Bambi Odunrombi & Emmanuel Makinde Win 2018 Design Genre Architecture Competition

Bambi Odunrombi and Emmanuel Makinde, both master’s students of Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) have emerged the winning team of the 2018 Design Genre Architecture competition.

Bambi Odunrombi and Emmanuel Makinde, both received a cash prize of 100,000; the second position went to Timileyin Adeniran, Tolulope Babalola and Kunlere Adetunji, all 300 level students of the same institution with a cash prize of 70,000; while Andrew Adejumo, Phillips Soetan and Adeola Oderinde also 300 level students of OAU emerged third position, getting a cash prize of 50,000.

On their winning strategy, Odunrombi and Makinde said:

“It was team work, keeping it simple in conception and building on existing frameworks. These were factors we think may have helped us to impress the judges and win the competition.”

The grand finale of the 2018 Design Genre Architecture competition, held at the OAU’s Architecture Department, witnessed 11 shortlisted groups making presentations on a project brief titled ‘Sustainable Design of a Mixed Use Complex in Downtown Lagos’. The contestants were asked to come up with ingenious building design that will combine residential, commercial and office structures using sustainable and environment friendly materials, among others.

The Managing Director, Design Genre Consultants, organiser of the competition, Mr. Anthony Okoye affirms his organisation’s desire to deepen the talent base of students by exposing them to real life architectural projects.

In his words:

“Our aim of supporting the design competition is to make sustainable design second nature to architects in Nigeria and also contribute to students’ education by deepening their knowledge and allowing these emerging architects the opportunity to gain exposure on real world projects which will in turn enhance the continuous sustainable improvement of the architecture profession.

We are happy first at the number of entries. We had well over 20 entries. We also observed the progress made by the contestants in their power point, 3D presentations and their sustained interest in the competition. This no doubt goes to confirm that our commitment to adding value to the practice of architecture in Nigeria is yielding positive results.”

The Business Development Manager, Mr. Dayo Oduleye stated on the Design Genre Architecture competition:

“We are sponsoring the contest to give back to the institution OAU because it is the alma mater of our Managing Director, Anthony Okoye and in the process we hope to observe and identify the natural talent of students just beginning their journey into architecture and get their fresh perspective on form and design. We hope to also make the competition more interesting next year by including as part of the price, a visit to some interesting architectural sites in Dubai, Europe and South Africa.”

Design Genre Consultants is an architectural consulting and construction firm established in 2008 with the aim of creating contemporary designs that suits the lifestyle of their clients. The company’s mission is to achieve excellence in all areas of endeavour while recreating a functional and aesthetically pleasant environment with designs ranging from residential building designs to public building designs.

Aderemi Raji-Oyelade Awarded 2018 European Commission’s Staff Mobility for Teaching Award

Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has emerged the recipient of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Staff Mobility for Teaching Award.

The Erasmus+ programme is a funding scheme to support activities in the fields of Education, Training, Youth and Sport. Between February 20 and 22, 2018, Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade was awarded the prestigious 2017 Humboldt Alumni award and Humboldt Conference Award, which the scholar convened at University of Ibadan Conference Centre.

According to a statement by the Dean, Faculty of Arts, UI, Professor Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva, the Nigeria’s premier University is the only African country listed on the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Grant (Project 2017-1-HR01-KA107-035107), referring to cooperation with higher education institutions, alongside other non-EU countries including Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Montenegro, and Russian Federation.

In the words of Professor Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva:

“Under the Key Action 1 Activity granted to Nigeria, among five non-EU countries, Raji-Oyelade will be Visiting Professor to Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia where he will teach African literature and cultural studies in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of UNIOS.”

The Erasmus+ programme awards financial supports to individual incoming and outgoing teaching and non-teaching staff mobilities, which objective is teaching or training at a selected partner higher education institution (HEI) in selected partner countries, for the purpose of studying or teaching at the University of Osijek, Croatia. The visiting scholarship will be utilized in May, 2018

The Vice Chancellor of UI, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka while expressing his felicity on behalf of UI and its members, stated:

“Raji-Oyelade is a blessing to our university. He has brought many medals to our university. He is a good ambassador of the university. Raji-Oyelade is one out of the many reputable scholars we have in this university. I am always very proud of the Department of English Language of the University of Ibadan, which has produced international scholars like Professor Niyi Osundare, Professor Chinua Achebe, Professor Wole Soyinka, and Professor J.P. Clark.”

Olayinka added that another scholar that has brought glory to University of Ibadan, is Dr. Esther Eyiuche of the Department of Agronomy, who just won the 2018 Young Award by the Society for In Vitro Biology, SIVB, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, in recognition of her contributions and achievements in the Vitro sciences.

Ezinne Favour Ogwuegbu 4.0

Ezinne Favour Ogwuegbu has graduated from the Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0 and earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations.

