Iliya Pam & Deborah Pam Win 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

Iliya Pam and Deborah Pam have emerged first place winners in the Nigerian male and female category respectively at the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

With increase of ₦2 million in the 2018 edition, Iliya Pam and Deborah Pam were rewarded with ₦3 million each.

In the words of Deborah Pam:

“I was not expecting this result because I prepared well ahead at least to improve on my personal best which is few minutes better than what I have today.

When I started full marathon, I ran 3:15 and in Ibadan I ran 2:30 and later 2:49 which is a slight improvement. For the race today, I was hoping to perform better which I did until about 21 Km when I started to feel pains in my leg, then I knew I had injury.

The injury actually slowed down my pace and gradually some of the Ethiopians ran past me, I only struggled to beat the last tape.’’

The Nigerian Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung also gave ₦500,000 each to Iliya Pam and Deborah Pam while he gave ₦100,000 each two sisters Damilola and Bimpe Oluwaseyi, who both completed the 10 km race.

Kenyan athletes dominated the male category as Kiprotich Kiroi, Ronny Kiboss and Peter Benjamin emerged in first, second and third place winners, taking home $50,000, $40,000 and $30,000 respectively.

Ethiopian athletes Ayelu Hordofa, Tigist Girma and Guta Herpha also swept the female category, emerging first, second and third respectively.

A total of 165,000 athletes selected from across the continent battled for prizes at the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Over 40,000 participants took part in the 10 kilometre family race, as an impressive number of 125,000 athletes, including notable international marathoners, also contested for the $50,000 prize money in the 42 km-long race. The marathon kicked off at the National Stadium, Surulere, while the 10 km race started at the Lekki Roundabout, Ikoyi-Lekki Link Bridge.

Speaking before the event, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, emphasized the bank’s immense pride as a title sponsor of the Lagos Marathon, stating:

“Our approach to advancing Nigeria’s blossoming drive for health and fitness, through the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, also reflects our capacity to create value for stakeholders. We have made it our responsibility to encourage the general public in the adoption of lifestyles that promote good health and well-being,”

Winners Of Third Observers Nigeria 2018 Dividend Payment Awards

The Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, has emerged the best company in the maiden edition of Dividend Payment Awards organised by Third Observers Nigeria Limited in Lagos.

The company was given the Gold Award for the regular payment of dividends to its shareholders spanning 36 years.

In the Silver Award category, the winning companies are Total Nigeria Plc, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

The four companies were awarded silver for their consistency in paying dividends to their shareholders in the last 20 years.

The Bronze Award was won by Access Bank Plc, Learn Africa Plc, AG Leventis Nigeria Plc and May & Baker Nigeria Plc, having paid their shareholders for a minimum of 10 years.

Mr. Sunday Nwosu, the Vice Chairman, Third Observer Nigeria Ltd., said the purpose of the award was to encourage more companies to pay their shareholders and improve investments in the stock market.

According to Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and the Chairman of the event:

“We need to have more investors to invest in the capital market, we can no longer depend on crude oil money again.

I believe with more companies listed in the stock market, we can turn around the fortune of our country and minimise our dependence on crude oil.

I do appreciate what is happening in the capital market presently and it is an opportunity for investors to invest in it.

I am using this opportunity to commend the Third Observers Nigeria for rewarding companies that are paying their shareholders dividends, this will encourage more companies to join the league.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dividend Payment Awards for Nigeria’s Listed Companies is endorsed by the Nigerian Capital Market (NCM) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Nigeria Emerge Overall Champion Of The 5th African Wrestling Championship

Nigeria emerged the overall champion of the five-day 5th African Wrestling Championship at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex in Port Harcourt.

The five-day competition witnessed wrestlers from African countries contesting for trophies in the Greco-Roman and Free Style models.

Continue reading Nigeria Emerge Overall Champion Of The 5th African Wrestling Championship

NASENI Wins Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance and Change 2018 Best Agency In Nigeria

Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance and Change in their recent study and evaluation rated the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) as the best agency in Nigeria.

NASENI emerged with the honor under the leadership of Professor (Engr.) Mohammed Sani Haruna as the best performing agency both in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and in the country.

