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Trump says Nike sending ‘terrible message’ with Kaepernick ads: Daily Caller

Nike

Washington, Sept. 4, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Nike was sending “a terrible message” with an advertising campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick is the NFL quarterback whose decision to kneel during the national anthem sparked a national controversy.

“I think as far as sending a message, I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent,” Trump said in an interview with the Daily Caller.

“There’s no reason for it.”

Trump, who has frequently railed against the decision by NFL players to kneel during the anthem, acknowledged in the interview that the company had “certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do.” (Reuters/NAN)
VO/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Golf: Woods, Mickelson, DeChambeau added to U.S. Ryder Cup team

Team

Norton (U.S.), Sept. 4, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were added to the U.S. Ryder Cup team on Tuesday when captain Jim Furyk announced three captain’s picks.

Furyk will complete his 12-man team next Monday when he makes one more addition to his line-up to take on Europe in Paris from Sept. 28-30. (Reuters/NAN)
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Stephens sent packing by Sevastova in U.S. Open quarters

Tennis

New York, Sept. 4, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Defending U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens was dumped out in the quarter-finals after losing 6-2 6-3 to Latvian 19th seed Anastasija Sevastova in sweltering conditions on Tuesday.

The third-seeded American lacked the swagger she showed through the opening four rounds and wilted in the sun-baked conditions at Flushing Meadows against Sevastova, who became the first Latvian woman to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open.

Next up for the 28-year-old is the winner of the evening match between six-times champion Serena Williams and Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova.

Sevastova, who avenged last year’s quarter-final loss to Stephens in New York to reach her first Grand Slam semi, converted five of her eight break points and saved seven of the nine against her on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

By failing to step up her game for the key points, Stephens allowed the match to get away from her quickly and despite a late fightback was in no shape to pull off a comeback.

“Today I just really couldn’t get anything to connect.

“Even when I did have my break opportunities, I just wasn’t playing the points well at all,” Stephens, who beat Sevastova during a U.S. Open tune-up in Montreal last month, told reporters.

“Mentally, physically, I just wasn’t connecting. It just was a really tough day. The heat doesn’t make it any more fun.”

With temperatures hovering above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2°C), and the tournament’s extreme heat policy in effect for a second consecutive day, Sevastova broke an error-prone Stephens to go 3-1 ahead and never looked back.

Stephens, who was visibly struggling under the sauna-like conditions, simply had no answer for the steady stream of drop shots sent her way by Sevastova, who later said she was not trying to take advantage of the conditions.

“I saw that she was struggling. I was struggling also a little bit, but I didn’t show it that much. But I don’t play dropshots when I see the player struggling or bending over, no,” Sevastova told reporters.

“I just play them instinctively, and that’s how they work, or don’t work sometimes.”

Sevastova, who retired from tennis in 2013 due to injuries before returning in 2015, nearly let Stephens into the match in the second set as the American twice pulled back on serve at 2-1 and again at 4-3, but the fightback proved short-lived.

Serving for the match, the Latvian raced out to triple match point and although Stephens saved two of them, Sevastova sealed the win when the 25-year-old American pushed a backhand into the net. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Stephens proud despite failure to repeat U.S. Open triumph

Stephens

New York, Sept. 4, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Defending U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens learned the hard way on Tuesday that the path to retaining a Grand Slam title is littered with obstacles, including a sauna-like court at Flushing Meadows and sinus infection.

But the 25-year-old American, who lost her quarter-final against Latvian 19th seed Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets, is not about to lose any sleep over her failed bid at a repeat or let it affect her fighting spirit going forward.

“I could have shit the bed (lost) in the first round, and that would have been really bad,” Stephens, who is projected to drop five spots to eighth in the world rankings, told reporters.

“So the fact that I made it to the quarter-finals and played some really good matches and I just competed as hard as I could, I mean (there’s) a lot to be proud of.”

Stephens’ triumph over friend and compatriot Madison Keys in last year’s final capped a remarkable comeback from injury.

She recovered from foot surgery that forced her to miss most of the season and from a ranking that had fallen to nearly 1,000 to win her first Grand Slam all inside a year.

