PositiveNaija

4 Nigerian Students Emerge Winners Of US Conrad Spirit Of Innovation Challenge [2018]

Four students of Whitesands School, Lekki (William Afolabi {Team Leader}, Mordi Menashi, Famobiwo Olubusuyi and Ugbo Osagumwenro) – Team Neon who represented Nigeria and Africa at the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge have emerged the 2018 Power Pitch winner of the Smoke-Free World category of the competition at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida, USA.

The Smoke-Free category challenged students who are presently in JSS2 to develop a marketable and innovative idea that can help in reducing smoking and at the same time provide an economic solution to challenges facing tobacco farmers in developing countries.

Thus, the students with the supervision of their coach, Mr. Matthew Omostosho developed an app they called Virtual Farm, which they presented at the final of the science competition. They were the only representatives from Nigeria and Africa in the finals and they have reportedly received Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Good Citizen award among other prizes.

The US Conrad Spirit Of Innovation Challenge is an international innovation competition comprised of five categories: Aerospace Aviation, Cyber Technology and Security, Energy and Environment, Health and Nutrition, and Smoke-Free World.

Participants are expected to develop a marketable and innovative idea that can solve a real-world problem by using Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) principles.

This annual competition challenges teams to use science, technology, engineering and math innovation, as well as entrepreneurship, to create a more sustainable world for today and the future generations.

The global decline of smoking have many positive health impacts, but also brought negative economic consequences to tobacco farmers, many of whom are in developing nations. Students were invited to design 21st Century solutions to farmlands currently used for tobacco production, especially in African countries.

Established in 2008, the Conrad Foundation honours the legacy of Apollo 12 astronaut, Charles “Pete” Conrad, and his four-decade passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Divine Oduduru 10.10

Divine Oduduru on the 21st of April 2018, broke the Texas Tech 14-year 100 meters record at the Michael Johnson Invitational in the United States of America.

Oduduru achieved the feat by running a personal best time of 10.10 seconds to emerge winner in the 100 meters invitational event.

The time of 10.10s by Oduduru bettered the previous recorded at the event held by Tyree Gailes when he ran a time of 10.11 at the 2004 Outdoor National Championships.

Oduduru who represented Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games is on scholarship in the United States of America.

Speaking after the achievement, head coach Wes Kittley stated that was the best he has seen of Oduduru since he arrived the campus.

Wes Kittley stated:

“I am really proud of Divine and how he set his race up.

I think he had the best start I have seen out of him since he arrived on campus. It was great to see him get a wind-legal 100-meter mark!”

After his achievement in the 100m Divine Oduduru also finished second in the 4x400m relay event.

The Nigerian and his teammates CJ Jones, Sean Hooper and Vincent Crisp finished second with a time of 3:02.82 a time which is fifth in the school’s history.

Oduduru had earlier in the year run a new indoor Personal Best (PB) of 20.49s to win the 200m at the Texas Tech Track & Field Red Raider Invitational.

Winners Of 2018 Lagos Chamber Of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Awards

Winners have emerged in the 2018 Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Awards held at Oriental Hotel, Lekki Express Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The objective of the Annual Commerce and Industry Award is to recognize, promote and celebrate private and public institutions operating in Nigeria for best business sustainability and positive impact on the people/society.

Metrics for Selecting Awardees

Positive Impact on the Society: Affecting society broadly, challenging the status quo, redefining life style, creating wealth and vitality and giving people increased confidence.
Best Practices: Compliance with set standards, regulations, level of disclosure, corporate governance.
Growth Through Innovation: Enhanced product and services through innovation for increased value and facilitate limitless possibilities.
Service Excellence and Customers/Clients Delight.
Business Sustainability and creation of positive legacies

Winners of the 2018 Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Awards

Best Business Television – CNBC Africa
CSR in Education – Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)
Best Company in Local Content on ICT – Rack Centre
Best Business Newspaper – BusinessDay
Brand of the Year – Chivita Active Fruit Nectar

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is the first (since 1888) and the largest Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria with membership strength of over 2,000 institutions spread across all sectors/sub-sectors of the economy. As part of its core mandate of trade promotion and business/policy advocacy, the Chamber organizes deserving corporate organizations, public institutions and individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of commerce & industry on an annual basis.

