GR Diary
Online Raffle Draw: Blessing wins Toyota Corolla on Ekojara.com


It was galore of excitement, on the 3rd of December 2018 in Lagos, when Blessing Jonah, a small business owner won a Toyota Corolla worth N2.5 million from Ekojara.com, a leading online gaming platform.
Since the unveiling of the brand, this is the first time an automobile was showcased as a prize – which indeed, produced a winner within one month of promoting the prize; this is a remarkable rare feat.
Speaking with journalists, Hillary Nwaukor, CEO of Ekojara said Blessing had won the Toyota Corolla vehicle with just N2,500 after an online raffle draw that was characterized by probity and transparency was drawn.
He congratulated the winner for having the conviction and courage to play the game on Ekojara.com, urging other members of society, especially within Lagos to take their chances in a subsequent online draw, as anybody can win.
“Remember, everybody stands a chance to win. Someday, we imagine that people will have a fair chance to win big items such as a Prado SUV on Ekojara.com, this is just the beginning.” Mr Nwaukor further revealed that one of Ekojara’s aspirations is to see members of society win houses in highbrow areas like Lekki and so forth. “Our goal is to add value to the lives of our people through a pure bazaar game of chance. The only requirement from our people is to be ready to take advantage of the fair chance provided by the online gaming company. Reasons being that you need to be in it to win it.
To participate and stand a chance to win any item on Ekojara.com, players must first download Ekojara App from Apple Play store. We also distribute the Android version from our website. Those who do not have smartphones can simply sign-up online.
“This is a game for many Nigerians who are willing to stake as low as 0.20% of the published value of an item. Blessing Jonah won this Corolla vehicle with N2,500; which is 0.10% of the value of the car in the market. In fact, we are running a bonanza on a second vehicle were bidders will stake as low as N500 perchance for the car; reducing the risk to 0.02%. All listed items to be won on Ekojara’s website have been verified by industry regulators.”
Commenting on what the big win means for the Ekojara brand, Nwaukor said it basically means that our word is our bond as well as adding value to the lives of Nigerians through a chance auction that gives people the opportunity to own cars, electronics and many other items on Ekojara.com
“For instance, the lady who won the prize came to our office via a public transport, but she will drive home today in her personal vehicle. She might even decide to deploy the vehicle on Uber or Taxify platform and make more money,” because the Corolla 06 is a practical motor, cheap parts and easy to maintain.
According to Blessing Jonah, the winner of the Toyota Corolla vehicle, the joy of winning such a valuable item with a token appears to be unmeasurable. “At first, when I was contacted, I found it unbelievable. In fact, I was sceptical when a friend recommended Ekojara.com, this is my first time of playing a game on Ekojara and I feel very excited. I am urging fellow Lagosians to try their luck on Ekojara.com and continue playing because nobody knows who is going to win.”
Blessing added that she was inside a bus when a call was put through by the officials of Ekojara informing her that she had won a big prize. “All thanks to my friend Atinuke who mentioned Ekojara to me.”
Confirming this claim, Shonike Atinuke said before recommending Ekojara to her friend that she had won N5,000 and N40,000 on different occasions.
“I knew about this platform on Instagram and I downloaded the App. The day that I received a call from Ekojara that I won N40,000, I was almost crazy because I was screaming out of joy. Going forward, I started telling people about Ekojara including family and friends,” she added.
Ekojara online raffle auction system is designed to accept the predetermined equal number of bids entered by customers to stand a chance of winning an advertised item/- goods for auction.
Players enter their dream numbers (ticket numbers) and submit within the odds of 01-99 into 5 unique boxes provided for the Dream-bid category. These numbers are unique identifiers for your purchased tickets. One bidder can buy as many tickets as possible on any category. Numbers played can be generated by the players or by the system depending on the option the bidder wants.
“We are equally positioned to outsource our application to Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) Companies, Real-Estate, Auto Retailers and many other sectors in Nigeria and Online Brand Influencers – for their general bonanza, giveaways and promotions driven by our innovative raffle auction system”.
Events
NOTAP Announces Plan for 2025 Technology and Innovation Summit
….Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem


The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has announced the forthcoming NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit (NTIS 2025), scheduled to hold on Thursday, 6th and Friday, 7th November 2025 at THE HALL, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, commencing daily at 9:00 AM.
Themed “Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem,” the two-day summit will convene key leaders from government, private sector, academia, development partners, and the startup ecosystem to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s innovation landscape and positioning the nation as a hub for technology-driven economic growth.
Speaking on the upcoming summit, Dr. Lady Obiageli Amadiobi, the director-general of NOTAP, emphasized that the forum will serve as a strategic platform to foster dialogue and action around innovation policy, technology transfer, intellectual property, and commercialization.
“Our goal is to accelerate the transformation of research and creativity into commercially viable enterprises that drive national development,” she noted.
Summit Highlights
The NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit 2025 will feature:
- Ministerial Address and Keynote Sessions by renowned leaders in innovation, policy, and technology.
- High-Level Panel Discussions on key themes such as technology transfer, intellectual property sovereignty, and building an AI-ready human resources.
- Launching of Project NOVA (Nigeria’s Outsourcing Value Acceleration) and promotion of the NOTAP Local Vendor Policy (LVP) across all sectors of the economy.
- Workshops and Breakout Sessions on IP management, funding access, and talent development.
- Exhibitions and Innovation Showcases, featuring startups, research institutions, and technology companies.
- Hackathon and Pitch Showcase, for emerging innovators and young entrepreneurs.
- Networking and Partnership Sessions to foster collaboration across sectors.
The Summit will also host a Special Exhibition Pavilion to highlight Nigeria’s emerging technologies, research outputs, and development partnerships, reflecting NOTAP’s commitment to bridging the gap between invention and commercialization.
Partnership and Collaborations
The event is organized by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in partnership with Crestsage Limited and collaboration with stakeholders, to ensure a world-class experience that aligns with NOTAP’s mission of accelerating technology, promoting innovation and sustainable development across Nigeria.
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, mandated to regulate the acquisition of foreign technology, promote local research, and encourage the development and commercialization of indigenous technologies. Through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and capacity development, NOTAP continues to play pivotal roles in advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Events
Ortom, NOA DG, others to feature as Panelists at GOCOP 2025 Conference


The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced that Chief Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Benue State, will serve as one of the panelists at the upcoming GOCOP 2025 Conference.
The conference theme is “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.”
A press statement by GOCOP publicity secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, disclosed that the panel discussion will feature esteemed panelists, including Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar, Base University, Abuja; Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika,2025 Director, Institute of Continuing Education (UNILAG); and Alhaji Lanre Issa-Orilu, Director-General, National Orientation Agency.
The conference, he said, will take place on October 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
He recalled that GOCOP had earlier announced that the keynote speaker will be Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Katsina State.
Events
Takang, Ladid Lead Africa’s Digital Sovereignty Debate At DACE 2025


How can Africa remain safe and powerful in a world being rapidly redefined by Artificial Intelligence?
That pressing question will take centre stage at the 13th Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition (DACE), scheduled for October 28–29, 2025, in Abuja.
The two-day gathering will be anchored by two powerhouse keynote speakers: Dr. Armstrong Takang on Day 1 and Prof. Latif Ladid on Day 2, each bringing unique expertise to Africa’s digital sovereignty conversation.
Dr. Armstrong Takang, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), will open the conference with a keynote that situates Africa’s digital sovereignty within the broader context of economic reform, institutional innovation, and strategic governance.
A consummate professional and visionary thinker, Dr. Takang has spent decades bridging the gap between public reform and private investment across Africa and the United States. Before his current role at MOFI, he served as Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, where he led the MOFI Transformation Team.
His career includes leading Growth Alliance Partners (GAP), a pan-African firm that helped turn around several businesses to create shareholder value, and working at KPMG in New York.
He has been instrumental in designing and implementing key national initiatives such as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), and the ICT components of EFCC/NFIU systems.
Dr. Takang has also chaired national ICT committees and contributed to landmark policies, including Nigeria’s Content Development in ICT and the country’s 50-year Development Plan. His keynote will highlight how digital and financial sovereignty intersect to secure Africa’s long-term competitiveness.
On the other hand, Prof. Latif Ladid, Founder & President of the IPv6 Forum and Chair of the AI & Blockchain Global Forum, brings decades of global leadership in internet architecture, digital policy, and emerging technologies.
His expertise spans across pivotal roles from IEEE Future Networks to the Internet Society, 3GPP, and EU research on next-generation networks.
Organizers say his keynote will set the tone for the conference, unpacking how Africa can assert digital sovereignty, safeguard its data, and lead in shaping the ethics and standards of AI on the global stage.
“This year’s theme, ‘Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Voice in the Global Digital Order,’ isn’t just a concept, it’s a necessity,” said Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman of Digital Africa Consult. “Prof. Ladid’s keynote will highlight what it takes for Africa to remain safe, independent, and powerful in the new AI era.”
At a time when global powers are racing to define AI norms and secure digital dominance, Africa risks being left behind if it fails to act. Much of its technology remains imported, its data stored abroad, and its languages invisible in mainstream AI systems.
DACE 2025 is designed to change this narrative, by equipping Africa with the tools, strategies, and partnerships to become a proactive co-author of the digital future.
The conference will feature high-level dialogues on digital sovereignty, policy innovation, and cross-border cooperation, alongside exhibitions of homegrown startups, developer workshops, and showcases of African-built AI tools for health, agriculture, finance, and education.
Beyond the panels and showcases, DACE 2025 is expected to produce a concrete roadmap for Africa’s digital sovereignty.
“This isn’t just about technology,” noted Woherem. “It’s about agency, safety, and independence. With Prof. Ladid setting the stage, we hope to leave Abuja with a united vision of Africa’s place in the global AI order.”
With delegates expected from across Africa and the world, the two-day gathering promises to be a defining moment in the continent’s digital journey.
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