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Tag: emerge

  • Two APC governorship candidates emerge in Ogun

    Prince Dapo Abiodun was last night declared winner of the Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election by the Muhammad Ndabawa-led electoral committee.

    The shadow election was through the direct primary.

    Ndabawa, who noted that the election was conducted in the 236 wards across the 20 Local Government Areas, said Abiodun polled 102, 305 votes to win.

    Ndabawa gave the scores of other contestants as Jimi Lawal  (51, 153) Abimbola Ashiru ( 29, 764) Gbenga Kaka  (17,771) Abayomi Hunye ( 9,110) and Adekunle Akinlade (23, 443) votes.

    He said the declaration would be “subject to ratification by the National Working Committee” of the party.

    He said he was “not aware of such primary” earlier conducted by committees set up by the state APC and the subsequent declaration of Abdukabir Adekunle Akinlade as winner by state Chairman Derin Adebiyi.

    He added  that the Committee he led is the “authentic body constituted by the NWC” to conduct and supervise the primary in line with the party’s guidelines and constitution.

    The announcement of Abiodun, an oil magnate and real estate operator from Iperu town in Ogun East Senatorial district, came barely six hours after Akinlade was declared winner in a primary conducted on Tuesday.

    Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives (Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency, polled 190,987 votes to emerge winner in the controversial direct primary conducted on Tuesday.

    Other contestants – Jimi Lawal came in a distant second position with 5,046 votes while  Dapo Abiodun garnered 3,648 votes followed by Abimbola Ashiru with 898 votes, Senator Gbenga Kaka with 833 votes and Abayomi Hunye with 208 votes.

    Declaring Akinlade the winner at the APC State Secretariat on Abiola Way, Abeokuta, Adebiyi said Akinlade polled the highest number of valid votes in the primary.

    The state party chairman added that the primary was conducted throughout the 236 wards in Ogun  by Local Government and ward election committees constituted by the state chapter of the party “in compliance with the constitution of our party and the guidelines released by the National Working Committee (NWC) All Progressives Congress.”

    Adebiyi told reporters that he elected to announce the result and declared the winner instead of leaving it to be done by the Muhammad Ndabawa-led electoral committee, saying  the committee was “heavily compromised.”

    Adebiyi said: “the Committee was here and they were emphatic, after cancelling the exercise twice that the election would hold yesterday, this is after we had submitted names of local committee and venues in obedience to the guideline.

    “Yesterday morning, they still agreed that the primary would hold and we mobilised to our different wards but we waited endlessly as the phone numbers or committee members were switched off and electoral materials not available.

    “Up till now, we don’t know the whereabouts of the committee and we’ve not seen them at the party’s Secretariat. They’ve been heavily and highly compromised.

    “The guideline is straight and unambiguous, its open secret ballot which is option A4 but they said they brought ballot papers from Abuja, in a direct primary? To do what?”

  • PDP’ll emerge stronger, says Jonathan

    PDP’ll emerge stronger, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the PPDP will become solid after  Saturday’s convention.

    Speaking to reporters yesterday after a visit to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at the Government House Port Harcourt, the former president said an elected National Working Committee would set in motion  the preparation for the 2019 elections.

    He said: “God willing, we will go through the National Convention and the party will become solid.

    ”You know we have a Caretaker Committee.  When you have a Caretaker Committee, you are not as strong as a fully elected chairman.  The party passed through some challenges.  Luckily for us, we have passed through  that phase with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court “.

    ”We want to formally elect the officials of the party that will lead the party to the 2019 elections.  I am very hopeful that on the 9th of December we will elect our leaders “.

    He described Wike as “one of the best governors in terms of commitment, in terms of putting structures on ground, in terms of coming up with creative policies.

    ”He met certain structures, he has improved on them and he has built new roads and infrastructure.  I was even asked to come and commission one of the roads. That is why people call him Nr. Projects. He has been accepted by Nigerians as a performing governor “.

    The former president thanked Governor Wike and the Rivers State Executive Council for attending  the funeral of his brother-in-law at Okrika.

  • $1.5b Loot: Fresh facts emerge on Diezani’s Nigeria trial request

    $1.5b Loot: Fresh facts emerge on Diezani’s Nigeria trial request

    •  Ex-minister moves to scale six hurdles
    • London trial set to begin soon
    • Why she prefers to be tried in Nigeria
    •  Associate goes underground

    Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are vowing to resist any attempt by the embattled ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to scuttle her impeding trial in the United Kingdom (UK).

