The Nation Newspaper

Tag: merit award

  • Oyegun bags 9th Benin National Merit Award

    Oyegun bags 9th Benin National Merit Award

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has recounted how he survived several attempts to remove him from office as the boss of the governing party.

    According to Odigie-Oyegun, who was the first executive governor of Edo State, his several political trials stemmed from his unflinching loyalty to constituted authority at all times, a posture that severally frustrated contending interests within the party.

    Odigie-Oyegun spoke when he received the 9th Benin National Award from the Bini National Congress (BNC) in the Edo State Capital, Benin-City, on Thursday evening.

    “The timing of the investiture was significant given that I had just survived another attempted coup which died with a whimper. For a Bini group, my own people, to say ‘oga we want to honour you’, I thought finally yes I deserved this honour. I thank you for doing this. This is one of my proudest moments”, the APC National Chairman stated at the well-attended award reception.

    “I grew up in an environment of strong family ties, where bringing disgrace, dishonour to the family is the worst thing you can possibly do because your own family will be the first to disown you. So, all my life, this is the circumstance that has conditioned me.

    “One, I do nothing that will not make me sleep soundly at night. I do nothing that I will be afraid to see as a headline in any of the national dailies. Yes, I have been through several trials, and I have overcome them all. Why have I done so? Because at the end of the day, however detailed, however forensic, your examination, you will not find that I have done anything dishonourable.

    “And so with all the hue and cry, at the end of the day, when we sit down, yes you want John Odigie-Oyegun out, fine. Tell us what he has done? The whole situation fizzles out because the only thing you can punish him for is loyalty. And we Edo people are loyal. If we believe in something, we make sacrifices to ensure that those ends are upheld and met.” Odigie-Oyegun said.

    The APC National Chairman compared President Muhammadu Buhari to some eminent Nigerians, such as the late INEC chairs Justice Ephraim Akpata; Abel Goubadia; lawyer/activist, Gani Fayehinmi; and Afrobeat pioneer and activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who, according to him, were not popular for simply throwing money around, but for their inspiration to others.

    “The example of these men is noticed; it inspires other people. So by their conduct, they are probably doing a lot more good than those who just hand over cash. There are so many ways to the top. People like Justice Ephraim Akpata, Abel Goubadia, Gani Fawehinmi and Fela Anikulapo Kuti were popular, but they controlled nothing. The same attribute is what our president has. He controls nothing. He does not have mansions, but the whole nation has accepted him because of integrity,” he said.

     

  • Onobrakpeya wins merit award in humanity

    • VPAN hosts exhibition in his honour 

    As part of activities to celebrate one of Nigeria’s leading artists, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya, 85, who is the winner of Nigerian National Order of Merit Award in Humanity 2017, the Visual Printmaker Association of Nigeria will hold a touring art exhibition opening on December 9 at The Resource Place, on Badagry Street, off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja.

    The conferment of the merit award on Onobrakpeya will be conducted by President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Former Provost Federal College of Education, Osiele Abeokuta, Dr. Kunle Filani is expected to give a gallery talk on printmaking at the opening.  Special guest of honour is Elder Jerome Elaiho.

    The maiden group exhibition which will feature works by members of the association will move to Quintessence in Ikoyi, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and Agbarha Otor in Delta State.

    Vice chairman of the association Dr. Kunle Adeyemi said it is heart-warming that Federal Government did not honour Prof Onobrakpeya post-humuosly, noting that the master artist brought honour to visual art and printmaking. He said Prof Onobrakpeya has been in the fore front of promoting  art as his works brought new vocabulary to the art.

    “This award won by Prof Onobrakpeya confirms that the visual art has made tremendous contributions to national development. To many of us in the association, Prof Onobrakpeya is a mentor who brought us up in the art. Print has made art collection affordable to Nigerians, especially the aspiring collectors,” he said.

    According to Adeyemi, the tour exhibition will be in phases of about three months intervals and will be curated by Moses Ohiomokhare of Quintessence Gallery, Ikoyi. Participating artists in the exhibition include Bruce Onobrakpeya, Uche Okeke, Salubi Onakufe, Mike Omoighe, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi, Timipre Willis Amah, Juliet Ezenwa Maja Pearce, Ufuoma Onobrakpeya, and Moses Unokwa. Others are Bode Olaniran, Etiido Effiong Inyang Patrick Akpojotor and Aderinsoye Aladegbongbe.

     

  • Lawmaker bags merit award

    A principal officer of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Sanai Agunbiade, has been conferred with the 2017 Merit Award of the Ikorodu Development Association (IKODASS), at a glamorous ceremony held at the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, yesterday.

    Speaking at the event, the Chairman of IKODASS, Otunba Olusegun Abiru, explained that the recipient was carefully chosen based on his antecedents and success in his chosen endeavors, as well as his contributions to the growth and development of Ikorodu division. He described Agunbiade as a worthy Ambassador of the town.

    In his own submission, Oba Shotobi urged the awardee to continue to keep the flag flying, especially by taking the town to more enviable heights. ‘Agunbiade is my son in whom I am well pleased. He has been doing it before, that is why we are honoring him today. I just want to tell him to keep the banner flying,” the Monarch said.

