The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CHEMISTRY

  • Philanthropist donates textbooks to rural secondary school

    Mr Lawrence Shabwet, a philanthropist, and director with the Plateau education ministry, has donated 190 text books to Government Secondary School Shimanka, in Shendam Local Government of Plateau.

    Shabwet, who presented the books at the school on Wednesday, said that the gesture was aimed at restocking the school’s library so as to revamp the students’ reading culture.

    “The measure is to rejuvenate the reading culture in the community and encourage more students to patronize the library,” he said.

    The philanthropist emphasised the need for everyone to contribute to reviving the reading culture, saying that it was  not right to leave everything to the government alone.

    Mr Samuel Datukun, the principal of the school, while thanking the donor for the gesture, said that the books would restore more life to the library.

    “The text books will spur the students to use the library more regularly; most of the books are new and modern and will be very useful for us,” he said.

    A student, Miss Mercy Damap, who thanked the donor for the kindness, said that she would now make good use of the library.

    “I am happy about this development because I ca now borrow text books that I do not have,” she said.

    The 190 textbooks cover subjects like Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Further Mathematics, English Language and Literature.

    Others included Social Studies, Economics, French, Computer Science and Religious Studies.

    NAN

  • New music ‘group’ called chemistry

    Falz and Simi are the new pair of artistes who have done several collaborations without belonging to the same band. This has given thoughts to a new kind of career relationship among artistes where chemistry may not only lead to great vibes, but also a lasting ‘cash and carry’ kind of musical relationship without the usual misunderstandings known to have split great bands.

    Incidentally, the two singers came up with an EP titled “Chemistry’, containing the tracks; ‘Chemistry’, ‘Enough’, ‘Shake Your Body’, ‘Show Your Pepper’, ‘Foreign’, ‘Want To’, and ‘Cinderella’, as a way of taking their strategic relationship to the next level in this kind of new order. For Falz and Simi, this followed the huge fan attraction they got from earlier collabos like ‘Jamb Question’ and ‘Soldier’.

    In the same spirit of collaboration, Falz’s sophomore studio album – a 17-tracker titled ‘Stories That Touch’ – is a collabo with 12 artistes, including Oyinkansola, Phyno, Chigurl, Simi, Reminisce, Sess, Reekado Banks, Poe, Chyn, Bez, M.I, and Show Dem Camp.

    On the other hand, with ‘No Forget’ and ‘Take Me Back’ the sonorous Simi also has a career alliance with Adekunle Gold, apart from both of them being romantically linked. This was just as Big Brother Naija 2017 Housemate, Jon Ogah featured Adekunle Gold and Simi in the song, ‘Uncle Suru’.

    The beauty of this fling is such that it is not only mutual and respectable to the parties, it is also refreshing to the fans. Thus, you find like-mind artistes coming back to do stuff together once the initial effort is well accepted.

    For example, Skales and Burna Boy have done a couple of works together that have sat well with their fans. There is ‘Temper’, off the ‘Never Say Never’ album by Skales and ‘Gbefun One Time’ from the same album. Olamide on the other hand has featured the likes of Phyno, Timaya, Davido, Oritse Femi, Lil Kesh etcetera in his songs.

    Apart from the combo collaboration between Falz and Simi, it is not that the concept is new among Nigerian artistes, one can only agitate for more as such efforts also give pep to the diversity of tunes which is the new order, especially in Africa.

    Therefore, if the most unexpected break-up, as in the case of the P-Square brothers could happen, it is safe for fans who are somewhat at the receiving end to get used to occasional partnerships that will not end in the usual problems associated bandmates, and musical labels.

    For example, Wizkid broke the family bond in the Banky W led E.M.E records that used to house his longtime friend Skales and others like Niyola and Shaydeeboi when he decided to go solo.

    When Mo’hits broke up, it was for the same reasons of dissatisfaction with the contribution of the other party in terms of content and profit after what appeared a long period of tolerance.

    There couldn’t be so much distant reasons why Plantashun Boiz, Styl Plus, Remedies, and KC-Presh among others parted ways in their musical careers. Often, ego and greed have been attributed to divorce among musical groups whereby after breakthrough, some artistes suddenly realise that the signed contract is not profitable to them in terms of profit sharing.

    I wish to say that under this new order; the type that exists between Falz and Simi, it is difficult to beef one’s partner for disloyalty, profit sharing, low contribution etcetera, because if you didn’t find anything great in the other guy, you don’t need the collaboration. Besides, since it is only a fling, separations in this case will go on almost unnoticeable.

