The Kaduna State Ministry Education, Science and Technology hereby invites applications from Kaduna State citizens wishing to study MBBS Overseas programmes to participate in the 2018/2019 selection interviews for the award of the scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria

• All applicants must be citizens of Kaduna State.
• Preferably candidates from indigent families.
• All applications must be for MBBS degree programme.
• Applicants must possess a minimum qualification of six (6) Distinctions (As and Bs) in the senior secondary school certificates, WAEC or NECO (May/June) in science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) including English Language, and Mathematics. This is to ensure that those selected would be able to successfully complete their studies with ease and within the stipulated time.
• Certificate should no be more than two (2) years old (2016&2017)
• Age limit for applicants should be 17 to 20 years.

Kaduna State Overseas Scholarship Exam & Interview Schedule.

Exam Date and Venue

• CBT Examination would be conducted at Kaduna State University (KASU) as follows: Date: 25th May, 2019

Written and Oral interview Date & Venue

• Northern Senatorial Zone: Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Main Campus 27th – 29th May, 2019

• Central Senatorial Zone: Kaduna State University (KASU) Main Campus, Tafawa Balewa Way, Kaduna 27th – 29th May, 2019

• Southern Senatorial Zone: College of Education Gida – Waya, Kafanchan Campus 27th – 29th May, 2019

Method of Application

APPLY HERE

Application forms should be completed online as follows: –

• Fill the form on-line
• Submit and print a copy
• Attach photocopy of the following documents to the printed copy:
• WAEC/NECO certificate
• Birth certificate/declaration of age from High Court of Justice.
• Letter of identification from your Local Government of Residence
• Two passport size photographs with your name written at the back and signed by you

Note:

• Candidates should only make one entry as multiple entries will be disqualified.

• The scholarship shall not be held at the same time with another award nor for part – time studies

• Change of course or institution is not allowed.

• The scholarship is to assist the scholar in the payment of tuition fees and up – keep allowance.

Scholarship Application Deadline: Not Stated.

Source: Scholarships and Aid

There are five (5) different scholarship schemes for applicants wishing to apply as follows:

• Need Base Scholarship (Candidates from indigent families)
• Merit Scholarship (Candidates having CGPA of 3.5 and above)
• School Based Individual Scholarship (Candidates studying Health related courses e.g. MBBS, Pharmacy, Nursing etc.)
• Disability Scholarship (Candidates living with Special Needs)
• Athletic Scholarship (Candidates taking parts in Sports for the State)

All candidates are at liberty to apply for any of the aforementioned scholarship schemes according to suitability of their status.

Note:

• Disability scholarship scheme is mainly for physically chaLlenged applicants while Athletic scholarship scheme is for athletes who must have represented Kaduna State at National Sports Festival and have won medal(s);
• Applicants for merit scholarship must be in their second year and above, and must have obtained a CGPA of 3.5; Applicants for Need Based scholarship scheme must come from indigent (Less privilege) families;
• Applicants for school based individual scholarship must be studying Health related courses in the University or Health oriented institution of higher learning.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants for postgraduate studies should possess a minimum of first degree with second class honours Upper Division.
• Applicants must be registered full time students of any recognized and accredited institution of higher learning.
• All other applicants Undergraduates, Higher National Diploma, National Diploma and Nigeria Certificate in Education must be registered full-time students of any recognized and accredited institution of higher learning in Nigeria.

Kaduna State Scholarship Interview Dates.

Interview Date and Venue (Zone)

• Zaria(Zaria, Igabi, S/Gari, Giwa, Makarfi, Kudan)
  Date: 3rd 14th June, 2019.
  Venue: Zaria Local Government Secretariat
• Headquarters(B/Gwari, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Kajuru)
  Date: 3rd 14th June, 2019.
  Venue: Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board Secretariat
• Maigana(Soba, Lere, Kauru, Kubau, Ikara)
  Date: 3rd 14th June, 2019.
  Venue: Soba Local Government Secretariat
• Kachia(Kachia, Kagarko, Z/Kataf)
  Date: 3rd 14th June, 2019.
  Venue: Kachia Local Government Secretariat
• Kafanchan(Jemaa, Jaba, Sanga, Kaura)
  Date: 3rd 14th June, 2019.
  Venue: Jemaa Local Government Secretariat

Method of Application

APPLY HERE

Application forms should be completed online as follows:

• Applicants for Need Based Scholarship Scheme should refer to and complete application form No. 1 only.
• Applicants for Merit Scholarship Scheme should refer to and complete form No.2 only.
• Applicants for School Based individual scholarship scheme should refer to and complete form No.3 only.
• Applicants for Disability Scholarship Scheme should refer to and complete form No.4 only.
• Applicants for Athletic Scholarship Scheme should refer to and complete form No. 5 only.

