Ikeogu Chinemerem Chibuikem, a blogger has emerged the star prize winner in the Pen Down for Friendship competition instituted by “33” Export Lager Beer to reward Nigerian journalists and bloggers as part of activities marking the 2018 World Friendship Day.
He was announced the winner of the star prize of N500,000 worth of training grant, a laptop and other prizes including trays of “33” Export Lager Beer in the award presentation ceremony held at the Eagles Club, Surulere, Lagos on Saturday, 4th August, to celebrate the 2018 World Friendship Day.
Other winners in the competition, which was open from 11 – 27 July, 2018, are Adeoye Emmanuel Aanu and Ben Chuks, who emerged first and second runner up respectively, who also get N300, 000 and N200, 000 worth of training grant respectively, alongside a laptop and three trays of 33” Export Lager Beer each.
Other seven top contenders also won consolation prizes of a laptop and three trays of “33” Export Lager Beer each. They are Sifa Asani Gowon, Gift Wogu, Idowu Addison and Adaora Nzotta. Others are Anuforoh Prosper Obum, Hannah Onoguwe, and Chukwudi Obila.
Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, NB Plc, while congratulating the winners for their intuition and storytelling prowess, enjoined them to keep the flame of friendship burning always.
According to him, “The Pen Down for Friendship competition is one of our ways of encouraging friendship among journalists and bloggers while bringing out their storytelling skills. On behalf of the “33” Export Lager Beer, I congratulate the winners for their craftsmanship and hope that they will keep the flame of friendship, which they told in their remarkable and inspiring stories, burning everywhere they go.”
L-R Second Runner Up, Pen Down For Friendship Competition, Ben Chuks, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager And Stout Brands, Nbplc, Emmanuel Agu, , Star Prize Winner Of “33’ Export Pen Down For Friendship Competition Ikeogu Chinemerem Chibuikem, Raw Material Development Manager NB Plc ,Uzodinma Onuoha, And First Runner Up, Pen Down For Friendship Comepetition, Adeoye Emmanuel Aanu, , At The “33” Export City Of Friends Concert In Lagos
He noted that the competition was not for the journalists and bloggers to report other people’s stories, which they routinely do in the course of their work, but for them to tell their rich friendship-themed stories to inspire others to cherish and appreciate friendships.
He further explained that entrants to the Pen-Down-for-Friendship competition were required to send their friendship-themed stories published in any of the media platforms, online, print or electronic, to the organizers along with their particulars. The entries were reviewed by a panel of judges who shortlisted the best ten, from which the winners were later chosen.
Over 160 entries were received and judged by a jury of 3 acclaimed writers – Toni Kan, Pelu Awofeso and Olabisi Deji-Folutile.
Tony Kan is an author, public relations senior executive and teacher. He is co-founder of This is Lagos and Sabi News and was the winner of the NDD/Ken Saro Wiwa Literature prize, awarded by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in 2009.
Pelu Awofeso, often described as “Nigeria’s foremost travel writer” is a Nigerian Journalist, publisher, travel and culture writer. He is a winner of the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Awards in the “Tourism Category”.
Olabisi Deji-Folutile is an experienced journalist, columnist. She is currently the Editor, Saturday Punch. She has worked in different media organisations including the News Agency of Nigeria and the African Newspapers of Nigeria, publishers of the Tribune titles. She has a Master’s degree in Communication Arts from the University of Ibadan and is currently undergoing her PhD programme.
As part of the World Friendship day celebration “33” Export will also be hosting thousands of friends via annual “City of Friends” party, a two-day funfair and merriment events for friends who long for an opportunity to create lasting memories among one another; and the That-One-Friend Competition, meant for the consumers of the “33” Export Lager Beer to share their Friendship memories and be part of another prize giving fiesta.