    The ex-minister recently expressed her preference to face trial at home when she pleaded with the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Federal Government to facilitate her return to Nigeria to face trial.

    She asked for an opportunity to defend allegations against her in a charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore and former National Planning Minister Abubakar Suleiman.

    The prosecution said Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to individuals in the 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    However, EFCC officials believe that the ex-minister’s statement is part of a grand delay strategy to escape justice in London.

    The Nation gathered yesterday that the fear of getting the ‘James Ibori treatment’ if tried in the United Kingdom was partly responsible for her call to face trial in Nigeria.

    Other reasons, according to EFCC sources, include the ‘strict nature’ of the British anti-graft law, and the huge cost of hiring a defence team there which could further drain her already depleted  financial resources.

    Ibori, ex-governor of Delta State was jailed by the Southwark Crown Court, London on April 17, 2012 after pleading guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

    He was jailed for 13 years and his assets including three buildings in the UK and South Africa seized.

    Also confiscated from him were a fleet of Range Rovers, a Bently Continental GT and a Mercedes-Benz Maybach 62.

    He was recently released from jail.

    Before Ibori’s London trial, he had been discharged and acquitted of a 107 count charge of corruption by a Federal High Court, Asaba.

    Sources also said the ex-minister is home sick.

    Her trial in London, is expected to commence soon, sources added and EFCC officials are upbeat that the trial will justify the extensive job they did in investigating her.

    They are shocked that she wants to return to Nigeria after the ‘massive’ evidence they sent to the UK for her ‘water-tight’ prosecution.

    “We see her as making moves to frustrate the course of justice after we have hauled a lot of evidence to the United Kingdom,” one source said.

    “If she comes back, she will come up with frivolous applications up to the Supreme Court level to halt her probe. She might take advantage of the law to frustrate investigation and her arraignment in court.

    “Intelligence also revealed that she is already afraid that she might face trial before some conservative judges who may strictly apply the UK law against corruption.

    “So, she is just afraid of the long arm of the law catching up with her.”

    The source said now that the EFCC has seized more than 56 houses from her, she should “face trial in the UK which may further vindicate our findings or otherwise.

    “The report of the US Department of Justice has already proved EFCC right on its investigation.

    “US Department of Justice through its  Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, is already seeking to recover $144m in assets from some associates of Diezani.

    “We want her to face trial abroad in order to recover laundered funds before returning home for further  investigation including the whereabouts of about $15.8 billion NLNG dividends  between 2000 and 2014.”

    An audit report sent to EFCC by the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), doubts whether “the entire $15.8 billion due from 2000 to 2014 is still intact.”

    NEITI added: “The funds were neither paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation nor the Federation.

    “Also, about US$7.85 billion out of the dividends was allegedly withdrawn in 2011 under the guise of funding Brass LNG Project.”

    Another source said:”The UK has spent much of public funds on Diezani’s probe. She needs to spend more on the hiring of counsel.

    “At the end of the day, if the laundered funds and assets are seized, whatever will have been  expended on her probe will be deducted from forfeited assets.

    “She will end up losing part of the looted funds. This is overwhelming her.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We learnt that Diezani’s trial will soon begin in the UK, we believe she should not jump the gun.”

    As at press time, it was learnt that Mr. Kola Aluko, one of the business associates of the ex-Minister, has gone underground.

    Aluko was implicated in the wiring of the part of the $1.5billion into a bank in Switzerland.

    Sources also said  that Aluko may  have sold most of the 19 choice assets traced to him in some countries.

    The source added: “Detectives have been on the trail of Aluko but he cannot hide for long.”

    A Federal High Court in Lagos had on June 24, 2016 invoked the Interim Forfeiture Order in the EFCC Establishment Act to seize the properties.

    The affected assets are mostly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and the United States.

    They are a plot of land in Mont Tremblant (Canada) and some houses in the United Arab Emirates including 4100 Le Reve Dubai Maria, Dubai; Unit 1402, PS 14th Floor located at Metro TECOM near Internet City Metro Station, Dubai; Unit 712, ES 7th Floor located at First Central, Off Sheikh Zayed, TECOM, Al-Barsha 3 Dubai; and Unit 512, 5th Floor located at First Group Marina Hotels, Al-Seba Street, Plot 394-426, Dubai AE-AJ.

