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15yr old Otong Paul emerges 2022 UBA Foundation NEC winner

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It was all joy and palpable excitement as 15-year old Usongobong Paul, from Akwa-Ibom State, emerged the overall winner of the 2022 Edition of the UBA Foundation’s annual National Essay Competition(NEC). Now in its 12th year, UBA Foundation’s Essay competition has positively impacted hundreds of students across Africa.

Usongobong Paul, a student of the Federal Government Girls College Ikot- Obio Itong, Akwa-Ibom beat 11 other finalists to clinch the best prize at the competition which had over 5,000 entries from students of Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.

She takes home a scholarship worth five million naira to study at any African university of her choice. She also received a brand-new state-of the-art laptop amongst other goodies at the grand finale which was held at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre, UBA House in Lagos on Monday.

Usongobong who was escorted to the event by her ICT Teacher, Akanyere Divine Chigozie, said she was excited to have come top in the competition, adding that the experience has helped increase her confidence levels: “I am so grateful to UBA Foundation for this great opportunity. It has helped me believe in myself and bolstered my confidence. This scholarship will go a long way towards achieving my dream to become an ophthalmologist. The opportunity has changed my life and I really appreciate UBA and the UBA Foundation” she said.

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She will also be supported throughout her educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the UBA Foundation.

The second prize was awarded to Princess Sholabomi, a 15 year old student of Value Spring College, Lagos. She won a N3,000,000 educational grant and a laptop, whilst the third prize of N2,500,000 and a brand-new laptop went to 15-year old Sharon Nwajiaku of Ota Total Academy, Ogun State. The other 9 finalists, which included only one boy, also received brand new laptops as well as consolation prizes and learning materials.

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UBA Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who presented the prize to Usongobong, said the bank remains committed to the youth, who are the future of the continent.

“As a bank, we are interested in empowering our youth, and to do this, we must educate them and provide them with enabling avenues such as the UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition. We have launched these initiatives in all the 20 countries where UBA has presence. I was in Sierra Leone a few weeks ago where the NEC was held, and I was really encouraged by the enthusiasm and participation I witnessed there. Since we at UBA know that our future lies with our kids, UBA will continue to provide the necessary enablement which will help them take Africa to the world where it needs to be;” the GMD stated.

The Chairman of the board of trustees of the UBA Foundation, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, congratulated the 12 finalists, adding that UBA has been touching lives and making a solid impact through the UBA Foundation and has produced hundreds of winners, some of who have long graduated from higher schools and who have continued to impact their communities.

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He said, “I commend everyone for being a part of this event. We set up the NEC over 12 years ago, because we saw the need to allow students to express themselves and convey their ideas, and over the years, we have seen that we are doing something very unique and truly African. We have given scholarships to over a hundred students across Africa, and we have been able to produce Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers through this platform,” Uzoka said.

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The MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, who also congratulated the winners commended them for their exceptional brilliance. “Every student who sent in an entry is a winner. To be confident about your writing skills and ambitious enough to enter a competition to further enhance your educational path is laudable. For those that did not come first this year, I would say do not be discouraged. Take it as a challenge to perfect your writing skills and enter for the competition again next year” she said.

She explained that the UBA Foundation is committed to giving back to communities where it operates. Education in any capacity, she noted, remains one of the Foundation’s focus area as it is the bedrock of any nation. We have been focused on improving the reading culture amongst students, to foster growth and learning. So today, we would like to congratulate all 12 finalists, because you are all winners, having been selected from over 5,000 entries.

UBA Foundation is the corporate social responsibility(CSR) arm of Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. The UBA Foundation’s Education initiative has been changing lives for almost two decades, giving back to its communities and helping ease the way for those less privileged. The Foundation is focused on development in the areas of Education, the Environment, Economic Empowerment and Special Projects.

