PMB Ranked 14th Most Influential World Leader On Social Networks in 2016

Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari has been ranked the 14th most influential leader on social networks in 2016.

President Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) with a twitter following of 562,000, 184,000 Facebook likes and 49,000 followings on Instagram was ranked ahead of 36 other world leaders by the Burson-Marsteller’s 2016 Twiplomacy study.

The ranking named Burson-Marsteller twiplomacy, refers to the use of Twitter and other social media sites by government agencies and officials to engage with the public, disperse information and even leverage global influence.

It looks at how Head of states and Government, Foreign Ministers and International organistions use social media channels.

Aside ranking 14th in the world, the @NgrPresident account which is the official account of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s president was also ranked 38 in the world.

@Magufulijp and @alsisiofficial, the twitter account of John Magufuli of Tanzania and Abdel Fatah elsisi of Egypt respectively are the only two African countries who made the list of the 50 World leaders. They are ranked 36 and 43 respectively.

Other social media accounts ranked include that of the President of the United States, (@POTUS) which was ranked Number 1 as well as King Salman (@KingSalam) of Saudi Arabia ranked number 2.

Pope Francis (@Pontifex) is ranked number 3, Barack Obama (@barackobama) in his personal capacity was ranked number 7, while the Saudi Foreign Ministry (@ksamofa) was ranked number 50.

A statement on the ranking posted by the organisation said it identified 793 Twitter accounts of heads of state and government, foreign ministers and their institutions in 173 countries worldwide.

“The study analyzes each leader’s Twitter profiles, tweet history, and their connections with each other.”

“Data was collected on May 1, 2016 using Burson-Marsteller’s proprietary Burson Tools to analyze the 628,000 possible Twitter connections between world leaders. Other variables considered included: tweets, following, followers, the date the user joined Twitter, tweets/day, retweets, percent of retweets, @replies, percent of @replies, tweets retweeted, average number of tweets retweeted.”

“Burson-Marsteller looked at each account to see if it has a header picture, if the account is dormant, active or protected and if the world leader tweets personally. We checked the language the account tweets and checked for the presence of Twitter lists.”

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Ajax, Napoli enter Mario Balotelli race

Ajax and Napoli have reportedly entered the race to sign Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli this summer.

Balotelli has been told that he is surplus to requirements at Anfield, but has so far been unable to find a new club after AC Milan opted against making last season's loan move permanent. The likes of Besiktas and Sampdoria have previously been linked with the Italy international, although any deal may need to be another loan due to his wage demands.

However, respected Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Ajax and Napoli have both enquired about the 25-year-old, who has scored just two league goals in the last two seasons.

Napoli are currently looking for a replacement for Gonzalo Higuain following his big-money move to Juventus, although the Serie A side are thought to have other options more appealing to them than Balotelli at the moment.

Ajax, on the other hand, are keen to sign the former Inter Milan and Manchester City striker but could wait until they know whether they will be in the Champions League proper before making a move.
Balotelli has also been linked with a lucrative switch to the Chinese Super League.

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Help or Insult? US govt donates six laptops to EFCC

The United States Government, today donated six Laptop computers to the EFCC during a courtesy visit to the Commission's Headquarters in Abuja. The Director, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, USA, Roselyn Wiase, who led the six man delegation urged the Commission to continue in its vigorous fight against Corruption.

"We are not unmindful of your contribution to the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria. The United States Government therefore donates this Laptops to your organization to support your Mission” she said.

 

 

What message is the US trying to pass across? That the EFCC cannot afford laptops?              

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Two Nigerian children cries after their mother died in the Mediterranean on their way to Europe

Two Nigerian siblings, 11 and 10 are pictured crying after their mother died in the Mediterranean on their way to Europe. The two children were among 150 migrants rescued from their overcrowded rubber boat off the coast of Libya while trying to cross the Mediterranean ocean into Italy by a Spanish NGO’s boat.

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FIFA President, Infantino Writes Pinnick, Thanks Nigerians

FIFA President, Mr. Gianni Infantino has written to NFF President Amaju Pinnick, to express delight about "a host of unforgettable memories" during the recent two -day visit of himself and Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, to Nigeria.

In a letter personally addressed to Pinnick, the world's number one football administrator wrote: "The FIFA delegation has now returned to Zurich with a host of unforgettable memories and having made many cordial new friendships.

On behalf of the entire FIFA delegation, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for affording us such warm welcome.

We all will keep wonderful memories of it forever in our hearts.

"In just two days, we enjoyed so many memorable moments, culminating in the meeting with your head of state, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the visit of your headquarters and technical centre."

The FIFA President also recalled the U13 football match at the mainbowl of the National Stadium and "the evenings we shared together with the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, the members of the diplomatic corps present, the football community and the Nigerian corporates.

"Finally, let me congratulate you on your engagement in developing football in Nigeria and all projects realized, creating a solid base for a positive future.

Wishing you full success in the coming matches in Brazil at the men's Olympic Football Tournament."

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Checkout the statue of Luiz Suarez fans are calling ugly

Barcelona and Uruguay star striker Luis Suarez  has been honoured with a statue in his Uruguayan hometown, but his fans have blasted the sculptor Alberto Morales Saravia, calling the statue a very ugly' version of the footballer.

