PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Tinubu, Gowon to speak as N’Assembly marks 25 years of democracy The Senate and the House of Representatives will on Wednesday, May 29, hold a joint sitting to mark the 25 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria. The sitting, the first of its kind since the return to democracy in 1999, will feature paper presentations by eminent Nigerians, including former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd). The two legislative chambers only sit together during annual budget presentations by the President. A statement on Monday night by the National Assembly management said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to deliver an address at the joint sitting. The President is also expected to inaugurate the new National Assembly Library as part of the events slated for the 25th-year celebration. Also expected at the event is the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, among other prominent citizens. Other dignitaries expected at the event are the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum ...

 FAVOUR: EBONYI UNIVERSITY ABSOLVES LECTURER OF VICTIMISATION 28th May, 2024     The Ebonyi State University (EBSU) has absolved Professor Amechi Uneke of the Department of English Language and Literature in the university of victimising one of her students, Ugwuka Favour Chinonye, which caused her to commit suicide last week. The university said it was not that the late student deserved to pass the course Uneke handled and she was marked down by the Lecturer. Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Chigozie Ogbu, stated this at a press briefing in the university, on the suicide committed by the student and the allegation against Professor Uneke that the girl was victimised. He expressed sadness on the action Favour took and commiserated with her family. Ogbu said what the late student would have done was to demand for re-marking of the course if she felt that she passed and was failed by Uneke and not taking her own life, describing it as unfortunate. He said: ...

 BANK OF INDUSTRY EXTENDS APPLICATION FOR RAPID FUNDING FOR MSMEs TO JUNE 12 The Bank of Industry (BOI) has announced the extension of the application for the Rural Area Program for Investment and Development (RAPID) for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Community groups in rural areas to June 12. This was disclosed in a post on the official X handle of the bank where it explained that the extension of the deadline was to allow entrepreneurs the opportunity to apply for the loan. It states, “The application deadline for the RAPID initiative has been extended to June 12, 2024, allowing all interested entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate.” The RAPID funding program aims to provide loans of up to N10 million to MSMEs in rural areas at a 5% interest rate for a tenure of 3 years. The bank noted that interested applicants visit its website to apply. Objectives of the RAPID program The objective of the program is to assist communities in rural and economically disadva...

 Ortom not disturbed Benue Assembly scrapped life pension — Aide The Benue State House of Assembly, on Monday, repealed the law that made provision for the payment of life pension to former elected governors and their deputies. The law, providing life benefits for ex-governors and deputy governors from 1999, was initiated by the immediate-past governor, Samuel Ortom, in the twilight of his administration last year. The bill, which was hurriedly assented to by Ortom on the eve of his exit, provided for the payment of a stipend of N40m in four months in addition to the provision of two Special Utility Vehicles. The law also provided for six stewards to a former governor while a former deputy governor was to be entitled to N25m as a stipend in four months, one SUV, and three stewards. But the House of Assembly, on Monday, repealed the law, stating that the provisions were too exorbitant to maintain. Reacting to the development in an interview with The PUNCH, Ortom’s aide, Terver Akase...

The family of the late Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonago, has announced his burial date. In a burial poster signed by his family, the legendary actor would be buried in his hometown in Ugamuma village, Obosi, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The actor reportedly died on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at the age of 67 years, after suffering from protracted kidney-related issues, diabetes, and stroke. Before his death, the deceased was known for his mastery in interpreting roles in movies and endeared himself to audiences with his versatility in both comical and epic movies. The burial ceremony will commence on Thursday, June 20, 2024, with a service of songs at his residence by 6 pm. On Friday, June 21, his body would depart the Crown Hospital Mortuary for a lying-in-state at his residence before the burial service. According to the poster announcing the burial, the thanksgiving service will be held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ugamuma Obosi, on Sunday, June 23, 20...

 Why toilets, chillers are in bad condition at International airports – Keyamo Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has explained the poor condition of toilets, chillers and other things at international airports in the country. He attributed the embarrassing situation to poor management by the bureaucrats, adding that plans were underway to concession management of the five international airports to some of the best private companies in the world. Keyamo said this while presenting his scorecard at the Ministerial Sectoral Press Briefings organised by the Federal Government to mark the First Anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration “About the toilets, chillers and the poor state of our airports, we had an answer to that on our way forward. And that is the fact Mr. President has said and I’ve told him we’re starting the whole concession process all over again. To be more transparent. “That was what we met on the ground. The concessions of our major airports have...

 Bill Walton, N.B.A. Hall of Famer and Broadcasting Star, Dies at 71 A dominant, colorful center (when he wasn’t injured), he won championships in high school, at U.C.L.A. and with the Trail Blazers and the Celtics before becoming a TV commentator. Bill Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Famer for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, the league announced on behalf of his family. Walton, who had a prolonged fight with cancer, was 71. He was the NBA's MVP in the 1977-78 season, a two-time champion and a member of both the NBA's 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams. That followed a college career in which he was a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year. “Bill Walton,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “was truly one of a kind.” Walton, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life, on the court and off. His NBA career — disrupte...