Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, says his success as the 2024 CAF men’s player of the year came after he “failed in front of the world” four years prior. 

Lookman spoke after receiving the award as the best African male footballer of 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.

The 27-year-old finished ahead of Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams and Serhou Guirassy to win the coveted individual prize for male African footballers.

He followed in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, who won the award in 2023.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lookman referenced his failure to convert a penalty for Everton in November 2020.

Lookman had the opportunity to earn a point for Fulham in their English Premier League (EPL) match against West Ham United. Instead, he failed to execute a Panenka penalty kick easily saved by Lukasz Fabianski as West Ham won 1-0.

The penalty attempt earned him mockery on social media, and Scott Parker, Fulham’s manager, ripped into the player in public.

“Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa,” Lookman said after receiving the award.

“I want to say to the young children and people watching this: don’t let your failures weigh you down that they break your wings. Matter of fact, turn your pain into your power and continue to fight.

“Firstly. I want to thank the Almighty God for everything he has been doing in my life, and everything he has been blessing me with.

“I want to thank the president, I want to thank all my teammates- club and country. I want to thank them for all their support and love that they gave me.”

“This award today is a blessing to me, to my family, to my nation, and to be recognized as the best player in Africa. It’s something incredible and I’m extremely proud of.”

Lookman left Fulham after that season for RB Salzburg in Germany, where he continued to flap his wings before taking flight following his move to Atalanta in the summer of 2022.

[TheCable]

The Women in Rotary, Enugu State, recently organized a life-changing empowerment programme for widows, reinforcing their commitment to uplifting vulnerable women in the community. The initiative, part of the broader Rotary Club District 9142 Widows Empowerment Initiative, was championed by Rotarian Trish Ezeh, the Enugu Representative of Women in Rotary, alongside other distinguished women in Rotary.

Held in Enugu, the programme aimed to provide widows with financial grants to start petty trading, equipping them with the resources needed to regain economic stability and confidence. Speaking during the event, Trish Ezeh emphasized the importance of the initiative, describing it as a means to address the struggles faced by widows and create a sustainable path for their empowerment.

“We specifically targeted the poorest of the poor in our communities. Our goal is to not only empower these women but also create a ripple effect that benefits their families and communities,” Ezeh explained. She added that the beneficiaries’ progress would be closely monitored, with plans for further assistance if necessary.

Ezeh lauded the collective efforts of Rotarians, families, and friends who contributed to the initiative. “Everything we’ve provided today is a result of Rotarians and generous supporters who believe in the transformative power of giving,” she said.

The event also featured an inspiring address by Rotarian Ijeoma Akuegbu-Sunday, the District Chair of Women in Rotary. She shared her personal motivation for starting the project, drawing from her mother’s experiences as a widow. “I understand the struggles widows face, and I believe no widow should ever lack as long as we are here to help,” she said.

Beneficiaries of the programme expressed deep gratitude for the initiative, which provided them with cash grants. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mrs. Modesta Ogbodo said, “This support has given us hope and inspired us to work harder. It’s more than just financial aid; it’s a testament to the kindness and empathy of Rotary members.”

She pledged that the grants would be used wisely to grow businesses and contribute to their families and communities.

The Women in Rotary, Enugu State, reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to empowering disadvantaged groups, expressing hope that this initiative would leave a lasting legacy and inspire similar efforts in the future.

The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yayaha Bello, has threatened to institute legal proceedings against an online medium that published report linking him to an attack on President Bola Tinubu.

Bello who spoke through the Director, Media office of the former governor, Ohiare Michael, on Monday described the publication as not only a mischievous but absolutely senseless report.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a not only mischievous but senseless report published by a mushroom blog called Daily Excessive, which attributed fake quotes against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to our principal, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

“Ordinarily, we would not have even bothered to give this any attention, because no informed Nigerian would take such a ridiculous story, written by a sick mind, seriously, especially since court records are public documents.

“This clarification is, however, necessary for the record and for the benefit of social media users who circulate fake news without fact-checking the details.”

