₦airaland Forum

MTN Foundation in partnership with Business Day, MTV Base Africa, and the Netng commemorated the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.

The virtual event featured in-depth discussion from professionals across various sectors including health, entertainment, business as well as the public sector.

The panel discussion was preceded by a hangout featuring Folu Storms, Praiz, Nedu and David Jones David who engaged the youth audience on ills of substance abuse.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare lamented the rising rate of substance abuse and advised on policies that can be implemented, “We need laws that will criminalise the selling of these drugs to under-aged children. We must institutionalise the process of drug education from primary to secondary school in a consistent and deliberate manner.”

“We need a system that rewards best practices and punishes bad conduct, to the maximum. The youth have a responsibility just as the government, it’s a two-way partnership”, Dare concluded.

In his opening remark, Chairman, MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi reiterated the need for collaboration in the fight against substance abuse. “Through the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), the MTN Foundation hopes to communicate the urgency required to tackle the growing menace of drug abuse in our society. Our aim is to create a drug-free Nigeria in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

We are happy that various guilds, organisations and active centres have come together to support this cause.”

“It is our duty to build a healthier and cleaner community for Nigerians and this can only be done through an alliance against drug abuse”, the Chairman emphasized.

Other discussants at the event included the Ag. Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya; Senior Lecturer and Consultant Psychiatrist, Yewande Oshodi, actors Dakore Egbuson-Akande and Ini Edo. Also present were Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe; Country Manager, ViacomCBS Networks Africa, Bada Akintunde-Johnson; Director-General, Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), Adedokun Adedeji who shared insights on the increasing rate of substance abuse among Nigeria’s youths, the influence of pop culture, and new methods developed by medical practitioners to combat this rise.

According to statistics by the Country representative UNODC, Oliver Stolpe, over 20 million Nigerians from age 15 and above admitted to having used drugs at least once between 2018 and 2019. Of this figure, 3 million required some form of medical attention as a result of substance abuse.

Since inception in 2004, MTN Foundation has invested over 21 billion Naira in various community-based and youth-focused initiatives.

In 2018, the Foundation set up the Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) as a behavioural change intervention hinged on awareness, advocacy, information & resource dissemination, stakeholder engagement and empowerment, as tools to curb the prevalence of substance abuse and addiction in Nigeria.

So far, 13.5 million people have been impacted by this initiative and an estimated sum of N247 million has been invested.


SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/30/mtn-nigeria-others-collaborate-in-fight-against-drug-abuse/

Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought to clarify the new rules and guidelines for Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) also known as mutual funds. This is the sequel to an earlier publication of new rules relating to the collective investment schemes in December 2019.
The Security and Exchange Commission stated this in a circular that was released to the investing public on June 22.

All Fund Managers of Collective Investment Schemes are required to comply with the provisions of the new Rules and file evidence of compliance on or before September 30 2020
The application of the new total expense ratio and incentive fee computation takes effect from the beginning of Q3,2020, i.e. July 2020
Incentive fees should not be factored into total expense ratio computation and shall be assessable and payable on an annual basis
The Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) shall submit acceptable benchmarks for Money Market Funds, Balanced Funds and Ethical Funds at the beginning of each year commencing Q3. 2020

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/29/sec-issues-clarifications-on-new-rules-on-mutual-funds/

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and lenders have welcomed the first disbursement of $200 million of a syndicated loan facility to boost cocoa productivity in the world’s second-largest producer.

The occasion was marked by a ceremony held in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday 23 June, followed online by hundreds of observers across the globe. In attendance were COCOBOD and government representatives and participating lenders, which included development finance institutions: the African Development Bank the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Spa. Commercial lenders were represented by Credit Suisse AG, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, London Branch.

The $600 million syndicated loan agreement was signed in November last year at the Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg. JICA and the African Development Bank agreed to provide $3.5 billion in joint financing under the fourth phase of the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa Initiative.

“There are challenges with productivity in the country’s cocoa production, as well as with the systems in place for processing and the distribution of cocoa. By strengthening the cocoa bean-centric agricultural value chain and related industries, the facility will help COCOBOD to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals,” said COCOBOD CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo.

COCOBOD will use the facility to raise cocoa yields per hectare and increase Ghana’s overall production. Activities under the facility will include the allocation of financing to sustainably increase cocoa plant fertility, improve irrigation systems, and rehabilitate aged and disease-infected farms. The funds will also help increase warehouse capacity and provide support to local cocoa-processing companies.

“African countries like Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire produce nearly three-quarters of the global supply of cocoa. This significant Bank-facilitated loan to COCOBOD aims to improve the quantity and quality of local processing, boosting incomes of local farmers and their communities and generating new and better jobs,” said African Development Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr Jennifer Blanke, ahead of the event.

In March of this year, after the close of the syndication process, an amended agreement brought on board the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Spa, and other commercial lenders.

“This loan marks the first time JICA and the African Development Bank will be providing direct co-financing under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa initiative (EPSA4) as well as being the first non-sovereign project,” said Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, Yasumichi Araki. “JICA will continue to commit to the cocoa industry in Ghana through innovative interventions to COCOBOD.”

JICA has supported COCOBOD to build capacity to quality-test cocoa beans. Ghana supplies 70% of all cocoa beans imported into Japan and cocoa is seen as one of the nation’s most essential import commodities.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa is also partnering with COCOBOD to further enhance Ghana’s position as one of the leading producers of cocoa in the world.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/29/ghana-cocoa-board-afdb-and-financial-partners-celebrate-first-200-million-disbursement-of-loan-to-boost-cocoa-productivity-in-ghana/

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu Sunday disclosed that plans are in top gear by the State Government to construct a purpose-built International Infectious Disease Research Centre at the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba as part of Lagos COVID19 response and other infectious disease preparedness in post COVID19 era.

Sanwo-Olu who disclosed this today at the official launch of the 150-bed Mainland Infectious Disease Isolation Centre donated by Private Sector Coalition Against COVID19 (CACOVID) to Lagos State for COVID19 response added that the State government would also erect a purpose-built Doctors’ Quarters and permanent isolation wards to ramp up capacity for any infectious disease outbreak in Lagos as part of the global master plan for the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.

He said: “Our Infectious Disease hospital is seeing a lot of brand new things coming up and we are have committed that this hospital post COVID19 would see a purpose-built international infectious disease research centre; the designs are out already. We will also be building a purpose-built isolation ward, we will ramp up our infrastructure and capacity and not wait for a pandemic to come on us again. We will be building doctors’ quarters in this facility as part of our global plan for the Yaba Infectious Disease Hospital”.

While commending CACOVID for donating the state-of-art 150-bed Isolation centre to Lagos for COVID19 response, Sanwo-Olu noted that the facility will certainly add to the State capacity and enable it to do a lot more in the war against COVID19.

“This is the sixth or the seventh dedicated isolation centres that we have. Several other facilities we are using for quarantine and holding bay but this is the sixth or seventh structured isolation centre. I want to on behalf of the people and government of Lagos State thank the coalition for this facility”, the Governor said.

Sanwo-Olu, however, noted that beyond putting up isolation facility for COVID19 case management, it is important for citizens to understand that the need to take responsibility against the pandemic.

“It is not a function of how many isolation beds that is built but a case of ourselves taking responsibility, understanding that this virus knows no race, colour or age. Indeed we need to take responsibility because of our loved ones. Covid19 is real and we owe it a duty to tell our people to be very cautious and take precautionary measures and ensure that it is only when we do all of these things that this pandemic can be defeated”.

