Femi Kuti, others nominate for 2014 Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards 2014 Nominees: Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar Lead The Pack, Femi Kuti Gets Nomination [Full Nominee List]

The nominees have been named for the 2014 Grammy Awards, and it seems to be a good year for rappers.
Jay-Z had the most nominations with 9, while fellow rappers Kendrick Lamar & Macklemore and Rya Lewis have 7 apiece.
Pharell and former N-Sync singer Justin Timberlake also have 7 nominations.
Nigeria is lonely represennted by Femi Kuti, who grabbed a nomination for Best World Album
The Recording Academy announced the nominations Friday during a concert at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. The 56th Grammy Awards will be held on Jan. 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Record of the year

Get Lucky — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Radioactive — Imagine Dragons
Royals — Lorde
Locked Out Of Heaven — Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell

Album of the Year

The Blessed Unrest — Sara Bareilles
Random Access Memories — Daft Punk
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City — Kendrick Lamar
The Heist — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red — Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

Just Give Me A Reason — Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Pink Featuring Nate Ruess)
Locked Out Of Heaven — Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Roar — Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry Walter, songwriters (Katy Perry)
Royals — Joel Little & Ella Yelich O’Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
Same Love —- Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert)

Best New Artist

James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran

Best Pop Solo Performance

Brave —- Sara Bareilles
Royals — Lorde
When I Was Your Man — Bruno Mars
Roar —- Katy Perry
Mirrors —- Justin Timberlake

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Get Lucky — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Just Give Me A Reason — Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
Stay — Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
Suit & Tie — Justin Timberlake & Jay Z

Best Pop Instrumental Album

Steppin’ Out — Herb Alpert
The Beat —- Boney James
Handpicked — Earl Klugh
Summer Horns — Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot
Hacienda — Jeff Lorber Fusion

Best Pop Vocal Album

Paradise — Lana Del Rey
Pure Heroine — Lorde
Unorthodox Jukebox — Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke
The 20/20 Experience — The Complete Experience — Justin Timberlake

Best Dance Recording

Need U (100%) — Duke Dumont Featuring A*M*E & MNEK
Sweet Nothing — Calvin Harris Featuring Florence Welch
Atmosphere — Kaskade
This Is What It Feels Like — Armin Van Buuren Featuring Trevor Guthrie
Clarity — Zedd Featuring Foxes

Best Dance/Electronica Album

Random Access Memories — Daft Punk
Settle — Disclosure
18 Months — Calvin Harris
Atmosphere — Kaskade
A Color Map of the Sun — Pretty Lights

Traditional Pop Field

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Viva Duets — Tony Bennett & Various Artists
To Be Loved — Michael Bublé
The Standards — Gloria Estefan
Cee Lo’s Magic Moment — Cee Lo Green
Now — Dionne Warwick

Rock Field

Best Rock Performance

Always Alright — Alabama Shakes
The Stars (Are Out Tonight) — David Bowie
Radioactive — Imagine Dragons
Kashmir — Led Zeppelin
My God Is the Sun — Queens Of The Stone Age
I’m Shakin’ — Jack White

Best Metal Performance

T.N.T. — Anthrax
God Is Dead? — Black Sabbath
The Enemy Inside — Dream Theater
In Due Time — Killswitch Engage
Room 24 — Volbeat Featuring King Diamond

Best Rock Song

Ain’t Messin ‘Round — Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)
Cut Me Some Slack — Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic & Pat Smear, songwriters (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear)
Doom And Gloom — Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, songwriters (the Rolling Stones)
God Is Dead? — Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi & Ozzy Osbourne, songwriters (Black Sabbath)
Panic Station — Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)

Best Rock Album

13 — Black Sabbath
The Next Day — David Bowie
Mechanical Bull — Kings Of Leon
Celebration Day — Led Zeppelin
…Like Clockwork — Queens Of The Stone Age
Psychedelic Pill — Neil Young With Crazy Horse

Alternative Field

Best Alternative Music Album

The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You — Neko Case
Trouble Will Find Me — The National
Hesitation Marks — Nine Inch Nails
Lonerism — Tame Impala
Modern Vampires Of The City — Vampire Weekend

R&B Field

Best R&B Performance

Love And War — Tamar Braxton
Best Of Me — Anthony Hamilton
Nakamarra — Hiatus Kaiyote Featuring Q-Tip
How Many Drinks? — Miguel Featuring Kendrick Lamar
Something — Snarky Puppy with Lalah Hathaway

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Please Come Home — Gary Clark Jr.
Get It Right — Fantasia
Quiet Fire — Maysa
Hey Laura — Gregory Porter
Yesterday — Ryan Shaw

Best R&B Song

Best Of Me – Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
Love And War – Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels & Makeba Riddick, songwriters (Tamar Braxton)
Only One – PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder)
Pusher Love Girl – James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)
Without Me – Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert, Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart, songwriters (Fantasia Featuring Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliot)

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Love And War – Tamar Braxton
Side Effects Of You – Fantasia
One: In The Chamber – Salaam Remi
Unapologetic – Rihanna
New York: A Love Story – Mack Wilds

Best R&B Album

R&B Divas – Faith Evans
Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
Love In The Future – John Legend
Better – Chrisette Michele
Three Kings – TGT

Rap Field

Best Rap Performance

Started From The Bottom – Drake
Berzerk – Eminem
Tom Ford – Jay Z
Swimming Pools (Drank) – Kendrick Lamar
Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Power Trip – J. Cole Featuring Miguel
Part II (On The Run) – Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
Holy Grail – Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
Now Or Never – Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
Remember You – Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd

Best Rap Song

…Problems – Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar, Rakim Mayers & Noah Shebib, songwriters (ASAP Rocky Featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
Holy Grail – Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley, Justin Timberlake & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl & Krist Novoselic, songwriters) (Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake)
New Slaves – Christopher Breaux, Ben Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye West & Cydell Young, songwriters (Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser, songwriters) (Kanye West)
Started From The Bottom – W. Coleman, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Bruno Sanfilippo, songwriter) (Drake)
Thrift Shop – Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz)
FULL COVERAGE: Grammy nominations 2014

Best Rap Album

Nothing Was The Same – Drake
Magna Carta…Holy Grail – Jay Z
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City – Kendrick Lamar
The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Yeezus – Kanye West

Country Field

Best Country Solo Performance

I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
I Want Crazy – Hunter Hayes
Mama’s Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

From This Valley – The Civil Wars
Don’t Rush – Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill
Your Side Of The Bed – Little Big Town
Highway Don’t Care – Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
You Can’t Make Old Friends – Kenny Rogers With Dolly Parton

Best Country Song

Begin Again – Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
I Drive Your Truck – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Jimmy Yeary, songwriters (Lee Brice)
Mama’s Broken Heart – Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Merry Go ‘Round – Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
Mine Would Be You – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Deric Ruttan, songwriters (Blake Shelton)

Best Country Album

Night Train – Jason Aldean
Two Lanes Of Freedom – Tim McGraw
Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves
Based On A True Story – Blake Shelton
Red – Taylor Swift

Best New Age Album

Lux – Brian Eno
Illumination – Peter Kater
Final Call – Kitaro
Awakening The Fire – R. Carlos Nakai & Will Clipman
Love’s River – Laura Sullivan

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Don’t Run – Terence Blanchard, soloist
Song For Maura – Paquito D’Rivera, soloist
Song Without Words #4: Duet – Fred Hersch, soloist
Stadium Jazz – Donny McCaslin, soloist
Orbits – Wayne Shorter, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album

The World According To Andy Bey – Andy Bey
Attachments – Lorraine Feather
Liquid Spirit – Gregory Porter
WomanChild – Cécile McLorin Salvant
After Blue – Tierney Sutton

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Guided Tour – The New Gary Burton Quartet
Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue – Terri Lyne Carrington
Life Forum – Gerald Clayton
Pushing The World Away – Kenny Garrett
Out Here – Christian McBride Trio

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Brooklyn Babylon – Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Night In Calisia – Randy Brecker, W¿odek Pawlik Trio & Kalisz Philharmonic
Wild Beauty – Brussels Jazz Orchestra Featuring Joe Lovano
March Sublime – Alan Ferber
Intrada – Dave Slonaker Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album

La Noche Más Larga – Buika
Song For Maura – Paquito D’Rivera And Trio Corrente
Yo – Roberto Fonseca
Egg¿n – Omar Sosa
Latin Jazz-Jazz Latin – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

Break Every Chain [Live] – Tasha Cobbs
Hurricane – Natalie Grant
Lord, I Need You – Matt Maher
Overcomer – Mandisa
If He Did It Before… Same God [Live] – Tye Tribbett

Best Gospel Song

Have Your Way – Calvin Frazier & Deitrick Haddon, songwriters (Deitrick Haddon)
If He Did It Before… Same God [Live] – Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett)
If I Believe – Wirlie Morris, Michael Paran, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
A Little More Jesus – Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Erica Campbell)
Still – Percy Bady, songwriter (Percy Bady Featuring Lowell Pye)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song

Hurricane – Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant & Cindy Morgan, songwriters (Natalie Grant)
Love Take Me Over – Steven Curtis Chapman, songwriter (Steven Curtis Chapman)
Overcomer – David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)
Speak Life – Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore & Ryan Stevenson, songwriters (Tobymac)
Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies) – Ed Cash, Scott Cash & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)

Best Gospel Album

Grace [Live] – Tasha Cobbs
Best For Last: 20 Year Celebration Vol. 1 [Live] – Donald Lawrence
Best Days Yet – Bishop Paul S. Morton
God Chaser [Live] – William Murphy
Greater Than [Live] – Tye Tribbett

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

We Won’t Be Shaken – Building 429
All The People Said Amen [Live] – Matt Maher
Overcomer – Mandisa
Your Grace Finds Me (Live) – Matt Redman
Burning Lights – Chris Tomlin

Best Latin Pop Album

Faith, Hope Y Amor – Frankie J
Viajero Frecuente – Ricardo Montaner
Vida – Draco Rosa
Syntek – Aleks Syntek
12 Historias – Tommy Torres

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco – Café Tacvba
Ojo Por Ojo – El Tri
Chances – Illya Kuryaki And The Valderramas
Treinta Días – La Santa Cecilia
Repeat After Me – Los Amigos Invisibles

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

El Free – Banda Los Recoditos
En Peligro De Extinción – Intocable
A Mi Manera – Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
Romeo Y Su Nieta – Paquita La Del Barrio
13 Celebrando El 13 – Joan Sebastian

Best Tropical Latin Album

3.0 – Marc Anthony
Como Te Voy A Olvidar – Los Angeles Azules
Pacific Mambo Orchestra – Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sergio George Presents Salsa Giants – Various Artists
Corazón Profundo – Carlos Vives

Best American Roots Song

Build Me Up From Bones – Sarah Jarosz
Invisible – Steve Earle & The Dukes (& Duchesses)
Keep Your Dirty Lights On – Tim O’Brien And Darrell Scott
Love Has Come For You – Steve Martin & Edie Brickell
Shrimp Po-Boy, Dressed – Allen Toussaint

Best Americana Album

Old Yellow Moon – Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Love Has Come For You – Steve Martin & Edie Brickell
Buddy And Jim – Buddy Miller And Jim Lauderdale
One True Vine – Mavis Staples
Songbook – Allen Toussaint

Best Bluegrass Album

It’s Just A Road – The Boxcars
Brothers Of The Highway – Dailey & Vincent
This World Oft Can Be – Della Mae
Three Chords And The Truth – James King
The Streets Of Baltimore – Del McCoury Band

Best Blues Album

Remembering Little Walter – Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia & James Harman
Cotton Mouth Man – James Cotton
Get Up! – Ben Harper With Charlie Musselwhite
Seesaw – Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa
Down In Louisiana – Bobby Rush

Best Folk Album

My Favorite Picture Of You – Guy Clark
Sweetheart Of The Sun – The Greencards
Build Me Up From Bones – Sarah Jarosz
The Ash & Clay – The Milk Carton Kids
They All Played For Us: Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Celebration – (Various Artists)

Best Regional Roots Music Album

The Life & Times Of…The Hot 8 Brass Band – Hot 8 Brass Band
Hula Ku’i – Kahulanui
Le Fou – Zachary Richard
Dockside Sessions – Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
Apache Blessing & Crown Dance Songs – Joe Tohonnie Jr.

