THURSDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2022

Infrastructure, Low Income, Others Hampering Digital Financial Integration

Obiora puts volume of eNaira-in-circulation at N2.10bn Shoprite, Sahad Stores, A.A. Rano, others embrace digital currency

Oshiomhole: Fuel Subsidy Has Been Huge Source of Fraud for Long...

It's Payback Time, Shettima Tells Hausa Community in Lagos

Segun James The vice presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, yesterday, told some Hausa groups in Lagos that

it was payback time for the good they and north, in general, had enjoyed under the Bola Tinubu leadership in the state.

Shettima, who visited the Hausa community in Alaba-Rago, Lagos,

alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, told the people to vote for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu in next year’s election. He said the

2023 election was the time for the north to pay Tinubu back for his past support to the region.

Shettima, who also had on his entourage, the Lagos State APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, and

all Arewa leaders in the state, said Tinubu made President Muham madu Buhari president in 2015 by giving him bloc votes from the South-west, a feat he repeated in 2019.

He added that Tinubu provided the platform for Atiku to contest presidential election, when the former vice president was chased

Atiku: Shettima's Statement Denigrates Business That Employs Thousands of Workers

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, replied the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, who had dismissed the former vice president as a mere ‘bottled water seller’ at a function in Lagos on Tuesday, sayingit is shameful that the ex-Borno State governor would vilify a business that employs a large chunk of peoplein the North-east.

Atiku said the statement directed at him was not only irresponsible but also disrespectful.

In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku told the former governor of Borno State andcurrent senator for Borno Central that politics “does not confer the licence to be reckless” on anyone. He asked Shettima to apologise to Nigerians in the employ of Atiku.

In another statement, Director of Strategic Communication, Atiku/

SOUVENIR FOR EL RUFAI...

James Emejo in Abuja

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr.

Godwin Emefiele, yesterday said the existence of low-level formal financial services, low income, and financial illiteracy, underdeveloped

technology ecosystem and weak infrastructure have continued to undermine the potential for the integration of digital financial

services in the country.

The central bank governor said although considerable gains had been achieved in boosting financial

inclusion to 64 per cent, the inclusion rate was slowing down the digital transformation wheel, adding that, “all citizens must be carried along

10

to optimise the gains of a digital economy.”

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

L-R: Vice Chairman, Ronchess Global Resources, Captain Niyi Ogunnowo; Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Ronchess Global Resources, Mr. Jackson Ukuevo; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai; Chairman, Ronchess Global Resources, Mr. Adeolu Adeboye, and Managing Director/CEO, Kaduna Roads Agency, Mrs. Habibah Buhari, when officials of Ronchess Global Resources presented a congratulatory frame to El-Rufai on his conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in Kaduna recently.

OPEC:

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has said the much-awaited Dangote Refinery’s refining capacity would account for more than half of Africa’s expected total additional distillations in the medium term.

The international oil cartel which stated this in its latest World Oil Outlook (WOO), disclosed that the addition was estimated at 1.2 million barrels per day in the medium term, stressing that the refinery which has a capacity of 650, 000 barrels per day, would take the lion's share.

Apart from the asset owned by Africa’s richest man, also expected to begin production in the near future are that 100 tb/d refinery to be built in Soyo, Angola, the 110 tb/d Hassi Messaoud refinery expansion in Algeria, the 160 tb/d Midor refinery expansion in Egypt, the 10 tb/d Brahms modular refinery in Guinea and the 110 tb/d Pointe Noire II refinery in the Republic of Congo.

In addition, Ghana and Senegal are also expected to commission new units, most of which are modular, to address fast-growing demand in Africa.

“In Africa, medium-term distil lation additions are estimated at around 1.2 mb/d. More than a half of this number is accounted for by Nigeria's Dangote refinery (650 tb/d).

“According to recent reports,

its commissioning is likely to be delayed from 2022 to 2023, partly due to financial issues. Furthermore, Nigeria is likely to see the addition of a number of small modular refineries with capacities of up to 20 tb/d over the medium-term, thus adding much needed capacity in the country,” OPEC stressed.

“Elsewhere, a new 100 tb/d refinery is likely to be built in Soyo, Angola in 2025. In North Africa, a modest expansion is expected in Algeria (Hassi Messaoud) and Egypt (Midor and Assiut).

“Finally, several sub-Saharan countries, including Ghana, Guinea, Senegal and the Republic of the Congo are expected to commis sion new units, most of which are modular. With these expansions, the region will look to address fast growing demand, but it could also potentially reduce product imports from other regions,” OPEC noted.

In addition to the Dangote refinery, rehabilitation is going on in Warri and Port Harcourt and work on the Kaduna refinery will start soon, with the report stating that if the refurbishments succeed, Africa could expect even higher throughputs and utilisation rates in the long term.

“These additions could lead to refinery throughputs increase from 1.8 mb/d in 2021 to 4.8 mb/d in 2045, based on strong demand growth and refining capacity ad ditions in both the medium- and long-term,” it added.

OPEC acknowledged that the downstream market has tightened significantly over the last year, driven by strong oil demand growth, a decline in available refining capacity and geopolitical uncertainties.

During the medium-term (20222027) it noted that around 7.3 mb/d of refining capacity additions are expected, most of which is expected in the Asia-Pacific (3.6 mb/d), the Middle East (1.6 mb/d) and Africa (1.2 mb/d).

“Refining capacity additions in

Facility to Account for

other regions are minor and mostly limited to the expansion of existing refineries,” it added.

In the long-term, (2022-2045) OPEC stated that global refining additions are projected at 15.5 mb/d, with a significant slowdown in the rate of additions towards the end of the projection period.

“Almost 90 per cent of additions are located in the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa,” it said.

The medium-term balance, it stressed, points to a tightening downstream market relative to

2021, with the estimated deficit of potential refining capacity relative to required refining capacity set to peak around 2.7 mb/d in 2023 and 2024.

“Due to the demand growth slowdown and continuous capacity additions, the deficit is set to decline to around 1.4 mb/d in 2027,” the report said.

The Dangote integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in the Lekki Free Zone, near Lagos, Ni geria, is expected to be the world’s biggest single-train facility, upon

commissioning. Estimated to cost about $20 billion, the refinery will produce Euro-V quality petrol and diesel, as well as jet fuel and polypropylene and will likely generate 4,000 direct and 145,000 indirect jobs.

The new refinery will double Nigeria’s refining capacity and help in meeting the increasing demand for fuels, while providing cost and foreign exchange savings. It is estimated to have an annual refining capacity of 10.4 million tonnes of petrol.

Floods: FEC Approves Additional N260bn for Repair of East-West Road

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The recent flood disaster that ravaged parts of the country and affected some highways received the attention of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as it approved N400 billion for the repairs of some section of the East-West road as well as five other federal roads in Lagos,Yobe, Kano, Yobe and Jigawa states.

The FEC at its weekly meeting

on Wednesday presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, okayed the variation in the sum of contract for East-West road project sections one to four from Warri to Port Harcourt, Eket, Oron, by N260 billion, bringing the total amount required for it to N506 billion.

The original cost for the sections was about N246 billion.

The council approved another

Universities

The Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, yesterday lamented that private universities in the country were not benefitting anything from government apart from licencing and regulatory role that the government was playing.

Chinedum said rather than benefitting from government’sintervention in terms of structure and facilities, private universities were groaning under heavy taxburden.

The vice Chancellor, stated this at a news conference on the Fourth Convocation Ceremony of the university, holding from Mon day, November 7 to Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

She said private universitieswould be better if the Federal

Government's intervention projects like Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) are extended to them.

"We are actually being taxed like profit making organisations. We are now proposing that private universities in Nigeria should be treated like charity organisationsand that their taxes should be reduced because for now, private universities are not benefiting fromthe TETFUND.

"When you go to the public universities, you will see TETFUND buildings. The major financial drains in a university is capital project. Budget allocation for capital projects in private universities runsinto several billions of naira.

“You can imagine if TET-FUNDshould construct two or three buildings in a private university such as ours here, that will be a big relief.

"So, private universities don't benefit from the TET-FUND, rather, they give through a lot of taxation and probably, through the taxes, they fund TET-FUND. What we benefit now is issuance of operating licence and approval of new and existing programmes,” he explained.

He added: "To me, private universities are non-profit mak ing organizations. If any private university is making profit, I will like to see such a university, but I don't think there is any."

The vice chancellor, who said all the 28 programmes of the university started admitting students in 2016, noted that a total of 52 students, would be graduating at the Fourth Convocation Ceremony.

Giving the breakdown of the graduating students, Babalola said nine students made First Class, 27 made Second Class Upper

Division, 14 made Second Class Lower Division while two students are graduating with Third Class.

The Vice Chancellor, who was recently reappointed for another tenure of five years, said the uni versity has been very unique in many aspects

According to her, the number of graduating students, had been onthe increase since the First Convoca tion in 2019, when the institution, graduated seven students.

She said, "The number of graduands has been on the increase every year with seven first convocation, it rose to 28 during the second convocation,to 44 at the third convocation and now 52 at this year's convocation, which is the fourth. We hope to have more next year as the students’ population, has been on the increase."

N140 billion worth of contracts for the rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction of some other roads in different parts of the country.

Briefing newsmen on the issue after the FEC meeting, the media assistant to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said the variation followed a memorandum presented to the council by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, as part of efforts to provide succorand resolve issues around the recent floods.

He said: "He got approval for the variation order in respect of repair works on the East-West road project affected during the recent flooding occurrences in the Niger Delta.

"So, the approval was for a variation order for the East-West road project sections 1-4 from Warri to Port Harcourt, Eket, Oron, including Oron-Eket bypass in the sum of N260 billion, thereby increasing the total contract sum for the outstandingsections 1-4 of the East West road projects from the sum of formerlyof N246 billion now to N506 billion. The memo was approved."

Fashola also got FEC's go-aheadfor the award of contracts for the urgent repairs, and special general maintenance of a few roads nationwide.

They included the construction of Gogora Guru road in Yobe state, in the sum of N40 billion, with completion time of 36 months; therehabilitation of the 90 kilometre Buni Gari Gulani road also in Yobe

state in the sum of N4 billion, with a completion period of 36 months.

Approval was also given for the urgent repairs and the reconstruction of Water Cooperation Drive at Trinity Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos State,in the sum of N2 billion with a completion period of 36 months.

Similarly, approval was givenfor the award of contract for the dualisation and reconstruction of the Kano-Kwanar-Ganja-Hadejia road in Kano and Jigawa states, in thesum of N94 billion inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT, with a completion period of 24 months.

Also briefing newsmen, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Olorunnibe Mamaora, affirmed that local pencil production was ongoing at the Project Development Institute (PRODA) in Enugu.

According to him, the institute had been unable to meet its objec tives of producing machine tools and aircraft parts as envisagedbecause of crisis.

Mamora said FEC approved the memorandum presented on behalf of the National Space Agency and Development (NASDA) for public private partnership to secure partnership on the upgrade, equipping, operating and marketing of Space Museum, and Planetarium, saying, even though the buildings meant for the project had been in place since 2018, "but because of non-availability of funds to put the necessary equipment is in place that project has been stalled."

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

James Sowole in Abeokuta

LUNCH OF IMO STATE INDUSTRIAL POLICY...

L-R: Economic Adviser to Governor Uzodimma, Prof Kenneth Amaeshi;.Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; UNIDO Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Jean Bankole and Technical Adviser to Governor Uzodimma, Dr Bola Adigun, at the lunch of Imo State Industrial Policy at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chamber, Government House Owerri ...yesterday

APC LAGOS MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS MEETING...

Adesina: $15.6bn Investment Interests Generated for Lagos-Abidjan Highway in 2022

Ugo Aliogo in Abidjan

The President of the African Development Bank Group, (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said from the virtual Africa Investment Forum held in March this year, the bank secured $15.6 billion in investment interest for the construction of the Lagos-Abidjan Highway.

Adesina, who stated this yesterday at the ongoing Africa Investment Forum 2022, in Abidjan, Cote D’ Ivorie, stated that the highway, which carries 75 per cent of trade in the West Africa

region, would help unleash greater growth, trade, and investment across the region.

He also stated that the forum was delivering amazing investments for Africa, adding that in four years since its commencement in 2018, it has helped to mobilise $110 billion in investment interests to Africa.

He further explained that the $600 million securitised finance to support the cocoa board of Ghana helped the West African country to grow its cocoa production by one million metric tons, with infrastructure for warehousing

and cocoa processing.

He remarked that Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Africa declined from $47 billion in 2019, to $40 billion in 2020, because of the COVID-19, noting that Africa however recovered in 2021, as FDI rose to $83 billion, doubling the inflow in 2020.

According to him, “By 2050, Africa will account for over one quarter of the world’s population. Africa has the largest sources of renewable energy in the world. Africa has 65 per cent of the uncultivated arable land left to

feed the world.

“The future of electric cars in the world depends on Africa because it has the largest sources of cobalt in the world, with massive sources of lithium in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Ghana, Mali, and Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area is the largest free-trade zone in the world connecting economies worth $3.3 trillion. So, Africa cannot be ignored.

“If you are not investing in Africa, think again! Africa is the investment frontier in the world – today and

African Refiners Hail Nigerians on Massive Investments in Oil Refining, Distribution Facilities

driving cleaner fuel in the region.

The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) has applauded indigenous Nigerians operating in the midstream and downstream sector of the nation's oil and gas industry for the massive investments they are making to boost local refining and improve petroleum products distribution.

ARDA specifically commended Rainoil Limited, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Dangote Group, Sahara Group among others, for their world-class facilities located in Lagos, saying such investments in refining, storage and distribu tion infrastructure were worthy of replication in other African countries.

The association stated this when a delegation led by its President, Marième Ndoye Decraene and its Nigerian-born Executive Secretary, Mr. Anibor Kragha, took a tour of the facilities of the companies.

Kragher, who spoke to journalists during the visit to Rainoil's facilities in Ijegun, Lagos, said the team was impressed by the kind of facilities available in Nigeria, which were built by Nigerian locals.

He commended Rainoil’s genuine move to boost domestic utilisation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, in the country.

Noting that the visit was neces sitated by the need for ARDA members to see the reality of the massive projects going on in Nigeria, Kragher emphasized that Rainoil was aligning with the vision of the federal government and ARDA in

Explaining that ARDA’s vision was to serve as the leader in Africa’s transition to cleaner fuels, the executive secretary stated, “We also promote the harmonisation of cleaner fuel specifications across Africa in line with the AFRI Fuels Roadmap to avoid urban pollution and the associated health challenges. ARDA supports the implementation of a Cleaner Air Policy with a regulatory framework that considers fuels and vehicles as an integrated system.”

He also noted that the associa tion was in Nigeria as part of its mission, which he said was focused on developing an integrated energy self-sufficiency plan for Africa that promotes the processing of African crude oil in upgraded African refineries, distribution of resulting cleaner petroleum products via African pipelines and terminals with funding primarily from African financial institutions.

Kragha said the delegation had earlier paid a courtesy call to the NNPC, the Dangote Refinery and was scheduled to visit Sahara Group to see its Egbin power plant in Ikorodu, Lagos.

He stated, "Our ultimate goal is to see how we can work together, learn from each other and drastically reduce fuel imports by upgrading the refineries and distribution infrastructure on the continent, to meet Africa’s petroleum products requirements.

“We are the first-ever pan-African non-governmental organiation that serves as the voice of the downstream oil sector in Africa and addresses economic, environmental,

and social issues impacting refining, or the import and distribution of petroleum products across the continent.

“So, we are here to promote cooperation, the exchange of positive experiences and best practices between members, in order to improve their safety, technical and economic performance.

"Coming here has really given us the opportunity to see the level of world-class investment done by a Nigerian and we implore our members to reproduce what they have seen in their various countries,"

he added.

In response, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, represented by the Executive Director of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Omuojine, who walked the delegation through the company's humble beginning, stated that the company started operations in May 1997, and had grown to become a prominent player in the downstream space, providing employment opportunities for over 2,000 Nigerians.

in the future. Invest in Africa today, benefit from its great future.

“The Africa Investment Forum is Africa’s premier investment marketplace which helps to connect investors to Africa. Four years ago, we began a journey together which the African Development Bank, the Africa Import-Export Bank, the Trade and Development Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation, the Development Bank of South Africa, the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and Africa 50, when we established the Africa Investment Forum.

“The landmark $24 billion Liquified Natural Gas Project of Mozambique which was structured and closed at the Africa Investment Forum, is the largest ever foreign direct investment in Africa. It will turn Mozambique into the thirdlargest exporter of natural gas in the world and add $66 billion to its economy.”

Speaking further, he said: “In the next 72 hours, we will have curated several investment ready projects for you as investors. These range from renewable energy hydropower, gas infrastructure, railways, roads, and water transport.

‘They include agriculture, health, mining, fertilizer manufacturing, port infrastructure, and urban green transport. They include sports, urban housing, and private equity feeder funds.”

In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Group, Oscar Onyema, stated that the capital market has done very well considering activities on the equity side of business,

which he described as being very active, “in fact, we have had record equity trading. As you know, we have had the MTN Initial Public Offering (IPO).”

He further explained that the market has had capital raising from a number of other companies in terms of rights issues, special placements and others.

Onyema also stated that on the fixed income side, the market has seen a lot of activities in terms of issuances such as from the federal government, corporates and States.

He hinted that the capital market is a very viable and credible alterna tive for capital raising.

According to Onyema, “There are some challenges around require ments to be expected given that you are now in the public market, and there is a lot of retail, not just institutional, but you also have retail participation.

“The Nigeria fintech space is very active and received a lot of investments, most of them are in the private sector. Yes. And so certainly we are very keen to crowd in those types of investments into the public markets as well.

“At the exchange, I am aware that NGX is working on the technology board, which is designed to really be attracted to FinTech companies, and other high tech companies that already exist in an ecosystem.

“The Nigeria Startup bill is also good one because it gives you that legal framework under which these types of activities can be supported with the necessary institutional frameworks.”

Lawmakers Summon Finance Minister, Accountant General,Others, Allege Buhari's Appointees Frustrating Anti-corruption War

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) yesterday issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed; the Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Sylva Okolieaboh; Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, to appear before it and explain why the budget of Office of the Auditor General of the Federation should be meagre.

The summon followed the

disclosure at the 2023 budget defence session by the Auditor General of the Federation, Andrew Onwudili, that the audit office proposed budget was slashed by the Executive. The Auditor General, Onwudili had while briefing the lawmakers disclosed that though the office proposed a total budget of N11.151 billion for 2023, what the Budget Office approved and put in the budget was N5.112 billion.

According to him, the office had proposed personnel cost of N3.041 billion as against the N2.349 billion contained in the budget; a proposal of N5.59 billion for overhead costs

as against the N2.113 billion, and a proposal of N2.52 billion against the N62.70 million contained in the budget estimates.

Frowning at the development, the Committee Chairman, Oke, said the budget slash was not acceptable and would be rejected by the parliament.

He alleged that there were concerted efforts to undermine the OAuGF and eradicate, repeal illegally the supreme audit institu tion of the country.

Oke specifically said the parliament had seen the alleged determination of the lieutenants of President Muhammadu Buhari,

particularly the Minister of Finance, the DG Budget Office, to undermine his determination to wage war against corruption on the land.

He wondered why the govern ment appointees would allocate several billions to ancillary institutions and are giving N62 million to the office of the Auditor General of the Federation to fund Capital.

He, therefore, ruled that the above named government ap pointees should appear within seven days to justify the alleged deliberate attempt to cripple the auditing agency.

L-R: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the State Party Chairman, Hon Cornelius Ojelabi and APC National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu, during the APC Lagos major stakeholders meeting at the Party’s Secretariat, Acme road, Ogba, Ikeja...yesterday

Udora Orizu in Abuja

Peter Uzoho

Says NNPC, Rainoil, Dangote, Sahara's facilities are worthy of replication in other African countries

Reject reduction of OAuGF proposed budget

FROM CHINA WITH LOVE...

Waheed Olagunju: Nigeria Needs $800bn to Fix Infrastructure Deficit in 10 Years

Eromosele Abiodun

The former Acting Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr Waheed Olagunju yesterday in Lagos stressed the need for government at all levels to invest in infrastructure, saying Nigeria needs an estimated $80billion in financial commitment annually over 10 years to fix its infrastructure deficit.

He added that there cannot be meaningful development without investment in infrastructure, which he stressed catalyses development in all sectors of the economy.

Olagunju stated this while speaking at the national workshop of the Association of Business Edi tors in Nigeria (ABEN), with the theme: “Infrastructure Financing as Pathway to Sustainable Economic Development.”

According to him, "Nigeria needs $80 billion every year over the next 10 years to finance its infrastructure gap. And to address this, government must partner private sector to provide funding for key infrastructure projects."

Also, stakeholders such as the Dangote Group and the Lagos state government among others, charged government at all levels to partner the private sector to fix the ailing infrastructure buy aiding business growth and economic development.

