Honeywell Group Limited, a leading investment holding company operating across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy including foods, real estate, infrastructure, energy, and financial services, has highlighted its partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria’s oldest and most successful development financing institution during an interview recently.

The interview, a feature by BOI’s Impact series – a TV magazine programme that spotlights beneficiaries of the bank's intervention in different sectors, as well as the achievements borne out of these interventions - was broadcast on Channels TV.

Kemi Adeoye, Chief Financial Officer, Honeywell Group Limited and Moyo Ogunseinde, Executive Director, Anchorage Leisure Ltd, the owners of Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, spoke with the BOI team to discuss the global and local tourism landscape, capital injection from the financial institution as well as the plans for the next year and beyond.

Kemi Adeoye spoke of the capital-intensive nature of the tourism and hospitality industry and the financial challenges that operators encounter.

She said, "one of the critical challenges in the sector is access to long term financing. However, partnering with BOI, an institution that is willing to provide financing for expansion and diversification of projects that enhance the socio-economic condition of Nigerians, makes it easier to function and thrive as a business.

“We approached BOI for financing for our renovation plans and the process was hassle-free. They had a deep understanding of our business and its operations, and I would say that it has been an interesting journey."

Moyo Ogunseinde shared insights into the opportunities for growth within the industry, bridging the gender gap and investment in local content:

“Over the past 10 years, our ability to surmount the challenges of talent, capital, and infrastructure has greatly improved. In the past 15 years, we have been able to train and improve the capacity of over 300 staff members and several local organisations working with us. We have been intentional about closing the gender gap – hiring and training women in areas of expertise that were historically dominated by men. We have also been able to focus on areas that were only open to expatriate workers to accommodate more indigenous Nigerian talent.”

In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism and a number of its allied industries, from travel to hospitality, had generated revenues in excess of ₦6.9 billion, and workers constituted 4.8% of total employment. However, due to restrictions to international mobility, the travel and tourism sector across the world suffered losses of almost 4.5 trillion dollars.

Nigeria has slowly begun recouping the loss and in an article, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Folorunsho Coker, shared a new strategy - Tour Nigeria - to drive recovery in the Nigerian tourism and hospitality sector.

Ogunseinde mentioned the resilience of the Nigerian market, the possibilities for growth and the trends resulting from the changes brought on by the pandemic:

“The Nigerian market is very resilient. We have been able to grow at a much faster rate than other markets. The pandemic has compelled the Nigerian tourist to focus inwards by patronising the local tourist market.”

There has also been an increase in collaborations, partnerships and renovations by local hospitality brands to allow for more family-friendly facilities as millions of families seek escape within the shores of the country as opposed to vacations across the world. The Radisson Blu Anchorage hotel which has been in full operation even at the height of the pandemic intends to continue widespread renovations as well as structural and organisational expansion.

Ogunseinde pointed out the potential in the hospitality market within the Federal Capital Territory. “Yes, we hope to expand to Abuja soon,” she concluded.

The world over, finance options and transactions are undergoing a massive transformation.

As individuals and organisations adopt more effective digital solutions to solve challenges in virtually all aspects of life, payments, lending, asset, and wealth management are also being reshaped by digital technologies. Nigeria’s finacial landscape has not been left behind.

A September 2020 report by McKinsey said Nigeria is home to over 2,00 fintech standalone companies, and fintech solutions offered by banks and mobile network operators as part of their product portfolio."Between 2014 and 2019, Nigeria's bustling fintech scene raised more than $600 million in funding, attracting 25 percent ($122 million) of the $491.6 million raised by African tech startups in 2019 alone— second only to Kenya, which attracted $149 million," the report said.

While these innovations are blurring boundaries and giving rise to new market leaders in the financial services sector, only organisations and business leaders with a full understanding of the new and emerging world will be susceptible to change and move with the times without being left behind by the moving tide.

A prime example is Nigeria’s Wema Bank, that is featuring prominently in the new era of Nigeria's financial services - considering they launched the first digital bank, ALAT, in 2017 Now, the digital bank has moved beyond leading the digital revolution in the banking sector, Wema Bank has become the power driving many fintech companies operating in Nigeria.

In February 2021, when some of Nigeria's Fintech startups were thrown off balance over regulatory issues, ALAT came to their rescue. It helped them douse the fears of investors and keep their businesses running.

Piggyvest, one of Nigeria's leading digital savings and investment technology platforms, with over three million users, announced to its users in February 2021 that it has teamed up with Wema. This switch was due to Wema's virtual accounts service that enables the fintech company to carry out its businesses seamlessly.

Also on the list of fintech companies that have adopted Wema for their operations are Cowry (BRT) and other Quick Loan apps.

When Wema Bank and ALAT’s Managing Director, Ademola Adebise, declared that "banking is a lot different today than it was at the start of my career over 30 years ago," it also confirms that the bank's leadership understands the present and the future and is ready to feature prominently in it.

Adebise is also not unaware of the Nigerian teeming youth factor when he added: "Many years ago, you were likely to get a job and become financially independent within a few years after graduation. Sadly, this isn't the case for young Nigerians right now – a group that constitutes about 42.5 per cent of the national population. The population of Nigeria has grown exponentially, and with it has come increased competition for jobs. To make up for this, more young people are starting businesses and embracing creative career choices. They are taking control of their destinies."

With the marriage of the two phenomena — banking and the youth — it will not be out of place to say that Wema Bank saw into the future when it dared to introduce ALAT by Wema, long before other banks caught up and long before the fintech bug bit our ecosystem.

"We saw the inevitable future coming, and we have positioned ourselves to play a massive role in bringing it to fruition. We introduced ALAT in 2017 as a bank that is flexible and intuitive, a perfect match for Nigerians who value their time and enjoy the convenience that technology brings," Adebise had explained in a recent piece.

Today, ALAT boasts of over 574,242 customers and has processed over 43,000,000 transactions worth over N1 trillion.

According to data from the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), just 43 million Nigerians have Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) – less than 50 percent of the adult population.

Its virtual account services, which allows users to open an account from any part of the world, is also helping to drive financial inclusion among young Nigerians. That unique feature allowed music star, David 'Davido' Adeleke, to open a bank account from his hotel room in Dubai to raise N200 million for charity in just 72 hours.

With Davido, who commands a large global following, now aboard the ALAT by Wema team, Wema Bank's financial inclusion drive has just gotten a huge boost.

ALAT is also taking a step further, this time by announcing the return of the 2022 edition of its Hackathon programme tagged #Hackaholics 3.0 – Building The Future. The initiative is aimed at helping tech enthusiasts and innovators scale and gain entrance into the market. It is targeted at young Nigerians who will put their coding, product curation, and pitching skills to work, by solving interesting problems.

As fintech will continue driving greater access to and the convenience of financial services for Nigeria's young population, industry players like ALAT by Wema will increasingly be tapped by startups to strengthen their businesses and the services they render.

Written by Michael Orodare a journalist living in Lagos, Nigeria

The long-awaited second season of Alat by Wema's speed eating competition, #Alatfoodchallenge has debuted and it was honestly the best way to start the year!
The first episode aired on January 25th whilst the second aired on February 1st with 4 challengers and their friends competing to win the prize of ₦100,000. The second edition comprised of two episodes, with four incredible individuals on each episode.

Although the first season will hold a high place in our hearts, we absolutely love the second season and here’s why:

1. The Team Names:
Instead of the regular team names, this time we got to support our newly found faves and their cool and sometimes funny team names. Now, everyone can create their stan groups between teams Softlife, Thrive, Undecided and Bounce.

