Author: Aishat Ibrahim

Bamidele Adetayo and Suleiman Nadabo develop Entertale

Bamidele Adetayo and Suleiman Nadabo, have developed a free TV, movie streaming web app, Entertale to give TV audience in Africa and the world quality experiences.

According to Mr. Bamidele Adetayo:

“It allows users to watch multiple live TV stations for free. The story of Entertale begins due to lack for African valued TV contents to enable people connect with what are happenings and watch movies and TV shows with friends they are already connected with. The App which is set for launch later in the month does not require monthly subscription, and the live channels would comprise international and African TV stations.”

Also speaking, the co-founder, Mr. Suleiman Nadabo said that in the app is a feature called “Co-Play’’, which give users the options to watch movies they rented with friends irrespective of location.

In his statements:

“Using the App is like watching television in an alternate reality where you do not recognise any of the shows, while evolving a new space that has been lacking in the African entertainment industry. “Cord cutting” might be getting another kin but this time it is driven with a social experience – a free service that mimic the cable box with Internet channels instead of traditional ones and cinematic experience. The app is still in its web versions where much of the content comes from YouTube; in its movie model cases, Entertale also makes direct content deals with big independent studios to access their latest library.”

Mr. Nadabo stressed that the web service, which solely focused on TV, allow users to also rent movies that they were only interested to watch. He said that users would also get notifications on what their friends were watching, follow and chat with them.

GTBank Wins Double Honours At Euromoney Awards [2017]

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) has been awarded Nigeria’s Best Bank & Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs during the 2017 Euromoney Awards held in London.

According to Mr. Clive Horwood, Euromoney Magazine’s Editor:

“Nigeria went through a difficult year as low oil prices and capital flight continued to hurt the country’s economy. Many banks struggled as a result of this but GTBank remained strong, recording significant and enviable financial and non-financial performance. The bank’s digital transformation drive has been very successful, as it has enabled the bank to deepen financial inclusion across Africa with its array of tailor-made digital solutions that has made banking simpler and more accessible.”

On the award, Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said:

“We are honoured to win the Best Bank in Nigeria award a record eight times and to be recognised as Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs. These awards reflect our progress in building strong, value-adding relationships with our customers whilst positioning the bank as the financial institution for Small and Medium Enterprises through our creation of free business platforms that are geared towards promoting enterprise in key economic sectors.We remain committed to maximising shareholders’ value and delivering superior and sustainable return, guided by our founding values of hardwork, discipline and integrity. GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best-run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation.”

Now in its 26th year, the Euromoney Awards for Excellence covers more than 20 global product categories, best-in-class awards and the best banks in over 100 countries around the world by recognising institutions that have demonstrated leadership, innovation and momentum in the markets they operate.

In selecting its recipients, Euromoney combines quantitative and qualitative data to honour institutions that have brought the highest levels of service, innovation and expertise to their customers.

Samiat Owo-Alade Emerges Rajiv Ghandi’s Best Graduating Student [2016/17]

Samiat Owo-Alade, has emerged the best-graduating pharmacy student with the highest score of 75.5 per cent at the Rajiv Ghandi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, India [2016/2017].

According to her:

“I waited for two years despite having my West African Examinations Council, National Examination Council and the General Certificate of Education results. I was so ashamed of myself after some of my mates had gained admission. Sometimes, I asked myself, ‘Why me?’ I tried all I could just to pass the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. I attended coaching classes, even when I knew I shouldn’t have been there. At a point, I had to learn a trade. It was a trying period for me as a young girl, yet I relied on God. Two years later, my prayer was answered. I gained admission to study in a university in India.

I intend to have an industry, with a standard research and development centre that will involve animals and human volunteers. I realise that Nigerians lack continuous research. Our government does not encourage research.”

Winners Of The 2017 PIN Poetry Competition

Poets in Nigeria (PIN) have announced the prize-winners for the 2017 edition of Nigerian Students PIN poetry Competition, which opened since February this year, and which received about 725 poems from students drawn from over 100 tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad.

Winners of the 2017 Poets in Nigeria (PIN) Competition

1st Prize

Bakre Fadil Adedamola, a 400-level student of Philosophy at the University of Ibadan, clinched the first prize with his poem ‘Mixed History’.

2nd Prize

Ajah Henry Ekene, a medical student of University of Benin, won second position with his poem ‘Song of Freedom’.

3rd Prize

Bona O. Solomon, a student of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, took the third prize with her poem ‘Beach Chronicles’.

The winners get 200,000 Naira and an exclusive feature in the seventh issue of PIN Quarterly Journal and NSPP’s anthology of top 100 poems to be released later in the year.
Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, chair of the judging panel appraised the winning poems. In his  statements: “I have chosen the winning poem ‘Mixed History’ and the two runners-up ‘Song of Freedoms and ‘Beach Chronicles’ not just because of the content, but more importantly, because they are virtually error-free and make judicious use of imagery, especially as seen in the skillful use of symbols and metaphors. They are charming poems in every sense of the word and explore serious themes and interesting ideas.”

Olumide Akinyemi Emerges Vassa’s Best Graduating Student [2016/17]

Olumide Akinyemi has emerged the best graduating student from Vassa University in Finland obtaining a Master of Science degree (M.Sc) in Economics and Business Administration (Strategic Business Development) – First class with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.92 / 5.0 and a Thesis of 5.0 / 5.0.

Olumide Akinyemi also received the highly competitive Aktia Foundation scholarship for his excellent academic performance.

Winners of the 2017 Little Writers Awards

The 2017 Little Writers Awards organised by ALFA Reading Society for Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos, promotes reading culture among the youth and the attainment of sustainable educational development across Africa.

The star prize for the senior secondary school of 100,000 Naira, plus a carton of Cheri Noodle, Blue Boat powder milk went to Miss Okonkwo Chidinma from Okesuna Senior High School, Lagos Island, while the second and third positions went to Miss Alfred Ini-Obong of Ajeromi Ifelodun Senior High School and Miss Anani Peace Faustina of Magbon-Alade Senior Grammar School respectively.

In the junior category, Ibiyemi Wuraola Hafsat of Magbon-Alade Junior Grammar School came first, while Bejide Tunmise of Magbon-Alade Junior Grammar School and Eze Mary-Ann of Ajeromi Ifelodun High School came second and third respectively.

In the teacher category, Ajani Sunday Oluyemi of Girls’ Junior Academy, Lagos Island, came first, while Onaneye Salewa of Lafiaji Senior High School, Lagos Island, and Mr. Martins Odiagbe of Magbon-Alade Senior Grammar School came second and third in that order.

Apart from cash rewards, all winners went home with cartons of Cheri Noodle, Blue Boat powder milk, from Olam International, and a school bag from ACCION Microfinance Bank. A total of 14 schools attended the award ceremony.

Adebimpe Daniells Emerges Rutgers’ Best Graduating Student [2016/17]

Adebimpe Daniells tops the 2017 Graduating set of Rutgers University-Newark USA with a First Class in Information System further emerging as the overall best student in the 2017 graduating set at the New Jersey University.

Also chosen as the valedictorian, Adebimpe Daniells gave a speech on behalf of her set during the convocation.

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