10 Qualities That Make A Great Leader

Having a great idea, and assembling a team to bring that concept to life is the first step in creating a successful business venture. While finding a new and unique idea is rare enough; the ability to successfully execute this idea is what separates the dreamers from the entrepreneurs. 

However you see yourself, whatever your age may be, as soon as you make that exciting first hire, you have taken the first steps in becoming a powerful leader. When money is tight, stress levels are high, and the visions of instant success don’t happen like you thought, it’s easy to let those emotions get to you, and thereby your team. Take a breath, calm yourself down, and remind yourself of the leader you are and would like to become. Here are some key qualities that every good leader should possess, and learn to emphasize.

Honesty

Whatever ethical plane you hold yourself to, when you are responsible for a team of people, its important to raise the bar even higher. Your business and its employees are a reflection of yourself, and if you make honest and ethical behavior a key value, your team will follow suit.

the crowdfunding platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses I co-founded, try to make a list of values and core beliefs that both you and your brand represent, and post this in your office. Promote a healthy interoffice lifestyle, and encourage your team to live up to these standards. By emphasizing these standards, and displaying them yourself, you will hopefully influence the office environment into a friendly and helpful workspace.

Ability to Delegate

Finessing your brand vision is essential to creating an organized and efficient business, but if you don’t learn to trust your team with that vision, you might never progress to the next stage. Its important to remember that trusting your team with your idea is a sign of strength, not weakness. Delegating tasks to the appropriate departments is one of the most important skills you can develop as your business grows. The emails and tasks will begin to pile up, and the more you stretch yourself thin, the lower the quality of your work will become, and the less you will produce.

The key to delegation is identifying the strengths of your team, and capitalizing on them. Find out what each team member enjoys doing most. Chances are if they find that task more enjoyable, they will likely put more thought and effort behind it. This will not only prove to your team that you trust and believe in them, but will also free up your time to focus on the higher level tasks, that should not be delegated. It’s a fine balance, but one that will have a huge impact on the productivity of your business.

Communication

Knowing what you want accomplished may seem clear in your head, but if you try to explain it to someone else and are met with a blank expression, you know there is a problem. If this has been your experience, then you may want to focus on honing your communication skills. Being able to clearly and succinctly describe what you want done is extremely important. If you can’t relate your vision to your team, you won’t all be working towards the same goal.

Training new members and creating a productive work environment all depend on healthy lines of communication. Whether that stems from an open door policy to your office, or making it a point to talk to your staff on a daily basis, making yourself available to discuss interoffice issues is vital. Your team will learn to trust and depend on you, and will be less hesitant to work harder.

Sense of Humor

If your website crashes, you lose that major client, or your funding dries up, guiding your team through the process without panicking is as challenging as it is important. Morale is linked to productivity, and it’s your job as the team leader to instill a positive energy. That’s where your sense of humor will finally pay off. Encourage your team to laugh at the mistakes instead of crying. If you are constantly learning to find the humor in the struggles, your work environment will become a happy and healthy space, where your employees look forward to working in, rather than dreading it. Make it a point to crack jokes with your team and encourage personal discussions of weekend plans and trips. It’s these short breaks from the task at hand that help keep productivity levels high and morale even higher.we place a huge emphasis on humor and a light atmosphere. Our office is dog friendly, and we really believe it is the small, light hearted moments in the day that help keep our work creative and fresh. One tradition that we like to do and brings the team closer is we plan a fun prank on all new employees, on their first day. It breaks the ice and immediately creates that sense of familiarity.

Confidence

There may be days where the future of your brand is worrisome and things aren’t going according to plan. This is true with any business, large or small, and the most important thing is not to panic. Part of your job as a leader is to put out fires and maintain the team morale. Keep up your confidence level, and assure everyone that setbacks are natural and the important thing is to focus on the larger goal. As the leader, by staying calm and confident, you will help keep the team feeling the same. Remember, your team will take cues from you, so if you exude a level of calm damage control, your team will pick up on that feeling. The key objective is to keep everyone working and moving ahead.

