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UBA Foundation launches 2023 National Essay competition

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UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the commencement of the 2023 edition of its annual National Essay Competition (NEC) in Nigeria, with a call for entries.

Now in its 13th year, the annual National Essay Competition is part of UBA Foundation’s education initiative aimed at promoting literacy and encouraging healthy and intellectual competition amongst senior secondary school students in Nigeria and across the African continent.

The 2023 edition promises increased participation from senior secondary school students across Nigeria as they can conveniently submit their entries from the comfort of their homes or schools through the UBA Foundation NEC digital submission portal at https://www.ubagroup.com/national-essay-competition/

The essay topic for this year is “Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) take over Human Intelligence? what should students do to ensure AI doesn’t override but enhance their ability to learn through research?”. Students are expected to properly research, write, scan and upload their handwritten essays to the digital portal on or before October 20, 2023.

The first prize winner will receive an educational grant of N5 million to study at any African university of their choice, whilst the second and third prizes now stand at N3 million and N2.5 million educational grants for any African University.

Also, winners of the 12 best essays, will go home with brand new Laptops and other educational tools to help them with their studies and other tertiary research work.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Mrs. Bola Atta, said that with the digital submission portal, more students in senior secondary schools across the country now have the opportunity to scan and send in their entries and compete to win any of the educational grants for study at any university of their choice on the African continent.

She said, “We have worked hard to ensure that every Nigerian high school student who wishes to, will be able to enter for the NEC 2023 and stand a chance to win a fully funded University education through the UBA Foundation.

“For several years, we have upgraded our processes to ensure that our UBA Foundation programmes continue to impact lives in meaningful ways. We realise that the use of technologically driven initiatives is part of modern day and we would like to reach students in their comfort zones, which is why we encourage students to submit their essays digitally.”

She pointed out that the submissions will be evaluated by judges who are professors from reputable Nigerian Universities. The professors will select the top 12 finalists who will take home consolation prizes including personal computers.

These 12 finalists will also write another supervised essay where the top three winners will be announced at the grand finale to be held in November at UBA’s head office in Lagos, Nigeria.

The National Essay Competition has been rolled out in other African countries where UBA operates, in order to open-up the opportunity for more African children to benefit from the educational grants. UBA Foundation embodies the UBA Group’s CSR objectives and seeks to impact positively on societies through several laudable projects and initiatives.

The Foundation through its Education pillar has donated hundreds of thousands of books to students across Africa under the ‘Read Africa’ initiative aimed at encouraging and promoting the reading culture in African youths. Its National Essay Competition has also afforded the opportunity to hundreds of students to improve their lives through higher education.

Aradel fuels the future of sustainable energy

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In a momentous step towards a sustainable future, Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc (NDEP) recently unveiled its new brand identity as Aradel Holdings PLC. This rebranding comes as the company celebrates its 30th anniversary, signifying a transformative shift towards consolidating its leadership position in delivering sustainable energy solutions that drive economic growth across Africa.

With a deep-rooted history as Nigeria’s premier fully integrated independent energy company, Aradel Holdings is charting a course towards Africa’s energy revolution. The rebranding, unveiled on August 4th, 2023, during an exclusive grand launch event, marks a strategic move aligned with the company’s vision of securing its role as the foremost provider of sustainable energy solutions. A cornerstone of Aradel’s mission lies in its commitment to harnessing innovative technologies that leverage Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa’s vast energy resources. The rebranding reflects the company’s dedication to innovation, growth, and sustainability, paving the way for future endeavours in renewable energy and emerging technologies.

Over the years, Aradel Holdings has diversified its investment portfolio to ensure its long-term strength and relevance. In 2012, the Group achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first private organization to operate a refinery in Nigeria, obtaining a refinery License to Operate (LTO) from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The refinery, situated in Ogbele, had a daily capacity of 1,000 barrels. Subsequently, in 2020, the refinery underwent expansion with the addition of two modular trains, each capable of processing 5,000 barrels per day. This expansion elevated the total refining capacity to 11,000 barrels per day, resulting in the production of various products such as Diesel (Automotive Gas Oil or AGO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), Marine Diesel Oil (MDO), Naphtha, and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).
In pursuit of its commitment to growth within the energy industry, Aradel Holdings is currently making significant strides towards the finalization of a reformer unit. This unit, slated for commissioning in 2024, will play a pivotal role in facilitating the production of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) and is an affirmation of the vision of its founders to develop local content capacity at par with international companies.

Additionally, Aradel Holdings through its subsidiary, Aradel Gas Limited, has invested heavily in gas through its Gas Processing Plant. The Plant has enabled the Company to develop and monetise its abundant gas resources in the Ogbele Field, through gas supply to domestic and export markets. The Company is committed to minimising its carbon footprint and has successfully eliminated routine gas flaring at its Ogbele Facility since 2012, when its Gas Processing Plant was commissioned. This feat was recognised by the conferment of the Global Gas Flare Reduction Excellence Award, from a division of the World Bank in 2015.

