US coronavirus cases surpass 1 million as projections show deaths could rise in coming weeks

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States topped 1 million on Tuesday as researchers say the number of deaths could rise in coming weeks.

There are at least 1,004,908 cases of the virus across the US, according to a tally from health officials by Johns Hopkins University.

The grim milestone comes after seven coronavirus models anticipate a rise in cases that will depend on how much "contact reduction" Americans practice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The models estimate the numbers of cases and deaths on the state and national levels, and one model from the University of Texas at Austin makes metro-area projections.

Your top coronavirus questions, answered

"State-level forecasts vary widely, reflecting differences in early epidemic phases, timing of interventions and model-specific assumptions," the CDC says.

Models that factor in strong contact reduction suggest deaths will continue to occur, but will "slow substantially over the next four weeks," the CDC said.

CNN news

The Rise and Rise of John Boyega

John Adedayo B. Adegboyega (born 17 March 1992), known professionally as John Boyega, is an English actor known for playing Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films, The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Boyega rose to prominence in his native United Kingdom for his role as Moses in the 2011 sci-fi comedy film Attack the Block.

Boyega's other credits include historical drama film Detroit (2017), the science fiction film Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), four episodes of the television series 24: Live Another Day and the drama Imperial Dreams (2014). Boyega received the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2016.

Boyega was born on 17 March 1992 in Peckham, London, England, to British Nigerian parents, Abigail (née Aboderin), who works with the disabled, and Samson Adegboyega, a Pentecostal minister. His first role was a leopard in a play at his primary school. John is of Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria. 

Boyega was a pupil at Oliver Goldsmith Primary School. While acting in a play there at the age of nine, he was noticed by Teresa Early, the artistic director of Theatre Peckham, a learning theatre for young people who live in south London. After he joined the theatre, he spent his time there outside school hours between the ages of nine and 14. Boyega's father, a preacher, had wanted Boyega to become a preacher too, but was supportive of his son's theatrical interests.

 

In 2003, Boyega started his secondary education at Westminster City School, where he took part in various school productions. Between 2008 and 2010, he attended South Thames College at the college's Wandsworth campus to study for a National Diploma in Performing Arts. His activities at the college included playing the title role in the college's production of Othello. He enrolled at the University of Greenwich to study BA Film Studies & Media Writing, but dropped out to focus on acting.

Boyega trained at the Identity School of Acting in Hackney, and appeared in Six Parties at the National Theatre and Category B at the Tricycle Theatre prior to being offered a role in the 2011 film Attack the Block. In September 2011, HBO announced that Boyega had been cast in the boxing drama pilot Da Brick, loosely based on Mike Tyson's life. Boyega was expected to play Donnie, who is released from a juvenile detention centre on his 18th birthday and begins to examine what it means to be a man. The pilot was written by John Ridley,[16] but was not picked up by HBO.Also in 2011, he acted in the film Junkhearts in which he portrayed Jamal, a drug dealer who finds some guns and tries to sell them.

 

Boyega was chosen by Fionnuala Halligan of Screen International as one of the "UK Stars of Tomorrow 2011" and appeared alongside two other actors on the front cover of that magazine in its July 2011 edition.In March 2012, Boyega was cast in the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book Half of a Yellow Sun. On 29 April 2014, it was confirmed that Boyega had been cast as a lead character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It was later revealed Boyega would play Finn, a stormtrooper for the First Order, who leaves the military power after witnessing their cruelty in his first combat mission before joining the fight against them. The film was released on 18 December 2015. Both the film and Boyega's performance received acclaim from both audiences and critics.

 

In 2017, Boyega starred in Detroit, Kathryn Bigelow's film about the 1967 Detroit riots. The same year, he reprised his role as Finn in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

 In January 2016, Boyega formed his own production company, Upperroom Entertainment Limited. His company co-produced Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), the sequel to the 2013 movie Pacific Rim, alongside Legendary Entertainment. Boyega also starred in the lead role of the film, Jake Pentecost.

 In November 2018 it was announced that Boyega would be starring alongside Letitia Wright in a novel adaption of Hold Back the Stars. Boyega has also been cast in Steve McQueen's upcoming mini-series Small Axe.

