₦airaland Forum

Nigerians have been advised to move from the realm of denial, anger and accept the reality of the ‘new normal’ occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic by properly articulating their goals and developing a financial plan based on available resources.

This was the submission of investment and financial experts at the Ecobank Webinar on the topic: ‘Personal financial stability in a changing environment: achieving balance in the new normal’, held in Lagos last week.

In his presentation, Olufela Popoola, Managing Director, EDC Fund Management Limited, a subsidiary of Ecobank Group, pointed out that though commodity prices are stabilizing and stock markets are recovering globally, Nigeria is in recession mode with increasing inflation, pressure on exchange rate and increased government borrowings.

He posited that individuals and businesses should worry less about the current realities, but start to think differently as they positively forge ahead.  Specifically for individuals, it was time to carefully review their life’s goal and objectives and thereby; –  review/develop a financial plan,  align this plan to the current financial realities and  their expected future resources and ensure that these plans become a reality by having structured investment programmes to achieve same.

“To adapt and stabilise, rethink your business culture. Focus more on goals, not (necessarily) processes, listen more to customers & respond quicker, change working style –flexibility, Study what competition is doing –be more professional, Improve internal communication & information sharing and Change working conditions to be more employee oriented. This is not the time to procrastinate. Don’t think you have too little or too much funds to start a plan, but rushing to start an investment may not be the best for now. You need to consider risk, returns and time horizons. As a matter of fact, this is the time to speak to experts like us at the EDC Fund management. Investment options and plans include corporate bonds, government securities, private equity, Eurobonds, life insurance, real estate, commercial papers, and managed portfolio, among others’’.

Also speaking, Okey Okere, Country Manager, Hofstede Insights Nigeria, made a case for people to rethink their lifestyle and business culture to adapt and stabilise under the ‘new normal’.

According to him, “there are countless speculations about changes to the whole-world as we know it, but we can’t really tell how COVID-19 will change the world forever, what the “new normal” will eventually be, how long it will last and the impact on the world, Nigeria, businesses and our personal finances. But one thing is sure, we need to make changes.”

Okere listed the businesses that that are making gains despite COVID-19 pandemic as ICT services, e-commerce companies, personal care products, agriculture, food retailers and local delivery companies, adding that sectors such as aviation and shipping, consulting and professional services, education, financial services, manufacturing (non-essentials), real estate, automobile, and others are negatively impacted. He counselled businesses to focus more on goals and not necessarily processes, listen more to customers and respond quicker, change working style, study what competition is doing, improve internal communication and information sharing and change working conditions, stressing that if the effects of the pandemic hurts too badly, there might be need to wind down business entirely.

This edition of the Ecobank Webinar series is an initiative of Ecobank Consumer Banking Segment, aimed at deepening  conversation on the new normal for businesses and how individual can harness new opportunities in the face of COVID-19.

The virtual engagement attracted participation from amongst Ecobank Personal Banking customers comprising, individuals and business owners from different sectors of the economy and financial experts who joined across virtual platforms and social media handles.

Ecobank’s unique and largest pan-African platform is designed to help unlock the opportunities of the continent and for the continent, through standardization, fueling regional integration, trade and investment across borders. Due to its sterling performance, the bank has been severally recognized; As ‘Best Retail Bank in Africa 2019’ at African Banker Awards and also as Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Africa 2019 by Brand Africa 100”.

Chinwe Bode-Akinwande (CBA) Foundation, a non-governmental organization in Nigeria, has called on the government to implement and enforce the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), which gives protection to widows in the country. She stressed that the government needs to create more awareness about the act for widows to know their rights and also for people to tread with caution.

Speaking with newsmen through virtual conference in Lagos on Tuesday in commemoration of the 2020 United Nations’ International Widows’ Day, the founder of the foundation, Mrs. Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, said the call became necessary following the rise in cases of rape, sexual harassment, confiscation of properties, violence, dehumanization, discrimination, poverty and all manners of molestations suffered mostly by women, especially the widows and their children.

According to her, “Nobody wishes to lose a loved one; losing someone is never easy and having to live life without your partner is even harder.

“For women all over the world, the loss of a spouse is even bigger as they have to struggle for their basic needs, rights and dignity. As we mark International Widows’ Day 2020 today, June 23, I implore us all to take a closer look at our immediate environ, culture/tradition, families, history and significance of the day.

“According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 258 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten lives in extreme poverty. Apart from that, 2.7 billion women are denied access to the same choice of jobs as men due to certain unconfronted restrictions, and lots face gender-based violence even today.

“The issue of rape, sexual harassment and all manners of molestations are suffered mostly by women not to think of the most vulnerable amongst them – the widows.”

She added that sufficient evidence suggests that widowed women “are severely affected financially, psychologically, sexually and socially and these are rooted in cultural and traditional practices as well as the socialization processes that condition women to dependence. These conditions have erected enormous difficulties for women to creatively initiate new robust relationships with both men and women in social and economic spheres upon widowhood.

“It’s even sadder that widows are not looked after by families, private sectors , governments etc. and to worsen the matter, societies curse them.

“Their children also face several problems like being withdrawn from the school and becoming more vulnerable to abuse. The CBA Foundation has joined to lend its voice for the past five years.”

CBA added that there was a need to develop policies and programmes to address the problems that widows face in the world, which is the reason she founded the CBA Foundation.

“The day is important as it brings about awareness among the public the problems that widows face all over the world. It is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women. It is also a day to draw the attention of the people to take action and provide full rights and recognition for widows. The purpose for marking this day is clear – to care for widows and their children, and to change the culture that discriminates against them.

“We are therefore calling on well-meaning Nigerians to join us today to give them hope, stop dehumanization and injustice towards them,” Bode-Akinwande said.

International Widows Day is a United Nations-ratified day of action to address the “poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependants in many countries”. Established by The Loomba Foundation, the day takes place annually on 23 June. This year, the theme is ‘I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights’, which is aligned with UN Women’s new multi-generational campaign, Generation Equality.

Established in 2015, the CBA Foundation, under its 5-point agenda, has reached out to thousands of underprivileged widows and children through skills acquisition training, health intervention, business start-ups and provision of clothing, nutrition and tuition fees for the children.

In breakdown, 5,600 widows have been empowered through its women empowerment and capacity building initiative; over 3,500 underprivileged widows have received health intervention; over 3,500 have also received food items. The foundation has also reinstated 45 children in school, empowered 120 widows financially to start a business of their own and also, provided palliative to 250 widows during the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down.
More about CBA Foundation on www.cbafoundation.org

As part of its effort to provide access to finance for SMEs to grow and expand their businesses, Access bank Plc has launched a digital lending portal, ” Cashflow Loan by Access”, which is a solution for business owners to access loans easily from the comfort of their homes via an online platform while staying safe. 

This new service, is accessible to all Small and Medium Enterprise customers who have established sufficient cashflow records with the Bank.

Speaking at the launch of the digital lending portal, Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Retail Banking, Access Bank Plc, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to impact SMEs positively.  “In a period like this, when we need to be more present and relevant in the lives of our customers than ever, we have risen to the challenge to ensure business owners have easy access to funds to sustain and expand their businesses while keeping safe. We are committed to not only providing uninterrupted service but superior service to meet the needs of all our customer segments.

“To deliver on our promise to continually give our customers ‘MORE’, we have developed this efficient digital lending platform which will make loan application more convenient with flexible collateral, favourable interest rates, application tracking, robust customer service and much more.

"We have been focused on providing solutions targeted at boosting the economy because we believe it is our responsibility to contribute to the stimulation of economic growth. With the launch of CashflowLoans by Access, we are renewing our committment to providing the much needed financial support to SMEs,” Victor concluded.

Access Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Africa. With over 40 million customers and 600 branches nationwide, it offers a range of products and services tailored to suit needs and lifestyle of its customers across multiple segments.

In line with NCDC recommendations, the bank’s management has continued to encourage its customers to remain safe by washing their hands regularly with soap and water or use of alcohol-based sanitizers and to ensure they wear masks to protect themselves and those around. Wearing face masks is a mandatory requirement to access public places including the bank premises.

To access and learn more about Cashflow Loans by Access, please click HERE.

Social media has been in a frenzy since the Friday June 19, 2020 announcement of the transition of N-Power Batch A and B scheduled for June 30th and July 31st, 2020 respectively.

According to a statement released by the ministry, the N-Power programme will begin enrolment of Batch C beneficiaries beginning June 26, 2020. The announcement noted that the move is sequel to wide consultations and review and will provide an opportunity for other Nigerian youth to access the programme which is intended to upskill them for employability and entrepreneurship in furtherance of the President’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by creating opportunities that will enhance their productivity.

The N-Power programme was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support.

Quoting the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, the statement noted that “we have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities. The Federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries. Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost post-Covid-19 and we are gearing up proactively for the challenge.”

So why is there so much hue and cry over the transitioning and imminent exit of Batch A (who have spent over 40 months instead of 24 months) and B whose 24 month tenure expires in July? This piece intends to address the fundamentals of the programme as a means of showing that the time has come for other young Nigerians to benefit from the Federal Government’s key social investment programme.

1. Why the hue and cry? The Batch A and B beneficiaries have been unusually vocal for one simple reason. They are young and internet savvy and as such are quick to resort to social media to air their grievances. But how germane are their complaints? Let us consider the N-Power Programme vis a vis the National Youth Service Programme. Both are youth focused programmes with clearly defined terminal dates. The N-Power Programme was designed to terminate after 24 months after which another cohort will be enrolled. Batch A was taken on in September 2016 but was not transitioned before the programme was domiciled under the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The minister upon assumption of office decided to retain the Batch A beneficiaries for the sake of continuity and in order to fully study the programme. Nine months later and after wide consultation, the ministry has decided to transition Batch A on June 30, 2020. The transitioning was clearly defined in the design and Batch-A beneficiaries refusing to exit the programme would be akin to NYSC members refusing to pass out after their one year of service.
This will have wide ranging repercussions not just for the programme but other young Nigerians eager to access the programme and gain skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

2. How successful has the N-Power programme been? In his May 29th broadcast, the president commended the programme while stating clearly that – “our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations.” With 500,000 beneficiaries already impacted in Batch A and B, many beneficiaries who tapped into the programme as a means of upskilling and becoming productive, have gone ahead to become gainfully employed or employers of labour.

