Economist advocates re-nationalisation of NITEL

A renowned Economist, Dr Chu Okongwu, has called for re-nationalisation of the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL).

Okongwu, a one-time Finance Minister, made the call at the 3rd Annual lecture series of the Economics Department of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka on Friday.

His lecture is entitled, "National Security and the Nigerian Economy in the 21st Century."
Okongwu said the repositioning and effectiveness of NITEL would make Nigeria have easy access to high speed Internet for better communication, research and development.
"Nigeria's foremost telecommunication outfit should be strategically restructured and positioned to reap bountifully from the ever booming and lucrative Nigerian telecommunications industry.

"The Federal Government should mandate NITEL to build the National Fixed Fiber Backbone network around the country, this would better permit Nigeria to join the rest of the world in the 21st century economy,” he said.

He said the major threat to world and national
security was the redistribution of resources and mass illiteracy among the population.
Okongwu said national security could be better achieved if Nigerian government address the issues of education, housing, infrastructure and indigenisation of technology.

"Man is both the agent and target of development, society-wide education especially in relation to literacy and numeracy is obligatory as a strategy and goal.

"Urgent and correct steps should be taken to stimulate rapid development of local building materials, industries, facilitate mortgage financing, create secondary market and increased access to such financing.

"The deplorable state of our infrastructure is such that the nation stands in danger of losing her investment of over 30 billion dollars in the road network alone," he said.

Also, Prof. Adewale Alawiye-Adams of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, said the theme of the lecture was apt as Nigerian economy had suffered retardation due to multiplicity of national security challenges.

Source- NAN

A little History of Halloween

Halloween is the one of the oldest holidays still celebrated today. It's one of the most popular holidays, second only to Christmas. While millions of people celebrate Halloween without knowing its origins and myths, the history and facts of Halloween make the holiday more fascinating.
Some people view Halloween as a time for fun, putting on costumes, trick-or-treating, and having theme parties. Others view it as a time of superstitions, ghosts, goblins and evil spirits that should be avoided at all costs.
As the Christian debate goes on, celebrating Halloween is a preference that is not always viewed as participating in an evil holiday. Halloween is often celebrated with no reference to pagan rituals or the occult.

-Halloween History
Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.

Origin of Halloween
While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts. Different cultures view Halloween somewhat differently but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.
Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.
Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.
The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.

IS HEAVEN REALLY REAL?”

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS Rev. Fr. Boniface Nkem Anusiem PhD

Is there really heaven; the perfect place of eternal happiness? What is life like in heaven from dawn to dusk? How large is the place and how many (many) mansions are really there as our Lord mentioned in the Gospel of John (14:2-3)? Do people there do sports and play games? What do people there eat? People say that those in heaven keep singing and praising God will they not get tired and bored? These and similar imaginative questions have being asked by many and of course some imaginative answers have also being given because nobody on earth can claim to have comprehensive knowledge about heaven.

It will be fitting today to ask ourselves what we think about heaven, the place every well-meaning Christian should be aspiring to go after the short time we have on this earth. As a child, I had the idea of heaven as a place you don’t have to run errands for anyone or be flogged by any teacher; a place you can eat anything you want just by mentioning it. Excuse my little imaginative mind, I was looking for remedy from errands and punishments. For us today, we can rethink heaven by asking some pertinent questions like: “If I die now will I be qualified to be in heaven?” May be, we first have to establish that there are reasons to believe that heaven is real.

Our conviction about a place of eternal bliss after our sojourn here on earth is based on numerous biblical confirmations. During the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord Jesus Christ among other things said: “blessed are the poor in Spirit for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them” (Matt. 5:3); he also said: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Furthermore in the gospel of John (14:2) our Lord said: “In my father’s house there are many mansions if it were not so I would have to you. I am going to prepare a place for you!”
In his letter to the Corinthians (1Cor 2:9) St. Paul said: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into any mind what God has prepared for those who love him!” He also said that we have a better place after the destruction of this our earthly dwelling place. (2 Cor: 5:1). St. Paul did not stop at these, we went further in his letter to the Philippians (3:20-21) to state: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself”.

