Pepsodent Nigeria emerges 1st in the World Oral Health Day challenge

Pepsodent Nigeria emerges 1st in the World Oral Health Day challenge

Pepsodent Nigeria has emerged first in the World Oral Health Day 2016 challenge both at the continental level, first ahead of 9 countries, and at the global level, first ahead of 31 countries.

This win was measured by the delivery of over 1 million pledges from a fully integrated campaign across multiple touchpoints with best-in-class in-market/store and digital activation executed by the Terragon Group. Speaking about this feat, Brand Manager, Pepsodent Nigeria, Umoh George, stated that this win is a major milestone for Nigeria as it is the first time ever that an African country emerges first in the global Oral Care Social Missions challenge with corresponding growth in market share and sales during the same period. This win has demonstrated that our social mission equals business mission. In line with Unilever mission to improve the oral health of ten million Nigerian children by 2020 through the Pepsodent Brush Day & Night schools programme. We are encouraging people to adopt the habit of brushing twice daily (morning and night) as a global best practice to healthy (oral-care) living he said. The #BrushBrush campaign was the digital leg of the World Oral Health Day 2016 campaign, aimed at getting people to take their oral hygiene seriously by pledging to Brush Day and Night. A key success to this campaign was the digital execution carried out by Terragon Group, Africas largest Digital Media Company. Congratulating Pepsodent Nigeria on this achievement, Anu Sanya, Head of Business and Strategic partnership, Terragon Group, said that while it was important to deliver a world class campaign, there was need to create executable strategies to address the set objectives sensitize the general public on the need to improve oral hygiene. We are happy to be a part of the success story and we will continue to provide value for our clients as its our primary focus. This win is another step to show that that No One Knows Africans Like we do she said. ABOUT UNILEVER/PEPSODENT Globally, dental cavities affect 60-90% of school children and almost 100% of adults worldwide. In fact, toothache is the number one reason for absenteeism in school. Pepsodent Triple Protection toothpaste is a breakthrough formulation with a unique combination of Fluoride-calcium, Perlite and Fresh mint flavour that delivers 3 levels of protection for the whole family: 1. It protects against cavities, 2. Stains and 3. Bad breath. ABOUT TERRAGON GROUP Terragon Group is a digital media business focused on Africa. Within the digital ecosystem, Terragon Group understands the interplay between content and platform and has business verticals that deliver on components of the digital world. Terragon Group is a Nigerian founded company but operates across other key markets in Africa namely Ghana, South Africa and Kenya. The Group is made up of three independent but complementary business units that focus on different aspect of the digital media sphere.

Read more: https://www.naij.com/872727-pepsodent-nigeria-emerges-1st.html

Mitchelle Okuku

Seriki Davidwise's Quote 1

Seriki Davidwise's Quote 1

Seriki Davidwise's Quote 1

"The world is for great people, but great people aren’t for themselves, but for the world."

Quite importantly, our world is at the feet of her great people. Men and women, who are adored, revered and celebrated. They exist in their thousands across the globe.

The voice of one is the voice of countless thousands that echo their words and speeches and tell their acts on the internet, media, offices and private homes around the world..

Tiny gods, like shooting stars shot into the earth, these ones refused their lights from going out.

Great people they are. Great and mighty, wealthy, influential and powerful, they should all rise and never live for themselves alone but Rise up for the world!

By Seriki Davidwise.

Covenant University Wins International Invention Award

Covenant University Wins International Invention Award

According to Punch Newspapers, Covenant University’s inventions have been recognized at the research and invention exhibition fairs in Brazil and South Korea, where the institution bagged awards for the invention of latest technologies that promote creative, happy human and smart cities.

The inventions are products of researches from the university’s College of Engineering, including a Solar-Powered Weather Station, which was developed by Dr. Anthony Adoghe; the Green Luminaire by Dr. Hope Orovwode; and the Energy-Retention Bag by Professor Samuel Wara.

A statement by the institution stated that the team of researchers from the Covenant University Centre for Research, Innovation and Discovery, together with officials from the Nigerian Association of Inventors, made the formal presentation of the awards to the university management recently.

The President of NAI, Shaka Momodu, who attended the invention fairs, stated that the awards were won by Covenant University at the Seoul International Invention Fair, held in November 2015, in Seoul, Korea, and the UniAmerica, Global Exhibition of Inventions For Creative, Happy Human and Smart Cities, held in December 2015 in Foz Do Iguacu, in Parana, Brazil.

He said two of the inventions – the Green Luminaire and the Solar-Powered Weather Station – won the gold and bronze awards respectively at the fairs. The Director of CUCRID, Professor Samuel Wara, stated that the same products had been winning awards in different exhibitions based on different ratings.

“This simply lends credence to the value of the inventions in relation to meeting needs across different geographical locations,” he said.

CU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ayo, congratulated the research team involved in the development of the products, noting that within three months, the Research Cluster headed by Professor Wara, through the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Inventors, had never represented the university anywhere without having proofs to show for the quality of research in the university.

