Do you have what it takes to  become the next African Gospel music superstar? Then you can win

* #5,000,000

* A brand new car

*An international recording deal.

If you participate in Gospel Music Africa Reality TV Competition.

Pick up your forms at Imo State University Owerri, Rennys Fast Food, Owunna Pack for just N2,000. CALL 08037512288.

VISION

In today\’s world, there is a quest among most young Christians to explore their talents and be identified as celebrities; but due to the non availability of a gospel music platform in Africa for self discovery, young Christians have become susceptible to the clarion call of alcoholic, sacrilegious, and lewd sexuality driven reality TV shows which leads to lots of social irresponsibility among young people in Nigeria, and Africa at Large.

It is for these reasons and many more that MFI Xquisite Koncepts Ltd., (a total production outfit specialized in public relations planning and execution, events planning/management) have come up with the Gospel Music Africa (GMA) reality TV competition.

GMA is the first of its kind and the biggest music reality competition in Africa. It is not a denominational spur, but an act towards inspiring and nurturing young, talented gospel singers in the spirit of true praise and worship, as we seek to celebrate Jesus the more.

It is a priestly obligation to herald the time for gospel singers and worshipers to be heard. We believe that through this; \”..The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations\” of Africa. (Isaiah 61:11b)

For 8 weeks, 30 contestants from across Africa will come together in Nigeria to battle for the crown, (The KING or QUEEN of Gospel music in Africa).

Our Goal

Gospel Music Africa will present a unique contemporary innovation that will give hope, sooth hearts, and uplift God\’s royal banner in these days of uneven stress.

Gospel Music Africa will raise a generation of young people accustomed to godly values; integrity, honesty, self esteem, unity and passion for God.

Gospel Music Africa will encourage young Gospel music singers to stay in Gospel music and not abandon it for the so-called \”greener pastures\” in secular music.

Gospel Music Africa will cloud the music celebrity industry echelon with young gospel musicians that would serve as role models for the younger generation.

Gospel Music Africa would ignite the passion for a closer relationship with God, that will enable young people acquire the needed inspiration for the emancipation of African continent.

This laudable musical novelty will birth-in some level of ethical and social implications for true worshipers in Africa, because this is not just another singing competition, but also a spontaneous move to lead a re-consecration of all minds to God.

The great future calls. Don\’t miss!!!

It\’s fun to comments and share. We love comments!!!

We have cure for ‘AIDS’ – Rhema Varsity VC

Since the dreaded Acquired Immu­no-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) hit mankind some decades ago, there have been massive global efforts to find cure to the scourge with little or no attention given to another deadlier AIDS “the Acute Integrity Deficiency Syndrome. 

