Nigerian Author Tope Folarin wins Caine Prize

US-based Nigerian writer, Tope Folarin has won this year's prestigious Caine Prize for African Writing.

He received the £10,000 ($15,000) prize for his short story Miracle, set in an evangelical Nigerian church in the US city of Texas.

The judges described it as a "delightful and beautifully paced narrative".

Folarin was among five writers short-listed for the prize, regarded as Africa's leading literary award, reports the BBC.

Three other Nigerians were short-listed - Elnathan John for Bayan Layi, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim for The Whispering Trees and Chinelo Okparanta for America.

Last year's winner was Rotimi Babatunde for his story Bombay's Republic - about Nigerian soldiers who fought in the Burma campaign during World War II.

Gunmen Kill 2 Soldiers, Abduct Expatriate Worker in Edo

Kidnappers in Benin City shot and killed two unidentified soldiers yesterday while another who was wounded is still on danger list at an undisclosed hospital.

This was just as one worker identified as an Israeli was abducted.

The soldiers were mainly on guard duty as orderlies to expatriate workers of the construction giant, Setraco Nigeria Limited.

The incident, which happened on the Aduwawa stretch of the busy Benin-Auchi road led to the abduction of two expatriate workers of the construction firm.

Details of the attack were still sketchy as at press time but a top army official confirmed the killing but promised to provide details later.

ASUU Strike: FG Meets with Vice-Chancellors

As the indefinite strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) enters its second week, the federal government has summoned the vice-chancellors of all public universities in Nigeria to discuss issues that caused the strike.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayatu Rufa'i, met with the VCs at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, Monday where she pleaded with the striking union to return to work, while negotiations continue.

This is as she disclosed that the Education ministry, along side ASUU National Executive Council members would meet with the Senate and House Committee on Education Tuesday.

“I believe after that meeting tomorrow, you will know the relationship between government and ASUU. But the good thing is that we always plead that let them go back to the classes. The

Breaking: Boko Haram and Minbar Ansar Deen group to be banned in UK

Membership of two extremist groups will become a criminal offence under planned changes to UK terror laws.

Home Secretary Theresa May wants to outlaw UK-based Minbar Ansar Deen and Nigeria-based Boko Haram.

An order to ban the radical Islamist organisations from operating in the UK will take effect from midnight on Friday if it is approved by Parliament.

Minbar Ansar Deen, also known as Ansar al-Sharia UK, allegedly promotes terrorism by distributing content through its online forum.

It encourages individuals to travel overseas to engage in extremist activity, specifically fighting, the Home Office said.

The Government said banning Boko Haram, which aspires to establish Islamic law in Nigeria, will prevent the group from operating in the UK and give the police powers to tackle any UK-based support for the group.

Decisions to proscribe the organisations are understood to be unrelated to the murder of

Humour: Just For The Laughs

Tweet of the Day: Eva Alordiah Goes Gangster On Blogger

After the emotional outburst, the rapper decided to set her twitter account on private.

Sofri, sofri dear.

VIDEO: Jackie Appiah reveals she is not on Facebook or Twitter

If you are one of those who follow, like or respond to post by ‘Jackie Appiah’ on facebook or twitter, then you are on a looong thing – this is because the actress is NOT in any of these social platforms. That means you’ve been dealing with an imposter.

Jackie Appiah, who was at the 2013 City People Entertainment Awards nominees’ party, held over the weekend in Accra, said she don’t have a Facebook or a twitter account; that the only social network site she uses is Instagram.

Incidentally, there are over sixty Facebook pages or profiles that uses Jackie Appiah’s photo as their profile picture and each of them garners a lot of likes and friends.

KiyoandFilo learnt that there are over twenty five twitter handles with Jackie’s name and photo

Gunmen Kidnap Gov. Dickson’s Aide in Rivers

Gunmen yesterday kidnapped the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State governor on Power, Mr. Olice Kemenanabo, at his Port Harcourt residence in Rivers State.

The gunmen invaded Kemenanabo’s house at 12, Iriebe Street in D-line axis of the city about 1.30pm while he was returning from a church service.

According to reports, Kemenanabo, who is also the Managing Director of Bayelsa Electricity Company, was taken away by the gunmen in his own car, a Toyota Avenza with registration number A 27-12 BY.