    In his remark after receiving the award, Agunbiade, who is the Majority Leader of the Lagos Assembly, expressed appreciation to God for making it possible for him to be the winner of the 2017 merit award. He added that the best honour that could be given to anybody is recognition by his own people. He promised to contain to do his best for his people.

     

  • ‘Executive Trainers Ltd’ bags Most Outstanding Merit Award

    For the umpteenth time, Lagos based Executive Trainers Limited; popular known for being international higher education trainers and consultants, has been penciled for celebration at the forthcoming 11th edition of the Nigeria Media Nite Out Award, where the Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, is scheduled to bag the Most Outstanding Training Organizer of the year Award.

    Executive Trainers Limited which came into existence in September 2008, with the aim of addressing a gap in the higher education sector, in the area of external higher education consulting, has been making rich impact in upgrading the quality of education in Nigeria.

    The organization has in time past, trained higher education professionals, academic and non-academic, locally, onsite on their various campuses, and more importantly, take them abroad for international training.

    With his experience over the years training academic and non-academic university staff in Nigeria, Dr. Ogunsan is noted for believing that professional educational colleagues within Nigeria for instance, need to interact on knowledge-based platforms with their colleagues abroad. His organization therefore has been providing such platforms for the Nigerian educational professionals through TETFUND and other funding.

     The prestigious 11th Nigeria Media Nite Out Award comes up on the 17th of September 2017 at Airport Hotel. The event will be graced by, His Royal Highness Barrister Alh. Mohammed Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro, The Emir of Borgu Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, The Ooni of Ife and His Royal Highness Adewale Abdulrasheed, The Oluwo of Iwoland. Chief Host will be Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state.

  • Etisalat Merit Award: Tool to boost education

    Etisalat Merit Award: Tool to boost education

    Etisalat, through its Merit Awards, is impacting the education sector, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    For the World Bank, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a private sector effort to support the development of a country. To the global bank, it is relatively a new label.

    Experts, however, believe that the greatest impact of CSR comes when the environment is strong, its activities are linked to national priorities,  targeted at poverty reduction, and  are implemented through partnership.

    Several organisations in Nigeria have taken it upon themselves to complement the public sector’s efforts in the education sector. This is in recognition of the fact that the government cannot carry the burden of funding education alone.

    Recently, Etisalat Nigeria, demonstrated how its CSR initiatives, Etisalat Merit Awards, is lifting the education sector, improving the learning environment, raising standards and encouraging academic excellence among pupils.

    The initiative is one of Etisalat’s social investments aimed at rewarding and encouraging academic excellence among undergraduates. Established in 2009 as a dedicated scholarship programme for undergraduate students of universities, the award celebrates students with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average in the departments of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science and Management Sciences yearly.

    During a recent regional award presentation in Ibadan, 40 undergraduates from the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma were awarded grants of N200,000 each. The universities also received research grants to boost teaching and learning. This year one special category was added to the award, namely the “Award for most academically excellent students with physical challenges.” This is in addition to the other unique Indigenes’ award, for the best performing students from the respective universities.

    Etisalat Regulatory and Corporate Social Responsibility Director, Etisalat, Ikenna Ikeme, said: “The Merit Awards is proof of Etisalat’s commitment to sustainable development of our country through sound and quality education. We have chosen education as one of our core Corporate Social Responsibility platforms because education is the bedrock of development.”

    He added: “At Etisalat we are passionate about making life easier for our customers and members of the communities where we do business.  We also recognise the importance of education as a catalyst for national development, which is why we have numerous initiatives targeted at raising the standards of education and encouraging academic excellence among students.”

    Corporate and Social Responsibility Manager, Oyetola Oduyemi, said: “Over 1,600 scholarships have been awarded under the Merit Awards Scheme since inception. It gets better as we have increased the grant from N100, 000 to N200, 000 to enable students achieve more academic success with the grants.”

    She added that this year alone, 12 universities and over 120 grants will be bestowed in total, under the Etisalat Merit Awards programme.

    UI Students Affairs Deputy Dean, Dr. Keye Abiona, commended Etisalat for its investment in youths. “Etisalat has, indeed, proven that it genuinely cares about educational development of youth in the country through its numerous initiatives aimed at encouraging students to achieve more in their academics and career pursuit,” he said.

  • 555 bag Lagos ‘long service merit award’

    555 bag Lagos ‘long service merit award’

    For their diligence, 555 civil servants were yesterday conferred with Long Service Merit Award by the Lagos State Government.

     Speaking at the award ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, State Secretariat in Alausa, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said workers’ diligence and sacrifice have contributed to the state’s success story since its creation in 1967.

    Represented by the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Dr. Benson Akintola, the governor urged civil servants to sustain the team spirit in order to strengthen the public trust, adding that they should be proactive, diligent, responsive, innovative and timely in service delivery.

    He said: “This occasion provides another unique opportunity for me to put on record my heartfelt appreciation for the contribution of the Lagos State public servants to the success of this administration in the last one year. The modest achievements for which I have received accolades could not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the engine room which the public service represents.

