Amachukwu Innocent's Blog

Nothing you have been through is wasted . Years ago, I got a scholarship for a Master’s degree programme abroad. Excited, I wanted nothing more than to have my family join me in seeking the golden fleece of knowledge. Well, everything seemed alright except for one thing. I was pretty confident that our visas would be approved that I had spent a substantial amount of the scholarship money to buy plane tickets, book a hotel, pay for medicals and visa fees. I literally held nothing back in spending. After two weeks, I got the email that the application has been processed. Eager, I dashed to collect the ‘package’. Then, I opened the ‘bulky’ file and mine was approved but there were so many other white papers. Their visa had been refused. Right there, I slumped and shed an avalanche of tears. It was only but a simple error in filling the forms. A very simple one! I applied yet again explaining the error and once again refused. Then I went to the lawyers and filed my case twice yet a...

It is the people not the place that make the stuff of great nations. Take all Nigerians currently residing in Nigeria to say America or the United Kingdom and in the same sweep ask Americans and Brits to move to Nigeria. If a comparative assessment is done after twenty years, the New 'Nigeria' under the Brits or Americans will show far more economic, technological and infrastructural superiority than the 'America' and 'Britain' populated by Nigerians. The New 'Nigeria' will export renewable energy from solar, wind and probably be a nuclear power. There will be underground stations, trams, super-fast electric trains from Kano to Lagos and our educational centers will be Harvard and the new Yale. The New "Nigerian' passport will become stronger and no visas will be required when travelling to Switzerland or Canada. There will be ranches for grazing animals and our airports will surpass the architectural splendor of Changi. I will not be ...

Footballers in Spain have not ruled out strike action over a plan to stage a top-flight league match in the United States, says the players’ union,  BBC Sport  reports. Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and Barcelona vice-captain Sergio Busquets were among the high-profile players to attend a meeting on Wednesday to discuss their “concern” over the issue. La Liga agreed a 15-year deal with US media company Relevent on Friday.The players’ union – the AFE – says its members were not consulted by La Liga. Players from all of the La Liga sides met in Madrid on Wednesday to discuss the issue with AFE president David Aganzo. Among those in attendance were Ramos and Real Madrid team-mate Nacho, Barcelona duo Busquets and Sergi Roberto, Leo Baptistao from Espanyol, Bruno from Villarreal, and Atletico Madrid players Koke and Juanfran. Aganzo said: “The problem is the lack of common sense, a schedule where only the export of soccer benefits – nobody counts on the fans. “W...

Forbes has named George Clooney the highest-ever earner in acting. His wealth surged after his share of the $700m sale of his tequila company, Casamigos, to the British liquor company, Diageo. Clooney took home an industry-leading pre-tax paycheck of $239m in the calendar year between June 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018. The 57-year-old told Good Morning America: “We never planned on starting a tequila company. You know, we made Casamigos just for us to drink. “Once we did launch the company, we thought, ‘Hey, if we could sell a bottle or two, great. If not, at least we still get to drink our own tequila’. “So, four years later when we were offered a billion dollars to sell the company, yeah, we were kind of shocked”. Similarly, Scarlett Johansson, known for her role in the Avengers film as the Black Widow, has become the highest paid actress with $40.5m. Here are the ten highest-paid actors in the world, according to Forbes: 1. George Clooney — $239m 2. Dwayne “The Rock”...

In the past few weeks, an image of a skyscraper located in a rural community in Anambra state called Umuchukwu, in Orumba south local government area, has gone viral. This 15-storey building, which is about 80 percent nearly done, is being built solely by Dr. Godwin Maduka, a billionaire Nigerian-American doctor based in the United States of America. The edifice, which is expected to be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities in medical science, will be the first of its kind in Africa. It will also be used to assist students in clinical training and provide resource materials for lecturers and researchers. According to the Sun newspaper, when the building is done it will also serve as the temporary site for the Anambra state University, College of Medicine.                                                       The largest Medic...

"Regardless of where they’re from, Daura is also their home, and I hope that in the years to come they will look back to this time with fond memories," Buhari said.    SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK P resident Muhammadu Buhari has described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as one of the best things to happen to Nigeria. He stated this when corps members posted to Daura, his hometown, visited him on Tuesday. Buhari, who went to his hometown in Katsina for the Sallah celebration, was excited to receive the them, saying that regardless of whereveer they hailed from, Daura had become theri home. A series of posts via his personal handle, @MBuhari, read: “One of the Sallah traditions I look forward to the most is the visit by Youth Corpers posted to Daura. I think the NYSC is one of the best things that has happened to Nigeria, because of the opportunity it gives young Nigerians to see and know different parts of the country.” Noting that most of the corp...

Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly killed 63 people in Malari, a village in Borno state. An aid worker at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Monguno, a town in Borno,  disclosed this to Reuters. The aid worker said hundreds of survivors from villages in the area have fled to the IDP camp. Abatcha Umar, a witness, said the attack took place in the early hours of Sunday. Umar said he counted 19 bodies, including that of his younger brother. He added that the militants were spotted around the village three days before their attack and that residents informed soldiers stationed in the nearby town of Gudumbali, but no action was taken. Boko Haram fighters reportedly arrived in trucks firing guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The attack comes weeks after many soldiers were killed in an ambush in the north-east. Boko Haram has continued to carry out attacks in the north-east despite efforts by government to subdue the group.