Commitment

If you expect your team to work hard and produce quality content, you’re going to need to lead by example. There is no greater motivation than seeing the boss down in the trenches working alongside everyone else, showing that hard work is being done on every level. By proving your commitment to the brand and your role, you will not only earn the respect of your team, but will also instill that same hardworking energy among your staff. It’s important to show your commitment not only to the work at hand, but also to your promises. If you pledged to host a holiday party, or uphold summer Fridays, keep your word. You want to create a reputation for not just working hard, but also be known as a fair leader. Once you have gained the respect of your team, they are more likely to deliver the peak amount of quality work possible.

Positive Attitude

You want to keep your team motivated towards the continued success of the company, and keep the energy levels up. Whether that means providing snacks, coffee, relationship advice, or even just an occasional beer in the office, remember that everyone on your team is a person. Keep the office mood a fine balance between productivity and playfulness.

If your team is feeling happy and upbeat, chances are they won’t mind staying that extra hour to finish a report, or devoting their best work to the brand.

Creativity

Some decisions will not always be so clear-cut. You may be forced at times to deviate from your set course and make an on the fly decision. This is where your creativity will prove to be vital. It is during these critical situations that your team will look to you for guidance and you may be forced to make a quick decision. As a leader, its important to learn to think outside the box and to choose which of two bad choices is the best option. Don’t immediately choose the first or easiest possibility; sometimes its best to give these issues some thought, and even turn to your team for guidance. By utilizing all possible options before making a rash decision, you can typically reach the end conclusion you were aiming for.

Intuition

When leading a team through uncharted waters, there is no roadmap on what to do. Everything is uncertain, and the higher the risk, the higher the pressure. That is where your natural intuition has to kick in. Guiding your team through the process of your day-to-day tasks can be honed down to a science. But when something unexpected occurs, or you are thrown into a new scenario, your team will look to you for guidance. Drawing on past experience is a good reflex, as is reaching out to your mentors for support. Eventually though, the tough decisions will be up to you to decide and you will need to depend on your gut instinct for answers. Learning to trust yourself is as important as your team learning to trust you.

Ability to Inspire

Creating a business often involves a bit of forecasting. Especially in the beginning stages of a startup, inspiring your team to see the vision of the successes to come is vital. Make your team feel invested in the accomplishments of the company. Whether everyone owns a piece of equity, or you operate on a bonus system, generating enthusiasm for the hard work you are all putting in is so important. Being able to inspire your team is great for focusing on the future goals, but it is also important for the current issues. When you are all mired deep in work, morale is low, and energy levels are fading, recognize that everyone needs a break now and then. Acknowledge the work that everyone has dedicated and commend the team on each of their efforts. It is your job to keep spirits up, and that begins with an appreciation for the hard work.

Air Force Captain's Proposal To NFL Cheerleader Is The Definition Of All-American Sweetness.

The big winner at Sunday night's Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Redskins game wasn't one of the teams or even one of the football players. It was one lucky NFL cheerleader and her romantic Air Force Captain boyfriend.

During the game, Cardinals cheerleader Claire Thornton was surprised beyond belief when her boyfriend Eric Straub -- who had just returned home from his Middle East deployment the night before -- appeared on 

the field in his flight suit.

Luckily for Straub, the public proposal paid off. Thornton said "Yes!" and the crowd, which had been watching on a jumbo screen the entire time, went wild.

"It was pretty amazing,I was shaking really bad. He's like 'Put the ring on!' And I'm like, you put it on me!' The best part about everything is that my whole family was there and his whole family was there, and I was doing what I love with the people that I love. It was the epitome of the best day ever.''

Here's the happy couple after the fact:

ConocoPhillips’ Deepwater Exploration Uncovers Oil

The North American shale production is driving most of ConocoPhillips' growth these days, the company isn't just relying on shale to fuel its future. Instead, the company is exploring for oil around the world so that it can fuel its growth once shale production slows down. One of the places it's looking for oil is Senegal, which isn't yet known as an oil hub. That could change as the company and its partners have announced a deepwater discovery 60 miles offshore.

