Author: straightnewsng.com

Two Nigerian authors have made the 2019 Women’s Prize for Literature shortlist. The authors are Oyinkan Braithwaite nominated for her book: My Sister, The Serial Killer; and Diana Evans selected for Ordinary People. Nigerian-born Chimamanda Adichie won the award in 2007 with her novel, Half of a Yellow Sun. The Women’s Prize for Literature, previously known as the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Baileys Women’s Prize For Fiction, is one of the most prestigious literature awards in the world that has honoured many great authors since it was launched in 1996. News Agency of Nigeria reports that in March, Braithwaite and Evans…

Ajax closed in on a first Champions League final for 23 years as Donny van de Beek’s early goal beat an injury-hit Tottenham 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. Van de Beek’s opener on 15 minutes was just reward for the Dutch side’s first-half dominance as Tottenham badly missed the presence of the injured Harry Kane and suspended Son Heung-min. Tottenham improved after the break despite another injury blow as Jan Vertonghen had to be helped down the tunnel after a sickening head knock, but lacked the inspiration needed to get back on level terms without…

The Nigerian student detained by Saudi Arabian authority over alleged drug trafficking has been released. Zainab Aliyu, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, who was arrested and has been in detention since December when a banned drug, tramadol, was found in her bag on arrival in Saudi Arabia. Aliyu’s continued detention has sparked widespread sympathy all over the country, on the back of claims that she was innocent and only fell victim to a drug cartel at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, that specialises in keeping hard drugs in travellers’ bags. According to TVC, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry…

A suspected arsonist who set ablaze nine members of his estranged girlfriend’s family, leading to the death of eight has been arrested. Men of the Ondo State police command who arrested Deji Adenuga in Ijebu Ode under the bridge, around the bus park paraded him on Tuesday. Police spokesperson, Femi Joseph, confirmed to newsmen that the suspect had been paraded. Adenuga was one of the inmates that escaped at Olokuta prison during the 2013 prison break. Residents of Igbodigo in Ayeka, Okitipupa, woke up last Tuesday morning to the horrible sight. Adenuga was reported to have at 2 a.m. while…

Muhammed Mahmood, chairman, board of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and his daughter have been freed by their abductors. Their release was confirmed by Hussain Danladi, one of Mahmood’s aides. Mahmood and his daughter were kidnapped along Kaduna-Abuja Road on Monday afternoon while travelling from Kaduna to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). His driver died when the bandits opened fire on the vehicle they were travelling in. Danladi reportedly said no ransom was paid to secure their release. However, there is no information on the the other travellers who were kidnapped alongside the duo. Several cases of kidnappings have been…

A Chemical Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT was found dead in her apartment at Omuoko Community, Aluu Clan, Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State. An 18-year-old Olaitan Gbadamosi, a 100 level student who had celebrated her matriculation into the institution, two weeks ago, hailed from Oyo State. Some reports have it that Ola, as popularly called, committed suicide, following alleged depression, while some say she was poisoned. Olaitan had two days before Saturday, posted a short video clip of herself crying and muttering some words. It was gathered that when her room was broken into…

The Senate has passed the 2019 Appropriation Bill of N8.916 trillion into law. This is N86 billion higher than the proposal of N8.83 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly for the 2019 fiscal year. The lawmakers passed the bill during Tuesday’s plenary after considering the report of the Senate Committee on Appropriations on the 2019 Appropriation Bill presented by Senator Danjuma Goje. A breakdown of the budget estimate reveals that statutory transfer is N502.58 billion, N2.25 trillion is for debt servicing, recurrent expenditure gets N4.65 trillion, and N2.94 trillion is earmarked for capital expenditure. Following the…

Paul Pogba wants out of Manchester United this summer, and is “very keen” to push through a move to Real Madrid. The French star has been a subject of controversy this season, with the club ultimately backing him over sacked manager Jose Mourinho, but sources say he is now desperate to leave. For Pogba’s part, some close to the player say that one of his primary concerns is United’s inability to challenge for the league, and how that does not look likely in the near future. One of the reasons he initially went back in the summer of 2016 was…

Andy Ruiz Jr has now reportedly agreed terms to jump in and fight Anthony Joshua on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Mexican-American heavyweight will replace Jarrell Miller, who was ruled out of the bout after failing three drugs tests. FOX Sports’ Mike Coppinger first claimed that a deal had been agreed between the pair, with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn later confirming the story to FightHype. “It’s not done yet. Terms have been agreed, I mean there’s things that have to be ironed out within a contract, but he’s the frontrunner. “I like Andy Ruiz, I…

The Federal Government has issued operational licence to 20 private polytechnics, four Colleges of Health Science and technologies and 32 Innovation Enterprises Institutions. This brings the number of private polytechnics to 56, 152 Innovation Enterprise Institutions and 84 Vocational Enterprise Institutions in the country. Speaking during the event Tuesday, Arc Sonny Echono, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration accorded priority position to education and Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to help turn the petrol-economy to a knowledge-based economy. “There is no gain saying the fact that the state of technical and vocational…