News
Obiano Offers 2018 Technovation Challenge Winners Scholarship & N1m Each
Chief Willie Obiano, Executive Governor of Anambra State, has offered scholarships to the young girls from Regina Pacis Model Secondary School Onitsha, Anambra State who won the Gold Medal at the World Technovation Challenge 2018 which took place in the Silicon Valley, San Francisco, USA.
A statement released by Mr James Eze, Special Adviser Media to the governor stated that the champions were also given a cash prize of N1m each and decorated with the Crest of Anambra State and issued a Certificate of Merit in recognition of the honour they had brought Anambra State, to Nigeria and to Africa.
Speaking at a colourful reception organised in honour of the girls at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia on Monday, Governor Obiano informed the parents of the Golden Girls of Nigeria that the Government of Anambra State had taken over the responsibility of their education up to the Bachelor’s Degree level.
Observing that the formal reception of the girls had fittingly coincided with the marking of the 27th anniversary of the creation of Anambra State, Governor Obiano declared that it was a double celebration for Ndi Anambra all over the world.
“Today, we celebrate our beloved state. And we celebrate our Golden Girls. Ndi Anambra, it is a double celebration for us all. We celebrate Adaeze Onuigbo, Vivian Okoye, Promise Nnalue, Nwabuaku Ossai, Jessica Osita and Miracle Igboka. And above all, we celebrate Mrs Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu who moulded them into world-beaters. We celebrate you all,” Governor Obiano declared.
Describing them as “a group of amazing girls who recently dazzled the world with their talent,” Governor Obiano observed that “they have, therefore, turned this special day into Gold. They did it with their outstanding brilliance, their quest for knowledge and their search for a happier world. And I am immensely proud of them.”
Situating the actual significance of the feat achieved by the Golden Girls, Governor Obiano declared; “Ndi Anambra, our precious daughters have broken old stereotypes that have often shown black people as excelling mostly in football, athletics, music and the arts at the global state. Our girls have announced to the world that given the right environment and motivation, we can also contribute to science and innovation. In doing this, they have shown that Anambra is not a state with a Single Story. Indeed our stories are many and varied. Our stories are colourful!”
Speaking further, Governor Obiano maintained that any keen observer of Anambra State under his watch would have noticed the steady progress the state had recorded so far. “Our students have maintained a consistently excellent performance in all external examinations these past four years. In 2015, a group of five students that were randomly selected from public schools across Anambra State had won the Bronze Medal at the World Schools Debate Championship in Singapore.
“One year later, another set of students had also defeated the debate team of Katong Convent School in Singapore in a Mock Debate Contest. The golden performance of our girls at the World Technovation Challenge in San Francisco, USA is, therefore, a fitting climax to a narrative of excellence. It brings the relentless quest for high achievement by our children to a resounding success,” he stated.
Explaining that Anambra had stepped into a great moment in history, Governor Obiano further opined that “this moment is made special by the energy and zeal of our people and the outstanding talent that has started to find expression under my watch. My administration has resolved to reward hard-work and exceptional talent in order to encourage productivity and excellence. And we shall start with our Golden Girls today.”
He assured the girls that the State would continue to support them to ensure that they all bloom into different professions of their choice.
Also speaking, the mentor and coach of the girls, Uche Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu declared that she was not content with winning just once. Said she: “Winning for me is a vocation. When we repeat this feat next year and two years from now, that is winning for me. We cannot win just once. But we need a lot of support to keep winning. I love the celebration that has gone on across the world but in my head, I am thinking, how do we duplicate this? How do we reach other girls?
We can be champions forever. We cannot be champion today and it stops here.”
In his own words, the Senator representing Anambra Central Constituency, Senator Victor Umeh observed that the victory recorded by the girls at the 2018 World Technovation Challenge had put a seal on the claims that Governor Obiano’s campaign team made on education during the last gubernatorial election in the state.
Said he: “When news broke out on the day the girls won, it coincided with the day the governor gave out the sum of N350m again to mission schools. So, it is fair to say that the girls won because of the efforts of the governor of Anambra State.
Pointing out that Anambra was moving at a considerable speed, Senator Umeh argued that beating over 130 countries in a technological contest was not a mean achievement as it showed that in no distant time the state would be making all kinds of things.
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has announced the launch of its ₦400 million festive rewards campaign, designed to reward users with cash prizes and fully sponsored international travel experiences for everyday transactions on the PalmPay app.
The campaign will run from December 17, 2025, to January 8, 2026. The campaign is designed to reward everyday transactions with extraordinary experiences. It runs alongside PalmPay’s Purple December brand campaign, which focuses on wrapping up the company’s key brand and community initiatives for the year.
At the centre of the rewards campaign is the PalmPay World Travel Carnival, an interactive card collection experience that allows users to earn city cards by completing transactions on the app. Users are required to collect five city cards – London, New York, Dubai, Sydney, and Cape Town and combine them into a World Card, which unlocks a share of the prize pool.
The more World Cards a user creates, the larger their share of the cash rewards. Any extra uncombined cards can be swapped with friends and other PalmPay users to help complete additional World Cards.
Beyond cash rewards, the Carnival also offers Free Global Trips. In each round, the top two users with the highest number of eligible transactions (₦100 and above) and at least one World Card will win an all-expense-paid international trip.