He said that the report, which is part of the desperate plot by irresponsible politicians to strain the relationship between the President and the former governor is the most laughable twist in their failed bid to execute their bring-him-down-at-all-costs mirage.

“The Media Office of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, hereby states that the report in circulation by one Daily Excessive blog, which quoted the former governor to have said that he would reveal to the world how President Tinubu became President is not only misleading but also a confirmation of how unintelligent some unrelenting detractors of the former governor are.

“Every Nigerian following court proceedings, since the former governor submitted himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, knows that trial has not commenced in any of the cases. Former Governor Bello has only taken his plea at both courts.

“The court is an open place where journalists and other stakeholders monitor proceedings. This is the reason no informed Nigerian would even consider opening this sick report by an ‘Excessive fake news purveyor’ called Daily Excessive. But a ‘conquered’ mind is a sick mind, so we understand the plight of these mischief makers,” the statement added.

Bello further reiterated his support for Tinubu, and his party, the All Progressives Congress.

[OpinionNigeria]

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed Dogara has reiterated the scheme’s zero-tolerance policy for protests and indiscipline among serving corps members.

Dogara, who handed down the warning during a working visit to the temporary orientation camp in Kaduna, said, in the last three months, several corps members have attempted to protest, resulting in disciplinary actions against them.

He reminded corps members that the scheme’s bylaws clearly outline the consequences of indiscipline, and corps members are expected to adhere to these rules.

“In NYSC, just like in the Army and the Police, we don’t allow protest because we are disciplined and law-abiding. So whenever anybody wants to deceive you, go back and read your bylaws.

“In the last three months, we have a few corps members who are indiscipline. They attempted to protest. So, we are keeping them behind due to their act of indiscipline”, he said.

He expressed concerns over the safety of corps members, particularly with regard to night journeys, warning that most night journeys are hazardous and have resulted in accidents and kidnappings.

According to him, the scheme has lost several corps members to night journeys, and it is essential to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents, urging corps members to desist from night journeys and prioritize their safety.

“My concern has been these incessant night journeys that have claimed so many lives. Sometimes they are involved in accidents and some other times kidnapping and we never recover them.

“One of my top agenda is the security and welfare of corps members which is why anywhere I go, I must stress these two issues”, the DG added.

On corps members allowance, he announced that the government has agreed to double the monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000.

The increase is expected to reflect in the corps members’ allowances soon, pending the completion of necessary processes, especially the cash backing, he assured.

“I need to tell you that whenever the government increase salary, we in the NYSC approach the government for increment in corps members allowances and there was never a time the government did not respond to us.

“This time, the government has agreed to double the amount from N33,000 to N77,000. We are only waiting for cash back because other processes have been communicated to us”, he confirmed.

The Supreme Court has imposed a N5 million fine on a former presidential candidate, Ambrose Owuru, for harassing President Bola Tinubu with frivolous and vexatious suits.

Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election against former President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), was ordered to pay N5 million to Tinubu.

Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji issued the order against the former presidential candidate while dismissing his fresh suit praying for the removal of Tinubu as Nigeria’s president.

Apart from the N5 million fine, the apex court ordered its Registry not to accept any frivolous suit-originating summons from Owuru again.

At the day’s proceedings, Owuru, who claimed to be a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, sought to argue his case wearing his wig and gown.

He was ordered out of the Bar and directed to remove his wig and gown before he could be allowed to argue his case.

Upon complying with the orders, Owuru was asked why he came before the court again, having had his suits dismissed three times.

Although he tried unsuccessfully to convince the Apex Court to grant him adequate audience, his explanations were rejected as unconvincing.

Following his recalcitrance, the court threatened to refer him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee LPDC.

Justice Aba-Aji ruled that Owuru’s conduct was unbecoming of a lawyer of over 40 years, as he claimed to be.

In the end, the Court dismissed his suit and ordered him to pay Tinubu N5 million.

The court lambasted him for taking the Supreme Court for a ride, wasting its precious time with baseless suits and grossly abusing court processes.

Before the suit was thrown out, Bode Olanipekun SAN who appeared for President Tinubu had drawn the attention of the court to several cases of Owuru that were dismissed on account of frivolity.

