Gist Arena

On January 4, 2014, 15 persons returned certificates issued to them by the West African Examination Council. During their individual exams, which spanned from 1983 to 2010, the 15 persons confessed that they were involved in various forms of exam malpractices, including impersonation. But now, as ‘born-again’ Christians, they said they could not live with the ‘sin’ anymore. Similarly, on February 24, 2015, WAEC published a list of 178 candidates, who returned their certificates on the basis of being ‘born-again’ and seeking restitution. They reportedly confessed to hiring people to sit exams for them. However, these candidates are rare examples. Cheating during examinations is quite common in Nigeria’s educational system. This is despite the fact that the Examination Malpractices Act No. 33 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates a minimum punishment of N50,000 and a maximum of five years imprisonment without the option of fine for violators of the offences stipulate...

Senator-elect and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, on Saturday, denied any past trip to the United States and ruled out any possibility of ever visiting the country in the future. In an interview with Sahara TV, which was monitored by our correspondent, the PDP chieftain likened such a visit to leaping into fire. Asked by the interviewer to clarify his alleged involvement in a United States criminal case as detailed in a popular prison memoir-turned-TV series by American, Piper Kerman, Kashamu refuted the claims. He said, “I am a Nigerian. I am not running away from my fatherland. If anyone thinks he has a case against me, he should follow due process and we will take it up from there. I am not under any obligation to go to the US to answer the same charges after the true judgment of the British court has exonerated me of the same allegations. “Asking me to take the next available flight to the US so as to cle...

Hajia Amina Sambo, wife of Namadi Sambo, Nigeria’s vice president, has vowed to return to school after the power transition scheduled for May 29. According to The Punch, this was one of the claims made by Sambo’s wife in the course of the May 9 ceremony organised in her honour by the Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women at the National Mosque, Abuja. A graduate of the Bayero University, Kano, also urged people to pray for the incoming APC-led administration of Muhammadu Buhari. Hajia Amina said: “I will like to continue to leave my doors open in case you will call on me. In case I say I am having exams (I am going back to school); so, do not be offended, I might be studying, but be assured that I will always be with you.” She praised the Muslim women for their support asking them, however, to forgive any real or imagined shortcomings of the outgoing administration. “I want to assure you that on my part, in my own little way, I will continue to ...

President Goodluck Jonathan has been implicated in the awarding of multi-million dollars Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) contracts to two factitious firms, according to The Nation The contracts in question were said to have been awarded by the president to Messrs CTOW Terminal & Marine Services and Ibejige Services Limited, two unregistered ghost companies in defiance of due process. The controversial contracts meant for the provision of third party towage services (TPTS) at Warri and Onne ports pilotage districts have come under intense scrutiny following revelations by sources close to the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMOT) in Abuja that the award of the contracts by NPA to the two firms did not follow due process . Added to the fact that the companies are not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), they also do not have a known address. Finding by The Nation, indicates that the president’s approval for the contracts was contained in a...

  Rihanna has a thing for her old flames..Just a day after they were spotted at a studio together, she was spotted hugging Drake at VIP Room, in NYC..Excited fans who spotted them took to twitter t share their excitment.. I've noticed whenever she's about to be linked back with Chris Brown, she openly hooks up with Drake..Maybe it's her way of shutting down those Chris rumours..This is the first time Rihanna and Drake have been spotted together since their split last year

Today is Mother's Day in the US and some parts of the world and many famous mum have published letters about their role as a mother to mark the special day on Times magazine. One of the famous mums is Victoria Beckham, who has 3 boys and a girl with David Beckham. Below is what she wrote “They are a wonder to me every day. From a teenage son through to a toddler daughter, each moment of every day is filled with different energies, activities, feelings and a lot of comedy. Being in a position where they live such a privileged life, it is important that our children understand humility, that they appreciate how their parents have worked very hard to create this life for the family and that they, too, have a responsibility to work hard, be respectful and never, ever take anything for granted. “Like so many working mothers all over the world, I feel the constant struggle to be the best mother I can, whilst setting a good example to my children to work hard. I trave...

Interesting article by Senator-elect & Chairman of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce. Read below Now that Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has been chosen by the Nigerian people, it is my duty as a patriotic Nigerian to help him succeed even though my candidate was Pres. Jonathan, a man to whom I will always be loyal and appreciative. General Buhari is about to mount the saddle and I for one am in a very good position to tell him some home truths because as a senator-elect, I have a very fulfilling job awaiting me and I do not need a job or favours from Buhari so I do not have to play nice. Looking at the personalities he has appointed to his transition council, I want to believe that General Buhari needs to expand his circle of friends and advisers. As a military strategist, the president-elect must be familiar with the principle that the people you use in subduing an opponent are not necessarily the same persons you will need in rebuilding the territor...