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A Nigerian actor makes the top 10 of top-grossing actor of 2017 by Forbes

Vin Diesel has been named the top-grossing actor of 2017 by Forbes with an estimated $1.6 billion in global ticketing receipts.

Thanks to Fast and Furious!

Nigerian-British actor, John Boyega is number 10 on the list.

According to Page Six:

Its eighth installment, “Fate of the Furious,” released in April 2017 and topped $1.2 billion at the international box office. The film also boosted Dwayne Johnson to the No. 2 spot, with a gross of $1.5 billion. This year, Johnson also starred in “Baywatch” and the recently released “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.”

“Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot came in at No. 3 with $1.4 billion gross, while Emma Watson followed close behind at $1.3 billion.

Forbes calculates the top-grossing actors by adding up 2017 global ticket sales of major films as of Dec. 26, 2017. Animated movies where only actors’ voices were used were not included in the totals.

Last year’s top-grossing actor was Scarlett Johansson, who landed $1.2 billion off the success of “Captain America: Civil War,” where she played Black Widow. She was followed by her “Captain America” co-stars Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., who tied for second place with $1.15 billion each. None of the three actors made 2017’s list.

Check out the full list of 2017’s top 10 grossing actors below:

1. Vin Diesel ($1.6 billion)
2. Dwayne Johnson ($1.5 billion)
3. Gal Gadot ($1.4 billion)
4. Emma Watson ($1.3 billion)
5. Johnny Depp ($1.1 billion)
6. Daisy Ridley ($1.08 billion)
7. Tom Holland ($888 million)
8. Chris Pratt ($864 million)
9. Chris Hemsworth ($845 million)
10. John Boyega ($815 million)

John Boyega

Why I sacked 22,000 teachers - Governor El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said the government sacked over 22,000 teachers because they were unqualified for the job.

According to him, sacking of incompetent teachers predated his administration, as previous governments sacked teachers with fake qualifications.

He noted that the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) report he received on assumption of office, showed that 83 per cent of the teachers scored less than 25 per cent in Maths and literacy exams.



The governor, who spoke in a broadcast, recalled that the government of Sir Patrick Yakowa dismissed 4,000 teachers with fake results.

According to him, the Yakowa-led government responded to reports that 50 per cent of primary school teachers were unqualified by giving such teachers a five-year deadline to acquire the appropriate qualifications.

“The Kaduna State Executive Council, at its August 8, 2012 meeting, after considering the report of the verification committee, gave a five-year window for under-qualified teachers to acquire the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).

“This five-year grace period has now expired, and that is why this administration weeded out teachers who didn’t have the requisite skills and qualifications to teach,” he said.

El-Rufai recalled that the 2015 ESSPIN report on pupil and teacher competence levels showed that 83 per cent of the teachers scored less than 25 per cent in Maths and literacy exams.

Primary two pupils scored an average of 14 per cent in English and 27 per cent in Maths, while primary four pupils scored an average of 13 per cent in English and 17 per cent in Numeracy.

The governor added: “the government responded to this report by getting the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to conduct a survey of teacher competence. We took further steps to address these gaps by training and retraining the teachers.”

According to him, 11,315 classroom teachers were trained in Literacy and Numeracy through SUBEB, and another 3,733 were trained in reading skills through the Global Partnership for Education. UBEC trained 5,945 teachers in Pedagogy, Lesson Plans and use of Teachers’ Guides.

On June 3, 2017, the government conducted a competency test for primary school teachers. This test assessed their literacy and numeracy levels through a primary four test.

The government considered giving teachers a 75 per cent threshold for a primary four test an extremely generous decision, he added.

El-Rufai said the government seeks to hire 25,000 teachers to replace the disengaged 22,000, and eligible applicants have already applied.

Buhari’s son spends sixth day in Abuja hospital

Armed policemen and officers of the Department of State Services kept vigil, as usual at the Cedar Crest Hospital, Gudu District, Abuja, welcoming the New Year 2018 as President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, spent six days in the facility.

A check at the hospital on Sunday around 8pm revealed that the policemen had been joined by officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission.


Three FRSC vans and one NSCDC van were sighted by our source stationed at the entrance of the Sam Mbakwe Street, giving an indication that these officials might also keep a vigil at the hospital.

On Sunday when our source got to the hospital around 7pm, Islamic prayer which involved some of the security officials was being observed at the entrance of the hospital around 7pm. There was no visiting top government official as of the time of filling this report.

A source on the ground told our correspondent that it was sure the policemen and other officials would welcome the New Year at the hospital.

“You can see that we are all here till the New Year comes. This is a top national duty too. Almost every Nigerian now knows the President’s son is sick and admitted here. We wish him a quick recovery,” the source said.

Yusuf Buhari was rushed to the hospital after having a power bike accident in the Gwarimpa Estate area on Tuesday and sustaining a head injury, which made him undergo a surgery.