  • PZ Cussons kicks off Chemistry contest

    Registration for participation in the PZCussons Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC) is now open to SS2 pupils attending public and private secondary schools in Lagos State.

    Schools are required to register three pupils for the competition – and this time around, it is mandatory that one of them be a girl.

    Organisers say this is to encourage girls to improve in the subject.  There has been no girl among the winners of the last three editions.

    The competition was kicked off during a stakeholders’ forum held on  Tuesday, last week at the PZ Cussons office in Ilupeju, Lagos.

    Following closure of the registration early February, next year, the pupils would write the first stage Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) examination to determine the best 100 that would proceed to the second stage.

    The second stage, which would also feature MCQs, would produce 24 winners who would undergo the Practical- Only at third stage of the competition.  The top six from the third stage would feature in the quiz and practical final scheduled to hold in the second week of April, 2017.

    Overall winner of the competition would get N700,000, a laptop, gold medal and trophy; the teacher would get N100,000, and the school N100,000 of laboratory equipment.  The first runner up would get N450,000, a laptop, while the teacher gets N80,000, and he school, N80,000 laboratory equipment.  The second runner up will get N100,000 less than the first; and the school and teacher get N10,000 less.  The third runner up would get N250,000 and a laptop; and N60,000 for his/her teacher and school.

    The competition will also feature a two-stage teachers’ teaser, which would be done online.

    Chairman of the Advisory board for the competition, Prof Oladele Osibanjo, attested to the transparency of the grading of the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC).

    Osibanjo said the board overseas the process from the selection of questions to grading of scripts in a transparent manner.

    “We involve a lot of people.  It is a process.  We involve university people who teach 100 Level  Chemistry to set questions in all areas of chemistry, and we invite secondary chemistry teachers too.  We provide quality assurance to ensure questions are high class.  The grading process has no human manipulation because computers do the marking.  Everything is done above board,” he said.

    Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, said the firm, through the PZCussons Foundation, decided to intervene in chemistry to promote interest in the subject which encompasses what its business is all about.

    “The foundation came to being in 2007 and we focused on five areas including education, water. We discovered that there was gap – that children were shifting from sciences.  We decided to focus on Chemistry because that is what we do.  The Chemistry Challenge is something we are really proud of,” she said.

    Mrs Ifaturoti expressed hope that winners of the competition would one day work for PZCussons.

    “After they win, the four finalists come to our office and spend a month. We give them a task and they would do a project.  The plan is that after their education, we hope they come back and if the opportunity exists, we absorb them,” she said.

    Director PZCussons  Consumer, Christos Gouras, said there were plans to make the competition national in future.

    “The plan is that we will expand in the next four years to other regions of the country. We hope in a few years it will become a national competition,” he said.

    Mrs Hannah Oyebanjo of Redwood Consulting, which coordinates the competition on behalf of the foundation, praised PZCussons for keeping faith with the competition in the past four years.

    Principal, Abibat Mogaji Senior Secondary School, Agege, Mr Taofeek Adeosun whose school produced the first and second runners up last year, said his school would work harder to win this year again.

  • ‘A chemistry of last borns’

    ‘A chemistry of last borns’

    Former Managing Director and CEO of Union Merchant Bank Limited, Alhaji Salihu Ehimeakhe, of Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, gave out his daughter, Zulei to Siraj, son of late Alhaji M.M. Momodu. The Nikkai ceremony and reception was held at The Eventistry, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. It was a grand occasion with dignitaries and guests from across the country and oversees in attendance. Nneka Nwaneri was there.

    The families of the Momodus and Ehimeakhes have become one following the union of  their children Siraj and Zulei, in holy matrimony.

    The bride, who is the baby of the large Salihu Ehimeakhe family, is a lawyer with Aelex, a Law firm in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The lovebirds met in 2012 through a mutual friend.

    But Siraj gave Zulei a surprise proposal after he unexpectedly showed up at Zulei’s   sister’s house in the United States, kneeling and asking her to marry him.

    Penultimate Saturday in Lagos, their four-year-old friendship culminated into a lasting relationship, with their tying the nuptial knot before their family members and friends at a Nikkai ceremony officiated by the Chief Imam of Magodo, Abdusemiu Ajani-Alkilany.

    In a brief sermon, the cleric admonished the couple to have patience, perseverance and be pious, urging them to stand by each other at all times. After seeking the consent of both families, he joined the couple and urged the families to support them. The reception followed immediately in the same venue.

