PositiveNaija

Master Yusuf Hassan and Miss Faith Toun-Agbai have won the keenly contested first prize of the 2017 Lafarge National Literacy Competition, which was held in Lagos State.

Yusuf Hassan is a pupil at Eso Nerie Primary School in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State while Faith Toun-Agbai attends Eguare Primary School in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated the pupils saying that their triumph in the competition would inspire other students across the state to aspire to great heights in their educational pursuit.

He further said that the feat showcases the boundless spirit of healthy competition among pupils in the state and reaffirms his administration’s commitment to discovering more talent in the state through the various educational initiatives.

According to the Governor:

“The performances of the pupils underscore the effort of the state government to deliver quality education. Even with outings such as this, we are not resting on our oars in the state. There are ongoing reforms at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to ensure that more pupils in Edo State continue to come tops in competitions such as this.”

At the regional level of the same competition, the pupils were feted by Governor Obaseki and got cash prizes when they emerged overall winners.

Salihu Dasuki has become the youngest senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.

The 29-year-old Dasuki gratefully announced his resumption to work as a senior lecturer of Information Systems with the following words:

“By Allah’s grace, not only am I the youngest, I resume teaching as a senior lecturer of computing at Sheffield Hallam University, UK”

Salihu Dasuki has brilliant academic records in foreign universities. He graduated with a first class degree in Information Technology from Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), North Cyprus at 21. He went further to have his Master’s degree at Brunel University, UK and bagged his PhD in the same university in 2012.

At 24, he was reportedly the youngest PhD holder in the Northern Nigeria, and became an assistant professor of Information Systems at American University of Nigeria, Yola.

15-year-old Samuella Sam-Orlu of British Nigerian Academy, Abuja, has emerged the overall winner of the 2017 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition.

Samuella Sam-Orlu wins an educational grant of ₦1,000,000.00 to study in any African university of her choice, as well as a laptop.

Samuella clinched the first position at the grand finale, which was held in Lagos, ahead of 11 other finalists selected from over 1,000 entries received by the UBA Foundation from students of senior secondary schools across Nigeria.

Samuella Sam-Orlu who was escorted by her guardian, Mrs. Jacqueline Uzoadibe said that winning the competition would propel her to do more in attaining her dreams of becoming a Medical Director.

The second prize was bagged by Deborah Chinwendu Innocent aged 15 of Enal International Schools Abuja, who won ₦750,000 educational grant and a laptop while the third prize went to Yahofon Ettah Essien of Nigerian Christian Institute Akwa Ibom State, coveting a ₦500,000 educational grant and a laptop. The other 9 finalists were given laptops. All 12 finalists also went home with certificates.

In his remark, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka said:

“Seeing past winners tell their stories on the impact the grants have made on their education and particularly how the financial burden was lifted off their parents, gives us joy that our foundation is unique and stands out from others in touching lives.”

He informed the gathering made up of parents, students and media that the essay competition had produced over 100 winners, since its inception in 2011 in Nigeria, with winners studying varied courses in universities in Nigeria and within the African continent.

Mr. Kennedy Uzoka further stated on the 2017 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition:

“I must also state here that we want to make sure that the grants are given to those who really need it. That is why we restrict the grant to schools within Africa alone. If by chance the parents of any winner sends his or her ward to an elite school outside Africa, we would not go ahead with that support, because what we are really after are those who need the grant as we contribute to the development of Africa.”

24-year-old Nemitari Ajienka has emerged the youngest lecturer at Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2017.

In the words of Nemitari Ajienka:

”Immensely Grateful. BSc & MSc distinctions & PhD. A new journey now begins at 24; youngest lecturer at Edge Hill University, UK. #PhD #brunel #MDX #Bham #nigeria #proudlynigerian #PortHarcourt”

Ajienka who now works as a lecturer in Computer Science at Edge Hill University appreciated the effort of one of his lecturers, Dr. Andrea Capiluppi for his unconditional support and PhD supervision.

The emergence of Nemitari Ajienka as another young Nigerian lecturing in the UK University comes barely two months after Nigerians celebrated 27-year-old Salihu Dasuki for becoming the youngest senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in England.