₦airaland Forum

In order to make Christmas enjoyable to the people in the face of the COVID-19 induced economic hardships on many homes, JumokeCares Foundation, a non-governmental organisation has provided foodstuffs to over 500 families.


The ‘Shop4Free’ food distribution was held in Agbado, Lagos state in furtherance of the NGO’s vision to provide welfare support, health, and livelihood to deprived elderly people, women, and children across remote communities.


The founder of the foundation, Jumoke Kolawole said the ‘Shop4Free’ event was done to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society, especially those that won’t be able to afford to celebrate Christmas.


She said, ‘’We decided to provide foodstuffs to the people as the economic situation in the country is unbearable for so many people, and it is of concern to us when some persons cannot afford to feed themselves. Putting a smile on the faces of the people is what we want to achieve with this and so far, so good, our aim is being achieved with the glow on the faces of the beneficiaries’’.

JumokeCares Foundation is a sister organization of Help to The Ageing Foundation (HAF) and so far, both have reached over 13,000 beneficiaries with welfare support, empowerment projects, food drive, free medical check-ups, treatments, scans, administered drugs, eye tests, corrective eyewear/glasses provision. The team does medical screenings to treat any elderly-related health conditions, including cases of depression due to abandonment.


Kolawole said caring for humanity was what motivated her to start the NGO since her University days in 2004, as she asserted that, ‘’there is a kind of satisfaction I get after any of our interventions and that's an immense feeling for me’’.


She said running HAF feels like an act of self-satisfaction, and the feel of being a part of society’s development is always a great feeling.
Project Coordinator Adeola Oyeshola said they decided to provide foodstuffs to the residents to mitigate their economic situations and put a smile on their faces, which is the message of the season.

Though the foundation is being financed by the founder and volunteers, she said they are open to receiving support from corporate organisations and the government to spread their message of hope nationwide.

Aside from providing foodstuffs to the people, the foundation also runs routine medical check-ups to people in remote areas through its volunteer medical practitioners - Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Therapists, and Optometrists-; and helps people with Business startups through different empowerment initiatives – setting them up and boosting their existing businesses for sustainability.


A beneficiary, Mrs. Adewale Balogun could not hide her joy as she was full of praise to the foundation. She said her family is sure to have a swell festive period with the foodstuffs she was gifted. She prays the foundation continues to go higher. She wants corporate organisations and the government to reach out to the foundation to reach more persons in remote areas.

In furtherance of its quest to mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians and to empower Nigerian youths, the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has unveiled a special COVID-19 themed photography contest tagged WENAIJA Photography Contest. NSSF is a not-for-profit innovative platform for resource mobilization primarily created to complement the government’s efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians.

Speaking during the media briefing event in Lagos yesterday, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Board Member, NSSF noted that the campaign titled ‘Visions of Nigeria’ is an initiative that seeks to tell, through photography, Nigerian stories, by Nigerians on how Nigerians have been adapting to and overcoming the economic, health, education, and social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It would tell the COVID-19 story through the eyes of the public using compelling photography.

According to Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, General Manager, NSSF, "The campaign will provide an opportunity for youth across the country to communicate visually the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the people, organisations, and the country at large and how Nigerians are coping."
She added that the campaign will allow youths across the country to be a part of a life-changing project whilst providing an avenue for youth empowerment and upskilling. Prizes up for grabs in this inaugural competition include cash to the tune of a N6million, enrollment into paid internships programs, and personalized mentorship sessions with select industry leaders.

On what the campaign represents, the General Manager further explained that the campaign would be an opportunity for Nigerian Youths to express their creativity through photography by framing their best shot and telling real-life stories of real-life situations showing how people are learning to live with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how they are overcoming it. ‘Visions of Nigeria’ will paint a picture of hope for a new and safer world post-pandemic. The photos will be positive, and messaging will be clear and concise.

The competition is open to all youths with a mobile phone or digital camera to capture memories or images that suit the theme of the competition. Like all photography competitions, NSSF 'Visions of Nigeria' seeks to precipitate and renew interest in photography. It will recognise and celebrate the best photographers, based on their skill set and talent, judged solely based on their interpretation of the given theme.
The platform will equally give the visual artists the exposure they need to progress in their photography as their submission in the competition will be massively shared and praised both online and offline.

Participation is free and easy. Participants are to register on the website www.wenaijaphotocontest.com and post their entry. The rules guiding the competition are clearly stated on the website and a dedicated contact line is available for any inquiries. Our target is 10,000 entries of amazing images from across Nigeria

The competition will run for four weeks thus:
• Submission of entries opens on Wednesday, December 1, 2021,
• Voting lines for the 100 semi-finalists open on Monday, December 13, 2021
• All Submissions, voting, and the entire competition close by 11:59 pm on Saturday, December 25, 2021.

The 100 semi-finalists get to win cash prizes of N50,000 each and have their works showcased at the premium auction that will hold in Lagos on January 19, 2022.

The panel of award-winning judges will be on hand to select the top 5 finalists with the most unique works. These 5 finalists will win additional cash prizes as well as get employed into paid internship programme and earn personalized mentorship sessions with select industry leaders.

Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko called on youths and youth groups with interest in photography to take advantage of the campaign to get their names and work out to the crème de la crème of the society.

The funds generated through this competition and other activities will be used to upskill Nigerian youth and provide a platform for them to thrive.

Canary Point Corporate Services (CPCS) has emerged as the winner of the corporate organisation with measurable impact in ensuring that less-privileged children have access to quality education by the Lawrence Grace Foundation (LGF).  Canary Point clinched the Award for its impact on Quality Education during the LGF Dinner and Award ceremony.

The LGF Awards is an annual event set up to recognize and celebrate organizations that give back to the less privileged in society.

According to LGF, the financial service group was awarded based on the distinguishing education that the children under its foundation received, as all the beneficiaries are in private schools up to the tertiary institutions.

Receiving the award, Canary Point Chief Operating Officer, Tolu Oke said, “We are extremely honored by this award and this is a testament of our commitment to ensuring that the future of the leaders of tomorrow is secured through quality education. Education is a human right and a force for sustainable development and peace.

Canary Point has partnered with NGOs to reach out to the children who need access to quality education and give them the required support to go through school.

According to the Group Head, Strategy and Business Performance, Emmanuel Bassey, CPCS, "At Canary Point, we are committed to doing our part in ensuring that children at the orphanages and less privileged homes have access to quality education, the goal for the foundation and as a responsible organization, is the full development of every child, we will continue to play our part in providing life-changing opportunities through quality education.

Canary Point Corporate Services Ltd. is a financial services group of companies. CPCS is the holding company for other companies offering specialized financial services and support solutions to individuals, businesses, and organisations.

In its global quest to see to the development of science and research, Henkel has launched its global educational initiative Forscherwelt, in Nigeria – making this a first for the African continent.
The launch, which was held at The People’s Primary School in Ibadan, further reiterates the company’s commitment to skills development in Nigeria, especially in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The Oyo State government commended Henkel on this African first and welcomed the steps it was taking to assist in the development of future science talents in the state and the country as a whole.
Forscherwelt, or “Researchers' World” is an educational initiative designed by Henkel to introduce elementary school children to the fascinating world of science through specific learning objectives, further encouraging them to explore the world of science and make research fun.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said that the launch of Forscherwelt demonstrates Henkel’s commitment towards empowering young talents and supporting them to flourish in the communities in which it operates.
Adeniran, represented by Saheed Aliu, Deputy Director, School Services, SUBEB, pledged the support of the state government towards the success of the Forscherwelt programme and he looks forward to it being taken to other schools in the state.
Representative of the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sport, Alade Bello, the Director, Administration, and Supply, said that with the bold step taken by Henkel, the positive effect will show itself in the overall development of the state in years to come. He calls for a partnership between Henkel and the ministry so as to come up with more laudable programmes to empower more students
Rajat Kapur, the Managing Director of Henkel Nigeria, said that the initiative reflects the focal points of Henkel's research areas and will drive its involvement in community relations.
He said that the company envisions empowering young talents and giving them the support to flourish in their various communities. This, he said was the reason why the launch was held at the People’s Primary School, as it is situated in the surrounding community where its Ibadan plant in based.
He said since the inauguration at Henkel’s Düsseldorf headquarters in April 2011, more than 62,000 children around the world have taken part in Henkel’s Forscherwelt programmes and he looks forward to school children from Nigeria benefiting from the initiative.
According to the global coordinator, Dr. Ute Krupp, the programme is designed for children between the ages of eight to ten and takes a holistic approach towards teaching and learning by putting children into the role and workplace of an actual researcher.
Dr. Krupp said, “The programme is Henkel’s way of contributing to scientific literacy, and it includes teaching units for elementary schools in different settings with teaching materials and training courses developed by educational specialists.”
She said the classes in Forscherwelt are on research areas that Henkel is active in, such as gluing, washing, personal care, and sustainability. The latter involves teaching children how to save energy, recycle paper, use renewable raw materials, and information about general health and there is flexibility in terms of actual experiments as country-relevant experiments are focused on.
Damilola Asaleye, the coordinator of Girls and Women Technological Empowerment Organisation (GWTEO), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said that it is a privilege to partner will Henkel on this initiative and to be able to develop children through this programme. GWTEO is focused on empowering girls and women to be bold, confident, and knowledgeable technology leaders, and they believe that if children are exposed to STEM activities from an early age.