Not so many people are aware of the grave dangers the latter poses to hu­manity, hence the kid gloves with which it is been treated. But Rhema University, a private Chris­tian University owned by the Living Word Ministries and located in Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State, is not caught in this web of ignorance about the threats of the latter AIDS. Apart from its acclaimed and commendable efforts towards academic excellence, the university says it has also developed a therapy for this scourge ravaging the very fabrics of the human society. It is important to note that corruption as being witnessed today in our society is not perpetrated by the victims of Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome rather, the victims of Acute In­tegrity Deficiency Syndrome. The Vice- Chancellor, Professor Og­bonnaya Onwudike, who announced the discovery of cure for the deadlier AIDS by Rhema University during the pre-convocation press briefing of its maiden convocation, said the institution was able to achieve this feat through its Head and Heart Connection concept which forms the pillar of its education. The philosophy, according to him, places equal premium on training both the head and the heart. His words, There is no shortage of mate­rial knowledge in the world today, there is great shortage of integrity even among those who are internationally acclaimed in terms of academic knowledge and technological breakthroughs. If a univer­sity produces engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc without character, the world would be worse for it since such a university will only produce learned pedants, cunning sophists and pretentious practitioners. Continuing, the VC posited, But here at Rhema, we train both the head and the heart, producing men and women whose parents will be proud of; those who grow in academic excellence, integrity and the fear of God; those will not be lost to the vices prevalent in society. These are pos­sible because the children are trained and brought up in an anointed environment where there is no cultism, intimidation, sorting and other vices common in some other universities. We take care of our students as children given to our custody by God. Godly discipline and character formation are important to us. We believe that if we neglect this in our education, we will have trouble for ourselves, our nation, our families and society in general. We therefore, emphasize academic excellence and a life lived in the fear of God. The former Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umu­dike, in an exclusive chat with The AU­THORITY on Saturday, expatiated on how he intends to use his wealth of experiences, national and international contacts to project Rhema University to a global reckoning. The university started in 2009 with a Provisional License by the National Universities Commission (NUC) but got its full license in 2015. It started in a rent­ed building belonging to the popular Sab Motors along Aba-Owerri Road, Aba, but today, it has erected over seven massive structures in the adjourning streets run­ning into several hectares of land. The VC disclosed that the university has already acquired 107 hectares of land in Owerrinta near Aba for its permanent site. Upon relocation to Owerrinta, the Aba campus will be converted to its Col­lege of Medicine as the premises already houses one of the famous hospitals in the South East zone which will serve as its Teaching Hospital. The hospital was at a time the only hospital in the South East with functional dialysis machine and CT-scan. Professor Onwudike said his preoc­cupation now is to build the best medical school in Nigeria, a project he has set 2017 as deadline. He emphasized quality above quan­tity as one of the guiding principles of the university. Thus, it is no surprise that only 44 graduates including three first class students will be awarded first degrees in the maiden convocation ceremony of the institution. The university currently of­fers few but fully accredited programmes. These include Chemistry, Biochemis­try, Applied Biology, Computer Science, Physics, Statistics, and Mathematics. Others are Accounting, Banking and Finance, Economics, Sociology, Public Adminis­tration, and Mass Communication. With the massive development going on at the permanent site, the university with special bias for science and business courses has its eye on expansion but vows not to run any unaccredited programme contrary to the bastardization in most public univer­sities. Determined to excel in Information Technology, the university has already set up Microsoft IT Academy to profession­ally deliver various capacity development courses leading to the award of certificate in Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, etc. The uni­versity also has a campus radio station fully licensed by the Nigerian Broadcast­ing Commission. The university is already into partnership with the National Hu­man Rights Commission, and Chartered Institute of Bankers. The VC said efforts were being intensified towards linking the university with other international insti­tutions for exchange programmes. Among the unique qualities of the uni­versity is the philosophy of ensuring that its students acquire entrepreneurial skills in other areas apart from their core fields of study to make them job creators upon graduation. The management is already tapping into the vast Small and Medium Enterprises in Aba where students under­go some vocational trainings in addition to their academic works. The VC frowned at the preference of public universities to private universi­ties on the argument that the former are cheaper, contending that the many ad­vantages of good private universities give them an edge over public ones in the long run. He advised candidates seeking ad­mission into tertiary institutions to em­brace private universities because of its many gains including uninterrupted aca­demic calendar. The VC also advised parents against the craze for sending their children and wards overseas for university education without first degrees in Nigeria. This, according to him, may be counter-productive. He lamented that candidates rather scramble for limited admission space in public uni­versities ignoring the vast and often un­utilized vacancies in private tertiary insti­tutions. Faced with admission problems, par­ents who can afford it may resort to find­ing university spaces overseas. But it is important for parents to understand that in as much as it may be a noble idea to train our children overseas, young people generally need parental guidance in their youthful stages of development. It is, therefore, advisable to send them overseas after the completion of their first degrees at home. Parents stand the risk of losing their children if they send them outside the country without parental guidance at a tender age. He also frowned at the award of cosmetic First Class honours to graduates by some institutions for the sake of winning awards. This, he said was unacademic. He said, It is worthless making a feat that cannot be defended. Professor Onwudike, however, lamented the inadequacy of private universities in the South Eastern states which arguably produce the highest number of candidates seeking university education in Nigeria. He challenged in­vestors and stakeholders from the zone to rise up to the challenge in the interest of the highly enterprising people of the zone. He noted with regret that during his stay at the NUC, 90 percent of the appli­cations for private universities emanated from states in the South West zone alone, and called on Igbo investors to wake from their slumber. As ways of improving facilities in pri­vate tertiary institutions, Professor Onwudike who served as Co-Chairman of NUC Standing Committee on Establish­ment of Private Universities (2006-2007), Chairman, NUC Standing Committee on Private Universities (2007-2008), called for the inclusion of private universities in the TETFund. He argued that private in­stitutions also need funds from TETFund to finance their projects since they dont depend on government subventions. The highlights of the universitys maiden convocation ceremony, included a pre-convocation lecture by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Onwuka, and the installation of the first Chancellor of the university, Bro. Emma Okorie, who is the President of Living Word Ministries. Hopes are high, that Living Word Ministries which has main­tained a leading position in primary and secondary school education, will also make a mark in tertiary education in the country.

The world\’s 7th richest man and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg quietly came into Nigeria today to see how Facebook works in Nigeria, how it can be improved and how it can support tech development in Africa. Mark Zuckerberg is presently CC Hub in Yaba. Here are some pix

 Nigerians has often distinguished themselves in many overseas universities, with some of them emerging as valedictorians of their schools.

Last time, we reported a young man from Obowu Imo State breaking records abroad. This time again another  Nigerian, Fathia Kareem by name  set a record at the School of Medical Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, breaking its academic history.

For her feat, she received 12 out of 15 awards presented during the oath-swearing and induction ceremony for fresh doctors of the institution last Saturday.

Kareem, 25, is an alumnus of the Wesley Girls High School.

It was a happy and proud moment for family and friends when she took several turns to receive the awards in the 55-year-old ivory tower.

When asked if she expected to get the number of awards, she said, “Yes and No. Yes because I worked hard by studying and no because I did not expect to receive so many awards.”

Contrarily to the rumurors and fear  going rounds ,  His Excellency Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, the Exec utive Governor of Imo State has insisted that the three-day working policy crafted by the state government for civil servants in the state stands.

