Cape Town based Silvertree Capital (www.silvertree-capital.com), an Africa-focused business builder and venture capital investor, has invested in two of Nigeria’s largest e-commerce sites, Sunglasses.com.ng and Glamour.com.ng., according to a press release by Silvertree.

Both of these leading e-commerce sites offer a broad range of top consumer brands to the burgeoning online shopping market and have a free delivery charge throughout Nigeria.

Sunglasses.com.ng specialises in genuine, high-fashion eyewear and contact lenses while Glamour.com.ng secures one of the top positions in online retail for cosmetics, fragrances and personal care products. Both e-commerce sites have been built and funded by Startup Partners Africa (SPA) based in Berlin, Germany and Lagos, Nigeria.

Manuel Koser, Founding Partner at Silvertree Capital and previously co-founder at Zando, said, “We are very enthusiastic about the online market in Nigeria, which is beginning to show tremendous growth as more consumers start using the internet to shop.”

Nigeria has a population of over 160 million people, roughly three times the size of South Africa and is rapidly increasing. In 2012, the Nigerian retail market had a volume of approx. EUR 30 bn with 15% yearly growth rate. Internet penetration is at ca. 30% fuelling the tremendous e-commerce growth.

Suspected Islamist extremists have attacked a secondary school and military checkpoint in Nigeria’s northeast state of Yobe, leaving 11 people dead including seven students, the military said Monday.

Details were sketchy and the information could not be independently confirmed. Mobile phone lines have been cut in much of the northeast since the start of a military offensive targeting Islamist extremist group Boko Haram on May 15 and access to the area is limited.

The attackers were said to have stormed student living quarters on Sunday night in the city of Damaturu and shot sporadically, killing seven students and two teachers. Two insurgents were also killed, the military said.

A military checkpoint was also attacked and soldiers fought a five-hour gun battle with the extremists, leaving three soldiers wounded, said Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, a military spokesman in Yobe state, where Damaturu is located.

“Two teachers and two insurgents were killed during the separate attack, while seven innocent students lost their lives,” he said in a statement.

“Three of the Boko Haram terrorists were arrested and are presently in (military) custody.”

The sequence of events was unclear, including whether the shootout occurred around the school or at the checkpoint. Lazarus could not be reached for further information.

Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates to “Western education is sin,” has carried out multiple attacks on schools in violence-torn northeast Nigeria.

The group has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.

The insurgency has left some 3,600 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security services, who have come under major criticism over alleged abuses.

BELO HORIZONTE, June 17, 2013 (AFP) – Nnamdi Oduamadi claimed a hat-trick as Nigeria shook off the jet lag to thrash minnows Tahiti 6-1 in their opening Confederations Cup game in Belo Horizonte on Monday.

The African champions only arrived in Brazil 36 hours before the game after a row over bonus payments, but they could even afford some wasteful finishing as they leapfrogged world champions Spain to the top of Group B.

It was a predictably chastening experience for Tahiti, ranked 138th in the world, but they were nonetheless able to celebrate when Jonathan Tehau headed in their first ever goal at a high-profile international event.

Tehau’s goal, early in the second half, trimmed Nigeria’s lead to 3-1 after a deflected Uwa Echiejile shot and a pair of goals from Oduamadi had put Nigeria in command.

However, the south Pacific islanders’ hopes of a famous comeback were dashed as Tehau put through his own goal before Oduamadi and Echiejile added further goals to give Stephen Keshi’s men a spring in their step ahead of Thursday’s crucial showdown with Uruguay.

Oduamadi: scores a hat trick

There were only 20,187 people in attendance at the newly renovated Estadio Mineirao but they were vocal in their support of Tahiti, who were granted a standing ovation at the end of the game.

“I’m very proud of the team, who fought to the end,” Marama Vahirua, Tahiti’s only professional player, told Brazilian television.

“We came here with the goal of winning the hearts of the fans. The Brazilian public has adopted us and it makes us very happy.”

There were roars of encouragement when Tahiti full-back Vincent Simon registered the game’s first shot on target in the second minute, but fortune deserted the underdogs moments later.

After the ball bounced off referee Joel Aguilar, Echiejile launched a speculative shot that deflected off Tehau and captain Nicolas Vallar and ricocheted past Tahiti goalkeeper Xavier Samin.

