Author: PositiveNaija

Winners Of 2018 CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship

Emmanuel Sylvester and Sarah Adegoke have emerged winners of the 40th edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship.

Emmanuel Sylvester in the men’s category, ended his third final encounter with Babalola 6-3, 7-6 and 6-4 as well as defeating NTF number one seed, Joseph Imeh, in the quarter-final. Sarah Adegoke in the women’s category defeated Agugbom, a former Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) number one seed 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.

In the words of Emmanuel Sylvester:

“I played very good tennis and it worked for me, I thank God for that. I was happy to defeat my opponent (Babalola) in our third encounter today; it was not easy winning this tournament but I thank God for His blessings.”

However, Babalola and Agugbom still emerged winners with final cups in the men and women’s double.

Babalola paired with Lawal Shehu to defeat Nonso Madueke and Henry Atseye 6-2, 6-3. In addition, Agugbom and Blessing Samuel equally won the women doubles trophy by defeating Rose Abu and Bukola Olowu 6-2, 6-1.

Also in the CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship, which is usually organized in collaboration with NTF, the physically challenged persons participated.

Alex Adewale defeated Wasiu Yusuf in the men’s Wheelchair tennis final 6-1, 6-1, while Kafayat Omisore won Chituru Nwaozuzu 6-1, 6-3 in finals of women wheelchair tennis.

Ifedayo Akindoju, NTF President said:

“I am happy for the successful conclusion of this 40th edition of CBN open, which is the first to be hosted by our board.

More tournaments are going to come up this year through the board’s efforts which will further develop the game of tennis in the country.

We will continue to appeal to CBN and other supporting sponsors of the game so that an academy can be established which will greatly influence our global performance in not distant future.”

CBN Open and Dala Hard Court are the two national tournaments currently organized by NTF to rank tennis players.

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter June 2018

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter June 2018

PDF download: PositiveNaija Newsletter June 2018

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter June 2018

Good news on Nigerians

Nigeria and Nigerians

Notably, we have sought out to deduce the geographic locations (within Nigeria or abroad), which the positive/success news/updates recorded are being achieved. In other words, our aim is to be able to tell objectively, how conducive/enduring the environments are to what Nigeria/Nigerians are achieving. To do this, we determined the locations on the basis of where exactly the achievement, progress, success, etc. was done or achieved as well as will be done or achieved and not based on where an award/recognition was or is presented.

It is important to mention that most achievements by Nigeria/Nigerians achieved abroad should not be relegated as being ‘superior’ or achieved out of a ‘privileged comfortable environment’ as most of these achievements are usually first in recognition of what has been done or attained within Nigeria and as such requiring an international/global export.

Nigerians in foreign countries

progress in Nigeria

Recommendations from the PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter June 2018:

  1. Urgent efforts are needed in the areas of security and rule of law; leadership and diplomacy; and energy and power.
  2. Nigerians should be more observant towards the progress, development and excellence made in/by the country and fellow citizens.
  3. The right conditions (hinged on truth) for the vivid manifestations of these achievements and subsequent potentials are needed.
  4. Existing implementation frameworks should be critically reviewed with an indigenous approach.
  5. Strategic planning and an effective monitoring system with a focus on sustainability.
  6. Better coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

We hope that you find these assessments useful, inspiring and educative. We will also be glad to hear from you!

PTCIJ Honours Best Student Journalists [2018]

Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) celebrated student journalists across Nigeria at a campus journalism award ceremony.

The awards were named in honour of the late Alfred Opubor for his pioneering contributions to journalism in Nigeria.

Professor Opubor was the first Nigerian professor who served at the Department of Mass Communication at the University Of Lagos (UNILAG).

Seven categories of the best student journalists awards were given: Best Opinion Piece; Best Community Journalism Story; Best Investigative Story; Most Prolific Writer; Most Active Campus; Best Female Campus Reporter; and Best Male Campus reporter.