Continue reading NASENI Wins Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance and Change 2018 Best Agency In Nigeria

Thor Explorations Limited Wins 2018 Investment Battlefield Award

Thor Explorations Limited (also known as Segilola), a gold mining company operating in Osun State, Nigeria has emerged winner of the 2018 Investment Battlefield award for their gold exploration project in Osun State.

Thor Explorations Limited was selected as the most promising of the 22 junior mining companies that participated in the battlefield, after beating Algold Resources, a Mauritanian gold explorer company.

The CEO of Thor Explorations Limited, Segun Lawson, accepted the Investment Battlefield award after pitching the project to a panel of judges made up of leading analysts and investors, in Cape Town, South Africa.

The award came just as Nigeria was named among the top ten mining designations for 2019.

The company, which has considerable interest in some West African countries is also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Thor’s flagship asset is its 100 percent owned Segilola Gold Project in Osun State.

Thor has been developing the Segilola Gold Project since it acquired it 15 months ago and aims to break ground this year by commencing construction.

The Segilola Gold Project was presented by Thor to a number of investor panels at the 2018 Mining Indaba in the extremely competitive Investor Battlefield Competition, which ran over the course of three days. Thor and Segilola emerged victorious over all participants with Segilola being declared the “Best Emerging Mining Project in Africa”.

In the words of Segun Lawson:

“The economic robustness of the project, the progressive Mining Code of Nigeria and the regulatory framework of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as well as the potential to increase its size through further exploration were the key critical factors considered by the panel.”

General Manager, Global Business Report, Alice Pascoletti, said Nigeria’s inclusion among the top mining destinations for 2019, was premised on factors such as legal and regulatory framework, ease of doing business, risk profile as well as experiences of operators in the country.

Thor’s CEO, Segun Lawson, 39, a geologist who was educated in the United Kingdom, had a brief stint in investment banking before venturing into mining, when he founded the company some eight years ago.

Thor Explorations currently employs 52 people in three West African countries, but Lawson said this would rise to about 250 once production starts at the Segilola Gold project, which is its flagship.

Itoro Eze-Anaba Wins Commonwealth Point of Light [2018]

Itoro Eze-Anaba has emerged the 4th Commonwealth Point of Light award recipient in honour of her support for victims of rape and sexual assault, recognised and honoured by the Queen of England, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Itoro Eze-Anaba founded Nigeria’s first sexual assault referral centre in 2013 and since then has helped over 3,100 victims of rape. ‘The Mirabel Centre’ has established itself as a key service provider for victims of sexual assault in Lagos State, with an increasing number of clients accessing the centre, indicating a growing awareness amongst members of the public of the existence of the centre and the crucial services it provides.

On receiving the Commonwealth Point of Light award, Itoro Eze-Anaba said:

“I am delighted that a Point of Light has been awarded to highlight the importance of tackling rape and sexual assault. Rape is evil, degrading and dehumanizing.

On behalf of the dedicated, tireless and resolute team that is determined to give voice to the voiceless, strength to the weak and hope to the hopeless, I am sure that this award marks the beginning of a joint effort to uproot this evil that relentlessly battles for our future. This award is a reiteration of our message of NO TO RAPE!”

Each Commonwealth Point of Light receives a personalised certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth.

According to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright:

“Itoro has shown impressive dedication to supporting victims of sexual assault and rape. She has provided a safe haven for over 2,800 survivors of this heinous crime and has encouraged thousands of others to break the silence on rape and seek prosecution of perpetrators, reducing their impunity.

The Mirabel Centre is a project of Partnership for Justice where rape and sexual assault victims can access free forensic medical and counselling services.”

In the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on 19-20 April, volunteers across the 52 Commonwealth nations are celebrated for their inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.

Anthony Chukwudi Mazeli Acquires Distinction In Cyber Security At University Of Lancaster

Anthony Chukwudi Mazeli, an officer of the Nigerian Army studying at the University of Lancaster, United Kingdom has obtained a Master degree with distinction in Cyber Security, coming top in his class.

Anthony Chukwudi Mazeli, also emerged with the Best Dissertation award and Best graduating student of Faculty of Science and Technology, at the University.

He was honoured at the convocation ceremony of the University, which held in UK. Mazeli carted away the coveted prizes given him in recognition of quality work and exceptional research prowess as the best graduating student in the department.