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Everyday People is a post that depicts life as it is for the everyday person. The Author, Janet Odidi Obuotor echoblog-ger.blogspot.com/ Read on.... January, is the month that makes one ponder where do I get more funds from?  Hello, my name is Bala and this is my 'Everyday people' narrative. As I was saying; January bounces on you with a roll-out of the bills.  We all know that December comes with an endless merry go round of expenditures. This is because December ushers in a period for a beehive of activities -  ranging from the end of year parties, the Christmas celebrations and the 'joyful' additional expenses associated with the incoming New Year.  I attribute the word 'joyful' to the expenses linked with the New Year celebration because the majority of people are extremely glad to see a New Year.  Therefore, we go about celebrating the New Year in style.  However, in a dash, "King January" arrives riding a horse and a cart filled with a chart of n

  THE GUARDIAN Egypt and Senegal into AFCON semis as crush stadium confirmed as venue for final Task Force arrests suspected land grabber in Lagos Empower Eguavoen now, editors urge NFF Tunisia coach Kebaier sacked after Cup of Nations exit Mane and Senegal march on to Cup of Nations semis Nadal beats Medvedev for record 21st grand slam Aruna is 11th world best in ITTF’s latest ranking Concerns as cybercriminals unleash SMS-based Android malware on Nigerians Rohr’s rumoured link to Ghana should not worry Eagles, says Obuh  Three rapists get life sentence in Jigawa Gunmen kill soldier, injure three in Rivers Nigeria kicks against N19.2m business registration fee in Egypt Why Kanu’s bail should be vacated, by counsel Only 2.5m motorists captured as insurers plan N7,500 for third-party Eighteen years after the initial review of third-party insurance to N5,000, motorists in the country may have to gear up for another review, The Guardian has gathered. An inside source... In fresh attacks,

  Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in Katsina on Saturday, said the reason why the Federal Government “officially declared bandits as terrorists  is to enable security agencies to take more stringent measures against them.” The Vice President made the statement at the Katsina Emir’s palace while in Katsina on Saturday to pay condolence to Dahiru Barau Mangal, who lost his mother, Hajiya Murja nine days ago. VP Osinbajo, speaking at the Emir’s palace, expressed optimism that with all the new measures ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari “we should be able to see a very significant change in Nigeria security situation. While thanking the Katsina Emir and his chiefs for the warm welcome, he prayed for continuous peace for his kingdom and the country in general. “This Kingdom will know prosperity under your reign. There will be prosperity, there will be happiness, joy and the country also will know peace. By the grace of God, peace would return to all our communities and villages in

The best moment of my life, is being a father says Big Brother Naija Tobi Bakre. Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Tobi Bakre,  revealed that being a father has been the best moment of his life. He made this known at a Question and Answer segment on his Instagram story on Saturday. Bakre got married in August 2021 to Anu. They welcomed their first child together on December 30, 2021 and named him after his father. He described being a father as; “the simplest and best moments of my life, really.” He added that fatherhood was “a lot of work and more to come” but he had so much “joy, happiness, and willingness to do it.” The actor also revealed that he was in the delivery room when his child was delivered, it was “surreal.” He said. 

Popular Nigerian rapper and actor, Folarin Falana better known as Falz has got nothing but love and respect for his colleague, Wande Coal. Falz, took to his Twitter page today, January 29, 2022, and referred to the former Mavin Records artiste Wande Coal as a genius. He wrote; Wande Coal is a spectacle Gemstone Such a genius.”

I never knew January could be this difficult. Until this morning when my neighbour brought his pet cat and ask me to buy it.  I said to him that I don't have rats in my house, he pleaded with me and said I should just buy the cat he will bring me rats later in the evening!

For all applicants to get fair treatment, the United States (US) Mission in Nigeria has extended visa fee validity to September 2023. This move will impact positively applicants facing difficulty in booking appointments for non-immigrant visas. Thousands of applicants have been facing serious difficulty getting an appointment date. With the majority of them securing dates nine months from the date of booking, at the earliest. The usual practice is that VISA fees are only valid for one year from the date of payment, On its website, the American Embassy said that it has extended validity to September 2023 to assist all applicants get an appointment date. Routine consular services that were suspended in the last two years, will soon be restored, the Embassy hinted. Their statement is below. “The United States Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria understand that many visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to schedule a visa appointment. “We are work

Have Fun! Take A Break From Life's Hustle.

