₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Army said it has discovered a shallow grave where a missing major general, Muhammed Alkali, was buried after he was killed.

The army said the body was later exhumed and reburied somewhere else by the killers, according to the information provided to it by some of the arrested suspects.

According to the army, the shallow grave was confirmed by four independent sources in the community and also by sniffer dogs.
Our correspondent who visited the area of the shallow grave reports that there is a distance of one kilometre between the main road and the location of the grave.

Mr Alkali was the immediate past chief of administration of the Nigerian Army. He was declared missing on September 3 when he was traveling from Abuja to Bauchi State. He is believed to have been killed by his abductors.

The car of the missing general was found weeks ago in the community’s pond after it was drained.

A blood-stained T-shirt, a boxer short and a pair of shoes believed to belong to the general were found in the car.

Since the discovery of the car, there have been fears the military could attack the community in retaliation.

A day after the car was found, the army cordoned off the Dura Du community and arrested 30 suspects in connection with the suspected murder of the general.

Apart from the discovery of the missing car, two other vehicles were also recovered from the pond.

Following the arrest of the 30 suspects, residents of the community fled for fear of military action but the army pledged to conduct the search with respect for human rights.

On Friday, a major general, B. A. Akinruluyo, the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division, Rukuba Barracks, narrated how the shallow grave was discovered.

“Please note that four different sources not known to each other at various times took us to the opened shallow grave where the senior officer was earlier buried but subsequently removed,” he said.

“Furthermore, sniffer dogs that have been cultured with the personal effects of the senior officer led us to the same open shallow grave. That was the only grave we were led to by different people and sniffer dogs. We did not go to any other grave as the operation was carried out based on credible intelligence.

Nigeria Army personnel on the grave site
“Like I always say, the cordon and search operation is intelligence driven and that is why the operation has been conducted in line with international best practices and respect for human rights. This further explains why the (army) division did not clamp down on the entire community. Only the perpetrators are being targeted.

“At this point, let me reiterate that all the actors involved in this dastardly act who are still at large are known to us. All efforts are being made to get them arrested and be brought to justice as their photographs and personal details are with the relevant security agencies.

“The cordon and search operation conducted by own troops has really exposed the heinous crimes being committed by the few but fully supported and concealed by the entire community. I want to commend members of the public for their cooperation and still solicit for anyone with credible information on where the senior officer was reburied. It is the civic responsibility of the Dura-Du community to produce the corpse of the deceased senior officer and those who were involved in the killing of the senior officer.

“Finally, the division also wishes to emphasise its adherence to the principles and respect of human rights in the discharge of its constitutional roles. It further calls on everyone within its area of responsibility to remain vigilant and report any suspected breach of the peace to security agencies,” the major general said.

The 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA nominees gala in Kigali had been mark as one of the events to make it on the list of the social events of the year. But, turn out to be a flop, as the presence of prominent bigwigs in the Nollywood industry could not help.

Sources disclose at one point, organisers had to waive the entrance fee to allow people into the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village, formerly Camp Kigali, the venue that was dotted with empty seats.

The turn up was very low and the event started very late.

Many blamed it on poor planning, while others cited the high entrance fee. But the gala also coincided with the popular Primus Guma Guma Super Star Season 7 (PGGSS7) finale.

Before the gala, the nominees visited Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

It was expected that the nominees would arrive at Camp Kigali at 6p.m for a dinner with their fans, but by that time the venue had only empty seats. It was not until 10:30p.m that the event finally started.

Disappointed revelers who spoke on the condition of anonymity blamed the low turn on the entrance fee which was Rwf50,000 for Platinum, Rwf30,000 for Diamond and Rwf15,000 for ordinary seats.

“If the entrance fee was Rwf5,000 and Rwf10,000, maybe they would have got more people. Given the time of the month, the entrance fee was a lot of money,” a reveler said.

Nevertheless, the few people who turned up were able to enjoy every moment.

Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, founder of AAMA thanked Rwanda and the Rwandan people for the warm reception they were given.

The night was graced by prominent Nigerian actors and actresses including the nominees Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze, Nwokobia Chidi, Doris Simeon, Lydia Forson, Emem Isong, Olu Jacobs and his wife Joke Jacobs, Bolane and Tony Anih. Others included Victor Osuagwu and Paul Obazere.

Other notable guests included the Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Belise Kariza and the founder and CEO of Kwetu Film Institute, Eric Kabera.

The nomination was done on Sunday, May 14 at Kigali Convention Centre (KCC). Among 29 different categories, there is only one Rwandan nominee, Clementine Dusabejambo’s film A Place for Myself in the Best Short Film Category.

One of the members on the organising team who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed the poor turn up on poor organisation and failure to coordinate with local partners.

“We didn’t work with the right people while organising the dinner. There was no adequate advertisement and marketing of the event,” the official said.

There were reports that some members of the local film industry boycotted the event because they were not involved in the planning process.

Ugandan sensation Ykee Benda of Munakampala fame performed and mesmerised the few who attended, particularly the duo of Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze, commonly known as Aki and Paw Paw. The duo got on their feet and danced.

Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, the suspected billionaire kidnapper, has dragged the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and three others before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged illegal detention.

Joined as respondents in the motion he filed by his lawyers are the Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command.

In a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on his behalf by a Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, the suspected kidnapper is praying for the order of court to direct the respondents to immediately charge him to court if there is any case against him in accordance with Sections 35 (1) (c) (3) (4) (5) (a) (b) and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the alternative, he prayed the court for an order compelling the respondents to immediately release him unconditionally in the absence of any offence that will warrant his being charged to court.

Meanwhile, the father of the notorious, high-profile kidnap kingpin, popularly called Evans on Wednesday called on the Inspector General of Police to release his son.

Evan’s father identified as Stephen Onuamadike was present at the premises of a Federal High Court in Lagos to personally depose to the suit against the IGP calling for the release of his son.

According to a Lagos based lawyer, Barrister Olukoya Ogungbeje who filed the suit on behalf of the family, there was no harm representing the alleged kidnap mastermind.

“I can confirm to you that Evan’s father personally came to court today to depose to the affidavit. The family contacted us and that is why we are representing them,” he said.

Ogungbeje further added that the suit borders on the infringement of the constitutional human rights of his client.

The Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command, were joined as co-respondents in the suit.

The suspected kidnapper is seeking for a court’s order directing the respondents to immediately charge him to court if there is any case against him in accordance with Sections 35 (1) (c) (3) (4) (5) (a) (b) and 36 of the Constitution.

He is on the alternative seeking for an order compelling the respondents to immediately release him unconditionally in the absence of any offence that will warrant his being charged to court.

In the suit marked, FHC/L/CS/1012/2017, Evans is contending that his continued detention by the respondents since June 10, 2017, without being charged to court or released on bail is an infringement on his fundamental human rights.

He argued that the respondents ought to have charged him to court in accordance with the provisions of Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

It was further argued that the alleged offence committed by the applicant (Evans) are correspondingly intertwined with the constitutional safeguards as provided under Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

In a 27-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Evan’s father, Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court’s order by the respondents.

Evans’ father further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents have continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing and trial before a court of law.

The deponent also averred that since his son’s arrest, all his family members have been denied access to him while media practitioners have been granted unfettered access to him.

The matter has not been assigned to any judge and no date has been fixed for the hearing.

The Enugu Diocese of Anglican Communion has noted that the present state of President Muhammadu Buhari is affecting the country, urging him to resign if ill health can no longer allow him steer the ship of the Nigerian state.

This was contained in the communiqué issued by the Church on Tuesday at the end of the 3rd session of her 16th Synod, that took cognisance of “Buhari’s ill health, which has kept him out of office for long, thereby impeding the growth of the nation”.

The communiqué was signed by the Archbishop of the Enugu Province and Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Ven. Augustine Orah, the Synod Secretary and the Registrar, Sir, (Barr.) H.B.C Ogboko.

“The synod thereby prays God to grant him divine healing. The synod, however, observes that in the event where the President is unable to discharge his duties and or perform the functions of his office owing to ill health, he is enjoined to resign from the office,” the diocese declared.

The Church further frowned at what it termed hate speeches from the Northern youths and their sponsors against Igbos residing in the North, warning against that “the repetition of the pogrom of 1967 whereof the Igbo were massively and brutally massacred in the Northern Nigeria”.

The Church therefore called on the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection of the lives and properties of the people of the South-East residing in the Northern part of the country.

The diocese expressed sadness that “despite the huge outcry and condemnation of the violent activities of Fulani herdsmen, they are found carrying arms used to attack, kill and maim innocent citizens in various communities across the nation.

“The Synod, therefore, implores the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards check-mating the activities of these Fulani herdsmen,” the communiqué read.

It continued, “The Synod is deeply dissatisfied that the power situation in the country is degenerating and poor services being rendered by the DISCOS, yet electricity tariff is on the increase.

“The synod calls on the Federal Government to compel the DISCOS, particularly the EEDC to provide customers with prepaid metres and avoid imposition of estimated bills.”

While lauding the Federal Government’s war against corruption, the Church urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, “to stop media trials of suspects in their custody and ensure the conclusion of investigations before arraignment and prosecution of alleged offenders.”

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), will be among prominent figures at the 44th Annual General Meeting/Congress of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) scheduled to hold between 6 and 8 July at the Golden Tulip Festac Hotel, Lagos.
A statement signed by Mr. Steve Babaeko, Publicity Secretary of the association, disclosed that Governor Ambode is expected to declare open the 2016 AGM, while Mr. Fowler will be the Chairman. Also expected are Mr. Tunji Bello, Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG); Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy; and other senior government officials.
Equally expected are captains of industry, top business leaders and policy makers within and outside the Marketing Communications industry.
The AGM/Congress has as its theme: “Fresh Thinking”. AAAN President, Mr. Kayode Oluwasona, explained that the association aims to use the AGM as a platform to stimulate fresh perspectives and critical thinking that advocate unorthodox solution to the challenges facing the business and practice of advertising in Nigeria.
To underscore the importance of the AGM, the Association has invited Mr. Bayo Adekanmbi, Transformation Executive, C-Level Lead for Strategic Initiatives, MTN Nigeria; and Mr. David Okeme, President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), as speakers at the event.
Chairman of the AGM/Congress Planning Committee, Mr. Jenkins Alumona, stated that fresh thinking and new ideas are critical to today’s business.
He explained that delegates and participants will benefit tremendously from the educative papers to be presented by the speakers on the AGM theme. The Association’s AGM is a major event in the nation’s marketing communications calendar and always attracts massive local and foreign media coverage.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso chapter has expressed concern over the silence of the Institution’s Chancellor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice Chancellor and members of the Governing Board on the crisis rocking the Institution
The ASUU Chairman, Dr Abiodun Olaniran, while speaking at the South West Group of Online Publishers at a media chat in Ibadan, Oyo State, said the silence of Tinubu on the matter will not help the institution
“We are not comfortable with Asiwaju Tinubu’s silence on the matter.
“He has a significant role to play and we want him to quickly intervene and bring an end to the lingering crisis.
“Up till now the Governing Council and management are yet to say anything over the matter and this is suspicious.”
The Union leader, who was accompanied to the event by the Secretary, Dr. Toyin Abegunrin, said the major problems of Ladoke Akintola University is chronic underfunding.
He said the Internally Generated Revenue of the institution is not enough to run its affairs.
Olaniran said: “As we speak now, LAUTECH can no longer pay for utility services.
“The institution has been in darkness for some weeks now because they owe Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and others.”
The union leaders urged the stakeholders to implore the owner states to faithfully implement the recommendations of the Wole Olanipekun-led committee’s report.
According to Olaniran, part of the report advocated for the immediate payment of N1.77 billion for the institution by September and another N1.77 billion to be paid between April and September 2017 so that the institution can come back to its feet
Olaniran explained further that ASUU is not against forensic auditing of the University as being peddled in some quarters.
He said: “ASUU is known for probity and accountability.
“We are in total support of the exercise, but what we are saying is that the thing must be done according to the dictates of the edicts of the University.”

The European Union has issued a hefty $2.7 billion fine against tech giant Google.
The European Commission for Competition said in a statement on Tuesday, that the fine was administered because Google has given “an illegal advantage” to itself over its competitors.
The company holds a 90 per cent market share in Europe’s online searches.
Commissioner Magrethe Vestager, said Google has “abused its market dominance as a search engine” because it has “denied other companies the chance to compete.”
When users surf the internet for goods through Google’s search engine, they are more likely to encounter results from its “own comparison shopping centre services,” said Ms. Vestager in a tweet.
Most importantly, she said Google’s market strategy for comparison shopping has prevented consumers from access to genuine choices when they shop using its search engine. The commission says this is illegal under the EU’s fair play laws. As a result of this, Google has been given 90 days to give “equal treatment” to its competitors, or suffer the consequences of penalty fines.
Kent Walker, Google’s senior vice president and general counsel said in a statement released Tuesday, that they “respectfully disagree with the conclusions announced” by the commission.
He also said Google’s ability to efficiently provide users what they want is “the result of hard work and constant innovation.”
Google said it will “review the commission’s decision in detail” as they consider an appeal.

…Vows to win more for them


Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 23 VAT Wonder Goal Award winner, Seka Pasca and some of his FC Ifeanyi Ubah team mates were at the Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, Old and Tramps (RECDOT) home Ozubulu, Anambra State, the charity he nominated to receive 50 percent of his prize money.
Pasca was received at the home by Mrs. Rosemary Odunukwe, the Founder of the RECDOT home, who commended the player and the entire FC IfeanyiUbah crew for their taking time out to be with the inmates of the home.
Touched by the sight of some of the inmates, Pasca, an Ivorian said he has been motivated by their plight to work towards winning more of the award so he can earn more money to assist the home.
“This singular gesture will make me to work even harder to achieve more. The donation I am making today to this home is very timely. I am really touched by what I am seeing here, the level of suffering and the difficulties this people go through most especially the kids can only be imagined.
“We who are hale and hearty are not better than most of them, it’s just that nature and circumstances are behind their ordeal. What we have to do is to support them in anyway we can both now and in the future by providing alms in form of food, clothing and shelter to make their lives comfortable and give them a sense of belonging”, stated Pasca in emotion filled voice.
Mrs. Odunukwe while receiving Pasca and his club mates said the visit will help create more awareness within the community and beyond on the challenges faced by inmates at the home.
“This home is aimed at bringing God’s love to the needy by not only providing them with basic needs of life but to also give them formal and vocational training as their abilities permit them to understand that there is ability in disability.
“This will in no small measure help to create more awareness to the public on the status of people with different health challenges of all kinds,” Odunukwe stated.
She thanked Pascal, players of FC IfeanyiUbah and the club management for the support.
The VAT Wonder Goal supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) was created by the League Management Company (LMC) to promote club and community engagement through support for charity work within the club’s domain.
Winners receive cash prize of N150, 000 and they donate 50 percent of the prize to such Charity projects within the state where the club is based.
Pasca was the fourth winner since the award commenced on Match Day 20.

Royalty Princess Halliday, yesterday (Saturday) in Washington DC, met with the newly appointed Economic Minister of the Nigerian Embassy, Mr. Idowu Bayo, the owner of Manchester Trade Washington DC, Mr. Stephen Lande and the Africanist, Femi Akinbi.

The meeting was part of her Empowerment Africa Initiative which seeks to advance African development by inspiring, preparing, empowering and connecting leaders to drive change.

During the meeting, they discussed trade and investment, how to shift old paradigm, maintain and create jobs /prosperity, leadership, sustainability and the forthcoming World Leaders Conference.

Mr. Idowu Bayo said that none of the work of developing Africa currently can be implemented without the women.

Princess Halliday noted that research has shown that women in Africa are still underrepresented in leadership positions and she is determined to help change this narrative of Africa where young women are rarely seen at the table.

“It is interesting that these men are willing to work collaboratively with women,” Princess Halliday said, adding that with the forthcoming World Leaders Conference at hand, the goal is to empower one million people across Africa on authentic leadership, mindset renewal and the way forward in our economy.

“Words cannot comprehend how passionate I am about authentic leadership, building a system that will work for Africa and changing our old narrative which has deteriorated our continent till date and led to little or no system in place. Many people call our Nation a failed one but I say we can collectively and progressively do it the right way.

“You think the young can’t help strengthen our leadership, our system, our old paradigm of power? I tell you we can! We continuously can!” she stated.

Upcoming artiste, T Shine Sisi Eko, has denied reports making rounds that he posted a message on his Facebook page threatening to kill Nigerians if government kills kidnapper, Chukwudi Onwuamadike (aka Evans).

According to the post, which the artiste disassociated himself from, he allegedly writes: “If the inevitable happens, and Evans is killed, I will take up the kidnapping business of Evans and kill an uncountable number of persons.”

The post also has a picture of Evans, which was captioned: “Nigeria is so useless. I don’t know this man but I don’t just want him dead. And if stupid Nigerian government mistakenly kills Evans, I swear, me, T SHINE SISI EKO, will replace him and I must kill uncountable souls. Bet me.”

This post elicited negative reactions from well-meaning Nigerians, who are currently calling on the police to arrest the artiste for making such inciting comments on social media in a country as volatile as Nigeria.

However, when we reached out to T Shine to find out if he has any relationship with the notorious kidnapper, he vehemently denied writing those provocative comments.

“What have I done to deserve all this? Is this the end of the road or do I still have a long way to go? Please, Nigerians forgive me, I’m so sorry! The post was not from me. I swear with my life and blood! I know nothing about Evans, please Nigerians, I’m on my knees, please, and I’ve been trying to log on to the account and still couldn’t.

“I even gave the details to some of my Facebook friends for them to log in without any success. Please my people, Nigerians and Africans as a whole, I’m so sorry,” T Shine grieved.

In an emotional telephone call, T Shine accused hackers of using his Facebook account for such devious purpose.

“I’ve no relationship with Evans. Please help me, I beg you, no be me post that thing for my Facebook. I no fit write that kind thing. Na hackers do me this thing and I am not finding it funny, please help me beg Nigerians.

“Help me beg them to forgive me. Several of my social media accounts have been hacked, and I keep opening new ones, because I need them to promote my music. I am finished,” he lamented.

No one ever thought this would happen. No one saw it coming either, but it did happen.
Nollywood celebrity couple, Patrick Doyle and Ireti Doyle are now separated.
With over two decades of marriage, a source close to Patrick and Ireti, hinted they are no longer living together.
The Tinsel star, Iretiola, has since moved into a new apartment in Anthony Village area of Lagos, living far away from her veteran broadcaster and actor husband and children.
The estranged couple is yet to issue any statement due to the fact that they are taking respectful and loving space at this painful time.
Their marriage has been on the rocks for a while and they stopped having shared interests.
Patrick and Ireti have not been stepping out together, a development strangely observed by many fans and media. When asked why they have not spotted together in recent time, Ireti, said:
“We are both busy people and you find that, in any one given weekend, we’ve both been invited to three or four different events where all three or four people are expecting to see us so we play it smart, we share it; if you’ve seen one you’ve seen the other.”
While the reason for their break-up is still unclear, source said Patrick and Ireti ended their relationship after thoughtful consideration and chose to remain friends.
Ireti and Patrick married over two decades ago, shortly after his first wife passed on. Both met on the set of a movie, shared six children, and lost a one to a sickle cell in 1999. Ireti’s first daughter, Bimbo from a previous romance got married in July 2014.
It is not yet known if the one time Nollywood’s top celebrity couple would file for divorce.

Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, has left the country.
He jetted out of the country’s shores Thursday morning.
An impeccable source confirmed the development to our correspondent Thursday afternoon.
“Chairman left Nigeria this morning. The information I have is that he has gone to attend to his health. So I believe it’s a medical trip,” the source said.
“We understand that the recent ordeal was traumatic for him. He has never been out of circulation for 6 weeks and you know what that means to a wealthy man.”
Asked which country the oil magnate travelled to and how long he will be away, our source simply replied: “Somewhere in Europe, I don’t know how long he will stay.”
On Wednesday there were reports Ubah had been released by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Ubah regained his freedom after about six weeks in custody.
He was arrested and detained by DSS on May 5, 2017, for alleged engagement in acts of economic sabotage which include stealing, diversion and illegal sale of petroleum products stored in his tank farm (in Lagos) by the NNPC.
On May 25, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT Federal High Court extended the detention of Uba following an ex-parte application the DSS filed through its lawyer, Mr. G.O.A. Agbadua.
Recall that last week, an Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission not to continue its investigation of Uba, for alleged complicity in a N43.29bn petroleum subsidy scheme fraud.

Zenith Bank’s exposure in the $1.2 billion (about N377.4 billion) syndicated loan granted Etisalat Nigeria by a consortium of 13 Nigerian banks accounts for about 3.5 per cent of its total loan book, a sensitivity analysis report on the impact of the loan on the Nigerian economy has shown.
The report published Thursday by an independent investment banking services specialist firm, Exotix Capital Limited, showed that Zenith Bank accounted for about N80 billion of the total loan, which is the largest among the top eight banks that participated in the loan syndication.
An official of Exotic Partners, a subsidiary of Exotix Capital Limited, Jumai Mohammed, said about N42 billion contributed by Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, constitutes about 2.6 per cent of its total loan book value, while about N40 billion by Access Bank accounts for about 2.2 per cent of the bank’s total loan exposure.
Further details of the report showed that United Bank for Africa, UBA’s contribution of N37 billion represents about 2.5 per cent of its loan book value, while First Bank’s N24billion takes about 1.2 per cent; Fidelity Bank (N17.5 billion) 2.4 per cent; Stanbic IBTC (N7.3 billion) 2.1 per cent, and First City Monument Bank, FCMB (N4.5 billion), 0.7 per cent.
Although the report estimated a “modest impact” of the loan on the affected banks, Ms. Mohammed said at a headline level, the facility to Etisalat Nigeria represented only 1.9 per cent of the aggregate bank loans in the country.
Also, a sensitivity analysis of the loan showed that the facility on the average would register a -12 per cent on net profit, -2 per cent on equity and -0.3 basis points on the capital adequacy ratios in the 2017 financial year of the banks.
“We believe the banks should easily be able to absorb a shock of this magnitude,” Ms. Mohammed said.
“If this development is precursor to more general difficulties in the FCY loan exposure, which represents on average 47 per cent of the total loan book, then we may see more pronounced deterioration in the equity base of banks. Within our coverage, Diamond Bank is likely to be most impacted, while Wema Bank should be least impacted,” the report said.
Out of the total loan package, about $600 million (about N115billion) was secured by assets by the company, which also pledged shares of the parent company, Etisalat Group of UAE to the tune of $235million.
Etisalat Nigeria Vice President, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Ibrahim Dikko, said on Thursday, the company had “consistently and conscientiously” repaid about 42 per cent (about N504 million) of the original loan package.
“As at today, we can categorically state that the outstanding loan sum to the consortium stands at $227million and N113billion, a total of about $574million (if the Naira portion is converted to U.S. Dollars,” Mr. Dikko said.
With last Tuesday’s commencement of enforcement of the June 9 Default & Security Enforcement Notice, Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (Etisalat Group) has since announced its decision to quit the company.
In a filing with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in Abu Dhabi, the UAE group requested Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services, EMTS Holding BV, a special purpose vehicle established in Netherlands, to transfer the entire 70 per cent of its shareholding in Etisalat Nigeria to United Capital Trustees Limited, the legal trustees of the banks effective June 15, 2017.
But, with the warning by the telecoms sector regulatory authority, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, that the law forbids Etisalat Nigeria from transferring the operational license to a third party without written permission, the report said the banks were weighing available options open to them to move the process forward.
Although Globacom was said to have indicated interest to take over in the past, current reality, relating to the unresolved debt crisis, may have persuaded the company to abandon the idea.
Consequently, we learnt Etisalat Nigeria was holding talks with a group of private equity investors to raise funds defray the loans.
Where the discussion fail to yield positive fruits, a source familiar with the transaction hinted the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, which said to be very concerned about the impact of the crisis on the country’s unemployment situation, may be willing to come forward with a bailout.
Given the weak state of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, finances, the source, who requested that his name should not be revealed, as he was not authorized to speak on the issue, said he was not optimistic of the apex bank’s intervention.
But, Ms. Mohammed said the recent directive by the CBN to exposed banks to halt further action on the debt matter, there was an indication that some form of bridge funding could be under consideration to cover the period until a new investor emerges.
In 2013, Etisalat had obtained the syndicated loan from a consortium of 13 Nigerian banks, including Access Bank, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, First Bank Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Stanbic IBTC, Ecobank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The loan, which involved a foreign-backed guaranteed bond, was to help the tele-mobile firm finance a major network rehabilitation, upgrade and expansion of its operational base in Nigeria.
However, its alleged failure to meet agreed debt servicing obligations with the banks since 2016 triggered a major crisis, culminating in the withdrawal of its major shareholder, Emirates Telecommunications Group Company from the company last week.
Etisalat Nigeria is currently left in the hands of EMTS promoted by the former Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Hakeem Bello-Osagie.

A Benue State-born man has sacked his newly married wife because she was making some “funny moaning” sounds while being raped by armed robbers in his presence.
According to Daily Post, the incident played out in the couple’s residence on Bello Street in the Iyana-Ejigbo area of Lagos State, when armed robbers visited them in the dead of the night few months after they came back from their village where they had conducted their traditional marriage.
It was learnt that after the heavily armed gunmen invaded Baba Eneh’s house around 3am and demanded money.
The native of Owukpa, Ogadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State allegedly told the gunmen that he had only N3,500 at home.
The man, a commercial bus driver, reportedly begged the robbers that he did not have much money at home since he had expended all his savings on marrying his new wife and they were just trying to settle down.
But the robbers, who were angry that the man did not have much money at home, decided to gang-rape his wife at gunpoint and descended on her.
However, when the robbers left after raping the woman, the commercial driver was said to have raised hell, accusing his wife of enjoying the rape by moaning in excitement and twisting her waist as the robbers sexually assaulted her, instead of screaming for help, he was quoted as telling his neighbours:
He said: “Imagine my wife, instead of her to cry for help, she was busy making some funny sounds, an indication that she was enjoying the sex, even in my presence.”
Baba Eneh was said to have ordered the woman out of his house on the ground that she disgraced him as it is against the customs of his community for a married woman to have sex with another man.
The man is said to be afraid of what the gods of his land will do to him and has asked the wife to return to her village for the cleansing rites and sacrifices to be made.

Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state, says Igbo people need to fix the “bridge of relationship” with their northern counterparts.

He cautioned those in support of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) saying, “we don’t need such”.

“I do know that when the chips are down, they (IPOB) won’t be anywhere to be found.”

He said the three-month quit notice given to the Igbo was inciting and could cause disaffection between the South-East and Northern regions.

“While I blame the Arewa youths who may have acted under provocation and taking the matter beyond scope, the statements were also very inciting and can create disaffection between the north and south-east,” he said in a statement issued on his behalf by Sam Onwuemeodo, his chief press secretary

“For the purpose of those who have forgotten, in history, the south-east and north have enjoyed a good political relationship, especially in the days of Shagari. We have been seen as allies and partners politically.

“Except for this past dispensation, for some myopic reasons many Igbo did not see the victory of Buhari coming and we missed the link. We need immediate refixing of this bridge of relationship between the south-east and the north.

“I call on all Igbo persons to dissociate themselves and every northerner and well-meaning Nigerians to distance themselves from these comments from Arewa group and IPOB. Again, let me caution those who are calling for support for IPOB, especially the non-Igbo, to stop henceforth. It is deceitful and inciting and is no longer a welcome development in this part of the world.”

He called on the country’s leaders “to speak out and condemn this act because silence cannot help us in this matter”.

“Leaders ought to take responsibilities now and teach our youths the right things to do. The people in this matter are our children, our youth and they have a duty to listen to us as their parents,” he said.

“It is apparent that we have failed as leaders in this nation, giving room for this hate in families, communities, states and at national levels. We need to take responsibilities as leaders to stop this campaign of hate as that will not do us any good.

“I call on my Igbo brothers, the agitators because there is nothing wrong in doing what others are doing, your style is what is wrong. You can’t be calling for a sovereign nation inside a nation, it is absolutely wrong.

“If you must agitate, I propose you agitate for the Movement for Economic Survival of Igbo People (MOESIP). That will help for the economic survival of our land, making agriculture the mainstay of our economy. That is only when we will command the respect of the rest of the world.”

The governor said having fought for the unity of the country, the Igbo should not be counted out of the country’s affairs.

Musiliu Obanikoro, a former minister of state for defence, says he has not defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a series of tweets on Tuesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said his appearance at a townhall meeting organised by Remi Tinubu, senator representing Lagos central, was misunderstood for his defection to the APC.

The former minister explained that he was at the town hall meeting as constituent of Lagos central and to show his support to the senator.

“As a constituent of Lagos central senatorial district, I today attended Sen. Remi Tinubu’s townhall meeting to support her good work,” he tweeted.

“I commend Sen. Remi Tinubu once again as I continue to consult with my political associates and friends in Lagos, and also across Nigeria.

“I commend Sen. Remi Tinubu once again as I continue to consult with my political associates and friends in Lagos, and also across Nigeria.

“Whatever the future holds politically for us, it will be openly done by us and seen by all but right now, please disregard those rumours.

As a Constituent of Lagos Central Senatorial District, I today attended Sen. Remi Tinubu’s Townhall Meeting to support her good work.

— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 20, 2017

My attendance has been insinuated wrongly in the media but all such speculations remain firmly in the realm of rumours and imaginations.

— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 20, 2017

I commend Sen. Remi Tinubu once again as I continue to consult with my political associates and friends in Lagos, and also across Nigeria.

— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 20, 2017

Tongues have been wagging since Obanikoro reconciled with Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state, but ‘Koro’ as he is called by associates has maintained that his allegiance is with the PDP.

“Let me categorically tell you that the report that I have defected to the APC is a rumour and it is still a rumour,” he had told Punch in an interview.

“If a person like me will leave the Peoples Democratic Party to join another party, it will be done in a grand way. I would call a press conference and tell the whole world that I am moving (to another party). I will also explain the reasons for my defection. It will not be like the judgment given to the ABN (Association for Better Nigeria) which was delivered at night (9pm). If I want to defect, it will be done publicly with fanfare. I have no reason to make it a secret. Nigerians, especially the media, should just wait and relax for the appropriate time for me to declare my next political move.”

In line with the Federal Government’s recent drive to support growth of SMEs through its policies; Keystone Bank Nigeria Limited has reiterated its commitment to the support of the growth of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. This sentiment was expressed by the Acting Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Hafiz Bakare.

He noted the importance of SME’s to the growth of the economy, stating that the current employment rate could be bolstered if SMEs are provided with a conducive ecosystem with which to thrive and this he said, is not only the purview of the government. “While the government is making efforts to increase the ease of doing business in Nigeria, Financial institutions have a significant role to play in supporting SMEs and this is why Keystone Bank is repositioning its GrowBiz Account to create financial options for businesses”.

Mr. Bakare pointed out the importance of SMEs to the development of the nation’s economy noting that they provide a means of employment generation, improvement of local technology, output diversification, development of indigenous entrepreneurship and forward integration with larger-scale industries. “Today in Nigeria, many factors have contributed to the underperformance of micro enterprises and their contributions to economic growth. We at Keystone Bank seek to help bridge the gap by not only providing finance, but by offering financial advisory services and relevant platforms to assist in business growth”.

Keystone Bank has been at the forefront of supporting micro enterprises as it drives economic growth from the grass roots of the society. Recently, the bank in conjunction with the Enugu State Ministry of Commerce & Industry provided support to Micro, Small and Medium scale enterprises within the state as part of an on-going government initiative.

Growbiz account is designed to meet the needs of business owners and organizations; sole proprietors, partnerships & limited liability companies. The product is available in two variants: GrowBiz Gold Account (with minimum balance); GrowBiz Classic Account (without minimum balance). Each variant is broken down into three segments Individuals, SMEs/Traders, Corporates.

For the Nigerian educational sector to receive a major boost from policy makers, the 40th Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obiadi, has advised the Federal Government to compel public office holders to ensure their children attend schools in Nigeria.
Obiadi told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos when she led the Miss Nigeria Organisation on a visit that such a policy would reduce the decadence in the nation’s educational sector.
She said that when children of public and political office holders attend schools in the country, they would be able to feed their parents back on whether such schools were experiencing deficit in teaching and learning infrastructure or adequately equipped with modern teaching aids.
The beauty queen advised that the Federal Government should formulate a policy that would ban government officials from sending their children abroad for study.
Obiadi said: “If this law is enacted, it will have a profound effect in terms of development in our educational sector.
“Top government officials send their children abroad to get educated because those schools are well equipped and parade high standard of education.
“If such Nigerians send their children abroad, then they will be less concerned about whatever is going on in the educational sector in the country since they are not directly affected.
“However, if their children attend Nigerian schools, they will be concerned with the standard of education and make efforts to improve it.”
The reigning queen said that she was concerned with the need to have improved teaching and learning infrastructure in schools across the country.
She said that the meteorological station of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, where she is a student at present was suffering from deficit in infrastructure.
She said: “I am a 300-level student of the Department of Geography and Meteorology at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the meteorology station in my school is not functioning.
“This is depriving us, the students, the opportunity to receive better knowledge of how meteorology can be deployed in interpreting and understanding weather conditions.
“If a child of a minister or a highly laced government official were in the same department with me, probably, efforts will be made to ensure that this facility functions.”
The beauty queen canvassed an improved quality of education for both the children of the rich and the poor because education is important in the development of any nation and its people.

The Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo on Monday warned that it would henceforth sanction lecturers in the habit of awarding marks to students for money or sex.

Dr Sanusi Jimah, the Acting Rector of the institution made the commitment when he received executive members of the polytechnic’s Alumni Association.

“The management of Auchi poly will deal with corrupt lecturers who are fond of extorting money from students in order to award marks.

“The management is keeping an eye on corrupt lecturers in the school and anyone caught would not be allowed to mark their scripts for the ongoing examination, if any case is registered against them,’’ Jimah said.

The rector said that corruption would no longer be tolerated and vowed to fish out those who trade marks for sex and money which painted the institution in bad light.

Earlier, National President of the association, Mr Victor Okhaimo pledged continued collaboration with the institution in the area of infrastructure and human capital development.

He said that the association have confidence in the new rector to reposition the institution to greater height.

Okhaimo commended the rector for restoring peace in the institution, and assured that the association would continue to play its role as mediator between the union and management in times of crisis.

Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, billionaire kidnapper better known as Evans, has expressed regret over his decision to relocate from his camp in the Jakande area of Lagos to a place in Igando, another suburb in the state.
Speaking when detectives led him to his camps in both places, Evans said the place he kept captives at Green Street, Jakande Estate, was good for business.
The man, who has been described as the most “notorious” kidnapper in the country, said he relocated from Jakande because people got suspicious of his shady deals.
He also disclosed the identity of some of the victims he kept at Jakande and the ransom he got from them.
“I only have three camps; one in Igando, another in Jakande and one in Gowon Estate. The one in Jakande, I rented it for N750,000 a year, that was it in 2010. For the Igando house, I rented it for N1 million,” he said.
“I don’t go to the camps because I have my boys on the ground. They give me information on a daily basis.
“Jakande was the place was where I kept Udoji, a businessman. Five others were also kept there and I collected millions from them.
“I collected $1 million from Udoji. Emesbose paid $300,000 while another person I can remember, paid $250,000.
“I kept just two victims in Igando: Chief Umeh and Chief Donatus Duru who, escaped from the house. We collected 23 million euros from the family. Actually, we were demanding for 300 million euros. We were expecting the balance but since the family did not bring it, I told my boys to release him, but they kept holding him. I was sad when my boys called that Duru escaped from our camp.
“Jakande was a good location for business, but I had to leave that place as soon as I noticed that people were becoming suspicious. I moved to Igando after Jakande. If I had known, I would have been using the place. See what has happened to me at Igando?”
The police could not visit the camp at Gowon Estate on Sunday when Evans was led to the camps.
The suspect was arrested on June 10.

Zenith took over the leadership of the Nigerian banking industry by the size of the balance sheet in 2016. It accelerated growth from 6.7% in 2015 to 18.3% in 2016 and closed the year with an asset base of N4.739 trillion. The bank has maintained a faster growth rate than FBN Holdings over the past three years and with a decline in asset base of FBN Holdings in 2015, the leadership gap narrowed significantly.

As expected last year, fiscal 2016 has registered a landmark in Nigerian banking when FBN Holding’s status as Nigeria’s largest bank was upset, eight years after a similar step down in 2008. Zenith Bank’s asset growth in 2016 was driven mainly by a 69% leap in due from other banks compared to FBN’s 15% increase. Zenith Bank carries the largest credit portfolio in the Nigerian banking industry, which it grew by 15% to N2.29 trillion in 2016.

FBN Holdings stepped down from its leadership position of the Nigerian banking industry by the size of the balance sheet in 2016 to take the second position with an asset base of N4.736 trillion. This is despite stepping up growth in assets from a decline of 4.1% in total assets in 2015 to achieve a growth of 13.7% in 2016. The average growth rate has been comparatively weak for the bank since 2014 when it suffered a drop of 16.5% in loans and advances. Except for a temporary step down in 2008, the bank has held the position of the largest bank in Nigeria for so long.

United Bank for Africa retained its third position on the banking industry leadership table at the end of 2016 with total assets of N3.50 trillion. The bank made a strong rebound from a slight decline in asset base in the preceding year to a top industry record growth of 27.3%. With the high jump in 2016, the bank seems to wake up to the close possibility of being overtaken in the competitive race. Two years of apparent standstill in the size of the balance sheet had permitted faster growing banks to close in. They remained too close for comfort at the end of 2016.

Access Bank maintained the 4th position on the top 10 banking industry ranking it won for the first time in 2015. It has been the fastest growing bank among the top 10 members for the second year. It grew asset base by 34.4% to N3.48 trillion in 2016, up on the industry leading growth of 23.1% in the preceding year. Its growth was driven by the doubling of derivative financial assets, a 49% expansion in cash-based assets and an increase of over 32% in loans and advances. If the high growth momentum is maintained in the current year, there will be a competitive clash with UBA as to who takes the 3rd position on Nigeria’s largest banks’ table in 2017.

Guaranty Trust Bank stayed on the 5th place on the table in 2016 after stepping down for Access Bank in 2015. It closed 2016 with total assets of N3.12 trillion, which was attained with an accelerated growth of 23.4%. This is one of the top industry growth records in the year, recovering from the slowdown in 2015 that made way for the faster growing Access Bank to surge ahead. Its accelerated growth in 2016 was led by a growth of 79% in cash-based assets, a leap of over 34% in investment securities and an expansion of about 16% in loans and advances.

Diamond Bank moved up one step to regain the 6th position it lost in the preceding year with an asset base of N2.05 trillion at the end of 2016. It had lost its 6th position in the preceding year after recording one of the highest drops in total assets in the year at 9.3%. The recovery equally follows a rebound of 18.9% in asset base in 2016, which followed the rebuilding of its credit portfolio after a drop of 24.2% in the preceding year. The bank raised total loans and advances by 33% to N1.09 trillion in 2016.

Ecobank Nigeria steps back to the 6th position on the banking industry’s top 10 ranking by asset base from which it moved up to displace Diamond Bank in 2015. A drop in asset base by Diamond Bank was its gain in 2015. Conversely, a strong recovery by Diamond Bank in 2016 pushed it back to its former position. The bank is the only top 10 member that failed to step up asset growth in 2016. From a marginal improvement in the prior year, total assets were flat for Ecobank Nigeria at N1.81 trillion at the end of 2016.

Fidelity Bank defended its 8th position on the league of top 10 largest banks in Nigeria after pushing Skye Bank one step down the ladder in 2015. Growth remained low for the bank at 5.4% in 2016 though improving from 3.8% in the preceding year. It closed 2016 operations with total assets of N1.30 trillion.

Union Bank came from outside the table to register its presence as the 9th largest bank in Nigeria by total assets in 2016. This position was held by Skye Bank last year and the final ranking will have to wait for Skye Bank’s 2016 report, which was yet to be issued at press time. Skye Bank had stepped down to the 9th position last year following a drop of 13.6% in total assets in 2015.

Union Bank’s advance was made possible by a top record growth of about 20% in asset base in 2016, accelerating from 3.8% increase in 2015. Its renewed strength came from a 38% expansion in loans and advances to N507 billion in the year.

Even with its 2015 asset base, Skye Bank retains membership of the top 10 largest banks in Nigeria, sending FCMB, which occupied the 10th position in the preceding year packing from the top 10 chart. Its asset base as at the end of 2015 stood at N1.2 trillion. It was a N1.4 trillion bank at the end of 2014.

BANK 2016 Nb
Zenith Bank 4,739.83
FBN Holdings 4,736.81
United Bank for Africa 3,504.47
Access Bank 3,483.86
Guaranty Trust Bank 3,116.39
Diamond Bank 2,049.79
Ecobank Nigeria 1,808.50
Fidelity Bank 1,298.14
Union Bank 1,252.29
Skye Bank [2015] 1,199.40

Jolted back to reality by the presence of this reporter having been dozing off for what appeared the whole day, Lawal Azeez sprang to his feet to make enquiries about this reporter’s intended destination. Mr. Azeez was later joined by his colleagues, a group of old and middle-aged men. With desperation written boldly on their faces, they all scrambled amongst themselves to gain the attention of this reporter, whom they had erroneously identified as a potential passenger..
But the reporter’s response, detailing his mission at the park, would later dash their hope, and they all wobbled back to their respective positions, awaiting the arrival of another passenger.
Mr. Azeez, 49, and his colleagues are taxi operators. But like others at the taxi park located around the Central Business District, CBD, Ikeja, their business has been disrupted by the activities of Uber operators.
Uber is an internet-enabled, relatively stress-free transportation system that allows passengers order for cabs wherever they are at fairly cheaper cost. The system, which started around 2014, has been widely accepted by internet-savvy Nigerians who prefer it for comfort and safety purposes.
“Ah, Uber people have spoilt business for us; I must confess,” said a disgruntled Mr. Azeez, when probed.
“To be frank, I didn’t make a kobo yesterday. These days, in a whole week, you may not get N5,000…which wasn’t the situation before now,” he lamented.
When asked to give a rough estimate of how much he used to make daily before the alleged ‘disruption’ by Uber drivers, the Ogun State-born taxi driver said he couldn’t give an exact estimate.
“But I know we make something in the region of ten-thousand plus daily on the average,” he said.
“But as I speak to you, if you make N5,000, you must thank your stars. You, too, must have noticed it from the atmosphere here… imagine how everywhere appears deserted.”
Mr. Azeez’s position was corroborated by another Taxi operator at the Ikeja CBD, Hassan Murphy.
Mr. Murphy, 43, explained that the activities of Uber drivers have been a source of sorrow for them as they no longer get patronage like they did in the past.
“If you notice, there are many taxis on ground here and their owners aren’t here. They’ve all gone home out of anger,” he said.
“Many of them have been here for hours without seeing any passenger; they had to go.”
Mr. Murphy, who claimed to have built a house from his taxi transport business, also lamented that the development has taken a toll on his responsibilities among family members and at the home front.
“These days, people I used to give N20,000 in the past would count themselves lucky if I give them N3,000.
“It has become so bad here in this park that in a whole week, it may not get to your turn to pick up passengers,” he said.
“That’s apart from the fact that we pay dues too. They tax us N200 daily and N1,000 weekly, despite the poor patronage.”

“RECKLESS, UNSUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL”
According to Messrs. Azeez and Murphy, although the business model adopted by Uber operators affects their business as taxi drivers, it is “reckless and unsustainable” even for the Uber operators.
Explaining further, they noted that what Uber drivers charge their passengers as transport fare is “ridiculous”.
“From here (CBD, Ikeja) to Maryland, Uber may charge N800,” said Mr. Murphy.
“That’s nonsense. How do you maintain your big car and service it and realise what you will use to cater for yourself from that money?
“For a trip to the Airport, they charge as low as N600 sometimes, while we charge N2,000 or N1,500.
“See, let me tell you, unemployment is the reason people are into Uber. Ordinarily, the business is not sustainable,” he said.
Mr. Azeez, on his part, agreed with his colleague, adding that many of the Uber operators are workers who got retrenched from companies due to the state of the economy.
“Joblessness caused Uber, and it won’t last for long” he said.
On his part, another taxi operator who identified himself simply as Baba Sanje, noted that Uber would soon fade into extinction, like other similar initiatives that came before it.
“Uber met us on ground, they will leave us in the system. We have survived other similar competitors for decades. This ‘Yellow and Black’ (Lagos taxi) has nowhere to go,” he said in Yoruba.

“TAXI, MORE SECURE”
Speaking further, the taxi drivers said that their taxi system is more secure and safer for passengers than Uber.
Citing a case of a passenger whose belonging was allegedly stolen by an Uber operator, Mr. Murphy explained that taxi drivers are more “loyal and trustworthy”.
“Uber operators are ghost workers and they don’t have any union. Passengers don’t know them and you can’t even spot them from outside unlike us that have our ‘yellow and black’ identity,” he said.
“We are more loyal and trustworthy. When people lose their materials, we give them back; Uber people don’t!”
Mr. Azeez on his part added that Uber will soon fade away because, according to him, most of the operators are “running at a loss”.
“Before Uber, there were Orange Cab, Easy Cab and Metro Taxi, they all folded up,” he said.
“Yes, there also was Afro Cab…LSPC, RED cab, Easy Ride, Oga taxi…they folded up.
“POD too came and folded up. But the ‘Yellow and Black’ taxi survived all of them. It will survive Uber too.”
Uber drivers, however, disagree with the assessment by the taxi operators.
Charles Daniels, a Uber driver, dismissed the account of the taxi drivers, saying they were pained by the popularity and acceptability of the Uber system.
“I won’t say Uber is really profitable, especially now, but it still provides food for some of us,” he said.
Another Uber operator who declined to have his name in print, said in response to enquiry on how much they make: “You know, we charge very reasonable amount…so we don’t make huge figures like that…but it is something good…say thirty-something thousand naira or even more weekly.
“That’s not too bad, I guess…and it still depends on days of the week and how energetic you are,” he added.

PASSENGERS REACT
Habeeb Adewale, 27, a regular user of Uber, who spoke, explained that he prefers the system because of the ease it affords him to order for a cab wherever he is.
“Wherever you are, Uber will locate you without stress,” said Mr. Adewale, a banker who lives and works in Lagos.
Femi Owolabi, another Lagos-based passenger, said the system is cheaper and safer, especially for night crawlers.
“Uber, preferably (because of) the comfort, and the timely service,” he said in an interview when asked about his preference.
For James Abiola, an IT expert, the Uber system is preferable because of its cheaper cost and comfort.
“Sometimes, Uber allows you comfortably ride an exotic car with less than a thousand naira,” he said, amid laughter.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has suspended the Odionwere of Evbiekoi village in Uhunmwode Local Government Area Local Government Area of Edo State, Pa Igbinake Aghaku.
Pa Aghaku was suspended and stripped of his traditional duties as Odionwere for allegedly violating the cultural, traditional norms and practices of Benin Kingdom, according to a statement by the Oba’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Desmond Agbama, on Saturday.
He (Aghaku) had during an open mediation held weekly at Ugha-Ozolua in the Oba’s palace been accused of allegedly operating a community development association, which had been outlawed by the state government.
He was also accused of allegedly “splitting the village into two”.
‎Not pleased with the development, Oba Ewuare II directed the second in command in Evbiekoi, Pa Airenmwinkiekie Imasuen, to assume the position of Odionwere.
He also stated that the Oka-Ighele, Monday Odigie, would perform the traditional rites of Odionwere in Ogue-Edion, in line with the culture and tradition of Benin kingdom.
“The Benin monarch reminded the people that no Enogie, Ohen or Odionwere has power to remove ‘Ukhure’ (traditional statue) from Ogue-Edion as Ohen N’Ukoni did, and consequently ordered the immediate return of the Ukhure to‎ the Ogue-Edion in Evbiekoi by Ohen N’Ukoni,” the statement added.
The Oba, therefore, warned youths still parading themselves as CDA members in villages and towns and within the Benin Kingdom to desist from such or ‎risk being handed over to the Private Property Protection Committee, led by the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.
In related development, the monarch urged property owners, who houses were affected by a court judgement delivered in favour of one Pa Samuel Emokpae over a disputed parcel of land to approach him (Emokpae) for settlement.
The monarch resolved that since the court had already delivered judgment in connection with the piece of land located in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, the palace had no other resolution to make on the matter.
He, however, urged Pa Emokpae to show mercy on the house owner by accommodating them and accepting to settle the matter amicably.
The Oba also advised the affected parties to report back to the palace in order to brief him on the outcome.

Super Eagles coach, German Gernot Rohr, has revealed that players’ agents of Nigerian players chased him everywhere he went with bribes in other for him to include their players in the Super Eagles team.
Rohr, who said he bluntly rejected the offers noted that only the best players will be called up to the senior national team of Nigeria.
The manager made the statement at the weekend through one of his aide, who also confirmed that the manager rejected bribes and lobbies from European clubs’ agents who want their players in the team.
Rohr’s aide revealed further that the manager closely monitors his players along with his assistants before picking those who are ready for the Nigeria assignment.
The coach is even ready to show his employers the indices he uses to pick players for matches.
“Rohr recognises the mistakes made by the largely inexperienced side that played against South Africa. He knows how to come out of it, but he wouldn’t want to divulge ‎his strategy since the world is a global village. Our next game is against Cameroon and happily they are busy in the Confederations Cup, which give us enough time to watch them,” Rohr’s aide said.

Oluwatosin Jedi Ayoola popularly known as Jedi is a Nigerian stand-Up comedian, singer, writer, actor and master of ceremony. He has hosted a comedy tour worldwide tagged LWKMD and several other shows both in Nigeria and abroad and now ‘The Family Man’. The graduate of Microbiology from Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo, in this interview, the multi talented young man open up on his plans and his encounter after relocating to the United State of America. Enjoy the except…

After leaving the shore of Nigeria, what have been the challenges?
Challenges? Lol… wish I know how to answer or define what you mean by challenges. The United States first of all is a leveling ground. So you may be know in your own terrain or country or community of function but getting here, is a different thing entirely. This place is big and well respected all over the world. So one of the challenges I may say in answering your question is building my brand from the start. Though, I had a good push or start off but to build and maintain it was one of the real challenges I had to face. And at that time, the social media wasn’t as busy and influential as it is at the moment. So, coming from a place that you had build a certain level of brand for yourself to a place where you hope to expand your brand relevance was challenging. Now it’s different, there’s been an exceptional growth and success in the brand.

What would you say are the similarities, differences and challenges between the Nigeria and USA entertainment industry?
Well, first the similarities are there are performances in both places. You have fans who follow you and believe in you, there are opportunities to become something or someone known, dreams achieved. Now differences are how all that I mentioned above are done. The structures in both systems are totally different. There are more income revenue opportunities in the United States for artistes than Nigeria. There’s so much that still needs to be done in the system to help generate good income revenue for the artistes. There’s a certain measure of developments in some areas in the Nigerian Entertainment industry especially with the use of social media platform which there’s are certain revenue income that is generated. In addition the current economic state of the world affects both sides in different ways. The current exchange rate is a particular example. The basic challenge is like what I mentioned before, the structure for the Entertainment Industry in both worlds. In as much as we may look at how glamorous it may look in the American Entertainment Industry, there are still some challenges they face. There’s progress so far in the Nigerian Entertainment Industry but there’s a whole lot more to be done.

What’s the concept behind your upcoming event ‘The Family Man’?
It’s a stand up special, a stand-up comedy performance. More of like a solo performance from me and it’s titled ‘The Family Man’.

How have you been able to joggle between family and career in the USA, has it change your mentality?
A whole lot. Seen another side and approach towards life in the area of my family and career. It’s even changed most of my ways of operation, decisions I make, my performances, my approach to business and so on positively.

What are your expectation toward ‘The family man’?
Performances that will make people have a great time.

Any sponsor, support?
It’s a work in progress…

Their stories are typical of those who made their millions in the face of many limitations. They came to Lagos unknown, but through determination and dint of hard work, they soon became forces to reckon with not only in the ‘Centre of Excellence’, but throughout the country and beyond..in this report, we highlights some of these inspirational tales to fame and wealth

TONY ELUMELU

Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu was born in Jos, Plateau State, on March 22, 1963. He hails from Onicha-Ukwu in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. Elumelu, an economist, entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation. He has two degrees in economics from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State and a Master of Science degree from the University of Lagos. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme.

In his early career, Elumelu acquired and turned Standard Trust Bank into a top-five player in Nigeria. He led the acquisition of United Bank for Africa (UBA), in 2005, and later transformed it from a single-country bank to a pan-African institution with more than seven million customers in 19 African countries.

Following his retirement from UBA in 2010, Elumelu founded Heirs Holdings, which invests in the financial services, energy, real estate and hospitality, agribusiness, and healthcare sectors. In the same year, he established the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded philanthropic organisation dedicated to the promotion of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship and to enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector across Africa.

In 2011, Heirs Holdings acquired a controlling interest in the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), a publicly quoted conglomerate that has business interests in the agribusiness, energy, and hospitality sectors. Elumelu was subsequently appointed chairman of the corporation.

The man, who is reputed to have made $123 million in three weeks, has a net worth of over $700 million as at 2015. He holds the Nigerian national honours of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). He was also recognised as one of ‘Africa’s 20 Most Powerful People in 2012’ by Forbes magazine.

JOE IGBOKWE

Joe Igbokwe, like many others, came to Lagos relatively unknown. Today, he is the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman of Conference of the party’s Publicity Secretaries in Nigeria since 2014. Before now, he had held the same post for the Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Lagos State chapter.

Igbokwe, according to him, was driven to Lagos by poverty, after his primary school education in 1971. His aim was to find something to do to help his poor mother and siblings. The Civil War that raged for almost three years had devastated his father’s thriving business in Onitsha, Anambra State, and left the family penniless.

With four wives and 34 children, his parents could not cope any more, forcing his brothers and sisters to drop out of school to learn trades.

“Because I was a little ‘sharp’ in school, my father encoBuraged me to finish primary school. It is needless here to recall how I and few of my siblings survived to finish our primary education.

“Consequently, when my mates were writing their Common Entrance Examination, I did not because there was no need to do so. No money, no three square meals a day, no good clothing, just nothing. My mother encouraged me to travel with friends to Lagos. We landed at Sawmill Ebute Metta, where I worked as a sawdust carrier earning seven shillings and six pence a day. My job was to pack sawdust from the machines to the Lagoon from 7am to 5 pm daily. I did this for nearly two years and later I became a Danfo conductor plying the Idioro/Ajegunle axis.

“From there, I joined my brother in a supermarket business at Ijesha Road, Surulere. I did this until I returned home during Christmas in December 1973. I came home to meet my friends. I was beaten academically in school trying to make me feel and look inferior. Again, I also noticed while in Lagos that if I failed to go to school, I may end up doing menial jobs meant for illiterates till the end of age. I decided to go back to school to add values to my life. But where are the school fees? There was nothing. How I managed to get the first school fee to start and what happened thereafter will take a book to do the narrative.”

Igbokwe, who was the head boy in secondary school, left with Division One. He taught in the same school as an Auxiliary Teacher from 1979 to 1980, before gaining admission in 1980 to read Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), where he graduated in 1985 with honours.

“I did my Youth Service in Ogun State and thereafter I returned to Lagos in 1986 to begin a journey to where I am today. I walked the streets of Lagos from 1986 to 1988 until the then military government headed by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida set up the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to encourage graduates to start their own businesses. I got a loan of N27, 500, using my NYSC discharge Certificate and my Degree Certificate as collateral at nine per cent interest rate.

“I set up a restaurant business on Western Avenue, Lagos, and hit an instant success. While doing this business, I spread my nets also to the auto spare parts market in Lawanson, Surulere where my brother thrived as a very successful importer. I opened a shop there and got a boy to take charge of the business. From there, I entered into auto dealership along Western Avenue, Surulere. I paid back that loan in full and collected my certificates.”

Igbokwe did not stop there. He said: “In 1995, I wrote my first book: ‘Igbos: 25 Years After Biafra’. I also established ‘National Vision Newspapers’ in 1997. In 1999, I wrote my second book: ‘Heroes of Democracy’. In 2004, I co-authored ‘2007: The IBB Option’ with my good friend, Peter Claver Oparah. One thing led to another, I became an opinion moulder, a public commentator, political analyst, writer and an advocate of the peoples’ cause. I bought my first car in 1990 and became a millionaire in 1995 after launching of my first book.”

JOHN MOMOH

John Momoh is a broadcast journalist and media entrepreneur. He is at present, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ‘Channels Television’, an independent and multiple award winning 24-hour news and media television channel based in Lagos.

Momoh, who was born on July 1, 1957, is widely recognised in Nigeria as a transformative industry pioneer with over 37-year-long career in news television broadcasting.

Momoh was brought up in Lagos State, and his father was a cook. Over the past decades, he has built a commercial satellite television station with a reputable integrity, which placed him in the league of comfortable millionaires. He graduated from the University of Lagos with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy.

Prior to starting Channels Television, which he founded in 1995, Momoh worked variously as news anchor, senior reporter and senior producer for Nigeria’s national radio and television stations -Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Television Authority.

In December 2005, he was proclaimed ‘Officer of the Order of the Niger’ by the Federal Government. He was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Nigerian Information Society in 2006. Two years later, he was nominated as Nigeria’s Entrepreneur of the Year by the Fate Foundation.

By October 2014, he had become member, Board of Directors of the Constituency for Africa (CFA), an African-focused Organisation located in Washington, District of Columbia. He also received the Leadership Award at the 2014 Planet Africa Awards held at the Grand Victorian Convention Centre in Canada.

SAM ADEYEMI

Pastor Sam Adeyemi, a native of Yagba, Kogi State, and motivational speaker with focus for positioning people for success and leadership qualities, was born on February 3, 1967. He is the founder of Daystar Christian Centre and the president of a non-profit organisation, Success Power International that specialises in organising financial, leadership and motivational seminars.

Adeyemi inaugurated Daystar Christian Centre on November 18, 1995 at the Eko Chinese Hotel on Allen Avenue, Ikeja Lagos. Apart from presiding over the church, he also hosts a radio and television program, ‘Success Power’, and personifies the saying, ‘behind every success and achievements lies plenty stories to tell’.

He recounts how tough things were for him in the beginning when he and his wife, Pastor Nike, had to go on fasting and prayers asking God to show him the next face of his life and ministry.

“I received the vision that led to the establishment of Daystar Christian Centre and Success Power International Ministry and in July 1994,” he said.

The church, which is now worth over N2 billion, was at its infancy, unable to pay its rent at the many locations it had held its services in Lagos. There was also a time that the manager of one of his church’s rented space chased his workers out and warned them against holding prayer meeting there. The manager also went on to occupy the rented hall with his friends to play games. Adeyemi had to beg him to allow him hold service there with a promise to pay him after the service.

“It was just about 10 minutes to the end of the service when the manager sent an usher to me. I had to pause the service to take out money from the offering to pay the manager but today it is history,” he added.

Adeyemi has authored so many motivational books including the best-selling ‘Success is who you are?’ and ‘Parables of Dollar’.

His mission with Daystar Church, he said, is to groom potential leaders for the country in the various sectors who can impact on the society. He not only wants to train members of the church to be able to affect their society positively, but to be able to stand up to correct things when they are going wrong in their environment. Although he is successful today, Adeyemi has also had rough patches in life.

Just about 26 years ago, he was a graduate looking for a job, wondering how he would make it in life. He tried to get a job to no avail. As a last resort, he thought of travelling overseas. He got his letter of invitation, got a ticket, bought the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), packed his bags, luggage and even had a send-off party planned by his friends. But he could not realise his dream of travelling as the Consular officer at the embassy of the country he wanted to travel to, asked him to go and get a document, which he was unable to get.

The whole arrangement crumbled. So he was back to square one. Things were tight, hopes dashed. But then he held on, believing that the future would bring good things. Today, his belief and perseverance has paid off, as he has made success of his life. He is married to Adenike, an architect who pastors with him, and they are blessed with lovely children.

P-SQUARE

P-Square is a Nigerian R&B duo of identical twin brothers, Peter and Paul Okoye. They produce and release their albums through Square Records. In December 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon’s Konvict Muzik label. In May 2012, they signed a record distribution deal with Universal Music South Africa.

P-Square began in St. Murumba Secondary School, a small Catholic school in Jos, Nigeria. They joined their school music and drama club where they began singing, dancing, and mimicking songs by MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson.

Later in 1999, Peter and Paul returned to music school to develop their skills on the keyboard, drums, bass and rhythm guitar. Their work includes the soundtracks for a number of films like Tobi, Mama Sunday, Moment of Bitterness and Evas River.

It was in Lagos in 2001 that their musical career took a turn for the better. It was the year they won the ‘Grab Da Mic’ competition, which prompted Benson & Hedges to sponsor their debut album, titled ‘Last Nite’. It was released under Timbuk2 music label. From that time, it was fame all the way as they got nominated as ‘Most Promising African Group’ in the Kora Awards. That was three months after the release of their debut album. They eventually won the 2003 Amen Award for ‘Best R&B Group’.

In 2005, they released their second album, ‘Get Squared’ under their own label, Square Records. This album was marketed nationwide by TJoe Enterprises, although they were still managed by Howie T of Adrot Nigeria Limited. The video for the second album held the #1 position on the MTV Base chart for four straight weeks.

Late in 2007, they released their best-selling album, ‘Game Over’. It sold over eight million copies worldwide. On April 4, 2010, P-Square was named the Artist of the Year at the Kora Awards in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso, while they were in London for a concert at the Troxy, and they were to receive a sum of $1 million as the award winner, in Ebebiyin City.

A female staff of Micro Finance Bank, Olayiwola Folashade has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly escaping with N1.3m savings paid into the Bank by some petty traders through her.
Thus, the customers besiege the Bank requesting for the money which led to the arrest of Folashade by the Police.
The incident happened at the Shepard Trust Micro Finance Bank branch at Ogba, Lagos where folashade was deployed as Staff.
She has been since arraigned in court for stealing and remanded in prison custody.
We gathered that the defendant was entrusted by the Bank management to collect money saving from their customers, mainly petty traders who save their money to access loan or repaying the soft loans they borrowed from the Bank
However, we learnt after the defendant collected the money to the amount, she did not remit it to the Bank and escaped with the money.
When it was time to obtain the loan, they were not given or allowed to withdrawing their saving.
We gathered that the Bank management told them that their savings did not reflect in the Bank account records despite the fact that customers actually paid the money through the defendant.
When the management asked Fashade what happened, it was learnt that she admitted the customers paid her the money and told the Bank that she used the money to solve her personal problem.
The matter was reported at Ogba Police Command and Folashade was arrested and charged before Ogba Magistrates court with stealing under the Criminal Code.
She pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.O. Shomade granted her bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till 28 July 2017.
She was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail condition.

One of Nigeria’s foremost civil society organisations, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) is currently embroiled in crisis between its Lagos chapter and the national body.
A report of the Disciplinary and Compliance Committee hearing of the CDHR obtain detailed cases of victimisation, financial impropriety, and indiscipline against executives of the state chapter.
But the Lagos State chapter of the association accused the national body of a witch-hunt because of its refusal to mobilise members to support the founder of The Synagogue Church Of All Nations, T.B Joshua, at the church’s ongoing criminal trial in a Lagos court.
On Tuesday, the chapter responded to an invitation by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, by staging a rally outside the Police Department’s premises insisting they would not succumb to intimidation by the national body.
On Wednesday, the executives of the Lagos chapter of the CDHR received a notice from the national body restricting them from using the “entire facilities” at the national secretariat, including the office spaces allocated to Alex Omotehinse, the chairman, and Muyiwa Kushimo, the secretary who was recently suspended.

Graft, indiscipline, misconduct
We learnt the problem began in mid-2016 when the Lagos chapter suspended its treasurer, Abiodun Nwafor, after she accused its leadership of financial malfeasance.
Mrs. Nwafor had alleged that the state chairman, Mr. Omotehinse, was receiving money from the public and spending the said money without informing her office.
She also accused Mr. Omotehinse of reprinting the union’s forms, selling them, issuing fake receipts and receiving monies to his pocket without proper account.
She further stated that her predecessor, Judith Ogele, refused to hand over to her financial documents more than six months after leaving office.
In response to Mrs. Nwafor’s allegations, the Lagos chapter constituted a committee to investigate her claims.
The committees – a second committee was constituted after the complainant rejected the findings of the first one – reported that the allegations were unfounded and recommended the suspension of the complainant.
But a review of the case by the Disciplinary and Compliance Committee (DCC) showed that the Lagos chapter committee which suspended Mrs. Nwafor acted beyond its brief.
The DCC also established that Ms. Ogele, the immediate past branch treasurer, refused to hand over the books of accounts, receipt booklets, and cheque book to her successor.
“It appears in the eyes of the two committees and the BCC (Branch Coordinating Council) that the aspects of the complaint or allegations that were unfounded constituted the acts of indiscipline; that cannot be correct,” the DCC report, signed by Debo Adeniran, the committee chairman stated.
“Even when the entire complaint is unfounded, it cannot, prima facie, amount to an act that violates the spirit or letter of the CDHR Constitution.
“Or is it that what seems like a call for answerability or accountability amounts to an act of indiscipline in the interpretation of the committees and the BCC?
“We do not see any complaint here that is too extraneous or inappropriate. It puts to question how the committee arrived at a conclusion that the complaints were unfounded.
“If it was held that the allegation of financial misappropriation by some officers was unfounded it does not constitute a fundamental breach of the CDHR Constitution by the maker of the allegation.
“We reprimand impunity in strong terms. A situation where members of CDHR cannot complain of perceived wrongdoing or injustice for fear of victimization must not be encouraged but condemned absolutely.”
While the DCC cleared Mr. Omotehinse of allegations of fraud and financial misappropriation, it reprimanded him against his direct involvement and dealings with finance.
On claims by Mrs. Nwafor that Mr. Kushimo assaulted her and hit her on the chest, the DCC said it was a “serious violation” of the spirit and letter of the CDHR held.
“Kushimo’s conduct is an affront or attack on the respect for the dignity of the petitioner, especially as a woman; the act amounts to gross abuse and violence against a woman; a degrading treatment that is far from expectation by a Comrade,” the report said.
In its final resolution, the DCC recommended that the indefinite suspension handed to Mrs. Nwafor be set aside; Mr. Kushimo and Ms Ogele be suspended for 10 months and six months respectively; and Mr. Omotehinse pen letters of apologies to both the branch and Mrs. Nwafor through the National Executive Committee.

The T.B Joshua factor
Last week, the police invited Mr. Omotehinse for an “interview” in its investigation of a “case of conspiracy, fraud, stealing, threat to life, and indecent assault,” following a petition by Mrs. Nwafor
During the Lagos chapter’s rally on Wednesday, Mr. Omotehinse said the crisis in the CDHR began after he turned down a directive from the national president, Malachy Ugwumadu, to attend court hearings involving The Synagogue Church of All Nations.
The church is currently facing a criminal trial instituted by the Lagos State government before an Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court after a 2014 building collapse in the church killed at least 116 people.
The government sued the church and its engineers in 2015 for criminal negligence, after a coroner’s inquest found that the church failed to secure government approval before adding four additional floors to a two storey guest house in its premises.
“The only problem we have is Malachy, because we refused to mobilize our members to be attending T.B Joshua’s (church) trial every hearing,” Mr. Omotehinse told reporters.
“They called us that they need our members, at least 100 members, that they’ll be giving them N1,000 each, that every hearing date that we must be appearing with our members, and we should carry placards, that TB Joshua’s trial is persecution.
“And we say it’s not possible for a group like us. Let him honour court first, if he honours court, if truly we discover they are trying to persecute him, we’ll rise for him.
“Our members mobilized counsels to the court, even some of them that went with him were complaining that they were not properly briefed. But we, as a group, we cannot attend such trial. That’s why he became hostile, began to instigate members against us.”
Mr. Omotehinse admitted that although Mr. Joshua is currently “the main financier” of the CDHR, his philanthropy – which included a donation of a bus in 2013, N9.5 million in 2016, and bags of rice at Christmas periods – was not enough to call out members.
“We sympathize because of his philanthropy, but it does not mean that because you’re a philanthropist and we’re a beneficiary of your kindness, we’d now support you,” said Mr. Omotehinse.
But Mr. Ugwumadu told newsmen that the national body’s actions were based on the report of its disciplinary committee and had nothing to do with Mr. Joshua.
“Don’t forget this is an organization led by Beko Ransome-Kuti, Professor Iyayi, Femi Falana, the integrity of what we do is at the heart of the organization,” said Mr. Ugwumadu, a lawyer.
“So all those things they are saying… it’s too cheap when a person will hear that.
“It is on the basis of some very serious fraudulent activity that we now had to set up a disciplinary committee to try some of them, and it is in response to that they are now trying to turn the narrative and give the impression that there is anything other than the investigations against them.
“They became violent and attacked some of our members who insisted they must obey NEC decisions. That is what led them to Panti, I mean, you don’t go to Panti to write about T.B Joshua, you go to Panti when there are criminal allegations under investigation against you.”

The search for 2017 Maltina Teacher of the Year (MTOY) has gathered increased momentum as more teachers across the country have been taking advantage of the opportunity by visiting the MTOY website to submit their entries.

Organisers of the MTOY and various stakeholders in the nation’s education sector had, at the flag-off of the event last month, encouraged teachers in both public and private secondary schools to participate in the innovative award aimed at rewarding teachers and the teaching profession in the country.

Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc, disclosed that entries have been received from teachers in many states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He advised interested teachers to download application forms from the Maltina website –http://www.maltina-nigeria.com/maltina-teacher-of-the-year.html– before the July 7 deadline. According to him, application forms should be completed and uploaded to the website or sent by email to maltinateacheroftheyear@heineken.com or post to P.M.B. 12632, Marina, Lagos.

Ekanem restated that the MTOY initiative is to reward commitment and diligence to duty by exceptional teachers across the country. It is executed on the platform of Nigerian Breweries Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust.

As it was last year, each State Champion will get N500,000 and the Top 10 teachers will be recognised before the grand winners are announced. The first and second runners-up will receive trophies and an additional N1 million and N750, 000 respectively.

The Maltina Teacher of the Year 2017, Ekanem added, will have an additional N1 million instantly plus N1 million every year for the next five years, a development training opportunity abroad and a block of classrooms built at the school where the winner teaches.

“It is our hope that, through the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative, we can inspire this nation to accord our teachers their deserved credit and bring back respect to the teaching profession in Nigeria. As partners for development, we solicit the support of all education stakeholders and our friends in the media towards the success of this initiative,” Ekanem said.

Davido has shown his generous heart by building a home for a young Akwa Ibom boy, Utibe and his mother.
Utibe went viral a while ago for singing a cover to Davido’s song titled “If”. Utibe, a six-year-old Akwa Ibom boy, has never stepped into a school.
A touched Davido is now paying his fees and building a house for his young fan.
Davido has proven times without number to care for his fans, both young and old. The extravagant singer has found a way to give back to society and this time it is a young fan that impressed him by singing his hit single titled, ‘If’.
In a recent post, Davido revealed that he was happy to see Utibe smile as he constructs a new home for him and his mother. A while ago, young Utibe went viral for singing a cover to Davido’s track, ‘If’. Davido, who is also paying the fees of Utibe has shown that he will cater for the young fan as much as he can. Putting his money where his mouth is, he shared photos of the new house being constructed for Utibe and his mother.