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Nigerian in Scotland emerges best graduating student

News Editor
A recent graduate from the prestigious Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Scotland, UK, Antia has not only made his homeland proud, but also set an inspiring benchmark for aspiring digital marketers worldwide.
With a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Digital Marketing, awarded with distinction, and the prestigious title of “Best Overall Student,” Antia has become a beacon of success and inspiration for the digital marketing community.
Born and raised in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Antia had always been intrigued by the dynamic world of marketing, and the immense potential of the digital sphere. Armed with the ambition and quest for knowledge, he embarked on his educational journey in pursuit of expertise in digital marketing.
His academic journey led him to the United Kingdom, where he was accepted into one of the Scotland’s renowned universities.
From the moment he set foot on campus, he exhibited an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and a deep passion for the subject matter. His lecturers soon recognized his exceptional dedication, a quality that would propel him to the top of his class.
The field of digital marketing is not for the faint hearted. It demands an intricate understanding of consumer behaviour, data analysis, and the ever-evolving digital landscape. Yet, he embraced the challenges with enthusiasm, demonstrating a remarkable ability to grasp complex concepts and apply them creatively.
What truly sets him apart, however, is his dedication to go above and beyond. While many students were content with the curriculum, he sought additional opportunities for growth and development.
He engaged in extracurricular activities, participated in internships, and joined relevant student organisations. This holistic approach not only enriched his knowledge, but also allowed him to network with industry professionals and gain real-world experience.
As he delved deeper into his studies, he discovered his niche in the digital marketing world. His research project and thesis contributions were lauded by both peers and lecturers. His innovative insights and creative strategies earned him recognition not only in academia but also within the digital marketing community.
He consistently maintained high academic standards throughout his tenure, a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence. His lecturers often remarked on his exceptional work ethic, analytical prowess, and ability to think critically in solving complex marketing challenges.
The culmination of his hard work came with his graduation, marked by the conferral of an MSc in Digital Marketing with distinction and the honour of being named the “Best Overall Student” in his cohort. His achievement serves as a source of inspiration for students in Nigeria and beyond, who aspire to excel in the field of digital marketing.
He is committed to using his expertise to drive businesses, and non-profit initiatives forward in an increasingly digital world.

Hurricane Lee forces Antigua to incur $9,000 in repairs on $120m Alfa Nero superyacht

News Editor

Superyacht Alfa Nero finally left the Falmouth harbor after a year. It was not sailing to a new destination with a new owner but undergoing a short sea trial following repairs carried out by the ship’s captain. Looming legal battles weren’t enough that the inclement Hurricane Lee also got added to the list of ordeals.

It may be a blessing in disguise as the 269-foot-long abandoned vessel finally stretched her legs after several months.

Darwin Telemaque standing near the Alfa Nero.

Port Manager Darwin Telemaque said the Alfa Nero was taken on sea trial following repairs carried out by the ship’s captain. It was imperative to check the vessel’s mobility in preparation for any erratic weather changes.

The Alfa Nero at Falmouth harbor. Image – Antigua Observer

“They flew in an engineer to address a challenge that existed onboard the ship—the ship has many, many challenges—and the captain wanted someone to have a look at a console that manages the movement of the ship,” Telemaque explained. Being immobile, the ship’s engine and generators have suffered, which will affect the boat’s performance. In addition to paying $30,000 a week, these repairs cost the government of Antigua another $8,000 to $9,000. It was an essential step to prepare for Hurricane Lee, which was expected to become a Category 5 hurricane.

“Everyone understands the risks that the vessel poses to navigation and to the effective use of the harbor, which is the main reason why the government has been trying to liquidate that asset. We have asked for it to be removed by its owners, but it is still there, and as of now, the government has taken the only step it could to remove it,” Darwin said. This time last year, Antigua and Barbuda was spared any significant storms that could have caused damage to the Alfa Nero or the Falmouth Harbor.

As plush the Alfa Nero is the superyacht needs extensive regular maintenance.

“We are looking at various options, but the options are challenging because of the position of the vessel, and one wants to be extremely careful in what we do, knowing the limitations we have in terms of equipment to handle that vessel,” he explained, per Antigua Observer.

These are the cheapest and most expensive British seaside towns to move to

News Editor

Fresh, salty air. The evocative screech of seagulls. Ice cream on every corner. There’s no place quite like the Great British seaside. And if you wanted to make a move to the coast? Happily, Halifax, the bank, has just revealed the cheapest – and most expensive – locations to nab a property by the sea.