Would you get a robot manicure? 3 ways technology is changing the beauty Industry. It sounds like something out of “The Jetsons,” but robots are making a play for the multibillion dollar beauty business with lash extensions, manicures and even hairstyling getting a futuristic makeover.  While the robotics startup Luum is still in its crowdfunding phase, they've started accepting customers in Oakland, California, to test out their lash extension technology. Laura Pochop, who recently tried the service, said that she was pleasantly surprised by the experience. “The actual feeling of it reminded me of when my kids were little and they give you butterfly kisses,” she told Vicky Nguyen, NBC News senior consumer investigative correspondent. Here's how it works: Robots apply lash extensions in 30 minutes or less — a quarter of the time it can take their human counterparts. After her robot encounter, Pochop told TODAY the results were pretty similar to what she sees when a human being

The Special Committee on Amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to confer immunity on judicial officers and on presiding officers of the National Assembly. The National Assembly's presiding officers are the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Speaker of the House. The bill is titled, “An Act to alter Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to extend immunity to cover presiding officers of the legislative institutions.”The bill is sponsored by Segun Odebunmi (APC, Oyo). Segun Odebunmi, chaired the Committee that approved the suspension of Twitter by the Federal Government. He is also the sponsor of the controversial National Broadcasting Commission bill and the Nigerian Press Council bill. At the public hearing on the bill yesterday, Abdulhamid Mohammed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is one of the consultants working with t

A rule that would have required workers at big companies to get vaccinated or face regular COVID testing requirements has been officially withdrawn by the Biden administration. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed the withdrawal Tuesday. But the agency said it still strongly encourages workers to get vaccinated. In early November, OSHA announced a vaccine-or-test mandate for companies with at least 100 employees. The rule __ which would have impacted more than 80 million U.S. workers __ was originally set to go into effect on Jan. 4. But numerous states and business groups challenged the rule in court. On Jan. 13, the Supreme Court halted the plan. In a 6-3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority concluded that OSHA had overstepped its authority. “OSHA has never before imposed such a mandate. Nor has Congress,″ the court’s majority wrote. ”Indeed, although Congress has enacted significant legislation addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, it has declined to enact an

Nigeria for the second consecutive year is having a downward spiral on the TI’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI). Nigeria has dropped one place in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranking released on Tuesday by Transparency International (TI). The country scored 24 out of 100 points in the 2021 index, which was revealed on TI’s official Twitter handle, @TranperencITng. It is Nigeria’s second consecutive year of a downward spiral on the TI’s CPI ranking, the country’s score having dropped from 26 in 2019 to 25 in the 2020 assessment, and further to 24 in the latest 2021 record. The CPI is TI’s tool for measuring the levels of corruption in the systems of various countries around the world. The maximum points a country can score is 100 points, and the least is zero. Zero signifies the worst performing countries and 100, the best-ranked. Nigeria keeps its 149th position out of the 180 countries surveyed, making it the second most corrupt country in West Africa. The ranking may

At least eight killed in crush at Cameroon stadium, hosting the Africa Cup of Nations. At least eight people have been killed and 38 injured in a crush outside an Africa Cup of Nations football match in Cameroon. Videos showed screaming fans being crushed at an entry gate to the Paul Biya stadium in the capital Yaoundé. Witnesses described chaotic scenes outside the ground as thousands of fans struggled to get access. Two children, aged six and 14, are among the dead, and seven people were seriously injured. Cameroonian President Paul Biya ordered an investigation into the "tragic incident". The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has also launched its investigation. Officials said about 50,000 people tried to attend the match. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 but it was not meant to be more than 80% full for the game because of Covid restrictions. Nick Cavell, a producer for BBC Africa Sport, was at the match and says news of the crush did not seem to filter through

Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria's Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning on Monday said the government has suspended the plan to remove fuel subsidy by the end of the first quarter of 2022. At a meeting with the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan at the National Assembly, the Finance Minister said: “We discovered that practically, there is still heightened inflation and that the removal of subsidy would further worsen the situation and impose more difficulties on the citizenry,”  “Mr President does not want to do that. What we are now doing is to continue with the ongoing discussions and consultations in terms of putting in place a number of measures. “One of these include the roll-out of the refining capacities of the existing refineries and the new ones which would reduce the amount of products that would be imported into the country. “We, therefore, need to return to the National Assembly to now amend the budget and make additional provision for subsidy from July 22 t

Socialite and Businessman, Obi Cubana finally meets with Lagos hawker. Last week in Lagos, the young hawker Jeremiah Ekuma, was caught on camera in the Ajah area of Lagos, giving money to persons who were being transported to prison in a Nigerian Correctional Service van. Obi Cubana was amazed at such a kind-spirited act. Deeply touched by the young man's gesture towards the prisoner. He called out to Nigerians to please help him find the young man. Obi Cubana finally meets with the young man and has now offered him a scholarship and N100,000 monthly salary. "Very Benevolent Of You Mr Obi Cubana".

