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First Bank Begins Season 3 of $1, 200 Online Reality Competition

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Bisi Onasanya, managing director/chief executive officer, FirstBank
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First Bank of Nigeria’s  online ‘reality’ writing competition created by the bank and www.thenakedconvos.com, popular online art and opinion magazine, has entered season 3 promising to be even bigger.

According to the organizers and just like the first two season, contestants will be given a topic or theme to write on each week and you, the public, as well as the judges, assess them and vote to keep the best writers in the competition until one writer is left standing.

Over the last two years, the competition has been exciting and keenly contested across West Africa but this year, everything changes.

The competition is bigger and better with more evictions every week and more prize money at stake.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered from the organizers that 12 Finalists will be shortlisted from the call for entries submissions.

These writers will be mentored by 3 judges and will contest in four rounds of the online writing competition where three contestants will be evicted weekly.

The competition will require all writers to send in their themed stories weekly by a fixed deadline. Posts from contestants will be put up for members of the public to read and vote on.

At the end of the voting period, the panel of judges will evaluate the stories and score them using pre-communicated criteria.

The public votes from the audience and the votes from the judges will be combined and based on this; contestants will be judged and eliminated weekly until a final winner – THE WRITER – emerges.

The competition is for all Africans who love to write. There is no age, nationality or location restriction.

All Africans or people of African origin are encouraged to send in pre-qualification entries to be considered.

To stand a chance to qualify for the competition, simply write and send in a flash fiction story that is not more than 500 words long (It can be less than this but definitely not more).

The theme for this year’s entry stories is “The First”.

 “The first — what? That’s entirely up to you. The first kiss.The first story.The first bite.The first child. The first car.The first man.The first word. Anything. It can be about a time or a place or a person or a situation or anything along the continuum.

“Be creative. Any Style, direction and format is allowed – the more creative and well written, the better your chances of qualifying. Send your entry to [email protected] on or before midnight, February 21st, 2014.

Submissions must be Flash Fiction stories. Poetry and Opinion pieces will not be accepted.  The schedule

Deadline for submission of entries is February 21, 2014. The Judges, sponsors and 12 Finalists will be announced and The ‘Show’ will begin on the 3rd of March 2014.

 “Only shortlisted writers will be contacted.  Writers will be contacted only by e-mail. Please include your full name, phone number and a valid e-mail address in your submission, which we will use for continued correspondence, even if it is the same email address you use to send in the entry.

Only one entry is allowed per writer.

The work must be the work of the person whose name is stated in the email,” the Organizers said in a statement made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.

At the end of The Writer competition, there will be three winners, First Place – $1,200; Second Place – $800 and the Third Place – $600

 


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Researchers Develop Innovative Treatment for Malaria

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An international team of researchers have introduced a groundbreaking drug, known as the covalent kinase inhibitor, which shows promise in combating treatment-resistant malaria.

Researchers Develop Innovative Treatment for Malaria

Developed by chemists and bioscientists from the University of Glasgow, this innovative drug could surpass current medications by effectively targeting and disabling the proteins used by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite to replicate within the human body.

This is according to a report titled “Targeting Pf CLK3 with Covalent Inhibitors: A Novel Strategy for Malaria Treatment.”

The development, led by chemists and bioscientists from the University of Glasgow, was outlined in a November publication in the “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.”

According to the researchers, covalent inhibitors form bonds with proteins, usually irreversibly modifying them, and this new drug could be more effective than current medications at all stages of malaria infection.

The new drug works by permanently disabling a protein that Plasmodium falciparum, one of the mosquito-borne parasites that spread malaria, uses to replicate itself inside the human body.

The drug also has the potential to work as a single-dose treatment, a significant improvement over existing therapies.

This breakthrough marks the first adaptation of an approach from cancer treatments to tackle malaria.

The team expressed optimism that the parasite is unlikely to develop resistance to the new drug, which targets the protein Pf CLK3 and disrupts the parasite’s ability to splice RNA.

The researchers, including Prof. Martins Emeje from the Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency and Prof. Oyewale Tomori from the West African Academy of Sciences, emphasise the importance of regular calibration and accreditation for medical laboratories to ensure accurate results and reliable treatment.

 

 


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Nigeria to Host ICEGOV 2025, A Milestone in Digital Governance and Global Leadership

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The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Nigeria has been officially confirmed as the host country for the 2025 International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) edition.

This confirmation by the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) marks a historic milestone in our nation’s digital transformation journey, showcasing Nigeria’s leadership in digital governance, innovation, and technological advancements on the global stage.

ICEGOV is a prestigious global conference that convenes governments, academia, international organisations, industry leaders, and civil society to exchange insights, research, and best practices in electronic governance.

Hosting this event presents a unique opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, foster multidisciplinary collaborations, and drive policy innovations that will shape the future of governance in Africa and beyond.

Speaking on this momentous achievement, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, stated: “Nigeria’s selection to host ICEGOV 2025 is a recognition of our efforts to drive digital transformation and innovation in governance.

“I am a firm believer in the importance of the academia and research in supporting global discussions on e-Governance and we have seen this in some of the input in government initiatives like the National AI Strategy and the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill which are laying the foundation for the growth of Nigeria’s Digital Economy.

“As we prepare to welcome you all to Nigeria, we look forward to very useful outcomes that will be beneficial for the growth of digital governance and policy development globally.”


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MTN Nigeria Foundation Supports Education with Donation of School Supplies to 1000+ Students

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MTN Nigeria Foundation recently embarked on an initiative to donate support materials to nominated schools in seven states across the six geopolitical zones, including Edo, Oyo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Anambra and Enugu.

Odunayo Sanya, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation

The donations form part of the foundation’s Learning Support Materials Initiative (LSMI) aimed at improving learning experiences for students nationwide.

The MTNF Learning Support Material Initiative (LSMI) is a program created to empower students with essential academic tools, enabling them to reach their highest academic capabilities. Over 1000 students received vital resources such as school bags and exercise books, with the schools also receiving additional equipment like umbrellas and Wi-Fi routers to aid the implementation of technology in learning.

The initiative forms part of MTN Foundation’s broader commitment to youth empowerment and educational development in Nigeria. Over the years, the foundation has invested in education through several initiatives. These include the MTN Scholarship Scheme for science and technology students and blind scholars at the undergraduate level. Additionally, MTN Foundation’s Science and Technology Lab Project (STLP) has resulted in the refurbishment of 102 science laboratories in public secondary schools across the country.

Speaking on the Learning Support Material Initiative (LSMI) and the Foundation’s dedication to national development through education, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya said “At MTN Nigeria Foundation, we believe that education is the cornerstone of growth and development, and all students deserve access to the resources necessary to unlock their full potential.

“This initiative emphasizes our commitment to fostering an enabling environment for learning and supporting access to quality education.”

The impact of these donations was evident and appreciated by students who expressed that the learning materials would aid their learning process and educators who affirmed that they would be put to good use.

This initiative demonstrates how corporate entities can play pivotal roles in supporting societal needs while promoting sustainable development within the communities they serve.

The Learning Support Materials Initiative by MTN Foundation highlights its unwavering dedication towards empowering young minds across Nigeria. Through strategic educational support programs, the foundation contributes to bridging resource gaps faced by several public institutions and shaping brighter futures nationwide.


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