Henkel is set to officially launch the Nigerian leg of its Forscherwelt programme at People’s Primary School, Ibadan in November 2021.

Forscherwelt, or “Researchers' World” is an educational initiative designed by Henkel to introduce children into the fascinating world of science. Since its inauguration at Henkel’s Düsseldorf headquarters in April 2011, more than 62,000 children around the world have taken part in Henkel’s Forscherwelt programs.

Forscherwelt is an out-of-school learning environment focusing on using scientific methods, critical testing, analysis, interpretation of data, science, and of course: creativity. Through specific learning objectives, children gain insight into the process of scientific inquiry.

Through specific learning objectives, elementary students can gain insight into the process of scientific inquiry as it came into being to encourage children to explore the world of science and make research fun.

According to the global coordinator, Dr. Ute Krupp, the programme is designed for children between the ages of eight to ten and takes a holistic approach towards teaching and learning by putting children into the role and workplace of an actual researcher.

Dr. Krupp said, “The programme is Henkel’s way of contributing to scientific literacy, and it includes teaching units for elementary schools in different settings with teaching materials and training courses developed by educational specialists.”

The pilot phase of the training will be held at People’s Primary School, Ibadan. According to Rajat Kapur, the Managing Director of Henkel Nigeria, the public primary school was chosen as it situated near to Henkel’s Ibadan plant and the company is committed to empowering young talents and supporting them to flourish in the communities in which it operates.

Kapur said the initiative reflects the focal points of Henkel's research areas as it is meant to position the globally reputed company as a stakeholder in the country’s education sector, drive and amplify its involvement in community relations.

The classes in Forscherwelt are on research areas that Henkel is active in, such as gluing, washing, personal care, and sustainability. The latter involves teaching children how to save energy, recycle paper, use renewable raw materials, and information about general health.

Furthermore, he said the programme would foster a relationship between Henkel and its host communities, grow corporate social responsibility footprint in Nigeria, and build a positive reputation among relevant stakeholders.

The local coordinator, Felicity Nwachukwu said the programme structure is to set up classroom/training within the school environment with adequate space for the students and tools needed, and the training could be held once a week with the classes broken down into segments to manage space.

Kapur mentioned that it is their goal to roll Forscherwelt out to more schools around Nigeria.

Expand Global Industries limited (EGIL), the makers of WAW and Nittol detergents and a subsidiary of Henkel in Nigeria has played host to the winner and housemates of the just ended Big Brother (BB) Naija, Season 6, ‘Shine Ya Eye’ edition, at its Lagos corporate office.

EGIL reiterated its intention to support young Nigerian creatives to achieve their dreams and aspirations, ultimately reducing all forms of unemployment in the country.

Hazel Oyeze Onou, known as Whitemoney led the housemates that included Pere, Nini, JayPaul, Yousef, Niyi, and Sammie to appreciate the company on its support to the show, as according to them, it shows they value the youthful talents in the country.

Kaveh Sani, EGIL Marketing Manager, said they supported the show, aftermath of their support of Nigerian Idol, to increase their collaborations with youthful, colorful talents in the country.

Sani said they are looking for more opportunities to invest in Nigerian talents. They believed that they have the skills needed to change the country and are ready to support the housemates in whatever endeavor they like to undertake.

Sani, alongside the Senior Brand Manager, Oluwaseun Ayeni presented dummy cheques to the housemates to replicate the winnings from the WAW sponsored tasks held in the house.

Whitemoney said the support given by the company towards the show is laudable as it will let more persons have the same opportunity as his with the continuation of the show.

He said his first contact with the quality of WAW detergent in the house was when the liquid soap they were using to wash got exhausted and WAW, which was a better replacement, was given to them to use.

EGIL is a subsidiary of Henkel in Nigeria. In 2016, Henkel acquired a majority stake in EGIL, which has become a 100 percent subsidiary of Henkel.

Since then, Henkel in Nigeria has continuously invested in the improvement of the production tools and the SHE standards in its Ibadan site, thus, contributing to satisfying the local demand for products that combine high performance, reliability, and quality.

Through an extensive local distributor network, EGIL provides thousands of jobs across the country as it aims to be a strong contributor to the Nigerian economy while supporting its driving forces and empowering talents with the ultimate ambition to produce for Nigerians by Nigerians.

Fans of the show were allowed to participate virtually as their questions to the visiting housemates were read out for them to answer with some of them doing the tasks requested by the fans.

The housemates were taken around the company, with presentations about Henkel and investments in the country shown to them.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, has declared that his antecedents among his people as a problem solver and human resources developer, positioned him as the best candidate to deliver on the job if voted into office.
Uba said his edge over all the other contestants is that he understood the gravity of the challenges on the ground, the solutions they require and people’s expectations as his structure across all the wards in the state has been in constant engagement with the people since the 2007 election that he won. He vacated the office when the Supreme Court ruled that Peter Obi had not completed his term.
He said this in Lagos where he addressed reporters on his candidacy, as he stated that it was ironic that people he once assisted one way or the other including All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Charles Soludo, are in the race with him, but he is confident of winning as he said; “I know my people. I know what they want. I know what they are going through.”
He promised to establish industrial parks to drive industrialisation across the state and harness all the available resources of the residents towards the development of the state.
Uba said: “Industrial parks encourage rapid industrialisation through Foreign Direct Investment, expertise that we are reputed for, as well as the production of quality goods and services.
“That way, more and better jobs are created; more people are gainfully employed and can spend a part of their earnings in the marketplace, which boosts the economy, creates a bigger tax base for the government, and reduces the crime rate in the state.
“My government will work with the Federal Government to construct the Onitsha-Awka-Nnewi gas pipeline, which will become a boost to manufacturing in the state, especially the industrial parks we intend to set up.”
He declared that with the level of defections to the APC and the people wanting to belong to the center, the party was confident of winning the election.
Uba stated that Anambra would benefit a lot from joining the ruling party at the centre, saying, “The centre is key. For 16 years, we don’t know what the centre means. You must open your arm and make sure you work with the Central Government. Once you do so, you will get a lot of things. Look at other states, look at Anambra.
“You can’t compare Anambra to Imo and Ebonyi States that have gone back to the centre. Second Niger Bridge is coming, look at other projects.”
He said the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the South East are being concealed by the governors as the APC government has done a lot not only for the people of the South East but the entire country but their achievements are not well-publicized.
He said people cannot complain of marginalisation under APC when the same government is building the Second Niger Bridge and other major infrastructural projects in the region.
“When people are talking of marginalisation, how? Is it by building Second Niger Bridge? Is it by building all these infrastructures? The APC government is working but the governors are hiding whatever APC is doing. They can’t cover it this time around because once I get there, it is over. Nigerians and the world will see what APC has been doing,” he said.
Uba decried the worsening insecurity in Anambra State, and according to him, a proactive state government ought to have found a solution to the problem, as he recalled that he rose swiftly in 2007 to solve the same problem by visiting Ralph Uwazuruike of MASSOB while in detention, five times, to dialogue with him and his men.
He regretted that Governor Willy Obiano lacked the wisdom and skills of engagement and capacity to reduce youth restiveness through job creation and in the absence of such engagements, people have resorted to listening to non-state actors.
He said one of the ways to boost employment is to partner with the private sector through the provision of an enabling environment. This is why he said infrastructural development, environmental upgrade, security, job creation, youth empowerment, among others would be part of his priorities.
Uba promised that if elected, he would conduct local government elections and pave the way for council autonomy. He said it’s distressing that while N220 million was due to each of the 21 local government areas, the state government only releases a meagre N5 million as monthly allocation to them, though they are made to sign for the N220 million.
He asserts that this is why the state is so decrepit that even the governor does not stay in the government house.
Uba said he has the church's backing, as he and his deputy, Emeka Okafor, belong to the Anglican and the Catholic denominations.
He urged the people to disregard the notion that the Uba brothers -himself, Ogochukwu, and Chris – were working at cross-purpose, as he stated that they were on the same page about his ambition to govern the state and make it a pride for the residents.

Emmanuel, one of the contestants at the just concluded Big Brother Naija (BBN) Shine Ya Eye edition, has won N1,095m in the WAW Wash to Millions promo task on Thursday, Day 87 of the show.

The entire task was divided into two sessions for the remaining six contestants who were the finalists – WAW Millions Quiz and WAW Millions Treasure Hunt.

WAW Millions quiz was where the housemates participated in a game of charades/quiz for the first round of the WAW Task 2. It was a game where 30-50 cards with short phrases were provided in a big box for the housemates, they studied the card and then demonstrated the phrase contained in the card without uttering a word. This led to the other housemates guessing the activity being acted out by the housemate playing. The first housemate to guess rightly gets a point with a N5k reward.

