GOSPEL CORNER: I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.PSALM 139:14, NIV

08/03/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14, NIV

WONDERFULLY MADE
The Scripture says we’ve been fearfully and wonderfully made, but the enemy doesn’t want you to see yourself that way. He puts up distorted mirrors to change your self-image. When you look in the distorted mirror, even though you’ve been forgiven and redeemed, all you see is your mistakes, failures, and times you didn’t measure up. The person looking back at you in the distorted mirror is guilty and unworthy. That’s not who you really are.

If life has treated you unfairly, you’ll see yourself in that distorted mirror as a victim, defeated, with nothing good in your future. But the truth is that God has beauty for those ashes. What was meant for harm, He’s turning to your advantage. What’s the problem? You’re looking in the wrong mirror. As long as you’re letting that distorted image define who you are, it will keep you from rising higher. Get rid of that mirror and go to God’s Word. Let Him define your image. If you will see yourself the way God sees you, it will begin to heal a damaged self-image.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. Thank You that I am not any of the negatives that the enemy tries to use to distort the image of who I really am. I believe that nothing can hold me back from becoming all that You created me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO
Jesus wore the crown of thorns on His head so that you can have a sound mind free from fears, guilt, depression, anxieties, and stress.

Jesus’ feet brought Him to places where there was lack, diseases, condemnation, and even death. At the cross, those feet were nail-pierced so that you do not need to be in such places yourself. He has rescued you from having to accept and suffer these things in life.

Jesus didn’t have to. He chose to. Why? Because He loves you. He spared not even Himself so that you may have every blessing of health, wholeness, and abundant life!

TEACHERS CONCEALING SEXUAL OFFENCES, NOW A CRIME… DSVA

07/03/24

PRESS RELEASE

ELIZA DD

Teachers Concealing Sexual Offences is now an Offence in Lagos State.

This was made known when a few days ago when The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency organized a two-day training for 105 school counsellors on safeguarding and child protection on the 5th and 6th of March 2024 at the LCCI conference center at Ikeja to ensure capacity building of all relevant stakeholders in the fight to end SGBV.

 The Executive Secretary DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said at the opening that 105 school Guidance Counsellors were drawn from primary and secondary schools within Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi/Isolo zones of Lagos State.

Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi stated that schools  do not just serve as centers of academic learning but should also be safe havens, where children feel secure, safe and protected.

She noted that the influence of counselors extends far beyond the classroom as it shapes the emotional and psychological landscape of the next generation.

 She urged the counselors to remain steadfast in their commitment in safeguarding the dignity and rights of every child.

Mrs Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi

 The TG/PS of Education District VI, Dr. Yusuf Adejoke Sherifaah who was represented by the Head of the Counselling Unit, Mrs. Anike Bola-Lawal while giving her goodwill message told the participants that the constant training and retraining of the Guidance Counsellors was helpful in keeping them abreast of societal expectations to make a better society for all. 

She stressed that the training would be rewarding as it cuts across the three zones of the district and lauded the Agency’s efforts in the quest for an SGBV free society

Representative from the State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Ibrahim Jenmi while speaking on behalf of the SUBEB Chairman, thanked the Agency for the continuous training of guidance counsellors and hoped for the continued collaboration of the Agency and SUBEB.

 At the training, Mr. Taiwo Akinlami, a Safeguarding and Child Protection expert spoke on child rights and concepts which includes their rights to life, developmental rights, participation rights and protection rights. He further spoke about the societal and cultural perception of child abuse and examined the different forms of child abuse and how to detect signs of abuse.

Mr. Jubril Yakubu of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development gave an overview of the Lagos State Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection, highlighting the roles of a designated safeguarding officer and the multi-agency response to safeguarding and child protection. He ended his session by informing the participants about the mandated reporting policy in Lagos State, urging them to say something whenever they see something. 

Chief of Operations at Cece Yara; Mrs. Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode who spoke on responding to disclosures

of child abuse; reasons disclosure of abuse is delayed and how children disclose abuse. She ended her session by educating the counsellors on how to handle disclosures made by children. 

On Day 2 of the training, the Executive Secretary,  DSVA; Mrs. Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi facilitated a session on the Legal Framework for child abuse in Lagos State citing the different laws; including the Child Rights Law of Lagos State, 2007, The Domestic and Sexual PA Violence Agency Law, Protection Against Domestic Violence, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State alongside the punishment provided for the offences. 

In a session facilitated by the HOD Case Management, DSVA; Mrs. Tumininu Oni, the Counsellors were engaged in different case scenarios on child abuse, safeguarding, child protection and reporting protocols. 

