The Nation Newspaper

Tag: award

  • eTranzact wins best mobile money service award

    eTranzact wins best mobile money service award

    eTranzact International PLC, Africa’s leading provider of mobile banking and payments services, has been named best mobile money service category of the AfricaCom awards and Lead Africa Awards 2014. One famous product offering, “PocketMoni” ,won the award.

    eTranzact’s effort in mobile began in 2003 long before mobile money was finally introduced in Nigeria. The team always believed that mobile would be at the forefront of payment innovation and had a dedicated team working on research and development. This led to pioneering research that kick-started the mobile banking sector in Nigeria and eventually birthed “PocketMoni”, the mobile money service.

    The service has won a series of awards and grants, the most recent one coming from EFInA, a financial development organisation which is funded by the UK Government’s Department of International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the tune of USD250,000. As part of the terms of the grant, eTranzact will also put in USD100,000 and will drive the execution of a mobile money project called the “PocketMoni 500” in North and South Western Nigeria.

  • Igiebor receives Man of the Match Award

    Igiebor receives Man of the Match Award

    Super Eagles AFCON 2013 winner, Nosa Igiebor, was voted man of the match after scoring once and assisting in another in Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-2 victory over Asdod.

    He hit the back of Ashdod net with a trademark powerful shot finish in the 34th minute, after providing an assist to Omri Ben Harush for Maccabi’s second goal.

    Igiebor pipped his teammate Eran Zahavi, who scored twice in the game, to the award.

    He appears to have rediscoverd himself back in his comfort zone in Israel, after struggling to make headway with Real Betis in the Spanish La-Liga the past two seasons.

    The victory helped Tel Aviv maintain their strong start to the Israeli league after six games as they are presently second behind Ironi.

  • WARRI WOLVES ETEBO CLINCHES WONDER GOAL 7 AWARD

    WARRI WOLVES ETEBO CLINCHES WONDER GOAL 7 AWARD

    Etebo Oghenekaro of Warri Wolves has emerged the winner of the Glo Premier League Wonder Goal Award.

    Warri Wolves thus becomes the second Club to produce back to back winners as Etebo emerged the seventh winner on the heels of Freedom Omofoman who was voted the sixth winner. Rangers International had earlier had two players, Osaguona Ighodaro and Emeka Eze winning the first and second edition of the award.

    Etebo secured 72.2% of the votes to beat a field of four other nominees including the League’s joint top scorer, Emem Eduok of Dolphins who came second with 12.8 votes. The other nominees, Bobby Clement of Heartland scored 9.8% of the votes leaving Bayelsa United’s Samuel Tswaya with 5.3% in fourth place.

    Fans, who participated in the voting exercise, chose Etebo’s goal in Warri Wolves defeat of Bayelsa United on Match Day 32 in Benin while Eduok was nominated for his fifth goal in the historic six he scored against Nembe City in Port Harcourt on Match Day 35. Bobby’s nomination was for his goal against Kano Pillars, a cheeky side flash on Match Day 30 in Owerri while Tswaya got on the nomination for his smashing shot against Sunshine Stars in another Match Day 30 fixture in Benin.

    Etebo will thus receive the N100, 000 prize money when the presentation ceremony holds in Warri this Sunday during their Match Day 37 fixture with Crown of Ogbomosho.

    The player, who took the league scene by storm two seasons’ ago before going for a spell in Turkey, described the award as a ‘a new inspiration for me to get back to the top of my game”.

    “Just last week, we watched our team mate receive the award from the NFF President and I never had the inkling that I would be the next considering that it is for every player in the league. I am grateful and will build on this success not only for my career but also for the club which has given me the opportunity to show my talent”, stated Etebo.

    The Wonder Goal Award is an initiative of the LMC to build closer relationship between clubs and their communities of domicile and also show-case spectacular goals scored during the season as well as the team work  behind the goals. Half of the cash prize is donated to a Charity located within the city of the club. Past winners, Osaguona Ighodaro and Emeka Eze of Rangers recently made donations to the Holy Child Orphanage in Enugu after winning the first and second edition of the Awards. In Aba, Rasheed Olabiyi of Enyimba made his donation to the Ngwa Road Motherless Babies Home after emerging the fourth winner of the award.