Candidates are advised to make only one entry as multiple entries will be disqualified. After completing the form online, the printed copy should be submitted to the scholarship Board with the following documents:

• Admission Letter
• Academic Certificates
• Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age
• Letter of indigenization or Citizenship
• 2 passports with your name written at the back and signed by you
• Current students Payment Slip,

Scholarship Application Deadline: 20th May, 2019.

Source: Scholarships And Aid

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in announcing the release of the results of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Saturday, also advised the candidates on how to download them.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede directed the candidates to send ‘RESULT’ to 55019, on their mobile phones, used to register for the exam.

Candidates should send RESULT, via SMS, to 55019 using the same number that was used for registration (you must have a credit balance of at least N50 on your line).

The result, would be replied as an SMS shortly after.

Another way to check for your results is:

Go to JAMB result checking portal at http://www.jamb.org.ng/eFacility/CheckUTMEResults.

Enter your JAMB Registration Number/Email Address in the required column.

Click on ‘Check My Results’ and the portal will load your result if it’s ready.

Note that UTME results are released in batches.

If the portal returns with ‘You Do Not Have Any Result Yet’, that implies your result is not yet ready. So you have to check back later.

JAMB announced results for 1,792,719 candidates.

Ekele Franklin, the 15-year-old Imo State native who emerged as the best candidate in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), released on Saturday cannot gain admission into any Nigerian University in spite of his outstanding score of 347 marks.

Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyode, while speaking on the results released said that the best candidate may not be admitted to the University of Lagos, which he chose as his first choice because of age.

Franklin emerged as the best in the list of over 1.8m candidates but following the National Universities Commission (NUC) minimum age rule for admission into the university which public universities don’t compromise, he stands disqualified to register as a student of the University of Lagos, his first choice school.

The second best candidate with 346 marks – 16-year-old Emmanuel Chidiebube is from Abia State with just one point less than Franklin, while 17-year-old Oluwo Isaac Olamilekan Oloyode from Osun State came third with 345 marks.

Oloyede lamented that the examination was fraught with serious irregularities and manipulation from especially the CBT exam centres and owners.

He said: “In Nigeria too, examination malpractice is exacerbated by the insatiable greed and desperate antics of parents who are hell-bent on inducting their innocent and not-so-innocent children into the world of sharp practices and corruption.

“Yet, the given circumstances made it difficult for us in 2017 to adopt the international best practice of pre-release clinical scrutiny of the results of the examination of this nature especially when one is aware of how endemic the rot had been since the period of the Paper and Pencil Test till the recently introduced CBT.”

“The foundation of examination malpractice is laid at the point of registration with the active connivance of some CBT centre owners who allowed themselves to be infiltrated by those who parade themselves as owners of tutorial classes. “Unfortunately, some elite institutions that charge exorbitant fees, which they had made the parents part with in the name of secondary education, became active in the procurement of ‘best results’ for their students at all costs.

“These characters have permeated the system such that it is herculean to confront and dislodge them.

“The extent of this infraction is appreciated through the huge amount of money JAMB makes from the correction of names, dates of birth by the perpetrators.”

He added that JAMB had delisted about 116 CBT centres nationwide from conducting the UTME tests in future.

In pursuance of NNPC/NAE PSC, the Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE) Limited is offering Post Graduate Award for the qualified and interested graduate students for session 2019/2020 in Nigeria.

The program is open for Nigerian and international students, who wish to commence theirpostgraduatestudy at any reputable overseas university or recognized Nigerian university.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Countries:Citizens from Nigeria and all around the world
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: Masters degree course in Geosciences, Engineering, Petroleum Economics, and Law.
• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible for this grant, candidates must possess a minimum of Second Class Upper Bachelors degree from a recognized Nigerian university, have secured admission into any Nigerian or overseas university for the Masters Degree program.
• The applicant should not above 28 years of age by December 31st, 2019 and have completed the one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. Students must possess an international passport valid for travel at least one year from September 2019.

Method of Application:For acquiring this education award, aspirants need to be a full-time masters degree student at any recognized Nigerian or overseas university. After enrolled in a postgraduate course, you will be eligible to apply for the studentship.

• • Supporting Documents:Seekers will be asked to attach the passport photograph, provisional admission letter, NYSC discharge certificate, valid ID card, valid international passport data page birth certificate from Local government and NAE compliance declaration form.