The Counsellors were presented with their certificate of participation and they were encouraged to see themselves as mandated reporters, if they see something, they should say something and most importantly, do something.

Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni

LAGOS DSVA

7/3/2024

GOSPEL CORNER: MY FRIEND, WHEN YOU REIGN IN LIFE, YOU REIGN OVER SIN AND DESTRUCTIVE ADDICTIONS. YOU REIGN OVER SICKNESS AND DISEASE. YOU REIGN OVER POVERTY AND LACK. 

07/03/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Even Before He Made The World, God Loved Us And Chose Us In Christ To Be Holy And Without Fault In His eyes.
Ephesians 1:4, NLT

THE RIGHT IMAGE OF GOD
We all have made mistakes and done things we’re not proud of. We let the accuser remind us of how unworthy we are, how we should be ashamed of ourselves, how we don’t deserve God’s goodness. But do you know how God sees you? The apostle Paul says that before He made the world, God loved and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God loves you unconditionally and sees you without fault. How can this be? Because Christ already paid the price for your sins and failures. He sees you without fault, but that won’t benefit you the way it should if you don’t see yourself without fault.

Don’t let a wrong image of God keep you from the blessings, the joy, the favor that belong to you. Why don’t you drop the baggage of feeling unworthy and condemned and receive God’s love? He’s already forgiven your sins. Come fearlessly into His presence, knowing that strongholds of guilt and condemnation are being broken right now. Step up into His open arms and become all you were created to be.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that when the accuser tries to dump a load of guilt on me, I can say with authority, ‘Jesus paid the price.’ I am far from perfect, but You loved me and chose me in Jesus before You made the world. I am holy, blameless, and without a single fault. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO
I am sure you know that Romans 5:17 is a verse I love to preach on. It tells us that those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ!

My friend, when you reign in life, you reign over sin and destructive addictions. You reign over sickness and disease. You reign over poverty and lack. In other words, you reign over anything that holds you back from experiencing the abundant life that Jesus died to give you!

Beloved, the Lord’s desire is for you to reign in life. The more you receive the revelation of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, the more you will experience His abundant provision for every area of your life.

Now, we know that faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17 NASB), so keep on hearing the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness preached. The more you hear, the more you will receive.

GOSPEL CORNER : NOTICE THAT GOD NOT ONLY PUTS DESIRES IN YOU, BUT HE PUTS THE FAVOR ON YOU SO YOU CAN SEE THAT DESIRE COME TO PASS.

06/03/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 2:12, NIV

THE FAITH TO BELIEVE
When Nehemiah heard that the walls and gates of Jerusalem had been torn down, there was nothing he could do about it. He was a cupbearer to the king of Persia, living in exile a thousand miles away. But suddenly God dropped a desire in Nehemiah to rebuild those walls. It didn’t make sense to his mind. He didn’t have the staff, the resources, or the experience. But with the desire came a new boldness, a confidence, the faith to believe for what seemed impossible. He went to the king, and amazingly the king not only sent Nehemiah but supplied him the materials and funds to do it.

Notice that God not only puts desires in you, but He puts the favor on you so you can see that desire come to pass. When it’s a destiny desire, there’s a force breathing in your direction, pushing you forward, opening doors, causing people to be good to you. You’re not stressed over how it’s going to happen; you know it’s going to happen. Get ready for where God is about to take you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You never give me the desire to do something without the power and favor to do it. Thank You that I don’t have to make it all happen on my own or manipulate people to help me. I’m going to keep You first place and watch You work out Your plans for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECOND SECTION

I heard a story of a minister from Oregon who was assigned to provide counseling in a state mental institution. His first assignment was to a padded cell that housed deranged, barely clothed patients. He couldn’t even talk to the inmates, let alone counsel them—the only responses he got were groans, moans, and demonic laughter.

Then the Holy Spirit prompted him to sit in the middle of the room and for a full hour just sing the famous children’s hymn that goes, “Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong.”

Nothing happened at the end of that first day, but for weeks he persisted to sing the same melody with greater conviction each time: “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”

As the days passed, the patients began singing with him one by one. Amazingly, by the end of the first month, thirty-six of the severely ill patients were transferred from the high-dependency ward to a self-care ward. Within a year, all but two were discharged from the mental institution.

As one of the best-known and loved hymns of all time, this hymn’s ongoing popularity lies in its succinct elegance in unveiling Jesus’ heart. It beckons one to recognize that no matter what challenges, failures, and misdeeds one might be dealing with, the love of Jesus remains a constant.

“Jesus loves me! This I know.”

How so?

“For the Bible tells me so.”

So simple, yet so powerful.