    Those in Switzerland are at Colina D’Oro Montagnola, Switzerland; Via Magio 6 Montagnola 6926 Switzerland; and Vila Floridiana via Cantonale 17, 6948 Porza Lugano, Switzerland

    Others located in the United States and the United Kingdom are 755 Sarbonne Road, Los Angeles, California 90077USA; 952 North Alpine Drive Beverly Hills, California 80210 USA; 157 West 57th Street New York 10028, USA; 1049 Fifth Avenue New York 10028, USA; 815 Cimal Del Mundo Road Santa Barbara, California 93108, USA; 1948 Tollis Avenue Santa Barbara California 93108; 1952 Tollis Avenue Santa Barbara California 93108, USA; 807 Cimal Del Mundo Road Santa Barbara, California 93108, USA; 32 Grove End Road, London NW8 9LI UK; and Flat D.03.01 One Hyde Park 100 Knight Bridge SW1X 7U, UK.

    Capping the list is the €63m Galactica Star which the US Department of Justice in the United States claimed that the ex-Minister had warned Aluko against buying.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami( SAN) penultimate Wednesday told State House correspondents that the return of Diezani to Nigeria for trial might  jeopardize the ongoing investigation in the UK.

    He said: “Steps have been taken by the United Kingdom authorities on issues bordering on corrupt practices involving Nigerians.

    “If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.

    “As things stand now, there is no need for that since the UK Government is already investigating her. Government will not take any decision that will jeopardize what the UK government is doing.

    “Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke is facing charges of money laundering and acquisition of properties in the United Kingdom.

    “So it is more important to face the charges there than for her to come as a mere witness in a case in Nigeria.’’

  • 10 finalists emerge in GCGT7

    10 finalists emerge in GCGT7

    •As show gets winner this weekend

    With the grand finale of Africa’s gospel talent show, God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT7), scheduled to hold on June 24 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, organisers have unveiled 10 contestants who will slog it out closing ceremony of the show, billed for a live television broadcast.

    The finalists are Esther Benyeogo, Nengi Jaja, Paul Bafunso, Sophia Albert, Emmanuel Osahor, Peter Anderson, Olawonuola Kehinde, Joseph Odi, Deborah Oladipupo and Goodluck Ajirireloja.

    The show gets more tensed as the contestants canvass for public votes to support their chance of winning the grand prize of N250 million management deal; N10 million cash and a brand new car.

    Before the finalists were selected by the judges, the audience witnessed semi-final performances by 20 contestants, as each showed their skill of dancing, singing, spoken word, dexterity with the instruments.

    Each lucky contestant was selected by a combination of live audience votes and the distinguished GCGT7 judges.

     

  • ‘How APC running mate should emerge’

    A group, the All Progressives Congress (APC)  Youth League, has urged the party leadership to review the age criterion for aspirants to give the youths a wider opportunity for political participation.

    The group suggested that the governorship candidate should pick a youth between 30 and 45 years as his running mate. According to the group, the constitution should also be reviewed to allow youths who are above 18 years to seek elective positions.

    Its Southwest Coordinator,  Adeoye Aribasoye, a lawyer, made the call in Akure,  the Ondo State capital, during the Youth summit and ‘Walk for victory rally.’

    Noting that Section 47, Clause 1 of the South-Africa Constitution provided that “every citizen who is qualified to vote for the National Assembly is eligible to be member of the Assembly,” he advised Nigeria to take a cue.

    Aribasoye, who also noted that Gen. Yakubu Gowon became the military Head of State at 32, called on the National Assembly to review the age criterion in the constitution.

    He maintained that the next deputy governor should be a youth because only old men can emerge as the governor.

    The President of the association, Comrade Atir Solomon, said the group will soon present its mobilization policy document to the APC as part of its contributions to the electioneering process.

    He said members will embark on house-to-house and  neighbour-to-neighbour campaigns to sensitise the people to the push for change.

    Solomon said the people are yearning for change, urging the APC to fulfill their aspiration.

    The state corrdinator,  Comrade Adebowale Akinlosotu promised to mobilise members to campaign for the party during the electioneering.

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, charged Nigerians to support the war against corruption championed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Five final winners emerge in Startimes promo

    Five final winners have emerged in the Startimes win-a-trip-to-Germany promo.

    The draw, held yesterday at the Startimes office in Abuja, was witnessed by officials of the Nigerian Lottery Regulation Commission.