We have another confirmation from the vision of St. John in the book of Revelation (7:9ff). Here, we have the whole scenario or if you like, the eternal picturesque of heaven. In his account, John looked up and saw a huge number of people impossible to count standing before the throne of the lamb with palms in their hands. To confirm what he saw, John asked “who are these?” and he was told they are people who have been through great persecution and they have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb. It is worth noting that the robes washed in the blood became dazzlingly white not red. This is an indication that the people in question soaked themselves not just in physical blood, but in purifying blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sainthood is a facility that is open for all of us. This facility continues to be open for you and for me insofar as we are alive. For us to achieve sainthood, which is the end product of our pilgrimage on earth, we need to know:

1)       Where we came from: (We came from God our Creator).

2)       Who we are: (We are Children of God).

3)       Where we are going to: (We are citizens of heaven).

“How can we get to our destination?” This is a question that each and every Christian should be asking himself or herself daily. On this, God did not leave us clueless. From the beatitudes, we are presented with values that will aid us to attain eternity. The beatitudes we heard today from the Gospel of Matthew (5:1-12) are not merely “dos” and “don’ts”. They rather are expressive of core values that will make our journey back to God possible:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This means that blessed are people who depend on God always to get their way for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
This means that blessed are people who are sad for the loss of good values for they shall be comforted by God Himself.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
This means that blessed are those who are truly humble in heart for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
This means that blessed are those who are truly and deeply desirous of God and things of God for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

This means that blessed are the people who show mercy to others by bearing with them and forgiving them, for they shall have the same treatment from God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

This means blessed are the people who do not
harbour evil in their hearts for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
This means that blessed are people who keep or create peace, for they shall be called sons (and daughters) of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This means that blessed are people who are hurt in any way because of their good deeds and morals, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We have all it takes to make heaven and thus be numbered among the saints. We have the word of God which is read and explained to us on daily basis, we have the sacraments especially the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and reconciliation very much available to us. Just as heaven is real so is hell also real. We make heaven starting from the things we do here on earth and the same is applicable to hell. “What will it then profit us if after the challenges of live and the attendant undulations we still suffer the loss of our souls in hell?” (Mark 8:36) There is no better time for us to prepare for heaven than now.

Today we are celebrating the joy of our brothers and sisters who ran the race and won the prize of glory. Today, we are also celebrating the glory of heaven; the place we need to be. We are challenged to follow the path that will lead us to heaven.

Fr. Bonnie.
fatherbonny@hotmail.com

Black Carpet Photos From Lagos Fashion & Design Week

The annual Lagos Fashion & Design week kicked off Thursday October 28 at The Marquee Federal Palace Hotel, in Lagos.
On the third day of the Lagos Fashion and Design Week, the fashionistas went the route of hip with an attitude.

Some of the hot fashionistas we spotted on the black carpet Genevieve Nnaji, Di’Ja, Temi Otedola, Tania Omotayo, Ono Bello, Beverly Naya, Tonye Garrick, Bolanle Olukanni, Zainab Balogun, Ono Bello, Ezinne Chinkata, Lami Phillips, Lynxx, Monalisa Chinda, Chidinma Ekile, TY Mix, Temi Dollface and many more.
Check out stunning wears on the black carpet:

 

SOURCE: NAIJ

Buhari Speaks At India-Africa Forum Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that Nigeria and other African countries must work harder to achieve greater political stability and security before they can enjoy the full benefits of partnership arrangements with other countries.

President Buhari addresses the plenary session of the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit.
The president said this while addressing the plenary session of the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit on Thursday, October 29, in New Delhi, India.

According to a statement issued by Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, Buhari said that Nigeria and other African countries need to attract the massive investment in-flows in order to overcome the challenges of unemployment and wealth creation. They also must establish policy environments that guarantee the sanctity of contracts on the basis of the rule of law.
Buhari stressed that since his inauguration in May 2015, his administration was working hard to establish preconditions for rapid socio-economic development and refocus governance on the real needs of ordinary Nigerians.

“As a government, we have demonstrated our strong determination to change the direction and content of governance, including the management of our resources through accountability, transparency and result-orientation in governance.

“We are confident that India, as a tested friend and dependable partner, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the discharge of the mandate entrusted to us by our people,” the president said.

Speaking further, the president noted that the current international economic and political environment was far from being favourable, especially for developing countries.

“Fresh political conflicts have erupted, accentuated by terrorism and extremism in the most awful forms. Trans-border crimes, illegal arms trade, irregular migration and cybercrimes have all added to the new global threats that demand our collective action,” he said.
Speaking about the challenge of climate change, Buhari noted that Africa remains badly affected with severe threats to food security and social stability.

“From the West to the East, North to South, virtually every country in our respective regions is faced with unacceptable levels of poverty, unemployment and a youth bulge.

“India and Africa must develop a new spirit of solidarity, cooperation and partnership to confront these emerging threats. We must recognise that, in this globalised age, we all live interconnected lives in a fragile planet. We must therefore work together to uplift the lives of our people in a manner that preserves the sustainability of our living environment.

“These challenges call for a renewed sense of urgency among African countries for economic development. It is an open secret that Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth region of the world,” he said.
According to Buhari, the India-Africa Forum is very important “as it is not only a partnership between friends, but between countries and peoples who have had similar historical experiences of colonial rule”.

Yesterday, October 28, President Buhari took part in an interactive session with chief executives of Indian companies with interests in Nigeria.

The president warned Indian businessmen that some of his policies would one way or the other affect their business interests in Nigeria.

Source: Naij.com

China decides to abolish 1-child policy, allow 2 children

China's ruling Communist Party announced Thursday that the country will start allowing all couples to have two children, abolishing an unpopular policy that limited many urban couples to only one child for more than three decades.
The decision is the most significant easing of family planning policies that were long considered some of the party's most onerous intrusions into family life. The restrictions led to an imbalanced sex ratio because of a traditional preference for boys, and draconian enforcement that sometimes included forced abortions.

A communique from the party's Central Committee carried on the official Xinhua News Agency said that the decision to allow all couples to have two children was "to improve the balanced development of population" and to deal with an aging population.
The move may not spur a huge baby boom in part because fertility rates are believed to be declining even without the policy's enforcement. Previous easings of the one-child policy have spurred fewer births than expected, and many people among China's younger generations see smaller family sizes as ideal.
The communique followed the panel's meeting this week to chart the country's economic and social development through 2020. In recent years, it has been unusual for such plenary sessions to result in major decisions. They generally focus on economic topics and there was no indication that this one would take action on the one-child policy.

China, which has the world's largest population at 1.4 billion people, introduced the one-child policy in 1979 as a temporary measure to curb a then-surging population and limit the demands for water and other resources. Soon after it was implemented, rural couples were allowed two children if their firstborn was a girl. Ethnic minorities are also allowed more than one child.
Chinese families with a strong preference for boys have sometimes resorted to aborting female fetuses, a practice which has upset the ratio of male to female babies. The imbalance makes it difficult for some men to find wives, and is believed to fuel the trafficking of women as brides.

Couples who have broken the rules were forced to pay a fee in proportion to their income. In some cases, rural families saw their livelihood in the form of their pigs and chickens taken away.
In November 2013, the party announced that it would allow couples to have two children if one of the parents is a single child, the first substantial easing of the policy in nearly three decades.
The decision announced Thursday removes all remaining restrictions limiting couples to only one child.

The government credits the one-child policy with preventing 400 million births and helping lift countless families out of poverty by easing the strain on the country's limited resources. But many demographers argue the birthrate would have fallen anyway as China's economy developed and education levels rose.
Moreover, the abrupt fall in the birthrate has pushed up the average age of the population and demographers foresee a looming crisis because the policy reduced the young labor pool that must support the large baby boom generation as it retires.

"The good news is, it is here. The bad news is, it is too little too late," said Cai Yong, a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"It's better late than never," said Willy Lam, an expert on Chinese politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "It might serve to address the current imbalance in the sense that if they do not boost the growth rate then very soon, within 20 years or less, the working population will be supporting four aged parents."

