Author: straightnewsng.com

A South African mountaineer reached the top of Mount Everest on Thursday, becoming the first black African woman to conquer the world’s highest mountain, her expedition organiser and her government said. Saray N’kusi Khumalo, a 47-year-old e-commerce executive, scaled the 8,850-metre (29,035-foot) mountain after three failed attempts that were foiled by bad weather and a deadly earthquake in 2015. “With her birth in Zambia, Rwandan bloodline and now a South African, this sister of Africa has achieved her goal of becoming the first black woman from Africa to summit Mount Everest,” her expedition organiser, Summits with a Purpose, said on…

As part of the events to usher in his second term inauguration on May 29, Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel has begun to roll out development projects executed and completed by his administration. The governor on Saturday inaugurated the16 km Awa Iman-Ikot Edim-Ikot Emem-Ukam-Ikot Ebiere Road with three spurs and two bridges. The road passes from Onna to Mkpat Enin local government area. Emmanuel, accompanied by his deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo; Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to the State Government, and other senior citizens, stated that the inauguration ceremony was another success story of his superior performance. He noted that the…

Amidst jubilation, 242 beneficiaries of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS in Ukana Ikot Ideh, Ukana Uwa Ward 2, Essien Udim of Akwa Ibom State were relieved of despair as the scheme was officially launched in the area on Thursday. The beneficiaries danced and sang to the rhythm of a cultural troupe after Mfon Bassey, Senior Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry who represented Prof. Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health had officially launched the scheme. The flag-off ceremony held at Primary Health-Care Centre, Ukana Ikot Ideh was witnessed by the beneficiaries from Ukana Uwa Ward 2 Community-based Health Insurance…

Cyril Ramaphosa, Saturday, took the oath of office as president of South Africa at a colourful ceremony, pledging “to build the South Africa that we all want and deserve.” Foreign heads of state from more than 40 countries were among 36,000 people who witnessed the event replete with pomp, military honours and an air force flyover at a rugby stadium in Pretoria. The 66-year-old leader, who was unanimously elected by parliament to a five-year term after his African National Congress (ANC) won legislative elections on May 8, taking 230 of the 400 seats, vowed “a new era” amid expectations he…

Henceforth, cattle rustling or kidnapping in Katsina State, Nigeria’s North West Region, carry death sentence. Already, Governor Aminu Masari has signed into law mandatory death sentence for anyone convicted of the crimes. Masari’s action followed recent attacks in the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari in which more than 26 people in Dan Musa, Faskari and Batsari communities were slaughtered. Reacting to the incident, Buhari summoned Masari and ordered the Security Chiefs to investigate the killings. The commander-in-chief then directed the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, to set up an…

Nigeria began their quest for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup title in Poland with a resounding 4-0 victory over Qatar at the Mjieski Stadium, Tychy Friday. Paul Aigbogun sent out presumably his strongest line-up for the tricky clash, with Muhammad Tijani and Henry Offia leading the lines though Bournemouth’s starlet, Nnamdi Oforboh was only good for a bench role. Maxwell Effiom, one of the most influential players during the team’s last tournament in Niger gave his side the lead twelve minutes in when he tapped home after Qatari goalkeeper, Shehab Mamdouh could only parry skipper Ikouwem Utin’s delivery into…

The Supreme Court, Friday, sacked elected candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Zamfara State, but reinstated Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidates during the 2019 elections. Some of the affected APC bigwigs include the Governor-elect, Mukhtar Shehu Idris; Senators Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara West); Aliyu Ikra Bilbis (Zamfara Central); Kaura Tijjani Yahaya (Zamfara North); seven elected members of the House of Representatives and 24 House of Assembly members. The five-member panel of justices in a unanimous judgment held that the party in the state failed to conduct primaries in accordance with the party rules. In the lead judgment by Justice…

In two weeks time, the embattled Theresa May will enter the history book as the second female British Prime Minister, going by her announcement to quit as Conservative Party’s leader on June 7. Margaret Thatcher was the first female British Minister successfully piloting the affairs of the country before her glorious exit. May’s entry into office began with promise and ended in tears: An emotional Theresa May finally announced the end of her short but tumultuous tenure as the UK’s prime minister on Friday, her voice quivering as she spoke. Speaking at 10 Downing Street on Friday, May said it…

Former Central Bank Governor and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, has been indicted in the alleged misappropriation of two billion dollars worth of Atlas Mara’s Union Bank Plc shares owned by 65,000 shareholders. News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in the Federal Ministry of Justice reports that on Thursday the Federal Government began a criminal investigation into the misappropriation. The petition entitled “Official corruption, misuse of FGN USD two billion, fraud and unjust enrichment of persons who dispossessed more than 65,000 Nigerians and conferred ownership of the Bank on few Nigerians and their foreign accomplices,” was submitted to…

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Thursday, pledged to re-organise police operations in Nigeria to stem insecurity in the country. Adamu stated this after his confirmation as IGP by the Police Council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said that under his leadership, the police force would redouble its efforts to make the country crime free. When a journalist asked what his appointment meant to the police, he responded: “What it means for us that we have been given a tough task to make sure that we provide security within the country and make…