Category: Entertainment News
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), are contesting the judgement of the disciplinary panel that cleared Nigerian track and field athlete, Tobi Amusan of doping.
Recall that Amusan was initially temporarily suspended by the AIU in July because she reportedly failed a doping test three times, but two days before the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August, the Disciplinary Tribunal ruled in Amusan’s favor.
After that, she was unable to retain her world championship in Budapest, finishing 6th in the final, which was won by Danielle Williams of Jamaica.
However, Amusan triumphed in the Diamond League on Sunday, September 17, in Eugene after putting her World Championships woes behind her with a season-best time of 12.32 seconds.
While it seems she is gradually returning to her best, the AIU has dragged her before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The AIU claimed in their statement that they have submitted an appeal before the court as they attempt to fault the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal to clear the Nigerian track and field icon in August.
The statement from the regulatory body which was issued on Monday, September 18, read, “The AIU filed an appeal last Friday (September 15, 2023) with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the Disciplinary Tribunal’s decision, dated 17 August 2023, that Tobi Amusan did not commit an anti-doping rule violation for Whereabouts Failures.
“The AIU will make no further comment on the matter until the conclusion of the appeal”.
If Tobi Amusan is found guilty, she is likely to be suspended for more than two years and also fined heavily.
Hon. Dinebari Looloo, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has passed on.
Loolo, who represented Khana 2 State Constituency of Khana local government area of the state, died in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Monday, September 18, 2023.
However, the cause of his death was unknown at the time of filing in this report.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, led other lawmakers on a condolence visit to the family of the late lawmaker.
The Speaker, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, expressed the condolences of the House to the family of late Hon. Loolo, describing him as a rare gem, who contributed immensely to the development of his constituency and the State as a whole.
There was a clash between former BBNaija housemates, Ike Onyema and Maria Benjamin on Monday, September 18.
It started after Maria taunted Ike over Mercy Eke getting for the finals of the ongoing Big Brother Naija All Stars reality show.
Ike who was a housemate on the show, had said he would work towards Mercy not getting to the finals.
However, this evening Mercy was announced as a finalist on the show after getting the least number of nominations. Maria thereafter, took to her X handle to taunt Ike with Mercy’s success, and Ike immediately fired back calling her a “low-budget clown.”
See their exchange below;
President Bola Tinubu will address the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, by 11 pm Nigerian time.
Tinubu will speak on issues bordering on tackling climate change, illicit financial flows, and asset return to the country to encourage stronger international cooperation.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Francisca Omayuli on Monday.
Tinubu will also highlight Nigeria’s efforts towards attaining the Strategic Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring international peace and security, among others.
Omayuli said the High-Level segment of the 78th UNGA commences today, Tuesday, 19th September 2023, with the General Debate, during which Heads of State will take their turns to deliver their addresses.
She said the General Debate, convened by the General Assembly (GA), will be held this year under the Presidency of Mr. Dennis Francis of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
The statement noted: “The direction of the General Debate will be anchored on the theme of the 78th Session, which is “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Solidarity for all.
“As the practice is, member states will have the opportunity to share their perspectives on the theme and present their national positions on each of the thematic items, which make up the overriding theme.”
Omayuli said in addition to the General Debate, Nigeria is expected to demonstrate leadership while participating in the various meetings scheduled for the High-Level week.
The meetings include: “Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future, convened by the secretary-general of the United Nations today, Monday, 18th September, 2023. It will be attended by the minister of foreign affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
“High-Level Political Forum on SDGs convened by the General Assembly (GA) and scheduled to hold on Monday, 18th September 2023; General Debate to hold from Tuesday, 19th – Tuesday, 26th September 2023.
“Climate Ambition Summit convened by the secretary-general of the United Nations and scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 20th September 2023; High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 20th September 2023.
“High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 20th September, 2023; High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, scheduled to be held on Thursday, 21st September 2023.
“High-Level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis, scheduled for Friday, 22nd 2023; and High-Level Meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.”
The Ministry noted that Tinubu’s participation at the 78th UNGA, being his first, will undoubtedly enhance Nigeria’s visibility and elicit tremendous goodwill that will help foster closer partnerships with other world leaders and engender better cooperation with development partners.
Afrobeats star, Stanley Omah Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, has revealed that he struggled with fame which affected his mental health.
The singer disclosed this in his recent interview with media personality, Adesope Olajide, on the Afrobeats Podcast.
Omah Lay said that with time, he became used to it and learned how to move at his own pace.
He said: “At first I struggled, and it put me in a bad mental state because I was still trying to learn my ways.
“However, with time, I got comfortable and learned that I should move at my own pace.
“As soon as I realised that, I became much stronger and began to enjoy my life more.
“If I can put my vulnerabilities in my song, then I can talk about them. My music is all about my real life experiences, and I know the world is listening to it.”
Popular Nigerian Afrobeats star, Ahmed Ololade, known professionally as Asake, has disclosed why he uses his mother’s name as his stage name.
He explained that while he was in a cultural group people used to refer to him as Omo Asake because his mother’s name is Asake.
He explained that later the ‘Omo’ was removed and he was simply called Asake.
The ‘Joha’ crooner said he found it cool and decided to go by the name.
According to him, “My stage name is actually my mother’s. While I was in the cultural group, people used to call me ‘omo Asake,’ which means child of Asake in Yoruba. And after a while, it just stuck. People stopped adding the ‘omo’ and left ‘Asake.’ I thought it was cool and decided to go by it.”
Asake disclosed this in Pause Magazine’s Autium 2023 edition.
He also said he would continue to sing in Yoruba.
“It is very important to me, and I am not going to lose it. It is what has brought me this far, and I continue to keep it that way,” he said.