The sculptor admitted even before the job was unveiled that he'd never met the former Liverpool striker and was working from photos he had found of him on the internet.

Fans have even compared it to the statue monstrosity built for Lionel Messi in Argentina.

Saravia explained during the planning process to meida houses in Uruguay : “What I am doing is very difficult. I’m doing it by looking at photos.”

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Checkout photos of footballer Alex Iwobi and his hot girlfriend

19 year old Arsenal star, Alex Iwobi, pictured above with his stunning girlfriend, Clarisse Ejuliette. See more photos of Clarrie after the cut...

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Dwayne "The Rock" changes daughter's diaper on a jet

The Rock shared a sweet snapshot of himself changing diapers of his 7-month-old daughter Jasmine on Instagram. 

The proud dad captioned the photo: "Regardless of where we’re at.. when #2 happens with my baby girl.. I’m the #1 man for the job. #TheWorkinMan #DaddysGotU #JustKeepPlayinWithYourToys #IWillDealWithMyBackSpasmsLater,

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Femi and Seun Kuti perform together in New York

Afrobeat brothers Femi and Seun performed together in NYC yesterday July 26th. ..

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Nuclear Scientists Arrive Adamawa Over Deaths From Uranium Radiation

Scientists from the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) have arrived Adamawa State to inspect uranium radiation that allegedly killed villagers in Michika Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Shanti Sanshi Victoria, said an expert team from the nuclear agency from Abuja had arrived the state to inspect the site of possible radiation.

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Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria, Alan Cumming appear in Hillary Clinton music video

The Democrats are stepping up the fight ahead of the Presidential election… by releasing a music video.
Hillary Clinton became the party’s official Presidential nominee last night, launching the final stretch of the Presidential election – as both Trump and Clinton have now been confirmed as candidates.
To celebrate the moment, the Democratic National Convention Committee has surprisingly released a music video.
The party released an a cappella cover of Rachel Platten’s Fight Song, and it’s packed with heavyweight Hollywood and Broadway stars.
It features a number of musical and theatrical legends (Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Ellen Greene and Alan Cumming) as well as a number of big acting names (Eva Longoria, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson).
A release explained: “Tonight, the Democratic National Convention Committee released a new video, ‘Fight Song’, which aired for the first time at the Democratic National Convention.

“‘Fight Song’, produced by Elizabeth Banks, Bruce Cohen and Mike Thompkins, features actors, musicians and supporters singing their support for Hillary Clinton to Rachel Platten’s Fight Song. The a cappella video is inspired by the Pitch Perfect films, which are produced by Banks.
“Fight Song has been energising Clinton supporters at events around the country throughout the campaign, and reinforces Clinton’s proven record of fighting for all Americans and her commitment to tackling the big challenges we face as a country as president.
The participants include Aisha Tyler, Alan Cumming, America Ferrera, Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Chrissie Fit, Connie Britton, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Greene, Esther Dean, Eva Longoria, Garrett Clayton, Hana Mae Lee, Ian Somerholder, Idina Menzel, Jaime King, Jane Fonda, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, John Michael Higgens, Josh Lucas, Julie Bowen, Kathy Najimy, Kelly Jackle, Kristin Chenoweth, Mandy Moore, Mary McCormack, Mary-Louise Parker, Mike Thompkins, Nikki Read, Rachel Platten, Renee Fleming, Rob Reiner, Shelley Regner, Sia, TR Knight.

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Senate screening: Nigerian diplomats fail to recite national anthem

Two longstanding Nigerian diplomats nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday failed to recite the country’s anthem and pledge, leaving lawmakers and journalists at a senate hearing in laughter.
The recitals are taught in primary schools across the country, and are performed daily by students throughout their secondary school study.
The two diplomats, Vivian Okeke and Ibrahim Isah, were nominated by President Buhari alongside 45 others as prospective envoys to different countries, where they would promote Nigeria’s culture, ideals and values.
At a dramatic session Tuesday, members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, vetting the diplomats’ qualifications, unexpectedly asked Mrs. Okeke and Mr. Isah to recite the national anthem and pledge.
While Mrs. Okeke mumbled the words of the anthem, Mr. Isah floundered and could not proceed with the pledge after introducing himself.
Mrs. Okeke was later aided by James Manager, a Senate committee member, as she murmured through the second stanza of the anthem.
Both nominees have been in the Nigeria’s Foreign Service since 1983 – already raking in 33 years of experience each.
Mrs. Okeke currently serves at the Nigerian embassy in Washington, United States. In 2013, she was the minister (trade and investment) at the mission. She is from Anambra State.

Mr. Isah, who began his career as Third Secretary in the African Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, currently serves in Ankara, Turkey, as Charge D’Affairs of Nigerian mission in the country.
He had headed the chancery at the Consulate-General of Nigeria in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and was also Chief Airport Protocol Officer responsible for seeing off and receiving foreign leaders who visited Nigeria.
Mr. Isah told the screening committee that Nigeria must block foreign goods from entering the country “like China” to come out recession.
It wasn’t the first time a would-be envoy would fail the national anthem test.
In March 2011, Ijoma Bristol failed to recite the anthem and could not also name the capital of Jigawa State during her screening before Jubril Aminu-led Foreign Affairs Committee of seventh Senate.
She was however cleared, with then Senate President, David Mark, saying “her case is a case of poor pass”.

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