Five-star recruit Oluwole Betiku who excel with only two years of experience

Five-star recruit Oluwole Betiku who excel with only two years of experience

No one knew UCLA recruit Oluwole Betiku in 2013. That was before he attended the Xtreme Procision International Sports Camp and impressed Ricardo Davidson, who runs sports camps in Africa, and initiated the process that brought Betiku to the United States (Rivals.com)

GARDENA — Rewind to 2013, and no one had ever heard of Oluwole Betiku. A tall and bulky teen who was too large for soccer but not tall enough for basketball, the Nigerian native settled on football.

At first, he couldn’t figure out how to put on his helmet. Two years later, the 250-pound high school senior is an elite defensive end commit to UCLA.

“You know, football is a scary sport,” Betiku said. “When I was in Nigeria I was like … I’m going to break my head, break my legs, but with all the support I have here, I was just able to do what I need to do.”

Only two seasons into his football career, Betiku, or “Wole” as he is more commonly called, has racked up more than 25 Division I offers. Yet the elite defensive line prospect feels he hasn’t accomplished anything yet.

“I realize that my family isn’t here yet, and I haven’t gained anything else from football,” Betiku said. “That’s how I wake up every morning. I’m still living in someone else’s house; I don’t have my own place, my own bed. So ESPN, Rivals, they can write all they want but that’s just the stories. To me, it seems like I have more work to do to make the dream become a reality.”

That dream is to one day use football to bring his family over from Lagos, Nigeria, where he grew up. As a child, Betiku became accustomed to the surroundings of a war-torn area, with soldiers and tanks roaming the streets. With Islamic extremist group Boko Haram terrorizing Nigeria since 2002, more than 2.3 million people have been displaced since May 2013 alone because of the conflict and violence.

Betiku remembers the day his life changed. In 2013, he took an 12-hour bus ride to a town named Uyo, the site of the Xtreme Procision International Sports Camp – a program intended to help young athletes in Africa attend high school in the U.S.With hundreds of participants from all over Nigeria attending the camp, Betiku wasn’t guaranteed a chance to move to the U.S.

“It was kind of like survive and advance,” Betiku said. “You had to show the coaches you were willing and ready to play. You never know if you’re going to be picked because there are so many kids.”

Fortunately for Betiku, his play impressed Ricardo Dickerson, a former University of Maryland linebacker who now runs sports camps in Africa for charitable purposes. Dickerson saw something special in Betiku and arranged for him to stay with his friend, former NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington. In trying to obtain his visa, as recounted by scout.com writer Gerard Martinezin 2014, Betiku was faced with an immigration officer that had rejected the last five applicants. Somehow, Betiku was granted his visa and found himself living with Arrington in Forestville, Md., where he attended Bishop McNamara High School. After Betiku’s sophomore season, in which he did not play at all, the NFL Network hired Arrington as an analyst, causing the two to move to West Hollywood where Betiku now plays for Junipero Serra High.

None of Betiku’s family members have ever been to the U.S., or seen him play in person. But the high school senior is quick to identify his mother as the most influential person in his life.

“She means a lot to me, you know,” Betiku said. “I watched her work hard every day, coming back late at night and leaving in the early morning. No matter how hard things on the football field are, it can’t be as hard as what my mom did for us growing up, raising three kids, you know.”

Currently 6-1, Betiku’s Junipero Serra High is chasing its fourth state title, fresh off a thrilling 41-38 victory Friday over a highly-touted Bishop Amat team that featured two USC commits. Betiku had six tackles (2 for a loss) and 0.5 sacks against a flurry of double teams, mostly consisting of UNLV commit Matt Brayton and teammate Tim Dolan, who both stand over 6-foot-4 at 295 pounds and 285 pounds, respectively.

Betiku still has work to do. He doesn’t view his college selection process as a normal college experience, but rather as a “business decision.”

“I see myself the same way NFL players see themselves when they’re free agents,” Betiku said. “You have to consider every team. Four to five years is a long time, you don’t want to regret and then transfer. So I’m going to talk to schools, but no doubt UCLA is my top school, and it’s going to take a lot of convincing.”

Funnily, one of his teammates and fellow four-star recruit C.J. Pollard, is a senior safety committed to USC. One would think that the two trash-talk a great deal in practice, but Betiku’s response linked back to the way he approaches his recruitment.

“I’m not really about the rivalry you know, I didn’t grow up here,” Betiku said. “Me and C.J. hang all the time. He tells me about USC and I tell him about UCLA. We just chill, you know? It’s really about what was the best situation for each of us.”

Whatever the case, it’s hard to miss the huge smile that Betiku boasts on the sidelines every offensive drive for the Serra Cavaliers. Despite his businesslike approach, Betiku has a great sense of humor, introducing himself as “Nigeria’s Finest” in various interviews. The highly sought-after recruit lists defensive line coach Angus McClure, the warmth of the Bruin locker room and the scheme of UCLA’s defense as the biggest factors in his commitment.

Compiled by Vikram Sairam, Bruin Sports contributor, with contributing reports by Matthew Joye, Bruin Sports senior staff.

October 14, 2015

Nigeria: DKD Wins Best Actor As Eye of the Storm, the Cursed Ones Win Big At AMAA 2016

The annual Pan-African award, Africa Movies Academy Awards AMAA was held last weekend at Port Harcourt amidst pomp and pageantry as expectations were high from the nominees to win some awards to take home. Interestingly two movies, 'Eye of The Storm' and 'The Curse Ones' from Burkina Faso and Ghana respectively got three awards each. South African and Nigerian movies were known to grab the highest awards.