Oduamadi added two more, neatly side-stepping a pair of challenges and sweeping home in the 10th minute, before tapping in his second when Samin spilled a low cross from Ahmed Musa.

Nigeria made heavy work of putting the game to bed though, with Musa, Anthony Ujah and Sunday Mba all failing to convert glaring opportunities before the goal that Tahiti had been threatening arrived in the 54th minute.

The honour fell to Tehau, who headed in a deep corner kick from Vahirua at the back post and then led his ecstatic team-mates in a canoe-paddling celebration.

The goal also sparked jubilation on the bench, coach Eddy Etatea leaping from the dug-out with his fists in the air, but Tehau’s day took a turn for the worse in the 68th minute when he inadvertently toed the ball into his own goal to restore Nigeria’s three-goal advantage.

Oduamadi tucked in a cross from substitute Brown Ideye to complete his hat-trick in the 76th minute, with Echiejile adding a sixth shortly after as Tahiti’s reserves of resistance finally ran dry.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appeared today to have launched his campaign for re-election in 2015, meeting a high-powered delegation of Middle-Belt and South-South Elders under the aegis of the Congress for Equality and Change led by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark and former Senate President, Ameh Ebute.

Jonathan had his greatest support in the states represented by the group in 2011 election. Observers believe he was preparing the ground to seduce those states for another support in 2015.

When he spoke, he declared that his administration will never allow itself to be derailed from pursuing its Transformation Agenda to its logical conclusion.

Jonathan with Ebute, Clarke. Photo State House

President Jonathan pledged that his administration will continue working diligently to build on the achievements catalogued in its mid-term report to the nation.

The President also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to moving Nigeria progressively forward along the path of development articulated in the Transformation Agenda.

President Jonathan commended the elders for “working tirelessly to bring us to where we are today,” and for their continued support, promising that “as our leaders, we will continue to do our best to justify the confidence you have reposed in us.”

He also thanked the Middle Belt and South-South regions of the country for their contributions to national unity, stressing that the unity of this country “depends on the cooperation of all.”

Chief Clark had earlier told the President that the Congress for Equality and Change, formed in 2010, is made up of 13 states in the North and six states in the South where there are minority ethnic groups.

The co-leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Congress, Senator Ebute, said that the group is committed to promoting the equality of all Nigerians.

Senator Ebute said that this commitment informed the total support given to President Jonathan in 2010 and 2011.

While commending the Mid-Term Scorecard of the Jonathan Administration, Senator Ebute said that the scorecard had encouraged the Congress “to go out and showcase the achievements and ask Nigerians to continue to support President Jonathan to accomplish more for the nation.”

Ayo Oluokun/Abuja

The Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee, NWC of Peoples Democratic Party finally ate the humble pie on Monday as it rescinded its decision suspending the Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamakko. The party had at the end of its NWC meeting of 4 June announced the suspension of the Governor over what it described as repeated breaches and disregard to its Constitution.

The PDP NWC had accused Wamakko of ignoring its invitations and lawful directives while showing complete apathy to the affairs of the party.

A communiqué of the meeting, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said “consequent upon the refusal of the Governor to honour yet another invitation by the NWC to appear before it today, Wednesday, June 5, 2013 without any reason, the Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 57 (7), 58. 1(c ),(h), (f) and 59 (1),(2), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, as a member of the party and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.”

“This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the Party to enforce discipline at all levels within the Party,” the communiqué said.

In a statement issued the next day which was also signed by Metuh, the party further explained that Wamako was suspended for serial insubordination to the Tukur, the party national chairman. Metuh said in the statement that “sometime in early April, the leadership of the party was concerned with the statements and conduct of the Governor whereupon the National Chairman placed several calls to draw the attention of the Governor to the matters concerned.

“However, it was not possible for the National Chairman to speak with the Governor despite several attempts. The National Chairman thereafter vide a letter dated 12th April, 2013 requested an explanation to the NWC within seven days.

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur: chairs NWC of PDP

“Instead of replying the National Chairman, Governor Wamakko directed the Sokoto State Secretary of the Party, Mallam Aminu Bello Sokoto to reply the National Chairman. The State party Secretary in a letter dated April 14, 2013 and on the official letterhead of the Sokoto State Government House, replied the National Chairman on behalf of the governor.

