Journalists barred from covering Nigeria, Sierra Leone match – Newstrends
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Journalists barred from covering Nigeria, Sierra Leone match

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The Confederation of African Football has stated that no journalists or supporters would be allowed inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City for Friday’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.

In the guidelines communicated to the Nigeria Football Federation, CAF instructed, under Media Operations, that there would be no mixed zone, virtual press conference only if possible (media officers from both teams only), and that only the TV channels with the rights will be allowed flash interviews.

Also, only photographers of participating teams would be allowed at the match.

The above puts to rest all previous speculations regarding having spectators at the match venue, and whether members of the media would be allowed into the arena.

The NFF’s Director of Competitions, Bola Oyeyode, on Monday said only individuals accredited by the NFF would be allowed inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the Day 3 qualifier, which will kick off at 5pm Nigeria time.

Ministry of Youth and Sports Development had insisted that Nigeria’s game against Sierra Leone will be played without fans.

In a letter to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, the ministry insisted that the game would be played without fans in adherence to the directives from the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.

“The ministry wishes to bring to your urgent attention that in compliance with the condition of no gathering agreed upon by the ministry and the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 before the Federal Government opened up football and contacts sports, the match between Nigeria and Sierra Leone will not have any audience,” the letter stated.

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Coscharis Motors celebrates Corona School at 70 with Geely brand

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L-R: Ebere Ogbonna, vice chairman, CDSS PTA; Abiona Babarinde, general manager marketing and corporate communications, Coscharis Group; Solomon Kadiri, PTA Chairman, Corona Day Secondary School, during the recently held Corona School at 70 Fun Day in Lagos, supported by Geely Automobile, powered by Coscharis Motors.

Coscharis Motors celebrates Corona School at 70 with Geely brand

 

Coscharis Motors has celebrated Corona School which recently marked its 70th anniversary.

A funfair organised by the Parents Teachers Association as one of the activities for the anniversary held on the school’s Lekki premises in Lagos provided the opportunity for Coscharis to add glamour to the event.

The auto company, which specifically lined up an array of the Geely models, said the display was aimed at adding value and colour to celebrating the achievements of the school for over seven decades.

Abiona Babarinde, the Group General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, said, “We are excited to be a part of this celebration given the heritage and legacy in the making with its alignment to the Coscharis brand vision of remaining timeless in its relevance and the Geely vision of richer and fuller lives for individuals and a brighter future for all; this shared passion of continuity, innovation and sustainability makes it the perfect partnership.”

He said further that given the uniqueness of the 70th anniversary celebration and the characteristics of the parents, it was only proper to support the event with an automotive brand that focuses on making people’s life better by delivering on both their aspirations and practical needs without compromise.

A statement by the firm said the partnership offered both existing customers and prospects an opportunity to experience the Geely vehicles on display including the latest Okavango and Coolray with favourable pricing, extendable beyond the event day plus a 6 year or 200,000 km warranty, whichever comes first.

While the New Coolray comes with an intelligent driving system including features such as lane keeping assistance, blind spot detection, and automatic parking assistance for a safer and more convenient driving experience; the Okavango is Geely’s largest SUV and has an industry-leading space utilization rate that maximizes interior space.

The 7 seats can be fully folded, providing an expansive yet functional loading space.

Commenting on the event and Coscharis Motors’ participation, Solomon Kadiri, the Parent-Teacher-Association Chairman, Corona School, expressed his excitement about the partnership, tactical offers and experience of the Geely brands on display.

“We are elated to partner with Coscharis Motors for our funfair event. This partnership shows our dedication to continually give our families exceptional experiences and opportunities outside the normal educational and business environments.”

He added that this collaboration provided a unique opportunity to celebrate strong commitments to education, innovation and community development.

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PSN Lagos condemns NMA’s ultimatum over consultant pharmacist cadre

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PSN Lagos condemns NMA’s ultimatum over consultant pharmacist cadre

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State Branch, has strongly condemned recent declarations by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), labeling their communique as aggressive, hostile, and a threat to professional equity in the Nigerian healthcare system.

