Author: PositiveNaija

Nigeria Elected Vice President of UNWTO General Assembly [2017]

Nigeria has been elected Vice President of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly [2017].

Nigeria, represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was elected by acclamation to represent Africa, alongside Cape Verde, at the 22nd General Assembly of the UN body, which opened in Chengdu, China. China was elected President of the Assembly.

Nigeria’s election followed the country’s unopposed nomination by the UNWTO Commission on Africa (CAF), which met a day earlier.

In receiving the honour, the Minister said:

”To be called upon to serve as a Vice President of the General Assembly of the UNWTO is a very big honour to Nigeria.

It has proven one thing, that in the last two years, we have succeeded in pushing tourism and the Creative Industry as a whole from the back burner to the front burner. From a side issue to the main issue. This has also been noticed by the global community and I feel highly gratified by it.”

Nigeria, which will serve on the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly until 2019, will host the 61st edition of the UNWTO CAF Meeting in Abuja 4th-6th June 2018.

Nigeria Wins 2017 Refugees World Cup Title

Nigeria has won the fourth Refugees World Cup for the second time in São Paulo, Brazil defeating Morocco 9-4.

The annual knock-out tournament, in which 16 teams took part, kicked off in the Brazilian city on 16 September and was played on three days over a nine-day period at three locations.

Brazil has opened its doors to refugees from all countries, and football has become the universal language that brings them together.

The competition, organized by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), in partnership with the non-governmental organizations África do Coração, Cáritas São Paulo and SESC-SP, brought together some 250 players recruited from among Brazil’s refugee community. They played in their home countries’ national colours.

Brazil hosts more than 9,500 refugees from 82 countries. The Refugees World Cup is designed to help them integrate into their new country.

According to Syria’s coach, Abdulbaset Jarour:

“The Cup is all about integration. It’s about uniting people, no matter their race or religion. We want to show Brazilians we are good people.”

According to Maria Beatriz Nogueira, head of the UNHCR office in São Paulo:

“Brazil is known as football country. But we want to show that there are a lot of other football countries too. This is a gesture to Brazil from the refugees they’ve welcomed to show that they want to integrate and that they really do speak the same language.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina Becomes Grand Officer in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Niger [2017]

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has been elevated to the rank of Grand Officer in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Niger on behalf of the President of the Republic, Issoufou Mahamadou, during a gala dinner hosted by Nigerien Prime Minister Brigi Rafini at the Gaweye Hotel in Niger’s capital, Niamey.

The award was bestowed on Dr. Akinwumi Adesina during a two-day official visit to the Sahelian country. The award was in recognition of Adesina’s visible and tireless commitment to the rapid economic development of the African continent through the implementation of the Bank’s priorities as set out in the High 5s: Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa.

In the words of Dr. Akinwumi:

“I am both surprised and very touched by the honor you have given me. I ask you to convey to his Excellency the President of the Republic my deepest thanks.

The African Development Bank will continue to finance many other projects in Niger, particularly in agriculture and energy.”

Since December 17, 1970, the African Development Bank has been actively involved with Niger in a variety of projects, with a total funding amounting to US $1.4 billion as of August 31, 2017, (nearly 840 billion CFA francs) largely for rural development.

The Bank’s active portfolio in Niger comprises 15 projects totaling US $510 million, distributed as follows: 44% in rural development, 20% in transport, 14% in multi-sectoral projects, 12% in water and sanitation, and 10% in the social sector.

Speech by Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank at the Gala Dinner during the State Visit to Niger, September 26, 2017

Covenant University Receives Global Health Bioinformatics Research Training Award [2017]

Covenant University emerge one of the awardees of the new Global Health Bioinformatics Research Training Program granted by Fogarty and the NIH Common Fund.

A component of the most recent round of NIH funding to support the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Initiative, the awards will provide five years of support totaling up to $5 million for interdisciplinary training for bioinformatics scientists at a network of research sites across Africa. The training will help develop skills to lead integrative teams to solve significant global health problems in Africa that are important to Africans.

The H3Africa Initiative – a partnership between the Alliance for Accelerating Science in Africa (AESA) with support from Wellcome Trust, the African Society of Human Genetics, and the NIH – fosters genomic and epidemiological research in African scientific institutions. The Initiative provides opportunities for African scientists to lead research on genetic and environmental contributors to local health and disease issues. By training advanced bioinformatics and data science researchers on the continent, the Initiative will leverage genomics and other cutting-edge approaches.

Global Health Bioinformatics Research Training Awards

Marylove Edwards Wins USTA Celsius Level 6 Girls’ 14 & Under Tournament

Marylove Edwards, wins her first trophy on U.S. soil by defeating her opponents to win the USTA Celsius Level 6 girls’ 14 & Under tournament.

This she achieved barely 20 days after moving to the world-renowned, IMG Tennis Academy founded by veteran tennis coach, Nick Bollettieri, in Bradenton, Florida.

She defeated her opponent, Nina Sidhu, in two straight sets with an emphatic 6-0, 6-1 win to claim the trophy.

The final was the climax of a competition she dominated winning all her matches convincingly in two sets apiece.

On the way to the final, Marylove Edwards defeated Anastasiia Pestereva in the round of sixteen in two straight sets of 6-3, 6-2. She followed up on her remarkable form beating Nicole Ciemark in a 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinal before ensuring her place in the final with a 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Stella Rundova.

With support from her Lagos-based pan-African talent agency, Temple Management Company, TMC, the twelve-year-old has been on a roll.

The organisation focuses on harnessing and marketing creatively endowed individuals and has been propelling the career of the Nigerian sensation.

On close observation, IMG founder, Bolletieri, singled out Marylove for her unique double-fisted style. His words:

“Now this young girl is very different: super athlete. Very handy. Only a few can get away with that style.”

Committed to her development, TMC was able to secure financing to help the starlet return to IMG Academy to begin a full academic session in September at the prestigious tennis intuition which has produced the likes of the Serena and Venus Williams, Andre Agassi and Monica Seles among others.

Marylove Edwards expressed her excitement at her new achievement:

“I have been training very hard since I started at IMG and was so happy to win my first trophy.”

Also speaking, Koye Sowemimo, Head of Sports, TMC, said:
“We are focused on our commitment to ensure that Marylove continues to make progress such as her latest triumph both on and off the court. This is a great step in that direction and we firmly believe it is just the beginning of what we will be a great future for her.”

Dr. Isioma Okobah Receives 2017 Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physician Award

Dr. Mrs. Isioma Okobah, has received the 2017 prestigious fellow of the American Academy of Family Physician award. The award was conferred on Okobah at the 2017 convocation ceremony of the academy in Grand Hyatt, River Walk, San Antonio Texas, United States of America.

Continue reading Dr. Isioma Okobah Receives 2017 Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physician Award

Rasaq Tanimowo Wins Gold At 2017 AAU Weightlifting Championship

Rasaq Tanimowo wins a gold medal at the 2017 AAU Weightlifting Championship held in Las Vegas, USA.

Tanimowo representing West coast weightlifting with clean and Jerk 130 kg and Snatch 100 kg retained the title won last year.

He pledged total allegiance to Nigeria promising to always respond to call up from his fatherland.

The All Africa Games silver medalist said:

“I’m happy after leaving the shores of the country, I’ve been able to participate in 4 weightlifting Championship and earned an international call last September.

I would have featured in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Gold Coast, Australia but could not due to reasons beyond my control. I promise to always heed to the call of Nigeria at any point.”

Rasaq Tanimowo in 2016 set a new record in his weight class 56 kg at the championship with clean and Jerk 132 kg and Snatch 95 kg.