Churchill Choken

Update:: The federal government will, today, resume talks with the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), with the hope of an agreement that would bring an end to the ongoing strike in public universities. Universities lecturers went on strike on November 4, demanding improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the government. The national president of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, confirmed the meeting to Www.churchillchoken.blogspot.com on Monday morning. The meeting is scheduled to hold at the Ministry of Labour and Employment at 4p.m. This will be the eighth meeting since the union embarked on the industrial strike. Www.churchillchoken.blogspot.com had earlier reported how the union asked Nigerian government to release N50 billion, to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalisation of public universities, in line with previous agreements with them. The striking lecturers gave this as one of the condition for calli...

If you were asked at age 10 where your wedding ring would be, you’d probably know the answer. But the question is “why is the wedding ring worn on the left hand and is it compulsory?”   The reason that answers why the wedding ring is worn on the left hand dates back to ancient times. This is why: The lovers’ vein Back in the second century, the Egyptians believed that a certain vein ran from the fourth finger on the left hand straight to the heart. Years later, the Romans believed this and the vein was called the “vena amoris” or lovers’ vein. So, to seal a union based on love, a ring was to be placed on that finger, like a physical representation of two hearts being connected. wedding ring worn on the left hand European customs During the seventeenth century, Europeans started wearing wedding rings on their right hands based on Orthodox doctrines. However, an English Bishop capitalised on that rule to break away from the church. He asked couples to ditch the prac...

Popular actress, singer and reality TV star Bisola Aiyeola is celebrating her 33rd birthday today.  Bisola came into the limelight when she competed on the 2017 edition of Big Brother Naija where she finished in second place. Since then she has become a regular fixture on the news cycles, acting in more movies, releasing more music and being an all-around entertainer. At the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, she was announced as the recipient of the AMVCA Trailblazers Awards. Happy birthday Bisola. 

Update:: Camila Cabello has hinted at a collaboration with Mark Ronson. The 21-year-old singer has taken to her Instagram account to post a behind-the-scenes photograph of herself and Mark in a studio alongside Ilsey Juber, who co-wrote Camila's 'She Loves Control'. Camila captioned the snap with writing and kissing emojis, while Mark also posted the same image on his own Instagram. He wrote: "Feelings & Consequences @camila_cabello @ilsey (sic)" Camila's Instagram post arrived shortly after she revealed on Twitter that she's recently returned to the recording studio, where she's been busily working on her new album. She wrote on the micro-blogging platform: "1st day back to writing the new album- I feel so lucky that I get to do this every day. This was my dream when I was younger, getting to make songs everyday and now I'm here. I'm reminding myself of that every single day this year (sic)" Prior to that, Camila ...

Update:: "World's oldest man" Masazo Nonaka, who was born just two years after the Wright brothers launched humanity's first powered flight, died on Sunday aged 113, Japanese media said. Nonaka was born in July 1905, according to Guinness World Records — just months before Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity.

Update:: Two African presidents have congratulated Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi for winning last month's presidential poll, despite the African Union saying it had "serious doubts" about the result. The constitutional court ruled that Mr Tshisekedi had won after rejecting a challenge from rival Martin Fayulu. He said Mr Tshisekedi made a deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila. Mr Tshisekedi's team denies this. Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa both sent their congratulations.

Update:: Israel's military says it has started hitting Iranian targets in Syria. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says its operation is against the Quds Force - elite units of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. It provided no details. But there are reports of strikes around the Syrian capital Damascus early on Monday. Syrian media say air defences have repelled "an Israeli aerial attack". On Sunday the IDF said it had intercepted a rocket over the Golan Heights.

Update:: Ten UN peacekeepers from Chad have been killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants in northern Mali, the UN says. Another 25 Chadian troops were injured when the gunmen stormed the UN camp in Aguelhok early on Sunday. The attack was repelled, the UN says. The UN mission in Mali was set up in 2013 to fight Islamist militias operating in the country. Militants have regularly attacked UN and Malian troops since then. Al-Qaeda's North-African branch, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, said it carried out the latest attack, local media report. Large swathes of northern Mali were seized by jihadists in 2012 until they were pushed back in a French-led military operation the following year.

