2015: ABU Profs Drum Support For El-Rufai

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, a coalition of Professors from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have perfected plans to embark on aggressive department to department and Faculty to faculty campaign to drum up support for former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir El-Rufia as he prepares to officially declare for the Governorship election of Kaduna State.

The Professors under the platform of Kaduna State Good Governance Project, according to their coordinator, Professor Adamu Ahmed have vowed to use their intellectual resources to support El-Rufai to take-over the State’s mantle of leadership, giving his unparalleled and tremendous experience, vision, bravery, precision and serene patriotism.

Professor Ahmed opined that Kaduna State is too strategic and important to the North in particular and the country in general, to be administered by a politician who is deficient in experience, political will and ability to take bold decisions needed to move the State to greater heights.

He said the State, being the melting pot of Northern politics and administration and which had historically been one of the key deciding factors in producing Nigeria’s president in any free contest, is too critical to be left in the hands of mediocre who do not have clarity of vision, defined programme of action and the intellectual capacity to turn the State into a modern capital and befitting city with all the road networks and other modern infrastructural facilities, required of a historical and leading state such as Kaduna.

The Professor of Urban and Regional Planning who regretted that Kaduna State which is supposed to have since overtaken other States in the country in terms of infrastructural, economic and structural cum and physical developments considering its strategic nature and dense population, has become the most crowded State in the country in which life is gradually becoming too boring and difficult for its residents to cope with, due to lack of proper town planning.

He attributed all this backwardness to the failure of the electorates in the State to, in the past, vote people or leaders on the basis of competence, ability to deliver, track record of achievements and patriotism, but rather they voted most previous governors on the basis of stomach infrastructure.

The coordinator therefore called on politicians and all discerning and patriotic indigenes of Kaduna State to join hands with the members of the Kaduna State Good Governance Project to rescue the State from its present pathetic state of backwardness and insecurity.

source ;

dailytimes.com

Nigeria: Fight Against Exam Malpractice Goes Digital At Maiduguri University

The University of Maiduguri has introduced an electronic centre for the writing of examinations (e-centre for e-exams) with a view to ridding the institution of the menace of examination malpractices.

Since the introduction of e-exams in 2010, rate of examination malpractices among students has reduced as the e-centre proved to be an effective anti-examination malpractice measure.

Many faculties and departments have keyed into the development with the faculty of education and the general studies, among others, taking all their examinations at the e-centre.

However, inadequate knowledge of the functions of the computer programmes, fear on the part of students and the tension of seeing one's scores instantly are some of the reasons why students feel nervous about the innovation.

Some first time users complain of not being knowledgeable enough to use the e-centre, mainly because of their lack of sufficient computer knowledge.

The interesting thing about the centre is the elimination of examination malpractice as most students cannot copy what their neighbours are doing because the questions differ.

The questions are mostly objective and randomly selected for each student, making smuggling of 'micro-chips' into the centre a waste of time.

Thus, it appears like as students are going digital with examination malpractices, University of Maiduguri is also going digital with the fight against the objectionable practice.

Amina is a 300-level student of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri

source ;

Amina

allafrica.com

UNN at 54: VC promises washing machine for students

In the next few months, students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, will start enjoying the comfort of washing machine.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, who announced this at a press briefing at the Enugu Campus of the institution to mark its 54th Founders’ Day celebration as well as his 100 days in office, said it was part of his welfare package for students.

Making reference to universities in other parts of the world, he said UNN students equally deserved to study under a conducive environment.


The Vice Chancellor stated that apart from massive renovation of hostels, his administration had restored full moral and financial support to the Students’ Union Government.

He said within the 100 days of his administration, pipe-borne water, which had been absent in the University for the past 15 years, was restored.

Ozumba equally announced that the 54th Founders’ Day lecture of the University would be presented by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

While soliciting cooperation and constructive contributions from stakeholders, he further stated that “my overall agenda is to provide the University of Nigeria the leadership needed to become an academic giant and pace-setter in the quality of its scientific research, the level of its innovative teaching and the robustness of its community service among universities in the developing countries”.


“The dreams and vision of the Fathers in the motto they gave us, ‘To Restore the Dignity of Man’, are in our minds as we celebrate.

“We are aware that such dreams as they had may be borne only on stout shoulders- all the more reason for joint effort, for collaborative endeavour by all the stakeholders.

“Internally, we need a conducive working environment, a happy and productive workforce, and a crop of students eager to learn and desirous to apply all their time and energies to this essential task”, he added.

He identified the agenda of his administration to include- staff welfare, student welfare, environment and campus aesthetics, academic leadership and research as well as academic discipline and ethics.

source :
dailypost.ng

Why Google shut down Linda Ikeji Blog

Google, on Thursday, explained that it does not tolerate the violation of its Terms of Service, which include intellectual property theft, but declined to categorically say that was why  it shut down popular Nigerian blog, Linda Ikeji’s Blog.

