The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Win

  • Rivers teams win Port Harcourt Zonal Championship

    Rivers Team A in both male and female categories outclassed all other opponents from the South South zone to win the Port Harcourt Zonal Championship of the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) Season 4 concluded at the Sharks Stadium on Saturday.

    In the final of the male category, Rivers Team A emerged victorious by defeating Delta State team by 4-3 on  penalties after the pulsating encounter had ended 1-1 apiece, while Akwa Ibom pipped Rivers Team B 2-1 to win the third place match concluded at the same venue.

    Also in the final of the female category, Rivers Team A withstood all odds by defeating hard fighting Akwa Ibom 3-1 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 within regulation time.

    In the third place match Cross River stunned Bayelsa 3-0 to emerge victorious.

    Speaking to newsmen after the end of the competition, the Technical Adviser of the South South Zonal Championship of the Airtel Rising Stars Season 4, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah praised all the participating teams for playing to instruction and abiding by the rules of the competition.

    She also gave kudos to Airtel for giving our upcoming footballers at the grassroots the opportunity to showcase their skills through the ARS initiative and further praised all the participants for exhibiting the spirit of sportsmanship.

    Sixteen outstanding players from both the male and female categories of the participants were selected to represent the zone for the national finals holding in Lagos later this month.

    “We are grateful for the successful completion of this zonal championship in Port Harcourt without any major eventuality.

    “From the quality of players discovered here, I’m very sure the South South zone will emerge winners at the national finals in Lagos.

    “We are taking 16 male and female players each to represent us at the national finals and we hope they will make us proud.

    “On behalf of the organisers of ARS I wish all of you journey mercies to your various states as we look forward to converging in Lagos soon for the national finals,” she concluded.

  • Chima delighted to help Molde win

    Chima delighted to help Molde win

    Molde continue to top the Tippeligaen standings in the wake of their 3-0 thrashing of Sogndal on Saturday, with Daniel Chima opening scoring for the two-time Norwegian champions after 11 minutes.

    The Nigerian striker, who has bagged three goals in his last two matches in all competitions, has admitted that it was a stroll in the park for Molde, having dominated proceedings throughout the encounter at Aker Stadion.

    ”I went on the pitch with a feeling that I was going to score in the game, with the two goals I had in our last Cup game. My morale was high and I never for a bit doubted the fact that I would score,” an excited Daniel Chima told SL10.ng.

    ”The game was full of life from my team because we dominated the game from the beginning to the end of it, the kind of game you wouldn’t want to end.

    ”Now, we are topping the League with nine points ahead of Strømsgodset, it gives one a great feeling.”

    Molde will travel to face Akeem Latifu’s Aalesund at the Color Line Stadion in the 15th round of matches on Friday.

  • Candidates to win airtime for studying

    Studying may become fun for candidates preparing for public examinations by using a new mobile app developed by Diamond Bank in partnership with IT firm, Gidi Mobile.

    The initiative, tagged: Diamond Bank Prep Challenge, would see students who garner the highest points answering past questions using the app winning airtime weekly.

    The app has questions for past West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), NECO SSCE, and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) aimed at boosting the preparation of candidates for future examinations.

    At a briefing to launch the challenge last Wednesday at Diamond Bank’s PGD Place, Lekki, Mr Jude Aniele, the bank’s Head of Retail Banking explained that the financial institution is embarking on the challenge to reverse poor performance in public examinations.

    He said with more materials to prepare, students do not have to settle for courses they have no passion for in the university.

    “Most students are not well prepared before they write exams.  They may not be well taught and may not have access to the right materials.  If the success rate in WAEC is 28 per cent, how can we make it better?  We thought that we can use technology to drive value.  Mobile phones have deep penetration in Nigeria.  Reading books today is not easy for youths because many are not willing to read.  They would rather be online.  We found that we can reach them through mobiles.

    “Diamond Bank has partnered with Gidi Mobile to produce an app that supplies past questions that can be downloaded free of charge on mobile phones.  We have added an incentive.  Every week, the first 2,500 to get the highest score will get N1,000 worth of airtime,” he said.

    Explaining further, founder of Gidi Mobile Ltd, Dr Tunji Adegbesan, said the app has 28,950 past questions for 15 subjects tested by the various examinations which can be downloaded on phones, laptops and android devices, except the Apple iOS, which he said would be available later in the year.

    He said candidates gain four points for every question they answer correctly, and two for those attempted.  Those with the highest points would be announced and rewarded weekly.

    “If you reach 1000 prep questions, it is equivalent to 15 examination past questions.  It is the first time this is being done anywhere in the world,” he said.

