WOW! This Nigerian Lady Really Made Us Proud In America

Nigerians usually excel outside the country but find it difficult to even get ahead at home, this is one example. The United States First Lady Michelle Obama joins other dignitaries to celebrate Merrilyn Akpapuna, a Nigerian girl that emerged best graduating student at the Dillard University, New Orleans.

Like a giant masquerade in the market place, all eyes were on 20-year-old Merrilyn Akpapuna, recently at the Dillard University, New Orleans, United States.

The Psychology graduate not only obtained the highest academic honour Summa Cum Laude (first class), she also emerged the best graduating student in the ivory tower. As the institution’s valedictorian, she was on the same podium with the wife of the President, Michelle Obama, during its convocation.

Interestingly, three other Nigerians joined Akpapuna in the league of the best graduating students at the university. The three salutatorians are Victor Ogburie, Stephen Igwe, and Emole Anyadimgba. They also made a first class in their chosen disciplines…

According to Punch, beautiful Akpapuna also won two other awards for highest academic achievements for the College of Arts and Sciences and College of General Studies.

In an online interview with Charles Abah, the youngster says her success in the 155-year-old ivory tower was not without some challenges.

She notes, “When I first got to Dillard, I had to learn the differences in the spelling of certain words and adjust to a new metric system. These constituted challenges but I was able to overcome them by putting in extra time to study. I also faced some difficulties due to the difference in the education system. In Nigeria, the teaching system follows the British pattern, which is different from the system in the United States.

“However, despite these challenges, my cumulative grade point average is 4.0/4.0. In other words, I made an A in every course I took during my four years study in the university.”

But her stay in the US and particularly in the university was not all about academic work. She participated not just in student politics but also in other activities that affected humanity positively.

She adds, “My stay in the university was not all about studying. I took time out for my social life and made a great effort to ensure that my spiritual life did not suffer. I was also a student activist and a leader. I was the President of the African World Network Organisation and Lead Fellow of the Melton Foundation.

“At Dillard also, some of my awards and recognitions include the Daniel C. Thompson/Samuel Dubois Cook Honours Programme, Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honour Society, Dean’s List of Scholars, 1st Place for exceptional work in Algebra Relay, National Institute of Science, Beta Kappa Chi Honour Society, Alpha Kappa Mu national Honour Society, and Psi Chi National Honour Society.”

Again, for the youngster, her Dillard accomplishment is not just by a mere stroke of fortune. Excellence seems to be her middle name. Indeed, following her success at the Management Education Training, Ikeja where she took tutorials on Scholastic Aptitude Test, she received full scholarship to study in the university.

Before then, the third daughter of a dental surgeon, Emmanuel Akpapuna, had excelled in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination, coming tops of her class at the Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos.

The Delta State-born psychologist enthuses, “Upon graduating from secondary school, I took SAT classes in Management Education Training in Ikeja. I decided to come to the United States after I had received full scholarship offer for my tuition, room and board. In fact, I had scholarship all my four years in college.”

But being a female student, did she experience any case of sexual harassment from her lecturers and fellow students? Akpapuna, who says she wants to proceed immediately to the Western Michigan University for her graduate programme, says there was nothing of sort.

“Men did not disturb me on campus and no lecturer ever asked me for séxual favours.”

An Exclusive With Nigerian-American Music Rave, JANELIA!

A widely acclaimed player in the music scene in the United States, Nigerian-American, Janelia was caught-up with in Lagos and sat down with Naija Chit-Chat for this revealing exclusive.

Please give us an insight into your person.

I am a Nigerian-American singer, songwriter and a performing artist. Three words to describe me would be creative, personable and compassionate. Basically I’m down to earth, I no dey form. I have a passion for music and I love people, even the not so good ones; I pray for them. I also enjoy cooking and I’m known to host the best house parties, invite only, (she laughs!)

How long have you been into music and what propelled you into it?

I’ve been doing music professionally for 10 years. I have always been drawn to music and the arts as a child and wrote my first song when I was 9 years old. Music is one of my few passions, especially singing live with my band. Making music has always been a part of who I am and will continue to be a part of me.

What’s your genre and who did you decide to go into this style?

