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Meet 8-year-old Nigerian, Kanyechukwu, the youngest ‘Flame of Peace’ award artist recipient

Published

6 years ago

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History was made recently; precisely on September 6th 2018, when a young gifted Nigerian child, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, known as the “Young Picasso” was conferred with the prestigious “Flame of Peace” award in Vienna, Austria for his contribution to promoting peace with art, to the amazement of the arts and diplomatic community in Austria and the world.

This award has been described by art critics as spectacular and phenomenal and it is the first time a Nigerian and someone so young would be awarded.

At the age of 8, Kanyeyachukwu is the youngest ever recipient of the award and the conferment speaks a lot more for Kanye, being a child who overcame the impediments of autism and has shown a high level of creativity.

The Flame of Peace is an award granted by the Austrian non-profit organization, Association for the Promotion of World Peace, it was instituted in 2007 and has been given to many prominent individuals such as the President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh; Ambassador of Jordan to Austria, HE Mr. Hussam Al Husseini; The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga; the Chairman of the Carnegie foundation, the President of the Prague Parliament in Chezk Republic, and a host of others.

Kanyeyachukwu who is a native of Anambra State, Nigeria has been hailed as an art genius by fellow artistes and museum curators from around the globe and this has seen the young artist invited to exhibitions across Europe.

The journey of this young dynamo has been described by his parents, Tagbo and Sylvia Okeke, and tutors as simply a miracle.

Beginning with what was regarded as mere “scribbling on paper” his interest in arts led to his enrollment in an arts tutoring class where his skill at abstract creativity was further honed and what began as a childhood interest suddenly reached the world when, in 2017, young Kanye’s works found its way to the  Nigerian Ambassador to Austria where an arts enthusiast at the Embassy saw one of his paintings and, after requiring who the artiste was, immediately alerted other art enthusiasts and collectors

Kanye’s creative manifestation in arts also got to the ears of art community in Europe and art connoisseurs  including Suleiman Al-Herbish, the  Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), an intergovernmental development finance institution established by the Member States of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), whose yearly art exhibition showcases artists from around the world whose works are dedicated towards peaceful coexistence around the world.

Prestigious arts museums like the prestigious Moya Museum of Young Art Vienna Austria, which includes curators of art and members of the Austrian monarchy, were also hinted about the art work of Kanye and, after careful scrutiny, the board concluded that his works were exceptional and has to be amongst those to be on display at their art exhibition.

After reviews of his works, Kanye was nominated for the prestigious “Flame of Peace” award for his contributions on fostering world Peace with art, which was conferred in him by the Arch Duchess of Austria, Lothringen.

This prestigious award caused so much excitement in The Austrian arts community and lead to invitations to numerous other exhibitions including that of Solomon Okpurukhre, a Nigerian arts curator also based in Vienna.

At the Flame of Peace Awards, Kanye’s painting was selected from over seventy artists invited globally to showcase their works at the United Nations young artists for Peace exhibition to the amazement of the art critics and lovers. Beyond any doubt, it is clear that there’s more to come from Kanye. As the first Nigerian and African child to clinch the much coveted award, a child who has obviously surmounted the challenges of autism to be the first child below the age of ten to exhibit and be conferred with such an international award, Kanyechukwu has cemented his name and that of Nigeria in the artistes hall of fame globally as well as earning him the title of “the Young Picasso” in Europe.

In his remark, the Curator of the Moya Museum and one of the organizers of the Flame of Peace Association, Dr. Kolja Kramer, expressed his delight on the conferment of the award on such a young boy and concluded that Kanye is “very talented and his art is very deep and mature”.

The DG of OFID, in his remark, said he was “pleased with the high level of creativity that Kanye has demonstrated for a child of his age; he has demonstrated that artistic skills can be nurtured from infancy irrespective of the challenge the child might face”.

Speaking about the award, his parent Silvia and Tagbo Okeke expressed their gratefulness to God for all he has done for Kanye.

They also expressed similar appreciation to the DG of OFID, the Nigerian ambassador to Vienna, the Arch Duke and Arch Duchess of Austria and all the “lovers of art who have been so appreciative of Kanye’s art and have shown so much support” They thanked the Moya Museum for Creative Art for the recognition of Kanye’s talent and creativity and said “this award has shown that Nigerian kids are exceptional and, if given the opportunity and enabling environment, would go places”.

Speaking on the award, Vivian Okeke, the Nigerian Ambassador to Austria noted that,” Nigeria as a country is excited about this recognition.

Kanyechukwu is an exceptional boy and one of Nigeria’s most promising artists and he is a shining light to other children and a great example of what autistic kids can achieve.” She further said that the award is not only for us but for Nigeria as a country”.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian community in Vienna has been agog with Kanyechukwu; the Nigerian and Anambra State governments have also shown immense pleasure with Kanye.

What continues to baffle many is how such a young child, with all the challenges he has faced, could be so successful in the highly coveted world of art.

This just goes to prove even more that all kids are gifted in one way or the other, all they need is for their talents to be discovered and nurtured.