“When we say that if you feel unwell and you’ve been tested that you isolate yourself even if you don’t have severe symptoms, it is really so that you can protect your loved ones and the vulnerable in your family and vulnerable in the society so that we can slow down the morbidity and fatality that might come out from a raging pandemic such as this. That is why we cannot lose this opportunity to reiterate the importance of wearing your face mask at all times, practising hand hygiene and physical distancing”, the Governor stated.

Earlier in his remarks, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi explained that the 150-bed isolation facility has a fully contained PCR laboratory, a routine laboratory, a bouquet of administrative and ancillary facilities, a water treatment plant, a waste management system and three power generators for case management.

“Today we are opening the 6th of our isolation centres in Lagos specifically committed to COVID19. This isolation centre is donated by a consortium known as CACOVID and we have been working together now for almost four months to design, to build and to complete this fabulous structure which is going to add 150 more isolation beds to our central isolation capacity”.

“This is an extension of facilities at main infectious disease hospital at Yaba where we have about 120 isolation beds and well established intensive care unit (ICU) for patients with severe to the critical case. The donated facility by CACOVID will serve as an additional 150 beds for us to manage the more moderate to severe cases of COVID19 and if any of them needs intensive care, they would be moved across to our ICU”, Abayomi said.

The Commissioner noted that the new policy shift in Lagos is that patients who test positive and require close monitoring will be managed at the State central isolation facilities.

In his remarks the Managing Director Access Bank PLC, Herbert Wigwe commended the State government and the Governor for the timely and good response against the COVID19 pandemic. He noted that a lot has been done by Lagos State in its response against the disease that deserves commendation.

“We are proud to have worked very closely with a very strong team to set up what is a model state-of-the-art isolation centre here in Lagos. I must commend the State team with the level of transparency, painstaking attention to detail which we have to go through to make sure that the facility we have here is what can be compared to any other in other parts of the world.

“I must commend you for the leadership you’ve shown and commend you for manner with which you have tackled the pandemic. When we compare what is happening in Lagos to other parts of Africa and other parts of the world with similar demography, we must say that a lot of work has been done out here and we are extremely proud of the great job that is coming out of here particularly in Lagos.”, he said.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/29/sanwo-olu-unveils-150-bed-isolation-centre-built-by-cacovid-pictures/

Sequel to a public complaint about the unwholesome activities of a water facility operated by one Mrs. Olufunmilola Salawu, accused of refilling CWay Dispensable Water bottles in Isheri-North, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), on Friday, took samples of the CWay water recovered at her residence for necessary tests to determine its purity.
The General Manager, LASCOPA, Mrs. Kemi Olugbode, said the test will be conducted in the laboratory of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to ascertain its suitability for consumption.

She explained that the steps were taken after a television broadcast about a tip-off from an anonymous resident in the area that Mrs. Salawu, an alleged agent of the manufacturer of the bottled water, was refilling the CWay Dispenser bottles with content from public sources.

Olugbode averred that LASCOPA commenced an investigation into the matter, in view of section 4 of the Consumer Protection Agency Law of Lagos State, which empowered the Agency to protect consumers from all marketing of goods and services that are hazardous to their wellbeing.

Continuing, the General Manager disclosed that during the facility inspection by the Agency, it was discovered that there was no proper storage system for the water, adding that the products were also displayed outside in an unfavourable condition.

While noting that the facility used for storage of the water is residential, she reiterated the need for consumers to always check for all the required details on products and ensure that the containers are tightly sealed before making any purchase.

The Agency also warned traders and marketers of consumable liquid products, especially water in PET bottles, to desist from displaying the products under sunlight as too much exposure to heat could render some products unfit for human

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/29/lascopa-commences-verification-of-compliants-on-adulterated-cway-water/

The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu has extolled the ingenuity of Mr. Kunle Afolayan, a multiple award-winner, filmmaker and producer, for his passion in promoting and reinvigorating indigenous cultural artefacts, as well as positively projecting the State Government in his crafts, artworks and some of his creative content.

Bonu, gave the commendation on Friday when he visited the Cultural Centre established by the filmmaker in Ikeja, describing the initiative as a prodigious representation of what arts, culture and tourism represent.

The Special Adviser stated that Afolayan is a strong promoter of Arts and Culture, urging him to collaborate with the government as part of efforts to reposition the Ministry for its rightful position as a regulator of Culture, Arts Tourism and all entertainment related outfits in the State.

He said, “As a policymaker, the government needs your ideas to make things happen in this sector because we must both work together for the development of this industry. On behalf of Mr. Governor, I can assure you of favourable policies from the government and an enabling environment for you to thrive”.

Bonu advised Afolayan to consider specific areas of partnership, assuring him that the Ministry would be ready to work with his outfit in order to put the centre into more profitable use and also replicate similar initiative from the government’s angle.

Noting that although the activities and budget slated for the year 2020 have been distorted by the outbreak of COVID-19, the Special Adviser informed that plans are already being intensified to revive the entertainment industry.

In his response, Afolayan said that apart from being a filmmaker, producer and art lover, he is also a member of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture and a stakeholder in the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

He described the centre as a complete entertainment hub, consisting of everything that tourism, arts, culture, film, cinematography, relaxation and many more represent.

In his words, “let me state here that we believe in capacity development for the younger generation and that is why we have classrooms here to teach aspiring practitioners, we have a cinema hall and many more; this is why l referred to this centre as a tourism hub and we hope this represents the State. Although l am already part of the government, I look forward to more partnerships from the Lagos State government”.

Afolayan also expressed confidence that the centre, being a multipurpose facility that has a blend of culture, hospitality, tourism, cinema, music, editing and voice-over, among others, will be a one-stop centre for all fun-seekers and entertainment lovers.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/29/governors-aide-commends-kunle-afolayan-on-cultural-renaissance/

The coronavirus pandemic has affected every single aspect of life in Nigeria and around the world, but various businesses are going through an especially rough time. CBN’s initiative allows every eligible business in Nigeria to take a loan out of a 50 billion naira fund.

Here is how to do it.

1. Who Can Take A Loan?

In an effort to help small business who have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBN has introduced an initiative called Targeted Credit Facility, or TCF. TCF is designed to assist not only businesses but also households whose livelihood has been damaged by the effect of COVID-19. The overall Targeted Credit Facility fund is ₦50 billion, which means that every small business that qualifies for the loan can get substantial help to stay afloat.

Besides households, there are two other categories of potential borrowers who can access the TCF coronavirus relief fund:

Micro enterprises, who can provide verifiable proof of their business activities being negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic,Small and medium enterprises, who can provide sound business plans targeted at growing their businesses due to the pandemic.

2. How Much Can You Take?

The ₦50 billion funds will be divided among all applicants who are eligible for the loan. For households, the maximum size of the loan is fixed and they will be able to access up to ₦3 million, although each case will be reviewed and the reviewers will determine how badly the household was affected by the pandemic.


With micro-enterprises and small and medium business, the situation is more complex than that. There is no minimum amount of money you can borrow from CBN, as the size of the loan will be different for each applicant. The reviewers will take into account the size of the business, the type and state of the industry in which the business operates, its cashflow, and activity of the business in the months and years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum amount of money you can take is ₦25 million, but it’s easy to guess that micro-enterprises will likely not be able to access that much and will have to be satisfied with smaller loans.