Best Reggae Album

One Love, One Life – Beres Hammond
Ziggy Marley In Concert – Ziggy Marley
The Messiah – Sizzla
Reggae Connection – Sly & Robbie And The Jam Masters
Reincarnated – Snoop Lion

Best World Music Album

Savor Flamenco – Gipsy Kings
No Place For My Dream – Femi Kuti
Live: Singing For Peace Around The World – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
The Living Room Sessions Part 2 – Ravi Shankar

Best Children’s Album

Blue Clouds – Elizabeth Mitchell & You Are My Flower
The Mighty Sky – Beth Nielsen Chapman
Recess – Justin Roberts
Singing Our Way Through: Songs For The World’s Bravest Kids – Alastair Moock & Friends
Throw A Penny In The Wishing Well – Jennifer Gasoi

Best Recording Package

Automatic Music Can Be Fun – Mike Brown, Zac Decamp, Brian Grunert & Annie Stoll, art directors (Geneseo)
Long Night Moon – Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)
Magna Carta…Holy Grail – Brian Roettinger, art director (Jay Z)
Metallica Through The Never (Music From The Motion Picture) – Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat & David Turner, art directors (Metallica)
The Next Day – Jonathan Barnbrook, art director (David Bowie)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Rob Cavallo
Dr. Luke
Ariel Rechtshaid
Jeff Tweedy
Pharrell Williams

Best Music Video

Safe And Sound – Capital Cities | Grady Hall, video director; Buddy Enright, video producer
Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film – Jay Z | Mark Romanek, video director; Shawn Carter & Aristides McGarry, video producers
Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Ray Dalton | Jon Jon Augustavo, Jason Koenig & Ryan Lewis, video directors; Tricia Davis, Honna Kimmerer & Jenny Koenig, video producers
Suit & Tie – Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay Z | David Fincher, video director; Timory King, video producer
I’m Shakin’ – Jack White | Dori Oskowitz, video director; Raquel Costello, video producer

We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again - President Obama

Nelson Mandela now “belongs to the ages,” President Barack Obama said last night in mourning the late South African leader and icon.

“We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,” he said as he talked about how the political powerhouse inspired him.

“He no longer belongs to us; he belongs to the ages,” Obama said in brief remarks at the White House.

“We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela ever again,” the president said. “So it falls to us, as best we can, to carry forward the example that he set.”

Obama paid tribute to Mandela shortly after the South African government announced the former president’s passing at the age of 95. Obama paid tribute to Mandela in personal terms, noting that his first political action was a protest of South Africa’s apartheid policies.

“I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s life,” Obama said. “Like so many around the globe, I cannot imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set.”

He added: “So long as I live, I will do whatever I can to learn from him.”

Kofi Annan’s statement on Nelson Mandela passing away

“The world has lost a visionary leader, a courageous voice for justice, and a clear moral compass. By showing us that the path to freedom and human dignity lies in love, wisdom and compassion for one another, Nelson Mandela stands as an inspiration to us all.

I shall never forget his expansive smile and gentle demeanour, nor his steely determination and wonderful sense of humour. I have lost a dear friend. While I mourn the loss of one of Africa’s most distinguished leaders, Madiba’s legacy beckons us to follow his example to strive for human rights, reconciliation and justice for all.”

Nelson Mandela: The Soul Of Africa Has Departed, And There Is Nothing Miraculous Left In The World-Wole Soyinka

In a rare and short tribute to former South African president and anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka had this to say "
 "The soul of Africa has departed, and there is nothing miraculous left in the world."

A woman sodomizes for alleged stealing, This is pathetic

                                                          This injustice is too much, where is this world turning to?