 In 2018, Boyega subsequently reprised his role as Finn in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, released in 2019. During an interview with Good Morning America, Boyega acknowledged that he had accidentally left his script in a hotel room during filming. The script subsequently surfaced on eBay but was bought by a Lucasfilm employee to prevent it from being leaked.

 

In the 2020 Power list, Boyega was listed in the Top 100 of the most influential people in the UK from African/African-Caribbean decent.

wikipedia

NDDC Alerts Nigerians on Scammers offering Fake Agric Loans

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has warned the public against activities of scammers offering non-existent agriculture cooperative loans in the name of the commission. Mr Charles Odili, NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, said in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the scammers had collected money from unsuspecting Nigerians to obtain ‘fake’ agric loans.

Dr. Segun Toyin Dawodu MD, JD, MBA, LL.M, MS, Doing Nigeria Proud

Segun Toyin Dawodu, a Yoruba man (born October 13, 1960 in Nigeria) is currently an Attending Interventional Physiatrist with the WellSpan Health and was previously an Associate Professor of Pain Medicine at Albany Medical College.  He has been a major contributor to the peer-reviewed articles on the diagnosis and management of Spinal Cord Injury, Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndromes, Swallowing Disorders Traumatic Brain Injury, and chapter in Comprehensive Pain Management in the Rehabilitation Patient. In 1998, he established dawodu.com, a website on Nigeria's socio-political issues.

 

He is a graduate of Medicine (MD) from University of Ibadan, Nigeria, of Law from University of London (LL.B and LL.M) and King's College London The Dickson Poon School of Law (LL.M in International Corporate and Commercial Law, as its first graduate in that degree), graduate of Medical Informatics (Master of Science) from Northwestern University and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School with an MBA. He is board certified in the medical specialties of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, Sports Medicine, Clinical informatics, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine and Electro Diagnostic Medicine. He is also a diplomate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland

 

He is a licensed Physician in the United States in New York and other states in the United Kingdom with the General Medical Council, Nigeria with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago. He is also a licensed Medical Informatician as a specialist in Medical Informatics Health informatics with the United Kingdom Council for Health Informatics Professions (UKCHIP).

He was previously (2000-2001) a Clinical Instructor of Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital/Medical School in New York City before going into solo private practice.

He has served in many capacities in different professional organizations including being formerly a pioneer member of the editorial board and author in the Knowledge NOW publications of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, membership of different committees of the American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electro Diagnostic Medicine etc.

He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fellow of the American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electro Diagnostic Medicine, Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Member of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, and Member/Diplomate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

 source: wikipedia

Ken Walibora: The Passing of a Prolific Writer

The Kenyan author Ken Walibora who was buried last week left behind a generation of fans who read his books in Swahili classes, including the BBC's Basillioh Mutahi.

Prof Walibora was renowned for promoting Swahili, the national language he used in writing his books.

In 2018 he expressed concern that some schools in Kenya had notices reading: "This is an English-speaking zone".

He asked the ministry of education why it would allow students to be barred from speaking in Swahili, when it was a national language.

The author said this was a sign of brainwashing and neo-colonialism. You would not find another country that would choose a foreign language over the language of its people, he said

.His most prominent book was his first novel Siku Njema which was later translated to English as A Good Day. It was used as a set book in high schools around the country for many years.

Many Kenyans who read it in school have spoken about how the novel, a tale of triumph over adversity, helped them love Swahili literature - which is something Kenyans often find difficult to do.

Our neighbours in Tanzania are supposed to be the most proficient speakers of this language used as a lingua franca by around 100 million people across East Africa.

