Author: PositiveNaija

Festus Mbisiogu Honoured With Pride of Africa 2017 Award

Festus Mbisiogu, a China-based Nigerian businessman and Chairman of Blue Diamond Logistics, China, has been hounoured with the Pride of Africa 2017 award by Appreciate Africa Network in appreciation of his contributions in the diaspora to socio-economic development.

The bestowment of the award, which recognized Africans in Asia, who added value to their home and host countries, took place at the prestigious Beijing Marriot City Wall Hotel, China.

This year’s award featured 27 categories with a total of 63 people nominated for their various contributions to human development and productivity. Also, more than 1000 nominees were selected from Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia and across the entire provinces of China through online voting.
The final selection at the eve of award night had Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, emerge as ‘Community Champion 2017’ under the Community Leadership Category.
He was also honoured as a result of the activities of his foundation, Uzotex Foundation.
A statement by the convener said:

Fatima Ademoh Wins ‘Young Energy Leader’ Award [2017]

Fatima Ademoh who is Founder & CEO, Ajima Youth Empowerment Foundation, Nigeria,  has emerged winner of ‘Young Energy Leader’ award at the ‘2017 African Utility Week Industry Awards’ that was announced at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa.

Fatima Ademoh is an energy and finance specialist and currently serves as the Project Developer in the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), funded off-grid Renewable Energy project being implemented by Ajima Farms, which over 500 residents of in Reji village of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have been connected to a 20 watt Biogas Digester Off-Grid uninterrupted power supply, and commissioned by USADF, led by its Regional Director, Tom Coogan, along with Reji Village Head, Ibrahim Kuyagwa.

She is currently on a 10 watt Biogas Digester off-grid power project at Kuwizhi village of Kuje Area Council and soon to be completed and commissioned. In this capacity, she led the preparation of funding proposal that secured US$150,000 grant in the USADF Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge.

According to Fatima Ademoh:

“I want to thank all those who have believed in my quest to extend electricity access to off-grid communities, especially in the Waste-2-Watt (W2W) Project. And for all the young people out there, let’s keep being the agents for change in our communities.”

The Outstanding Woman of the Year in Power/Water award was won by Rose Kaggwa, Director, Business and Scientific Services, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda.

According to Rose Kaggwa:

“Women must aim to be the best they can be, because at the end of the day, the best multi-tasker is a woman.

In order for us to create change, when we say ‘water for all’ and we say ‘sanitation is a right’ it cannot be done without women. So women must rise up and begin to speak.”

Meanwhile, the Lifetime achievement award was won by Helen Tarnoy, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Aldwych International Ltd, United Kingdom, an engineering company that has been involved in some of the most successful independent power projects on the African continent, including the successful construction of the Ebute Power Project in Lagos.

Yuonov Frederick Agah Reappointed WTO Deputy Director-General [2017]

Yuonov Frederick Agah has been reappointed as Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for another four-year term; resuming his second term at the WTO headquarters in Geneva on October 1 till September 30, 2021. Mr. Agah was first appointed as Deputy Director-General of WTO in 2013 for a four-year term, which he assumed on October 1 that year.

The 164-member countries’ organisation is the only global international body that deals with the rules of trade between nations to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers to conduct their business.

Mr. Agah was appointed as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the WTO in 2005.

In that capacity, he served as the Alternate Chief Negotiator for the Doha Round and Head of Nigeria’s Trade Office to the WTO in the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

The Trade Office is responsible for Nigeria’s participation in Geneva-based trade-related international organisations,, particularly the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the International Trade Centre and the WTO.

The WTO deputy chief served as Chair to WTO’s General Council in 2011.

He was responsible for organising the Eighth WTO Ministerial Conference, which was acknowledged to be successful in spite of prevailing stalemate in the Doha Round.

He also served as Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body in 2010 and the Council for Trade in Services in 2009.

He was also the chair of the Trade Policy Review Body in 2008, the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights in 2007, and the Council for Trade in Goods in 2006.

He chaired the Council for the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights – an international legal agreement between all the member nations of the – Special Session, in 2013.

Mr. Yuonov Frederick Agah had previously worked as a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State from 1979 to 1981 and Senior Features Writer/Circulation Manager, Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation from 1982 to 1984.

Marylove Edwards Ranks 4th on 2017 NTF Ranking

12-year-old Marylove Edwards, a teen Nigerian tennis star who has been playing tennis since she was four has made history as the youngest player on Nigerian Senior Ranking – the latest women singles tennis ranking released by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) being No. 4.

In the rating released by the NTF earlier in June, Marylove Edwards has 70 points. She is behind Agugbom Christy, Sarah Adegoke and Blessing Samuel.

Managed by Temple Management Company (TMC), Marylove Edwards on her position at the NTF Ranking in a statement said:

“This is a giant leap for me and I hope to use this a motivation to get to the top. The goal is to become the best. I am grateful to have a wonderful team behind me.“

She is currently preparing for an African championship holding in the next few weeks in Tunisia.

Marylove Edwards has won several titles including the Central Bank of Nigeria Open- U12 Category, the Lagos State All Secondary School event, Ikoyi Club Junior Open, NNPC Junior Open (U14), SNEPCO Junior Open, Midwestern Oil and Gas Junior Open and Gauteng North Belgrave Sportsmans Warehouse Tournament South Africa.

Akinwumi Adesina Wins 2017 World Food Prize Laureate

The President of the African Development Bank, (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has won the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate with a $250,000 prize for driving change in African agriculture for over 25 years and improving food security for millions across the continent.

According to Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize Foundation:

“Awarded by the World Food Prize Foundation, the $250,000 prize honors Nigerian Dr. Adesina for his leading role over the past two decades in: significantly expanding food production in Nigeria; introducing initiatives to exponentially increase the availability of credit for smallholder farmers across the African continent; and galvanizing the political will to transform African agriculture.

The selection of President Akinwumi Adesina as the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate reflects both his breakthrough achievements as Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria and his critical role in the development of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). It also gives further impetus to his profound vision for enhancing nutrition, uplifting smallholder farmers, and inspiring the next generation of Africans as they confront the challenges of the 21st century.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina acknowledging the Prize said: