₦airaland Forum

Football fans in Nigeria are in for a big thrill as Samuel Eto’o Fils, one of Africa’s greatest football legends, is set to arrive in Lagos for the launch of the 2020 edition of Castle Africa 5s, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABInBev), the world’s largest brewer.
Castle Africa 5s, the continental leg of the Trophy 5-A-Side Developmental Football tournament, the continent’s biggest amateur 5-A-side football competition involving grassroot teams from several African countries in which ABInBev operates. The competition, which started in 2016 in South Africa with only 6 countries has grown bigger in scope and had Nigeria participate for the first time in the 2019 tournament which held in Tanzania. Performing at their best, the Nigerian 5-A-Side team, after emerging winners of the local 5-A-Side tournament, organized by Trophy Lager, a foremost brand of International Breweries Plc, went ahead to clinch the continental trophy.
This superlative performance earned Nigeria a pride of place, hence the decision to launch the 2020 edition of the continental competition on Nigerian soil. Football loving countries like Ghana, Uganda, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are expected to grace the launch event, and later in the year, compete together with Nigeria for the 2020 Castle Africa 5s trophy.
The legendary Eto, as Castle Africa 5s Brand Ambassador in the company of Ex-International Super Eagles’ captain and Trophy 5-A-Side Brand Ambassador, Joseph Yobo, is billed to officially launch the continental tournament on Friday, 28th of February 2020 in Lagos.
Building up to the launch, Eto will be engaging with the public, football lovers, key football stakeholders, and the media through various brands and corporate activities.
The Castle Africa 5s is the African leg of the national Trophy 5-A-Side developmental football initiative, where amateur 5-A-Side teams from across Nigeria compete for a chance to emerge as the champions of the tournament. Winners of the Trophy 5-A-Side competition will have the unique opportunity to be mentored by accomplished football internationals and participate in the Castle Africa 5s tournament. Further details about the championships shall be revealed at the launch event.

Developmental football is one of the means through which ABInBev, in all its operations globally, is realising its dream of bringing people together for a better world.

To enjoy a fantastic new year, Nigerians have been advised to take care of their health. In line with this admonition, they are advised to make their good health resolutions into scalable and traceable goals to achieve fruition.
Olusola Malomo, a registered nutritionist and National Publicity Secretary of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), made the call at the January edition of his monthly healthy living dialogue, an initiative supported by Chi Limited. The dialogue is part of the company’s ‘No-Added Sugar’ campaign.
Malomo said it was widely accepted that people will have different benchmarks for how they want to define a successful year but that achieving nutritional goals should follow a universal guideline, which must be adhered to if one wants to live healthy.
He stated that amongst the most common goals people set for themselves in the new year are those regarding health, fitness and eating habits. They include the resolution to drink more water, visit the gym once a week, eat fewer carbs, take on a sport, and others. He added however, that what is more viable is consistency and tenacity to the goals, rather than setting new ones.
The Nutritionist said research conducted in the UK to know those that stick to their New Year resolutions shows that 43 per cent do not keep their resolution up to a month.
“The one goal we need to have posted on our walls is to focus on our health. Having this overarching goal may look too broad, but being healthy involves everything we set as individual targets, such as eating a balanced diet, drinking pure fruit juice, taking long walks, or using the stairs.”
“This one resolution requires that we are mentally committed to being healthy, and we should take on any activity that ensures our health. While we are looking for specific activities that we need to stay healthy in 2020, having a mindset of being healthy ensures that we do not get disheartened when we miss a gym time or eat a bar of chocolate,” Malomo added.
He said the focus on health should be based on getting the right amount of nutrients every day and that various studies have confirmed the potential health impact of the bio-actives found in 100% fruit juice.
Typically, he noted, dietary guidelines recommend a vitamin and mineral intake, preferably from fruits and vegetables as part of an overall balanced diet.
According to Malomo, concerns that the natural sugar content may adversely affect diet quality or energy intake are unfounded, as 100% fruit juices are a “source” of key micronutrients, as some nutritional compounds in fruit juice have greater bioavailability than in the fresh fruits from which they are derived.
“There is no doubt that we all want to have a better year than the last, but what we must do this year is to ensure that we have the recipe to come out on top. Recent studies indicate that on average, it takes approximately 66 days before a new habit becomes automatic. This means that by mid-March a focus on health will become a habit. Now that is a habit that is sure to set you up to achieve your dreams,” he said.