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GR Diary

TestNigeria 3.0 Conference: Elevate Your QA Practices to Prevent Outages like CrowdStrike’s

….Sen. Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cybercrime, who will declare the conference open

Published

3 months ago

on

August 12, 2024

By

TestNigeria Conference 1.0

The Nigerian Software Testing Qualifications Board (NGSTQB) has announced plans for the TestNigeria 3.0 Conference, set to take place on September 26, 2024, at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, Lagos State.

With the compelling theme “Security in the Spotlight: Safeguarding Digital Frontiers through QA,” the conference aims to address the critical role of quality assurance (QA) in enhancing the security of digital ecosystems.

Why Attend TestNigeria 3.0?

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Boye Dare, president of NGSTQB, said that the recent CrowdStrike incident, where a defect caused widespread disruptions for banks, hospitals, and airlines, underscores the urgent need for rigorous QA processes.

“Millions of PCs displayed ‘blue screens of death,’ highlighting the essential role of comprehensive testing.

“CrowdStrike has since committed to enhancing their software testing protocols, improving error handling, and adopting staggered deployments to prevent future issues”.

Mr. Dare said that TestNigeria 3.0 will provide attendees with the insights and tools to prevent similar disruptions in their own organisations.

Key Benefits of Attending:

  • Learning from CrowdStrike’s Experience: Gain valuable insights into preventing large-scale outages. Understand the importance of thorough testing, robust error handling, and strategic deployment to safeguard your organisation against similar issues.
  • Expert-Led Sessions and Panels: Engage with industry leaders and experts in software testing and security. Participate in discussions covering the latest advancements, strategies, and technologies to enhance your QA processes.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals across various sectors. Exchange ideas, share experiences, and build collaborations that can drive innovation and improvement in your QA practices.
  • Cutting-Edge Trends and Innovations: Stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in software testing. Learn how to integrate security into your QA processes to protect your digital frontiers and ensure the resilience of your software systems.
  • Professional Development: Benefit from the expertise of NGSTQB, a leading organisation dedicated to promoting excellence in software testing in Nigeria. Discover how the Test Maturity Model integration (TMMi) can aid in test process improvement and compliance.

Conference Highlights:

  • Elevating Security Consciousness in QA Practices: Prioritise security at every stage of the software development lifecycle to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
  • Integrating Security Testing into QA Processes: Incorporate methodologies like penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and code review into your QA processes to address security weaknesses before they can be exploited.
  • Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Foster collaboration among QA professionals, cybersecurity experts, and industry stakeholders to collectively tackle evolving security challenges.
  • Regulatory Compliance and Governance: Align QA processes with regulatory mandates such as NDPR, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO/IEC 27001 to demonstrate commitment to safeguarding sensitive data and protecting privacy rights.
  • Empowering Stakeholders through Education and Training: Equip QA professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the complex landscape of security and QA through continuous learning and professional development initiatives.

Special Guest of Honour:

“We are honoured to welcome Sen. Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cybercrime, who will declare the conference open. We will also welcome Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, the Chairman House Committee for ICT and Cybersecurity who will deliver the Keynote Address.

“The presence of these great lawmakers underscores the importance of this event and the critical role of QA in national cyber resilience”, he said.

About NGSTQB:

The Nigerian Software Testing Qualifications Board (NGSTQB) is dedicated to promoting excellence in software testing and quality assurance in Nigeria. As a member of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB®) and the local chapter for The TMMi Foundation, NGSTQB strives to enhance professional standards and practices in software testing through certification, education, and collaboration.

For more information and to register for the conference, please visit https://www.ngstqb.ng/conference

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Events

Stakeholders Head to Enugu for first Southeast Educators Conference

Published

7 months ago

on

March 29, 2024

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SEEC'24

Stakeholders in the education circle are warming up for the maiden edition of Southeast Educators’ Conference 2024(SEEC’24).

The two-day SEEC’24 scheduled to hold 18th & 19th, April 2024 at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu under theme: Future-‘Focused Learning – Igniting the Competitive Edge’ promises to host key players in the education sector with a potential attendance of over 500 delegates.

The conference will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, covering topics ranging from holistic learning approaches to cutting-edge technology integration.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Mrs Doris Chinedu-Okoro, CEO, Evergreen Group, said SEEC’24 is the first of its kind in the Southeast region, presenting a historic opportunity for stakeholders to pioneer positive change in the local education sector.

“It brings together diverse perspectives and innovative ideas,fostering collaboration and networking among educators and stakeholders.

Hundreds of delegates will be in attendance.

“SEEC’24 is dedicated to exploring transformative practices, emphasising holistic learning, technology integration, global citizenship, life-long learning, and community engagement”, she said.

Mr. Osita Chidioka, the former Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, who recently launched an online mentorship and leadership programme for Nigerian youths named Mekaria Mentorship Programme (MMP) Foundation Course, will deliver the keynote at SEEC’24.

