The management of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc has declared that the company is not enjoying any special privilege from the federal government. This declaration was made by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Bernard Longe.

The second part of the series continues with the discussion on the report of the accreditation exercise released by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in early January 2006. As pointed out in the first instalment, the report startled three first generation universities (namely UI, UNN and OAU) whose law programmes lost their accreditation.

The United Nations (UN) has set an agenda of 'A World Fit for Children', while promoting gender equality as the focus of its third Millennium Development Goal (MDG-3). UNICEF, in its new report, believes that if this goal is achieved its benefits will be felt not just among women and children but in many other spheres, from poverty and hunger reduction to environmental sustainability and global health; and that gender equality is critical to child survival and development.

Nigeria's ruling Peoples Democratic Party has chosen Umaru Yar'Adua, governor of the northern Katsina State, as its candidate for the April 2007 presidential election. The vote will choose a successor to Olusegun Obasanjo, whose second four-year term is coming to an end and who is constitutionally barred from standing again.

Two explosions have been reported at oil industry facilities in the south of Nigeria just hours after a group claimed it had planted three car bombs. A suspected bomb exploded at a Shell residential compound in Port Harcourt and another went off near the perimeter fence of a compound of the Italian oil company Agip.

The United Nations (UN) has initiated moves to curb inherent dangers posed in donations of developed countries of old possibly toxic computers, mobile phones and televisions, which could pose a hazard to the environment of poor countries.

Historical Society of Nigeria, 52nd Annual Congress Call for Papers Date: 14th to 17th October, 2007, Venue Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa, State Theme: Federalism in Historical Perspective.

The BBC's Africa Have Your Say programme is linking students at a school in Abuja with a school in London to discuss migration and explore the realities of life through the eyes of young people.

Young people in the Nigerian state of Kano have been turning the region's big cities into what one resident has termed "Premiership football ghettos". Kano is densely populated and predominantly Muslim - and with its long standing history of conservative traditional values, some would think European football would be the last focus for young people.

On 2 December 2006, agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria's anti corruption agency, raided the privately owned radio station Cosmo FM, based in Enugu in south-eastern Nigeria. They arrested some staff, took away documents belonging to the station house and shut the station down for about two hours.

Forcing women or girls to submit to sexual acts has been described as a form of gender-based violence against women. Reports say that rape causes severe physical and psychological pain and suffering. Rape also can have serious physical, psychological and reproductive consequences for the victims, including death, unwanted pregnancies, complications in childbirth, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.

Nigerians are waiting to know which political platform the country's Vice President, Atiku Abubakar will be contesting for the country's Presidential elections scheduled for 21 April 2007. Atiku has already revealed that he is set to announce his candidacy on Saturday (25 November 2006) but he is yet to disclose under which party's platform, as he was sacked from the ruling party last month.

Gloria left Nigeria hoping to make enough money in Europe to lift her family out of poverty. Three years later, she came home a penniless ex-prostitute. The nightmare began when a family friend offered to help her get from Benin City to Italy.

Amnesty International, the human rights group, has accused Nigerian police and soldiers of raping women and committing acts of sexual violence with near impunity. In a scathing report on Nigeria issued on Tuesday (28 November 2006), it also criticised the Nigerian government for failing to bring the attackers to justice.

The Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) yesterday, reached an agreement to suspend the over one month old strike in the 102 Unity Schools with immediate effect and the teachers asked to return to their duty post.

The African Studies Centre, University of Oxford, is offering an Oxford Nigeria Scholarship in African Studies for the academic year 2006-7. This scholarship is sponsored by Oxford and Cambridge society of Nigeria. The award is available only for study on the MSc in African Studies, and is open to citizens of Nigeria.

The Supreme Court yesterday (22 November 2006) said it would decide, in two weeks, the appeal filed by 18 lawmakers from Oyo State House of Assembly, challenging the Court of Appeal's ruling, which nullified the proceedings that led to the removal of Governor Rashidi Ladoja from office.

As the world's sixth largest oil exporter and a great producer for over 50 years, the vast poor majority of Nigerians often wonder where the large wealth has gone. Indeed, Nigeria's public finances and the general revenue level do not look bad at all, as top-level politicians and businessmen have revealed this week. It is just poverty that seems endless.

The Imo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gloria Chukwukere has been accused of stifling education in the state due to her unpopular policies, which led to the recent three-day protest of secondary school students in the state.

In a somewhat surprising move, the Nigerian government asked poultry farmers and veterinary doctors to desist from vaccinating poultry against the avian influenza better known as "bird flu". Nigeria's poultry industry has over 140 million domestic birds and the sector contributes 9 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product.