Whether you feel it or not, Jesus’ constant love for you rests in the truth and on the foundation of His unchanging Word. It proclaims that His love for you and me is based utterly and completely on Him—on His promises, His work, and His grace.

Today, let healing and rest for your soul come as you allow your heart to be anchored on this truth.

BENUE STATE BATTLES WITH MEASLES AND LASSA FEVER OUTBREAKS,13 PERSONS DEAD IN 9 LGAS

05/03/24

ELIZA DD

The Benue State Ministry of Health says it has activated a State Muti-sectoral emergency operations centre following a risk assessment that that placed the State at very high risk of increased transmission within and beyond its borders.

Map of Benue State

State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Yanmar Ortese, who made this known at a press conference in Makurdi the state capital also revealed that the dreaded lassa fever outbreak has claimed a total of 13 people in 9 local government areas of Benue state.

Lassa Fever Host

According to him the State’s situation report of the current outbreak from November, 2023 to 2nd March, 2024 shows a total of 725 suspected cases, 55 confirmed cases.

The 9 local government areas in the State affected by the outbreak of the dreaded lassa fever in the past 5 months include Makurdi, Guma,Gwer East and West,Okpokwu,Obi,Ogbadibo,Otukpo and Ukum.

Of Particular concern is the outbreak in one of the internally displaced Persons Camps.

The State is equally grappling with an outbreak of measles.

Early detection of cases improves the chances of survival the ministry is therefore urging residents to look out for symptoms and seek medical attention promptly,practice good health hygiene and also avoid eating contaminated food.

The Ministry is also investigating about 354 case of Buruli Ulcer across 11 local government areas of the State and an update of the outcome will be given in due course.

BINANCE TO CEASE ALL NIGERIAN NAIRA TRANSACTIONS BY MARCH 8

05/03/24

PRESS RELEASE

SHINA JO

After facing issues with local financial regulators Binance will suspend all services involving the Nigerian naira later in the week

Binance officially announced on Tuesday that the platform will suspend NGN withdrawals after March 8.

The company, in a statement on Tuesday, advised users to withdraw NGN, trade their NGN assets or convert NGN into crypto.

The statement read, “Users are encouraged to withdraw NGN, trade their NGN assets or convert NGN into crypto prior to the discontinuation of these NGN services.

“From 2024-03-08 08:00 (UTC), any remaining NGN balances in users’ Binance accounts will be automatically converted to USDT based on the conversion rate below.

From March 8, any remaining NGN balances in users’ Binance accounts will be automatically converted to the Tether
USDT tickers down
$1.00 stablecoin, the announcement said.

“Please note that the conversion rate is calculated based on the average closing price of the USDT/NGN trading pair on Binance Spot in the last seven days,” the announcement added.

Binance says it will also immediately suspend NGN deposits, as such transactions will not be supported after 2:00 pm UTC on March 5.

Binance also mentioned that Binance’s peer-to-peer platform delisted all NGN trading pairs in late February.

The news of the complete removal of the Nigerian naira from Binance comes amid the company facing significant regulatory scrutiny in Nigeria.

On Feb. 27, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria argued that crypto exchanges in Nigeria were suspected of handling illicit transactions, also pointing to “suspicious flows” of funds at Binance.

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser also reportedly confiscated the passports of two Binance executives in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The authority also reportedly confiscated the passports of the execs, who are citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom.

As the suspicions of Binance’s alleged illicit operations in Nigeria intensified, the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes has called Binance CEO Richard Teng to appear before the committee over the issue. According to local sources, the committee’s chair issued an ultimatum to the management of Binance to appear before the committee on or before March 4.

Nigeria has been emerging as one of the fastest-growing crypto economies in the world in the past few years.

In September 2023, major crypto intelligence firm Chainalysis named Nigeria second in the world in terms of cryptocurrency adoption. In August 2022, Nigeria emerged as the most crypto-obsessed country in the world in terms of the amount of Google searches for “cryptocurrency” or “buy crypto.”

The regulators are apparently less welcoming of Nigeria’s high pace of crypto adoption. In February 2024, an adviser to Nigeria’s president called for a ban on Binance, KuCoin and other crypto trading platforms in the country. Two years ago, Nigeria’s central bank banned regulated financial institutions from providing services to crypto exchanges in the country.

ERADICATION OF SGBV IN LAGOS STATE,A MOST AS GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TRAINING RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS

05/03/24

Lagos State Conducts 1-day training program on eradication of SGBV for Paramilitary officers.

The Lagos State Government has again engaged over 100 officers from the Lagos Neighbourhood and Safety Corps (LNSC), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Peace Corps and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) on the 1st of March, 2024 at the LCCI Hall, Ikeja on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Existing State Laws and Policies and Exploring Existing State Structures.