The company said it  does not discuss individual accounts.

The company had on Wednesday removed the blog from its Blogger platform days after an intellectual property activist reported the site for copyright infringement.

The firm said practices such as plagiarism diminish the experience of its users but said it would not discuss individual accounts.

“Google is dedicated to offering users the best possible experience across our products,” said Kola-Ogunlade,  the company’s communication and public affairs manager for Anglophone West Africa when contacted over the deletion of the popular blog.

“We take violations of policies very seriously as such activities diminish the experience for our users. When we are notified of the existence of content that may violate our Terms of Service, we act quickly to review it and determine whether it actually violates our policies. If we determine that it does, we remove it immediately.”

Linda Ikeji Blog which was hosted by Blogger, a Google-owned blogging platform, was pulled downWednesday following allegations of plagiarism and intellectual property theft.

On Tuesday, in a blog post, Ms. Ikeji accused “cybersquatters and hackers” of trying to bring her blog down.

She pointed a finger directly at Mukhtar Dan’Iyan, the Editor-in-Chief of US-based The 15 Past Eight Media Group, who uses the handle @AyeDee on Twitter.

Ms. Ikeji said Mr. Dan’Iyan was equally guilty of what he accused her of -lifting articles from other websites without permission, and alleged that he owned the domain name lindaikeji.net under an alias, Emmanuel Efremov.

In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Mr. Dan’Iyan said he had emailed Ms. Ikeji repeatedly about content she lifted from his site before filing a formal DMCA complaint to Google.

A Digital Copyright Millenium Act, DMCA, is an avenue to report content that you would like removed from Google’s services under applicable laws.

According to Mr. Dan’Iyan, Ms. Ikeji had used over 10,000 copyrighted pictures and stories over the past five years without the authorisation of the copyright owners.

He also said “Emmanuel Efremov” was one of the directors in his company.

“Emmanuel has never tried to sell anything to Linda, nor has he ever demanded any sort of money from her. In fact, I doubt he’s ever had any interaction with here even in passing,” Mr. Dan’Iyan said.

Meanwhile Ms. Ikeji is still working on re-launching her site, which by Thursday afternoon was still shut down.

Late Wednesday night, on Twitter, she posted to her over 400,000 followers, “Oh wow! Thanks guys for all the love and support. I’m overwhelmed. Trying to get a new site…please bear with me. Long live LIB. Kisses…”

In a previous tweet following the shutdown, she had informed her followers that the blog was still up onlindaikeji.mobi; apparently, a stop-gap arrangement.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that Google did not specifically mention Linda Ikeji Blog while responding to our question in compliance with its policy not to discuss individual accounts.

source ;

Onyinye Muomah

premium times

About the Apple I-WATCH

“The standard Apple Watch model comes with a stainless steel or space black stainless steal case with the screen protected by sapphire crystal. 
“Lastly, the Apple Watch Edition features an 18-carat gold face in yellow or rose, protected by sapphire crystal.

The women’s version starts off at 38mm tall while the men’s version starts at 42mm. Each watch has a Retina display described as energy efficient, though battery life hasn’t been specified yet.

The main feature of the watch is called Force Touch, able to distinguish between a tap and a press using tiny electrodes, notes PC Advisor.

“This is the Apple Watch’s so-called Taptic Engine: more than just helpfully vibrating when you receive a new notification, it can do such things as provide slightly different vibrations for left- and right turns within the Maps app.”

The watch also has a ceramic cover on the back, with sapphire lenses protecting four sensors that monitor the person’s heart rate, and also are utilitized to build up a compelete picture of a person’s daily activities.

“The Apple Watch also has an accelerometer to measure body movement, and it uses the Wi-Fi and GPS in your iPhone to track distance. There’s a speaker, too, which is water-resistant.”

Tech Radar notes that another key design feature is the digital crown, or circular knob on the side of the watch.

“This input is unique among smartwatches, but a true classic derived from traditional watches. Apple has of course put a modern-day twist on its twist functionality,” it said.

“The Apple Watch digital crown replaces the pinch-to-zoom touchscreen mechanic used on everything from iPhones to MacBooks. It’s too impractical on such a small display, according to Apple. Rotating it allows you to zoom into your app selection, your location on Apple Maps and a photo from a gallery. Scrolling through dates and stopwatch times is handled by this knob too. The digital crown also acts as the Apple Watch home button. There’s no Touch ID sensor here, but Apple is smartly locks the wristwatch with an anti-theft passcode whenever it’s taken off.”

Review: Apple Watch Appears to be Another Winner


The new Apple Watch is shown by a model on a treadmill during a new product release on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)




The new Apple Watch is shown during a new product release on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

CUPERTINO, Calif.—As computerized wristwatches go, the upcoming Apple Watch looks impressive.

