28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
UBA releases N2.3m for best essay writers BY DAYO ADESULU
S
ENIOR secondary students who are good at essay writing could be millionaires as UBA Foundation announces a whopping sum of N2.3m for winners of 2013 National Essay Competition. Ijeoma Aso, Managing Director/CEO, UBA Foundation, announced the call for entries at a press conference held on Thursday at the bank’s head office in Lagos. She said that all senior secondary school students
across the country are eligible to participate in the competition. “The three best essayists are selected as the overall winners from 12 finalists that will emerge from the first round of the competition. The first, second and third prize winners will receive N1 million, N750,000 and N500,000 respectively in educational grants.” “The essay contest is aimed at complementing UBA Foundation’s Read Africa Initiative which is also part of the
Foundation’s efforts in arresting the falling standard of education on the continent. “The essay is to encourage healthy and intellectual competition among secondary school students in Nigeria.” Aso who noted that the initiative which started in 2011 with 719 entries, increased in 2012 having 2,281 said “this year, we expect to receive more than 4000 entries for the competition.” Entries close by November 1, 2013 and no
late entry will be accepted. The CEO explained that eligible senior secondary students are expected to send in handwritten entries on the topic How Reading has Impacted my Knowledge to the UBA Foundation’s office in Lagos till the end of October, 2013 when entries close. The Divisional Head, Marketing and Corporate Relations, UBA Plc, Mr. Charles Aigbe said the essay competition falls within the four focus areas of the Foundation;
education, economic empowerment, environment and special project. According to him, the Bank’s CSR projects are geared towards promoting sustainable development in communities where UBA operates across Africa. “The competition is a key aspect of our investment drive in human capital and we will continue to sustain the exercise. Education is very strategic to us as an institution. Each year, we also donate books to
students in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, under the Read Africa initiative to encourage and promote the reading culture in secondary schools,” he stated. Representative of the judges’ panel and Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye noted that the essay competition demonstrates UBA Plc’s commitment to develop-ment of Nigeria’s educational sector.
LASTVEB collaborate with IOE to train teachers BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI
D
etermined to give the best training to teachers, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) has collaborated with the Institute of Entrepreneurs (IOE) to train teachers. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fiveday workshop held at the IOE office, Ojodu, Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the Institute, Dr Rotimi Oladele disclosed that the institute partnered LASTVEB to produce professional entrepreneurs who will create wealth for the country. Rotimi who enjoined LASTVEB to build on the relationship of the collaboration to transform vocational education said it will not only help the recipients to be self-reliant but to also be job creators. “Let me assure you that we have a crack team that spearheaded entrepreneurship education since 2001 in this nation before everybody caught the fire and our impact on the education sector has been tremendous.” On his part, Executive Secretary of LASTVEB, Engr. Olawumi Gasper charged participants to seize the opportunity offered by the state government by putting to good use all that they would learn at the workshop. “LASTVEB is determined to convert all the youths in the state to entrepreneurs. I, therefore urge the teachers in the technical colleges to team up with their students especially those with skills, and make good entrepreneurs out of them.”
Caleb Varsity renews Olukoju’s appointment as VC
C
aleb University, Imota, Lagos State, has renewed the appointment of Professor Ayodeji Olukoju as the Vice-Chancellor. Professor Olukoju’s renewal of appointment, which takes effect from October 18, 2013, was made by the University ’s Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the Governing Council. A Professor of History and Strategic Studies and a regular Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), Olukoju, who was the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, (UNILAG) between 2005 and 2009, was first appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University on October 18, 2010 for an initial three-year tenure. Born on June 9, 1959 and married with four children, Olukoju had taught at the University level for 29 years at the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) between 1984 and 1987 and in UNILAG from 1987 till his first appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University in 2010. Olukoju, a scholar, researcher, administrator and consultant, was appointed Professor of History on October 1, 1998 at UNILAG.