• Admission Requirements:For admission in postgraduate degree, applicants need to have the first-degree certificate, all the academic and previous qualification certificates.
• Language Requirement:All claimants must have to provide evidence of English language skills.

The bursary will cover the tuition, books, field trips, accommodation, living expenses and a return economy ticket for the selected one-year course of study.

Apply Now

Scholarship Application Deadline:May 26, 2019

Source: Scholarships And Aid

Covenant University is proud to offer International Excellent Scholarship (CUIES) for International students to help in their higher study in Nigeria.

The CUIES program is open to non-NigerianMastersapplicants seeking on-campus admission to Covenant University.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Eligible Countries: Applications will be accepted from all around the world except Nigeria
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: Proposed Masters Degree Programme are: Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, Economics, Demography and Social Statistics, Mass Communication, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, International Relations, Policy and Strategic Studies, Public Policy, Architecture, Biology (Applied Biology & Biotechnology), Biochemistry, Building Technology, Industrial Chemistry, Computer Science, Management Information System (MIS), Estate Management, Industrial Mathematics, Industrial Physics, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Information & Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering.
• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, the applicants must be non-Nigerian candidates admitted into any of Covenants Masters Programs, and shall be for a period of 18-months.

Method of Application: Create your account to get started on your application. After completing the online application, you must apply for a masters degree program at Covenant University to be considered for the award.

• • Supporting Documents: Applicants must attach your first-degree Certificate, passport photograph, Transcript, and Personal Statement not more than 1500 words.

• Admission Requirements: With a minimum of Second Class (Lower Division), you must be a graduate of Covenant University or any other University recognized by the Senate of Covenant University
• Language Requirement: Applicants must be demonstrated (Speaking, Reading, and Writing) Proficiency in the English Language

The university will provide the program value, being a waiver of tuition fee only:

• First Class: 100% tuition waiver
• Second Class Upper (? 4.0): 75% tuition waiver
• Second Class Upper (< 4.0): 50% tuition waiver

Apply Now

Scholarship Application Deadline: Thursday, August 29th, 2019

Source: Scholarships And Aid

The Gilbert and Marcia Kotzen Scholars Program aims to encourage brightest students interested in transformative education and also supports them in pursuing anundergraduatedegree.

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries:International applicants are eligible to apply for this fund.
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: Candidates can apply for an undergraduate degree program in any subject offered by the university.
• Admissible Criteria: You must have a College preparatory curriculum including an advanced level math course during, or prior to, your senior year of high school.

How to apply:Participants need to join an undergraduate degree course at the university and then submit their applications for the award through email [email protected].

• Supporting Documents:Aspirants are advised to create a PDF file and include an essay within 250 words and describe how you will use this grant. Also, include a curriculum vitae and a copy of passport and attach this file with your application.
• Admission Requirements:Candidates must have a record of taking honors, advanced placement (AP) and international baccalaureate (IB) courses, as available in their high school systems with a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
• Language Requirement:Students need to score of 28 or higher (ACT), 1300 or higher (new SAT) or 1250 or higher (old SAT CR M). Minimum of 600 in each SAT section strongly recommended. Or they can show their English language proficiency by TOEFL or IELTS test.

The educational award will provide full tuition, room & board, plus an additional $3,000 for academic pursuits such as study abroad, research support, and more.

Apply Now

Scholarship Application Deadline: December 1, 2019

High achieving claimants from Kenya, Thailand or Nigeria are invited to apply for the Kent LLM Student Awards offered by Law School of the University of Kent.

The fund is established to support the students, who want to study the full-time taught LLM program at the Canterbury Campus of the University of Kent.

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries:Citizens of Kenya, Thailand or Nigeria
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: Masters degree course in the field of Law
• Admissible Criteria: The applicant must hold a valid passport of the nationality of Kenya, Thailand, or Nigeria or have successfully completed a Bachelors degree at a university in Kenya, Thailand or Nigeria. They must be classified by the University of Kent as an international student for tuition fee purposes.
• Candidates must be fully self-funding studies and have firmly accepted an offer of a place on the taught Kent LLM at the university for entry in September 2019 or in January 2020, and have met the academic conditions of entry/be accepted for entry.

Method of Application: If you want to join this program, then you are needed to take admission in a masters degree program at the university. After receiving an offer of study at the university, entrants will be notified for the award by email.

• • Admission Requirements: For being enrolled in a masters degree, seekers must have to hold a bachelors degree certificate.

• Language Requirement: For gaining the advantage of this program, entrants are required to have a good level of English language to study.

The bursary will provide a tuition fee discount of 2,500 to for the course.

