The Nation Newspaper

Tag: award

  • The Nation man wins critics award

    The Nation’s Assistant Editor (Arts), Mr. Ozolua Uhakheme, last Saturday won the inaugural Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation (BOF), Press Critics in Agbarha-Otor Award.

    He got the award in recognition of his excellence in visual art reporting. Other art writers who won the award were The Guardian’s art writer Mr. Tajudeen Sowole and Deputy Editor of This Day, Mr. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke. Each recipient got a cheque of N100,000.

    Chairman of BOF, Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya, described art critics as critical stakeholders in the growth of Nigerian arts and artists who should be appreciated and honoured.

    “The foundation has decided to initiate this award in appreciation of the contributions of these art writers, especially to the success of Harmattan workshop at Agbarha-Otor.”

  • Hyundai Motor ends year with award

    Hyundai Motor ends year with award

    Ranked first for the third time in seven years, Hyundai Motor has been awarded first place in Auto Bild’s Quality Report 2016 and has secured one of the most coveted accolades in the automotive industry.

    Following its top rankings in 2010 and 2011, Hyundai Motor has succeeded against its competitors in Germany once again. The in-depth evaluation of quality and reliability, including customer feedback, a customer survey and extensive testing, is conducted annually by Germany’s best-selling motoring magazine. The overall result is extremely positive for Hyundai Motor. The brand recorded a total score of 2.14 on the scale of five.

    “That was a successful performance. Well done, Hyundai!” was the verdict of the testing team. Hyundai Motor achieved the first place for the third time in seven years, moving up two places from its third-place ranking last year. The magazine was particularly impressed by the endurance testing of the Hyundai models. A Hyundai i30 underwent testing over 100,000 kilometres, scoring a “1”, which made it the best-ever of Auto Bild’s endurance-tested vehicle. Judging by the interim findings of endurance tests currently in progress, the Hyundai i30 is certainly not an exception. Auto Bild said: “Hyundai can be justly proud of the improvements in quality achieved over the past few years. The extent to which the cars’ feel good factor has improved is currently underscored by the i10 and the Tucson, both of which are popular fleet vehicles and have each run up 30,000 kilometres with no sign of a fault.” Hyundai Motor Europe Chief Operating Officer Thomas Schmid said: “Quality is a key element in Hyundai’s brand strategy, as embodied in our industry-leading peace-of-mind Five-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty. The first rank in Auto Bild’s Quality Report is a powerful endorsement of Hyundai Motor’s experience and technological development, underscoring our ambition to become the number one Asian brand in Europe by 2020.”

  • Skye Bank gets award

    Skye Bank gets award

    Skye Bank PLC has emerged The Most Committed Watch Listing Bank in Nigeria at the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) Annual Dinner and Awards held in Lagos.

    This was confirmed in a survey by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in conjunction with Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBBS).

    The award, which is in recognition of efforts of the banking industry in the fight against electronic fraud or e-fraud was presented to the institution “with the most efficient and robust system for tracking all forms of electronic fraud and arresting perpetrators for prosecution”.

    Speaking on the occasion at Colonnades Ikoyi, Lagos, NeFF Chairman, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, also Director, Banking and Payment System at CBN, explained: “An effective fight against fraud is not without robust awareness programme, not only for members of the public, but also for staff of organisations that operate within the payment space.’’

    He further stressed the importance of starting the awareness programmethis year, “as this would help the industry reduce cost of fraud through increased vigilance and detection abilities”.

    He added: “The CBN in collaboration with NIBBS carried out a survey to rate the performance of all banks in the fight against e-fraud. Most banks, in their response, acknowledged Skye Bank as the most committed bank when it comes to tracking fraud and arresting perpetrators.”

  • FRC CEO wins African Leader of Integrity Merit award

    The Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Jim Obazee, has won African Leader of Integrity Merit Award for exemplary leadership and Economic Development in Africa.

    In a statement by FRC’s Media/Communications Consultant, Mack Ogbamosa, said the award was bestowed on Obazee in recognition of his enormous contributions to the nation’s economy, through his resolved efforts in entrenching transparency and accountability in financial reporting. The award ceremony held at  the University of Ghana, Legon.

    While Conferring the award on the FRC chief, who was represented by Adeshola Amao of the Directorate of Corporate Governance of the Council at the 13th Africa Leadership Development Conference and Awards Gala Night, the President of Proven Integrity Communications Network Limited, the organisers of the award, Onwordi Onichabor, said the award was for those Distinguished and Notable Personalities who have excelled greatly in their respective businesses and professional endeavours.

    He also said Obazee was particularly recognized because of his relentless efforts at sanitizing the financial sector of the country through formulation and enforcement of financial standards.

    The recipient, while receiving the award, thanked the organisers for the recognition and dedicated the award to members of staff of the FRC, adding that the honour was not only in recognition of his personal efforts, but also that of the entire staff of the Council.

    The FRC boss noted that the impact of the Council’s enforcement of accounting, auditing, actuarial and valuation standards as well as entrenchment of good corporate governance is already manifesting in this era of adherence to rules, regulations and standards as the hallmark of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Obazee has won many awards both within and outside the shores of the country for his doggedness and ground-breaking achievements with the Council in ensuring that businesses are conducted in the country in accordance with laid down rules.