My genre of music is a beautiful fusion of soul and Afro-pop (or like we call it in Nigeria, Naija hip-hop). My music embodies the Nigerian-American that I truly am. I have the ability to move fluidly between genres, this is why you will hear funky, soulful and afro rhythms in my song writing and vocal delivery. Now that I have teamed up with some of Nigeria’s A list producers such as Young D and Fliptyce, I feel the sky is not my limit but my starting point.

USA is the music capital of the world, since last year, you have been in Nigeria; why this decision and what do you hope to accomplish outside the US?

After I finished secondary school in Nigeria and decided to further my education in the United States, my plan was to return after my studies so that I may give back to my community and contribute to the progress of Nigeria. It is time to come back home! Other than doing music I am also passionate about helping those that are less fortunate, and want to continue my philanthropy work in Nigeria as I have started in the U.S. I am grateful for God’s blessings in my life and it is simply time to give back to my beloved country. I feel Nigeria needs me and this will become evident as time goes on.

 

So how has your music been doing in the markets?
 
My past releases have done well on iTunes for an independent artist. We will see how the Nigerian market will embrace my music in the long run but so far the response has been great and I’m looking forward to even greater responses.

When do you hope to return to the US?
 
I am what you call a Jet-setter. I fly back and forth across the ocean as necessary; it all depends on what music and my other businesses call for. Nigeria is my home so Nigeria will always be my base.

How do fans get to buy your music.

All my music is available to my fans worldwide through iTunes & most international digital download outlets.  It will soon be available through Caller Tunes, Spinlet and other digital music distribution in Nigeria. Once my album drops later this year it will be available on the streets but for now you can find “Sexy Nana” on many mix tapes on the streets. Also it’s free when you join my official mailing list. I like to provide this free download so that I can have direct access to my fans through my mailing list. I send timely updates to my fans and make sure I respond to their feedback because they are the ones for whom I make music.

Janelia's Links:
Website: http://www.janeliasoul.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janeliasoul
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janeliafan
Official Email List: https://www.facebook.com/janeliafan
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sexy-nana-single/id840260955

Copyright: All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from Naija Chit-Chat

Contact: naijachitchat@gmail.com

Nigerian Man Shoots His 36-Yr-Old Wife To Death In Texas, USA

A 63-year-old Nigerian was charged with murder after he confessed to the shooting death of his wife around 3 a.m. Saturday in west Harris County. 

The Home of the couple

Martin Ebegbodi went to a neighbor's house and asked him to call police after getting into a fight and then shooting his wife, 36-year-old Isioma Ebegbodi.

The Harris County Sheriff's Department arrived at the house in the 19700 block of Youpon Leaf Way and arrested Ebegbodi.

Martin Ebegbodi was born in 1951. Martin currently lives in Houston. Before that, he lived in Lowell, MA from 1996 to 2005. 

Martin Ebegbodi and Isioma J Unokanjo were married on February 11, 2005 in Harris County, Texas with Marriage certificate number 018430.

The deceased was born in 1978 in Nigeria

Per Second news gathered that the marriage has witnessed several storms. 

House Democrats Aim To Push Past GOP On Immigration

WASHINGTON -- House Democrats are hoping to reignite the debate over a comprehensive immigration reform bill this week through a procedural stunt meant to force a vote or, at the very least, create a pressure point for Republicans who are stalling on the issue. 

A senior Democratic aide said Monday that the procedural move, known as a discharge petition, will be unveiled at a Wednesday morning press event, followed by members signing onto the document on the House floor. 

Faced with a minority in the House and a majority conference that largely opposes their efforts, Democrats have turned to the discharge petition maneuver this year on issues such as unemployment insurance, raising the minimum wage and now immigration. If a petition receives 218 signatures, it will force a vote on the House floor, even if the legislation in question is opposed by the majority party leadership that controls the House calendar.

Democrats hope to pressure Republicans to hold a vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill, which they argue could pass if it went up for a vote before the entire House. A GOP leadership aide said it's unlikely the petition will get the required signatures, and if it does not, there is no chance the bill will go for a vote.

Even if they don't get the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on the immigration bill, Democrats hope the petition will give them something to mobilize around, better preparing them to push Republicans to support reform. 

There are currently 200 cosponsors -- a few of them non-voting members -- of the bill, which is based on comprehensive legislation that already passed the Senate and a border security bill approved by the House Homeland Security Committee. 

The sponsors include three Republicans: Reps. David Valadao (Calif.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.) and Jeff Denham (Calif.). 

