INEC withdraws 25 Certificates-of-Return – TheNigerialawyer

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has
withdrawn 25 Certificates-of-Return issued to some candidates that
won during the 2019 General Elections, following court orders.

The Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee
(IVEC), Mr Festus Okoye, said this at a `Forum on Media Coverage of
2019 General Elections’ held in Enugu on Monday.

Okoye noted that 20 of the 25 certificates-of-return were
withdrawn from All Progressive Congress (APC) members to other APC
members; while two from People Democratic Party (PDP) members were
withdrawn and issued to other PDP members.

He said that the other three were withdrawn from APC and PDP;
and given to other political parties.

“Before we left INEC national headquarters on Friday; the
commission has withdrawn 25 certificates-of-return from the first
owners to their new owners following court orders to do that,’’ he
said.

Okoye, however, lauded the media for its openness and robust
engagement with the commission before, during and after the
election, adding that the media had become critical stakeholders
for the success of future elections.

He noted that the media had become the first line of reach of
the masses as well as platform for explanation of INEC political
and electoral decisions.

Okoye therefore called on the media and its practitioners to dig
deep into the Electoral Act to ensure that the import of the recent
amended sections are made known to the public.

“The media should also centre on the aspect of using Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve electoral issues especially at
the party levels instead of going to the court,’’ he advised.

Speaking, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ),
Mr Chris Isigozu, said that the media and its practitioners enjoyed
a vast and robust relationship with INEC before, during and after
the elections.

Isigozu said that INEC performed creditebly well given the
resources and length of co-operation from other stakeholders
involved in the electoral processes.

“However, we are here to evaluate the entire process and see
where we can strengthen our engagement and better the electoral
system.

“We would be open and say it as it; so that the electoral and
democratic processes can be better even as we go into off season
elections,’’ he said.

In a welcome address, Enugu State Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC), Dr Emeka Ononamadu, noted that evaluation of
processes of the elections would help better the electoral
processes as well as strengthen institutions and stakeholders
involved in the entire processes.

“INEC wants to hear from the media, security agencies, civil
society organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations etc on how
the election fared. Whether there are avenues to improve on what we
have.

“So, INEC is open to receive your objective deliberations and
its outcome and we definitely take a critical look at your outcomes
in order to better the electoral processes,’’ Ononamadu
assured.

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Future Brand Idol Offers Scholarship for Creative to
Creative Students

Experts in the Marketing Communications industry graced the
maiden edition of the tertiary institutions Future Brand Idol (FBI)
creative contest in Lagos, Nigeria.

The contest, which sought to discover and breed young creative
talents in Nigerian Tertiary institutions, had five finalists pitch
for the ultimate prize out of 84 entries from 11 institutions
across the country.

At the final pitch, Amisu Damilola Christabel of the Nigerian
Institute of Journalism (NIJ), emerged the pioneer Future Brand
Idol, Oluwatobi Samuel from the University of Ibadan came second
while Macaulay Tolulope from the University of Ilorin emerged
third.

In the fourth position is Favour Alilu from the University of
Ilorin and Mosope Owodunni from NIJ in the fifth position.

Fortune smiled at the finalists as scholarship opportunities
worth over a million was awarded to them, with the first and second
position given O2 Academy scholarships while the third and fourth
position contestants were presented with iD8 scholarships and the
fifth position among the finalists was awarded an internship
opportunity at WithoutABox PR (WAB).

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CCO of Noah’s Ark,
Lanre Adisa, who was the Grand Juror charged the participants to
learn to do more of self-development adding that they needed to
sharpen their creative skills.

Adisa also emphasised the need for the Creative industry to work
together with the academia to breed market ready products for the
industry.

On the power of a creative person, Mr Adisa said: “As a creative
person, you have the power to make a difference in your life, the
client’s brand and the agency you work for with every opportunity
you get to work on a brief.”

In his address, the Provost of O2 Academy, Ozone Mbanefo
emphasised the significance of the contest describing it as a step
in the right direction.

“What FBI is starting today is what the industry is looking for.
This is a start in the right direction”, be said.

Speaking to the participants, Mbanefo said: “The world is
changing rapidly, and if you are not evolving, the train will pass
you.

“It is important you understand the bottom line rule of ROI
(Relevance, Originality and Impact) that gives you the ROI (Return
On Investment)”, he stated, while adding that a beautiful advert
without impact would become a beautiful nonsense.

On his part, the Managing Director of Ideas House, Mr. Kehinde
Salami spoke on the need for more thinking while highlighting the
importance of passion in the creative industry.

“Africa has 17 percent of the world’s population and less than 1
percent of world patents come from Africa. Africa has become the
continent of doers, not thinkers. So we have to change our
perspective”, he disclosed.

In his speech, the team lead Abdullahi Ahmed call on
stakeholders in the integrated marketing communication industry to
support in the sustainability of talents in the industry in order
to prevent and groom students who will grow to be future brand
problem solvers.

He further that Future Brand idol is not an annual event and
series of activities has been mapped out to afford students access
to practical knowledge about their courses via interaction with
professionals through trainings, seminars and workshops.

Addressing the participants, the Managing Director of
WithoutABox PR, Theodore Nyingifa stated that one of the concerns
in the creative industry is talents, adding that young creative
talents should stop trying to impress but calm down to see what
they can offer.

The event had in attendance Seyi Owolawi, the Associate Creative
Director, DDB, Lagos; Suziette Ukey-Agazie Co-founder, Spill-It
Services; Jumoke Akinyele, Group Head, Business, Noah’s Ark; Bisi
Aweda Brand Professional, Ideas House; Dr. K. K. Kadiri, a Lecturer
of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin; Mr
Jack, a Lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism; and
Fokanferanmi Owolabi, the Director of Innovation, amongst
others.

Founders of the initiative include: Ahmed Abdullahi, Adesina
Opeyemi, Folayan Adejoke and Tomori Uriel.