    With the dismal pass rate, Adegbesan said any initiative aimed at helping youths to improve, like this one should be applauded.

    “The failure rate is a situation bordering on national community.  The failure rate has been from 25-30 per cent from 2009-2013, which is about two million children.  I want to thank Diamond Bank because without their vision we will not be here.  The gidimo app is giving youths an opportunity to grow.  The app is free, the questions are free.  We feel it is innovative and we hope to get our youths to improve their lives,” he said.

     

  • ABS win Kwara FA Cup

    ABS win Kwara FA Cup

    ABS FC on Sunday defeated Kwara United 6-5 on penalties to win the 2014 Kwara State Football Association Cup.

    Regulation time had ended 1-1, and ABS FC scored five out of six spot kicks to edge their city rivals. Agoh Christian put ABS FC ahead in the first half, after an inter-change of passes with Ossy Eugene, and he met the return pass inside the box to slot in beside goalkeeper Suraju Aiyeleso who was displaced.      Kwara United struggled to come back from the deficit, with Coach Samson Unuanel employing all the arsenals in his armoury, including the introduction of goal machine, Segun Alebiosu.

    His introduction in the early part of the second half paid off when Kwara United slotted home from the edge of the 18-yard box free-kick, to make it 1-1 for Kwara United.

    The highly interesting encounter, which brought out the best out of the two teams ended goaless.      The penalty session was won by ABS FC, even though they lost the first kick through Kunle Lawal, but Segun Alebiosu also lost what would have been the winning kick for Kwara United.

    Ossy Eugene scored for ABS FC , with goalkeeper Suraj Aiyeleso losing the last kick to hand ABS FC the victory.

    Highlight of the match was the introduction of goalkeeper Boje Abdullahi as a field player for ABS FC.

  • Glo win three at ICT Awards

    Glo win three at ICT Awards

    National telecommunications operator, Globacom, won thrice at the Beacon of ICT Awards at the weekend.

    At the fourth edition of the award held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Glo was named Best Telecoms Company of the Year, Most Innovative Mobile Player of the Year and Undersea Cable Company of the Year.

    Organizers of the award and technology news publication, Communications Week, said Globacom emerged tops in the award categories in an online poll conducted from December last year to March 30, 2014, in which over 250,000 respondents participated.

    The national operator was voted the Best Telecoms Company of the Year because of its revolutionary role in the industry. Organisers noted that the company had continued to ensure that Nigerians benefitted from technological advances by pioneering revolutionary products and crashing telecom service tariffs.

    On the Most Innovative Mobile Player, Glo was chosen for continuing to distinguish itself as a leader in introducing innovative voice and data services in the industry.

    In voting Glo Undersea Cable Company of the Year, Beacon of ICT Awards organizers said respondents took into account the emergence of Glo 1 as a major bandwidth provider in the West Africa sub-region. They noted that Glo 1 had become the first choice service provider for several companies across different sectors including telecoms, oil and gas, construction, banking and manufacturing.

    Other winners at the event included First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Vodacom Business, Dataflex, DHL Unified Payments, Phase 3 Telecoms and Interconnect Clearing House.

    The Beacon of ICT Awards was instituted to reward the vision and enterprise of individuals and companies that have contributed to the growth of the ICT industry. Communication Week said the objectives of the awards were to evaluate and recognize standards of excellence in the country’s quest for growth and development in the use of ICT.

    Among those who attended the event were the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Ernest Ndukwe; Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji; President of Association of Licenced Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo; President of Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Lanre Ajayi; Head of Media and Publicity of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Tony Ojobo, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman, Eugene Juwa, former President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chris Uwaje.

     

  • ‘APC ‘ll win Ekiti, Osun polls’

    ‘APC ‘ll win Ekiti, Osun polls’

    House of Representatives member Hon. Abiodun Awoleye (Ibadan North Constituency) has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. He predicts doom for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the party has failed Nigerians in the last 14 years.

    Awoleye, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said the achievements of the APC governors are laudable, adding that the people of Ekiti and Osun will vote for continuty.

    He said: “We have a seven-point cardinal programme, which covers electricity generation, war against corruption, food security, integrated transport network, free education, devolution of power, accelerated economic growth and affordable health care in the manifesto. This is another reasonthe people will embrace the APC in the Southwest and across thje country.”

    However, Awoleye advised the people to closely monitor the electoral commission to avoid bungling the elections as it did in Anambra State last year. He said the electoral time-table released by the umpire was designed to rig the elections in favour of the PDP at the state and federal levels.