    Chairman of the occasion, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Emmanuel Obaze, praised the couple for looking alike and smiling alike.

    Bride’s father, Alhaji Ehimeakhe, stood tall and was beside himself with joy. He made an impressive speech when he was called out for the father-daughter dance, describing Zulei as the baby of the house and the last born of their seven children and the third female child in the family.

    Ehimeakhe, who also holds the title of Aloaye of Auchi Kingdom and Fowoshaiye of Remoland, said: “Zulei is an embodiment of sound intellect, wisdom and discipline just like my late mother and paternal grandmother, who I named her after. She is very considerate, caring and compassionate and conducts herself with such poise and grace that aptly arouse admiration for her.

    “My daugher has a charming disposition and is pretty in and out. Little wonder she won the heart of Siraj, whom she  met about two years ago.

    ” I came to know why Siraj fitted into her parameters after engaging him in discussions, ranging from football, politics and banking. He impressed me and the entire family endorsed him. He is also a last born, so we have a chemistry of last borns.”

    He was sad the last of their birds will fly away but also expressed satisfaction that the bird has found a more compelling nest.

    Some of the dignitaries in attendance at the event were: former governor of Cross River, Donald Duke; the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, Alhaji Aliru Momoh; the Elepe of Epe in Sagamu, Oba Adewale Osiberu; former Minister of Information Tony Momoh; a former minister and Medical Director of Kelu Specialist Hospital in Victoria Island, Dr Abimbola Ogunkelu; Senator Kola Bajomo; chairman Board of governors of Ecobank transnational incorporated, Emmanuel Ikazoboh; former GMDS/CEOs of Union Bank: Dr G.A.T Oboh and Dr Barth Ebong; former MD/CEO Nigerian American Merchant Bank, Rev Segun Agbetuyi and his successor Osaro Isokpan.

    Others included Justice Fatima Akinbami of the Appeal Court; Medical Director of Britannia Hospital, Lekki, Dr Aminu Yesufu; Chairman of Gemini Pharmaceuticals, Dr Michael Unuane; Medical Director of Gold Cross Hospital, Ikoyi Dr Osho; Dr Ademola Denloye; foremost Oncology specialist, Dr Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti; the first Orthodontist in Sub Saharan Africa, Prof Mike Isiekwe; Prof Emeritus Steve Okecha; Professor of Aero Dynamics and Astro Physics, Chris Odetunde.

    In attendance were media gurus such as Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu;  Guardian publisher Maiden Ibru; Managing Director, Tell Magazine Nosa Igiebor; former Chairman of Punch Prince Ajibola Ogunsola; former Editor-in-Chief of Guardian newspaper Emeka Izeze and the legendary advertising expert Mr Biodun Shobanjo.

    Others were retired Millitary chiefs as Maj Gen Afiz Momoh and  Maj Gen Sebastian Onwuama.

    There were also members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) such as Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN); immediate past president of the NBA, Austin Alege (SAN);  Bambo Adesanya (SAN)Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN); Mr Ebun Sofunde (SAN); former Lagos Commissioner, Disun Holloway; former Daily Times newspaper Managing Director, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi; a professor at Harvard University, Biodun Jeyifo; Dr Layi Ogunbiyi and Chief Gabriel Osakwe, among others.

  • FALZ, SIMI DROP JOINT EP, ‘CHEMISTRY’

    FALZ, SIMI DROP JOINT EP, ‘CHEMISTRY’

    IT is double celebration for Bahd Guy Records rapper and actor, Folarin Falana, a.k.a Falz The Bahd guy, as he dropped a joint EP titled Chemistry, with his friend and industry confidante, X3M Music songstress, Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye, aka Simi on Thursday which happened to be his birthday.

    Prior to this time, the sensational duo have been at the centre of dating rumours, going by the chemistry they exude on their projects.

    Their first project, Simi’s Jamb Question which featured Falz, gained a lot of traction in the industry and was quickly followed by Falz’ groundbreaking single/movie Soldier off his album Stories That Touch.

    Chemistry boasts of seven tracks; Foreign, Want To, Show You Pepper, Cinderella, Chemistry, Shake Your Body and Enough.

  • Carex Chemistry Challenge winners visit PZ Cussons

    Riding on the success of the third edition which climaxed last December, PZ Cussons Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to nurture the winners in industrial chemistry by taking them on a facility tour of the company’s Lagos administrative office in Ilupeju, and the factory at Ikorodu.

