The goal of education and innovation in Nigeria is envisioned to be ruled by true wisdom and self-consciousness. The Nigerian innovative spirit coupled with humane values is acknowledged in its dynamic and universal applicability.
Anthony Ekwensi has been crowned the African champion at the 17th Chinese Bridge Chinese Language Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students.
The grand finale of the competition took place on August 4 in Changsha, Hunan Province.
Russian student Ruslan was the overall winner at the event which paraded 152 students from 118 countries.
According to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Israel Galadima Zakari is the candidate with the highest score in the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Israel Galadima Zakari sat for the examination in Ogun State and scored 364.
Top five candidates in the 2018 UTME exercise are; Israel Galadima Zakari with 364, Adekunle Jesufemi who sat for his examination in Abeokuta with 358, Alikah Oseghale who sat for the examination in Ekpoma and scored 357, and Ademola Adetola who sat for the examination in Lagos and scored 355.
At the council chambers of the Borno State government house, the governor, Kashim Shettima, hosted Israel Galadima Zakari and his mother, Jummai Zakari.
Mr. Shettima said:
“I am fixating on his achievement because it has also put me particularly in the spotlight. An orphan, raised by a single mother a son of Boko Haram-ravaged Borno who triumphed against all odds.
He has proven to the world that where there is will, there is a way; he has proven to us that adversity should not lock us down; adversity should bring out the best in people. We have to identify with this young man; we have to identify with the boy and his family, fundamentally for two reasons; we must avoid the tyranny of the majority. I am a Kanuri man and a Muslim; this young man, is a Bura-man and a Christian – but above all he is a son of Borno. We must at all times have the generosity of courage and magnanimity to be inclusive.
I am an advocate of inclusivity, I am an advocate of tolerance and accommodation. This is the fundamental reason we invited the Zakaris so that we can all come together and celebrate this young man who is a symbol of excellence, resilience against all odds, so that any young man from Borno can be inspired.
Incidentally the young man has secured an admission into Covenant University and the Borno State Government would want to take full responsibility for his full scholarship. I am in the last lap of my time in office as a governor, so I want to pay the full five years scholarship for him; even though who ever that would succeed will sustain whatever commitment we have made, but I felt that when opportunity beckons like this one should utilise it optimally. So to keep the mind of his mother at rest, we are going to pay the full package of his scholarship now.
The full five years scholarship include the cost of books, cost of living in the campus, and all other related expenses. While we are giving you the offer letter today, the commissioner for higher education will hand you a cheque of N5 million naira which covers all that he needs to study electrical engineering at the Covenant University till graduation.
And I want you the mother to make the payment upfront so that this will not be affected by any kind of inflation.
If not because it is a little bit late, I won’t mind taking him to Harvard or Oxford to pursue his degree; but we will still not lose hope in exploring those opportunities.”
Mrs. Zakari thanked the governor and the government of Borno State:
“We are honored and I am honored and so lucky for this kind of benevolence.
I did not expect this. We are so thankful and we can’t be happier. What you have just done today is a testimony to the fact that you have keen interest in the capacity development of the young people of Borno people. When you invited us we did not believe this will happen, but you have exceeded our expectation.
I am product of what Borno State did to me 18 years ago. My parents didn’t have the capacity to fund my education to a federal government college, but the Borno State government did it. And here I am still benefiting from the state today. I am grateful.
After my graduation, I got admission to study Agricultural Economics at the University of Maiduguri where I graduated with Second class Upper (2.1) in 1999 after which I moved to Lagos to join my husband who was a military man, who unfortunately passed on as a Major and left me with three children of which Israel is the second child.
And since 2004 up till date, I have been fending for the children as a single mother. This scholarship given to Israel is a big burden that has been lifted off my shoulders, now I am going to be paying school fees for only two children.
I want to encourage of Borno State to believe in themselves and to know that every average northerner is intelligent. I believe we have the likes of Israel in Borno State; and with what the Borno State governor has done, every other child will be encouraged to work hard and achieve even greater success.”
In the words of Israel Galadima Zakari:
“I never knew I would emerge with the best result.
Honestly I did not read for the exams to emerge the best, but to pass my exams.
But when I was mentioned as the best, I simply thanked God even though it surprised me.
The governor beat my expectation when I set out to come here to meet him. I am really grateful for his kindness.
Eighteen students have emerged winners in the zonal contests of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) National Science Quiz Competition held in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
A statement by the NNPC Spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, explained that of the 37 contestants who emerged from the state competitions and competed at the different zones across the country, 14 were from government schools while 23 were from private schools. Only five females participated in the competition.
