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NWFL Premiership 2021 Team Of Week: Odubanjo, Biahwo, Gift Lead The Way.

Published

4 years ago

December 11, 2020

Nigeria Women top-tier football league is back and a thrilling match-day one has left fans with plenty of talking points, with FC Robo travelling down to Lafia to defeat heavyweight Nasarawa Amazons and Osun Babes winning Ibom Angels in Uyo.

Elsewhere there were impressive victories for new-look Delta Queens and Edo Queens. Bayelsa Queens also got a victory past Sunshine Queens and lot more other results.

For the first time this season, we have compiled our best XI for week one.

Obia Christiana (Osun Babes), Goalkeeper.

Osun Babes began the new season with an away victory courtesy of a solid display at the back against Ibom Angels in Uyo.

Key to their success in Uyo was the superlative performance of goalkeeper Christiana Obia, who produced a commanding display, including a brilliant stop to deny Edewor Precious from close range.

Alani Jumoke (Edo Queens) Right Back

Alani Jumoke earns her inclusion in our side at right-back following a wonderful display against Royal Queens. The versatile defender was full of energy running down the flank from her right full back position. She was instrumental to her teams victory on Wednesday.

Uzoamaka Igwe (Bayelsa Queens), Left-fullback.

Uzoamaka Igwe kept her preseason form down to the first week of the season, when her team won a strong Sunshine Queens at the Samson Siasia Stadium on Wednesday. Her dangerous delivery ensured Moses Aduku’s side began the new season with a promising performance against the ‘Betty Babes’

Margaret Ademulegan (Abia Angels), Defensive Midfielder

Though she plays most times as a centre defender, the former Sunshine Queens defender has an intimidating height that she uses well. Her fantastic free-kick on Wednesday gave Abia Angels the confidence to lead on in the game against Pelican Stars at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Akinwande Kehinde (FC Robo), Centre-back

FC Robo made a flying start to the new campaign with a victory over Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia and the former Obilic FC of Serbia defender proved herself as an important marker at both ends of the pitch on wednesday evening, producing a stand-out defensive display and showcasing her threats at the other end at times.

Abidemi Ibe (Bayelsa Queens), Centre-back

The former Ibom Angels defender gave an outstanding performance in the defence line of Bayelsa Queens, ensuring her back-line was very safe. Though diminutive, the centre-defender has shown alot that size doesn’t really matter in football.

Yemisi Samuel (Osun Babes), Right-wing.

Yemisi Samuel’s debut performance ended Been a fruitful one as she scored the only goal of the match against Ibom Angels to ensure her side won away from home. The Omoluabi Queens created more than five scoring chances in the game, but only converted once. It was indeed a dazzling display by the former Sunshine Queens forward on Wednesday.

Dominance Odubanjo (Delta Queens) Forward.

The former Jokodolu Babes forward scored twice against Lagos based side Dreamstar Ladies at the Agbor Stadium in Delta. She was the player of the match and truly gave the Galaticas defence line alot of problems all through the game.

Tessy Biahwo (Edo Queens) Forward

The former Nasarawa Amazons forward enjoyed a brilliant match-day under the floodlight at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin. Her brace ensured the Obaseki girls nailed neighbours Royal Queens 4-1 in the opening encounter of the 2021 NWFL Premiership.

Regina Otu (Rivers Angels), Mid-fielder

Regina Otu arrived Porthacourt from Edo Queens last season and has been impressive for the ‘jewels of Rivers’ since then. Though she plays at an attacking Mid-fielder at times, her energetic and creative presence at the midfield gave Rivers Angels a great balance in the game against Confluence Queens.

Monday Gift (FC Robo) Left wing.

The left winger, played mostly from the right side and was a thorn in the flesh of the Nasarawa Amazons defence. The former C.O.D Ladies of Lagos has already been tipped as one of the players to excel this new season.

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How Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso Repositioning the Raw Materials Sector For Economic Diversification

Published

4 days ago

September 3, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago.

This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal

The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking this during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, in the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations;

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”

While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information. erships to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC) at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research [JORMAR] will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector.

“The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.

Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program.

“Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.

“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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