Source: News24

Did you know that 145 Nigerian Women Die Daily From Child Delivery – Fomwan

The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has decried the high rate of deaths among childbearing mothers in Nigeria saying that about 145 of them die during child delivery every day.

The Project Director of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) under FOMWAN, Adamu Musa Kachalla disclosed this yesterday at a one-day sensitisation meeting on family planning, immunisation and nutrition with representatives of faith- based organisations and women groups in Abuja.
She said that FOMWAN works to sensitise and mobilise religious leaders, traditional rulers and women groups and train them on four issues that are bothering family health like nutrition, routine immunisation, family planning and infant health.

Kachalla said, “After this training, we expect all participants to tell their followers, to advocate and influence decision makers so that they will allocate more funding for family planning commodities, maternal and infant care.

“We want the government to fund more commodities for family planning and in nutrition. We want to adopt the National Strategic Action on Nutrition and implement it so that at the end of the day, nobody will have children who are stunted, out of school and suffering.
“We have a very high rate of maternal mortality and with child spacing, we can take care of that. We want to reduce that both at the national and state level,” she added.

She said that although there are lots of misconceptions surrounding family planning most especially in Northern Nigeria, child spacing has always been practiced in the region.

9 breast cancer myths you all should know

Are mammograms really painful?
Do smokers actually run a higher risk of developing breast cancer?

Professor Justus Apffelstaedt, Associate Professor at the University of Stellenbosch and Head of the Tygerberg Hospital Breast Clinic in South Africa, helps to set the record straight.

-Myth 1
The incidence of breast cancer in younger women is increasing.
-Truth
Breast cancers in younger women who are of celebrity status is resulting in increased media coverage of their cases, but typically, breast cancers develop in women between the ages of 50 and 70.

-Myth2
The contribution of chemotherapy to reducing mortality is significant.
-Truth
A multidisciplinary approach that combines a number of treatment options that include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal and biologic agents is most effective. Specialist centres, which see more than 150 cases of breast cancer per year will achieve the best results as here the most accurate diagnosis will be made and the most appropriate treatment options chosen.

-Myth 3
Smoking increases your risk of breast cancer.
-Truth
Breast cancer is one of the few cancers where risk is not increased due to smoking.

-Myth 4
A mammogram is a mammogram.
-Truth
The accuracy of mammographic diagnosis in screening, which forms the bulk of all mammography performed in South Africa , is dependent on:

1. Optimal equipment used to produce the mammogram – these days full-field digital mammographic equipment is regarded as state of the art.

2. The optimal image as produced by a radiographer specialised in mammography.

3. The optimal reading of the image is usually provided by doctors who specialise in breast imaging and who have possibly received overseas training in mammography interpretation.

4. A process of rigorous quality control, where all outcomes are recorded and regularly analysed.
Only where all of these conditions are met, will the promise of lowering the mortality rates from breast cancer and the increase in breast conservation be realised.

-Myth 5
It doesn’t make a difference where you are treated.
-Truth
A very important, but often overlooked factor is where a patient is treated. It has been shown that dependent on where the woman is treated for breast cancer, the risk of death within 5 years can be up to 60% higher in environments where only few breast cancers are treated versus environments where more than 150 breast cancers are treated per year. This effect is larger than any chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation.

-Myth 6
Removing the entire breast is better than breast conservation.
-Truth
Breast cancer metastasizes to places outside of the breast. The tumour in the breast will not kill you – the spread of the cancer to the brain, lungs etc. will. As breast cancer often does that early in the course of the disease, a mastectomy will not guarantee you better survival than breast conserving therapy.
Should a radical mastectomy be necessary, breast reconstruction can take place during the same session that the mastectomy is performed. A multidisciplinary treatment approach involves: The oncologic surgeon, a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist and a plastic surgeon to optimally time and sequence the individual treatments.
In a well-run multidisciplinary breast clinic, out of 100 women with breast cancer, 60 will have breast conserving therapy, 35 will have a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and only 5 will leave the theatre with neither their own breast nor a reconstructed breast.