2. The Food:
Hellfire turkeys are no joke! However, our challengers were up to the task. If you want to experience what eating a platter of spicy turkey wings feels like, sign up on ALAT and start the chance to get featured for the next edition.

3. The Contestants:
One of best parts of this new season were the participants! I mean, they didn’t come to play this edition, look at them all kitted up nicely, They turned up looking glammed up and were still ready to dive into their spicy turkey wings.

4. Girlpower!!
One would think the jolly Kofo and sweet Daberenna were outmatched but they took home their crown either by strategically following the rules of the game or just outright out-eating their competition.

You can watch the first episode here and second episode here, both on ALAT’s social media pages to know what the buzz is about and hopefully we can get them to host more challenges.

Tech Bros, Tech Sis, This is for you! ALAT by Wema, Nigeria’s first digital bank has announced the 2022 edition of its Hackathon, #Hackaholics 3.0 - Building The Future. The acceleration, which is aimed at helping startups scale and gain entrance into the market, is targeted at university students and youths within the community, who will put their coding and pitching skills to work by solving interesting problems.
This year’s edition will focus on exploring the limitless power of the future of technology, like ​​NFTs, Metaverse, Blockchain, AR, VR, AI, IoT and how young Nigerians can apply these to solving societal issues across Finance, Health, Entertainment, mSME, lending, while they stand the chance to win a total prize of five million naira.
According to ALAT, the aim of the programme is to discover and nurture at least 50 tech-hirable talents across Solutions Engineering, Data Science, Product Management, Product Designers across identified University communities.
Speaking on the initiative, Olusegun Adeniyi, the Chief Digital Officer, Wema Bank, said, “The tech space is filled with emerging technological advances that hold so many possibilities and we want to key into that by raising the next generation of tech giants who will use their creativity and talent to change the course of society. We will also be assisting them in thriving as key drivers in economic expansion and catalysts for radical innovations”
The registration process for Hackathon 3.0 began on February 5, 2022 and will run until February 14, 2022. Successful applications will proceed to a 3-day bootcamp where they will have the opportunity to learn the steps needed to launch the next unicorn while also pitching their ideas to selected judges at 3 hubs across the country, FUTA, UNIBEN and UNILAG to determine if their idea is viable and scalable for launch into the market.
Hackaholics 3.0 promises to be an interactive event where innovators, creative thinkers, developers and coding experts connect and show off their skills, while opening themselves up to a world of greater possibilities. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners at this 3rd edition will walk home with two million Naira, 1.5 million Naira, and one million Naira, respectively.

Nigeria’s leading digital bank, ALAT by Wema, has announced the commencement of the second edition of its popular speed-eating competition - the #ALATFoodChallenge, a fun and exciting contest where young Nigerians across the country are called upon to express their love for food. The fast-paced competition which will premiere on the bank’s Instagram page, @alat_ng, preceded by an application phase that commenced on Friday, December 17, 2021, and will run till the end of the challenge.

On Monday, January 17, 2021, ALAT confirmed that the challenge will even improve on the successes of the previous edition and will leverage the excitement of the new year season. The challenge will give young Nigerians another opportunity to express their excitement following an eventful year. The partnership with popular social media food influencer, Ayo the creator of the food eating show - Nigerians vs Food, will continue this season.

This challenge, which will feature two episodes, is open to all interested persons between the ages of 18 to 35 and requires all challengers to sign up on the ALAT app (via Play Store or App Store) using the referral code ‘FOOD’. Following a successful registration, challengers are expected to visit the bank’s verified social media channels to complete the process.

Funmilayo Falola, Head of Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, stated the company’s drive in organizing another edition of the ALAT Food Challenge. ‘The new year is yet another great opportunity to lift the spirits of Nigerians, especially following a difficult year. It was exciting to see how Nigerians reacted to the first contest and we hope that we can replicate that joy on a much bigger scale with this edition.’

ALAT has built a customer base of over 600,000 customers in the past four years, investing over 2 billion Naira in various youth-oriented initiatives such as Talk Series, SociaLiga, GameOn Turf Football Competition, Social Media Week, and many more since its launch.

For more information about the challenge, food lovers can visit www.wemabank.com/alatfoodchallenge/

As a young professional with a relatively steady income, there is usually the belief that the world is your oyster because you’re suddenly earning more than you imagined and you’ve begun your journey to financial independence.


With the current financial situation and the dollar-naira difference, there is the need to be very smart with money. Yes, expenses will come, but life must be lived. So, how can you protect your finances against the knocks of adulthood and life?


We have developed a mini-guide on how to make smart money moves with your income.

1. Learn Self Control:
If you’re lucky, your parents taught you this skill as a kid or you have the natural ability to wait and enjoy the finer things at a later date. If not, keep in mind that the sooner you learn the fine art of delayed gratification, the quicker it is easy to keep your finances in order.
Always ensure your basic needs are covered first - data subscriptions, electricity bills, etc - before you consider your wants, i.e. things that aren’t essential. If you are fickle, ALAT has the Collections feature that allows you to collate your bills like electricity, water etc, and automate payments. Although we advise you to treat yourself once in a while, try not to spend too much on the non-essential.


2. Create a Solid Financial Plan:
Your financial plan should comprise how much you intend to spend, save, and invest. As soon as you earn your income for the month, plan how best to maximize it and remain debt-free. Having a financial plan motivates you to take control of your finances.

You might also consider getting financial advice from trusted financial professionals so you can explore your options.

Set financial goals to help you better manage your money because then you know what you’re working towards. Perhaps you’re planning on getting a new apartment or maybe you would like to go on a holiday or buy a car.

You can also separate your savings into short-term and long-term savings. With ALAT Savings goals, you can create separate goals for your long-term and short-term savings.


3. Budget Every Single Spend:
A financial plan and a budget are not the same thing. A financial plan is a long-term plan for your finances - income, wealth generation, investment, etc. While your budget curtails your spending to ensure you live a luxurious life within boundaries.

One of the most important steps is to plan your monthly entertainment and miscellaneous expenses. No one has ever died from being organized.

Your budget gives you an overview of how you want to spend your money. It helps you to track your spending and can prevent you from overspending and going into debt.

4. Establish an Emergency Fund:
An emergency fund, also known as ‘rainy day’ savings, is your personal insurance policy attained through your savings. Apart from having long-term savings, you need to have a rainy day saving plan that provides you with a cushion against large unexpected expenses. This way, you won't tamper with your savings.


5. Avoid Getting Into Debts:
This is very important. When you’re young, and you’re earning a good salary, there’s always the pull to enjoy your life to the maximum. There’s nothing wrong with that!

However, avoid borrowing to sustain your newfound lifestyle, especially for unnecessary things. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to keep up appearances or spending irresponsibly.

The cost of borrowing puts a strain on your income, and this can be stressful in the long run.

You can also use apps and solutions that can help with this. For instance, ALAT customers have a safety cushion with the Pre Qualified Payday Loan, which allows salary account owners to qualify for salary advances or loans ahead of their next payday. If you’re not an ALAT customer, you can apply for Migo Loan serviced by ALAT that provides the required service you need.


6. Save for Retirement:
If your dream is to retire by age 35 or 40 - it is possible. Saving and investing smartly could mean early retirement, and you get to live your baby boy/baby girl lifestyle. So it's only wise to open a pension fund now and allot a segment of your income to that fund.