The festive season is here, and it is expected that there would be immense merriment to mark the season. However, Nigerians have been advised to comply with dietary guidelines and practice healthy eating habits this period.
The call was made by Olusola Malomo, a registered nutritionist and National Publicity Secretary of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), at the December edition of his monthly healthy living dialogue, an initiative supported by Chi Limited. The dialogue is part of the company’s ‘No-Added Sugar’ campaign.
Malomo noted that a potpourri of celebrations, parties, and carnivals this season meant that most people are likely to indulge with excessive foods, drinks,[s][/s] and alcohol. He added that such excessive consumption could leave an individual with a bitter experience to deal with for several years.
Hence, he advised individuals to be cautious about what they eat and drink this season, as excessive food and alcohol consumption predisposes an individual to non-communicable diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes and heart problems.
While calling for portion control and discipline, he added that pure fruit juice is a healthy option during the yuletide.
According to Malomo, “Eating goes beyond mere sustenance as healthy food is known to have curative properties. Recent scientific evidence established the fact that some food nutrients such as those contained in 100% fruit juice have the ability to cure certain diseases.”
For all the meals that would be consumed during this festive period and going forward, Malomo stressed the importance of having a glass of 100% fruit juice alongside meals.

“This is because the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines include 100% fruit juice as part of the fruit group, and notes that up to half of the daily fruit intake could come from 100% fruit juice,” he asserted.

Malomo further advised people to keep themselves hydrated especially because of the rising temperatures, adding that daily consumption of water and 100% fruit juices would help with that.

Over 300 residents of Agege, a community in Lagos state benefited from the maiden free medical outreach programme organised by Kairos Inspirational Network.
The programme was part of the church’s support to the government in providing quality health care to the people and the start of their effort to give back to the society with plans to take it across different local communities.
Some of the services rendered at the one day mission included general medical screening for children and adults, and provision of drugs for common ailments, with serious cases referred to the general hospital. by the doctors.
There was general consultation, health screening, counseling, dental examination, basic eye test, distribution of reading glasses and referrals for special cases by the doctors.
Dr. Shola Abodunrin, head of medical missions, said they embarked on the outreach as part of their contributions to the development of the society and creation of wealth as only health humans can create wealth.
Abodunrin said the intent is to give to people that are underserved, under reached, as Kairos was registered both as faith-based and also as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) because of outreach like this and this is the cardinal responsibility of the group, to take care of the people not reached. It will be quarterly, as we chose local governments and spread outreach.
She said events like this, aside it bringing the communities together, it is an avenue for them to get private consultations with specialist like ophthalmologists, dentists, pediatricians, 2 OB/GYN, pharmacists, and laboratory assistants present so that they can go from getting general medical check-up to consultations and meet their specialized needs which they may not otherwise, have access to outside of the outreach.
“At events like this, we have the opportunity to provide health care information as there are things assumed that people know but they don’t really know. It is an opportunity to counsel them on prevalent health issues in the environment. I am an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and I will speak more about that, the prevalence of breast cancer and cervical cancer that are preventable if identified early on”, she added.
Dr. Akintoba Akintayo, the Medical Officer of Health, Agege local government said the initiative was welcomed by them as it was obvious that the government cannot do it alone and there is the need to collaborate with organisations interested in delivering good health to the people.
He said so many persons cannot afford health care services due to the economic situation of the country which makes it necessary for the government to partner with those interested in affecting people’s lives positively.
Senior Pastor, Kairos, Adeoye Abodunrin said they decided on the initiative based on received directives from the Lord that they should come to Agege local government and inspire the community with the word of God, train them and give them free drugs in conjunction with their partners.
He said the level of poverty in the country has affected most citizens’ access to health care. “There is a health challenge in the country and this outreach is to provide means of succor to the people and it is not just to spread the word of God, we also want it to be tangible, something that can impart the people”, he asserted.
A beneficiary, Ibrahim Adegoke, thanked the organisers for the initiative, saying it was what they have been hoping for. He said meeting freely with a specialist doctor at the outreach was a thing of joy to him as his needs were met and he was given drugs to take care of his ailments.

Leading Indigenous Oil and Gas Servicing Company, AOS Orwell, today, announced its $10,000 donation to the Hope for Sight Initiative (HSI) to assist in conducting cataract surgeries for residents of Ogun State.

