The Nation Newspaper

Tag: competition

  • Medical student, others win in quiz competition

    ’I will return to win N1m

    Nineteen-year-old Kelechi Nwoku is on a mission to raise funds to sponsor her sister for further studies abroad.

    The student of Abia State University, Uturu, has the ambitious goal of raising N1million. And to achieve the goal, she entered for the My Education Quiz Play, a television game show that allows players to accumulate money for answering quiz questions correctly.

    She learnt about the competition from a popular blog, sent a message to the organisers and was lucky to be among those picked to participate.

    The game show, fashioned after the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire show, is sponsored by the Foundation for Effective Leadership and Development (FELD) to help students win grants towards their education.

    Kelechi won N210,000 during the recording of the show last month. This money has come in handy for the 200-Level Medical student who said it has gone into paying her school bills. However, she sill hopes to return to win N1 million for her sister.

    “I am studying medicine. My clinical fee is N200, 000 the remaining N10, 000 will be used to buy clothes; but I promise to come back and win N1 million for my sister,” she said.

    Last month, FELD, a non-governmental organisation, gave out a total of N2million to 25 winners of the quiz competition.

    The winner who are secondary school pupils and undergraduates from various schools in Nigeria were presented with their cheques at a ceremony in Lagos last Friday.

    Speaking at the event, the Chairman of FELD, Hon. Paul Adingwupu, said the initiative is to complement’s efforts in education.

    “Government cannot do everything. It needs to be supported to reach out to the people. On that premise we felt that we should do the needful, that is, give our support no matter how little. So, we started the foundation,” he said.

    He said the ultimate sum for secondary school category is N1million while that of tertiary institution is N2million.

    “We are happy to help restore hope to the lives of the people. The students and their parents/guardians are excited and we are happy that we are touching lives,” Adingwupu added.

    Also, Mr. Godfrey Osakwe, Project Director, FELD, said the competition seeks to support and motivate students in secondary school and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

    He further said the game is designed as a way of learning with particular emphasis on school curriculum of participating groups with general knowledge questions as well.

    “The project is expected to serve as a veritable platform for students to showcase their brainpower and inspire others to action, with constant studying. All that is needed to participate is to text EXCEL to 35811,” he said.

    Winners in the tertiary institution category include Anthony Onyeahialam, University of Lagos (N280,000), Adesoji Adeoye Joseph, University of Lagos (N240,000); Odejide Joshua, Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) (N210,000); Abdulmajeed M. Kabir, Osun State University (N50,000).

    Others are: Jimoh Abubakar Sadiq, Lagos State University, (N50,000); Robert Paul-Ikhuoria, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (N35,000); Praise Hansel, Redeemers’ University (N20,000); Odewabi Ayodele, Ekiti State University, (N15,000) and Olori Babajide, Lagos State University (LASU), N15,000.

    In the Senior Secondary School category, Glory Okpara won N190,000; Maduka Ebuka, N130,000; Idemudia Emmanuel, N130,000, Akogwu Ozomena, N100, 000, and Emmanuel Onwubuariri, N100,000.

     

  • National Troupe’s competition holds Friday

    No fewer than 80 schools in Lagos will participate in this year’s National Troupe of Nigeria’s dramatised storytelling competition organised in partnership with BEETA Universal Arts Foundation, holding at the Women Development Centre, Abuja on Friday.

    In Abuja, another set of over 50 schools will take part in the preliminary, which will climax with the grand finale, featuring six of the top primary and secondary schools that made it to the finals. Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Minister, Chief Edem Duke, will chair the grand finale. The competition is supported by Golden Penny Pasta and other arts loving organisations.

    However, the Lagos finals will hold at the National Theatre on June 6. Wife of the former Federal Director of Culture of the federation, Mrs. Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, will chair the finale, which will feature performances by the top five primary and secondary schools from the preliminaries.

  • Troupe stages drama storytelling competition

    Troupe stages drama storytelling competition

    The National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) will host the second edition of the yearly dramatised storytelling competition for schools in Lagos and Abuja in the last week of May and first week of June. The competition, which is opened to primary and secondary schools in Lagos and Abuja, will begin with the preliminaries and elimination stages.