Emmanuel emerged top by getting 9 answers correctly, which was N45,000 and for that he was given an extra N50,000.

The second task, WAW Millions Treasure Hunt was where the housemates needed to search a foam pool with dummy packs to complete the phrase ‘Amazing WAW Effect’. The first housemate to complete the phase or has longest number of right words when the time is up emerges the winner of the N1m cash price.

Emmanuel also emerged top as he got the correct phrase upon the time expiration of the contest.

The marketing manager of EGIL, the makers of WAW, Kaveh Sani said the task was to enlighten Nigerians about the ongoing WAW Wash to Win Millions promo, where they can take advantage of the promo to reward themselves.

Sani said the intent of the promo, especially during this period, was to reward Nigerians who remain loyal to the brand as it was a way of saying thank you to them.

EGIL is a subsidiary of Henkel in Nigeria. In 2016, Henkel acquired majority stake in EGIL which has now become a 100 percent subsidiary of Henkel.

Since then, Henkel in Nigeria has continuously invested in the improvement of the production tools and the SHE standards in its Ibadan site, thus, contributing to satisfy the local demand in products that combine high performance, reliability, and quality.

Through an extensive local distributor network, EGIL provides thousands of jobs across the country as it aims to be a strong contributor to the Nigerian economy while supporting its driving forces and empowering talents with the ultimate ambition to produce for Nigerians by Nigerians.

To inculcate a healthy living practice among the populace towards the protection of the environment for a sustainable life, NIttol, produced by Expand Global Industries Limited (EGIL) has partnered with Miss Earth Nigeria to raise awareness on climate protection.

Based on its belief that how people treat the environment will determine the output gotten from it, it partnered with Miss Earth to host the 20th edition of the beauty pageant where the winner among the 18 contestants from across the country will represent the country at the international edition to be held later in the year.

Miss Earth Nigeria Beauty Pageant is an event organized by Serendipity Media Limited to create awareness on positive environmental practices, with this year’s theme being, "Beauties for a Cause".

At the Nittol Clean Up day, held a day after Nittol Tree Planting, Rajat Kapur, the Managing Director of EGIL, a subsidiary of Henkel, said they decided to support the cause of the pageant as the creation of a sustainable future with climate friendly weather is desirable for all.

‘’Nittol is in alignment with the beauty pageant as the brand promotes environmental sustainability by pushing for the proper care of the environment, and being a specially formulated antibacterial homecare and laundry brand, it has over the years grown a bond between women and self-care in terms of cleanliness and the confidence it brings’’, he asserted.

He said the strength of the brand is that it combines the premium German expertise with the richest Nigerian knowledge to provide the best quality products to Nigerian consumers who care about their laundry and house needs.

Kaveh Sani, EGIL Marketing Manager said the pageant is perfect for the brand, hence the support it gave to it as it wants to promote cleanliness to end undesirable environmental practices and the dangers posed by the practices.

The National Director of the pageant, Ibinabo Fiberesima said the Pageant is an international event that was brought to the fore with a vision to channel the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool to promoting environmental awareness and finding a lasting solution to the dangers posed by wrong environmental practices.

Fiberesima wants Nigerians to do more to protect their environment by engaging in activities that were not in any way detrimental to the atmosphere, as she stressed that the environment would always give back to the world what the world feeds it.

Nestoil success stories cannot be discussed in a vacuum as the degree is predicated on the specialised services executed by its various Strategic Business Units (SBUs). Ajose Sehindemi examines how the SBUs have impacted the country’s economy[i][/i].

That the Nestoil group is now a household name in the oil and gas ecosystem is a testament to the capacity of the various Strategic Business Units (SBUs) it created to fill voids in the energy ecosystem. Aside from serving to contribute to the economic development of the country through contract execution for its various National Oil Companies (NOC) and International Oil Companies (IOCs) partners, they are contributing to the construction of key socio-economic sites across the country.
Nestoil, Nigeria’s largest indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) company in the Oil and Gas sector, celebrating its 30th year of existence, believed its present positioning can only be achieved through leveraging the value of its sister companies.
The activities of Nestoil and its subsidiaries like Energy Works Technologies (EWT), IMPaC, B&Q Dredging, HammakoppConsortium, Scorpio Drilling, Neconde Energy, Nesthak, Shipside Drydock, Gobowen E&P, and Century Power Generation Limited – in the energy ecosystem, has led observers to call it the local content success story.
The well-equipped SBU’s were created at different fora during the evolution of the oil and gas sector, according to Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, the Nestoil Group Chairman and Group Managing Director, upon the identification of insightful business opportunities from needs that did not have readily available or sufficient in-country solutions.
On the company’s website, he said the SBUs were initially created to provide for critical needs that arose during Nestoil’s execution of various pipeline construction projects it got from local and foreign partners. These companies, presently, he enthused have been expanded and have become authorities in their fields.

Strategic Business Units (SBUs)

Energy Works Technology (EWT)
Energy Works Technology (EWT), a fast-rising light-duty fabricator company was incorporated in Nigeria in 1999. Over the years, EWT has risen from a light-duty fabricator to a major industry supplier of Pressure Vessels, Process Plant Equipment, and Oil and Gas Steel Structures fabrications.
In recent times, EWT rolled the 1st of 3 Clad Plates being 90+4mm Thick Clad weighing 20 tons for SPDC Soku Nag Separator. The feat is the first of its kind in the Nigerian fabrication industry, as it also has the biggest heat treatment furnace in Nigeria.
The company’s vision statement is to be the leading process Equipment Manufacturers, Steel Fabricators, and Oil & Gas EPCI service provider in West Africa; while its mission statement reads, “EWT carries out its operations in a structured and safe manner to satisfy the expectations of our clients through continuous improvement of our capabilities. This is a reflection of the Nestoil Group’s vision to maximise the potential inherent in the Local Content Act signed into law in 2010.”
According to Engr. Simbi Wabote, Executive secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), at a recent event on the impact of EWT, he said, “EWT is one of those old initiatives in Nigeria to take advantage of Local Content act. Over time, it has grown from strength to strength. The biggest area EWT has had an impact is in the area of fabrication. I recall their participation and impact in the famous Egina Project where some of the major components were fabricated out of that site.
‘’I also remember Nestoil evolving through EWT in the construction of Nembe creek trunk line all the way from the creek to Nembe for Shell, which of course is being used to transport crude today by other injectors to the line itself. I am proud of EWT in terms of how they have grown and where they are today. They are one of those success stories we share everywhere today.”

B&Q Dredging Limited

B&Q Dredging is an indigenous dredging company incorporated in 2005. Previously known as Baseman and Quality Services, B&Q is a wholly indigenous Nigerian company providing all facets of dredging & marine logistics services.
It has over the years acquired the assets of the Julius Berger dredging department. As a result of this acquisition, B&Q has repositioned itself as the foremost indigenous dredging company in Nigeria. With a staff strength of over 130 dedicated employees, It also owns the largest dredging and marine logistic fleet in Nigeria.
The company’s mission is to be the foremost dredgers in marine and civil construction works in Africa, while the mission is to provide the full range of composite dredging, civil construction, and marine logistics services while creating positive experiences for clients. It is committed to cultivating client relationships and ensure a culture of quality, safety, and respect for the environment.

Shipside Drydock Limited
Another company under the umbrella of Nestoil Group is Shipside Drydock Limited. It is one of the subsidiaries of the Obijackson Group, one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest-growing conglomerates. It’s located on the Okirika Creek in Port Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria. Shipside Drydock is a maintenance and repair facility that houses eight ( state-of-the-art workshops for total maintenance and repair of all types of Marine and Offshore Vessels.
Shipside Drydock Limited is managed by a team of seasoned professionals with a mix of expatriates and highly qualified Nigerians. The facility which was constructed by Damen Shipyard of the Netherlands has grown to become a dependable resource in the West African maritime industry through service excellence.
The company's repair and maintenance facilities are tailored towards ensuring safe working conditions, competitive prices, short lead times, high-quality workmanship, and overall reliability in the service to our clients.

Century Power Generation Limited (CPG)

Amongst the list is Century Power Generation (CPG). It is set up for the primary purpose of generating electricity at a utility scale in support of the Nigerian government's effort to privatize, and thereby increase Nigeria's electric power generation capacity.
CPG is an indigenous company that prides itself in developing and implementing local solutions to local problems. It understands that stable and reliable power generation is the pathway to energizing Nigeria's economic growth, so it’s committed to powering businesses, factories, homes, and institutions. CPG believes in a continuously improving, long-term approach and therefore investing substantially to build a long-term position in Nigeria.
The company has partnered with Globeleq Advisors Limited, a leading Independent Power Producer operating and developing power projects in Africa.
Century Power Generation is currently developing a 1500MW gas-fired power plant in Okija, Anambra State. The project is being developed in 3 phases; the first phase is a 495MW open cycle plant. The driving force or vision of the company is to become the largest, most reliable power supplier in Nigeria and eventually Africa, delivering an uninterrupted supply of affordable electricity to businesses, factories, homes, and institutions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Based on the values and an innovative approach to achieving results, Century Power was determined to meet and exceed global benchmarks in the power generation sector.

