LASU ranks second in 2021 emerging economies’ ranking

Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has been ranked second in the 2021 Emerging Economies University ranking.

The Coordinator of LASU Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ademola Adekoya, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Ripples Nigeria garnered that LASU was ranked among the best three Nigerian universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking in 2020.

According to the statement, LASU Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyedamola Oke, received the news of the university’s new ranking on Tuesday.

Oke congratulated the staff and members of the university community on the feat.

The statement read: “The new status of the university is heart-warming and a further attestation to her quality teaching, research exploits, and robust service delivery.

“The Acting Vice-Chancellor applauds the invaluable and immeasurable contributions of all stakeholders including; the Lagos State Government, members of staff, and our world-class students towards the newest ranking of the institution.

“Without the unwavering support and commitment of all stakeholders to the LASU project, the feat would have been unattainable.”

Dangote fertilizer plant to take-off Q1 2021

After failing to meet the December 2020 target, the Dangote Group has set the first quarter 2021 date for the take-off of its fertilizer plant.

The Urea fertilizer plant will now take-off between February and March this year.

The project, which is operated by Dangote Industries Limited, completed its test run in November last year.

The Head of Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, had said the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to push the project take-off to December last year.

The project is expected to save Nigeria’s economy the $500 million spent annually on the importation of fertilizers.

Nigeria consumes 0.7 metric tonnes of Urea fertilizers per annum but Dangote’s fertilizer plant will produce three metric tonnes.

The excess will be exported to other African countries to generate at least $400 million for the nation’s economy.

The plant which is dubbed the largest Urea fertilizer plant in the world is located at the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) in Lagos.

The project’s first phase cost Dangote $2.5 billion.

Presidency to spend N4.5bn on allowances, travels in 2021

The presidency will spend a total sum of N4.5billion on allowances and travels this year.

While the administration has set aside N1.30billion for honoraria and sitting allowances, local and international travels by President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will consume N3.2billion.

However, the figure budgeted for sitting allowances was 46.3 percent higher than the N892.86 approved for the same purpose in 2020.

The N3.2billion proposed for travel and transportation by the president and his deputy in 2021 was 45.4 percent higher than the N2.27 billion provisions in 2020.

The N3.2billion proposed for travel and transportation by the president and his deputy in 2021 was 45.4 percent higher than the N2.27 billion provisions in 2020.

All these were included in the approved 2021 budget details obtained from the Budget Office by Ripples Nigeria.

The presidency office comprises of Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The breakdown of the expenditure on honoraria and sitting allowances revealed that the State House increased its spending from N327.2 million in 2020 to N478.3 million this year.

The President’s Office also increased its spending from N112.3 million to N164.1 million.

While the Vice President’s Office jerked up its allowances from N13.8million to N20.2 million.

Office of The Chief of Staff to the President also increase expenditure on honoraria and sitting allowances from N9.2 million last year to N13.5 million this year.

OSGF, OHCSF and ONSA all increased budget to N610.6 million, N11.4 million, and N8.4 million respectively.

Although, the budget document is not specific on who can receive honoraria and how the sitting allowance will be shared but for years the presidency plays host to former heads of state and governors.

For the travels, Office of the President will be spending N1, 651,296,576 on international travels and N775, 602,580 on local travels and transport.

The Vice President’s travel bill for 2021 will also gulp N801 million of taxpayers money with N517 million for international travels and N283.9 million for local travels.

2021 budget has been described by the Federal Government as one of Economic Recovery and Resilience designed to deliver on the goals of government’s Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) .

One key principle of the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) approved in June 2020, is an Identification of fiscal measures to reduce non-essential spending.

Inauguration Day 2021: Schedule of events as US move from Trump to Biden

President-elect, Joe Biden will be sworn in on Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States alongside Kamala Harris who will be sworn in as the country’s first female vice-president.

The inauguration theme, “America United,” according to the Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) “reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future.”

However, due to COVID-19 restrictions and security concerns over the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol building, the inauguration will be much different from those held in past years with it being mostly virtual, while the crowd will be kept to a bare minimum as 20,000 National Guard troops have been deployed around Washington, D.C.

The PIC has installed a public art display called “Field of Flags,” at the National Mall to represent the people unable to travel to the city for the ceremonies.

Here is a schedule of what has been planned for the inauguration:

8:00 a.m.: Outgoing President Donald Trump has planned a sendoff at an airfield at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he is expected to make remarks, then board Air Force One for the last time as he heads to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: The livestream event “Our White House: An Inaugural Celebration for Young Americans” will be hosted by actress Keke Palmer.

The event will act as an explainer for young Americans before and during the ceremony. It will feature incoming first lady Jill Biden and historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Erica Armstrong Dunbar.

The event will also include a trivia portion with questions produced by the Library of Congress and a segment on presidential pets produced by Nickelodeon.

11:00 a.m.: The inauguration ceremony begins.

12:00 p.m.: Biden and Harris will be sworn in at the US Capitol building. US Supreme Court Chief, Justice John Roberts, will administer the oath of office to Biden.

Then, US Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, will swear in Harris.

Biden will deliver his inaugural address. He is expected to discuss the pandemic and the unification of the nation.

Other participants will include:

Invocation: Father Leo J. O’Donovan, a Jesuit priest and spiritual mentor to Biden.

Pledge of Allegiance: Capt. Andrea Hall, the City of South Fulton, Ga. fire captain.

National Anthem: Lady Gaga

Poetry Reading: Amanda Gorman, the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles and the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate.

Musical Performances: Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks

Benediction: Rev. Dr. Silvester Beaman, the Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Del.

12:30 p.m.: Biden, Harris and their spouses, Dr. Jill Biden and Douglas Emhoff who will be addressed as Second Gentleman, will participate in a Pass in Review with every branch of the military.

Afterward, all four will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

3:15 p.m.: The two couples will receive a presidential escort to the White House, accompanied by the military and the drumlines from Biden and Harris’s alma maters.

The televised event, “Parade Across America,” will be hosted by Tony Goldwyn and will feature performances by Earth, Wind and Fire, TikTok star Nathan Apodaca, and comedian Jon Stewart.

8:30 p.m.: Another televised event, “Celebrating America” hosted by Tom Hanks, will include appearances from Biden, Harris, Kerry Washington, and Eva Longoria. Featured performances by Ant Clemons, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, and Justin Timberlake are planned.

Father Mbaka releases prophesy about Buhari’s govt,other politicians.

Father Mbaka has prophesied said President Buhari’s administration may be facing extinction and can only be saved if action is taken .
According to him, those in the political circle have looted so much and disgraced Nigeria enough. The cleric said God was angry with the leaders and what will befall them if they don’t change will be unbearable .

The fiery priest warned that no one should attempt to attack this prophecy of his, else the person will become a victim . A Catholic priest, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has prophesied the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

Speaking during the popular annual December 31 Crossover Night ministration, Mbaka, who is the spiritual director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), said this will depend on the president’s ability to act fast and save his government.
The Nation reports that the cleric advised Buhari’s government to create employment opportunities before Nigerian youths embark on restiveness that may consume this administration.

Rev.Father Ejike Mbaka Adoration ministry Prayer Line Songs and Praises He stated: “The Holy Spirit of God asked me to warn the government of the day to be very careful; to change policies and take care of the youths without politicising their (youths’) condition.

That the government should rise and urgently create jobs and innovate opportunities that would benefit the youths of the nation because they have suffered so much. “Don’t politicise the condition of the youths, otherwise, they will arise and end the political system.

“Should the government fail to do so as soon as possible that time is coming when the youths will rise against the government”

MANY CALENDARS, ONE EARTH.

MANY CALENDARS, ONE EARTH.

  1. Gregorian Calendar
  2. Pawukon Calendar (Bali, Indonesia)
  3. Ethiopian Calendar
  4. Jewish Calendar
  5. Chinese Calendar
  6. Hijrah Calendar (established)
  7. Persian Calendar
  8. Japanese Calendar
  9. Julian Calendar
  10. Buddhist Calendar
  11. Hindu Calendar (Vikram Samvat, Shaka Samvat, and Kali Yuga)
  12. Mayan Calendar
  13. Egyptian Calendar
  14. French Revolutionary Calendar
  15. Sumerian Calendar
  16. Zoroastrian Calendar
  17. Celtic Calendar
  18. Cappadocian Calendar
  19. Achaemenid Calendar
  20. Attic Calendar
  21. Ancient Greek Calendars.

Up there???? you have over 20 different calendars in use or once in use in the world. The Gregorian Calendar in use in most part of the world, Nigeria inclusive, is not the only regulator of man and his activities on earth.

In other words, while we’re in a mad rush to make it before December 31st, 2020, some persons in another part of the world are less concerned about our death-race hustling. This is because these Calendars do not begin and end the same time.

Ògá, take it easy with yourself. Man invented calendar and over the years adjusted it, abandoned it or reinvented it to suit his purpose. You must know January 1st is not the beginning of the year for everyone on earth. Likewise, December 31st isn’t the end of the year for everybody on earth. Instead of killing yourself for not achieving your goals for the year, try to draw up a broad plan for yourself and pursue it throughout the days of your sojourn on earth.

Natural yarn
Naijapremiumgist.