Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho has been named the 2005 European Footballer of the Year.

The Brazilian edged out English duo Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to win the 50th edition of France Football magazine’s prestigious Ballon D’Or award at a gala ceremony in Paris.
Ronaldinho, named FIFA World Player of the Year in December, finished third in the running in 2004 behind winner Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan and his Barcelona team-mate Deco.

The 25-year-old becomes the fifth Barca player to pick up the award, which is voted for by European football journalists, since Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews won the inaugural Ballon D’Or in 1956.

Luis Suarez was the first Barca player to achieve the feat in 1960 before Johan Cruyff picked up back-to-back awards in 1973 and 1974. Hristo Stoichkov was the next Barca star to win the title in 1994 and Ronaldinho’s compatriot Rivaldo also claimed the honour in 1999 – four years after it was opened up to non-European players.

The clear favourite for the award, Ronaldinho was the overwhelming winner, his 225 points dwarfing Chelsea’s Lampard (148) and Liverpool’s Gerrard (142). They in turn were well clear of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry, who repeated last year’s fourth place with 41 points. The 2004 winner Shevchenko finished fifth on 33 points, one of three AC Milan players in the top 10, along with Paolo Maldini and Kaka.

The young man is obviously writing his name in the history books as one of the best players to ever kick the round leather ball. His skills caught my eyes during the World Youth Championships (Nigeria ’99) despite the poor performance of the Brazillian team. He still stood out and that was the begginning of an illustrious career.

He played for PSG in France before moving on to Spanish giants, Barcelona where he is fast turning into a legend. No doubt, there won’t be much competition when the next World footballer of the year is announced.
Well done man!

It is now an anormally to walk through any street in Nigeria without assaulting one’s eyes. When I was growing up, it was not a common thing to see a woman wearing trousers, talkless of revealing dresses. The slip started occuring when Holywood movies and music videos started flooding our dear nation. Babes now think about looking like their diva heroines and are content to expose all their ‘once termed’ secret parts.
I am not that old, but I could recall that it was easy to identify a beautiful woman unlike these days when even the most ‘woworik’ of them can tush up and expose her body making her stand out of the crowd easily. To know if a woman is busty or has all the necessary statisitcs was hard then, but now you don’t need any experience to see these things with the very tight and body hugging clothes they wear. Everybody now has a chance to show something to us.
It has gotten so bad that traveling to rural areas will not solve the problem as the babes in these communities even dress worse than University students. Let’s visit our churches. In tongue-speaking, firebrand churches I respect so much; it is now a common sight to see ‘sisters’ wearing all sorts to worship God. I am scared especially because they don’t even care and they act as if all is well. The other day, myself and a friend saw asome of these sisters in 1 service and we were so concerned.
We all know that we are in the 21st century but God has not changed at all! The standard is still there and should not be compromised for any reason! Looking good is not the same as exposing one’s body to the public. A lot of people will be quick to remind me that if my mind is clean, I should not have any problem; but the fact is that anywhere we turn nowadays brings all sort of sights to us. I am even afraid that by the time I have children, television will be outlawed in my house, even fast food joints play musical videos that are in the same leagues as Porn videos.
I love the African woman because she has diginity and is proud of it, even better is the fact that she is getting emancipated. We have the first African female head of state. But this dignity is fast eroding and I think it should grow along with emancipation. Rapes are more constant on campuses now, there are more teenage pregnancies and HIV AIDS is on the rise. A man is easily affected by what he sees! and these things we are seeing nowadays are scary, infact it is harder now than ever to be sane!
But I must quickly point out the fact that there are still many beautiful women who still dress to kill, while maintaining the diginity of womanhood! Please, help us by following those kinda women, it helps. Most guys love seeing your boobs but will still want to marry a woman who dresses decently.
Lets all try and maintain a sane society where we can waka without yawa to our eyes!

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha is back at work in his home state of Bayelsa, officials say. He was granted bail in September, on condition he stayed in the UK.

He was originally arrested in September in Heathrow airport and some £1m-worth of cash was found in his London home.

Mr Alamieyeseigha says he is innocent and said the UK was being neo-colonial.

Bayelsa’s Information Commissioner Oronto Douglas told the AFP news agency: “We woke up this morning and he was here… He said that God brought him here.”

Mr Douglas said large crowds had lined the streets of the state capital, Yenagoa, to welcome the governor back.

British police have confirmed that he has failed to meet his bail conditions which included reporting regularly to a police station.

—-That was how the news was chronicled on the BBC website today!
It came as a huge shock to my colleagues in the office and they did not believe me until I sent them the URL for confirmation. The questions are many now -
1. What next?
2. is this the end of the journey?
3. What will the EFCC do? Siddon look or arrest the thief?
4. What will be the reaction of the British Government?
5. Since Joshua and Diepreye have successfully fled London after arrest, is there any lesson for other Governors?