He added that the direction of the fresh suit could not be understood because of the poor ways and manners it was couched by the applicant.

Olanipekun SAN also said that it was difficult for him to apologize to the court on behalf of Owuru because the conduct of the applicant had become something unbearable in the practice of the law profession.

In his own response, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Taiwo Osipitan assured that the conduct of the former presidential candidate would be referred to the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

The Court of Appeal had previously imposed a fine of N40 million on Owuru, to be paid to Tinubu, INEC, and others, for filing a suit against them.

The new suit prayed the Apex Court to sack Tinubu on two major grounds: alleged non-qualification to hold office as Nigeria’s President and alleged usurpation of the office in contravention of the law.

Defendants in the suit were former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Tinubu as 1st to 4th defendants, respectively.

He claimed that his suit at the Supreme Court, which would have removed Buhari from office, was technically jettisoned by the Apex Court due to a mix-up in hearing dates.

He also prayed the Apex Court to disqualify Tinubu on account of the forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States of America over an alleged drug trafficking-related offence.

Besides the alleged forfeiture, Owuru accused Tinubu of being an active agent of the CIA, a position he claimed disqualified Tinubu from holding the office of President of Nigeria.

Specifically, Owuru prayed the Supreme Court to invoke Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution to remove Tinubu from office on the grounds of being under the control of foreign authorities.

He also asked the Supreme Court to declare him Nigeria’s President and order his immediate inauguration to reclaim his alleged usurped mandate.

[TheNation]

The N47.9tn 2025 budget presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, earlier fixed for Tuesday, December 17, has been shifted to Wednesday, December 18.

Our correspondent in the Senate authoritatively gathered from top management staff of the National Assembly.

The insider source said an official statement on the postponement should be issued within the next few hours.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had, during the announcement at the Thursday plenary, announced that President Tinubu will present the 2025 budget on Tuesday.

He said, “The president has made his intention known to the National Assembly to present the 2025 budget to the joint Assembly of the National Assembly on the 17th of December, 2024.”

Akpabio announced that the budget presentation will occur at the House of Representatives Chamber.

He further informed the lawmakers that plenary will be at 10:30 am to allow senators to meet in the Red Chamber before moving in procession to the House of Representatives chamber where the budget will be presented.

Tinubu had last month submitted the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025–2027 to both the Senate and the House of Representatives last Tuesday.

[Punch]

Comedian and actor AY Makun has spoken out about the recent controversy surrounding Netflix’s supposed halt in funding Nigerian original films.

The controversy was ignited by filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, who claimed that Netflix had ceased commissioning Nigerian originals, raising concerns about the streaming giant’s commitment to the Nigerian market.

In an interview with Nollywood on Radio, Makun clarified that Netflix is not exiting the Nigerian market but is likely re-strategizing its approach due to financial concerns.

“I had a meeting with Netflix recently and it was never mentioned to me that they are opting out of business in this part of the world,” Makun stated.

“At the last meeting, we discussed my next project and how they can be a part of it. I also do not want to believe strongly that they are leaving Nigeria.”

Makun noted that Netflix’s struggles in Nigeria stem from financial challenges.

“The truth is if you are doing business in a particular region and you are not making money but spending much more than you’re making, you would want to re-strategise. That is what is going on with their system and structure,” he said.

The comedian explained that Netflix’s spending in Nigeria has far exceeded its earnings, prompting the company to reassess its business model.

He pointed to the widespread practice of subscription sharing and low subscription rates as key factors contributing to Netflix’s challenges in the country.

“For example, the subscription basis for Netflix in a country that has a population of over 200 million people is just about 300,000, so there is a leakage somewhere that needs to be corrected,” Makun noted.

He added that many Nigerians are accessing Netflix content through shared subscriptions rather than purchasing individual subscriptions.

“You would see a person with a Netflix subscription sharing with several people, so that’s the problem. It is not just about the filmmakers,” Makun concluded.

Vanguard News

Deborah, the Nigerian singer and daughter of Paul Enenche, the senior pastor of Dunamis International, and her husband Sam Hawthorn on Sunday welcomed their first child. 

