₦airaland Forum

Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) continues in Imo State
The Imo state L.I.T. event will hold at the Concorde Hotel, Owerri on Thursday, 7 November, 2019 between 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

It’s no longer news that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) through its secretariat, the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) is on a tour of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones to engage with business owners in each state and collaborate more closely with them as stakeholders in delivering reforms that will transform Nigeria business landscape for better.

Dubbed the L.I.T sub-national tour, the tour kicked off in Lagos in October, and will now make its next stop in Imo State where His Excellency, Governor Emeka Ihedioha will be present as host listen, and engage with the business community in the State. Business owners and members of the general public in attendance will also be able to experience over 140 reforms successfully implemented by PEBEC since it was established in 2016.

Created in July, 2016, PEBEC's mandate is to make Nigeria a progressively better place for businesses to thrive by collaborating with state governments, the National Assembly, the judiciary and other regulatory partners to reduce the cost, time and number of regulatory procedures required to set up and carry on business within the country.

HopeAlive16:
Please can I get a one room self-contained apartment on the mainland with total package at 180k max?

Can this number, he is a reliable agent, can get you something around ojodu

08060558694

*Access Bank, others launch first United Nations Global Compact Nigeria Compendium of SDG Projects*

Nigeria’s largest retail bank and sustainability champion, Access Bank Plc., has joined other organisations to launch the first-ever United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) sustainability compendium in Nigeria.

The compendium, which was launched recently at the UNGC Breakfast Dialogue, documents some of the stellar efforts of the Bank, its sustainability journey and its strategic collaborations to facilitate socio-economic development.

Launching the compendium, the former Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc., Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede urged corporate organisations and SMEs to invest in and practice sustainability. Highlighting this as the primary solution to achieving the SDGs in view of the critical issues around health and poverty that have plagued Africa.

“The collective will and desire for action amongst organisations has taken a giant leap from where it was few years ago. However, compared to other nations, the statistics of malaria, poverty and deaths in Nigeria paints a very gory picture. Hence, it is the responsibility of every corporate organisation, SME and individual to get involved in activities that will aid the achievement of the SDGs come 2030,” he said.

Over the years, Access Bank has facilitated a growing number of sustainability activities, including the Malaria-to-Zero initiative, issued the first ever CBI-certified Green Bond, and also funded various not-for-profit organisations and programs across all 36 states in the country’s six geo-political zones, among others.

The Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc., Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, assured Nigerians that Access Bank will not relent in its contributions to the achievement of the SDGs saying, “We have entrenched sustainability into every part of our business operations and activities, in addition to aligning the implementation of our sustainability strategy with the achievement of the SDGs.”

“To this end, we have made good progress in driving social, environmental and economic development locally and globally. Despite these, we will not relent, rather, we will continue to invest our time, resources and work with relevant stakeholders to provide innovative solutions to local and global challenges,” she added.

The Bank’s sustainability efforts have been recognized by several prestigious local and international bodies, becoming a four-time consecutive winner of the Outstanding Business Sustainability Award by Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards; 9-time winner of the Most Sustainable Bank in Nigeria Award by World Finance Awards; two-time consecutive winner of Most Sustainable Company in Africa by the Sustainability, Enterprise and Reporting Awards; 2-time consecutive winner of the Central Bank of Nigeria Sustainability Awards in all categories including Most Sustainable Bank in Nigeria; 2019 Gender Leader of the Year Award by Africa CEO Forum Awards, among others.

Post Edited

Stanleyrays:
And he collected red card, how a hero can turn to a villain quickly.
Still Inter Milan for the league.

You be inter gan, Forza Internationale

So I would love to share some stories I have read on Quora about people whom have gone from been wealthy to been poor.