Adejumo Kabir, a 300 level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) who won three awards expressed his gratitude to PTCIJ for the honour at the event and for the opportunity to be trained under the campus reporters’ framework. Mr. Adejumo won the awards for the best investigative story, “Nigerian University website hacked”, most prolific campus reporter and best male campus journalist.

He said the award will encourage him to write without fear or favour for the promotion of the welfare of students and the community at large.

The best opinion piece award was given to Adekunle Adebajo of University of Ibadan for the story ”Nigerian Tertiary Institutions: An Endangered Species Under the 2018 budget” while the best community journalism story award was won by Chiamaka Okafor from the Nnamdi Azikwe University for the story, “UNIZIK community laments 21- Day power outage.”

Ms. Chiamaka Okafor also won the best female campus reporter award.

According to the Publisher of PREMIUM TIMES, Dapo Olorunyomi:

“We realise that there were clashes between the teachings in the classrooms and what is happening in the newsroom. There was lack of resources to the job and for you to be able to do journalism, you need resources.

I particularly commend the Editor-In-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, for his commitment to the job and his belief in revolutionalising journalism.”

In the words of the general manager, Capital FM, Mercy Njoku:

“Young minds need to understand the term ‘responsible journalism’ because some journalists practice irresponsible journalism.

When journalists are diligent, hardworking and creative, they will go places. In whatever you do, you are setting up your testimonials.”

The judges included Fisayo Soyombo; Mahmud Jega of Daily Trust; Motunrayo Alaka of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism; Chido Onumah of the Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy and Lanre Arogundade of the International Press Centre.

Akin Akinbulu, the Executive Director, Institute of Media and Society and Lekan Otufodunrin, editor of the Nation Newspaper, received special recognition awards for their contributions to journalism in Nigeria.

The PTCIJ student journalists programme was actively supported by the Ford Foundation and executed in partnership with the National Union of Campus Journalists.

Winners Of The Inaugural The Guardian Oil And Gas Awards

Energy firms, bank and individuals have been honoured at the maiden edition of The Guardian Oil and Gas Awards, for their remarkable contribution to the growth and development of the industry and Nigeria’s economy.

At the event themed “The Guardian/ACAL OIL and Gas Roundtable and Awards”, which brought together industry leaders from across the country, 15 organisations and individuals were honoured for driving and advancing the course of the oil and gas sector.

Winners of The Guardian Oil And Gas Awards

  • Oil and Gas Human Capital Development and Training Company of the Year Award – Prime Atlantic Limited
  • Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Distribution Company of the Year Award – Petrocam Training Nigeria
  • Best Gas Company of the Year – Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG)
  • Oil and Gas Fabrication Company of the Year Award – Nigerdock
  • Oil and Gas Logistics Company of the Year Award – Lagos Deep Offshore Services (LADOL)
  • Best Bank in Support of the Oil and Gas Sector – Access Bank
  • Lubricant Oil Company of the Year Award – Eterna Plc.
  • Joint Venture (JV) Company of the Year Award – Mobile Producing Nigerian Limited
  • Sole Risk/Independent Company of the Year Award – Seplat Petroleum Development Company
  • Marginal Field Company of the Year Award – Midstream Oil and Gas Company
  • Oil and Gas Safety Company of the Year Award (upstream) – Chevron Nigeria Limited
  • Oil and Gas Health Safety Company of the Year Award (downstream) – Nipco Plc.
  • Oil and Gas Environmental Friendly Company of the Year Award (upstream) – Total Exploration and Production Company Limited
  • Oil and Gas Environmental Friendly Company of the Year Award (downstream) – Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company
  • Oil and Gas Sustainability Company of the Year Award – Total Plc.
  • Oil and Gas Local Content Compliant Company of the Year Award (downstream) – Nipco Plc.
  • Oil and Gas Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Sustainability Company of the Year (upstream) – Aiteo Group
  • Oil and Gas Company of the Year (upstream) – Exonmobil
  • Oil and Gas Company of the Year Award (upstream indigenous) – Aiteo
  • Oil and Gas Company of the Year Award (downstream) – Eterna Plc.
  • Marginal Field Company of the Year Award – Midwestern Oil and Gas Company
  • Oil and Gas Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Year (upstream) Award – Paul Mcgrath of Exxonmobil Nigeria Limited
  • Oil and Gas CEO of the Year (downstream indigenous) – Benedict Peters of the Aiteo Group
  • Oil and Gas CEO of the Year Award (downstream) – Mahmud Tukur of Eterna Plc.