According to Chinecherem Jay Harry Jnr. – a colleague of Ezinne:

Ezinne Favour Ogwuegbu, Nigerian Student of Eastern Mediterranean University, graduates top of her class with a 4.0/4.0 CGPA, earning herself bachelor’s degree in International Relations.

Favour has been very active in student politics, serving in the capacities of vice president of the Nigerian Student Society, Eastern Mediterranean University, and executive official II of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Turkish Zone, and in senatorial positions of these respective bodies.

She graduated top of her class in high school from Dayspring Academy, as Senior Prefect with straight A’s and 8 distinctions and 1 credit in WASSCE. She has also won several football awards in Cyprus and is an avid writer.

She hopes to contribute to achieving a fair and just society, and to enable the resuscitation of Nigeria’s diplomacy and position, internationally.

Chisom Chikatara Wins 2018 CAF Super Cup With Wydad Casablanca

Chisom Chikatara has won the 2018 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Super Cup title with his Moroccan club side Wydad Casablanca.

Chisom Chikatara who plays as a forward was in action for 63 minutes before he was substituted for Gabriel Quintana, as Wydad Casablanca defeated Congolese side Tout Puissant (TP) Mazembe 1–0 to win the 2018 CAF Super Cup.

The CAF Super Cup features the winners of the CAF Confederation Cup, and CAF Champions League winners in a one-off game.

Chikitara was part of the Wydad Casbalanca side that defeated Al Ahly SC to win the CAF Champions League and he made a return from injury to feature in the Super Cup clash.

After the withdrawal of Chikitara, Wydad Casabalanca broke the deadlock through Amin Thigazaoui in the 83rd minute, which turned out to be the only goal of the encounter.

Wydad Casabalanca earned $100,000 for their victory while TP Mazembe were rewarded with $75,000.

ASTEVEN Group Launches First Sub-Sahara Renewable Energy Academy In Nigeria

ASTEVEN Group has officially launched ASTEVEN Renewable Energy Academy and Centre of Excellence, in Ogun State – the first Sub-Sahara Renewable Energy Academy in Nigeria.

Students of the academy will be trained green vendors, service providers, installers, technicians and dealers in renewable energy technologies. Graduates will also receive global certifications to ensure credibility within the industry.

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Bayelsa State Wins 2018 National Para-Swimming Open Championship

Bayelsa state have emerged winners of the second edition of the National Para-Swimming Open Championship after winning 27 medals comprising of 14 gold, five silver and eight bronze.

The two-day event in Abuja was organised by the Nigeria Para-Swimming Federation (NPSF).

Delta state came second with five gold, 11 silver and five bronze medals, while Osun state were third with nine medals made up of five gold, three silver and one bronze.

Oyo state came fourth with eight medals — two gold and six silver — while Ondo state were fifth with two gold and a bronze.

Imo state followed with a silver and three bronze, Ogun state had a bronze while FCT finished with no medal.

Habu Gumel, the President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), promised to give the NPSF the needed support to ensure they excel at the Paralympic Games. He said with the support of government and corporate bodies every one of the facilities needed by para-athletes would be provided.

According to the President of NPSF, Sylvester Ikuejamoye:

“If this group of people has decided not to be a burden to the society, and decide rather to use their talent to make a living and contribute to the society, then they are worth supporting.’’

Mr. Ikuejamoye said the Federation intends to keep together 10 athletes who would emerge from the National Para-Swimming Open Championship for national, continental and international championships if given adequate support.

Margaret Binga Wins Best Female Referee Award At 2018 World Taekwondo G-2 Egypt Open

President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Margaret Binga has won the Best Female Referee Award at the 2018 World Taekwondo G-2 Egypt Open in Cairo, Egypt.

The former two-time African Champion was invited to officiate at the high-level event, which would earn her top ranking points, and improve her quest towards being promoted to a Grade-1 ranked International Referee.

Presenting the award to Margaret Binga was the President of the African Taekwondo Union, General Ahmed Fouly, who praised the work ethic and achievements of Binga.

In the words of General Ahmed Fouly:

“It is amazing that Binga still finds the time to perform her international referee duties and at the same time shepherd such a high level of taekwondo activities back in Nigeria. We are keenly following the flurry of activities in Nigeria and it is very commendable.

Her performance as a referee at this event is only a testament to her constant drive to achieve excellence while working hard.”

Thanking the tournament organizers, coaches and referees for voting her as the best Referee, Margaret Binga said:

“Nigeria has good referees but we would want to step up their training so more of us can take our place on the world stage. This would require a lot of work and I hope that awards like this can motivate us more towards this aim.

The award will be a boost to as the Federation has set a target to target 100 new referees before the end of the four-year tenure of the present board.

The last NTF National Referee Course in December had more than 35 participants, and the Federation will be looking to conduct more National Referee Seminars across the six geo-political zones as the year runs out.”

The World Taekwondo G-2 ranked Egypt Opens had 287 competing athletes from 37 countries in attendance.