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33 States Jostle for Maltina Teacher of the Year

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Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has revealed that 33 states across the federation are up in battle for the maiden edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year. Aside Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and Nasarawa states, 33 states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja will be competing for the national prize aimed at restoring the dignity and pride of the teaching profession in Nigeria.

The Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Kufre Ekanem, disclosed this during the inaugural meeting of the Panel of Judges that would further scrutinize and examine entries for the on-going Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative. According to him, the 33 states in contention for the national honours are states that still have valid entries competing for the project grand prize.

Ekanem explained that the project received thousands of entries from across the states of the federation. However, only a couple of hundreds of the entries were shortlisted and validated to compete for the initiative’s coveted prize by the stringent project assessors who trimmed the entries down after a thorough and painstaking examination.

The valid entries in contention are from the following states: Anambra, Enugu, AkwaIbom, Adamawa, Abia, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Taraba, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Edo, Bauchi, Katsina, Benue, Bayelsa and Borno. Others are: Niger, Kebbi, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Oyo, Osun, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

After scaling the project assessors’ hurdles, Ekanem informed that the valid entries will be subject to further scrutiny and thorough assessment process by the recently constituted Panel of Judges, who are charged with determining who becomes the Maltina Teacher of the Year on October 12, 2015 when the winners will be announced and celebrated at a grand event in Lagos..

Eminent Nigerian academics and professionals assembled in the panel include: Prof. (Mrs.) Mopelola O. Omoegun, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos; Prof. Thomas I. Ofuya – Vice Chancellor, Wellspring University and Member, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; Mr. OlusegunAdeniyi, Chairman Editorial Board, ThisDay Newspapers; Dr. (Mrs.) Abdulrahman Binta Fatima – National President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools; Professor Tijjani Abubakar – Dean, Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University and Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder/CEO, Centre for Values in Leadership who was unanimously selected by his co-judges to Chair the Panel.

Ekanem stated that members of the panel were assembled based on their individual pedigree, professionalism and dedication adding that the job of the panel is to examine and scrutinize the valid entries received from across the country to determine winners at the state levels (state champions). The 10 best entries will thereafter be invited for the grand finale where the panel will further subject the 10 finalists to rigorous scrutiny in order to determine who truly should be named the Maltina Teacher of the Year.

He reiterated that the aim of the initiative is “to identify, showcase and reward exceptional teachers in order to encourage our teachers, restore the pride, dignity and respect of the profession and teachers. It is also conceived to inspire people in the profession, especially to make teaching aspirational to people who are aspiring to be teachers.

“This is something we are proud of. We encourage you to be stringent in your judging process. October 12 when this prize will be awarded, will be the day that the teaching profession will be put on a scale in Nigeria and celebrated in a grand event. Teachers are used to watching other being celebrated on TV, now is their time to be celebrated,” he enthused.

Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund recently instituted the Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year Award initiative with mouthwatering prizes worth N50 million annually, to reward commitment and diligence to duty by teachers across the country

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Rotary International District 9112 launches its coastal restoration initiative by planting 1,000 coconut trees in Lagos

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In a bid to promote its mission of improving the environment, Rotary international District 9112 on Sunday kicked off an environment-saving intervention tagged: Coastal Restoration Initiative at Westside Beach, Okun, Ajah, Lagos, where 1000 coconut trees were planted along the coastal shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Speaking at the event, the Governor of Rotary International, District 9112 Rotarian Femi Adenekan said the “initiative is conceived to save the environment as well as reduce the adverse effect of the climate change.”

 

According to him; “the environment is one of the main focus areas of Rotary International. We need to consciously come to the realization that we need to save our environment. We need to save ourselves. So that in the future, those that will come after us will have life.”

“People assume that the world belongs to them. They have forgotten that they are just tenants on the surface of the earth. If you try to change nature, nature will react, which is the reason we are having a lot of environmental damage in the world. Some of wrong human activities, such as throwing plastics and other items into water or where it ought not to be is causing us environmental challenges. If we don’t take care of our environment, the environment will react and take us out of the surface of the earth,” He said.

 

 

The chairman of the District 9112 Tree Planting Committee, Rtn. Gboyega Bada recommended the adoption of an “Every Rotarian Plant a Tree Every Year” policy and also indicated plans for Rotary International District 9112 to propose a Private Bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly to enable all Lagos Residents plant a tree every year for the next five years to address the challenges of climate change.

 

Rtn Bada stated that the vision of Rotary District 9112 on Tree Planting is to achieve a safer and cleaner environment by planting 10,000 seedlings of Coconut, Mango, Breadfruit, Avocado and other ralated crops that have economic, health and environmental benefits.

 

The event was well attended by Stakeholders in the Private and Public Sectors. Pan African Towers Ltd, Tolaram Group, Azeez Amida Foundation, Telenoetica Ltd, amongst others were well represented. Past District Governor Tunji Funsho led other Rotary Leaders to give their support. The DG’s wife Rtn Tayo Adenekan, the District Governor elect Rtn Lanre Adedoyin, General Manager of Lagos State Coconut Development Authority, Dapo Olakulehim and Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, Club Presidents and Rotarians from the 73 Clubs graced the occasion.