Neconde
Neconde is a leading independent oil and gas company in Nigeria, with stakes in developed oil fields and gas reserves in the Niger Delta. The company’s core operations are the exploration and development of oil and gas assets for the production and sale of petroleum products in Nigeria to generate revenue.
The company was incorporated on November 26, 2010, as an independent oil & gas company serving as a special purpose vehicle for the acquisition and development of petroleum assets. The company’s core operations focus on the exploration and development of oil and gas assets for the purpose of production and sale of crude oil and gas stock to generate revenue.
In June 2019, a consortium of seven local and international lenders signed an agreement to refinance Neconde Energy Limited’s Senior Secured Medium-Term Loan Facility Agreement, worth $640 million (N2.3trillion). The refinancing of the facility followed the renewal of Neconde Energy Limited’s Oil Mining Licence (OML) 42 for the next 20 years, effective June 2019, by the federal government.
This development, according to the company, was a demonstration of support for the company’s commercial and financial operations by both local and international financial institutions
Neconde’s status as an indigenous company with an excellent management team offers a viable option through which the currently under-developed reserves of the Niger Delta could be brought into production with potential economic and social benefits for the region and country at large. There is also an opportunity to utilize the associated gas produced for electricity supply to the region, resulting in significant socio-economic benefits.

In furtherance of its objective to see to Nigeria’s socio-economic development through job availability for the growing population, Henkel Nigeria has restated its commitment to contribute to job creation in the country through the support to local entrepreneurs across the country. It seeks to achieve this through the expansion of its Street-Smart Entrepreneur (SSE) corporate social initiative.

The SSE initiative, where Nigerians can leverage Henkel’s products to earn a living, is an avenue to grow by converting the unemployed into entrepreneurs while developing the economy and communities at the same time. It is a self-sustainable initiative where the beneficiaries are consistently engaged.

The talents are trained and equipped with the knowledge to be entrepreneurs and provided with tools for the business, across their different locations.
Managing Director, Rajat Kapur said the initiative came about as a means to contribute to human capital development through entrepreneurial skills training, and also job creation by empowering youths with the tools for the business.
Kapur said the initiative, which started in 2019 but slowed down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has 160 SSEs already recruited, who have reached 216,000 consumers across Nigeria. He said the detergent manufacturer in the country intends to recruit 260 SSEs by year-end 2021, and by 2026, the target is 5,000 SSEs recruited.

He said the individuals are selected and trained in entrepreneurship skills to become SSEs, and the training includes classroom and field lessons in branding, bookkeeping, trading, and other skills necessary to make them self-reliant and successful in life.

‘’With 77 percent of the SSEs already earning over the minimum wage, the new SSEs will be equipped with the tools for the trade – pushcart, cycle cart, motorized cart- to aid their spread all over the country, including the rural areas’’, he asserted.
The SSEs spread Henkel products - WAW and Nittol, to consumers and stores that are not covered by Henkel’s conventional sales team and make money for themselves and their families in the process.

Rufa’I Adam, an SSE in Nassarawa state explained his experience as an SSE, “I did not have anything to wake up to, I would just walk around with my friends trying to do anything possible to eat. Now I am able to fully support myself and my unemployed mother. I am so happy to now have a purpose, thanks to Henkel, I am part of a business family.

‘’People in my locality call me RUFA’I THE WAW MAN. I am very motivated to keep on doing well for my family, as well as bring in as many people as possible onto the programme so they can also do better for themselves and their families”.

Henkel seeks to be at the forefront of supporting the various communities while also being a strong contributor to the Nigerian economy by empowering talents, with the ultimate ambition being to produce for Nigerians by Nigerians.

Canary Point Corporate Services has entered into a partnership agreement with Sponsor a Child Through School Foundation (SACTS) through its CSR initiative – Canary Foundation to identify children in orphanages and less privileged communities for scholarship opportunities to school up to tertiary institution.
At the launch of Canary Foundation, the Chief Operating Officer of Canary Point Corporate Services, Mrs. Tolu Oke said, “The goal for us as a foundation and as a responsible organisation is the full development of every child, we will continue to play our part in providing life-changing opportunities through quality education”.
Through the partnership, Canary Foundation has the opportunity to be part of the educational journey of some wonderful children, so far, they have 17 children on their sponsorship list who are in various stages of education in the secondary and tertiary school system.
The Foundation’s mantra is “Securing the future of tomorrow’s leaders and the foundation hopes that the interaction with the children will be a life-long journey to the point where the beneficiaries of the foundation today become mentors and sponsor other children in future to ensure the sustainability of the vision.
A cheque of N5 million was presented to the SACTS foundation with an assurance of continuous support towards the education of the beneficiaries. The Chief Operating Officer of SACTS, Mrs Nike Richie-Ogbodu, received the donation and in her remarks said, “I am deeply grateful to Canary Foundation for coming through at the time that funds were needed to support the children. The resultant effect of the pandemic made it hard for the beneficiaries who are late starters to get an education. On our part, we will ensure that the children get all the motivation they need to excel”.
Canary Point Corporate Services is a financial services group of companies that provides a diversified range of services such as Business financing, Remittances, Banking, and Bureau De Change.

PHOTOS: #EMPTYTHEBARREL! NEFT, RUSSIAN VODKA BRAND, EXPANDS BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN AFRICA; LAUNCHES ITS 'NEFT BEYOND VODKA' IN NIGERIA, AFRICA


It was all glitz and glam as Russian vodka brand, NEFT, a premium vodka, officially introduced its award-winning NEFT Beyond Vodka in Africa with Nigeria being the flagship country at Shiro Restaurant, Lagos on Friday, 17th September 2021.

Guests arrived at the occasion dressed to the nines in the all-black or all-white themed event.

Deyemi Okanlawan, Big Brother Naija’s Michael Ngene, and Yerin Abraham, Sam Onyemelukwe, Tijesunimi Olapekan, Ozee Mbadiwe, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, were amongst the exquisitely dressed guests spotted in attendance.

Hosted by Dadaboy Ehiz alongside Big Brother Naija Season 3’s Alex Unusual, the star-studded event was captured by Kola Oshalusi Photography.

One of the highlights of the evening was the unveiling of the premium beverage, which left eager guests and organisers raving all night.

The first of its kind beverage with a unique taste crafted in the Austrian Alps stole the show in all its exuberance as the packed exteriors of Shiro witnessed its smoothness with shots of the vodka taken in honour of the unveiling.

Ekaterina Kuzmina, the Chief Executive Officer of Neft Vodka, who couldn't hide her excitement at the launch, said, “Thank you to Nigeria, thank you to Lagos. This is my first time in Africa. The hospitality I have received here I haven’t received anywhere in the world. The people are so warm. So many beautiful ladies I have met. The ladies are amazing and this is the Vodka from the lady to the ladies.

NEFT delivers to you the ultimate experience- smooth, no headache, and clean. This is the first event I've enjoyed in my 10 years of tours. I am beyond excited and NEFT is beyond Vodka.”

Adding to the excitement, Emmanuel Ogu, Managing Director of Enstore- the company representing NEFT global brand in Nigeria, said, “Some who know me know that I am very particular about quality, aesthetics. I believe beauty has to be internalised. I fell in love with the product at first sight, and not just the container but the content as well.

We are proud to be the first country in Africa to welcome this brand. It is time for Nigeria and Africa.”

See photos from the event below.

First thing, first! The picture that misrepresented the state of the newly renovated Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba was never posted to, in any attempt to defame the state government nor call to question his integrity, far from it.
It was a brazen, almost crazy attempt for content analysis research, first on the impact of fake news in the society, and a discourse on the type of language that dominates in the 'tearing apart' of someone on social media.
I left Ibadan on the day of the commissioning around 7 pm and I felt the excitement of the event, and also the traffic concerns of some few.
The picture became a perfect specimen while ruminating on what type of PGD research topic will solve a problem in the society to work on, after returning to base. This is also in furtherance to a conversation with a colleague on how fake news will be a threat to the coming 2013 elections if it doesn't further tear the fabrics of the country when one considers the situation where a whole Thisday cover page was cloned digitally to depict the Imo State governor in a wrong light.
The decision was a risk, unsure of the outcome, but hopeful that the raw data to be gotten will suffice for the expected backlash.
It was my most engaging post, and the comments were everything, expected and not expected.
Going through it, I laughed at most of the comments, was sad at some and felt what those before me must have felt during their time of infamy.
My profile was dissected, some comments brought me back to reality from the impulse of delight that drove me to this, on what was really the purpose of my decision to use the 'fake' picture(s) - I believe that it is perfect because it's current, prominent, conversations are still ongoing on it with no verdict out yet, and also the fact that the governor is well-loved online and those that adore him will be there for him? I wasn't wrong!
Haven gone through the comments with some read to me by colleagues who had a good laugh, it was obvious most persons online, with their word usage are mean, creative, with only a few that could provide relatable explanations on how to engage the post. I felt responses should be more of how to correct the anomaly.
The sad reality is that most believed it's a politically motivated hatchet job and automatically 'framed' the poster.
This same post was made on other platforms and immediately replaced with information that it doesn't reflect the true position of the stadium and in fact that what it is a foreign stadium. Those platforms are more personal and I couldn't follow through on them.
What l couldn't shake off from it all as the dominant tone of the comments is the mindset of them vs us. APC vs PDP with no solution to the fact that both parties cannot 'save' this country from the danger we are facing even if any of them wins the 2023, or 2027 elections.
Politics dominated the feedback, not the dangers of the threat posed by fake news.
I believed that the #EndSars movement should be an eye-opener and leveler for all that to save this country, youths should play more roles in the political process. What's going on? Have we all gone back to just being seen without being felt?
Someone that saw the information that the picture was fake on one of the other platforms, said though the stadium should be the focus of discussion, the deceitful picture negates the need for any dialectics as it has 'killed' it.
Will the Youths be a force to reckon with as the country marches on, or will we just be numbers and willing tools in the hands of those enjoying our collective future?
It appears that the possibility of the youths becoming alive to their tasks will only happen through a miracle.