3. What happens if Batch A and B are not transitioned? The fact is that the programme, as stated earlier, is designed to have a terminal date. So, if Batch A and B beneficiaries are not transitioned, there would be no opportunities for other young Nigerians to access the programme and it would not only defeat the purpose of the programme it will also rob other Nigerians of an important opportunity. The beneficiaries are supposed to gain skills that would prepare them for the job market or to become employers of labour and there are many success stories to back this up. Many under N-Agro have set up farms and some N-Power beneficiaries have become state aggregators for the National Home Grown School Feeding programme thus underlining the importance of the programme.

4. How will Batch C be different? Following a review of submissions and wide consultations which included a recent inter-ministerial meeting, the programme is being streamlined for effectiveness. To this end, Batch C will be markedly different from Batch A and B. First, to apply for Batch C, candidates must provide their BVN numbers. This is to ensure that gainfully employed youths do not also apply for the N-Power programme thus denying those who really need it. Secondly in fulfilment of its humanitarian remit, the ministry will also make special considerations for Persons living with disabilities under Batch C to cater to a special segment that makes up 15% of the Nigerian population.

5. Why is FG not employing the N-Power beneficiaries? The programme was designed to upskill beneficiaries in preparation for employability or entrepreneurship. Beneficiaries who pass the psychometric tests and are found suitable for employment will been gainfully employed while those who show aptitude for entrepreneurship will become employers of labour. The programme was not designed to absorb beneficiaries into the civil service.

6. N-Power and post Covid-19 Nigeria: The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on economies all over the world and Nigeria is no exception. Post Covid-19 nations will need to rebuild their economies and the enrolment of a new cohort of N-Power beneficiaries under Batch-C is a proactive step to prepare Nigeria for that reality. As the Honourable Minister noted in the press statement – “Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost post-Covid-19 and we are gearing up proactively for the challenge.”

One of the country’s foremost indigenous exploration and production companies, Energia Limited, an oil and gas company is currently being rocked to its very foundation by a sex scandal involving the Chief Executive Officer and a married staff identify as Braibi Boma Horsfall.

According to very reliable sources, there have been record of many indiscriminate unwholesome activities, albeit sexually, going on in the company, while the boss of the company, Leiste Aihevba, had been fingered.

A can of worms was recently opened by the husband of one of the alleged mistresses in his office who came into the open about how the boss has been having a dalliance with his wife.

In a letter to the Chairman of Energia Limited George Osahon dated May 8, 2020, Olasunkanmi Habeeb Razak, alleged in very strong words that Leiste has been having an unholy affair with his wife for years without his knowledge.

The letter reads unedited and copied to the under-mentioned for reference purposes:

May 8, 2020
Dear Sir,
COMPLAINT ABOUT SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND DEMAND FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST MR. LESTE AIHEVBA

I have recently become aware that Mr. Leste Aihevba (the managing director of Energia Limited) is engaged in an immoral and sexual relationship with my wife, Braibi Horsfall who is his executive assistant, despite the fact that they are both married.

By virtue of this relationship, it would appear that Ms. Horsfall has enjoyed some benefits which she would not be ordinarily entitled to, within Energia.

Though, I have instituted divorce proceedings, processes of which are hereby attached for your information, against them, I sincerely hope that this is not the corporate culture within Energia.

Nonetheless, I ask that disciplinary actions are taken against the erring parties; failing which I would need to resort to the appropriate legal processes to seek further redress, as I would not want such a culture shielded or covered up in a Nigerian company.

Sincerely,

Habeeb Olasunkanmi Rasaki
CC: Board of Directors,
Chief Financial Officer,
Head of Legal,
Head of Human Resources
Mrs. Eunice Aihevba.

Our reporter contacted Mr. Aihevba for his reaction to the allegations but there was no response at press time.

Energia Limited is one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous oil exploration and production companies, operating a producing asset in the Niger Delta.

The company is the joint venture operator of the Ebendo/Obodeti Marginal Field (ex-Obodougwa/Obodeti Marginal field) located in Ebendo near Kwale, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State, in partnership with Oando Production and Development Company (OPDC). While Energia is the operator of the field, Oando Plc owns 45 percent of the business.

Nigeria’s leading financial services group and holding company, FBN Holdings Plc, has won the 2020 Best Corporate Governance in Nigeria Award by the World Finance. World Finance is renowned for its comprehensive coverage and analysis of the global financial services industry, international business, and the global economy.

FBN Holdings Plc is winning this award for the second consecutive year on the back of its strong corporate governance practices and outstanding leadership in the Nigerian financial services industry

Commenting on the award on behalf of FBNHoldings, UK Eke, MFR, its Group Managing Director said: “Winning the award in quick succession is a demonstration of not only the strength of our corporate governance practices but also its resilience. As a holding company, we emphasize the highest standards in corporate governance across all operating entities in our quest to deliver value to our numerous stakeholders”

For the past thirteen years, World Finance has been celebrating corporate achievements in the areas of corporate governance, innovation, and market leadership in the financial services sector across all the regions of the World.

…Presidency hails programmes
…Enrolment sequel to wide consultations and review
…Online portal to open for applications from noon on June 26, 2020
…All applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) for transparency
…Batch A & B to transit June 30th and July 31st, 2020 respectively into entrepreneurship schemes
…Past beneficiaries are not eligible to participate in Batch C



The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has announced the commencement of enrollment for a new batch of N-Power beneficiaries effective June 26th 2020.

The N-Power Programme was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support.

In his Democracy Day broadcast on June 12, 2020 the President commended the programme, noting that “our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations.”

The commencement of the Batch C enrolment is sequel to far reaching consultations and a review of the submissions on the reform and realignment of the programme for greater efficiency.

Batch C is also being enrolled to provide opportunities for more Nigerian youths to access the programme, in furtherance of the President’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by creating opportunities that will enhance the productivity of the Nigerian youths for entrepreneurship.

In view of these, the Ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020 and Batch B will exit the programme on July 31, 2020.

According to the Honourable Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq: “We have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities. The Federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries. Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost post-Covid-19 and we are gearing up proactively for the challenge.”

Applications will be conducted using a hybrid system of enrolment to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to participate. As a Ministry that caters for the vulnerable, we will also make special considerations for Persons living with disabilities.

The online portal would be open to receive applications from noon on June 26, 2020 and will provide a level playing field for all applicants.

As part of the Ministry’s reforms to make the programme more efficient, all applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) in their application. This is to ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process.

Once applications are submitted, the Ministry will review submissions and publish a list of successful applicants. Past beneficiaries are not eligible to participate in the application process.

Comprehensive details for the new batch will be announced in the coming weeks.

The N-Power programme has enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries thus far – 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018. The beneficiaries were supposed to spend not less than 24 months on the programme and were spread across the key industries targeted by the program – Agriculture, Health, Education, and Tax.

The current beneficiaries from Batches A and B are scheduled to transit the programme by July 31st with plans already in place to transition them into entrepreneurship.

By Michael Orodare

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2017 announced that Nigeria’s creative industry accounted for 2.3 percent, approximately N239 billion, of the nation’s GDP in 2016. This has been re-echoed by Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed at the 61st Tourism conference in Abuja 2019 and the then Minister of State – Industry Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar.

Abubakar, while speaking at a Creative Entrepreneurs Summit in 2019, declared that with the pace the Nigeria creative Industry is growing it has the fastest growth rate in the world. We cannot talk about this exponential growth without pointing to the role the Big Brother Naija show is playing, arguably, the biggest television reality show out of Nigeria and Africa right now.

With rising unemployment and a stuttering economy, the creative industry, which forms a major part of the nation’s informal sector, has continued to come to the rescue of Nigerians, putting foods on tables, promoting people from obscurity to stardom and helping many achieve their dreams.

With the dwindling fortune of white collar jobs, Nigeria’s informal sector accounted for about 65 percent of Nigeria’s 2017 GDP, according to the IMF which also rated Nollywood as the second-biggest employer in Nigeria, engaging over a million persons. It’s evident that over the years millions of Nigerians have been devising ways to help themselves survive through economic hardship without waiting for the government.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the situation. Across the world, the fear of mass layoff (already happening) coupled with a possible economic recession predicted by experts is shifting focus to the informal sector and the creative industry is expected to be the receiving port for the influx of many young people in search of greener pasture and economic liberation.

Small wonder why millions of youth and brands jostle to associate with the BBNaija show annually. It is well established from previous editions that has produced stars in movie, music and media, that the show is a major contributor to the growth of the creative industry of the most populous black nation in the world.

But how is MultiChoice Nigeria achieving this?

It may look like a mystery, but the show is beyond the 12 people and the host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, himself a past contestant, we see on the screen for 99 days. There is more to the show than the contestants – the crew members, brands, small and medium sized businesses, online vendors and entertainers who visit the house are also huge beneficiaries of the BBNaija show.

At the backstage making the work happen are more than 100 crew members – cameramen, photographers, housekeepers and many others in their hundreds who get paid for making the reality show a true reality.

Ebuka shared a photo in 2019 of about 100 crew members (directly hired) to work behind the scenes to bring the show to viewers. The multiplying effect of this on the economy of a nation cannot be underestimated.

The show made a remarkable move last year when it gave out a Nigerian made car to Mercy Eke, winner of the 2019 edition. This move earned MultiChoice commendation from many Nigerians and it has further promoted the Innoson made vehicle to other parts of Africa.

Before BBNaija 2019, not so many people knew about a smartphone brand called Oppo, it gained exposure that has translated to an increase in patronage and revenue by joining other brands like Bet9ja, Pepsi, Gulder to sponsor weekly games on the show.

The small and medium sized business owners who are contracted as vendors to supply necessities like food, wearables, cosmetics, toiletries to the house during the show have also seen an exponential growth in their businesses by associating with the show. Many of these businesses run online shops, by exposing their brands on the show to over 40 million viewers across Africa, their hitherto small businesses have received a higher degree of patronage from Nigeria and other African countries.

In October 2019, House of Lunettes, a brand that makes eyeglasses announced that it sold out its products a few hours after Tacha Akhide became its brand ambassador. Such is the power BBNaija wields.

Entertainers and DJs who visit the housemates have also enjoyed a high degree of publicity that has further positioned their brands to the consciousness of not just Nigerians, but millions of Africans.