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UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2: l-r: 1st Runner-up, 2022 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition and Student of Value Spring College, Lagos, Princess Sholabomi; Winner and student of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Otong Usongobong Paul; and 2nd Runner-up, and Otta Total Academy, Otta, Ogun State, Sharon Nwajiaku, at the grand Finale of the12th Edition of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Schools in Nigeria held at the Bank’s Amphitheater in Lagos on Monday

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UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 1: l-r: 1st Runner-up, 2022 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition and Student of Value Spring College, Lagos, Princess Sholabomi; Winner and student of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Otong Usongobong Paul; and 2nd Runner-up, and Otta Total Academy, Otta, Ogun State, Sharon Nwajiaku, at the grand Finale of the12th Edition of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Schools in Nigeria held at the Bank’s Amphitheater in Lagos on Monday

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UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 6: l-r: Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa(UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Winner,2022 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition and student of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Otong Usongobong Paul; Tutor, FGGC, Ikot Obio Itong, Akanyere Divinelove Chigozie ; and Deputy Managing Director, UBA Group, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi; and Company Secretary, UBA Group, Mr. Bili Odum, at the grand Finale of the12th Edition of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Schools in Nigeria held at the Bank’s Amphitheater in Lagos on Monday

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UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 4: Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta(5th from left); 1st Runner-up and Student of Value Spring College, Lagos, Princess Sholabomi; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa(UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba(7th from left); Winner,2022 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition and student of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Otong Usongobong Paul(8th from left); 2nd Runner-up, and Otta Total Academy, Otta, Ogun State, Sharon Nwajiaku (9th from, left); and Deputy Managing Director, UBA Group, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi(10th from left) flanked by other finalists, at the grand Finale of the12th Edition of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Schools in Nigeria held at the Bank’s Amphitheater in Lagos on Monday

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UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 3: Judges, UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, Professors Samuel Onuigbo, Asabe Kabir and Ini Uko; Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta; 1st Runner-up and Student of Value Spring College, Lagos, Princess Sholabomi; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa(UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Winner, 2022 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition and student of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Otong Usongobong Paul; Trustee, UBA Foundation, Mary Udu-Ejembi; 2nd Runner-up, and Otta Total Academy, Otta, Ogun State, Sharon Nwajiaku; Deputy Managing Director, UBA Group, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi; and Trustee, UBA Foundation, Bala Magaji, at the grand Finale of the12th Edition of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Schools in Nigeria held at the Bank’s Amphitheater in Lagos on Monday

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UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 5: l-r: Company Secretary, UBA Group, Mr. Bili Odum; Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta; 1st Runner-up, 2022 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition and Student of Value Spring College, Lagos, Miss Princess Sholabomi; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa(UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Winner, 2022 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition and student of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, Akwa Ibom State, Miss Otong Usongobong Paul; 2nd Runner-up and Student, Otta Tota Academy, Otta, Ogun State, Miss Sharon Nwajiaku; and Deputy Managing Director, UBA Group, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi, at the grand Finale of the12th Edition of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Schools in Nigeria held at the Bank’s Amphitheater in Lagos on Monday

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Business

Inflation: Real reason Indomie reduced prices of popular staple food item revealed

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A flagship brand under Dufil Prima Foods Limited, Indomie Instant Noodles, has announced a significant reduction in prices to ensure affordability for consumers amidst Nigeria’s escalating inflationary pressures.

The decision came as a response to mounting economic challenges faced by Nigerians, to maintain accessibility to this popular staple food item.

This has been confirmed by a recent survey conducted across various stores in Lagos, which revealed a notable decrease in the prices of Indomie products. The cost of the 70g pack of Indomie Regular Chicken noodles plummeted from N300 to N250 compared to the previous month.

Additionally, the price of a 40-pack carton of Indomie dropped from N12,000 to N10,000 within the same timeframe. Before this adjustment, Indomie’s prices had surpassed those of competing brands such as Mimee (N200) and Honeywell noodles (N250).

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Temitope Ashiwaju, the group corporate communications & event manager at Dufil Prima Foods Limited, attributed the price reduction to favorable changes in operational costs.

He emphasized the company’s commitment to passing on benefits to consumers, stressing their dedication to fairness and affordability.

“We are never going to be taking advantage of the populace. We want to make a profit, but fairly,” the spokesman added. “That is why we are determined to keep our products affordable to Nigerians.”

Contrary to speculations suggesting low patronage as the driving factor behind the price adjustment, Ashiwaju reaffirmed that the decision was rooted in the company’s ethos of customer-centricity and fairness.