I can tell the experience of a friend. who married a woman who was multi-millionaire since birth. Saying that they were rich is an understatement. They only flew first or business class, he got a new Porsche or Mercedes every single year and they always lived in the best areas in Manhattan,
I remember when he and his wife moved to New York they hired an interior designer from Milan to do the decoration. They spent around a million dollars only with the renovation and furniture for the apartment.
They had it all, and not even in my dreams I would imagine that one day they would lose it all.
However, like many other stories, they didn't lose it overnight, but little by little.
I never imagined they would lose all their money because apart of being filthy rich, they were really lucky.
My friend's wife grew up being a millionaire. Annual trips to Aspen with her family, then summer in Europe and everything we imagine rich people do. I was lucky to enjoy some of these perks when I was invited to one of their vacation homes.
They had a lot of money but they didn't work. After all, they never needed to do it. She received a monthly allowance from her family that I believe was around 700K to 1M per year so they would probably not bother to work 9 to 6 to make $100K more.
They lived this life for around 10 years. Then, they had some disagreement with their family and they stopped receiving the allowance. They lived by their savings for around 3 years. During those years they lived a very good life, but not so lavish as before. After 3 years, when they were about to start selling everything so they could have some money, her uncle died. He didn't have any kids so she received a good sum of money that was sufficient for around 3 more years.
When their bank accounts were about to run dry again her mother passed away and she inherited, along with her brothers, around 4M each.
For most people, it would be sufficient for a lifetime, but they made very bad investments along with some poor decisions and I don't know how, but they ended up losing everything in around 3 more years.
After losing all their money they started living with the money of a trust her parents left to her, Something around 5K per month. But they are on their 50s, they never worked and have no professional skills and they have to pay rent (as they don't have a home), pay all their bills and above all, health insurance with that amount.
I saw them around 6 months ago and they were miserable. My friend developed a neurological disease due to the stress he endured in the last years. His wife was making all decisions as he wasn't able to do it anymore. Unfortunately, he is so sick that he couldn't work even if he wanted to.
I was really sad it happened to them because they were really nice people, It's easy to judge them for never bothered to have a job or be wiser with their money, however, she was born in a different universe for most of us. What we see as a lavish lifestyle she sees as a regular day since birth.
I asked them if they needed anything and obviously what they need is their old lifestyle back. They moved to a modest apartment in a different state.
She told me that the biggest issue is that they don't know how to live like that. She can't imagine what's like to do their own grocery shopping, and worst than that, go to Walmart with a shopping list. She said that if she spent a little more on things she like she might not have money for the supermarket next week.
I would not dare to say that this experience was humbling to them because they were always nice people, the difference is that they were nice people with lots of money. The only positive thing I believe this experience brought to them is that they are no longer superficial. They used to see everything like poverty, sorrow, and problems from a different perspective, and I used to see them through a mask that looked like they were using all the time
Now, for the first time, I was able to see who they really are. What are their emotions, their fears, their desires, and their regrets… For the first time in their lives they desire things, they no longer pull their credit card and immediately satisfy their desires and in that sense, they look like real people for me.
Every time I visited them over the years I always invited them for lunch, breakfast or coffee and even though I'm not wealthy I always offered to pay, and 6 months ago, when I saw them for the last time, I invited them to have a coffee at Starbucks and that was the first time in more than 15 years that they said thank you after I offered to pay for our breakfast.
It felt different. They don't need to thank me for anything because during their life, just by inviting me to stay with them, they offered me much more than anything I've ever offered to them, but for the first time in their lives, they are learning to value every small good thing that life gives to them.
*******************************************************************
UPDATE
*******************************************************************
Thank you all for the upvotes and feedbacks to this story. In fact, I had two stories about the theme but Quora doesn't allow to publish two answers for the same question, so, for those who are interested I'll post the second story here.
In 2007 I was hired by a medium size tech company. The company had around 150 employees and they were growing fast. When I was hired they told me they would be moving to better offices in two months and they really did it. The new office was really impressive. Huge, very modern to the point it made the cover of a magazine.
My boss and her husband were the owners of the company. They were simply amazing. She was sweet, very polite and it was a pleasure to work for them. They were also very rich. In fact, she was so down to earth that it took me two months to realize that she was one of the owners of the company. It happened one day that we had a meeting with a client and she told me if I was OK to be squeezed on the back seat of her car, as another person was coming with us. I Imagined that she had one of those very small cars, but she showed up on a brand new convertible Porsche .
Little by little, we became acquainted. They invited me to have dinner one night and I was impressed by how rich they really were, They lived on a mansion, the land was so big that they had a tennis court, swimming pool and a stable with 5 horses on their land. He also was a motor enthusiast and had 9 cars. They owned a farm and a beach house in another city, even though we lived in one of the most beautiful beach cities in the world.
They made money fast because I was hired in 2007 and the company was founded in 2002 and it looked like they had a good lifestyle for some years.
They were amazing people, very humble, very calm and you would never say they had so much money just by talking to them.
I left the company by the end of 2007 because I received an offer to work in another place. I talked to them before accepting the offer, I explained my reasons and they were really supportive and told me that if I changed my mind the doors would be open.
By the end of 2008, a former colleague contacted me asking for a reference as he was leaving the company. I asked why he was leaving the company and the told me that the company had gone into receivership. Basically, they were impacted by the GFC.
They were so rich that I imagined that although the company had bankrupted they probably had a lot of savings.
I never heard from them again until 2017.
I had a health issue and I needed to see a specialist. When I got to the doctor, I was talking to the receptionist when I saw a sign with her name over her desk. (Let's say Jennifer Parker - I'll omit her real name). So I said to her. Hey Jennifer, what a coincidence, I had a boss with exactly the same name.
Then she told me that she was not Jennifer, that Jennifer was the other receptionist, that she worked Monday and Tuesday and Jenniffer Wednesday to Friday. I saw the doctor and two weeks later I came back for my return and when I arrived who I see working as a receptionist there? My former boss.
When she saw me she recognized me and told me that the other receptionist told what happened and when she saw my name she connected the dots.
She told me what happened to the company, basically was a problem with the contracts they made and as they weren't able to get a new loan from the bank they could no longer keep the company and pay their debts. With that, they lost everything, not only the company but literally everything.
Their kids moved from private to public schools, they had all their cars, properties and assets confiscated and ended moving to a small apartment near the city. Her husband was able to get a new job (at nearly 60 years of age) and she had to go back to work to complement their income.
It was a huge surprise for me because you always expect that these things will happen to bad people, but never to nice people like them. They were honest, decent, hardworking, family oriented, and everybody in the office liked them.
Coincidentally I bumped into them again 3 months later in the mall. What surprised me the most is that they were able to go from a very rich to a very modest lifestyle without changing who they were. We sit together to have lunch in the food court and they were living like that was the life they always had. They were exactly the same people I met 10 years before, they were happy, making jokes with their kids (that were teenagers by then) and even when she told me what happened she didn't do it with sadness.
I don't know how they managed everything so well. Going through an experience like that could be very damaging, but it looks like they had a way to cope with everything.
It taught me a lesson that money can't be trusted, life can be full of unexpected events with many things out of our control.

