#BBB NEWS| Robert Smith, African-American Billionaire, Seeks To Fund The Education Of Freed Chibok Girls

The next phase of life for 21 Chibok girls who were freed from the captivity of Boko Haram will include their continued pursuit of an adequate education.

According to The Root, Robert Smith, an African-American billionaire, seeks to fund the education of those girls by enrolling them at the American University of Nigeria.

The scholarship will include the girls’ room and board and their yearly tuition, which can hit close to $11,000. In a statement presented to Forbes, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Smith will also guide the educational dreams of “others who will hopefully be eventually set free.”

Smith, 54, attained financial freedom after establishing Vista Equity Partners, tallying his company’s worth at $26 billion. His net worth stands at $2.5 billion. At the top of 2016, Smith granted his alma mater, Cornell University, with a $50 million check and became the chairman of Carnegie Hall.

#BBB NEWS| Netflix Is Coming To Nigeria

Netflix announced on Wednesday that it will be launching its streaming service in 130 countries.

Among the countries listed was Nigeria, a fact that has caused excitement and intrigue across the country. Netflix is one of the most popular on-demand streaming services in the United States for video, movies, and television shows.

Netflix announced that they would expand operations into Africa during the opening keynote address at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Other countries part of Netflix’s expansion plan include India, North Korea, Syria, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Netflix’s arrival to Nigeria has meant that domestic video streaming services such as Iroko, started by Nigerian entrepreneur James Njoku, are now facing increased competition.

#BBB NEWS| Nigeria Is Built On Satanic Foundation, Says Fani-Kayode

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, says Nigeria has refused to develop because it was built on a ‘satanic’ foundation.

The former minister said this in a Facebook post titled, ‘Lord Lugard’s Magic and Flora Shaw’s Spell.’

Fani-Kayode, who also served as the Minister of Tourism under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said the manner with which Nigeria was created in 1914 was the reason the country was still struggling.

He said both Lord Fredrick Lugard, who was the first Governor-General of Nigeria; and his wife, Flora Shaw (later Flora Lugard), who gave Nigeria its name, were worshippers of Satan.

Fani-Kayode said, “It is generally agreed though not commonly admitted that both Lugard and Flora Shaw wereLuciferians who practised the black arts and all manner of satanic rituals.

#BBB NEWS| Nigeria Names Nwabueze Obi, Acting Director General Of Maritime Agency, NIMASA

Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi has taken over as the Acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) following the handing over by Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi as directed by the Federal Government. (pictured above) Nwabueze Obi Photo Credit: Muyiwa Akintunde

Barrister Obi, who until his appointment was the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services in the Agency, brings over two decades experience in the public sector, law practice and the maritime industry into his new responsibility.

Born on May 1, 1964, Barrister Obi, who hails from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, studied Law at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 after duly completing the mandatory studies at the Law School.

#BBB NEWS| Jidenna Expresses His Love For Nigeria In An Open Letter [PHOTOS]

“Classic Man”  creator Jidenna is a Nigerian-American rapper that is taking over the hip hop game! He recently interviewed with VladTV about his experience in Nigeria and got dragged to the mud! The creative artsy lyricist now responds to backlash for interview about Nigeria!

Jidenna has come under fire for a recent interview on Vlad TV where he commented on being light-skinned in Nigeria. He stated, “The fact that you have African blood in you is gonna make it hard. When you’re light-skinned, you’re a heavier target for being kidnapped because you’re seen as more valuable. We were robbed–our family’s been assaulted. We’ve had a lot of issues.”

In his own defense against his detractors who took his comments as painting Nigeria in a negative light, he penned an open letter on his website reaffirming his doubters.

He writes, “I am, always have been, and always will be proud of my Nigerian heritage. I understand the pain and anger caused by some of the comments I made in a recent interview, and I wanted to address you directly. Contrary to popular belief, this interview was not the first in which I mentioned Nigeria. In fact, I’m frequently bragging about how Nigerians attend the world’s most prestigious institutions, and how we are known to produce world class doctors, entrepreneurs, innovators, lawyers, engineers, professors, athletes and artists.”

#BBB NEWS| Nigeria, No Longer In Chains – Tinubu

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said that Nigeria has been liberated from years of the Peoples Democratic Party’s misrule as Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as the new President of the country.

In a statement issued on Friday to mark Democracy Day titled, ‘A new Nigeria is possible beginning today,’ Tinubu urged Nigerians to continue to hold public office holders responsible to ensure that their struggle is not in vain.

