Welcome To Echo Blog

Nigerian Sprinter Blessing Okagbare Banned For 10 Years Over Doping. Nigeria’s 2008 Olympics long jump silver medalist Blessing Okagbare has been banned for 10 years for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday.  The 33-year-old, who is also a sprinter, was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics last year before the women’s 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19. “The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” read an AIU statement. “Five years for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances and five years for her refusal to co-operate with the AIU’s investigation into her case.” Okagbare — who also won long jump silver in the 2013 world outdoor championships where she added a 200m bronze — was not named but clearly identified in an indictment last month brought against her alleged supplier, Texas therapist Eric Lira. US justi...

Samuel Eto'o declared the father of 22-year-old woman despite not acknowledging ruling. Former footballer Samuel Eto'o - who counts Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter among his former clubs - has been declared as the father of a 22-year-old woman by a court in Madrid Retired footballer Samuel Eto’o has been declared as the biological father of a 22-year-old woman in Madrid. The former striker has never acknowledged that he was the father of Erika Do Rosario Nieves and he did not attend the court proceedings in Madrid. Court number 83 in Madrid reached the verdict on Thursday to conclude a legal process that was commenced by the woman’s mother in 2018. The young woman’s mother Adileusa is said to have met Eto’o at a nightclub in Madrid in 1997 – when the Cameroonian was playing for Leganes, who were based near the Spanish capital. Eto’o spent the 1997/98 season on loan at Leganes from Real Madrid – netting four goals in 30 appearances – before briefly breaking into the first-team ...

WHO project, Six African countries to receive mRNA vaccine technology. By Wendell Roelf and Alexander Winning • CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -The World Health Organization said on Friday six African countries - Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia - would be the first on the continent to receive the technology needed to produce mRNA vaccines. • The technology transfer project, launched last year, aims to help low- and middle-income countries manufacture mRNA vaccines at scale and according to international standards. • mRNA is the advanced technology used by companies such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for their COVID-19 shots. Read more on  Yahoo!News

  Easy, Pick Out Historical Greats From The Portrait Above, While Having Fun and Excercing The Brain. Relax And Catch Some Fun.

Wike denies travelling with PDP govs to Europe to select presidential candidate. Accuses Dokpesi of working for APC. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has refuted trending reports that he and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors travelled to Europe to determine the 2023 presidential and vice presidential candidates for the party. The governor accused those behind the rumour of deliberately sowing seeds of discord in a bid to ruin the chances of the PDP in 2023 general elections. Wike, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, in a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said PDP governors had been inundated with calls following a text message being peddled by a chieftain of the party, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, that some governors had embarked on a week-long trip to Europe to determine those who would be presidential and vice presidential candidates of the party in 2023. "I have always said to people in PDP, nobody should cause a division among the governors. We are trying as much a...

Deaths in Brazil floods, mudslides top 100 Many may be trapped in mud that cascaded down on the city this week during the most intense storm in decades. Rescue workers are racing against time, searching for any remaining survivors among mud and wreckage after devastating flash floods and landslides hit the picturesque Brazilian city of Petropolis, as authorities said on Thursday the death toll had risen to 110. Streets were turned into rivers and houses swept away when heavy storms dumped a month’s worth of rain in three hours on the scenic tourist town in the hills north of Rio de Janeiro. With dozens still reported missing, fears that the death toll could climb further sent firefighters and volunteers scrambling through the remains of houses washed away in torrents of mud, many of them in impoverished hillside slums. Read More Of The News Here, Source: Aljazeera Sad!

The 2023 presidential race in Nigeria is fast approaching, aspirants are indicating their interest to run for the office. Mrs Nonye Josephine Ezeanyaeche, also known as "mama Africa" is a 102-year-old woman, she made her intentions known when she visited the management team of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Abuja. Ezeanyaeche said she is  ready to contest for President of Nigeria if the younger generation is not ready to take up the challenge of leading Africa's largest nation. She also called on parents to train their children to achieve more success in life than they did. Watch video here

Police Service Commission (PSC) has suspended officers indicted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) along with suspended DCP Abba Kyari. They are Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunday Ubua, and Assistant Superintendent of Police, James Bawa, attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Force Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (FIIB). The suspension, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 030406, will remain effective until the outcome of the investigation "DCP Abba Kyari, who prior to this allegation was on suspension, shall remain so until the conclusion of investigations”, it read. “The IGP is further requested to inform the Commission of the arrest of ASP John Umoru, currently at large, whenever his arrest is effected.” The letter to the IGP with reference number CB: 4099/FHQ/ABJ/Vol16/151, copied NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa. The statements Kyari made to undercover operatives of the agency was reve...

echoblog-ger.blogspot.com Get Sense! A Nigerian Statement, Which Means Acquire Wisdom OR Be Wise. "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."  Aristotle. "The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times."  Paulo Coelho. "Any fool can know. The point is to understand."  Albert Einstein. "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."  Aristotle. "May you live every day of your life."  Jonathan Swift. "Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly." Langston Hughes .......in all your getting, get wisdom.

