African News Updates And Technology Advancement

Polytechnic graduates are discriminated against in private and public employment. The supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the issue of dichotomy between HND and Degree holders will soon be resolved as President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Pius Anyim, to address the challenge. Addressing chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education on Thursday in Kaduna during a Special retreat, Mr. Wike said that the SGF and members of the committee met with Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, last week to resolve the dichotomy. HND holders are discriminated against not just by private employers but also by various level of the Nigerian government. When employed into government ministries, fresh HND holders are recruited to Level 7 while fresh BSc holders are recruited to Level 8. The removal of the dichotomy between the t...

The American-Nigerian actor,Dayo Okeniyi who starred as Thresh in 'The Hunger Games' is to play the son of Miles Dyson in the upcoming 'Terminator: Genesis movie. The actor, Dayo Okeniyi, beat out his other Nigerian counterpart, Attack the Block's John Boyega for the role. Dayo has now joined Emilia Clarke(Game of Thrones), Jai Courteney(Divergent) and Jason Clarke(Dawn of the planet of the apes).

If you're in the UK, congrats because Biyi Bandele's Half Of A Yellow Sun - a film adaptation of celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Orange Prize-winning novel of the same name - will open in UK theatres less than a week from now, on April 11, while the rest of the world waits in anticipation to see it. Also those in Nigeria are in luck because the film opens here on April 25, which is likely when I'll get to see it first For USA audiences, Monterey Media picked it up to release this summer, although they haven't set an exact date yet. Although if you live in New York City, it'll screen at the New York African Film Festival in May. Biyi Bandele's feature film directorial debut, stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, John Boyega, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle and Genevieve Nnaji, in a drama that weaves together the lives of four people swept up in the turbulence of civil war, with a newly independent 1960s Nigeria as th...

Public speaker, blogger and activist Japheth Omojuwa was arrested this afternoon in Abuja alongside Uche Briggs for leading a protest for victims of the Nigerian Immigration Service employment test that took place on March 10th. The two men and one other person were taken to NSCDC office and there are reports that they were beaten by NSCDC officers at their headquarters. They've since been transferred to SSS office in Asokoro. Simpa Saint Samsons

In late 2012, Nigerian Gossy Ukanwoke launched Beni American University, the West African country's first private online university. The university offers a variety of courses, including corporate diplomacy, global marketing and digital journalism. Ukanwoke, who has also started work to build a physical campus, so far has 10 instructors and about 200 students. The university allows students to access their classes at any time of the day with any internet- enabled device. A 12 week course can cost $100-$300, while the average age of students is 26. (CNN) – At 23, many people around the world are still at university — at that age, Gossy Ukanwoke had already started one. The young entrepreneur is the founder of Beni American University (BAU), Nigeria's first private online university. Launched in late 2012, the school allows students to access their classes at any time of the day with any internet-enabled device. "We are providing executive programs for ...

"Aviation experts and analysts have said that Nigeria is the fastest growing aviation market in the world after China". At least 12 brand new private jets ordered by Nigerians and some corporate bodies will be delivered to the country this year. This is an offshoot of the projection by private jet manufacturers to deliver 70 brand new private jets to the country within the next five years. The Regional Vice-President, Sales, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Bombardier Business Aircraft, the Canada-based aircraft manufacturing firm, Mr. Khadar Mattar, who made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, described the private jet market in Nigeria as currently "booming." He spoke on the sidelines of Nigerian Economic Summit organised by London-based Economist in Lagos on Monday. Mattar, who said his company delivered 88 out of the 138 aircraft currently flying in Nigeria, noted that Bombardier was currently the market leader in...

Confusion enveloped the Shagari Plaza on Moshood Abiola Way, Garki-Area one, Abuja, on Thursday over an explosion in the shopping complex. Customers and residents of the area fled the neighborhood fearing that the explosions, which occurred in quick succession, were the handiwork of violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, and could be bomb blasts. An eyewitness said the first explosion occurred at about 5:17pm when a gas cylinder exploded. A jeep parked close to the gas dispenser went up in flame. The gas retailer, who tried to recover his money kept under one of the cylinders was also caught in the explosion while trying to save his earnings for the day. "He kept it under one of the cylinders. As he was trying to take the money, another cylinder exploded", the eyewitness, who did not give his name, said. Another eyewitness said the retailer took delivery of the gas supply on Wednesday. "They just supplied him the gas yesterday. We are surprised because...

No fewer than 268 people living with disabilities in Gombe state of Nigeria benefited from Indomie Noodles Company free artificial legs and hands in the state. The Chairman, Gombe State Joint Association of people living with disabilities, Alhaji Ali Goro, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday. Goro said the gesture was sponsored by Indomie Noodles Company in Kano, adding that the state government assisted the association with transportation and stipend for feeding. He said initially 288 members of the association went to Kano from Gombe, but 20 did not pass the screening, while 268 were successful. Goro said another batch would benefit from the gesture very soon. "Word alone cannot express our sincere gratitude because to fix an artificial hand alone can cost you N250,000 while the leg can also be about N180,000. "Indomie noodles company has really touched our hearts and the gesture is worthy of emulation,'...

A man suspected to be mentally deranged was yesterday burnt to death by a mob while another was rescued by policemen. Two other people were also arrested at the Ibadan Forest of Death by security operatives for allegedly being in possession of incriminating items. The suspected lunatic was burnt at Oke Ado area, Ibadan, Oyo State by a mob who suspected that he was a kidnapper. A pistol and an unknown amount of money in foreign currencies were found on the man but the mob took away the items before the arrival of the police. The second suspected man was nabbed by another mob at Mokola but was rescued by policemen attached to Sango Police Division. Public relations officer of the state police command, SP Olabisi Ilobanafor who confirmed the two incidents said 42 SIM cards of various networks, three national identity cards bearing various names and N11,600 cash of different denominations were recovered from one of the suspected mad men. Meanwhile, a suspect Sulaiman...