‘Blessing in Disguise’ Comic Set Launched by Marvel [2017]

USA comic book publisher, Marvel has launched the first superhero comic set titled ‘Blessing in Disguise’ geographically themed in Nigeria’s Lagos state and inspired by the adoption of the Chibok girls in 2014.

Blessing in Disguise features Ngozi, who is a superheroine fighting evil in Lagos state, Nigeria. This is the first story to be set in an African country by Marvel.

Created by science fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor, the story was published as part of Marvel’s Venomverse comic with Ngozi appearing alongside Black Panther and Spider Man villain Venom.

Ngozi is a character based on one of the Chibok girls and is expected to serve as a role model for girls, said the award-winning Nigeria-American writer Nnedi Okorafor. In the words of Nnedi Okorafor:

“I had asked the artist to make Ngozi in the likes of one of Chibok girls … I asked her to draw Ngozi in her likeness.

They were normal girls who suddenly had to deal with a huge change in their lives … and their story of perseverance is so powerful. Like many Nigerian girls, Ngozi comes in a small package but is strong-willed and determined.”

Nnedi Okorafor has created over 20 novels and short stories including award-winning Binti and her debut novel Zahrah The WIndseeker, which won the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa award.

Okorafor said her dream is to see the Ngozi character create diversity in the world of superheroes which will inspire the creation of more African comic book characters.

Winners of Rising Star Creative Writing Competition [2017]

Winners have emerged in the second edition of Rising Star Creative Writing Competition [2017] involving pupils from various primary and secondary schools in the country.

Junior Category

  • Nine-year old Peter Adobamen of Corona School, Ikoyi, emerged overall winner
  • Valerie Akpobome of St. Saviours School, Ikoyi emerged second position winner
  • Ogunsipe Oluwadamilola Emmanuella of Livingsprings Schools, Awoyaya, Lagos emerged third position winner

Six pupils won honourable mention prizes in the junior category. They are Demilade Toluhi, Tofunmi Bankole, Racheal Unachukwu, Olafiore Olamuyiwa, Okpalaoka Chizuru and Chidinma Dominic.

Senior Category

  • Kolom Oden-Ikpi of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, Lagos emerged overall winner
  • Nkpolara Adrina of Louisville College, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State clinched the second position
  • Pelemo Nyajo of Starville School, Abuja, took the third place prize.

In the senior category, four students, namely Chidera Anaeze, Aremu Oladimeji, Aboloko Oghnenejite and Itafame Esseoghene also won the honourable mention prizes.

The competition, sponsored by Writers Corner, a non-governmental organisation, recorded entries from pupils, drawn from various schools.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation and coordinator of the competition, Uche Udoji:

“Just like in the previous year, the second edition was keenly contested as there were many wonderful and incisive entries from children in different schools across the country.”

Udoji listed some of the criteria used in assessing contestants to include the writer’s ability to humanise nature, the extent to which the work relates and affects the human person; the beauty, flow and rhythm of language; poetic license and tone for poetry entrants; structure and organisation of work; format and style as well as spelling and appropriate use of punctuation marks.

The event is an annual children’s creative writing competition organised by the Writers Corner in collaboration with Vuvuzela Communication Limited,  to help in the development of their writing skills. Sponsors of the competition include; Greenlife Pharmaceuticals and the Bank of Industry & Tripplesea Group.

NPF Inaugurates iPolice-Hawk Eye Mobile App [2017]

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has inaugurated a mobile application known as  iPolice-Hawk Eye Crime Reporting System to eradicate insecurity in the country particularly kidnapping.

The iPolice-Hawk Eye Mobile App allows users to report crimes anonymously to the police by video, voice or text.

Continue reading NPF Inaugurates iPolice-Hawk Eye Mobile App [2017]

Digital Encode Emerge 2017 AQAA Category Winner

Digital Encode Limited has been honoured by the African Quality Achievement Awards (AQAA) 2017 as Africa’s Most Innovative Quality Cyber Security Consulting Firm of The Year 2017.

Digital Encode by merit emerged winner and was given a golden plaque and certificate bearing the seal of African Mark of Quality (ISA).

Winners of 2017 Nigeria Agriculture Awards (NAA)

The Central Committee of the Nigeria Agriculture Awards (NAA), has awarded cash prizes to winners of the Youth Project and Essay Competition at De-Renaissance Hotel, Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos.

Organised by AgroNigeria in May this year, the objective of the initiative was to crystallise the interest of young Nigerians towards agriculture for the overall development of the nation.

Continue reading Winners of 2017 Nigeria Agriculture Awards (NAA)

Ifeoma Chinenye Onuike 3.99

Ifeoma Chinenye Onuike, has clinched first class from Law faculty of Girne American University in Cyprus; graduating as the best graduating student with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.99/4.00 after acing all her courses from her first year through her fourth year.

25-year-old Ifeoma Chinenye Onuike had her early education in Infant Jesus Nursery and Primary School Kubwa, Freedom Academy Nursery and Primary school Kubwa and L.E.A. Primary School Kubwa, all in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Her secondary education was at Government Secondary School Kubwa Abuja, Government Secondary School Nakere, Nassarawa state.

Continue reading Ifeoma Chinenye Onuike 3.99

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter August 2017

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter August 2017

PDF download: PositiveNaija Newsletter August 2017

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter August 2017

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter August 2017

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter August 2017*It is important to mention that most achievements by Nigeria/Nigerians achieved abroad should not be relegated as being ‘superior’ or achieved out of a ‘privileged comfortable environment’ as most of these achievements are usually first in recognition of what has been done or attained within Nigeria and as such requiring an international/global export.

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter August 2017

Recommendations:

  1. Nigerians should be more observant towards the progress, development and excellence made in/by the country and fellow citizens.
  2. The right conditions for the vivid manifestations of these achievements and subsequent potentials are needed.
  3. Existing implementation frameworks should be critically reviewed with an indigenous approach.
  4. Strategic planning and an effective monitoring system with a focus on sustainability.
  5. Better coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)

We hope that you find these assessments useful, inspiring and educative. We will also be glad to hear from you!