Boris Johnson tells schools in England to end mask-wearing policy. PM removes requirement for face masks to be worn in schools despite headteachers’ concerns. Boris Johnson has told schools in England to end the wearing of face masks by pupils, as parents and teachers continued to report infections spreading within schools at a rapid rate. Johnson’s demand to “follow the latest guidance”, made through his No 10 spokesperson, came after headteachers at secondary schools across England said they would encourage their students to keep wearing masks despite the government withdrawing advice for them to be worn in classrooms. Masks to stay in many secondary schools despite England rule change. The prime minister’s spokesperson said: “Children have been one of the hardest hit as a result of the disruption throughout the pandemic and we recognise the impact it has had on their education. The prime minister believes it is vital that children are receiving face-to-face education and can enjoy a

Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has broken his silence on how winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola died while in detention. Chief MKO Abiola. Abiola died on July 7, 1998 when Abubakar was in power. The former Head of State denied insinuations the late business mogul was poisoned. Rather, he said he died after falling ill while receiving a delegation from the United States of America. He spoke in an interview with Trust TV. According to him: “Well, I smile because there were lots of allegations here and there that we killed Abiola. As always when I am talking about late Abiola, I still thank God for directing me on things to do when he gave me the leadership of this country.” “On the day Moshood Abiola passed away, may he rest in peace, two to three things make me always say I thank my God for the guidance He gave me. One was I received a delegation from America headed by Pickering who was then, I think, the secretary of state

Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations game between Nigeria and Tunisia at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua, Cameroon ended with Nigeria losing to Tunisia. Tunisia won the match by a 1-0 victory. Better Luck Next Time To Nigeria.

The Queens, creating awareness in women that they can contribute their quota in making the world a better place. Meet, Shirley Anita Chisholm, November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005) was an American politician, educator, and author. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to the United States Congress. Chisholm represented New York's 12th congressional district, a districtcentredd on Bedford–Stuyvesant, for seven terms from 1969 to 1983.  In 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States, and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's nomination. Shirley Chisholm announced her intention to run for the US presidency on 25 January 1972. She became the first major-party black candidate to run for America's highest office. Credit: BBC, Wikipedia 

Nigerian music mega duo, music superstar, David Adeleke, aka Davido and Grammy-award winner, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, recently got fans and music lovers excited as the duo were pictured and videoed sharing a warm hug in a Lagos nightclub on Friday night/Saturday morning. The viral video has, Davido and Wizkid hugging each other passionately and exchanging pleasantries at the club. This got their fans basking in unparalleled excitement. For many years, both singers had been dogged by claims that they are not on good terms.  In a reaction to the video Nigerian music superstar and legendary singer, Innocent Idibia, aka 2Baba, took to his Instagram page to express his joy. He said, “This puts a smile on my face.” "It is so pleasant when peace reigns".

How To Spot A Fake Canadian Job Offer Tips to avoid scams and find real jobs in Canada. By Shelby Thevenot; If you are facing a job offer scam, you are not alone. Scammers know job-seekers are in a vulnerable position, and willing to provide their personal information or even money to secure a job in Canada. If you have fallen for a scam, you are not alone. Online scams have been on the rise since the pandemic started. Stats from Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) indicate there were more than 68,000 reported cases of fraud in 2021, and that is not including December. The losses totalled up to $231 million, more than double the losses in 2020. Knowledge is your best defence against scams. Beyond the CAFC website, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a scam tracker that keeps tabs on reported cases of fraud. In this article, we have compiled a list of tips for avoiding fake job offers, and a few more to help you find the real deal. How to avoid job offer scams A general rule of thumb is

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, have inched closer to finding a cure for HIV by targeting infected cells that could be lying dormant in the body. In a study published in the journal Nature Communications this week, researchers improved upon a method originally developed in 2017 to kill hidden HIV-infected cells using cells that are naturally produced by the body’s immune system. The advance brings scientists one step closer to controlling or even eradicating the virus, which attacks the body’s immune system. “These findings show proof-of-concept for a therapeutic strategy to potentially eliminate HIV from the body, a task that had been nearly insurmountable for many years,” Jocelyn Kim, the study’s lead author, said in a press release. “The study opens a new paradigm for a possible HIV cure in the future.” Globally, 38 million people are currently living with the deadly virus, and an estimated 36 million have died of AIDS-related diseases since the 1980s

The Chief of Air Staff (CAF), Air Marshal Isiaka Amao while speaking during the First International Conference on Data Science and Engineering by the force held at the Air force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna. Amao, accredited the successes recorded by the force to its human resources, technical and logistics support. He said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been succeeding despite the challenges it has faced in recent times. The two-day conference was held with the theme ‘Embracing Digital Transformation.’ Represented by the Chief of Staff, Air Training Command, AVM Emmanuel Chukwu, Amao said data science and engineering was very imperative to the force. He said: “NAF will focus on valuable opportunities to develop its human resources in technical and logistics support for efficient deployment of air power in battle against crime in Nigeria. “Pervasive computing in aero space military intelligence is an integral part of the Nigerian Air force operations." "The i