Continue reading Winners Of 2018 NNPC Zonal National Science Quiz Competition
Squadron Leader Fredrick Oyenusi, has broken a twenty-year-old record in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) after winning the Tie of Merit award, only awarded to a distinguished officer.
This feat by Squadron Leader Fredrick Oyenusi was recognized during the graduation ceremony of Senior Staff Course 40, which took place at AFCSC Jaji, Kaduna.
Squadron Leader Oyenusi also won 4 additional awards namely the Best in Tri-Service Terms, Best Commandant’s Paper, Best Director’s Paper in the Directorate of Air Warfare (DAW) and the First in order of Merit in DAW.
The senior NAF officer, who is a C-130H aircraft pilot, holds 2 Masters degrees; one in Aerospace Vehicle Design and the other in Safety Engineering from Cranfield University and University of Aberdeen respectively.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the graduation ceremony restated the government’s commitment to prioritize the training of Armed Forces personnel, noting that they remained the bastion of national unity.
He also congratulated the graduating students and charged them to apply the knowledge they had acquired to make honest and useful contributions to national development.
The Senior Staff Course, in particular, is aimed at preparing selected officers of the rank of major and equivalent in the armed forces for higher responsibilities both in staff and command appointments.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who expressed delight in the feat attained by Oyenusi said the officer reflected the 3 core values of the NAF namely “integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do’’.
He promised that the current leadership of the NAF would sustain efforts at human capacity building as tangible dividends were being yielded for enhanced professional performance.
Keren Chigozie-Nnah has emerged the 2018 overall national champion of the Nigeria Spelling Bee contest.
National Champion is Keren Chigozie-Nnah of Deeper Life High School, Port Harcourt.
National 1st Runner-up is Ephraim Edokpa of Christ Ambassador’s College, Kaduna
National 2nd Runner-up is Ogochukwu Anyaso of Bishop Okoye Spiritan Secondary School, Port Harcourt
Junior 1st, Neta Nnabuenyi of University of Nigeria Secondary School, Enugu Campus;
Junior 2nd, Sheriff Abdrahman of King’s College, Lagos, and
Junior 3rd, Abdulhafeez Sheidu of Dopemu Primary School, Lagos.
The Grand Finale which held at the International Conference Centre of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State was the culmination of the 2018 Season which was conducted in more than 20 states across the federation. Regional Finals were held where the best emerged to compete at this finals level.
Addressing the spellers, coaches and the audience, the Vice Chancellor, represented by the Registrar welcomed all spellers from far and near and asked them to inculcate some of the core values of Landmark University in their daily activities and to be the best they can be.
The 2018 Nigeria Spelling Bee competition lasted for 6 distinct Rounds, which included a round of questions from selected Nigerian indigenous language words and another round of words drawn from the book, “Dreams of Tomorrow” by R.B. Alade.
According to Nigeria Spelling Bee:
“We want to use this medium to appreciate all stakeholders in the Nigeria Spelling Bee dream and especially thank Landmark University for an amazing reception given to the best spellers in Nigeria and the coaches/parents as they camped for the National Finals events.
We also appreciate the Minister of Education, represented by Mr. Aiseodion Abel.”
Registration for the next season commences 1st of August 2018 on www.NigeriaSpellingBee.com
Six school pupils have emerged winners in speech writing at the fifth Korean Speech Competition in Abuja, winning cash sums of ₦20,000 and ₦30,000 to support their education.
The pupils – Operipo Esther, Soo Uke, Akande Toluwanimi, Maduka Providence, Aderogba Oluwaseyi and Afiniki Bossan – were awarded the prizes for displaying their communication skills in the Korean language.
The Korean Speech competition was organised by the Korean Cultural Centre of Nigeria and was aimed at encouraging bilateral educational relationships between Nigeria and Korea.
According to the director of the Korean centre, Han Sungrae:
“The competition is to assist language students to improve their communication skills in Korean language.
The pupils write about the Korean culture and compare it to the Nigerian culture. When the first prize winner emerges, we recommend them for visiting programmes. The judges will pick the recommended winner to visit Korea for certain duration, usually about a week.
We encourage people to learn more about Korea and its culture and language. The participants have improved greatly.
Ifeoma Nnamani has emerged overall winner of the Peace Write Now writing contest organised by the Embassy of Ireland on the theme ‘Fostering Sustainable Peace and Dialogue in Nigeria’.
The winners include Ifeoma Nnamani (in first place), Damilola Adeniran (second), Stephen Angbulu (third), Ehi’zogie Emmanuel (fourth), and Samsudeen Quadri (fifth).
Continue reading Ifeoma Nnamani Wins 2018 Embassy Of Ireland Writing Contest