He said, “Today, the old Nigeria is no longer in chains as we move into a new era and take hold of our new selves. From President (Muhammadu) Buhari to the state governors inaugurated this day, I wish them well and pray they govern in an open, democratic way that assures your optimal wellbeing.

#BBB NEWS| Stay Away From Nigeria, NANS Tells Jacob Zuma

The National Association of Nigerian Students has advised South African President, Jacob Zuma, to stay away from the inauguration of the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

The organisation also threatened to storm the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, should Zuma step into the country’s airport.

According to the association, Zuma should keep off as his visit will be an insult to the sensibility of Nigerians over his alleged poor handling of the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other migrant foreigners in South Africa.

A statement by NANS President, Tijani Usman, noted that Zuma’s inability to “apologise to Nigerians like he did to Mozambique”, despite the sacrifices the country made for South Africa, was unfortunate.

#BBB NEWS| US Invests $35 Million In Fight Against Boko Haram

The United States will provide $35 million in military and defense support services to France as part of America’s investment in the war against Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram. (pictured above) President Goodluck Jonathan German foreign affairs minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius during a visit to the State House in Abuja on Monday Photo Credit: State House Photo

The American support, contained in a press statement issued by the White House late on Wednesday, is to provide assistance to France which has been actively supporting Nigeria’s French speaking neighbors—Niger and Chad—in their fight against Boko Haram insurgents as well as Mali, which is battling Islamist extremism.

The three French-speaking have been in the forefront of the war against the dreaded Islamist terrorist group.

Curiously, America’s new support did not mention Nigeria, the country worst hit by Boko Haram’s terrorist assaults. The conspicuous omission of Nigeria has raised questions in diplomatic circles whether the apparent snub represented a continuing fallout from strained relations between the Goodluck Jonathan administration and President Barack Obama over the former’s original questionable response to the Boko Haram menace.

#BBB NEWS| I Will Handover A Nigeria Completely Free Of Terrorist Strongholds, President Jonathan Assures

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan pledged Thursday in Abuja that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territory still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29, 2015.

Receiving a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The President said that ongoing military operations in the North-East had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.

“We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one Local Government Area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

#BBB NEWS| South Africa Closes Consulate In Nigeria

The South African Consul General in Nigeria, Sam Monaisa, has announced that the South African Consulate in Nigeria will close operations until Thursday.

The decision was made in response to a combination of threats from social media and anti-xenophobia protests by Nigerians.

Monaisa wrote that, although the situation in South Africa was calming down, he still had concerns about Nigerians especially those being repatriated from South Africa.

He said that Nigerians on social media were blowing things out of proportion and that the situation in Durban was calming down.

#BBB NEWS| Nigeria Has Developed A New Political Maturity, And I'm Proud To Have Witnessed It In My Lifetime By Roland Digieneni

Today is a big day for Nigeria. It's the anniversary of the Boko Haram abductions, and the helter skelter of election season is coming to an end as the final results of the gubernatorial elections are announced. International media attention today is focussed on the Chibok girls, as well as the unfortunate flash-points, fracases and floggings that happened over the course of the last weeks.

But despite this, after being engaged in local politics for 35 years, I'm very happy, very proud with how democracy is progressing in Nigeria. I feel a healthy political maturity is being developed, with notably less violence than in previous elections. I wish to reflect on the salient lessons we've learnt from these elections.

Being on the losing side

The mood is not good in my community. 'Our man' Goodluck Jonathan did not win in the Presidentials. The APC have just cemented their victory in the gubernatorial elections. I hardly know a single person in my community who voted for Buhari's APC, so people are mourning a political defeat.

#BBB NEWS| Buhari Hails Nigerians, Congratulates Jonathan

Nigeria’s President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has dedicated his win to Nigerians, saying they are the ultimate victors.

In a televised speech Wednesday, after the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attahiru Jega, officially declared him the winner of Saturday’s presidential election, Mr. Buhari said “In a more profound way, it is you, Nigerians that have won. The people have shown their love for our nation and their belief in democracy”.

Mr. Buhari said Nigerians have made history, and that it was the resolve of Nigerians that made the change they were yearning for possible.

“The good people of Nigeria, answered the call of history. When the account of this fine moment is written, it will be said that it was the people themselves who led this nation to democracy,” he said.