 

 

Also speaking at the event, one of the Guest Speakers, the world acclaimed horticulturist, Mr. Andrew Vale of Tolaram Group and The Lagos Free Zone, highlighted the importance of trees, saying; “planting trees improves air quality, reduces air pollution, and illnesses from air pollution. More so, plants produce oxygen and provide shelter, medicine, and many more.”

 

In his own special remarks, Chairman, LUFASI Park and DG Coconut Naija, Dr. Desmond Majekodunmi, said; “the basic fact about the environment is that whatever you sow, you shall reap. The environment will always treat you, the way you treat it.”

 

It is of note that the vision of District 9112 on tree planting for this year is to achieve a safer and cleaner environment through the planting of 10,000 seedlings of coconut, mango, breadfruit, avocado and other related crops that have economic, health and environmental benefits.

 

The event was witnessed and supported by main stakeholders in the industry, agencies and partners which included, Mr Dapo Olakulehin, General Manager, Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA), Mr Andrew Vale of Tolaram Group, Channel Scott from Pan African Towers, Azeez Amida Foundation, Telenoetica, The Legend Lifeskills Foundation, Etam Avitat, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) , presidents and members of various Rotary Clubs in District 9112 amongst others.

 

Rotary leaders who witnessed the event are PDG Tunji Funsho, PDG Kamoru Omotosho, PDG Omotunde Lawson amongst others.

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Ohanaeze President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Is Dead

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The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is dead.

 

The Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ogbonnia confirmed the death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu.

 

“Today is a bad day for Ndigbo. It’s true! Ahaeji aga Mba is gone.

 

“Ohaneze is yet to issue an official statement on the demise of our President General, Chief Iwuanyanwu, but he is gone.

 

Aged 82, Iwuanyanwu was elected the President General of the apex Igbo cultural organisation on April 20, 2023 following the sudden death of his predecessor, Prof George Obiozor.

 

An unconfirmed report said that the octogenarian died in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja on Thursday, July 25.

 

NAN reports that Iwuanyanwu is the second President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to die in office after his predecessor, Prof. George Obiozor, who also died in office.

 

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is a prominent Nigerian businessman, politician, and philanthropist known for his significant contributions to various sectors, particularly in the Igbo community

and beyond. (NAN)

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How Top Immigration Officer, Akomolafe Gbenga Michael, Was Arrested, Arraigned For Alleged Drug Trafficking

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Few years after a top police officer, Abba Kyari, was arrested for alleged drug deals, another top uniform man, Akomolafe Gbenga Michael

has been arrested and charged for alleged drug trafficking.

 

Akomolafe, an Immigration officer serving at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja in Lagos was arraigned alongside three others before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on a nine-count charge of alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession, import, and dealing in the prohibited substances.

 

He was specifically alleged to have been involved in trafficking eight kilograms of Methamphetamine and 7.60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana.

 

Others arraigned on the alleged offences alongside the Immigration officer are; Babatunde Micheal Olufemi said to be a staff of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nwadozie Chris Amaechi, and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril.

 

The prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the four who belonged to a hard drug syndicate were arrested on May 21, 2024, while attempting to smuggle the prohibited substances out of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport Ikeja, Lagos.

 

Ibrahim also told the court that the four men conspired to commit the alleged crimes alongside the duo of Nwadozie Sunday and Echezona Nwosu, based in South Africa.

 

Specifically, the Immigration officer, Akomolafe was slammed with a six-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful import, unlawful possession, and trafficking in the banned substances while the trio of Olufemi said to be a staff of FAAN, Nwadozie, and Nwosu, was slammed with three counts of conspiracy and unlawful importation and possession of the banned drugs.

 

The prosecutor told the court that the alleged criminal act of the four men contravened sections 14 (b), 21 (2)(d), and 20 (1)(c) punishable under sections 11(b) and 20 (2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

 

However, while the other three members of the gang pleaded guilty to the charges, the Immigration officer denied the offences and pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.

 

Based on the not-guilty plea of the Immigration officer, his lawyer, Benson Ndakara, pleaded with the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms.

 

In his ruling, Justice Osiagor admitted Akomolafe to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety.

 

The judge also ordered that the surety must be a civil servant of an assistant director cadre in the employment of Lagos State or the Federal Government.

 

The trial was then adjourned to November 7, 2024. Based on their guilty plea, the court convicted and sentenced the trio of Babatunde Micheal Olufemi, Nwadozie Chris Amaechi, and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril, to four years on each count. The sentence is to run concurrently.

 

The three convicts were also given the option of paying a fine of N2 million each on each count.

 

In a related development, The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has suspended Akomolafe over his alleged involvement in multiple drug trafficking offences and his arraignment before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

 

A press statement on Wednesday by the spokesperson of NIS, Kenneth Udo, said the suspension was imposed on the erring officer as the Service awaited the judgement

of the court for further action..

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