  • La Liga best African player award: Ike Uche snubbed

    La Liga best African player award: Ike Uche snubbed

    The Spanish La Liga has left out Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche from the three nominees for the best African star for the past season.

    Last season, Uche netted 14 goals for Villarreal but was overlooked by former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for the World Cup in Brazil.

    Last week, Uche celebrated scoring his 100th goal in Spain.

    Cameroon skipper Stephane Mbia, who featured for Seville, was also not considered for the top prize.

    The three nominees for the best African star in the La Liga are Yacine Brahimi of Algeria who featured for Granada before he moved to FC Porto; Morocco’s Youssef Al Arabi, who scored 12 goals for Granada last season, and Seydou Keita of Mali, who featured for Valencia before he moved to Italy.

    The ceremony to announce the winner will be staged on Monday.

  • Oshoala dedicates award to fans, family and teammates

    Oshoala dedicates award to fans, family and teammates

    For the first time since the 9th African Women Championship started in Windhoek, Asisat Oshoala emerged as the Most Valuable Player of yesterday’s semi final tie between the Super Falcons of Nigeria and the Bayana Bayana of South Africa.

    Before yesterday, skillful Delta Queens forward, Ngozi Okobi was the first Nigerian player to win the award while Rivers Angels left back, Ngozi Ebere won the prize in Falcons’ game against Zambia.

    It appears the lanky Oshoala chose the most auspicious moments to shine as her two goals in yesterday’s semi final game orchestrated the elimination of arch rivals, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

    Apart from the goals she scored, Oshoala was a constant threat to the defence line of the South Africans with her pace and skill.The South Africans have their captain and defence strong woman, Janine Van Wyk to thank for checkmating Oshoala after she has done the damage.

    Speaking to SportingLife after the game, the Canada 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup star dedicated her award to her fans, family members and teammates for their unflinching support since she burst into global limelight last August.

    “I want to dedicate this award specially to my fans, family and my teammates who have shown tremendous support to me all these while even when I’m not playing well.

    “Their prayers and words of encouragement have kept me going in this tournament and I want to say a big thank you to them. I’ll continue to do my best in every match I have the opportunity to play”she added.

  • NITDA boss hosts ICT merit award

    NITDA boss hosts ICT merit award

    Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Olu Jack will be chief host at the 2014 National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) organised by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

    A new innovation at this year’s NITMA is also the presentation of the first set of Special Recognition Awards to individuals and organisations advancing Nigeria’s digital agenda. The DG of NITDA’s high level presence is in keeping with the agency’s mandate of fostering the development and growth of IT in Nigeria, and is particularly in line with the upcoming review of Nigeria’s National ICT Strategic Plan being coordinated by NITDA.

    NITDA boss as NITMA Chief Host sends a strong message that the growth of Nigeria’s ITC industry and profession is a top national priority. A functioning, purposeful, growing and sustainable ITC sector is at the heart of all nations that are truly independent. Recognition or its lack will impact on Nigeria’s ability to succeed in the global digital economy. NITMA 2014 is a platform NCS uses to emphasise the importance of excellence in information technology. For NCS and the entire IT community, NITMA is not just an award ceremony; it is about genuine independence, it is about shaping Nigeria’s future.

  • ARINZE CLINCHES WONDER GOAL AWARD

    ARINZE CLINCHES WONDER GOAL AWARD

    EL-KANEMI WARRIORS Arinze Obioma has emerged winner of the 5th Glo Premier League Wonder Goal Award, beating Heartland’s Julius Ubido and Dolphins forward, Emem Eduok.

    In the latest poll for the Wonder Goal Award, Arinze attracted 59.3% of the votes by fans who participated in the online voting while Heartland’s Ubido came second with 23.7 votes and Super Eagles invitee, Eduok finished third with 17% of the votes.