    The maiden edition of the dramatised storytelling competition, which is held in line with the National Troupe’s objectives of providing a platform for the discovery and showcasing of talent from primary and secondary schools in Lagos.

    Also, the competition is being organised to celebrate Nigeria’s 100 years of existence. But specifically, the coordinator of the dramatised storytelling competition and Director of Drama of the National Troupe, Ms Josephine Igberaese said the programme would hold this year to complement the January 18, 1980 resolutions on storytelling adopted by the conference on folklore held under the auspices of the Centre for Nigeria cultural Studies, the Federal Ministry of Culture and United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) to encourage the preservation and promotion of Nigeria folklore. “Since the storytelling is the science of the survival of old beliefs and customs in modern times, and the study of ancient observances and customs, the notions, beliefs, traditions, superstitions and prejudices of the common people-this therefore is the task ahead of those intellectual gathering of students from schools to examine how the dictates of storytelling could be effectively utilised to achieve national integration through this carefully selected sub-theme’’ Igberaese said.

    Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe Mr Martin Adaji said the competition aims at ensuring meaningful communication of all aspects of storytelling. Adaji said it is designed to explore how storytelling could be utilised to correct inadequacies of the youth especially in the age of technological advancement. ‘’I am sure with technology where with just a dash on the Internet you can get all information you need, people will ask why story telling. But the facts are that our brains become more active when we tell stories. Whether it is a novel, a movie or simply something one of our friends is explaining to us, because they come in words and sounds, which are often by improvisation or embellishment. Since it is 100 years of Nigeria existence as a nation, the chosen theme cannot be anything but the unification or the act of bringing together the diverse and at times conflicting educational, social, political, economic, religious, ethnic and cultural element in our society into one single whole’’ Adaji said.

    He expressed optimism that the programme would in the long run achieve its intended aim which is to ‘re-organise and restructure our youth’s mindset to ward off destructive and insidious influences brought about by films, songs, magazines and telecommunication gadgets all of which becloud their young minds’’. Adaji said: “It is for this reason that we have initiated this project as a way of helping to bring back our fading storytelling tradition”.

  • How NB leverages on competition

    Strategic partnership is one of the most powerful tools producers of consumer goods adopt to move their business forward.  That is why there is competition not only between organisations but also amongst suppliers.

    Organisations will, therefore, form strategic partnerships or align with their suppliers toward business synergy to gain market share. The preference would be focusing on their core competency and outsourcing the other business process. This strategic move is to ensure that every part of the supply chain is more efficient and effective than what competition parades.

    To a large extent, the performance of the supply chain is determined by the achievement of the collaboration of every party. With this understanding, every organisation in the supply chain has to move out all the obstacles between them and find out a win-win scenario which is the emphasis of a partnership relationship.

    Today, in our economic environment, distributors are being relied on heavily as customers are more likely to order smaller volumes of products on a more frequent basis. Therefore established partnerships with distributors provide for continuity and trust of supply. A viable distribution channel offers unique advantages to suppliers. In essence effective sales channel management will lead to greater profitability, increased market share and higher customer fulfillment.

    Foremost brewers, Nigeria Breweries Plc, by all standards is regarded as one of the most successful brewing companies in Africa. Apart from it being renowned for producing high quality brands, NB plc’s success can also be attributed largely to its distributors who over the years have contributed immensely to the growth of the company and its bottom-line.

    The company has constantly maintained a mutually beneficial relationship with its distributors who in turn have had a rewarding experience over the years doing business with the company.  It, therefore, came as no surprise when the company recently organised an elaborate award ceremony to celebrate and reward its distributors and transporters. The award tagged ”Our Bond, Our Success” took place at the Eko Hotel and Suites, VI, Lagos.

    The company went the extra mile to once again show its appreciation to its distributors and transporters for a very rewarding business year.

    The brewing giant gave out a total of 116 awards in various categories which include: National Volume Champion and Region Volume Champions, Regional Volume Champions who attained minimum of two million cases, Regional Volume Champion who attained less than two million cases, District Champions who achieved minimum of two million cases, District Champions who achieved one to two million cases, District Champions who achieved one million cases, Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved above one million cases) among others.

