Etisalat, DigitalSense Reward Essay Competition Winners

Etisalat Nigeria and DigitalSense Africa Media, have presented mouth-watering prizes to three winners of the 2015 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSense students’ Essay Competition.

The winners are Master Nicodemus Chidera Onah, Star Prize winner, who is a 100 Level Electronic Engineering student at University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN); Mr. Kizito Chijioke Onah, the second prize winner, a student of English and Literature in UNN and Blessing Oghenetijiri Ekpobadarho, a 400 Level student of Niger Delta University in Bayelsa State, who won the third prize, but was unavoidably absent due to logistics problems.

The presentation of her prize has been slated for Thursday next week. The star prize winner went home with a laptop and will also be entitled to a one-year free Etisalat Internet access; the second prize winner got a tablet with a six-month free Etisalat Internet access, while the third prize winner also smiled home with a high grade Smartphone and a three-month free Etisalat Internet access.

Giving her keynote address at the presentation of the prizes at the Etisalat office in the premises of Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Seyi Osunsede, Head, Environmental Compliance and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, said that Etisalat naturally aligns with DigitalSense Africa Media because of its innovations and creativity, emphasizing that innovation changes the world.
Seyi, who at the event represented Mr. Ibrahim Dikko, Vice President, Etisalat Nigeria, said the essay competition is another way of encouraging innovation by Etisalat in partnership with DigitalSense.

Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, Executive Director, Operations, DigitalSense Africa, who described the essay competition as part of this year’s annual Nigeria DigitalSense Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) which has the theme, “Net Neutrality and Nigerian Internet Users,” noted that it was designed to motivate the youth to explore opportunities on the Internet as there are limitless positive benefits there.

Mr. Remmy Nweke, Group Executive Editor and Lead Strategist, DSA, said the company would continue to partner with Etisalat, being an innovative company.

He explained that the criteria for assessment were based on understanding of the topic which is ‘Internet Governance for Development’; ability to localize it, the presentation, as well as strict adherence to writing in not more than 600 words.
Nweke stated that apart from the award, the Star Prize winner had the opportunity of attending the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) where he participated as Etisalat-DigitalSense Student Ambassador.

Yetunde Johnson, Managing Director, Slingshot Technologies, who was one of the judges for the essay competition, said the importance of the competition cannot be overemphasized as the children will be decision-makers tomorrow, hence the need to know the fundamentals of the subject matter through competitions like DSA’s essay.

The essay competition which focused this year was on Net Neutrality and Nigerian Internet Users, was non-restrictive, non-discriminatory and designed for Nigerian students between the ages of 18 and 30

The Star Prize winner, Nicodemus expressed delight about the prize and pledged to maintain his standard as an excellent student as Etisalat-DigitalSense Student Ambassador.
Kizito, second prize winner, also thanked Etisalat and DigitalSense for their innovation.
He expressed happiness with what he won, while also noting that by 13th of next month, he will be going to Abuja for an NCC organized essay competition as a finalist.

By Patrick Aigbokhan