-Myth 7
My breast cancer wasn’t detected by mammography.
-Truth
High quality mammography will detect about 95% of all breast cancers. Breast cancers that do not image are rare if the above criteria of a breast imaging centre are met.

-Myth 8
Mammograms are painful.
-Truth
If the breasts are painful, a mammogram should not be done until the reason for the tenderness has been addressed. Well trained mammographers should be able to assist you in relaxing. When you are relaxed, the pectoral muscles behind the breast relax, which should result in a painless mammogram.

-Myth 9
If you have breast augmentation, breast cancer is harder to detect and you are more at risk.
-Truth
Breast augmentation does not constitute an increase in glandular tissue, therefore you are not more at risk. It is necessary that an experienced mammographer takes your mammogram as special techniques are needed to demonstrate all breast tissue.

Source- Woman24

Read How chocolate can improve your life

“People say that you cannot buy happiness, but you can buy chocolate and that is kind of the same thing.”

We have been feeling guilty about chocolate since our teen years when we were told it would give us pimples.
.But it is time to change things!
Let us put our guilt down and pick up some chocolate instead. And to make this easy I am going to give you 7 fantastic reasons why chocolate is good for you.

If we enjoy our men and coffee to be tall, dark and handsome, we at least need to apply some of these qualities to our chocolate.
The darker our chocolate the better!

1. Dark Chocolate is Bursting with Antioxidants
Antioxidants are the big hype at the moment. Everyone wants more of them to stay looking youthful for longer and for their cancer fighting properties.
Our bodies are experiencing oxidative stress the whole time and one of the best ways to put a fighting army together is by eating chocolate. (I don’t mind fighting this war)
Polyphenols, flavanols and catechins are antioxidants that can be found in chocolate. These antioxidants are found in high amounts in chocolate and can boost our health.
It has been found that by eating dark chocolate that you increase your total antioxidant capacity and your blood levels of epicatechin. (Whatever this means – it sounds impressive hey!)

2. Dark Chocolate Helps with Blood Sugar
High blood sugar is one of the biggest problems this planet is facing. Not that chocolate will cure it, but it might provide some benefits. (No bingeing on chocolate now)
One of the main reasons why people develop high sugar is due to their cells becoming insulin resistant. This means that your body can pump out as much insulin as it would like, but the cells will not react to it and take up the sugar present in your blood.
And where does chocolate come into this equation?
Well chocolate actually helps increase insulin sensitivity. This means your cells will start reacting (and taking up sugar) when insulin is released.

3. Dark Chocolate keeps your Heart Healthy
Remember that strange word “epicatechin”, which I mentioned earlier. Well it is actually a special flavonoid in chocolate and it helps with cardiovascular health.
It has been found that epicatechin works via an antithrombotic mechanism. Ok ok, I won’t leave you hanging with what this means…
It means that it helps to keep the blood thin and running smoothly. It is not a good thing if your blood gets all clumpy and gluey.
It has a similar effect to the blood thinning properties of aspirin.
Some observational studies are showing that chocolate might be beneficial when it comes to calcified plaque. But more studies need to be done on this.
What they are staying this that,  by eating chocolate 2 or more times a week it decreases your calcified plaque by 32%. And having it more than 5 times a week could decrease your risk of heart disease by 57%. (Remember dark chocolate)

4. Dark Chocolate keeps Blood Pressure Down
Ok this is going to get a bit medical, but bear with me.
A meta-analysis was done in 2012 looking at randomized trials of improving blood pressure through the consumption of chocolate. And here is what they found;
It showed a reduction in diastolic blood pressure by an average of 1.6mmHg and it also decreased mean arterial pressure on an average of 1.64mmHg. Not too shabby.
All in all this shows us that chocolate can bring down our blood pressure.
Why is that?

