Author: Opalim Lifted

Israel Adesanya is set to headline the UFC’s second Fight night event in Saudi Arabia on February 1, 2025, against Nassourdine Imavov at the venue in Riyadh. The middleweight clash marks a crucial opportunity for Adesanya to rebuild his career momentum after suffering recent defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. Imavov, holding a 15-4 record and riding a three-fight winning streak, represents a significant challenge for the former champion, with a potential victory potentially launching him into title contention. Adesanya, who previously dominated the middleweight division with a 20-0 record and multiple successful title defences, has experienced a…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has alerted Nigerians about the circulation and sales of substandard and unregistered sugar products.  FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said in a statement that the products include smuggled brands from Brazil such as Grupo Moreno, Terous, USI S. Joao, Alvean, and Arapora Bionergia. Ijagwu added that the products, which failed to meet mandatory Vitamin A fortification requirements, pose serious health risks to consumers. The FCCPC director said the substandard products undermine the integrity of the local sugar industry and contribute to price manipulation that harms the market. “Acting on a…

Famous American singer, Beyonce is set to headline the 2024 National Football League’s Christmas programming. The singer in a post on her Instagram page, announced that she will be performing during the halftime show of Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens NFL game. The 43-year-old performance at the match-up between Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens is anticipated to be the first live show to include her pivotal country album song, ‘Cowboy Carter’. In 2013, Beyonce headlined NFL Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, and also in 2016, she performed during the championship game with Coldplay and Bruno Mars. She recently became…

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has banned 13 schools in Kogi State from the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The schools were banned following their engagement in malpractices during the 2023/2024 WASSCE. The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mr. Wemi Jones, made the disclosure during a meeting with some principals and supervisors who were indicted by WAEC for examination malpractices. The commissioner also disclosed that the council had blacklisted 14 supervisors for exam malpractices in the 2023/2024 WASSCE. According to him, the government has vowed to sanction school principals, teachers and supervisors who engaged or aided examination malpractices…

Former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer expansion side San Diego FC. Mata, 36, moved to A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers in September. San Diego FC will enter the MLS in 2025 as the 30th team in the competition. “Joining San Diego FC as a partner is an exciting opportunity to help build something truly special in a city and league that are experiencing incredible growth,” said Mata. San Diego said Mata is the “first active international soccer player to hold an ownership stake in Major League Soccer”. Juan Mata…

The inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has filed a suit against Andy Uba, a former senator representing Anambra south, over allegations of fraud. Uba is facing a two-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 alongside two others – Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu. The charge, dated October 8, was filed before Inyang Ekwo, judge of a federal high court in Abuja. In count one, Uba, Crystal, Etu and one Hajiya Fatima (now at large), were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence in 2022. They were charged with deceiving George Uboh by allegedly claiming they could secure the appointment…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate swap of the pro-chancellors and chairmen of the governing councils for the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), and Federal University, Lokoja. In the reshuffling, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), who currently serves as the pro-chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, will take over at FUOYE. A statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at FUOYE, will now assume the role at Lokoja. “This strategic change is part of President Tinubu’s initiative to foster diversity and national cohesion in the management…

Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe runner-up at the just concluded 73rd Miss Universe Competition held in Mexico, has announced her decision to quit pageantry. Speaking during a recent interview with Silverbird TV, Adetshina said pageantry has been a traumatic experience for her. She said she’s quitting for personal reasons and relocating to Nigeria from her estranged country, South Africa. “Finishing in the top 2 [at the Miss Universe competition] is still a shocker for me… Honestly, I am done. Pageantry was a real traumatic experience for me,” she said. “People still don’t understand how I felt. There were times when I…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korea dozens of animals, including a lion and two bears, as a sign of friendship between Moscow and Pyongyang, Russian officials said Wednesday. The two countries have deepened political, military and cultural ties amid Russia’s offensive on Ukraine, with Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un repeatedly professing their personal camaraderie. “An African lion, two brown bears, two domestic yaks, five white cockatoos, 25 pheasants of various species and 40 mandarin ducks were transferred from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Zoo,” Russia’s natural resources ministry said in a post on Telegram.…

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino is leaving the MLS club for “personal reasons” a club source told AFP. The former Barcelona and Argentina coach led the team to the top of the regular season standings this season before a shock exit to Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs. Martino, widely known as ‘Tata’, joined Inter Miami last June as part of the transformation of the club that took place with the arrival of his compatriot Lionel Messi. Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup, a joint tournament between MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs, in his first season…