Apply Now

Scholarship Application Deadline:July 31, 2019

Source: Scholarships And Aid

The purpose of this award is to help those candidates who are going to take part in amasters degree course and wants to spread positivity in the world.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Eligible Countries: UK, EU and overseas fee-paying students are eligible for this grant.
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: They can apply for a masters degree program in the field of Ancient History, History of Art, and Roman History & Archaeology at the university.

Admissible Criteria: Candidates will have a clear intellectual ambition and also have the potential to make a strong contribution to their chosen program.

Method of Application: Aspirants are suggested to receive a place in a master’s degree program at the university and after that, complete the online application form for the fund.

Supporting Documents: Copy of passport, curriculum vitae, and a personal statement should be submitted with the application.

Admission Requirements: You must have a first-class bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject an equivalent non-UK qualification. Or can have a Master’s degree at merit or distinction in a relevant subject or equivalent.

Language Requirement: Candidates need to demonstrate their English language ability by taking TOEFL or IELTS test, only if English is not their national language.

Benefits: The total worth of the award is £20,000 in which four grants are available and each will provide £5,000 in this course.

Apply Now

Scholarship Application Deadline: May 31, 2019

By Emmanuel Afonne

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres on Thursday in New York announced the appointment of His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, as one of his new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates for 2019-2020.

A statement by UN quoted Guterres as saying that the appointment was sequel to the UN Member States agreement to accomplish the SDGs by 2030.

The Advocates are 17 influential public figures from around the world who are tasked by the Secretary-General to promote the Goals, raise awareness with new audiences, maintain global commitment and call for greater ambition and scalable action to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Sanusi is the only Nigerian on the 17- man list of SDG Advocates co-chaired by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway.

According to Guterres, the Advocates are tasked with driving the action, building the ambition, and solidifying global political will of the SDGs.

We have the tools to answer the questions posed by climate change, environmental pressure, poverty and inequality.

They lie in the great agreements of 2015 the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

But tools are no use if you dont use them. So, today, and every day, my appeal is clear and simple; we need action, ambition, political will, more action, more ambition and more political will, said Guterres.

He further said that the Advocates are to raise awareness, inspire greater ambition, and push for faster action on the SDGs, which were adopted by world leaders on Sept. 25 2015.

They are expected to use their unique platforms and leadership to inspire cross-cutting mobilisation of the global community to build the momentum for transformative and inclusive development by 2030.

The Advocates selected from Governments, entertainment, academia, sport, business and activist organisations around the world, are also expected to leverage and build bridges between their unique audiences, and work together to drive progress.

Co-Chair of the SDGs Advocates group Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway was also quoted in the statement as saying: By joining forces to achieve our goals, we can turn hope into reality leaving no one behind.

On his part, President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is also the Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates, called for a united force to fight poverty globally.

He said: This is a time of great hope for the world. If we work smartly together and stay on course, we can raise millions out of poverty and significantly expand basic social services for many more by the 2030 end date of the SDGs.

Source: NAN

President Donald Trump pulled the trigger Friday on a steep increase in tariffs on Chinese products and Beijing immediately vowed to hit back, turning up the heat before a second day of trade negotiations.

Trump got a briefing from his trade negotiators after the first day of talks with the Chinese side on Thursday, but made no move to hold off on the tariffs dashing hopes there might be a last-minute reprieve as the negotiations continued.

Minutes after the US increased punitive duties on $200 billion in imports from China from 10 to 25 percent, the Chinese commerce ministry said it deeply regrets the move and repeated its pledge to take necessary countermeasures, without elaborating.

Locked in a trade dispute for more than a year, officials from the worlds two biggest economies returned to the bargaining table late Thursday, led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Since last year, the two sides have exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, gutting US agricultural exports to China and weighing on both countries manufacturing sectors.

Trump began the trade war because of complaints about unfair Chinese trade practices.

The US team met with Trump late Thursday night to brief him and agreed to continue discussions tomorrow morning at USTR, the White House said in a statement.

Lighthizer and Mnuchin met with the Chinese delegation for about 90 minutes Thursday evening. The White House statement said they also had a working dinner with Liu, who is leading the Chinese side.

We hope the US and the Chinese side can meet each other halfway and work hard together to resolve existing problems through cooperation and consultation, the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement.

Despite optimism from officials in recent weeks that the talks were moving towards a deal, tensions reignited this week after Trump angrily accused China of trying to backpedal on its commitments.

They took many, many parts of that deal and they renegotiated. You cant do that, Trump said on Thursday.

But he held out hopes of salvaging a deal.

