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12 Years After: Ex-Eagles, Fans Celebrate Late Yekini
Published
2 weeks agoon
By
EditorFormer Super Eagles players and football enthusiasts on Saturday paid tribute to Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, Rashidi Yekini, 12 years after he passed on at 48 after a protracted illness, The PUNCH reports.
The late Yekini was reportedly kidnapped shortly before he passed away, and the cause of his death is still unclear.
Despite his sad ending over a decade ago, there is pride in the achievements of the 1993 African Footballer of the Year, yet sadness at his death and anger at the way he had been treated by the government and football authorities.
Super Eagles coach George Finidi, who made an assist for the late Yekini to score against Bulgaria at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, Nigeria’s first goal in the history of the tournament, said he still feels sad over his untimely death.
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“His passing was sad for everyone,” Finidi said in an exclusive chat with Sunday Punch.
“Over the years, I have spoken about him, our connection on the field, and what he did for Nigeria as a player. May his soul rest in peace.”
Former Eagles coach and captain, Sunday Oliseh, a teammate of Yekini, also said his legacies will always be a benchmark for emerging Nigerian players.
“The late Yekini deserves to always be remembered for all he did for our country,” Oliseh told The PUNCH.
“He gave his all to our country, and his exploits are there for us all to see for others to emulate and learn from. May his soul continue to rest.”
“Yekini is definitely one of the best African players and legends to ever walk this earth. Rashidi was full of pace, had a superb shot, could jump very high, and was calm in front of goal. Above all, he was a very loveable person once you got to know and understand him.”
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Ace journalist Oluwashina Okeleji also took to his X handle to eulogise the former Victoria Setubal striker.
“Today (Saturday) marks the 12th anniversary of Rashidi Yekini’s death.
“Football lost 1993 African Footballer of the Year Rashidi Yekini at the age of 48. He was Nigeria’s top scorer with 37 goals in 58 games. There was pride in his achievements, sadness at his death, and anger at the way he was treated by some.”
His former club, Gateway United, also joined other Nigerians in celebrating the legacy of Yekini.
Reflecting on Yekini’s illustrious career and his brief stint with Gateway United in 2005, the club’s acting general manager, Niyi Soleye, said, “Rashidi Yekini was not only a prolific goal scorer but also a gentleman that was respected by teammates and opponents alike. His 37 goals for Nigeria remain unmatched, a testament to his talent and dedication.”
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Soleye fondly recalled Yekini’s time at Gateway United, describing it as a pivotal moment for the club and their supporters.
“I vividly remember his arrival like it was yesterday. As club secretary then, it was an honour to witness such a calibre of player joining us. He seamlessly adapted to our style, boosting morale both on and off the pitch.”
“While his passing in 2012 under controversial circumstances was tragic, his legacy continues to inspire future Nigerian footballers.”
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JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Governing Board Members For 111 Tertiary Institutions
Published
8 hours agoon
May 18, 2024By
EditorPresident Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of at least 555 persons to serve as Pro-chancellors/Chairmen and members of Governing Boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
This followed Tinubu’s assent to a list of nominees selected by the Ministry of Education.
An advertorial by the Education Ministry sighted by The PUNCH showed the appointment of a chairperson and four members for each of the institutions.
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It was signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
“The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events will commence at 9:00am daily,” said Walson-Jack.
When contacted for confirmation, the Presidency said the list emanated from the Ministry of Education.
“This is from the Federal Ministry of Education…they make the nominations and forward them to the President to sign. But they are at liberty to release it from their end,” the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told The PUNCH on Sunday.
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The appointments come days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities had threatened to embark on another strike, potentially disrupting the academic calendar and causing further setbacks in the country’s higher education sector.
The union, on Tuesday, decried the failure of the Federal Government to appoint Governing Councils for federal universities.
The union also faulted what it described as the nonchalant attitude of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to matters about academics in federal universities.
The body of academics, during a briefing at the University of Abuja, also faulted the 35 per cent salary increment for professors and the 25 per cent salary increment for other academics in the university system.
News
HOMEF Applauds NASS On Decision To Investigate GMOs In Nigeria
Published
8 hours agoon
May 18, 2024By
Editor…says Nigeria needs to prioritise public health
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and the GMO-Free Nigeria
Alliance have commended the House of Representatives on the resolution to comprehensively investigate the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into Nigeria and for a halt on approval of new products
pending the completion of that investigation.
