PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 One thing I’ve noticed since I came to Nigeria… some of the people we call “rich” in Cameroon might actually be considered poor here in Nigeria. 😂🇨🇲🇳🇬 You will hear some Cameroonians say: Life in Cameroon is better because the gap between the rich and poor is not too much. An average man lives better than an average man in Nigeria  But I think the problem is that we sometimes measure wealth differently. 😂 Those rich people in Cameroon are more like the average man in Nigeria  In Nigeria, you can see somebody with a house, two cars and serious money, yet the person will still say: Me? I’m just managing. 😭😂 Meanwhile, that same person might be considered very rich in Cameroon. I’ve actually met guys in Nigeria who consider themselves average or even poor, and I’m looking at them like: Oga, if you enter Cameroon with this your ‘poor’ lifestyle, they will give you a title! 😂😂 Some people we call rich back home would probably be considered ordinary here. Nigeria is ...

 My name is Victoria Okoro, wife of Francis Obila, son of the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State. ‎ ‎Today, August 17th, will make it eight weeks since I was separated from my children. ‎ ‎This happened on June 21st. At the time, my second child was barely three months old, while my first child was just a year and six months. ‎ ‎For the past eight weeks, I have deliberately chosen silence. ‎ ‎I have tried to remain calm. I have tried to be respectful of the people involved and their positions. I have tried to resolve this privately and peacefully. I have had conversations, reached out, and made several attempts to find a way for me to have access to my children. ‎ ‎But eight weeks is a very long time for a mother to be separated from her children, especially children so young. ‎ ‎I want to make something very clear: this is not about bitterness, revenge, or hatred. I have forgiven everyone involved. ‎ ‎If this were only about me, perhaps I would have walked away from this situation a ...

 " Happy 60th Birthday and Welcome To The Sixth Floor,My Darling Wife Bolajoko ogungbe. Congratulations. We shall celebrate your 7th,8th,9th & 10th Floors Together By His Grace IJMN Amen 🙏🏿 🙌 ❤  #Congrats & #HBD #Again"

 Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha reflects on missing out on African Player of the Year award Nigerian football icon Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has spoken candidly about why he never claimed the African Player of the Year award despite a distinguished career that saw him captain the Super Eagles and dazzle clubs across Europe. Appearing on the ObiOne podcast, Okocha was asked whether his failure to secure a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs may have cost him the prestigious individual honour. He firmly rejected the idea. “No, no, no, not really. Not really,” Okocha said. The former midfielder acknowledged that football politics likely played a role in the voting during his era. “I mean, I can openly say now that then, of course, a lot of football politics was in place, you know,” he stated. “Because some people, some players, they played in big clubs, they won everything but…” Okocha pointed to his own successes, including back-to-back wins at the BBC African Footballer of th...

NFF Sacks Super Falcons Technical Crew After Failed World Cup Bid The Nigeria Football Federation has directed the entire technical crew of the Super Falcons to step down with immediate effect, following the team’s failure to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The NFF Executive Committee announced the decision in a brief notice on Monday. No specific reason was given beyond the disappointing campaign. “The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has asked members of the technical crew of the @NGSuper_Falcons to step down with immediate effect,” the federation said in its statement. The move comes after a challenging Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Nigeria opened their Group C campaign with a defeat to debutants Malawi. Malawi advanced all the way to the final before losing to Cameroon, who claimed their first WAFCON title on Sunday. The Super Falcons’ tournament ended in the quarter-finals with a loss to Cameroon, costing them an ...

 LASCOHET HOLDS 12TH ORIENTATION, OATH-TAKING CEREMONY FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN STUDENTS The Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET) has held the 12th orientation and oath-taking ceremony for students of the School of Medical Laboratory Technicians, marking another significant milestone in the professional development of future medical laboratory practitioners.   The ceremony brought together the College Provost, Management, academic staff, students and the MLSCN Body, led by the Registrar/CEO, MLSCN, Dr. Donald Ofili, who was represented by Mr Simon Bukar and formally welcomed the Students into the profession and acquainted them with the values, responsibilities and ethical standards expected of medical laboratory professionals.  The Provost, Professor Raheem Akewushola, in his welcoming remarks, charged the students to approach their training with discipline, dedication, integrity and a strong commitment to excellence. Professor Akewushola emphasise...