The Democratic aide said nearly all House Democrats are expected to sign on to the petition, although some do not sign discharge petitions as a matter of practice. Spokespersons for Valadao, Ros-Lehtinen and Denham confirmed Monday that the members do not plan to sign the discharge petition.

Although House GOP leadership put forward a set of principles on immigration reform in January, there have been no votes -- or even bills released -- on the issue since. 

Source

Poland Speeds Up Missile Defense Plans

WARSAW/WASHINGTON — Poland has decided to speed up its tender for a missile defense system, the Defense Ministry said, in a sign of Warsaw's disquiet over the tension between neighboring Ukraine and Russia.

“By the end of this year we want to already have chosen an offer. That is the acceleration by several months, compared to our original plans, that we are talking about,” Czeslaw Mroczek, Deputy Defense Minister, told Reuters.

The NATO member had planned to determine the supplier of its missile defense system in 2015, but the crisis in Ukraine and concerns about Russia's annexation of Crimea have prompted officials to speed up the timetable.

There are four bidders: France's Thales, in a consortium with European group MBDA and the Polish state defense group; the Israeli government; Raytheon of the United States; and the MEADS consortium led by Lockheed Martin.

One of the bidders, MEADS, said the tender was worth about $5 billion, but experts say the whole missile defense system could be worth as much as 40 billion zlotys ($13 billion), including maintenance costs. It is to be completed by the end of 2022.

Mroczek said the decision to accelerate the process was partly caused by Russia's military intervention in Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula.

“To a certain extent, the decision on accelerating this process is the result of a review commissioned by the prime minister and the defense minister because of the situation in Ukraine,” Mroczek said.

Poland fell under Soviet domination after World War II, along with the rest of Eastern Europe, but was one of the first to shake off Communist rule in 1989. It has taken an active diplomatic role in the crisis over Ukraine, including by requesting NATO consultations earlier this month.

U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch welcomed Poland's decision to speed up its defense plans.

“I think the action in Crimea makes it abundantly clear that NATO needs to do more to upgrade its defenses, not just missile defenses,” the Massachusetts Democrat told Reuters.

“But certainly I can fully support the decision by Poland to expedite that whole process and I think it's entirely appropriate that we should support that effort,” he added.

The first phase of the Polish system is to comprise eight sets of mid-range interceptor rockets, which may later be supplemented by short-range ones. Poland has already passed legislation to secure funding for the shield, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

The planned system is separate from elements of a U.S. missile shield to be deployed in Poland by 2018, as confirmed by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on a visit to Warsaw this week.

VOA News

US To Send Experts To Uganda On Anti-Gay Law

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has agreed to meet with American experts to discuss his nation's draconian anti-gay law which has triggered international outrage, the top US diplomat said Tuesday.

Secretary of State John Kerry told US students he had talked with Mr Museveni recently and he "committed to meet with some of our experts so that we could engage him a dialogue as to why what he did could not be based on any kind of science or fact."

"He welcomed that and said, 'I'm happy to receive them and we can engage in that conversation.' And that's what we're going to do," Mr Kerry added.

Last month Mr Museveni signed off on one of the world's toughest anti-gay laws, despite warnings from his Western allies, which state that "repeat homosexuals" should be jailed for life, outlaw the promotion of homosexuality and require people to report on gays.

Mr Kerry has likened the new law to anti-Semitic legislation in Nazi Germany and warned it could damage ties with Washington.

"The enactment of the homosexuality act was a step backward to Uganda. The law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki stressed Tuesday.

"It reflects poorly on the country's commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS."

The US administration was already looking at ways to rein in its aid to Uganda as punishment for the law, and had decided not to resume what she called "top-off" payments on the salaries of 18 top health officials.

"These are individuals at the top who are speaking on behalf of implementing the policy," Ms Psaki told reporters.

But she added Ugandan gay rights activists had specifically asked Washington not to cut off its aid to the Ugandan people.

"A lot of the aid that we provide goes to ensure services for things like lifesaving health and medication for HIV/AIDS, to bring justice to those responsible for atrocities like the LRA," she said.

"So we want to make sure that actions we take don't have a detrimental impact on the Ugandan people."

Israeli Minister: Israel Can't Rely On US On Iran

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel cannot depend on the United States to lead any action against Iran's nuclear program and can only rely on itself, the country's defense minister said in remarks published Tuesday.