President Franklin Rooselvelt said "All we have to fear is fear itself."  Overcoming fears forces us to learn and embracing risk-taking also helps you to overcome a fear of failure. Think about your biggest goal. Why haven’t you accomplished it yet? If you’re like most people, the answer is basic: fear.  Fear is the limiting factor stopping you from working toward what you really want. Fear distracts us and leads to excuses – but it doesn’t have to. Learning how to overcome fear is one of the most liberating pursuits you can undertake.  It’s easy to pretend fear isn’t influencing you and to make excuses as to why you haven’t achieved what you’re capable of. Instead of turning around and hiding from it, treat fear as a cue to take action, not an excuse. Look at your goal. If you let fear chase you away from achieving it, then you’ve effectively given in. This is why the path to overcoming fear includes acknowledging the fears and limiting beliefs holding you back. You’ve done

Nigerian Billionaire and Business mogul, Femi Otedola has pledged $250,000 to Super Eagles squad, if they win the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon. The statement was made on behalf of CACOVID by Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, during a visit to the team’s camp in Cameroon. Emefiele stated that the private-sector-led platform established to assist the government in the fight against Coronavirus in the country will award the Super Eagles squad $120,000 for the six goals they scored during the tournament’s group stage. Godwin Emefiele, who praised the team, stated that CACOVID has increased the prize money for each goal scored in the round of 16 to $50,000. He said; “I came with a message from the CACOVID. The CACOVID is the coalition of private-sector companies that was set up to fight COVID-19 in Nigeria and they have been happy with the performance of the team.” “During the meeting, I had with the captain (Ahmed Musa) and the coach (Austin Eguavoen), I deliv

In Holland a mechanic from the dealership smashed to pieces a 2.5million Ferrari Enzo after  crashing it into a tree stump in Holland. The crash took place in the town of Baarn, just southeast of Amsterdam, on Tuesday.  It is reported that a local dealership mechanic was the person behind the wheel of the Enzo at the time of the crash.  Only 400 Enzo Ferraris were built worldwide. The mechanic escaped the incident unhurt after being taken to hospital for a check-up. Significant damage was done to the Ferrari in the collision, in which its airbags were deployed, including two wheels having been ripped away along with several suspension pieces.   A witness to the crash said the vehicle's passenger side ploughed into a tree stump on the side of the road. Credit Daily Mail

N2.4 Billion On Movie Tickets In 2021, Spent By Nigerians— Report The report revealed that the highest ticket sales, N650m, were recorded during the holiday season from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022. Despite the economic hardship, the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) has revealed that Nigerians spent over N2.4 billion on movie tickets in 2021. Also, the report revealed that the highest ticket sales, N650m, were recorded during the holiday season from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022. ‘Spiderman: No way home,’ ‘Christmas in Miami,’ and ‘Aki & Pawpaw’ were named the top three most viewed films in December. The report also noted that 2021 saw a 100 per cent increase in ticket sales from N1.2billion in 2020. In 2019, revenue from ticket sales was N4.1 billion. Similarly, at the close of 2021, a post-pandemic year, AY’s ‘Christmas in Miami’ led the list of the highest-grossing movies in the year, with total revenue of N205.78m within the first two weeks of it

Former Governor of Lagos State and APC Chieftain, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has apologised over a statement he made about the permanent voter cards (PVCs) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While addressing some women leaders who paid him a visit in Abuja, the presidential aspirant said the PVCs in the possession of citizens have expired. “In case they do not announce to you on time, the PVC you have has expired,” Tinubu had said. “Take one family member, two family members, knock on all doors and make sure that the new registration… Because they may not announce to you on time. The PVCs you have have expired. Yes!” The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has however, urged Nigerians to disregard claims by a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Ahmed Bola Tinubu that the Permanent Voters’ Cards PVCs have an expiry date. The move by INEC necessitated a response from Tinubu's spokesman. On Wednesday, Tunde Rahman, spokesman of Tinubu, said h

Dele Adeleke's Governorship ambition has continued to cause a scene in the household of the Adelekes'. Nigerian music star Davido has continued to call out his cousin.  Davido's cousin, Dele Adeleke recently purchased the nomination form from the People's Democratic Party to contest the Governorship position in Osun state against his uncle Ademola Adeleke. In a series of tweets shared via his Twitter page on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the music star vowed to frustrate his cousin's ambition. Davido's tweets below:  "Because of your ambition you have your people write about me (which I don't care ) but to include the death of my mother in an article ... same woman that raised you...@deleadeleke001 ok na .. Dele God will reward you," he tweeted. "The truth hurt you that much you had to go that low to mention YOUR AUNTY VERO that cared for you .. well... I don open my crase for the year @deleadeleke001 stay tuned NEW MUSIC 2MORO!" The award

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