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Tag: Mike Okonkwo

  • Mike Okonkwo invites entries for essay competition

    This year’s Children’s Day on May 27 is the deadline for secondary school pupils nationwide to submit entries for the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition.

    They are to write 2,000 words on the topic: “The state of the Nigerian nation: Redefining our values”.

    Winners of the competition will be unveiled during the 17th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, scheduled to hold September 1, 2016 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The competition and the lecture are part of activities held yearly to mark the birthday of Bishop Okonkwo, who turns 71 this year.

    The cleric initiated the lecture series in 2000 to contribute his quota to national development; and the competition to horn the writing skills of secondary school pupils as well as groom them as solutions providers to challenges facing the country.

    The overall best essayist will get a cash prize of N100,000, laptop, trophy and plaque, as well as three desktop computers and a printer for the school.  The second placed will get N75,000 and a plaque, and two computers and a printer for the school; while the third placed winner will be rewarded with N50,000 and a plaque and one computer for the school.

    Past topics of the competition, which are also the same as the lecture, include: “Securing the Nigerian future: Improving the standards of education (2004)”; “Building leaders for tomorrow: A collective responsibility (2005)”; “Lawlessness and the rule of law in the Nigerian society” (2006); “Political office and governance: For gain or service?” (2007); “The role of judiciary in sustenance of democracy” (2008); “Global economic trend: The alternatives for Nigeria” (2009); and “Nigeria at 50: Its leadership, development and the future” (2010).

    Others are: “Survival of Nigerian state: Political and economic implications” (2011); “Dependence of Nigeria economy on crude oil any alternatives?” (2012); “Overcoming the Nigerian security challenges: A panacea for national growth and development” (2013); “The Power of Your Vote: A catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria” (2014); and “The Nigerian Political Class and the Citizens Quest for Good Governance” (2015).

  • Pillars of high society honour Mike Okonkwo

    Pillars of high society honour Mike Okonkwo

    A man is not honoured for what he receives but for what he gives. Last weekend, nobles and pillars of high society turned up to honour Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) as he gave out the hand of his only child, Uche Okonkwo, in marriage.

    The respected Bishop exuded pride as he gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to her dashing hearthrob, Onyekachi Asugha. The grand white wedding held last Saturday at the Cathedral of His Glory, Anthony Oke, Lagos. The service had a unique twist to it as the Bishop did not only walk his daughter down the aisle but also performed the joining of the couple. The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, was on hand to bless the couple.

    Penultimate weekend, Uche and her fiancé had their traditional wedding at the Grandeur Events Centre in Lagos, while their white wedding took place yesterday at the TREM Headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos.

  • Port Harcourt school pupil wins Mike Okonkwo essay contest

    Port Harcourt school pupil wins Mike Okonkwo essay contest

    With a score of 73 per cent, Chisom Emeto of Port Harcourt International School, Rivers State, has won this year’s Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School pupils.

    Chisom submitted the best of 2,997 entries on the topic: “The Nigerian political class and the citizens quest for good governance” received from secondary school pupils across the country.

    He also scored highest (66 per cent) in the second stage examination for the top 10 entries organised to authenticate their authors.

    Chief Examiner for the competition, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo of the English Department, University of Lagos (UNILAG) described Chisom’s essay as detailed and of good quality “for his ability to engage the subject by showing how citizens have been the culprit in entrenching bad governance. He then proposed what must be done to institute a political class that will deliver good governance.”

    Chisom and seven others would be honoured on September 3, during the Bishop Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, which is being organised to celebrate the 70th birthday of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

    The runners up are Asuquo Mirabel of Redeemers International Secondary School, Eastwest Road, Nkpolu, also in Port Harcourt, who came second with 72 per cent in the first stage and 65 in the second stage; Ihejirika Jonathan Ikechukwu of King’s College Lagos, who came third (71 per cent, and 60); and Awe Iyanuoluwa Modupe of Chapel Secondary Schooln Ilorin,  who scored 65 and 56 to place fourth.

    Others are: Fifth placed Aladegbami Oluwadamilola of Hallmark Secondary School Ondo State; sixth placed Muhammed Babayo of Premier Academy, Lugbe, Abuja and seventh placed Iro Akanma of Kuramo Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island, Lagos (60 and 50).

    Chisom will get a cheque of N100,000, a laptop, plaque, and three computers and a printer for his school.

    Mirabel will get N75,000, a plaque and two computers and a printer for her school, while Ihejirika will go home with N50,000, a plaque and a computer for his scools.