Its possible to do it, Trump said. I did get last night a very beautiful letter from President Xi (Jinping).

At the same time, he said he would be equally satisfied to simply keep tariffs in place. And he has threatened to extend the tough duties to all Chinese goods.

The International Monetary Fund has called for a rapid resolution, warning that the trade battle was a threat to global growth.

The renewed tensions roiled global stock markets this week and unnerved exporters.

Liu said on his arrival in Washington that the prospects for the talks were promising, but warned that raising tariffs would be harmful to both sides, and called instead for cooperation.

I hope to engage in rational and candid exchanges with the US side, he told Chinese state media.

Source: NAN

Uber is set for its Wall Street debut Friday with a massive share offering that is a milestone for the ride-hailing industry and the so-called sharing economy, but which comes with simmering concerns about its business model.

Shares will be priced at $45 for the initial public offering (IPO), valuing the startup at more than $82 billion, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

San Francisco-based Uber was set to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the eponymous ticker UBER in one of the largest initial public offerings in the tech sector.

Despite the eye-popping valuation, Uber dialled back some of its earlier ambitions for a value exceeding $100 billion after a rocky start for US rideshare rival Lyft.

Analyst Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities said Uber has the potential to be a game-changing company and is paving a similar road to what Amazon did to transform retail/ecommerce and Facebook did for social media.

Ives said Uber has the potential to grow as it morphs its ridesharing platform into a more diverse set of services with Uber Eats, Uber Freight, and self-driving vehicle initiatives.

We view Ubers conservative pricing as a smart and prudent strategy coming out of the box as it clearly learned from its little brother Lyft, and the experience it has gone through over the past month, Ives said in a note to investors.

A small group of independent drivers and supporters protest against Uber and other app-based ride-hailing companies near the New York Stock Exchange

But some of the risks surrounding Uber and its rivals were highlighted Wednesday as thousands of drivers turned off their apps in a US-wide strike over pay and working conditions.

The strikes targeting Uber and its US rival Lyft highlighted a dilemma for rideshare firms, which have faced challenges from regulators and traditional taxi operators for using a business model relying on independent contractors.

One group protested outside the New York Stock Exchange with some signs reading Invest in our lives Not their stocks.

Uber and Lyft did not immediately comment on the protests.

Uber said in a securities filing Thursday that it had reached agreement with a large majority of the roughly 60,000 drivers contesting their status as independent contractors and who had instituted arbitration proceedings against the firm.

The company anticipates the total cost of the individual settlements, combined with attorneys fees, will fall between $146 million and $170 million.

Uber maintained it was sticking to its plans on how it classifies drivers.

Our business would be adversely affected if drivers were classified as employees instead of independent contractors, the company said.

Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry predicted that Uber will eventually have to raise ride prices, causing its customers to seek other options.

Uber will be raising up to $9 billion in the offering being underwritten by Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch and other large banks.

Ubers inauguration as a public company will follow a rocky market debut for Lyft, which has lost more than 15 percent of its value since its March offering.

Lyfts losses in the past quarter widened to $1.1 billion, according to its first financial report as a public company.

Source: NAN

A Zimbabwe man made a heartbreaking discovery of his life, when he found out that his girlfriend, whose house rent he was paying, was living with another man.

According to , Jojo Tabengwa thought his girlfriend Samkeliso Dube was staying with her parents yet she had already moved in with another man.

For three months, he paid rent for the family but was not allowed to visit.

Tabengwa became suspicious because Dube would always switch off her phone when she got home.

When the lie was finally exposed she was indifferent with no apology whatsoever. Instead she sought a protection order from the courts, the newspaper reported.

I am the complainant in this matter and the respondent Jojo Tabengwa is my ex-boyfriend. We broke up but he keeps stalking and harassing me. He comes to my house at night and unannounced to harass me and my current boyfriend. I have made it clear to him that I no longer have any interest in him and that I have moved on with my life but he keeps on pestering me. My life is no longer at peace because of him. His pestering is hindering progress in my life, complained Dube at the Bulawayo Civil Court.

In response Jojo almost broke down as he narrated the nasty discovery that ripped his happiness apart.

I have been good to this woman. I deny all the allegations she has levelled against me. It is not true that I am stalking her. What happened is that when we started dating she lied to me that she stays with her parents.

For the past three months we have been dating she didnt allow me to visit her place despite the fact that I was the one who was paying her rentals amounting to $380 per month.

Every time I wanted to visit her, she would lie that her mother was around. At night she would also switch off her phone. One day out of suspicion I went to her place and that is when I discovered that she had been cheating on me as she was staying with another man.