It was learnt that the gunmen had threatened to shoot their victim if he raised the alarm to attract people’s attention.

The whereabout of the victim were not known at press time as his family was yet to establish contact with the kidnappers.

Two Children Machete Mother to Death in Edo

Barely two weeks after a retired soldier macheted his wife to death for not allowing him to take a second wife, two children identified as Omolayo Ojeifo (25) and her younger brother, Taiye (20), at the weekend killed their mother, Mrs. Itowo Ojeifo in Lampese.

The community is a boundary town with Kogi State in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was learnt that Omolayo had been having some running disagreement with her mother, whom she allegedly accused of stalling her “progress in life” as well as bewitching her.

Ironically, Omolayo was said to have apologised to her mother few days to the incident, pleading for forgiveness that she was misled into believing that her mother was responsible for her ill fortunes.

On the fateful day, however, the suspect was said to have appealed to her mother to

New Video: Cuppy Ft Tunji Oyelana – I Love My Country

Housemaid jailed 28 years for stealing N35m jewellery

A housemaid, Mary John, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for stealing her mistress’ jewellery estimated at N35m.

The 30-year-old woman slumped moments after hearing the sentence, hitting her head against the carpeted surface of the court room.

The impact shook the walls of the court room, but she was quickly resuscitated and carried out by prison warders.

The convict had been arraigned since September 2012 on four counts of conspiracy, entry, breaking and stealing.

Her mistress, Mrs. Esohe Kadiri, a lawyer, said she stole wristwatches valued at N9m, bangles and bracelets worth N10m, diamond set worth N8m, rings worth N3m, chains and pendants worth N5m, and a camera priced at N100, 000, which all totalled N35, 100,000.

The theft was said to have occurred in July 2012 at her residence in Victoria Garden City, Ajah.

Kadiri, in her evidence before the court said John took advantage of her travel outside the

“They have done nothing wrong” – Tunde Bakare condemns suspension of Kumuyi’s son

Pastor Tunde Bakare, who is the General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly has spoken against the suspension handed out to John and Love Kumuyi, over the wedding attire the bride wore.

“I personally did not see what they have done wrong. A man is entitled to his own authority in his own home.1st Peter Chapter 3. A wife should dress to please the husband and not the members of the church or public. It’s sheer wickedness to the couple, they should leave them to enjoy their honeymoon,” he said in a recent interview.

“They should not squeeze them to the modus operandi of a particular organization. I did not see anything wrong in the wedding. The bride was not naked or dressed inappropriately and the groom didn’t. Esther the queen was beautifully dressed in the bible to gain the king’s attention. They should not make mountain out of a molehill.

“I was in the Deeper Life Bible Church for five years and nobody compelled me to dress the way I dressed. My wife was with me in the church though we weren’t married then. She wears earrings and dresses nicely. All this talk about this couple should stop.”

Photos: Beyonce Rocks Flag Shorts, Takes Blue Ivy to a Playground

Beyonce posted a series of photos on her Tumblr page, showing how she and husband Jay-Z have celebrated the start of summer and July 4 with their 18-month-old daughter, Blue.

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Photos: Iyanya Wishes Toolz Happy Birthday with Custom Made Cake

Iyanya wishes Toolz a happy birthday with custom made cake. The cake features the OAP in a hip-hugging red and black dress with headphones on.

Toolz birthday was yesterday (July 6^th).

I eavesdrop on my husband’s calls — Boy Alinco’s wife

Bayo Bankole is known to fans as Boy Alinco. An actor on the Papa Ajasco television series, he is married to Olayinka. They share the secret of the 10-year-old union

How did you meet?

Bayo: We met somewhere in Ibadan on the set of a movie and  that was about 10 years ago, she came to the movie set with a small drama club from  the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Olayinka: We met at a location in Ibadan, my group organised a production and he was invited as a guest artiste while I went as a make-up artiste. When he walked into the set with his bow legs, people were hailing him as ‘Boy Alinco’ and they were getting very excited over his presence.  I just moved and stood alone somewhere away from the crowd. He came to where I

22 year old Ezinne Akudo wins 2013 Miss Nigeria pageant

22 year old Ezinne Akudo beat 20 other contestants to emerge the 2013 Miss Nigeria at the Miss Nigeria 2013 beauty pageant that held yesterday at Intercontinental hotel, Lagos.The law graduate of Abia State University went home with N3million a brand new car and a trip to California.

Congrats to her!

PHOTOS: Chike Ike Rocks Low Cut On The Cover Of Fun and Fashion Magazine

Check out these new photos from Nollywood actress, Chika Ike from a photoshoot she did for Fun & Fashion Magazine.

She’s looking fab in low cut too.

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Glo XFactor Judge, Reggie Rockstone is now making condoms

He is fondly referred to as the Grandpapa of Hiplife; he sits as a judge on Africa’s first edition of ‘X-Factor’ reality show and he is also the owner of Rockstone’s Office.

Guess what he is into this time - Reggie Rockstone has veered into the business of making condoms – he calls it 'Rockstone Condoms'; and has released some promo shots.

This guy! What is his next move?

VIDEO: Watch President Obama Dance at Tanzania Ceremony

President Obama visited Tanzania on the final leg of his Africa trip and couldn't help showing off a few moves at a welcoming festival.

Photo of the Day: Construction work faster than Kim K and Kris Humphries marriage

Remember their marriage lasted 72 days!

Beyonce's dad, Mathew Knowles, marries former model, Gena Avery

Singer, Beyonce has a new stepmom – this is because her father Mathew Knowles had married former model Gena Charmaine Avery last weekend.

A rep for Mr. Knowles confirms to the Associated Press that the couple tied the knot on Sunday following a year and a half engagement.

According to the report, Knowles, 61 wed Gena Charmaine Avery, 48 in Houston, Texas last Sunday (June 30) after a year and a half of engagement.

The wedding revelation marks a return to the headlines for Knowles, who has maintained a low profile since first wife (Beyonce’s mother) Tina Knowles filed for divorce after he fathered a child with his secretary Alexsandra Wright in 2009. Beyonce parted ways with him as a manager two years later.

“There is more to me than Flashy Cars and Girls” – Wizkid

MY CAR ACCIDENT…

I really don’t like to talk about bad experiences because I believe that it’s like a lesson and stepping stone for everybody in life to learn something at some point. When I had that accident, it was the second time it would happen to me, so it was a reality check on me. What if one’s life ended that day? God forbid! I’m grateful for life and I made a promise never to slow down on what I’m good at.

WHY I WAS INVITED BY THE POLICE…

Some unsuspecting guys have been chatting with some fake Wizkid and we can’t readily give full details. We were invited by the Police which we granted. We gave our statements, the other party made their statements as well, but I cannot really say anything about that until the Police go further with their investigations. Though, we know that with the details that have been given, they must have been talking to a fake Wizkid or fake Wizkid management. So, this is really not

Secondary School in LagosTurns Brothel

A school that was turned into a brothel where hoodlums pay guards to allow them Be Intimate with their female companions at night has been raided by Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.

During the raid, two guards at the school, Ilupeju Grammar School, located at Ilupeju in Oshodi, were arrested and charged to court in connection with their alleged despicable roles in the matter.

PM News investigations revealed that the two guards, 60-year old Mr. Julius Okenla, and 45-year old Mr. Adebowale Adeloye, were accused of allowing hoodlums to sleep with their female friends in the school after they had allegedly been paid.

It was gathered that hoodlums who want to sleep in the school pay between N200 and N300 to the guards, while those with female companions pay N700 to be allowed to sleep in the school to Be Intimate.

I begged for food on streets of London –UK-based actress, Abike Ade

Nigerian-born radio presenter at Sky UK and Ireland, Ms. Abike Ade, in this interview with Punch speaks on her acting career, broadcasting, her late husband and other issues

How has it been working as a broadcaster in the United Kingdom?

It’s been very very challenging.

How challenging? What kind of stress you go through?

The challenges vary. It starts from building one’s image, keeping it up and getting better and better on a daily basis.

So, have you been able to build your image to a level you are satisfied with?

The stress starts from meeting up with the required standard from fans, individuals and at the same time keeping with my duties as a mother. I continue to work on my image as one is never satisfied. I strive to continue climbing until I reach my best. My best is yet to come.

Photos of Popular Actress Funke Akindele Climbing A Palm Tree

Yeah, you are right; it can only be on a movie set.

From her looks, I guess she’s not enjoying the experience!!!

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