Vote Now: 2017 PositiveNaija Essay Competition

2017 PositiveNaija Essay Competition Voting Proceedings

Essay Topic: How Great Is Nigeria!

Objective: Informing the world of what genuinely makes Nigeria a great country today and one to be proud of.

Vote the Essay that best represents 'How Great Is Nigeria!'

  • Olawale Lekan Christopher (67%, 1,116 Votes)
  • Udeme Akpan (27%, 455 Votes)
  • Kenneth Okpomo (5%, 91 Votes)

Total Voters: 1,662

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*Anyone can vote | You can vote multiple times | *Poll logging method is by cookies |Voting period: 22-09-2017 – 28-09-2017 (11:59 pm) [GMT +1]

Profiles and Essays of the Top 3 Essay Contestants
              Olawale Lekan Christopher

“The Nigerian Spirit is borne out of a healthy blend of tenacity, hard work, intelligence, talent and humour.”

My Essay: How Great Is Nigeria! 2017 OLC

Olawale Lekan ChristopherI am a graduate of English Language from the University of Ilorin. While I am politically non-partisan, I am nonetheless a patriot; I love and believe in Nigeria. So, as soon as I saw the title of this year essay contest (How Great is Nigeria!), I knew it was a perfect chance for me to consummate my passion for writing with my love for my country.

My hobbies are reading and writing. I believe in hard work, karma, love and God.  My greatest aspiration, as trivial as it may seem, is to be a Gentleman: well-bred, well-cultured, learned and rational.

 

                     Udeme Akpan

“Nigeria’s greatness is beautifully reflected from the dark shadows of the past, gently radiates through the battles of the present and shines for the hope of the future.”

My Essay: How Great Is Nigeria! 2017 UA

Udeme AkpanI possess a first degree in Petroleum Engineering from University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State. I am melancholic in temperament. I enjoy creative writing, playing lawn tennis, travelling, researching and cooking.

My philosophy of life is: Everyman has his/her weakness; use your strength (positive) to overcome your weaknesses.

 

                    Kenneth Okpomo

“Nowhere else is the greatness of Nigeria more pronounced and accentuated than in human capital.”

My Essay: How Great Is Nigeria! 2017 KO

Kenneth OkpomoI am a graduate of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) with a degree in Sociology & Anthropology. I am currently enrolled for the M.Sc program in Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at the National Open University of Nigeria. My research interests are in the areas of democracy and good governance, rural and urban development, poverty alleviation and economic empowerment, race and ethnic relations, among others. I have an immutable faith in the Nigeria and in her potentials and as a patriot, I will continue to project Nigerian values and cultures in positive light both at home and abroad.

 

For sponsorship details, kindly visit the Competition Page

Digital Encode Wins 2017 RIMAN Risk Management Leadership in Nigeria Award

Digital Encode Limited has been awarded the 2017 Risk Management Leadership in Nigeria Award by Risk Managers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN).

The Award was presented to Mr. Obadare Peter Adewale, the Co-Founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Digital Encode Limited.

Continue reading Digital Encode Wins 2017 RIMAN Risk Management Leadership in Nigeria Award

Ahmed Bature Emerge NDA Best Graduating Cadet [64 Regular Course Set]

Ahmed Bature [NDA/9525/Cdt] has graduated as the best cadet from the 64 Regular Course set of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

A graduate of the computer science cadet, Ahmed Bature graduated with honours and received many awards from the academy. Ahmed Bature was specially recognized for his spectacular achievement during the recently concluded Passing Out Parade at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna state.

The B.Sc (Hons) Computer Science graduate was awarded the Sword of Honour and the Indian Shield as the best graduating student.

Winners of the 2017 #WritingGamesNG Essay Writing Competition

Winners have emerged in the #WritingGamesNG 2017 essay writing competition organised by Goal.com and the University of Sussex.

The competition, which is in its second year, is an avenue for young Nigerians to express their passion for football through critical writing. Leading up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the title of this year’s competition is: “Making Nigerian football attractive in a digital age”. The aim is to explore ideas on how to improve the quality of domestic football both on and off the field using modern technology as well as winning with social media.

Full List of Winners (out of a total of 640 entries received nationwide)

CATEGORY 1 – NYSC/FINAL YEAR UNDERGRADUATES
NAMES SCORE PLACEMENT
ADEPOJU ADEMOLA  75.5% WINNER
EZEUDUJI OLUCHI ONYINYECHI 72.5% SECOND PLACE
ADEKUNLE FISAYO ADEBAJO 72% THIRD PLACE
AWA JOY CHIDINMA 69% FINALIST
OLUTOBI SOGE 67.5% FINALIST
ADEBISI SAMUEL 66.5% FINALIST
OLAWOLE OLAYINKA 65.5% FINALIST
JONATHAN PRAISE IKECHUKWU 65% FINALIST
OGUNADE BENJAMIN 62% FINALIST
AIKI DAMILOLA 59.5% FINALIST

 

CATEGORY 2 – SS3/SIXTH FORM COLLEGES
NAMES SCORES  PLACEMENT
EMMANUELLA CHISOM JAMES 71% WINNER
CHIWIKE CHIBUZOR MARGARET 67%   SECOND PLACE
OKAFOR OLIVIA AMARACHI  66% THIRD PLACE
EMMANUEL ESOMNOFU 64% FINALIST
AZUBUIKE CHIDERA ESTHER 62.5% FINALIST
ABDULRAZAQ ABDULBASIT 61.5% FINALIST
ABRAHAM EBENEZER EHINOME 61% FINALIST
MIRACLE ELVIS 59% FINALIST
ALAIYE OLUWASEYE ELIZABETH 52% FINALIST

Adepoju Ademola won ₦100,000 and a £500 #WritingGamesNG bursary for the University of Sussex MA in Creative and Critical Writing (2018 entry) while Emmanuella Chisom James receives ₦75,000.

Ezeuduji Oluchi Onyinyechi placed second and Adekunle Fisayo Adebajo finished in third place in Category 1 and while Chiwike Chibuzor Margaret was second and Okafor Olivia Amarachi was third in Category 2. They have won ₦50,000 and ₦25,000 respectively.

The #WritingGamesNG 2017 was supported by the Study Group, CampsBay Media, a sports communication company, NYSC and Writivism.

Veripay Emerge Highest Transacting Aggregator on the Interswitch Disbursement Network [2017]

Veripay has been awarded by Interswitch as the highest transacting aggregator on the Interswitch disbursement network.
Veripay, Nigeria’s first ever web-based HR and payroll management solution from Appmart Group, is currently deployed in more than 10 states of the federation and used by several companies and institutions to manage their Human Resource. The software is available to any organization that wishes to use it for free.
The Highest Transacting Aggregator Award from Interswitch was presented to Mr. Mako Sylvester, Chief Executive Officer, Appmart Group and Mr. Anthony Umejiofor, Chief Technology Officer, Appmart group, at the Interswitch Connect Award/Gala night, which held on Friday, September 15, 2017, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
On receiving the Award, CEO Appmart Group, Mako Sylvester said:
“It is indeed a great honour to receive this award today from Interswitch. We have put in a lot of work in the creation of Veripay as a solution to a valid problem in Nigeria’s HR and Payroll Management system. At AppMart we are innovating and driving evolution because we believe that software should be accessible and affordable to align with the genuine needs of individuals, corporate entities and society at large.”
AppMart is a software development company headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria that helps organizations from start-ups to large enterprises, Government institutions etc. to accelerate growth and innovation, transform operational efficiency, and deliver new software products to serve human needs. The solution was integrated with the Interswitch Payment Gateway in early 2016 and has since then seamlessly optimized the HR/payment system of organizations on the network.

Air Peace also emerged the winner of Interswitch’s ‘Payment Innovation Driver, Aviation’ award.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) won the prize for the Fastest Growing Bank Partner given to the bank with the most impressive performance in Verve card issuance and the Payment Innovation Driver for Trade Finance.

MMIA Lagos Receives ICAO Certification [2017]

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) has finally been certified in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and best practices.

In the last 12 months, the Federal Government, desirous of getting the Lagos international airport to operate under an ICAO certification, had taken various measures to prepare it to scale the rigorous ICAO audit, some of which included investment in the upgrade of infrastructure, elimination of touting, ensuring stable power supply and cooling systems, clean toilets and other allied conveniences, and the dismantling of multiple checkpoints for passengers and baggage by Customs, Quarantine, NDLEA and FAAN airport security officials.