AMAA was held for the 1st time in the Garden City, precisely at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in the presence of the Governor, Nyesome Wike, his beautiful wife, Judge Eberechi Wike and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed along with other dignitaries.

The centre was filled up even as security men, majorly policemen and women took extra seats meant for guests as they abandoned their work gazing at the stage as proceedings went on. Mike Ezunruonye and South African OAP, Kgopedi Lioane anchored the event but they would have done better.

Movie actors, producers and professionals from different countries were all at the event. Nigerian celebs, Dakore Akande, Biyi Bandele, director of FIFTY, Olu & Joke Jacobs, RMD, Pete Edochie, Chinwetala Agu, Doris Simeon, Daniel K. Daniels, Aneke Twins, Eniola Badmus, Saheed Balogun, Uti Nwachukwu, Okey Bakassi, Stanley Ohiukhuare, Tony Akposheri to name a few were all present at the venue. A colleague hinted that actors under the Yoruba movie sector had all agreed not to attend this year's event for the shoddy treatment meted to them the previous year in SA.

Nigeria Emerges Top In Latest International Ranking

Despite the massive cash crunch that has hit every sector of the economy, Nigeria has been ranked the third in mobile online shopping worldwide.
According to PayPal, most Nigerians prefer to pay for cross-border online purchases, and 55 percent of Nigerian cross-border shoppers have used the platform in the past 12 months.
Nigerians through the medium spent not less than N128.1 billion in 2015, via online shopping, with a projected target of N172 billion by the end of 2016.
PayPal’s General Manager Africa and Israel, Efi Dahan, who commented on the shopping trend said: “Nigerians are doing so wherever and whenever they want to, using their mobile devices as an essential shopping tool.
“Nigeria online shoppers have realised that the world is their shopping mall when it comes to buying what they need and want.
‘’They are no longer limited to what they can buy domestically, and are confidently scouring the globe for great deals, more choice, high quality and premier brands,” Dahan said.
The report further disclosed that, Nigeria is home to some of the keenest mobile shoppers on the African continent, and is also, the third largest mobile commerce market in terms of incidence of mobile shoppers, among the countries that participated in a recent research.
With the estimated 72 percent of online consumers shopping on a smartphone in Nigeria, the country follows China (86 percent), and India (82 percent), in terms of incidence of shopping via smartphone.
It further noted, that majority of consumers in Nigeria, pick smart phones to shop online, both when shopping cross-border and locally.
Giving a breakdown value of spending, Paypal estimated that consumers via mobile shopping accounts for 38 percent of their total online spending locally and 36 percent of cross-border purchases.
According to experts, this trend is likely to continue, as Nigerians prefer to purchase goods and services online.

Nigerian cadet who excelled at West Point , New York

WEST POINT, N.Y. — There’s one question no cadet escapes, according to Michael Njokuobi, a senior at West Point Military Academy.
“Unless you come from a military family, everyone here gets asked why they joined the military,” said Njokuobi, 26, of Durham, N.C.
Civilians have long been mystified by what attracts young people to serve, a life marked by rarefied discipline and sacrifice, he said. But Njokuobi is not like most cadets on campus. For him, that same “why” question takes on a whole new light.
When Njokuobi earns his degree in engineering this December, he will be among a small pool of black graduates, which comprise six percent of his class, according to the United States Military Academy. As a young black man, he is exceptional. As a black man of Nigerian descent, however, he is controversial.
For many Ibos, like Njokuobi, who hail from the Eastern region of Nigeria, dark memories of post-Biafran War military occupation and the U.S. government’s resulting sanctions linger on.
“In Nigeria, (the military) doesn’t have the best connotation, so the choice for young people to pursue military careers can be met with disapproval from some members of the community,” he said, with trademark polish and military cool.
Prior to his enrollment at West Point, Njokuobi spent two years in the enlisted army out of high school. His parents, who, he said, “take great pride in the infantry,” were supportive of his decision. Njokuobi’s father emigrated from Nigeria during the civil war and now works for the United States government as a civil engineer.
But friends of his parents, whom they encountered at local Nigerian civic association meetings, were baffled by his decision to choose the military route.
Once enrolled at West Point, from which only four cadets of Nigerian descent have ever graduated, the rebukes became direct — he remembers each vividly. The most recent was with a female friend he met through a cousin, who asked, via an instant-messenger exchange, “How can you fight for a country that wouldn’t fight for you?”
“My parents are immigrants; their parents are immigrants too — they came here for the same opportunity,” Njokuobi said. “No matter what I say, they wouldn’t understand.”
But the answer is so basic to those who know him best: This has always been his dream. Ever since he was a kid, growing up in Tar Heel country, he idolized Napoleon and Alexander the Great like others would have Michael Jordan.
After serving in the enlisted army, where he studied military intelligence and became proficient in Farsi, he finally gained admission to West Point in 2005 through the United States Military Academy Prep School. The prep school is a traditional route for many minority cadets, and a means for West Point to diversify its student population. While one in four cadets enrolled at the prep school are black, black prep-school graduates make up half the black student population at West Point Military Academy, according to the Democratic Leadership Council Web site.
His experience at West Point has been intense. Training at this elite institution is marked by scrutiny, constant evaluation and competition, where cadets are constantly ranked against each other. Still, he forged a close, fraternal bond with a fellow prep school cadet from the Democratic Republic of Congo, now a sergeant major, who would inspire him by earning a Purple Heart. In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire, is 1,000 miles from Nigeria. In West Point, the two cadets were countrymen, sharing similar values and experience. After all, for his success, Njokuobi credits his upbringing and culture, which taught him respect and to strive for excellence.
But on the cusp of graduation, it seems everyone but Njokuobi finds his achievement extraordinary.
“My dad’s an immigrant; my mom’s from North Carolina,” Njokuobi said. “You think it’s unique, but when you step back, it’s just another American story.”
But those who work at West Point Military Academy, such as Maj. James Smith, would argue — despite public criticism of disproportionate minority enrollment — that diversity is not just an American story: It’s a West Point story.
Smith stood before the monument of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a foreign-born West Point founding father who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Saratoga and, like Njokuobi, was an engineer.
“Here’s a guy from Poland, taught in France, who went on to fight in the Revolutionary War,” Smith said to a tour group. “That’s what we’re all about here.”
Smith teaches Njokuobi in a military tactics class and describes him as a sharp, proactive leader.
“I’d take him as my platoon leader any day,” Smith said. “I don’t care if he’s from Pluto.”