Gisters:
Due to global warming, students of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) have embarked on urban forestation programme with a view to reducing the challenges to the barest minimum.

As a way of tackling the bedeviling challenges and rejuvenating the dwindling economic system, students of the department of Forestry and Wildlife, in their large number took to the streets of Abeokuta, the State capital to plant seedlings and trees in different houses while sensitising the people on the importance of planting trees.

Trees planted included; Masquerade trees, Malina, Tick trees, among others.

The students had earlier embarked on rural forestry where countless trees were planted in different rural communities.

The Acting Head of Department, Dr Oladapo Odukoya who spoke with journalists during the exercise maintained that the issue of global warming had gotten the attention of the institution, hence the need for the exercise.

Oladapo regretted that global warming had a damaging effect on the country’s economy, adding that the institution could no longer fold arms and allowed the situation to worsen.

His words “Presently, there is a problem of global warming. The various problems global warming is causing, include flooding; when a little rain falls everywhere becomes flooded, those are parts of the problems. Also the high level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which has resulted in high heat. The trees will provide shade against sun in the afternoon.”

Odukoya who supervised the exercise boasted that the trees planted also had high economic values, assuring that people could eat or sell the fruits gotten from the fruit trees planted and that they could as well harvest the leaves for many other purposes.

He also stressed that “It is more of urban forestry. It’s about sensitising the people about the importance of planting trees in their homes, having gardens in front of the house for various purposes. In time past, you will hardly see a house without trees in front of it but the practice is no more”.

The Representative of the the students, Michael Oluwadamilola said “We have observed that global warming is serious, the more you cut the plants the more you kill mankind and also you discover that this day heat gets so intense that we need trees around us to give us fresh air.