ICAO had earlier in the year sent a team of auditors to visit the country, go round the airport prior to granting the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) the approval to audit the Lagos airport in line with its standards as well as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).

Director General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, who presented the audit certificate with number NCAA/ARD/AC/001 to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunoma, in Lagos yesterday, said the certificate is valid for three years unless cancelled, suspended or revoked. According to Capt. Usman:

“With the certification, FAAN is the certified Aerodrome operator for the provision of required airport services, facilities, systems and equipment at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, in line with International Standards And Recommended Practices.

The certification is a clear indication that the Lagos airport has met regulatory safety requirements on a continuous basis and that it is providing uniform conditions for safe and efficient operation of aircraft from all other states, as required by Article 15 of the Chicago Convention and the certification is an enabler for the attainment of a regional hub for Lagos and one of the critical safety targets of NCAA.”

He further explained that the certificate entitles the holder (FAAN) to operate the MMIA Lagos airport for the purpose of take-off and landing of aircraft engaged in flight for scheduled and non-scheduled commercial operations.

He, however, pointed out that the certificate has the following limitations – ARFFS: CAT 9, Day/Night Operations. IFR CAT of Operations: CAT 11. 

The NCAA boss advised the FAAN management to see the certification as a fresh challenge with which comes the capacity and striving to ensure sustenance of the certificate.

The NCAA boss concluded by revealing that the certification of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, is in its final stage. The Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna, will be certified by July 2018. 

Lagos State Opens First DNA Forensic Lab in Nigeria [2017]

The Lagos State Government has completed the construction of the first ever high-powered Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Forensic Laboratory in Nigeria. This has been announced by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem.

The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had last year approved the construction of the DNA forensic lab as part of the criminal justice sector reforms designed to solve crime through technology and fulfill an unmet need for DNA profiling which is a unique forensic technique that is now being used all over the world.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja to announce activities lined up by the State Government to commemorate the 2017 United Nations International Day of Peace, Mr. Kazeem said skeletal work had already commenced in the lab known as the Lagos State DNA Forensics Centre (LSDFC), and that it would be formerly commissioned in coming weeks.
Kazeem, who was represented at the briefing by the State’s Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Funlola Odunlami said the lab, among other initiatives of the State Government, was part of efforts geared toward enhancing peace in the State.
“The DNA forensic centre just opened this month. We are yet to commission it but it has been opened and it is a DNA crime forensic lab and at the same time, it is going to deal with other DNA matters like paternity issue. What we are doing now is skeletal work which we started this month.”
Since 2007, the State Government through the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC), an agency under the Ministry of Justice, commenced collaborations with the United Nations Information Office to mark the International Day of Peace as an annual event to propagate the ethos of peaceful co-existence among residents in the State, thereby educating and sensitizing the public on the need for peaceful co-existence and respect for human dignity to engender socio-economic growth.
According to Mr. Adeniji Kazeem [represented] on activities to mark the 2017 edition of the day tagged Together For Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity For All:
“The Lagos State Government recognizes the fact that the State is the commercial nerve centre of the sub-Saharan Africa where all races converge for various purposes such as business, hospitality, tourism among others, and has put in place mechanisms that will foster development and promote economic activities in the State by instituting agencies that will attend to matters relating to Land Grabbers, Special Task Force, donation of police vehicles for security, introduction of DNA Forensic laboratory to archive blood samples of criminals, among others.
All these actions are geared toward enhancing peace in Lagos State.”
Furthermore, Mr. Kazeem said on September 18, there would be a Walk for Peace/Legal Clinic on Ikorodu Road precisely from Funsho Williams Avenue through Ojuelegba to Yaba, while on September 19, a second Walk for Peace/Legal Clinic will hold at Jubilee Under-bridge in Ajah through Ibeju Lekki Expressway and back to the bridge. On the same day, Mr. Kazeem said the CMC will hold a Legal Clinic at both venues where free legal services and mediation services will be rendered to residents of the State, while on September 21, the 18th Stakeholders’ Conference and Book Launch will hold at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa to mark the day.