 ICAN DELEGATION PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO THE OFFICE OF STATE AUDITOR-GENERAL    The Executive Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Lagos State Public Service Chapter and Ifako-Ijaiye & District Society recently paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the State Auditor-General, Lagos State.   Acting State Auditor-General, Dr. Olufunke Omolara Tayo-Makanjuola, while welcoming the delegation, appreciated the team for the visit and expressed the Office's commitment to sustaining a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the Institute.   The delegation, led by Mrs. Suarau Oluwatoyin, FCA, representing the Lagos State Public Service Chapter, and Mr. Olofinsawe Phillips Alaba, FCA, representing the Ifako-Ijaiye & District Society, said the visit was aimed at strengthening professional relationships and fostering greater collaboration between ICAN and the Office of the State Auditor-General in promoting accountability...

 Prosecution rests in trial of Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children     Prosecutors have concluded their case in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother who has acknowledged killing her three young children but argues that severe mental illness left her unable to understand or control her actions. The prosecution rested Monday after three weeks of testimony, allowing Clancy’s defense team to begin presenting its case. Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, is accused of intentionally killing her children on Jan. 24, 2023. Prosecutors contend she deliberately sent her husband, Patrick Clancy, out of the house to pick up food and visit a pharmacy before strangling the children and attempting to take her own life. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington does not contest that Clancy killed the children. Instead, he argues she should not be held criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a serious mental ill...

 Selena Gomez calls Wondermind fraud lawsuit 'completely meritless' as she seeks dismissal Selena Gomez is pushing back against a lawsuit accusing her, her mother, and former business partner Daniella Pierson of fraud involving their mental health startup, Wondermind, calling the allegations baseless and saying she plans to seek dismissal of the case. Gomez’s attorney, Mathew S. Rosengart, said the claims that she engaged in fraud or other wrongdoing have no factual or legal basis. He said Gomez intends to vigorously defend herself and file a motion seeking to have the allegations against her dismissed. The lawsuit was filed in Delaware by investors who claim Gomez, Mandy Teefey and Pierson abandoned Wondermind after investors put approximately $1.2 million into the company. The investors allege the founders misrepresented the startup’s infrastructure and leadership and failed to properly manage the business. Pierson has also denied the allegations, saying she welcomes the oppo...

 American tourist dies after lightning strike while hiking on Italy’s Mount Etna  A 30-year-old American tourist died Sunday after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna, an active volcano on the Italian island of Sicily. The man, whose identity has not been released, was hiking near the volcano’s summit when a thunderstorm developed. Emergency responders and firefighters later found him in cardiac arrest and transported him by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, where he was pronounced dead. The area where the tourist was hiking is restricted to visitors because of its proximity to Mount Etna’s summit. Authorities have expanded the number of areas closed to hikers as volcanic activity has increased. Mount Etna has attracted large numbers of tourists amid recent eruptions, but officials have warned that the combination of volcanic activity and rapidly changing weather can create dangerous conditions on the mountain. Italy’s Civil Protection Agency has n...

 LASG STEPS UP FIGHT AGAINST MALNUTRITION, STRENGTHENS MATERNAL, CHILD HEALTHCARE The Lagos State Government, through Health District III, has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing malnutrition and improving maternal and child healthcare outcomes with the distribution of essential healthcare commodities to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Ibeju-Lekki, Eti-Osa and Epe.   Speaking during the distribution exercise held on Thursday at the District Headquarters, Ikoyi, the Permanent Secretary, Health District III, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke disclosed that the District has recorded significant progress in the fight against child malnutrition through the District's quarterly nutrition intervention programme.  She added that the prevalence of wasting among children in the District has reduced from 15% to 8%, attributing the improvement to consistent government support, regular nutrition screening and effective community-based interventions. Dr. Adeleke explained that nutrition ...

 EFCC Commences Investigations of Suspect,   $73,000,  £15,957 & 827,800 SAR Intercepted at Kano Airport   The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation of a suspect, Haruna Yusuf  and multiple undeclared foreign currencies, ,   $73,000( Seventy Three United States Dollar)  £15,957 ( Fifteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Seven Pound Sterling) & 827,800 Saudi Riyal  intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service,  NCS,   at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,  MAKIA.   The investigation commenced after  the handover  of the suspect and the undeclared currencies by the Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command,  Deputy Comptroller U. U.  Adamu at the Customs Area Command in Kano. The intercepted currencies, which exceeded the legally permitted threshold, were discovered during routine primary and sec...