The first one is that chocolate contains flavanols which stimulates the release of nitric oxide. This nitric oxide helps the arteries to dilate and relax. And this decreases the pressure in the arteries.
The next reason is that chocolate is high in magnesium. The increase in magnesium intake can inhibit smooth vascular muscle contractions, once again decreasing the pressure.

5. Dark Chocolate is High in Iron and Magnesium
We all know how important iron is for you but do you know how important magnesium is for you?

Well luckily we find them both in chocolate.
A huge amount of iron is needed by our blood. It is present in our haemoglobin which is used to transport oxygen all over our body.
Large amounts of iron can normally be found in products such as meat and eggs, but here is another delicious one to add to the list.
As I pointed out above, magnesium helps to reduce blood pressure. And that is not the only important benefit of magnesium. It also helps with keeping our bones in good health and the rhythmic beating of our hearts.

6. Dark Chocolate Improves your Cholesterol
And just to support the heart health claim, the study showed a slight improvement in cholesterol levels by decreasing LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by 0.07mmol/L and slightly increasing HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) by 0.03mmol/L.
This won’t get you off the statins, but it is good to know that chocolate is not bad for your cholesterol.
These beneficial results are thought to be linked to the high antioxidant count in cocoa.

7. And last but not least… it makes us beautiful and bright In very small studies it has been shown that dark chocolate can help protect your skin against UVB damage. (But don’t rely completely on chocolate – still slap on your sunscreen) .It showed that people who consumed chocolate for 12 weeks prior to this sun exposure where able to tolerate more sun before their skin turned red.

If you have the beauty, you now want the brains.
And chocolate can help with that too! Chocolate can help increase blood flow to the brain. It has also been shown that there have been speech improvements in patients who consumed chocolate and had metal impairments.

Researchers are trying to explain this by looking at the caffeine, theodromine and flavanols in cocoa itself. And that is all from me today. I hope I have shed some light on the benefits of chocolate and how it can improve your life.

P.S. A piece of dark chocolate a day will keep the doctor away!

SOURCE- MyNews24

‘Nigeria to become Africa’s next automotive hub by 2050’

Tokunbo imports may stop by 2044

If Nigeria remains committed to the implementation of its automotive policy, it may realise its potential of being the hub of the continent’s automotive industry, accounting for 70 per cent of new cars to be manufactured by 2050, latest PwC report has shown.
Similarly, the report projected that Imported used vehicles, popularly referred to as Tokunbo cars will become non-existent as a direct result of local production as well as sustained investment and implementation of policies in the automobile industry.

Specifically, the report showed a projection of increased output in other manufacturing sectors and key auxiliary industries such as solid minerals and rubber industry to boost confidence of OEM brands to begin actual manufacturing, adding that manufacturing is projected to begin in 2023 and by 2030, would account for 33 per cent of new vehicle sales.

The report added that as CKD production and eventually manufacturing begins, the customers’ preference for foreign used imports will gradually reduce.

“Losing their competitive advantage of being more affordable, customers will gradually shift their preference to locally assembled cars and internally generated used cars. Foreign used cars’ 70 per cent market share will steadily drop to 35 per cent by 2028 and die out by 2034”, the report showed.

In its latest automotive industry report titled, “Africa’s next automotive hub”, it noted that Nigeria has the potential to become the hub of Africa’s automotive industry, considering the fact that it remains home to an estimated 170 million people, with over 40 million in the growing middle class, as well as an economy that is increasingly seen as an attractive destination for investors across all sectors.
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited, Andrew S Nevin, while presenting the report yesterday, said the projected growth requires sustained and effective investment in the automobile industry made only possible by the government implementing political, economic and legal policies that create a suitable environment for such investment.

“Given the intent shown by the Nigerian government, PwC developed growth projections for the Nigerian automotive industry. The growth projections highlight the potential of the industry and present three different scenarios for the industry till 2050.

“In these scenarios, growth is measured in term of car sales and we have assumed it to be dependent on GDP. As a result, we use PwC’s The World in 2050, a report that forecasts economic growth for 32 of the largest economies in the world, for the period 2014 – 50.”