When I confronted that man he openly told me that they started staying together three months ago of which I was the one who had been paying their rent, said a heartbroken Jojo.

To Jojos dismay, the presiding magistrate Rachael Mukanga, ordered him not to visit his ex-girlfriends place and not to abuse or harass her in any way.

Source: NAN

English clubs have marked their return to prominence on the European stage in a week punctuated by spellbinding drama with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur set to meet in just the second all-English Champions League final next month.

Chelsea and Arsenal then ensured the success of English teams wont just be limited to the continents top club competition, both reaching the Europa League showpiece to give the Premier League an unprecedented four European finalists, the first time there has been such a sweep.

The English sweep on the football field comes, ironically, as the United Kingdom wrestles with Brexit, the painful and protracted withdrawal from the European Union.

Only twice before in European football the 1972 UEFA Cup and 2008 Champions League had two English teams contested a final, but two improbable comebacks guaranteed another such clash on June 1 in Madrid.

Liverpool, last years runners-up to Real Madrid, ended Spains five-year grip on the continents top club prize as they shocked Lionel Messi and Barcelona their stunning 4-0 win at Anfield inspiring Tottenham to a fightback every bit as inconceivable 24 hours later.

We saw Liverpool last night. It just goes to show its not over until its over, Spurs defender Danny Rose said after his side rallied from a 3-0 aggregate deficit at half-time to break Ajax hearts thanks to a second-half hat-trick from Lucas Moura.

We enjoyed a lot watching the tie against Barcelona. They are heroes too and, of course, it is going to be an amazing final between two English teams that for sure we are going to enjoy, added Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Despite record broadcast deals bringing in billions from around the globe, English clubs have been out-thought and out-played at Champions League level over the past decade.

Yet while Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich have dominated at home in recent years, no club has retained the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2009, in Cristiano Ronaldos final season at Old Trafford.

The constant grind of Englands top six vying every season for just four Champions League places allows nobody to rest on their laurels, on the pitch or off it in the recruitment process.

Crucially, the Premier League now also boasts not only money, but world-class coaching that has been given time to build.

Pep Guardiola is in his third season as City manager, Jurgen Klopp in his fourth at Liverpool and Pochettino near the end of season five at Spurs.

The level of the Premier League I think is clear, said Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, whose turbulent first season in England could finish on an unexpected high with a top-four place already secured.

If you consider we got to the final in the League Cup and we had to play against Liverpool, Tottenham and the final against Man City you have an idea about the level.

Sarri will now pit his wits against Unai Emery as Chelsea face Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku on May 29.

Chelsea needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Eintracht Frankfurt in their Europa League semi-final while a Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang hat-trick took the Gunners to a 4-2 win over Valencia for a 7-3 aggregate.

The final will be Arsenals first in Europe since they lost the 2006 Champions League to Barcelona.

I am very proud of the players and the supporters. The players did all they could and we can be proud of the whole club, said Emery who once coached Sevilla to three Europa League titles.

Valencia coach Marcelino hailed the strength of the Premier League.

Arsenal had a bigger punch, he said.

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga shrugged off having to travel 4,500 km (2,800 miles) to Azerbaijan to face Arsenal despite their two grounds sitting barely seven miles apart in London.

We will have a strong London derby with Arsenal in Baku, he said.

Source: NAN

Labour doesnt exist to stop Brexit, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn said as he defended the partys approach to the European elections.

The party is seeking to appeal to both sides of the Brexit debate, insisting that the real divide in the country is between normal workers and the wealthy rather than Leavers and Remainers.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon acknowledged it was a difficult road that the party had chosen but its the right thing to do.

In comments which could cause further tensions within Labour between those calling for a second referendum and others who want to secure a soft Brexit deal, Mr Burgon insisted the party was not trying to prevent the UKs exit from the European Union.

The Labour Party doesnt exist to stop Brexit, he told BBC Twos Newsnight.

Other parties have been formed that think that is their only purpose politically.

The Liberal Democrats hope to poach pro-EU Labour voters with an uncompromising message of bollocks to Brexitfor its European manifesto, with an alternative of Stop Brexit for voters with more refined sensibilities.

In comments which could cause further tensions within Labour between those calling for a second referendum and others who want to secure a soft Brexit deal, Mr Burgon insisted the party was not trying to prevent the UKs exit from the European Union.

The Labour Party doesnt exist to stop Brexit, he told BBC Twos Newsnight.

Other parties have been formed that think that is their only purpose politically.

