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African startups raised $1 million every 2 hours in 2021 — Africa: The Big Deal

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Even to a casual observer, 2021 was a massive year for the African tech ecosystem. It was the year when there were more disclosed funding rounds than we could keep up with. Data from various sources show that startups on the continent received over $4 billion from investors in 2021. That represents more than double the investments gotten in 2020. Numbers, they say, don’t lie, and with help from Briter Bridges’ Africa Investment Report 2021 and data from Africa: The Big Deal, we’ll be extracting some insights. Funding for women-led startups needs to be better Much has been written about the near absence of financing for women-led startups. While startup funding continues to grow, it is still disproportionately skewed towards startups led by men or at least one man on the founding team. The Big Deal reports that only 0.95% of the funding raised by African startups went to startups founded or led by a woman. While this percentage is less than that of 2020 (2%), it is partly explained by t

Paul Pogba refutes claims that Manchester United offered him a new £500,000-a-week contract that would have made him the highest-paid Epl player

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  Paul Pogba has dismissed reports that he has been offered a new deal by Manchester United.   Reports  by The Sun on Friday January 7, stated that Pogba was offered fresh terms worth £500,000-per-week last summer that would have made him the highest paid player in the English premier league But a spokesman for Pogba has issued a statement to deny suggestions of a recently extended contract offer from United. The Frenchman is currently focusing on returning to action from injury and has entered the final six months of his contract. ''To clarify media reports, Paul has not been offered a new contract in recent months. Paul is fully focused on his recovery from injury with the aim of helping the team as soon as possible.'' a statement from Pogba's spokesman to Sportsmail read. Pogba is in the final year of his contract and is free to speak to foreign clubs over a pre-contract agreement this month.  If Manchester United and Pogba are unable to come to terms on a new de

I won't bury my son even if it takes 30 years- Sylvester Oromoni's dad says as he continues to demand justice

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  Sylvester Oromoni, the father of Dowen College student, late Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, has vowed not to bury his son even if takes him 30 years until his son gets justice.   Oromoni said this while reacting to the statement from the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, that the autopsies carried out on late Oromoni Jnr's body in Warri and Lagos showed he died a natural death. Read  here.   While speaking to Punch, Mr. Oromoni said   “The family does not have power. We only rely on God. If they insist that the school will reopen, there is no problem. If God keeps me for 20 or 30 years, I will follow up this case. Government will come, the government will go. I am not bothered. The soul of that boy is crying round. God is alive; He cannot be bribed. My son will never be buried. If it takes me 30 years to get justice, he would remain there (in the mortuary). He is my son; I won’t bury him. Nigerians should look beyond what they are saying.'' he said   Asked if he

Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski shortlisted as final three for FIFA Best Awards men’s player of the year.

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  Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, and Robert Lewandowski have been announced as the final three nominees for the FIFA Best Awards men’s player of the year. The award is voted for by a jury made up of current men's national team coaches and captains, one specialist journalist from each territory represented by a national team, and fans registered on FIFA.com. Paris St Germain's superstar, Lionel Messi finally ended his wait for major international silverware in 2021 as he helped Argentina to win the Copa America.  Liverpool striker, Salah is the Premier League's top goalscorer so far this season, with 16 to his name, and is arguably in the best form of his life. Bayern Munich striker, Lewandowski enjoyed another spectacular year at club level for Bayern, scoring a Bundesliga record 41 goals in the 2020-21 season to eclipse the previous best total set by Gerd Muller in the 1971-72 campaign. The award winners will be announced in a virtual ceremony on January 17.