    These awards include among others, African Par Excellence Award 2015, Public Administrator of the Year award, Lifetime Achievement Award for Competency/Distinctiveness in Public Service by Nigeria Media Nite-out Award 2015, CEO of the Year by Ikeja City Award 2016 as well as Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN Award of Excellence for service.

    Established under the Financial Reporting Council Act No 6, 2011, the FRC is charged with regulating accounting, auditing, actuarial and valuation standards as well as development, issuance and enforcement of code of corporate governance to ensure transparency, probity and accountability in both public and private sectors of the nation’s economy.

  • Ikere-Ekiti NBA award for Falana’s wife

    Ikere-Ekiti NBA award for Falana’s wife

    Lawyers have been advised to play active roles in ensuring corruption-free judicial process.

    Former House of Representatives member Opeyemi Bamidele and Lagos lawyer Femi Falana’s wife, Funmi, accused some lawyers of complicity in the corruption in the judicial system.

    They spoke at Ikere-Ekiti at the maiden edition of the End of the Year Award Dinner and Lecture of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikere Ekiti Branch, Ekiti State.

    They said corruption in the judiciary should be of great concern to lawyers and Nigerians.

    The Ikere NBA gave awards to Wole Olanipekun (SAN); eminent lawyer,  Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Mrs  Falana in recognition of their contributions to the profession.

    Mrs. Falana advised lawyers to monitor their colleagues and judges to prevent corruption.

    She urged lawyers to have the courage to speak out.

    The rights lawyer canvassed unity among lawyers to allow more women in active legal practice.

    Speaking in a lecture entitled: “Restoring public confidence in the justice sector: The role of lawyers,” Bamidele said: “The NBA must be seen to be more proactive in setting the pace.

    “It must ensure that some of its members accused of complicity in corruption-related matters are investigated and sanctioned.

    “Lawyers must be organised, articulate, fearless and transparent in their expression.

    “The judicial process must be guided by the fundamental values and principles of constitutional democracy as well as the values of simple decency.

    “Our judgments and pronouncements must not appear to be against the essence of justice,” he said.

  • Access Bank leads with ‘Bank of the Year’ award

    Access Bank leads with ‘Bank of the Year’ award

    Access Bank affirmed its leadership of the Nigerian banking industry with its recent recognition as the ‘Bank of the Year’ at the 17th yearly Bank of the Year awards black-tie dinner in London.

    The award, which validates other nine international honors earned by the bank over the past 10  months for operational excellence, responsible business practices and innovation, is unarguably one of the most coveted in the banking sector globally.

    Presenting the award, Michael Buerk, BBC News journalist, commented, “In spite of the challenging operating environment and rapid changes in the industry, Access Bank has remained a formidable institution.  Specifically, the bank has been a purveyor of innovation in the Nigerian banking space and consistently outperformed industry forecast.

    It is firmly believed that its operational model, risk management and governance framework, which enable sustained superlative financial performance need commendation”.

    Although this view is consistent with Analysts’ opinion on the bank in the past one year, but its Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe who received the award for the bank said, “While innovation, excellent risk and corporate governance framework might be the advantage we have over our competitors, the bank is propelled by a vision of becoming the world’s most respected African bank, and this requires us to do things differently to standout. He thanked the bank’s stakeholders for their support and assured them of improved performance in the years ahead”.

    Over the years, Access Bank has established a reputation as one of the most formidable financial institutions in Nigeria. This is unconnected with its impressive growth trajectory and contributions to the development of the Nigerian economy through empowerment initiatives and practical SME schemes.  As an acclaimed innovative industry pioneer, the bank has remained the choice of international financial organisations and multilateral agencies seeking partnership in Nigeria.

    For some of its pioneering initiatives and outstanding performance, the bank has earned a number of recognitions in the past months. The recognitions include the ‘Karlsrushe Outstanding Business Sustainability Award’, ‘ BusinessDay Banking Award – CEO of the Year’, ‘BusinessDay Banking Award – Best Bank of the Year’, ‘EMEA Finance Best Bank in Nigeria Award’, ‘EMEA Finance Corporate Responsibility Award (Pan-African)’, ‘EMEA Finance CEO of the Year (Pan-African’ and World Finance Most Sustainable Bank of the Year Award’.

  • Emefiele wins Lifetime Award for Banking, Finance

    Emefiele wins Lifetime Award for Banking, Finance

    The Institute for Service Excellence and Good Governance (ISEGG) yesterday conferred on the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele a Lifetime award for Banking, Finance and National Development.

    Emefiele received the award at the first Annual lecture, Awards and Induction ceremony of the Institute for Service Excellence and good Governance (ISEGG) held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

    The CBN Governor, who was represented at the ceremony by his Special Adviser on Financial Markets, Emmanuel Ukeje appreciated ISEGG for the award which he said was in recognition of the sacrifice undertaken by the CBN in the last two years in efforts to move the nation’s economy forward.