Prof. Pieter Verdegem; Dr. Joy Isa, Mrs. Bukola Adewuiyi, Lady Uju Dike, Fr. John Njorteah, Alex Onyia, Rotimi Eyitayo, Rhoda Odigboh, Elfrida Diete-Spiff Omole, Dr. ChibuezeLawrence Ofobuike, Ify Obidi-Essien, Dr. Abimbola Ogundere, Angelina Ikeako, Odetola Ebenezer Israel and OgochukwuOnyia, are some of the speakers lined up for the event.

The Evergreen Group CEO added that the conference thrives on a vision to create a dynamic platform that equips educators with the tools and knowledge needed to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape of South-Eastern Nigeria.

SEEC’24 is open to School Owners, Heads of Schools (Public and Private), Educational Stakeholders, Counselors, Teachers, Parents, Investors, Startups, and others in the education ecosystem.

“Participants will have the opportunity to engage in two full days of conference sessions, diving deep into the future of Education.

“There will be ample networking opportunities with school leaders from across the geopolitical zone and beyond.

“The evening Gala Night promises a delightful atmosphere for dancing, dining, wining, and fostering deeper connections in a relaxed setting”, she further explained.

Registration is N100,000 via: https://bit.ly/3uTcv9e

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GR Diary

PAFON: Digital Encode, Cybervergent, Payble Sign Up for Payments Forum Nigeria 1.0

Published

8 months ago

on

March 12, 2024

By

PAFON

·      Experts to Discuss Trust, Security and Privacy in AI Era

Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON), the cross-industry platform focused on addressing issues that require broad cooperation and coordination across many constituents in the payments industry, has attracted sponsorships from Digital Encode Limited, Cybervergent and Payble.  

Financial industry experts are warming up for the first edition of PAFON, scheduled to take place at Oriental Hotel, Lekki Road, Lagos on Thursday March 21, 2024, by 9am.

The Forum aims at providing an inside-look at the industry, offering perspectives from key stakeholders, including payment networks, technology innovators, leading merchants, issuers, acquirers and payment processors.

Throughout the years, the finance world has shifted into something much more than just banking and big corporations.

Speaking ahead of the star-studded PAFON 1.0, with the theme: “Payments: Trust, Security and Privacy in AI Era”, Dr. Adewale Peter Obadare, the Chief Visionary Officer [CVO], Digital Encode Limited, said that customers want to be assured that their sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and personal details, is treated with utmost care hence security has become paramount in the payments industry.

“Secure payment processing ensures that data breaches are minimized, instilling confidence in customers to keep coming back. Nigerian financial institutions reported ₦159 billion ($201.5 million) lost to fraud cases since 2020, according to the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC). This is what the experts must tackle and customer awareness is key too”, he said.

Based on a report by Gartner, by 2024, 40% of privacy compliance technology will rely on AI, up from 5% in 2019, and by 2025, 60% of large organizations will use at least one privacy-enhancing computation technique in analytics, business intelligence, or cloud computing, and financial services industry is no exempted.

On the other hand, Roosevelt Elias, the co-founder of Payble, described PAFON as a ‘must-attend’ Forum due to the ‘issues listed to be discussed are germane and require critical attention. For instance, building financial inclusive products requires a mix of technology and illiteracy. The industry can’t achieve this by working in silos; we just have to unite to achieve the set target on financial inclusion, particularly for the rural dwellers.

Digital Encode (a leading consulting and integration that specializes in the design, management, and security of business-critical architecture); Cybervergent (a company dedicated to helping protect business sensitive data from cyber-attacks, including customer information, financial records and intellectual property); Payble (a fintech startup that modernises local government payments such as creating citizen-centric payment experiences, delivering flexible billing and simplified rate collection, will be joined at PAFON 1.0 by Inlaks, an IT company that offers core banking, fraud management, cybersecurity, cloud, data center, enterprise risk management, amongst other industry players.

“Our goal is to enable information exchange and knowledge sharing on key industry insights issues amongst key stakeholders, with the objective of ensuring a collaborative and proactive approach to push for policies that enable growth, tackling/mitigating fraud and limiting occurrences and losses”, said Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, the co-founder of TechCastle Foundation, organisers of Payment Forum Nigeria (PAFON).

He said that the Forum is driven by the reasons to; “educate and inform financial service players and other stakeholders on various issues and trends (both locally and globally); proactively share data/information amongst banks, Fintechs and other service providers, to enable prompt responses to prevent and/or limit (customer-related) losses; and discuss key Payments security trends”.

“Speakers will be drawn among industry players such as banks, Fintechs, mobile money operators, blockchain experts, Cybersecurity, etc., as we expect attendees from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); e-Banking Heads; Chief Compliance Officers of banks in Nigeria; Chief Internal Auditors of banks in Nigeria; Office of The National Security Adviser; Switching companies; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Licensed Mobile Payment Operators; Electronic Payments Providers; Information Security Experts; Consumer Protection; Financial Policy and Regulation; Information Technology; Legal Services; Banking Supervision; Corporate Communication; Shared Services Office; Blockchain Security Experts, etc”, he added.

Participation:

Participation is free; however, you are required to pre-register using the link here: https://bit.ly/4c4N19H

For sponsorship, please contact: Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi via: 08123355522 or Peter Oluka: 08184346261 or email: [email protected].

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