 EFCC Arraigns Man,  Firm  for N7.8m Fraud in Ibadan   The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, August 13, 2026 arraigned one Adeoye Gabriel Adewale and his firm, De Lukas Global Concept Limited before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State. The defendant allegedly defrauded one Abdulrasaq Awotedo by presenting himself as a car dealer and obtained the sum of N7, 819, 000.00 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Naira) from him for the purchase of two cars.  Adewale allegedly perpetrated the fraud through a fake car mart presented to his victim, received the money through his company bank account domiciled with First Bank and converted the money to his personal use. He was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion to the tune of N7, 819, 000.00 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Naira), belonging to Awotedo....

NDLEA destroys N301bn worth of cocaine, heroin, opioids, others in Lagos *- ‘We’ll continue to dismantle drug cartels and their financial spine,’ Marwa vows *- Gov. Sanwo-Olu, CG Customs Adeniyi, Naval Chief commend partnership with NDLEA on drug war The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has publicly destroyed 329,865.585 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs with an estimated street value of Three Hundred and One Billion, Fifty-Eight Million and Seventy-Six Thousand Naira (N301,058,076,000) only in a court-ordered exercise carried out in Lagos.   The exercise, conducted pursuant to orders of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, disposed of uncontested concluded cases and abandoned seizures. Of the total consignment, 246,864.535 kilograms were seized by the Lagos Strategic Command of the Agency between April 2025 and May 2026, while 83,001.05 kilograms came from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Tincan and Apapa Strategic Commands, as well as t...

SOLIDARITY AND GOODWILL MESSAGE TO THE NBA JOS BRANCH It is with deep concern and sympathy that I extend my heartfelt commiseration to the leadership and entire members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Jos Branch, over the unfortunate motor accident involving members of your Male Soccer Team while en route to Port Harcourt for the NBA AGC Tournament. I am deeply grateful to Almighty God that no life was lost in the unfortunate incident. My thoughts and prayers are with the injured colleagues, their families, and the entire Jos Branch family at this difficult time. I pray for the speedy and complete recovery of all those injured and for God’s continued protection, safety, and travelling mercies for the entire team. Please be assured of my prayers and solidarity. We stand with you and share in your concern at this trying time. Yours faithfully, Hadiza Nasir Ahmad, Esq. Assistant Publicity Secretary-Elect Nigerian Bar Association

 Zambia arrests former president Lungu's son-in-law, opposition presidential candidate Zambian police have arrested 11 people, including the son-in-law of former President Edgar Lungu and a presidential candidate from an opposition party, during an operation in the capital, the government said on Monday. Patrick Mwansa, who is married to Lungu’s daughter Tasila, and Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Progress (NRPUP) were among those detained during the operation in Lusaka. Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said those detained included people who had been under surveillance for several years. Kangwa said police found military-grade weapons and ammunition at the premises but did not say any were linked to Patrick Mwansa or Brian Mundubile. "The operation resulted in the seizure of restricted, high-grade military weapons and the apprehension of suspected members of the militia and other persons found at the scene, while others fled and their...

 Sudanese dialogue to begin 'soon' to enable reconciliation, elections: PM Sudan's Prime Minister Kamil Idris said on Sunday that a Sudanese dialogue will begin “soon” to pave the way for national recovery, comprehensive reconciliation, and free elections. The dialogue will be “owned by all the people of Sudan,” Idris said during a meeting in Khartoum with a delegation from the African Union Peace and Security Council, led by Mohamed Khaled of Algeria. The planned dialogue will lead to “comprehensive national recovery, full national reconciliation and integrated constitutional reconstruction” before culminating “in free and fair elections in which the Sudanese people will choose the country’s new leadership,” he added in his statements carried by the official news agency SUNA. Idris said the Sudanese army was advancing on the ground in the Kordofan region and would later head towards Darfur “until the entire country is liberated.”

 IMF to visit Uganda next month for negotiations on new programme An International Monetary ‌Fund staff team plans to visit Uganda next month for more negotiations on a ​new support programme, the IMF's ​resident representative in Uganda told Reuters. The East ⁠African country's previous support programme ​expired in 2024. It later requested ​a new programme from the Fund, but a deal is yet to be ​reached. "While discussions were constructive, further ​progress is needed to reach an agreement. Staff ‌is ⁠planning a programme negotiation mission in September," the resident representative, Sébastien Walker, said by email. Uganda's economy has ​been growing ​strongly ⁠and is expected to continue doing so thanks to ​the anticipated start of crude ​oil ⁠production. But the country is grappling with a high debt-service burden and ⁠weakening ​fiscal position, the ​IMF noted in its latest Article IV Consultation.