This is as the House of Representatives also urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure labelling of GM crops already in the country.
The House resolution to investigate the introduction of GMOs into Nigeria followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Muktar Shagaya at a plenary session held on Thursday 16th May 2024.
In a statement made available to INFO DAILY Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead, HOMEF, the Executive Director of the organisation, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, said ass the lawmaker rightly explained, the introduction of GMOs in Nigeria raises serious concerns about safety, regulatory oversight, and their potential impacts on the country’s biosafety.
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He noted that the investigation which has been long “overdue is vital to save the country from the dangerous path to food colonialism, contamination of our genetic resources, loss of
biodiversity/nutritional diversity, soil degradation, and overall
disruption of our agriculture and food systems.”
Bassey continued: “This investigation must be unbiased and thorough. To ensure this, the National Assembly should engage independent researchers to avoid contamination of the process by GMO promoters.
“This investigation should consider Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and investigate the underlying
causes of hunger/food insecurity and as well establish definite measures to address those issues. This is the time to rescue Nigerians from being used for risky experimentations.”
The Executive Director also stressed the need for critical examination of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act for its fitness for purpose.
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He further added: “That law needs to be completely reworked to close existing loopholes including the composition of its governing/decision making board by excluding GMO promoters such as the National Biotechnology Development Agency; the lack of provision on strict liability, inadequate public consultation measures, absolute decision-making powers of the agency, minimal reference to the precautionary principal and many others.
“This was the submission of Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, Food Sovereignty Activist and Deputy Executive Director at Friends of the Earth Nigeria.”
Also reacting to the Green Chamber’s call on NAFDAC to label GMO crops in the country, HOMEF’s Director of Programmes and lead on Hunger Politics, Joyce Brown, noted that the agency will need to devise strategies to have foods sold in local markets in basins, by the road sides, and in processed forms like Ogi and Akara labelled to ensure informed decision-making by the majority of people who purchase food from these sources.
“This exercise will prove that GMOs do not fit our socio-economic context. Over the years, market shelf surveys conducted by HOMEF has revealed over 50 different processed/packaged foods labelled as produced using genetically modified ingredients,” she added.
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Brown advised that permits for commercialisation of GMO products such as Bt Cowpea, Tela Maize, Bt Corn and all others be suspended pending the result of the investigation by the House Committee on Agriculture and others.
The statement reaffirmed the submission by Rep. Shagaya that there’s need to prioritise public health, biodiversity, increased support of small holder farmers in terms of extension service, provision of infrastructure (to curtail waste), access to credits, access to land and the growth of our local economy.
“Nigeria should adopt agroecological farming which aligns well with our socio economic and socio cultural
context. Agroecology delivers increased productivity and economic resilience, revises/nourishes ecosystems, strengthens local economies, mitigates climate change and promotes food sovereignty,” the statement concluded.
News
Mother Of Five Jailed For Forging Late Abba Kyari’s Signature
Published
17 hours agoon
May 18, 2024By
EditorA mother of five, Ramat Mba, has been sentenced to one-year imprisonment by a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja, for her involvement in an employment scam.
Ramat who was also found guilty of forging the signature of the late Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, was arraigned before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on a 5-count bordering on cheating, fraud and forgery, contrary to Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Sections 320(b), 366 of the Penal Code Cap 89 laws of Northern Nigeria.
She reportedly committed the offence sometime in 2020 when she collected N4.5 million from several job seekers, promising to secure jobs for them with the ICPC and National Air Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
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Also, the documentary evidence tendered showed that the convict fraudulently forged the letterhead of the Office of the Chief of Staff to former President Buhari and his signature. The letter, addressed to the ICPC Chairman, was a request for the recruitment of three individuals by the commission.
However, the late CoS, in a written correspondence that was also tendered in court as an exhibit, distanced himself or his office from authorising the letter.
Commenting on the sentencing, spokesperson for the ICPC, Demola Bakare said;
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“The trial judge, Justice Muhammad, in his judgment on May 9, 2024, convicted the mother of five children on counts 1, 2, 3 and 5 that border on cheating and forgery, while she was discharged on count 4 which borders on felony.
“Justice Muhammad, during the sentencing on Thursday, pronounced a six-month jail term or N100,000 option of fine on counts 1, 2 and 3 on the convict.
“The presiding judge, who stressed the status of the convict as a first-time offender and a mother, also sentenced her to one-year imprisonment or N150,000 option on fine on count 5 which borders on forgery.”
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