UNICEF says 25,685 babies will be born in Nigeria tomorrow cool

TheUnited Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that 25,685 babies would be born in Nigeria on New Year Day.

Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Nigeria’s Acting Representative revealed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the figure placed the country’s babies as making up 6.5 per cent of the estimated 395,072 babies that would be born on the day globally.

Ironside noted that within Africa, Nigerian babies would account for almost 40 per cent of all those born in West and Central Africa, and more than 23 per cent of those born in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Globally, over half of the world’s births are estimated to take place in just eight countries, including Nigeria.

”Others are: India 69,944, China 44,940 Pakistan 15,112, Indonesia 13,256, United States 11,086, the Democratic Republic of Congo 10,053 and Bangladesh 8,428.”

According to him, on current life expectancy rates, a child born in Nigeria today is likely to live only to the year 2074 – 55 years of age.

Ander Herrera reveals brilliant advice Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave Man Utd players on his first day

Man Utd midfielder Ander Herrera has revealed one of the key bits of advice that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave the players on his first day in charge.

The Red Devils opted to sack Jose Mourinho earlier this month, putting their former Norwegian forward in charge as interim boss until the end of the season.

SEE MORE: Video: Man Utd fan makes huge prediction after early Ole Gunnar Solskjaer success

He has undoubtedly made a positive impact thus far, guiding them to three consecutive wins while seeing them score 12 goals and concede just three.

With a sense of a return to the brand of football seen under Sir Alex Ferguson, Solskjaer has lifted the mood at Old Trafford with his attacking style, and Herrera has revealed that he made a point of it on his first day by sharing some brilliant advice for the players on how to approach the game.

“Our manager told us on the first day, the best way to win a game when you are in the lead is to keep attacking and this what the club has always been about,” he told Match of the Day, as reported by Goal.

Daughter of the late Enugu State Chief Judge pens a heart breaking tribute in his memory

Chisom Cynthia Umezulike, the daughter of the late Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Azubike Umezulike pens a heart-wrenching tribute in the memory of her late father. Says this is the worst year of her life. Read below.

This year I lost my father, my best friend and mentor. My father loved me exceedingly - his love was so pure, overwhelming and precious. We had an incredible friendship based on trust, mutual respect, loyalty, passion and comradeship. In February, my beloved father was admitted to the hospital where for several months he fought extremely hard for his life. I was by his side every single moment fighting with him and for him. I fought for him not just because he is my father. I fought for him because he single-handedly raised me and gave me the very best this life has to offer. When I was fighting for him, I conceived I was fighting for the love of my life. 

Badeh, Alkali’s Murder Meant To Hide Corruption In The Military - Punch - Politics -

Adelani Adepegba, Abuja


A Washington-based group, International Strategic Studies Association, has stated that the death of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and that of a former Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Idris Alkali, was not a mere coincidence.

Alkali was allegedly killed by a gang of protesting youths along Jos-Bauchi Road on September 3, while Badeh was gunned down along the Abuja-Keffi Road by suspected assassins on December 18.

ISSA, a non-governmental organisation with a worldwide membership of professionals involved in national and international security and strategic policy, stated in a special report on Friday that the two men were killed to hide what it described as the pattern of corruption in the current military leadership in the country.

Specifically, the report obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, alleged that Badeh was murdered to prevent him from divulging in court details of corruption which it said had grown even more rampant in the current defence leadership.

The report noted that the President was unwilling to publicise the findings of the arms panel which was presented to him over a year ago.

It added, “The commission investigating defence procurement from 2007 onwards made significant strides which were initially accepted by the Buhari government, until the scope of the inquiry went beyond the period relating to the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan and began to show corruption patterns extending into officers still serving under President Buhari.”

INEC Meets ASUU On Friday, Considers Recalling Ex-corps Members For Election - Politics -

Following the failure of the federal government to find a lasting solution to the lingering strike by public university lecturers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided to hold a consultative meeting with the lecturers’ union, the Academic Staff Union if Nigerian Universities (ASUU) on January 4, ahead of the 2019 polls, THISDAY has learnt.

The meeting, according to the electoral body, will be limited to the involvement of their members in the 2019 general elections.

ASUU had last month embarked on industrial action to protest the poor funding of Nigerian universities and alleged plan by the federal government to increase students’ fees and introduce an education bank.

But INEC had raised the alarm that the lingering ASUU strike would no doubt have serious impact on the preparations for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

“They are one critical resource and their absence will have adverse effects on the ad hoc staff requirement of INEC,” the commission had said.

Ghanaian footballer Asamoah Gyan is reportedly broke, he has just '£600 in his bank account.'

Flamboyant footballer, Asamoah Gyan, who plays as a striker for Turkey's Kayserispor and captains the Ghanaian national team, is reportedly broke and has just £600 in his bank account.

Asamoah who left Sunderland in 2012, spent three years at UAE club Al Ain where he earned almost £200k a week and scored an impressive 123 goals in 120 appearances. He later made a big money move to the Chinese Super League, spending the 2015 and 2016 seasons at Shanghai SIPG where he earned £227,000-a-week before returning to the UAE with Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai.

Meghan Markle will have a girl, Taylor Swift will get engaged: Psychic makes predictions for 2019

A male psychic who claims he was an Egyptian queen in a former life has made a series of ‘psychic’ predictions for 2019.

Nicolas Aujula, 33, claims his dreams have led him to predict outcomes of major events including the Syrian war and the winner of the Apprentice. He says he’s a past-life regression therapist, hypnotherapist and psychic astrologer.

Below are some of his predictions:

Royal baby:

Nicolas says that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first child, due in spring 2019, will be a girl.

Buhari Declines Comment In Shagari’s Condolence Register - Politics -

By Felix Nwaneri, Anule Emmanuel and Regina Otokpa


It was drama yesterday in Sokoto as President Muhammadu Buhari wrote only his name and date in the condolence register in honour of former President Shehu Shagari, who passed on Friday and was buried on Saturday. Shagari, who died at 93, was President of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983. He was overthrown in a coup d’état that brought in Buhari to power as military head of state, three months after he (Shagari) was sworn in for a second term. Although the President had, on Saturday, paid tribute to the late former president through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, he wrote only his name – M. Buhari – and date – 30/12/ 2018 in the condolence register, when he visited the Sama road, Sokoto residence of Shagari to condole with members of his family. Buhari, who was accompanied on the visit by Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Senator Aliyu Wamakko and Sokoto State deputy governor, Alhaji Mannir Dan-Iya, among others, however, presented a letter of condolence to the family, which was read by Tambuwal, who rode in the same car with him. But, former President Goodluck Jonathan, wrote in the condolence register: “I called with King A. J. Turner, Hon Tobias James, former governor of Anambra State and now the PDP vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to condole with the family and state on the death of our former president. “H. E. Alhaji Shagari was a man with pure heart. He was a good leader who meant well for our country. He served in various capacities and made significant contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria.

He did his best as a president from 1979-1983. May his soul rest in peace.” Buhari’s visit was cheered by a crowd chanting: “Nigeria Sai Maigaskiya” meaning Nigeria is for a truthful person. The President joined sympathisers and family members to offer special prayers led by the Chief Imam/Administrator of the National Mosque, Prof. Shehu Galadanchi, for the repose of Shagari’s soul. Promising to immortalize Shagari, Buhari said through the condolence letter read by Tambuwal that the Federal Government will, in due course, institute a suitable memorial to immortalize the late president.