Industry experts have hailed Dufil Prima’s move as influential, predicting a ripple effect that could prompt other brands to follow suit because Indomie’s dominant position in the market has positioned it as a price setter, prompting expectations for broader shifts in pricing strategies across the industry.

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The price reduction by Indomie comes amidst a backdrop of economic challenges in Nigeria, characterized by soaring inflation rates.

Over the past nine months, Nigeria has witnessed a steady rise in headline inflation, driven primarily by government reforms such as the removal of petrol subsidies and naira devaluation.

As a result, food inflation has surged, exacerbating the financial strain on households and leading to an increase in poverty levels.

Despite these economic headwinds, a recent report by Euromonitor International indicates robust growth in the sales value of noodles within Nigeria’s formal market.

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Crime

Terrorists attack Yobe military base, kill soldier

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Suspected terrorists about midnight of Saturday, March 23, attacked a military base in Gujba town, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, killing a soldier.

Yobe State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, who confirmed the attack to Theheute on Sunday, said a military patrol vehicle was also torched by the suspected terrorists.

“The only thing I can confirm to you now is the attack. A soldier was killed, and troops and CJTF engaged the suspected terrorists,” he said.

Reliable local sources told Theheute that the suspected insurgents, who stormed the town by 12 midnight, shooting indiscriminately and subsequently attacking the military base, were later repelled by troops who chased them out to the surrounding bush.

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A resident of Gujba, Modu Bahna, while narrating his ordeal, said, “They (suspected terrorists) stormed the town some minutes after midnight, shooting sporadically and majority of us took to our heels into the surrounding bushes for our dear lives.”

“The attackers did not kill any civilian or loot food or other essential commodities stores,” another source, Dala Bukar, said, adding, “They only attacked the two patrol vehicles in the military base where a soldier was killed.”

This recent killing of a millionaire personal is coming after 15 soldiers were killed during a communal clash in Delta State.

The personnel consist of two Majors, one Captain, and 12 soldiers.

They were said to have met their deaths while responding to a distress call during a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in the state.

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Education

UNIJOS students protest water scarcity, blackout

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Students at the University of Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, locked the institution’s gates protesting water scarcity and lack of electricity supply to their hostels.

The protesting students held placards with different inscriptions such as: ‘No light to soak gari’ and ‘We no get SUG.’

Others held empty buckets to symbolise the lack of water in the institution.

Some of the students, who spoke to our correspondent, lamented their plight and said that the situation had caused untold suffering to them and impacted negatively on their academic activities.

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One of the students, who gave his name simply as Josiah, said, “We don’t know what the school management wants the students to do. There has been no water in the hostels for the past two or three days. Even the blackout, which has been ongoing as well, has left several students completely stranded.

“Apart from that, we are also not happy with the school management over the dissolution of the Students Union Government because right now, the students have no direction because they don’t have any leadership.

“The VC and the school management have refused to give us a listening ear. They (school management) came here this morning and said we should send representatives to negotiate, but how can we be told to negotiate for our rights? This is not proper.

“The school management has now directed the students to send in representatives for negotiations. However, no one has volunteered to go since the protest was not led by the officials of the student body as the last SUG executives were dissolved in February and a new government has not been formed.”

It was learnt that following the protest, the university authority quickly deployed security operatives to the institution to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums to cause havoc, but the students were said to have vowed to stay at the gate until the issues were resolved.

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Some staff members of the university who were caught up in the protest, however, condemned the action of the students, describing it as unnecessary.

One of the staffers who refused to give his name said, “We got here this morning and discovered that the gate had been locked. Everything is not about protest. There was no official notice. We just started seeing students at the gate. I believe that if they had brought their complaints to the school management, they would have got immediate solution because the VC does not joke with the welfare of the students.”

Contacted, the university’s Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, acknowledged the challenge of water scarcity and blackout in the students’ hostels.

The Dean, who blamed the situation on the Jos Electricity Distribution Company over an outstanding debt, however, said that the problem had been resolved following an intervention by the Vice Chancellor.

“It is true that there was no water before now, but water has been supplied to the hostels. The JED severed our supply because of outstanding bills. The VC has intervened, and they are going to reconnect the light. As I am talking to you, water has been supplied. The light will be reconnected any moment from now and with the light restored, we won’t have the problem of water again,” the Dean assured.

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