    He added: “The Presidency must have influenced the schedule of the time-table, believing that, if President Jonathan does not win the election, the whole nation will be in turmoil, especially with the threat from the Southsouth that Nigerians should forget about oil, if Jonathan does not win the election.

    “I expected the INEC as a good umpire to arrange the time-table from the bottom to the top. The House of Assembly election should come first, followed by the National Assembly, governorship and the presidential election. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case.

    “The INEC headed by Prof. Jega cannot be trusted. His attitude toward recent the election in Anambra is a sign of what to come.The commission is expected to be fair to all political parties in the country. Jega needs to carry all stakeholders along to ensure that there is transparency and fair game.”

    The legislator described the national conference as a jamboree. He said: “The national conference cannot address any problem. Right from time, I have been opposing the conference. These people are just looking for a way to enrich their old friends, who are financially broke.The composition of the delegates is faulty and it is also a waste of money. Over 400 members are to attend the conference. The President nominated over 60 delegates.

  • SO&U staff win Miami ad scholarship

    Two SO&U staff have won the Miami Ad School Scholarship Competition.

    One of the recipients, Ms. Adenike Akinbisehin, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the competition for creating a platform that “encourages and rewards creative excellence”.

    She explained that her decision to participate in the competition was to enable her “imagination roam, without having to consider limitations posed by cultural or production concerns”.

    Adenike also said the competition, which was “an exciting opportunity for growth, was fun and was, indeed, one of her proudest achievements”.

    The second staff, Mr. Ifeanyi Mazi, said it took him four days before the ideas hit him. For him, “this is just the beginning; the best is yet to come”.

    The SO&U Creative Director, Mr. Anthony Ekun, commended the staff for their success.“I am not surprised by what Ifeanyi and Nike have achieved. Their creativity and passion is consistent and very inspiring.

    “At SO&U, we are confident that we will be seeing more of their achievements in the years to come.”

    Mazi won the keenly contested MAD Laifer’s category with Sandra Ebulu.

    Also, another staff member of the agency at the Lagos Advertising and Idea Festival (LAIF) Awards, have been offered the opportunity to visit France for this year’s Cannes Award, which is the world’s biggest yearly awards show and festival for professionals in the creative communications industry.

    The agency’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Udeme Ufot, expressed delight, saying: ‘’Greatness can only be achieved with passion for excellence and willingness to move out of one’s comfort zone. Nike and Ifeanyi are shining examples of the achievements of commitment and hard work.”

  • ‘PDP has what it takes to win’

    ‘PDP has what it takes to win’

    In this interview, Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary Pastor Kola Oluwawole speaks with Sulaiman Salawudeen on the party’s preparation for the election.

    How far have you gone with preparations for the election?

    Our preparations are in stages. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is displaying the voters list at the moment, for people to ensure that their names are in the list. They have started issuing permanent voters’ card. The second is the selection of the party’s candidate for the election. We are through with the primaries. We are reaching out to our members, we are sensitising them, and we are keeping within the ambits of the law. We are following the time-table set by the INEC and we are following guidelines. Preparations are in high gear and we are very hopeful because this is an opportunity for us to win the election fair and square and we are leaving no stone unturned as we prepare. Records show that numerically, the PDP is stronger than other parties.

    Howe can the PDP to unseat the APC in Ekiti?

    We are fully prepared to dislodge Fayemi and his party, the APC come June 21. Our people have seen that PDP is the only party with the solution to their problems. APC is just pretending. They go around doing asphalt overlays on the roads the PDPconstructed and they call that road construction. Majority of the people are tired of the Fayemi Administration and they are ready to dislodge him with the coming election.

    What are you offering the people as an alternative?

    Our stand is on better life for all. Ours is not a pretender party. We understand the plight of the people and we are ready to offer it. Simple. If the election is truly one man one vote, we would defeat the uncaring government in Ekiti and institute a regime of care in the state, come June 21.

    What makes you think the PDP would win the election?

    PDP has what it takes to win the election. The party has a solid structure at the grassroots. Go to every local government, in every ward and in every unit in Ekiti State, PDP has structure and nobody can take that away from us. I challenge any other party that says its structure is better than that of the PDP.

    What are your chances of winning this election?

    Given public perception of my party by the people of Ekiti State, we have won the election already. It is not a matter of thinking whether we have chances of winning. We are not underrating any party also. Labour Party, Accord or APC. All the parties are strong. I don’t consider any party weak and some other strong. Some other parties may still come. We will soon know who is who.

    The South Senatorial District is pushing for power shift, based on zoning. Don’t you think they have a legitimate claim?