Jonathan to ASUU: Go back to work or get sacked

President Goodluck Jonathan has told university teachers to choose between returning to work on Wednesday, or get sacked.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe, sent the President’s warning to the lecturers yesterday at a news conference.
The President’s aide described the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as rigid and insensitive, adding that ASUU was out to undermine the Presidency and subvert the Federal Government.
Okupe said: “The negative disposition of the ASUU leadership is unarguably a pre-conceived and calculated treacherous plot pointedly intended to undermine the Presidency and subvert the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“This is clearly a hallmark of a leadership that is determined to employ subterfuge in an attempt to hold government, students and their parents and other stakeholders to ransom in a reckless and irresponsible display of insensitivity, lawlessness and absolute lack of patriotism and even the fear of God.
“Unfortunately, all this is perpetuated using unsuspecting but otherwise loyal, patriotic and responsible members of ASUU whose families are also sad victims of this reprehensible and callous attitude of their leadership.
“From all indications therefore and other information available to government, it has become obvious that this is no longer an altruistic strike borne out of good intentions and aimed at improving the welfare of students and staff of the universities and the standard of our educational institutions.
“Rather, it is an evil programme motivated by selfish political interests and motivations within the polity.”
The government lamented what it described as ASUU’s intransigence despite the various concessions made to the lecturers, stressing that the teachers have pushed the government to the wall.
“Given the fact that government had reached agreement with ASUU to make available N100 billion for the provision of infrastructure on campuses of 61 universities covered in the needs assessment of universities, with a further commitment of another N200 billion over the next two years, and N40 billion of the N90 billion Earned Allowances demanded by the lecturers one would have expected them to reconsider their stand.
“This was despite the fact that the ASUU leadership in the meeting with President Jonathan failed curiously to articulate the basis of the calculation of the demanded N90 billion earned allowance, which has been on the table since 2009.
“It becomes crystal clear therefore that the Federal Government has shown good faith and commendable commitment by acceding to most of the demands of ASUU.
“This ordinarily ought to be a thing of pride and an outstanding achievement to the ASUU having been able to secure these unprecedented concessions as a direct benefit of the prolonged and painful five month strike.
“Given this dangerous and invidious tendency, no right thinking government sworn to protect the welfare of its citizens will fold its arms and watch the situation deteriorate any further.
“History has shown that when governments worldwide are pushed to the wall, they take whatever lawful steps that are necessary to protect the interests of its people and the state over which they govern.
“This is why we make bold to state that there is absolutely nothing dictatorial, draconian or undemocratic in the order by the Federal Government for striking lecturers to return to work or face dismissal.
“You may wish to recall that on the 5th of August 1981, Ronald Reagan then American President, sacked 11, 345 air traffic controllers after a two-day strike. Reagan took the decision after the striking workers turned down an 11 per cent wage increase he had offered them.”
Okupe stated that the demands of the ASUU leadership unwittingly questioned the integrity of the President, adding that the ASUU leaders went into negotiation with the government with a mindset.

Source: The Nation

Bayelsa Govt Sends 250 Youths To Asari Dokubo’s University In Benin Republic For Training

The Bayelsa Government has sent 250 youths from the state on automobile technology, cinematography, photography and design in a bid to patronize the academy set up by former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, one of President Jonathan’s supporters for his re-election bid in 2015 polls.
The scheme was announced in Yenegoa at a reception for 200 Bayelsa graduates of a six- month agricultural training programme at the Songhai Integrated System, Cotonou.
The training programme will be held at the Amachree Royal Academy, Benin Republic, which is owned by ex-militant leader,  Alhaji Asari Dokubo.
Although the cost of the contract was not disclosed, SaharaReporters gathered that the scheme is calculated to empower Dokubo for the job of harassing Mr. Jonathan’s opponents before the 2015 Presidential Polls.
It will be recalled that the ex-militant leader had a brush with the authorities in Benin Republic last week, but was released days later following the intervention of Nigeria leader Goodluck Jonathan.
At the reception, which also doubled as a send-off orientation for the 250 youths going for the vocational training, Dickson declared his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, and charged them to take their training seriously.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Thomas Commander, congratulated the graduates for the successful completion of the programme in spite of some challenges.

He expressed the state government’s desire to engage some of the graduands, but disclosed that those who intend to be self-reliant, would be encouraged and supported by the government.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Parkinson MacManuel, said the 250 trainees would depart for Benin Republic on Dec. 1

Source: sahara reporters