@59: Irona celebrated as steadfast, trusted leader - ITREALMS

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It was a moment of heartfelt tributes and celebration on Friday, as family, friends, political allies, and well-wishers gathered at the Abuja residence of former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Engr. Gerald Irona, to mark his 59th birthday.

Speakers hailed Irona as a principled, dependable, and courageous leader whose legacy continues to inspire trust and admiration.

Why Anambra workers celebrated May 1 in style - Aniagoh

ITRealms:

The Anambra State has adduced some 15 reasons why workers in the state were excited to celebrate the 2017 May 1, which globally is workers day, reports ITRealms.

According to Ifeanyi Aniagoh, the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to Governor Willie Obiano, the workers in the state were offered 15 per cent salary increment amidst recession.

He also said Anambra State has maintained regular sharing of bags of rice to workers and payment of salaries on 24th of every month.

In addition, he disclosed that Anambra State offers extra pay for health workers in the rural areas and same extra pay for teachers in the rural areas.

Aniagoh further said that workers in Anambra State now enjoy special mass transit scheme and annual recognition awards to distinguished workers.

Today, he said, Anambra has been promptly paying pensions and gratuities while offering special stimulus package to alleviate the effects of recession, in addition to regular local and overseas training for workers.

Teachers handling core subjects such as Mathematics, Igbo Language, among others have extra pay for doing what they love, whereas there is availability of single-digit loans to interested workers via Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA).

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He emphasized that full welfare packages and promotion are offered as at when due.

As said by him, the leadership of Gov. Obiano has total respect and support for all labour unions in the State, even as another salary increment is the underway not withstanding improved security and good governance.

Ozo Nweke Ozo/GEE

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Etisalat proclaims longlist for Literature Prize

ITRealms:

Celebrated fastest growing telecommunications services company, Etisalat Nigeria, has given the names of the winners of its inaugural edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, ITRealms reports.

The Prize launched in June 2013, ITRealms gathered is the first pan-African prize that is open solely to debut fiction writers of African citizenship and poised to become one of Africa’s most prestigious literary prizes for African fiction.

The longlist made available to ITRealms in alphabetical order includes Bom boy by Yewande Omotoso, Daughters Who Walk This Path by Yejide Kilanko, Finding Soutbek by Karen Jennings, Sarah House by Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, The Great Agony And Pure Laughter Of The Gods by Jamala Safari’s, The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo, The Spiral House by Claire Robertson, The Whispering Trees by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, and We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo,

The judges for the maiden edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature included Chair of Judges, Professor Pumla Dineo Gqola; Professor at the University of Witwaterstrand, South Africa; writer and academic Sarah Ladipo Manyika and Managing Editor of Kwani Trust, Billy Kahora.

The judges as gathered by ITRealms, received entries from across the continent and were faced with the daunting task of selecting the nine books to cross the first hurdle.

For Pumla Dineo Gqola, he had never been more in love with the range, depth and wonder that is literature, by writers in this continent.

“There are some writers that I feel really privileged to have discovered through this Prize," he said.

Also speaking, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Matthew Willsher, said that the list is unique in several respects and would go a long way in helping to accomplish the purpose of the Etisalat Prize for Literature. 

“The list of nominees is unique in that six of the nine finalists are books authored by women; five of the nine finalists are Nigerian citizens while the global perspective is covered by the fact that three of the nine publishers are non-African,” he said.

The judges will be faced with the next task of selecting a short list of three novels at a retreat in Morocco in January. The shortlisted writers who will have 1,000 copies of their books purchased by Etisalat and go on a multi-city sponsored tour will be announced on Wednesday the 15^th of January 2014.

The overall winner of the Etisalat Prize for Literature will receive £15,000, an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück and will attend an Etisalat sponsored fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia, mentored by Professor Giles Foden, author of the Last King of Scotland.

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