If you think you are too young to start saving for retirement, remember that small monthly deposits over a course of 20 to 30 working years will become huge sums and can end up with as much (if not more) as someone who made a lot of deposits each month but started saving at a later time.


7. Insurance:
Lack of a good insurance policy can be a huge financial drain on you or your family if an emergency arises. This is Nigeria, anything can happen at any time.

You may think that it’s too soon to buy property or life insurance and that it’s only something necessary when you get married and start your own family. Please, if it’s valuable, insure it.

Getting insurance coverage early can protect you against the exorbitant costs of treating illnesses, cost of recovering from motor accidents, and so much more. Since you have a lower individual risk it means a lower premium that you can sustain.
Being adequately insured can provide you with the assurance that you and your family will have enough financial resources if you face an untoward life event.


With 2022 swinging around, there is a heightened need to be smart. And with the added responsibility of running one’s business, smart and well-informed options are a necessity. Overall, find a balance between living your life to the fullest and cultivating a healthy saving and investment culture.

Since their invention, the convenience and security of mobile banking apps have appealed to a large number of consumers including the younger population.

According to a report by Nairametrics, in 2020, e-transactions in Nigeria (mobile & USSD) surged by 82.6% to stand at N1.69 billion compared to N928.86 million recorded in the previous year. Also, customers between the ages of 25 and 34 years carried out 36% of all interbank instant payments.

Many people are switching to mobile apps because it makes previously time-consuming and laborious operations like money depositing and cash transfers swift.

Many banks now offer a lot of their services to their customers with just a swipe, however, the Fintech industry has expanded to include banks that are solely digital like Nigeria's first digital bank, ALAT by Wema.

Although many people now use their banking apps to make transactions, there are some features that are underused and overlooked that can make your life much easier than it is.

1. Pay bills promptly and conveniently: [/b]The process is very similar to making a transfer. You can schedule payments on your banking app, especially when you need to pay bills like water, electricity, etc.
The ALAT app also allows you to collate all your bills and help you automate the payment.


[b]2. Keep track of transactions: You can also check your transaction summary to see a list of payments with information for the payee, amount, and date for payments that are both scheduled and recently sent. You can monitor your account balance, track spending or transactions and make easy money transfers.

This required requesting a bank statement which took days to get, but now all you have to do is scroll through and some apps even show you graphs of your income, savings and expenditure.


[b]3. Automate your savings: [/b]This is one of the most interesting features of banking apps, but it is severely under-used.

You can easily automate your savings i.e your bank transfers a certain amount of money daily, weekly, or monthly from your account balance to your savings.

ALAT Savings Goals takes this basic feature up a notch. With the saving goals, you can create different goals for different things, including rent, a trip, a new phone, etc, that way, you have different purses for different items.


[b]4. Virtual payments: [/b]With the advent of online stores, more and more people are getting apprehensive about overusing their credit/debit cards to pay on online stores because of cyber fraud. Now banks have virtual cards which are accessible via mobile bank apps. The cards have the same function as the regular ATM cards except that it is purely virtual.


[b]5. Security: [/b]When you place a lock on your debit or ATM card via Online or Mobile Banking, it will prevent most types of card transactions from being processed until you take action to unlock your card. Any virtual cards linked to the locked card will also be locked. However, the lock may not stop card transactions presented as a new recurring or a previously scheduled recurring transaction by the merchant, transactions using other cards linked to your deposit account, or the posting of refunds or credit adjustments to your account. Transactions that occurred before locking the card will not be affected. Locking your card is not a replacement for reporting your card lost or stolen.


The next question will be, how well are you using your banking app?

A clinical sex therapist, Hannah Jonathan, also known as Soul Spice, has advised that it is important for Nigerians to understand their erotic blueprint and sexual languages, as well as their partner’s.

The self-proclaimed ‘master sexpert’ who doubles as the CEO of Soul Spice toys made this statement at the just concluded third edition of the ALAT Talk Series where she spoke about ‘Managing Sexual Relationships and Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle’.

During her very enlightening talk, Soul Spice also shed light on the problem with intimacy in marriages, adding that “Most couples do not set boundaries early in their relationship and are easily influenced by work, friends, and family, which leads to stress. This stress, in turn, causes frustration, leaving one party sexually frustrated and then they go outside and engage in extramarital affairs to fill the space.”

She added that couples should understand each other’s sex languages i.e fun, desire, pleasure, patience and acceptance to enable them to reach a compromise.

Also at the event were OAP and OffAir co-host, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, who moderated the session; content creators, Akah and Claire Nnani and the Head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, Funmilayo Falola who all spoke on balancing finances and a demanding career.

The ALAT Talk Series is a virtual session for young Nigerians organized by Nigeria’s first digital bank, ALAT by Wema, to exchange ideas and insights about life, relationships, technology, and finance, offering them informed opinions from experts and other experienced young professionals who are knowledgeable in various areas.

This third edition of the series, themed ‘Relationship, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All‘, was aimed at providing young Nigerians with the skills and information that will assist with combining a hectic work lifestyle with a healthy sex/love life.

- ALAT by Wema held the third edition of its ALAT Talk Series last Thursday
- The event featured speakers Akah and Claire Nnani, Soul Spice and Funmilayo Falola and was moderated by Gbemi O
- The event was aimed at helping young Nigerians make important financial decisions while in relationships.

OAP Gbemi O joined YouTube couple Akah and Claire Nnani, clinical sexuality coach, Hannah Jonathan (Soul Spice), and Wema Bank’s Head of Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Funmilayo Falola, to discuss the relationships, sex and finances at the just concluded ALAT Talk Series 3.

Over 300 attendees joined the event via Zoom and Facebook Live to watch each speaker discuss how to balance a demanding career, with relationships, finances, and sex and learn from everyone who shared their individual experiences.

The Nnanis shared insights into their relationship and how they’ve been able to balance work and family. For Akah, “Trust is important in all our dealings. We trust each other in setting boundaries and understanding each other’s perspectives while managing our business together.” Claire added that “It is hard not to see each other as competition, especially when you are working in the same space, but understanding your strengths is key.”

Clinical sexuality coach, Hannah Jonathan, gave a scintillating talk on how sex and intimacy affect the longevity of many relationships in Nigeria: “Most couples do not set boundaries early in their relationship and are easily influenced by work, friends, and family, which leads to stress. This stress causes frustration, leaving one party sexually frustrated and then they go outside and engage in extramarital affairs to fill the space.”

Funmilayo Falola, Head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, speaking on ‘Juggling finance and relationship decisions’, spoke about combining work with caring for her family. She said, “Most couples that struggle with finances do not have conversations about their financial goals and how they intend to achieve them. This causes friction in the marriage.”

She added, “ALAT is committed to improving financial literacy among young Nigerians by providing them with the tools and services to make the right financial decisions, especially in situations like marriages and relationships.”

The ALAT Talk Series is a virtual session for young Nigerians organized by ALAT by Wema to exchange ideas and insights about life, relationships, technology, and finance, offering them informed opinions from experts and other experienced young professionals who are knowledgeable in various areas.

The third session of the ALAT Talk series was entertaining and very spicy. Themed “Relationships, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All’, the series was moderated by OAP and OffAir podcast co-host, Gbemi O.

Akah Nnani and his wife Claire, sex coach Hannah Jonathan, and Funmilayo Falola, Head Marketing Communications and Investor Relations Wema Bank, spoke at the event and shook enough tables to make us blush.

