500 students observe solar eclipse in Abuja

Abuja – No fewer than 500 students of public and private schools across the country on Sunday observed the partial solar eclipse at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja.

A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth and partially blocked the sun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the solar eclipse started in Abuja at exactly 1. 03 p.m. as predicted by NASRDA.

NASRDA provided the students and some Nigerians with instruments, including Eclipse shades to observe the eclipse.

The Supervising Minister for Science and Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said the students were invited to motivate them to develop interest in the study science and technology.

“We invited these students to boost their interest in studying of science and technology which is the bedrock for industrialisation of any nation.

“That is why we are using this medium to encourage you to develop interest in studying science and technology, particularly astronomy and space science,” Johnson said.

Johnson, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Rabi Jimeta, said the occurrence of the partial solar eclipse revealed that space technology was working in Nigeria.

She promised that government would continue in its efforts at ensuring the development of space science in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, described solar eclipse as a natural phenomenon with no direct impact on climate change.

He described as false insinuations that occurrence of eclipse was an indication that the world was coming to an end.

“All that is happening is a natural phenomenon and there is no religious sentiment attached to it.

“This should help us to discourage the mysteries attached to solar eclipse by various religious bodies.

“From the scientific perspective, it’s just a natural phenomenon.

“The signal from geo-stationary satellites does not have effect on any of the communication gadgets like the GSM, aircraft and businesses,” Mohammed said.

Some of the students, who spoke with NAN, commended government for the opportunity to observe it at the centre, adding that it would boost their interest in studying science-related courses.

Mr Yat Japheth, a student of Baptist High School, Kubwa, FCT, said today was his first time of observing solar eclipse with such instruments provided by NASRDA.

Miss Peculiar Daniel, Scintillate Int’l Model School, Lokoja, said the opportunity would help her to know more about the sun, the moon and the earth.

Also, Mr Luru Adewumi, a teacher at the Oak Height Schools, Lugbe, Abuja, described it as an opportunity that some of the teachers never had when they were in schools.

Adewumi said the opportunity would not allow anybody to deceive the students about strange attachments to solar eclipse by people.

Children in Abuja, today.

He said the experience would help the students to understand the practical aspects of science.

However, Mrs Akinwumi Arize, who brought her five-year-old son to observe the eclipse, said such gesture would help children to know how the galaxy and the universe operate.

NASRDA had predicted that a partial solar eclipse would occur in Lagos at 12:30 p m.; Kano, 1.07 p. m., and Enugu, 1.04 p.m.

It also added that the entire African continent would be affected by the partial eclipse, while some other parts of the world would witness total eclipse.

The agency predicted that another partial eclipse would occur in April 2014, March 2015 and September 2016. (NAN)

Did you observe the partial solar eclipse in your area? Kindly share your experiences!

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My focus is to keep Nigeria a united country – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan weekend reaffirmed his resolve to remain focused and keep the country a united and indivisible entity despite the campaign of calumny against his administration.

Dr Jonathan made the bow before a multitude of crowd in Yenagoa at the 2nd Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day anniversary.

Represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd) President Jonathan said his resolve is based on the belief that his Presidency was borne under the banner of God and made through a free and fair election.
He said, “On my part as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will remain committed and focused to keeping Nigeria united and peaceful under the banner of God who made it possible for me to be here as your elected President in that free and fair election.”



The President noted that the people must show gratitude to God for the peace being enjoyed in the country, despite what he described as a few distractions.

Jonathan asked the people to support the successes noticed in the transformation agenda of the present administration at the state and federal levels.

The President who hailed the state governor for his leadership and initiative for instituting a thanksgiving day in the state, emphasized the need to thank God at all levels of government for His divine protection and guidance as they strive to bring about peace, development and prosperity.

“With what the state government is doing in terms of projects and programmes, the government is keying into the transformation agenda of the federal government which, I believe the benefits of these will definitely turn things around quickly for the better.”

Earlier in his remark, the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson called for active participation in the celebration of the Thanksgiving Day, stating that the event is for every Bayelsan within and outside the country.

Dickson who expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their show of support particularly the youths, whom he observed had not disrupted any on-going projects in the state.

According to him, the existing peace is also attributable to the efforts of traditional rulers, security and the unity among the three arms of government.

He said, “I can bear testimony to God’s abiding mercies and blessings upon this land. You are all aware of what is going on and our state is on a new page of hope.

” In spite of the numerous projects going on across the nooks and crannies of our State, I have never heard of any serious disturbance from any community that has led to any stoppage of work. And that is testimony to the goodness of God and to the peace, stability and development and therefore prosperity that has come to reign in all the parts of our state..

In a message, the Guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, stressed the need for people to always appreciate God’s blessings irrespective of their challenges as they are stepping stones in life.

Commenting on the attitude of Nigerians towards thanksgiving, Rev. Dr. Ukpai noted that, most people are not given to such disposition but rather find faults in almost everything.”

Nollywood’s Veteran Actor Pa Ogungbe is Dead

Veteran actor, Pa Ola Ogungbe, popularly called Papa Paragon in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood is dead. Papa Paragon, the father of top actor, Segun Ogungbe was a member of Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), Abeokuta, Ogun state chapter during his lifetime.

