The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Western

  • Western Lotto winner grabs N15m

    Western Lotto Nigeria Limited yesterday presented a cheque of N15 million to the first winner of the jackpot on its platform, Dorcas Nwagbara.

    She won in the Powerball draw on August 13. Powerball is one of seven international lottery games on the Western Lotto platform. The N15 million prize is arguably the highest winning on any lottery in Nigeria.

    An elated Nwagbara, a microbiology graduate of the Imo State University and entrepreneur, said she was initially in shock when she received a call informing her of her win.

    She stated: “As you can imagine, I am super excited. Friday, September 15, was one of the most exciting days in my life so far. I woke up that morning, and I did not even know that my name was everywhere. My name was trending. “I then got a call from Western Lotto. Apparently, they had been trying to reach me all of Thursday, September 14. I had won the jackpot on Wednesday, September 13”.

    Speaking further, she said: “Initially thought it was a call from one of the utility service providers and I was like “not again”.  I picked up the call, and the next thing I heard was, “Congratulations! You won the N15million Powerball Jackpot.  I was like, ‘Can you say that again’?  The caller confirmed.

    “I do not know what to say but to thank God. I just want to thank God, and I also want to encourage whoever is playing Western Lotto games to keep playing. I played up to 11 lines the day I won. So, just keep playing. It would come.”

    At the ceremony Wednesday, the company presented a symbolic cheque to mark the winning. Western Lotto Managing Director Yomi Ogunfowora said the company was as excited as the winner.

    “The win by Dorcas confirms our claim that our customers can win every prize on offer across all our games and that we would honour such wins”, Ogunfowora stated. He added: “As we celebrate Ms Dorcas Nwagbara, we believe her winning cheque of N15 million will invite Nigerians to join us in a world of fun and hope for a better lifestyle.”

    Western Lotto Nigeria Limited offers seven international lottery games under license from the Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission. The games are Powerball, Euro Jackpot, LottoRace, Euro Millions, Mega Millions, Kashman and UK Lotto.

  • Artistes okay Western Lotto

    Ahead of its launch, leading Nigerian entertainers, drawn from the movie, music and comedy sectors, have signed up as emissaries of upcoming gaming brand, Western Lotto.

    Brand ambassadors for Western Lotto include musicians Tuface Idibia as well as Olamide Adekeye and actor-comedian Ayo Makun, famous as AY.

    Others are Nollywood stars Jide Kosoko, Dele Odule, Ramsey Nouah, Paul Obazele and Zack Orji.

    The artistes would be part of the star-studded guest list at the Western Lotto launch today.

    Western Lotto Nigeria Limited is a company licensed in Nigeria to operate terrestrial and online platforms for gaming activities including important international lottery brands, instant draw, indoor games, lotto betting and online scratch card games and the likes.

    Managing Director, Mr Femi Badero, said in a statement that Western Lotto would significantly alter the landscape of gaming in Nigeria and offer value-added services to customers and prospects.

  • ‘Western Naval Command healthiest in the Navy’

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, has described his personnel as the healthiest in the Navy.

    Bobai made the assertion based on the command’s performance at the just concluded 11th Navy Games in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where it emerged overall winner with 69 Gold, 69 Silver and 49 Bronze medals.

    Hosting the contingent to the games at the weekend in Apapa, Bobai noted that his command beat the runner up with over 30 Gold medals.

    According to him, emerging the winner and having competitors, who surpassed all time record in one of the sports, was an indication that his personnel were mentally and physically fit.

    He urged them to sustain the tempo, noting that those who emerged victorious would be called upon to represent the navy at the Armed Forces Games and other international competitions.

    Bobai said: “We are celebrating because the Nigerian Navy (NN) just concluded the 11th Navy Games and the command with overall best performance was mine. We won with 69 Gold, 69 Silver and 49 Bronze medals.

    “Using that as a parameter, I would say my command is the healthiest because we gave the next command over 30 Gold medals gap. It shows we are physically and mentally sound.”

    Hailing the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas for hosting the games, Bobai noted that the last time Navy games held was in 2011 at Kaduna.

    He said: “For us at WNC, it was a good initiative because it provided an opportunity to showcase our skills. If CNS had not provided the platform for competition, we wouldn’t have known we were blessed with talents that produced the results we got at the games.”

    One of the record breakers at the competition was a female Rating, Seaman Esther Omoseni, who won eight Gold medals in swimming.

  • Buhari: Nigeria committed to Western Sahara’s liberation

    Buhari: Nigeria committed to Western Sahara’s liberation

    President Muhammadu Buhari has reinstated the commitment of the Federal Government to the liberation of Western Sahara from Morocco.

    The President, who spoke through Ambassador Kabiru Akau, at the inauguration of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara , said it was inhuman for Morocco to continue to exploit a fellow African country.

    Buhari noted how Nigeria, during his tenure as military Head of State, sponsored the admission of Western Sahara into the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU).