The list of 292 orphanages that benefited from his donation of N250 million, has been released by Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.  Davido had sent out a video message to his friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry to send money to him as part of his birthday celebration in November 2021. After the shout out to his friends, the DMW label boss was able to amass over N100 million, in a few hours. This amount later grew to N200million in a few days. Davido then added a personal donation of N50 million to make it N250 million. Davido declared that he was giving the money to charity. He said that he would set up a committee to ensure the disbursement of the money to orphanages across the country. Guess what, Davido has now revealed that the money had been disbursed to 292 homes selected from all the states of the federation. This information was contained in a statement signed by the multi-award winning singer on Tuesday. The statement reads, “As p...

Telegram: Where women's nudes are shared without consent. A BBC investigation has found that women's intimate pictures are being shared to harass, shame and blackmail them on a massive scale, on the social media app Telegram..... The BBC has been monitoring 18 Telegram channels and 24 groups in countries ranging from Russia to Brazil, and Kenya to Malaysia. The total number of subscribers is nearly two million. Personal details like home addresses and parents' phone numbers were posted alongside explicit pictures. We saw group administrators asking members to send intimate images of ex-partners, colleagues or fellow-students to an automated account, so they could be published without revealing the identity of the sender. Telegram now says it has more than half a billion active users worldwide - that's more than Twitter - with many attracted by its emphasis on privacy. Millions moved to Telegram in January 2021 from WhatsApp, which changed its privacy terms. Telegram has...

After a nine months period of investigation into alleged financial improprieties at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). A verdict yesterday to all the parties involved. The former Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman was cleared of any financial improprieties by the 11-man committee, headed by the Director of Maritime services in the Ministryof Transport, Suleiman Auwalu. At the same time, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, confirmed the appointment of Mr. Mohammad Bello-Koko, as the substantive MD at NPA, thus indicating that the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, eventually had his way in the agency crisis, especially, over allegation of insubordination against the former MD. Bello-Koko was the executive director, finance & administration of NPA, had been acting managing director until his confirmation to replaced Bala-Usman, who was suspended for alleged financial impropriety and insubordination. A statement by the ministry, dated February, 15th, 2022, and sig...

PREMIUM TIMES Aregbesola attacks Tinubu, says APC leader ‘planned evil’ for Osun people"We exalted him beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us and we had sworn to ridicule anyone who compares himself to God." UPDATED: Abba Kyari: Police yet to disband IRT, STS satellite unitsThe police said the two units are still intact. UPDATED: Buhari submits supplementary budget of N2.55trn to NASS, makes provision for subsidyMr Buhari said the budget is meant to provide for subsidy on petroleum products from June to December 2022. Source: Premium Times GUARDIAN NDLEA releases shocking details of Kyari’s drug deals •Rights group hails NDLEA •It’s a tragic end to a glorious era, says Sagay • He should be charged to court immediately, says Falana •His lawyer alleges set up. Regulator mum over scarcity as NNPC relocates team to Lagos Telecom sector’s challenges cut-off five million users from networks in 2021. ASUU ruffles JAMB, Pantami as it fires four-week warning shot. So...

Asda slashes prices on pasta, rice and baked beans to help ‘millions’ of Britain’s poorest families. Following a successful campaign by anti-poverty blogger and budget chef Jack Monroe, Asda has slashed the prices of hundreds of kitchen staples, helping "millions" of Brits. Last month Monroe, a former food bank user, urged supermarkets to make their cheapest food ranges more widely available after highlighting the inflation in key products such as rice and the removal of value ranges from the shelves in her local Asda in Essex. Her Twitter thread warning that official inflation figures "grossly underestimated" the impact of the current cost of living crisis on Britain's poorest families went viral and generated a media storm. In response, on Monday (February 7) Asda committed to stocking its full Smart Price and Farm Stores ranges in all of its stores and online. On Saturday (February 12), three and a half weeks after her viral Tweets, the campaigner, who has be...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed how the suspended head of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, ran a drug syndicate. The NDLEA had earlier declared him wanted for drug trafficking. The NDLEA said an investigation revealed that the celebrated cop is a member of a drug syndicate operating across the globe. According to the spokesman of the agency, Mr Femi Babafemi, the saga started on Friday, January 21, 2022, when DCP Kyari initiated a call to one of the NDLEA officers in Abuja at 2:12 pm. He said when the officer returned the call two minutes later, Kyari informed him he was coming to see him, to discuss an operational matter after the Jumaat (weekly Friday prayer) service. Babafemi said, “He (Kyari) appeared at the agreed venue of the meeting with the officer and went straight to the crux of the matter. “His (NDLEA officer’s) team had intercepted and arrested some traffickers that came into the country f...