The Eneche family took to Instagram on Monday to announce the baby boy’s arrival.

They posted a video showcasing Deborah’s journey to motherhood, from her final trimester to the moment she arrived at the hospital with her loved ones.

The video also captured the tender moment when Deborah hugged her newborn son, surrounded by her family.

In the caption accompanying the video, the Enenches expressed their gratitude to God for the new addition to their family.

“What a Faithful God we serve!” it reads. “He has not left us without His kindness and mercies in this season.

“We return all the Honor and Glory to Him for the Blessing of a Baby Boy on Sunday the 15th of December 2024.

“Congrats mummy Deborah and Daddy Sam.”

The announcement was met with an outpouring of congratulations from friends, family, and fans.

Hawthorn married Deborah in 2022. Their wedding sparked controversy after she walked down the aisle carrying a Bible instead of a bouquet.

At the time, Deborah said her choice of carrying the Bible reflected her desire to build her marriage on a strong spiritual foundation.

[TheCable]

Bitcoin soared to a record high above $106,000 on Monday following comments from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggesting plans to establish a U.S. Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, akin to the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

This announcement fueled optimism among cryptocurrency investors and sent prices skyrocketing.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency hit an all-time high of $106,533 before settling at $104,462, marking a 3.2% gain.

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, also saw gains, rising 1.5% to $3,965.

Market enthusiasm on the rise 

Investor confidence was further boosted by the inclusion of MicroStrategy, a major Bitcoin holder, in the Nasdaq 100 index. This development is expected to attract increased institutional inflows, adding to Bitcoin’s momentum.

“This is uncharted territory for Bitcoin. The market now has its sights set on the $110,000 mark. The anticipated pullback never materialized due to the overwhelming bullish sentiment driven by this news,” said Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG.

Bitcoin’s meteoric rise aligns with expectations that the incoming Trump administration will adopt a more favorable regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies. Trump’s remarks to CNBC last week hinted at an ambitious agenda:

“We’re going to do something great with crypto because we don’t want China or anyone else—others are embracing it—and we want to lead,” he said.

• When pressed on whether he envisioned a strategic reserve for Bitcoin, Trump responded affirmatively: “Yeah, I think so.” 

• The idea of a national Bitcoin reserve has gained traction as governments globally begin to explore similar strategies.

• Data from CoinGecko reveals that governments currently hold 2.2% of Bitcoin’s total supply, with the U.S. owning nearly 200,000 Bitcoins valued at over $20 billion. Other notable holders include China, the UK, Bhutan, and El Salvador.

Global shift toward crypto reserves

The concept of cryptocurrency reserves is not new. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. dollar’s diminishing role as a global reserve currency, citing its politicization. “Countries are turning to alternative assets, including Bitcoin. No one can prohibit it,” Putin remarked.

However, despite the excitement, skepticism remains. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently likened Bitcoin to gold, suggesting its role may be more speculative than practical.

Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone, expressed caution:

“While Trump’s comments provide a tailwind for Bitcoin, the establishment of a strategic reserve would be a complex process with far-reaching consequences. It’s not something likely to happen soon.” 

What you should know 

Bitcoin has surged more than 50% since the Nov. 5 election that saw Trump elected along with many other pro-crypto candidates. The total value of the cryptocurrency market has almost doubled over the year so far to hit a record over $3.8 trillion, according to CoinGecko.

• Trump – who once labelled crypto a scam – embraced digital assets during his campaign, promising to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet.”

• Trump this month named a White House czar for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, former PayPal executive David Sacks, a close friend of Trump adviser and megadonor Elon Musk.

• Trump also said he would nominate pro-crypto Washington attorney Paul Atkins to head the Securities and Exchange Commission.

• In Nigeria, stakeholders have urged the Nigerian government to take proactive actions to benefit from the impending crypto boom in the global market under a pro-crypto U.S. President, Donald Trump.

According to the President of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), Mr. Obinna Iwuno, in a statement shared with Nairametrics on Tuesday, said Nigerian regulators would need to take urgent actions on these steps to avoid losing value to foreign markets.

[Nairametrics]