In case you missed the event, click here to watch the full video. While you are at it, here is a quick rundown of what you missed:

Akah and Claire’s Cuteness:

Akah and Claire Nnani rarely shy away from giving us insights into how they make their relationship work. However, we couldn’t help but notice that both of them were all smiles while the other was speaking.

It was all fun till Akah called himself an ‘oga at the top’ twice!

Everything Hannah Jonathan Said:

When Clinical Sexuality Coach, Hannah Jonathan (Soul Spice) took the floor, we had our pen and paper ready to write everything there is to know about sex languages. However, the entirety of her talk left us speechless.

She took the already rated 18 series up to rated-30, enlightening the audience about sexual depression and erotic blueprints! Her session will not be forgotten in a hurry. The questions in the comments sections kept pouring in.

Funmilayo’s Never-Ending Money Quips:

We are sure every girl and their mother gave a standing ovation when Funmilayo Falola made the statement about never asking a woman about her money! She also made some very important points during her talk, one of which is that couples should discuss their financial goals and expectations before it’s too late.

She found a way to make money talk funny with real-life situations

The Return of Hannah during the Q&A session:

After Hannah left us in shock with her introduction to all things riding and sex time, she returned to answer a couple of questions during the Q&A and fireside chat. It was even spicier than the first session!

She advised women to be good wives in the living room but side chics in the bedroom, adding that most women who attend her classes were side chics looking to improve their skills.

The Power of Declaring Your Receivables:

The Q&A session was delightful, as the audience had interesting yet amusing questions to ask the speakers.

A lady asked Falola about how to manage her husband and tell him about how much she earns and other receivables she gets.

Funmilayo joked that she should “declare all of your receivables” and added that if the lady was shy about revealing how much she earns to her husband, then she probably did not trust him. She advised people to be independent and have rainy-day savings recommending the ALAT Savings Goal plan.

ALAT Talk Series 3 was a blast, and we can hardly wait for the next session. We want spicier!

Fostering a healthy work-life balance is one of the many concerns of young professionals across the world, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. On Thursday, October 28, 2021, a diverse group of Nigerian professionals - Gbemi O, media personality; Claire and Akah Nnani, YouTube content creators and creatives; Funmilayo Falola, Head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank; Hannah Jonathan, Clinical Sexuality Coach - gathered to discuss balancing a healthy relationship and a hectic workload, while ensuring financial stability.

This discussion was held during the third edition of the ALAT Talk Series, a platform for the exchange of ideas and insights about life, relationships, technology, and finance. The virtual series themed ‘Relationship, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All’ was held via teleconferencing application, Zoom.

The latest edition of the series was aimed at providing young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge required to combine a hectic work lifestyle with a healthy sex/love life. Media personality and co-host of the OffAir Show, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, moderated the 90-minute session. Comments and questions poured in from the eager audience who watched on the Zoom app and via ALAT’s Facebook page.

Akah and Claire Nnani’s session was brutally honest as they shared their experiences as a couple, their transition into parenthood, and how they thrived as business partners while managing their demanding careers. Akah emphasised the need for trust, “trust is important in all our dealings. We trust each other in setting boundaries and understanding each other’s perspectives while managing our business together.” Claire buttressed Akah’s point with her take on the need for couples to reach an understanding, “It is hard not to see each other as competition, especially when you are working in the same space, but understanding your strengths is key.”

During the event, the Head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, Funmilayo Falola reiterated the objective of the ALAT Talk Series and the importance of addressing key financial decisions from the onset: “At ALAT we are committed to improving financial literacy among young Nigerians by providing them with the tools and services to make the right financial decisions in any situation even marriages and relationships.

This is why we advise the need to address the seemingly difficult financial decisions from the onset. Investment plans, yearly and monthly budgets, individual and joint financial goals, allowances and childcare plans, are some of the important conversations to have in any relationship,” she added.

Speaking on the sexual status of many relationships in Nigeria, Sex Expert, Hannah Jonathan spoke about boundaries and influence, “Most couples do not set boundaries early in their relationship and are easily influenced by work, friends and family, which leads to stress. This stress causes frustration that can cause further issues in the future.”

Over the years, ALAT has developed several youth-focused initiatives to support Nigerians across the country in building sustainable relationships and a healthy lifestyle - and this third edition of the ALAT Talk Series is one of such initiatives.

Gbemi Olateru-Olabegi, one of Nigeria’s prominent media personalities and entrepreneurs, has been announced as the host of the third edition of the Talk Series hosted by ALAT by Wema, Nigeria’s leading digital bank.

Gbemi Olateru-Olabegi, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Oakland University, Rochester, won the On-Air Personality of the Year award at the Future Awards Africa in 2008. She has been the host of the DriveTime show on The Beat 99.9 FM since 2017, and alongside best friend Tolu “Toolz” Oniru, she is the co-host of the Off-Air With Gbemi & Toolz podcast.

Gbemi takes over from Tosin Olaseinde, Founder, Money Africa, and Funmilayo Falola, Head, Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, who moderated the previous editions of ALAT’s Talk series.

As an entrepreneur, Gbemi created Gbemisoke Shoes, a proudly Nigerian shoe brand primarily for women who find it challenging to get big shoe sizes. She started the brand when she noticed that women with big feet find it difficult to find their shoe size when shopping for shoes. She succeeded and went on to launch the heels range of her product line. She is also the CEO of Speakerboxx Productions.

The Talk Series is a virtual session for young Nigerians to exchange ideas and insights about life, relationships, technology, and finance, offering them informed opinions from experts and other experienced young professionals knowledgeable in various areas.

The third session of the series themed, Relationship, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All, will hold on Thursday, October 28th at 4 pm, via teleconferencing application, Zoom. Guest speakers are actor Akah Nnani, illustrator Claire Nnani, clinical sexuality coach, Hannah Jonathan and Funmilayo Falola, Head, Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank. At the end of this session, attendees are expected to be equipped with valuable skills and information that will help them to create, build, and manage their wealth.

ALAT by Wema has continually shown support for young Nigerians across the country through various youth-friendly initiatives, including a partnership with SociaLiga and the ALAT Food Challenge campaign.

Click here to register for the Zoom session on Thursday, October 28th, at 4 pm.

https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FALATTalkSeries3&data=04%7C01%7C%7Caacddbba98bc4e48644308d98ffa2adf%7C0e661e98834e49209c39b3e542bb6665%7C0%7C0%7C637699126890486490%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=qoa%2B0CcQ1sBtMsVuqg2zomJiWnPODwpxH7FVQMuAzEo%3D&reserved=0

Akah and Claire Nnani, Youtube content creators and artistes, have been announced as speakers at the third edition of the Talk Series hosted by ALAT by Wema, Nigeria’s first fully digital bank.

Akah Nnani, a Nollywood Actor and Youtube content creator, has starred in Nollywood favourites such as The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Lara and the Beat, Tinsel, Jenifa’s Diaries and Omo Ghetto: The Saga. Akah Nnani also starred in the popular Africa Magic TV series Ajoche and is currently starring in a new Showmax series, Ghana Jollof, alongside comedian Basketmouth. He was nominated for ‘Best Supporting Role’ at the 2018 AMAA for Banana Island Ghost.

Claire Idera Nnani is an accomplished illustrator, designer & multimedia artist. She has previously worked as a freelance fashion designer and illustrator. She boasts a robust portfolio with clients like Lisa Folawiyo, Zashadu, Refashion Africa, Grey Velvet, Hugo Boss, etc. She also runs an independent fashion illustration and design workshop in Lagos and tutors students.

