the government already identified his hiding place.
“Many people are yet to fully understand the meaning of Federal Government. Few days after Igboho’s place was breached, intelligence services detected his exact spot.
“No one should underestimate the powers that the government of any country wields. If this secessionist thinks he’s hiding, that thought should be erased.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria knows where he is but they are restraining from taking him in due to tactical reasons.”
The source when asked what he meant by “tactical reasons”, said the government is being careful not to increase the tension in South-West and the country.
It was disclosed that the Yoruba Nation agitator is still in Nigeria and keeping safe.
“They want to arrest him. He is laying low which is the right thing to do. We continue to monitor developments”, he added.