    He is the fifth to win the award previously won by Rangers duo of Osaguona Ighodaro and Emeka Eze and Bayelsa United’s Oghogho Oduokpe and Enyimba’s Rasheed Olabiyi.

    The award is an initiative of the League Management Company (LMC) aimed at deepening Clubs and Community engagement and to showcase some of the quality goals scored by players in the Glo Premier League as well as the team effort behind those goals.

    Arinze was nominated for his goal against Lobi Stars in a Match Day 6 fixture played at the Kano Pillars Stadium on April 13. He had received a pass while backing the Lobi Stars goal and executed a turn-around to fire to the far left side of the keeper in his side’s 2-0 win against the Benue team.

    The player will receive the cash prize of N100, 000 attached to the award and is expected to donate 50% of the reward to a Charity of his choice in the city where the club is based. The award will be presented to Arinze on Match Day 34 in Kano on Sunday during their match against  Nembe City.

  • Smile Communications bags ICT award

    Smile Communications bags ICT award

    Smile Communications, a broadband service provider has been awarded the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Investment Operator of the Year, for its massive investments in 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) broadband service, in ensuring that Nigerians have easy access to fast internet service.

    The company was recognised alongside other operators by the Nigerian Telecoms Awards, which held its tenth ceremony with fanfare in Lagos at the weekend.

    Former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel and the Lagos State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje, who presented most of the award plaques, commended Smile Communications and other award recipients for emerging winners at this years’ awards.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the company, its General Manager, Sales and Distribution, Mr. Kenneth Esenwah expressed happiness over the award, and explained that the company’s vision to offer fast internet service to Nigerians is beginning to yield results as more Nigerians are benefiting from the affordable and fast internet service that is being offered by Smile.

    According to him, Smile Communications saw huge business opportunity to serve the Nigerian internet market, even though it entered into the market at a time when security challenges were serious issues to national broadband rollout. “We came into the market in 2013 when Nigerians were having difficulties with slow speed internet service and within a short period of time, we changed all of that and today, Nigerians on the Smile network are enjoying fast internet service at affordable rates,” Esenwah said.

  • VC bags award

    Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof Adekunle Bashiru Okesina, has received the Distinguished Pathologist Award. He was conferred with the honour in Arusha, Tanzania, during the First College of Pathologists of East Central and Southern Africa meeting.

    The award, it was gathered, is in recognition of his contributions to Chemical Pathology. Prof. Kanya, President of College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (COPECA), urged Prof Okesina to remain committed to global best practices in the field of pathology.

    The College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (COPECSA) is a professional membership organisation dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of pathology.

    The organisation which was launched in August 2010 in Kampala, Uganda, COPECSA draws its membership from pathologists registered and practising in thirteen member countries within the East, Central and Southern Africa region.

  • NOUN VC gets ‘Most valuable VC’ Award

    The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University, Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe, has been bestowed this year’s ‘Most Valuable Vice-Chancellor’ Award, by the International Centre for Comparative Leadership for Africans and Blacks in Diaspora in collaboration with Accolade International Magazine.

    The award was presented on the university premises in VI, Lagos by the Chief Executive Officer, CEO Accolade International Magazine, Dr Luke Okojie and the magazine’s Southsouth coordinator, Mr Bode Alake.

    Speaking at the presentation, Tenebe, said he is greatly honoured and humbled by the award. “The award is not for me, but for the NOUN; that is why 50 per cent of my citation is about the university. We are serving with all interest and with the belief that we will salvage the country from its problems concerning education,” he said.

    According to him, NOUN is the only way to take education to beyond borders. He called for more open universities in Africa.

    “Africa is one of the places with high level of insecurity and illiteracy, and education is one of the ways to overcome insecurities. Places with low education have a high level of insecurity. The Northeast in Nigeria for example has low education and high in insurgency so also the Southsouth with militancy.”

    He said NOUN has crops of academics who can salvage Nigeria from its present challenges. He thanked the award donor for the recognition.

    On his part, Dr Okojie said Tenebe deserved the award for his contribution to scholarship and dedication, adding that he is a great leader and an embodiment of success.