Category: Education & Innovation

Three Nigerian undergraduate teams have won the Expression Undergraduate Debate Challenge 2017 to commemorate the 2017 International Anti-corruption Day celebrated every December 9.

The Expression Undergraduate Debate Challenge 2017 anchored by Youngsters Foundation Communication Associate with support from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and BEN TV, London held at the Banquet Hall of the NAF Event Centre, Abuja.

According to the Executive Director, Youngsters Development Initiatives, Mr. Kingsley Bangwell, the three finalists won ₦500,000, ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 respectively. He announced that the winners are from Team Quota (University of Ibadan), Team Dunamis (University of Ibadan) and Team Roar (University of Jos).

First is Team Quora – Adeyemi Idowu 500 level Law and Thanni Obafemi, 200 level Philosophy.

Second is Team Dunamis – Adesokan Adediran 300 level Law and Nwagbara Izuchukwu Temilade, 300 level Law.

Third is Team Roar – Chinedu Isagbha, 300 level Law and Henry Tabansi, 200 level Political Science.

Mr. Bangwell added that the goal of the project is to raise youth awareness, voice and action against corruption in Nigeria.

In his words:

“Raising a generation that is informed, positively engaged in nation building and projecting a great future is the responsibility of all.

We see the debate as a mutual and strategic platform to further advance these national aspirations, which also align with the spirit of patriotism.”

He said in August 2017, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and the European Union released a report stating that about 95 percent of Nigerians are willing to indulge in bribery.

According to Mr. Bangwell:

“Most alarming about the report is the aspect stating that young Nigerians aged 35 to 34 years about 36.4 per cent of the entire population have the highest prevalence of bribery in the country. It is against this backdrop that we are focusing this edition of the Expression Debate on the 2017 Anti-corruption Day.”

The project is designed to be an annual platform that leverages the culture of citizen debate to stimulate and raise youth voices and participation in contemporary national issues.

The Expression Undergraduate Debate Challenge 2017 featured 36 undergraduate teams from different tertiary institutions in Nigeria who emerged from three different auditions in November 2017.

As part of the post-debate activities, the winners conduct step down debate in secondary schools in their communities, as well as promote the ‘I Choose Integrity’ campaign among young citizens.

Redeemer’s University (RUN), Ede, Osun State, has emerged the overall winner of the maiden edition of the industrial gold award (level three, category A) of the National Quality Awards organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO-NQIP) in collaboration with European Union and other international development partners.

Chief Technical Advisor, UNIDO, National Quality Infrastructure Project (NQIP), Dr. Shaukar Malik Hussain, announced the RUN as the winner of the strategic category.

Friends of Redeemer’s University (RUN) including representatives of the National Universities Commission (NUC), celebrated with the institution for being the only university that made it to the podium.

Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, who received the award on behalf of the school, said the feat has justified the university’s huge investment in e-administration, sound quality assurance and state-of-the-art equipment enabling the university to have the competitive edge.

He said that the university had structured its internal processes and systems in line with international best practices and that it was heartwarming that the university was able to outperform other contestants.

He dedicated the award to the “Great Redeemer of Redeemer’s University” for the enabling grace and also the institution’s internal stakeholders for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the university.

The vice-chancellor further noted that excellence is not just an idea but has become the overall philosophy and the culture of members of staff in carrying out their assignments.

Furthermore, Prof. Debo Adeyewa stated on the 2017 UNIDO-NQIP award:

“The university emerged through a rigorous quality management audit system based on globally acclaimed best practices in line with International Standard Organization’s criteria.

For organisations to compete at the level three, category A, in which RUN emerged as winner they must have implemented a quality approach and conducted an internal quality management system audit and also have a large staff strength that exceeds 100 employees.

Such organisations went through several rigorous rounds of assessments based on a set of criteria derived from the standards issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation.”

Peter Ayeni has developed Mbele App, which increases access to quality education using technology and creating a fun learning environment in Nigeria.

According to Peter Ayeni:

“Mbele is a social enterprise in Nigeria that uses technology innovation to provide access to quality and fun learning environment for all’’.

Three startups have emerged winners of the 2017 GenesysIGNITE innovation prize organised by Genesys Tech Hub in collaboration with CFAtech.ng.

The GenesysIGNITE innovation prize, is a South Eastern [Nigeria] startup convergence with a $10,000 cash prize reward for each of the startups.

Presenting the (mock) cheques to the winners, the Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu stated:

“Nigerian processes were not designed to turn research findings to commercial products; we are working seriously to address this.

Any nation that produces science and technology experts is always the toast of the world. [GenesysIGNITE] is doing what the Government has in mind with regards youths development- capacity building, incubation, venture capitals, and other supports.”

Winners Of 2017 GenesysIGNITE Innovation Prize

1. Tutor Finder NG

Tutor Finder NG, home tutors in South East Nigeria with reach in Owerri, Awka, Enugu and Aba and over 54 professional tutors.  

Tutor Finder NG provide learners with the advantage of quality, experienced and innovative teachings that make them become the finished articles, far beyond the limitation of class room learning.

Tutor Finder provide support to classroom instruction and assignments and go back and deal with building blocks that were missed.

One-to-one tutoring helps students build confidence, and get individualized support and better grades.

2. PlayJoor

PlayJoor is a platform for real time multiplayer games. The developers make it possible for players to earn while competing against other players at a game they are skilled at.

The startups founders believe that people should enjoy games they are skilled at and to cap it up, earn while playing the games.

3. House of Uwe (cloth)  

Uwe.ng is an e-commerce shop selling made-to-order African apparels proudly designed in Africa by very experienced African designers.

House of Uwe provides a solution to the need of the fashion market by allowing shoppers order a custom made, individually tailored piece they truly love.

Obaseki John Folorunsho Eseiwi has emerged the best graduating student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) with a Cummulative Grade Point of 4.96.

He also gave the valedictory speech at the convocation ceremony which held on 24th of  November, 2017, the convocation had in attendance the university’s chancellor, HRM Emir Muhammadu Sanusi Lamido II, Emir of Kano.

Obaseki John Folorunsho Eseiwi graduated from the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences. He surpassed slightly Tochukwu Okafor of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering with a CGPA of 4.95.

Awards won by Tochukwu Okafor include:
‎

• Best Graduating Student, University of Benin.
• Dean’s Prize to the Best Graduating Student in academic performance, Faculty of Engineering.‎
• Department Prize to the Best Graduating Student, Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering.
• Nigerian Society of Engineers Prize to the Best Overall Graduating Student in the Faculty of Engineering.
• Arch. Aminu Abubakar Prize to the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering.
• Nicholas and Victoria Osifo Memorial Scholarship to the Best Graduating Student in Engineering.

Viola-Nuela Echebima, who graduated from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in 2016 with a First Class and the best graduating student, also made First Class at the Nigerian Law School (NLS).

Apart from Viola-Nuela Echebima, 28 out of the 4,294 candidate’s called to the Nigerian Bar on the 12th of December 2017, bagged First Class after the August 2017 bar examinations.

Peace Eze, a geology major with a 3.82 GPA, has emerged the University of Louisiana (UL) 2017 Outstanding Graduate.

Peace Eze received her award during ceremonies held at the UL Lafayette Alumni Center.

Peace Eze was nominated by the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. She joined seven other Outstanding Graduate nominees, including: Lauren Lawson, College of the Arts; Andrew Albritton, B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; Julia Ross, College of Engineering; Brandy K. Milliman, College of Education; Ashley Bernard, College of Liberal Arts; Patrick Williamson, College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions; and Sarah Martin, University College.

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