The Liberal Democrats hope to poach pro-EU Labour voters with an uncompromising message of bollocks to Brexitfor its European manifesto, with an alternative of Stop Brexit for voters with more refined sensibilities.

Sourcehttp://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/labours-purpose-is-not-to-stop-brexit-corbyn-ally-insists-11364361134251:

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Concerned Democrats for Equitable Representation (CODE-R) has urged elected members of the House of Representatives to resist any attempt by group or individuals to foist leaders on them to avoid a rubber-stamp legislature.

Mr Stephen Eriba, Co-Convener CODE-R made the call on Friday in Abuja, while explaining the need for equitable representation in selecting leaders of the 9th House of Representatives.

He alleged that the groups other plan was to enthrone a speaker and deputy speaker from one religion which would run against equitable representation.

This plan was reaffirmed by a statement from the Wase Equity Project, which among other things stated that Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Alhaji Ahmed Idris Ease, both Muslims, have been endorsed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively of the 9th House of Representatives.

While we cannot take the inalienable right of any Nigerian to aspire to any office desired, as concern citizens, familiar with Nigerias chequered history, we know that such a set up will widen our fault lines and cause further division amongst the two major religious group in Nigeria.

The House of Representatives is constituted in such a way that it reflects true representation of all Nigerians across board.

Even the framers of our constitution, in many instances, provided room for equitable representation for the purpose of fairness and justice.

The National Assembly is the critical component of a democracy, because its membership represent the diverse tongues, creeds, opinions, interest and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

In the spirit of fairness and equity, its leadership should not be one sided as currently being planned, Eriba said.

According to Eriba, the leadership of House of Representatives has always been skewed to accommodate different religions and tribes for equal representation.

He maintained that any leadership arrangement that does not respect Nigerias peculiar diversity would be viewed as pursuit of vested interest, rather than national interest, and will be a recipe for deep ethno-religious suspicions, division and crisis.

A cursory look at the leadership of the House of Representatives since the return to Democracy in 1999 gives credence to this fact.

The religious exclusivism being surreptitiously promoted in every sphere of government currently in our nation, under different guise is an ill wind that will blow no good, he added.

He urged those making such plans, and most importantly the elected members of 9th House of Representatives to tread with caution in the constitution of its principal officers, especially now that ethno-religious suspicions and division in the country are at octave levels.

Therefore, we call on all well meaning Nigerians to condemn another attempt to further divide us along religious lines.

We also call on all elected representatives to put Nigeria first by ensuring that the leadership of the 9th National Assembly is one that will engender and promote the spirit of oneness, inclusiveness, fairness, justice and respect for our diversity.

Source: NAN

By Ige Adekunle

Okunronmu gave the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Ota in Ogun on Friday.

He described Emefieles re-appointment as a decision in the right direction, saying that the re-appointment would stabiliseNigerias macro-economic decisions.

The former CBN director said that Emefiele had done well, noting that the countrys inflation rate is drastically coming down.

He has achieved what it expected of him as the nations currency is now stable, said Okunronmu.

Monetary stability is a major issue in any economy. Emefiele has achieved this.

Okunronmu said that it would be difficult to achieve monetary stability in a situation where the nation was running on deficit, noting that to have stabilised the monetary policies was a big achievement.

A letter for Emefieles tenure renewal was signed by Buhari on May 8 and has since been sent to the senate for confirmation.

The CBN Act stipulates that the senate must confirm the nomination of any of its governors before the appointment can take effect.

This is the first time since 1999 that a CBN governor would be nominated to serve a second term.

Emefiele was first appointed in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan and was retained by Buhari when the president assumed office in 2015. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Liverpool have lost one of their fans after he collapsed following the teams 4 nil defeat of Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals second-leg match at Anfield on Tuesday.

Hebert Danso Atiko, a Ghanaian, was found lying on the floor unconscious following a jubilation session for the fourth goal at a pub in Eastern Ghana.

An eyewitness said Atiko was rushed to the Akwatia St. Dominics Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead after other soccer fans at the pub tried but failed to revive him.

Hebert was a final year Engineering student at Akwatia Technical School and was writing his final exams.

He was staying in a rented apartment outside the school campus.

The Principal of Akwatia Technical School, Maxwel Owusu-Afriyie told Accra based radio station Starr FM the incident is being investigated.

Afriyie said: We will get the details and see if there was something the students did that suggest that his behavior was in excess.

On that we can really talk to the students. We have a system in place where we talk to the students and their behavior these days.

Hebert is believed to be a teenager. Liverpools win over Barcelona on Tuesday has been ranked among one of the greatest comebacks in world football.

They beat the Spanish champions despite losing the first leg 3-0.