3. How To Apply For The Loan?

The procedure of applying for the coronavirus business loan from CBN is not at all complicated and requires just three steps:

Due to the coronavirus threat, all applications for the TCF loan are taken online, so you can use your desktop computer or mobile device to complete the request. Fill in the application form on the NMFB website. You will need to specify your personal and financial details, your BVN, and how exactly COVID-19 has affected your business.The NMFB will review your application, and if you qualify for the loan, it will transfer your application to CBN so that the CBN can issue its final approval for the loan.After your application for the loan is approved by the CBN, your request will be processed and the funds will be issued using the financial details you provided while applying for the package. You will have exactly 1 year to repay the loan with a 5% interest rate until February 28, 2021, and a 9% interest rate starting from March 1, 2021.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/27/how-small-businesses-can-access-cbns-n50b-loan/

The zero charges for mobile money transfers by Ecobank commenced in March as part of the bank’s corporate action to cushion the rising spread of Coronavirus

Ecobank Nigeria has extended its zero-charge fee for digital money transfers below N5,000 till the end of September this year. In addition to the free USSD session fee currently enjoyed by Ecobank customers, users of Ecobank Mobile, Ecobank Online, USSD – Ecobank *326# can continue to enjoy zero fee charge for digital money transfers below N5,000. New customers can also benefit from this by opening an Xpress account from the comfort of their homes by simply dialling *326#.

The zero charges for mobile money transfers by Ecobank commenced in March as part of the bank’s corporate action to cushion the rising spread of Coronavirus. The decision to extend the zero-charge policy is hinged on the bank’s drive to continuously encourage citizens to adopt digital banking particularly with the ongoing social distancing campaign targeted to check the spread of COVID-19.

According to Olukorede Demola-Adeniyi, Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, “As a bank, our priority is people’s wellbeing. We place great emphasis on rewarding and identifying with our customers and citizens of Nigeria especially at a time like this. We are determined to ensure that the impact of the pandemic is minimal on citizens. We encourage our customers to utilize our digital self-service solutions including Ecobank mobile app, Ecobank Online, EcobankPay, Ecobank Omniplus, Omnilite and the rapid transfer app; where they can easily access their bank accounts, make payments, transfer funds, process salaries and carry out ancillary banking transactions from the comfort of their home and offices without having to visit the branches”.

She further stated that “At Ecobank, we are always finding ways to improve our customer experience digitally, which is why I encourage our customers to upgrade to the new Ecobank mobile app 4.0. Customers can carry out banking transactions and enjoy some of the new features that the app provides, such as the ability to send money via email or SMS and of course, take advantage of the zero charges on money transfers below N5,000”.

She added that the bank was also supporting over 50,000 farmers across the country to grow maize, under the CBN Anchor Borrowers program with the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN).

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/26/ecobank-nigeria-extends-zero-charge-for-digital-money-transfers/

AIICO Insurance Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian Stock Exchange that AIICO has entered into discussions with FCMB Pensions Limited, for the sale of 70% stake in its Pension Management subsidiary, AIICO Pensions Managers Limited to FCMB Pensions Limited.

The proposed sale is AIICO’s stake of 70% and other shareholders stakes of 26% thus bringing the cumulative sale of 96% stake to be purchased by FCMB Pensions.

At the conclusion of the proposed sale, AIICO Pensions shall cease to be a subsidiary of AIICO Insurance Plc.

The proposed transaction is subject to the approvals of the National Pension Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

AIICO Insurance Plc shall notify the Nigerian Stock Exchange (“NSE”) once the relevant approvals for the transaction is received.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/26/aiico-insurance-plc-announces-proposed-acquisition-of-its-majority-shares-by-fcmb-pensions-limited/

The demand for raw materials used to manufacture rechargeable batteries will grow rapidly as the importance of oil as a source of energy recedes, as highlighted recently by the collapse of prices due to oversupply and weak demand resulting from COVID-19, according to a new UNCTAD report.
The report, Commodities at a glance: Special issue on strategic battery raw materials, documents the growing importance of electric mobility and the main materials used to make rechargeable car batteries.

Ongoing efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions are expected to spur further investment in green energy production, which has been steady over the years, standing at around $600 billion per year on average.

“Alternative sources of energy such as electric batteries will become even more important as investors grow warier of the future of the oil industry,” UNCTAD’s director of international trade, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, said while launching the report.

Electric car sales have boomed in recent years, rising 65% in 2018 from the previous year to 5.1 million vehicles, and are expected to reach 23 million in 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.

Rechargeable batteries will play a significant role in the global transition to a low-carbon energy system and help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions if the raw materials used in their manufacture are sourced and produced in a sustainable manner, the report says.

The worldwide market for cathode for lithium-ion battery, the most common rechargeable car battery, was estimated at $7 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $58.8 billion by 2024, according to the report.

“The rise in demand for the strategic raw materials used to manufacture electric car batteries will open more trade opportunities for the countries that supply these materials. It’s important for these countries to develop their capacity to move up the value chain,” Ms Coke-Hamilton said.

Raw materials in a few countries, value addition limited

Reserves of the raw materials for car batteries are highly concentrated in a few countries. Nearly 50% of world cobalt reserves are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 58% of lithium reserves are in Chile, 80% of natural graphite reserves are in China, Brazil and Turkey, while 75% of manganese reserves are in Australia, Brazil, South Africa and Ukraine.

The highly concentrated production, susceptible to disruption by political instability and adverse environmental impacts, raises concerns about the security of the supply of the raw materials to battery manufacturers.

The report warns that supply disruptions may lead to tighter markets, higher prices and increased costs of car batteries, affecting the global transition to low-carbon electric mobility.

According to the report, investing more in green technologies that depend less on critical battery raw materials could help reduce consumers’ vulnerability to supply shortfalls in the current mix of materials such as lithium and cobalt, but this would cut the revenues of the countries producing them.

The report indicates that the bulk of value-added to raw materials used in making rechargeable batteries is generated outside the countries that produce the materials.

For instance, value-added to cobalt ores by the DRC is limited to intermediate products or concentrates. Further processing and refining are mostly done in refineries in Belgium, China, Finland, Norway and Zambia to obtain the end products used in rechargeable batteries as well as for other applications.

The DRC, which accounts for over two-thirds of global cobalt production, has not maximized the economic benefits of the mineral due to limited infrastructure, technology, logistical capacity, financing and lack of appropriate policies to encourage local value addition.

The manufacture of positive electrodes for car batteries is dominated by countries in Asia. In 2015, China accounted for approximately 39% of the global market, Japan 19% and Republic of Korea 7%.

Social and environmental impacts stain production

The report shines a light on the social and environmental impacts of the extraction of raw materials for car batteries and underlines the urgent need to address them.

For instance, about 20% of cobalt supply from the DRC comes from artisanal mines where child labour and human rights abuses have been reported. Up to 40,000 children work in extremely dangerous conditions in the mines for meagre income, according to UNICEF.

And in Chile, lithium mining uses nearly 65% of the water in the country’s Salar de Atamaca region, one of the driest desert areas in the world, to pump out brines from drilled wells.

This has caused groundwater depletion and pollution, forcing local quinoa farmers and llama herders to migrate and abandon ancestral settlements. It has also contributed to environmental degradation, landscape damage and soil contamination.

The adverse environmental impacts could be reduced by increasing investment in technologies used to recycle spent rechargeable batteries, according to the report.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/24/demand-for-raw-materials-for-electric-car-batteries-set-to-rise-further-report/

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University Chapter on Tuesday donated medical supplies to the Taraba State government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairperson of the Union, Dr Samuel Shiikaa while making the donation said the medical supplies were meant to support the state government’s efforts in the fight against the pandemic.

Shiikaa commended the state government and the state’s task force committee on COVID-19 for their diligent work in the first against the virus.