Article by Ajose Sehindemi

It is befuddling to think of any aspect, area of life, and property that is not affected by atmospheric and environmental conditions. With changes in the climate said to affect about two billion people in the world and permeates all facets of life, it is pertinent for the body saddled with the task to monitor, plan and predict climate change to be alive to such critical responsibilities.
From the aviation sector to agriculture, to energy, the correct analysis, and prediction of the weather situation at any point in time, apart from saving lives, will ensure sustainable living for all.
This is the task that the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Mansur Matazu, appointed in March intends to pursue when he was saddled with the responsibility to reposition the agency and make it alive to its tasks.
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) is a Federal Government agency charged with the responsibility to advise the government on all aspects of meteorology; project, prepare and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology; and issue weather (and climate) forecasts for the safe operations of aircraft, ocean-going vessels, and oil rigs.
It came into existence by an Act of the National Assembly – NIMET (Establishment) ACT 2003, enacted on 21st May 2003 and became effective on 19th June 2003 following presidential assent.
It should be recalled that the agency came into being due to a lot of avoidable disasters, most especially in the aviation sector where there were numerous cases of plane crashes due to the absence of credible, accurate weather forecast information.
For Matazu, aside from the procurements of relevant equipment and infrastructure upgrades, the effectiveness of the agency will stem from the capacity development of the staff and the ability for them to learn, relearn and unlearn.
Though just four months on the saddle, he has been in the agency for seven years and in different technical directorates, which was why he believed that the only way to make the staff more comfortable, improve their productivity and service delivery as well as rejig and reposition the agency to meet modern demands caused by the global attention on climate change, is the constant improvement in staff welfare packages and capacity.
In a recent interview, he said, ‘’Since I came in the last three months, we have had a percentage of our spending that we dedicated to the training of staff at all times. At any time, every week, there is a staff in one part of the country or the other undergoing training. Even, on a real-time basis, there are those in Lagos, Katsina, and many other places and outside the country that are undergoing training and this involves staff from all the cadres from the lower level, drivers’ level to the managerial level’’.
A part of the plan to reposition the agency for efficiency, according to the DG, is to improve government and institutional settings, which will be done with the overhauling of the whole administrative, structural setting of the organisation, especially for it to be business-like akin to the private sector driven agency that will be result-based, efficient and with an institutionalised framework.
Looking beyond, the training and shift in mindset, the agency still have to focus on infrastructure upgrade for it to perform its main core task.
This has led it to upgrade its infrastructure especially weather monitoring and observation infrastructure, and also partner with like-minds for support. It has started with the installation of Doppler Weather Radar equipment- to monitor fast-moving weather systems across some states in the country.
It is also doing the automatic radio station, the manual radio station, the upper air, and air quality component, and all that comes with it.
The plan is to have six, and with it, they can see beyond all Nigeria, especially when the weather has no boundaries, and with this, it can monitor, chart, and of course, it has the components that its engineers are getting trained on to a man it and also its forecasters that are utilising the radar.
There is also the humanization of NiMET forecast to impact the lives of the citizenry. It wants to move from making a forecast on whether there is going to be rain or weather type, to the impact the amount of rain or this amount of heatwave will have on the health of the citizens. This will be cascaded to the populace in their various states and local governments in their different languages for effective communication.
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it covered 28 states, and this year, it has covered more states.
Not doing it alone, the agency just recently partnered with Earth Networks, a global provider of weather intelligence on a five-year collaboration to build the Nigeria Total Lightning and Mesoscale AWS Network (NTLMAN) for early warning of severe weather.
According to a statement under the agreement, ‘’Earth Networks and NiMET will deploy and operate a comprehensive early warning lightning detection network in Nigeria and jointly co-market new sources of weather and lightning data to public and private industries in Nigeria.
“Precision weather stations and lightning sensors will be hosted at NiMET locations and maintained by NiMET staff. In addition to the network equipment, Earth Networks will also provide training and development for NiMET staff regarding the use of comprehensive weather data, including real-time and historical lightning data, weather observations, sensor forecasts, and live storm tracking and alerting.’’
In expanding its services, especially to the non-aviation sector, it procures N1bn equipment for the marine forecast. This extension to the marine sector, according to the DG is because Nigeria has more than 800km of coastline, with a lot of busy seas and shipping activities.
He said, “We need to do a lot of installations, especially on highly sensitive instruments, to monitor the weather conditions around the coasts. This is a very capital-intensive programme that involves the purchase and installation of tidal gauges and other marine equipment. This is just the first phase and we are going to expand by next year. Also, I must state here that this is based on the huge support we are getting from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.”
Its expertise is being felt outside the country as in transforming from NIMET manning visibility to NIMET getting into relevance, it is offering its services to countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Mozambique, and The Gambia. Though the services were freely done under the voluntary membership partnership of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), it gave the weather agency huge visibility and relevance.
Presently the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is sponsoring its intervention with The Gambia and its facilitators are in Banjul, the country’s capital and have been there for more than two years and is being funded for it. This is aside from the WMO and the African Development Bank (AfDB), making Nigeria be Africa’s original hub to assist other countries.

The enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, known as the Local Content Act in 2010 to promote indigenous participation in Nigeria's oil and gas industry, and improve the economic and social wellbeing of the players in the oil and gas industry, was initially met with skepticism due to the perceived unclear mode of operation according to some industry experts.
The local content act, a laudable initiative for local players looking to find their feet in the sector, as it inculcates provisions for the development, supervision, coordination, monitoring, and implementation of Nigerian content plan in the oil and gas milieu, was thought to be wishful thinking, but years later, it has proven to be the turning point for the full participation of local entities in the sector.
This has led to the rise of so many indigenous oil companies across the value chain with the capacity to replicate the tasks carried out by the International Oil Companies (IOCs).
Among the companies that embraced the act as what was needed to rev their activities was the Nestoil Group, now the largest indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction & Commissioning (EPCC) service provider for IOCs in Nigeria & Sub-Saharan Africa.
Coincidentally, the indigenous oil and gas company that has been around for three decades since its formation in 1991 and is reputed for creating exceptional value has been a champion of local content when the government had not enacted the local content law.
Its activities and that of its subsidiaries like IMPAC, B&Q Dredging, Energy Works Technologies (EWT), Hammakopp Consortium, Scorpio Drilling, Neconde Energy, White Dove Shipping Company Limited, Nesthak, Shipside Drydock, and Century Power Generation Limited – is widely lauded in the energy ecosystem due to the extra efforts it commit to executing contracts for local and international partners.
The company has remained at the cutting edge of energy revolution in Nigeria through its inclusion of technology into the process, part of which is its conceptualization of the Alternative Evacuation System (AES). This is a means to reduce oil loss due to system shutdowns and crude thefts.
This is what Nestoil leveraged on in its 30 years of operation with its over 1500 employees and has continued to redefine industry standards in pipeline construction, repairs and maintenance with associate facilities in fabrication, dredging, engineering, design, operations and maintenance engineering, civil engineering, river crossing and shoreline protection.
The company’s repair and maintenance facilities are built with the highest Health, Safety and Environment Standards ensuring a safe working condition. The company’s operational strategy delivers competitive prices, short lead times, high-quality workmanship and overall reliability in the service to the clients.
Over 95 percent of its employees are Nigerians which makes Nestoil local content personified among the players in the sector, and it is also a foremost employer of local labour across the value chain of the oil and gas sector.
Like a maxim that says, ‘Do not despise the day of little beginnings’, it is inspiring to know that Nestoil started as a trading business with its company in Idumagbo Lagos Island, but as it continues to expand, it continues to move office till its current headquarters, Nestoil Towers on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island.
According to Dr Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, Nestoil Group Chairman, "when we started understanding the business, it took five years of presentation, to convince the IOCs that a Nigerian company can do this business."
It is no gainsaying that Nestoil had passed through turbulent times and daunting challenges over the years but has raised its head above the waters. For an indigenous company to deep its feet into the murky waters of the oil and gas sector when it was populated by the IOCs, it was certainly not a mean feat.
Nestoil prides itself as the "King of the Swamp" with its involvment in many difficult projects in the Niger Delta terrain. It is about to complete its lot in the OB3 gas pipelines, that has witnessed various setbacks, for the Nigerian government.
This pipeline system is a critical component of the Nigeria Gas Master Plan (NGMP) meant to deliver gas from the rich reservoirs in the eastern Niger Delta to the established markets in the west of Nigeria. Part of its scope is the construction of OB3 pipeline under the bed of the River Niger, which is over two kilometres span. This feat has never been done anywhere in Africa.
Its sister company, B&Q Dredging Limited is also working on the second Niger Bridge construction, a major socio-economic highway that is of high impact and value to Nigerians.
B & Q Dredging limited, established in 1996 provides a range of dredging solutions using its highly experienced and motivated multinational workforce to meet global operating standards.
Its services range from dredging, reclamation, sand filling, road embankments toward erosion control, shore protection, and consolidation. This places the company as the foremost indigenous dredging service provider.
The successful completion of Shell’s mammoth 97-kilometre NCTL pipeline in 2010, delivered a month before schedule, turned out to be the icebreaker for Nestoil and B&Q Dredging as that led to the opening of doors to more indigenous companies.
Its level of success today can be tied to the determination of its founder, Azudialu–Obiejesi, to have business entities that would be wholly Nigerian.
With local content in full swing, there is the fear of local operators not having the capacity to deliver on huge impactful projects. This is the lacuna that Azudialu-Obiejesi was able to fill when he established the company and why he recruits Nigerians with capacity to develop their country with their skills and expertise.
The dearth in acquisition of modern dredging technology, expertise in environmental dredging, dredger crew training, pre-and-post surveying, safety and security and industry regulation are some of the challenges that face dredging companies in the country. These are areas the management of B & Q have successfully tackled.
In recognition of its capabilities in the industry value chain, three of the group's companies, Nestoil, EWT and B&Q were in 2017 identified by the London Stock Exchange out of 300 African companies as companies with a great future for the continent – companies to lead Africa in the next 10 years.
Notably, Nestoil, through its engineering and construction arms, has delivered services to a good number of organisations according to global best practices and that has earned it numerous product and management certifications. It has the ISO-9001/2015 certification and has also moved from ISO-2008 to 2015.
This is why players in the oil & gas sector rever the acumen of Azudialu-Obiejesi and why it being 30 years in operation is a big occasion that should be widely celebrated by all that has the interest of the local oil sector at heart. The next 30 years will surely be more interesting as the company is set to proffer more workable solutions to the economic development of the country.

Expand Global Industries Limited (EGIL), the WaW and Nittol detergents makers, hosted the Nigerian Idol Season 6 Top 11 at its office in Lagos, with a resolve to continue supporting youth-oriented programmes.
This, according to the company, is to support youth’s creativity towards their betterment and it is part of its long-term ambition to sustainably empower youths across the country.
Rajat Kapur, the Chairman and Managing Director of EGIL stated this at his welcome address to the Top 11 led by Kingdom Kroseide, the Season 6 winner.
This was the second time that the winners visited the WaW office. They visited during the competition while still contesting to create a series of videos themed ‘My WaW moment’, widely shared on social media.
Kapur said it was a big pleasure to have the winners at their facility and the company supports the show to explore the creativity of Nigerian creative artists.
He said EGIL, a subsidiary of Henkel, being a brand known for its quality and regular technological improvements will continue to look for avenues to support youths and have a transparent partnership with them.
‘’Sponsoring the show, as we are also doing to the Big Brother Naija (BBN) is a part of our social initiative to support the youths and the local economy. It is like our Peer-to-Peer initiative, started with two persons in 2019 with the plan to grow it to 5,000 persons by year-end, where we wanted to create street smart entrepreneurs across the country and reduce the number of unemployed people’’, he enthused.
Kaveh Sani, EGIL’s new Head of Marketing, said he is on the lookout to support good events that will engage the youthful population and support more talents. He said he is open to learning more about Nigeria from young Nigerians.
Senior Brand Manager, EGIL, Oluwaseun Ayeni briefed the Top 11 winners on the company’s corporate culture, their global history, and local footprints in the Nigerian economy, especially their various initiatives to empower the youths through arts.
The winners were shown videos of their various ‘WaW’ moments on the show and afterward engaged on how WaW can continue to support them in their individual careers.
Kingdom, the 24-year-old winner, said his lifetime plan is to have a music school where he can teach People music, as he became who he is due to support from a lot of people and he will like to replicate that gesture by supporting others.
He joined the other winners to suggest ways EGIL can further support talents in the country.

Early in 2021, I granted an interview to a media platform. The last question of that interview session was about my advice to the operators and regulators of the microfinance subsector in Nigeria. Of course, my answer was practically an outline from the work I did for our internal use back in 2020 at the peak of the COVID 19 pandemic in Nigeria.

I only outlined the points from that internal document as much as I could remember. I stumbled on one of the publications of that interview recently. After reading through the interview again, I felt that my response to the last question of the interview can be useful even for other non-microfinance businesses.

Even though I think that the question regarding operators shouldn’t be directed to me because I am an operator and I need to listen to non-operators advise us. However, since I was asked the question, I will make an attempt to highlight some of my thoughts on sustainability strategies for microfinance in the age of disruption.
First, I believe it is very important for a Microfinance Bank (MFB) to drive liquidity aggressively. With the level of disruption and uncertainty that we have, survival and the ability to withstand shucks depend on the level of liquidity available. Liquidity can come from any or all of capital, deposit, debt, grant, technical support, donations, and profit. A blend of all or many of these is better.

Liquidity for a bank also has two sides. One is availability and the second is management. A bank can close shop not only because the liquidity is low but also because it is not properly managed.

Product type and the segment of the market chosen to serve are supposed to be largely determined by the type of liquidity available. It should also determine the type and level of risk that an operator is ready to take.

Again, for operators, I will make it clear: Don’t do it simply because that is what your next-door neighbor is doing. We all know the importance of liquidity to our type of business, but the experience of COVID 19 has made it more important.

Secondly, all of us must prioritize risk management and corporate governance. We are not talking of only credit risk, but all the risks we are exposed to as MFBs. Risk environments are becoming more sophisticated and we must respond accordingly. Right staffing and training are very important here. All stakeholders must imbibe the right discipline. Also, discipline must be supported by clearly defined rules that are well communicated to stakeholders. Compliance with regulation and internal policies are very important for growth and sustainability. They should not be done just to please the regulators and counterparties. They are important for the long-term survival of the organization.

Thirdly, we must improve on our brand awareness. We must all be deliberate in investing money and other resources in creating awareness of the good work we are doing. Banking is a business based on trust and confidence. We must continue to do this in order to boost and sustain public confidence in us. You don’t need a huge budget like a commercial bank, but you must deliberately invest in this line based on your level and capacity.

Fourthly, we must all embrace and deploy appropriate technology. Deployment of hardware and software is very important but it must align with the internal culture of the organization and the quality of people. The phrase digital transformation can be misleading. Digital alone does not transform. Technology alone cannot transform, it must go with the right culture, right skills, and right people. And the customer must be the focus of any technology deployment.

Read More: https://newsextra24.com/immediate-and-long-term-sustainability-for-microfinance-in-the-age-of-disruption/

Spaceship Records' Afro-Jazz singer and songwriter, Nissi, continues to musically launch herself in grand style as she joins the list of artistes to feature on projects by Congolese-British rapper BackRoad Gee; this time, on the hit new track "Ready Or Not".

After his successful collaboration with Sneakbo on “Wag1” off Sneakbo’s Jetski Wave 3 mixtape, BackRoad Gee creates musical magic in this joint single with Nissi which displays a totally different style to the AfroJazz star. Shot in London and directed by Kevin Hudson and Money Mike, "Ready Or Not" is an artistic visual that tells a story from beginning to end, revealing a musical synergy between BackRoad Gee and Nissi, that's unpredictable, yet beautiful.

On the one hand, unveiled in this visual is a versatile rapper with the kind of voice that makes you stop what you’re doing and listen, whose bars and rowdy choruses switch deftly from burly street boasts into tongue rattling sound effects; and back again to a throaty croon that wouldn’t sound out of place in a pulpit; BackRoad Gee has a brazen charm that has accorded him a formidable reputation through his blistering blend of grime, dancehall, and drill, gaining cult street anthem status.

On the other hand, London-based Nigerian Artist Nissi's throaty and artistic brilliance shines throughout her verse of the song and she is a dream to watch in this visual. Her remarkable talent as a musician, her gift for storytelling, and her uncanny ability to break musical boundaries have set up this delicious collaboration with BackRoad Gee. This Spaceship Collective songwriter in a class of her own, making her the genuine article.

