Rivers State Has Raised the Bar of Sports Festivals in Nigeria.

The Rivers State government, led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi - has raised the bar of the National Sports Festival (NSF) through the infrastructure, standard and organization implemented at the 17th NSF tagged "The Garden City Games 2011". 

Observers say that the Garden City Games   had increased massively the value and the branding NSF thereby according the festival the status it deserves in Nigeria...Vanguard

If you were at the opening ceremony, which happened right behind my apartment in Port Harcourt, you would think you were in any of the All African games, Olympics or Commonwealth games. It was just marvelous! I implore other states to emulate this feat and raise the bar even further....meanwhile, thumbs up for Rivers State and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Dangote Builds Largest Fertilizer Plant in Africa

The Dangote Group and the Saipem Group have signed an agreement for the facility engineering works that will launch the construction of the biggest fertilizer project in Africa. The fertiliser plant that will be sited in Edo State will be built by Saipem and it will have a production capacity of 7.700 MTPD of granulated Urea, (two trains with a production capacity of 3,850 metric tons each per day) ...Leadership

Apart from providing a major boost to the agricultural sector and establishing self sufficiency in fertilizer production in Nigeria, this project will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians throughout all phases of its lifecycle.

...Alhaji Aliko Dangote represents what I call "A True Patriot". Keep it up brother!

Nigeria's media scene is one of the most vibrant in Africa

Nigeria's media scene is one of the most vibrant in Africa. State radio and TV have near-national coverage and operate at federal and regional levels. All 36 states run their own radios, and most of them operate TV stations.

Radio is a key source of information. International broadcasters, including the BBC, are popular. However, rebroadcasts of foreign radios are banned.

Private radio and TV stations have been licensed, and there is substantial take-up of pay TV. Private TVs in particular are dogged by high costs and scarce advertising revenues. Moreover, legislation requires that locally-made material must comprise 60% of output. Viewing is concentrated in urban areas... BBC

...not bad, eehn?

Cocoa is Nigeria's second-biggest foreign-exchange earner

Cocoa is the second-biggest foreign-exchange earner for Nigeria,  Africa’s leading oil producer...ICCO Exports of beans in 2010 rose 2.3 percent to 200,333 metric tons, according to data from the Federal Produce Inspection Services, a government agency that supervises the shipments.

...the Nigetain government also need to sustain and increase its export potentials in related non-oil products. Other export candidates are Groundnuts, Palm Oil, and Cassava

The Naira may strengthen to 145 per dollar by the end of 2011

Nigeria’s naira headed for the biggest three-month gain in 14 quarters against the dollar after demand for the U.S. currency ebbed before the central bank lifts curbs on foreign investors’ debt holdings.

The naira advanced 1.1 percent to 152.025 per dollar today in interbank trading in Lagos, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Naira has appreciated 2.6 percent since March 31, the best three-month gain since the quarter through December 2007.

The naira may strengthen to 145 per dollar by the end of the year after policy makers decided to lift a requirement for foreign investors to hold local-currency investments in government securities for at least a year starting July 1, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Lamido Sanusi said June 23. “Positive interest rates” will aid the gain, he said.

...that's a thumb up for CBN Governor. However, caution needs to be excercised  not to use this monetary policy to address only inflation but also consider the impact of rising naira on other indices such as foreign direct investments (FDIs), competitiveness of Nigerian exports, local industries and ofcourse employment.

Access Bank Nigeria wins the prestigious Sustainable Finance Award for the Africa/Middle East Region

ACCESS Bank Plc of Nigeria, has emerged the winner of the 2011 FT/IFC “Sustainable Bank of the Year Award” for Africa and Middle East region.

Accoding to TheGuardian ,  the award was presented to the bank at the Financial Times/IFC Sustainable Finance gala dinner in London, attended by about 200 senior decision-makers in finance and sustainability.

“The FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards highlight how financial institutions create shared value that benefits both shareholders and society,” said IFC Executive Vice President and CEO Lars Thunell. “This year we are also recognising how sustainable finance, notably pension funds and private equity, is supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, a key source of job creation and economic growth in most countries.”

...well done to Access Bank! Just keep up the innovative services.

Nigeria's Economy May Overtake South Africa's by 2025, says Morgan Stanley

The US bank, Morgan Stanley, has projected that Nigeria's economy could overtake South Africa’s by 2025 to become the biggest on the African continent. The forecast is that the Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP) will hit $400 billion by 2020... Bloomberg.  

Tech Mahindra, has moved its outsourcing operations to Nigeria

A technology firm, Tech Mahindra, moves its outsourcing operations to Nigeria. The global systems integrator has announced Nigeria as the headquarters of its Business Process Outsourcing activities in Africa...Tech Mahindra.

This is good news for the Nigerian I.T. sector...

Dealing with Difficult Co-Workers

10 Simple strategies for dealing with difficult colleagues at work. Salary.com

...Just sharing.

Arise, O Compatriots. . . Yes! It's still Nigerian National Anthem.

 

Arise, O compatriots,

Nigeria's call obey

To serve our Fatherland

With love and strength and faith.

The labour of our heroes past

Shall never be in vain,

To serve with heart and might

One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.

O God of creation,

Direct our noble cause;

Guide our Leaders right:

Help our Youth the truth to know,

In love and honesty to grow,

And live in just and truth,

Great lofty heights attain,

To build a nation where peace and justice reigns.

... yes, that is still the Nigerian National Anthem (1978 - present)

The Nigeria under-23 top scorer Anthony Ujah, signed a US$4.3 million deal with the German club Mainz

A Nigerian striker, Anthony Ujah,  who scored 13 goals in 12 matches this season in the ongoing Norwegian league, has signed for German club Mainz.

The 20-year-old top striker signed a four-year deal with the German club Mainz for US$4.3 million...BBC Sport

Nigeria Ranks the World's 4th Fastest Growing Economy

It’s good news as Africa dominates the list of world's fastest economy while Nigeria rank's the 4th  fastest growing economy in the world... See page 5 of the Standard Chartered report.

However, I implore our leaders - politicians, economists, planners etc not to allow the 2011-2015 prediction of  slipping to the 10th position come true.

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan Ranks 9th on Top 25 most-powerful world leaders ranking

Our own President Goodluck Jonathan out ranks leaders of Italy (14th), Canada (16th), Israel (19th), UK (21st) etc in the Top 25 most-powerful world leaders according to their number of friends, likes and followers. GlobalPost.

President Goodluck Jonathan emerged 9th with 580,846 friends in Facebook and 15,062 Twitter followers. The U.S. President Barack Obama ranks 1st with 21,776,236 friends in Facebook  and 8,800,530 Twitter followers.

This serves as an  indication of how popular or out-of-touch some of our present political leaders realy are...

Keep it up, Mr. President!

Arise, and Shine!

The objective of The Nigerian Blog is summarised by this quote:

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it"

 - Edith Wharton (1862-1937) 

So, if you are one of those special Nigerians or friends of Nigeria who still believes in Nigeria, not minding the part of the divide you belong, this blog is for you.

Arise, Spread the Nigerian Light, and Let's Shine as One!