    The Governor stated that CBN as an institution was committed to the ideals of excellence in service delivery.

    In his comments, the father of the day, a former Deputy Governor of the CBN and former Minster of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman said he was enthused by the fact that the Institute for Service Excellence and Good Governance, was being run by young people who believe that things can be done differently in the country and their programmes are targeting the youths.

    He however, expressed worry of the attitude of the youths and stressed the urgent need for a value re-orientation.

    Delivering the keynote address, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reform, Dr. Joe Abah said for the country to develop, its public service must be one that is action driven, explains its actions to the public and allows for engagement and consultation with citizens.

    Continuing, Dr. Abah who was represented at the event by a Deputy Director and Technical Assistant to the DG, BPSR, Sylvester Inyang-Anyang said the Public Service of the future needs to be more innovative, better integrated, more strategic and more customer oriented.

    Abah added that achieving these goals would not be easy but that a commitment to the reform process would translate to a new public service that would serve the needs of the citizens.

    Chief Host and President/Chief Operating Officer of the ISEGG Tope Fasua said the institute is a private sector initiative which was aimed at augmenting efforts of Government as well as the corporate sector in instituting the ideals of service excellence in Nigeria. He said that the ISEGG initiative was an attempt to enthrone and embrace corporate and public sector governance in the country.

    He said the world over, the service sector has turned out to be the largest contributor to most nations’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and as such service delivery must be taken to high levels.

  • ExxonMobil gets award

    ExxonMobil gets award

    ExxonMobil’s affiliate companies in Nigeria have won the Social Enterprise Report and Awards (SERAs) as the Best Company in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/Sustainability West Africa category.

    The oil giant’s subsidiaries were recognised for their contributions to the development of Nigeria.

    This is based on their cumulative impact and reach of its community enhancement projects in the year.

    The projects include the establishment of science libraries, solar boreholes and virtual laboratory projects in several states across the country.

    ExxonMobil’s community projects were nominated in nine separate categories: Best Company in Climate Action, Best Company in Education, Best Company in Stakeholder Engagement, Best Company in CSR/Sustainability West Africa, Best Company in Provision of clean water & Sanitation, Best Company in affordable & clean energy, Best company in infrastructural development, Best socially responsible company and Best Company in Partnership for Development.

    The projects submitted for consideration in each of these categories targeted specific areas for development. ExxonMobil funded the development of e- learning centres to equip pupils with the foundations of modern information technology and enhance their ability to compete effectively in today’s IT driven world; The Back to School programme provides children in primary schools with essential school items; the Science libraries improve student interest and enhanced performance in STEM related subjects; solar powered boreholes allow underground water in various communities to become a major source for drinking water and irrigation, providing a reliable and readily available water supply.

  • ‘Don’t award last-minute contract’

    A group, Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA), has warned Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko against awarding phony contracts and auctioning government property before his exit on February 23.

    The group said it was aware of the plot by the outgoing government to sell off some property, such as official cars, household items in government quarters and state-owned earth moving equipment.

    A statement by the Coordinator, Ifeanyi Odili, said: “Our sources in government have also alerted us that the outgoing government has perfected plans to awar a series of multi-billion naira contracts, despite incurring a debt burden of N245 billion in the last eight years.

    “The CNCRA cautions civil servants not to play to the gallery by aiding and abetting illegal, criminal and senseless activities in their respective ministries, agencies and parastatals.

    “We are also warning against approving or granting any loan request by the outgoing administration. Banks and financial institutions should note that collaborating with an outgoing administration to defraud the state is an act of deliberate sabotage that will attract civil and legal consequences.

    “We also call on the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, to withhold further federal allocation outside value for workers’ salaries to Ondo State.”

  • Nigerian Sports Award: Nation Sport’s Okusan is Sports Journalist of the Year

    Nigerian Sports Award: Nation Sport’s Okusan is Sports Journalist of the Year

    The NationSport Senior Correspondent, Olalekan Okusan has emerged winner of this year’s Nigerian Sports Award as Sports Journalist of the Year in the print category.

    Okusan, who is currently in Cape Town, South Africa for the coverage of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Junior Championships, won the 5th edition of the award held at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.

    Lekan, who has devoting time and energy to comprehensive coverage of the often underserved Tennis beat, beat off competition from Tobi Emmanuel of Daily Telegraph newspaper and other two journalists from Goal.com to win the prestigious Sports award.

    He is the 2012 Sports Journalist of the Year of the annual Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) and a past winner of the Sports Business Media Award Sports Writer of the Year prize.

    In 2015, Okusan was also listed by an online medium – Ynaija.com as one of the most powerful young people in sports.

    In the other Journalist Category of the Award, Moses Praiz of Channels TV was awarded the TV Journalist of the Year while Olawale Adigun of Top Radio named as the Radio Journalist of the Year. The Photo Journalist of the Year award went to Ayodele Ojo of Daily Sun newspaper.

    However, Men and Women of the Nigerian Paralympics team dominated the 5th edition of the award as Kehinde Paul and Lucy Ejike emerged Sport-man and Sport-woman of the year respectively.