• Born on 6 January 1965 as Kennedy Waliaula in Baraki, Bungoma county, in western Kenya
• Later changed his identity to Walibora, the latter part of his surname which means "better" in Swahili. He also shortened his first name to Ken
• Worked as a teacher and a probation officer before he became a journalist. He has also served as a professor of the Kiswahili language in the US and Kenya
• Died on 10 April after he was hit by a bus in downtown Nairobi, the police initially reported
• He had been reported missing for five days when his body was found at the mortuary of Kenya's main referral hospital, the Kenyatta National Hospital
• The police's homicide department have since taken over investigations into his death after a post-mortem by the government pathologist revealed he had a knife wound on the space between his thumb and the index finger
• Buried on 21 April at his home in western Kenya in a funeral attended by not more than 15 people, due to the regulations imposed to stop the spread of coronavirus
• His widow and two children did not attend as they could not leave the US, where they live, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions

SOURCE: BBCNEWS

Coronavirus: 'One billion' could become infected worldwide'

One billion people could become infected with the coronavirus worldwide unless vulnerable countries are given urgent help, an aid group has warned.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said financial and humanitarian aid were needed to help slow the global spread of the virus.

It said "fragile countries" such as Afghanistan and Syria needed "urgent funding" to avoid a major outbreak.

"There remains a small window of time to mount a robust response," it warned.

There have been more than 3m confirmed cases of Covid-19 worldwide with more than 200,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University in the US.

The IRC's report, which is based on models and data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Imperial College London, estimated there could be between 500m and 1bn infections globally.

It also said there could be more than 3m deaths across dozens of conflict-affected and unstable countries.

BBC 

How to Obtain CBN Loan Without Collateral

CBN Loan Form 2020/2021: How to Apply for AGSMEIS without Collateral: Apply for N10 million CBN AGSMEIS 5% Loan Today. The Agric Small and Medium Enterprise Scheme (AGSMEIS) is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria. CBN AGSMEIS Loan 2020 application is currently ongoing – Apply here! With the CBN AGSMEIS Loan, you can access up to N10M at 5% per year from the Agric, Small and medium enterprise scheme (AGSMEIS), an initiative from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); this is without collateral.

 

What is Agric Small and Medium Enterprise Scheme (AGSMEIS)?

 

AGSMEIS is an initiative of the Bankers’ Committee in a bid to support and complement the Federal Governments’ efforts at promoting Agri-businesses/Small and Medium Enterprises as a vehicle for sustainable economic development and employment generation.

 

AGSMEIS is a voluntary initiative of the Bankers’ Committee approved at its 331st meeting held on 9th February, 2017. The Scheme requires all banks in Nigeria to set aside 5% of their profit after tax (PAT) annually.

The initiative is to support the Federal Government’s efforts and policy measures for the promotion of Agricultural Businesses, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as vehicles for sustainable economic development and employment generation.

 

Objectives of the Agric, Small and Medium Enterprise Scheme (AGSMEIS)

The objectives of the Scheme include :

 To ensure Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)have access to finance

To generate much-needed employment opportunities in Nigeria

To develop agricultural value chain and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.

To boost the managerial capacity of Agri-Business/SMEs as pipelines of growing enterprises that can become huge corporate organizations.

 Interested applicant must have been trained by an Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI)

Interested applicant will apply for loan via an EDI

The applications will then be sent to CBN for processing

Applicants will be called for an interview regarding his/her business.

Those qualified will be contacted and given the loan.

Fill clearly the new form with all the details required , sign and get them authenticated by EDC – http://www.edcsouthwest.org/

Note: Maximum loan is 10million; Interest rate is 5% per annum; Tenor is 7 yrs and Moratorium is 18 months.

 

Requirements for CBN Loan Approval of Application and Disbursement of Funds

 

The following are the Requirements necessary either during application or before final approval of the CBN loan application and final disbursement of funds to an applicant.

 

Registered business with CAC

Evidence of tax payments

BVN

Letter of Introduction

Letter of Guaranty

Certification by an EDI

Passport photo of you and guarantor

Valid ID card

Who Can Write Letter of Introduction for CBN AGSMEIS Loan?

 

Your Pastor

Chief Imam

LGA Chairman

CDA Chairman

Village Head

Senior Civil Servants Level 14 above

MD of Blue Chip Companies

Your friend or spouse can write the guaranty letter.

Important Notice: Please note that applicants who submitted last year and was sent a link to provide further details before the last requirements came out do not need to re-submit again.

 

AGSMEIS Loan Interest Rate

 Five percent(5%) for the first five(5) years. If you obtain One Million Naira(N1,000,000), you will pay back One Million Fifty Thousand Naira(N1,050,000) throughout the duration of the loan.