Nigeria excels SA, Kenya at online shopping, App usage

Nigerian consumers have been found to be leaders with respect to online shopping as compares with consumers in Kenya and South Africa, according to the Broll Shopper Segmentation Report 2016 Volume 1.
The Broll Shopper Segmentation Report 2016 is a comparison of how consumers shop in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.“Nigerians purchase online more often with 64% saying online shopping is advantageous with another 83% regularly using the shopping centre app for specials and/or product searches,” said Elaine Wilson, divisional director for Research, Broll Property Group.
Online shopping is mostly dominated by growing young internet savvy generations, who are price conscious and can easily do their research online to compare prices and deals, she explained.
Although 58% of those surveyed prefer traditional shopping, 78% believe they will shop more online in future.Generally, Nigerian consumers are experienced shoppers who are organised and shop from a list as well as compare prices.
Furthermore, Abuja shoppers are described as window shoppers who look for bargains and always buy the same brands while those in Lagos are experienced shoppers who plan their shopping trips and they also regard themselves as smart shoppers, revealed the report.
“Nigerian consumers are very sophisticated and are used to shopping internationally particularly in the UK, US, South Africa and Dubai and they regularly compare product ranges and prices for the best deals both locally and internationally,” said Bolaji Edu, Broll Nigeria CEO.
Compared to Kenya and South Africa, Nigeria as a whole has a very limited number of leisure opportunities that the whole family can enjoy. Visiting a secure shopping centre where consumers can shop, eat, socialise and watch a movie is a good option especially during the rainy season, Edu explained.
Of those surveyed, 92% said trading hours are inadequate and would ideally like to see shopping centres trade from 7am to 10pm.Edu said that many consumers work long hours and by the time they finish work and sit through traffic trying to get to the shops, many will be closed for trade for the day, therefore with current opening hours (9am to 9pm), it is often difficult for many shoppers.
“It is possible that the inadequate shopping centre trading hours have helped the growth in e-commerce and the need for shoppers to plan their shopping trips and what they would spend on each of these trips.”
Edu notes that over the last 10 years, the retail sector in Nigeria has grown and now there is approximately 290,000m2 of retail space centred in the main commercial cities of Abuja and Lagos.
Despite this growth and coupled with new mall developments, retail remains under provided for in Nigeria compared to other African countries with similar GDP per capita, he adds.

2 months ago, by Sydney Chesterfield

Please, let's sell (promote) this country to the world

Please, let's sell (promote) this country to the world and make profit for her.

kindly tell others about this blog.

thank you all for ready Breakthru Nigeria.

About us: Breakthru Nigeria blog

About us: Breakthru Nigeria blog

E-mail: seriking15@gmail.com or davidwise111@yahoo.com; Mobile: +2348091143856

INTRODUCTION

Breakthru Nigeria blog identifies and showcases new and progressive feats and advancements in Nigeria and by Nigerians.

Breakthru Nigeria blog promotes and celebrates remarkable and outstanding exploits and achievements by Nigeria and her citizens, irrespective of their place of residence.

Home and abroad, Nigerians are accomplishing unimaginable feats that remain unreported and unknown to their country, government and citizens. The country is equally taking positive development steps which her citizens and the world at large are unaware of. Breakthru Nigeria, therefore, records these developments and feats by Nigeria and Nigerians with the objective of kindling hope in the citizens as well as inspiring confidence in the nation.

It is:

A Hall of fame

A Library of stories

An Award/Honour/Recognition Platform

HONOUR

Nigeria, her governments and citizens as well might not have been able to recognise or honour each individual who have distinguished him/herself and made the country proud across the globe, we (Breakthru Nigeria,blogspot) thus, unreservedly recognise and appreciate these category of people and their works, ingenuity and dedication and publish their stories.

COVERAGE

Breakthru Nigeria covers all walks of life: science, technology, industry, education, sports, fashion, invention, entertainment, engineering, academics, agriculture, health, communications, etc.