The Executive Secretary, Lagos DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said that the whole essence is to equip the officers with the right tools and knowledge to act as first responders of SGBV in the State.

“Sexual and Gender-Based Violence is a globally pervasive human rights violation which the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared zero tolerance for all forms of this menace. 

The representative from the four offices gave their goodwill messages. The names of the officers that delivered their speech are:Peace Corps:

Amb. Patriot Rilwan Abiola Onitolo. Deputy State commandant (training and operations),

 LNSC

Mr. Adetiloye Ayodeji James

Training officer representing the G.M.

Kai

Eniola Adeniyi Micheal

Assistant chief law enforcement environmental sanitation officer (HOD training),

NSCDC

Superintendent of Corp.

Idris kuku Abimbola.

Facilitator at the training, Mrs Ronke Oyelakin, the Coordinator of Child Protection Network, Lagos Chapter explained the various forms of abuse, preventive measures and the techniques of psychological first aid. She brought her session to a close by engaging the officers in a role-play to further propagate the message.

Ms. Tope Oyedija, the head of the Empowerment unit at Lagos DSVA whilst taking the second discourse explained the legal implications of the various forms of abuse.

Mr. Damilare Adewusi during his discussion also laid bare the available support services and the need to always call the toll-free line: 08000333333 when cases of SGBV occur within the communities. 

Taking the Vote of thanks, various representatives from the different offices expressed appreciation to the State government and the DSVA for the training.

This training for Paramilitary Officers is coming Few days after The same training for Media Practitioners and School Children across the State

Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni

Lagos DSVA

5th of March, 2024

GOSPEL CORNER : WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR RIGHT TIME, ALL THE FORCES OF DARKNESS CANNOT STOP WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED. 

05/03/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Galatians 6:9, NLT

YOUR RIGHT TIME
When you’re doing the right thing but nothing is changing, let me encourage you that the right time is the best time. God can see the big picture, and He is working behind the scenes. He’s lining up the favor and arranging the breaks you need. It’s important to not only trust God, but to trust His timing. Thoughts will tell you, “It’s never going to happen,” but when you come into your right time, all the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has planned. At the right time, your harvest of blessing will come.

Now here’s the key: If there’s a right time, that means any other time is the wrong time. It takes faith and patience to see the promises. God knows what He’s doing. If it hasn’t happened yet, it hasn’t been the right time. But your right time is already on the schedule. In the waiting process, God is doing a work in you, getting you stronger, developing your character. What God is going to do is going to be bigger, better, and more fulfilling than you could imagine.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the promise that I will reap a harvest as long as I keep doing what’s right and not lose heart. Thank You that You are working behind the scenes in ways that I could never imagine. I will trust in You whether I’m seeing any signs or not, knowing that it’s going to happen at just the right time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO

In Romans 5:17, Paul gives us the key to reigning in life. It is found in RECEIVING the abundance of God’s grace and His gift of righteousness.

Something happens when you receive the abundance of God’s grace, stop depending on your own efforts, and lean wholly upon His grace. The moment you surrender and say, “Lord, I cannot, but You can. Today, I rest in Your unmerited favor,” whatever demand that is upon you disappears into the vast ocean of His abundant supply.

Many times, as I’m driving to church on Sunday morning, I feel the demand to preach a good message. The demand is real—more than 20,000 people in my congregation show up expecting to be well fed!

That’s when I turn to Jesus and receive His abundance of grace. I say to Him, “Lord, today, You are my guest speaker! I rest in You. You speak. You feed them. You provide! You take over and I will watch You in action!” The moment I let go, His grace and His supply rush in! Hallelujah!

ABUJA WAREHOUSE LOOTHING: OVER 15 SUSPECTS ARRESTED

04/03/24

PRESS RELEASE

SHINA JO

The FCT Police Command said over fifteen Suspects including two local Security Guard employed by the Warehouse Management have been arrested in connection to the early morning looting of a Government facility in Gwagwa area in Abuja municipal area council of the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations FCT Command Josephine Adeh said the Suspects were arrested with Exhibits such as twenty-six bags of Maiz, five Motorcycles and some vandalized Aluminum roofings which was recovered from them.

The statement said the FCT Police Command is fully informed about the attack on Agric Department Strategic food store located at Tasha, Abuja by some irate mobs, which resulted in the vandalism and looting of the warehouse.

The statement said normalcy has since been restored to the environ and the situation is very much under control,

It is however on record that the same facility was attacked and looted by irate mobs during the COVID-19 pandemic where All the food items stored in the warehouse were catered away and the roof also vandalized.