 Dolly Parton misses Dollywood ride opening due to health issues   Dolly Parton was unable to attend the unveiling of Dollywood’s newest attraction after experiencing what she described as health issues. Parton had planned to attend the grand opening of NightFlight Expedition in person but remained in Nashville instead. In a prerecorded message played during the event, she explained that she had become dehydrated and that her doctor advised her not to travel. The new attraction is a first-of-its-kind combination of a roller coaster and whitewater rapids ride. Its opening had originally been scheduled for June but was pushed back to August. With an estimated $50 million price tag, NightFlight Expedition is Dollywood’s most ambitious and expensive attraction to date. The ride has been in development for about three years. Parton wished guests an enjoyable experience and encouraged them to have fun before ending her message with a promise to see them down the road. NightFlight Ex...

 Tupac Shakur murder trial begins nearly 30 years after rapper’s death  Opening statements are set to begin Monday in the long-awaited trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rap legend Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. The case is expected to unfold over several weeks and revisit one of hip-hop’s most infamous unsolved murders. Davis, 63, faces a murder charge involving the use of a deadly weapon, with prosecutors alleging the crime was carried out to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. He has pleaded not guilty and could face life in prison if convicted. Shakur was just 25 when he was fatally shot in a drive-by attack on Sept. 7, 1996. He died six days later from his injuries. The murder remained unsolved for decades, with no one charged until Davis was indicted in 2023. Shakur’s legacy has only grown since his death. Widely regarded as one of the most influential rappers in music history, he received six Grammy nominations and ...

 19-year-old Australian tourist stabbed in unprovoked attack at McDonald’s near Penn Station    A 19-year-old tourist from Australia was repeatedly stabbed in what authorities believe was an unprovoked attack inside a McDonald’s across from Penn Station early Monday. Police were called to the restaurant on Eighth Avenue around 2 a.m. after receiving a report of an assault. Officers found the young man with multiple stab wounds to his torso. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to recover. A person of interest was taken into custody at the scene, though no charges had been filed as of Monday. Authorities have not released additional information about what led to the attack. The investigation remains ongoing.

  Witney Carson pregnant, making Dancing With the Stars history by returning as a pro dancer for season 35 Witney Carson is making history on “Dancing With the Stars” by returning as a professional dancer for the upcoming 35th season while pregnant. Carson announced the news Monday, revealing that she will compete alongside Guillermo Rodriguez. She will become the first professional dancer in the show's history to begin a season knowing she is expecting a child. The dancer has previously performed on the show while pregnant. She announced her pregnancy during the semifinals of season 31 in 2022. Fellow professional Daniella Karagach has also said she learned she was pregnant during that season, but Carson is the first pro to enter an entire season while already aware of her pregnancy. Carson said she, her husband, Carson McAllister, and the show's casting director, Deena Katz, had extensive discussions before deciding she could continue as long as she and the baby remained heal...

 Sheriff warned authorities before man accused of abuse was released on bail, days before deadly murder-suicide     Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood said he warned authorities that releasing Justin Sislo on $10,000 cash bail was a mistake, weeks before Sislo killed his parents and himself. Sislo had been charged with 24 crimes stemming from allegations that he severely abused his girlfriend in Madison County. He had also been arrested about a month earlier in Cayuga County on allegations that he strangled her. Hood described Sislo as a dangerous person who should have remained behind bars. “It was time for this person to go to jail,” Hood said. “That’s where he should have been.” About a week after being released on bail, Sislo fatally shot his parents, Steve Sislo and Donna Walker-Sislo, at their home in the town of Madison before killing himself. Deputies found the three bodies on Aug. 7. The killings came after months of alleged physical, emotional, and psychologi...