Theresa Lola Emerge 2018 Brunel International African Poetry Prize Joint Winner

Theresa Lola, has been named joint winner of the 2018 Brunel International African Poetry Prize and awarded one of the three top prizes of £1,000. She shared the joint prize with Hiwot Adilow from Ethiopia, and Momtaza Mehri from Somalia.

She emerged winner out of over 1,000 other international entrants.

According to Theresa Lola:

“Winning the Brunel International African Poetry Prize feels surreal, it is an unwavering highlight.

I started writing after being inspired by Nigerian poets I saw during a school trip to the Lagos Poetry Festival when I was 12 years old, so to win the Brunel International African Poetry Prize feels like I am doing my job and responsibility as a poet and human in putting Africa forward where it rightly belongs.

Going through the awkward teenage reclusive phase, I wanted to document everything I was observing and started writing what I now knew as poetry.

I was inspired by the way poets articulated and condensed heavy stories and knew poetry was the mode of writing I needed.

As a poet it has definitely bolstered my confidence, and of course sheds more light on the possibility of a poetry career.”

Launched in 2012 by Brunel University London and judged by a panel of writers and academics, the Brunel International African Poetry Prize aims at providing a platform for Africa’s finest unpublished poets.

The Prize is open to poets who were born in Africa, who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African.

To encourage only serious entrants, organisers ask that poets each submit a pamphlet of their best 10 pieces of work.

Unlike last year’s shortlist that had four Nigerians on it, the 2018 shortlist has more poets from different African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, Zambia and two poets from Nigeria.

The Prize is funded by the Commonwealth Writers of the Commonwealth Foundation.

Last year’s winner was Nigerian poet, Romeo Oriogun.

Wilfred Ndidi Wins Leicester City Young Player Award [2018]

Wilfred Ndidi has emerged as the winner of the Leicester City Young Player Award.

It is the second time in a row that the midfielder wins this award having also done same in his maiden season with the Foxes after completing a switch from Belgian club, Genk.

Wilfred Ndidi was also nominated for the Players’ Player of the Season alongside Harry Maguire and James Vardy with Maguire winning the award.

For the Player of The Season award, which Ndidi was also nominated for, it was also won by Harry Maguire.

Wilfred Ndidi, 21, currently tops both his Club’s and the Premier League’s overall tackling charts, making a brilliant 138 interventions to date.

The Super Eagles midlfielder signed for Leicester City from Belgian outfit KRC Genk in January 2017 and has since established himself as a crucial member of the Foxes squad.

He is regarded as a dependable enforcer for the Foxes. He also plays the same role with the Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles, who are getting set for the World Cup.

PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter April 2018

PDF download: PositiveNaija Newsletter April 2018

Notably, we have sought out to deduce the geographic locations (within Nigeria or abroad), which the positive/success news/updates recorded are being achieved. In other words, our aim is to be able to tell objectively, how conducive/enduring the environments are to what Nigeria/Nigerians are achieving. To do this, we determined the locations on the basis of where exactly the achievement, progress, success, etc. was done or achieved as well as will be done or achieved and not based on where an award/recognition was or is presented.

It is important to mention that most achievements by Nigeria/Nigerians achieved abroad should not be relegated as being ‘superior’ or achieved out of a ‘privileged comfortable environment’ as most of these achievements are usually first in recognition of what has been done or attained within Nigeria and as such requiring an international/global export.

Recommendations from the PositiveNaija Monthly Newsletter April 2018:

Urgent efforts are needed in the areas of security and rule of law; leadership and diplomacy; and energy and power.
Nigerians should be more observant towards the progress, development and excellence made in/by the country and fellow citizens.
The right conditions (hinged on truth) for the vivid manifestations of these achievements and subsequent potentials are needed.
Existing implementation frameworks should be critically reviewed with an indigenous approach.
Strategic planning and an effective monitoring system with a focus on sustainability.
Better coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

We hope that you find these assessments useful, inspiring and educative. We will also be glad to hear from you!

Chikwe Udensi Wins Best Interpol Systems Innovator Award [2018]

Chikwe Udensi receives a Gold medal award by the International Criminal Police Organisation as the best Interpol Systems Innovator in the world, topping the United States of America that won silver.