Olagunju, said the federal government through the National Development Plan (2021-2025) expected the transportation industry to generate 15 per cent of such funding amounting to N52 trillion of the over N300 trillion revenue target, into the economy, even as it expects 85 per cent of resources to come from the private sector through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

While making a case for inclusive growth and sustainable develop ment, the former BoI boss said, good ratings are critical to making Nigeria an investment hub, urging govern ment to have an internationally acceptable standard and structure that financiers would be interested in, to fund developmental projects in the country.

He added, “Nigeria must be an investment hub for investors. Let's continue to market Nigeria as an investment destination, ignore negative reporting that is negatively affecting the ratings of Nigeria as a country. Rule of law must be right to build confidence in the system.

“Our laws and constitution should not be cumbersome, should be adaptive and avoid too much bureaucracy that could distract investments. Infrastructure takes longer time between 20 to 30 years, hence, structures must be built around continuity of infrastructural projects irrespective of who is in

government.”

In a presentation, the Dangote Group promised to play more critical roles in the years ahead toward supporting public private partnership that will lead to improv ing the nation’s infrastructure space Giving a keynote speech at the event, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube, restated the need to raise capital from all credible sources to fix infrastructure, and to also ensure that the fiscal financ ing structure meets international standards, such that, the private

sector can finance projects without any fear of losing their money.

Egube stated that Lagos State has tried this model and found it to be working, adding that, a lot of capital projects ongoing in the state have more private sector funding input leading credence to the quality of structures the state government has, to attract financiers for its projects.

According to him, to get fund ing from the private sector both local and international, for your infrastructure projects, your ratings must be right. Pension funds is

also another alternative to finance infrastructure development but you must get your structure right to drive the needed funding.

"Infrastructure is huge, so, it's beyond the federal government alone, states and local govern ments must equally play their parts while the private sector provides the funding. However, private sector is key in all these projects, hence, the government must embrace PPP arrangements to address infrastructure deficit in the country, “he said.

He added, the Lekki deep

seaport was three times bigger than Apapa ports, “and what that does is to improve turn-around time, attracts Investment and business opportunities to the Lekki axis and this is how development works.”

“The rail system is targeted at transporting 32million people monthly. The 4th mainland bridge project will soon be awarded by December. We target to lay 6,000km of fibre cable across the state, the first phase of 3,000km is almost concluded and what that does is increase internet connectivity and reduce the cost of data.”

W’Bank Raises Funding for Adolescent Girls' Empowerment to $12,000,000, to Cover 10 More States

Tallen unveils pink traders’ fair

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The World Bank has upscaled funding for Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) to $12,000,000, an ad ditional boost of $7,000,000 from the initial funds provided by the multilateral institution.

This was revealed yesterday, when the World Bank Task Team for AGILE Project of 10 persons

Abiodun: Inputs from Town Hall Meetings Added into 2023 Budget Proposal

The Ogun State Governor, DapoAbiodun has said that no fewer than 203 inputs representing 95 percent of demands made at the citizens’ town hall meetings heldacross the four divisions of the state were incorporated into the budget proposal for 2023.

Abiodun stated this yesterday at the Treasury Board meeting heldat Abeokuta.

He posited that the Town Hall Meetings, apart from being avenuesto reach out to more citizens to har ness their inputs into the 2023 budget, also served as an important aspect in his administration's inclusive governance in budget preparation.

Abiodun further explained that the Medium Term Expenditure Frame work (MTEF) was not meant to produce budget, but how to develop good policies through the retooling of budget, emphasising that it was important to think of each stage of the budget process in terms of roles in developing and implementing the state policies.

He, however, noted that it was imperative that adequate funds were located to areas that would have direct impact on the socio-economic well-being of the people.

The governor noted that the 2023 budget was more important than the previous ones as the state required a holistic constitution of the people's needs and judicious application of

the limited resources to areas that bear on the welfare of the citizenry.

He added that his administration would work to sustain all the devel opmental projects spread across the state, that have a significant impact on the people, while all the ongoing projects would be given the desired attention towards completion.

Abiodun stated that his adminis tration had introduced the Medium Term Revenue Strategy, which he said was an improvement from the traditional expenditure to revenue driven budget by identifying and working on the major revenue generating agencies with a view to enhancing and sustaining revenue mobilisation, collection and enforcement.

led by a Senior Education Officer with bank, Aisha Garba, paid the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, a courtesy visit in her office.

In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Media and Publicity, Olujimi Oyetomi, Garba had in her presentation to the minister, disclose that $7,000,000 was being added to the initial fund of $5,000,0000 whose disbursement mechanism had been from July 28, 2020, when the project was approved, to the closing of the First disbursement in July 31, 2025.

She said the AGILE funding disbursement had been to create safe and assessable learning spaces, fostering an enabling environ ment for girls (US&140M); and Project management and system strengthening (US &35M) with substantially encouraging results from its application.

She noted that additional financ ing to the tune of $700 million for scaling up the AGILE Project was predicated upon government’s demand, commitment and alignment with the World Bank agenda; persistence of challenges in educating adolescent girls; and the need to scale impact and expand target group.

In addition, she stated that additional states to benefit from the scale-up programme, have

followed some selection criteria which she listed to include: "Technical eligibility where Female gross enrolment rate in school, ages 12 – 19 should be less than 70 per cent; while Adolescent fertility rate (ages 15 – 19) should be greater than 70 per 1,000 women.

"Demonstrated commitment in domesticating Child Rights Act (2003), state should score 50 per cent; domesticating National Policy on Gender in Education (2021), state should score 25 per cent; existence of programmes/ policies on girls’ education, state should score 25 per cent.

"Implementation readiness: state should have costed action plan for teacher recruitment/committed letter to recruit teachers for schools that will be built; state should have school security action plan aligned with the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in 2021 and there should be state Project Implementation Unit constituted and allocation of not less than N150 million to fund project take off preparatory activities," she added.

In her response, Tallen said she sees something amiss with the situation where budgeted funds for Girl-child education was domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Education whereas it

is the Ministry of Women Affairs that carries out the advocacy to drive, not just enrolment, but completion of education to Senior Secondary School Class 3 (SS3) by every adolescent Girl-child.

Tallen said this was the under lying reason why she had been advocating for a separate budget line for Girl-Child education in Federal Ministry of Women Affairs budget: “Education of the Girl-child is our top priority, we advocate strongly for it, because as we see it, you educate a woman you have empowered the woman.

"To keep up with this kind of training institutions to benefit the Girl-child, I am also advocating for private-sector-driven support, or government pays for the training of the Girl-child while the private sector runs it,” she added.

Meanwhile, Tallen has opened the International Pink traders’ fair which is a project of Economic Services Department of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs through the 50 Million African Women Speak Project in Abuja.

The 50 Million African Women Speak Project’ Pink Traders’ Fair was opened by the minister yes terday, at the Zoological Gardens, Area 1, Abuja, FCT and would last till Saturday, 5th of November, 2022.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

L-R: Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jian Chun, his wife, Mrs. Liang Huili and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during a dinner at the Government House, in Benin City...yesterday

Oshiomhole: Fuel Subsidy HasBeen Huge Source of Fraud for Long

Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie

A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday condemned the continuous pay ment of fuel subsidy by the federal government, insisting that the policy had been a huge source of fraud for a very long time.

Oshiomhole who spoke yester day on the ‘Morning Show’ of Arise News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said when he was President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), he led a campaign that fought against the removal of fuel subsidy, saying that as at that time, the federal government, was subsidising petrol with between $20 billion and $30

billion per year. He however said as at today, fuel subsidy has risen to over $6 trillion per year.

He, therefore questioned how much of the fuel was being sub sidised for small business owners, commercial drivers and the poor Nigerians, who buy fuel every day to run their small businesses.

Oshiomhole said: “As far as I am concerned, government is only dealing with fraud in the name of fuel subsidy. So government needs to eliminate fraud through the removal of fuel subsidy.

“There is the equalisation fund that ensures equal payment for fuel across different regions of the country, yet government could not control the prices of petrol in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Calabar and in

other parts of the country, because marketers sell at different prices in different regions of the country.

“One thing that people should learn about leadership, is that if the leader lacks the capacity to enforce the ideal objective of government, then such leader will fail in his or her leadership position. A leader must be able to, within his or her limitations, enforce the law in order to succeed.”

Asked if the current yearly $6 trillion fuel subsidy was not an indictment on the APC that had continued to pay for fuel subsidy, despite several opposi tions, Oshiomhole said: “I am part of APC, I chaired the APC for two years and now I am the deputy director general of Tinubu’s Campaign Group, but I have my

views about fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

“No government, including the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been able to give me satisfactory statistics that explain the continued subsidy on fuel, especially with the numbers that are coming out of NNPC. The challenge we have as a country is the abuse of public institutions. I am not indicting APC on fuel subsidy, because the APC government has tried all it could, but the gross abuse of public institutions, has remained one of our greatest challenges as a people.”

According to him, “some private fuel distributors get petroleum products from NNPC at reduced prices and in a clear breach of the understanding between them and the NNPC, they sell the petroleum

products at higher prices in their regions and government does not have the executive capacity to monitor all the distributors.

“The question now is why should government allow such process to continue to thrive in the system?

Government therefore needs to take action to implement some of its policies to the letter.

“Again, the exchange rate poses a major challenge to the Nigerian economy, and not just the fuel subsidy. Former CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is the current Governor of Anambra State, wanted to peg naira at N125 per dollar, when the exchange rate was between N116 and N120.

“Today, naira has jumped to about N800 in the parallel market,

ATIKU: SHETTIMA'S STATEMENT DENIGRATES BUSINESS THAT EMPLOYS THOUSANDS OF WORKERS

Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu queried Shettima’s statement that Atiku could not unite Nigeria, when "he has not united his own political party."Momodu said Atiku remained one of the most important contributors to the Nigerian economy.

Atiku said in the statement by Ibe, "Any business that produces products, creates jobs, and delivers dividends, especially, in this era of the APC administration, when the country is bleeding, is an asset andshould not be mocked.

"It is irrelevant if it is a small business or a big business. And for Shettima, it is more shameful that he will denigrate a going business that employs a large chunk of people in the North-east region.

"Even Atiku’s opponents have acknowledged his business resume that has seen him being engaged in businesses covering farming, animal feed, beverages, banking, logistics, polymer and plastics, education, among others, employing thousands directly and hundreds of thousands indirectly."

The former vice president, who was particularly irked by Shettima’s comments that he (Atiku) would soon be retired to Dubai, said from the statements, "It is indicative that the Tinubu-Shettima administration will be anti-entrepreneurship and business.

"It is with utter dismay that we listened to the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate talk condescendingly about other presidential candidates at a gathering that they invited members of the private sector to on"TheTuesday.remarks from the candidates of the APC show gross irrespon sibility and disrespectfulness. One would have thought that the duo would use the advantage of such a gathering to talk about solutions that their party, APC, has foisted on the country. Rather, they went on the ultra-highway of political indecency.”

Atiku said Shettima should apologise to Nigerian workers, especially the thousands benefit ting from Atiku’s businesses, for

his statement, stressing, "Politics does not confer on anyone the license to make irresponsible statements."

The PDP presidential standard bearer maintained that a gathering of the top echelons of the private sector was supposed to be an avenue for laying out serious policy choices.

"For Tinubu and Shettima, on the contrary, they chose to embarrass their guests, using their audience to play vile political games,” Atiku said.

He added, “For someone, who self-appoints as the APC national leader, it is ridiculous that the presi dential candidate of the APC failed to proffer solutions to the economic woes that his party has foisted on Nigerians in the past seven years.

"Unlike Tinubu, who sat idly by and watched his APC ruin Nigeria to the current sorry state, the presidential candidate of the PDP has been consistent in prof fering solutions to the myriads of ineffective policy options of the APCadministration.

"Atiku, it was, who first raised the alarm about the debt burden that the APC has thrown Nigeria into. It

was also Atiku, who has continued to call the attention of the nation to the need to diversify the economy away from heavy dependence on exploration of crude oil.

“Atiku, again, was the one, who said the quickest path to lift the majority of Nigerians out of the poverty belt is for the government to give incentives to the private sectorin order for them to create more jobs for Nigerians.

"Even during the COVID-19 pan demic, Atiku pioneered the private donor relief funds, which opened the gateway for other Nigerians of means to follow suit in providing succour to people, who were worst hit by the attendant self-isolation regulation in the management of the pandemic.

"Tinubu, who has been in hiberna tion mode for the seven years that his party unleashed the worst moment of economic hardship on Nigerians, has suddenly found a voice, because as it is usual with the APC, the time is here again to hoodwink the people with sugar-coated promises."

Atiku also said in the statement,

EMEFIELE: WEAK INFRASTRUCTURE, LOW INCOME, OTHERS HAMPERING DIGITAL FINANCIAL INTEGRATION

Speaking at the opening of the 28th annual In-house Executive Seminar of the apex bank with the theme: “Digitalisation of Money and Monetary Policy in Nigeria,” the CBN governor also said financial regulators were mindful of the possibility that the new forms of innovative financial products or services could render some existing banking laws and regulations obsolete and potentially harm financial growth.

This was just as the CBN Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, also disclosed that the volume of eNaira-in-circulation currently stands at N2.10 billion, representing a growth of 190.1 per cent relative to its level when it was launched in October 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Emefiele, however, noted that the challenges posed by new technologies necessitated new and revised guidelines, regula tions, and legislations to address potential infringements, alter private sector incentives, and reorganise the market to promote competition and encourage new entrants.

He said without a doubt, the penetration of digital technology ushered in new dimensions of risks, including sophisticated digital fraud and cybercrime, noting, however, that central banks, through domestic and cross-border safety and security measures, including KYC-AML/ CFT requirements, digital identi fication, anti-money laundering standards, cyber security, among others, had continued to strengthen the operational resilience and ensure the safety of the financial system.

Represented at the occasion by CBN Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability Directorate, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, Emefiele said, despite the success recorded so far in the digital transformation journey, there was still much work

to be done.

He said in view of the current digital revolution, central banks were not only preoccupied with providing an enabling environment for the spread of digital technology in the financial system, but also at the forefront of cutting-edge innovative products and services to provide safe and open payments for a digital economy.

Emefiele said while cash-based transactions have declined signifi cantly in the last decade, it remains the dominant means of payment, amidst a large informal sector.

He noted that though the country boasts of one of the fastest growing fintech ecosystems in Africa, with the industry projected to grow by 12 per cent annually according to McKinsey & Company, 2022, the “technological space is still maturing, with limited market size, funding and venture capitalists, access to baseline technologies, and skills, as common features.”

The CBN governor further pointed out that despite the significant progress recorded in the use and spread of digital payment infrastructure, particularly in the economic cities, the current financial inclusion rate suggests that more work was needed.

He said, “The high cost of telecommunications infrastructure, including internet and electricity, in remote, urban and low economic activity areas, continue to dissuade investments in such areas, where low income and financial illiteracy are already inhibiting social and economic advancement.

“As such, there is ample room for the deepening of the financial system through broader coverage.

“These challenges create unique opportunities for the expansion of new business models, with add-on benefits, greater efficiency, and cus tomer satisfaction. Banks can lead value propositions for the growth

of local innovators by providing venture capital while focusing on other things.”

Emefiele, also pointed out that beside the identified challenges, there was also the fear of fintech outcompeting traditional banks, with associated profitability risk, in addition to the view that with increased technological absorption and financial digitisation, comes increased risk of data theft and privacy, cybercrime, and fraud.

This, he said, underscored the need for not only expanding the payments system infrastructure but also updating the instruments of supervision.

He noted that although the digital transformation drive in the country is relatively nascent, it is unequivocally a pacesetter in digital transformation in the global south, made possible by the highly committed and dedicated staff and forward-looking leadership of the bank.

He said the CBN recently re ceived the coveted Euroknowledge Award in Washington DC, for its leadership in innovation and digital transformation in Africa, adding that, “This feat is the outcome of a disciplined implementation of long-standing strategies, begin ning with the bank’s vision of a cashless society and the continued modernisation of the country’s payments system and financial landscape.”

He said, “However, we are not resting on our oars, given our targets and the challenges earlier noted. This also underscores the importance of this seminar in our search for workable ideas and possible solutions.”

He said the launch of the eNaira, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in October 2021, represented a major turning point in the bank’s digitisation journey in the last decade.

Emefiele, emphasised that the eNaira was developed to broaden the payment possibilities of Nige rians, and foster digital financial inclusion, with the potential for fast-tracking intergovernmental and social transfers, capital flow, and remittances, among other endless possibilities.

He said historically, the emphasis had always been placed on the role of money as a medium of exchange, store of value, and unit of account, without its co-evolution with technological advancement, adding that in today’s highly digitalised world, the argument has gradually shifted from the function of money to its form, and compelling a rethinking of the phenomenon of money.

The CBN governor, therefore, pointed out that in the new digital order, virtual currencies are no less preferred to notes and coins, which have been in existence for centuries.

He said with the evolution of money also comes advancement in means of payments, as society demands faster, safer, and more reliable digitally driven payment infrastructure.

“As such, a central bank must, of necessity, be innovative, adaptive, and forward-looking to maintain its relevance in the 21st-century digital world. This is critical in ensuring effective monetary policy transmission and financial system stability,” he said.

He said the last decade witnessed a geometric rise in the adoption of technology in delivering the goals of monetary policy and financial stabil ity, with the emergence of exciting innovations that expand banking services and payment options through the increasing adoption of open business models, digital finance services, tech-embodied regulations, and the CBDCs.

"We, therefore, wish to remind the APC and their presidential candidate that, unlike them, the PDP and Atiku are promise keepers. Unlike the APC and Tinubu, Atiku has not waited for when election is around the corner to espouse solutions to the challenges facing the country.

"Unlike APC and Tinubu, Atiku’s position on the pathway to economic recovery of Nigeria has remainedconsistent ditto his views about restructuring, education, national inclusivity and engendering healthy national security.

“Unlike Tinubu and his APC, Nigerians know that Atiku and thePDP are more believable to deliver on their manifesto. It is a shame and, indeed, a source of embarrassment to all supporters of the APC that their national leader, who self-professes to be brilliant on the economy, prefers to be the chief priest at the APC altar, where Nigeria’s economy was brought to comatose."

Another statement by Momodu said, "It is our belief that Alhaji Shettima, in a moment of deliberate amnesia, must have tried to point fingers at the specks in another man's eyes while studiously ignoring the giant logs in his own eyes.

"The APC is in total disarray with prominent members of his party openly apologising to Nigerians for the unmitigated disaster it has foisted on Nigeria since 2015.

“This is one of the reasons APC members have been migrating indroves to PDP. It took almost forever for APC to achieve the simple task of constituting its Presidential Campaign Council, due to the total lack of unity in their party.

"It is very obvious that APC has become completely rudderless and many self-respecting members are jumping ship and being recovered

and this has further weakened the naira,” Oshiomhole said.

In spite of the tough economic situation in the country, the APC Presidential flag bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the official presentation of the APC manifesto on Tuesday, promised a double-digit growth for the economy. In respond ing to a question, Oshiomhole said Tinubu only promised to ensure that the country’s monetary and fiscal policies are in harmony, in order to grow the Nigerian economy to double digits.

He said Tinubu would be able to put an end to corruption, oil theft, block financial leakages and recover the $6 trillion paid on fuel subsidy annually by the current government, if voted into power in the 2023 election.

by PDP. How can these APC candidates ever unite Nigerians, when they've shown open disdain for the democratic and voting rights of certain ethnic groups within theirdomains?”

The director of strategic com munication of the PDP presidential campaign alleged, "Everything aboutAPC and its candidates have been shrouded in secrecy and they are just unable to tell Nigerians the truth about anything. How can Nigerians be expected to place their faith in such mysterious characters?

“Alhaji Shettima alleged that AtikuAbubakar cannot be trusted with the economy of Nigeria. No heresycould be worse than this.

"Nigerians would want to knowwhat businesses the APC candidates have managed personally and suc cessfully, except living outlandishly on government booty and largesse."

Momodu said Atiku started business as a teenager and served meritoriously as a government officer in the Customs, where he assisted many Igbo traders, according toavailable testimonies.

He stated, "In Atiku's private life, he remains one of the biggest employers of labour in Nigeria. He has brought jobs to Nigerians, instead of shipping jobs out. How can APC be expected to guarantee the safety of lives and properties, when right under the watch of Alhaji Shettima as Governor of Borno State, Boko Haram became an intractable menace and Nigeria is yet to fully recover till this day?

"PDP is extremely proud ofits antecedents and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyichukwu Okowa are fully ready to recover Nigeria from the hands of the most incompetent leaders in the history of Nigeria."

IT'S PAYBACK TIME, SHETTIMA TELLS HAUSA COMMUNITY IN LAGOS

out of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the ex-Lagos State governor did the same thing for Nuhu Ribadu, another northerner.

"We are people of honour, we should honour our pledge and promise. This is payback time for the north to support Tinubu," Shettima said.

Ganduje said as far as the north was concerned, "The issue of Tinubu is concluded. Kano State wants votes from you for Tinubu. You have to promise us you will surpass Kano in your votes for Tinubu."

The governor stated that Tinubu appointed non-Yoruba indigenes into government, when he was governor, describing him as "a real nationalist."

On his part, Sanwo-Olu urged the Hausa community "not to be deceived", saying they should vote for APC in the presidential and governorship elections.

The Lagos State governor said the meeting was part of consulta tions with non-indigenous groups residing in the state. He thanked the Hausa-Fulani community for supporting the efforts of his admin istration to scale up infrastructure and amenities in the Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Sanwo-Olu told the gathering that the Arewa community’s continued cooperation and support remained vital to keep APC on the winning track in Lagos State and ensure the party’s candidates across board were successful in the general election.

He reiterated his commitment to complete all on-going projects in the area and initiate new ones.

The governor stated, “I’m happy to join you today in furtherance of our consultation on the future of our state. I thank you for the peace and tranquillity enjoyed among all non-indigene groups in this part of Lagos. We can only achieve our development goals, when we stay united and work together. Iba LCDA has not been left out in our development programme.

“You have seen the good work we are doing in Iba and the infra structure projects we are delivering in this area. We will be completing the Lagos-Badagry highway soon. The stretch towards Okokomaiko is the final work, which will be completed by the end of the year. The General Hospital we are cur rently building in Iba will also be completed. We will move inside Ojo and take up Kemberi-Afromedia Road.”

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

Ibrahim: I Have Cognate Experience to Return as Kwara South Senator

What are your chances of winning the next election?

Myself and my party,the Peoples Democratic Party have very good chances in winning the election because the electorate will be comparing today as against yesterday and use that to decide the future. The people of the state have seen the difference in the delivery of dividends of democracy to their doorsteps.

The PDP administrations in the state lived up to the yearnings and aspirations during the period and the people can really see what the administrations did either during the time of former governor Bukola Saraki or former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. The legacies of the past administrations are there and this has shown that the PDP remains a better alternative to provide good leadership come next election.

The superlative performances of the PDP in the state during their time will serve as a chance to clinch all the seats during the polls.

Specifically about myself, my success im prints in Kwara South senatorial district is not comparable to the current Senator serving or any one that has served in the past. We have excelled in all areas of representation, accessibility, legislative imprints, constituency projects, vocational and business empower ments, educational supports of various kinds, Strategic interventions, employment of our youths in gainful and pensionable jobs, strong entrepreneurship drives, welfare packages for the less privileges, religious support, healthcare support, among others.

I had served my people diligently during my period. As a former lawmaker representing Oke-Ogun constituency in the state House of Assembly between 2009-2011, as a former lawmaker representing Ifelodun/Offa/ Oyun federal constituency in the House of Represen tatives between 2011-2015 and later Senator representing Kwara South senatorial district

between 2015- 2019, the records are there and I have provided them with quality representation.

Infact, the people of my senatorial district have seen the diffence now when compared with the present situation in the senatorial area. I have used my influence to provide federal jobs to the people of my district and this can be attested to by many people of the area.

As a former member of the 8th National Assembly, what did the Assembly do differently when compared with the 9th National Assembly?

The major difference is jealously guiding the constitutional indepen dence of the Legislature and the passion/strong will to say the truth to power as regards all aspects of

national affairs. We did these many times not minding being politically incorrect when we had to offer political sacrifices.

For example, the 8th senate will never allow an eight-month strike of the universities in Nigeria. We always work with the national interest knowing fully that we are the repre sentatives of the people that will give account of our stewardship to those that elected us. The recent national ASUU strike was a bad omen for us in the country. It has brought the educa tion of this country down without minding the future of our students. The senate ought to have risen up on time and rally round the stakeholders in the education sector to avert the longer strike. It has not given the nation a good name at all. This kind of thing will never happen during the 8th Senate. This is because the senate has a good reasoning and consumate leadership and this helped the 8th Senate to achieve good result and also put the name of the Senate in a sound footing for future reference point.

How can you rate the present situation at your Senatorial District when compared with your time during the 8th National Assembly?

I will beg to leave the comparison to the constituents and this will be the basis for decid ing who and who to vote for in the coming election.

All I can say is that the present representation is far cry from what we offered when we were representing our people in all aspects such as accessibility, magnanimity, legislative imprints, projects facilitation, meaningful empowerments, welfare packages, interventions, etc.

I want to say that the next elections will provide another chance for the people of the senatorial district to elect good leadership that would be accessible and also be up and doing to provide quality representation.

My own vision and mission is to put the sena torial district on world map of socio-economic development and growth. I have started this during my tenure in the 8th Senate and by the grace of God if elected come next election, I will do everything possible to consolidate on this agenda so as to uplift the lives of my senatorial district. I just wanted to appeal to them not to fall victim of those that have no positive intentions to uplift the senatorial district but rather join hands with me so as to bring much socio-economic development to the senatorial district by next election.

What is your perception of the “O To Ge movement” that brought the APC ruling party into power in 2019? Is there any lesson for Kwarans as the next election is around the corner?

The major lesson is that lies don’t last. All the propaganda they embarked on during the period were tissue of lies such as N2 billion stolen monthly, Offa robbery, Ojoku killing, among others.

I want to say that, these lies have been proven to be all lies. And true to the promise of Almighty all the conspirators were not able to stay together to defend the lies and continue the lying to Kwarans. The citizens of this state are now wise to the extent that only what PDP successive governments did are still the only projects standing in the state, such as International Aviation College, Diag nostic Centre, KWASU, Post Office Overhead bridge, Geri Alimi Underpass, Banquet Hall, Metropolitan Square, KWIRS that took the IGR to #30.1 billion, etc.Therefore “O TO GE” has been established as a scam and a sham strategy used to deceive Kwarans.

Doguwa: Governor Ganduje Must Take Full Charge of APC Affairs in Kano

There was a reported clash between you and Garo during a meeting at the Kano residence of the APC governorship candidate, Nasir Gawuna. What really transpired?

Yes, I was not part of that meeting. Yes, I was not invited, but what happened was that I wanted to meet with the state chairman of the party, Hon. Abdullahi Abbas, the Prince of Kano State.

He (Abdullahi Abbas) told me to come over and discuss with him at the residence of the present deputy governor of Kano State. That was what took me to that place.

Coincidentally, I met these people meeting and they are meeting in a setting that reflected to me that this is a stakeholders’ meeting for Kano State.

When I looked at them, definitely I stepped back because I looked at the faces of the people in the meeting, numbering about 10, and it was like a selection of stakeholders, like a selection of members who matter in the APC in Kano State and I was not invited.

To be very honest with you, I was upset that I was not invited. And I told them my displeasure with it. I said I was not happy. And I was not happy, not just because I was not invited to the meeting, but because there was also something that happened on the day our presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, visited Kano.

So this has also added to my injury; it added salt to my injury, then I complained bitterly to

the deputy governor, who is our gubernatorial candidate.

It was when I was complaining to the deputy governor, that this man abused me. Of course, when he was abusing me, we exchanged unpalatable words.

He abused me and I abused him. He was trying to rush at me and then, on the tiles, there was water, he slipped and fell, hitting a cup that also fell on the floor.

That was how he sustained an injury on his head. I did not injure him, I did not beat him because I could not have fought in my traditional regalia.

What made you to belief that Kano deputy governorship candidate of APC is undermining the chances of the party?

One, Murtala Sule Garo, is an in-law, direct in-law to the PDP presidential candidate, he is married to the daughter of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

To God who created me, since he lost his ambi tion of becoming the governorship candidate, Garo has not been working for the success of APC in Kano

He has been holding meetings with his people asking them not to vote for APC because he is better off with an in-law as president than be a deputy governor in Kano State.

This I can tell you anywhere. And I have not been happy with this disposition because I am a Tinubu person to the core. Wherever I come across anybody conspiring against Tinubu, whoever that person may be, I will do my best to make sure that he does not succeed.

Another thing that provoked me, which I have never told anyone, was that Murtala Sule Garo, on the day Tinubu came to Kano, caused my billboards that were placed at strategic places to be torn, simply because I did not reflect his picture on the billboards.

I reflected the picture of governor, I reflected

that of the gubernatorial candidate, and I also consistently reflected the picture of my presi dential candidate

Don’t you think Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State should come in to resolve all issues affecting the APC in the state?

I want to advise our father, the leader of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who has been my mentor and will continue to be my mentor, I have regard for him and I have regard for his family, that he has to do something about the situation.

Murtala Garo cannot be a good ambassador for this party. The presence of Murtala in any business of the people in this state can create confusion.

I have never seen any governor who has progressively worked to help the people. I have never seen a governor in the North who has done as much as Governor Ganduje has done in the area of security.

I have not seen any governor who has done as much as Dr Ganduje has done in education and healthcare delivery.

So Ganduje has to come over and take charge of the affairs of the APC in Kano so that we won’t have a person who is a detractor, a conspirator, one who does not even believe in the success of the party simply because he is married to a presidential candidate’s daughter in another party.

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, in this interview talks about the recent face off between him and Kano State deputy gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Murtala Sule Garo and the need for Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to be in charge of the party activities in the state

Doguwa

Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking and other Financial Institutions and Kwara South Senatorial Candidate of PDP in the 2023 poll, Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, in this interview with Hammed Shittu speaks on wide range of state and national issues

Ibrahim

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Daramola: Wike Needs to Seek Caution Over Move to Destroy PDP

Former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Chief Tunde Daramola, in this interview with Segun James, advises Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state against destroying the Peoples Democratic Party that brought him to national limelight

Politics has started in earnest and the most interesting politics is happening right here in Lagos. And until recently the PDP has not really been a force in Lagos, but right now some people believe that there might be changes. As a former secretary to the party in the state, and a national ex-officio member, what is your take on the political situation in Lagos? Well, I am not the spokesperson for PDP at the Lagos level, nor at the national. But as a stakeholder I can consider myself an elder and a leader of the party. Because I have been in the party for over 20 years. Like I was saying, I am not a spokesperson for Jandor either and I have not had the opportunity to meet Jandor. I have heard about his political progress, his mobilization ability, which is commendable, and for him to have won the ticket at the primary is commendable also.

There is the needs for a lot of hands to be on deck to defeat the APC in Lagos. APC is more entrenched in Lagos than anywhere. You will ask me why I said so? Because the structure within the APC is a monster structure. What do I mean about monster? There are people in the transportation union paid up to the level of the conductor to work for APC. And we cannot but say we need modern PDP. We need the people of Lagos to rescue the party from the shackle hold of Bola Tinubu. Because the successive governors after Tinubu have all been, what I will call rubber stamp governors.

So, right now, a few days ago, the governor of River State came to Lagos. He is of the PDP and he endorsed the Lagos State Gov-

ernor, a situation that has really affected the chances of PDP in Lagos. What is your take on this? I do not think it has affected the chances of PDP whatsoever. Governor Wike is an individual and he has only one vote. one vote. He cannot even control the vote of his family. If Wike votes one way, chances are that his children or his wife may vote another way. Thank goodness that the INEC has promised to use the BVAS, which is the biometric identification method to identify voters to ensure that votes are counted. And also the electronic transmission of votes from polling units. My appeal is to INEC. The

way Wike is behaving, he is behaving as if he founded PDP. He doesn’t know how PDP was founded. Wike had a leader when Wike was, I don’t want to call him Boy, Boy, for Peter Odili, who was the first governor of this democratic dispensation. If Governor Peter Odili who is a medical doctor, a reasonable person, if he did not break the house that he built, who is Wike? People have joined PDP and left, the party did not break. If you remember, in 2007, I think, when President Obasanjo’s tenure was coming to an end, Peter Odili was the leading candidate to become the president of Nigeria. In order to assuage the feelings of the north, they wanted a Northerner. That was why they brought in Yar Adua. Bringing in Yar Adua, Odili will still have won at an open convention, because I was a delegate at that convention. Odili was appealed to, to take the vice president, but people who thought Odili will have been too powerful for them to maneuver, did a mago mago, and Odili’s chances to become the presidential candidate, nlor the vice presidential candidate was shattered. But Odili did not break the house. If he had broken the house, people like Wike will never be governor of PDP. Because it was after governor Odili that Rotimi Amaechi became governor and Wike was his Chief of Staff. So my dear brother, as I said, thank goodness there are BVAS and there is going to be electronic transmission of votes from the polling units. The mago, mago of the coalition center is gone for good. Why would Wike come to Lagos and endorse an opposition party? If that had been done by a chairman of a ward or a local government, they will have cut off the head and charged him with anti-party activities. What he has done is anti-party, and if he thinks a statement matters, it doesn’t matter to

the people of Lagos, number one. Number two, the followers who are aligned with his thought before are going to one by one distance themself from his approach of breaking the house that were built by his leaders. And he cannot do that because I am sure PDP leaders would not allow him to do that.

But don’t you think he has a grievance that is supposed to be addressed especially his grievance against the composition of the party right now and his grievance against the chairman of the party?

Speaking for myself as a stakeholder, it was Wike that put his resources behind Uche Secondus to make him chairman. Secondus is from the south, Secondus is from the south-south. Secondus is from Rivers where Wike is from. For whatever reason, if you remember, 2019 it was rumoured that Wike wanted to be vice president to Tambuwal . So he put resources behind Secondus to be chairman and he put resources behind Tambuwal to emerge as presidential candidate. But Wike is not God. The plans failed, Wike is not God and one man cannot claim to be God. God choose his leaders. Leadership is bestowed and you can emerge from people. But if you are behaving as a sour loser, what should people like Peter Odili, a Medical Doctor, what should he have done? He is the one that brought them up. Rotimi Amaechi, Nyesom Wike. What should Peter Odili do? But life continues, Odili remains a statesman and Wike is still a young man. At least I am older than him. Wike is 61 year old. There is still time.

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Ogundiwin: Oyo in State of Political Despondency Before Makinde

As a non-partisan political scientist, why do you seem to concentrate on the administration of SeyiMakinde ?

In actual fact, the global system is a laboratory for political scientists but that does not exclude domestic or, if you like, national, local political goings-on. The local physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops goes a long way to inform hypotheses formation for political scientists. In this case, I am saying that Oyo State is closer to me than Nigeria as much as Nigeria is closer to me than the international political directorate. I must engage my state ruling class first and all other things may be added unto it.

So, one can say you are interested in power ascendancy of the political elites?

You just strike the point like a prophet! Power ascendancy of political class is of keen interest to me because it goes a long way in predicting what the performance of a leader would be. Just take note of this and pay religious attention to how a leader ascends to power and you would not be disappointed about the performance of such a leader, anywhere and in any setting.

What was your assessment of the po litical space in Oyo State before the 2019 gubernatorial election?

Before and during the period you mentioned, the level of political despondency had reached its crescendo. The despondency reached such an intra and inter-party boiling point, that without casting aspersions on the leaders of the then vari ous political groups, different political mantras which did not take into consideration the realityof that time started to rent the air in addition to different choices of candidates within one political party and Lagos-Abuja pressures onthe state.

It is not only that these mantras from the then ruling party detached from reality, they were not philosophical. They were politically arrogant and dressed in the toga of the then incumbent precariousness. In all of this, the poor masses were not in the equation. They forgot that salaries of workers were owed for many months, pensions and gratuities were put on hold, economically

viable projects were not awarded and where they were awarded the sum was spine-tingling. When God was ready to wipe the tears of the poor, the philosophical and reality-focused mantra (Omi Tuntun) rose and stood like the Cedar of Lebanon. The Lord remembered the constant love Seyi Makinde has for the poor and howkeen he is to liberate them. His invest ments into making living worth the while for people were remembered. As it is recorded in the book of Acts 10:31, there came the good news: “Makinde, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor!” GSM’s emergence is an answer to the prayers of the people of Oyo State.

Given the rift among the ranksof the PDP at the national level what chance do you think that Governor Seyi Makinde has tobe returned in 2023?

First of all, you have to understand that political party is different from the electorate. Political party has its

functions which are markedly different from those of the electorate. Political parties contest for power to form and run government. So, in a polity of free, fair and credible elections, political party power-ascendancy depends exclusively on how it succeeds to woo (through its programmes, manifestoes and or legitimacy performance) the electorate to vote it to power. Whatever is going on with PDP at the national level does not and would not affect GSM’s chances of beingreturned for second term.

You seem so sure like a party man. Why?

You made me laugh. I am not a politician. Go and check the registers of political parties. I am from ward 3 in Egbeda local government area. I am a professional political scientist. So, check the fact and you will see that there is no need to make any allusion to the likelihood of my being a party man. And if you ask for my opinion as to why I am sure GSM will return to office in 2023, God granting us life, the reason is that while his co-contenders are busy thinking about what their programmes and manifestoes would be (a herculean task for them) GSM has tested and trusted programmes and manifestoes; what I refer to here as legitimacy performance. Ask me, what are the electorate (educated and uneducated) looking for? What is the language they all understand? It is legitimacy performance.

What implications does having the presi dential election before the gubernatorialelection have on GSM’s second term bid?

Let us leave these political parties alone. In fact, I don’t want to talk about them. If you like produce another Adolf Hitler as the next president unless INEC reneges on its promises to the electorate, no implications – negative or positive – on GSM’s second term.

Remember that, specifically, we are talking about Oyo State of today and not of yesteryears. Oyo State electorate are looking at the candidates and they know the promise keeper. They can see what he is doing with the mandate they gave him. So, the civil servants, the retirees, the primary and secondary schools’ teachers, the market women, the peasant farmers, the commercial, large-scale farmers, the micra drivers, the okada riders, the bus drivers, the tertiary institution

students and their lecturers, the religious leaders, the traditional rulers and the dependants of these categories of the electorate who are of voting age, who voted GSM for the first term, are eagerly waiting to cast their votes for GSM. They are thoroughly persuaded that GSM willdo more for them.

Are you saying political parties are not relevant as far as 2023 general electionsare concerned?

Never! How can I say that? What I am saying is that political parties and the electorate havetheir functions and roles which are different and are indisputable. I am saying that political parties have performed one of their functions – fielding candidates for election – and another one they have to perform is to woo the electorate to vote them into power; that is what they are doing now. Having registered for election, collected their valid cards, the electorate will decide the candidates and political parties to govern in free, fair and credible elections. Period! As far as state elections are concerned, the first category of candidates and political parties to know they will win or lose the elections are those seeking the second term because their works (good or bad) are following them.

Have you not seen examples of politi cians who got the second term and changed against the people who voted them?

I have seen. In fact, there are many examples. But what I have to say about that is that GSM is not that kind of politician. What would make him disappoint the masses? What is he lookingfor in life that God has not blessed him with in abundance? Politicians truly are pretty difficult to predict, but GSM is not one of those. God granting us life, you will see what I am takingabout. I have said it before that GSM has a name to protect, a family to respect, a religion to honour. I said that he was a leader first before becoming a politician and, he is a man of verifiable sources of income. No reason for him to renege on his promises. If you have a contrary opinion, please let us know. By the grace of God and God alone, we will all be here to confirm what I am saying. Mind you, this is my state and I am a perceptiveobserver.

Daramola

Associate Professor of Political Science at Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State and Oyo State Coordinator of Omituntun Initiative in the Diaspora (OID), Dr Aaron Ola Ogundiwin, speaks with Kemi Olaitan, on the political situation and chances of Governor Seyi Makinde in the forthcoming 2023 election.

Ogundiwin

INSPIRED LIFE

with LANRE ALFRED

Gentleman of Leisure @60: How Femi Otedola Turns Vision to Profit, Opportunities to Goldmine

Ina matter of days, on November 4, Otedola would hit the mark of 60 years, swelling the number of very lucky sexagenarians with unrelenting energies. That the last six decades of the hugely successful and astute businessman are packed with twists and turns worthy of a potential box office is not in question. Femi Otedola did not only walk the tightrope to the pinnacle of entrepreneurial success; he emerged stronger from situations that tend to confine many to terminal illness, if not to their untimely demise. Of fact, not many businesspeople of Nigerian extraction could lose about $1.5 billion and bounce back in a big way as Femi Otedola did.

HEADSTART HALTED BY CRUDE PLUNGE

His background as the first son of a former governor of Lagos, the late Sir Michael Otedola, notwithstanding, Femi’s entrepreneurial journey did not take off on a platter. His present status had an echo in his childhood when he had his first business at the age of six.

“It was called FEMCO. I’d offer to groom my parents’ guests’ nails. Then, write a receipt and charge them for my service. They paid me too. I always had an interest in business,” he stated.

This certainly set the tone for the young Otedola, whose business mind was further sharpened under the tutelage of his father, who then had a printing press. Femi Otedola ran the marketing side of the family printing press in the late 1980s, which served as a springboard to becoming a name of national, continental and global reckoning.

Otedola’s inroad into the oil business was fortunate and intentional. “Being the son of a governor, Otedola had friends in government who supplied him with diesel. Friends that didn’t do his business any harm down the years. When the political climate changed, the supply stopped. He made enquiries and approached a company for fresh supplies of diesel.

Something triggered in Otedola when he “saw a clanking, broken-down truck deliver supplies to his house three days after placing the order. He decided to open his own, more efficient, diesel supply business,” a Forbes report stated.

“I started buying diesel from a guy who had control of the market for retailing. I soon realised that a lot of companies in the country actually used diesel. I once received an order from a big transport company. The banks were closed, and I could only offer a cheque,” he added. “I was my supplier’s biggest customer, but he refused to take a cheque from me. I immediately realised I needed to source alternative methods of getting my diesel.”

Otedola’s crazy ambition pushed him to approach the new management of the depot and offered to buy it for $20 million ($16 million more than its actual worth of $4 million at the time).

“I contacted Zenith Bank, sold my pitch on the venture and how we would finance it. I had a meeting that barely lasted 10 minutes with Jim Ovia; he believed in me, and it was a done deal. This was in 2003,” Otedola said.

It took Otedola a relatively short period to take overwhelming control of the diesel supply infrastructure, with his Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited holding 91 per cent of the market. The success spiralled in his setting up F.O. Transport and Seaforce Shipping – a transport and shipping company in line with the logistics attached to diesel supply, thereby completing the take-over of the entire chain. This was followed by his foray into property and buying into a string of other large companies. He was able to achieve these monumental successes within the span of seven years. By the time he was 42, he had only the oil industry’s biggest giants, like Total and Mobil, as competitors. With his ingenuity, he was dictating the pace, setting the diesel price and supplying his competitors. Otedola’s business ingenuity took Zenon from an unknown quantity to being the largest diesel importer in Nigeria - a good underdog story.

“While my competitors were sleeping, I was busy strategising. I was liberal too. My strategy was: high volumes, little margins. I was very excited at this point,” the mogul noted. “However, I knew that at some point, the government would fix the power issue, and I needed to move a step forward.”

Stoutly solvent, Zenon then bought a 28.7 per cent stake in African Petroleum (AP), which was increased to 55 per cent (at the cost of $400 million at the time). Everything was fine until the worst happened - the crude oil prices plunged from $146 to $36. It was a

period that brought Otedola’s intransigence and faith to the fore.

Narrating his ordeal, Otedola said he almost committed suicide.

“We took a very big hit, and I lost about $1.5 billion, plus interest, in the process. When the oil prices were dropping, I saw it all coming. I could see myself losing big money. I had diesel worth $400 million on the high seas,” he further explained. “It didn’t look good. I’m a capitalist, though. It was great while the money was rolling in. Now that I lost so much, it was also time to face the tune. It was a very low time for me, and I explored different options, including suicide, but ultimately, I knew I had to solve this problem.

My debts had to be paid.”

Wasn’t it interesting that the banks that ran after customers to get money from Otedola for their accounts in the past sent tough-looking men to his house to retrieve his debts in the mornings?

“The only people I’d credit at this point were my wife for her great support, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank and Segun Agbaje of Guaranty Trust Bank who understood the situation and offered a restructure of the loans for ease of payment. I was, however, determined to pay it all up and move on. The banks sold the debt to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria. It was a total of N200 billion ($1.2 billion at the time),” he remarked.

What turned out to untie Otedola from the quandary of that era was his decision not to muddle things up by separating his personal fortune from his business. While Zenon became insolvent, he stayed afloat. Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) waded in and bought the debt for $867 million. They valued the Zenon assets, his property company and other existing assets, to which he added some cash, and there was a court settlement. He had also started selling his bank shares, before the big plunge. It dragged on for four years.

“The most important lesson I learned is that no one is invincible. No matter how high up there you are today, you can lose it all tomorrow if you’re not on top of your game. I also learned that being a good entrepreneur does not necessarily make you a good business manager. I learned to keep my hands off managing and leave it in the hands of experts,” Otedola revealed.

Femi Otedola has distinguished himself from his contemporaries. His chutzpah to take a plunge when and where others develop cold feet stands

him tall above his peers. His virtues and ideals have seen him elevated and celebrated by many. The Epe-born magnate has held several board memberships, including President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and as past chairman of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. He was appointed member of the governing council of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council in January 2004, and in December of the same year, he was appointed a Member of the Committee saddled with the task of fostering a business relationship between the Nigerian and South African private sectors.

He was a member of the National Economic Management Team from September 2011 to May 2015 and the Honorary International Investors Council under the leadership of Baroness Lydna Chalker. Otedola was further recognised for his immense contributions to the growth of the Nigerian economy with the conferment of the prestigious National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in May 2010

STUNNING COMEBACK – THE REBOUND ERA

Typically, comeback stories focus on either the people who achieve great things and then have a major setback that almost destroys everything they’ve worked for or those who start from nothing, experience major setbacks, and still find a way to impact the world. Either way, Otedola’s is one of the greatest comebacks in Nigeria’s business milieu. He has gone ahead to pick his lessons and emerged better for it. Otedola has since adopted a different business approach which he described as “very risk averse and content.”

His attention shifted to African Petroleum, having sold off his Zenon assets. Now made of sterner stuff, he engineered an overhaul in 2011 that saw him sack all staff at African Petroleum (with a mouth-watering severance package) and rebrand African Petroleum to Forte Oil.

Forte’s rise was frenetic, just like Otedola’s recovery and return to global prominence.

“I also made a decision not to run the business as I had failed at running it well. I then brought in a crop of fresh young talented guys to take over. I wanted fresh, brilliant minds and ideas,” he stated. “I wanted to build an institution based on the best corporate governance practices; a whole new direction.”

Forte’s rise was frenetic, like Otedola’s recovery and return to global prominence. Forte Oil owned

more than 500 retail outlets across Nigeria. Its growth was unprecedented. By half year 2014, its revenue grew by 33 per cent to $511.18 million against $385.03 million in 2013. The company’s power generation arm from Amperion Power contributed significantly to revenue. A major plant overhaul commenced in 2015 and was completed in 2016, increasing the combined capacity to 435MW. In 2013, Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, Forte Oil’s power subsidiary, paid $132 million to acquire the 414-megawatt Geregu power plant under a government-led privatisation scheme meant to confront decades of chronic power outages in Nigeria. Otedola joined the board of Geregu Power Plc as chairman of the board of directors in November 2013. In December 2017, Forte Oil invested close to $100 million to increase the plant’s generation capacity from 414-megawatt to 434-megawatt of electricity.

Seeing Forte to an unassailable height as a business entity in Nigeria and beyond, the energy tycoon decided to take up a new challenge and concluded the sale of his 75 per cent stake in Forte Oil to Prudent Energy. In a message he posted on his Instagram page, Otedola announced that the sale of Forte had been completed and he was now prepared to focus on Nigeria’s power sector.

“A few years ago, my team and I embarked on an arduous task of transforming a moribund petroleum marketing business, African Petroleum Plc (formerly British Petroleum), into Forte Oil Plc; a leading integrated solutions provider with solid footprints in downstream petroleum marketing, Upstream Services and Power Generation and one in which we built intrinsic value to the benefits of our shareholders,” he explained.

He added, “In line with my principle of business focus, we have divested from our marketing and upstream businesses and shall from now on focus and consolidate on the gains of our power generation business, Geregu Power Plc. We wish our successors the very best and urge them to build on our legacies which have been established since 1964.”

Otedola’s Midas Touch would also rub off on Geregu Power Plc. Originally constructed by the federal government and commissioned into service in February 2007 to generate electric power and supply to the national grid managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the plant is owned and operated by Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, holding an 80 per stake and 20 per cent retained by federal government jointly held by Bureau of Public Enterprise and ministry of finance.

The power plant consists of three simple cycle natural gas fired SIEMENS V94.2 STG5-2000E gas turbine generator units with a 435MW Installed Capacity. The turbine units are GT11, GT12, and GT13 and each is designed to produce 145 MW at 15.75KV, stepped up to 330kV via a 173.6MVA power transformer and now generates on average 10 per cent of Nigeria’s power.

As recently as days back, he made history with Geregu power Plc when it was admitted into the main board of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) by listing by introduction with the admittance of 2.5 billion ordinary shares of 50k each at N100 per share on the exchange. By doing so, Geregu became the first generating company to be listed on the NGX main board, a listing segment for wellestablished companies with demonstrable records of accomplishments.

The listing of Geregu’s shares also added N250 billion to the market capitalisation of NGX, further boosting liquidity in the Nigerian capital market and providing opportunities for wealth creation. Geregu Power’s stock gained 10 per cent (N10) m on its first trading day on the NGX to close at N110 per share from N100 per share it was listed by introduction. The gain pushed its market capitalisation to N275 billion from the N250 billion it was listed. The leading power generation company traded 8.5 million shares at N935 million in one day as its listing further boosted liquidity in the Nigerian capital.

To mark the significance of the listing, a closing gong ceremony was planned for the last week of October 2022.

Speaking on the listing, the Executive Chairman of the GPP’s board of directors, Femi Otedola, stated that “the listing of the company was the actualisation of a vision to bring world-class standards in governance, sustainability, and business processes to the company and the Nigerian electricity sector.”

In his latest Instagram post, billionaire magnate Femi Otedola, chairman of Geregu Power, dubbed himself the ‘Gentleman of Leisure’, sending his greetings to his followers from Venice, Italy, last Sunday. Indeed, Otedola is a prophet of enterprise. Undoubtedly, he is one of the illustrious popes of commerce, robed and mitred in the resonance of their exploits. He is the artist who paints beautifully on canvas with his feats even as he writes wonderful poetry by his exploits

Otedola

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To Enhance Digital Transformation, FG, Industry Stakeholders Move to Accelerate Deployment of Emerging Technologies

Emma

Considering the role of emerging technologies in the global digital transformation agenda, the federal government, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, has said it will not relent in its efforts in promoting emerging technologies that businesses can leverage to enhance development across the country.

Speaking to a cross section of stakeholders at the just-

concluded Cyberchain 2022 conference in Abuja, the federal government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), reiterated its commitment to promote emerging technologies for digital transformation.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who reaffirmed the commitment, said the telecom sector had remained a key booster of the Nigerian economic activities, transforming

the way people live and work as well as increasing efficiency in other sectors of the economy, and would continue to do.

According to Danbatta, the Commission is committed to driving the deployment and adoption of emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Blockchain, Robotics and Virtual Reality, Fintech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Telemedicine, among others, to stimulate greater contribution

of the sector to the Nigerian economy.

Danbatta said: “It is gladdening to note that telecom has been an enabler of Nigeria’s economic growth and development as it contributes substantially to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). From $500 million investments in the sector as at 2001, the telecommunication industry has recorded over $70 billion investment till date, while the growth in the sector has

been phenomenal, from some 400,000 functional phone lines in 2001 to over 209 million active mobile subscriptions, achieving a teledensity of 110 per cent, as at August 2022.

“The sector has provided over 500,000 formal and informal jobs for Nigerians. From an insignificant contribution to GDP in 2001, telecoms sector, as at the last quarter of 2021, contributed 12.61 per cent to GDP, while the Information and Communications Technology

(ICT) sector as a group, has also contributed 18.44 per cent to GDP as at the second quarter of 2022.”

He said for Nigeria to reap the full benefits of emerging technologies in ways that further spur growth in national economy, NCC would continue to prioritise the need to improve and expand broadband infrastructure and the deployment of new technology

Emma Okonji

One in four companies globally have suffered a data breach that cost them between $1- 20 million or more in the past three years, according to PwC’s annual Global Digital Trust Insights Survey.

According to the survey, which ranked more than 3,500 senior executives across 65 countries, the percentage rises

to one in three, which is about 34 per cent for companies surveyed in North America, with only 14 per cent of firms globally reporting that no data breaches have occurred during the period.

Despite cyber attacks continuing to cost businesses millions of dollars, fewer than 40 per cent of executives surveyed said they have fully mitigated cybersecurity

risk exposure in a number of critical areas. This includes, enabling remote and hybrid work which 38 per cent said the cyber risk is fully mitigated; accelerated cloud adoption, which is35 per cent; increased use of internet of things (34 per cent); increased digitisation of supply chain (32 per cent) and back office operations (31per cent).

For operations-focused

executives surveyed, cybersecurity of the supply chain is a major concern. Nine in ten expressed concern about their organisation’sability to withstand a cyber attack that disrupts their supply chain, with 56 per cent extremely or very concerned.

The survey report said four in five organizations, about 79 per cent surveyed, stated that a comparable

and consistent format for mandatory disclosure of cyber incidents was necessary to gain stakeholder confidence and trust. Three-quarters (76 per cent) agreed that increased reporting to investors would be a net benefit to the organisation and entire ecosystem. Further, the same percentage agreed that governments should be expected to use the knowledge

base from mandatory cyber attack disclosures to develop cyber defence techniques for the private sector.

While there is a clear preference for mandatory disclosure of cyber incidents, fewer than half about 42 per cent of executives surveyed are fully confident their organisation can provide

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TO AVERT STARVATION, LET’S USE THIS LOAN WELL

I crave the indulgence of using my perspectives from a mixture of primeval recollections and largely indubitable career experiences to comment on the very

food on the table for millions of Nigerians experiencing hunger and facing starvation.

I come from a farming community and a farming family. I witnessed how my father got fed up with faming in the late 1950s and instead enlisted in the labour force that cleared a sizable portion of the rain forests of Urhonigbe in the present Orhionmwon LGA of Edo State for the old Western Nigeria Development Company (WNDC) to establish arguably the biggest rubber estate in West Africa. The employ also took him to Ijebu-Ode (present Ogun State) and Araromi (Ondo). I suspect he was also involved in the paid labour that established the estates in Ewohimi (Edo) and UtagbaUno (Delta) before he returned, quite probably grudgingly, to the old profession.

His disenchantment with farming had to with its non-viability beyond feeding the family, with product wastage on farms due to transportation challenges and perishing in markets due to the dearth of storage facilities. But with the earnings from itinerant paid labour, he was able to rescue his aged widow mother from the pangs of virtual homelessness. But after the spell of economic gallivanting, he returned home, but now had to join forces with his wives to run a family food and drinks business that enabled him rise above his peers who hadn’t taken the risks that he took.

Meanwhile, my mother had no choice other than continue with farming and its drudgery, which she augmented with the family’s non-agrarian business. But she did see a glimmer of hope and grabbed it. It came with the food shortage occasioned by the civil war. Her elder sister alerted her to a cassava farm for sale, which she bought, harvesting and processing the product into garri, which was in hot demand in the rebel-

new Raleigh bicycle (although she always bragged that “My husband bought it for me”!)

I need also say that my perspective on the subject of food security has been enriched by two years as media and public relations consultant to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan’s Information Services Programme then headed by Dr. Stephen L. Lawani, who later worked for the World Bank in Washington. In addition to media capacity building to increase public awareness of the wonderful research being generated by the institute, I also generated content that readily found

As project documents go, the Special

Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme that was launched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on behalf of Mr. President, on 24 October 2022, is an excellent piece of development intervention from the perspectives of agencies and institutions involved in its implementation. But cynics are wont to wonder what’s the big deal in projects documents that have all the elements of relevance, timeliness, copious details, lucidity, clarity and such other familiar assessment tools, or what cynics (there they go again?) would dismiss as a heap of cliché!

The only problem is that any document that doesn’t pander to any of these -- and, indeed, several other – assessment criteria too long to list here, lest this analysis ends up being an academic excursion that it’s being deliberately veered from would end up a monumental failure.

“Another loan?” That’s the predictable retort from cynics on the spectre of “incurring” another debt by a country

Now, let me go back to some of my perspectives on development informed by my career experiences that qualify me to comment on this subject. In the early days of the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, when the man wanted to consolidate his popularity, he threw the issue of taking an IMF loan to the public to debate. I was, in addition to my duties as features editor of The Guardian, assigned the arduous task of selecting and editing the avalanche of contributions to the debate.

IMF was already a controversial (perhaps misunderstood) institution, anyway. Coupled with the negative connotation conjured by “loan”, “borrowing” (“borrowborrow” (to put it classic Nigerian parlance) and “debt”, the overwhelming verdict of Nigerians was, predictably, a resounding

Nigerians who had just survived scarcity of essential commodities (“Essenco”) was for belt-tightening. That’s how Nigeria, on the surface, rejected the loan, though, down the years, the nation would pile up debts to such of such magnitude that the Obasanjo administration made loan forgiveness a

mission.

However, development economists don’t believe that taking loans is always necessarily a bad thing; rather, it is committing the funds to unviable ends and not respecting the conditionality attached to the borrowing that are bad, indeed that constitute a bad habit.

According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), “The loan is granted on blend terms, and shall be subject to interest on the principal amount outstanding and a service charge as determined by the Fund at the date of approval of the loan by the Executive Board. The interest rate and service charge

the loan and payable semi-annually in the loan service payment currency, and shall have a maturity period of 25 years, including date of approval of the loan by the Executive Board. The principal of the loan granted on blend terms will be repaid in equal

the programme as are African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The Nigeria Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program is a government-enabled and private sectorled initiative that seeks to mobilize private sector investment to develop value chains for selected strategic crops and livestock in the participating States. Nigeria will

Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The total amount mobilized for Phase 1 is $538.05 million - African Development Bank is providing $210 million; the IFAD together with the Green Climate Fund, $160 million; IsDB, $150.52 million; from the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) $2.01 million and $16.01 million from the Participating States.

At the launch and announcement of the Nigeria SAPZ to key stakeholders -- national and international partners, partners, the private sector, farmers groups, national networks, the diaspora population and other actors -- of the programme on 24 October 2022, its leaders stated their objectives to include following:

Odemwingie, who studied Rural Social Development at the University of Reading, UK, is a former features editor of the Guardian and one-time consultant to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. He is the initiator of Outgrow Hunger Nigeria campaign.

LULA AND AFRICAN UNION’S DIPLOMACY

OCULI urges the Continent to support the Da Silva Presidency

The potential impact of the proposed agroindustrialisation and agricultural transformation are enormous, writes TOMMY ODEMWINGIE

OKELLO OCULI urges the Continent to support the Da Silva Presidency

LULA AND AFRICAN UNION’S DIPLOMACY

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA won a miraculous Brazilian election victory on 10th October, 2022. Like Donald Trump’s defeat in 2020, President Bolsonaro’s refusal to follow the rules of democratic election is creating a civil war condition.

In 1964 the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) sponsored military coups in Indonesia and Brazil. Both regimes slaughtered thousands member of ‘’Communist’’ parties.

The killings protected big landowners from the redistributed land to millions of landless serfs. Afro-Brazilians would have enjoyed the economic freedom which Fidel Castro had brought to Blacks in Cuba.

In 2022, President Biden is faced with the prospect of Bolsonaro, a former tradition of 1964 military coup. Since 2018 he reversed all the pro-people policies of Lula’s eight years of rule, and openly shown admiration for Donald Trump’s

time President Bolsonaro expelled Cuban doctors from Cuba, the roots of votes for Lula in 2022 had already been planted.

Critics accused Bolsonaro of callous from COVID-19 because its victims were predominantly Afro-Brazilians and other slum residents; thereby serving the useful role of depleting future voters for Lula.

The Police went around destroying religious symbols of Yoruba and Luba religious worship for fear of their appealing to their Gods for Lula’s victory. Increasing Police killings in ‘’favelas’’ (slums) targeted political activists.

Professor Ade Ajayi drew much attention to the Yoruba Diaspora in Brazil and the Caribbean. Moslem descendants from Hausa, Wolof, Mandingo, Fulani and other African groups also got attention in the UNESCO’s ‘’History of Africa’’ research.

However, political work has not accompanied this scholarly initiative. Universities of Ife, Ibadan and Dakar have been slow to counter the widespread scandal in the Americas of denying education to Afro-Brazilians, AfroColombians, Afro-Mexicans, AfroPeruvians, and Afro-Americans.

In the 1960s, Stanford University built its ‘’Overseas Campuses’’ in several European countries. Similar campuses by Ibadan and Ife in north-east Brazil would

A WINNING HAND

A historic event took place in the nation recently that beamed a spotlight on the institution of government now known as the Nigerian Correctional Service, formerly the Nigerian Prisons Service. The event, which was the award of National honours to three individuals who have used their expertise to put the institution on the global map due to their outstanding achievements, has gone on to prove that excellence indeed deserves to be rewarded. The President, Muhammadu Buhari honoured one past and two present the recently held National Awards Ceremony

General Haliru Nababa, has overseen a great deal of reforms and impacted tremendously in the Correctional Service. His giant strides within a short time of holding sway as the Corrections boss perhaps culminated in his being bestowed the honour. Thus, it is believed that the honour will spur Haliru Nababa, with support from his De puty Controller General, Ahmad Tukur, to dig in and do more to take the Service to greater heights. As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much more is desired. Anyone who was remotely familiar with the then Prisons

fascist policies.

Like Trump, Bolsonaro encouraged his supporters to resort to violent rejection of Lula’s victory.

The Brazil of 2022 carries memories of while Afro-Brazilians had witnessed the ‘’miracle’’ of Barack Obama’s being elected of racist United States of America. The

as Vice President.

This socio-political change clashes with the prospect of defeat by it enemies in a free and fair election; and creates an appeal for a resort to violence by rejecting the principle of a shared political community whose rules for electing political leaders is accepted by both winners and losers.

The United States had since the 1801 revolution by Africa’s descendants in Haiti, been fearful of its impact on their own Black population. Across South America fear of Blacks had been common. In Argentina, African soldiers led charges in the hope that their numbers would be depleted by casualties.

After the 1959 revolution in Cuba, Castro’s policies of access to free and high quality education to Afro-Cubans put to shame the poverty and virtual illiteracy to America’s Blacks.

During Lula’s regime, Cuba sent medical doctors and nurses to run clinics in rural and urban slums of Brazil. Medical care was combined with political from high voting by Afro-Brazilians whose political awareness had been built. By the

and across West Africa. A novel project by an African-American Harvard scholar is link individuals in the Diaspora to ethnic groups in Africa. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is the latest to trace her bloodline to Nigeria.

Mexico’s movies are in Nigeria without Afro-Mexican artists in them. Nollywood’s entry into the Caribbean is lacking support by university research about Brazil.

American propaganda against Cuba has health care by millions of Nigerians. South Africa’s predominantly white medical establishment forces doctors trained in Cuba to go through another re-education programme before they can practice in South Africa’s impoverished communities lacking medical care.

opened gates into African countries for Brazilian corporations. It is not clear that Lula himself urged African government at management level should be AfroBrazilians. Likewise, demands that these companies build and fund a school for children from Brazil’s slums to study in Africa.

A 1980 study found that there were no Afro-Brazilians in the country’s diplomatic

with fear of Black people outnumbering them. Donald Trump and Bolsonaro and their Pentecostal Churches are stoking toxic ideologies of racist hate. Africa must support Lula’s as a prophet of LOVE purge hearts and minds for a region of CARNIVALS.

Prof Oculi writes from Abuja

which included former Controller General, Ja’afaru Ahmed; the incumbent Corrections boss, Haliru Nababa, as well as the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of NonCustodial Measures, Ahmad Muhammad Tukur, in appreciation of their patriotic and

The retired Controller General, Ja’afaru of the Federal Republic (OFR) for his positive impact in the Nigerian Correctional Service; some of which are lobbying for the enactment of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, as well as capacity building in the areas of of operational facilities, and initiating the building of six units of 3000 capacity mega custodial centres across Nigeria. The President honoured the current Controller General, Haliru Nababa with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for continuing with

Service will understand that implementing the Nigerian Correctional Services Act was no mean feat. Controller General Haliru and his team have done a tremendous job and they deserve all the accolades. This will be one of his main legacies as the head of the Correctional Service.

The Act, which repeals the Prisons Act of 2004 and gives Nigerian Correctional Services the powers to address issues that were not covered in the old Act, is a complete document that totally ushers in a new dawn in Nigerian Correctional Services. Controller General Haliru

as fast tracking the implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019; one of the great legacies of his tenure to date. On his part, the Deputy Controller General, Ahmad Tukur, was also decorated with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for improving security in custodial centres and promoting robust synergy between the Service and other security agencies.

The story of the newly enacted Nigerian Correctional Service Act would not be complete without the mention of these great men who have impacted greatly in ensuring that something that looked like a dream, note among the awardees is the incumbent Corrections boss, Controller General Haliru Nababa, a no-nonsense performer not given to partisan politics. His approach to work is not new to those who knew him closely or those who are privileged to work with him, or even those who have been observing him since he took over as the Controller General of the Correctional Service in February 2021. This is why the timing of the award couldn’t have come at a better time. It might be interesting to note that since taking over till date, Controller

another important legacy he wishes to leave behind, by overseeing one of the has witnessed till date. Most of the strides achieved by Haliru are not unconnected with the fact that he took over from a performing former Controller General too, in the person of Ja’faru Ahmed, which is why it was not a surprise to see the exCorrections boss also being recognised by Mr President for the national award.

Controller Haliru Nababa joined as an Assistant Superintendent of Prisons in 1990 and rose through the ranks to become Assistant Controller General of Corrections in 2018. He headed many formations prior to him becoming the Prisons boss

of the Wurno Satellite custodial Centre, Sokoto; Nguru Custodial Centre, Yobe; Mubi Custodial Centre, Adamawa State, and Sokoto Central Custodial Centre, Sokoto State between 2016 and 2019. His last position before he was appointed as the Controller General was as Head of the Directorate on Finance and Accounts. To honour the award recipients, the Correctional Service on its own held a reception to appreciate their illustrious sons who have brought honour to the Service, at the Dambazzau Conference Centre.

Chief Udutchay writes from Abuja via hochay2000@yahoo. com, 08091111250

HENRY UDUTCHAY celebrates excellence at the Nigerian Correctional Service

Editor,

PETER

EDITORIAL

FAKE AND SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS

All the major stakeholders should do more to contain the menace

TheDirector General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Farouk Salim at the anniversary of World Standards Day last week spoke about the importation of fake and substandard goods that has become a major killer in the country. The activities of the national economy and the ultimate victims are the local manufacturers who are unduly disadvantaged to compete with the imported inferior goods. Instructively, Salim’s warning came on the same day the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control 625mg tablets, an antibiotic medication used for the of bacterial infections, was in circulation.

Established in 1971, decades waged a war against importers and manufacturers who opt for short-cuts to maximise to succeed in this war against inferior and substandard Nigeria. SON must embark on some house-cleaning own establishment who may be aiding the economic

dealers of these inferior products.

Last year, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Niyi Adebayo decried the death of many Nigerians from this menace. Thousands of lives, according to Adebayo, had been cut short because of petroleum gas, substandard electric cables and rethreaded vehicular tyres. Adebayo used the occasion

Letters to the Editor

more fundamental, and Adebayo cannot push all the responsibilities to SON.

Since the current direction of Nigeria’s external trade is mostly with countries where faking and adulteration have become established sub economies, there is need for a diplomatic reorientation that involves government at the highest level. The near absence of controls in those countries and at our end increases the challenge. Corruption at our ports of entry and in the regulatory agencies is a whole area of concern that has remained

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Customs Service, etc., all have developed a culture of complicity on

substandard products.

Meanwhile, original patents and formulations for drugs, medicaments

end user items all belong in the domain of intellectual property. Foreign exchange approvals by the Central

pro forma invoices on standard products. Enforcement of intellectual property rights has therefore become imperative. Also, overdue now is an overhaul of agencies that oversee standards.

We support NAFDAC and SON for indicating commitment to regulatory compliance, but they must work with the Customs to prevent these fake and substandard pharmaceutical consignments from being cleared at the nation’s ports and borders. They must also work with other stakeholders to ensure that only safe and quality regulated products are available for distribution because there is a supply and demand

drugs and medicaments, the general poverty among the populace makes cheap adulterated drugs more

national policy on Medicare and Medicaid has driven most Nigerians into the underground medicine market of fake products. And we must deal with this challenge.

Continued from the backpage

It is therefore no surprise that at a political gathering, professionally accomplished women were told to stand tions in life. After all, we live in a society where male drivers have been known to rudely tell their female bosses, “I have your type at home.”

discrimination against the female gender in Nigeria. This is the challenge all stakeholders must join to address. In the January report by Asishana, she shared several pathet used as collateral for the money her father borrowed when taken to settle both the hospital bill and cost of her moth er’s burial after dying during childbirth. This is a woman whose life was stolen by the men around her.

Yesterday, I spoke with the former First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs Onari Duke whom I understand has been er the girl-child and people of the communities. I asked why she didn’t confront the problem when her husband was governor, and she explained a lack of awareness at the time. “People often forget that I am not originally from Cross River and even then, these practices were a wellkept secret from many because I only got to know about it

have done a lot in putting an end to the barbaric practice

According to Mrs Duke who lauded the support of American diplomats in Nigeria on the issue, some of the ‘husbands’ are already being prosecuted after secur ing freedom for their captive girls. “We have also done a census of all the young girls within these communities as well as their status to ensure a structured and evaluated intervention that can be monitored and measured,” she said, while highlighting programmes instituted to address what she also believes are socio-economic problems. “I

ence for Trade and Development) entrepreneurship capactries and of which I am the Country Director in Nigeria. We are also establishing a honey factory so that we can have an enduring solution to what is slavery combined with child marriage. The idea is to inspire generational change and stability in the region as well as provide schol arships for all under-age money wives and girls within the communities.”

I commend Mrs Duke and all the people who are work ing to end this culture that enslaves young girls who are the government of Cross River State. For our society to de velop and thrive, we must jettison archaic and oppressive practices that circumscribe the rights of our women/girls and prevent them from leading productive lives that con tribute to our development.

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

Since the current direction of Nigeria’s external trade is mostly with countries where faking and adulteration have become established sub economies, there is need for a diplomatic reorientation that involves government at the highest level

T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI

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Boosting Microfinance Banks with Digital Solutions

Financial

Technology (Fintech) companies like Interswitch, have continued to disrupt the financial sector of the Nigerian economy, with technology solutions that are driving the payment and e-commerce sectors.

Recently, Interswitch Group, Africa’s integrated digital payment and e-commerce company, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stressed the need for collaborative innovation that would further drive the Nigerian payment industry ecosystem.

They made the assertion at a two-day technology event organised by Interswitch, tagged ‘Collaborating for Industry Growth and Profitability,’ where industry players gathered to discuss how to strengthen the digital payment ecosystem and position Nigeria as a force to reckon with on the global payment landscape.

The industry leaders, drawn from banks, fintechs, micro-finance banks, telcos and other financial institutions, reached the resolve that designing innovative financial products which speak to the needs of customers would spur growth and economic prosperity.

The experts also noted that players in the financial space needed to synergise to explore avenues for mutual growth that would in turn create a robust payment ecosystem.

At the two-day event, Interswitch launched series of tech solutions for small medium and large scale enterprises that would enable them serve their large customer base in the digital transformation era.

MOBILE BANKING-AS-ASERVICE

One of the solutions launched by Interswitch, was the Mobile Banking app to avail medium and small-sized microfinance banks to offer digital financial services to their numerous customers.

Customers of Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) will be able to download the app from the app store. The app include major banking features to cater to every client’s need such as money transfers, mobile top ups, bills payment, self service requests, card services among others.

PAYMENT-AS-A-SERVICE

Another solution released by Interswitch, is the Payment-as-a-Service (PAAS), which is a payment platform that will allow

financial institution and Fintechs extend payments services to their customers. PAAS will enable financial institution perform the usual cards issuance, process transactions, access to collections and disbursement platforms. It will allow financial institutions to rapidly integrate to newer payment channels.

FRAUD SOLUTION AS A SERVICE

In order to protect financial transactions at all times, Interswitch also developed Fraud Solution As A Service (FSAAS). In recent times, reported cases of electronic fraud have been on the rise, which calls for urgent attention as stakeholders are urging financial service providers to design products that will help mitigate and curb fraud to the barest minimum.

To this end, Interswitch launched FSAAS to help fight fraud and financial crime

FSAAS helps to protect customers against payments fraud tendencies.

Specifically, it protects customers against card fraud, application fraud, payment fraud, merchant acquiring fraud and money laundering among others.

The products are tailored to provide seamless payment solution to banks, fintechs, micro-finance banks, other financial institutions and their customers.

They are designed to help improve the digital payment solutions that financial institutions offer to their customers.

Critical pain points the products will be solving include protecting customers against digital payment fraud, effective value financing tools for lenders, seamless integration to payment channels, enhanced customer experience, among others.

COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL SERVICES

Speaking during a panel session, Managing Director, Interswitch Purepay, Akeem Lawal, said players in the payment industry must collaborate to provide opportunities to co-create solutions that make digital payment safer and further drive profitability.

He said: “Interswitch is committed to partnering with stakeholders to continuously drive financial inclusion through its innovative products and solutions. These products reaffirm the company’s continued drive to improving

Nigeria’s digital payments landscape through innovation and the development of first-rate solutions and infrastructure that address pressing needs in the payments ecosystem.”

Lawal further said Interswitch would continue to enter partnerships that will not only simplify payments, but also drive prosperity across the continent.

Director, Payment System Management Department, CBN, Jimoh Musa, said CBN’s responsibility as a regulator is to create an enabling environment where all the entrants can thrive and compete healthily.

“We understudy all the interoperable operations of each technology company, and all the participants generally. And from time to time, we bring all these entities together to dialogue to enable us to decide what the best industry practice is in relation to Nigeria’s payment ecosystem,” Musa said.

The panelists noted that partnerships would allow players increase revenue and grow faster, avail them opportunities to leverage one another’s infrastructure, drive financial inclusion and build a robust ecosystem.

The panelists also urged players to collaborate more to provide quality service for the end users to enhance growth and more opportunities.

Emmanuel

Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Ugo Aliogo (Development)

TO ENHANCE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, FG, INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS MOVE TO ACCELERATE DEPLOYMENT OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES such as the Fifth Generation of Mobile Communication (5G). “Our efforts in diligently driving this will facilitate the actualisation of the set targets in the federal government’s digital economy policy,” he said.

In a related development, Paxful, a leading global peer-topeer (P2P) finance platform, also stressed the need for investment

in Blockchain technology as another form of emerging technology that would drive national development.

Paxful Founder and CEO, Ray Youssef, who spoke during the Blockchain Day at this year’s annual Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, which held in Abuja recently, noted that the youths

are the bedrock of every society, and that they facilitate growth and economic development, adding that it is vital that they are empowered with financial education to thrive and become the nation’s next great leaders.

He said, “Financial education brings empowerment and entrepreneurship. Nigerian youth are leading a financial

revolution and Bitcoin has already scaled tenfold compared to other regions. We must foster that momentum—it will open Nigeria up to the global market, grow local businesses, expand opportunities for international freelancers, and lessen Nigeria’s reliance on international governments who threaten to devalue local commerce.

REPORT: GLOBAL TECH COMPANIES LOST OVER $20M TO DATA BREACH IN THREE YEARS

required information about a material/significant incident within the specified reporting period.

There is also a hesitance to share too much information, as 70 per cent said greater public information sharing and transparency poses a risk and could lead to a loss of competitive advantage.

Analysing the report,

Risk Assurance Services Leader, PwC Nigeria, Femi Osinubi, said: “Data breaches are a pervasive threat in today’s digital world. As cyber threats continue to increase in frequency and sophistication, a holistic approach to cybersecurity has become a top priority for C-suites and boards. Companies are strengthening

their cyber defenses and regulators are applying pressure to improve cyber resilience and build public trust. It’s clear from our survey that a higher level of public-private collaboration is needed to address the increasingly complex cyber threat landscape –companies are calling for increased information sharing

and transparency as well as a consistent format for mandatory disclosure of cyber incidents.”

Addressing organisation’s increasing cyber budgets, the report said the majority of executives surveyed said their organisations have continued to increase their cyber budgets, as 69 per cent said the budget increased in

Through Bitcoin, Nigerians will lead the whole of Africa into a financial golden age.”

Youssef also spoke to hundreds of Nigerian youths in Abuja during the October 29th campus tour, discussing Blockchain as emerging technology, the future of finance and how Bitcoin can improve their daily lives.

2022, while 65 per cent said they plan to spend more on cyber in 2023. Increasing budgets reflect the fact that cybersecurity tops the agenda for resilience planning.

According to the survey, a catastrophic cyber attack ranks higher than global recession or another health crisis for organisations’ resilience planning.

The recent launch of mobile banking app for small-sized microfinance banks and other technology solutions by Interswitch, will enhance digital transformation in the financial sector, writes Emma Okonji

Marketing Agency Sets Agenda for CEOs in Maiden Mixer

Raheem Akingbolu

PANDORA Agency Limited, a strategic marketing and communications agency with creative, measurable marketing prowess and excellent delivery,

recently organised a mixer event for chief executive officers and decision makers of top brands and organisations in Lagos.

The event was to create an avenue for top clientele and decision makers to network freely and share their experiences

capable of increasing their bottom lines in their various organisations.

Speaking about the event, Principal Consultant of the agency, Kehinde Ruth Onasoga, said the decision of the agency organising such a mixer is to

enable decision makers and top clientele to look at different opportunities of lifting their organisations from their present status to enviable positions. It was also to create strategic structures that will enable them successfully navigate the

Filmmakers Clinch N2m Grant, New York Film Academy Scholarship

MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa has awarded the best graduating student of the 2022 cohort, Adedamola Akapo, an all-expense paid two-month scholarship to the New York Film Academy. Akapo was awarded the prize at the graduation ceremony of the 2022 cohort of the Academy which took place on Saturday at Terrakulture, Victoria Island,

Lagos State.

Other prizes awarded include an internship in South Africa with a South African production company to Oluwatoyosi Fowode and an internship in India with an Indian production company to Emmanuel Nuvor.

At the graduation, the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice, John Ugbe also announced the CEO Award of N2 million to the most enterprising students who

collaborate to set up production companies. The award went to Divergence, a production start-up company founded by members of the graduating cohort, Samuel Ishola, Ibrahim Mamman and Oluwatoyosi Fowode.

Also speaking, the Acting Dean, School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Ngozi Okpara, described the MTF Academy as a springboard to a career

in the entertainment industry that produces a close-knit community of professionals with a willingness to narrate Africa’s stories to the world.

“MultiChoice Talent Factory empowers students to become great storytellers by equipping them with up-to-date information and technology. From a creative entrepreneurial perspective, we empower them to become employers of labour,” she added.

MTN Urges Nigerian Companies to Invest in Startups

Emma Okonji

MTN Communications Plc has stressed the need for major Nigerian companies to invest in Nigerian startups, explaining that such investment will enable the growth of the ecosystem.

The Chief Corporate Services Officer (CCSO), MTN Nigeria, Tobechukwu Okigbo, made the call, while speaking on the current state of the tech ecosystem at the technology

breakout session panel at the Ehingbeti Economic Summit, which held recently at the Eko Hotels,Lagos.

According to Okigbo, “From a funding perspective, major Nigerian companies can enable the growth of the ecosystem by making major investments in these startups. This will send a signal to the external community and most certainly increase the amount of investment these startups will receive.

Nigerian companies should

partner with startups as a corporate social investment to create shared value.”

MTN Nigeria recently announced the MTN Pulse Blow My Hustle initiative, which aligns with the brand’s promise to support existing businesses and startups.

The initiative, which was launched on October 14th, 2022, is aimed at providing grants and capacity building to 100 young Nigerian business owners aged 16 to 30. The 100 shortlisted participants will undergo a

two-week training session after which 20 finalists will compete for a range of grants as high as N10 million, which will be awarded based on the quality of pitches presented during the grand finale.

According to Disrupt Africa, The Nigerian StartUp Ecosystem Report 2022, Nigeria, with at least 481 active start-ups across the country, constitutes one of Africa’s ‘big four’ startup ecosystems, along with Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa.

IDL Rewards Distributors, Re-launches Two Brands

Raheem Akingbolu

In a bid to foster good relationship with its distributors, Intercontinental Distillers Limited (IDL), has rewarded her distributors with cash and various gifts during the company’s annual distributors award held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The occasion, which was graced by the Olota of Ota, HRM Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, was also used to re-launch two brands; Eagle Aromatic Schnapps and Commodore Aromatic Schnapps.

The Head of Sales IDL, Hope Gbagi, disclosed that the year 2021 was filled with

many challenges but this notwithstanding many of the distributors improved with their performances. He said the company will continue to nurture and develop their relationship.

He added that the IDL award ceremony and its content have made the company to continue to be the

toast/talking point amongst peers in the Wine and Spirit industry.

In an interview with The Managing Director (MD) of IDL, Patrick Anegbe, he explained that IDL will not shy away from the economic challenges the Distributors are facing in order to build a lasting partnership.

troubled waters of the country’s economy.

He said: “We all know that businesses in Nigeria are passing through a lot of challenges in the country right now. This is making some of the organizations to have issues in terms of bottom lines, trying very hard to ensure that they improve on their previous year’s numbers in terms of profit and loss. The issue with forex is also

there with the depreciation of the naira against major currencies across the globe every day. So, we believe that our firm needs to come in at this time to create this avenue to connect the like minds in partnerships, networking and connect to opportunity in different sectors. We have people from digital space, agriculture, sustainable energy, finance, fintech, automotive and many others present here.

Wema Bank Strengthens Workplace Collaboration with Wemalympics

The management of Wema Bank has explained the reason behind ‘Wemalympics’, an initiative designed to enable the bank’s employees enjoy a high level of healthy living, physical fitness, emotional balance and workplace collaboration.

According to the company, healthy living, physical fitness, emotional balance, and workplace collaboration, are among the key pillars most organisations rely on to further engage staff. It was stated that an effective application of these

attributes usually leads to high productivity levels and a better workplace culture.

Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director and CEO of Wema Bank, Ademola Adebise said: “For us, we believe we are one family, we believe in bonding, so it is also part of our core values. The Wemalympic game brings us together to get to know more about ourselves better and of course it breaks the barrier created by unnecessary friction to enhance more bonding.

Innovation Support Network Hosts Tech Gathering in Lagos

Nosa Alekhuogie

The Innovation Support Network (ISN), the network of over 120 tech innovation hubs spread across 25 cities in Nigeria will be hosting the 4th edition of its Annual Gathering on the 8th of December 2022.

The event is set to hold at the Landmark Events Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos with the theme: ‘Collaboratively Creating A Sustainable Hub Ecosystem’. This year, the Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria (DTC Nigeria) of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) are strategic partners of the ISN Gathering. The Annual Gathering, which brings together member hubs and other key ecosystem stakeholders

for learning, knowledge sharing, capacity development, and networking, is one of the highlights of the ISN Hubs activity calendar with a projected number of 500 participants. This will be the first physical gathering since it’s inaugural Gathering in 2019 as the 2020 and 2021 Gatherings were held virtually.

“As a network, our primary objective is to increase Nigeria’s ranking on the global innovation index by supporting individuals, MSMEs and startups with the right tools, skills and resources to build a business and/or become more employable and productive,” the organizes said in a statement.

According to them, the conference will be a one-day event and will feature panel discussions, break-out sessions and networking opportunities for the attendees.

From left: Executive Director, Wholesale Banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Obaro Odeghe; Head, Strategic Planning, Nigerian Export Import Bank, Mr. Tayo Omidiji; Managing Director, FCMB, Mrs. Yemisi Edun; Customs Area Controller, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command, Comptroller Hammi Swomen ; Divisional Head, Corporate Services & Service Management, FCMB, Felicia Obozuwa; President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Mr. Mufutau Abolarinwa and Regional Co-ordi nator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Samuel Oyeyipo, during a Seminar on ‘’Refocusing Nigeria’s Economic Development Through Non-Oil Exports’’organised by FCMB held on November 1, 2022 in Lagos

Raheem Akingbolu

PROMOTING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY…

UN Agency Strengthens SMEs to Produce Quality PPEs in Nigeria

Raheem Akingbolu

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), a specialised agency in the United Nations system that assists countries in economic and industrial development has trained 160 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs across six political geopolitical zones of

Nigeria.

The MSMEs were selected out of over 5,000 that applied for the training, which is being funded by the European Union.

Making the disclosure during the second project awareness dissemination event recently in Lagos, UNIDO Regional Director Representative to ECOWAS, Mr. Jean Bakole, said the intervention

programme was designed to strengthen the capacity of MSMEs to produce quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and to also remain in business during Covid-19 period. Bakole said out of these 160 MSMEs, 28 were selected from North West, 32 from North Central, 16 from North East and 51 from South West, while South

East and South South produced 13 and 22 respectively.

The UNIDO regional director said: “The overall objective of the project is to increase the resilience of Nigerian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the context of Covid-19 pandemic and to support the creation of decent jobs/employment, improve supply chains, and promote

Visa: Tokenisation Will Reduce Fraud in Digital Pa yments

Emma Okonji

In order to address the rising rate of online fraud in subSaharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive, occasioned by the massive shift to digital payment post COVID-19, Visa, a payment solution provider has said it would continue to partner with merchants, organisations and institutions to provide technology solutions that would reduce fraud in digital payments.

Senior Director and Head of Risk, sub-Saharan Africa at Visa, Irene Auma, who gave the assurance at a recent virtual

conference with the theme: ‘Securing the Future of Digital Payment in sub-Saharan Africa’, said there had been a massive shift from non-card transactions to digital transactions through the use of cards.

“In Q1 2021, before lockdown and the active pandemic stage happened, the contactless rate in payments was 42 per cent. In nine months, it increased up to 60 per cent and maintained growth after that. Visa’s intervention at the beginning of the pandemic, helped to reduce fraud rate growth, which kept the contactless fraud rate at its lowest level,” Auma said.

She said the massive shift led to increased attacks in online transactions, where the cybercrime community started actively attacking businesses through ransomware. Sophisticated attacks and digital scheming have led to rise in digital threats in sub Saharan Africa,” Auma said.

In 2020 throughout the pandemic, the UAE experienced a 250 per cent increase in cyberattacks, which included 1.1 million phishing attacks, the most popular technique for carrying out cyber attacks, she further said, but assured consumers of a secured digital ecosystem in

sub-Saharan Africa.

According to her, Visa, on its part, has been working with partners to secure the ecosystem, and helping consumers to adopt digital payment in order to get better transaction experience within the digital payment space.

“Visa is doing so much to ensure safety of consumers’ online transactions by introducing new ways of verifying and authenticating the customers through the support of digitalbased authentication that will make it possible to identify who the real customer is at any given transaction,” Auma said.

Nigeria’s Fintech Has Huge Potential, Says KUDA

Raheem Akingbolu

KUDA has said there is a huge potential of technology skills for Fintech players in emerging markets particularly Nigeria.

The financial institution, at a recent media roundtable in Lagos, said since its emergence in 2019, it has invested hugely in Nigeria’s economic environment, as the country occupies a major position on the continent.

KUDA’s Managing Director, and Co-founder, Babs Ogundeyi, who made the disclosure, said the company remained focused on being a financial institution for all Africans, all over the world.

Kuda said through the adoption of technology it has grown to about 4.6 million customers and is approaching five million customers in three years.

He stated: “Nigeria has a very important part to play on the African continent. There is huge potential, not just in the size of

the population - the location, we have ports, we have resources, though things are especially difficult, but when it comes to investing in technology, investing in Fintech, Nigeria still carries a

lot of weight in Africa. KUDA is part of that.

“Our focus is to be a financial institution for all Africans, all over the world. We started from Nigeria, where we have, apart

from being patriotic, domain experience, we understand people, we understand the terrain. It is a very important market in Africa. So, it made sense for us to start from Nigeria.

Trustlub Fluid Unveils Lubricant Blending Plant, New Products

Trust Lubricant Fluid Resources Limited, a company that engages in the production and distributions of lubricant in Nigeria has launched its new lubricant blending plant in Nigeria. The plant is situated at New Makun City, along LagosIbadan expressway.

Also unveiled, are new brand products for the distributors and the use of their customers.

Unveiling the new products alongside the commissioning of the new plant, Chairman, Trustlub Fluid Resources Limited, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha said, Trustlub is poised to set standard with its

ultra-modern lubricant plant and its new arrays of products to serve the general public.

He said the new plant and their lubricant products met all the regulatory standards adding, “Our lubricant products are the best and equally setting the standard in the lubricant segments of the economy.” He promised that apart from their aim of covering the whole of the country, their products will soon be in the larger West Africa region.

Also speaking, Managing Director of the lubricant company, Mr. Babatunde Gaffar said: “With the new utra-modern lubricant with a well-equipped laboratory

and a total installed capacity of 5,000 Metric Tons, the plant has the capacity to roll out 150,000 litres of blended products daily. We will install grease and brake fluid plants by December this year to cater for all ranges of lubricants. This multi-purpose lube blending plant will be the first of its kind among the indigenous lubricant blending plants in Nigeria.”

The managing Director said, Trustlub Fluid Resources Limited had been competing fairly with its competitors in the lubricant market. He said: “Our product brand is one of the leading brands in our present area coverage consisting of the entire Southwest and Kwara State.”

transformative economic recovery and growth.”

He added, “the direct objective of the project is to maintain access to essential health service, through socio-economic analytics, and proactive early recovery and social protection activities, targeting vulnerable groups.”

Making her remarks, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria,

Ms. Samuela Isopi, who was represented by Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria, Ms. Cecile Tassin- Pelzer said: “The event marks another important milestone in the effort to help a wider audience understand this project, with a view to learning lesson and look forward to a fruitful and satisfying conclusion.”

FG Urged to Invest in Tech to Address Growing Challenges among Youths

Technology expert has stressed the need for the federal government and all other tiers of governments in Nigeria, including industry stakeholders to invest more in technology in order to address the growing challenges across the country.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bridge57 Solutions Limited, Mrs. Roseline Ilori, who made the call in a statement issued in Lagos recently, said such investments should not just be focused on software development, but also on Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bio-medicine, Voice biometrics and a

host of other emerging technologies. According to her, such investments will shore up manufacturing competitiveness via authentication and traceability of goods and services, and improve physical security and cyber security, among others.

Ilori said government needed to be more proactive in making the Nigerian technology environment more friendly, adding that the growth of technology and young people’s interest in technology are massive.

She noted that Nigerian technology experts were the most sought-after in developed economies as the relocation syndrome had taken up to half of the technology brains the country possessed.

L-R: Paxful CEO and Founder, Ray Youssef; Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa Kashifu and Director, Built With Bitcoin Foundation, Yusuf Nessary, during the annual Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, held in Abuja… recently

Emma Okonji

Raheem Akingbolu

NPC Visits BETA Computers to Boost Local Content Development

Emma Okonji

A delegation from the National Population Commission (NPC) recently visited BETA Computers factory in Surulere, Lagos, to inspect some of its computers and discuss possible patronage.

The visit was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order on local content adoption in all

federal government’s projects, which includes patronage of locally produced items in Nigeria to boost local content development.

The delegation, which include the Commission’s taskforce on the 2023 census, were made up of three Federal Commissioners, the Director General, four directors, two other managers and led by the Federal Commissioner, Dr Clifford

Zirra.

The visit to the BETA’s computer factory came on the heels of the NPC’s commitment to fully comply with the President’s Executive Order on local content adoption in all federal government’s projects.

After the welcome address by the Managing Director of BETA Computers, Mr. Will Anyaegbunam, the company’s board Chair,

Mr. Isaac Orolugbabe in his speech while commending NPC team for the visit, stressed the need for the commission to promote the development and growth of all the certified indigenous computer manufacturers so as to avoid monopoly.

According to him, “While government monopoly is bad, private monopoly is worse as competition will lead to more benefits and

AVEVA to Promote Zero-carbon Economy with Digital Technologies

Emma Okonji

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, will highlight how digital technologies can support public-private partnerships and unlock innovation to close the implementation gap on climate change at COP27, the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2022 that is holding on November 6-18 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

As a sponsor of the parallel Climate Action Innovation Zone, AVEVA

believes trusted data-led technologies are essential to decarbonization, driving responsible use of the world’s resources and delivering innovative, climateforward products in the net-zero economy. AVEVA is one of the first 50 companies in the world1 to have its net-zero commitments validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

AVEVA’s presence at COP27 will be led by some of its most prominent climate advocates such as the Executive Vice-President, Engineering and

Simulation and member of AVEVA’s Executive Leadership Team, Amish Sabharwal; Global Head of Sustainability, Lisa Wee and Vice-President, Middle E ast, Africa and Turkey, Nayef Bou Chaaya.

During a number of sessions at the being held alongside COP27, the AVEVA executives will use real-life examples to showcase how digital technologies are unlocking opportunities in the net-zero economy.

Sabharwal will join a plenary panel on November 10. Alongside UN executives, he will

seek to explain why climate change mitigation represents our biggest opportunity yet.

“UN data shows that immediate action can halve greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) by 2030 and put us on track to achieving our goal of keeping global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. At the same time, we are facing our biggest opportunity yet. Climate change is accelerating the fourth industrial revolution and nowhere is that more obvious than in the communities and industries here in Africa.

reduce cost for consumers.”

In his response, the leader of the NPC team, Dr. Zirra stated that the need to visit BETA’s factory which is one of the three indigenous computer manufacturing companies certified by government for local content development programmes, was to see for themselves local PCs assembly facilities to ensure that they are partnering with

the right company that has the capacity to deliver on their orders and timely too.

He confirmed to the board and management of BETA, that they were on ground to cover the auspicious visit, adding that the Commission is on the verge of making history with the conducting of the very first digital census in Nigeria and possibly on the African continent by April 2023.

iPhone 14 Series with Upgraded Features Launched in Nigeria

A few weeks after the release of the iPhone 14 in the global market, the series was officially launched in Nigeria over the weekend at a customer event held in Lagos.

Speaking at the launch, the General Manager, iConnect, Mr. Larry Ayoub, said: “Apple is launching four models of its iPhone series-iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Any customer that walks into any of the iConnect retail shops in Lagos, will feel the same way as when the customer enters any iConnect shop in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), because the stores are the same everywhere in the world, with best of service offerings.”

Ayoub explained that stocks for the iPhone 14 series were already available and called

on Nigerians to patronise iConnect for Apple products and “to avoid buying the iPhone from the grey market and unauthorized resellers so they can enjoy the full benefits of 24 months warranty that is extended to verified Apple authorised resellers” .The iPhone bought outside of Apple Authorized reseller stores, would not be covered by the extended warranty offer.

Assistant Marketing Manager- Telco Africa for RNDC Alliance West Africa, Mr. Kolawole Ogunwumi, said as an authorised value-added distributor for Apple in West Africa, RNDC Alliance West Africa would continue to provide the necessary support for Apple Authorized resellers in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa, like iConnect, to help them grow and meet customers’ demands.

Emma Okonji

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 1-Nov-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF.

Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

Coral Balanced Fund 3,993.09 4,019.90 2.14%

AFRINVEST

Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974

Fund NameBid

PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.07%

AIICO Balanced Fund 3.78 3.82 19.00%

ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180

Fund NameBid PriceOffer PriceYield / T-Rtn

Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 10.21%

Anchoria Equity Fund 133.77 135.27 -3.94%

Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.15 1.15 0.34%

ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276)

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.31 20.92 0.13%

ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 475.60 489.94 5.42%

ARM Ethical Fund 41.05 42.29 5.38%

ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 0.92%

ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 4.96%

ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.38%

AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 87.3487.34-14.71%

AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,072.12 1,072.12 7.19%

AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 137.20 138.17 3.28%

AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.32%

CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 2.12%

Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.21 2.25 1.50%

CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/AN/AN/A

CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4

PriceOffer PriceYield / T-Rtn

Fund NameBid

CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.031.037.07%

CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691

PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Fund NameBid

Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.88%

Paramount Equity Fund 17.4317.744.42%

Women's Investment Fund 142.81 144.48 0.59%

CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.52%

Cordros Milestone Fund 127.98 128.81 2.99%

Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.91 111.91 5.03%

CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coronation

Coral Income Fund 3,658.65 3,658.65 6.57%

Coral Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.66%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.12 1.12 4.07%

GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Abacus Money Market Fund N/AN/AN/A

Vantage Balanced Fund N/AN/AN/A

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/AN/AN/A

Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/AN/AN/A

Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/AN/AN/A

Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/AN/AN/A

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.62 1.65 14.37%

Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,162.75 1,162.75 7.81%

MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.38 11.44 4.89%

Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.94%

NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 100.93 100.93 8.63%

Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.42%

PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

PACAM Balanced Fund 1.60 1.64 1.97%

PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.59 11.65 3.83%

PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.13%

PACAM Equity Fund 1.28 1.30 -9.84%

PACAM EuroBond Fund 117.30 120.37 3.09%

SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

SCM Capital Frontier Fund 121.92 124.38 0.05%

SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.04%

STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,428.56 3,461.02 1.21%

Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 243.52 243.52 3.37% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.32 1.34 5.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 328.53 328.53 4.92%

Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 249.56 252.89 6.92%

Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.01%

Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,559.03 11,715.26 5.94%

Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.35 1.35 4.50%

Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 120.22 120.22 2.83%

Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 113.65 113.65 6.83%

UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876

Fund NameBid PriceOffer Price Yield / T-Rtn

United Capital Equity Fund        0.89 0.91 0.47%

United Capital Balanced Fund 1.32 1.34 1.35%

United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.14 8.90%

United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.09 1.09 7.22%

United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.93 1.93

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication

each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator

future

Fund

fund

& LIFESTYLE

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie

Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com,

PAMO’s Revolution in Nigeria’s Nursing Education

Nurses

share the duty of care with doctors in the healthcare sector. They are the nearest to patients during treatment and recovery. They provide support for the patients’ physical and psycho-social needs. However, there has been a paradigm shift in their role in the advent of modern medicine. Nurses have a multifaceted role as holistic caregivers, patient advocates, specialists, and researchers. To play this role efficiently, nurses require some high-quality education backed by relevant facilities.

Despite this critical role nurses play in the development of any country, unfortunately, Nigeria is yet to adequately tap from their strength as every year, thousands of them leave Nigeria for other parts of the world, particularly the developed countries for greener pastures. According to data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), 13,000 nurses left the shores of Nigeria in 2021 for Europe, Canada and the United States. It added that on the average, 1,000 nurses leave the country every month for better welfare abroad.

For the past five years, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt has been admitting students to help fill the gap of those leaving the country in droves. With the full accreditations of the Department of Nursing Science of the university by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and NMCN, the university has become a place of quality training for nurses.

What makes the Department of Nursing Science of the university unique is that it is the first time nursing students are graduating in a five-year record time from the commencement of the programme in any new university. Each graduate has four certificates, namely: Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Registered Public Health Practitioner and Bachelor of Nursing Science degree

In most universities offering courses in nursing, students stay in school for up to six, seven or even eight years before they enter the labour market.

Conceptualised as a world-class institution, PAMO is dedicated to building healthcare workers, including medical doctors, nurses and other allied courses in the country. Wellequipped and furnished to world standard, the university, situated in a serene environment in Port Harcourt, has been playing a key role in nation-building by moulding the teeming youth population through its teaching, research and community services.

The full accreditation of the school’s courses and programmes by medical and health professional bodies including the National Universities Commission (NUC), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Medical Laboratory Council, among others

has turned it to a first choice for parents who want their children to have not just sound medical education but to graduate in record time.

This is why at the first induction ceremony/oath taking for the 2022 Bachelor of Nursing graduates of the Department of Nursing Science, the newly inducted nurses were urged to exhibit the high standards and care associated with the nursing profession.

Speaking at the event, the Head of Department, Nursing Science, Dr. J. E. Anieche, while claiming that the nursing profession is the best in the world, reminded the graduates that they have a duty of excellence to the clients and the nation at large.

According to the Head of Department, the stress and sweat of the programme usually turn into sweet and honey as the graduates leave the institution with four certificates namely.

“The joy is always overwhelming! No wonder many scramble to enrol into nursing programmes all over the globe. It has never been easy for you graduands, but nothing good comes easy. This is not an understatement as one needs to be capable; physically, socially, intellectually and emotionally, with the special grace of God to surmount the numerous challenges encountered during the just concluded programme. I, therefore, say congratulations.

“Finally, permit me to remind these new products of a great department in a great institution of the need to act great in their performance of duties to their clients irrespective of setting, age, race or creed. Be an epitome of humility and service because you are wonderfully made polyvalent nurses”, the Head of Department said.

The Secretary-General/Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr Faruk Abubakar, appealed to the new graduates to strictly adhere to the ethics of the nursing profession if they must succeed in their new career and service to humanity.

He told the graduates that a lot was being expected from them as polyvalent graduate nurses because the profession is

tremendously demanding, embellished in compassion and helpfulness; meaning that nurses are required to be compassionate, kind and attentive in dealing with patients.

To succeed, Abubakar emphasised that the new nurses must, “adhere to ethics of the nursing profession, display humility and honesty in the course of your practice at all times.”

Abubakar, while noting the graduating nurses have attained a high standard of education with clinical skills that will enable them to render safe and effective health care to the citizenry, warned that they will be fully accountable for their own decisions, actions and attitude.

“As graduate nurses, you must be able to perform nursing skills in a variety of health care settings, therapeutically assisting individuals, families and communities with diverse backgrounds (religion, culture, belief, social status, etc.) and resolve their health issues.

“In doing this, you need to understand the psychosocial and physical factors involved in the alleviation of suffering, promotion, maintenance and restoration of health, and be able to function independently and collaboratively with other health care professionals in course of your practice in any health care setting. You should be able to develop, initiate strategies for health promotion, implement and evaluate such strategies for necessary outcomes,” he said.

Abubakar lauded PAMO University for the great work it is doing in contributing highly qualified manpower to the medical sector of the country, particularly in nursing. He described the induction of fresh graduate nurses into the system as a mark of great joy, especially at a time when the country is faced with a mass exodus of medical workers.

He expressed confidence in the quality of products the university is producing, noting that the institution is world-class and its products are competent and professional in every sphere of nursing care delivery.

“What we are witnessing is a mark of joy to us, especially at a period when the country is faced with high turbulence of brain drain of nurses and midwives and

this world-class institution is today adding to the number of Nigerian workforce.”

On what stands PAMO out among institutions training nurses in Nigeria, the NMCN boss simply said: “PAMO is exceptionally high because it is founded with the mission of providing highly excellent and qualified health professionals, nursing inclusive, plus other professionals for the country.

“ From the beginning, NMCN provided advisory approval, provided accreditations and every professional technical advice is invested into the university. I want to clearly say that PAMO is one of the great universities that was able to produce graduate nurses within the time limit or record time of the commencement without any setback. That is why I said that PAMO is exceptional. From the beginning when the academic process commenced in early 2018, till today that we are injecting highly competent graduate nurses that are competent in nursing, midwifery and public health into the country’s workforce.

“I want to say again that PAMO is exceptional in the sense that they were able to inject graduates that underwent training within the limited time provided by law, provided by the NUC and NMCN. That is what makes it exceptional without adding a single day to those students that underwent this training. I believe it is another source of joy not only to the graduate nursing students, even their parents and the entire nation will also benefit and that is what will make PAMO University exceptional because other universities spend 7, 8 and 9 years before they graduate, but PAMO from the inception in early 2018 to now in 2022, we are injecting this highly competent graduate nurses into our health institutions.”

The high point of the occasion was when the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the university, Dr. Peter Odili announced automatic employment for the newly graduated nurses after their internship. He also awarded N500,000 to the overall best-graduated student, and N100,000 to each of the inductees, among other things. The former Rivers State governor further pledged that each inductee will get a laptop, a stethoscope, a thermometer, a nurse’s clock/watch, and a nurse’s bag.

“The best graduating student has shown extraordinary attention to what they were here for in their hard work and dedication and for that reason, members of the governing board have agreed that each of the students will receive N100,000, the best in the various sub-departments will get N200,000, the best graduating inductee, will get N500,000,” he disclosed. Odili urged them to ensure that they represent the school well, wherever they find themselves in the future. He also tasked them with the need to always give honour and great respect to their parents, Governor Nyesom Wike and the state government for their contributions in helping them achieve their dreams.

PAMO is exceptionally high because it is founded with the mission of providing highly excellent and qualified health professionals, nursing inclusive, plus other professionals for the country

Despite the critical role nurses play in the development of any country, Nigeria, unfortunately, is yet to adequately tap from their strength as every year, thousands of them leave Nigeria for other parts of the world, particularly the developed countries for greener pastures. But all of that is changing with the recent induction of fresh nurses from PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Blessing Ibunge reports

At the induction of nurses from PAMO University of Medical Services

HowDettolisChangingHandwashing HabitsforNigerianChildren

Uzoma Mba

As history has repeatedly proven, the health and well-being of humans have constantly been a challenge to society. The human immune system, though resilient, is susceptible to collapse if exposed to several internal and external factors.

Whether social or physical, environmental factors such as bad hygiene habits and poor sanitation play a huge role in the deterioration of the body through disease and illness. While hygiene-related diseases affect all ages and genders, they have even more adverse effects on those who have a natural predisposition to disease; the old and the young.

Children especially are naturally susceptible to hygienerelated diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid and cholera. According to UNICEF “in 2019, diarrhoea killed approximately 480,000 young children across the globe, accounting for 9 per cent of all

deaths among children under age 5.” These children could have been protected by simple active interventions which include improved sanitation, and even more simply, improved hand hygiene habits.

Hand hygiene is one of the most critical and proven measures to reduce this avoidable harm.

Buttressing the importance of this measure, World Health Organisation and the Global Handwashing Partnership have appointed two separate days to emphasise the priority of hand hygiene annually: Hand Hygiene Day held on the 5th of May and Global Handwashing Day on the 15th of October. Both days emphasise the necessity of stakeholder involvement in the impartation of hand hygiene habits in children.

Understanding that both advocacy days are set aside to reiterate the importance of hand hygiene as a medium to prevent infections and to save lives, stakeholders such as Reckitt

with their Dettol brand have been heavily invested in advancing the cause. Through robust initiatives, millions of children have adopted healthy lifestyles.

One such initiative includes The School Hygiene Program, through which Reckitt has educated over five million children on proper hand hygiene habits over the past 7 years. This initiative has supported the government’s effort in promoting a healthy lifestyle in children at the primary school level.

Understanding that impacting the lifestyle of children begins with creating a healthy lifestyle they can copy from their parents, Reckitt also introduced The New Mum’s Program. This initiative through which Dettol has educated over five million pregnant women and new mothers on hygienic practices to protect them during the pre- and post- aspects of their pregnancies has translated to children who know no alternative to a hygienic lifestyle.

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE

Implantation Bleeding Part (Part 2)

Medical Expert Enlightens on Steps of Coping with Cancer Diagnosis

Tosin Clegg

Dr Uchenna Okoro, a consultant clinical and Radiation Oncologist at Evercare Hospital Lekki, has said diagnosis of cancer is without doubt one of the most traumatizing discussions patients will have to go through.

Dr Okoro, whose core specialties include malignancies of the Breast, Genitourinary tract, Gastrointestinal tract tumors, Gynecological malignancies, Prostate malignancy and Head and Neck tumors, explained that the emotional and psychological burden of this disease is occasionally so much for patients to handle which may be the reason why cases of depression in patients with cancer are higher when compared with other noncommunicable diseases.

Such a diagnosis, he said, is expected to result in physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual changes in the individual, thus strategies for coping with this condition are crucial to the patient as it may lead to improved treatment outcome.

He sais: “With cancer as one of the leading terminal illnesses

today he explains further that the most important first step for a patient just diagnosed with cancer is understanding the diagnosis and disease process.

“ Discussions with the managing physician should provide information on the type of cancer, location of the cancer, stage of the disease, is the disease treatable or not, treatment options, side effects of treatment, cost of treatment, what happens if patient declines any treatment and life changes to expect during and after treatment.

“Having open minded conversations with your managing physician is of immerse benefit as it creates the opportunity for both patient and physician to be on the same page as regards treatment expectations which makes tracking of treatment progress easier.

“Patients are also encouraged to join support groups which could be institution based or in form of a non-profit organization, these groups usually have members that have undergone or undergoing treatment for similar illness and as such lots of coping strategies are discussed and made

available to members.”

He went on to add that “maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for any patient being managed for cancer. This will not only improve your energy level and help you manage the stress and fatigue of the cancer and its treatment but will positively impact treatment outcomes.

“Choose a healthy diet. Get enough rest and exercise if you can. Patients who can exercise during treatment not only deal better with side effects but also may live longer.

“Lifestyle changes will need to be discussed, these changes usually include work schedules as work interruptions should be expected while on treatment, physical activities that form part of the patient’s daily routine will need to be adjusted as disease or treatment conditions may not allow a patient carry out such tasks.”

In conclusion, he stated further that “It’s important for patient to allow family or friends and in some cases where accessible professional caregivers to assist patients deal with some of these demands.

Lastweek, we started a topic on implantation bleeding. We defined what implantation bleeding is; signs and symptoms; difference between implantation bleeding and menstrual bleeding; and how long implantation bleeding last. This week, we would conclude with complications of implantation bleeding, treatment, other causes of bleeding during pregnancy and when to visit a doctor.

COMPLICATIONS OF IMPLANTATION BLEEDING

Implantation bleeding should not be a cause for worry and should not pose a risk to the baby. It is unlikely to have implantation bleeding if you suffer bleeding or spotting more than three days after your missing period. Although this mild bleeding after implantation during pregnancy is not regarded as normal, these are a few causes of implantation bleed:

1. Sex - small tears or irritation after sexual contact may result in bleeding when pregnant. This could also be as a result of hormonal or physical changes.

2. Infection of the vagina - sexually transmitted diseases like trichomoniasis can cause light bleeding as well as more serious problems. Starting treatment as soon as possible will keep your baby healthy.

3. Discomfort in the cervix following an obstetric gynecology exam.

4. Severe or heavy lifting, exercise, or exertion.

5. Cervical problems - conditions like growths on the cervix can also cause bleeding.

6. Presence of polyps and fibroid in the uterus could also result to bleeding during pregnancy.

7. Ectopic pregnancy - when an embryo implants outside of your uterus, there is a higher probability that it could result in ectopic pregnancy.

You may experience cramps, soreness, and bleeding. Ectopic pregnancy is very dangerous and requires urgent emergency care.

8. Miscarriage – about 15% of confirmed pregnancies may end in the first few months. Afterward, most women bleed and cramp. If you have these symptoms and you are aware that you are pregnant, inform your gynecologist immediately.

A normal, healthy pregnancy will occur in at least 50% of women who suffer spotting or bleeding other than implantation bleeding. Extended bleeding, especially later in the pregnancy, may indicate a more serious issue. When visiting a gynecologist, it is important to let them know about any current or recent bleeding particularly if it is severe, as well as any other symptoms that may occur. This is because molar pregnancy

or miscarriage are two grievous concerns. Make sure to inform your healthcare practitioner of any spotting throughout your first trimester. However, if at any point during your pregnancy (second and third trimester) you experience heavy bleeding which should be rare, get in touch with your doctor right away, or seek an emergency help. Inform your healthcare practitioner once if you experience dizziness, nausea/vomiting or one-sided abdominal pain, as these symptoms could indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Although cramping is common throughout pregnancy, it is advisable to see an obstetric gynecologist if the pain becomes more intense.

Implantation Bleeding Treatment

Implantation bleeding ends naturally without the need for medical intervention. However, visit a clinic if you are concerned that you have bled a lot. The clinician may inquire about the quantity and color of the blood you witnessed. While pregnancy is frequently accompanied by implantation bleeding, which is typically not harmful. Heavy bleeding could indicate menstruation or a pregnancy-related problem. It is advisable to not use tampons during this period.

When to visit a doctor It is advisable to wait for three days after the bleeding or spotting ends before taking a pregnancy test if you are unsure of the type of bleeding you are experiencing. Taking a pregnancy test before the missed period or during implantation bleeding may be too early to get conclusive results. Waiting a week after the missing period or spotting is ideal as this may provide more accurate findings.

Conclusion

An indication of a prospective pregnancy is implantation bleeding. There is a strong likelihood that you are not pregnant if you took a pregnancy test after your period was scheduled to arrive and it came back negative. While attempting to conceive, it is advisable to always observe for implantation bleeding, although many women do not experience or even notice implantation spotting when it does.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that rises after implantation, is used as the basis for pregnancy testing. HCG levels around implantation may still be too low to confirm a pregnancy, though this varies from person to person. A pregnancy test will typically show positive results once hCG reaches a particular level, usually 1-2 weeks after implantation. The clinician may advise blood testing to find out your blood type and Rhesus (Rh) factor. Those who are Rh-negative may be administered with Rho(D) immune globulin injection regularly between 27 and 28 weeks into pregnancy and usually again 72 hours after delivery to avoid bleeding.

Even though not every bleeding needs medical attention or indicates difficulties, the clinician will probably order tests, such as a vaginal ultrasound, to determine whether you are pregnant and to ensure that the fertilized egg has implanted in the uterus and is not an ectopic pregnancy.

Some pupils during the Reckitt School Hygiene Program

WFD 2022: Olam Agri Nigeria Underlines Importance of Food, Health, and Nutrition

Precious Ugwuzor

In commemoration of the 2022 World Food Day (WFD), Olam Agri Nigeria, on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, donated food items to the SOS Children’s Villages in Isolo, Lagos.

World Food Day is celebrated on October 16 globally. This year’s commemorative event is themed “Leave No One Behind”. The theme is a rallying call to governments and private organisations to scale efforts aimed at tackling food insecurity and malnutrition.

Olam Agri’s visit to the SOS Children’s village is part of the business’ impressive schedule of sustainable social investments and engagements aimed at giving back to its community and enriching lives, especially the vulnerable.

In addition to the donation to the SOS Children’s Village in Lagos, a delegation of the management and staff of Olam Agri Nigeria in collaboration with the Lagos Food Bank also visited the hinterlands in the state to provide hunger relief to several indigenes that need care.

Speaking on the food donations to the SOS Children’s Village and the Lagos Food Bank, Ashish Pande, Country Head, Olam Agri Nigeria, said that the business is committed to undertaking critical social investment projects that deliver positive impact and engender a better life for the members of its host community.

“Right to food and nutrition is at the core of inclusive growth. No member of society deserves to be hungry. Therefore, we are embarking on focused social investment projects that’s targeted at accelerating the attainment of the Federal Government’s food security agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of achieving zero hunger in the world”, Pande said.

While receiving the food item donations, Ayodeji Adelopo, Regional Programme Manager, South, SOS Children’s Village Nigeria, thanked Olam Agri for the gesture.

Adelopo said, “The food donations have come in handy too. By going to such extent to bring relief to the vulnerable segment of society, Olam Agri

Nigeria has demonstrated that it values the wellbeing of the people in its host communities.”

He added, “In-country partnerships and collaborations are at the centre of our operating models, and it has been key in providing support to the children under our care. We hope to further explore such opportunities with Olam Agri Nigeria and other well-meaning corporate organisations”

Similarly, Michael Sunbola, Executive Director Lagos Food Bank initiative, explained, “Embarking on a strategic program of relief in the areas of nutrition is critical to helping the vulnerable segment of the society at this period of escalating global food security challenge. Olam Agri’s continued support for our outreaches has been invaluable. We are reaching out to provide hunger relief to an increasing number of people, thanks to such private and public support.”

Speaking further on the commemorative event, the Olam Agri Nigeria, Country Head, said that effective partnership and collaboration is vital to achieving inclusive

socio-economic growth. He mentioned that providing access to safe, nutritious, healthy, and affordable food underlines the company’s corporate and investment objectives.

Olam Agri is a market leading, differentiated food, feed and fibre agri-business with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities and deep understanding of market needs built over 33 years.

With a strong presence in high-growth emerging markets and products across grains & oilseeds, animal feed & protein, rice, edible oils, specialty grains & seeds, cotton, wood products, rubber and commodity financial services, Olam Agri is at the heart of global food and agritrade flows with more than 40 million MT in volume traded annually.

Focused on transforming food, feed and fibre for a more sustainable future, it aims at creating value for customers, enable farming communities to prosper sustainably and strive for a food-secure future. Olam Agri is a fully owned subsidiary of Olam Group.

Ehanire Reiterates FG’s Commitment to Achieving Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Minister of Health, Prof. Osagie Ehanire has reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to making sure that most Nigerians have access to healthcare.

The minister remarked on this at the 2022 General Meeting and 2nd Induction Ceremony of the Academy Medicine Specialties of Nigeria held at the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

Addressing the hall of erudite professors and medical researchers, Ehanire mentioned that a lot is still demanded and expected from the academy both in service delivery and research and all the endeavours that can continue to deliver knowledge in the science and art of medicine.

He emphasised: “Nigeria aspires to have a strong

health system. A strong health system is defined first and foremost by Universal Health Coverage (UHC): how many people are protected by the health service in your country.

“The president has said on many occasions that he is committed to making sure that most Nigerians have access to healthcare. It is regarded now as a human right that they have access to UHC.”

He also outlined the quality of care, adding that both in the reach and the quality, this academy has a huge role to play. “We are still away from achieving universal health coverage.

Ehanire recounted: “The president has said on many occasions that he is committed to making sure that most Nigerians have access to healthcare. It is regarded now as a human

right that they have access to UHC.”

Hence, the minister said they are proposing one functional Primary Healthcare Centre in every ward. “It has been an ongoing task because that is the layer of health care that is lost and easily overlooked.”

He also lamented that “We sometimes forget that right at the bottom is the mass of citizens who are virtually excluded from healthcare.”

Ehanire pointed out that the farmers also have a right to healthcare and who also have a role to play in the productivity of our country.

He further harped on the significance of having one functional primary healthcare centre where the masses can receive medical attention day or night whether it’s delivery, accidents for the population in rural areas,

staffed if possible by doctors, and experienced nurses.

The minister emphasised: “We are working on that. We hope that we can continue to get the support of the academy, especially those who are in community health, in driving this very important layer of healthcare delivery in our country.”

While admitting that Nigeria has a long way to go, Ehanire cited the saying a thousand miles. “One step will have to be taken by all of us here today. The government relies on your expertise to help us.”

Earlier, the President of Academy Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru made a “passionate plea to the federal government, and all the agencies to foundations, the private sector and wellmeaning philanthropists to help fund our academy”.

Stanbic IBTC Bank Partners WellaHealth, Provides Digitised Health Insurance for Customers

Stanbic IBTC Bank, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s health sector by partnering with WellaHealth, a micro-healthcare solution company, to provide quality and affordable healthcare to Nigerians. WellaHealth, a smart health solution company, provides affordable and accessible high-quality coverage for healthcare. The organisation partners healthcare providers, businesses, and insurance suppliers to provide financing at low costs for people seeking medical care in Nigeria.

Speaking on the partnership, Olu Delano, Executive Director, Consumer and High Networth Clients, Stanbic IBTC Bank stated that the partnership is in line with a key objective of the bank centered around enabling their clients live better. In this case, the objective is being accomplished through provision of affordable health insurance instantly accessible digitally through the Stanbic IBTC mobile app. He said: “Healthcare is a vital need for everyone and in Nigeria, funding medical bills is a real challenge for many individuals and families. Therefore, Stanbic IBTC has partnered with WellaHealth to help bridge the healthcare accessibility and affordability gap.”

Delano highlighted that one of the measures the Bank has taken to further ease access to quality health services is to make the solution available digitally such that individuals who have the Stanbic IBTC @ease wallet can access the solution seamlessly from the Stanbic IBTC mobile app in the palm of their hands.

“We want to provide accessible health insurance to everyone; therefore, we have added the WellaHealth insurance subscription functionality to our @ease module on the Stanbic IBTC Mobile App.

This allows Stanbic IBTC @ease wallet holders, to access health insurance cover with premiums from as low as 600 monthly”, he added.

Stanbic IBTC remains laserfocused on delivering value to its numerous customers, and the WellaHealth partnership is just one of the ways the organisation is living up to this commitment. More details on the end-to-end financial solutions accessible to Nigerians from the financial services giant can be accessed on the company’s website at www.stanbicibtc.com.

According to the Founder and CEO of WellaHealth, Dr Neto Ikpeme, “WellaHealth is a patient-first healthcare technology startup, which continues to pursue all avenues to get healthcare to Nigerians across the country. We believe that by actively working with organisations like Stanbic IBTC, WellaHealth will deliver on its mission to reach millions of Nigerians monthly and reduce out-of-pocket spending on tropical illnesses in Nigeria”.

WellaHealth was recently featured at the Times Square and named one of the most impactful companies of 2022 by the Norrsken Foundation, in recognition of its role in building a digital health space to increase access to affordable healthcare with low-cost health plans. This partnership continues that trajectory to reach even more Nigerians and Stanbic IBTC Bank is a strategic partner to WellaHealth helping to drive these benefits to end users. “Our goal is to work with Stanbic IBTC Bank in its effort to reach Nigerians with quality healthcare and affordable health plans via its @ease wallet offering, which is aligned with our vision for Nigerians”, the Marketing and Communications Lead for WellaHealth, Joseph Okoroafor added.

Physiotherapists Call for Provision of Clean Birth Kits to Reduce Maternal, Infant Mortality

Rebecca Ejifoma

Physiotherapists have called for the provision of clean birth kits for pregnant women to reduce the risk of unclean delivery, poor outcomes and maternal and infant mortality and optimal impact.

The Clinical Director and Lead Physiotherapist at the Stroke and Spine Rehabilitation Centre (SSRC) NeuroRehab Centre, PT. Muyiwa Adejugbabe made this call during a maternity outreach in the Olodi Apapa area of Lagos state to mark this year’s World Physiotherapy Day.

The outreach was aimed at providing quality services to indigent expectant mothers in the community.

Speaking at the programme powered by SSRC/NeuroRehab Centre in collaboration with Adlai Heroes Foundation, Adejugbabe said, “We are working in synergy with other health professionals to give the best health care service to these pregnant women.

“Many of them are ill-informed. Some are not properly educated so they don’t know what is obtainable, especially in this delicate situation.”

According to the clinical director, when a woman is pregnant, she is not only responsible for herself but is also responsible for the growing foetus inside of her.

Hence, he urged the government to make maternal health care

services more available and accessible to provide optimal impact.

Adejugbabe emphasised: “Pregnant women don’t need to travel long distances to access these health facilities. Accessibility means it should be within a walkable distance.”

The Team Lead of Adlai Heroes Foundation, Oluwafunmibi Ojewale, noted that the knowledge that there are a handful of slums in the Ajegunle community propelled them to reach out to pregnant women.

“Because this demographic doesn’t have access to basic maternity needs, we decided to donate delivery kits, baby items and foodstuffs to make their lives a bit easier when their babies arrive. They don’t have to worry about money to get those items,” she added.

Beyond donating these items to them, the health professionals counselled the women on various maternal-health issues to enable them to better understand the changes happening to them and assist them to make informed decisions.

There were professionals from different medical fields including five doctors, midwives, medical laboratory scientists, clinical nutritionists and pharmacists who educated those struggling with health conditions like diabetes or hypertension.

L-R: Brand Manager, Crown Flour Mill Limited, Bimpe Obademi; Head of Digital, Olam Agri Nigeria; Oladotun Babatunde; Alternative Care Manager, Bunmi Onifade; and Regional Programme Manager (South), Ayodeji Adelopo, both of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, during Olam Agri Nigeria’s commemoration of the 2022 World Food Day with the donation of food items to the SOS Children’s Village in Lagos

Celebrating the World Food Day

Juliet Ehimuan

Foodand what we consume has shaped human history, culture, diversity and aesthetics. It is necessary for our very survival.

It brings families together. It defines cultures. In recognition of the influence food has in all of our lives, in 1979 on October 16 people in over 150 countries started a movement to celebrate World Food Day - to raise awareness of food security issues and strengthen solidarity in the fight against hunger.

This year due to the continuous global warming issues and the war in Ukraine, security of supply chains have been put under threat and the prices on food commodities have risen at an unprecedented rate (World Bank, 2022). We can see it through Search too: in the Middle East and in African countries people are particularly worried about the effects of the food crisis. In 2022 the search interest for terms in the food vertical like “cooking oil” (+122%) and “maize flour” (+100%) grew in Kenya and “oil prices” (+162%) in South Africa. While Egyptians were concerned about prices of tomatoes (+125%), milk (+82%) and coffee (+82%), users in the United Arab Emirates, hosting a large number of expats, searched for prices on cooking oil, onions and sugar in their home country.

