Mikel Obi back in training

Mikel Obi has returned to training, but will miss this week's first squad meeting with Technical Adviser Lars Lagerback as well as the Presidential Dinner in Abuja.

The midfielder has started light running but is continuing his rehabilitation from knee meniscus surgery. Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to send off the team at a dinner in Abuja on May 20.

The day before the dinner, Lagerback will meet up with his squad for the first time since being appointed in March but Mikel's representative John Shittu told KickOffNigeria.com that the Chelsea midfielder would be unable to make the gathering

"He has started running and is training again but he is still undergoing rehab after his surgery and he will be unable to come to Abuja this week," Shittu told KickOffNigeria.com.

Mikel, who told KickOffNigeria.com that he would be out for two only weeks, is making good progress after having his torn meniscus repaired.

Shittu says he will be fit to take part in Nigeria's World Cup build-up.

"Everything is going well, there are no complications and he will be available to take part in the preparations for the World Cup."

On Saturday, Mikel picked up an FA Cup winners medal with Chelsea despite missing the Final.

"I just got my medal in the dressing-room," he told KickOffNigeria.com after picking up the prize piece of silverware.

Nigeria play Saudi Arabia, Colombia and North Korea before their opening game on June 12 against Argentina.

Daily Trust

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With a few developments in recent times, Nigeria is still setting the pace in technological developments in Africa and indeed the Middle East and African emerging markets. This is as Nigeria can now join a few other countries of the world to provide its citizens the opportunity of watching the 2010 World Cup LIVE broadcasts on their cell phones.

This opportunity was facilitated by a recent partnership between DStv Mobile, Nokia and MTN Nigeria to push the boundaries of entertainment by making compelling live TV available to Nigerians on their mobile devices.

Announcing the partnership last week in Lagos Nigeria, the partners said that with the launch of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, Nigerians would be able to watch 3 LIVE Super Sport channels and all the sporting action in the palm of their hands.

The deal means that Super Sport, the exclusive pay tv broadcasters of the World Cup will now be seen on an additional platform apart from the traditional television space.

The interesting aspect of this offering is that it would provide solution to the awkward broadcast times of the world cup games, as most games would be played when Nigerians are either in their offices, work or in traffic. However, the DStv Mobile runs only on MTN network.

The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition is an entertainment hub that combines mobile broadcast TV (DVB-H), social networking, music and gaming in a compact 3G device.

The partners said the desire to team up in providing the mobile tv was fuelled by the rise of mobile broadcast TV consumption and the forecast that by 2012 there would be over 300 million people worldwide watching TV on their mobile phones. For instance, General Manager, DStv Mobile, Mr Mayo Okunola, noted that "Africa is making waves in the new and exciting area of Mobile tv and Nigeria is leading the way. We at DStv Mobile strongly believe in the importance of mobile television in the Nigerian market and the effect our success will have on the global stage."

Also, the General Manager, Consumer marketing, MTN Nigeria Kola Oyeyemi, added that "MTN as the first and only African Global sponsor of the world's biggest football event; FIFA 2010 is not leaving any stone unturned in its quest to enrich the lives of its customers via the promotion of their passion for football. In this regard, MTN is bringing the pleasures, intrigues, surprises and fun associated with the best of world class football from the South of Africa to her teeming customers while on the go".

MTN has consistently blazed the trail in innovations that add value and enrich the lives of her customers. This new service is a further reinforcement of our innovation leadership status in the telecom industry and it joins the leagues of many "firsts" from MTN like Google SMS, MTN Back Up, MTN Video cam e.t.c

Corroborating his fellow partners, Nokia West Africa General Manager, Mr Phillip de la Vega, said that enhancing the daily lives of Nigerians was at the heart of the partnership.

According to him, "the introduction of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition responds to the arrival of DVB_H broadcast mobile TV networks in new markets, including Nigeria , and offers an affordable device for new and existing customers alike. Customers are increasingly watching a variety of programmes on their mobiles for a longer period of time.

The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition has the sound and image quality to hold audiences captive, and we are excited to be here today, together with MTN Nigeria and DStv Mobile, to bring this exciting package to Nigerian consumers".

DStv Mobile is broadcast on a dedicated network. This service differs from mobile tv streaming and so, as many people as possible can watch DStv mobile at the same time without dropping the picture and audio quality. This also means that viewers will not be using their credit when they watch live TV on their phone. DStv Mobile announced that apart from the cost of acquiring the mobile phone, the service runs free of charge till April 2011.

The DStv Mobile service is currently available in Lagos , Abuja , Ibadan , Port Harcourt , Aba , Asaba, Enugu , Onitsha , Benin City and Kaduna .

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Nigeria's newly sworn-in president, Goodluck Jonathan, is expected to nominate his vice-president this week.
 
Back in Jonathan's home state of Bayelsa, people are still coming to terms with the fact that the area has produced a president for the first time.
 
He comes from one of the smallest ethnic groups in the countrys oil-rich and violent Niger Delta.

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Super Eagles squad list for the 2010 World Cup

The following is the complete final 30-player team list for Nigeria's World Cup team.

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva, Israel), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United, Nigeria).

Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille, France), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Onyekachi Apam (OG Nice, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Daniel Shittu (Bolton Wanderers, England), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Rabiu Afolabi (SV Salzburg, Austria), Terna Suswan (Lobi Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: Chinedu Obasi (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), Brown Ideye (FC Sochaux, France), Peter Utaka (Odense Boldklub, Denmark), , Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England), Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Sani Kaita (Alaniya, Russia), Haruna Lukman (AS Monaco, France), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Strikers: Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Anichebe (Everton, England), Nwankwo Kanu, Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain).

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Search has begun for next elite supermodel

Elite model Management has began a nationwide search in Nigeria, for this year's Elite Supermodel.

This year's screening would be held on Saturday July 10th 2010 @ REHAB pool lounge, Victoria Island Lagos and finalists will be chosen from the open auditions by Elite representatives from Paris.

From the 60 finalists, 16 are chosen by the jury to participate at the elite model look Nigeria finale. Selected contestants will be accommodated in September for a week of intensive grooming. This training will cover all the professional aspects of modeling.

The 16 finalists will experience and undergo fitness training, makeovers, nutrition lectures, professional photo sessions as well as a run through of the event.

Elite model look Nigeria Finale would be held in Lagos in September 2010. The elite model look international would be broadcast in over 80 countries and over 80 contestants are selected for the world finale.

Make-up seminar set to hold in Lagos

A make-up Seminar will hold in Lagos to equip young ladies, youth corpers, housewives and women on how to make up and engage in make-up as a business venture. The seminar is organized by TinuShaiye Makeup Artistry, an entity which aims at eliciting true beauty in females worldwide through passionate, professional, skillful, exquisite and chic makeup services, to capture the essence of an event and ultimately end up evergreen.

TinuShaiye MA offers a range of world class makeup services and in doing this is venturing now into training. Ms Tinuola Saiye, the CEO said the seminar aims to equip. the participants with the requisite skills and competencies to establish a make -up artistry. The seminar holds at The Knot centre on Aggrey Road,Yaba in Lagos it will stretch for a period of 3days between the hours of 8am-6pm daily.

Jumai Shaba aka Leo Leo would be holding a 2 days (2nd and 9th of May) Dress exhibition come the first and second week of May in the bubbling city of Lagos. There would be dresses for both men and women. All sorts, sizes, colours and designs would be on display at the most fantastic bargains ever. Shopping for all your dress details and solutions under one roof.The event which is also tied to charity and will also be featuring Pretty Mai,a designer from U.K will hold at the Rehab.

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