See more here; http://gistmore.com/funaab-students-plant-trees-to-tackle-global-warming

Of the Greatest Fowisite, Long live FOWISA

Can you win her heart with a pen? Participate in No.1 Hot Passion’s #DoitlikeDadChallenge and win a romantic date!

Writing a fantastic romantic letter has been always an important tool in millions of Nigerian relationships. Before the current age of cheap phone calls, DMing, WhatsApp, Twitter private messages, Snapchat, and other forms of opportunities we have been afforded by social media, our current parents had no choice but to depend on love confessions in love letters. Our fathers would probably boast that it worked every single time.


But it’s 2019, and the art of romantic letters is slowly dying. But don’t we all just miss the good old days when our fathers, uncles and mothers were boys and girls? Searching dictionaries to find punchy words that capture their feelings and thrill their partners? Pouring out their hearts into a four-page letter that their girlfriends would finish reading and gush over? But it’s age of the millennial, and guys prefer to “slide in DMs” to “shoot their shot” by dropping ‘punchlines’ and love struck emojis!


No.1 Hot Passion Body Spray is throwing it back this time. From the makers of Tetmosol, it’s all about winning & bringing old school lovin’ back, and they are giving you a chance to win a romantic date with the one you love in the #DoitlikeDadChallenge.


-Follow @no1hotpassion across all their Social Media platforms (Instagram, Twitter & Facebook)

-Upload your love letter using the hashtags #DoItLikeDadChallenge and #HotPassion on your social media handle

-Get your friends to ‘like’ your letter and you could be a lucky winner.

The competition will run till 19th of July 2019. Think about it - an all-expense paid romantic dinner date for you and a plus-one! Sounds good, don’t it? All the best, guys!

Access Bank bags international award for improving value for women

Access Bank Plc. has emerged winner of the 2019 GBA Women’s Market Champion Impact Award for its efforts towards providing opportunities for women.
Organized by the Global Banking Alliance for Women (now Financial Alliance for Women) in Paris, the award contributes to a growing list of recognitions for Access Bank, including the National Women in Finance Magazine’s Outstanding Banking Initiative Awards; the Global Banking Alliance (GBA) Women’s Market Champion Award; CBN Excellence in Women Economic Empowerment Award; National Council for Women Society Nigeria’s Dedication to Women Entrepreneurship Award; CBN Excellence in Women Economic Empowerment Award, among others.
Speaking after the announcement, Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank, called for more efforts in women empowerment, adding that the Bank will not relent in its efforts in creating more success stories for women.

“For sustainable development, women empowerment, including support to improve their socio-economic status, remains a practical, highly-important endeavour,” Wigwe said.

“Over the years, Access Bank has enshrined women empowerment into its corporate ethos, the recognition by a prestigious body such as the Financial Alliance for Women and the testimonials of our beneficiaries highlight the success of the bank in this area. Furthermore, we promise to intensify our efforts to build capacity and support women globally with the resources and expertise needed to improve their lives,” he added.

With over 35 percent women in its growing customer base, Access Bank has consistently offered innovative solutions and unique products which include the W Power Loan a discount offering that gives friendly loans to female-owned businesses, and the W Academy, where series of networking and capacity-building programs are held to train and mentor women.
Others are the Maternal Health Service Support (MHSS), a scheme designed to support women with easy and convenient options to pay for medical expenses; and the recently-launched Womenpreneur Pitchaton program, an enterprise-growth program that provides female business owners with access to grants and a mini-MBA from International Finance Corporation(IFC).

Access Bank has successfully financed over 105 families (across Nigeria, Ghana and Rwanda) for medical procedures ranging from IVF treatment, pre-and post-natal care to specialized procedures. With the capacity-building sessions at the W Academy, the IVF fora, and many others, over 216,000 women and 700 families have benefitted from the programmes


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2019/07/access-bank-wins-2019-gba-womens-market-champion-impact-award1/amp/

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Leading the sustainability efforts in Africa, Access Bank has called for more effective collaboration among stakeholders, as the bank recently hosted relevant international organisations and other stakeholders to its inaugural Annual Sustainability Summit on 29 & 30 April, 2019 at the Bank’s head office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Themed ‘Financing Sustainable Development’, the summit focused on providing a unique opportunity and safe place for sustainability practitioners to learn how to promote sustainable financing through offerings and services, sustainability communications and reporting.