Read More: https://newsextra24.com/afro-jazz-singer-nissis-artistic-brilliance-shines-in-ready-or-not-feature-with-backroad-gee/

The new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Michael Akabogu has disclosed that the new management of the fund is ready to deliver on its mandate and it is time it’s allowed to work instead of being encumbered by negative publicity.

Akabogu said as someone that has been with the fund over the years under various designations before the new appointment, he and the new board know the issues plaguing the fund and are ready to reposition it to be what it was set up to be.

He said this at a media parley held in Abuja, where it was stated that since the inception of the fund, over 52,000 claims have been paid, among which is a beneficiary that collects N1.5 million every month, which will continue till 2034 when the last child of the deceased worker will be 21 years old.

On his appointment, he said it came at a time when the Fund is undergoing various levels of restructuring based on various past challenges and he calls on all staff to give their all in attempts to change the negative narratives around it.

Akabogu said under the new dispensation, while the focus will be on fulfilling the core mandate of the fund and restore confidence in their processes and dignity of the fund, the board would aim to create pathways to reward excellent and outstanding service while maintaining an utmost commitment to staff welfare.

Other key objectives will be to reposition the public perception of the fund, increase the productivity of every department of the fund and use quantifiable metrics to measure its performance in the weeks and months ahead and improve on and ensure prompt payments of claims and compensations to give value for money to all the contributors in their Employee Compensation Act (ECA) scheme.

He also promised to make the fund a conducive and a great place to work for the workers.
The MD said registered employers on the scheme as of June 2021 stood at 117,163, while registered employees are 7,110,905 for the same period and they are looking forward to registering more employers and employees while solving the issues militating against the smooth running of the social insurance fund.

Mrs. Ijeoma Okoronkwo, General Manager, SERVICOM and Board Secretary NSITF, said those that are the cause of the negative mentions about the fund are previous management that is being persecuted across the courts and want Nigerians to allow the new management to revamp the fund.

Read More: https://newsextra24.com/new-nsitf-board-ready-to-deliver-on-its-mandate-akabogu/

The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) has awarded a US$1.4 million co-investment grant to OCP Africa Fertilizers Nigeria Limited (OCP Africa) to install modern blending equipment within its fertilizer blending plant facility under construction in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
The blending equipment will help bridge the gap where there is a paucity of specialized fertilizers to grow crops on a large scale and support food security in the country.

The planned facility and equipment will produce various fertilizer blends customised to the needs of rice, maize, soybean, cassava, tomato, and other staple crops grown in Nigeria. The specialty blends of fertilizers have the capacity to increase farmers’ yields by 50 to 85% per hectare, depending on the crop.

With the capacity to produce 120 tph of these blends and store up to 10 000 t, OCP Africa expects at least 75 000 of targeted smallholder farmers within the catchment area of the plant to benefit from the blending plant’s operations and associated agronomy support services. To ensure that farmers in underserved markets have access to these fertilizers OCP Africa will establish 36 of its one-stop-shop Farm & Fortune Hubs across 13 Nigerian states.

As part of its co-investment, OCP Africa will provide the targeted 75 000 farmers with a wide range of agricultural services, including training on good agricultural practices and soil testing.

“Over the years, farmers in Nigeria have recorded poor farm yields due to the quality of fertilizers and other inputs at their disposal,” explained Caleb Usoh, Country Manager for OCP Africa Fertilizers Nigeria Limited. “The production and distribution of blended fertilizers combined with the training will help farmers produce better quality crops as well as increase their yields, which will lead to higher earnings and better returns for their farming business.”

Read More: https://newsextra24.com/trade-hub-awards-1-4-million-co-investment-grant-to-ocp-africa-to-boost-fertilizer-production-in-nigeria/

Henkel Nigeria remains committed to creating sustainable value for its customers, consumers, employees, as well as for the wider society and communities in which it operates. One such measure is through its concerted local sourcing efforts and the provision of multilevel jobs in the country, which aligns with the government’s backward integration policy.

Since it entered the country in 2016, the company has actively worked to reduce Nigeria’s import dependency through local sourcing. Currently, Henkel has over 60 percent of its raw and packaging materials sourced locally, as well as 80 percent of services also locally sourced.

The Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of the company, Rajat Kapur stated that through its extensive local distributor network, the company provides thousands of jobs across the country with an estimated contribution of around 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria. The company generates direct employment for more than 1,500 people in the Ibadan plant alone.

Kapur said through their investments in local production, technology transfer and the high standards in which they adhere to, Henkel actively contributes to upgrading the local industrial and standards base – thereby supporting the overall competitiveness of Nigeria’s economy.

He further stated that the detergent manufacturer has developed Nigeria-centric brands and products that are backed by its global German product quality and reliability standards. It also has a growing industrial ecosystem comprising of local toll manufacturers and suppliers, who support the daily operations such as raw material sourcing, packaging, transportation, trade marketing, and others, thus contributing to the economy locally while satisfying the domestic demand for products.

“We seek to be a strong contributor to the Nigerian economy while supporting its driving forces and empowering talents with the ultimate ambition to produce for Nigerians by Nigerians. Through training opportunities such as ITI schemes, as well as Henkel’s internship programme, the company aims to foster the next generation of youths in the industry and encourage them to achieve their career aspirations”, explains Kapur.

The company has also been at the forefront of supporting the government and host communities. Through Henkel’s Global Solidarity Programme, “we supported local communities affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic by donating to front-liners in Lagos state and Ibadan, donating to Oyo State government to help state-run isolation and treatment centres, and donating to the Oyo State government to run a COVID-19 ‘preventative measures’ awareness campaign’’, he added.

Another way Henkel is contributing to a sustainable future for the local economy is by driving progress towards sustainable palm oil and palm kernel oil – and making a positive impact on both the environment and the people affected. Henkel has successfully supported over 3,000 smallholder palm oil farmers in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States to increase their yield and productivity, thereby substantially improving their incomes and their families’ livelihoods while improving the value chain.

Henkel recognizes its responsibility to prioritize safety, health, environment, social standards and fair business practice when selecting its suppliers – ensuring that they only partner with the most responsible local suppliers.

Riding on the back of his previous hit projects, Paper, Rude Boy and Pere, Nigerian Hip-hop/Afro-pop singer, rapper, and producer, Jabbar Usman known by his stage name Jabby Jay, makes a captivating statement on his brand new Afro Hip-hop track ‘Fine Ajebota’.

Produced by Fixxie, ”Fine Ajebota” is an afro-urban anthem about the expression of deep affection for that special woman. Jabby Jay is easy to believe in this track which encapsulates emotions, love, commitment and just being there for each other.

The Afrocentric songwriter, singer, and rapper who is a game-changer in this creative world of African sound, Jabby Jay ”wanted to use ”Fine Ajebota” to create a sound that will stand the test of time with my fans and every lover of good and conscious music”.

Jay who started his music career at the early age of 16 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has worked with a number of artists from the commencement of his journey till date, has broken bread, and shared the stage with some top musicians and producers such as D’banj, P-Square, E-Kelly, Wizkid, Davido, Runtown, and Burna Boy.

With ‘his new project, ‘Fine Ajebota” and signed to ToneDef, a record company set to give other labels a run for their money in terms of quality music, Jabby Jay is on the steady rise to stardom in this very competitive music industry.

Jabby Jay’s ”Fine Ajebota” is out for download and streaming on all digital platforms.

Secrets to being a successful global music artist are going to be exposed in the wildly anticipated second episode of Djooky Talks, the newest online platform by Djooky Inc, a music and fintech startup whose ambition is to decentralise the global music industry through its biggest online music contest platform.

This, as a world-renowned multi-platinum music producer, engineer, and mixer, Brian Malouf sits in conversation with Bukola Sawyerr-Izeogu, one of Africa's leading Public/Media Relations experts and head of BukiHQ Media, with over 20 years in computer programming, Information, and communications technology, public and media relations.

In a webinar scheduled for 5 pm WAT on May 7, 2021, entertainment industry influencer and PR professional to be reckoned with in Africa, Buki will share the secrets to achieving stardom and staying consistently relevant in this wildly anticipated episode.
With a vast knowledge and collection of different music genres, Bukola has been described not only as a music connoisseur, having programmed 4 distinct radio stations, produced and presented her own radio show for 9 years, but as one who has served on the board of a record label company, been on the board of a music festival, worked on and consulted for several music concerts and events. This makes her the perfect feature on this episode of Djooky Talk whose theme is, 'What's the secret formula of success in the world of music?

To be a part of this virtual interactive conversation, all one needs to do is to register on the Djooky website for free where a link will automatically be accessible and you can be enlightened and equipped for a fast-changing world of entertainment where music evolution is key.
To find out all the answers to the success factors in the careers of emerging artists, this is the perfect platform where all misconceptions, myths, and curiosity will be addressed in the question and answer session, where one can ask as many questions as possible.