I like that it will come in two sizes, so the watch won’t feel giant on smaller hands, as some competing watches do.

I also like that Apple will offer a variety of straps and materials, so fitness buffs can get a strap that’s stronger and sweat-proof, while those seeking a fashion accessory can opt for an 18-karat gold edition.

Beyond looks, it’s great that the Apple Watch isn’t simply adopting the smartphone way of doing things. The operating system, Watch OS, was designed specifically for the watch, and its interface relies heavily on the dial to the right, known as the digital crown. Competing watches tend to emphasize the voice and touch controls found on phones.

Of course, it’s premature to conclude that you need an Apple Watch. I had only about 45 minutes with the Apple Watch and other new products announced Tuesday. 

The home screen has all your apps, arranged in rows like a honeycomb. You use the dial to zoom in and choose one. The touch screen lets you slide the honeycomb around to see different portions of your app collection. I find this easier than swiping on a small screen to scroll through pages and pages of apps. With the Apple Watch, you can even rearrange apps so that your favorite ones are toward the middle.

Apple CEO Tim Cook discusses the new Apple Watch on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

App developers will be able to decide what types of notifications appear on the watch and let you take actions such as replying to messages. That’s an improvement over existing smartwatches, which largely replicate the notifications sent to your phone. To be compelling, the watch shouldn’t duplicate your phone. It should enhance it. Apple seems to get it.

As for using the dial to zoom in and out, Apple says that improves usability because you’re not blocking maps and other content on the screen the way pinching in and out would. That makes sense, though I’ll need more time with the watch to assess how well the dial works on its own. With your home screen, for instance, you still need to slide apps around.

Another question mark is what kinds of apps will be available for it.

Apple announced a few useful ones, including the ability to unlock your Starwood hotel room with a tap of your watch. That’s easier than pulling out your room key from your wallet. BMW also promises one to help you find your parked car in a crowded lot. If it works, that beats walking around in circles.

Apple does have a good track record in getting software developers to make good apps for its systems. Many apps come to iPhones and iPads first, and some have bonus features unavailable on Android. If that trend continues with the Apple Watch, I have no doubt customers will find more useful things to do with it than the smartwatches already out.

Apple CEO Tim Cook explains how the Apple Watch works in conjunction with Apple Pay during an announcements of new products on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Apple Watch will require an iPhone 5 or later and will have a starting price tag of $349 =N56,538 , higher than rival watches. Expect to pay even more for the 18-karat gold edition and other premium models. You’ll also have to wait until early next year, as Apple won’t have Apple Watch available in time for the holidays.

Mario Balotelli arrives to Liverpool training in £240k Ferrari

Mario Balotelli drove to Liverpool training on Thursday in his £240,000 (about N65million) Ferrari F12 Berlinetta which he shipped from Italy last week. The 24 year old footballer moved from AC Milan to Liverpool in a £16million switch last month. See the super car after the cut...









      Balotelli also has a £160,000 camouflage Bentley GT


source ;
linda ikeji's blog

The 12 soldiers sentenced to death deserve to die - Ex-generals

While the rest of us are begging for leniency, some retired senior military officers say the 12 soldiers sentenced to death last week for attacking their GOC at their barracks in Maiduguri, deserve to die.

Speaking with Sunday Punch, the ex-generals said it's necessary for the military to maintain its age-long rules on discipline, hailed the judgement and said it must be carried out. A former Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Brig.-Gen. Williams Obene (retd.), said,
“I commend the boldness of the Army authorities to follow the terms and conditions of service – the extant laws that established the armed forces, particularly the Army– and for trying to uphold discipline at the highest level. When politicians and highly influential Nigerians interfere in the daily administration of the military, things become difficult. That situation is very prevalent under democracy.”


A former Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army, Major General David Jemibewon (retd.), said
“The military does not operate on sentiments or on people expressing either sympathy or lack of sympathy. Most of the things (we do) in the military are based on laws. It is difficult for me to align with people calling for clemency or pardon. The court martial has the facts and they have now come to conclusion after allowing evidence.”
Retired Colonel Anthony Nyiam also hailed the judgment, saying
“As a soldier, and respecter of the law and tradition, the worst thing a soldier can do is to mutiny. And the penalty, as the law says, should be served. If you interrupt the traditions of the military, you’re interfering with the foundations.”
Former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (retd.), backed the sentence, saying
"The court has followed the laid down procedure and military etiquette. They (the court) must have looked at the entire situations before arriving at the sentence. We have our own laws and so many things regulating our conduct in the military. I will not want anybody to die but we are talking of military procedure, which has to be followed.”
If all these people are backing their death sentence then there may not be hope for these soldiers. But I pray it isn't so because that will be so sad. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army says it's waiting for the approval of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on the death sentence given to the soldiers.

Source: Punch