We may not be able to put a figure to the huge impact of BBNaija on the nation’s economy, it is clear that solving the economy puzzle remains a daunting prospect, which the show alone cannot solve, but it is making a giant step in proffering a solution.

Lai Mohammed said in 2019 that “Our (Nigeria’s) greatest strength lies in our creative industry, music and our films. That is one area we have a comparative advantage over many other countries.”

Over the years, MultiChoice through BBNaija has continued to churn out talent taking over the creative scene – Gideon Okeke, Bisola Aiyeola, Ifu Ennada among many other past contestants have made names in Nollywood. Efe Ejeba winner of the 2017 edition went to pursue a career in music and Miracle Igbokwe through his cash prize in the 2018 edition was able to achieve his long term dream of becoming a pilot, though he didn’t stay in the creative industry like other contestants, BBNaija has helped him fulfil his dream, what more can he ask for?

The likes of Tobi Bakre who has featured in movies and soap operas, Mike Edwards a brand ambassador for Nigeria family of Japanese automotive manufacturers, Mitsubishi; and many others are also making good use of the fame the platform brought to register their names in the creative scene.

Over the years, people have expressed cynical opinions about the show, it is not unexpected, what, in fact cannot be ruled out is that viewers have a real emotional attachment to it, contestants, businesses and individuals attached to it are seeing the impact on their bank statements and their brands.

With the dearth of talent harvesting shows and many other reality TV shows that the harsh economy has frustrated to wind up, commendation must be given to MultiChoice Nigeria for weathering the storm and providing a way out of the conundrum to make BBNaija a major contributor to the growth of the creative industry.

Former governor of Oyo State and Acting National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abiola Ajimobi has tested negative for Coronavirus.

A source who is very close to the former governor confirmed to WazobiaReporter that the negative result came yesterday.

Though still under close observation, the source said that life of the 70-year-old former governor is no longer under any threat.

Ajimobi, who was admitted at the First Cardiology Consultants in Ikoyi, Lagos, was rumoured to have died on Thursday. His Media Aide, Bolaji Tunji, promptly dispelled the rumour, describing it as false.

More details soon…

By Khadijat Adedeji

 

We all have our lives all figured out; when we would marry, who we would marry, the number of children we’d like to have, even where we would live.  We all, long before we got out of the university, or left our parents’ homes, had pictures of how our first homes, first set of furniture, first cars would look like, in our minds.  We knew the jobs we’d like to have and the kind of lives we would like to live.  We all had plans, all set in; ready for executions.  Until life happened.  And life always happens.   Fate always shows up.

Like it showed up for Barrister Mikhail Adejare Adebisi, Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s Deputy Chief of Staff (General Administration) who just passed on.  He had his life all figured out. He had plans.  He made more plans as he grew.  He wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. I’m not even sure now if he was born with any spoon.  But he was determined to find his own spoons, wooden, golden and silver.  And he worked his fingers to the bone to make his plans pan out. He made lemonade from the lemons God made available.  He pulled himself up by his bootstraps, struggled through a first degree in the University, and them Law School, Masters degree. He dived into his Ph.D with gusto. He looked forward  to being addressed as Dr. Adejare Adebisi. He had plans. He made more.He did all of that, holding an office so sensitive the Governor and Government depended on him. He worked all kinds of hours, sometimes one day just became another as he juggled his balls and oiled the rigs of government.

Then, one faiteful day, seven years ago, he got up to pick something across his desk and collapsed, struck by stroke. Fate or destiny or life or all of them showed up and changed Barr Jare’s plans. The picture in his colourful mind went dark and for weeks he struggled to come back from the depths of death’s riverbed. Everybody prayed. Doctors ran up and down. Professors of medicine were tasked to bring Barr Jare back. Abere Secretariat, the seat of Government wore gloom like a clock. Barr Jare gave his best to his state and the state held nothing back to nurse him back to his feet.

It was a long battle. He fought . The state fought. His family fought . But the grave won. He died. And a leading light of Ilobu went out in the middle of the day.

Governor Oyetola, the man who holds the reins of power in Osun today was inconsolable. He retreated into an inner room, sat barefoot, bare headed, according to our elders, when they returned to Ilobu, sad that Barr Jare’s story had to end that way.

Adejare Adebisi is gone, never to walk this path again. His wife, children will never hear his laughter again. Maybe in their dreams.

Governor Oyetola must have asked himself a thousand and one questions.

Did we not do enough? Should we have done more?  Maybe I should have called Professor so and so? Perhaps four cardiologists more would have helped. With two teaching hospitals in the state and all the consultants deployed…  May be I should have flown him abroad as the doctors here recommended with referral to another hospital abroad.

Those who have lost loved ones know those questions. You keep traumatizing, torturing yourself with a dozen ‘what ifs’ and baskets of ‘maybe I should haves’.

Grief speaks when you are reeling in pain.

One is then left to wonder if Ms. Abimbola Adelakun had ever felt the pain of loss, spoken in grief. After reading through her column on the Thursday backpage of Punch, the people of Ilobu, the relatives of Barr Adebisi are wondering if we offended Ms Adelakun in any way at some point.

Why did our pain become a topic that should be dragged through the writer’s angry lines?

Ma’am, did you pause to think what your column would do and did to the sorrowing widow, the distraught children of Barr Adebisi? They all can read, you know? You, Abimbola Adelakun,  pissed on the freshly dug grave of their loved one. It’s totally in bad taste.

Why vilify the governor who did his best in our time of need?

Nigerians who go abroad for their Ph.D, including you, Ms Adelakun go for a reason and they are not crucified for it. I’m sure you could have done  your Ph.D here like Barr Adebisi was before death took him.

You preferred University of Texas, instead of University of Ibadan or ABU, Zaria. It was a matter of choice.

With your level of exposure, I’m sure you know doctors from here to Beijing  and Switzerland refer their patients as they deem fit, sometimes within a state or a country. General practitioners refer patients to endocrinologists, nephrologists, cardiologists in other hospitals as they consider professionally appropriate. We know, you know but you still made a mockery, yes that’s what you did ma’am, of our pain. We are already asking ourselves enough questions.

Ma, swear if your brother or husband suffers a stroke, you’d hold anything back. Swear that because you are learned and believe sick Nigerians should be treated in Nigerian hospitals, you will ignore the doctor’s referral. You will watch him die, to prove a point? You will not express your grief in any way as you watch him being lowered into mother earth? You have never expressed grief, never lost a loved one?

Or wait a minute, Ms Adelakun, are you holding the governor of Osun State, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, responsible for the inadequacies in the nation’s health sector? How fair is that? And your choice of words are totally unbecoming  of a Yoruba woman.

I can’t quite recall right now what Yorubas call a young person who insults an elder but I’m sure you understand what I’m trying to say.

Now, ma, did you bother to even check how much work Governor Oyetola has done in the health sector in Osun. In the state that is cash-strapped, this is one governor who promised to use revitalization of the health sector to power all other sectors.

He promised to rehabilitate, re-equipped 332 Primary Health Care Centers across the state and has so far delivered 250. He bought operational vehicles, drugs, retrained staff, expanded the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro among other great things.

We live here, Ms Adelakun, you don’t. This governor has done more that any governor did in less than two years in the state.

Just in February, Governor Oyetola approved the implementation of a 100% of the Consolodated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to boost the morale of health workers in the state.

I don’t speak for the governor but as a voter, a citizen and a resident, I know Oyetola has done well.

As for you Ms. Adelakun, I pray your light doesn’t dim in your twilight but you should watch your language, consider the pains your lines can inflict on others because ‘Eni ija o ba nii pe ara re l’okunrin’.

We know you have a space to fill every week, but don’t do it at the expense of other people’s tears or reputation.

Khadijat Adedeji, writes from Ilobu, Osun State.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited on Tuesday announced that one of its staff at its Marina, Lagos branch, has tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to a statement by the bank, all staff of the branch have been asked to go on self-isolation and get tested, while the branch and its entire vicinity have been thoroughly disinfected.

“We have just confirmed that one of our staff working in FirstBank, Marina branch has tested positive to COVID-19 on 15 June 2020.

“In line with our COVID-19 emergency response plan, we have immediately activated our established incident management protocols. These include asking all staff of the branch to go on self-isolation and get tested.

“In addition, we immediately swung to action and have thoroughly disinfected the branch and the entire vicinity overnight.”

The lender, while reiterating its commitment to the safety of its staff, customers, and host communities, however, disclosed that a fresh team have been deployed to the branch with brand new personal protection kits and equipment.

“We have brought in a fresh team of our staff who have been given brand new personal protection kits and equipment to work with therefore, ensuring that there is no risk to any staff working out of the branch or any customer who chooses to bank with us at the same branch.

“Staff of the branch, whose tests are ongoing now, will not be returning to work until they are medically certified.

“The impact of COVID-19 has become the new norm and as we learn to live and deal with it. Swift, effective and decisive response in dealing with the challenges as they arise to ensure minimal disruption to service is critical as our new reality,” the statement added.

Napoli and Juventus will renew one of Italian football’s classic rivalries when they meet in the Italian cup final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome this Wednesday at 8pm.

Italy is home to some of the fiercest football clubs in the world.

The rivalry, between both clubs, has provided some absolute classic matches down the years and StarTimes viewers will be treated to another feast of thrilling sporting actions.

The Coppa Italia Coca-Cola Final 2019-2020 will air on ST World Football Channels 244 and 254.

Juventus are through to the Coppa Italia final by virtue of away goal rule after Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty that saw a goalless draw with 10-man AC Milan, as Italian football returns with top flight fixtures after a 95-day absence caused by COVID-19.

Ronaldo last-minute penalty earned Juventus a 1-1 draw in the first leg. However, he missed a penalty in the second leg. The penalty was awarded on video review for a handball by Andrea Conti. Cheers from the Juventus bench turned to groans as Ronaldo fired the spot kick onto the base of the left post.

Napoli reached the Coppa Italia final with a 1-1 draw at home to Inter Milan on Saturday as Dries Mertens cancelled out a Christien Eriksen goal scored direct from a corner to become the club’s all-time record scorer.

Napoli went through 2-1 on aggregate thanks to their 1-0 win at San Siro four months ago. Napoli who last won the competition in 2014 will meet Juventus in the final without fans present.

Meanwhile, live action Bundesliga crackers continue on StarTimes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Among the tough encounters are SV Welder Bremen who will host FC Bayern Munich on Tuesday at 5:30pm; Also, The Emirates FA Cup Round 6 Quarter Final returns next weekend live on StarTimes.

Leading information technology company, CWG, has announced that its partnership with Banking Enterprise Financial Crime Risk Management products company Clari5 will help African banks combat enterprise fraud and money laundering.

Through this strategic partnership, CWG and Clari5 will provide solutions to African banks to counter enterprise-wide fraud and money laundering risk.

According to the partnership, banks across Africa can now benefit from the unparalleled advantages of Clari5’s extreme real-time, cross channel, enterprise-wide fraud risk management capability.

The Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CWG, Adewale Adeyipo, said: “We are tremendously excited to partner with Clari5. The pan-African fraud and money laundering landscape has become alarmingly sophisticated over the last few years and clearly banks are seeking more efficient solutions to combat the scourge.

“But dealing with the new reality is beyond the league of conventional, siloed anti-fraud solutions. With Clari5, banks now have the power of a world-class enterprise-wide real-time financial crime management solution that has been changing the way banks fight financial crime.”

Clari5 CEO, Rivi Varghese, said: “We believe that the best way to combat fraud and money laundering is with a solution that can behave like the human central nervous system to synthesize intelligence from across all channels of the bank in that very moment when it matters most.

“Clari5’s proven real-time product capability in thwarting financial crime, coupled with CWG’s unparalleled market reach and rich legacy of engagement successes makes it a compelling value proposition for innovative African banks to prevent bottom-line losses to financial crime. We are both proud and delighted to partner with CWG – the legendary African technology leader.”

Mrs. Ibidunni Igbodalo, the wife of popular Lagos Pastor, Ituah Ighodalo, is dead.

Reports said the boss of Elizabeth R, a leading event packaging outfit, died Sunday morning in her hotel room in Port Harcourt, Rivers State where she was handling a project.

The mother of two is in her early 40s.

Details later…

The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, says banks may collapse in Nigeria if the government does not borrow.

He said this in an Instagram Live Chat with City People, monitored by our correspondent on Saturday.

He explained that many people criticised government’s borrowing because of their limited understanding of it.

He said: “Let me say this about borrowing. Many people criticise it because they do not understand. If the government doesn’t borrow, a critical sector of the Nigerian economy may collapse – that is the financial and banking sector. The biggest business as to which banks make money is to lend.

“That is where they get interests to pay customers. It is by that lending that the government and private sector make profit. So, it is critical to employment also.”

However, the minister added that “It is legitimate to hear those who are concerned about borrowing.”

He noted that the projects, which the money borrowed are invested in, were touching lives.

“Since 2015, the infrastructural development of President Buhari is touching more lives than people have acknowledged,” Fashola added.

On how he felt when his ministerial portfolios were reduced to works and housing, the minister replied, “It is like asking me if I missed being governor. I don’t. It is a job and for every job what I bring to the table is to deploy to the fullest all my energies and skills that God has given me. Once I am done, I don’t look back.”

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s leading financial inclusion services provider on Thursday, 11 June 2020, presented 20,000 units of e-learning devices to the Lagos State government at the State House in Marina, Lagos. The devices are planned for distribution to school children.

With the gesture, the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the State had found a “real development partner” in FirstBank, noting that the intervention came at a time the Government was massively deploying technology to transform the conventional mode of teaching and learning.

The presentation of these devices which is also in partnership with Robert & John (an edu-tech company that owns Roducate) is part of activities implemented to close the gap caused by the disruption in children education’s due to schools’ closure, following the COVID-19 pandemic. So far the Bank has enabled over 10,000 free sign-ups to the Roducate e-learning platform with the goal to empower one million students.

“When we were developing our vision to change the face of education in Lagos, we knew from the outset that we could not achieve much progress in improving the quality of learning without using technology as a strong enabler. So, it is not out of place that we are witnessing more infusion of technology in learning and this intervention by FirstBank could not have come at a better time,” said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State.

“It feels great when you have people and organisations share in your vision and working with you to realise it. I’m glad to say that we have found a real development partner in FirstBank, which has supported us to actualise the vision we have signed to achieve. Many years back, nobody foresaw Coronavirus (COVID-19) would come and disrupt our ways of life. These devices will be useful to our pupils in the current circumstances we have found ourselves.”

“FirstBank and all technical partners that worked on this project have written their names in the heart of students that will be using the device to learn. They will be forever grateful for passing the future to them.”

The e-learning device is configured in line with the government’s accredited curriculum for primary, secondary and tertiary schools across various fields of academic endeavours, such as science, commercial and arts. It is built to promote cost-effective learning as there is minimal need for internet connectivity, whilst learning on the device is on-going.

Speaking on the presentation, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said: “The e-learning initiative aligns with our Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability initiatives and falls under one of our key strategic pillars, Education.

“We are excited to promote education and have consistently demonstrated this in our support of 10 universities and 3 secondary schools on infrastructure projects; our support of 10 universities with professorial Chairs and provision of financial literacy, entrepreneurial and career counselling to over 80,000 students in over 80 secondary schools in the country,” he added.

The Bank has also collaborated with IBM and Curious Learning to ensure the e-learning initiative swiftly moves across the country to school children and individuals with the need to promote the pursuit of knowledge, irrespective of age.

The partnership with IBM, offers the Digital-Nation Africa program, an online youth-focused learning programme that enables innovation and skills development on emerging technologies through focus areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Coding, Cloud, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Data Science and Analytics, and Cybersecurity whilst Curious Learning offers academic-based contents for students aged 3-8, using fun, self-guided learning apps to help them with their cognitive skills at a fundamental level.

…Obtains membership card at Ward 4



Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He collected his membership card at Ward 4, Oredo Local Government.

It was gathered that the governor is moving into the PDP with all the 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State together with 12 lawmakers in the State Assembly.

Also, Governors of the PDP are billed to visit him this weekend

Details soon.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee has disqualified the incumbent governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki for the forthcoming primary, slated for June 22.
Details later…

Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo and the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, will on Tuesday 9th of June 2020, officially launch the commencement of the Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Raw Materials Buying Program of Nigeria’s first gold and precious metals refining company.

The official launch will also witness the birth of Dukia–Heritage Bank Gold & Precious Metal Buying Centres, a project in partnership with Heritage Bank Plc for the sourcing and aggregation of Gold and other precious metals.

The launch which will be declared open by His Excellency, Governor Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State and the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will have other state governors, Ministers, Head of Parastatals, Private sector participants, mining stakeholders and local implementation partners in attendance.

In a statement by the organizers of the event, the theme of the seminar will be “The Future of Gold and Precious Metals in Africa” and the virtual launch of the Commencement of Operations of the Dukia Gold & Precious Metal Refining Company Limited, the Precious Metals Raw Materials Buying Program and the Dukia–Heritage Bank Plc buying Centres and the proprietary Dukia Trading Platform. The launch ceremony will be online via the Zoom – Meet and Chat’ platform, starting at 9.00am on Tuesday June 9th, 2020.

According to the Managing Director, Dukia Gold and Precious Metals Refining Co. Ltd, Ms. Bose Owolabi, she stated that the Lead Seminar Paper will be delivered by Ibrahim Sagna, Director & Global Head, Advisory and Capital Markets, Afrexim Bank while other key Speakers include Mr. Ifie Sekibo, Managing Director, Heritage Bank Plc; Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale, Managing Director, Lagos Commodities & Futures Exchange (LCFE); Humphrey Oriakhi, Managing Director, PAC Capital and Mr. Femi Williams, Managing Director, New Waves Ecosystems Limited.

According to her: “Nigeria’s enormous deposits of Gold & Precious Metals have largely remained untapped for various reasons which include the scale of capital investment required to activate required infrastructures, inattention to required policy frameworks, the distractions of fossil fuels’ dependencies. The Federal Ministry of Mines & Steel Development has over the years sought to make the sector attractive to Investors with some success and that is why Dukia Gold which is conceptually wholly Nigerian, driven by informed commitment and competence, leveraging on sterling local and global partnering across the spectrum of expertise required to bring it to life sustainably and successfully, going forward.”

“Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company Limited is at the heart of the delivery of the Dukia Gold Project. It is primed to fulfil a substantial gap in Infrastructure required to achieve the full value chain of operations, i.e. from Mines and Recyclable Gold to Mint and from Mint to Market and it comprises solutions geared towards facilitating and stimulating necessary developments in and of the Gold & Precious Metals’ subsector of the Solid Minerals sector of the Nigerian economy” she stated.

She went further: “Dukia Gold Project addresses and delivers critical solutions which ensure full Beneficiation of Precious Metals, including the refining of Precious Metals in Nigeria to the highest international standards in such a way that Nigerians and Nigeria can begin to trade and receive fair pricing and value for Precious Metals produced in Nigeria.

Dukia Gold Project will help to curtail exploitation of local miners by illegal traders who smuggle precious metals out of Nigeria with negligible gain to these local miners and with no returns to the national economy.”

She explained further that when the company kicks off officially, it will focus on adding value to the gold business in Nigeria and West Africa.

Her words: “Dukia Gold and Precious Metal Refining Company Limited sets out to be foremost indigenous Gold & Other Precious Metals Refining & Trading Company. It is  commencing its nationwide purchasing of gold and precious metals after the launch of designated Heritage Bank Gold and Precious Metals Buying Centres, focusing on adding value to the gold and precious metals industry in Nigeria and West Africa and on delivering a major source of alternative foreign exchange revenues. When it becomes fully operational, the refinery will be the first of its kind in West Africa and it will be open for opportunities for artisan miners, gold & precious metals owners and allied enterprises to obtain appropriate financial value for their products among other benefits.”

“The Dukia Gold Project is manifestly a game-changing proposition, an articulate catalyst for the development of the Nigerian Mining Industry. The Buying Programme has commenced and the Buying Centres will be open to the public on August 1, 2020 while phased implementation of the Refinery has also commenced with essential equipment on order from pre-qualified world-leading manufacturers with full implementation to be achieved within 24 months”.

Dukia Gold is being financed by a blend of Equity and Loans from Financial Institutions led by Heritage Bank Plc, supported by PAC Capital as Financial Advisers and Fund Arrangers in due course by the Afrexim Bank.

By Raheem Akingbolu


Those who are in the business of brand building say building a brand is like building a house. You have to be sure of the location where you are buying a plot. Will it flood when the rains come and what kind of people will be your neighbours? You have to get the foundation right and solid. You have to make sure the walls and angles are straight or you will end up with a wonky house.

The same for a brand. You have to know the audience you wish to address and the competition you are facing. Then you have to choose how to present yourself, what brand managers call Brand Personality. Next you choose a name for your company, product, brand, service or personality, where you wish to play and how you want to play.. Any name you pick has to resonate and be memorable. Then you coin a slogan or what they call a tagline. These days that tagline is now often a hashtag. Brand colours help when you begin to design a logo then once all those are done, you deploy your brand essence across your business or area of focus.

People have to, as millennials say, ‘feel’ your brand and its essence.

For this piece I am focusing on an emerging but significant brand which I had actually failed to pay much attention to until a few weeks ago even though the attempt at building a brand has been ongoing for close to 9 months.

My subject is Sadiya Umar Farouq, Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The Ministry was created on August 21, 2019 by President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR as a special intervention ministry for humanitarian affairs, management of disasters and social interventions. It received a clear mandate to develop humanitarian policies and provide effective coordination of national and international humanitarian interventions while ensuring strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response, as well as managing the formulation and implementation of equity focused social inclusion and protection programmes in Nigeria.

Following the creation of her ministry, many agencies and social intervention programmes were subsumed under the ministry and they include National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Commission for Refugee, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Social Safety Net Programme, the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, the Job Creation Programme (comprising N-Power & Technology Hubs), the Government Empowerment and Enterprise Programme (GEEP) as well as TRADERmoni, MARKETmoni etc.

A quick consideration of the ministry’s remit will present the ministry as Nigeria’s mini United Nations.

So, how does a 44 year old woman step in and take charge? What are her antecedents and how will she proceed as she suprintends over a large ministry, sells her programmes and builds a personal brand as one of the more visible ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term?

To consider these brand building blocks, one must get fully apprised of her background. Sadiya Umar Farouq is not just the youngest minister in Nigeria, she is also the holder of three degrees including an MBA, all from the Ahmadu Bello University.

A native of Zamfara state, she had aspired to the House of Reps and worked at the National Assembly Service Commission but her entree into national prominence began first as National Treasurer of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which was where she first crossed paths with President Muhammadu Buhari.
She was also appointed national treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but it was her appointment in 2016 as Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) that thrust her to national attention.

Established in 1989, the agency did not make a blip in the national consciousness until Sadiya Umar Farouq took over and made the issues of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons a front burner one.

That role as Federal commissioner was in many ways audition and preparation for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development where upon assumption of office, she made three quick brand building moves.

First, she visited the Republic of Niger where a similar ministry exists; the Ministry of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management. Her visit was a part of efforts to understand existing structures and the application of global best practice to the discharge of her mandate.

Next, she gathered a coterie of security, development and multilateral agencies as she convened the Civil-Security Cooperation (CISEC) workshop. The objective was to bring stakeholders together to deliberate on ways of fostering understanding amongst humanitarian and security actors. This was to ensure a more effective and seamless delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities in the North East where the decade long insurgency which qualifies as a disaster is still taking a huge humanitarian and economic toll.

Then she quickly appointed a Special Assistant on Special Needs having realised that success on the job would require pioritizing the vulnerable in the ministry’s humanitarian interventions.
Her SWOT analysis had manifested in quick actions.

But then her brand ran into public relations headwinds when she appeared at the National Assembly a few months into her tenure to answer questions regarding the N-Power programme. During the grilling session, Sadiya Umar Farouq deflected a few questions. The picture that emerged was of a woman who was not fully aware of the goings-on in her ministry.

But nothing could be farther from the truth as emerging details now seem to indicate. Her performance was a strategic performance. By parrying and deflecting she was trying not to indict her predecessors while playing the part of a loyal party woman.

This point was recently highlighted by veteran journalist and public commentator Emma Agu in a recent commentary where he writes with respect to the N-Power programme which was the crux of the matter – “TheCable newspaper had detailed the elaborate conspiracy of a broad network of persons who gamed the system by hosting “ghost” enrolees.

Though Imoukhuede had denied any such infractions, he nonetheless admitted that, like any other programme, the N-Power programme was not perfect. Pray, how could a programme that was not perfect in January 2019 be said to have been running seamlessly, at the same time? And if the programme was already fraught with problems several months before the minister, Sadiya Farouq, assumed office, does it not translate to blatant falsehood, deliberate mischief and wanton character assassination to pillory her in the brazen manner that those calling for her innocent head have done?”

Appearing at NASS on February 23, 2020, Sadiya Umar Farouq had two choices – indict her predecessors or deflect. The whole world now knows what choice she made and for which her rising brand suffered some hiccups.

But she has rallied and is recovering. Her much disparaged modified Home Grown School Feeding programme has turned out to be a huge success and is winning over skeptics with well curated beneficiary testimonials. Before the programme was flagged off Sadiya Umar Farouq invited the DSS, EFCC, ICPC, CCB and a host of NGOs and CSOs to monitor and help ensure that the implementation of the programme was transparent and not compromised.

The Director General of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was present at the flag off in Abuja while TrackaNG committed to monitor and has been providing updates which validate the programme.

On May 15, 2020 when Sadiya Farouq announced that N-power beneficiaries would be paid their stipend the next week she was quickly branded a liar but the stipends were paid as promised despite technological hiccups.

Her perfomance under Covid-19 has been stellar from humanitarian interventitins to collaborations with multilateral agencies and private sector players. Her convening of the Zero Hunger Roundtable in collaboration with the World Food Programme is a case in point. And recently she has adopted a new slogan befitting of her brand and ministry – #makingimpact.
The process of brand building can often be impeded by problems but a well conceived and managed brand will survive. In 1982, Tylenol, a leading pain relief drug was embroiled in crisis. Seven people who bought and ingested Tylenol died. The Tylenol brand was suddenly embroiled in a PR nightmare. Sales plunged as did share price.

In time, it turned out that someone who was never found had tampered with the packs and laced the tablets with cyanide which caused the deaths.

Tylenol, leading from the front inspired the pharmaceutical, food and consumer product industries to introduce tamperproof packs for medicines and other products.

Sadiya Umar Farouq in a mere nine months on the saddle has not only exprienced a PR nightmare she has emerged stronger from the crisis and as she continues to discharge her mandate, one can already see that she will emerge a stronger brand and one of the stand-out ministers in President Buhari’s cabinet.

This is a yay.

There is disquiet in the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) over N23b traced to the account of a Level 12 officer, the Economic Confidential can authoritatively report

The affected officer and three others linked with the fraud were said to be on secondment from OAGF.

But following the uncovering of the scandal, the Level 12 officer and others have been secretly redeployed to OAGF by SDGs.

There were indications that some security and anti-graft agencies were probing the illicit money laundering.

Also, some documents relating to the fraud have been forwarded to the relevant committees in the National Assembly.

The account of the officer was allegedly used for slush purposes by the management of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs Office.

The suspect indicted for the slush fund is from a state in North-West and the beneficiaries of the illicit cash are rallying around him to sweep the scandal under the carpet.

On the discovered N23bn, Economic Confidential gathered that the account where the “diverted” fund was domiciled was detected by the BVN used to open several companies accounts where payments were made to them.

“The personal BVN of the said officer was tied to the slush account of one of the companies being used,” a highly-placed source said.

Some security, anti-graft agencies and anti- fraud units have since launched an investigation, seeking to confirm the purpose of the fund accruing to the account, and beneficiaries of the account.

The Level 12 officer has admitted to one of the agencies that he retained over N1. 8b out of the money for personal use.

Meanwhile, a top offficial at the SDG Office, who was contacted on the issue told Economic Confidential that the said officer was sent back to the Office of Accountant General of the Federation after the discovery of the scandal.

An insider in SDGs confided in Economic Confidential that “All those involved have been trying to bury the scandal so that President Muhammadu Buhari will not hear about it.

“It is unfortunate that such a huge sum will be laundered in a country where many people cannot feed.

“We want the Presidency to get to the root of this scandal. All the suspects are trying to bribe their way through in order to stall investigation of this fraud.”

This scandal is coming in the wake of an alleged budget ‘padding’ scandal rocking the Office.

The Office of the SSA on SDGs to Mr. President, had proposed N40 billion as budget for the 2020 fiscal year.

Surprisingly in the budget submitted to the National Assembly NASS, an additional N33 billion was curiously added, making the votes for the SDGs Office to balloon to the tune of N77 billion.

However, Economic Confidential reliably gathered that members of the relevant Committees in both the House of Representatives and Senate have strongly demanded for an explanation over the ‘bizarre padding’ of the Office’s allocation.

The members of NASS, it was gathered, are set for a showdown with Presidency, and especially, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mrs Orelope-Adefulire was a former deputy governor in Lagos State.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudaahiru Obasa, told the panel of enquiry raised by the Assembly on Saturday that the corruption allegations against him by Sahara Reporters were the handiwork of his enemies.
Speaker Obasa said this when he appeared before the 9-man Fact Finding Panel of the House chaired by Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo Constituency 1).
The Speaker explained that all the allegations made by Sahara Reporters in its series of reports were unfounded.
Obasa stressed that the vehicles bought for the members of the House and other expenses made by the House were done with the approval of the House and that of the Fund Management Committee (FMU) of the House headed by him.
“We bought Land Cruisers for Principal Officers of the House. The cars we buy for Principal Officers are always higher than those of other members and we followed the due process in the purchase.
“We went through the Public Procurement Agency (PPA) and others and the vehicles were distributed appropriately.
“It was agreed at the parliamentary meetings on about four occasions and the Clerk of the House is the Secretary.
“Also, it is not true that my wife collects N10 Million monthly from the House. Anyone who says she does should come with proofs and evidences.
“My approval limit as the Speaker of the House is N100 million. Anything above that would have to be approved by the Fund Management Committee. On Prado Jeep that we bought for the members, we followed the due process like we did in that of the Principal Officers,” he explained.
Obasa also debunked an allegation that N258 million was spent for the printing of invitation cards for the inauguration of the 9th Assembly adding that the whole event cost N61 million while N1.1 million was spent to print the invitation cards.
“It is not possible to spend N258 Million to print invitation cards. We are not involved in such a frivolous expenditure,” he added.
Concerning the alleged N80 million expended as estacode for the training of women in Dubai, the Speaker said that wives of 20 lawmakers attended the event and that he was there to declare the event open.
“We gave N4 million to each of the participants for air ticket, hotels, feedings and local travel. Air ticket to Dubai alone is about N2 million. Some of these allegations were raised for a crusade to get the Speaker out of office.
“The House of Assembly is above common standard of excellence and we have to train people, and this comes with a cost. Learning is not cheap and I have never collected N80 Million for estacode at a go before,” he said.
The Speaker defended the purchase of eight Hiace buses for committee works in the Assembly as he explained that it was discovered that the House was spending a lot of money to repair vehicles, which he said was why the House decided to buy the buses and that the buses were there for everybody to see with documents to defend the purchases.
He denied the allegation that he spent N53 million for a trip to the United States of America with his mistress.
“We were invited by the Consular General for a programme in the United States. Later, the programme was postponed, but I had gone ahead. I had to return home and I told others not to bother to come until the postponed dates,” he said.
The Speaker told the committee that it was not possible for him to spend N17 million for cleaning of his guest house as against the allegation made by Sahara Reporters .
“They only remove documents and fly them around to please themselves. All our payments go through certain procedures.
“The expenditure had been there before I became the Speaker. There was no way I could have spent N17 million on cleaning my guest house.
“On the issue of awarding contracts to companies belonging to me, they should come and show evidence of where I awarded contracts to myself,” he said.
Concerning the report that he tricked former governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state to spend N350 million for hosting a meeting of Conference of Speakers, Obasa said told the committee that this was not possible.
He maintained that such was not possible since Ambode is an accountant, who rose to be the Chief Accountant of the State.
“There was no way I could have tricked Ambode to release such money anyhow. We had a meeting of the Conference of Speakers, who came with three members each and we had subcommittees who were given N2 million each.
“We paid for the tickets of each Speaker, we pay for their hotel accommodation, feeding and souvenirs.
“We also provided local transportation for them. All these allegations are deliberate actions of my enemies to achieve their aims that they could not achieve in the House to remove me as the Speaker of the House, which was why they came up with such reports.
“On N60 Million spent for social influencers, I did not sign such money. I don’t even know the companies they are talking about. The BVN they are flying about is not correct.
“Whatever I have done as a Speaker, all the approvals I gave as Speaker were given based on collective approval of the members of the House,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, who also appeared before the panel denied attending meeting in Dubai as against the report of SaharaReporters.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, said that while a media parley was held by the House, he didn’t know how much was spent on the event since different people handled different aspects of the event.
“We provided hospitality for the few the people that came. The event involved other things, there were catering and others that were given to other people to handle.
“It is most uncharitable to say we spent N47.5 Million for social media influencers. We spend money on publicity and public relations.
“We have programmes that we pay for on TVC and LTV 8. We have a magazine that we produce and we print 40,000 copies quarterly and distribute to schools and other places and we pay for the content, design and production,” he said.
The Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni also defended the estacode for the trip to the United States of America, saying that it followed the standard procedure, and that the programme was budgeted for under conferences and seminars.
“We did not buy 11 buses, we bought eight Hiace buses for committee assignments.
“The cost exceeded N100 million and it was approved by the Management Committee of the House. It was also approved by the Public Procurement Agency and the Ministerial Tenders Board and we got a Certificate of Compliance for the purchase.
“The buses are in place at the car park. We have budgetary provision for the vehicles.
“The women trip to Dubai was also approved for in the budget. The Speaker was there, the wife of the Deputy Speaker was there and wives of 17 other lawmakers. Each participant got money for air fare, local transportation and others,” he said.
Sanni also cleared the air on N258 million for printing of invitation card, saying that the money for the whole event was N61 Million and that only N1.1 million was spent for the printing of the programme for the event.
He confirmed that 80 cars were bought in 11 months for the 8th and 9th assemblies.
“We bought 40 Corolla Cars back-up vehicles for the 8th Assembly.
“The purchase was approved by the Management Committee led by the Speaker with Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh, Saka Fafunmi, Hon. David Setonji and others as members.
“In the 9th Assembly, we bought Toyota Prado for members and this was approved by the Funds Management Committee headed by the Speaker.
“The issue of the vehicle was discussed at the various parliamentary meetings and it was unanimously agreed by the members.
“We bought 36 Prado Jeeps for members and it went through the PPA and we have Compliance Certificate for the purchase.
“We also bought six Land Cruisers for the Principal Officers approved by the FMC and PPA with Certificate of Compliance.
“On women empowerment programmes. We raised a submission for the programme and it was recognised by the Assembly budget. It was not paid into the account of the wife of the Speaker. The facility manager has no relationship with the Speaker of the House,” he said.
The Clerk of the House, however said that some documents might have been released to SaharaReporters “through some disgruntled staffers of the House.
“We have been taking steps on that and we have transferred some staff.
“The files go through many tables and there is no doubt that some devilish staffers take pictures of some of these documents and send to these people.
“The staff have taken oaths and this attracts dismissal. Unofficial disclosure of information attracts dismissal in the civil service,” he stated.
Two officials of Zenith Bank; Mr. John Olorundare, Chief Compliance Officer, Mr. John Olorundare, Zonal Head of Alausa, Mr. Sanni Idowu Awe also appeared before the panel.
The bank officials stated that an individual could only have one BVN.
They confirmed that different account names could not be used for one BVN and that Speaker Obasa had only six accounts with Zenith Bank.
According to them, only two of the accounts are operational; one savings and current, while the rest are dormant.
Present at the meeting were other members of the committee including Hon. Yinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa 2), Hon. Lukmon Olumoh (Ajeromi Ifelodun 1) and Hon. Ajani Owolabi (Lagos Mainland 1).
Others are Hon. Mojisola Alli-Macaulay (Amuwo Odofin 1), Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1) and Hon. Akeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1).

He is loved by many and respected among his ilk like he is fondly called, ‘African Prince’ by his friends simply because he is truly a prince of royal parentage and halts a princely heart.

Lanre Alfred as a celebrity journalist, author and businessman and publisher of The Capital; an online publishing platform, is former society editor and columnist at This Day Newspaper, author of five books and owner of Old English provision store with branches in Lagos

Lanre, on his birthday, generously doled out many good things to indigents people and this, he has been known for in past years.

This ace journalist, as many know he for, doesn’t give a hoot about giving to the underprivileged and he is remaining in that realm of generosity, philanthropy, charity, and human nature. And this is why many love him for his good gestures and kindness at all times.

Meanwhile, if not for COVID-19 pandemic in town, those who know Lanre as a man about town would readily tell that the man that writes about the intimate affairs of the rich, high and mighty of the society, would have painted the town red for his birthday because he has that pedigree and he calls all the shots when it comes to good partying.

One afternoon some weeks back, a call from a secondary school mate roused me from my lockdown-induced siesta.

My mate, an excitable guy from way back, wanted to share with me a piece of news he thought I had not heard. “What is it?” I asked groggily.

He said Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour, had urged DStv, GOtv and StarTimes to give subscribers free subscription for at least one month as a way of lessening the economic impact of the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak. I told him I had seen Keyamo say that on Twitter.
My friend thought it was a very bright idea but wanted to know what my view was. I took the liberty of our closeness since our pre-teen years to tell him he was talking unadulterated tripe. Of course, he responded in similar fashion, saying: “Foolish boy” (he’s always called me that, anyway).

I got serious after our playground-level exchange, telling him that I thought DStv, GOtv (promoted by MultiChoice Nigeria) and StarTimes could assist Nigeria better by donating money and test kits (the latter was in short supply) because the country needs to arrest the spread of the virus.

He responded, saying (in jest, of course): “You’re capable of being bright, but it doesn’t happen frequently.” MultiChoice would later announce a support package totaling N1.2billion, which is not the issue here.

My friend was not done. In addition to whatever donations they might make to support the government’s effort at containing COVID-19, my friend suggested, MultiChoice should introduce the Pay-Per-View (PPV) model, which he believed would help about 40million subscribers pay less for pay television services.
He actually added that the system has always been in operation in South Africa, which I immediately told him was nonsense. I asked him if he seriously believes that there are 40million pay television subscribers, let alone of DStv and GOtv in Nigeria and asked him for evidence in support of his claim.

He started talking about hotels, offices, homes et al. I told him whatever is asserted without evidence is dismissible without evidence just before he ran out of airtime. I had to call him back. When I did, I asked him how he thought PPV works.

He replied, saying: “We will only pay for the channels we watch, not for those we don’t watch, especially when there is power outage, we are at work or out of town.” It was my turn to counter-punch and I did with glee. “Is that what you’ve been reading with those onion-size eyes of yours? Stop listening to newsstand discussions,” I replied.

He countered with the popular notion that pay television operators should operate the pay-as-you-go model in telecommunications. At that point, I knew my friend-like many other people I encounter on social media platforms-is in the grip of serious misapprehension. And I told him so.

Of course, he responded with a friendly fusillade of abuses.

When the fumes of his words dissipated, he admitted that he had a prefabricated view of pay-per-view, which he acquired from the media, especially social media.

Before the lockdown, my friend had been following developments in the House of Representatives where a member, Uyinem Idem, moved a motion seeking to compel pay television operators to ditch the monthly contract model for pay-as-you-go (sometimes called pay per view).

Relying on uniformed tittle-tattle, Idem based his position on the assumption that pay-as-you-go is the model used in some countries where MultiChoice, the biggest of the pay-television firms, operates.

He is also persuaded, like my friend, that MultiChoice’s subscriber base in Nigeria is the largest in Africa by a country mile. Well, I quickly informed me that there is no pay television service provider in the world that operates a PAYG model. None.

The lockdown stopped proceedings on that motion but since the resumption of the House, it has bounced back and is spinning Idem and some of his colleagues really giddy. On Tuesday, the House inaugurated an ad-hoc committee on non-implementation of the pay-as-you-go model, with Idem emerging as Chairman.

“We have interacted with Nigerians and what they want is pay-as-you-go, so that when they are out in their respective locations, their subscriptions can be there and they will make use of it when they return,” said Idem while speaking to journalists shortly after the committee was inaugurated.

Idem added that his belief that customers must be able to choose what they want (whether or not that is possible) was his main motivation for moving the motion.

Idem, it is safe to say, has read the manual for crowd pleasing authored by the 8th National Assembly, which mastered the art of pretending to fight for Nigerians even on matters it has little or no knowledge about.

Before I return to my friend, I wish to point out that prices of many goods and services have gone up, notably since the implementation of the new VAT regime began on 1 February, but the House has never once demanded that providers of such should continue to make such available at the same price.

Now, I return to my friend. I shared with him what I know of pay-per-view and he realized it is not the same as what he assumed it was. In case, just in case, you are like my friend, I urge you to pay a little attention and your view (of PPV) will never be the same again (pardon the doctrinal allusion).

Full disclosure. I was also like my friend: I remained incurious and shut my mind to anything that went against what I held to be true.

So, what is PPV and how does it work? The fool’s explanation given to me by the first person to free me of my ignorance about PPV is that it is a television service requiring viewers to pay a fee in order to have access to a specific programme.

PPV enables everyone who pays a fee to have access to the programme at the same time. It is not the same as video-on-demand service (VOD), which enables viewers to watch pre-recorded programmes when they want.

The model is essentially used to live-broadcast one-off, big-ticket events such as epic boxing, wrestling and football matches as well as entertainment events.

PPV is available via cable or satellite TV subscription and Internet services in the US, Canada, UK and some parts of Europe. So if you have a cable or satellite subscription, you still must pay separately for an event to be broadcast via PPV.

Also, if you pay for, say, a boxing match on PPV and you do not watch, no refund is made. Of course, you also do not get a refund if a 12-round boxing match ends in the first or second round.

PPV, to cut a long story short, is not the same as pay television. Is it cheaper? Let’s do the math. Thankfully, the Internet is there to bear witness these days.

The Tyson Fury/Deontay Wilder heavyweight boxing rematch, which held in February, was available in high definition for $79.99 on PPV in the US and £61 in the UK. Non-high definition version of the bout was available at $69.99 in the US and £53 in the UK. The fight lasted all of seven rounds!

Two years ago, the Floyd Mayweather/Connor McGregor bout was available for $99.99 and $89.99 in high and standard definition respectively. In 2015, the Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao clash was sold via PPV to viewers in the US for $99.5. The three fights were watched on DStv in Nigeria at no extra cost to subscribers.

Often, PPV is used interchangeably with pay-as-you-watch, which is ripped off the telcos billing model.

Pay television subscribers are relentless in asking why the industry cannot adopt the model in the telecommunications industry. Seductive as this is, it is undergirded by some degree of ignorance. Pay TV companies are telecommunications companies have very different modes of operation.

Telecommunications operators do not pay for entertainment content because that is not their business. What they buy is a spectrum, for which they make a one-off payment. Pay-TV operators, except ones that don’t plan to survive, continue to pay for content, usually at eye-wateringly high costs every time the contracts come up for renewal.

Equally importantly, content owners/creators do not sell to pay television operators, which are vendors, on pay-as-you-watch basis. The terms of content redistribution contracts are notoriously stringent, leaving pay TV operators with no wiggle room.

A major reason for the pay-as-you-watch clamour is that monthly contract system is inflexible and condemns subscribers to being billed whether or not they are watching. It cannot be otherwise.

The technology used in Pay TV broadcast transmits signal is called the downlink. It transmits a signal in one direction: to the decoder; not to the operator.

This means the operator is unable to know whether or not not a subscriber is watching or what is being watched. The only thing a provider’s automated system can do is to prevent the smart card from accessing signal at the expiration of the subscription.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has announced that religious activities will resume in the state on June 19.

The governor made the announcement at an ongoing press briefing at government house, Marina, Lagos, on Thursday.

He said while Muslim services will resume on June 19, while Christian worship would begin on June 21.

The governor said children below age of 15 should not be allowed at religious gatherings restricted to Fridays and Sundays.

details shortly…

President, Latter Rain Assembly, and one-time presidential candidate in Nigeria, Pastor Tunde Bakare, brought fire to the hour-long conversation on The Future of Faith with Chude Jideonwo, founder of Joy, Inc., discussing governance, and the responsibility of the church during these times.

Speaking about his presidential ambitions, Pastor Tunde Bakare mentioned that in the 2011 elections he was “pressured to run with Atiku.” Nonetheless, God’s counsel to him has remained the same – his political career is not over, he will be called upon for more responsibilities and he is obligated to show up.

Pastor Bakare extolled the virtue of rising up to one’s responsibilities, referencing the church as a body that is required in these trying times to show up for its members.

“The church, which is you and I and the millions of Christians in this country, has one duty; to nourish the body of Christ, honor and serve it. That is you and I.”

“If the church does not do its duty, it will soon be empty and cockroaches and spiders will take over,” Bakare said.

The conversation also touched on gender, the state of violence against women, and the increase in questions about the role of religion in the continued subjugation of women, which is inarguably related to how women continue to meet violence at the hands of men.

Featuring an array of superstars, Bayern Munich and Leverkusen battle this weekend will be a fascinating moment for football fans.

The match will be broadcast live this Saturday at 2:30 PM on StarTimes’ ST World Football Channels 244 and 254 and, ST Sport Premium Channel 246.

The Bundesliga league no longer seems to be a one-horse race. Bayern cannot afford to drop points, because frankly, they need their best players to get the better of tough customers, Bayer Leverkusen.

After winning in Dortmund and following that up with a comfortable 5-0 victory against struggling Düsseldorf at the weekend, Bayern München are marching towards an eighth successive title.

Bayer Leverkusen Coach, Peter Bosz’s side have been blowing hot and cold since the restart of the season, winning their first match 4-1 at Werder Bremen and 3-1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach, but then crashing spectacularly at home against Wolfsburg before finding back to their winning ways at Freiburg on Saturday.

Bayern Leverkusen have one of the most exciting young players world-wide and the 20-year-old German international, Kai Havertz, is being linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe after scoring the winning goal against Freiburg and in the process becoming the first player under 21 to have scored 35 Bundesliga career goals.

Other tasty clashes to look forward to in the Bundesliga this weekend include: Borussia Dortmund, who remain the only club with a realistic albeit and unlikely chance of still catching Bayern. The Black and Yellows are at home against Hertha Berlin in Saturday’s late match, knowing that any further slip-up will all but kill their hopes of winning the title.

Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barr. Paul Ohonbamu, has resigned his membership of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s executive council.

He announced his resignation in a terse letter he personally signed and addressed to Governor Obaseki.

He has however been replaced by Mr. We Stewart.

Ohonbamu in his resignation letter, said: “I hereby tender my letter of resignation as a commissioner in Edo State to His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki this 4th day of June, 2020.

“Without setting a precedent, I have decided to step aside as cabinet member and. Operate outside‎ it for the general good of Edo State and pursuit of happiness for the citizens.”

He however expressed gratitude to the Governor‎ for in‎dulging him in his “purposeful and sophisticated administration”, just as he greeted “the ever loyal members of the state executive council.”

“I greet you, Sir, and the ever loyal members of the state executive council. I am particularly delighted that his Excellency’s second term bid is firm and sure-footed.

“Whenever we shall meet again I know not. Therefore, our everlasting farewell take. If we do meet, why, what shall smile, if not, it is true this parting was well-meaning,” he said.

When contacted, Ohonbamu confirmed his resignation but declined to make further comments.

In a statement announcing the appointment of the new Commissioner, the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said:

“Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the appointment of Mr. Stewart Efe as Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation.

Ogie added that the appointment takes “immediate effect.”

Until his appointment, Fee Stewart was the Public Relations Officer of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City.

His resignation has brought to two, members of Obaseki’s cabinet that have resigned within the last one month.

Mr Taiwo Akerele the Chief of Staff, had in May resigned his appointment stating administrative reasons.

The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq visited Asaba, Delta state on Tuesday June 2, 2020 for an on-site visit and to commiserate with traders who lost goods and valuables in the Ogbeogonogo fire incident which occured in the early hours of May 26, 2020.

The fire destroyed the livestock and textile sections of the popular market located on Nnebisi road, Asaba.

Speaking during a tour of the market, the Minister who was accompanied by the Honourable Minister of State, Labour Festus Keyamo (SAN) and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Muhammed (Rtd.), said: “I am deeply saddened and immensely worried to be standing here today to commiserate with traders who have lost wares worth millions of naira in the latest fire incident to rock our nation especially those in the affected sections. I want to extend my deepest sympathy and regrets to these hardworking Nigerians who have lost so much to this fire. But I am relieved to hear that no life was lost in the incident. I say relieved because as the popular adage goes, when there is life, there is hope.”

The minister who presented goods and materials to replace what was lost in the fire to various traders at the market promised that her ministry is working in consultation with relevant agencies and stakeholders in evolving new strategies for an All-Hazard approach that will prioritize fire prevention and mitigation.

Continuing she noted: “Nigeria has always been beset by fire incidents but it will be very wrong of us to normalise tragedy. Early this week, I was in Borno state to commiserate and condole with the Governor and the people of the state over the tragic fire incident that claimed four lives and devastated property at the Muna Albadawy IDP Camp and here we are today bemoaning another fire incident.”

She commended NEMA as well as His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and officials of the state emergency services for their prompt response and efforts to save the market.

Responding during a courtesy call to the State House, the Governor thanked the Minister for the site visit and commended the humanitarian gesture of providing replacements to the traders for items lost in the fire.

Traders received gifts made up of 120 sewing machines, 100 hair dryers, 80 grindng machines, 625 bags of rice, 625 bags of maize, 625 bags of beans, 31 bags of salt, 63 kegs of vegetable oil, 85 cartons of Tin tomatoes, 56 cartons of seasoning, 1,875 bags of cement, 300 bundles of roofing sheets, 300 packs of zinc nails, 625 bags of 3 inches nails and 750 pieces of ceiling boards.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced that it has reinforced its technology infrastructure to enable anyone in the country open a FirstBank account through their mobile phones, without visiting any of its branches nationwide.

The investment in the Bank’s mobile banking infrastructure is in furtherance of the need to deepen financial inclusion in the country, enabling account opening to be carried out on its *894# USSD banking, FirstMobile (self-service telephone banking), its website – www.firstbanknigeria.com – as well as the Bank’s staff, through the Direct Sales Executive (DSE) application installed on their mobile phone, ATMs and the bank’s over 55,000 FirstMonie Agents spread across the country. Opening an account with FirstBank through any of these means is seamless, convenient, fast, and user-friendly.

The DSE App is an end to end encrypted mobile application installed on the phone(s) of FirstBank staff which enables them to open an account for to-be customers. Upon the completion of the account opening process via the DSE App, the customer is notified of his or her account number through a text message on the mobile phone used to register the account.

With FirstBank’s *894# USSD banking, various banking activities are carried out on a mobile phone – across the four major GSM network operators in the country – without the use of the internet.

To open an account via this means, dial *894# then select ‘open an account’ to provide the information required or by simply dialling *894*0#. The Bank currently has over 9.5 million of its nearly 20 million customers on its USSD banking platform.

The FirstMonie Agent Banking is an agent banking initiative from the bank that is designed to take banking closer to people, thereby bridging the gap between the banked and unbanked.

FirstMonie is a channel through which various banking activities like FirstBank account opening, funds transfer, bill payments, data and call credit recharge services, amongst others are carried out. The Agent Banking initiative has also contributed to reducing poverty, being responsible for the indirect employment of over 150,000 people across the country.

According to Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products, First Bank of Nigeria Limited: “Beyond opening an account in any of our over 700 branches, we are delighted with the investments at reinventing our business processes over the years, especially with the use of technology. This has been critical to staying relevant in the industry for over 126 years and being the financial partner of the first choice to all our customers and Nigerians, irrespective of where they are.”

Creating these virtual ways of opening a bank account with us – thus; the staff DSE App, ATMs, FirstMonie Agents, *894# USSD banking, FirstMobile and our website – reinforces our resolve to ensure that more Nigerians and residents have access to banking, especially through our state of the art financial services and we remain resolute to being the key to banking, enabling business and financial activities that would continue to propel the country’s economic growth and development.

Emma Agu

In my early days as editor, one day, as I agonised openly over what I had considered was a misreading of my intentions leading, at times, to hostility towards me, my colleague Tony Nzotta, asked me to come over to the newsroom. Nzotta had a penchant for the dramatic. Once we got to the door of the newsroom, he stopped abruptly, halting me in the process. He then re-enacted what he described, was the action of a one-time editor of the New York Times who, faced with similar predicament, had gone to the entrance to the newsroom and, in exasperation howled at nobody in particular: “For crying out loud, why does everybody hate me here?” The reply was instant. One of the personnel who was in a similar position as Tony Nzotta was now occupying, retorted: “Because you are the editor of the New York Times”. Looking straight into my face, Nzotta quipped: “Because you are the editor of The Statesman”. That was in 1988. I was 31 at the time.

Tony was to explain further. The convention was: nobody ever loved the editor of the New York Times. If he was ever loved, then he was not the task master extra-ordinaire; he was not the deadline maestro and he was likely to fail in his duty. According to him, all that the job called for was respect and if love came along, it was a bonus.

Some jobs come like that. Not many a worker ever admired the auditor or the person in charge of internal control in an organisation. Similarly, not many people are patient with a reformer or any functionary with an honest desire to effect change, particularly disruptive change that bothers on transparency. In fact, in most cases, the advocate of change becomes a victim of all manner of umbrage and blackmail. The reason is simple: change comes with the loss of privilege; and those whose comfort zone have been threatened or disrupted are not likely to let go without a fight.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk appears to have fallen into the editor’s (or should I say, auditor’s) dilemma. In recent weeks, she has been subjected to serious vilification over the activities of her ministry. Principal targets have been the Modified School Feeding Programme and the N-Power Programme. While criticism of the former has focused on the desirability or otherwise of continuing implementation under the lockdown, critics of the later have demanded the outright removal of the minister, claiming that she is incompetent. I shall dwell more on the later whose proponents happen to be enrolees of the programme.

Their grouse is that payment of the stipend has fallen into arrears since the minister assumed office. For that reason, they have employed expletives such as “wicked” and “incompetent” to malign her. Besides, they claim that the programme was better run by its previous managers.

For a better understanding of the controversy, it is well to recall that the programme, a laudable one at that, was initiated by the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration as a platform for capacity building, employment creation, people empowerment and social engineering. It has the strategic imperative of taking jobless graduates off the streets and crime; of equipping enrolees with life skills and in the process, boosting the economic power of families. For effect, it was domiciled in the office of the Vice President.

However, the programme, with other components of the equally ambitious Social Investment Programmes (SIP) of the Federal Government, was transferred to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs upon its creation in 2019. Ever since, hell has known no greater fury.

For good reasons therefore, the minister is bound, like the editor, to be worried that she is so viscerally hated, to the extent of calling for her head. Why not? How many people of her age have been privileged to occupy such a huge strategic ministry? What does she expect when her charge touches directly on jobs creation and the daily livelihood of millions of people, in a personal manner? At any rate, as a public officer, every action or inaction of the minister is fair game for public scrutiny, including, occasional insults or throwing of rotten tomatoes and eggs; the price you get to pay when you are being fed, by the poor tax-payer. To that extent, the rage of the enrolees will seem understandable. But is their logic justified. I doubt that.

For a start, granted that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, the attempt to personalise the delay in payment of stipends is not only mischievous but patently untenable. An honest enquiry would have revealed that, as the minister stated, payment was delayed by technical hitches that were beyond her control. Of course, it would not have helped the case of the petition writers if they had acknowledged that the minister had kept to an earlier pledge that the payment would be done, the week before last. Good a thing, that has been cleared. But would that be the first time that payment was delayed? The answer is an effective no.

Obviously, without prejudice to the effort of earlier managers of the programme, any attempt to paint a picture of a scheme that had, hitherto operated, seamlessly, would tantamount to standing truth on its head. For one, long before now, there had been protests, by N-Power beneficiaries, over delayed stipends. Besides, while it is acknowledged that the stipend, the bread, is a very important component of the programme, it will defeat the noble objectives of the program to hinge its success on that singular value.

Anyone who has monitored the programme would have observed the several shortcomings calling for concerted and decisive solution if its overall objective is not to be defeated. One of such malfeasance that the Ministry is working to eliminate is the situation whereby some already gainfully employed people connive with unscrupulous officials to defraud the system. Under the arrangement, some enrolees who never reports for duty agree to part with a percentage of their stipend, in favour of a cartel that spans a broad gamut of the programme. In fact, as far back as 2017, while on a visit to one of the states, the Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede reportedly discovered cases where enrolees were receiving their stipends without reporting for work. Interestingly, in a sting operation in January 2019, that was several months before the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, an undercover journalist of The Cable newspaper had detailed the elaborate conspiracy of a broad network of persons who gamed the system by hosting “ghost” enrolees. Though Imoukhuede had denied any such infractions, he nonetheless admitted that, like any other programme, the N-Power programme was not perfect. Pray, how could a programme that was not perfect in January 2019 be said to have been running seamlessly, at the same time? And if the programme was already fraught with problems several months before the Minister, Sadiya Farouk, assumed office, does it not translate to blatant falsehood, deliberate mischief and wanton character assassination to pillory her in the brazen manner that those calling for her innocent head have done?

If her critics were sincere, rather than engaging in puerile and scurrilous demonisation of the minister, they should be supporting her genuine effort, to fix fundamental flaws that continue to undermine the lofty objectives of the programme. One such flaw is the lack of a clear exit strategy which explains the untenable situation whereby enrolees whose programme is for 24 months have grossed 40 months without any clear exit strategy. Paradoxically, even with such a serious flaw, the petitioners still claimed that the programme was running efficiently, with the deceptive caveat that the former managers were already concluding their exit plan. Pray, why did it take all of one year after the expiration of their programme for the exit plan to begin to take shape, if the program was indeed running efficiently?

As things stand, the Minister, Sadiya Farouk, should realise that she is in a rocky flight; she must tighten her seat belt as she seeks to correct the obvious anomalies that have frustrated the full realisation of the vision of the N-Power Programme. In this regard, she should never capitulate to the ploy of some enrolees who, in their desperation to remain in the system, are ready to deploy every sinister tool of blackmail, to scuttle her resolve to return to the original vision of the program; that is, to work with other stakeholders towards exiting those who have completed in order to create room for others.

During a recent briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sadiya Farouk had disclosed that the Ministry was reviewing the program with a view to reforming and streamlining it for better efficiency. The minister’s definitive clarification demands that, the time for selfish conspiratorial inter-agency and politically motivated filibustering is over. For the sake of the Nigerian youth whose fate may well be tied to this programme, it is time for every hand to be on the deck; to facilitate the emergence of the new template being put in place by the ministry. to promote transparency and overall effectiveness of the programme. Achieving a transparent recruitment process; eliminating collusion to defraud the system through effective internal control and establishing workable exit strategy for the enrolees, on completion of the programme, are some of the long-standing deficits inherited by Sadiya Farouk that, when resolved, will place the program on near auto-pilot.

Agu, publisher of ZEST TRAVELLER Magazine is a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s leading financial institution, has emerged as the Best Bank in Nigeria in the recently released Global Finance Magazine World’s Best Banks Awards 2020.

The awards, which was published in the May 2020 edition of the Global Finance Magazine, was based on the performances of the banks in their respective regions and countries over the period from January 1 to December 31, 2019.

Global Finance’s “World’s Best Banks Awards” are recognized amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in more than 150 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.

Founded in 1987, Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other providers of financial services and the awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.

Commenting on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Mr, Ebenezer Onyeagwu said that “this award is a clear demonstration of the bank’s market leadership, occasioned by our superior product offerings, best-in-class service and top-of-the-range technology which create value for our teeming customers.”

Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. The bank, with a knack for setting the pace and raising benchmarks, is a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.

As a testament to its resilience and market leadership, Zenith Bank announced an impressive result for the year ended December 31, 2019, with profit after tax (PAT) of N208.8 billion, achieving the feat as the first Nigerian Bank to cross the N200 billion mark. In the recently released Q1 2020 unaudited financial results, the bank also recorded an improved result over the corresponding period in 2019, with gross earnings rising by 6% to N166.8 billion and profit before tax (PAT) growing 3% to N58.8 billion.

Consistent with this superlative performance and in recognition of its track record of exceptional performance, Zenith Bank was ranked as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria 2019 by the World Finance and the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co. The bank was also voted as Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Most recently, the bank was recognized as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria, for the third consecutive year, in the Banker Magazine “Top 500 Banking Brands 2020” and the Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020.