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World champion and record holder in the 100m women’s hurdles, Tobi Amusan, said she once considered quitting athletics after being left out of the women’s relay team at the 2013 Africa Youth Games in Warri.
She went on to win bronze in the long jump instead, but she admitted she was frustrated with the way officials selected athletes for events.

However, her disappointment turned blessing, after some coaches advised her to switch to the less attractive hurdles event, where she soldiered on to become the world champion after several attempts on Monday morning (Nigerian time).

Amusan, in an interview with the BBC, said, “The officials were always picking who they wanted in the relay team. Sometimes they would say I didn’t have the experience so they would pick whoever was their favourite.
“It was a lot of pressure on a young athlete. I considered quitting. I really wanted to travel with the senior national team and some coaches told me to try the hurdles.”

Even as a hurdler, she stated that she had to overcome doubts from officials before she picked up her first senior hurdles title at the African Games in Congo-Brazzaville in 2015.
“The typical Nigerian approach is to make you feel like you cannot make it.
“I wasn’t expected to medal at those Games. There were so many voices saying I couldn’t but I used that to show that I could – and that title changed my life.

“That’s how I got a scholarship to the United States. I can say that’s really when my athletics career began. I never dreamt of going to the United States. I just wanted to run fast and be one of the Nigerian greats,” she said.

Since moving to attend the University of Texas, El Paso, Amusan has not looked back.
She won gold in the 100m hurdles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, and later the same year took her first African Championships title on home soil in Asaba.

Yet at major global events, she would agonizingly miss out on medals – finishing fourth at the World Championships in Doha three years ago and then again in Tokyo last year.
“2019 was tough because I remember running the fastest time in the qualification rounds, around the same time in the semi-finals, and the same time in the final.

“I ran so fast but wasn’t fast enough to get a medal. I was broken, I was devastated. That was one of the most horrible experiences.
“I moved on, and then came the Tokyo Olympics. Things just crumbled a month before when I strained my hamstring at practice,” she added.

European Union countries bracing for further cuts in Russian gas supply approved an emergency plan to curb the demand for gas on Tuesday, July 26.
Russia’s state-owned gas company, Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said it would cut flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany to 20 percent starting from Wednesday as Europe faces an increased gas squeeze as winter approaches.

With a dozen EU countries already facing lower Russian supplies, the EU is urging member states to save gas and store it for winter for fear Russia will completely cut off flows in retaliation for Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Energy ministers approved a proposal for all EU countries to voluntarily cut gas use by 15% in the August to March period.

The cuts could be made binding in a supply emergency, provided a majority of EU countries agree to this. But countries agreed to exempt numerous countries and industries from the binding 15% cut, after some governments opposed the EU’s original proposal to apply it to every country. 

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the agreement will show Russian President Vladimir Putin that Europe remained united in the face of Moscow’s latest gas cuts. “You will not split us,” Habeck said.
Hungary, heavily dependent on Russian energy, was the only country that opposed the deal, two EU officials said.
Gazprom blamed its latest reduction on needing to halt the operation of a turbine – a reason dismissed by EU energy chief Kadri Simson, who called the move “politically motivated.”

Simson said the agreement should ensure countries save enough gas to survive an average winter if Russia fully cut supplies now, but an unusually cold winter would require more severe measures.
Russia supplied 40% of EU gas before it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, in what Moscow calls a “special military operation”.

Singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as ‘Portable’ has been disqualified as a nominee at the forthcoming 15th Headies Awards.
The organisers of the award, Smooth Promotions Limited, in a statement on Tuesday, “The decision to disqualify Mr Okikiola is accentuated by series of misdemeanours by Mr Okikiola via his social media platforms.”

Recall that in May, Portable threatened to cause harm to other nominees in the categories he was nominated for if he did not emerge the winner.
In June, a video surfaced online showing Portable assaulting and inflicting bodily harm on another person.
Earlier this month, the singer also published a video on social media stating that he was the founder of the notorious cult group, ‘One Million Boys’.

“We shall not condone reckless and uncouth statements from artists and hereby disassociate ourselves from any individual linked to such assembly or activities linked to him as described.

“The music industry demands all-around excellence. it is extremely important for young artists to be potential role models to exude professional responsibility, proper decorum and have respect for others,” the Headies said.
Portable had been nominated in two categories: Best Street Artist and Rookie of the Year.

Barely 24 hours after they released a viral video where they were seen flogging their hostages and threatening to abduct President Buhari and Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train, have released four of the remaining 43 captives.
Security operatives and the Kaduna State Government were yet to issue any statement on the development.

The four captives freed, according to the negotiator, who recently facilitated the release of 11 victims, Malam Tukur Mamu, are: Gladys Brumen, Oluwatoyin Ojo, Hassan Lawal, and Pastor Ayodeji Oyewumi.
It was gathered the hostages were released by the terrorists at a location inside the forest along the Kaduna–Abuja highway where their relatives picked them up.

The terrorists recently demanded a ransom of N100 million each for the remaining 43 hostages. It was however not clear whether the victims paid ransom before they were released or not.
A relative of one of the freed victims told BBC Hausa they were on the way to a health facility for medical examinations.

With the release of the four victims, the number of train passengers still in captivity stands at 39.
The terrorists March 28 blew up the rail track on the Abuja-Kaduna train corridor, killing nine passengers and abducting about 63 others.

Beatrice, the wife of Nigeria’s former deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was Monday evening granted bail by a London Court, Daily Mail has reported.
Beatrice and her husband have been in prison custody for almost five weeks over their alleged involvement in an organ harvesting deal.

Beatrice was granted bail by the Common Sergeant of London after being held for that long by the UK police on charges of human trafficking and organ harvesting.

