Blurbs by Sadiq

Bukola Olatunji pays tribute to the former Rector of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Philip Olumuyiwa Adegbile, who died on Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 58. The opening quotation of the appreciation expressed by the children and family of the late Dr. Philip Olumuyiwa Adegbile, at his funeral held in Ede, Osun State on Thursday, April 10, said it all: "Life is not measured by the years that we live, but by the deeds that we do and by the joy that we give to humanity." It is worth thinking very deeply about.Everyone who had the privilege of interacting with the Doctor of Fibre Science and Technology would readily agree that no better quote aptly describes the life of the two-term former Rector of the Yaba college of technology (YABATECH).The Vice President of Grays International College, Kaduna and Ede (Osun State), left his home in Kaduna for Abuja on Thursday, March 20, 2003, to attend the meeting of 100 Eminent Citizens on Nigeria's 2010 World Cup Bid. Al...

On paper, it is a significant case of the rich getting richer. La Liga, which already boasted the Champions League and Uefa Cup winners, added a raft of top international talent in the summer, while managing to hang on to its established stars, with the exception of those who bowed to old age, Henrik Larsson and Zinédine Zidane. The competition kicks off on Saturday and, after doing the league and Champions League double last year, Barcelona are firm favourites. Frank Rijkaard, their coach, has epitomised the concept of adding to the squad slowly, acquiring a couple of key men year on year, while building on a stable base. He has signed three players this summer, compared with two the summer before: Eidur Gudjohnsen, the former Chelsea striker, plus the Juventus refugees, Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram. And, indeed, one gets the sense that the pair from Italy were signed only because they became available after the relegation of Juventus to Serie B as a result of the match-fixing...

As the political atmosphere gets ready for the 2007 general elections, politicians, left, right and centre are begging to canvass for the support of the electorate. In Katsina State, the story is not different. Politicians who hardly see eye to eye are now coming closer, forging political alliances that would make them relevant in post 2007 political arrangement of the country. On the other hand, politicians who were before eating from the same political pot have now become sworn enemies and are out looking for ways to outdo one another and possibly embark on political vendetta post 2007 elections. Katsina state is an interesting political arena. Nigerians would remember Katsina State for producing versatile and charismatic politicians, such as, the great political schemer, late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, late Alhaji Wada Nas, Alhaji Iro Danmusa, Barrister Mamman Abubakar Danmusa and the ANPP presidential candidate in the 2003 elections, General Muhammadu Buhari, ...

KATSINA state government has awarded contract for upgrading of Katsina Airport to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at the cost of N3.9 billion.The state commissioner of information, culture and home affairs, Alhaji Abdu Haro Mashi told newsmen that the contract is to be executed within 12 months.Mashi disclosed that 50 per cent of the amount will come from the federal government while the remaining 50 per cent will be provided by the state government.According to him, the contract includes upgrading of the run-way and increasing its width from 30 metres to 45 metres with 7.5-metre shoulders on either sides for suitable operation and landing of Boeing 747-900.He further stated that the contract also includes upgrading of the taxi-way, re-designing of the apron and run-way markings and piping of the open drainages.Other jobs to be executed by the contracting firm include delivering and installation of lighting system and installation of new remote control unit in the existing tower.Alhaji Mashi...

Wikki Warm Springs, in the Yankari Game Reserve in Nigeria, is a veritable river flowing out from underneath a sheer rock cliff. The water is so pure that it is bottled and sold, and tens of thousands of gallons flow out every day at a constant 75 degree temperature. It comes from under the cliff into a wide rock basin floored with white sand which varies in depth from one to seven feet. The whole area is shaded from the hot African sun by tall verdant trees. The only thing that kept it from being completely perfect was the baboon threat. We were warned that they would swing or sneak down while people were swimming and make off with their things. Fortunately, we weren't bothered by them. It was the best place to swim I've ever found. I loved to float down 200 yards or so with the current, then strain myself swimming back up to the rock face. We took a guided trip around the preserve and saw hippos, bushbuck, crocodile and various other African beasts, but unfortunately no eleph...

He is the boy who became a man before millions of admiring eyes over the course of the last year, yet spending time in the company of Cecs Fabregas reminds you that he is still just a kid. Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas in action during the UEFA Champions League final. A 19-year-old kid, in fact, but such a relevant detail could easily have been overlooked after a year that saw him step into Patrick Vieira's legendary boots at Arsenal and sparkle in both the Champions League and World Cup. His return to the Arsenal first team last week suggested there is even more to come from Fabregas as he produced a quite stunning display to all-but secure Arsenal's passage to the first phase of this season's Champions League against Dynamo Zagreb. Scoring twice in Zagreb and showing the sort of leadership on the field few of his age exude, Fabregas confirmed his status as the shining star among the gems Arsene Wenger has assembled in the last few years, yet when you sit next to this slight...

AS the year 2007 rapidly approaches, attention of the electorates in Katsina state, and Nigeria in general, is gradually being shitted, to those who would contest for various elective posts, at the federal, state or Local Governments level. Of special interst, to the writer of this piece is who occupies the number one lelective post in Katsina state, once again in its journey to democracy. It is to say the least, that aspirants across the state, have since been engaged in some covert and overt operations, aimed at wooing support, for their desirous acts. However, from the look of things, one could say, some of them are dead serious of their intention, Some are mere jokers, while others are definitely spoilers, hence the dire need, for careful scrutiny, to differentiate chaff from the grain, in determining who succeeds Governor Umarau Musa Yar'adua. This is especially so, looking at the striking achievements recorded over the last six years, by the incumbent administration in the st...

Exactly 10 years ago, Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere led Nigeria to win Africa’s first Olympic soccer gold medal. In this revealing interview, Bonfrere opens up on the full story of the Atlanta ’96 golden feat to DARE ESAN, editor of Nigeriansportsonline.com sister publication, Complete Sports. Mr Bonfrere, it’s now a decade since you led Nigeria to the soccer gold of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. How do you feel 10 years on?So it’s 10 years already. That was a great achievement but we also worked very hard to achieve this achievement. We had lots of players who were ready to work very hard. When you have a coach who likes to work very hard at improving his players then it is only logical that you achieve something.Winning the gold medal was a remarkable feat but it wasn’t just important for Nigeria alone as it was also important for the whole of Africa as we put not only Nigeria on the world map of soccer, but we put also Africa on the map.I feel very happy to have reached that heigh...

The quest to give Nigerian polo a fresh breath is fast becoming a reality, as a 10-man delegation of Nigerian youngsters are expected to jet out tomorrow to South Africa for a month-long training programme. The team, comprising Mallam Ahmed Dasuki, as leader of delegation, has seven participants, who are beginners and two officials, Mohammed Kyari, secretary Fifth Chukker Resort, Kaduna and Jibo Garba.The participants, who would also take on their South African counterparts in two international matches, are Bashir Bashir (jr.), Toby Edun, Khalid Dasuki, Fah’d Dasuki, Amir Baba Kusa, Hassan Abbati Ramahan and Altaf Abubakar.The team rounded off their preparations for the tour with a practise chukker at Fifth Chukker Resort, playing alongside experienced high handicappers like Bello Buba, Sayyu Dantata, Adamu Atta, Mohammed Babangida and Ibrahim Mohammed among others.Packaged by Oho Sports Limited, the programme would take the boys to Johannesbourg and Durban, where they would meet with ...