    The latest winners will join five others who had emerged in the August edition for a trip to Germany to watch Bundesliga matches. The all-expense paid trip for 10 lucky subscribers is slated for end of November, 2015.

    Over 77,000 subscribers participated in yesterday’s draw, bringing the number of participants in both draws to over 150,000.

    Other prizes won include 200 units of Android solar phones, 100 units of generators and 42 LED Startimes television sets.

    The promo was one of the activities lined up by Startimes to mark its fifth anniversary.

    The company explained that it was the need to give back to the society that informed the promo.

    One of the lucky subscribers, Dr. Kayode Oseni, who resides in Abeokuta, Ogun State, received the news with joy as he screamed when he was informed on the phone that he was one of the lucky winners.

    Dr. Oseni who said he recharged on hearing of the promo, commended Startimes for being customer-friendly.

    Speaking on the essence of the promo, Startimes Marketing Manager, Somoye Habeeb, said no doubt, there are various competitors in the industry, but Startimes would ensure that its customers received the best in terms of transmission and service delivery.

    He said: “When you talk about competition, it is an integral part of every business, every industry.

    “We know that the competition is tense now but not for Startimes. We are leading and intend to keep leading.

    “Digital migration is coming soon, and whether you like it or not, the best is coming from Startimes and we are promising Nigerians that we will give them the best.”

    He said;”This is a draw that we titled win a trip to Germany, where we will be taking 10 subscribers to Germany to watch the Bundesliga live matches.

    “Not only that, we will also be giving out 100 generator sets, we will also be giving out 50 LED television sets and 200 solar phones.

    “The reason for this promo is just to pay back to the society.

    “What we are giving back to the society is value because what we are taking from them is value.”

  • Winners emerge in Fidelity Bank’s scholarship promo

    Winners emerge in Fidelity Bank’s scholarship promo

    Thirty one customers of Fidelity Bank Plc have won a total of N12.7 million cash and lots of consolation prizes in the ongoing ‘Save 4 Scholarship’ promo organised by the lender.

    Speaking during a the second raffle draw for qualified customers in Lagos, its Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, Ik Mbalu said a total of N80 million will be won by 200 customers within six months.

    He explained that 34 customers had won N16.7 million during the first draw, adding that more N49.6 million will still be won in subsequent draws.

    Mbalu said the promo is aimed at supporting government’s efforts at building sustainable educational standards in the country and providing financial empowerment to the general populace.

    Some of the winners are Kyrian Obiajunwa, Ohajianya Kelechi, Okoli Chinedu, Isu Agha won N210,000,  each; James Faith, a student living in Kaduna, Okoye Emeka, Aregbesola  Blessing, Adigun Fadeke among others won N500,000 each.

    Other winners were Job Israel, Adewale Abiodun, Agom Chidi  among others who won N1 million each. Anieke Vincent, Hadiza Musa, Akobi Chikwudi, Okenyi Sunday among others won consolation prizes of generators and refrigerators.

    The bank’s Head of Retail Banking, Emeka Obiagwu said the draw was designed to encourage customers save more. He said the bank has not restricted the usage of the money won by customers, but such funds will ease the burden of school fees on the winners.

    He said the bank also wants members of the public to also know that it is supporting education adding that the country was divided into six zones to ensure that everyone is covered. The N2 million star prize is zoned to Abuja.

  • How Imoke’s successor ‘ll emerge, by PDP chieftain

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and governorship aspirant in Cross River State  Francis Bullem is from the North Senatorial District. The former banker and businessman spoke with NICHOLAS KALU on his ambition, Imoke Administration and succession battle in the Southsouth state. 

    How prepared are you for the governorship race?

    I am not in this race because I am looking at the other people. I am looking at myself as the person who is into this. I have prepared myself for this and other moments that are coming. When we started, we said we were consulting. Now, we have reached a state where the umpire has lifted the veil on some skeletal level of activities. We are moving forward.We are getting into the critical stages where we would begin to say “ this is my blueprint” and when you begin to talk about the blueprint, we shall be looking at the macro and micro issues that are involved in development because, if you look at what the incumbent is doing, there is a clear agenda for development. Indices have been set. And those indices are going to mature beyond his tenure.That is why I said that, in my own case, you are talking about continuity, sustainably, good governance and accountability. By the time you get these parameters right, you will be talking about value addition. So, if it is education now, we ask ourselves, where are we in education? So, if you follow in the path that have been laid, you will get to standards that you want to get to. The same thing goes for all other sectors. The hallmark of these is how do you stimulate growth and development. So, if you want to reduce poverty,  that means all the indices that have been set by the Imoke Administration, you drive it to the end. So, the cycle would be complete. So, it would be foolish of anybody who thinks that when gets to this stage, you will turn the hand of the clock. I don’t think so.