Stephens returned to New York with a spring in her step amid hopes of becoming the first woman to retain a Grand Slam title since Serena Williams triumphed at Wimbledon in 2015 and 2016.

Having reached her second Grand Slam final at this year’s French Open before an encouraging tune-up to Flushing Meadows, Stephens was considered a favorite.

She was cruising through her quarter of the draw until a bad sinus infection, sweltering playing conditions and the tenacious Sevastova got the better of her in the last eight.

But even though her first Grand Slam title defense did not work out as she envisioned, the experience will be invaluable to Stephens, who hopes to put in a strong finish to the season.

“Defending a title is very hard, very difficult. … I made the most of it this week or the last… 10 days, whatever it was,” said Stephens.

“I can be proud of a lot of things that happened the last couple, the matches that I played, so I’m not going to dwell on it. Just keep building.

“There’s four more tournaments left. I’m just going to try to play the rest of the season as hard as I can and hopefully have some more good results.” (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Felix Ajide

2019 AFCON Qualifier: Super Eagles begin training with foot-volley on Victoria beach

Eagles

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) The Super Eagles players engaged in a Foot-Volleyball match on Tuesday evening as they began full training ahead Saturday’s crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash with Seychelles in Victoria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the camp of the Eagles came very much alive in Victoria, Mahé Island in Seychelles following the arrival of 18 players on Tuesday at the team’s Savoy Hotel Resort and Spa.

Early arrivals were, Henry Onyekuru, Kenneth Omeruo, Francis Uzoho, Semi Ajayi, Samuel Kalu, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidozie Awaziem, Kelechi Nwakali, Bryan Idowu, Simeon Nwankwo and Joel Obi.

While Saudi Arabia -based Ahmed Musa, alongside Turkey –based Ogenyi Onazi, China -based Odion Ighalo, Germany –based Jamilu Collins and the England –based duo of Oghenekaro Etebo and Leon Balogun were the latest arrivals.

Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa (from Nigeria) and Daniel Akpeyi (from South Africa) were being expected to arrive camp before dinner.

All the 18 players in the team’s camp took part in the game which took place on a beach.

A video of the players participating in the Foot-Volleyball match was posted on the official Twitter handle of the Super Eagles with a short message at the top.

A Foot-Volleyball as training kicks off ahead of #Seychelles clash. #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong #SEYNGA,” reads the tweet.

Gernot Rohr’s men’s buildup to the game has been marred by withdrawal of some of his key stars to due to injuries.

Captain of the team, John Mikel Obi opted out the team due to fitness concern before the squad list for the game was released.

The trio of William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina have all been ruled out of the game as a result of injuries.

The Super Eagles will look to garner all three points against the Pirates on Saturday to get their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign back on track after losing their first game 2-0 at home to South Africa in June 2017. (NAN)
VO/AFA

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Edited by Felix Ajide

NNPC

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Abuja, Sept 4, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it is planning to venture into solar power generation to power all its retail outlets with electricity from solar energy.

The Corporation disclosed this in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja, On Tuesday.

He said the NNPC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in China with two consortia, towards the development of sustainable biofuels in the country.

The two MoUs on the biofuels project development were signed between NNPC and the Obax-Complant Consortium on one hand and NNPC and the Capegate-Nanning Consortium on the other hand.

Obax And Capegate are two Nigerian companies, Complant And Nanning are two reputable companies incorporated in China

Ughamadu said that the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Dr Maikanti Baru and executive officers of the consortia signed the agreements at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.

He quoted Baru as saying that the renewable energy project was dear to the current administration, which was why shortly after assuming office at the NNPC, he made it one of the cardinal programmes of his corporate vision of 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFA).

Baru said “As part of NNPC’s expanded programme on providing renewable energy solutions, the corporation is planning to power all its retail outlets by means of Solar PhotoVoltaic, PV, facilities.

“The NNPC will develop grid and off-grid solar power as a business, thereby enhancing its contribution to the clean fuels initiative of the Federal Government’’.

He noted that the NNPC was poised to domesticating alternative fuels production towards a thriving commercial biofuels Industry which would not only create jobs and rural wealth for the populace but would also complement international efforts towards curbing global warming.