    The others will get a consolation price of N20,000 each.

    The Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, initiated in 2004, as part of activities to celebrate Dr Okonkwo’s birthday, is part of his efforts to contribute to the development of the country’s education sector.

     

  • Winners emerge Mike Okonkwo Essay contest

    Winners emerge Mike Okonkwo Essay contest

    Master Chisom Emeto of Port-Harcourt International School has emerged the overall winner of the 12th Mike Okonkwo National Essay competition.

    His script was the best among the 2,997 entries received for the annual competition.

    Emeto emerged winner “For his ability to engage the subject by showing how citizens have been culprit in entrenching bad governance and then proposes what must be done to institute a political class that will deliver good governance,” the chief examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, said.

    Asuquo Mirabel of Redeemers International Secondary School, East-West Road, Nkpolu, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State clinched the second position while Jonathan Ikechukwu of Kings College Lagos is third.

    Awe Modupe of Chapel Secondary School Ilorin, Kwara State was fourth while Aladegbami Oluwadamilola of Hallmark Secondary School Ondo State was fifth.

    The overall winner will get N100,000, a laptop and a plaque while his school will get three internet-ready computer and a printer.

    The runner-up gets N75,000, a plaque and the school will get two internet- ready computer and a printer.

    Ikechukwu goes home with N50, 000, a plaque while his school gets an internet- ready computer.

    The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh candidates get a consolation prize of N20,000 each.

    The winners will be presented at the Mike Okonkwo annual lecture slated for September 3 at the Shell Hall Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The theme of the lecture is “The Nigerian political class and the citizens quest for good governance.”

  • Mike Okonkwo Essay Contest begins

    The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida has approved the appointment of Dr. Abubakar Abdul Dzukogi as the Acting Rector of the institution.

    The appointment followed the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Rector, Mr Abdullahi Sule, an engineer, who served for a period of nine years from January, 2006 to March, 2015.Registrar of the institution Chief Bisi Adeyemi in a statement said Dzukogi’s appointment took effect from Monday March 23, 2015.

    Dzukogi was, until his appointment, the Deputy Rector from March, 2011. He had served the Polytechnic in various capacities, includind Head, Department of Mass Communication; Director, Academic Planning; and Director, Directorate of Continuing Education among others.

    The new acting Rector holds a Doctorate Degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University Makurdi and joined the Federal Polytechnic, Bida in 1984.

  • Mike Okonkwo Essay Contest begins

    Mike Okonkwo Essay Contest begins

    The Nigerian Political Class and the Citizens Quest for Good Governance” is the topic for the 12th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for secondary school pupils.

    They have until May 15 to send in a 2,000-word essay on the topic, which will also be the focus of the 16th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture.

    The top 10 essayists would be rewarded on the day of the lecture, which would hold as part of activities to commemorate the 70th Birthday of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) on September 3 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    Bishop Okonkwo initiated the lecture in 2000 to sensitise Nigerians to issues of nation building. The competition started four years later to improve the writing skills of secondary school pupils and engage them in public discourse with the aim of challenging them to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

    Winners of the past 11 editions of the competition have emerged from both public and private secondary schools located in various parts of the country. One of the most outstanding winners was Matthew Adeiza, who won the second edition as a pupil of Community Secondary School Adavi-Eba, in Kogi State in 2005.

    He was sponsored on full scholarship by the church for his university education at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

    Adeiza has followed up with other scholarships, including one to study for his masters at the Oxford University. Some other past winners also won the competition more than once.  They include: Idam Ogonnia, who came third in 2006 and 2007 as a pupil of Queen’s College, Yaba; and Mark Nwanbiankae of the Lagos State Senior Model College, Badore, who came third in 2012 and second in 2013.

    However Ahia Fego has the unbeaten record of winning the competition thrice.

    He came second in 2010, and first in 2011 and 2012 editions as a pupil of Brilliant Child College, Bariga, Lagos.

    This year the top three winners with get between N100,000 and N50,000 as cash prizes, as well as computers and printers for their schools.

     

  • Oyebode to deliver 15th Mike Okonkwo Lecture

    Oyebode to deliver 15th Mike Okonkwo Lecture

    Renowned professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, Akin Oyebode will on Thursday, September 4, deliver the 15th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture.

    Organised in honour of the Presiding Bishop of  The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the jurist will speak on the theme, The power of Your Vote: A catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria.”