“This amounted to gross disrespect and act of insubordination to a National Officer and a lawful organ of the party which is in violation of Articles 58.1 (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP constitution which prescribed sanctions for any member who (c ) “disobeys or neglect to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party”, (h) “engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the Party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the Party” and (m) “fails, refuses or neglects to treat a petition, complaints or appeal timeously” respectively,” the statement added.

The PDP statement did not mention the specific statement or actions of the Sokoto Governor.

It also added that in spite of Mr. Wamakko’s apparent disrespect to Mr. Tukur, “ the NWC, vide a letter dated April 17, 2013 kindly requested His Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko to appear before it on the 8th of May, 2013 to clear the issues thereof.”
“The NWC also wrote to the State Secretary, Sokoto PDP, Mallam Aminu Bello Sokoto requesting explanations for his actions as a state party officer, in replying the National Chairman.

“Regrettably, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko never honoured the invitation and refused to respond in any way despite repeated invitations from the NWC, an action which is in clear violation of Article 58.1 (c), of the PDP constitution. In the same vein, the State Secretary, Sokoto PDP also refused to respond to the National Working Committee (NWC).
“Consequently, the NWC at its 336th meeting held on May 22, 2013 suspended the State Secretary, Sokoto PDP Mallam Aminu Bello Sokoto and communicated the decision to him in a letter dated May 22, 2013.
“The NWC thereafter extended yet another invitation to His Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko in a letter dated May 23, 2013 in which it requested him to appear before it on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 to clarify the issues.

“Unfortunately, in complete disregard to a lawful organ of the Party, His Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, instead of appearing before the NWC traveled out of the country on Tuesday June 5, 2013 without any form of response to the party,” the statement said.
But the Sokoto State Governor who was not in the country when the decision was announced wasted no time in condemning his suspension on his return to the country last week. The Governor also called for the removal of Tukur and other members of NWC who he accused of serially violating the party’s constitution and constituting impediments to the progress of PDP.

The Governors’ view on his suspension received open support of Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of House of Representatives and Sule Lamido, the Governor of Jigawa State.

Tukur told journalists that the decision to lift the suspension slammed on Wamakko followed appeals from the PDP Governors Forum led by the Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio.

The Sokoto State Governor has also vowed never to recognise the Akpabio led PDP Governors Forum.

The withdrawal of commercial motorcycles from roads in Benin metropolis, southsouth Nigeria, Monday began to cause hardship as thousands of commuters were stranded on the roads.

Most of the roads were filled with students, workers, market women and other commuters waiting to catch buses or taxi cabs to their various destinations.

Commuter buses had a field day transporting commuters to their various destinations, many of who could have otherwise taken a ride on Okada, the banned commercial motorcycles.

Drivers of the buses however took advantage of the ban on Okada to hike their fares. Commuters had to pay between N50 and N60 for a trip from Uselu market to Ring Road, as against the N30 or N40, while a trip from Ugbowo to Ring Road now costs N100 as against N70 previously charged.

All major roads and streets of the city, including Ring Road which was notorious for indiscriminate parking of motorcycles and reckless manoeuvring between vehicles, were free and devoid of heavy traffic jam that characterised those areas before now.

Activities of operators of tricycles otherwise known as Keke NAPEP are also restricted to interior streets of the town, as they were barred from operating on major roads, especially around the city centre (Ring Road), Mission Road, New Benin Market, Sakponba Road and other major roads.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State had last week announced a total ban on commercial and private use of motorcycles and a partial ban of Keke NAPEP in Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas making up the Benin metropolis, citing security reasons for the ban.

No motorcycle and Keke NAPEP were sighted on all the roads monitored Monday by P.M.NEWS from as early as 7 am, except along Okhoro Road where a soldier in uniform was seen riding a motorcycle from the Okhoro police station end of the road to the Lagos Road side. He however zoomed off before his photograph could be taken.

A commuter, a banker who simply identified himself as Sandra, who spoke to P.M.NEWS, said she had to leave home as early as 6.30 am as against 7 am to beat the delay occasioned by anticipated traffic jam.

She said she would always “prefer to ‘fly’ on bikes to my various destinations. It helps to beat traffic jams and it’s more convenient for me. If I have my way, I will reverse the ban. See now, I had to leave home 30 minutes earlier than my regular time of departure.”

Thousands of other commuters who could not wait for buses resorted to trekking to their various destinations.

Osas who operated Keke NAPEP along Medical Store Road till Sunday night, lamented the restriction on their activities.

“See me now, I used to drive Keke here on Medical Road, but I have to drop it at home and walk. How long this will go on?” he said.

—Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Leading elite clubs Kano Pillars, Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves are among 34 teams that will be involved in the Round of 64 games of this year’s Federation Cup competition on Wednesday.

Wolves go up against Dynamite FC of Benin City at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba, near Onitsha while Sunshine Stars, semi-finalists in last year’s CAF Champions League competition, will tackle Fountain FC of Ekiti at the Ilorin Sports Stadium.

Pillars, reigning Premier League champions, take on Global Academy FC of Anambra at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja.

Bendel Insurance will also be involved in the fireworks, as they play J. Atete FC of Delta in Akure for a place in the Round of 32, while Sharks FC of Port Harcourt face Kogi United in Warri and Plateau United of Jos and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi battle at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Katsina Sportlight play Bagu Mission in Kaduna; El-Kanemi Warriors are up against Apa United in Bauchi; Gombe United are at Bussdor of Owerri’s throat in Abuja; Adamawa United and Nasarawa United have issues to resolve in Gombe; Nembe City tackle Igbo Ambassadors of Ebonyi in Owerri and; Enyimba of Aba face Police Machine from Nasarawa in Ado Ekiti.

Already, City of David (COD), the Lagos club coached by former Super Eagles’ gaffer Augustine Eguavoen, as well as JUTH FC, MFM Lagos, Ingas of Enugu, FC Taraba, Abia Warriors, Makwada FC, Niger Tornadoes, Remo Stars and Samba Kurna FC have qualified for the Round of 32 games, having triumphed against opponents in matches played last week.

Only four matches are to be decided between this weekend and next week Wednesday, for various reasons.

The match between Enugu Rangers and Danlawan of Jigawa will come up next week Wednesday at the Jos Township Stadium. The Antelopes are involved in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.

Yarma Light of Gombe square up against Akwa United in Katsina on Sunday, while Gateway FC tackles Premier League side 3SC in Akure same day and Prime FC of Osogbo and Bayelsa United do battle in Benin City on Tuesday next week.

Tahiti captain, Marama Vahirua concedes that his team are not in the same class as Nigeria, but warned the African champions to brace for war.

Both sides meet in their opening 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup game at the Estadio Minierao Monday and Vahirua admits it will be a tall task for his side.

“Members of the Nigerian team are very fast and very strong. African football has evolved a lot. Now they are well prepared and a lot play in European leagues, very strong. We have a lot of respect for them and I was proud to play with some Nigerian players and against Nigerian players but it will be war.”

STRATEGISING…Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi (4-right) speaks to his players during an official training session at the Minerao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on 16 June, 2013. Nigeria will face Tahiti in their first FIFA 2013 Confederation Cup match tonight. AFP PHOTO

Vahirua stated further: “We have done a lot of groundwork that will be useful. Physically, mentally and technically we have worked hard. I’m not saying we will be at par with Nigeria. But mentally we are ready, we will fight like lions and do everything we can to represent our country.”

Vahirua, who plays for Greek club Panathinaikos on loan from French Ligue 1 side, Nancy, is the only professional player in a team of amateurs.

Nine of the squad are unemployed. The rest are made up of delivery boys, truck drivers, Physical Education teachers, accountants, and a mountain climber, “who wakes up everyday at 4.30am and climbs mountains, coconut trees, anything,” according to coach Eddy Etaeta.

But Marama says the squad are adapting well to the heady heights of world football.

“It’s all new, even to me. But we are head first in it. The difference is timing, playing much faster, punctuality. I’m the only professional player in Tahiti and have tried to bring my experience. But even for me, all of this is new, I have never been to a competition of this level so I will try not to be shy.”

Meanwhile, leading telecommunications company, Globacom, has enjoined the Eagles and technical crew to shrug off the challenges they encountered in their build up to the on-going  FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil and focus on defeating Tahiti.

The Eagles, who are the African representatives at the global competition, missed a scheduled flight to Brazil on Thursday after playing a 1-1 draw with Namibia’s Brave Warriors in a World Cup 2014 qualifier.

