Contrary to the notion that T.M Aluko has not been accorded his rightful place in the Nigerian literary tradition, what happened last Monday at his Apapa, GRA residence remained a clear testimony of how much the octogenarian writer is held in high esteemed within the nation's arts and literary circle.

As the German coach of Kenya's Harambee Stars, Antoine Hey continues to sit in his hotel room in protest to the imposition of Auxerre of France player Daniel Oliech on him, the homers have continued to pick their pieces from the confusion.

Kenya’s ace striker Dennis Oliech says his performance should not be solely judged on the number of goals he scores but his overall contribution to the team.

The commencement of accreditation of ex-militants from Imo state by the presidential team signals the triumph of reason over illogic but is, indeed, only the beginning of the process of the righting of the wrong done the Imo people by their initial exclusion from the post amnesty programme of the Federal Government.

Spanish coach Gines Melendez last night conceded that Nigeria was the better side worthy of its victory in the second semi final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The Chairman of the Technical Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi says Nigeria will not be deceived by the crisis in the coaching crew of the Harambee Stars of Kenya ahead of tomorrow's last qualifier with Super Eagles.

Last week, the Director General, National Automotive Council (NAC), Aminu Jalal, said in Abuja that over two million Nigerian auto mechanics may be rendered unemployed by the influx of new cars into the county.

Cup holders, Nigeria's Golden Eaglets last night strolled to the final of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, inflicting a 3-1 pain on hard fighting Spain. The second semi final of the day, coming just two hours after Switzerland despatched Colombia in a 4-0 bashing at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, appears to have set the stage for Nigeria's back-to-back win of this global cadet football fiesta.

Former consultant for Willbros International Inc. (WII), a subsidiary of Houston-based Willbros Group Inc. (Willbros), Paul G. Novak, yesterday admitted to engaging in a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to Nigerian government officials as well as officials from a Nigerian political party.

The outcome of the crucial encounter tomorrow between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Harambee stars of Kenya, which is a must-win encounter and also dependent on Mozambique and Tunisia's clash in Maputo, has been described as a moment of decision for Nigerian football development by the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi. Lulu revealed shortly before leaving for the all important clash that this weekend's match between the Super Eagles and the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Kasarani will be a turning point for Nigerian Football. Lulu, who spoke in Abuja before the team's departure to Kenya, said the federation's efforts towards repositioning football in the country will start manifesting after the all important decisive match that would determine the sole representative in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers, where the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia are ahead with eleven points. According to the former FCT Director of Sports, "the match in Kenya will change a lot of things in the game of football in Nigeria. We would have to chart a new direction for Nigerian football after this encounter. This is a game that Nigerians are very passionate about, and they passionately support it, we can not continue to struggle to qualify for the World Cup at every edition. We are going to convene a Football Stakeholders Summit, where all relevant stakeholders in the game in the country and beyond would come together and discuss the possible ways forward. We would not lose focus on our youth development programs starting from the U-13 level and ensure that there is a steady graduation at all levels of the national teams". He said that the recent performance of the Golden Eaglets in the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup has shown that the future of the game is bright in the country, and therefore needs a thorough policy arrangement to sustain it.

The Black Stars of Ghana who qualified for their first FIFA World Cup four years ago, coming from behind in a group that included South Africa to snatch top place are drumming up for another memorable experience when the South African 2010 edition kicks off next year. For the 2010 finals, they qualified without any notable problems, much to the delight of highly-rated striker Asamoah Gyan. "We did great the second time round," the Stade Rennais striker told FIFA.com. "The first time was quite complicated but now we've reached the finals without losing a game in the final round of qualifiers. So it's been more satisfying for us, although it wasn't easy. It's a great achievement. On paper Mali were one of the favourites because they have so many good players but we beat them 2-0 away with almost a second team because we had so many injuries. Individually we have a good team and I think we are also united and we are ready to face anyone we meet. Players like Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and John Mensah, these are guys who are world class. We have a good team and we are ready to show the world what we can do for the second time," continued Gyan. "I can't predict where we'll finish, but if everything goes well, if we concentrate, I think we are going to have a great World Cup."

The curtains will fall on the 13th FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 on Sunday. But then the final word on the controversy-ridden tournament won't be heard soon. The final word will take some time in coming.

Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, yesterday told House of Representatives members that six million Nigerians do not have access to university education, despite being qualified.

The World Bank said yesterday that the amount needed to fix infrastructure in Africa is twice what was previously estimated. It put the new figure at $93 billion half of which, it noted, should go into boosting power supply.

Barely a month after the Federal Government sealed an amnesty deal to end the protracted violence and other criminal activity in the Niger Delta region of the country, an apparent threat of resumption of violence against the state was made by one of the principal beneficiaries of the package, Mr Henry Okah.

Some 6,000 members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) in East Africa will cheer Super Eagles to victory in Nairobi on Saturday.The Super Eagles are engaging the Harambee Stars of Kenya in a qualifier for South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Nigeria Football Federation President Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi has revealed that this weekend match between the Super Eagles and the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Kasarani will be a turning point for Nigeria football.

As efforts are being made by individuals and various organisations to make life easier for people with disabilities, there is an urgent need to integrate this segment of people into the larger society.

Super Eagles will go all out to crush their Kenyan counterparts in the do-or-die World Cup/Nations Cup qualifier and secure the ticket to the Rainbow Nation.

Arik Air has announced that it would commence flights between Lagos and New York (JFK) beginning on Sunday, 29 November 2009.