The aged actor died last night at an hospital in Abeokuta after suffering from a brief illness.

It could be recall that he was reported dead last year Wednesday, November 28, 2012, sequel to the mistake people made to announce him dead rather than his elder brother, Pa Akin Ogungbe who died at 78. He was also a veteran Yoruba theatre legend.

Nollywood’s Veteran Actor Pa Ogungbe is Dead

Veteran actor, Pa Ola Ogungbe, popularly called Papa Paragon in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood is dead. Papa Paragon, the father of top actor, Segun Ogungbe was a member of Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), Abeokuta, Ogun state chapter during his lifetime.

The aged actor died last night at an hospital in Abeokuta after suffering from a brief illness.

It could be recall that he was reported dead last year Wednesday, November 28, 2012, sequel to the mistake people made to announce him dead rather than his elder brother, Pa Akin Ogungbe who died at 78. He was also a veteran Yoruba theatre legend.

Our expectations on meeting with Jonathan – ASUU

THE striking Academic Staff Union of Universities has  expressed hope that their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow will bring mutually acceptable solution to the four months old strike which has paralysed the nation’s university education.According to the union, they expect the meeting to be a dialogue that will lead to a mutually acceptable fair and far reaching solution within the context of the implementation of the 2009 agreement, the 2012 MOU and the recommendations of the Needs Assessment Report.The union warned that any proposal by the Government would be based on a clear acceptance of a framework for the implementation of the 2009 agreement, saying that any imposition will not present a solution to the current crisis.ASUU in a statement  by Dr. Uzochukwu  Onyebinama, Chairperson ASUU, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,Abia state, urged the President “to be guided by the principle of honouring agreements in the interest of justice and industrial harmony in the country”.“As the National leadership of our union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities meet with his Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, tomorrow 4th November 2013 [tomorrow], we hope that the meeting will be a dialogue that will lead to a mutually acceptable fair and far reaching solution within the context of the implementation of the 2009 agreement, the 2012 MOU and the recommendations of the Needs Assessment Report.
“Any proposal by government should be based on a clear acceptance of a framework for the implementation of the 2009 agreement. Any imposition will not present a solution to the current crisis.

“We therefore call on the President and Commander- in- chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to be guided by the principle of honouring agreements in the interest of justice and industrial harmony in the country”, the statement said.

Stella Oduah Car scam: N375m can pay 20,833 workers, base on N18,000.00 minimum wage

The  total sum of N375m used to purchase bulletproof cars for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, can build 150 classrooms, calculation goes thus

The sum can also pay the monthly wages of 20,833 workers, based on workers who receive the N18,000.00 minimum wage approved by the National Assembly.

The sum of N255m was spent by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to buy two bulletproof BMW cars for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, also reportedly bought her two bulletproof Lexus Limousines at N120m, bringing the total  amount, revealed so far, to N375m.

It also means that the cost of the cars can put food on the table of over 20, 000 Nigerian families within a period of one month.

Apart from wages, the money can provide infrastructure such as health care facilities, schools, correctional centres, resettlement camps, among others.

While facing the House of Representative Committee on Aviation, Oduah denied that the vehicles were bought for her, but neither her nor the heads of NCAA, FAAN have denied the amounts spent on them.

According to a quantity surveyor, who did not want to be named, about N15m could build a block of six classrooms, while about N10m could raise the structure of a paediatric ward in a hospital.

Going by that estimate, if the price inflation that characterises government projects is eliminated, N375m can build 150 classrooms in public primary or secondary schools, and at least 37 wards in public hospitals.

“In fact, with N300m, you can build an ultra-modern school. I’m currently involved in the construction an ultra-modern school for the blind, and the cost is just about N300m; that is minus the profit of the contractor,” the quantity surveyor said.

A professor of economics, Sherifdeen Tella, told SUNDAY PUNCH that wastage of public fund in purchase of those vehicles was made worse by the fact that the vehicles were imported, creating jobs for people in other countries.

He said, “If that money had been invested in something produced in the country, it would have helped to generate employment.

“Spending such amount of money to import the cars that we don’t need is only creating jobs for other countries and killing jobs in Nigeria. If that money was injected into agriculture or used to help small-scale businesses at least, it would have benefitted Nigerians.”

Tella, who was the Vice-Chancellor of the 

Unstoppable Arsenal swept Liverpool aside

A goal in either half from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey eased Arsenal to a deserved 2-0 victory over Liverpool at the Emirates and established a five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table for Arsene Wenger’s men.

After an unconvincing start from both sides in the top-of-the-table clash, Arsenal took the lead on 19 minutes when Cazorla’s header bounced back off the post and into the path of the midfielder, who made no mistake with an expertly placed volley.

Liverpool had the better of the latter part of the first half without creating a truly clear-cut chance, but Arsenal came out fired up after the break and extended their advantage with a scintillating half-volley from Aaron Ramsey for his sixth league goal of the season.

The result means Arsenal will be top of the league after next weekend’s games regardless of the outcome of their match against Manchester United, but they could move 11 points clear of the reigning champions with victory at Old Trafford.