Chairman, Editorial Board of The Guardian, Professor Wale Omole, who represented the Chairman/Publisher, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru stated:

“We are happy that you made it here, we would continue to work together. I congratulate you on things you have done and wish you more success.”

Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola Wins 2018 ART X Prize

Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola, has won the ART X Prize in a competition organised in partnership with Access Bank in Lagos.

Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola emerged as the winner after live presentations to the judges, alongside a shortlist that also included two other artists – Ayo Akinwande and Williams Chechet as finalists. Bolatito is a trans-disciplinary artist working primarily in time based art, interactivity and performance.

Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola emerged from many applicants screened by a jury of five renowned artists comprising pioneering artist, Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya; Turner Prize nominee Yinka Shonibare MBE;  Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Sokari Douglas-Camp; and gallerist and curator, Oliver Enwonwu.

In the words of Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola:

“The work I proposed for the competition is an interactive display that people can come up to the screen, interact with it. It’s like the screen is moving as the individual moves so it creates a beautiful dance effect. As of now, the screen is about 15ft but depending on how the project develops it could be more.”

According to the Director of ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside:

“We are delighted to have the privilege to support the prize-winner, Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola, at this pivotal stage in her career. This will propel her towards a successful future within the African and global art industry.

We look forward to unveiling Bolatito’s ambitious project at ART X Lagos 2018 in November. The project will introduce her to our international audience, collectors and curators from renowned institutions around the world.”

Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, said:

“At Access Bank, beyond our vast collection of established artists, we believe that we are also responsible for empowering emerging artists. This is why we continue to support the ART X Prize – to celebrate the ingenuity of Nigeria’s emerging art talent.”

Winners Of 2018 Lagos State Schools Governor’s Quiz Competition

Lagos State Senior Model College, Kankon has emerged winner of the Star Prize of the Season IX of the Lagos State Schools Governor’s Quiz Competition after overcoming Epe Senior Grammar School.

In the Junior and Primary School Category, Idimu Junior High School, Alimosho and Military Nursery/Primary School, Yaba also defeated Community Junior High School, Debojo and Araromi Primary School, Gbagada to win the Junior Secondary and Primary Schools categories respectively.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule announced that Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode approved cash rewards of ₦100,000 to all participating students to motivate them and their colleagues, with the Teachers and Schools receiving between ₦100,000 to ₦250,000.

Adebule said the Lagos State Schools Governor’s Quiz Competition was designed to develop the mind of the pupils by creating healthy rivalry among school children in public and private Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary Schools across the State.

She noted that the competition has broadened the horizon of school children resulting in a noticeable improvement in the results of terminal examinations like BECE, NECO and WAEC.

According to Adebule, the standard of the Lagos State Schools Governor’s Quiz Competition has also contributed to the relative ease with which Lagos schools win other Quiz Competitions.

Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule stated:

“My amiable and brilliant pupils and children, I am happy to acknowledge your overt display of knowledge in all facets of life – Science & Technology, Business Studies, Humanities, Art & Craft and Current Affairs.

Public School Students have in the last one month won the PZ Cussons Chemistry and NNPC National Science Quiz Competitions. Tadese Fatai of Abibat Mogaji Senior School, Iloro won the star prize at the PZ Cussons while the NNPC National Science Quiz Competition State’s Final was won by Ezeunala Ekene Franklin of Meiran Community High School, Meiran.”

Adebule, therefore, advised all children of the State in public or private schools to devote more time to their academic pursuit, invest their youthful energy and intellect to create job opportunities rather that roam the streets and embrace social vices like internet fraud, hooliganism, rape, examination malpractice, alcoholism and drug abuse.