    The President regretted that years after the United Nations (UN) ordered a referendum for the Saharawi people to determine their future, Morocco frustrated moves on the referendum and continued to exploit the resources of the people.

    He said it was time for Africans and lovers of freedom to stand up and speak against the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco.

    The President called for stiffer sanctions on Morocco, if they continued to deny the Saharawi self-independence.

    In a keynote address, ex-Nigeria Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, accused the world body of paying lip-service to the liberation of Western Sahara.

    He said the UN had not done much to ensure that its resolution on Western Sahara were carried out, adding that the world body was unable to get its Security Council to endorse its resolution on Western Sahara.

    Gambari said it was regrettable that 45 years after the UN agenda, Western Sahara’s decolonisation was still incomplete and the Saharawi were still denied their basic and legitimate right to decide their future.

    He said: “UN’s role in the Western Sahara has not produced results. This sad situation was reconfirmed a week ago during Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s visit to Rabouni after meeting the Polisario Front Secretary General, Mohammed Abdelaziz.

    “Ki-Moon admitted that the parties in the Western Saharan conflict have not made any real progress in the negotiation towards a just, lasting and mutually-acceptable political solution.

    “Indeed, 45 years after the UN agenda, it is regrettable that Western Sahara’s decolonisation is still incomplete and that the Saharawi are still denied their basic and legitimate rights to decide their future.”

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba said through collective efforts and action, organised labour and its civil society allies have played a key role in the independence of many nations.

    He said the struggle for the liberation of Western Sahara was in conformity with the belief that injury to one worker is injury to all.

    Convener of the Movement and ex-President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Dr. Oladipo Fashina said it was regrettable that Morrocco, a former colonial territory of France and Spain, could turn around and colonise a sister country at a time colonialism were disappearing globally.

    ASUU President Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge announced that the union would sponsor three students from Western Sahara for their postgraduate studies in Nigerian universities.

  • ‘Resist western influence on Bini culture’

    Life of Edo State Deputy Governor, Deaconess Endurance Odubu, has urged the Bini people to resist western influence on their culture.

    She said the culture was unique and worth preserving.

    Mrs Odubu spoke at the unveiling of the female version of the Bini traditional attire “Ewu Iwu Oghikhuo” which took place in Benin City.

    Deaconess Odubu, who was represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida, said the Bini traditional attire for women came at the right time when the youths seem to be losing grip of their cultural values and ethics.

    She noted with sadness that Benin moral values were fast being eroded by western culture and appreciated the designer of the traditional attire for Bini women, Dr. Helen Uhunmwanagho, for the initiative aimed at giving the rich cultural heritage of the land its pride of place.

    Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism Mrs. Ainena Jemitola said the introduction of the traditional dress code for women would reduce the threat of extinction posed to African culture.

    The chairman of the occasion and Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe noted that the Benin, traditional attire remains the pride of the Benins all over the world, and called for more unity among the Benins.

    President, Benin Cultural Heritage Centre (BCHC), Dr. Roland Ehigiamosoe said the traditional outfit for women is a derivation from body tattooing as practised in Benin Kingdom.

    The initiator and designer, Dr. Uhunmwangho, explained that the attire had been designed into blouses and robes, which can be worn at formal or informal settings.

    She said the new IWU dress Code was not introduced to do away with the notable Benin attire of wrapper and beads but to enhance what is already on ground.

     

  • Western Delta varsity graduates 198

    About 198 students have graduated from the Western Delta University, Oghara in Delta State.

    They were the first set to be awarded first degree at the school’s maiden convocation. Interestingly, no one made a First Class at the ceremony held last weekend.

    The two best graduating students- Efevberha Oghenevbaire and Emuobohwo Joy – were awarded N100,000 each by the institution and a scholarship by the Delta State government for post-graduate studies in any foreign university of their choice.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Peter Hugho, warned parents against sending their wards to neighbouring universities in Africa, especially those along the West African coast.

    Hugho said the web metric ranking of African universities showed that universities in Ghana, for instance, were not better than their Nigerian counterparts.

    Hugho stated that the instability in academic calendar, protests by various interest groups in Nigeria’s public universities, which are major factors adduced by parents for sending their children to foreign universities, are non-existent in private universities.

    He said: “It is my contention that private universities are on to rescue the education system from the decadence into which it is sliding. This is because the student will be getting good quality education free of minimal vices, and in a well-organised and regulated environment.”

    Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Andrew Onokehoraye, called for amendment of the laws establishing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to accommodate private universities in the areas of research and scholarships.

    The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin said private universities generate their own funding, and are expected to play by the same rules in terms of infrastructures, admissions, teaching and research as prescribed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and JAMB.

    Prof Onokehoraye insisted that the goals of universities whether federal, state or private are to produce educated workforce that will meet the nation’s needs in the 21st century.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced the scholarships for the two best students, promised to support the university in actualising its dreams.