Miss Nigeria 2021 open for free registration; Brand new car, N10 million and more to be won

Nigeria’s oldest and most reputable beauty pageant, Miss Nigeria is back this year for its 44th edition. Organized by Folio Group, the pageant has served as a great platform for empowering thousands of girls across the country since its inception in 1957.

This year’s winner will not only gain notable reputation worldwide, she will also receive a whopping sum of 10 million Naira, 1-year residence in a luxury apartment, a brand-new car, and lucrative ambassadorship deals with prestigious brands.

“This is not just a pageant. We emerged in response to the realization that given the right platform, young Nigerian women can drive positive change and inspire other young women across the continent. We remain committed to those values as we head into the 2021 pageant,” explained Chairman, Board of Directors at Folio Group, Fidelis Anosike.

World Bank blacklists 18 Nigerian firms, individuals for corruption –Report

The World Bank has blacklisted 18 Nigerian individuals and firms for engaging in corrupt practices, fraud and collusive practices in its 2021 fiscal year 2021, a new report has revealed.

A list of debarred individuals and firms was presented in a new annual report titled World Bank Group Sanctions System FY21.

The debarments were made by the World Bank Sanctions Board, World Bank Chief Suspension and Debarment Officer and the African Development Bank.

Catch-Up: OAU

On Catch-Up this week we have our spotlight on the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), a pride of many when educational institutions are mentioned across the globe.

The spotlight is designed to feature the Institution’s history and of course, its mission and vision statements.

The greatness and popularity of the Obafemi Awolowo University is by no means an accident. Founded in 1962 as the University of Ife but rechristened by the Federal Military Government as the Obafemi Awolowo University on May 12, 1987, in honour of one of its most distinguished founding fathers and eminent nationalist, politician, lawyer, stateman and former chancellor, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo.

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife is one of three Universities established in Nigeria between 1961 and 1962 as a result of the report submitted to the Federal Government in September, 1960, by a Commission it appointed in April 1959 under the Chairmanship of Sir Eric Ashby, Master of Clare College, Cambridge, to survey the needs of post-secondary and higher education in Nigeria over the next twenty years. On 8th June, 1961 the Law providing for the establishment of the Provisional Council of the University was formally inaugurated under the Chairmanship of Chief Rotimi Williams.

What’s happening to my one big feminine family?

I’m a beautiful nubile girl and almost like taking everything after my grandma I believed it was time I had a place for someone special in my heart. Yea, you know what I mean.

So, I got married to this charming gentleman without the slightest doubt about doing the right thing. Suddenly, like magic we started having the pretty young ones of our own.

But when I later turned around to dekko at the world around me I immediately realized I had no sisters in it. Majority of those who should be my sisters naturally share my characteristics in every way except one thing for certain – they never have the slightest desire for marriage. So, what’s happening to my one big feminine family?

Before praying to God for prosperity, you need to demonstrate to Him that you have self control - Reno

Reno Omokri sends a message to his followers via his IG: Before praying to God for prosperity, you need to demonstrate to Him that you have self control. Because, if God prospers you in your present state, without self control, you will just get money and excitedly buy something expensive that kills you. Always remember that the difference between who you are today and who you want to be tomorrow will be determined by what you do now. If you do the same things you did yesterday, tomorrow will come and meet you the same as today. No self development means no wealth development.

So, what's your take on this?

Colin Powell has died of COVID-19 related complications

(c) Getty Images

Colin Powell has died of COVID-19 related complications. 

The first Black secretary of state was 84.

Colin rose through the ranks of the armed forces in a decades-long career that culminated in his service as the 12th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, the highest-ranking military appointment in the Defense Department.

Powell died Monday at Walter Reed National Medical Center despite being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, family said.

Colin Powel rose from a humble background to one of the most powerful positions in US government.

A house gets swept away by deadly floods in India

A resident carries a dog from his destroyed house after flashfloods in Thodupuzha in India's Kerala state on Saturday [Appu S Narayanan/AFP]

SEB learnt that at press-time, at least 25 people have died and more than 2,000 have been evacuated after days of heavy rainfall brought flash floods and landslides in the state of Kerala in southern India, sweeping away houses, cars and bridges.

The state’s disaster management authority said the deaths bring the number of monsoon-related deaths in one week to 35, Washington Post reports.

AAAN, MIPAN, OAAN, others okay new Advertising Industry Standards of Practice guidelines

The Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG) have endorsed the full implementation of the new Advertising Industry Standards of Practice (AISOP) guidelines, Punch Newspapers reports.

*Excerpts from press statement*

▪️New guidelines will not affect contracts signed before the effective implementation date, but explained that new contracts between advertising agencies, media houses and advertisers will be based on the new guidelines.

▪️Advertisers have the freedom to start the agency selection process with a large number of agencies and are at liberty to carry this out in stages.

▪️Payment of the pitch fee will apply from the final strategy stage of the selection process and limited to a few agencies depending on the advertisers’ capacity to pay.

▪️Media establishments are encouraged to engage stakeholders before any rate increase, taking into account that advertisers and agencies have numerous options of media channels.

▪️In the event of a post-engagement rate increase, the guidelines recommend the communication of a 30-day notice to clients/advertisers before implementation.

A 7-foot statue is erected in front of New York city's Charging Bull

ABC NEWS reports a 7-foot tall statue of #Harambe erected in front of New York City's Charging Bull by a social media platform under development. The company says the statue "represents the millions of everyday people who struggle under a system that enriches wealthy elites." What do you think?

Wao! Artist gets hundreds of models to pose naked next to Dead Sea, drawing attention to climate crisis

Hundreds of people wearing only white body paint have walked across a stark desert expanse near the Dead Sea, part of the latest photography project of American artist Spencer Tunick, Guardian reports.

Seb learnt that over 200 people covered only in white body paint modelled for Tunick as volunteers of ages between 18 and 70. They had lined up across the desert near the Dead Sea in rows of 10 on Sunday and awaited instructions from the artist, who was perched on a ladder with a megaphone and a camera.

The 54-year-old photographer visited the spot in southern Israel as a guest of the tourism ministry to portray for the third time the shrinking Dead Sea via nude subjects.

DO YOU AGREE?

Credit: Instagram | Guardian

UK BLACK POWERLIST 2022

Jacky Wright, the London-born corporate vice-president and chief digital officer at Microsoft US, was given this year’s top spot on 14 October by the Powerlist 2022, the annual list of the UK’s most powerful people of African, African-Caribbean and African American heritage, Guardian reports.

According to the report, Marcus Rashford, the footballer and campaigner, came in second place while Anne Mensah, vice-president of Content UK at Netflix, was third. The Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya is a new entrant to the list, in fourth.

Read more from the report below:

Nigeria to Commence Local Production of Weapons, Buhari Says

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, stressed the readiness of the federal government to de-emphasise dependence on foreign supply of military weapons to fight security challenges facing the nation by commencing local productions.

To this end, he has instructed the Ministry of Defense to create a modest military industrial complex for the local production of weapons to meet some of the requirements of the country’s armed forces.

The President made this disclosure in his opening remarks at a two-day Mid-Term Ministerial Performance Review Retreat, organised to assess progress made towards the achievement of the nine key priorities of his Administration.

According to him, the establishment of the industrial complex would address Nigeria’s over-dependence on other countries for military equipment and logistics.