This development follows a position paper by NMA Lagos expressing dissatisfaction with Chief Executive Officers of two federal health institutions in Lagos who complied with federal circulars implementing the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre.

The NMA Lagos rejected the appointments of Consultant Pharmacists, issuing an ultimatum to the CEOs involved to reverse the appointments or face a potential warning strike by its members in those institutions.

The NMA further mandated its leadership to write to the Federal Ministry of Health, cautioning against the implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre nationwide and warning other medical directors contemplating similar moves.

In a statement signed by it’s Chairman, PSN Lagos, Babayemi Oyekunle, it criticized the NMA’s stance as a continuation of a long-standing culture of “medical elitism” and “institutional arrogance,” which it says undermines the collaborative ethos of modern healthcare.

According to the PSN, the idea that only physicians should be eligible for specialist recognition contradicts international standards. Consultant Pharmacists, it argued, have long been recognized in the health systems of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and even parts of Africa such as South Africa, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.

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The PSN Lagos insisted that the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre enhances patient safety, medication management, and chronic disease treatment, stressing that global healthcare systems emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration and task-sharing models to achieve universal health coverage. It accused the NMA Lagos of relying on unproven rhetoric instead of data to support its opposition to Consultant Pharmacists, calling such tactics amateurish and baseless.

Providing historical context, the PSN detailed the approval process of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre, dating back to 2011 when the National Council of Establishment (NCE) first approved the cadre. The NCE reaffirmed its position in 2020, leading to a series of circulars from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), which provided detailed guidelines for implementation.

Despite this, the PSN lamented the continued resistance from some quarters, including state-level sabotage. The association accused the Lagos State Ministry of Health of attempting to undermine pharmacists by altering designations and restricting leadership positions in proposed agencies to physicians, contrary to existing laws such as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act, 2022.

The PSN also referenced attempts to rebrand the Lagos State College of Medicine as a medical university, potentially excluding other health professionals from leadership positions. These moves, it argued, form part of a systemic campaign to dominate the healthcare space at the expense of inclusivity and competence.

The PSN Lagos, vowed to continue advocating for equity in the health sector and warned that it would not hesitate to respond in full force, alongside other stakeholders, if the federal government yields to what it described as the NMA’s “theatrics.” It called on well-meaning Nigerians to resist attempts to stifle other health professions and to demand a just and collaborative approach to healthcare reform.

 

PSN Lagos condemns NMA’s ultimatum over consultant pharmacist cadre

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Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid

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Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid

Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid

Barcelona narrowly edged past Atletico Madrid on aggregate to set up a meeting with Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.

It will be the eighth time there has been an El Clasico in the Spanish Cup final, with the nation’s two most successful club sides set to meet on 26 April in Seville.

Ferran Torres’ first-half effort proved decisive for Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium, with the Spain forward poking the ball past Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso after Lamine Yamal’s superb pass had split the home defence.

It was no more than the visitors deserved, with 17-year-old Yamal a constant source of danger and Raphinha also twice threatening to extend Barca’s lead.

Unlike the thrilling first-leg tie in February, when Diego Simeone’s side twice scored late on in a dramatic 4-4 draw, this was a tighter and more tense affair without the grandstand finish from Atletico.

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The hosts did have opportunities.

Substitute Alexander Sorloth elected to shoot instead of squaring the ball to Antoine Griezmann for a tap-in, while the Norway forward was also ruled offside after rattling in what he thought was an equaliser.

However, in truth, Atletico were second best to Hansi Flick’s side for long periods, with the record 31-time winners always appearing relatively comfortable as they extended their unbeaten run to 21 games across all competitions.

The Catalan club remain the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to lose in 2025 and remain on course for a potential quadruple.

Barca, who have already won the Spanish Super Cup this term, lead the La Liga table by three points from Real Madrid.

They also host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 9 April (20:00 BST).

Meanwhile, the final against Carlo Ancelotti’s team in Seville will come just over two weeks before a potentially pivotal fixture between the clubs in the Spanish top flight.

Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid

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