The majority of the most affordable spots are in Scotland, with Greenock in Inverclyde taking the top spot. The only location in England to make the ‘cheap list’ is Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland.

Meanwhile, the list of expensive seaside towns is dominated by the South West, with seven entrants. The spenniest overall was Salcombe in Devon, with an extraordinary average house price of £1,244,025.

Of the 209 locations included in the study, the cheapest seaside towns to buy a home are:

  1. Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland: £97,608
  2. Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland: £105,410
  3. Millport, Ayrshire, Scotland: £111,381
  4. Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland: £114,962
  5. Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland: £116,414
  6. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, North East: £117,663
  7. Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland: £117,884
  8. Wick, Caithness, Scotland: £124,857
  9. Thurso, Caithness, Scotland: £126,716
  10. Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, Scotland: £129,348

The priciest coastal locations are:

  1. Salcombe, Devon: £1,244,025
  2. Sandbanks, Dorset: £952,692
  3. Aldeburgh, Suffolk: £794,492
  4. Padstow, Cornwall: £790,847
  5. Lymington, Hampshire: £663,474
  6. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight: £611,816
  7. Dartmouth, Devon: £567,985
  8. Kingsbridge, Devon: £556,659
  9. Wadebridge, Cornwall: £548,669
  10. Budleigh Salterton, Devon: £537,681

Kim Kinnaird, mortgages director at Halifax, said: ‘For many, owning a home by the sea is an aspiration, with coastal living offering beach walks, clean air and other health benefits. But this comes at a price in many locations and Britain’s most expensive seaside spot, Salcombe in Devon, will set buyers back over £1.2 million on average.

‘When we delve deeper into the cost of Britain’s seaside homes, it’s clear that there is a broad spectrum in house prices. While million-pound properties are abundant in the South West of England, in contrast, homes in Greenock in Scotland are valued on average at less than £100,000.

‘Second-home ownership undoubtedly plays a role in driving up prices in the most desirable locations.’

 

Culled from Timeout

Spatial Development Initiatives for Abidjan-Lagos corridor

News Editor

Engineers and sector Experts in Trade, Industry, Tourism, Private Sector and Agriculture, met at a Validation Workshop for the Spatial Development Initiative Study (SDI) for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project, which took place in Lagos, Nigeria between 13th and 15th September 2023, marking a significant step forward in the comprehensive development of this vital corridor. 

 

The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway is a six lane Dual Carriageway Highway from Abidjan-Lagos which is approximately 1,028 km long and connects some of the largest and most economically dynamic cities in Africa, namely: Abidjan, Accra, Cotonou, Lomé and Lagos and covers a large proportion of West Africa’s population.

It also links very vibrant seaports which also serves all the landlocked countries of the region, being Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad.

The development objective of the Highway project when fully implemented is to generate increased social and economic activities, promote cross-border trade and integrate the economies within the ECOWAS Community.

This will contribute to reducing the poverty within the population that depend on the transport modes of the corridor for livelihood.

The concept of SDI involves the scoping of all the physical, economic, technical, political, economic and commercial aspects of the Corridor catchment area.

The objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive Corridor Investment Plan with “anchor projects” in all economic sectors (Agriculture, tourism, industry, trade, health, education, etc.) that will naturally lead to a holistic growth of the Corridor.

The plan will also identify and create industrial clusters, with new economic activities to spur on the development of the region.

The holistic development of the Corridor will enhance regional connectivity, trade, and socio-economic development of the ECOWAS Region.

This Workshop, being hosted by the Executing Agency for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Project, ECOWAS Commission, attended by key stakeholders, development partners and project Directors/Engineers from the Ministries in-charge of Road Infrastructure in the corridor Members States (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo), considered an essential milestone in the SDI Study, where participants reviewed and validated the findings, data, the criteria and recommendations of the SDI Study, ensuring the accuracy and relevance of the proposed initiatives.

There were also discussions and consensus-building among diverse stakeholders, on project identification criteria and conditions, with the goal of prioritizing and agreeing on key projects and interventions for developing a holistic Investment Plan for the Corridor.

Feedback from the meeting will be used to shape the scoping and project selection process, for the eventual packaging of investment information for each economic activity in the Plan.

This will lead to the next milestone of the Study. Eventually, the projects prepared and packaged in the Investment Plan which will be structured with the Highway Component, as well as presented to private investors and public financiers.