Update:: Nicole Kidman thinks she "played it safe" with her career in the past but now always looks for roles that will challenge her. The 'Aquaman' actress is now happy to make "spontaneous and random" decisions on what projects to take on and lives by the motto "why not?". She said: "I think maybe I played it a little safe in the past, and went for the work I thought I was meant to do, which spoke to the idea of what and who an actress is supposed to be. "But, for the most part, I've followed my spirit, which motivates me to go against the grain. "I'm completely spontaneous and random in my decisions. Never let it be said that I don't have diverse taste. "I love jumping into the deep end. Why not? That's my favourite saying, I think it has such potential and choice, why not?" The 51-year-old actress - who has children Isabella, 25, and Connor, 23, with ex-husband Tom Cruise and Sunday, 10 a...

Update:: Raucous cheers erupted from Philippine boxing fans in Manila who jumped in joy to celebrate the victory of Manny Pacquiao against Adrien Broner on Sunday, comparing their 40-year-old idol to a "fine wine". Filipinos had been confident their champion Pacquiao would easily defend his welterweight title in Las Vegas and the boxer did not disappoint, earning a unanimous decision victory against an opponent 11 years his junior. From children to the elderly, screaming and fist-pumping fans gathered together to watch the fight in the nation's gymnasiums at traditional free public viewing events. "Manny Pacquiao is like a fine wine. Gets better through the years. He can still throw flurry of punches for a 40 year old," said Twitter user @gemmedgem. "I was jumping in joy when I saw him because Manny Pacquiao is really my idol. Filipinos are happy and it gives us honour to have him as a boxer," Jenny Gitgano, 56, told AFP after watching the ...

Update:: Senator Stella Oduah has said that she would build an Information and Communication Technology Mall in Onitsha that will boost the N6.4 billion turnover of the Market. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, the Senator who represents Anambra North in the Senate, said that the mall was part of her plans to empower her constituents. Oduah explained that the Mall will help give the market and the businessmen a more global presence even while they remain in Onitsha, adding that it would also boost the economy of the state. She said that the Sky mall will come up after the training of 800 youths from her constituents in ICT, adding that the youths will operate the mall. “We are setting up various ICT Centres. Very soon this month, we are training 800 in ICT. We are going to develop a Sky Mall for the Onitsha Main Market. “Onitsha is a commercial town that has a turnover of N6.4 billion every day, but it is very unorganized. “So we want to e...

Update:: The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) on Friday said Nigeria will join other countries of the world to experience total lunar eclipse on Monday. The information was contained in a statement issued to NAN by Dr Felix Alle, the Head, Media and Public Communications of the agency in Abuja. According to Alle, lunar eclipse is one in which the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth’s shadow. He stated that “lunar eclipse occurs only when the sun, earth and moon are exactly aligned with the earth between the two. “There will be a lunar eclipse over Nigeria on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. “The eclipse, expected to be total, will begin in the evening of Sunday and end on Monday. “The eclipse will start across Nigeria in the early hours of Monday at approximately 3.36 a.m. to reach its maximum at 6.12 a.m. and end at about 6.51 a.m. “The total duration of the occurrence over Nigeria will be three hours and 15 minutes.” The media head sai...