Our aim is to stir a sense of hope and patriotism among Nigerians as well as inspire and hasten developments in our land.

A piece of news, in spite of how old it might appear, remains a news material - if you are yet to hear it or you are just hearing it. We, therefore, publish works on this blog not minding the date, as we intend not only to bring to the fore but also to document and also inform about every breakthrough made by Nigerians and Nigeria in and outside their country, particularly as gleaned from various media sources or offered by organisations or individuals.

We urge you, therefore, to follow us on this blog and read our posts as well as also recognise such Nigerian (breakthru) men/women and their works by posting your responses or comments as a mark of honour to these heroes and heroines of our country.

CONTRIBUTE ARTICLES

Based on our discretion, we shall also feature articles, research results, technological breakthroughs and more, which are relevant to our vision. We therefore appeal to individuals, groups, organisations all over the world to intimate us of their successes or anyone else’s.

Please, do feel free to contact us as we draw attention to the achievements, awards, honours, recognitions, victories and triumphs of our country and her citizens.

We welcome your ideas, contributions and support.

VISION STATEMENT:

To track and publicise the progress of the nation and her citizens.

MISSION STATEMENT:

To promote, celebrate and inspire citizens and nation(s) towards developments.

CONTACT US

Have a story, news or link for us? Please, contact us:

E-mail: seriking15@gmail.com or davidwise111@yahoo.com

Mobile: +2348091143856

Thank you.

Black Child Prodigy, 9-Year-Old Nigerian who Became World’s Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional

Black Child Prodigy, 9-Year-Old Nigerian who Became World’s Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional

Nigeria came on the global scene in the information communication technology sector, as 9-year-old Jomiloju Tunde-Oladipo joined the community of achievers when he became one of the world’s youngest 2013 certified Microsoft Office specialists for Office Word 2010.

Jomiloju, a primary 6 pupil of Role Model School, owned by DayStar Christian Centre, Oregun, Ikeja Lagos, broke the record created in 2012 by 10-year-old JSS1 student, Seyi-Ojo Anjolaoluwa, who was adjudged the youngest Nigerian and one of the youngest people in the world to have become a Microsoft certified professional.

Jomiloju took the July 2013 examination while in primary 5, after passing all the preparatory stages leading to the final examinations following intense teachings in school and trainings he received from United Global Resources Ltd, an accredited ICT training firm.

Odion Oyakhire, the center manager in charge of the school noted that his firm, “encourages pupils to learn ICT and get certified.”

Oyakhire explained that his firm coordinates the certification examinations for several schools and was proud to associate with Jomiloju and Role Model School on this feat. He said that the certification examination is an online, real-time test.

Before setting this new record in Nigeria for the certification examination, Jomiloju led his school to glory in June 2013, when they won an ICT quiz competition with 15 participating school in Lagos. The competition was put together by United Global Resources.

The examination report showed Jomiloju scored 769 points, 69 points higher than the required 700 to be recognized as a Microsoft Office Specialist.

Source: Nigeria Tribune

Posted by ABS Staff
October 15, 2013 | 

NAPS-EMU Excels in 40th Annual PAN National Convention Held in Nigeria

NAPS-EMU Excels in 40th Annual PAN National Convention Held in Nigeria                                                                            

It was a thing of joy as the Nigerian Association of Pharmacy Students Eastern Mediterranean University (NAPS-EMU), an umbrella body covering over 400 Nigerian students studying pharmacy at the Eastern Mediterranean University sent her delegates to witness and participate in the concluded Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS) 40th Annual National Convention held at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), located at the eastern region of Nigeria, from 17th – 22nd August, 2015.

The 40th Annual National Convention that brought Pharmaceutical Students and “who is who” in the field of pharmacy home and abroad was hosted in collaboration with NAPS-EMU. Activities that took place at the convention was as follows;

*Rally and Public Health Outreach,
*National Burnfire,
*Seminar Presentation by Students,
*NEROS PHARMACY Football Tournament,
*Quiz and Essay,
*Miss Cotozal-TZ Pharmacy Pageant,
*Capacity Building Workshop and Symposium,
*Cultural Fiesta,
*Plenary Session and AGM,
*Award and Dinner Night,
*Raffle Draw and Choral Competition.

The Keynote address on “Preparing Nigerian Pharmacy Students for a Global Future” was presented by Pharm. Dr. (Mrs.) Nkechi Anyanwu, the Deputy Director of Pharmacy, Federal Medical Center Owerri.

During the Seminar session, one of NAPS-EMU leading seminar speakers, Ozioma O. Ezeofor spoke on one of the prevailing sexually transmitted diseases affecting the contemporary society “Lymphogranuloma Venerum (LGV) and indeed it was awesome.

NAPS-EMU Chairman, Senator Ajiboro Temitope Oluwole humbly represented by the leader of NAPS-EMU delegation Evangeline Samuel delivered a speech on behalf of the chairman.

The speech stressed on the importance of such National conventions to bring Nigerian Pharmacy students worldwide together to deliberate of the way forward and how to improve the pharmaceutical sector of our motherland and place our health sector in the front line of the global rating.

