Team Save-A-Soul Wins 2018 Technovation World Pitch Junior Division

Nigerian Team Save-A-Soul have won the 2018 Technovation World Pitch Junior Division.

The Nigerian girls won the Junior Division Finalists (App focus) category during the “Global Innovation Celebration” held in the San Jose Theatre, August 9, 2018.

The girls, from Regina Abachi secondary school, Onitsa, codenamed Team Save-A-Soul comprising of Promise Nnalue, Jessica Osita, Nwabuaku Ossai, Adaeze Onuigbo and Vivian Okoye, developed a mobile application called ‘FD-Detector’ to tackle the problem of fake pharmaceutical products in Nigeria with Mrs Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu, as their mentor.

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Deborah Onitilo Wins 2018 Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition

Deborah Onitilo of New Chrisfield College, Ikorodu, Lagos, has emerged overall winner of the 2018 Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School students in Nigeria.

Deborah Onitilo emerged winner after scoring 63 percent in the first round of the competition and 52 percent in the second round.

The second position went to Miss Ashley Davidson of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Ikeja, who scored 62 percent in the first round and 49 percent in the second round to emerge second.

Master Ferdinand Esigbone-Omagbemi, a student of Roshallom International Secondary School, Lagos, scored 60 percent in the first round and 47 percent in the second round to claim the third position.

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Coating+ Wins 2018 Thought For Food Challenge

Nigerian team Coating+ have emerged as the Grand Prize winners of the 2018 Thought For Food Challenge, receiving a cash prize of $10,000 USD.

Led by biochemists Albert Kure, Basheer Balogun, Lukman Abdulwahab and Suleiman Alakanse, the Coating+ team has developed a safe coating for fresh foods that extends their shelf life while also providing hard-to-access micronutrients to help tackle hidden hunger. When food is coated with their chitosan/soy protein-based product, fresh produce has been shown to retain its quality for up to three times longer in laboratory trials.

Coating+ is currently undergoing regulatory approval for their product, and are ramping up production capabilities with a leading global nutrition company.

The Thought For Food (TFF) Foundation announced the winning teams of its annual global competition, the Thought For Food Challenge, on July 27th at the TFF Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The TFF teams were evaluated based on their potential for positive social and environmental impact, as well as the scientific and business feasibility of their ideas. The panel of judges which selected the 2018 winners included Cristianne Close (WWF), Teddy Onserio (Open Society Foundation), Peleg Chevion (Blendhub), and Darío Gonzales (Cultivando Futuro).

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Solomon Tolulope Oyakhire Wins 2018 ‘So You Think You Can Write’ Competition

OVH Energy Limited has announced Solomon Tolulope Oyakhire, 23 year old first class graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos as the winner of its 2nd edition of its Prodigy Series writing competition themed So You Think You Can Write.

This is following OVH Energy’s call for entries which it announced in May 2018 in commemoration of the 2018 United Nations World Innovation and Creativity Day – an observance designed to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in problem-solving and by extension, in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also a day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the creative human mind, and encourage people to be innovative about making the world a better place to live.

It is against this backdrop that OVH Energy has tailored its writing competition (So You Think You Can Write) to encourage the art of creative writing in Nigeria, with this year’s competition focusing on how corporations can positively influence their environment through socially responsible business practices in the 21st century.

The entry of Solomon Tolulope Oyakhire came first out of the 1,024 entries received from candidates in the So You Think You Can Write contest.

All entries were graded based on originality and strength of proposed ideas; in-depth study/specific reference to the downstream oil and gas sector; grammar structure and coherence; use of English, paragraphing, spacing and punctuation; and adherence to writing terms and conditions. The results were based on the cumulative assessment scores of both internal and external judges.

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Keystone Bank Wins 2 Awards At 2018 International Banker Awards

Keystone Bank Limited emerge winner at the 2018 International Banker Awards, 2018 in two categories namely: Africa’s Best Customer Service Provider and Nigeria’s Most Innovative Retail Bank of the year, 2018.

According to Mr. Simon Hughes of the International Banker Magazine:

“We depend on nominations from our readers to locate the worthiest financial institutions around the world, the banks that are not just doing their jobs well but exceptionally well, that are in effect operating on the cutting edge of the industry and setting new levels of performance to which others in the field will aspire.

The size of the bank is not as important as the size of its impact; therefore, banks in countries from North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia and Australia, the Middle East and Africa are recognized for offering what top-of-the-line banks provide: much-needed capital for economic growth, cutting-edge innovation to improve security and efficiency, intelligent investing to maximize profits and shareholder value.

And I am happy to announce to you that Keystone Bank has demonstrated these qualities, hence, the recognition.”

Receiving the awards on behalf of the Bank at the London Stock Exchange studio, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei, said:

“This recognition speaks volumes. It validates the strong management, staff commitment to service excellence, sound business model and prudent risk management of Keystone Bank.”

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Anthony Ekwensi Crowned African Champion At 17th Chinese Bridge Chinese Language Proficiency Competition

Anthony Ekwensi has been crowned the African champion at the 17th Chinese Bridge Chinese Language Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students.

The grand finale of the competition took place on August 4 in Changsha, Hunan Province.

Russian student Ruslan was the overall winner at the event which paraded 152 students from 118 countries.

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Honorees Of Silicon Valley – Nigeria Economic Development Inc Excellence Awards [2018]

Adeyinka Ezekiel and Sowemimo Abiodun Alex have been honoured by Silicon Valley – Nigeria Economic Development Inc during its 2nd immersion program held in Lagos and Abuja.

Adeyinka Ezekiel, a software, robotics and hardware engineer received the best graduating student award with a perfect score.

According to a statement by Silicon Valley – Nigeria Economic Development Inc. (SV-NED Inc.) on Twitter:

“Congratulations to @AdeyinkaEzekie1, @SVNEDInc best graduating student with a perfect score of 100%, merit honor award of Excellence & Tech incubator by Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development Inc, 2nd immersion program.

We are so proud of you for your outstanding performance.”

Also, Chairman/CEO Cvmetric Network Company, Sowemimo Abiodun Alex received a merit honour of excellence and incubator by the Silicon Valley – Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED) for his contributions to the development of IT infrastructures in Nigeria and the world.

Sowemimo Abiodun Alex, an IT expert amongst others successful IT firms, was also honoured with a certificate of completion for the Silicon Valley – Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED), second immersion programme.

According to SV-NED, Alex deserved the honour for his vast knowledge in the technology industry and as well been a force to reckon with in the growth of IT in Nigeria and across the globe, towards boosting global economy.

Speaking on the award, Alex stated:

“It’s a privilege to be honored by Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development.

Not many people get this and being among the few people recognized in the Nigeria IT world is a great honour.

This award will be an encouragement for me to do more and to continually expand the scope of technology in Nigeria to alleviate social and corporate challenges.”

Mrs. Temitope Ajayi, the President and Founder of SV-NED, said the immersion programme with experts drawn from different parts of the world was designed to teach participants how to manage their businesses properly, reduce costs and increase their revenues.

SV-NED Inc. facilitates the creation of business opportunities designed for Silicon Valley technology companies to bring their businesses into Nigeria. SV-NED Inc. is committed to creating economic growth that would take Nigeria from a developing country to an emerging market. Designed to reduce dependency on oil explorations, and increase profitability in technology and human capital.

The mission of Silicon Valley – Nigeria Economic Development is to establish a strategic, bilateral economic relationship between Silicon Valley and Nigeria.