#WhehTheirMatesAreSpendingLessThan6years: Medical students to spend 11 years in University henceforth - NUC

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced that students studying Medicine and Surgery in Nigerian universities will spend 11 years before getting an MBBS degree. The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie made the declaration in a lecture delivered at the maiden inauguration of the University of Medical Science, Ondo State.

In a lecture titled ‘Development of Medical Education: Prospects and Challenges‘, Okojie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, said increasing the study time was essential to ensure medical students are well prepared for the psychological demands of the game.

#OverEfficient: Egyptian minister fired for comments he made about Prophet Mohammed

Egypt's justice minister, Ahmed el-Zind, has been fired by the prime minister for what many see as his overzealousness. In his bid to convince citizens of his commitment to fighting crime, he said he'll imprison the prophet Mohammed if he committed a crime.

According to cabinet spokesman, Hossam Qawish, the minister was "released from his position". El-Zind said in a television interview that he would put anyone who violates the law in prison, "even if he is the prophet, peace and blessing be upon him."

El-Zind quickly followed by saying "I ask God for forgiveness" for making the comment. But that did not prevent a backlash by faithful Muslims as well as criticism on social media.

Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton pens open letter to Donald Trump...and it's gone viral!

Humans of New York creator and blogger Brandon Stanton who usually lets his subjects do the talking has written an open letter to Donald Trump. In the letter posted to social media on Monday, 32-year-old Stanton summed up the many issues he has with the Republican presidential frontrunner, notably his controversial remarks about Muslims, immigrants and refugees. 

 

The post has since gone viral garnering over a million Likes and thousands of Shares. Stanton said he has tried to stay away from politics but he could no longer stand by and not take a stand against "violence and prejudice" 

#OgaWhatDidYouSay: I never said economy was beyond Buhari’s control – Minister

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday denied saying the Nigerian economy had gone out of the control of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Mohammed was quoted as making the comment (on the state of the country’s economy) on a radio show on Saturday.

But following the criticisms that greeted the report, the minister, in   a statement by his special assistant, Segun Adeyemi, said he was misquoted.

#Lobatan: N5,000 stipend: Heavy knocks for Buhari’s broken promise

Jobseekers and other opinion leaders are angry over President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to dump the much awaited N5,000 stipend promised unemployed graduates in the country, writes GBENRO ADEOYE

There is an old saying that, “Promises are like babies: easy to make, hard to deliver.” There is perhaps no set of people that the saying aptly applies to than politicians. They are the ones who seem to have mastered the art of making promises.

It is also not impossible that some politicians understand the voting population and the one language that often resonates with them.

One of the most famous quotes from The Knights, a comedy by the ancient Greek playwright, Aristophanes, says: “To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them.”

#BabaOFLife: Obasanjo: A much criticised critic

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo may be on the verge of the milestone age of 80, but many Nigerians agree that the hard-hitting elder statesman has no intention of soft-pedalling on speaking his mind.

As some pundits have observed, Obasanjo never fails to use any available public platform to fault his adversaries.

The ex-President has made several appearances on local and international media and authored several books and letters that have generated controversy, leading to heated debates across the country.

Many believe the attention the ex-general demands is due to his influential status as the first former military Head of State to have returned to power as a democratically elected president for additional two terms of eight years–the longest any Nigerian has ruled the country.

Naira versus the Dollar, Jonathan’s Policies as Buhari’s Challenges, the Simple Economic Principles, and the colossal Damage.

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”. —— James Madison

There are two basic principles that govern economics within an economy, for if you transgress on the first one you are bound to pay direly for your actions in the future.

1. Do not spend but save and pay off your debt when the economy is at its potential and spend when the economy is below potential to bring it back to potential.
2. Any policy, either fiscal or monetary taken by the government to push the economy back to its potential on the long run will not start to yield results until after 6 to 8 quarters, which is a year and a half to two years in a developed economy because they have less shocks and might take up to 12 quarters (3 years) in a developing economy because they have more shocks. Examples are inflations, exchange rate, civil unrest etc.

To understand these principles we will go back to history:

#WhoIsLyingNow?? : We found $1m in Badeh’s N1.1bn house – EFCC

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that its operatives found cash sum of $1m in the bedroom of an Abuja mansion of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd).

The anti-graft agency alleged that the ex-CDS purchased the house in which the money was found with dollar equivalent of N1.1bn said to have been fraudulently removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force in 2013.

#Iweoooo: What you don’t know & need to know about 5.0 CGPA Scholar, Ayodele.

What you don’t know & need to know about 5.0 CGPA Scholar, Ayodele.

When the news hit the media that a student Ayodele (now Graduate) of the University of Lagos was finishing with a 5.0 CGPA, it was quite surprising. 5.0 from a Federal University? Woah!

Questions were asked – How did he do it? Has he always been a genius? Because it takes a dedicated  person to excel in such a way. Linda Ikeji Blog decided to Interview him, not only to celebrate his outstanding academic excellence but to also shed light on his journey and hopefully inspire others. From how Jamb cancelled his result because they felt he cheated and more, Ayodele gives an exclusive insight into his life.

•LIB: Introduction/Background

I am Ayodele Daniel Dada. As you know, I convocated from the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos. I am the first child of my Parents. We are just two. I just have one other sibling – A Brother. We hail from Ekiti State. My Dad is an Accountant (retired now) and my mum is a teacher. She has been a teacher for a while now, over 20 years. I’m someone who has a passion for understanding people. I think that was why I was drawn to Psychology. I don’t just want to understand people but I also want to help them and add value to their lives in which ever way I can. For me, it’s all about people, I care a lot about people. Generally as a person, my personality is not the highly outgoing type. I’m more reserved. Religiously, I’m a Christian. I have a Strong Belief in God and He’s a big part of my Affairs. I take God seriously and He figures in all my plans.

#WeNeedAction: Financial Discipline… making every naira count. By Kemi Adeosun

Article written by Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun. Read below...

Economists have long found Nigeria to be something of a conundrum. The macro picture has always appeared compelling - large population, oil reserves, mineral reserves, endless tracts of arable land, land and sea borders for regional domination. Indeed the absurdity of our underperformance is only surpassed by our ability to accurately quantify our losses and missed opportunities.

In the short period that I have been privileged to serve as Minister of Finance, I have observed that even the most basic systems and controls over the management of our resources are in dire need of strengthening. While we are regaled with and shocked by details of amounts stolen, diverted or wasted, we must face the cold reality that such acts are facilitated by weaknesses in our systems. Even if we successfully prosecute and jail every looter, ghost worker and other economic saboteur, there is every risk that those caught will only be replaced by persons who are just as bad, or worse - unless we radically strengthen our systems and institutions.