    The prizes won include Mercedes Benz truck, Mitsubishi Canter trucks; Mitsubishi L200 double cabin; forklifts; sound proof generating sets; cash rewards and several free cartons of Nigerian Breweries products.

    Magulf Enterprises limited, having sold the required cases of Nigerian Breweries products emerged best distributor for the year 2012. The company won the coveted award and a brand new Mercedes Benz truck to further enhance their business.

    The Managing Director, Magulf Global Enterprises, Mrs. Mary Agbonifo expressed her joy for being awarded the Best Distributor for 2012. She said: “I am very happy to be given this award by Nigeria Breweries Plc. I have maintained a very rewarding business relationship with NB Plc for over 20 years now. They have helped and supported me to grow in the business and employ many Nigerians in the process.”

    Ifeoma Chukwuma Nigeria Limited and GN Anyoha and Sons Limited went home with second and third place prizes respectively. Mrs. Chukwuma praised the company for giving them the platform to excel and also for ensuring that trade marketing support is always on ground that they have tools to work with. “Nigerian Breweries always ensures that they support your business at all times, they provide all the necessary marketing support that distributors need to push their business. This is one company that knows where it is going,” she added.

    Mr Anyaoha of GN Anyaoha and Sons Limited also laid credence on what the other winners said, he commended the company for providing a level playing field for any serious businessman to succeed. “If you see the kind of prizes that were awarded to distributors who excelled you will realise that this is a serious company that rewards hard work and productivity; those who did not win would strive to ensure that they win next year, this will encourage healthy competition and the drive toward excellence.”

    Sales Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mr Hubert Eze disclosed that the partnership with distributors and key transporters is a major factor in the company’s success story which has also contributed to growth in sales volume which equally impacted positively on profit margin. “The reward for our Key Distributors and Super Key Distributors and other trade partners of the company who excelled in the cause of their business partnerships with NB Plc is a fulfillment of NB Plc’s promise and encouragement to them,” he said.

    He added that product innovation and quality maintenance will continue to be the focus of the company as he applauded every member of the Nigerian Breweries team for their various contributions to driving the company and various brands forward.

    The award also provided the platform to evaluate the previous year’s business performance, as well as communicate new business strategies to distributors.

    Managing Director, Nicolaas Vervelde who gave an overall score card of the company, identified the importance of investment and reward as a major strength of the company and promised to continue to appreciate distributors as well as every bit of the business team.

    Chief Executive Officer, Magulf Enterprises Limited, Chief Mrs. Mary Agbonifo praised Nigerian Breweries for their appreciation and reward which has been an encouraging factor to push for the success of the products and help her achieve growth in her own business. She pledged her continuous support for the new business year.

    At the event, The multi award winning song writer and singer, Tuface Idibia was on ground to entertain guests.

     

  • Pupil wins painting competition

    Pupil wins painting competition

    Master Daniel Bankole, a Basic Six pupil of Joint-Heirs Primary School, Shomolu, Lagos Mainland, has won the Amila Painting Challenge at the grand finale held at the University of Lagos.

    The first runner-up was Master Chukwudi Kosi, a 13-year-old Basic Six pupil of Subuola Nursery and Primary School, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos. Master Daniel Iwajomo, of St. Dominic’s Primary School, Yaba, Lagos, was second runner-up.

    The panel of four judges comprised two artists, an arts teacher and an arts journalist.

    The overall best pupil went home with N250,000 while first runner-up got N150,000 and the second runner-up – N100,000.

    The other 12 contestants got consolation prizes of N30,000 each while arts teachers of the three best pupils got N25,000 each. The winning schools will get art materials worth N250,000 .

    About 15 pupils, representing 15 of the 20 local government areas in Lagos, participated in the final stage of the competition.

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Amila powdered soft drink, had last November flagged off the challenge in about 200 primary schools across 20 local government areas in Lagos State under the first stage of the competition.

    Under the first stage, an art teacher in each of the selected schools conducted a general painting competition among the pupils of the school to determine the best 10 pupils that would participate on the Amila Day, that is, the day of the activation from where an overall best winner emerged to represent the school at each local government level.