Drilling down into the recent discoveryConocoPhillips recently announced that it discovered oil at its FAN-1 well. While it isn't yet sure if the well will prove to be commercially viable, the company said that preliminary results were encouraging. The exploration well was drilled to a total depth of 16,164 feet and in 4,700 feet of water.

Source: ConocoPhillips Investor Presentation 

While the company needs to continue to evaluate the results of this well, that's not stopping it from working on a second well as it plans to now focus on drilling the SNE-1 well also located offshore Senegal. If both wells prove to hold economically viable oil then this could open up an exciting new energy producing region for the company and the industry.

Spreading its betsWhile Senegal could eventually become ConocoPhillips' next big growth area, the company isn't putting all of its efforts into that one area. It's also not putting all of its efforts into deepwater exploration for that matter. As the following slide shows, ConocoPhillips is spreading its exploration dollars around the world and across many different types of potential energy sources.

Source: ConocoPhillips Investor Presentation

As the above slide notes, ConocoPhillips is investing in deepwater exploration projects in the Gulf of Mexico, Angola, and Norway this year. On top of that it's also looking for oil and gas through conventional means in Alaska, the North Sea, and in Asia. Finally, it's exploring for unconventional resources in North America, Poland, Australia, and Colombia. By diversifying its exploration efforts ConocoPhillips not only is reducing its risk, but should be able to discover a balanced mix of opportunities that will fuel its growth over the next decade.

That being said, some areas are starting to emerge and could deliver growth before the end of this decade. Topping that list is the Gulf of Mexico where ConocoPhillips and its partners have made four recent discoveries. Another area investors should keep an eye on is the company's unconventional exploration and appraisal efforts in North America, especially in Canada and the Permian Basin, as these shale plays have the potential to add near-term development opportunities that could provide a production boost over the next few years. Finally, ConocoPhillips recently doubled its investments in Alaska as it focuses on growing its conventional production in that state as its taking advantage of some unique new opportunities in the state. Combined these opportunities should allow the company to continue growing its production at or above its current growth rate of 3%-5% each year.

Investor takeawayConocoPhillips really has a balanced approach when it comes to growth. Not only does this spread the company's risk so that any one failure won't be a big blow, but it allows the company to make early discoveries so that it can establish a dominant position in a new play before many of its peers. It's a strategy that should continue to deliver strong returns for investors as it will keep the company's already generous dividend growing for years to come. 

October 1 Movie by Kunle Afolayan

Watch the exciting new trailer of Kunle Afolayan's psychological thriller, OCTOBER 1. It stars Sadiq Daba, Kehinde Bankole, David Bailie, Kayode Olaiya, Nick Rhys, Fabian Lojede, and Demola Adedoyin, etc.

Lagos State May Prosecute T.B Joshua for Collapse Building.

According to reports, Synagogue leader T.B Joshua may be prosecuted by the Lagos State Government over the collapse of his building on September 12th that left more than 115 people dead.

 Opinionvoices reports that the state government has set up a coroner of inquest for the purpose of investigating the cause of the building collapse. This was made known in a statement credited to the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, on Sunday.

 According to the statement, Ipaye had instigated the coroner’s inquest pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007.

The coroner of inquest, headed by Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, has been charged with the duty of establishing the cause of the collapse of Synagogue’s six-storey building that killed no fewer than 115 persons.

Ipaye, who spelt out the responsibility of the coroner, said its final submission might necessitate the institution of a criminal charge against the church.

The commissioner was quoted to have said, “The law requires the verdict of a coroner, as certified in writing, to be forwarded to the State Attorney General and such verdict may form the basis of criminal prosecution depending on the evidence collected.

“The coroner in this case is Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, who also sat as coroner in the Dana Air Crash case. He is expected to announce his sitting or visitation schedules and other details and to hold the inquest at the premises of the High Court of Lagos State, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja.

“In doing this, he (Komolafe) has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials.”