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Yemi Alade Collection Set To Hold On November 5th 2015

Following the official announcement of the Yemi Alade Collection, (a jewelry line stemming from a collaboration between bland2glam.com.ng and Singer, Yemi Alade), the YACXB2G movement is coming with a fresh tease as the sneak peek video reveals Yemi Alade rocking ONE of the fascinating pieces from the collection! We are in love with the brooch and all we can say at this point is HOHA!!! (in Yemi Alade’s voice of course!).

We can’t wait to view the whole collection!
The Yemi Alade Collection is set for unveiling on the 5th of November at the Civic Center Lagos. In association with the YAC cause is the Get Mented initiative which aims at connecting Nigerian women, both young and old to provide and receive mentorship from each other.

Abuja Entertaiment Choice Award #ECA – (Full List Nominees for 2015)

Abuja Entertainment choice Awards #ECA has unveiled the full list of nominees for the 2015 edition of their annual award ceremony (abuja entertainment choice awards 2015), check out the full list below.

>Future of Abuja Entertainment (youth)
» CEO STROM CITY ENT
» TIPZ. (CEO 1STEP)
». BESH
» hypaman nass(CEO ROYAL FREAKS ENT)
» Lil shana (CEO XE ENT)
» nito(CEO NITO ENT
» juzzy (CEO FNG)
» Emma (NEW SKOOL CEO)

>DJ of the year (youth)
» DJ DAN
» DJ FANSIE
» DJ CHOKO
» DJ NITO
» DJ KALIFA
» DJ DANZI
» DJ preenxe baba (aso radio)

>Entertainment crew of the year (youth)
» MOB CITY
»NASCENT MUSIC & ENTAINMENT
» CCB RECORD
» RAVE ENT
» EMPIRE HOUSE ENT
» BBC ENT
» Surge Ent

>Best new art (male/female) in abuja entertainment (youth)
» CIMPLE (CME)
» GEN2soul (MOB ENT)
» ALINGZ (NCE)
» KELVIN (BBC ENT
» BLIZZY (TMG)
» DAMIRANO (CME)
»KIZZY (NCM)

>>Hit party of the of year (youth)
» SUMMER SLAM
» SUMMER JAM
» YELLOW NIGTH
» EASTER GOOVE
» SALLAH BOMBAY
» Nyt of Samba
»

>Next rated Artist of the year (youth)
» Masud Mas
» Freshkid
». T.tom (Star record)
». Kizzy NCE)
». ND2. (flowbeat)
». Blizzy (TmG)
». Grinz (TmG)
» Gedda Mayana

> music producer of the year (youth)
»poundz beat
»danny_joe beat
»joshstixz
»Grinzbeat
»Y2thejay
» Zyz beat

> Finest model female (youth)
» Natasha
». Chidinma
». Blessing (CCE diva)
». Leemah
» queezeberry

>Artist of the year (Musicians) (youth)
»T_CROWN
»EYO_GEE
»GEN2SOUL
» LIL CHERRY
» 2STAR

>Entertainment blogspot of the year
» Jolloftunes.com
» trendnaija.com
» biggieblog.com
» 360vibezblog.com
»www.misclusive.com

>Best dance crew (youth)
»NXT DANCE CREW
» 3D DANCE CREW
» YMD
» 1 STEP
» MAGIC STEPER

>Event promoters of the year (youth)
» hypeman NASS
» hypeman BOBZY
» hypeman ZAMANI
» hypeman SANCEZZ
» hypeman SINZU
»hypeman joe

>best up coming crew (entertainment) (youth)
» Self made empire
» house of vibez
» smok ent
» Gaga Empire
» All STARS ent
»Made kingz ent
» HOP ent
» CCE ent
». ECSTATIC ENT

Special recognition:
EVAMIC HALL OF FAME
Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
»ML
»Lordnicky

Voting start on 15_11_2015
The grand and glamorous event scheduled to premier in Nigeria will hold on 27_12_2015 at the ASHER TERACE close to ASO BANK kubwa Abuja, Nigeria.

For participation and sponsorship:call
09051506262_08148470048_08070906880_09051570810