    At the second stage, the overall winner from the local government level got a branded Amila bicycle and Promasidor goodie bag.

    Earlier, in her address of welcome, Mrs. Abiola Inawo, Dairy Category and Food Enhancement Manager, Promasidor, said the competition commenced about six months ago with a press conference to herald it.

    She said the competition is all about making the children to have fun.

    According to her, we went to 100 public schools and 100 private schools in the 20 educational districts in Lagos State during the first stage of the competition after children in all schools were given opportunity to paint anything of their choices.

    The competition was in three stages, the first stage was at the school level where pupils painted any art of their choices. The winners from this level, represented their schools at the local government area for the second stage.

    At the second stage, the overall winner from the local government level got a branded Amila bicycle and Promasidor goodie bags.

    The third phase, which was the grand finale of the competition was graced by representatives of the arts and culture from 20 educational districts under the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

  • Online academic competition

    Director of Business, Measures Limited, Anuoluwapo Awojobi, has urged senior secondary school pupils and undergraduates to enter for Andrew Challenge, which he claims to be the first real-time and online academic competition in Nigeria.

    He said through the website, www.andrewchallenge.net, students can participate in the competition from any location.

    Already, Awojobi said almost 1,000 students participated in Season One of the competition held from November 24-December10 last year. Six outstanding students, three each from secondary schools and higher institutions emerged as winners and were rewarded with scholarship prices in each category. The best students received N100,000, first runners up got N75,000 and N50,000 for the second runners up.

    For each attempt, a student is to answer 10 questions in Mathematics, English Language, General Knowledge, Science and Art.

     

     

     

  • Competition’ll drive banks’ growth, says RenCap CEO

    Competition’ll drive banks’ growth, says RenCap CEO

    Growth in the banking sector will be driven by competition and improved corporate governance structure, Chief Executive Officer, West Africa, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), Mrs Yvonne Ike, has said.

    In an interview in Lagos, she said growth in the sector would be driven by competition, which could spur fresh mergers and acquisitions taking some lenders to mega bank status. Besides, she said the growing interest of foreign investors in the sector would spur its growth.

    She said: “I think we would see a bit more consolidation in the banking sector. The banking sector is a very strong sector and it is going to continue to be very competitive. We see a bank like Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) that has a cost to income ratio of 41 per cent and has return on equity of over 20 per cent. So, we would see people struggling to compete and banks that have the platform and align their strategy with the growth sectors of the economy would outstrip others. We are gradually seeing more international banks looking at the market. This is something that is taking longer than we anticipated.”

    Ike listed poor infrastructure, security and corruption as major factors affecting the growth of the economy. She was, however, upbeat with the ongoing reforms, saying that the country would continue to record economic growth.

    She urged both local and foreign investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the economy. “The issues that Nigeria faces predominantly are around infrastructure, corruption and security. But we are seeing developments in those areas. But we are all impatient for it to move a little quicker. We do think that everything is moving in the right direction. That is why we think that the country is an investment destination. You can’t wait for everything to be fixed before you invest. We think that the time to invest especially in the banking sector is now,” she declared.

     

  • Wolves ready to maul competition, says Ike ThankGod

    Wolves ready to maul competition, says Ike ThankGod

    Warri Wolves centre-back, Ike ThankGod, has stated that he and his teammates are in the right frame of mind and raring to go when the new League campaign kicks off on the proposed date of March 9.

    The powerfully built defender told supersport.com that the team are primed for success this season and they have received positive vibes from the Delta state governor who urged the team to emulate their teammates Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Sunday Mba who brought glory to the team by winning the African Cup of Nations.

    “We are prepared and ready to go, the team is motivated and the state governor, His excellency Emmanuel Uduaghan is solidly behind us,” he said.

    “I personally want to have a good season and do my best to be part of the home-based Super Eagles set-up,” ThankGod added.

    ThankGod, who scored six goals from his defensive position says his target is 10 goals.

    “I scored six goals last season all from open play, I want to better that this forthcoming season, if I can get 10 goals I’ll be glad,” said the defender.