Today is Valentine's Day. Ever wondered how it all started. Worry no more as we dug through the archives for you. However, there are varied stories on how it originated. The Oldest Known Valentine Message Written in 1477 The name of Valentine's Day can be traced back to the observance of the feast day of Saint Valentine. There are at least two saints named Valentine, one of whom became a martyr around the year 270 CE. The name Valentine comes from a Latin word meaning “strength.” St. Valentine, he is the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers. By some accounts, St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270. February 14, observed in honor of St. Valentine as a day for the exchange of valentines and other tokens of affection. Another narrative according to the legend, the day is celebrated to mark the death anniversary of Saint Valentine who died in mid-February ...

PUNCH Fuel sells for N400/litre in Abuja, others, scarcity persists in Lagos Anxiety as ASUU makes decision on strike Monday Web developer laments ordeal in kidnappers’ den, demands probe Banks’ forex ban: Dollar scarcity, inflation, firms’ closure imminent, experts warn Constitution amendment: APC plans screening of ministerial nominees, others Source: Punch VANGUARD Bullish oil prices firm up Naira value across markets Govts incompetently running NNPC deserve the Nobel prize N100bn contract scam: Senate summons NDDC mgt Breaking: ASUU to go on one-month warning strike Unlawful detention: Igboho slams $1m suit against Beninese govt Source: Vanguard NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (JUST IN): Igboho Files $1 Million Suit Against Benin Republic For Unlawful Detention, Violation Of Rights Sit-At-Home Order: No Igbo Governor, Senator Deserves To Seek Election In 2023 — Ohanaeze FG Counters IMF, Gives Reason For Growing Debt Servicing Source: Nigerian Tribune PULSE.Ng ASUU to announce decision on strike t...

Shooting Outside Justin Bieber Party Leaves Multiple People Wounded. Singer Justin Bieber  Rapper Kodak Black was reportedly among three injured in a Los Angeles shooting outside the afterparty for an exclusive Bieber show. Rapper Kodak Black  By  Hilary Hanson At least three people were wounded early Saturday in a Los Angeles shooting that took place outside of a star-studded afterparty following a Justin Bieber show. TMZ reported that gunfire erupted outside the celebrity-packed bash at restaurant The Nice Guy around 2:45 a.m. According to TMZ, a fight involving rapper Kodak Black broke out and then gunshots could be heard, though it was unclear who the shooter was. The site also published video that appears to show part of the incident. Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson Drake Madison confirmed details of a shooting at that time and location to HuffPost. He said three people were shot and injured ― a 19-year-old man, a 24-year-old man and a 60-year-old man. All...

Yaba collapse building: Death toll rises to five. An additional body was on Sunday, recovered from the rubbles of the three-storey building that collapsed in Yaba area of Lagos, bringing the total casualty figure to five. Recall that a three storey building on Saturday collapsed at No. 16, Akanbi Crescent, off Adesina Street, Harvey, Sabo, Yaba area of Lagos, trapping five persons. Source: Vanguard This is so sad!

• Written by Janet Odidi Obuotor for:    echoblog-ger.blogspot.com Taking Care of The Elderly a MUST! We all have one or more elderly people in our lives. We all hope to grow to a "ripe" old age.  So many prayers, dreams and aspirations for long healthy life.  Let us go practical now, ageing does come with some needed assistance no matter how strong or healthy you are. Who are the elderly? To some, the elderly are people age 65 years and older. Why others feel 60 years is the ideal age to be classified as elderly.  Whatever you consider the ideal age, what is important is making sure that they get the required care and assistance to make them blossom even in old age.  Care for the elderly can feel overwhelming sometimes because a vast majority of us, have no form of experience or training on what to do. We care but we do not know exactly how to express this care in a way that would be of immense benefit to them. Here are a few tips below on ways to take car...