The travel grand prize covers:
- Visa fees
- Round-trip international airfare
- 5-day, 4-night hotel accommodation
- Side attraction
- Meal expenses
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- All transportation for scheduled tour activities during the trip
Winners will be determined through a transparent leaderboard system, with prizes credited automatically at the end of each round on December 25, December 31, and January 8.
Participation is simple:
- Complete tasks on the PalmPay app, such as Airtime, Data, Transfers, and other specific transactions listed in the app, to earn cards.
- Collect all five city cards.
- Swap cards with friends to complete your collection.
- Combine cards to form a World Card and earn cash rewards.
- Perform more transactions to climb the leaderboard for a chance at the global trip prize.
To ensure fairness, PalmPay has instituted strict rules: no cheating, bots, fake accounts, or manipulation. Any violations may lead to disqualification or account bans. Additionally, the Free Travel Prize is limited to one per user throughout the campaign.
Speaking on the launch, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing & Communication, “This festive rewards campaign is about turning everyday banking into meaningful value for our users. With the World Travel Carnival as the headline activation, we are reinforcing PalmPay’s promise of being the smarter way to bank—where smart financial decisions unlock bigger opportunities.”
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a nationwide energy survey aimed at closing long-standing data gaps in Nigeria’s power sector. The initiative is expected to guide policy, attract investment, and accelerate universal electricity access.
Signed in Abuja, the agreement establishes a National Energy Survey based on the Multi-Tier Tracking Framework (MTF), a globally recognized methodology that measures electricity access not only by grid connection but also by quality, affordability, reliability, and usage of electricity and clean cooking solutions.
The survey will be implemented under the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank. Dr. Abba Aliyu, REA Managing Director/CEO, said the partnership underscores REA’s commitment to evidence-based rural electrification planning and will generate detailed insights on electricity access and off-grid solutions nationwide.
Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation/CEO of NBS, emphasized that reliable statistics are essential for effective policymaking, assuring that NBS will provide technical oversight, sampling expertise, and quality assurance to meet global standards.
The survey will assess energy access, household affordability, expenditure patterns, and the adoption of off-grid technologies such as solar home systems, mini-grids, and clean cooking solutions. REA will provide sector expertise and policy alignment, while NBS manages regulatory approvals, methodology, and technical supervision.
Funded and technically overseen by the World Bank, the exercise will run for 18 months, with the resulting data expected to improve national energy planning, programme targeting, and private sector investment, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
Officials said the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency coordination, enhancing energy data availability, and advancing Nigeria’s goal of universal electricity and clean cooking access.
The Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), the nation’s foremost self-regulatory body for the blockchain industry, has completed its election cycle, heralding the beginning of a new executive council dedicated to scaling Nigeria’s digital economy.
The highly anticipated elections concluded recently with the emergence of a new leadership team poised to champion industry standards, foster innovation, and drive widespread adoption of blockchain technology across the country.
The newly elected executives, who will officially assume their roles in January 2026, represent a blend of legal, financial, and technical expertise critical for navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
Leading the charge is Mela Claude-Ake, a lawyer, who has been elected the President of SiBAN to succeed the outgoing President, Obinna Iwuno, whose tenure was marked by significant achievements, including facilitating crucial reforms and forging strategic partnerships with regulators and other critical stakeholders in the digital asset industry. Mr. Iwuno will formally hand over the reins to the new council in January 2026.
Other elected to the executive council are Chimene Chinah – Vice President 1, in charge of Blockchain education and adoption; Oroke Cornelius – Vice President 2, in charge of membership, strategic partnerships, and funding; and Ayo Shonibare – Vice President 3, in charge of policy, regulation, and ethics.
Others are Ugochukwu Peters – Vice President 4 in charge of digital asset operations and capital markets, Mbene Vivian – Chief strategy officer in charge of projects and incubation, Olufunmilayo Tugbobo as Financial Secretary/Chief Financial Officer, and Chiemeka David Ohajionu as Chief Communications Officer.
The newly elected council’s structure reflects SiBAN’s commitment to addressing key pillars of the blockchain ecosystem: from grassroots education and fostering innovation through projects, to establishing robust regulatory frameworks.
In his acceptance speech, Mela Claude-Ake emphasized the vital role SiBAN plays in shaping the future of finance and technology in Nigeria.
“The trust placed in this new council is not one we take lightly. We inherit a great foundation built by the outgoing team. Our mission now is to accelerate. We stand at a critical juncture where the potential of blockchain to revolutionize every sector, from finance and governance to supply chain, is undeniable. This new council will focus relentlessly on advancing smart, collaborative regulation, democratizing blockchain education, and protecting the interests of all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria remains a leader in the African digital economy space,” he assured.
He added that he is humbled by the opportunity to be the face of one of Nigeria’s youngest and most promising sectors — blockchain tech.
“As a tech enthusiast I am excited at the possibilities. The ecosystem needs careful nurturing by the government. My administration will be focused on building new bridges for the blockchain sector internationally and domestically, establishing trust with the public and unifying the sector. I enjoin all blockchain stakeholders in Nigeria, connected to Nigeria or of nigerian heritage to join hands together with my administration in building the industry of our dreams.”
The industry now looks forward to the handover ceremony in January 2026 and the initiatives the new SiBAN leadership will unveil to solidify the association’s role as a catalyst for innovation and a respected partner to the Nigerian government.
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