The donation was made during a press conference with AOS Orwell, Inlaks (another donating company) and Eye Foundation in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking during the conference, the visionary of the initiative, 16-year old Lakshmi Gopinathan, said Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Nigeria as well as her passion to restore eyesight to those battling the disease, considering that she also contended with optical challenges as a child.

Available data disclosed that the disease is common in the older age group that is 50 years and above, it is on the rise especially in rural areas within Nigeria where sensitization levels are low and there is a general misconception of the disease and its treatment options.
Speaking on the donation, the Managing Director, AOS Orwell, Femi Omotayo explained the direction of the organization towards contributing to a better quality of living not just for its employees, but for its external community members as well.
His words, ‘We are a compassionate organization with a heart for people. This is why we jumped on this initiative when we were approached. It is a laudable cause and we are proud to throw the full force of our financial weight behind this.’
He further explained that the company has been involved in several other causes that give back to the community on a consistent note.
Speaking on behalf of Inlaks, the Group Head, Human Resources and Administration, Mrs. Adetokunbo Ayo-Ogunsanya lauded the Hope for Sight Initiative and its goal to provide free surgeries to visually-impaired persons.
She said, ‘one of our Core Values at Inlaks is Excellence, and we are happy to partner with AOS Orwell working with the best in the industry; Eye Foundation on this initiative. It is important to one’s existence to have vision and having the heart to give back to the society.’
She expressed her confidence in the Hope for Sight Initiative to change lives and reiterated Inlaks commitment to continuing with this noteworthy cause in line with its CSR drive.
In his address, Chief Business Development Officer, Eye Foundation, Mr. Adeyemi Oyewumi expressed his confidence in the initiative especially because Eye Foundation has conducted thousands of free cataract surgeries and sensitization programmes in the past.
He further explained that the selection process of candidates would be purely based on a few key factors such as the severity of the condition and willingness of those affected to participate in sensitization and surgery programme among other underlying considerations.
‘Eye Foundation has some of the best and most experienced doctors for this magnitude of work. We have run a series of sensitization programmes and surgeries in the past and we are poised to deliver excellently and transparently on this as well. We are also very encouraged that organizations can recognize a need and go all out to meet that need", he added.
AOS Orwell is a leader in the indigenous Oilfield Servicing industry with deep market experience and expertise in Wellbore Construction, Process Automation & Control and Oilfield Tubular Goods. The organization has over 100 combined years of experience in servicing the Oil and Gas Industry in West Africa.

Recent researches have shown that regular fruit juice intake enhances antioxidants in the human body system which is necessary for a wholesome healthy life.
This was disclosed by Olusola Malomo, a registered nutritionist and National Publicity Secretary of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), at the November edition of his monthly healthy living dialogue - an initiative supported by Chivita as part of its ‘No-added Sugar Campaign’.
According to Malomo, while food is widely believed to be an important source of the key nutrients the body needs for growth, development and maintenance of tissues. New findings have revealed that fruits (which include 100% or pure fruit juices) and vegetables are the primary sources of antioxidants in our diet.
The research indicated a strong positive correlation between the consumption of fruit juice and antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential for preventing premature ageing, vision loss, mood disorders, and heart diseases.
Antioxidants are found in certain foods and may prevent some of the damage free radicals cause in the human body by neutralizing them. Factors that increase the production of free radicals in the body can be internal such as inflammation, or external, such as, pollution, UV exposure, and smoking.
The nutritionist, who is also a dietician, stated that it has been proven that 100% fruit juices made from orange, apples, Pineapple, Red Grapes, raspberries, strawberries, red currants, cherries, pears, guava, mangos, and watermelon are rich in antioxidants.
“100% fruit juice contains bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. As such, fruit juices have the potential to improve the antioxidant status in the body,” he stated
As humans, he said, we all desire a healthy life, and as such rely heavily on the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals derived from our daily food consumption to stay healthy.
‘’Regardless of your motive for food consumption, be it for pleasure or remedy, one of the best measures to building and sustaining a healthy lifestyle is to regularly complement mealtimes with antioxidant-rich food and beverages such as vegetables and 100% fruit juice.” He concluded

Human Resources practitioners under the aegis of the Association of Elite Human Resources Professionals (AEHRP) have listed ways through which a practitioner can strike a balance between its dual role of being a strategic business partner and an employee champion.