    I don’t know about the legitimacy of zoning. The party’s focus is on internal democracy. Every son and daughter of Ekiti has the right to contest the governorship, provided he or she has the requisite qualification to contest. It is politics for candidates to seek advantages and argue in ways that would favour them. But the party’s position remains supreme.

    APC has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan is interested in Ekiti and he is prepared to do anything to win Ekiti. What’s your comment on this?

    Well I don’t know of such an allegation. APC is already afraid of defeat. They can concoct any allegation. They are free to do that. Mr. president is the president of the whole of Nigeria. It is not a president of PDP alone. His entire interest is the country and he would not do anything that would compromise that fact. It is the responsibility of INEC to ensure free and fair elections.

    I am telling you nobody is leaving PDP for any other party in Ekiti. Those you think are leaving the party have never really been members if our party. They came from somewhere and just returned where they came.

    APC has said that the membership strength of its party is 300,000, a figure arrived at after the membership registration drive. What is the strength of the PDP?

    PDP has always been the most numerically strong party. We won’t deceive people through any fake membership drive. We are solidly on ground in all the electoral wards of the state. On the Election Day, APC’s 300,000 or what do you say would not have much to avail them.

  • It’s win or bust for Nigeria

    It’s win or bust for Nigeria

    Nigeria will need to win against hosts South Africa on Sunday to guarantee passage into the knockout stage of the competition.

    Nigeria are currently third on the table with three points behind South Africa and Mali, both on four points, and therefore need an outright victory to advance to the next stage of the competition.

    South Africa have defeated Nigeria only once in previous meetings, which was in a friendly in November 2014.

    The hosts team are one of the favourites to win this tournament reserved for players based in their domestic leagues, but they have struggled on the pitch even though Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has maintained they are a more settled and experienced side than his bunch of youngsters.

    South Africa-based Nigeria goalkeeper Greg Etafia told MTNFootball.com he expects Bafana to play a waiting game, sit back in the defence, frustrate the Eagles and where possible catch their opponents on the break.

    “Gordon (Igesund) is good at playing that kind of game and I know because I played for him at Moroka Swallows. He has perfected this system and so Nigeria must have to be at their very best on Sunday,” he warned.

    Enyimba youngster Bright Esieme is a right back played in an unfamiliar left back position following injury to Benjamin Francis.

    He told MTNFootball.com they will be gunning for victory against Bafana.

    “It is not going to be an easy game, they play good and they are the hosts, but we are ready to face them. We know we need outright victory in the game and that will be our approach,” Esieme said.

    Injured Francis could return at least to the bench on Sunday, while Rangers defensive midfielder Ugonna Uzochukwu should be fit in time for the big game after he injured his right ankle against Mozambique.

    However, Sunshine Stars midfielder Ikenna Paul has been ruled out of the rest of the competition after he tore his hamstring and could be sidelined for up to six weeks.

    The Eagles will also have to deal with the goalkeeping problems they have experienced in their last two games, but Keshi has continued to stand by under-fire sipper Chigozie Agbim.

  • NationSports, Ojeikere win Sports Awards

    NationSports, Ojeikere win Sports Awards

    The Nation clinched at the weekend two awards at the Sports Business/Media Award.

    The Nation Sports was voted Sports Newspaper of the Year. Editor of Sportinglife Ade Ojeikere was named Sports Editor of the Year (Sports based).

    The ceremony was held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja .

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, beat Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke to emerge Sports Governor of the year.

    Eight veteran sports journalists were listed in the Evergreen Sports Journalist Icon category. They are Pa John Ojido, Peter Osugo, Bisi Lawrence and Demola Ali.

    Others are, Ajibade Fashina-Thomas, Walter Folorunsho Oyatogun, Robert Ndabai and Emeka Inyama.

    In the Gold Sports Journalist Icon category, Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbese, Fabio Lanipekun, Tony Akiotu, and Isaac Ibafidon were listed.

    Others include Muyiwa Daniel, Paul Bassey, Olu Amadasun, who were rewarded for their outstanding contributions.

    In the Active Sports Journalist Achievement Icon category, Patrick Ugbe, Commissioner of Sports, Cross River State, Larry Izamoje, Chairman/CEO, Brila FM, Mitchell Obi, AIPS Africa President, Chief Emeka Inyama, Mallam Danladi Bako, Commissioner of Information, Sokoto State, Prince Dennis Sami, Chairman, Editor-in-chief, Nigeria Pilot & Newsworld Magazine, were honoured.

    Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Hallysports International, the award organisers Godwin-Spiff Sagbamah said: “These special recognition awards are about rewarding veteran sport journalists for excellence in sport, demonstrating their integrity and exemplary sportsmanship, innovative and inclusive programmes and greater grassroot participation”.