Glo said it is optimistic that the Eagles will brave the odds and do well against Tahiti.

“We want the team and its technical crew to be motivated by the fact that they are not representing only Nigeria but the entire Africa continent at the Confederation Cup. Therefore, the onus is on them to make Nigeria and Africa proud,” said the statement.

Globacom also appealed to Nigerians to pray for the Eagles’ success at the competition.

“We call on all Nigerians to support the Eagles so that they can achieve the set target of going all the way in Brazil,” the statement concluded.

Globacom is the official telecommunications partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and major sponsor of the Nigeria national teams.

Heartland Coach, Nduka Ndubuisi has said his side were not outplayed by hosts, Enyimba in the Glo Premier League, Matchday 19 encounter at the Aba Township Stadium Sunday.

The Nigerian Cup holders were beaten 0-1 by oriental foes, Enyimba going into the first term two-week break.

Ndubuisi said his side lost to a luckier side as his wards gave excellent account of themselves in the rain-soaked encounter.

“I’m not disappointed by the outcome of the match, we played a very coordinated game to earn a point in the encounter, if not the slippery nature of the pitch due to heavy down pour and few missed chances.

“I think we lost to the luckier not the better side because Enyimba were not better than my wards in the game. Both sides gave a good account of themselves as expected in a derby; we’ve taken the defeat in good faith,” said the former Plateau United Coach to supersport.com.

Nduka said he had hoped to end the first stanza of the league season on a winning note.

“I’m not happy heading into the mid-term break on a losing note, I never planned to lose this encounter but it has happened,” he added.

“We’ll go into the mid-term break to carry out an over view of what happened in the first stanza and work out modalities on how to comeback better and stronger.

“I’m positive we’ll perform better in the second stanza though I don’t consider our performance in the first stanza a poor one.

“The league title is still within reach, we’ll come back to give it serious challenge,” said the former Sharks coach.

Heartland ended the NPFL first stanza on 28 points from possible 57. The NPFL second stanza is expected to commence on July 04.

Nigeria will today depart aboard an Ethiopian Airline to Egypt for the African Qualifiers of the 2014 World Youth Olympic Games holding in Nanjing, China.

The championship tagged “Egypt Junior and Cadet Open” will be staged in Ismailia from 19-23 June being the first of a series of tournaments, where players have the opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the Youth Olympic Games.

Nations expected at the Egypt qualifiers include, Brazil, United States, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Japan, Korea Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Nigeria and host, Egypt.

The six-man Team Nigeria will be spearheaded by Ekiti State-born teenage sensation, Tosin Oribamise, who recently qualified for the World Cadet Championship.

It would be recalled that at the maiden World Youth Olympics held in Singapore, Ondo State-born Ojo Onaolapo made it to the last eight of the competition as the only African player and his performance attracted accolades from the world table-tennis ruling body, International Table-Tennis Federation, ITTF.

From Wednesday in Ismailia, Egypt, 121 players from 15 nations including host, Egypt, will jostle for slots at the global tournament.

Other members of the six-man team include Agnes Onoja, Babafemi Babatunde, Iyabo Adebayo, Ajoke Ojomu and Olasunkanmi Oginni and the team will be coached by Dotun Ominiyi.

Oribamise, Onoja and Babatunde will compete in the cadet event as well as in the junior event, while the trio of Adebayo, Ojomu and Oginni will jostle for honours in the junior event only.

In 2013, six tournaments will be staged on the ITTF Junior Circuit, one in each continent, form the 2013 Road to Nanjing series; the Egypt Junior and Cadet Open is the first in the series.

At the end of the six tournaments, the leading boy and girl from each continent plus the top 10 boys and top 10 girls on the “Road to Nanjing Standings” will receive entry to the ITTF Youth Olympic Games Qualification Tournament.

The tournament will be staged in conjunction with the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in January 2014, at a time and exact date to be confirmed.

Therefore, 16 boys and 16 girls will make it to the ITTF Youth Olympic Games Qualification Tournament.

The Egypt Junior and Cadet Open in 2013 will feature singles, doubles and team events in the junior and cadet age group categories. ??

The Organizing Committee offers a total prize fund of US$8,000. There is a 20 per cent tax deduction.