They mentioned professionalism, due management respect to what they do, understanding business strategies and, navigation competencies to guide an organization beyond murky waters and adherence to the craft of the business.

They said this at the second anniversary of the association held over the weekend in Lagos, with the theme, ‘HR as a Strategic Business Partner and Employee Champion; Striking a balance”.

Emmanuel Micheal, head of Human Capital at Letshego Microfinance bank and guest speaker said it is a given that as a human relations person, there are two strategic roles one needs to play; first as a business partner to the management and secondly as an employee champion, so it behooves on the professional to understand the expectations.

He said for the HR to champion employee cause, the business must make money as, without the money, the needs of the employees won’t be provided for and without the employees, there will be no way to make the money. So there is the need for the HR professional to make the employees understand their role and the business owner to also do the same.

Micheal, one of the 101 Global HR Hero (2019) said, “ The focus from the HR manager is on how to bake a bigger cake as they should not focus on one aspect and represent one party alone by saying I represent the management alone and whatever they say is final on employee needs. On the other hand, HR should not say I am representing the employees’ alone and we need to provide things for them without thinking that to provide for the employees, the cake must be big enough to be shared”.

Micheal Ogu President, AEHRP said to strike a balance, HR practitioners must have an understanding of business strategies, leadership and navigation competencies that can guide the organization through murky waters till it is safe.

He said such is necessary because some HR managers do not have the support and buy-ins from C-level executives, which is a major challenge for the professionals.

“A lot of executives still, don’t understand the value of the HR profession, a lot of CEOs still see HR as a call center rather than a valued trusted advisor, that’s a major gap and we are also trying to engage CEOs to understand the roles and values of the HR profession”, he asserted.

Adeoye Abodunrin, a talent manager and HR professional said HR practitioners need to understand the financial numbers, the implication of the numbers and whatever is happening on the side of it.

He said they must be strategic and know how to drive strategy as understanding these will help the HR manager to see any conflict before it arises and knows how to make sure there is no conflict at the end of the day because if the business dies, everybody will lose their jobs. He wants HR officials to get the respect of the CEO like the CFO does because it is people that run businesses, not operations and money.

He cited insufficient industry regulations as one of the challenges facing the sector as there is a difference between what’s on the CV of applicants and what is practicable, while he added that they don’t have enough competent hands, as the competent level is not strong enough.

Adekunle Olunloyo, Chairman, planning committee of the event and a seasoned HR manager said to strike a balance, an HR person must be professional, irrespective of where he/she is coming from or who the parties to any issue are, the yes must be yes, so as not to lay bad precedence and should get approvals before taking actions.

Olunloyo said the HR practitioner must know how to document events and actions plans as the office will always be there no matter who is presently on the ground and documenting records, standards of operations will help the company grow when the present officeholder is not on seat.

Industry leaders in the energy sector have called on the Federal Government to allow market forces to determine the price of power rather than the present system of price-fixing by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). They were speaking at the 2019 Energy Sustainability Conference which held in Lagos.
The Chief Executive Officer of Century Power Generation Limited and an Executive Director in the Nestoil Group Dr. Chukwueluka Umeh said the Energy sector is over-regulated which is why investors are reluctant to deploy resources despite the enormous potentials in the industry.
Dr. Umeh said the government must realize that the provision of power is not a social service but a business venture. He said price fixing has led to Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) rejecting power from the Generating Companies (GENCOs) while the nation wallows in darkness.
He said for the economy to grow in any meaningful way, the Government must develop a robust power with a robust national grid that covers the entire country, with an equally robust baseload supported by peaking plants to help keep the grid stable during high demand hours.
Dr. Umeh maintained that “In order for Nigeria to grow and get out of the odious title as the poverty capital of the world, we must make a conscious decision to remove the chains on our power industry. “We must deregulate the industry and allow private companies to do what they do best, grow the business and galvanize the economy”, he asserted.
A panelist from the Investment Professional Infrastructure Africa, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Roger Endom said IFC is investing in Cameroon’s power sector because the government there has a consistent and cost-effective tariff policy in place that protects investor’s funds which are not seen in Nigeria.
On his part, The Deputy Managing Director, Afrinvest, Victor Ndukauba, said the country might not witness another Independent Power Project (IPP) like the Azura IPP in Edo state in the next five years if the prevailing situation remains in the power sector. He said the Azura project is being hindered by the structural defects in the Power industry.
The Energy Sustainability Conference, which is an annual event is the brainchild of the Energy Institute of Nigeria

One of the leading Nigerian oil and gas servicing companies, AOS Orwell has indicated its readiness to participate actively in the Nigeria LNG Train7 and Bonga South West Aparo Projects, two of the major oil and gas projects expected to commence soon in the country.