    If I did not prepare myself for this journey, I would not be here at this moment. I prepared myself and I have been praying to God to give me direction. And that is why I have remained very focussed. It is not like there have not been distractions or there are not going to be distractions. If you begin to listen to “oh, this one has been anointed, or not anointed,” or all of that, you cannot be here. But, because I feel that, as an individual, I have capacity, pedigree and exposure; the critical ingredients. So, I am not a student who feels that  I would be staying behind. Governor Imoke will prefer to be succeeded by a hard working person.

    What are the programmes you hope to implement, if you elected as governor?

    Let me take you back a little. If you set an agenda for continuity, that means the parameters must have been set. The critical sectors that drive development are agriculture, education, health and then infrastructure. Then, tourism. That is the niche area in Cross River. So, these are the critical sectors that you cannot wish away. But, in the short term, both in the micro aspect and in the macro, if you have to quickly get out of poverty, then,you must do agriculture very quickly. So, you take more people back to the farm. You create a cycle of entrepreneurs. You get more people empowered. And then, it would throw back the value proposition that would support the macro economy at the centre.

    Is consensus candidacy not feasible?

    I don’t have a problem with consensus. You know why? It is because, if the indices are properly set, it would throw up a good candidate. When you talk about consensus, you are talking about a process that throws up a consensus. If it is very fair, with clear and measurable parameters, then, a better candidate should emerge. So, if that candidate is better than me, I should be mature and responsible enough to say this person deserves this more than myself. I am not in this race because I want to die. I don’t want to die. I am in this race because I want to serve and I have a valid proposition. If that happens and the consensus throws up somebody that is better than me, it is about supporting that person.

    The governor has advised aspirants to work together to produce a candidate. What is your view?

    I can tell you that I have been in touch with almost everybody, both the ones we hear as stories and the ones we are all in it together. I have tried to keep a relationship. Informally, we have been talking to ourselves. It is not difficult to get that to happen, but the problem is that, when the other man who is not even working feels that he is the one that is anointed, he doesn’t want to come to the table because, if he comes to the table and we start looking at ourselves and he has nothing to offer. He is only looking at where he thinks he is drawing his strength from. Otherwise, for me as a person, I have been communicating with all the people that are accessible. At the end of the day, it is only one person that would be there and that is why I am telling you that I have a very large heart. If I am able to push myself in what I am doing, then, I should be able to punch myself anytime any day. We need the grace of God to continue to do the things that we are doing. You see, there is a clear divide between people who think they are favoured and the rest of us that feel that we need to work hard and present ourselves for assessment. That is why I am working. I cannot measure what I am doing. But, if the feelers are right,  it means I have worked very hard to get here. But, I need to work harder.

    What is your position on zoning?

    Like I said, a man who wants to be the governor of Bekwara or Ogoja or Obanliku is not fit to be governor. It is the man who wants to be the governor of Cross River State, in which case, the South, the Central and the North should determine who becomes governor. The South and Central are pushing decent people who can become governor. They are coming up with the profile of people who fit into the equation. The North, in partnership with the Central and South, should  come together. That is why the process is driven together. So, apart from the senatorial districts, you have the establishment, the party apparatus, to moderate. So, I want to see a process and I feel it is already on-going. There are different stages. Let everyone who wants to be governor come out and go round and work. In the process consultations, a lot of people have supplied pieces of advice that has been helpful. People ask you questions that you know would hold you to your honour and integrity. Tomorrow, the same person will be there to ask you the same questions he asked you earlier. So, if you turn around, you would not be trusted. So, by the time all of these happens, you will know who is serious and who is not serious and all of that.

    Are you worried about the governor’s intention to annoint a candidate?

    You people are the ones helping them. Because when you do reports, you put their names, and when you call them in the private, they deny. I think the honourable thing to do, even if I am a full time appointee of the governor and I have the conviction that I am going to succeed him, first of all, I would have prepared myself from day one that getting into this cabinet, this is my direction, and as such, you put yourself in the eyes of the governor. He begins to see you as such a person who has the capacity, charisma and pedigree to succeed him. When the time comes, you should be bold enough to go and sit down with your boss and talk to him about your ambition. You will say, give me time, let me go out and work so that, when the time comes, if you are convinced that I can succeed you, then, it becomes easy for you to make a decision. But, nobody is bold enough to come out and yet, you want to succeed the governor.