He noted that the fight against COVID-19 was a collective one that should not be left in the hands of the government alone.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the state government, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Ebenezer Apakye thanked members of the union for the donation, saying government need to be supported in the fight against the virus.

He said the donation will help the government in the fight against the pandemic in the state.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/24/covid-19-ASUU-donates-medical-supplies-to-taraba/

Oyo state government has disclosed that the state expended about 2.8 billion naira in combating the further spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state.

The commissioner for finance, Mr Akinola Ojo made this known at a press briefing held at the Governor’s office.

The commissioner for finance explained that part of the expenses included about 900 million naira for items procured as palliatives for the vulnerable and farmers, 370 million naira for the infectious disease centre at Olodo apart from other isolation centres, 450 million naira for security and surveillance at the various state borders, 118 million naira to support the University College Hospital (UCH), 614 million naira for reagents, test kits, and other medical consumables, 321 million naira for purchase of ambulances amongst other expenditures.

Mr Akinola Ojo also noted that monies realized from financial donations into the state endowment fund were 378 million naira, adding that other financial contributions could be estimated to be 1.177 billion nairas as the state government was still expecting about 100 million naira to the state through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The commissioner for finance stressed that monies donated to the state were still intact as expenses incurred in the fight against COVID-19 in the state had been solely stated government funds.

It was also disclosed that hazard allowances for health workers from March to June, would be paid to them this month, while journalists and other front line workers might be considered for hazard allowance following due consideration.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/24/oyo-state-government-says-it-expended-about-2-8-billion-naira-in-the-fight-against-covid-19/

At today’s Apple Worldwide Developer Conference it was announced that BMW will become the first carmaker to enable its customers to use iPhone as a fully digital car key. BMW was the first to integrate iPod in their vehicles, first to offer wireless CarPlay and now first to introduce support for BMW Digital Key stored securely in Apple Wallet for iPhone.

BMW Digital Key for the iPhone.

The upcoming BMW Digital Key for the iPhone will enable customers to just tap to unlock and easily get going by placing the iPhone in the smartphone tray and pushing the start button. Setup of the Digital Key can be done through the BMW Smartphone App. The car owner can also share access with up to 5 friends including a configurable car access option for young drivers which restricts top speed, horsepower, maximum radio volume and more. Management of access can be done from inside the car as well as through Apple Wallet.

Additional features of the new Digital Key include:
– Storage in the Secure Element of your iPhone and access through Apple Wallet
– Power reserve for iPhone where car keys will still function for up to five hours if
the iPhone turns off due to low battery
– Ability to share access with up to 5 friends via iMessage
– Apple Watch compatibility

BMW is a leading contributor to the Digital Key standard.

The BMW Group was quick to recognise the potential of smartphones as digital keys – if done right. Standardizing the Digital Key contributes to user experience, security and availability in smartphone models all of which were key to the BMW Group strategy for the Digital Key right from the start. Apple and BMW have been working closely with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) to press ahead with the establishment of global standards. The Digital Key specification 2.0 for NFC has been released in May 2020 while the next generation of Digital Key using Ultra-Wideband technology is already well underway.

BMW is excited to announce the availability of Digital Key for iPhone in 45 countries for a broad range of models: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, X5, X6, X7, X5M, X6M and Z4 if manufactured after July 1st 2020. Compatible iPhone models will be iPhone XR, iPhone XS or newer and Apple Watch Series 5 or newer.

At today’s Apple Worldwide Developer Conference, BMW and Apple also announced a new feature that will make it easier than ever for CarPlay users to take BMW electric vehicles on longer journeys by automatically taking into account when and where to charge. Drivers can plan their trip in advance on their iPhone or simply enter their destination through Apple CarPlay when they get into the car; either way, Apple Maps will pick the optimal route based on electric range and the locations of charging stations along the way. This seamless, simple feature will first be available for BMW in the fully electric BMW i4 launching next year.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/23/bmw-announces-support-for-digital-key-for-iphone-a-secure-and-easy-way-to-use-iphone-as-a-car-key-to-lock-unlock-drive-and-share-keys-with-friends/

The government of the People’s Republic of China is expected to approve a sum of US$ 5.3bn by October this year, for the commencement of the construction of the Ibadan-Kano rail line, which is a part of the 2,700-km Lagos–Kano standard gauge railway line project in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This was revealed by Rotimi Amaechi, the North African country Minister for Transportation during a special broadcast program on Channels Television to mark the country’s Democracy Day. Amaechi commended on the support that the government and the people of china continue giving to Nigeria especially in matters infrastructure.

The Chinese government has previously released US$ 1.6bn for the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway (SGR) project.

Counterpart funding for the Ibadan-Kano rail line
Going further, the Minister pointed out that President Buhari had directed the release of US$ 318M as part of the 15% counterpart funding for the construction of Ibadan-Kano railway and that more funds would be released this coming year.

He also disclosed that the government had been able to pay compensation at commercial rates and not government rates to people and organizations that were affected by the Lagos-Ibadan railway project.

The construction of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line segment was projected to end in May this year to allow the Ibadan to Kano section to begin by June or July but the plan was interfered with by the rise of the COVID-19 virus early this year.

Bonny-Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line
On the other hand, the minister also talked about plans for the Bonny-Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line saying that they intend to seek approval from the cabinet before the end of next month for the implementation of the Bonny-Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line together with the Bonny deep seaport and the industrial park at Port Harcourt.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/23/china-to-fund-us-5-3bn-for-construction-of-ibadan-kano-railway/

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Governing Council has approved 168 new Standards for publication and dissemination to various sectors of the Nation’s economy in furtherance of the Federal Government’s economic diversification policy.
Rising from its virtual meeting, Chaired from Abuja by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Council also put its seal on the first-ever Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy (NNSS) 2020 – 2022, developed by SON to identify priority areas to focus on, based on national needs assessment.

According to Dr. Sani-Gwarzo, the document is accompanied by a National Implementation Plan that gives orientation for national standardisation work within the three years duration.

The NNSS, according to him, has identified a total of 658 standardisation projects in key priority areas classified by economic sectors as highlighted in Federal Government’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP), the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and other related national strategic plans.

The SON Council Chairman described the establishment of the NNSS as an outstanding and epoch-making the achievement of the Director-General and his Management, for which the Council gave a unanimous commendation.

He also commended the SON Management for resolving all promotion arrears, conducting staff promotion exercises as at when due and the resolve to go ahead with the 2020 promotion exercise in spite of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Sani-Gwarzo conveyed the Council’s approval of the request for the conduct of the 2020 promotion exercise with innovative latitude to ensure compliance with the infection prevention and control measures put in place by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) not later than August 2020.

Welcoming the Council members earlier, the Director-General, SON, Osita Aboloma Esq. enumerated the organisation’s role and support in the Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as including leveraging on its international collaboration to make necessary and relevant international standards available to local manufacturers at no cost. The organisation also waived charges relating to the importation of essential materials while also fast-tracking the process, he said.

Aboloma stated that SON has also been providing necessary technical quality assurance support to local manufacturers involved in the manufacture of Personal Protective Equipment required for the prevention and control of COVID-19 Nationwide, through its State offices.

Commenting on the approved 168 Nigerian Industrial Standards by the Council after the meeting, the SON Chief Executive enumerated them as 64 for Electrical/Electronic products; 53 for Chemical Technology; 47 for Food and Agricultural products; 3 for Civil/Building Technology products as well as the reviewed standard for Hotel and Serviced Accommodation Management System and Rating – Requirements and Guidance for Use.