Uzo Aduba wins Creative Arts Emmy

Uzo Aduba, 33, who plays “Crazy Eyes” on the highly admired Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black (2013)” made history after taking home the Show's first award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy on Saturday, August 16 at the 2014 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Uzo Aduba

"I'm stuffed really,” Aduba said. “I'm beyond full. My cup runneth over right now.”

The Massachusetts-raised actress beat out five other women for the award, including co-stars Laverne Cox and Natasha Lyonne.

"I'm speechless," Aduba added, as she accepts the golden trophy. "I don't know how to say how incredibly impressed I am to be a part of this show."

Uzo Aduba wins Creative Arts Emmy

Aduba’s depiction of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren has been one of the most applauded on the show, attesting that the role is more fitting for her, though not the one she originally auditioned for.

Aduba’s recognition as an actress started in 2003 for Translations of Xhosa at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, winning her a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Play. She made a Broadway debut in 2007 as Toby inCorum Boy. She was also a member of the original revival cast of Godspell at the Circle in the Square Theatre from 2011 through 2012, among other acting roles. Prior to her part as “Crazy Eyes” Aduba appeared on the TV Series "Blue Bloods" in 2012.

Aduba’s admission on being captivated by actor Morgan Freeman, who also presented the award to her, shows just how much of a humble person she’s remained after being in the business for over a decade.

She recanted her feelings leading to her accepting the award.

Uzo Aduba wins Creative Arts Emmy

"It's like you're walking and you're aware that you're walking toward Morgan Freeman, but you're fairly certain you should still be sitting on your seat," she said in the press room. "You're like, 'Maybe I'm embarrassing myself, maybe they didn't call my name, maybe somebody else's name. I don't know what's happening.' "

Aduba recently told NPR’s Michel Martin that her full first name, Uzoamaka, means, "the road is good" in her mother tongue, Igbo.

Her mother, of Nigerian descent is said to have fled from then war-torn Nigeria, in hopes of giving her children a better life.

So it was only fitting for her to celebrate her victory with her family.

"We all kind of had a dance party, my mom was dancing across the hotel room, just getting excited," she told reporters. "It didn't really hit me until we were getting ready to come here ... I just started to take it in."

“Orange Is the New Black (2013)” has earned nominations in nine award categories of the prestigious Emmy Awards scheduled to take place on August 25, 2014.

I feel absolutely all of those things: I feel full of joy, like a fountain,” Aduba said. “Mission accomplished."

Obafemi Martins’ new $3.2 million Deal Makes Him 8th Highest Paid Player In US Major League Soccer

Nigeria international Obafemi Martins has signed a new two-year deal with his Major League Soccer club, Seattle Sounders,  which has seen the striker move up to 8th on the payment ladder which makes him one of the most paid in the whole league.

The former Inter Milan player who before the new deal was on $1.7million a year has seen his earnings doubled to $3.4 million per annum just slightly below New York Red Bull’s Tim Cahill who gets paid $3.6million.
 
Martins is having the best scoring season of his career and is on his way to double-digit assists in a team that boasts of other star-studded players like American Clint Dempsey
 
After stints in some of the major clubs across Europe which includes Inter Milan and Newcastle FC, Martins moved to the US last year and had declared his desire to stay in Seattle despite claims they other teams were want his services. TOP TEN HIGHEST PAID PLAYERS IN MLS (Washington Post)
 
1. Michael Bradley, Toronto FC: $6 million

2. Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC: $6 million

3. Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders: $4.91 million

4. Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy: $4.5 million

5. Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy: $4.25 million

6. Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls: $3.75 million

7. Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls: $3.5 million

8. Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders: $3.4 million

9. Marco Di Vaio, Montreal Impact: $2.5 million,

10. Pedro Morales, Vancouver Whitecaps: $2.19 million

Tinubu Back In Nigeria, Denies Rumors Of Sickness

Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who is also one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to Lagos today after a prolonged trip abroad and denied rumors that he was seriously ill. 

Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who is also one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to Lagos today after a prolonged trip abroad and denied rumors that he was seriously ill. 