Giving her welcome address, the Head of Sustainability, Access Bank, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, stressed that the country was at a critical threshold on sustainability-driven activities in Nigeria, with intensifying expectations on sustainability efforts and results from different sectors and institutions.

“Although Access Bank is renowned for its commitment to sustainability, leading several initiatives that have contributed to the global discourse including the development of the Global Responsible Banking Principles, the urgent need to scale up investments and access to finance for sustainability-focused projects, foster strategic collaboration to drive collective action and leverage on all available platforms to champion sustainability cannot be overstated,” she said.

Participants were also afforded the opportunity to engage with leading practitioners, subject matter experts, and their peers to work through the processes of setting and achieving goals, designing and delivering ambitious programs, and measuring the benefits for society as well as the bottom line.

Speaking during the panel session, the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, lauded the Bank’s efforts in promoting sustainability in the country, adding that it remains one of the key drivers in propagating the nation’s economy.

“It is exciting and inspiring when corporate organisations take up the mantle to promote sustainability in Nigeria. Access Bank has consistently led the way amongst financial institutions, and organising this summit further reinforces this position. When effected appropriately, sustainability practices can promote jobs while tackling the effects of climate change, pollution and other environmental factors that can harm and do harm people's health, livelihoods and lives,” she stated.

Guests and panellists at the summit included Professor Kenneth Amaeshi, Director, Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh Business School; Bekeme Masade-Olowola, CEO, CSR-in-Action; Olumide Orojimi, Corporate Communications Manager, Oando Plc; Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Group Chief, Sustainability and Governance, Dangote Industries Limited and other prominent industry leaders.


Photo Caption:

Picture 1: L-R: Adebola Williams, Group CEO, RED | For Africa; Dr. Eugene Kongnyuy, Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc.; Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Group Chief, Sustainability and Governance, Dangote Industries Limited; Professor Ken Amaeshi, Director of the Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh; and Amaechi Okobi, Group Head, Communications & External Affairs, Access Bank Plc., at the Access Bank Sustainability Summit.

Picture 2: L-R: Bekeme Masade-Olowola, CEO, CSR-in-Action; Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc.; Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Group Chief, Sustainability and Governance, Dangote Industries Limited, at the Access Bank Sustainability Summit.

Just like shoes, even glasses have different sizes but I feel most people don’t know how to read them

Step 1: find where is the size written on your glasses.

It is usually on the inside of you temples.

That’s the number on my glasses: 9Y12 50•16–138(yours will be similar)

Step 2: start reading from right to left.
The first number is-138.
Which means that my temples are 138 mm long or 13.8 cm.

The next number is-16.
That means the the bridges are 16 mm or 1.6 cm long.

The last number is-50
This means that my lenses are 50mm or 5cm long.

That’s it!
Next time you go to buy glasses you don’t have to try thousands of different frames to see which ones fit!

I hope you have learnt something new.

Thank you.

(pictures are from my mom’s phone cause my phone's camera quality sucks!)

Source: Quora

JasonScoolari:
Dear Musa Usman,

In your bid to be the hero of your community who care less about your existence all through your 25yrs of being a "Mai Guard," you blew a golden opportunity for you to become a Landlord of your own and make your family comfortable... Some of your community people will only sing your praise for a short while but your family will keep on regretting your "heroic decision"

Take note Musa, nor be everybody for your community go happy with this your decision as you've temporarily made some "Mai Ruwà" (Water seller's) jobless and make the government more lazy.

Enjoy your water and your "thatch house."

Do you know he just got himself what Islam refer to as Sadaqatin Jaariyah (Continuous Charity) which he will continually receive the rewards even after he dies and the water from the borehole still benefits people of his community, except if he has done such gesture out of show off and cheap praise from people of his community.

Tag islama(whatever) that's the simple principle. He choose the benefits of the hereafter above the benefits of this world.

Bought the mini truck from OP in satellite two weeks ago at a good price. Vehicle was still very good condition, just had to service it.