Aboloma highlighted some of the standards as including;
Review of standards for fertilizers
Review of existing and development of new standards for the Tomato and Cassava Value Chains.
Adoption of international standards on Environmental Testing
Adoption of international recommendations for renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification among many others.

The Director-General assured that the approved standards would be published promptly while awareness programmes will be carried out with relevant sectoral stakeholders, to encourage voluntary uptake of the standards across industries.

Aboloma reiterated that the newly approved 168 Nigerian Industrial Standards cut across various products and services and are of great economic, regulatory and industrial importance for Nigeria.

On the importance of the NNSS, he stated that it would enable the Nation to develop standards in a most effective way, using available resources in the most efficient manner.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/22/son-council-approves-168-new-standards-national-standardisation-strategy/

The Lagos State University has been selected by the Food And Agricultural Organization (FAO) as its National Partner Institute (NPI) in implementing the FISH4ACP Project (Support for the Development of Farmed Catfish Value Chain in Nigeria), winning a partial grant of up to $95,000 in the process. LASU was selected after the FAO adjudged its bid as the best among those submitted by institutions in the country.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is the FISH4ACP Project Management Unit for the European Union and Agrinatura FISH4ACP project (2020-2024) involving 10 Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) Countries.

The Partnership is part of efforts to develop food value chains that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable across the countries.

In conveying the news of LASU’s emergence, the FAO noted that “with reference to the call for expression of interest launched by the FISH4ACP Project on 15th April 2020, we would like to inform you that the Project Management Unit and the external panel have finalized the evaluation of the offers received. We are glad to inform you that the Lagos State University was selected as offering the best value for money for the solicited services, and as per FAO rules and procedures on the procurement of services.

“Please note that due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic and related travel restrictions, the FISH4ACP project has decided to adopt a phased approach in implementing the activities that were originally envisaged in the call. As a result, we would like to award a partial grant (up to an overall amount of USD 95,000) as provided for in section 3 of the call for expression of interest.”

The LASU winning proposal was led by Professor of Fisheries, Prof. Akintola, S.L who also doubles as the National Project Officer. Other members of the team are Dr Fakoya, K.A, Dr Sherifat Yusuff, Dr Zakariya Amoo, Mr Olusola Olabanjo and Yusuf Olabisi.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, NPOM, has congratulated the team for the feat while urging them to work hard to see through the successful implementation of the project. He also pledged the support of the University to the team in their efforts on the project.

Recall that the Fisheries Department recently won a $2.5M Partnership Grants of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canada.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/21/lasu-emerges-national-partner-to-fao-wins-95000-grant-to-support-development-of-catfish-value-chain-in-nigeria/

DStv has emerged as one of the most admired brands in Africa. The MultiChoice-owned video entertainment brand joins a number of other globally revered brands on Brand Africa’s list of top 100 most admired brands in Africa. This was revealed in a virtual event co-hosted by Brand Africa, represented by the Founder and Chairman, Thebe Ikalafeng, Open Squares represented by its founder and managing partner, Feyi Olubodun and MultiChoice Nigeria represented by its Chief Customer Officer, Martin Mabutho on Thursday, June 18, 2020.

The list which has a 13 per cent representation of indigenous African brands has DStv as one of its top five African brands; the others being MTN, Dangote, Anbessa and Glo. DStv moves up 9 places from its #45 ranking last year to #36 on this year’s top 100 list and 1 place from #4 to #3 on the Most Admired African brands list.

In a survey to establish the most admired African brands in Nigeria, Dangote came tops followed by DStv at #2 and Telco giant MTN at #3, with fellow Nigerian brands Glo and Innoson Motors rounding off the Top 5.


DStv, Africa’s leading Pay-TV platform,  also tops the list of most admired African media brands in Nigeria. A listing that doesn’t come as a surprise considering that a few months ago, it had also emerged as the preferred Pay TV option for Nigerians following a festive season survey by Netng.

Speaking at the virtual event, Martin Mabutho, the Chief Customer Officer at MultiChoice Nigeria said, “It is our honour to be associated with Africa’s Best Brands and delighted to co-host this session in conjunction with Brand Africa and Open Squares. I believe that as Africans, we have what it takes to launch our brands to the next level and even compete favourably with global brands. It is what drives us at MultiChoice Nigeria to continuously create and enhance our platforms to showcase these excellent African brands. Congratulations to all winners. ”

Established 10 years ago, Brand Africa’s top 100 most admired brands in Africa list is a consumer-led survey which seeks to establish brand preferences across Africa. According to the publication, “the survey is conducted among a representative sample of respondents 18 years and older, in 27 countries which collectively represent 50% of the continent, covering all economic regions and accounting for an estimated 80% of the population and the GDP of Africa.”

The Brand Africa 100 global results are published in the June issue of the African Business magazine and is available online to subscribers.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/19/dstv-others-make-list-of-most-admired-brands-in-africa/

Omoluabi Mortgage Bank has appointed Adewole Adekunle as the Managing Director of the bank.
The Mortgage Bank offers residential and commercial mortgage financing services. The Company provides mortgage products which include national housing fund mortgage loans, commercial mortgages, property acquisition loans, and other financial services. Omoluabi Mortgage Bank serves customers in Nigeria.

Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc is pleased to announce the appointment of the following as Directors of the Bank:

Mr Yemi Adefisan Appointed As A Non-Executive Director
Yemi has been widely exposed to business formation, strategy and planning in the course of his career spanning over twenty (20) years, traversing through banking. Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Manufacturing and Logistics Industry. Yemi is a consummate Banker and Financial Expert having previously worked with Seven-Up Bottling Co. Plc, Pacific Bank Limited (Unity Bank Plc), Crystal Microfinance Bank Limited, Skye Bank Plc and Fast Credit Limited.

He holds two Master in Business Administration degrees from Ladoke Akintola University and Metropolitan School of Business and Management, United Kingdom. A Fellow of Microfinance Association UK, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and Institute of Management Consultants. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Institute of Directors Nigeria and Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). He seats on the Board of over 15 Companies across Africa. He currently serves as the Group Chief Executive of CITITRUST Holdings Plc.

Mrs Fehintola Ibidunni Olatunde-Agbeja Appointed As An Independent Director
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria who graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Lagos, Lagos. Thereafter, she became an Audit Trainee at the accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, Ani, Ogunde & Co. (now KPMG) and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1987.

She joined the services of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a Senior Supervisor in 1986 and her experience spanned over thirty-two (32) years in the key areas such as Banking Operations, Internal Audit, Banking and Other Financial Institutions Supervision amongst others.

She was appointed an Assistant Director of the CBN in 2006, and further appointed as the Branch Controller of CBN Abeokuta Branch, Ogun State where she retired as a Director in September 2018. She joined Boff & Company as Executive Director, Finance and Administration in February 2019.

Mr Olufemi Adesina Appointed As A Non-Executive Director

Mr Olufemi A. Adesina is a Financial, Marketing and Management professional with over 20 years of extensive and diverse experience in, Finance, Private Equity, Banking, and Venture Capital Marketing, Marketing Communication, Sales and Administration. He started his career with KPMG before moving to the business group of a top Nigerian bank. He later moved to the Financial Control and Strategic Planning Unit of the bank. He has worked with a number of other firms. In 2005, he became the pioneer Managing Director of Fluffy Enhancing lives Funds Limited, a private equity firm. He consults for a lot of businesses, including Oasis Shefa Int’l Limited, Jineda Global Limited (both Oil brokerage firms) and Consultoria Foresighta Limitada, a Brazillian firm. He is a fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria. fellow of the Certified Institute of | Purchasing & Supply of Nigeria. He holds an MBA from Kensington University, Glendale, California. He also sits on the board of Fluffy Funds Limited, WheelyWheely Logistics Limited and Livingsprings a Helicopters Limited.