Elon Musk’s biographer says ‘nothing hurt him more’ than his relationship with Amber Heard

News Editor

  • Elon Musk’s biographer said the most painful thing in the billionaire’s life was his relationship with Amber Heard.

  • Walter Isaacson said on Kara Swisher’s podcast that “nothing hurt him more than that relationship.”

  • Isaacson said the relationship was fraught with “storm and turmoil” that was “part of the attraction.”

Elon Musk’s biographer said the billionaire’s relationship with the actor Amber Heard hurt him the most — even more than Musk’s fraught relationship with his father.

“The storm and turmoil that both sides tell me about, this is not a matter of dispute, that was part of the attraction,” Walter Isaacson said on the latest episode of the “On With Kara Swisher” podcast. “Part of the theme of this life is this person is attracted to drama and storm. When things are calm, he surges — he buys Twitter or whatever. So, this is true of the relationship with Amber. Nothing hurt him more than that relationship.”

Musk and a lawyer for Heard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Musk and Heard dated on and off after bonding at the 2016 Met Gala. They took their relationship public in April 2017 before announcing their breakup a few months later. They continued seeing each other after their split before breaking up again in 2018.

Isaacson spent two years shadowing Musk for the biography, which hit shelves last week.

The book described a “psychological turmoil” in many of Musk’s romantic relationships. It recounted Musk’s and Heard’s first meeting: She asked if she could visit SpaceX a year after the two worked on the action film “Machete Kills,” Heard as a star and Musk as a consultant.

Isaacson also documented the explosive fights in their relationship, writing, “She and Musk would stay up all night fighting, and then he would not be able to get up until the afternoon.”

In the biography, Heard said she loved Musk “very much” but that “Elon loves fire and sometimes it burns him.”

When Isaacson asked Musk to explain his tumultuous romantic history, the billionaire replied, “I am often a fool, but especially for love.”

The Canadian musician Grimes, Musk’s ex with whom he shares three children, told Isaacson for the biography that Musk “associates love with being mean or abusive” in part because of his relationship with his father, Errol Musk.

Musk has said his father bullied and demeaned him throughout his childhood. In 2017, he told Rolling Stone his father was a “terrible human being” who had done “almost every evil thing you could possibly think of.”

Errol Musk has denied berating his son.

Musk’s first wife, Justine Wilson, to whom he was married from 2000 to 2008, has spoken about their relationship.

“There is a combative element to him,” she told Isaacson. “I don’t think you can be in a relationship with Elon and not argue.”

“When you’re from a dysfunctional background or have a brain wired like his,” Wilson told Isaacson, “intensity takes the place of intimacy.”

Corbyn: Sunak’s plans will cost thousands of lives

News Editor

Jeremy Corbyn has warned Rishi Sunak’s net zero shake-up will cause “irreparable” damage and “cost thousands of lives”,

The former Labour leader tweeted:

 

Trump Jr.’s X account hacked

News Editor

Donald Trump Jr.’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, was hacked Wednesday morning, leading to the spread of false and inflammatory posts under his name.

A representative for Trump Jr. confirmed to The Hill that the account, which has more than 10 million followers, was hacked.

In one post, the hacker wrote: “I’m sad to announce, my father Donald Trump has passed away. I will be running for president in 2024.”

“This just in: North Korea is about to get smoked,” read another post.

Another post from the hacked account read, in part, “F‑‑k @JoeBiden.”

The posts were deleted just before 9 a.m. Wednesday, having been up on Trump Jr.’s page for less than an hour.

A spokesperson for X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump Jr. still maintains a large following on X and regularly uses the platform despite his father’s use of Truth Social, a social media platform that the former president has a financial stake in.

 

Elon Musk purchased Twitter earlier this year and rebranded it as X in July. Musk’s takeover was viewed as a win for conservatives such as Trump Jr., who complained that the previous ownership had repressed conservative voices.

Poem: Ascendant

News Editor 
Ascendant - Bastion Ivie
"I don’t know defeat.

If you do, chances are we will never meet.

My enemies cheat. Cus' that`s the only way they can compete.

I’ve got goals and with God’s guide they’ll be completed.

I'm driven to help those denied and mistreated.

I look for purity in all that I know.

A friend is a friend and foe is a foe.

To thrive with the strong and purpose replete.

I know right and I know wrong but I don’t know defeat.”
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