The Managing Director, Femi Omotayo, at a discussion with journalists in Lagos, said AOS Orwell has built enough capacity in its people and its multi-million dollar facility, to sufficiently deliver on both ground-breaking projects.

Omotayo said they will be working on the Train 7 project as they are partners with the winners (Saipem Consortium), and they are looking to provide end-to-end services on the valves aspect of the project. He added that they are working to offer enough value to be able to offer that one-stop-shop solution as far as it concerns valves.

“We are big enough to give the guarantees with both local and international manufacturing, infrastructure and partnerships in place. We will also be working with them on skids. So, chemical injections and things like that. We will work on electricals as well. We have our facility in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which will handle Low Voltage/Medium Voltage switchgear in-country. Also, Bonga South West is something we all are looking forward to. We are hopeful”, he posited.

The MD further stated that the outlook for Africa's Oil & Gas Industry was really positive in the middle of troubled operating and economic headwinds, noting that with oil prices steadily on the rise towards pre-collapse levels, internal and external conditions had arm-twisted oil and gas companies to be more efficient.

“This no doubt has impacted on the way indigenous companies in the oilfield servicing industry operate. Investors as well, more than ever, have an increased need for clarity and certainty in making key investments against this backdrop,” he said.

On the impact of the local content act and its implementation on indigenous companies, he described the act as “a jewel for indigenous companies operating in Nigeria”.

According to him, “that singular act built what we see today through the past nine years. We are coming from a mental headspace where I was told, that Africans cannot handle control systems. Today, all that has changed. Specifically for us at AOS Orwell, we build capacity in our locals to the point where we are able to maintain world-class standards. Today, when I walk into our workshop and see our local boys handling the same control system wires, I get a good feeling. This is very encouraging and the industry has been very supportive. There is a lot of trust and belief in the system today. This has paved the way for investment to thrive. And there has been a lot of investment. Nigerian companies have invested heavily in the growth and development of local content.

“For us at AOS Orwell, we have always been committed to local content even before the law backed it up. We have two world-class schools, one in Lagos, and the other in Port Harcourt, where we train young indigenous engineers and help them build capacity in the areas of process automation and control and the other in fishing. Altogether, we are quite happy with the Local Content Act and we are extremely happy with what the leadership is doing and we give them our full support any day”.

AOS Orwell is an indigenous oilfield servicing company, operating in Nigeria and Ghana, in the areas of Wellbore Construction, Process Automation and Control and Oilfield Tubular and Accessory Manufacturing and Repair services. Known to be the largest fishing company in West Africa, the company has also gained recognition as one of the largest machine shops in Nigeria, fully owning and operating three Machine shops across Trans-Amadi, in Port Harcourt, Onne, and Takoradi in Ghana.

In line with the decision to prioritize its gas business and position the company as a lead player for developing Gas supply in Nigeria, Neconde Energy Limited has announced the appointment of Chichi Emenike as Head, Gas Ventures. Emenike assumes this role with over 2 decades experience in the Oil and Gas industry spanning the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. She joins Neconde with capabilities in business development and strategy, project management, technical procurement, and overall contract administration.

After cutting her teeth in the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry as a Project Engineer with Exxon Mobil Nigeria Limited where she garnered cutting edge industry skills and experience over a 10year period, Chichi Emenike moved to Vigeo Oil and Gas as Head, Operations Support Services and Business Development in 2008. Emenike served in SunTrust Oil Company, JV Partner on OML 56 where she was General Manager for Operations and responsible for overall upstream business development. Before joining Neconde, Emenike was Head the Business Development and Commercial Operations at Falcon Corporation Limited.

Chichi Emenike has a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and an MBA in Oil & Gas Management from the prestigious Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. She is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) and a certified member with the Council for The Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). She is currently the Financial Secretary of the Nigerian Gas Association

Managing Director of Neconde Energy Limited Mr Frank Edozie said “Neconde is quite pleased to welcome Chichi Emenike to our team. Her appointment validates our commitment as a company to significantly grow our gas business, which is critical in unlocking the vast potentials that exist in Nigeria’s energy sector”.