The comments by Moshe Yaalon came as world powers and Iran were about to start a new round of talks over Iran's contested nuclear program.

The West fears the program could be used to make a nuclear weapon and seeks to scale it back. Tehran denies the program has a military dimension and insists it is for peaceful purposes only, such as power generation. If a deal with world powers is reached, sanctions imposed on Iran over the nuclear program could be lifted.

Israel has criticized the ongoing talks with Tehran, saying an interim nuclear deal, struck last November, has left Iran's military nuclear capabilities largely intact while giving it relief from some economic sanctions.

At the same time, Israel's strongest piece of leverage, the threat of a military strike on Iran, has taken a back stage to the talks despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence it remains on the table.

Yaalon's remarks seemed to underscore that insistence.

"We thought that the one who needs to lead the campaign against Iran is the U.S.," Yaalon was quoted by the daily Haaretz as saying during a lecture at Tel Aviv University on Monday.

Instead, Yaalon said, the U.S. began negotiations with Iran and Iran gained the upper hand in the talks.

"If we wished others would do the work for us, it wouldn't be done soon, and therefore in this matter, we have to behave as if we can only rely on ourselves," Yaalon said.

Yaalon's office confirmed his remarks but refused to comment whether he was advocating an Israeli strike on Iran. Netanyahu's office also declined to comment.

Yaalon criticized the West, saying its leaders prefer to avoid confrontation with Iran. As for the U.S., the defense minister alleged American influence is waning in other parts of the world, such as Ukraine over the crisis there.

"Weakness certainly does not pay in the world," he said. "No one can replace the U.S. as the world's policeman. I hope the U.S. will come to its senses."

Yaalon has made controversial comments about Washington in the past. In January, he was quoted as saying that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was "obsessive" and "messianic" over his Mideast peace efforts. The comments triggered an angry response from the U.S., Israel's most important ally.

"Russia Can Turn U.S. To Radioactive Ash": Kremlin-backed Journalist

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Kremlin-backed journalist issued a stark warning to the United States about Moscow's nuclear capabilities on Sunday as the White House threatened sanctions over Crimea's referendum on union with Russia.

"Russia is the only country in the world that is realistically capable of turning the United States into radioactive ash," television presenter Dmitry Kiselyov said on his weekly current affairs show.

Behind him was a backdrop of a mushroom cloud following a nuclear blast.

Kiselyov was named by President Vladimir Putin in December as the head of a new state news agency whose task will be to portray Russia in the best possible light.

His remarks took a propaganda war over events in Ukraine to a new level as tensions rise in the East-West standoff over Crimea, a southern Ukrainian region which is now in Russian forces' hands and voted on Sunday on union with Russia.

Russian television showed images of ethnic Russians in Crimea dancing, singing and celebrating the referendum but followed them with accusations that Kiev's new authorities and the West have allowed ultra-nationalists to attack Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine.

Kiev and the West blame the violence in eastern Ukraine on pro-Russian groups and say the Crimea referendum is illegitimate. The United States has warned of imminent sanctions against Moscow.

OUTSPOKEN COMMENTS

Kiselyov is an outspoken defender of Putin and once caused outrage by saying the organs of homosexuals should not be used in transplants.

His show portrayed the Ukrainian authorities as unable to maintain law and order. Putin made a similar charge in a telephone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday.

Such remarks have caused concern in Kiev that Moscow might send troops to eastern Ukraine, acting on a vote in Russian parliament allowing him to use the armed forces if compatriots are deemed in need of protection in Ukraine.

As the crisis escalated, the news in Russia has taken on shades of Soviet-era propaganda, with reporters peppering reports with references to what they say was the cooperation of some Ukrainians with the Nazis in World War Two.

There is also now growing menace in some of the reports, as well as echoes of the Cold War.

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gifted Crimea to Ukraine in 1954, when Ukraine and Russia were both parts of the Soviet Union.

Many people in Crimea hope union with Russia will bring better living conditions and make them citizens of a country capable of asserting itself on the world stage.

Others see the referendum as a land grab by the Kremlin as Ukraine's new rulers try to move the country towards the European Union and away from Russia's sway.

Source

Photos Of President Barack Obama’s Look Alike IIham Anas From Indonesia

IIham Anas is a 40-year old Indonesian photographer who bears a striking resemblance to the US president. According to reports this has made him a tv star in his country. See more pictures of him after the cut:

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