The 40th Annual National Convention was a huge success and some pictures to show the highlights of the events are as follows;
  ...By: Scanty Gela

Nigerian Filmmaker Shines A Positive Light On South Africa

Nigerian Filmmaker Shines A Positive Light On South Africa

'Sometimes you have to tell grim stories and sometimes you have to tell love stories,' says director Akin Omotoso

Written by Rykesha Hudson
06/04/2016 04:05 PM

TRAILBLAZER: African film director Akin Omotoso [Photo credit: Victor Dlamini]

SOUTH AFRICA'S history and politics are complex and dominated by the country’s grim and harrowing journey to end apartheid – the legal racial segregation enforced by white people from 1948 to 1994.

The country has seen its share of cinematic revisions of its history, and the majority of such films are set in the past, either in pre or just-post-apartheid South Africa, and are often positioned as cautionary tales of what happens when xenophobia and human nature go awry.

While Nigerian-born actor, writer and film director Akin Omotoso accepts that the country’s history and “negative” aspects should be shared and discussed, he believes that movies should portray a broader scope of South Africa.

“You want to see a full spectrum of a country,” Omotoso says. “You should see its history, its past, its present and its future.”

“Film industries in a lot of other countries do that very well, like London, America, Bollywood and Nollywood. So for South Africa, it’s important to have a wider variety of what you see and what you expect.”

Best known for his films God Is African and the award-winning Man on Ground – the hard-hitting thriller about how xenophobia in South Africa affect the lives of two Nigerian brothers – the director’s latest feature Tell Me Sweet Something was a box office hit in South Africa and even competed against popular international films including Southpaw and Fantastic Four.

The Johannesburg-set rom-com also earned Omotoso an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for Best Director.

Tell Me Sweet Something follows Moratiwa (Nomzamo Mbatha), an aspiring novelist with writer’s block. She hasn’t had much luck with love ever since her ex-boyfriend Norman went out to buy milk and never returned. Moratiwa now runs a second-hand bookshop in the hippest most vibrant part of the new Johannesburg. Tired of having a recluse as a best friend, Tashaka (Thishiwe Ziqubu) convinces her to party up a storm at a new club in the city; it is here that she meets South Africa’s No.1 celebrity model Nat Masilo (Maps Maponyane).

A far cry from his past cinematic projects, the filmmaker says: “I want the ability to tell different stories.”

He adds: “Tell Me Sweet Something is just a way to say that Johannesburg is beautiful and, as ridiculous as it sounds, people do actually fall in love. And sometimes the only problems that people in South Africa have are just problems of the heart.”

Drawn to love songs and romance films from a young age, Omotoso dreamed of making a romantic movie before he ever considered become a filmmaker.

Explaining his decision to make Tell Me Something Sweet, he says: “I really like love songs – it starts there. There’s just something about love songs that fascinates me.”

He continues: “And I really like the movie Love Jones - I remember seeing it as a student. I just love the feeling of that film. I love how you left the cinema and you felt good. At the time, I didn’t know I was going to be a filmmaker, but I remember thinking ‘wow, I’d love to make a film like that’.”

AFRICAN ROMANCE: A still from award-winning movie Tell Me Sweet Something

Fast forward 15 years, and an opportunity finally came to tell that story.

“It’s something that’s always lived with me - to tell a love story. I really enjoyed making this film - you’re smiling on set every day. Where as when you’re doing more darker, harrowing material it can affect you.”

A recurring theme in Omotoso’s films is the fraught post-apartheid relationship between Nigerian migrants and their South African hosts. Part of the reason is autobiographical: Omotoso is the son of a Barbadian mother and Nigerian literary professor, who moved his family to South Africa in the early 1990s. The result is that Omotoso is as much Nigerian as he is South African.

“I always just say ‘I’m a child of the world’,” he laughs.

Omotoso’s next film, Vaya, is currently in post-production. Vaya weaves three separate plots that intersect in a gripping and deeply moving story about coming to Johannesburg and struggling to survive.

The film came out of a seven-year project the director has been working on with a group of homeless people in Johannesburg.

“Sometimes you have to tell grim stories and sometimes you have to tell love stories. And to be able to tell and share these stories is a blessing.”

For more information, follow filmmaker Akin Omotoso on Twitter @PunchNCream

Oluwaseyi Oni, Nigerian who Overcame Challenges to Excel in U.S.

Oluwaseyi Oni, Nigerian who Overcame Challenges to Excel in U.S.

To kick off International Education Week 2015, we've interviewed an international student about her experience in the United States. Oluwaseyi Oni, of Nigeria, is a graduate student at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta.

Q&A:

What has been your greatest challenge as an international student? What steps did you take to overcome that challenge?

There are myriad opportunities in the United States, but non-citizens can only enjoy some of them. More specifically, international students are at a disadvantage when it comes to finding competitive jobs and scholarships. As a graduate student interested in research, I had to do a lot of patient searching to find an opportunity that fit my goals and interests. In addition, I applied for a scholarship from my home country before coming here.

What was the greatest cultural difference between your home country and the U.S.?

In Nigeria, age is seen as really important, and younger people are expected to show deference to older people. Even a difference of a year between two people is considered significant in certain instances. Furthermore, greeting people who are older than you whenever you enter a place is deemed mandatory etiquette. In the United States, people of all age groups are for the most part considered equal. For instance, the way children address their parents (and even sometimes talk back at them) here would be considered highly disrespectful in Nigeria.