Baru said the MoUs also aimed at implementing the Federal Government’s mandate on clean, alternative and renewable energy programmes, particularly automotive biofuels production nationwide.

According to him, the execution of the two MoUs will help develop the first biofuel production complex in Nigeria.

He added that before the end of the year, the development of not less than three other complexes would commence in the country.

“The aspiration for the exploitation of renewable fuel resources in Nigeria is to implement our nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement, part of which requires the blending of 10 per cent by volume of fuel-ethanol in gasoline and 20 per cent by volume of biodiesel in automotive gas oil (diesel) for use in the transportation sector.” he added.

He said that for a country like Nigeria with a daily consumption of over 65 million litres of automotive fuels, it was easy to see that enormous volumes of fuel-ethanol and biodiesel would be needed to meet this obligation.

Baru further said that meeting and sustaining the target required strategic investment in more than 10 large biofuels complexes across the country.

He assured the two consortia that Nigeria’s investment climate was transparent and conducive to willing Investors.

He charged them to commence the implementation of the biofuels projects without any further delay as preliminary studies on the programme show clear financial indices that are very encouraging for business growth.

The NNPC biofuels programme, he said, centres around sugarcane-fuel ethanol production; cassava-fuel ethanol production as well as oil palm-based biodiesel production.

Speaking on behalf of the Obax-Complant Consortium, President of Complant, Mr. Gu Haitao, said the MoU would culminate into helping NNPC achieve Nigeria’s renewable energy aspirations.

Also responding on behalf of the Capegate-Nanning Consortium, Chairman of the Nanning Board, Mr. Qin Chun Lin, said they looked forward to a great partnership with the NNPC on biofuels production.

Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nigerian Embassy in China, who supervised the MoUs signing, Ambassador Aliyu Bakori, said with over 185 million people, Nigeria remains a huge market for potential investors.

On her part, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Yewande Sadiku, said the Commission’s doors would always be opened to investors in need of relevant information towards investment in the country.(NAN)

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Edited by Felix Ajide

Osinbajo says young innovators are future Nigerian billionaires

Innovators
By Chijioke Okoronkwo
Kano, Sept. 4, 2018(NAN) Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said that future billionaires from Nigeria will be those with knowledge in technology, computer and technical skills.
Osinbajo expressed the view in his address at the Northern Regional Finals of Student Innovation Challenge (SIC) event held at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) on Tuesday in Kano.
No fewer than 52 innovators from higher institutions in the north participated in the challenge after which six finalists were selected.
SIC is an initiative of the Federal Government in collaboration with private sector players which offers a platform for identifying and supporting innovative technology-driven business ideas and ventures across Nigerian universities.
It allows young entrepreneurs to interface with the government and with business mentors and receive support to grow and groom their ideas.
Osinbajo said that two months ago, he was in Lagos to attend the Southwest regional finals of the Students Innovation Challenge, in University of Lagos.
“ At that event, I said `In the past, Nigeria’s billionaires were traders and oil and gas moguls but in the next few years, billionaires from Nigeria will be techies.
“Listening to the great ideas you have pitched today, I am even more convinced and have absolutely no doubt that a good number of tomorrow’s billionaires are seated here today.
“I understand that of the 600 applications received from the Northern region, 52 that made the long list were pitched to the judges today.
“I would like to commend everyone of the innovators who pitched. The journey to the fulfilment of your dreams has started and you should strive to enjoy every moment of that journey, with all its ups and downs.
“And this advice also applies to those who didn’t make the long list. Setbacks and disappointments are part of the entrepreneurship life; indeed they are part and parcel of human existence. You should never ever give up; try again, and again.”