The victory has shocked many soccer fans, as Liverpool will now be playing in the Champions League final in Madrid for the second year in a row.

Source: NAN

It would be an All English UEFA Champions League final in Madrid on June 1 as Tottenham Hotspurs will meet Liverpool.

Tottenham put in a superlative display in the second half, with striker Lucas Mouras hat trick to knock out cup favourites Ajax.

Ajax had won the first tie 1-0 in London last week and had firmed their position by scoring additional two goals on Wednesday at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

But Tottenham turned the tables in the second half, with Moura scoring two goals in four minutes. He scored the winner in the last minute of additional time, to book Tottenham for their first UEFA Champions League final.

Coach Pochettino fell down and burst into tears of joy. Thanks to Moura who put up an astonishing display in Amsterdam.

Hat trick hero Moura said: Football gives us moments like this that we cannot imagine, says the hat-trick scorer. We need to enjoy it. Look at me its the best moment in my life, my career.

Its impossible to explain what I am feeling. I am very, very happy and proud of my teammates. We always believed in this moment, that it was possible. We gave everything and deserved this moment. We are a family. Its impossible to explain impossible.

It was really a night of history Spurs had never won a two-legged European tie after losing the first leg at home. Ajax had won 26 of 28 previous ties where theyd won the first leg away. The odds were so firmly stacked against Spurs, but they came up trumps.

Source: NAN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki that he is not above the law.

Acting spokesman of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

The spokesman was reacting to a statement, EFCC Stop Witch-Hunting Saraki credited to Sarakis media aide, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu.

According to Orilade, the EFCC has taken note of the reactions of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the Commissions inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor.

Recently, the commission began investigation into the Senate Presidents activities while he held sway as the governor of Kwara.

While it is his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deems fit, the commission takes great exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution.

Furthermore, the agency finds the attempt by the Senate President to tie our inquest to his International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading.

This is knowing too well that the background to our current inquiries reaches several years back.

For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.

It is in the interest of the public and for Sarakis personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so, he said.

Olaniyonu in a statement described the latest probe of Saraki by the EFCC as a witch hunt: At this point, we need to remind members of the public that Dr. Sarakis tenure as Kwara State Governor has been investigated several times since his last months in Office in 2010 till date. In fact, at a point, as incumbent Governor, he voluntarily waived his immunity and submitted to investigation and yet nothing was found against him. Also, members of the public should be reminded that during the proceedings of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) between 2015 and 2018, it became clear that the evidence relied upon was from investigations conducted by the EFCC on his tenure as Governor and that is why the lead witness for the prosecution was an EFCC agent, Michael Wetkas. Yet, the CCT in its judgement dismissed the 16 charges filed against Dr. Saraki and that verdict was upheld by the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court.

This new investigation into his activities as Governor of Kwara State is a repeat performance. The EFCC is fishing for evidence that they did not get in the past investigations which has spanned almost nine years. However, we need to remind the Commission that Dr. Saraki is not an outgoing Governor. Since 2011, tens of governors have been in and out of our various State Houses. Like wise, hundreds of Senators and Representatives have been in and out of the National Assembly. To single out one individual for persistent investigation can only be logically and plausibly interpreted to be a witch-hunt. This is definitely no fight against corruption. It is a battle waged against a political enemy. It is a label to damage plot.

Not satisfied with the reports submitted by its various teams which worked on the Saraki case in Ilorin and Lagos, the EFCC constituted a fresh team to investigate the Office of the Senate President and despatched another letter late last week to the Clerk of the Senate signed by Mohammed Umar Abba, Director of Operations, in which it requested for the following: the Certified True Copies of the following: i) All Cash Books, Payment Vouchers, Contract Award Letters, Evidence of Contract Bidding, Agreement and Certificate of Contract Completion from 2015 to date. ii) Certified True Copies of all Financial Retirement made within the same period. iii) Any other information that may assist the Commission in its investigation.

We observed that this type of letter was only written to the Office of the Senate President and not to both chambers of the National Assembly. Also, it is the first time such a letter is written to the office of the Senate President at the twilight of the tenure of the National Assembly indicating hostile investigation along these lines. None of his predecessors got such exclusive treatment in which their office was investigated by state officials seeking to nail them at all cost. What EFCC does not know is that all the issues they are seeking to probe in the office of the Senate President are handled by the National Assembly Management, that is the bureaucracy of the federal legislature. The Senate President has nothing to do with such issues. However, in the eagerness and desperation to nail Dr. Saraki, they ignored even the basic facts upon which the entire investigation rests.

Source: NAN