What are you studying? Why did you choose that specific major/concentration?

I’m getting a Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management. I want to explore the complex factors at play in health care systems and develop relevant skills in health care research and management. Public health has a zoomed-out approach compared to clinical medicine; merging my medical career with public health will give it an extra angle and multiply the impact I can make in people’s lives and in society in general.

What advice would you give international students who are working on their English speaking skills in the U.S.?

Practice speaking English everyday. The more you practice, the better you get. Even though it’s easier to speak your native language with people from your ethnic group, go out of your way to speak English with native speakers.

Why did you choose to study at Emory University in Atlanta?

First, I spoke with an alumnus about his experience at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He gave me practical reasons why it was the right fit for my goals and interests. Additionally, the faculty, staff and students are warm, friendly and very helpful. I think some schools overlook the fact that quite a number of people would choose a warm and friendly environment over a stuck-up or hostile school no matter how highly ranked it may be. The Rollins School of Public Health has proven to be even better than I expected. I am glad I chose Emory, and I have absolutely no regrets!

Monday, November 16, 2015

- See more at: http://www.wesstudentadvisor.org/2015/11/q-nigerian-student-overcomes-challenges.html#.dpuf

Outstanding! Nigerian Student Excels In Ohio College, makes 4.0

Outstanding! Nigerian Student Excels In Ohio College, makes 4.0

Ottith Vincent Chimezie, a hardworking Nigerian has joined the outstanding league of students as he broke a 40-year record at Ohio Technical College by graduating with an average GPA of 4.0 in Wielding Technology in both the Diploma and degree programs.
This was after making straight “A’s” in all his courses.
His story was that of a typical Nigerian desperate for any opportunity to improve the quality of his life in order to eke out a living.
Vincent left Nigeria for the United States few years ago with the desire to earn a living as professional Welding, Fabrication and Blueprint Engineer.
This desire led him to the best welding and Technology institute in the U.S, Ohio Technical College / Power Sports Institute, fondly called “The Harvard Welding School of Technology” an ivy school with state of the art facilities and sponsored by the world auto-makers situated in the heart of Cleveland Ohio.
Vincent could have thought all his problems were over despite securing admission into a prestigious institute, but his challenges had just begun.
Despite his lack of expertise in the course, he was faced with rejection on accounts of his race.
“I was underestimated every day in the class. I was discriminated against, due to my African origin and accent but I brazed the challenge,” Vincent said while speaking to newsmen.
He was inspired by success stories of how his compatriots had done the nation proud in the various fields despite initial challenges.
“When I got into the school, I officially enrolled into a diploma course for two years. However when I got into that school, I realized that they equally offer a degree program in the same field of study.
“You can only get into the degree program after a successful completion of the diploma course or if you are capable of combining the two courses simultaneously of course with additional cost on admission and tuition.
“So, I did the unthinkable, I shockingly applied to the school authorities for these two programs,” he added.
So determined to make his mark, Vincent ignored pleasure and dedicated himself to intense studying.
“I chose to study after church on Sundays. I begin lectures by 7:30am -1:45pm. The second lectures begin from 2:00- 4:00pm.Mondays through Fridays.
The school curriculum is fashioned in a way that, there is no break other than the U.S national holidays.”
“Though it was very excruciating, energy sapping and adventurous at times, I hardly got two hours of sleep a night, studying all the day. I was nicknamed Prof couple of times (laughs). I regretted ever combining these studies, but the ‘CAN DO’ spirit of Nigerians kept me going.
Not long after, the hard work started paying off, honor rolls, perfect attendance and the rest.
On June 24, 2016, The whole of U.S stood up for a Nigerian voted by his fellow students as the citizen of the year, selected by the school authorities as the outstanding international student of the year and inducted four times into honor roll.
An elated Vincent said, “The recitation was so strong that I almost slumped at the graduation podium. I was practically held by a professor.”
“I achieved two certificates in two years instead of four years. Voted by his fellow students as the citizen of the year and selected by the school authorities as the outstanding international student of the year. I was also inducted four times into honor roll and received perfect attendance award.
“What can I say? If you can dream it, you can achieve it,” he concluded.
• My efiko

Glover receives African triathlon honour

Glover receives African triathlon honour

The President of Nigerian Triathlon Union, Dr. Lanre Glover, has received the highest African triathlon honour.

Glover, a former Vice President of the African Triathlon Union, was honoured with the ‘Exemplary Contribution to African Triathlon’ award during the 2016 ATU congress in Cairo for “his immense contribution to the development of triathlon in Africa.”

Among other contributions, Glover single-handedly got triathlon into the All Africa Games in Maputo in 2011.

Glover formally voluntarily retired as the ATU’s VP after serving for several years on the executive of the body.

In his reaction, Glover said he was elated by the recognition from the President of ATU Ahmed Nasser and his colleagues on the board.

Glover, a former Vice President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, and now a Trustee of the Olympic Committee, is also the first Vice President of the African Handball Confederation, executive member of the African Union of Sports Medicine and member, Arbitration Tribunal of the International Handball Federation.

The award was presented to Glover on behalf of ATU by the IHF president and IOC member, Marisol Casado.