Adewole Adeniran Appointed As A Non-Executive Director
Ade Adewole is an Estate Management graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife, Osun state. He also has a National Diploma in Surveying and Geoinformatics from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado- Ekiti. He worked with Zain Nigeria and then moved on to Portal Realties Limited where with diligence and hard work he rose to the position of the General Manager Sales Division. He co-founded Capital Metropolis Synergy Limited, a real estate development and consultancy outfit in Abuja, where he leads the operation of the firm.

Oyewole Olowu Appointed As An Executive Director.
Wole Olowu is a graduate of Accounting from the Lagos State University. His experience cuts across both the public sector and the banking industry. He worked with the Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC), Federal Ministry of Science & Technology as a State Accountant in the Lagos State Liaison Office for 10years before joining the banking sector.

He is a versatile Mortgage banker with over 15years experience in Banking Operations, e-banking, Credit, Business Development and Retail banking. He had worked with Lagoon Homes Savings and Loans Limited (Mortgage Bankers), Resort Savings and Loans Pic. (Mortgage Bankers) and Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank Plc, from where he joined Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc.

He holds an MBA (Finance) and an Honorary Fellow Institute of Corporate Administration (FCAI).

Adewole Adekunle Appointed As The Managing Director
Kunle is a thorough-bred banking professional with over 22 years’ experience cutting across Retail. Commercial. Corporate ‘banking. Public sector Corporate Strategy Corporate & Structured Finance, Risk management, Credit Collections & Recoveries and Legal. He was at various times Head of branch operations, Profit Center Manager, Branch Manager, Regional Director and Group Head in Omega Bank (now Keystone bank), Standard Trust Bank (now UBA), Broad bank (now Union Bank) ‘and Sterling bank where he left in 2018 on General Management Cadre. He has honed relevant skills in building and leading high performing teams and brings on board a deen knowledge of the market, personal acumen, team leadership skills and business fundamentals relevant to Mortgage Banking.

He holds a Bachelors of Technology degree in Applied Meteorology from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, two Master in Business Administration degrees in Marketing and Finance from the University of Ado Ekiti and Metropolitan School of Business & Management, UK respectively. He also holds a Master in Business Law (LLM) from the Metropolitan School of Business & Management. The UK and a Certificate in Global Management (CGM) from the Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD), Fontainebleau, France.

He is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management, Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Alumnus of the prestigious INSEAD Global Management Program and Lagos Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

These appointments are subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/18/omoluabi-mortgage-bank-plc-appoints-six-new-directors-to-its-board/

The Nigerian bourse closed yesterday on a positive note after four consecutive days of sell-offs. This was as the NSE-ASI was up by 17bps to close at 24,972.89pts. In terms of market activity levels, the total volume and value traded increased by 32.7% and 70.8% to 266.0mn units and N2.7bn respectively.

Analysing the performance by sector, three out of the five sectors under our coverage closed in the red territory. Specifically, the Industrial Goods sector ended the day flat while the Consumer Goods sector was the day’s sole gainer, up 4.4% amid price appreciation in stocks like NESTLE (+10.0%), CADBURY (+6.7%), and FLOURMILL (+4.4%).

Contrariwise, the Oil and Gas sector (-4.4%) led the losers’ camp on the back of price decline in SEPLAT (-10.0%). Similarly, the Insurance sector index (-2.9%) trended southwards amid losses in MANSARD (-9.0%) and AIICO (-8.3%).

The Banking sector index (-0.8%) joined the losers party as investors sold ETI (-1.0%), GUARANTY (-2.5%) and FBNH (-1.9%).

Overall investors sentiment was downbeat as 10 stocks advanced while 24 stocks declined, dragging the market breadth to 0.4x from 0.5x in the previous day. Looking ahead, we believe that the stock market will remain highly volatile in the interim as the realities of COVID-19 remain prevalent.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/18/equities-market-performance-consumer-goods-stocks-top-the-chart/

Vanguard Pharmacy, one of the largest and fastest-growing pharmacy retail chains in Nigeria, has opened a new branch in the interior part of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Located along Ologuneru-Eruwa Road, Ibadan, the new branch, which officially opened on 10 April 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, has been described as affirming the mission of the company in “creating smart health benefits for people to succeed and thrive”.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Vanguard Pharmacy, Pharm. Taofik Oladipupo Odukoya said the company is committed living up to the expectation of creating a one-stop environment that portrays value and culture of excellence.

He explained that the brand is in a transformation and scaling stage, as it intends to roll out more branches before the year ends and many more within the next five years.

“It was indeed challenging to meet the tight construction deadline during the COVID-19 period as our store is designed to seat on about 750 square-meter shop floor space, but the resolve of the entire team made it happen,” he admitted.

The Vanguard Pharmacy boss also revealed that the new outlet has immediately begun to record success in and around the immediate environment.

Also speaking at the occasion, Kawthar Bolajoko Odukoya, co-founder and executive director, Vanguard Pharmacy, said the expansion is in line with the vision of the brand to “transform pharmacy practice through efficient and innovative delivery of quality products and services that benefit the general public.”

He added: “The global pandemic was not a limiting factor in the success story. The public should expect more branches openings on our journey to transformation”, she remarked.

Also speaking at the opening, Pharm. Femi Banjo, the branch manager, Vanguard Pharmacy, averred: “Our commitment to the community is to provide smart health benefits for people to succeed and thrive. We are your one-stop-shop.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/18/vanguard-pharmacy-unveils-5th-branch-in-ibadan/

Every online casino has its own Bonus Offers, but what exactly are they there for and how do they work? Click here.

What is the Purpose of a Casino Bonus?

The aim of a casino bonus is purely to increase the number of players using a particular site.  The online casino in question wants to entice more players, either new players or returning players, to their site so that they can, in effect, earn more money.  They need to stand out from the other online casinos as they know that the competition is tough, so they make their bonuses as exciting as possible in the hope that you cannot possibly refuse their promotions, offers or bonuses.  But you do need to look out for the conditions that are always attached to their casino bonuses.  Some are much more manageable than others and can significantly affect both your gameplay and your potential winnings, so take this into consideration when you are making your choice.

Changing Bonuses

A casino changes the bonuses that it offers players, old and new so that it can both keep up with the competition of the other online casinos and remain an exciting place for players to want to play.  This keeps the online casino in question a fresh place to be and a place where they hope that players will still feel committed to spending their money.  Bonuses change in online casinos to continue to entice a wider footfall of players but before you get drawn in, you should be aware of the catches.

Bonus Catch

The most irritating but most common catch with bonus offers relating to online casinos is that of the withdrawal method.  This is because most casino online will not let you withdraw your winnings from your bonus without having firstly deposited some of your own money as credit and secondly, without having spent some of this credit.  But this can come at a cost in more ways than one because often players can end up losing a lot of their bonus, if not all of it, during the time when they are using their credit in order to withdraw the winnings of their bonus.  This is a clever way for the casinos to get you to try and show that you are committed to their site whilst also preventing you from playing on other online casinos as you have credit and bonus credit tied up with them already.