    The four finalists of the 2015 PZCussons Carex Chemistry Challenge who went on the tour were Anthony EkeneIke-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere, Wajud Kareem and Samuel Joseph, both of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, and Jude Nnaemeka Chineke of Great Esteem Secondary School, Surulere.

    The students were accompanied on the tour by Mr John Nna Odinibe and Mr Tolulope Joseph Odusanya, both Chemistry teachers.

    Mr Christos Giannopoulous, Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria, alongside the Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, welcomed the students and their teachers to the organisation and also congratulated them on their emergence as finalists of the rigorous competition.

    Giannopoulous said: “I congratulate you on your success at the just concluded chemistry challenge. The company is focused on chemistry because of its importance to the society. I particularly salute your courage and enthusiasm to study chemistry and I hope in the nearest future you will be working in the corridors of this organisation and making an impact.”

    The group was received at the PZ Cussons Group training centre by Mr Pieter Stroek, Head of Research, Development and Innovation, who conducted them round the laboratories, while Mr Alex Goma, Managing Director, Family Care, encouraged the students to pick up some other skills while on internship with the company to help them become better in terms of management, organisation and accountability.

    On his thoughts about the facility tour Ike-Okoro, the 2015 grand prize winner, expressed satisfaction with the tour. “I want to thank PZ Cussons for this wonderful opportunity and I hope the competition will spur other students to take Chemistry and other science subjects seriously.”

  • N3m for grabs in PZ Cussons Chemistry challenge

    Prizes worth over N3 million are to be won in the PZ Cusson Carex Chemistry Competition (PZCCC) for SS3 pupils, whose entry closes on November 4.

    The competition, sponsored by the PZ Cussons Foundation, will be implemented in three stages – the first of which is scheduled for November 7 in 10 centres across Lagos State.

    Those who score 70 per cent and above will progress to the second stage of the competition, which, like the first, will be a written examination to hold on November 14.  The best four that emerge from the second stage will feature in the practical-oriented final.  The final would be recorded in a studio on December 12.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement forum held last Tuesday at De Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja, Carex Brand Manager, Oluwaseun Ayeni, said the top 10 winners would be rewarded with cash prizes.  While the top four win cash and gift awards for themselves, their teachers and schools, the rest would get N50,000 as consolation prize.

    The winner would be rewarded with N700,000 cash prize, a trophy, laptop and gold medal.  His teacher would get N100,000, and the school N100,000 worth of chemistry textbooks.  The first runner up would win N500,000 and a laptop and silver medal, while his teacher would get N80,000 and the school, N80,000 worth of books.  The second runner up is to win N400,000 (N70,000 for the teacher, and N70,000 for the school); while the third runner up would get N300,000 (and N120,000 for the teacher and school).

    A member of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, Tunde Oyelola, said the competition is one of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) programmes initiated to stimulate secondary school pupils’ interest in Chemistry.

    Mr Alex Doma, Managing Director, PZ Family Care, added that the winners would get an internship opportunity with the firm to develop new products – an initiative he described as the icing on the cake of the competition.

    “Beyond the cash prizes and the gifts, the four finalists will spend six weeks to work in our Research and Development functions.  They actually start to see how things in the chemistry text books work out.  It will stimulate their interest in the subject and we will begin to build a credible core of professionals for the industry,” he said.

    Mrs Modupe Badiru, General Manager of Redwood Consulting, which is handling the implementation of the competition on behalf of the foundation, said forms for the competition could be downloaded online or obtained from the Lagos State Ministry of Education or the headquarters of the six education districts.

    Past winners of the competition, which is in its third edition, are Emmanuel Ejiogu Onyekachi of Miketoy College, Ikotun (2013) and Nwaoha Justin of ISOLOG College, Ojodu (2014).

     

  • Lagos rewards PZ Cussons for Chemistry competition

    Lagos rewards PZ Cussons for Chemistry competition

    For the second year in a row, PZ Cussons Nigeria has been rewarded by the Lagos State Government for its immense support to the education sector through its PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC).

    At a Breakfast Meeting recently hosted by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), PZ Cussons Nigeria was among corporate bodies and individuals presented with the “Support Our Schools Initiative” awards for complementing the government’s effort in uplifting education standards in the state.