    The event, which is hosted by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and chaired by former Nigerian ambassador to the United States, Prof. George Obiozor, will hold at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos by 9:30 a. m.

    Coordinated by the Mike Okonkwo Educational & Youth Initiative (MOEYI), the much-anticipated lecture will also witness the presentation of gifts to winners of the 11th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition.

    Oyebode, a much-sought-after public speaker and delegate to the recently concluded National Conference, is a respected social critic whose views on key national issues often resonate with the common man.

    Formerly Dean of Law and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), Oyebode is a former Head of Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

  • Okonkwo, Bismark: We’d resist pressure on same-sex

    The western campaign against the same-sex law recently signed by President Goodluck Jonathan will amount to nothing.

    This was the consensus last week at the council of African Apostles, an interdenominational ministerial body that met in Lagos.

    The council, which boasts of leading preachers like Dr Mike Okonkwo (Nigeria), Bishop Tudor Bismark (Zimbabwe), Dr Mensa Otabil (Ghana) and Bishop Joe Imakando (Zambia), among others, converged at the headquarters of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) for an apostolic impartation.

    The meeting coincided with the conclusion of the 21-day fasting and prayer by TREM for the redemption of Nigeria.

    Speaking with reporters, the chairman of the council, Bishop Tudor Bismark, said Africans are united in their resolve to stop the importation of the same-sex culture to the continent by western forces.

    Bismark said regardless of the pressure, Africa will never succumb to supporting same-sex or encouraging the practice, saying the Bible is very clear on the issue.

    He said church leaders on the continent will mobilise their members and lobby government officials to resist the pressure to bow.

    According to him: “African Christians are united in their responses and attitudes. We know that this is an agenda that is packaged as a human right issue. We are aware of where this is coming from and prepared to resist them.”

    Okonkwo added that those into homosexuality and lesbianism cannot be allowed to live anyhow and destroy the nation.

    He dismissed talks about the law infringing on fundamental human rights, saying no one can be allowed to engage in acts capable of destroying the nation.

    Okonkwo said: “The Bible is very clear on gay issue. He made them male and female. We do not support homosexuality and there are no two ways around it.

    “They can’t live the way they like because there are things that destroy a nation. If you are talking about laws that have been signed that also infringed on fundamental human rights, there are many.

    “This is not just about that but a fundamental, moral issue that can destroy a nation. I am standing with the president on the position he has taken.”

    On the proposed national conference, the presiding Bishop of TREM said talking is important to a peaceful coexistence, saying Nigerians have bottled up too much and deserve to be heard.

    He acknowledged the conference might be hijacked but said it should be given a chance.

    Okonkwo explained: “Yes, somehow it will be the usual way they do things in Nigeria. They might try to hijack certain things but I don’t think it will be totally out of place for people to talk. No matter what, there will be still some things that will be discussed that can still be helpful.”

  • African apostles meet in Lagos

    African apostles meet in Lagos

    Over 50 church leaders in Africa will gather in Lagos for the 2014 edition of the Council of African Apostles Impartation conference.

    The conference, which kicks off at Protea Hotel, Ikeja holds from January 28-February 1.

    It ends at The Redeemed Evangelical Mission(TREM) international headquarters at Gbagada Lagos with an impartation service.

    Speakers expected at the conference include Bishop Joe Imakando of Zambia, Dr Mensa Otabil of Ghana and the chairman of African Apostles Bishop Tudor Bismark of Zimbabwe. .

    The meeting is structured to discuss and rub minds on specific issues affecting the church in Africa.

    The Presiding Bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, is the chief host.

  • Mike Okonkwo’s essay competition gets winners

    Folatomi Alli-Balogun of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos has emerged the overall winner of this year’s Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition.

    Her winning entry was one of the 2135 submitted by students across the nation.

    Mark Nwanbiankea of Lagos State Senior Model Collage Badore came second with a score of 75%.

    He was closely followed by Samuel Edet of Government College, Calabar, Cross River State who clinched the third position.

    Alli-Balogun will receive a prize of N100, 000, a personal laptop and three sets of internet-ready desktop computers with printer for her school.

    Nwanbiankea will receive N75, 000 and two internet-ready desktop computers with printer for his school.

    Edet will smile home with N50, 000 and a set of internet ready desktop computer for his school.

    Other finalists will receive a consolation prize of N20, 000.

    All the prizes will be presented at the 14th edition of Mike Okonkwo annual lecture on September 5th at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos by 9.30 am.