Billionaire Apple CEO, Tim Cook was paid $98 million in 2021

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  Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly received a big $98million payout in 2021, while also gaining access to $754million in company shares.    Cook, 61, who is worth $1.5billion, enjoyed the luxurious earnings during the 2021 fiscal year, which ended in September, according to SEC filings.  He also now has access to $754million in company shares that vested in August from an old grant, although it is unclear if he has chosen to sell any of that stock. Cook additionally sits on shares worth $37.5million in the company that will vest annually over three years starting in 2023.    His earnings rose after Apple had a stellar year - the company earned $365million in sales and had a 33 percent growth in revenue.    Among the $98million Cook earned in the 2021 fiscal year, $3million of it was his annual salary and he earned another $12million in bonuses for hitting Apple's financial and environmental sustainability goals.    He also received a large compensation of $1.39million that including:

Aston Villa complete sensational loan deal for Phillipe Coutinho from Barcelona

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  Aston Villa have completed the sensational loan signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona with an announcement to be made later.  The Brazilian midfielder has agreed to return to the Premier League until the end of the sea The deal sees Coutinho reunited with his former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard, who is the current coach of Aston Villa.  According to SportsMail, Villa boss Gerrard was the key factor in Coutinho’s decision to sign for Villa given his close relationship with the Anfield legend.  Following talks with Gerrard, attacking midfielder Coutinho was left completely convinced to make a move to Villa Park.  Sportsmail revealed Villa’s efforts to sign Coutinho on Wednesday afternoon and the deal has moved on rapidly since then.  A number of clubs across the Premier League and Europe were willing to sign Coutinho but the influence of Gerrard made the 29-year-old choose Villa.   

Update: Two autopsies showed Sylvester Oromoni died a natural death. There was no evidence to establish a case of bullying - Lagos Police commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu

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  The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, this afternoon held a press briefing where he spoke more on the investigations into the death of Dowen college student, Sylvester Oromoni.   Speaking to the press, Odumosu said the results from the first and second autopsies carried out on Sylvester's body in Delta and Lagos state indicated that he died a natural death.   ''A post mortem examination was initially carried out on 2nd December, 2021 by a Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Clement Vhriterhire of the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State. The result of the first autopsy dated 10th December, 2021 attributed the cause of death to ‘acute lung injury due to chemical intoxication in a background of blunt force trauma’. However, toxicology screening was recommended and also carried out. While waiting for the result of the toxicology, another autopsy was ordered by the Coroner Magistrate in Lagos because of the status of jurisdiction. The corpse was, therefore, moved wi

Odion Ighalo ruled out of Africa Cup of Nations

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  The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the Afcon 2019 top scorer, Odion Ighalo will be out of AFCON 2021in Cameroon.   In a statement released by the football ruling body on Thursday, January 6, the NFF said the former Manchester United striker will play no part at the 33rd edition of the African football showpiece. “Forward Odion Ighalo is no longer expected as a result of issues with his Saudi Arabian club,” part of the statement read. With Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Genk’s Paul Onuachu already ruled out of the competition, Ighalo was expected to lead the Super Eagles forward line up. Reports say Ighalo was not released by his Saudi Arabia club Al Shabab due to his contract clauses. Before joining the White Lion from Shanghai Shenhua in 2021, the 2019 Afcon top scorer signed a clause that he would not be involved in international duties meaning he won't play for his country. Ighalo had announced his retirement from the Nigeria national team, however, he was recall

Sylvester Oromoni: Protesting Ijaw youths offer traditional prayers of vengeance in front of Dowen college (video)

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  Protesting Ijaw youths have offered prayers of vengeance in front of Dowen college over the death of 11-year-old Sylvester Oromoni.   The protesting youths called on Sylvester's spirit to arise and ensure he gets justice They staged a protest in front of Dowen college to express their grieviance after the Lagos state government cleared five students and five staff of any complicity in the death of Sylvester.

‘Be patriotic, defend the green and white’ – FG charges Super Eagles to soar at AFCON

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  The Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the Super Eagles to do well at the rescheduled 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The tournament is billed to take place between 9 January and 6 February in Cameroon, with the Eagles set to begin their campaign on 11 January. The team, led by Austin Eguavoen, will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in their opening game before taking on Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in their other group clashes. On Tuesday night, the players and officials attended a sendforth event at the Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja, where President Buhari represented by Sports Minister Sunday Dare, spoke to them. Dare in his address to the team, read by Prince Clem Agba, said the Super Eagles are being sent forth as Nigerian ambassadors and worthy representatives to Cameroon. According to him, “Mr. President (Buhari) believes this Super Eagles squad has the skills and talents to excel at the AFCON in Cameroon and over 200 million Nigerians are full