Triggering a Bonus

Well, actually, you don’t need to trigger anything to ensure that you are entitled to a bonus that offered on an online casino site.  All you have to do is make sure that you are eligible and then you will be automatically gifted with the bonus when you sign up to the online casino of your choice.  But make sure that you have done as much research as possible before you sign up so that you know that you are getting the best deal around so that you can increase the chances of winning to the max.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/17/understanding-how-casino-bonuses-work/

The Lagos State Government, through the State Examinations Board, has announced the postponement of the year 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), earlier scheduled to commence from Tuesday, 16th – 23rd June 2020, till further notice.

The announcement, which was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director, Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr. Supo Gbadegesin, noted that the postponement was due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent closure of schools by the Lagos State Government.

He informed the general public, especially all duly registered Public and Approved Private Junior Secondary Schools, that immediately the State Government issues directives on the re-opening of schools, new dates approved for the examinations will be communicated to all stakeholders.

While maintaining that the Lagos State Examinations Board had no options than to postpone the examinations due to COVID-19, Gbadegesin stated that registration is still ongoing via the Board’s online platforms for those who were unable to register earlier.

The Director also implored the general public to contact the Board through any of the following phone numbers: 08180252477, 08023895717 and 08035190744 for further inquiry.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/16/lasg-postpones-2020-basic-education-certificate-examination/

Multinational culinary product manufacturer GBfoods has commissioned the recently completed tomato processing factory in northwestern Nigeria, the company said Monday. The ₦20 billion plant, located in Kebbi State, was built in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kebbi State Government, and the Emirate of Yauri.

“The commissioning of this processing factory is a great milestone for us,” said Vincent Egbe, Country Manager of GBfoods Nigeria, owners of popular brands Gino, Bama, and Jago. “It further demonstrates the company’s commitment towards helping Nigeria achieve its food security ambitions, in this case, of self-sufficiency in tomato concentrate production.”

The Kebbi factory has the largest single tomatoes farm in Nigeria and is the second-largest in the country, as well as the only fully backward integrated plant in the West African region, GBfoods said. It is poised to become the largest fresh tomatoes processing factory in Sub-Saharan Africa when all phases of the project are concluded.

According to the company, investment in the “world-class” factory and adjoining farm includes drip irrigation and fertigation infrastructure, greenhouses, seed planting robots, incubation chambers, and a plethora of agricultural machinery.

The farm is to serve a dual purpose – producing industrial tomatoes in the dry season and soya beans in the raining season. Meanwhile, the tomato factory will convert fresh tomatoes into tomato concentrate used for producing Gino Tomatoes Paste and Tomato Pepper Onion Paste while the soya bean will be used to process soya-bean oil, which is a critical ingredient for the Bama and Jago Mayonnaise.

In terms of impact, the project created over 1,000 jobs including 500 farming jobs, 150 factory jobs, and 150 construction jobs, the company said, also supporting host communities by providing and maintaining 16 boreholes of drinking water, a first for some of the surrounding villages. GBfoods also engaged many smallholder farmers as out-growers, training them on good agricultural practices. It provided them with tomatoes seedlings, agrochemicals, and various equipment such as water pumps and hose pipes, enabling the farmers to access water in the dry season.

The factory is fully backwardly integrated into the company’s farm and dedicated out-growers, GBfoods said. In the coming tomatoes season, the plant will source most of its raw material from over 5,000 smallholder farmers/out-growers who will grow fresh tomatoes on their own farms and from GBfoods’ owned and operated farm. Over the past three years, GBfoods has worked with smallholder out-growers in Kaduna, Katsina, and Kebbi States to boost their incomes by providing seedlings, fertilizers, training, and irrigation pumps, as well as free plastic crates further to reduce post-harvest losses, according to Egbe.

“We will continue to work with the Federal Government towards food security and local production and processing of fresh tomatoes,” Egbe said further at the factory opening. “The company is dedicated to reducing pre and post-harvest losses and also developing the value chain so as to improve revenue streams for tomato farmers.”

The team of extension workers, consultants, and agronomists at GBfoods are ensuring that the Nigerian farmers also benefit from the technology transfer of the company’s best practices and know-how built through over 40 years of successful tomato operations in Italy and Spain, GBfoods Africa CEO Vicenç Bosch said.

Additional land is expected to be cleared and prepared in September for the farming season of October 2021. The expansion will be similarly accompanied by an upgrade in the factory’s capacity, further creating new jobs, the company said. “GBfoods is working with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the CBN to make Nigeria not only a shining example in food security but also to become the food basket of Africa,” adds Egbe.

Bosch commended the Federal Government for encouraging and supporting GBfoods to engage with CBN, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to ensure the successful completion of the factory. He also expressed his gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investments, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Kebbi State Government, and the Ngaski Local Government Authorities for their tremendous support towards the actualization of the project.

Meanwhile, Egbe thanked the Buhari administration, the Kebbi Governor, His Excellency Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; and the Emir of Yauri, Dr. Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi for working tirelessly to create an enabling investment environment for GBfoods backward integration project in tomatoes.

GBfoods has a wide range of quality well-established brands in Nigeria such as Gino, Bama, and Jago, under which it manufactures a wide range of quality products that make the daily lives of many African families easier. Products under its brands include Gino Tomatoes Mix; Gino Pepper Onion, Gino Thyme; Gino Curry; Gino Chicken and Beef Cubes; Bama Mayonnaise as well as Jago Mayonnaise. The company’s investments aim to satisfy local culinary habits and preferences whilst offering the healthiest and best ingredients for Nigerian cuisine.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/16/gbfoods-completes-%e2%82%a620billion-tomato-processing-factory-in-kebbi-state/

On-demand transportation company Bolt, Mirabel Center and the Stand To End Rape (S.T.E.R) initiative have today announced a partnership aimed at providing victims of sexual violence with transportation to flee from abusive situations.

The initiative which will roll out in the Nigerian cities where Bolt operates will offer emergency escape rides to individuals seeking crisis support who contact either the Mirabel Center or the S.T.E.R Initiative.

Police departments across Nigeria have reported increases in the number of sexual abuse and domestic violence cases since the Coronavirus pandemic led to a nationwide lockdown. Multiple cases of rape and abuse have also gained public consciousness, reopening important conversations about sexual abuse and the need to better safeguard women.

Speaking on the partnership, the Country Manager for Bolt in Nigeria, Femi Akin-Laguda stated that “We want to provide support to the most vulnerable members of our community and hope to bring about positive change by providing support to at-risk women who require transportation from unsafe places.”

“We recognise that there are organisations that are already in the frontlines, educating the public, fighting for justice for our women and providing safe spaces for them. We urge the public to join us in taking a stand against these abhorrent crimes and offering support however possible to these organisations,” he added.

“For us at Stand To End Rape initiative, this is an important partnership because it not only addresses immediate response for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, it’s also a prevention mechanism because women or girls who are in desperate need for help can immediately contact us and get a ride to take them out of dangerous and unsafe spaces. We are very excited about this partnership and we are also excited to be working with Bolt to train their drivers on sexual harassment protocols and how to prevent and respond to reports of sexual harassment”, said Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, Executive Director, Stand to End Rape Initiative (S.T.E.R).

Since 2013, Mirabel Center has treated and supported more than 1,100 survivors of rape and sexual assault in Nigeria whilst helping victims seek justice. Similarly, the S.T.E.R Initiative is a youth-led non-profit that is wholly committed to creating a society that is rid of rape and sexual violence.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/16/bolt-partners-with-anti-sexual-violence-organisations-to-offer-emergency-escape-rides-for-nigerian-women/

AIICO Insurance Plc has through its Stockbroker, Magnartis Finance and Investment Limited, submitted an application to The Nigerian Stock Exchange for the approval and listing of a Rights Issue of Four Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Four (4,357,770,954) ordinary shares of Fifty Kobo (N0.50) each at Eighty Kobo (N0.80) per share, on the basis of five (5) new ordinary shares for every thirteen (13) ordinary shares held.

