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EBOLA: NNPC/CNL Joint Venture donates two ambulances and pledges full support
JOHANESBURG –IN its bid to join the Nigerian government in its commendable fight against the dreaded Ebola virus disease Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), on behalf of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture has donated two standard ambulances to support the fight against the highly dreaded virus in Lagos State. The ambulances, which have been equipped with emergency life support tools and oxygen for optimum care of patients, were donated to support the core operations of the Ebola Operation Centre (EOC) and for Point of Entry (POE) activities of the EOC at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Health Services in Lagos, respectively.
The first ambulance was handed over to the EOC, at the Public Health Central Library, Yaba on August 29, 2014 while the second one was presented at the Port Health Services office at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja on September 2, 2014, respectively.
Dr. Olubukunola Fagade, CNL’s Medical Director, who made the donations on behalf of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, said the donations were a part of the Joint Venture’s social investments in the area of health for the benefit of the people of Nigeria. “We see the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as a threat to the collective health and socio-economy of the country. We therefore reiterate our commitment to partner with other stakeholders to stem the tide of Ebola,” he said.
Receiving the ambulance at the EOC headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Faishal Shuaib, Head/Incident Manager EOC, who is also the Technical Advisor to the Honourable Minister of State for Health lauded the Joint Venture’s effort and described the contribution as invaluable in the concerted efforts at containing the disease. “This donation will definitely assist in dealing with this emergency. It is important to acknowledge the fact that Nigeria has done a very good job in acting quickly.”
At the presentation to the Port Health Services on September 2nd, 2014, Dr. Morenike Alex-Okoh, Head, Port Health Services, Lagos who was accompanied by Mrs. Faleye, Head Nurse, received the Ambulance designated for Port Health assistance. She described the donation as critical to the services rendered by her organization. “We are grateful to the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for this wonderful support and with more of this kind of gestures; Ebola will soon be a thing of the past”.
Dr Fagade reinforced CNL’s commitment to Nigeria, especially in the aspects of economic and social development in the three thematic focus areas of Health, Education and Economic Development. He promised that the company will work tirelessly in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure that the dreaded disease is contained and stopped from spreading throughout the country. “We have a very strategic ongoing approach to support the work of the Ebola team in Nigeria and we are collaborating with other stakeholders in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy.” he said.
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Music Icon Quincy Jones Passes Away At 91
Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer, composer, and cultural icon whose career spanned over seven decades, has passed away at the age of 91.
Jones died peacefully on Sunday night at his Bel Air home, surrounded by family, according to his publicist, Arnold Robinson.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Renowned for his unmatched versatility, Jones collaborated with some of the greatest musical talents of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Will Smith. He played an integral role in producing Jackson’s groundbreaking albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, which catapulted the pop star to global superstardom and earned Jones worldwide acclaim.
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Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones’ journey into music began early. His childhood introduction came from a neighbor’s piano playing and his mother’s singing. After moving to Washington state following his parents’ divorce, he honed his skills in his high school band and began playing with a young Ray Charles in Seattle’s vibrant club scene.
Jones’ career took off in New York, where he played trumpet in Elvis Presley’s early TV performances and worked with bebop legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. By 1958, he was working with Frank Sinatra, arranging for the singer’s band at the request of Princess Grace Kelly. Their partnership flourished, spanning several projects including Sinatra’s final album LA Is My Lady in 1984.
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Jones’ talents extended into film and television scores, composing music for films such as The Italian Job, In the Heat of the Night, and the acclaimed The Color Purple, for which he earned three Oscar nominations. He also scored hit TV shows including The Bill Cosby Show and Roots.
In 1985, Jones produced and co-conducted the charity anthem “We Are the World” alongside Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, raising millions for Ethiopian famine relief. Despite personal and professional challenges—including surviving a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 1974—Jones’s career continued to thrive.
Jones’ influence wasn’t limited to music. In 1990, he founded Quincy Jones Entertainment, the company behind the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which launched the career of Will Smith. His media ventures also included the creation of Qwest TV, an on-demand music streaming service, and the magazine Vibe, which celebrated Black music and culture.
Over his career, Jones earned 80 Grammy nominations, winning 28—making him one of the most decorated artists in the award’s history. Tributes poured in following news of his death. Actor Michael Caine, who shared Jones’ birthdate, called him “a wonderful and unique human being.” Music artists such as LL Cool J expressed gratitude, saying, “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed one. Music would not be music without you.”
Jones is survived by his seven children, leaving behind an indelible legacy that will resonate through generations to come. His life’s work transformed music, television, and culture, proving that there truly was no limit to what Quincy Jones could accomplish.
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Prayers Won’t Build Roads, Fund Children’s Education – Jesse Jagz To Nigerians
Singer and rapper Jesse Jagz has called on Nigerians to rethink their approach to religion.
Jagz suggested that African traditional religious gods have become ineffective, attributing this to the excessive alcohol given to them during rituals, which, according to him, has made them obese, diabetic, and unable to aid their worshipers.
Speaking on the ‘Big Talk’ podcast, the rapper also criticized followers of foreign religions for relying solely on prayer and expecting miracles without putting in the necessary effort. He stressed that prayers alone cannot provide essential social services or infrastructure.
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“When you go to a shrine and you see the priest pouring gin on the gods, Google how much a bottle of gin was in slavery. 40 slaves.
“Our gods are drunk on alcohol and meat. They are obese and diabetic.
“They can’t help us do anything. Prayers do not build roads or buy books for children. We have forgotten humanity,” he said.
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Presidents Invite Me To Dinner Wherever I Go – Davido Boasts
Renowned Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, known by his stage name Davido, has stated that he receives special treatment globally due to his celebrity status.
The Afrobeats sensation mentioned that he is frequently invited to presidential dinners in nearly every country he visits, with the exception of the United States and the United Kingdom.
In a recent interview with Kiss Fresh London, Davido confidently shared that his fanbase includes influential figures such as the World Bank president, presidents of powerful nations, and other notable personalities.
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“Every country we go to, the President invites us for dinner except London [United Kingdom] and the United States of America.
“It’s beautiful to see. I mean, leaving my country, Nigeria, and people welcoming me like the president in other countries, shows how well Nigeria is doing around the world in terms of music and cultural impacts,” he said.
Davido has expressed that he feels most respected in Africa, which is why he cherishes his African tours more than those in Europe and America, even though the latter bring him greater financial rewards.
He shared that his Jamaican collaborator, YG Marley, was astonished by the immense admiration from fans when he visited Nigeria for the video shoot of their joint hit, ‘Awuke.’