Update:: The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has reacted to the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. Speaking with Www.churchillchoken.blogspot.com on Saturday night, Chuks Ibegbu, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the organisation said the Federal Government has refused to meet the demands of ASUU because they want Nigerians, especially the youths to remain in ignorance. Ibegbu reminded the current Federal Government that education was the bedrock of every developed society, hence they must meet the demands of ASUU. According to Ibegbu: “Education is the bedrock of any society. A nation that does not give priority to science and technology is a failure and that is why we are where we are today. Nigeria has failed to give priority to education. “Those people that have looted our economy over the years are not interested in investing in education, they want Nigerians to be ignorant; that is why they are suf...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government are to resume talks Monday ( tomorrow ) on how to resolve the impasse over the two - month - old strike embarked upon by lecturers. National President of ASUU, Prof . Biodun Ogunyemi , confirmed the development in a telephone interview with Www.churchillchoken.blogspot.com , in Abuja, on Friday . He , however , said the union was not optimistic about the prospects of an early resolution of the industrial dispute. In response to a question on whether there had been any fresh development with regard to the resolution of the dispute, Ogunyemi said, “ I ’ am afraid nothing new . I understand they will be meeting us on Monday. Let ’s wait and see if they take a reasonable step ; it will determine our next line of action . Until then , let ’ s wait and see . ” The ASUU president had in an exclusive interview with The Www.churchillchoken.blogspot.com last week said members of the union were tired of government ’s faile...

Earlier on, mother of Nigerian singer Falz, expressed her concern about the fact her son doesn’t go to church - Reacting to the news, Daddy Freeze stated that even though she has every right to be worried, most Nigerian churches misrepresent the true nature of Christianity - He went on to advice the singer to study the scripture as that is the only way to become a true christian At the recent launch of singer Falz's new album, Moral Instruction, his mother Funmi Falana, revealed that the singer no longer goes to church, expressing her concern over the issue as she urged him to start attending. As expected, controversial Nigerian OAP and leader of the #FreeTheSheeple movement, Daddy Freeze weighed in on the matter. According to Freeze who is an avid critic of Nigerian churches and her leaders, he stated that the singer isn't missing much as most Nigerian churches misinterpret the true meaning of the religion. In his words: "Although, like the good mother she is, ...

Update:: An indication of where our moral compass is heading In a statement today signed by SERAP senior legal adviser Bamisope Adeyanju, the organisation said: “Consistent with their right to participate in their own government, Nigerian voters deserve a substantive debate during the campaign about issues that affect them, particularly with respect to combating corruption. Now is the time to make commitment for specific reforms that will strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption record and standing in global ranking. Set forth below are 5 main anti-corruption priorities that candidates should address. Please let us know which positions you will support.” The letters dated 19 January, 2019 read in part: “Candidates should commit to scrapping security votes spending by presidents and state governors by repealing the constitution to include specific prohibition of security votes. They should also commit to a comprehensive audit of spending on security votes by presidents and governo...

Update:: President Muhammadu Buhari will on Jan. 24, inaugurate the Zik Mausoleum in Onitsha, as part of activities slated for his re-election campaign in Anambra. Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, the South East Zonal Coordinator of Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation made the announcement at the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting in Awka on Saturday. Ikeazor said that on arrival, Buhari would pay a courtesy a visit on the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and his Council, before proceeding to inaugurate the Mausoleum. “You are aware that the Zik Mausoleum has been abandoned for so many years but at the inception of the Buhari administration in 2015, Mr President promised to complete the project and it has been completed,” she said. She said that thousands of APC faithful and supporters were expected to attend the campaign rally at the Holy Trinity Basilica ground in Onitsha. “The party has concluded plans to deploy strategies to win the election including door-to...

The long anticipated presidential debate, schedule for Nigerians is here, with the candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP),Kingsley Moghalu, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Obiageli Ezekwesili, and Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye  present at the venue. The debate started with Mark Eddo, the Moderator who called in the presidential candidates in their alphabetical order. Atiku and Buhari were absent. Kingsley Moghalu was first to speak, listing things he can do if he eventually becomes the president. After Moghalu came Fela Durotoye who equally reeled out his party’s manifestos and how he stands as the best candidate for the 2019 presidential election. However,  Ezekwesili spoke extensively on what she will do for the country come 2019 if she wins. Approach to the economy? Moghalu I will reform the educational system I will give jobs to youths Give access to loans that can be paid What secto...