Neconde is an independent Nigeria Oil and Gas company serving as a special purpose vehicle for the acquisition and development of petroleum assets. In January 2011, the company participated and emerged successful in the bid for the acquisition of 45% stake in OML 42 previously held by Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited. Neconde’s status as an indigenous company with an excellent management team offers a viable option through which the currently underdeveloped reserves of the Niger Delta could be brought into production with attendant economic benefits for the country.

Obijackson Foundation donates 500 free eyeglasses to Anambra Communities

Obijackson Foundation has donated over 500 free eyeglasses to persons suffering from eye ailments across Okija and neighbouring communities in Anambra state who cannot afford specialist eye care. 

The direct beneficiaries of this initiative include persons from Ihiala, Ekwusigo, and Idemmili and to ensure a successful exercise, the Obijackson Foundation hired 14 eye specialists made up of 4 Consultant Ophthalmologists and 10 Senior Ophthalmology residents.

The Programme Coordinator, Dr. Franklin Odini said the foundation has carried out 5 medical outreaches in the last 2 years, out of which 2 have been focused on eye care. He identified a member-Elect of the Federal House of Representatives in Ihiala Constituency, Hon Chudi Momah as one of those who supported this year’s initiative.

Dr Odini said there are plans to partner with corporate organizations in subsequent editions to increase the resource base available for the program and expand it beyond the three LGAs targeted in this year’s edition.

The founder of the Obijackson Foundation Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi said the Foundation is concerned about the fact that poverty has become one of the world’s greatest tragedies, especially in rural areas where illiteracy, hunger, and poor healthcare have regrettably become commonplace.

 He said this is why the Obijackson Foundation is dedicated to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the less privileged through improved access to quality education and healthcare in addition to cultural enrichment.

The founder and chairman of the Obijackson foundation, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, in recognition that children are the future of any progressive country, has called on the government and other stakeholders to seek innovative ways of providing quality primary healthcare across the country.
He said this at a children funfair event held in Okija, Anambra state to felicitate with children born at the Obijackson Women and Children’s hospital in Okija
Dr. Obiejesi lamented that millions of Nigerian children died from avoidable ailment due to lack of access to primary healthcare. He said this was one of the reasons the Obijackson women and children hospital was set up to provide quality healthcare to children in Anambra and beyond, regardless of the economic status of their parent.
The chairman of d foundation presented gifts to d children who engaged in a number of fun activities.
The Obijackson Women and Children hospital, is a pediatric health care institution, first of its kind in the eastern part of Nigeria providing specialized care including surgeries for children. Facilities in d hospital include a neonatal intensive clinic which is equipped with the world most advanced incubators, ventilators, and other types of equipment.

25 years old Oluchi Blessing Nwizugbo and Unachukwu Chidi have emerged winners of the new faces of Okija at the just concluded 2018 Face of Okija Cultural Pageant held in Okija, Anambra state.

Oluchi, who won in the female category is a graduate of History and International Relations from the Ebonyi state University while Chidi, winner in the male category is a graduate of Accounting from the Anambra state University.

At the ceremony attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, renowned activist and public speaking icon, Prof. Patrick Lumumba and renowned literary giant, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the new Queen and King promised to use their position to drive attention to the needs of the less privileged and disabled across the country.

The Founder of the Obijackson Foundation and Group Managing Director of the Obijackson Group of companies Dr Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi presented the winners with cash of N1million each and a vehicle to help them propagate their work as the new Ambassadors of the Foundation.
Dr Azudialu-Obiejesi tasked the new king and queen to remain worthy ambassadors of the Foundation and of Igboland.
"You must now by your daily conduct display positive virtues that your peers will continue to emulate. As Ambassadors of the Obijackson Foundation you occupy a position of influence, we are counting on you to use it to impact humanity," said Dr Ernest Obiejesi.

The Face of Okija Cultural Festival started in 2014 as an initiative to drive attention of the youths to the positive values in the Igbo culture.

This year particular emphasis was placed on discouraging the youths from embarking on the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean sea to Europe in search of an imaginary better life.
Speakers at the event including Prof. Lumumba and Adichie pointed out that the pasture on Nigeria is still green if only the youths can remain hardworking focused and creative.