He also said that the cutting of the working days to three from five would have no interference with the workers’ salaries and allowances.

“I will not cut workers’ salaries because of the two days,“ he said.

Okorocha, while briefing journalists on Monday in Owerri after his overseas trip, stated that workers would go to work between Mondays and Wednesdays, leaving Thursdays and Fridays for agricultural activities.

He, however, noted that any worker that would not come to his or her duty post for any reason must get a written document (permission) from either the Head of Service or Chief of Staff (in the Government House) of the state.

Okorocha said, “Any worker, who is not found in his/her duty post without permission or exemption letter from the Head of Service or his counterpart will immediately lose his/her position to another  person from his or her community.”

The governor added that the civil servants working days were cut because they (workers) did not make judicious use of their official hours.

“Instead of being devoted to the work they are paid for, they use their official hours to loiter about; they sell groundnut, gala, chin-chin and sieve egusi, among others, in the office. I decided to reduce the working days because I want to enhance agriculture in the state.”

 There is nothing that is cultivated or produced in the state. All the things we eat like tomato, pepper, cucumber, groundnut and others things are produced in the North. Think of a situation where the northerners decide to stop supplying us with these edibles, what happens?”

In strong terms, he maintained that the state government had paid all salaries of workers in the state, up to August, 2016. On the part of pensioners, he promised that they would soon receive all arrears of their pension.

Okorocha said that over 3000 fresh computer literate graduates would soon be employed  in the civil  service to develop the economy.

He regretted that over 95 per cent of Imo State workers were not computer literate and attributed their low productivity to it.

Meanwhile, Okorocha had said that he was hale and hearty and told Imo citizens and Nigerians to dismiss the rumour and postings on the Facebook /Internet that he was dead.

He said, “The rumour only came from my political opponents. They wished me dead, but God Almighty has put them to shame. They even went further to dispel rumours that goddess of Nworie and Otamiri River slapped me. I am alive and bouncing in the Lord. I only travelled for economic mission and to visit my daughter, who has given me another grandson.”

The Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday replied those who have been calling for his sack after the nation’s poor outing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, saying he is not the problem of sports in Nigeria.

Dalung spoke to State House correspondents shortly after  briefing President Muhammadu Buhari of the outcome of the Olympics where Nigeria got a bronze medal in the men’s football event.

The minister said poor performance in Nigerian sports pre-dated his appointment.

“I am not the problem of Nigerian sports. Abysmal performance has been happening before me,” he said.

The minister however attributed Team Nigeria’s poor outing at the Olympics to late release of funds and inability to develop home-grown talents.

Dalung said it was time Nigeria returned to the grassroots and groom talents for future competitions.

He also faulted the scrapping of the Nigerian Sports Commission, saying the commission was necessary.

The minister also said he was yet to be informed officially of the appointment of a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation.

‎‎The NFF had early this month selected a German, Gernot Rohr, to manage the Super Eagles.

He said although he was yet to be informed officially, he wished Rohr the best.

On the coach of the Dream XI team, ‎Samson Siasia, the minister expressed disappointment at the treatment meted to a coach whose team won the only medal at Rio’s Olympics by the NFF by withdrawing his official car in Abuja while he was battling to secure a medal for the country in Rio.

Dalung, who confirmed he met with Siasia a day before, said Nigeria still needed him ‎in football development.

He said even if the NFF would not re-engage him, the Federation should at least, give him some peace of mind to enable him make his contributions in a personal capacity.

He said it would be sad to lose Siasia out of frustration to another country who appreciates his worth, just like many athletes did as witnessed during the Rio Olympics.

On  the $390, 000 donation to Siasia and his team by a Japanese surgeon, the minister said after he met the donor in Rio, he was convinced there were no strings like match-fixing, attached to the donation.

lAGOS State:  Choice Bride Int glorious 6th years Anniversary was indeed a huge success, It was celebration galore and a time for spiritual impartation. Here are some pix more photos and update  after the cut.

‎The founder of the Centre for Value in Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, has described the current financial crisis in Nigeria as a ‘golden’ opportunity for the country to reposition its economy, rather than a problem.

‎He also said that a continuous fall in the price of oil would make the country realise its wealth in agriculture.

Utomi spoke on Monday at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Integrated Produce City in Ugbokun community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Present at the event were Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Chairman of the state economy and strategy team and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Godwin Obaseki; the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Chris Okojie, and some members of the state House of Assembly from the area.

Utomi, who is also the Chairman of the produce city, explained, “Let me shock you by saying that the recession we face in Nigeria is a golden opportunity. It is not a problem; it is an opportunity to finally get the Nigerian economy right.

“So without appearing to scandalise anybody, I actually pray for oil prices to stay down and stay down for a long time. Then, we will come to our senses and we will know that Nigeria really is a rich country.”

According to him the country was yet to adopt the right economic policy, adding that a competitively driven industrial policy ‎in select value chains would be helpful in confronting the “misery index” and bring hope to millions.