Djooky, known to create fairer opportunities for musicians who are struggling to break through existing power structures and constantly adapting to more creative ways to engage the global entertainment audience, is the brain behind all Djooky operations. 

Brian Malouf who has worked with some of the world's finest musical titans like the late Michael Jackson, Queen, and Stevie Wonder, looks forward to this episode, as he posited that, “Djooky amplifies the many voices of a global community of artists and rewards the discovery of the universal story of music.”

With these webinar series designed to enlighten, inspire and revitalize emerging and established artists, music business executives, music lovers, and the general public, Djooky is perfectly positioning itself to be part of Africa's entertainment revolution.

The Chief Executive Officer of Century Power Generation Limited, Dr. Chukwueloka Umeh has disclosed that the clamour for off-grid power as a solution to power failure in the country will continue to be a distraction to the availability of power if challenges to grid power are not resolved.

He said since 2017 that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed with some independent power producers, no solar plant has been built, as he added that the solution to the fundamental problems bedeviling the power sector is for the government to stop its interference and allow private sector players to fully take charge.

He stated this as a guest on a television programme in Lagos, where he asserted that though the government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) can be applauded for taking the initiative to meter Nigerians and expand the power sector, success with metering Nigerians can only be achieved with the active participation of private business concerns.

Dr. Umeh said the success of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) will put meters in the hands of more customers who have to pay cost-reflective tariffs which will increase liquidity in the market, and put money in circulation - from the Discos to TCN to the gas transporters, but it is only when private investors are allowed to drive the sector that resources can come in and stay.

‘’The fundamental problem is that the entire sector should be driven by the private sector, not the government. Everything the government is doing is okay, they are helping but they are not helping fast enough. Let’s allow the private sector to drive the sector and we will see everything being done. There is money in the private sector, from other countries to develop the power sector and it is only when the sector is in the hands of the private sector that the money can come in and stay here’’ he asserted.

Umeh, who is also the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nestoil Group, said investment can only come into the sector when investors are assured that there will be returns on their investment, as the provision of power is not a charity but a business decision.

He wants the government to use the money being used to subsidise the sector to develop other parts of the economy that will help people - better roads, better healthcare, schools, security. These other sectors will help people to have small businesses that will let them pay for the power they consume.

‘’Government, as a matter of urgency, can use part of the subsidy money to develop the manufacturing sector so that meters can be manufactured and not assembled in the country. This will retain capital in the country and stop the importation of the parts that local steel producers can do’’, he stated.

Century Power Generation (CPG) is an indigenous company involved in developing and implementing solutions to Nigeria’s local power problems. Dr. Umeh continues to lead advocacy for a robust, stable, and reliable power sector as the most reliable pathway to catalyzing Nigeria's economic growth.

[i]Humanity is essentially the same; we all face challenges; we all face uncertainties, and we all face issues to deal with. How we face our daily life ends up exposing our sense of character, our ability to understand the issues on the table, and our ability to appreciate the humanness of the person across the table. IFIE SEKIBO

Globally, men and institutions have always emerged at different fora to show support to humanity in the absence of their immediate government’s intervention. They were pushed to the occasion due to their human nature.
From early as the third millennium BCE (Before the Common Era), evidence from law codes shows that Babylonian kings decreed special punishments for the strong who abused the weak; to Egyptian sacred writings - such as The Book of the Dead, around the same time, that makes it clear that successful passage to the afterlife depended on a lifetime record of benevolent acts towards the suffering; and to George Peabody (1795 -1869), the father of modern philanthropy, who endowed libraries and museums in the United States, it is obvious that helping others is a sine qua non of life.
Though American billionaires, Warren Buffet, and Bill and Melinda Gates can be cited as the modern-day philanthropists, coming to Nigeria, we have various individuals who live by the code of helping others and have devoted much of their resources to see others smile.
The ability to render a helping hand to others in the society, especially to those encumbered by the unpredictable hands of nature is an attribute those familiar with Ifiesimama Sekibo have come to know him for. He perceived philanthropy, not only as a temporary aid to mitigate the need, but something that the recipients can use to build and live a meaningful life.
Sekibo reckoned that lending a helping hand to further better the society is similar to giving hope to those who need it and it will be a crime not to offer any form of assistance, especially when he lives by the saying that whoever one has the power to offer assistance to, the person is one's companion, hence the need to help the person.
He summed this up in his book, ‘Leadership Turnaround’, where he stated that, "When there is no hope, the human spirit dies. The only reason why we go back to vote in another election, or we believe the society will change, is because we have one strand of hope. Just one more try and we can make it better".
Though there are some philanthropic gestures made as a private citizen, the bulk of his societal interventions are done by Heritage Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank, where he is the honcho.
His passion for education philanthropy made him sponsored the launch of a book titled “Let Us Speak Ikwerre”, (A KWU IWNUROHHNA), in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The book originally written in the English Language was authored by Mrs. Oyintarela Umeri and translated to the Ikwerre language by Dr. Tony Enyia, an indigene of Rumuor-Ogbakari, Emohua Local Government of Rivers State.
Though he stumbled on the idea to translate the English language to Niger Delta languages when he was invited by his friend Timi Alaibe to the launch of ‘Izon fie’, a book written in Izon language, he immediately took action and sponsored the Niger Delta Books Limited to launch an audio CD in the Kirike language, (Okrika dialect) titled: ‘Speak Kirike’, which was successfully launched in 2017.
He hasn’t looked back since then and has sponsored other languages which include Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ekpeye, Nembe, and Ogoni language, with others coming in earnest. He asserted that his support for writing books in all Niger-Delta languages was inspired by the desire not to allow Nigerian local dialects to go into extinction.
Now 56 years old, one of the cardinal points of his life is mentorship, and he is involved in mentoring the youths over the years, as despite his busy schedules, he still mentors and gives direction to them. He believes that by developing their emotional intelligence, his influence can outlive him in their minds. This is what a leader will be remembered, loved, and celebrated for, according to him.
As a leader, who believes that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow, Sekibo has gotten involved in various youth empowerment programmes through Heritage Bank, and as such, the bank has received different accolades and laurels from non-governmental organisations and different states governments.
Job creation is not left out as Heritage Bank, through the establishment of a full-fledged learning and development institute, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), dubbed, “The Refinery” successfully trained and employed about 300 new intakes.
Always looking for ways to be of impact to the society, to mark World Water Day 2021, Heritage Bank came with plans to assist communities in dire need of clean water by installing boreholes for them, while it presses for sustainable management of water resources.
In continuation of his gestures and as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the novel COVID-19 on the education sector, Heritage Bank partnered with Honourable Fatima Mohammed (FAMO) foundation to provide succor to over 300 affected private school teachers and small-medium enterprises (SMEs).
The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic led to the shutdown of schools for months leaving the private school teachers without any means of livelihood and no source of income.
To this effect, and in alleviating the challenges, Heritage Bank and its partner supported over 300 Private School Teachers and small businesses, as palliatives were given in 15 local governments; including five major markets in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Ifako Ijaiye, in Lagos State.
Revered for his knowledge-based leadership approach, Sekibo realized that to effect a change in the society through philanthropy, support has to be given to areas that will have a direct impact on the overall interest of the citizenry.
This came to the fore at season 7 of Heritage Bank sponsored reality TV show, ‘The Next Titan’, themed “The Unstoppable”. It was designed to search for business ideas that are immune to any pandemic; innovations that break boundaries and technologies that can survive any lockdown, and occasioned by the shock caused by COVID-19.
This was why an entrepreneur, a graduate of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, and the Chief Executive Officer of Josult Oil Processing Company, a palm oil processing company in Akwa Ibom State, Joshua Idiong, emerged the winner of the show and went home with N10million.
Through Heritage Bank, he doled out $40, 000 grants to winners of the inaugural edition of the Heritage Bank Innovation Lab Accelerator programme (HB-LAB) as part of its efforts to support Nigeria’s aspiration, and roadmap to becoming a leading Information Communication Technology (ICT) Hub in Africa.
The HB-LAB called, ‘Demo Day,’ is a 12-week programme, expected to provide technology start-ups seeking additional investments to progress and accelerate market introduction/adoption of their solutions with co-working and internet resources, guidance, and mentorship with fintech start-ups founder and seed funding.
The bank intended to create an enabling environment, resources, and support required to innovate and accelerate impactful solutions with the potential to radically improve financial inclusion/intermediation, health, automobile, agriculture, and other related problems affecting critical sectors of the economy.
He sees philanthropy as a way of life and wants others in the society to see it too, especially the younger generation where the concept of self seems more prevalent in everything they do. He said ‘'the culture of the mindset of self that is prevalent in the youth of today must be changed to a mentality of us and we. We must deliberately begin to eliminate the l and replace it with we if we are to see the economic, political and social transformation we so desire''.
Sekibo is still touching lives across various communities in Nigeria with his sincere commitment towards their progress and he is always attending to the needs and desires of the less privileged in society, and this has set him apart as a true champion of equality and an outstanding beacon of hope for the now and coming generations.