 

How To Apply For CBN AGSMEIS Loan Form 2020 Without Collateral.

 Step 1 : Get Trained

Attend a one week compulsory training at a CBN certified Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI). You can check the list of CBN EDC Centres in Nigeria.

Step 2 : Apply For Loan

 

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) guides and assists you in getting all necessary documents required to secure the loan. Download the agsmeis loan application form pdf. Note that, you can get the current application form from the CBN EDC that trained you.

Step 3 : Receive Funds

 

Loans are paid into the account of beneficiaries. Unqualified candidates are given feedback.

Step 4 : Get Business Support Services

 

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute assists you to implement business plan and provide business support services commercially.

Step 5 : Make Sales

 

Sell products and services to pay back loan and make profit.

Step 6 : Repay Loan

 

Run your business, keep proper records, monitor sales and expenses to maximize profit and pay back the loan.

About National Microfinance Bank (NMFB).

 

cbn loan

cbn loan

The National Microfinance Bank is a leading Nigerian financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Nigeria. The Company was incorporated as a Private Limited Company in 2019 and commenced operations following the grant of a licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria to operate as a National Microfinance Bank in the same year. It is Owned 50% by the Bankers Committee, 40% by NIRSAL and 10% NIPOST. So far the bank has disbursed approximately 776 million in loans to eligible SMEs under the AGSMEIS.

 

List of CBN Approved Entrepreneurial Development Centers (EDC) in Nigeria.

 

The CBN EDC Centres in Nigeria provide physical structures, training materials, equipments, human resources and other facilities that would assure internationally competitive, effective and sustainable services capable of meeting the needs of MSMEs in the country. This is to encourage private entrepreneurship, self employment, job creations, income growth, poverty eradication and economic development.

 

The CBN Entrepreneurship Development Centres (CBN EDCs) which target those with at least secondary education has the following specific objectives:

 

To develop entrepreneurship spirit amongst Nigerians and provide insight into the tools,

techniques and framework for managing all functional areas of business enterprise, including

production, marketing, personnel and finance.

To develop skills of would-be-entrepreneurs to successfully start, expand, diversify and

manage business enterprises as well as link them with financial institutions for start up capital,

especially the microfinance banks.

To generate employment opportunities for Nigerians in pursuance of the provisions of the

National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy [NEEDS] and recently vision

2020.

To raise a new class of entrepreneurs/owners, who can compete globally and succeed in

managing MSMEs and provide the bridge for future industrialization of the country.

List of CBN EDC Centres in Nigeria.

 

Below is the list of CBN EDC Centres in Nigeria and their addresses :

 

CBN-EDC, Ibadan (South West)

Website: www.edcsouthwest.org

Address: Old SDSTC (Oyo Oodua Skill Acquisition Centre Premises),

Samonda, along Sango-UI Road,

Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

 

CBN-EDC, PortHarcourt (South South)

Website: www.ssedc.org

30 Trans-Woji road, Grace plaza, by Slaughter Bridge Woji Town,

Port Harcourt, Rivers State

 

CBN-EDC, Maiduguri (North East)

website : edcnortheast.com.ng

Address: Old Informatics Institute, Njimtillo, Kano Road,

Maiduguri, Borno State

 

CBN-EDC, Kano (North West)

Address: Murtala Muhammed Library Complex,

Kano, Kano State

 

CBN-EDC, Makurdi (North Central)

Off Jonah Jang Crescent,

Near Federal Secretariat,

Makurdi, Benue State.

 

CBN-EDC, Minna (North Central)

Address: Minna Innovation Institute,

Behind Niger State Sharia Commission,

Justice Ndajiwo Drive,

Minna, Niger State.

 

CBN-EDC, Enugu (South East)

Address: Ebenezer Villa Suite

8, Ogenyi Close, Off Cornerstone Avenue

Off Nike Lake Resort Road,

Enugu, Enugu State.

 

You can get more contact addresses of Entrepreneurship development centres in Nigeria – https://www.boi.ng/edcpartners/

 

Centre for Entrepreneurial Development

website : www.cedl.org

36, Murtala Mohammed International

Airport Road, Lagos.

 

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