He said that as was the case in Lagos, the best ideas selected by the judges would join those selected from Anambra during the forthcoming South Eastern Regional finals at the Grand Finale in Abuja later the month.
Osinbajo said that he was pleased to note that it was the first time that a platform had been created in Nigeria that allowed students from all over the country to pitch their business ventures and ideas to a panel of expert judges.
“And I should mention again that each of the winning businesses will receive an investment of one million naira.
“I am very excited by this project; excited by what it means for innovation in Nigeria; what it means for our future as a country.
“And being here with you feels like taking a front seat next to the stage onto which the next Andela, Flutterwave, Paga, Paystack, Jobberman and others are set to emerge. Interestingly many of the founders of these great businesses were educated here in Nigeria.
“You will all agree with me that the prospects are exciting; the future looks very promising. I wish you all – today’s innovators, tomorrow’s billionaires – the very best, and safe travels back to your various homes and bases,’’ he said.
In his address, the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, thanked the vice-president for honouring the event.
He also expressed his appreciation to the organisers for choosing BUK for the North-West challenge.
“We have to thank you for finding time to attend this occasion and want to thank the organizers for choosing BUK to be the centre of this presentation in the Northwest.
“ I am not surprised because BUK is one the leading universities in Nigeria; the most populous university in Nigeria and also one of the leading in quality education in Nigeria,’’ he said.
He advised the innovators to turn the challenge into opportunities and expressed optimism that Nigeria’s huge population would become an asset for the innovative drive of its young population.
Ganduje announced a donation of N15 million to support the programme.
The heads of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation and Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) were present at the event and all announced financial support for the innovators.
The Dangote group also announced a donation on N10 million in support of the innovators.
Three innovators emerged the eventual winners after the pitches.

The first position went to Light Ups from Unijos, using disposed water bottles to produce electric lanterns.
The second position went to Team Zazu Tech from BUK – prototype of a solar-powered tricycle for persons with disability fitted with phone charging pots, chamber for sale of wares and placement of adverts.
The third position went to Nylon Interlocks from Abubakar Tafawa Belewa University, Bauchi–using waste nylon materials to produce interlock instead of cement. (NAN)
CJ/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

Bafarawa

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Sept.4, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant has pledged to support any presidential aspirant in the party that wins the party primary election for the 2019 general elections.

This is, however, in the event he is not able to get the ticket of the party to contest the election.

Bafarawa, a former Governor of Sokoto state made the pledge on Tuesday in Abakaliki during a courtesy visit to Gov. David Umahi as part of his visit to party faithful over his presidential ambition.

He said:“I am a democrat and therefore ready to support any aspirant who emerges as the party’s flag-bearer in order to move the country forward.

“We all, however, need to be screened before the final decision on the party’s candidate is taken.

“The other aspirants who visited Ebonyi before me must have promised to solve the economic, security and infrastructural challenges of Nigeria.

“But I am presenting two books on my eight years stewardship as governor and what I will do as president,” he said.

He urged Umahi and the party faithful in Ebonyi to support him, noting that his votes from the South-east states and the entire northern part of the country would enable him win the presidential election.

“I didn’t come into politics to make money but to serve and I remain the best choice for the south-east zone, due to my favourable disposition to its people.

“I assisted several Igbo businessmen to become billionaires and ensured for instance, that no individual from that tribe was affected by the Sharia riots during my tenure as a governor.

Gov. Umahi, in response, extolled the virtues of Bafarawa, describing him as a man of humility, commitment to the develop the country.

“One of the reasons why you achieved much in life was because you are a businessman.

“Thank God for His vindication when the court declared you not guilty in a corruption charge,” he said.

He noted that about 14 presidential aspirants had emerged under the PDP, describing the situation as heart warming.

“All of you are eminently qualified for the position but some of you who spent eight years as governors would have the requisite experience to govern.

“The south-east states, governed by PDP, would take a common stand on whom to support as the person would be ready to make certain concessions to accommodate the zone equitably.

Sen. Ben-Collins Ndu, the Deputy Director- General of the Bafarawa Campaign Organisation, urged party faithful in the state to support his principal due to his favourable disposition to the people. (NAN)

RCO/GOM/DUA

Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Dada Ahmed

Primaries

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) A National Assembly member, Sen. Shehu Sani, has urged leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) to jettison indirect primary elections, describing it as “breeding ground for corruption in the country’s democracy”.

He stated this after submitting a petition to the party’s National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The petition is on the imperative of adopting direct primaries to nominate its candidates that will contest the 2019 general elections.

Sani said the petition was sequel to the debate that came up after the APC sixth National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting adopted indirect primaries to elect its candidates for the forthcoming elections.