Although the President’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, had said Yusuf was in a stable condition and recuperating, the President’s son had now spent six days at the facility and there were speculations that he might be flown abroad for further treatments at any time soon.

Many top government officials had been visiting the hospital and wishing the President’s son a speedy recovery, while several groups had organised prayers in different locations across the country for his recuperation.

Twitter unverifies user after spat with Chrissy Teigen

A right-wing conspiracy theorist has been stripped of her Twitter verification after she posted photos of Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's daughter and accused them of being part of a celebrity pedophile ring.

Liz Crokin, who has 50,000 Twitter followers and says she is an investigative journalist, posted the photos last week of 20-month-old Luna dressed in various costumes including a pineapple, hotdog and Alice in Wonderland.


According to Mailonline, Crokin also pointed out that Teigen had used a pizza emoji on one of her Snapchat photos of her daughter, linking her to the Pizzagate conspiracy theory that claimed Hillary Clinton was using a Washington pizza restaurant to run a child sex trafficking ring.

An outraged Teigen took to social media on Saturday to share screenshots of some of Crokin's tweets and to slam Twitter for verifying the alt-right user's account.

After a series of fiery tweets from Teigen and her husband John Legend - including some that threatened legal action - a disgruntled Crokin revealed on Saturday night that Twitter had removed her coveted blue verification tick.

'Twitter just unverified my account thanks to @chrissyteigen. That's OK cuz I care more about saving kids than I do about a blue checkmark!' Crokin tweeted.

Teigen responded to the news by tweeting: 'Praise the Twitter lords.'

'1000 people will tell you not to give them attention, to ignore it, who cares they're crazy, etc. Don't ignore it. Tired of letting these people get away with this s**t. Thank you, @Twitter.'

‘Lagos to record landmark achievements’ - Ambode

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has assured residents that the state will record landmark achievements in major sectors  this year.

In a statement yesterday in Ikeja, the capital, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, the governor noted that the state witnessed a massive leap in infrastructural development in 2017.

He said the reforms in key sectors of the economy would take full flight from the beginning of 2018.

Ambode said: “We have good reasons to be very optimistic about what 2018 holds in stock for our state and every Lagosian.

“The commencement and realisation of some of our reform programmes, especially in the public transport, environment, tourism and health sectors, will transform the landscape of the state and improve the quality of lives of all Lagosians.”

The governor said his administration would continue to up the ante on infrastructural renewal.

He said the 2018 budget of N1 trillion, currently at the House of Assembly for approval, would be dedicated to completing some ongoing critical projects as well as some new ones.

Ambode listed some of the key projects as the Oshodi Transport Interchange, reconstruction of the Oshodi International Airport Road, Pen Cinema flyover, 181 local government roads and other network of roads.

He added: “Given the fact that 2018 will be last full fiscal year of this administration’s four-year tenure, our major focus will be the completion of most of the ongoing projects.

“We will also pursue the objective of strengthening the financial base of our state through various measures aimed at boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“We believe very strongly that this is achievable without necessarily increasing taxes but by widening the tax base and ensuring that all revenues due to the state are collected through technologically driven tax collection and management system.”

The governor urged residents to continue to support his administration’s quest to transform the state by voluntarily paying their taxes as and when due.

He said: “The dream of a new Lagos, which we all desire, is unfolding; we all have a role to play in this project.

“Our government is open to new ideas and partnerships. We will welcome suggestions for better ways to do things and improve on service delivery to the people.

“We will continue to provide responsible and responsive leadership, which is the hallmark of sustainable development in modern, functional and liveable cosmopolitan city like Lagos.”

Keep supporting Buhari despite your daunting challenges, Ajimobi tells Nigerians

Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo state governor, has urged Nigerians to keep supporting the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his New Year message to Nigerians, the governor also appealed to Nigerians to repose their confidence in the present administration to deliver on its promises.

He observed that even though the country is going through rigorous times in 2017, the administration is capable of leading the nation to better days ahead.

The message signed by Yomi Layinka, his special adviser on communication and strategy, read: “Although the challenges we are currently facing appear daunting, it is my utmost belief that, with the commitment and sincerity being exhibited by the Buhari-led government, we shall overcome them.

“I want to appeal to our people to keep supporting President Buhari’s administration. Let us repose confidence in the president to take the economy through a remarkable turnaround.”

The governor said his administration is committed to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Ogun state.

The governor added: “On our part, I want to assure you that we will complete some of the ongoing projects across the state; particularly those already slated for completion by 2018. We will also embark on aggressive rural infrastructural development.

“We are resolute in consolidating on the gains of the past.

“I crave your understanding and cooperation as good citizens of the state, particularly on the poor state of the economy, which has taken its toll on virtually all the states of the federation.”