She was charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, between August 1 last year and May 5, under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, while her husband was charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

The matter was postponed until August 4 for further hearing before today’s decision to free Mrs. Ekweremadu while Mr. Ekweremadu would remain in custody.
“The position is that I have granted bail to Beatrice subject to some fairly stringent conditions but I have refused bail to Ike,” the Common Sergeant of London, Richard Marks, said in his ruling on Monday evening.

The court did not immediately say the stringent terms set for Mrs. Ekweremadu or when Mr. Ekweremadu would be released before adjourning the matter till August 4.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said the Federal Government would return toll gates to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Fashola who spoke on Channels Television’s programme, ‘Sunday Politics’, said about three toll plazas were expected on the highway after all works on the expressway have been completed.
The Minister projected that the rehabilitation of the road would be completed by December 2022. When completed, Fashola noted that at least a toll gate is expected in the Lagos, Ogun (Ogere), and Ibadan axis of the expressway.

While emphasizing that the Oyo State government is constructing a drainage facility around the Ojoo part of the expressway, which, according to him, had significantly slowed down the pace of work in that area, Fashola said he is optimistic that the work can be finished before the year runs out, as talks are already being held with the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to resolve the challenge.

The former governor of Lagos State also revealed the government’s plan toward finishing the Second Niger Bridge project in the South-Eastern part of the country.

Fashola said the current administration also plans to open the bridge before Christmas, despite the project’s challenges.

“We are also planning before Christmas to open that to the public for use because that is when there is a large movement.
“Hopefully, by Christmas, it will be opened. That was the last meeting I had with the contractor about three weeks ago.”

According to Fashola, he has directed the contractor to see that the project is delivered before the deadline, adding that the main bridge deck has been completed.

For the first time in the history of the Big Brother Naija reality shows, the organizers have introduced a new twist that will keep viewers glued to their screens.
Host of the show, Ebuka Obi Uchendu during the second launch of the ‘level up’ edition introduced a second house.

It is, however, unsure if housemates in both houses will be competing against each other.
Recall that 13 housemates were introduced during the first launch on Saturday.
On Sunday Ebuka introduced 12 new housemates to the new house.

The 24 housemates will be competing to win N100 million worth of prizes.
Here are the new housemates.

1. Bella

2.Eloswag

3. Doyin

4. Adekunle

6. Allysn

7. Dotun

8. Chomzy

9. Giddyfia

10. Diana

11. Hermes

12. Chichi

13. Sheggz.

Veteran rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, has said he feels strong and is ready for a kidney transplant after fans reportedly raised over N1m for his surgery via his GoFundMe account.
Recall that the Jaga Jaga singer is currently undergoing dialysis and is expected to go for a transplant on July 27, 2022. His wife, Yetunde, is said to be a kidney donor.

During the week, Eedris thanked his fans and friends for their support. He also stated that faith and prayers have been his driving force.

He wrote on Instagram, “First, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to you all for the unalloyed love and care you have shown me since this sad news broke. I sincerely appreciate and love you all for this outpouring of genuine love and care.

“However, based on the requests I have been receiving on the need for GoFundMe activities, I want to assure everyone that the activity is now on. Just click on my Instagram page for the GoFundMe link.
“I am feeling better, strong and agile in body and soul while awaiting the doctor’s summons for the surgery procedures scheduled for any time from now. Prayers, faith, and staunch belief in God’s awesome works are the things that drive me.”

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Nigeria Mr. Matthias Schmale, has commended the Sterling One Foundation for creating a convening to accelerate growth towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals across Africa. 

This was shared during the 2-day hybrid event held on July 13-14, 2022, at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja which had about 4,000 registered delegates from 55 countries.
Giving a keynote address at the event on the theme, ‘Rethink, Rebuild, Recover, Accelerating Growth for the SDGs’, Mr. Schmale noted that the theme was apt, timely, relevant, and required given the economic regression across Africa occasioned by the pandemic, the volatilities caused by the Ukraine war and the fact there was just 8 years to go before 2030. He commended the leadership of the Sterling One Foundation stressing that there was the need for intensive collaborations and partnerships among African leaders across the public and private sectors including the civil society groups to aid the achievement of not just the 2030 goals but also, the African Union’s 2063 goals.

Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, of Sterling One Foundation, noted that the summit had in-depth and insightful panel sessions on climate action, education access and funding, primary healthcare, youth, and gender empowerment, impact investment, and governance which all give a good appreciation of the 17 interlinked global goals.

She added that a recurring resolution that came through in all the panel sessions was the need for the elimination of silo executions and the embracing of collaborations by all sector players. Financing strategies, impact measurement, and evaluation of such impact were also discussed as
it was clear that the SDGs require financing to become a reality with an estimated amount of $1.3 trillion annually in Africa as shared by the UN and over $300 billion to block the gap in Nigeria.

“Various deals from 4 African countries were brought to the summit’s Deal Room with innovative solutions that cut across the education, health, construction, renewable energy, and food security sectors. Most of these businesses already have conditional commitments from our investors at the event and we expect to seal these deals in the coming weeks by working with the investees. We will continue facilitating financing for purpose and profit-driven business solutions that will help promote access to health and education for all while guaranteeing returns for impact investors locally and globally’’, she added.
She noted that the Foundation was already working with various partners and will continue in this light as the event was organized in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, Sterling Bank, the Coca-Cola Company, VFD Group, the Impact Investors Foundation, Giving.ng, the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC), the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Ventures Africa, Proshare and Tech Cabal.

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has promised to speak soon on the recent happenings in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said it had become pertinent for him to speak and reveal to Nigerians all that had transpired in the PDP since the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the party.

“On Atiku, I will speak soon and Nigerians will know the actual truth of all that has transpired in the PDP in recent times.”