He said that indirect primaries was a ploy to use public funds in bribing delegates to toe a pre-determined line of action.

The lawmaker, who represents Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the Senate, also described indirect primaries as “a factory for producing stooges and a labour room for corrupt practices’’.

He urged the party’s leadership to deal with political corruption by eliminating indirect primaries.

“The delegate system, otherwise called indirect primaries, will rely on the whims and caprices of the few that now control the party after emerging from ward, local government and state congresses.

“The congresses that have been widely rejected by party members as a sham.

“We are particularly in opposition to indirect primaries because of the weakening effects of its corruptive tendencies.

“The entire process begins and ends with vote-buying, and as it is always the case, where the will of the electorate is subverted, the best candidates for the task ahead, never gets recruited.

“It is our humble opinion that the forthcoming 2019 general election is too crucial for the APC and Kaduna state.

“It is too strategic for us to confront the array of near formidable candidates of the opposition with anything less than our very best candidates,” he said.

Sani maintained that “indirect primaries stand as direct antithesis to the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption at all levels.

According to him, APC having promoted the change mantra must shine the light onto those dark places in the country’s electoral system where ill-gotten wealth is used to subvert the will of the electorate.

He said that ill-gotten wealth was also used to perpetrate “the vicious circle of corruption, bad governance and weak and dysfunctional institutions and processes’’.

Sani pointed out that the proponents of indirect primaries, particularly the Kaduna state governor, were relying on the pretext that the current security situation in their respective states made direct primaries impracticable and risky.

This proposition, the senator said, out-rightly contradicted the claims by Gov. Nasir el-Rufai that Kaduna state had overcome his security challenges.

He emphasised that direct primaries were the most transparent means through which the most popular candidates emerged and won general elections on the APC platform in Kaduna state. (NAN)

EEM/OSA/OPI

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Edited by Shittu Obassa and Olisa Ifeajika

Technology

By Tukur Muntari

Kano, Sept. 4, 2018 (NAN) Vice-President Yemi Osinbanjo says the Federal Government is committed to empower youths through entrepreneurship and technology.

Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday at the Student Innovation Challenge,(SIC), Northern Regional Finals held at the Dangote Business School in Bayero University Kano.

He said that the federal government had unveiled plans to drive youth entrepreneurship in the country through the use of technology.

According to him, the initiative allows young entrepreneurs to interface with government and the business sector as mentors.

“It is also an initiative ‎of the federal government in collaboration with private sector players.

“It offers a platform for us to identify and support innovative technology to drive business ideas and ventures across Nigerian universities.

“We all know that the universities are the best fertile place to get the very best talents because we believe it is what is needed to shape the future of the country,” he said.

The vice-president also said that government partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bank of Industry (BoI) civic foundation for innovative ideas.

According to Osinbajo, it is also to ensure   access bank, to challenge students across the country on innovative ideas.

“We want to gather many of the great ideas as much as possible for them to get a chance to be supported.”

‎The vice president also said that Bayero University was a citadel of radical socio-political ideas and looking ahead to be centre of innovation and business ideas.

Earlier, the Governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, ‎thanked the federal government for the initiative.

He said that before, many innovative youths were not motivated but with the coming of this ‎administration, the youth had been given opportunity to excel, especially in entrepreneurship and technology.

Ganduje also thanked Alhaji Aliko Dangote for building the business school in the state.

He described Bayero University as the leading university in the country with well articulated transition between vice- chancellors.

Ganduje announced the donation of N15 million, NCC N20 million, NDIC 10 million, Dangote N10 million, all for the survival and development of the project‎.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Dr Isa Phantami, also commended the federal government for the initiative and gave N4.5 million for winners of the first, second and third runner up of student innovative challenge.

In his remark, the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Yahuza Bello, commended the vice-president for championing and doggedly pursuing reforms and policies that supported private sector-led growth and youth entrepreneurship.

He also said the university ‎had taken deliberate and constructive steps to appropriately realign the curriculum and redesign it to be more industry-relevant.

Bello also said that the management of the institution had approved ‎the utilisation of about N100 million for the establishment of university based start-up incubation and acceleration hub in Nigeria. (NAN)

MNT/CHOM/DUA

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Dada Ahmed