Month: April 2017

Beacon of ICT Awards 2016

The Beacon of ICT awards recognises organisation and individual contribution to the development of ICT in Nigeria, is an annual event organised by Nigeria’s Communications Week, the country’s leading and respected information and communication technology news medium.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) won the “Regulator of the Year” award for the contributions of Information and Communication Technology to the economy.

Simach Technologies emerged the “Best Indigenous Software Company of the Year”.

Inlaks Computers won “ICT Company of the Year”.

Cornerstone Insurance got the “Best Use of Technology Insurance Company of the Year”.
VDT Communications was awarded the Broadband Company of the Year.

Spectranet as the Best 4G LTE Provider of the Year.

Rack Centre as the ICT Infrastructure Provider of the Year.

The Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year went to Vodacom Business.

Priority Communications got IT Services Provider of the Year.

Tradeways Limited was awarded the Most Innovative Courier Operator of the Year.
The Managing Director of Sidmach Technologies, Peter Arogundade was the “Man of the Year”.

Biodun Omoniyi, MD of VDT Communications Limited, got the ICT Personality of the Year award.
The ICT Entrepreneur of the Year award went to the MD of Inlaks, Femi Adeoti.

Chairman of CNSSL Group, Gbenga Adebayo, was given the Life Time Achievement Award.

Otobong Nkanga Wins Belgian Art Prize 2017

Nigerian artist Otobong Nkanga received the Belgian Art Prize 2017, the oldest contemporary art award in Belgium. The prize is accompanied by a reward of 25,000 euros.

Otobong Nkanga, 42, is a visual artist and performer who handles drawing, photography, installation and video. It focuses on the interconnection between environment, architecture and history. Political themes that are explored with poetry, between narratives and memories. For the Belgian Art Prize, she presents a sculpture and three textile works that intertwine awakened dreams and visions of the world.

The exhibition Belgian Art Prize is visible until 28 May [2017] at the Palais des Beaux-Arts.

The Nigerian fine artist, Otobong Nkanga, in 2015 emerged the first African to win the Yanghyun Foundation Artist Award in Seoul, Korea. She was selected for her outstanding creativity in media and motivational photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, installation and video.

ICAO Global Aviation Training Award 2016

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria has won the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Global Aviation Training (GAT) award 2016.

According to Abdussalami Mohammed, the Rector of NCAT;

“ICAO had identified NCAT as the training institute with the highest number of trained instructors in addition to highest number of ICAO courses.

This recognition puts the Nigerian Aviation Industry on the driving seat of global efforts at ensuring availability of well-trained aviation professionals to effectively establish more efficiency and safety in the industry.

In view of this recognition, GAT office gave NCAT more training allocations to conduct additional courses, which include Government Safety Inspector Airworthiness, Air Operator, and Approved Maintenance Organisation Certification, Government Safety Inspector Operations, Air Operator Certification Course, Government Safety Inspector Personnel Licensing Course and Dangerous Goods Part 1.”

Technology and Innovation Expo 2017, Nigeria

Winners of the maiden edition of Technology and Innovation Expo 2017, Nigeria.

Tertiary institutions category

First: University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka

Second: Kastina Polytechnic

Third: Covenant university

Research institutions category

First: Nigeria Air Force‎ (NAF) – Air craft management technology, engine compression, washing machine;

Second: Nigeria Building and Research Institute (NIBRI), Abuja, for constructing a moveable house

Third: Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) for producing a break pad for vehicles.

First position in each category Naira 1 million, second position Naira 750,000 and third Naira 500,000; while first position in JETS category was given Naira 300,000 second position want home with Naira 200,000 and third Naira 100,000.

Lagos State Arts and Culture Board Inaugurated [2017]

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has inaugurated a Board of Arts & Culture with distinguished members of the Lagos State Arts and Culture Board [2017] inducted by the Governor Of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, as follows:

Arts enthusiast, Mrs. Polly Alakija as Chairman

Veteran thespian, Mrs. Joke Silva

Award winning actor, Kunle Afolayan

Visual artist, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo

Foremost artist & designer, Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye

Mobee of Badagry, High Chief Patrick Yodenu Mobee

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Adeyemi

Director of Culture at the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Saidat Otulana

The Lagos State Arts and Culture Board seeks to fulfill the following responsibilities:

  1. To explore private sector support to nurture new talents and generate events for a sustainable development of the creative arts sector in the State.
  2. To drive tourism, create employment & increase the contribution of the non-oil sector to the State’s gross domestic product.
  3. To ensure the sustainable management of arts and culture facilities and infrastructures in the State.

2017 One Maryland, One Book Winner

Purple Hibiscus by award-winning Nigerian author and MacArthur Genius Award recipient Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been selected winner of the 2017 One Maryland One Book.

The novel was chosen by a committee of librarians, educators, authors, and bibliophiles in February [2017] from more than 120 titles suggested last fall by readers across the state under the theme, “Home and Belonging.”

Purple Hibiscus is an exquisite novel about the emotional turmoil of adolescence, the powerful bonds of family, and the bright promise of freedom.