The Nnanis will speak about “Relationship and work: lines not to cross” and share more details about their partnership and how they’ve been able to balance work and family. Besides their work, they run a joint vlog, ‘Akah and Claire’, showing the intricacies surrounding their lives as a Nigerian working couple.

Healthy work-life balance, especially during the pandemic, has been one of the most significant issues for young professionals worldwide. The audience will have the opportunity to send in questions before the event using #ALATTalkSeries on social media or via the live chat option during the session.

The third session of the series themed, Relationship, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All will hold on Thursday, October 28th at 4 pm, via teleconferencing application, Zoom. Guest speakers are clinical sexuality coach Hannah Jonathan and Funmilayo Falola, Head, Marketing, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank. Gbemi Olateru-Olabegi will host this edition. At the end of this session, attendees are expected to be equipped with valuable skills and information that will help them to create, build, and manage their wealth.

ALAT by Wema has continually shown support for young Nigerians across the country through various youth-friendly initiatives, including a partnership with SociaLiga and the ALAT Food Challenge campaign.

Click here to register for the Zoom session on Thursday, October 28th, at 4 pm.

https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FALATTalkSeries3&data=04%7C01%7C%7Caacddbba98bc4e48644308d98ffa2adf%7C0e661e98834e49209c39b3e542bb6665%7C0%7C0%7C637699126890486490%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=qoa%2B0CcQ1sBtMsVuqg2zomJiWnPODwpxH7FVQMuAzEo%3D&reserved=0

Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Wema Bank Plc., excited customers in Agege, Lagos, on Thursday, October 14, 2021, as it rewarded 2 raffle draw winners for the month of September. This was part of its ongoing customer reward campaign, the 5for5 Promo which commenced on July 1, 2021.

The promo has seen over 200 customers win cash prizes ranging from 10,000 naira to the grand prize of one million naira by conducting transactions via the digital banking platform, ALAT, and Wema’s USSD code - *945#. In August and September 2021, customers in Osun state were the first to receive the 5for5 treatment where two lucky winners became millionaires.

In Lagos, an excited 44-year-old Alade Rafiu Aliu, was awarded the grand prize of a million Naira. The welder explained his shock at the news, “When I was contacted, I was very suspicious until I was informed to come to the bank the next day. I went to my bank branch in Agege and as I walked in, all the staff began congratulating me; that was when I realised it was actually true!”

He went on to express his gratitude to the bank, “I am grateful to Wema bank, staff at the Agege branch for taking pains to track me down and ensure that I got my prize money. Since I have been banking with them, I have not had issues.”

Another 100,000 naira winner, Olaniyi Elijah Olatunde, who has been a customer for over 20 years and is a pioneer ALAT customer, applauded the bank for the promo. He stated that, “The promo is a great thing. It’s something that is making people happy and giving them a chance to improve their lives. It is also a way of letting customers know that their loyalty is not going unnoticed.”

Speaking at the cheque presentation, Divisional Head, Retail Business, Wema Bank, Dotun Ifegbogun stated, “We introduced this promo to reward loyal customers, encourage a healthy savings culture and renew relationships with old customers. And in the past three months we have done just that. The response across the country has been humbling.

“So far we have given over 200 customers an avenue to make a difference with their winnings. We are not only creating financial freedom but we are also providing financial literacy on how they can spend, save and invest their winnings wisely.”

Over 10 million naira has been won in the 5for5 promo - a nine-month-long campaign that will continue to reward customers till March 2022. Over 31.5 million naira will be awarded when the promo ends next year.

For more information, visit www.wemabank.com

ALAT by Wema, Nigeria’s first fully digital bank, will host the third session of its Talk Series on Thursday, October 28, 2021, via teleconferencing application, Zoom. The Talk Series is a virtual session for young Nigerians to exchange ideas and insights about life, relationships, technology, and finance, offering them informed opinions from experts and other experienced young professionals who are knowledgeable in various areas.

This edition, themed ‘Relationship, Love and Work: How To Juggle It All‘, will provide young Nigerians with the skills and information that will assist with combining a hectic work lifestyle with a healthy sex/love life.

Akah and Claire Nnani, actor, and artist; Hannah Jonathan, Sex Therapist and Funmilayo Falola, Head, Marketing Communications and Investor Relations, Wema Bank, have been confirmed as speakers for this session. The event will also be moderated by multi-talented media personality and co-host of hit YouTube show, OffAir, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi.

The Nnanis will share more details about their partnership and speak about “Relationship and Work: Lines Not to Cross,” while Hannah Jonathan will discuss “Managing Sexual Depression and Embracing a Healthy Sexual Lifestyle.” Funmilayo Falola, will share insights from her personal and professional experience on “Juggling Finance and Relationship Decisions”.

Healthy work-life balance, especially during the pandemic, has been one of the biggest issues for young professionals across the world. The audience will have the opportunity to send in questions before the event using #ALATTalkSeries on social media or via the live chat option during the session.

According to a statement by Mrs Falola, “We are fully committed to encouraging young Nigerians to build meaningful partnerships while maintaining financial independence and developing their business skills. With the Talk Series, we are encouraging young professionals and other young Nigerians to discuss critical issues in a safe environment and find solutions with peers and other experienced minds.”

Akah Nnani, a Nollywood Actor and Youtube content creator, has starred in Nollywood favourites such as The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Tinsel, Jenifa’s Diaries and Omo Ghetto The Saga. He is currently starring in a new ShowMax series, ‘Ghana Jollof’ alongside comedian, Basketmouth.

Claire Idera Nnani runs an independent design workshop in Lagos and teaches students. She has previously worked as a freelance fashion designer and illustrator and boasts of a robust portfolio with clients like Lisa Folawiyo, Zashadu, Refashion Africa, Grey Velvet, Hugo Boss amongst many others.

Hannah Jonathan is a certified life and sex coach whose goal is to help singles and couples find joy in sexuality and sensuality.

Funmilayo Falola currently heads the Marketing Communications and Investor Relations function in Wema Bank. She has over 16 years of experience in the marketing and communications sector and has held various managerial positions in different companies within and outside the sector.

ALAT by Wema has continually shown support for young Nigerians across the country through various youth-friendly initiatives, including a partnership with SociaLiga and other initiatives tailored towards the youths.

The company has also won numerous awards, such as the Best Digital Bank and Best Mobile App in Nigeria at the 2017 World Finance Awards, Best Digital Bank in Africa at the 2018 Asian Banker Awards, amongst many others.

NBC News recently aired a documentary about how millennials are the unluckiest generation in modern history. Although a sample population of Americans was used, is it safe to say that this may be true of people born between 1980-1995 across the world, and maybe even Nigeria?

The documentary chronicles how millennials came of age right in the middle of the 2008 economic recession in America and struggled with finding a stable job and earning a sustainable income. It also highlighted how young people who are affected by multiple factors are marrying and having kids later than their parents.

The documentary was released in July 2020, and I wonder if all the doom and gloom shown in the documentary would have escalated if they shot it merely a year after.

Before March 2020, the goal of the young professional was to earn a stable income that could accommodate their lifestyle, black tax, and the occasional trip to an exotic country if other means of relocation were futile. However, achieving any of these has required consistent hard work for years before one finds their footing.

While several young people were finally finding their rhythm, the global pandemic happened and scattered the progress that had been made. Many lost their jobs and had to move back home. Others experienced pay cuts because many companies were not earning enough to pay what was left of their salaries.

As inflation rose across the world, so did the unemployment rate jump exponentially. In Nigeria, inflation hit 17.93% in May 2021 before dropping to 17.75% in June, and our current 33.3% unemployment rate is now the second-highest in the world. Of the 33.3%, young people between the ages of 15 to 34 years account for an alarming 42.5%.

The figures might just look like statistics but the 12.9 million unemployed Nigerians are 6 times more than the population of Namibia which has the highest unemployment rate in the world.

This is a very dangerous situation we as young Nigerians have found ourselves in. The most populous black nation in the world has a third of its citizens unemployed and there is no solution in sight. The Nigerian government which has been in two consecutive recessions has not revealed a plan or the approach that will be taken to remedy the situation.

The Coronavirus is destroying many people in different ways. Those who are not affected by the disease are affected by the economic crisis it has brought with it. One of the few relatively sane things that have come out of the pandemic is how governments have invested in medical research and grants to pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines in record time, and companies realizing that the traditional workspace is outdated.

On her part, the Nigerian government increased testing centres and ramped up vaccine distribution. The private sector was also responsive by contributing fiduciary resources for the treatment of affected persons and providing care packages to families affected by the pandemic. MTN Nigeria, contributed 7 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to African countries while Dettol and its parent company, Reckitt, besides producing hand sanitizers, provided PPE, spread goodwill messages, and encouraged people to keep to the precautionary guidelines. On the other hand, the Coca‑Cola Company provided support to communities in the form of financial aid to organizations like the Red Cross, and product donations to those medical and hospital professionals on the very front-line, to mention but a few.

Despite thousands attempting to prove that Coronavirus is a hoax, one of my best friends battled the coronavirus. She lost her father and this nearly destroyed her family. So for the naysayers, I laugh with scorn.

Months passed and it felt like things were clearing up, restrictions were lifting, people were getting vaccinated, and nations were gearing up for the Olympics. These appeared to be a mere false ray of hope because as soon as people were settling in, multiple variants of the COVID-19 virus were discovered. Discussions about rapid response were still ongoing, and then, another viral disease popped up, Monkeypox.

The disease has slowly been ravaging the country since 2017, yet there was little coverage on it until the US tracked their patient zero on an Atlanta flight from Nigeria. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there have been 483 reported cases since 2017. Of the 483, 17 were reported this year in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, and Lagos.

Monkeypox’s arrival is ‘ill-timed’ because 100 countries globally are busy fighting the COVID-19 Delta Variants and the economic after-effects of the pandemic, so there will hardly be any focus on it.

It is however worthy to note that precautionary measures for both diseases are similar, so there is nothing new to add to your routine. As long as you continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, sanitize, and get your vaccine, you should be safe.

Battling all these at this point in our lives is maddening. Yet, we find ways to thrive, because, in this country, we cannot afford any other option. Yes, millennials and Gen Z might be tagged the unluckiest generation but we are the strongest and most determined.

There are people and businesses who have leveraged the pandemic and have risen to fame within the period. People like internet comedienne, Elsa Majimbo, and businesses like Paystack, a fintech in Nigeria run by two millennials became a unicorn during the period. It might sound a bit too optimistic but it is the reality of many young people, surviving in spite of what life throws at them.

Some brands and organisations have also taken up the mantle to help enlighten the public on how to observe better hygiene practices. Notably, the Dettol Clean Naija campaign targeted towards teaching primary schoolers basic hygiene habits has been at the forefront of this movement since 2013. Over five million children have also been impacted in Lagos, Rivers, Kano and Ogun State..

So, while we nudge the government to remember its commitments to the youth, we will continue to look for ways to shirk the hand luck has dealt us.

With the manner the past 18 months have treated us (viruses and their variants, unemployment, lack of funds, etc), we all deserve some loving, and I don’t mean TLC, we all need some ‘money-loving’.

It seems ALAT by Wema Bank heard this and decided to go on a nine-month spree! In July, the digital bank started its 5 for 5 promo to award its customers and in only one month 71 winners were awarded cash prizes. Before you start shouting ‘God when’, you may want to hold on and read to the end.

Are you still thinking about it? Okay, let’s show you some of the things you should know about the ongoing promo:
1. It Is Open To All ALAT and Wema Bank customers: To stand a chance of winning the cash money you need to start by having an ALAT or Wema Bank account. This automatically makes it easy for you to qualify.

2. Fund that account: You need to fund your account with at least ₦5,000 and carry out a minimum of five transactions on either the ALAT app or the USSD code *945# while maintaining a minimum account balance of ₦10,000 at the end of the month. This means that if you credit your phone with five ₦100 transactions, you could stand a chance too! *evil grin*

3. 33 million naira is up for grabs: A whopping 33 million naira will be won by the end of March 2021. It’s now a matter of whether you would be one of those millionaires or not, and the ball’s in your court.

4. 568 winners to go: Just in case you did not understand the enormity of this, so far, there have been 71 winners in just one month. Interesting right? And from all indications, there will be 71 more winners per month for the next eight months. That means 568 winners to go! Now, that’s something worth thinking about...

5. There’s an open draw: Winners will be selected based on an open draw - fair and oh so sweet. This means that there is a beautiful chance that the needle can spin your way. This may be the time to summon that prophet or imam for that extra layer of prayers… Lol.. Okay, we are serious.

If you are already an existing customer, you know what to do. If you are not a customer yet, you can download the ALAT app here. Enough said.

‘If you have x amount of money what would you do with it?” is a common question one comes across once in a while. Answers usually cut across spending it, to traveling out of the country, to buying properties, and so on.

What if this time, the question is about what people are already doing with their money or plan to do with the money they have? What if the choices are between ‘savings’ and ‘investments’?

We asked some Nigerians what they would do with their money if the choice was between savings and investments.

“I save my money in the bank for my own peace of mind.” Bada Amoo, a 30-year-old journalist in Lagos said emphatically when asked to make a choice between the two. “I don’t have a lot of knowledge about investments so I don’t dabble into it.”

This sentiment is also shared by 34-year-old Elizabeth Nneji, a shop owner in Ogba who believes that saving money is her preferred choice of financial management. According to her, her money in the bank is secure and she can always access it anytime she wants.

Nurudeen Lawal, a 27-year-old writer however has a contrary opinion. He believes that saving money in the bank does not have value to it. “If I save money in the bank, it will not add any value. The only money I have in the bank is the one I spend for my upkeep. Others are spread across different investment platforms. When I lose in one, other ones make up for it.

32-year-old online seller Linda Johnson says she prefers to invest her money in her business, “at the moment, I invest all my money in my bag business. Any profit I make, cash gifts all go into my business. Maybe in the future, I might consider saving but for now, investment is the only thing I do with my money.”

Solomon Nduka, 45 who teaches in a secondary school believes he is one of the few people who is benefitting from knowing the right platform to save money while also getting the benefit of an investment. “I save money in ALAT by Wema which gives me a high interest rate compared to what I would get in other banks. I created target savings which increased my interest so my high return is guaranteed. It is like saving and investing at the same time.”

“I prefer to invest my money. At the moment, I am still living from hand to mouth but when I start making more money, I will surely invest,” 25-year-old Abraham Wande who is a sales marketer said.

To 37-year-old Yemisi who works as a secretary, saving her money gives her peace of mind. “I don’t think I can bring myself to invest because I tried it before and it did not work out well for me. Now I save my money and I am able to sleep well at night.”

Kareem Usman, a 40-year old HR personnel, says he has been saving his money for a long time and does not believe he can change the pattern. “I think by the time I retire, I would have saved enough money to last me till I pass away. I’m not doing any investment.”

Mutiat, who works as a nurse, believes that investment can make one richer faster. “I would have loved to do business but since I do not have the time, I have identified investments that I trust and I put my money there and I have not regretted it so far.”

Boluwatife Ajala, a 35-year old banker believes those who save their money have inadequate knowledge about investment. “If people know about investment and how to go about it, I think more people will save. As for me, I invest my money.”

Nneka Nnadi who owns a restaurant said she just started giving investment a try after having saved money for a long time and that the signs look promising. “So far, my investment has not yielded anything yet but I am still patient to see where it will lead me to.”

“If you had asked me this question a year ago, I would have told you about investment, but right now, I would tell you I prefer savings because I found the right channel that benefits me,” 25-year old Boluwatife Amusa who works as a software engineer said. “I lost some money in an investment scheme due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. This year, someone introduced me to ALAT and it has been the best decision I have taken. I save more and I earn more without stress. I created a savings goal with my friends and we are saving towards a girls’ trip at the end of the year.”

By Yusuf Omotayo, a writer and media consultant living in Lagos

NBC News recently aired a documentary about how millennials are the unluckiest generation in modern history. Although a sample population of Americans was used, is it safe to say that this may be true of people born between 1980-1995 across the world, and maybe even Nigeria?
The documentary chronicles how millennials came of age right in the middle of the 2008 economic recession in America and struggled with finding a stable job and earning a sustainable income. It also highlighted how young people who are affected by multiple factors are marrying and having kids later than their parents.

The documentary was released in July 2020, and I wonder if all the doom and gloom shown in the documentary would have escalated if they shot it merely a year after.

Before March 2020, the goal of the young professional was to earn a stable income that could accommodate their lifestyle, black tax, and the occasional trip to an exotic country if other means of relocation were futile. However, achieving any of these has required consistent hard work for years before one finds their footing.

While several young people were finally finding their rhythm, the global pandemic happened and scattered the progress that had been made. Many lost their jobs and had to move back home. Others experienced pay cuts because many companies were not earning enough to pay what was left of their salaries.

As inflation rose across the world, so did the unemployment rate jump exponentially. In Nigeria, inflation hit 17.93% in May 2021 before dropping to 17.75% in June, and our current 33.3% unemployment rate is now the second-highest in the world. Of the 33.3%, young people between the ages of 15 to 34 years account for an alarming 42.5%.

The figures might just look like statistics but the 12.9 million unemployed Nigerians are 6 times more than the population of Namibia which has the highest unemployment rate in the world.

This is a very dangerous situation we as young Nigerians have found ourselves in. The most populous black nation in the world has a third of its citizens unemployed and there is no solution in sight. The Nigerian government which has been in two consecutive recessions has not revealed a plan or the approach that will be taken to remedy the situation.

The Coronavirus is destroying many people in different ways. Those who are not affected by the disease are affected by the economic crisis it has brought with it. One of the few relatively sane things that have come out of the pandemic is how governments have invested in medical research and grants to pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines in record time, and companies realizing that the traditional workspace is outdated.

On her part, the Nigerian government increased testing centres and ramped up vaccine distribution. The private sector was also responsive by contributing fiduciary resources for the treatment of affected persons and providing care packages to families affected by the pandemic. MTN Nigeria, contributed 7 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to African countries while Dettol and its parent company, Reckitt, besides producing hand sanitizers, provided PPE, spread goodwill messages, and encouraged people to keep to the precautionary guidelines. On the other hand, the Coca‑Cola Company provided support to communities in the form of financial aid to organizations like the Red Cross, and product donations to those medical and hospital professionals on the very front-line, to mention but a few.

Despite thousands attempting to prove that Coronavirus is a hoax, one of my best friends battled the coronavirus. She lost her father and this nearly destroyed her family. So for the naysayers, I laugh with scorn.

Months passed and it felt like things were clearing up, restrictions were lifting, people were getting vaccinated, and nations were gearing up for the Olympics. These appeared to be a mere false ray of hope because as soon as people were settling in, multiple variants of the COVID-19 virus were discovered. Discussions about rapid response were still ongoing, and then, another viral disease popped up, Monkeypox.
The disease has slowly been ravaging the country since 2017, yet there was little coverage on it until the US tracked their patient zero on an Atlanta flight from Nigeria. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there have been 483 reported cases since 2017. Of the 483, 17 were reported this year in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, and Lagos.

Monkeypox’s arrival is ‘ill-timed’ because 100 countries globally are busy fighting the COVID-19 Delta Variants and the economic after-effects of the pandemic, so there will hardly be any focus on it.

It is however worthy to note that precautionary measures for both diseases are similar, so there is nothing new to add to your routine. As long as you continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, sanitize, and get your vaccine, you should be safe.

Battling all these at this point in our lives is maddening. Yet, we find ways to thrive, because, in this country, we cannot afford any other option. Yes, millennials and Gen Z might be tagged the unluckiest generation but we are the strongest and most determined.
There are people and businesses who have leveraged the pandemic and have risen to fame within the period. People like internet comedienne, Elsa Majimbo, and businesses like Paystack, a fintech in Nigeria run by two millennials became a unicorn during the period. It might sound a bit too optimistic but it is the reality of many young people, surviving in spite of what life throws at them.

Some brands and organisations have also taken up the mantle to help enlighten the public on how to observe better hygiene practices. Notably, the Dettol Clean Naija campaign targeted towards teaching primary schoolers basic hygiene habits has been at the forefront of this movement since 2013. Over five million children have also been impacted in Lagos, Rivers, Kano and Ogun State.

So, while we nudge the government to remember its commitments to the youth, we will continue to look for ways to shirk the hand luck has dealt us.

Date nights are a necessity for a healthy relationship. With the everyday routine of work, sometimes you need to relax and unwind. And that’s what date nights are for!

Here are some essentials to make sure your date goes smoothly.

The Perfect Outfit

Every woman wants to look good and also feel good on date night. Depending on the location of your outing, try to dress in fitting clothes. If your date is on the beach, loose-fitting pants or shorts with a crop top would be a suitable choice. If you’re going to a restaurant, a dinner gown that flatters your figure is the way to go.

Having date night options in your closet should be easy, but make sure you have that one piece for a special evening.

A Comfortable Footwear

Have you ever gotten cramps in your foot from too-tight shoes? It is not an experience you want to have while on a date. Opt for block heels or low heels that you’ll be able to wear all night long while you walk around town, a food festival or to a concert.

The perfect height? 3 inches! High enough to add length to your figure, low enough to keep you steady as you walk.

The Right Makeup

Whether you’re going full-on glam or opting for a softer, casual look, make sure it’s a look you are comfortable with. If you’re trying to make a great first impression, add a little shine to your routine with some glitter on your inner eye. And when in doubt, nude lipstick is the way to go.

Putting your best face forward will make you feel more confident and enjoy your time out!

A Stylish Purse (For The Important Things)

A small stylish purse or clutch is the way to go, so you have all your essentials without hurting your shoulders. Never leave home without your ALAT debit card, so you don’t have to worry about money. Lipstick, hand sanitizers, tissues and a sanitary pad are a must, so you have no surprises.

The Right Companion

The perfect date night isn’t complete without the right person. Be it with your partner or friends, make sure you’re going out with someone you can relax with. Choose a menu you like and pair it with your favourite drink. In a world that seems to be so negative, cherish all of the happy moments.

A Safety Partner

Let someone else know where you’re going, especially if it’s a date with someone for the first time. Always have a contact that knows where and who you’re going with, just in case of emergency.

You’ll have a more restful outing knowing that you have someone else checking on you and concerned about your safety.

A Smartphone

It seems like a no-brainer, but you’ll be surprised how people often forget in the rush of dressing up. Make sure you have the ALAT banking app for seamless transactions during the outing. Take nice pictures to store as memories, but not so many that you upset your date. Use MTN to avoid any network issues throughout the night.

An Open Mind

Be ready to try new things like a new restaurant or a new date activity. Let your fun be the focus, and don’t let anything ruin your night. After all, just being with your loved one should put a smile on your face.

A Pack Of Breath Mints

These are a must-have after dinner. You do not want your breath putting off your date partner or anyone else around you. Plus, if you’re hoping to get some action afterwards, you need to make sure your breath is just right throughout the night.

Now that you have everything you need for your date – have fun and spread love.

Tomi Otudeko, the Head of Corporate Responsibility and Services for Honeywell Group believes in the power of reward and recognition in business. She shared insights during the Business Sustainability & Succession Planning session held by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, via Zoom.

The session, the second in a series is aimed at educating business owners and startups on business sustainability and succession planning. It had other notable speakers - Tara Fela Durotoye, CEO, House of Tara International and Fajimi Abiola, Partner, PML Audit.

Tomi shared some nuggets on how businesses can attract and retain talents through proper business management and development using Honeywell Group Limited as a case study. She shared seven pointers which business owners must take into consideration to ensure they attract and retain the right talents. Here are the seven nuggets:

1. Understand Your Business’ Value Proposition to Staff:
Tomi highlighted that business owners must ensure they identify their business’ value proposition to staff and continuously project that to ensure proper alignment with all employees. “At Honeywell, we are impact-driven, and our staff want to be a part of a company that delivers change”, Otudeko explained.

She referenced a project in the 2000s where Honeywell Group through its engineering and related services company, played a crucial part in connecting Bayelsa State to the national grid - a first. She cited that opportunities like this give employees a stake in fostering impact

2. Create Growth Opportunities:
“You need to take a chance on people! Be deliberate about providing varied career paths and not only within the same line of business.” She mentioned the importance of employees having a sense of belonging and a deep-rooted assurance that they can grow quickly within the company.

3. Be Deliberate With Talent Development:
Employers must ensure they encourage career development for their employees through training and workshops to further improve their skill set.

Tomi confirmed that such employees who benefit from these training programmes can train others and use their newly improved skills for the company.

4. Allow People to Fly The Coop:
“People are on loan to you. Invest in them and hope for the very best and when the time comes, let them move on when they need to” Otudeko stressed during the session.

She explained that employees also have career goals and should be encouraged to move to expand their horizons.

5. Do Not Be Afraid To Make The Hard Decisions:
There will be times when employers need to make the hard decision for the benefit of the business, and at that time you need to make informed decisions and stand by them.

Sometimes, people are no longer the best fit for their roles, or the organization and employers need to remember that they have a responsibility to the organisation and their employees to make the best decision for them.

Tomi Otudeko also gave an example of the impact of the COVID-19 virus on businesses. She shared that Honeywell’s Leadership made the decision to forgo certain benefits to ensure that effect on the workforce was minimised.

She stressed that despite the difficult nature of these decisions, they must be done with compassion.

6. Reward And Recognition:
Otudeko encouraged employers or organizations to celebrate employees’ success.

“Human beings are driven by certain incentives, reward and recognition are one of these. At Honeywell, we reward and recognise success. We celebrate our people and share in their successes” she reiterated.

7. Listen And Act:
Employers need to be comfortable with lending a listening ear to their employees. Once employees have access to the management team, they can always share issues and challenges conveniently.

“Many of the policies that we currently operate were driven by feedback from our employees. As we listen, we are willing to make adjustments. Our over 50-year existence is borne out of the thousands of people who have given us their unbiased feedback and reactions over the years.”

Before COVID-19 broke down our doors, I struggled with finding a balance between my corporate and personal life. As a young professional finding her feet, I was thrust into a new world. Everything was new to me, and so many things in my life took the backseat – especially cleaning my room. I was not dirty but I was not as enthusiastic about taking care of my home.

Lockdown Palaver

Cleaning helped me a lot during the lockdown. I found out that scrubbing every inch of my room was therapeutic and it was unbelievable how keeping my mind and hands busy worked wonders on my mental health.

COVID + Delta Variant + Monkeypox

Now that I have resumed physically at my workplace, it feels like the world I carefully crafted is slowly crumbling around me. I just got vaccinated, and suddenly, there’s a new COVID-19 variant in town. As if that’s not enough, there is also Monkeypox!

Monkeypox is highly contagious, with a 10% mortality rate. It presents the same rash and fever-like symptoms as smallpox, chickenpox, and measles. According to a report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in July 2021, there have been 69 suspected cases with 17 confirmed in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Lagos this year. I hope we can contain the spread — we really need to.

On the other hand, the COVID-19 Delta Variant is reported to be present in 100 countries! In Nigeria, 32 Delta Variant cases of Coronavirus have been reported in five states across the country and this comes after a nearly four-month slump in the number of confirmed cases. On Thursday, August 4, 2021, the country recorded the highest live count of 747 confirmed cases since the slump.

Like the rest of the world, professionals and job seekers were badly hit during the first lockdown which brought about an increase in the unemployment and inflation rates. Even as we adjust to this new reality, there are no signs of improvement or recovery from the aftermath. Another subset of the people affected by the sudden economic crisis is young people who are just beginning their lives and finding stability in their careers. It’s tragic that many young people are spending their formative years trying not to die from one disease or another.

However, it is worthy to note that the precautionary measures for both diseases are similar, so there is nothing starkly new to add to your daily routine. For me, as long as I continue to take the same precautionary measures, use my trusty Dettol hand sanitiser, I will try to find my solace in coming home to a clean house.

For me, a clean house is Nirvana!

A clean house makes me relaxed and being relaxed makes me more productive. For any young professional who wants to remain sane, it’s best to live in a clean, decluttered space (well, except you thrive in chaos. Then please, ignore). It is also important to find ways to combine a demanding career with housekeeping.

One important habit I have picked up is to not let things pile up. As soon as the kitchen surface gets stained, I clean it. When I notice dust on the windows or my fan, I clean it immediately. I realized that when I pile up these little things till the weekend, cleaning becomes more stressful, and since I don’t find it enjoyable, I procrastinate.

On some weekends, I am required to work or I get busy with some other things so I automatically reschedule all cleaning activities to the next convenient time. When this happens, I only do the occasional dusting and light sweeping whenever I get the chance. I know this is unhealthy, but the pressure is real!

What could help you?

If you have a busy schedule like mine, consider outsourcing your cleaning. This will cost you a small fee every month or fortnightly to get someone to do the cleaning for you.

Creating a cleaning schedule is also a habit worth imbibing. For me, Saturdays are for cleaning, Sundays for washing, and I clean the toilet and bathroom every other day. With this routine in place, I hardly miss out on my cleaning activities except when something unforeseen comes up.

When you make cleaning – chores more routine and put your favourite music on full blast, the process may turn out to be more exciting. And if you have the right cleaning agents like Dettol Antiseptic Liquid and antibacterial hand sanitisers, the entire process becomes easier.

With all these tips mentioned, all you have to do is find which works for you and start managing your demanding career without compromising your cleaning routine.

Stay Safe!