See pictures below for the truck transformation after additional body work

chii8:
What about OLORUNOJE STREET OFF MEGA CHICKEN AGIDINGBI BUS STOP IKEJA, please ooo,help.

It's the same address as no 12

Ajumobi Ọlọrunoje street, off Acme road.

majamajic:
did he order for that ?? that watch they delivered is not more than 2k

God bless you

What was delivered

So I ordered for a Wrist Watch on Bentigos, and few days later I was delivered, although I opted for the pay on delivery to avoid stories that touches the heart.

When I received the package, I told the delivery guy this is not what I ordered for has it looks inferior and cheap to the version I saw on their website.

The delivery guy said I should call the customer service to report the case before he can take it back, I did and the customer service representative asked if I have paid, I told him NO, he said I should give it back to the delivery guy. I was actually expecting something like, "sorry sir, will look into it and send you what you ordered for. It's been a week and no word from Bentigos.

Beware, if you see this Wrist Watch on their website, do not order for it.

I don't know if I am the only one this has happened to, I don't want to call them names, but I think it's ridiculous.

Mightymanna:
the contractor has migrated to Kano-Zaria-Kaduna-Abuja expressway work is moving at the speed of light here.

please tell those motorist to chill

I passed through this route on my way to and from Kaduna, and I wonder why road rehabilitation and construction takes sooooo much time here in the west.

Within few days Julius Berger has completely tarred about 5-10km of the road. Something is definitely happening with Julius Berger in the west. I guess there is strategy in place

To formalize the approval of Access Bank’s N15 Billion Green Bond issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the most respected African Bank held a signing ceremony at its Head Office in Victoria Island on Monday, March 18, 2019.

The 5-year Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Green Bond has been awarded an Aa- rating by Agusto & Co,
the underlying framework verified by PwC (UK) and the Bonds certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative
as having met the global Climate Bonds Standard. The offer for the Green Bonds was achieved by way
of a Book Build which was fully subscribed. The Bonds priced at a coupon of 15.5%, with participation
from a wide range of asset managers and pension fund administrators.
The management of Access Bank had, in anticipation of the Issuance, launched the Nigerian Green
Bond Market Development Programme in June 2018, in partnership with FMDQ OTC Securities
Exchange and the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Access Bank supports the global climate change mitigation and adaptation agenda and seeks to
promote responsible green lending globally. The Green Bond Issuance demonstrates the Bank’s
commitment to sustainable operational practices and being a pioneer operator, both in domestic and
international capital markets, Access Bank views the global drive for responsible and sustainable green
financing as an opportunity to raise capital for the creation of assets through climate change financing.
The Bank has a strong track record in deploying environmental and social risk management tools,
partnering with local and international agencies to deliver a greener outcome from investing activities.
Over the last five years, the Bank has pioneered various resource conservation programmes in water
usage, energy consumption and waste recycling, aimed at reducing carbon emissions. It is worthy to
note that all the Bank’s sustainability efforts are well aligned with the Federal Government’s Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Economic
Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and Vision 2020:20.
The quality of the Bank’s contributions to sustainable financial practices is also evident in the increasing
local and international awards and accolades received, which include - Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance
Award for Outstanding Business Sustainability & Outstanding Sustainability Leader (2018); Euromoney
Award for Africa’s Best Bank for Corporate Social Responsibility (2018); Global Finance Awards for Most
Sustainable Bank in Nigeria (2018) and Central Bank of Nigeria Sustainability Award(s) for Sustainable
Bank of the Year (2017).
Speaking on this landmark Issue, the Bank’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Herbert Wigwe said:
“With our pace-setting experience in the mainstreaming of sustainability in our business operations,
we are confident that this issue with further help in supporting environmentally friendly investors to
meet their investment objectives whilst simultaneously supporting the Bank’s customer towards
realizing growth opportunities in fast-developing low carbon economy”
The new funding will be directed towards financing new loans and refinancing existing loans in
accordance with the Bank’s Green Bond Framework, and support projects directed at Flood Defense,
Solar Generation facilities and Agriculture.
Chapel Hill Denham was the Lead Issuing House on the Green Bond Issuance, whilst the Joint Issuing
House was Coronation Merchant Bank.

---

https://westernpostnigeria.com/access-bank-plc-holds-signing-ceremony-for-n15-billion-green-bond-issuance/

GlorifiedTunde:
Which one is Access and Diamond bank again?

It's all now Access, Diamond had been swallowed.

They said it's still a merger

More

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Access and Diamond Bank commemorated the International Women’s Day by hosting female entrepreneurs to a conference on 14 March, 2019 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event themed 'Think W... Build Smart and Innovate' featured insightful sessions, as the speakers highlighted issues and solutions on how women can effectively leverage on technology and finance to build profitable and innovative businesses.

While delivering the keynote speech, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe said, "Women, over the years, have continued to break aboundaries, reinvent the status-quo and take advantage of the opportunities provided by technology and quality financial systems to make things better in the society. This year, the International Women’s Day Conference, has been designed to educate women on how best to leverage innovations because we have come to the realization that female-owned businesses also hold the key to the growth and stability of our economy.”

Wigwe said, “As a Bank, we are in full support of a gender-balanced society, this is why, through our Access Bank W Initiative, we educate women through our capacity building and mentorship programs, to ensure that they build and sustain brands that are globallyrecognised. We also have funding opportunities that are tailor-made for women and their businesses.”  

This was followed by a goodwill message from the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Laure Beaufils, as she advocated more support for female entrepreneurs and called for solidarity amongst women to facilitate gender parity.

“It is commendable to see corporates step up to bridge the divide by providing women with platforms and education to help build successful businesses. Globally, women need to serve as support systems for one another and adopt a ‘Pull-Her-Up’ mentality, as againstpulling each other down. Only then can we achieve the balance that we seek,” she said.

The event also featured two panel sessions, with speakers providing insights into how female entrepreneurs can access investment opportunities and build smart businesses using technology, product, and service differentiation.

Other business leaders and personalities that participated in the panel sessions include Bonaventure Okhaimo, Chief Operating Officer, Development Bank of Nigeria; Titi Osuntoki, Executive Director, Business Banking, Access Bank Plc; Adebola Adefila, Chief Executive Officer, Banrut Roll; Toyin Onigbanjo, Founder, August Secrets; Chukwuka Nonye, Founding Partner, Cuici Consulting and Director General, Delta Economic Summit Group; Patricia Nzolatima, Chairwoman, Bizolly Holding, among others.

The networking event ended with a grand dinner followed by an after-party anchored by ace Nigerian Disc Jockey, DJ Spinall and performance by Falz the Bahd Guy.

Acjohn:
Everybody is shouting woof now but I believe the country was peaceful till Islam invaded. It all boils down to them.

I think you have ectopic pregnancy of the brain, this statement is so inhumane

Abdul Aziz, 48, is being hailed as a hero for preventing more deaths during Friday prayers at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch. (Vincent Thian/Associated Press)

When the gunman advanced toward the mosque, killing those in his path, Abdul Aziz didn't hide. Instead, he picked up the first thing he could find, a credit card machine, and ran outside screaming "Come here!"

Aziz, 48, is being hailed as a hero for preventing more deaths during Friday prayers at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch after leading the gunman in a cat-and-mouse chase before scaring him into speeding away in his car.

But Aziz, whose four sons and dozens of others remained in the mosque while he faced off with the gunman, said he thinks it's what anyone would have done.

The gunman killed 50 people after attacking two mosques in the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand's modern history.

Death toll would have been higher, imam says
The gunman is believed to have killed 41 people at the Al Noor mosque before driving about five kilometres across town and attacking the Linwood mosque, where he killed seven more people. One person died later in a hospital.

White supremacist Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with one count of murder in the slayings and a judge said Saturday that it was reasonable to assume more charges would follow.

Latef Alabi, the Linwood mosque's acting imam, said the death toll would have been far higher at the Linwood mosque if it wasn't for Aziz.

Alabi said he heard a voice outside the mosque at about 1:55 p.m. and stopped the prayer he was leading and peeked out the window. He saw a man in black military-style gear and a helmet holding a large gun, and assumed it was a police officer. Then he saw two bodies and heard the gunman yelling obscenities.

'He went after him'
"I realized this is something else. This is a killer," he said.

He yelled at the congregation of more than 80 to get down. They hesitated. A shot rang out, a window shattered and a body fell, and people began to realize it was for real.

"Then this brother came over. He went after him, and he managed to overpower him, and that's how we were saved," Alabi said, referring to Aziz. "Otherwise, if he managed to come into the mosque, then we would all probably be gone."

Aziz said as he ran outside screaming, he was hoping to distract the attacker. He said the gunman ran back to his car to get another gun, and Aziz hurled the credit card machine at him.

'I just got the gun and threw it'
He said he could hear his two youngest sons, aged 11 and 5, urging him to come back inside.

The gunman returned, firing. Aziz said he ran, weaving through cars parked in the driveway, which prevented the gunman from getting a clean shot. Then Aziz spotted a gun the gunman had abandoned and picked it up, pointed it and squeezed the trigger. It was empty.


He said the gunman ran back to the car for a second time, likely to grab yet another weapon.

"He gets into his car and I just got the gun and threw it on his window like an arrow and blasted his window," he said.

'That's why he got scared'
The windshield shattered: "That's why he got scared."

He said the gunman was cursing at him, yelling that he was going to kill them all. But he drove away and Aziz said he chased the car down the street to a red light, before it made a U-turn and sped away. Online videos indicate police officers managed to force the car from the road and drag out the suspect soon after.

Anti-Muslim immigration sentiment is less prevalent in New Zealand than in Europe
After New Zealand attack, solidarity and grief at the Quebec City mosque
Originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, Aziz said he left as a refugee when he was a boy and lived for more than 25 years in Australia before moving to New Zealand a couple of years ago.

"I've been to a lot of countries and this is one of the beautiful ones," he said. And, he always thought, a peaceful one as well.

Aziz said he didn't feel fear or much of anything when facing the gunman. It was like he was on autopilot. And he believes that Allah didn't think it was his time to die

Stumbled on a video of a Muslim Cleric, Sheik Sulayman Onikijipa (Al-miskin billah), where he claimed that the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki is Ilorin pride, and can not be defeated


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBF0vCHaWIY

SEC APPROVES ACCESS BANK’S BOOK BUILD FOR PROPOSED GREEN BOND SUBSCRIPTION

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the institution in charge of regulating the Nigerian Capital Market has approved the book build in respect of the proposed Green Bond, issued by Access Bank Plc.


Following the approval, the book build commenced on Thursday, February 21, 2019and will be concluded in exactly one week, after which the funding of commitment will begin on Friday, March 1, 2019.


The Bond, a 5-year Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Green Bond of up to N15 Billion is the first ever Climate Bonds Standard Certified Corporate Green Bond to be issued in Africa. It has been awarded a B2 rating by Moody’s and verified by PwC (UK) following certification by the Climate Bond Initiative as having met the Climate Bond Standards.


The Bank’s management had in anticipation of the approval, launched the Nigerian Green Bond Market Development Programme in June 2018, in partnership with FMDQ OTC SecuritiesExchange and the Securities Exchange Commission.


While reacting to the approval, the Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe described it as a step in the right direction adding that it lends credence to the process and gives hope of a favourable outcome. According to Wigwe, the final approval of the Green Bond will mean another feat that is commendable and speaks to the vision of being a key player in the country’s finance sector. In his words, ‘With over a decade’s experience leading Sustainability in the Nigerian financial sector, we believe that the issuance of this bond will create a path to financing Nigeria’s climate change objectives and also unlock the country’s economic growth potential’.


He continued, citing the Bank’s rich experience in the area of sustainability as a factor that will guarantee its success, ‘With our pace-setting experience in the mainstreaming of sustainability in our business operations, we are confident that this Issue will further help in supporting environmentally friendly investors to meet their investment objectives whilst simultaneously supporting the Bank’scustomer towards realizing growth opportunities in the fast-developing low carbon economy’, he said.

The Issue proceeds will be used to finance eligible green projects that meet the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) standards. The Issue will serve as a turning point for Nigeria, attracting both domestic and international investors and will set the pace for other Nigerian corporates to raise green capital.

https://www.legit.ng/amp/1224149-sec-approves-access-banks-book-build-proposed-green-bond-subscription.html