    Only three months ago, the second edition of PZCCC was concluded with 16-year-old Justin Ifeanyi Nwaoha of ISOLOG College, Ojodu, Lagos State crowned champion after an intellectually-engaging three-stage competition. The inaugural edition in 2013 had been won by another 16-year-old, Emmanuel Ejiogu Onyekachi, then a final year student of Miketoy College, Ikotun.

    The Breakfast Meeting, held at the jam-packed Lagos City Hall, had in attendance stakeholders in the education sector and top government functionaries.

    In his keynote address, Fashola commended the award recipients for their contribution to educational growth in the state and for making their impact greater every year. He said: “You gave your support to education in Lagos State because of the idea it represents. I particularly salute your courage. I salute your steadfastness to work with us.”

    The Corporate Affairs and Administrative Director of PZ Cussons Nigeria, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti said that the company was excited to have been one of the recipients of the awards. She further said: “It shows that we are appreciated. It also shows that when you partner with government, there is recognition that comes with it. It also provided us the push to continue to make our contribution to the society.

    Mrs Ifaturoti stated that the award would no doubt motivate the PZCCC Board to deliver a more exciting competition in the years to come.

  • Entries open for Chemistry Challenge

    Interested SS2 and SS3 pupils have until November 24 to register for the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge 2014 online or at the Ministry of Education and the six education districts.

    The first stage of the competition, which is a written examination, would take place on November 29 in 10 centres across the state.  The top 100 in the examination will move on to the second stage.  The top four in the second stage will win a place in the final, which will feature practical chemistry problems.

    Winner of the competition will receive N700,000, a laptop, trophy and gold medal.  The first runner-up will receive N500,000, a laptop and silver medal; the second runner-up will get N400,000, a laptop and bronze medal; and the third runner-up will be rewarded with N300,000, a laptop and a consolation medal.

    Prizes will also be presented to the respective Chemistry teachers and schools of the four finalists. The Chemistry teachers of the winners will win between N60,000 and N100,000 while Chemistry books of the same value will be presented to the schools.

    Explaining why the competition enjoys the support of the PZ Cusson Foundation, Mr Tunde Oyebola, a member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, said at a stakeholder’s engagement forum last week that   the aim is to get pupils interested in the sciences.

    “This is one of the corporate social responsibility initiatives of PZ Cussons Foundation and its general objective is to stimulate interest in chemistry,” he said.

    Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, PZ Cusson’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Administration added that it is an effort to encourage more students to study Chemistry.

    “A lot of students are running away from the sciences.  We need to encourage them to study sciences,” she said.

    In the inaugural edition, Emmanuel Ejiogu Onyekachi of Miketoy College, Ikotun, Lagos State won the competition.  The runners up were: Obi Uchenna David of Barachel College, Ifako-Agege; Mgbemena Thankgod of Leeland International College, Oregun-Ikeja; and Victor Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere.

  • PZ chemistry challenge winners begin internship

    PZ chemistry challenge winners begin internship

    The top four winners of the inaugural edition of the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge have begun their three-month internship with the company.

    Emmanuel Ejiogu Onyekachi of Miketoy College, Ikotun, Lagos State, who won the inaugural edition of the competition last year, said he has learnt a lot as an intern.

    “I feel so much joy in my heart. I have confidence in myself and proud to be here because what I have been taught within this short span cannot be quantified. This training has geared me not just participate in similar competitions but to win them as well as be a first class student at the university,” said Onyekachi, who now wants to become a Chemical Engineer.

    Second runner-up in the competition, Mgbemena Thank God of Leeland International College, Oregun-Ikeja, is also having a time of his life improving his understanding of what he was taught in school.

    “I just have to thank God I am part of this success story and likewise express my profound gratitude to PZ Cussons for having such a wonderful initiative to encourage young scholars to understand the basis of what they are being taught in the classrooms and put them into good practice,” he said.

    The other two interns are Obi Uchenna David of Barachel College, Ifako-Agege (first runner-up); and Victor Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere (third runner-up).

    The quartet completed their secondary education this month.

    Pieter Stroek, Head of Research, Development and Innovation at PZ, said during the training, the interns would work on several projects.

    Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, Corporate Affairs Director of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, said the internship is in line with the overall objective of the competition to deepen their understanding of the subject.

    “When they go back to school, they can fall back on what they had learnt during their practical training,” she further said.

    This year’s edition has been renamed the Premier Chemistry Challenge, after the Premier Toilet bar, a brand of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc.  It is open to SS2 and SS3 public and private school pupils in Lagos.