    What is the political experience that qualifies you for this role?

    I am in the supervisory board of the internal revenue. That enough is being in government because that is the hub of government. If you drive revenues, it means you are creating alternative sources of income for government to function. What the banking career does for anybody is that it prepares you for any challenge from the management to administration, prudence, decision making and leadership. From a foot solider in the bank to branch manager, then, the middle-level management. In all of these, you are gaining experience, momentum and capacity in a broad spectrum of management. And you get to the ‘generals level,’  which is  theAssistant General Manager and above. From an AGN you can be a bank Managing Director. It is the top echelon. So, if I got there, it means that I have acquired experience.

  • Lagos State ‘Top 20 Showdown’ Table Tennis Tourney: Azeez, Bose emerge champions

    Lagos State ‘Top 20 Showdown’ Table Tennis Tourney: Azeez, Bose emerge champions

    In its effort to continue the promotion of Table Tennis in Lagos State and to prepare the state’s athletes for the 19th National Sports Festival coming up in Calabar later this year, the Lagos State Table Tennis Association organised a two-day championship tagged “Top 20 Showdown” which saw Ogunlade Azeez and Odusanya Bose winning the male and female categories respectively.

    The competition which took place at the Table Tennis Section of Ikoyi Club 1938, saw Azeez and Bose smiling home with cash prizes of Sixty and Forty Thousand Naira respectively.

    Azeez, who scaled the different stages of the tournament, defeated Anthony Gbenga 4-3 in a thrilling encounter in the finals and expressed joy at winning the maiden edition. He also said he didn’t expect the victory but that he planned to train more in order to repeat his success.

    Speaking with SportingLife, he said: “I am very happy winning this competition. I didn’t plan winning it at all, but I thank God. I played very fine and I intend to train more to be a better player.”

    Odusanya Bose, who thrashed Fatimo Bello 3-1 in the women’s final, said confidence saw her through the female category, as she was determined to defeat Bello who had always outshined her at different competitions.

    ”I am happy I won the game. I had the confidence that I would win the competition and beat my opponent,” Bose told SportingLife.

    The championship was sponsored by the chairman, Lagos State Table Tennis Association, Femi Sokoya, and he said the motive behind the tournament was to ensure that the state surpasses its record at the last sports festival hosted by Lagos State, and also produce future stars who can bring glory to the country.

    “The tournament was like a screening process to see players who are in form, up and coming, to know the direction the association needs to take in preparation for the next National Sports Festival,” Sokoya said.

    “We administrators can only encourage these players to grow, push them. I believe these players can take over from the likes of Segun Toriola and Haruna Quadri,” he added.

  • Winners of 11th Okonkwo national essay emerge

    Miss Patience Brown of Apapa Senior High School Lagos has emerged the overall winner of the 11th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School.

    Brown scored 68% to beat other contestants at the prestigious competition.

    Precious Nwaigwe of St. Francis Catholic Secondary School Idimu, Lagos scored 66% to emerge second while Master Akinwande Akinboluwarin of Greater Tomorrow International School, Arigidi Akoko Ondo State was third with 65%.

    Master David Oluwasoromidayo of Roshalom International Secondary School, who scored 64%, was the fourth best candidate.

    The Chief examiner of the competition, Professor Akachi Ezigbo of the Department of English, University of Lagos, said: “In assessing their entries, we looked out for how much they know of the issue, their capacity to express that knowledge in Standard English usage and their ability to follow tested methods of expressing knowledge acquired through observation, reading and experience.”

    She explained that four of the more than 2,000 submissions were outstanding.

    Brown will get N100, 000, a laptop and plaque while her school gets three set of internet-ready computers and a printer.

    Amarachi wins N75, 000, a plaque while her school will get two internet-ready computers and a printer.

    For emerging third, Akinboluwarin will go home with N50, 000 and a plaque while her school gets an internet-ready computer.

    Oluwasoromidayo will get a consolation price of N20, 000.

    The prizes will be presented at the Mike Okonkwo annual lecture, which holds on September 4 at the Shell Hall Muson Centre Lagos.

    The theme for the lecture is the power of your vote: A catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria.