ELVIRA’S PEN

When it comes to football, Nigerians don't just watch the game, we live it. From crowded viewing centres to noisy living rooms where everyone suddenly becomes a football coach, football is almost a second religion in Nigeria. And while the Super Eagles have never lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy, they've given us moments so unforgettable that they still make us smile, shout, and ask, "Where were you when that happened?" Let's start with the summer of 1994. Nigeria had just qualified for its very first FIFA World Cup in the United States. Most of the world didn't know what to expect. But then came Bulgaria. The Super Eagles didn't just win—they demolished them 3-0. Rashidi Yekini scored Nigeria's first-ever World Cup goal and celebrated by grabbing the net and shouting with pure joy. To this day, it's one of the most iconic celebrations in football history. The world had been introduced to Nigeria. Then came 1998. Nigeria faced Spain, one of footbal...

|Orogun, Delta State   The A Million Tree Project entered Phase 3, with an official flag-off at Federal Polytechnic Orogun. The event was led by Community Development Advocacy Foundation CODAF, African Center for Environmental and Rural Development ACERD, and Neferok Development Initiative, and drew management staff, lecturers, journalists, and students in a joint show of commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action. The program began with an opening speech by Mr. Richard Benin, Executive Director of CODAF. He described the occasion as the official launch of Phase 3 and stressed that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality, visible in shifting weather patterns and environmental degradation. Benin commended the school management for partnering on the initiative and for allocating one acre of land for the project, calling it a clear sign of commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. He advocated that tree ownership be made ...

PORT HARCOURT — The Global Fund-supported Integrated Community-Led Monitoring (I-CLM) Project is yielding positive results in Rivers State by improving access to healthcare services, reducing drug stock-outs, shortening waiting times, and tackling stigma faced by patients living with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria. Stakeholders disclosed this during a media briefing on the Global Fund GC7 I-CLM Project, where they highlighted the impact of community-led oversight in strengthening health service delivery across participating communities in the state. The project, implemented through the AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) Networks, places communities and civil society organisations at the centre of healthcare monitoring, enabling local residents to identify service gaps, prioritize needs, and advocate solutions to challenges affecting healthcare delivery. Speaking at the briefing, the State Coordinator of the TB Network in Rivers State, Fyneface Muzan, said the initiative ha...

THE ALCHEMY OF EMOTIONS - Elvira Jordan (Revised)  Good Morning Beloved! 😘 In Spiritual circles, it is an understanding and general knowledge that Energy rules the world, Energy cannot be destroyed but can only be transmuted, and Emotions are energies. ✅ Energies are what moves the body. Hunger is a feeling in the body but also an energy. So is anger, sadness, joy, shame, pain etc. These are commonly referred to as Emotions and they are also Energies in motion. They generate from the brain, move through the body and settle in certain parts of the body. 🫁✨ Joy is generated and stored in the brain. Anger is stored in the chest, jaw and liver; shame is stored in the stomach and gut, etc. This is to let you understand that every emotion we feel could be caused by external factors but are generated internally. 🫀🔥  I also believe strongly that some of the diseases that attack the body organs (liver issue, kidney issues, heart diseases etc) are caused by stored and accumulat...

History often remembers kings, presidents, and conquerors.   But  a cross Africa, extraordinary women have proven that  true power is not about titles,  it's about impact. Let's begin  Yaa   Asantewaa  of Ghana.   In 1900, when British colonial forces demanded the sacred Golden Stool of the Ashanti people, many leaders hesitated.  Yaa   Asantewaa  did not. She rallied her people and led a resistance against colonial rule, becoming one of Africa's most celebrated symbols of bravery and resistance. Travel south to South  Africa  and you'll find the story of  Winnie  Madikizela -Mandela . During the struggle against apartheid, when many voices were silenced, she remained a powerful symbol of resistance. Despite years of persecution and hardship, she continued advocating for justice and equality, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in South Africa's fight for freedom. Then there is  Wangari   Maat...

Uyo, Akwa Ibom  - In a bold move to tackle the scourge of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), the Methodist Church Nigeria has trained 129 of its bishops on prevention and response strategies.  The training, held on June 12, 2026 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was a collaborative effort with Lux Terra Leadership Foundation. SGBV, a form of violence that affects individuals based on their sex or gender, has devastating consequences on victims, including physical, emotional, and psychological harm.  The training aimed to equip church leaders with the knowledge and skills to address SGBV, promoting a culture of love, justice, and protection for the vulnerable. "We must treat every human being with respect, valuing their worth irrespective of status," emphasized the trainers, citing the biblical doctrine of "imago Dei" (image of God).  The church leaders were urged to reject patriarchal constructs and cultural practices that perpetuate SGBV. The training covered various ...