The Qualification Date for the Rights Issue is today Monday, 15 June 2020.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/15/aiico-insurance-plc-submits-application-for-approval-and-listing-of-a-rights-issue/

Cases of cash theft/suppression and fraudulent transfer/withdrawals marred an otherwise profitable year for Access Bank, according to the bank’s financial statement for 2019. The Bank reported ₦97.5 billion profit after tax for the year.

The profits recorded came at the heels of a successful merger between the bank and Diamond bank.

However, cases of fraud and forgeries have become a recurring problem for financial institutions in Nigeria.

Fraudulent transfers and withdrawals occurred 38 times in the year 2019 and resulted in the loss of ₦122,120,354 naira which accounted for 36.43% of the total loss for Access Bank. Cash theft and suppression occurred 73 times and resulted in the loss of ₦100,443,185 which accounted for 29.96% of the total loss.

Surprisingly, ATM/electronic fraud occurred 5,715 times but could not result in any loss for the bank. This is in stark contrast with the situation in the 2018 reports. In 2018, ATM/electronic fraud occurred 4,108 times and resulted in the loss of ₦385,758,558 and this amounted to 80.77% of the total loss for the bank in the year.

Meanwhile, cash theft/suppression had, in 2018, occurred 15 times and resulted in the loss of ₦13,123,214 which constituted 2.75% of the total loss. Fraudulent transfers and withdrawals had occurred 20 times and led to the loss of ₦20,024,919 which amounted to 4.19% of the total loss for the bank in 2018.

It is instructive to note that of the 2,206 fraud cases in 2017, 98% was related to cards/E-Channels/USSD frauds which accounted for ₦86.94 million. The bank, in 2017, also recorded 3 cases of successful robbery incidents which led to a loss of ₦11.19 million.

Interestingly, the bank had become alarmed to a recurring incident of fraud in 2017 and had published some measures they had put in place to check the ugly trends:

* More focus on cybercrime intelligence and prevention

* Proactive monitoring by Anti- Fraud Unit

* Zero tolerance for staff fraud. Dismissal and prosecution of any staff involved in fraud.

* Training and awareness of fraud risk issues

* Customer awareness through emails, SMS and ATMs.

* Background checks on staff

* Collaboration with other industry operators to frustrate fraud attempts

In fairness to the bank, the incident of ATM/Electronic fraud has been tackled with tremendous results but cases of fraudulent transfer/withdrawals, cash theft/suppression and cyber attack are on the increase resulting in huge losses to the bank. This makes the whole situation more worrisome because, in spite of the measures announced, the rate of frauds in the bank is on the increase. At the centre of most of these fraudulent acts are the staff members of the bank themselves as the majority of the frauds would not be successful without the support of internal collaborators.

We can only hope the ugly trend is arrested before it gets out of hand. We also hope that the reiterated commitment of Access Bank to whistleblowing is upheld. Banks have to be up and doing in their responsibilities to their customers and the societies at large.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/14/fraudulent-transfer-cash-theft-mar-access-bank-financial-reports/

Suru Homes Limited has joined the group of kind-hearted citizens and organisations in the State by donating an Industrial Washing Machine to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in support of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Receiving the donated item on behalf of the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo and the entire management staff, Dr Adebowale Adekoya, Head of Medicine Department expressed his appreciation to Suru Group for the kind gesture.

He explained that the industrial washing machine will be very useful during this global pandemic and called on other well-meaning Nigerians to also support the State Government, through the Hospital, in its ongoing battle to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

While delivering the equipment to the management of the hospital, the Director, Suru Homes, Mr Babatunde Okoya said the donation is meant to appreciate and aid the hospital as well as its frontline health workers as they risk their lives daily to provide essential health services to the public.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/13/covid-19-suru-group-donates-industrial-washing-machine-to-lasuth/

After the confirmation of the Premier League resumption o 17 June, The Fantasy Premier League is open again for FPL managers to prepare for the remaining matches of the current season.

There are favourable twists as we prepare our respective Teams ahead of Matchday.

Unlimited Transfers

FPL managers can make unlimited free transfers until the GW30+ deadline without playing a wildcard. This is so cool as I have been trying to offload some players and require the services of my new interests, especially the very fit and efficient ones.

Gameweeks

Each new Gameweek is indicated by a ‘+’ (e.g. GW30+, GW31+, GW32+)GW30+ is a double Gameweek starting with two-midweek fixtures (AVLSHU and MCIARS) followed by a full round of 10 matches

Price of Players

Prices of players will not change until after the GW30+ deadline has passed.

FPL Specials

Any unused Wildcards or chips will remain available for use before the end of the season. Triple Captain, Bench Boost and Free Hit chips are available in GW30+.

Mini-League Rivals

We all need to update our FPL application to access this feature. With each match being played behind closed doors and broadcast in the UK it represents a great opportunity for FPL managers to tune in and scout the players, identify differentials and gain an advantage on mini-league rivals.

Players fit and ready to hit the ground running

These are players likely to hit the ground running, consistent performers worth investing in and clubs with the most favourable fixtures:

Goalkeepers

Bernd Leno (ARS)Nick Pope (BUR)

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV)Matt Doherty (WOL)Enda Stevens (SHU)Federico Fernandez (NEW)Charlie Taylor (BUR)

Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne (MCI)Mohamed Salah (LIV)Jack Grealish (AVL)Bruno Fernandes (MUN)Ismaila Sarr (WAT)

Forwards

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS)Raul Jimenez (WOL)Marcus Rashford (MUN)Teemu Pukki (NOR) Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE).

Also, you can check my profile to read an article about games to start on the 17th of June titled “Analysis on the First games as the Premier League resumes soon“.

Let the games begin.

Thanks for reading.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/13/fantasy-premier-league-returns-with-goodies/

In line with its inter-agency collaboration, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to ensure the tax agency ascertain accuracy and completeness of value-added tax (VAT) elements and other taxes payable in the transactions of telecoms operators.

With the MoU, the FIRS will be able to integrate an application programming interface (API) technology solution with the systems of telecom Operators for independent verification of the amount of VAT that should be paid by mobile network operators (MNO) rather than relying entirely on the Operators’ books of accounts.

According to him, “Our concern, as Regulator of the telecoms industry, is that we needed to be sure that it is not another way to tax telecoms Operators, who are already dealing with multiple taxation issues. We have also ensured that the integration of the solutions with telcos’ transactions systems will not, in any way, impact the cost and quality of service delivery by the Operators to telecoms consumers.”

Danbatta, therefore, assured telecoms consumers and stakeholders that the integration of FIRS solution with the Operators’ systems is entire to ascertain the accuracy of the VAT elements being paid by the Operators on their transactions and will not, in any way, degrade the quality of service delivery or lead to the high cost of service to the consumers.

In his comments, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, FIRS, Muhammad Nami, who thanked the NCC for accepting to collaborate with the tax agency, said the MoU is mainly to ascertain the completeness of tax transactions of mobile service providers to the Federal Government due to the shift of physical businesses to electronic-based business activities.

He said: “The API, which was developed in-house, is transaction-based and all we are trying to do is to ensure we have the basis for determining the completeness and accuracy of VAT elements in telecoms transactions.”

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2020/06/13/nigerias-tax-authority-will-now-digitally-verify-taxes-paid-by-telecom-companies/