Under the umbrella of Aradel Holdings, are the following subsidiaries: Aradel Energy Limited, Aradel Gas Limited, and Aradel Investments Limited (formerly known as Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited, ND Gas Development Company Limited, and NDEP Investments Limited, respectively). Aradel Holdings also holds a significant equity stake in ND Western, a consortium that acquired a 45% Participating Interest in OML 34 in 2012, and 95% equity in Aradel Refineries (formerly ND Refineries Limited), an independent midstream entity.

Aradel Holdings’ rebranding marks more than just a name change – it is a commitment to a future where sustainable energy solutions drive progress, prosperity, and sustainability across Africa and beyond. With a rich legacy and a future-focused strategy, Aradel Holdings is undoubtedly poised to shape the energy landscape in Nigeria for years to come.

NAFDAC arrests syndicate for importing banned Crusader soap

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On Friday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it arrested a syndicate specialising in importing banned Crusader Soaps containing mercury into the country.

Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, said the syndicate used forged customs documents to import the product into the country.

According to Ms Adeyeye, the agency banned the importation of the soap into the country years ago because it contains mercury.

“Each consignment is not less than three containers with 4,500 cartons of the soap.

“Acting on intelligence, our investigation and enforcement team in August 2023 busted a warehouse in Trade Fair Market, which was filled with the banned imported soaps.

” Three trailer-loads of imported Crusader medicated soap and Mekako soap, totalling 4,000 cartons by 12 packs by 12 tablet soaps, were evacuated from the warehouse, while some suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

“The street value of the evacuated products is approximately one billion naira,” Ms Adeyeye said.

She explained that the successful busting of the warehouse came after three failed attempts, as the cartel used their informants continuously to relocate the consignment of soaps to different locations in Lagos to prevent the discovery.

The NAFDAC boss said Peter Obih, the prime suspect, during interrogation, claimed to have bought the franchise of the product from a company and presented an expired NAFDAC certificate issued for local manufacture of the product after the ban in Nigeria.

“The suspect claims to have just secured a contract manufacturing agreement with a local manufacturer, but they are yet to commence production.

” The sample of the product was taken to our laboratory for analysis and was found to contain heavy metals identified as mercury.

“The Crusader soap is falsely labelled made in England to deceive Nigerians while the actual source is India,” she stated.

Ms Adeyeye said mercury in cosmetics was of global concern because of the established and documented health hazards it poses to human health and the environment.

She said the arrested suspects would be charged to court while a manhunt is being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of this syndicate.

Anambra to offer polio vaccines to two million children

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The Anambra government says it targets over 2.6 million children between 0-59 months as it begins an outbreak response exercise against the polio virus in the state.

Afam Obidike, the state’s Commissioner for Health, made this known on Friday at the flag-off of the vaccination campaign in Awka.

The campaign is implemented by the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Enugu State Primary Health Development Agency recently announced the detection of a circulating variant of polio virus type-2 in a baby in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Obidike said, “We are responding to the outbreak of polio virus in a neighbouring town, Nkanu West, in Enugu State.

“We have not recorded any case in Anambra, but the natural thing to do is to increase our vaccination to prevent the spread to the state.”

He urged parents and guardians to ensure their children were immunised against polio.

“We have also mobilised 660 fixed posts across the state, and we hope to reach and vaccinate about 2.64 million children to reduce the risk of polio spread in the state,” he stated.

Also speaking, Adamu Abdul-Nasir, state coordinator, WHO, appreciated the state government for its political will and proactive measures in preventing the polio virus from spreading to the state.

In her remarks, Chisom Uchem, executive secretary, ASPHCDA, said the vaccination would start on September 16 and end on September 19 in all the local government areas of the state.

“These few days, we will go all out to churches, mosques, schools and the nook and crannies of the state to look for children and get them vaccinated,” she said.

Nigeria sets up Diphteria emergency task force

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As more states come under diphtheria, the federal government has established an emergency task force to tackle the menace.

Muhammad Pate, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who announced this on Thursday in Abuja, said the target was to curb the spread of the disease detected in 14 states, with Kano as the epicentre.

He listed the states as Lagos, Osun, FCT, Nassarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Kano.

According to the minister, the task force will be co-chaired by Faisal Shuaib, the executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and Ifedayo Adetifa, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Other members include Anyaike Chukwuma, the ministry’s director in charge of public health.

Also to be represented on the team are the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the Information Ministry and the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery (NTLC).

The minister said that the task force’s primary objective was to operate in an emergency mode to prevent further spread of diphtheria to other states and provide relief to affected communities.

He underscored the need for extensive mobilisation and sensitisation efforts, particularly through the involvement of NTLC.

“The public must be aware of the disease, its inherent dangers, and the necessary preventive measures, especially with children returning to school,” he said.

The minister emphasised the need for the task force to collaborate with state governors to secure counterpart funding, foster ownership, and facilitate mass mobilisation efforts.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious disease transmitted through airborne droplets or contaminated personal items.