    Thankgod was also full of praise for his Warri Wolves teammates that were part of the Super Eagles team to South Africa 2013.

    “Sunday (Mba), Azubuike ( Egwuekwe) and Chigozie ( Agbim) have done very well and shown that we ( home based players) can do well if given the chance, all we need is a chance to prove ourselves,” he said.

    The tough as nails defender has played 15 times for the Super Eagles.

  • Unhealthy competition worries insurers

    Stakeholders are worried that unhealthy competition in the industry may get worse this year, especially with the introduction of the ‘no premium no cover’ policy by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

    Chairman, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said the policy would create a ‘rat race’ among firms.

    He said insurance companies would find a way to retain their customers, whether premiums are paid immediately.

    “What is most likely going to happen is that, if one insurance company does not take the client and finds a way to do business with them, another company will do it,” saying the major problem that confronted insurance firms in the past had been the issue of undercutting each other and this is going to continue.

    ”There is no way NAICOM will be able to catch all those destroying the sector because they will do it in such a way that there will be no evidence to show,” he said.

    The Managing Director, Riskguard-Africa Nigeria Limited Mr Yemi Soladoye, said unless insurance operators adopt cost effective and non-volatile distribution channels, unhealthy competition would get worse.

    He said most problems in the industry are caused by operators’ refusal to adopt retail strategy as a business policy, adding that one way to get out of the problem is for firms to adopt retail marketing.

    He said operators tackle the unhealthy competition because they have boxed themselves into a narrow distribution outlet – the brokering market – adding that in such a situation, price becomes the only strategy.

    He noted that clients are asking for reduced price because they are yet to see any strategy from the operators, saying insurance companies concentrate on premium growth instead of market expansion.

    “The future and the solidity of the operators can only come from market expansion and not competing for the few available channels.

    “Unhealthy competition will get worse, until they look for better, cost effective and non-volatile distribution channels,” he said.

    According to the Riskguard chief, retail marketing strategies means that insurance firms can identify organisations they can partner with to reach the target market.

    “Bankassurance, which is collaborating with banks, is a retail channel. It also means engaging in alliances with organisations, such as Shoprite, Megaplaza and others, which are working with cooperative societies.

    He said though the channels are there, the market will not expand except they are adopted.

    ”There’s no alternative; it is compulsory, for they are feeling the bite of the narrow distribution outlet that they are using at the moment.

    “Most of the problems they face, which include high cost of doing business, premium reduction, unhealthy competition, are manifestations of the fact that they are using narrow distribution method. If you have an alternative, you would be able to do business on your own terms, but when you do not have alternatives, you have to achieve what ever any body tells you. That is the problem with the operators for they are not creating alternative distribution outlets for themselves,” he added.

    He urged insurers to return to the drawing board to examine their operations, adding that each company needs to sit and draw strategy on how to develop its business and adopt retail marketing strategy and that when this is done, issues of unhealthy competition, premium reduction and others will stop.

     

  • Delta to host African U-17 athletics competition in March 2013

    Delta to host African U-17 athletics competition in March 2013

    Delta government says it has begun preparations for the hosting of the African U-17 Athletics championship in March, 2013.

    Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan said this on Tuesday at the reception by the state government for its victorious contingent to the just-concluded18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.

    Uduaghan said the tournament would be hosted at the Warri Township Stadium and expressed optimism that facilities there would suffice for the four-day event.

    He said that a technical team from the African Athletics Federation was already in the state to inspect facilities ahead of the championship.

    Uduaghan said that the government placed much premium in the development of sports and would not compromise standards and proper training and motivation of athletes.

    The governor also announced the award of scholarships to the children of Monday Aigbe, a swimming coach in the state, who died on Dec. 13.

    He said that the scholarship would take the children of the deceased coach, who died after leading the state’s swimmers to victory at the festival to doctorate degree level.

    The governor presented a cheque of N1 million to the children as cash reward for their late father for being victorious at the Games.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that swimmers from the state won 24 gold medals out of the 40 available in the swimming event at the festival. The late coach was said to have died of Hypertension-related ailment which lasted for a few days.