    “We shall adequately reward diligence, hard work and exceptional performance. Conversely, negligence, indiscipline and abuse of trust shall be sanctioned appropriately in line with rules and regulations of the public service.

    “Once again, I congratulate all the awardees for the meritorious service to the state. I wish you good health and great years ahead as you look forward to the glorious end of your career in the state public service.’’

    Earlier, the Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, said the award was to encourage diligence, commitment and loyalty among public servants, with the belief that it would spur recipients and non-recipients to continue to put in their best.

    She said since the inception of the award in 2006, several public servants have benefited from it, adding that this year’s edition was the 10th in the series.

    Mrs. Ademola said: “Let me assure you that the state government on its part will continue to provide the necessary and conducive environment for the attainment of your lofty goals. Government will also continue to place a high premium on the welfare of its staff with a view to enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in order to bring out the best in them.’’

  • Three professors get Order of Merit award

    Three professors get Order of Merit award

    Three professors yesterday received this year’s edition of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award.

    The recipients are: Prof. Seth Sunday Ajayi (Science), Prof. Francis Abiola Irele (Humanities) and Prof Hilary Inyang Inyang (Engineering/Technology).

    President Goodluck Jonathan urged the youths to ensure diligence in their various fields to enable the country succeed in its development of science, technology, economics, arts and other fields.

    Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the awards ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said Nigeria’s survival, as any other country, depends on such developmental efforts.

    “Our survival and collective future as a nation rest on our national and global development efforts in science, technology, economics, arts and other fields. I enjoined Nigerians, especially youths, to emulate your good example and rededicate themselves to excellence. It is only through hard work that we can keep our nation on the path to become one of the leading nations of the world.”

    According to him, the Nigerian National Order Merit Award is one of the most prestigious awards and the highest bestowed on Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora for creative, intellectual and academic contributions of national and global significance.

  • National Productivity Order of Merit Award

    National Productivity Order of Merit Award

  • Jonathan approves two nominees for Merit Award

    Jonathan approves two nominees for Merit Award

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the conferment of Nigerian National Order of Merit Award on two distinguished Nigerians for 2012.

    A statement signed on Tuesday by Secretary, Nigerian National Merit Award, Mr. Adamu Mu`azu, named the nominees as Prof. Samuel Ohaegbulam, a pioneer in the field of neuro-surgery in Nigeria and Prof. Emmanuel Yoloye, an expert in Education Psychology, Chemistry and Science Education.

    The statement stated that the duo would be decorated with the NNOMA on December 6, by President Jonathan at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to the statement, the duo had passed through the litmus test of NNOMA.

    In line with the Transformation Agenda of the present administration and to enhance further research works, each recipient would be given a cash award of N10 million, it said.

    It added that the recipients would also be entitled to a medal and a certificate.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NNOMA has been conferred on only 60 Nigerians from all walks of life since its inception in 1979.

    Prospective recipients are either nominated by persons or a group of persons who feel that the nominees have distinguished themselves nationally and internationally in various spheres of life.

     

  • Lagos lawyer bags merit award

    Lagos  lawyer, Prince Ademola Koko  has bagged the Genius Merit Award  for of the Genius Magazine, a community-based publication in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    The publisher of the magazine, Oluomo Segun Oyesanwo, said the honour was bestowed on him by Genius Communications in recognition of  his generosity and philanthropic gesture to the people and in appreciation of his immense contribution to the progress and development of Ijebu Ode.

    Oyesanwo pointed out that Prince Koko has been empowering the youth of the town and sponsoring the education of some of them in various institution of learning so that they could useful to the society tomorrow.

    He said that to complement the philanthropic efforts of her husband, his wife who is a medical practitioner has also been rendering free medical service to the community in which they reside in the town

    Oyesanwo described Prince Koko as a humble and gentle person who, unlike other successful persons, comes to Ijebu Ode, regularly during the weekend in order to be close to the people and render assistance to them as appropriate.

    Speaking at the awards which held at Gateway Hotel, Ijebu Ode,  the Chairman of Wabash Hotel, High Chief Waid Akanni Bashorun, one of the leaders of a community in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State also spoke highly about the awardee: “Eever since Koko came to his area, he has contributed immensely to the development of the area.”

    In appreciation of the award given to him by Genius Communications, the lawyer, who remarked that he was always ready to give to the people said  that philanthropy has always been part of his life, an attribute he claimed to have imbibed from his late father.

    “It is my way of life and I do it any time any day. I find it easy to assist the indigenes and the indigent students around me.  I believe education is the first thing to do. When you educate the mind of the people, you are giving them something is to go on with in life. It is beyond material things,” he said.

    Prince koko said he was more interested in giving scholarship to the indigent students and helping them in their various endeavours  adding “I have done that severally and I am happy that it is being appreciated today.”

    The Lagos-based lawyer also added that the best service anyone can ever give to the community is the service of love and positive impact, saying “as we are now, we are also reading the gospel of others that came before us. Socially, I have also assisted in whatever little way God has given me. Spiritually, I have also been playing the part I can play.”