Bola Tinubu departing from a private jet on ThursdaySpeaking to reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Mr. Tinubu said he was never indisposed during his trip abroad. He added that he was asking God to forgive those who spread rumors about his ill health.

“I’m as fit as a fiddle,” said the former governor. He added: “There was nothing wrong before I left the country. We had the Osun gubernatorial election and I’d planned a long vacation and some other research assignments in the political arena. It was to learn from people who had experienced the development of opposition parties in the past.”

Defending the apparent secrecy about his location abroad, Mr. Tinubu said, “I don’t have to disclose to people my vacation location. But it was very shocking and sad that there were speculations about my health. This is a sign of the lack of trust people have for leadership in the country. When I had the knee problem, I disclosed to Nigerians that I was going for a knee surgery and I came back. Even then, they started peddling rumors. I don’t know whether some people deliberately insinuate that I have a medical problem. It seems like a deliberate falsehood to me. It is all lies. There was no day that I had the need for even Panadol since I left this country for this trip. I was very busy, reading and talking to people of great intelligence that I believe I could gain from politically.”

After stating that he wanted divine forgiveness for those spreading rumors of his illness, Mr. Tinubu added, “I wish them all they wish for me.”

Speaking on Nigerian politics, the APC leader said that Nigerians had become tired of the kind of leadership provided by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “The entire nation has lost its trust in the ruling party. It is a challenging time and we have to be very careful. The APC has all the ingredients to save Nigeria and we shall save our dear country,” he said.

Military kills Abubakar Shekau ‘again’

The Defence authorities have confirmed the killing of the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, during one of the four encounters with insurgents in Kodunga, Borno State between September 12 and 17, 2014.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said during a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, that the corpse of the insurgents’ leader was identified by the people of Kodunga.

He said that Shekau whose real name was Mohammed Bashir   had used other names like Abacha Abdullahi Geidam and Damasack.

Olukolade illustrated the Defence authorities claim with pictures of the bullet-ridden corpse of Shekau   and a video of the battle in which he was killed.

Four days ago,     the Cameroon Concordreported that the Cameroonian troops killed Shekau during a cross border aerial bombardment of his hideout in Nigeria on Saturday.

To prove the killing, the newspaper also published photographs of the bearded   Shekau whom it said then usually appeared in videos as the leader of Boko Haram.

But Olukolade dismissed the claim that   Shekau was killed by Cameroonian security forces within Nigeria.

“There was no raid whatsoever by Cameroon or any foreign forces in any part of Nigeria’s territory in pursuit of terrorists as claimed in some reports allegedly quoting Cameroon authorities,” he had said.

He had also claimed     in a tweet on Wednesday last week that troops who repelled an attack by insurgents in Kodunga,   captured a high ranking terrorist leader who was being treated in military medical facility.

On Tuesday, a journalist said to be a close ally of Boko Haram, Ahmad Salkida, said he had it on “authority” that   Shekau was hale and hearty.

Writing on his Twitter handle, Salkida, who is on self-exile in the United Arab Emirates, claimed that Shekau was not the one in the pictures of a corpse that trended on Monday on social media after they were published by the Cameroon Concord.

“Mark my words: I have it on authority that Shekau is well and alive. The pictures going round are not that of the person who torments us with his group,” the journalist   added.

The spokesperson for the Department of State Service had in May claimed that “the real Abubakar Shekau had been taken out.”

“Boko Haram has become a franchise; anybody can assume and lay claim to any name. What   I know is that the original Abubakar Shekau is dead; the person claiming to be the national leader now is not the original Abubakar Shekau.

“If security sources tell you that somebody is dead, you don’t have to come out and doubt that,” Ogar said.

A former spokesman for the Joint Task Force in the North-East, Sagir Musa, had in a statement in August 2013, also   said that Shekau might have been killed during a battle with troops in June last year.

But during the news conference on Wednesday, the defence spokesman   said that many top commanders of Boko Haram were also killed in the four battles against the insurgents   between September 12 and 17.

Olukolade added that the military was determined to   eliminate anybody, who claims to be Shekau, a name which, he said had become a brand for the leader of the insurgents.

He said, “Nigerian troops have been conducting coordinated air and land operations in furtherance of efforts at containing the terrorists in the North -East. . Somehow, it became apparent that the terrorists, in continuation of their campaign of terror, were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri, which is their prime target.

“There was, therefore, the need to ensure that communities such as Kodunga were protected. It is noteworthy that the terrorists made no less than four attempts between September 12 and 17 to violate the security and enter Kodunga to perpetrate their atrocities. Air and land forces were subsequently deployed to handle the situation.

“The convoy of combat vehicles typical of terrorists’ mission that involved their top commanders was   engaged by   land and air forces. Several of the terrorists, including some of their commanders, lost their lives in the encounters which lasted an average of about five hours each. The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment.

“In the course of those encounters, one Mohammed Bashir, who has been acting or posing on videos as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group, died.

“Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria.

“On restoring normalcy after the encounters, inhabitants of the community who were victims of their activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam alias Damasack, etc.

“Indeed, the recent devastation on the leadership of the insurgents is attributable to the renewed commitment to the mission of eradicating terrorism in our country.”

Olukolade also said that   135 insurgents surrendered   their weapons to troops in Borno and Adamawa states on Tuesday evening.

He added that   88 of them surrendered at Mairiga/Buniyadi while another set of 45 were arrested around Mubi-Michika.

The Defence spokesman said the insurgents   were undergoing interrogation in strict compliance with standard procedure.

“A total of 135 terrorists yesterday (Tuesday) evening surrendered along with their equipment to troops around the Biu Local Government Area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga/Buni – Yadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in around Mubi – Michika. They are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices,” he added.

The Defence Headquarters had earlier said that 10 insurgents surrendered at Kawuri on Monday and another five at Konduga on Saturday.

This brings the total number of insurgents who have surrendered after the Kodunga battles   to 150.

Investigation by The PUNCH on Wednesday revealed that troops were intensifying a house-to-house search   in Madagali, Gulak, Michika,   Bazza and other communities in Adamawa State   for 70 fleeing insurgents.

It was gathered that six members of the sect   were caught by troops at a refugee centre in Yola on Wednesday.

FG’ll celebrate B’Haram surrender not Shekau’s death – Maku

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government was more interested in   Boko Haram members laying down their arms than in the said death of   Shekau.

Maku told journalists after   the weekly   Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday   that the government was not interested in celebrating the death of the terrorist.

“The Federal Government would be happier if the Boko Haram leader and his group laid down their weapons and embraced peace,” he said.

The minister added, “Government has a responsibility to respect human rights unlike members of the Boko Haram sect who have thrown away all sympathy for human lives and are prepared to kill people just for killing’s sake.

“For us it is immaterial if the leader of the terrorist group is killed or not. We want them to drop their weapons and embrace peace. We want them to drop their weapons, stop killing their parents and innocent people and accept peace.”

NAFDAC DG says Nigeria is close to discovering local remedies for Ebola

Nigerians have been assured by the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii that some drugs and vaccines are likely to be discovered soon to contain the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

A statement handed to newsmen in Abuja by the Director of Special Duties in the agency, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh quotes Dr. Orhii as saying: “We have some Nigerian remedies that we are looking at very closely and after investigation we hope that they will be able to contain the Ebola virus, so Nigerians do not need to panic.”

He clarified that the deadly virus is not a death sentence in Nigeria as the Federal Government, through the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health has managed the situation effectively and halted the rampaging spread of the disease.Dr. Orhii who recently returned from an emergency meeting of health Authorities of member-nations in Geneva convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) to stepped up the global efforts for the discovery of vaccines for the cure of the deadly Ebola, asserted that there would soon be a lasting solution to the deadly virus as some vaccines are clinically being evaluated with very high prospect of combating the disease.

He said Nigerians were full of commendation and appreciation to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu for effectively containing the Ebola virus through prompt deployment of adequate funds, material resources and personnel to strategic locations.

The NAFDAC boss informed that many countries are now learning from the methods and strategies adopted by Nigeria in combating the Ebola menace.

He enjoined Nigerians in the diaspora to feel free to visit home as the threat of the deadly disease has been effectively contained by the government.Dr. Orhii, however, requested vigilance from Nigerians as some unscrupulous elements have started taking advantage of the Ebola virus scare to market counterfeit test kits and sanitary products.

Tinubu’s health condition allegedly worsens

The health condition of the former Lagos governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deteriorated.

He had left the country about two weeks ago.Other section of the media have also alleged that he was actually flown to a medical facility in London for treatment, following what is believed to be a serious health issue.

The site which quoted a source said to be close to the Tinubu family, reports that the health of the APC leader may have worsened due to recent discovery of cancer.

The cancer, the source claims, had reached advanced stage before it was diagnosed by the medical team, adding that the recent stroke only added to the seriousness of the situation.

It was alleged that Tinubu in his current state has not been able to recognize close family relatives who had come to pay him a visit, heightening fears that the self-styled godfather of southwest politics was exhibiting symptoms of dementia.Reacting to the claims, an aide of the ex-Lagos helmsman said his principal was never in any hospital.

“Yes, it is true Asiwaju is out of the country. But he is on vacation. He was in the United States for some days, Los Angeles I guess. He then proceeded to London.

“It is normal for him at this time to observe his summer break.”

Asked to provide specifics on why Mr. Tinubu travelled abroad aside vacation, the source said, “I am aware he was billed to see his physicians for his normal routine medical check-up, he would see his dentist too.”“Honestly, I don’t know why Asiwaju health has become a major issue in Nigeria. He is human just like every other person. Besides, he is not even a public office holder, neither is he using public funds, so what’s the buzz about.”

“Well, its a good one for us, those spreading rumours are only doing us favour by promoting the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu brand and the All Progressives Congress in general,” our source added.

APC group wants Atiku for president

A group within the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Collectives, which is based in the South-West and Kogi State, has urged the party to pick former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate in the 2015 election, saying that his choice will brighten the chances of the APC winning the election as well as put Nigeria on the right path of recovery.

Speaking at a meeting held in Ibadan on Wednesday, a leader of the group, Bode Ajewole, who is a former member of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, said it was important for the group, which comprises party executives in the zone, to voice its concern for Atiku, ahead of his formal declaration to run for president on September 24. Ajewole said as a democrat and tested politician, Atiku would fit into the status of the kind of leader Nigeria needed to excel.

He said, “This group has decided to work for the emergence of Atiku in the forthcoming APC presidential primary because of members’ strong belief that Nigeria today needs a bridge builder, a detribalised Nigerian with his foothold in all the six geo-political zones of the country.

“His contacts and connections within and outside the country will be of immense benefit to Nigerians if we are lucky to have him as the next President. His success at the primary will be the beginning of the party’s success in the forthcoming presidential election.”

Asked if Atiku would be able to swallow defeat and remain within the APC if he was not picked, the group leader said the former vice president had no intention of returning to the PDP.

“I also left the PDP because the party is bedevilled with people of selfish interest. Even if Atiku loses the bid to get the ticket, it is not a do-or-die affair. He is ready to support whoever the party picks,” he said.

Secondary School Principals Reject New Resumption

The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools on Thursday rejected the September 22 resumption date announced by the Federal Government.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, the National Secretary of ANCONPPS, Mr. Kevin Nwankwo, said there was no evidence of any preventive measures already taken by the states to curb the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease, hence he asked the Federal Government to rescind its decision on the announced date.

He said, “Our position is not different from the position of the Nigeria Union of Teachers. We need to take cognisance of the observation of the Nigeria Medical Association, saying that government was under pressure.

“As at yesterday, there was nothing to show that teachers are being trained. I am not aware of sanitisers or training in any school yet. The slated date for the teachers’ training is today (Thursday) but as at yesterday (Wednesday), there was nothing to show that anything would happen. There is simply nothing to show that we are ready to reopen schools yet.’’