July 17, 2016

Copyright PUNCH.       

Contact: editor@punchng.com

   

Africa’s hidden history you must know

Africa’s hidden history you must

know

History has bequeathed Africa an unequal and inferior status. The characterisation of Africa as a dark continent that required civilisation was integral to the process of colonisation.

This mythology was vigorously advanced by the coloniser and even internalised by the colonised. Western historians advanced the notion of Africa as a place with a scant history and very little or no achievements.

In the post-colonial period efforts have been made to address this historical injustice. In this Africa Month, it is important for people in the continent to connect with their own histories and identities. This will allow for faster forward movement.

Many have made attempts to set the record straight. About a decade ago, Dr. Robin Walkin produced a document called 100 things that you did not know about Africa. It was published on various platforms, including on Black History Studies, two years ago.

The full content can be read and studied above, but we wish to draw the attention of readers of The Journalist to just a few of the facts that emerge from the research.

• The human race is of African origin. The oldest known skeletal remains of anatomically modern humans (or homo sapiens sapiens) were excavated at sites in East Africa. Human remains were discovered at Omo in Ethiopia that were dated at 195, 000 years old - the oldest known in the world;
• Skeletons of pre-humans have been found in Africa that date back between 4 and 5 million years. The oldest known ancestral type of humanity is thought to have been the australopithecus ramidus, who lived at least 4.4 million years ago;
• Africans were the first to organise fishing expeditions 90, 000 years ago. At Katanda, a region in northeastern Zare (now Congo), was recovered a finely wrought series of harpoon points, all elaborately polished and barbed. Also uncovered was a tool, equally well crafted, believed to be a dagger. The discoveries suggested the existence of an early aquatic or fishing based culture;

Africans cultivated crops 12, 000 years ago, the first known advances in agriculture.

• Africans were the first to engage in mining 43, 000 years ago. In 1964 a hematite mine was found in Swaziland at Bomvu Ridge in the Ngwenya mountain range. Ultimately 300, 000 artefacts were recovered including thousands of stone-made mining tools;
• Africans pioneered basic arithmetic 25,000 years ago;
• Africans cultivated crops 12, 000 years ago, the first known advances in agriculture. Professor Fred Wendorf discovered that people in Egypt’s Western Desert cultivated crops of barley, capers, chick-peas, dates, legumes, lentils and wheat. Their ancient tools were also recovered. There were grindstones, milling stones, cutting blades, hide scrapers, engraving burins, and mortars and pestles.
• Africans mummified their dead 9, 000 years ago. A mummified infant was found under the Uan Muhuggiag rock shelter in south western Libya. The infant was buried in the foetal position and was mummified using a very sophisticated technique that must have taken hundreds of years to evolve. The technique predates the earliest mummies known in Ancient Egypt by at least 1, 000 years
• Africans carved the world’s first colossal sculpture 7, 000 or more years ago. The Great Sphinx of Giza was fashioned with the head of a man combined with the body of a lion. A key and important question raised by this monument was.
• On the 1 March 1979, the New York Times carried an article on its front page also Page 16 that was entitled Nubian Monarchy called Oldest. In this article, we were assured that: Evidence of the oldest recognizable monarchy in human history, preceding the rise of the earliest Egyptian kings by several generations, has been discovered in artefacts from ancient Nubia (i.e. the territory of the northern Sudan and the southern portion of modern Egypt.)
• The first Great Pyramid of Giza, the most extraordinary building in history, was a staggering 481 feet tall the equivalent of a 40-storey building. It was made of 2.3 million blocks of limestone and granite, some weighing 100 tons.
• Malian sailors got to America in 1311 AD, 181 years before Columbus. An Egyptian scholar, Ibn Fadl Al-Umari, published on this sometime around 1342. In the tenth chapter of his book, there is an account of two large maritime voyages ordered by the predecessor of Mansa Musa, a king who inherited the Malian throne in 1312.

• Many old West African families have private library collections that go back hundreds of years. The Mauritanian cities of Chinguetti and Oudane have a total of 3,450 handwritten mediaeval books. There may be another 6 000 books still surviving in the other city of Walata. Some date back to the 8th century AD. There are 11,000 books in private collections in Niger. Finally, in Timbuktu, Mali, there are about 700,000 surviving books.

• Evidence discovered in 1978 showed that East Africans were making steel for more than 1,500 years:

• Autopsies and caesarean operations were routinely and effectively carried out by surgeons in pre-colonial Uganda. The surgeons routinely used antiseptics, anaesthetics and cautery iron. An author wrote in the Edinburgh Medical Journal in 1884: "The whole conduct of the operation ,suggests a skilled long-practiced surgical team at work conducting a well-tried and familiar operation with smooth efficiency."

Above we carry just a small selection drawn from just one study. In the age of the world-wide web, there is much research to be drawn from. Africans must never stop engaging with all aspects of our history and share it with our family, friends and other members of our society.

The laboratory and transformative value of the knowledge cannot be underestimated.

This article was first published in The Journalist (www.thejournalist.org.za), a new website providing context and history for journalists and students (Publisher Zubeida Jaffer, Editor Sylvia Vollenhoven).

25 May 2016

Mansoor Jaffer, The Journalist