 DEM DON DEY BEG ME OOOO .........BUT I AM NOT BACKING OUT SOON 👌............... I AM UNFADING... I AM UNWAVERING . I AM A LIVING TIGER ( NOT TIGRESS ) . 🐅 ABU M OKU🔥NA ELIELI . THE WORST THING YOU CAN EVER DO IS PUSH ME FROM MY STAND . DO YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH FIRE ? THEN BE PREPARED FOR THE HEAT🔥 . I DO NOT BREAK UNDER PRESSURE . I BECOME STRONGER . I DO NOT RETREAT BECAUSE OF NOISE .  I BECOME MORE DETERMINED .  I DO NOT BEND JUST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH MY STRENGTH . I KNOW WHO I AM , I KNOW WHAT I STAND FOR , AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHY I AM STANDING THERE . I HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF SILENCE , BUT NEVER MISTAKE MY SILENCE FOR FEAR . SOMETIMES , I AM QUIET BECAUSE I AM CHOOSING PEACE BEFORE THE WRONG MOVE WAS MADE . SOMETIMES , I AM WATCHING. AND SOMETIMES, I AM SIMPLY GIVING YOU ENOUGH ROPE TO REVEAL YOURSELF . I DON'T CHASE TROUBLE , BUT I WILL NEVER RUN FROM IT . I DON'T LOOK FOR WARS , BUT I AM NOT INTIMIDATED BY BATTLES AND THE IS THE REASON I ...

  Colombia's president asks Trump to suspend tariffs after deadly earthquake    Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods as the country works to recover from a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that has killed at least 289 people. De la Espriella, who took office earlier this month, was sworn in just days before the earthquake struck. Trump backed him during Colombia's closely contested presidential election, which was decided in a June 21 runoff. Since taking office, de la Espriella has highlighted his relationship with the U.S. president. In a post Saturday night, de la Espriella said he spoke with Trump and thanked him for U.S. assistance following the disaster. He said he asked Trump to consider temporarily lifting the tariffs affecting Colombian products to provide relief to businesses struggling with the earthquake's economic impact. The Trump administration had not imm...

 COOU, FRSC Partner to Launch Road Safety Special Marshals Unit, Approve 75% Registration Discount ‎ ‎By Obianuju Azukaego ‎ ‎Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), through its Students Accident, Emergency and Safety Unit, has partnered with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to establish a Road Safety Special Marshals Unit at the university and its environs. ‎ ‎The partnership was disclosed in a press release issued on August 15, and signed by the Head of the Students Accident, Emergency and Safety Unit, Dr. Afamnede Godfrey Oguechuo, who described the initiative as an opportunity for staff and members of the university community to contribute to road safety and emergency response. ‎ ‎Under the arrangement, the FRSC has approved a 75 per cent discount on registration fees for 25 qualified individuals from COOU who wish to join the FRSC Special Marshals. ‎ ‎Dr. Oguechuo urged young, vibrant and service-oriented members of staff to take advantage of the opportunity, noting...

 Nicole Kidman reveals the 1 thing she always does with Morgan Freeman before cameras roll on "Lioness" Nicole Kidman recently described the demanding nature of filming Lioness, Taylor Sheridan’s CIA thriller series. She explained that the scripts are “dense” and require the cast to fully grasp every line before delivering them.  Kidman emphasized that dialogue must sound natural, even though the terminology is far from everyday language, and said she and her costars including Morgan Freeman and Michael Kelly constantly rehearse and analyze their lines to ensure accuracy. In season three, which premiered August 2, Kidman plays CIA supervisor Kaitlyn Meade alongside Kelly as Byron Westfield and Freeman as Secretary of State Edwin Mullins. Zoe Saldaña stars as Joe McNamara, a CIA officer balancing her covert missions with family life.  The official synopsis highlights Joe’s struggle as hidden threats infiltrate her world, forcing her to confront enemies in the shadows while...

 Matthew McConaughey explains why he doesn’t want his 3 children to be exactly like him Matthew McConaughey, who shares three children with his wife Camila Alves, has spoken openly about the values he hopes to pass on to Levi, Vida, and Livingston. While he doesn’t want them to be “exactly” like him, he hopes they’ll carry forward the lessons and principles he’s built in his own life.  For McConaughey, this continuation of values is a form of immortality, a way of living on through his children. He has often described fatherhood as the greatest art a man can create, elevating a man from “prince” to “king” once he becomes a parent. The Oscar winner has long considered fatherhood his ultimate dream, saying it remains the pinnacle of his life. He believes raising children has made him a better actor and artist, deepening his understanding of humanity.  His eldest son Levi has recently stepped into acting, debuting alongside his father in The Lost Bus. McConaughey encouraged ...