We will keep our fingers crossed and see how the events unfold.
But I have some question for the British Police.
1. How did he manage to escape?
2. What were the custom officials doing or did he use Ofe(A juju for dissapearing)?
3. What happened to the so called finger print technology?
4. What passport did he use to travel and if it belonged to another person, is that not a fact that their system is beatable?
5. What effect will this shameful occurence have on Britain’s standing in the Corruption index bearing in mind that money would have changed hands with Police and Airport security staff to facilitate his escape?

Events in the next few days will confirm our fears and/or hopes. All the same – I throwway salutate to the big thief, the one we should fear so much alarmdonblow, sorry Alameishameful!

I am sitting down in front of my PC wearing a T-Shirt that is most inappropriate for my mood this morning (I am wearing a Nigeria Rocks T-Shirt). Before you start wondering what I am talking about, I had a near terrible experience yesterday. Before I narrate that experience, it will be good to go with me on a journey to my past encounters with hoodlums in Lagos.
Last year around June, I was coming from the office on a Saturday and my phone (A small Phillips) was stolen in a bus. I got the line back sometimes in July and exactly a week after getting a new Nokia phone; I closed late (8.20 p.m) and I was robbed by a gang of three. My office then was in Anthony Oke, near TREM, I was devastated because they used force and showed me a gun, they even got some blood from my mouth and my shoe was spoilt as a result of the initial struggle I had before seeing the gun.
That day, I hated Nigeria so much and wondered why I was still in the country at that moment.
In April of this year, I had another stint with the big boys. I was coming from a friend’s birthday and left the place late (7.30 p.m) because it was a reunion of sort where I met friends from the past. I waited for bus for a long time and eventually the one I saw was going to Oshodi Express. I stay in Ilupeju and it was natural for me to enter the bus, what I did not know was that Oshodi Express will take me to almost opposite NAFDAC office, a very dangerous spot at night.
As soon as I crossed to the other side, I sensed I was being followed. I was gently asked to remain calm or face the consequences. I did not struggle and really cooperated with them and this got them so happy with me that they said I can take my laptop, digital camera and phone; I should just give them the money on me. I gave them 1,000 and they wanted to change their mind about my gentleman nature, so I gave them 4,500 that was with me and they said it was enough to pay for my life (Na wa o), they even told me that I should organise a thanksgiving ceremony when I reach home because as they told me, they kill a lot of their victims (uhnnnnnnn)! After this incidence, I started asking myself if this is a country worth staying, I can’t even go to complain to the police.
Now to the present. I got off my staff bus at around 7.45 p.m yesterday and crossed the pedestrian bridge at Palmgrove. I was about to take a bike when a rough looking idiot accused me of stepping on him. I was stunned as the guy actually stepped on me and not the other way round. He moved close to me and asked if I wanted to fight him, I was stunned and could just manage to tell him that I saw no reason for doing that. I eventually climbed an Okada and as we moved, I noticed that one of my phones was gone! Again! And the phone is barely 1 month old, plus the fact that it is beautiful and contains a sim card that is not the usual type.
I told the Okada man to turn back and as we approached Palmgrove, we saw the guy chasing us on another bike. We stopped and he came to return the phone back. He said I should take my phone back and he was looking very sober. He then begged me to give him anything; I gave him 200 naira and he said more blessings! Men, I got home and I was like – why? I am luckier this time around but that does not erase the fact that these are bad times in Lagos. Money rituals, one chance, phone thieves, armed robbers, police, area boys…… the list is endless. It is now insensible to move at night in Lagos and if you know Palmgrove well enough, you will agree with me that it is supposed to be a safe place at 7.45 p.m.
I am scared and emotionally hurt, but that will not stop me from believing in Nigeria, despite all these distractions and pains; I know that we still have hope and that E go better! I just pray that God should shield me from these occurrences. NIGERIA ROCKS!

I am always on top of my game whenever the week is running out, especially on Fridays. That is why the word “Thank God It’s Friday” sounds so good to me. It is not as if I am a big socialite or that I am looking forward to so much at the weekend; but the mere fact that I can wake up whenever I want on Saturday and Sunday Morning (Though this can be overruled by Weddings on Saturdays and Church on Sundays) is a very alluring feeling.
I love my job so much, and I might have to go to work on weekends if there are issues with the platforms I am managing; I still believe that weekends are important times to reconnect with myself and God, have time for families and most importantly catch up on the quiet times missed during week days.
This weekend especially is a unique one…. the second and last phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will be holding in Tunis and the resolutions at this meeting will shape the way for the world. Issues like Internet Governance (which I love so much), bridging the digital divides, e.t.c will be addressed and possible positions taken during the meeting.
I am particularly happy that Nigerian Youths are ready to do us proud again as they are set to ROCK TUNIS! They are taking some effizees to Tunisia to reiterate the fact that NIGERIA ROCKS! Paradigm Initiative Nigeria with great support from Heinrich Bohl Foundation has put together a video documentary to showcase the efforts of Nigerian Youths in the WSIS process. They also produced a book titled – Global Process, Local Reality with contributions from outstanding young men and women. I have the honour of writing a chapter in the book.
Not left out of the journey to Tunis are the normal T-Shirts, place cards and other souvenirs. I am so proud of these efforts and I can sense a deep level of commitment from young people and a strong statement echoing the fact that we will do better than our predecessors – Did I hear Amen!
Guys – just go ahead and show them we are better than we were in Ghana. I will miss my friends for the one week they are spending and I urge them to Se Omo daadaa O! If your mind is dirty, I am not saying what you think! Explore the Palomas and OOPS of Tunis, but beware of Sharia.

Guys go ahead and tell them NIGERIA ROCKS!

For those of us with great passion for the round leather game – football and especially the English Premier League, we have witnessed all sorts of emotions in the past and present. This is a game that breaks barriers and makes every Nigerian become 1 despite our ever present ethnic sentimentality. I love this game so much and I don’t waste time before telling whoever cares to listen that if not for book and my seemingly slim stature – I would have given Zidane a run for his money. And if you don’t know, I play football very well and will accept a challenge if you are not sure.
The hottest topic on the soccer scene today is Chelsea’s loss to Manchester United yesterday. I am proudly BLUE and am not ashamed to profess it. Before last year and at the start of a new English Premiership campaign, we always knew that if Man U do not win, then Arsenal would win. It has become so entrenched in our mind that we barely envisage the possibility of another club winning and the testimony is there. Between 1992-93 and 2003-2004 seasons – Man U won 8 times while Arsenal won thrice. The only distraction was in the 1994-95 season when Blackburn Rovers won.
The greatest critics of Chelsea will attest to the fact that the Premiership has become more interesting and competitive since the duopoly of Man U and Arsenal was broken by Chelsea last season. We have even started seeing a situation where clubs like Wigan Athletic are giving the big boys a run for their money, they currently lie in second position ahead of the perceived big clubs.
It is a big surprise to even see my very good friend GS, who used to hiss at football suddenly become an Arsenal fan and automatically a Chelsea enemy- though not surprising is the no 1 Chelsea enemy in the world in person of my special friend (Tope) who went to the extent of predicting that Chelsea will not qualify for the Knockout stage of the Champions League. This hatred na wa o!
Football is serious business and I love Jose Mourhino, he is a great guy and I will always tell people that we should wait till we reach some levels of success before judging highly successful people. I do not like arrogant people, but note that the Sir Fergussons of this world, with all their grey hairs have said a lot of obscenities in the past. Then it used to be a fight between Alex Fergusson and Arsene Wenger, now the focus has changed – isn’t it more interesting.
I was very proud of Chelsea yesterday even in defeat. Why? Because this has shown that the Blues are the team feared and revered by everyone. Who would think that Chelsea will lose to Man U and it will make all the major headlines – how things change, it used to be the other way round before.
No matter what people may say… the fact is that the beat goes on and we will continue riding high. We migh have turbulent times – but we will conquer at the end of the day. And whoever says that winning 10, drawing 1 and losing 1 out of 12 matches is a mean feat, let him come out and talk. We are very happy to lose to a side like Man U and not to West Brom or Middlesborough.
It is a very common occurence for people to tend to hate champions. To close this, I should ask the question – Why are champions detested?

Yes – This first blogging is long overdue! I have been challenged by a number of friends who think that I am more wired not to have my own blog. My answer has always been – TIME. The simple truth is that time will not really be available but we must do what we have to do. I intend to follow this blog up with my main website and I will do it.
If you ask me what you should look forward to in this blog – Don’t expect ICT stuff alone; actually this is going to be one multi-directional blog. I will write on stuff ranging from my experiences growing up to my school days, friends, family, my sweetheart (who I fondly call Onitemi), football and other sports (apologies to fans of other sports), politics, ICT4D, etc (Have u ever wondered that e.t.c is a popular guy, he is always ending lists – but the truth is that people use it when they run out of ideas!).
Just stay in touch and I will endeavour to keep this a very interesting Blog with a good content evolving rate.
This introduction is getting too long… I intend to keep it as small as possible. I will continue my hayspiration later!
E se, Nagode…..