The range of food-related concerns, addressed by the tech community - Google included - spans today from improvements across the whole agro ecosystem to choosing more sustainable dishes by consumers.

In July 2022 we commissioned research that studies how food companies can feed over 7 billion people while managing uncertainty and complexity of the modern world. It is

clear that food and agriculture companies need solutions throughout the whole farm- to -table journey to help them make food production more efficient;

adapt to shifting trends in consumer diets and how/where they buy their food; build in flexibility and resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world

of weather events, trade restrictions, even wars and do all of this while reducing the environmental impact across the agri-food value chains. The food and agricultural companies that succeed are the ones that improve their business predictions and decision-making through connecting their internal data with external trend data.

As Gulf countries are disproportionately impacted by the adverse effects of climate change, Google started supporting the Saudi government to help them address environmental, water and agricultural challenges resulting from climate change and using artificial intelligence.

Embracing technological opportunities, startups from Africa such as OKO, provide insurance to smallholder farmers helping them to become more resilient in the face of weather vagaries, providing access to loans and even creating jobs for youngsters. Google invested in this and other start-ups in the region, working toward reaching the Sustainable Goal of the UN. Moreover, earlier this week Google Cloud announced its collaboration with Kenyan Twiga Foods, an e-commerce platform which connects farmers directly with vendors to bring high quality, locally harvested fresh produce to people every day—increasing accessibility to food items in Kenya. With the recently announced intent to establish new Google Cloud regions in South Africa, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, we hope to help more businesses build use cases for technology in food production in the future.

So whether you are an individual in UAE, a small farmer in Uganda or a large government institution in Saudi, it is your choice and opportunity to make a proportional impact - today!

Infant Mortality: UNICEF Urges Govt on One PHC Per Ward

Rebecca Ejifoma

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has charged governments at all levels to set up one functional primary healthcare centre (PHC) per ward to reduce the high rate of infant and child mortality across the country.

This comes after a recent survey shows that Ogun State recorded the highest number of children’s deaths in the southwestern part of the country.

In the survey conducted by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in col laboration with UNICEF among others, Ogun State has the highest figures in neonatal mortality, infant mortality, and postnatal care for newborns among others

in the region.

According to the NBS, the survey estimated that 56 out of 1,000 children between the ages of zero and 11 months died after birth in Ogun State.

This was highlighted at the ongoing two-day media dialogue on the 2022 Multiple Indicator Clusters (MICs) organised by UNICEF in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) tagged, “2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS-6) for Journal ists in Southwest Zone”.

Citing the survey, the Social Policy Specialist of UNICEF, Mohammed Okorie explained that the estimations were part of the MICS 6 results released by the NBS on 16 August 2022.

“68 out of 1,000 children

between the ages of zero and less than one year died after their birth in Ogun State,” he hinted.

Sadly, he noted that Ogun State has also ranked the highest in the deaths of children between ages zero and five years with 85 deaths out of 1,000 children.

The UNICEF Social Policy Specialist continued that Ogun State also recorded the lowest in the care for children after birth with an estimation of 77 per cent.

While the survey also shows that Ekiti State is in the second position in neonatal mortality with a record of 53 out of 1,000 children, Oyo State follows quickly with 31 deaths of 1,000 children.

Okorie added: “Ondo

State witnessed 18 deaths out of 1000 children while Osun state recorded 12 deaths out of 1,000 chil dren.”

He outlined further that Ekiti State emerged second on the infant mortality chart with 67 deaths out of 1,000 children. Again, Oyo state followed with a record of 40 deaths out of 1,000 children.

Okorie also pointed out that Ondo State witnessed 31 deaths out of 1,000 children. Osun State had 17 deaths out of 1,000 children and Lagos State recorded 15 deaths out of 1,000 children delivered.

Therefore, UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr Ijeoma Agbo appealed to the affected states to comply with the global requirement of one primary healthcare facility per ward and make them

functional to curtail the sordid trend and sustain the gains.

Agbo emphasised the need for more awareness for expectant mothers to patronise health care facilities rather than faith-based clin ics, which, according to her, is a major factor responsible for the high mortality rates.

She outlined, however, that although Lagos State has the lowest rate of child mortality, there is a need for its government to also do more considering the population.

On her part, the UNICEF Communication Officer for Lagos Office, Mrs Blessing Ejiofor, underscored that the importance of data in reporting such health and social situations could not be overemphasised.

According to her, the objective of the workshop is to share with the media the result of the most recent survey which would assist them to report and analyse the situation of children and women in South West Nigeria in an informed way that would be convincing to the public.

Ejiofor noted that UNICEF expects journalists to work on data-driven stories and reports that highlight major challenges faced by children and women in society.

Unanimously, the experts harped on the dire need for governments of the region to adopt all necessary strat egies to strengthen their health systems towards reducing the high rate of infant and child mortality in the states.

Lagos to Tackle Biological Threats in Ongoing Biosecurity Conference

To strengthen the advocacy for a safe Lagos and Nigeria, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has partnered the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium in the ongoing colloquy on One Health and Biosecurity in Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi remarked that the conference is the fourth in the series of conferences organised by the State Government in partner ship with GET.

He added that this, however, is the eighth held in West Africa and the African continent by the consortium to enable a biosecurity road map and increase the African con tinent’s strength towards building capacity to deal with pathogens of high effect.

He further highlighted that Lagos plays a prominent role in the development and economy of Nigeria. Having amassed a population of over 30 million individuals and being the centre of commerce in Nigeria, “It is expedient

that this knowledge exchange and discourse be held there”.

According to the com missioner, Lagos, being a low-line coastal area, is vulnerable to biological threats making it important for the State government to improve its forte against biological threats and build appropriate infrastructure to manage and mitigate dangerous pathogens of high effect.

On his part, the Chief Operation Officer, of GET Africa, Dr Ayodotun Boba

doye said that the concept of one health is necessary for ensuring biosecurity.

He emphasised: “The theme for this year’s confer ence is Strengthening Health Security and Mitigating Biological Threats in Africa.”

Bobadoye harped on the prevalence of biological threats saying, “With the intensity of biological threats in infectious diseases in re cent times, there is no better time to host discourse on mitigating biological threats than now”.

He noted that over 400 participants from 30 different countries of the world are expected to participate in the conference.

“We are making a coalition of policymakers, scientists, non-governmental organiza tions, journalists, and security experts within and outside the country to discuss how we can effectively mitigate the impact of emerging biosecurity threats, especially in Africa,” he said.

The Country Representative of the World Health Organ isation (WHO) in Nigeria,

Dr Walter Kazadi Molumbo conceded that the conference would aid WHO’s one-health approach in preparing and bolstering Africa’s capacity to address health security.

He noted that WHO agrees with Nigeria and the Lagos State Government to transform modes of preparedness, detec tion and response to outbreak exchange.

Kazadi further divulged that the DG of WHO has announced new strategies to help countries prepare and combat biological threats.

Esther Akinsola

Juliet Ehimuan

‘Bridging Local Female Skill Gaps Panacea to Nigeria’s Economic Development’

Oluchi Chibuzor

As the country continues to seek measures to boost its economy, experts have stressed the need to bridge the gap that exists between local female entrepreneurs and the global market as a panacea to national development.

Inview of this, 360 Woman Africa has trained over 100 women through its mini MBA enterprise skill development programme.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Lagos, the lead facilitator and coach Dr. Yvonne Ofodile alongside few of the faculty present encouraged all the graduating students to see themselves as the solution to Nigeria’s economic problems.

“We urge you all to go out and be worthy examples of the 360 Woman Africa Brand, their country and the world

at large following the best industry practices and ethical standards available, “she said.

She also stated that entrepreneurship even though it can be very daunting, said, “if they don’t lose their passion, energy, determination, resilient spirit, dedication to work, excellent spirit you will be rewarded in the long haul etc.

“Students who have successfully graduated will be inducted into the 360 Woman Africa Entrepreneur’s Community where they will have continuous access to mentorship, networking and available resources from 360 Woman Africa, they are also eligible to apply for the 2022 360 Woman Africa Enterprise Grant and stand a chance of winning a part of five million naira as funding for their businesses.”

She noted also that the programme is also aimed at increasing the number

of highly skilled business women leaders and womenled businesses in Nigeria and providing seed capital and grants for women owned businesses.

However, she maintained that the programme would increase financial inclusiveness for women in Nigeria and become the largest ecosystem for women entrepreneurs for community building and mobilisation, educational advancement, exchange of ideas, advocacy, inter trade networking and representation, legal representation.

Meanwhile, following their screening process this year which saw 800 plus applications received, the 360 Woman Africa team in partnership with Eudoracity Business School engaged, trained, equipped and graduated 100 women in business.

GTCO, Zenith Bank, Others to Compete at Pearl Awards

Kayode Tokede

Guaranty Trust Holdings Co. Plc (GTCO), Zenith Bank plc, among other top listed companies on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) are to compete in the 2022 Pearl’s sectoral leadership awards event coming up this November in Lagos.

Fidelity Bank Pcl also included in the financial services (Banking) category to compete with the two most profitable banks in Nigeria.

Some other major contesting categories include: United Capital, Plc, FBN Holdings

Plc and Access Holdings Plc in the Financial Services (Other Fin. Inst); Conoil Plc, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc and Seplat Energy Plc in the Oil & Gas (Petroleum Products); United Capital Plc, Universal Insurance Plc and Access Holdings in the Earnings Yield, while Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, TotalEnergies Marketing Nig. Plc and Wema Bank Plc were listed in the dividend growth category award category.

Other awards categories are:FBN Quest Merchant Bank Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, and Stanbic IBTC Capital

Limited in the Issuing House Of The Year award, while APT Securities and Funds Limited, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited and CardinalStone Securities Limited were listed in the stockbroking firm of the year award category.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the President/CEO, Pearl Awards Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Orekoya reiterated that Pearl Awards Nigeria, instituted in 1995, has over the years organized with finesse the Awards Nite annually as part of its contribution to the growth of the capital market in Nigeria.

MARKET INDICATORS

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022

Money Supply (M3) 49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors 50,601.36

Money Supply (M2) 49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money 27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1) 21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks 2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits 18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA) 5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA) 27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC) 61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net) 21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA 0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA) 0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS) 40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net 6,785,979.22

Lafarge Africa Plc on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in its nine months ended September 30, 2022 unaudited results announced 11.2 per cent increase in net income to N44. 9billion from N40.39billion reported in nine months of 2021.

The cement manufacturing company over the period delivered a revenue growth of 23.1per cent to N269.855billion in nine months of 2022 from N219.2billion in nine months of 2021, over improved sales in cement.

The company reported N261.4billion in revenue

from sales of Cement in nine months of 2022, representing an increase of 22.43 per cent from N213.56billion reported in nine months of 2021.

Aggregates and concrete also recorded N8.0billion revenue from N5.48billion in nine months of 2021, while revenue from “Other products” closed the period under review at N384.1million from N157.67million.

The CEO of Lafarge Africa, Khaled El Dokani in a statement said “In Q3 2022, our Net Sales improved by 12.2per cent over Q3 2021.

The worsening exchange rate situation impacted our Cost of Sales, specifically key supplies

indexed to the U.S dollar. This constrained our recurring EBIT growth.

“As a result, Q3 EBIT was 19.3per cent lower than last year. Without the FX impact, our Q3 EBIT improved by 8per cent vs last year.

“Our nine months of 2022 results underscore the Company’s resilience, with 23.1per cent growth in Net Sales, 17.5per cent growth in EBIT and 11.2per cent growth in Net Income. We remain committed to our sustainability ambitions by utilizing affordable clean energy in our operations and optimizing our green logistics strategy; among other initiatives that are in alignment with our net zero pledge journey’’.

Reserve Money (Base Money 14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation 3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves 10,829,686.9

--Special Intervention Reserves 390,557.8

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage)

MonthJuly

Inter-Bank

Minimum

Monetary

Treasury

Savings

With the rise of drug abuse and self-medication by Nigerians, Procold, Nigeria’s reliable brand and medicine for colds, flu and Catarrh launched an #Originalmovement campaign that seeks to educate Nigerians on safe use of drugs.

As the #Originalmovement gets underway, Procold initiates a bold move in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria as its long-term partner to encourage all Nigerians to take the authentic and best quality medicines by entering into a formal agreement, through

establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which has been signed by both parties at the 95th Annual National Conference of PSN held at Gowon Hall, Crispan Suites & Events Centre, Rayfield, Jos. Speaking at the event and representing Orange Drugs Limited, and Head of Brands at Procold for West Africa, Marvin Lucky stated that, “for more than 35 years, every household in Nigeria has relied on Procold as the trusted and reliable medicine for colds, flu and catarrh. The endorsement of Procold by

the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is a testament of what the brand is known for. As the number one brand for Cold, flu and Catarrh in Nigeria, this collaboration becomes another milestone for the commitment to always provide the best quality product the Nigerian public”

President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Professor Cyril Usifoh in his speech, said “Procold has been a leading and established brand among the cold remedies in Nigeria for over 3 decades.

Prime

Maximum

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Kayode Tokede

> L-R : 1st Vice President , Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers ( CIS), Oluropo Dada, Chairman, Fidelity Bank PLC, Mustafa Chike-Obi, President, CIS, Oluwole Adeosun and Registrar and Chief Executive , Josiah Akerewusi, during courtesy visit of Chike-Obi to CIS’ Principal Officers in Lagos, yesterday

on Safe

Transcorp Delivers Strong Performance, Reports 41.4% PAT Increase in Q3

Kayode Tokede

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc has released its results for the third quarter (Q3) year ended September 30, 2022, recording significant improvement across its major income lines.

Despite the extremely challenging business environment, the conglomerate with investments in the hospitality, power and oil & gas sectors, recorded impressive

growth in its profit after tax which rose by 41.4per cent to N19billion up from N13.3billion recorded the previous year in September 2021.

The company also announced 47.7 per cent increase in profit before tax to N20.9 billion in Q3 2022 , higher than N14.1 billion recorded in the similar period of 2021.

The results filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) also showed that the Group’s total revenue rose by 12.5per cent from N85.6billion in Q3 2021 to

N96.2billion in the period under consideration.

Operating Income also grew by 14.5per cent from N27.5 billion in September 2021 to N31.5 billion in September 2022, while Operating expenses for the quarter ended September 2022, stood at N16.0 billion, representing an increase of 30.9per cent compared to N12.2 billion recorded in the same period of 2021.

The results also showed that total assets increased by 1.3per cent

from N416.0 billion in December 2021 to N421.2 billion in Q3 2022 due to the increase in Inventories, Prepayments and Trade and Other Receivables which cushioned the effect of the decline in Cash and Cash Equivalents, just as shareholders’ Funds rose to N161.8 billion, representing an 11per cent year-on-year increase from N146.3 billion due to profitability during the period. Reacting, Transcorp’s President/Group Chief Executive Officer, Owen Omogiafo, in a

statement explained that the laudable performance this quarter was achieved as a result of the improved performance across all our businesses.

She said, “Despite the challenging operating environment, characterised by gas supply constraints, foreign exchange volatility and rising inflation, amongst others, the group improved profitability and performance during the period. Our hospitality business has sustained its strong growth

trajectory, outperforming all indices. Our business model remains robust, thanks to the prudent and adaptive strategy we have taken across our operations.”

While expressing confidence in the company’s capacity to deliver even better results in the last quarter of the financial year, she said, “We remain focused on efficiency, cost leadership, and meeting market demand to consistently deliver profitability and value to all our shareholders.”

FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF 02/11/2022

MAIN BOARDDEALS MARKET PRICE QUANTITY TRADED VALUE TRADED ( N )

11TH BAYELSA ANNUAL THANKSGIVING...

Tinubu, Omo-Agege Donate N200m Relief Materials, Cash to Displaced Flood Victims in Delta

Aviation workers’ strike stalls former Lagos governor’s visit, chopper movement FG has contigency plan to prevent food shortage, says Minister Bayelsa hold thanksgiving despite travails, Diri urges calm Jonathan, Dickson, Jonah seek support for victims

Governor, Senator Douye Diri, urging the people not to be daunted in the face of the obvious challenges caused by the ravaging floods.

Cash and relief materials worth N200 million have been donated to displaced flood victims in Delta State by the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party's governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

This was just as the federal government in reacting to the recent massive flooding witnessed in the country, yesterday, disclosed that arrangements have been put in place to forestall food shortage in the wake of losses recorded in the farms.

Also, Bayelsans in their hundreds yesterday trooped out to celebrate and give thanks to God at the annual thanksgiving day with the State

In Delta State, while Tinubu announced a donation of N50 million cash, Omo-Agege gave out N150 million worth of relief materials.

Addressing a mammoth crowd on behalf of Tinubu and himself in Effurun, Delta State yesterday, Senator Omo-Agege explained that the industrial action embarked upon by aviation workers halted the movement of the APC presidential candidate.

He said: "I am here wearing two caps. The first cap I am wearing is the cap of the governorship candidate of APC in the 2023 general election and the second cap is that of the coordinator of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign

Organisation in Delta State.

“The essence of this gathering today (yesterday) is to welcome our incoming president by God's grace, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The reason for the visit is to show solidarity, empathy and sympathy with our people as a result of the devastating flood in most of our communities here in Delta State and also to provide leadership in our fight to uproot bad governance imposed in Delta State in the past seven and half years.

"But as you all know, because of the strike in the aviation industry, and his reason for coming here is to visit IDP camps. And you know, to get to the IDP camps, you cannot get there by road. So we made arrangements to use helicopters to move our president-in-waiting and his entourage from here to IDP camps in Kwale in Delta North,

Patani in Delta South and Okwagbe in Delta Central.

"But we have received a message that because of the strike in the aviation sector, we are not able to get any of those helicopters to move him from here to those IDP camps. So we have decided to reschedule this visit. He has promised that he is coming back within the next couple of days, he will let us know; at which time the aviation strike would have been called off and we will have access to the helicopters that will take him to those locations," he explained to the crowd.

The APC governorship candi date said the party's presidential candidate instructed him to make a donation of N50 million on his behalf because of the empathy he feels for the flood victims in the state.

"Our presidential candidate said that I should announce the dona

Glencore Flew Cash Bribes to Nigeria, Other African Countries in Private Jets, Say UK Prosecutors

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Officials of Glencore Plc, one of the world's leading marketers of crude oil and its products, delivered cash in private jets to officials across Nigeria and other African countries, United Kingdom prosecutors have said, in a web of bribery and corruption orchestrated by the London oil trading desk.

The company, founded by Marc Rich, admitted to seven counts of bribery across countries including Nigeria and Cameroon, following a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

Last week, THISDAY reported that Nigeria’s bid to claim compen sation from the British subsidiary of mining and trading group Glencore over bribes paid to officials at Nigeria’s state oil company had been denied by a London court.

Lawyers representing the countrytold London’s Southwark Crown Court that Nigerian officials should be permitted to address the court on November 2 and 3, when Glencore Energy is to be sentenced having pleaded guilty to seven counts of bribery in connection with oil

operations in five African countries.

But Judge Peter Fraser had ruled that Nigeria did not have the right to be heard, as only the prosecution, in this case the UK SFO, and the defence could make arguments at a sentencing hearing slated for today (Thursday).

Nigeria had argued in its written arguments that it was “anidentifiable victim of Glencore’s admitted criminal activity”, as two of the charges to which Glencore Energy had pleaded guilty relate to payments made to Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) officials.

The SFO had argued thatindividuals or entities who are not involved in a criminal case did not have the right to address the court at sentencing, “even if they consider themselves to be thevictims of crime”.

However, prosecutors said the company paid more than $28 mil lion in bribes to secure access to oil cargoes. It marks the first time a corporate body has been convicted for paying bribes, according to the SFO.

“Corruption was condoned at a very senior level within the

company generally and the” west African trading desk specifically, prosecutors said in a case summary made public Wednesday.

The sentencing will draw a line for the company in the UK over a series of long-running investigations, but leaves open the possibility of charges against former employees.

An SFO prosecutor said October 24 as many as 11 ex-staff were under investigation for criminal wrongdoing.

In May, Glencore said it expected to pay around $1.5 billion in total to resolve investigations in the US, UK and Brazil, of which $1.06 billion was payable to agencies in the USand Brazil.

Glencore made a $410 million provision for the UK fine in the 2021 accounts of its UK subsidiary. It also faces ongoing investigationsin Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The SFO said previously that its investigation showed the com modity trader paid for preferential access to oil, including increased cargoes, valuable grades of oil and preferable dates of delivery, between2011 and 2016.

Prosecutors laid out a scheme that traders on the firm’s crude oil desk

in London disguised payments “to give the illusion that these payments were for legitimate services.”

The SFO detailed how the company used a cash desk in its Swiss headquarters and private jets in Africa to courier illicit payments across west Africa to pay state officials bribes, the Bloomberg report added.

Using sham payments to an agent, the company paid bribes to officials in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Republic of Congo.

The SFO said Glencore paid more than €4 million ($4 million) to the agent, identified as NG1, that were disguised as service fees. The agent then withdrew the money in Nigeria and flew it, often by private jet,to Cameroon where it was made available to a Glencore oil trader who used it to pay bribes.

The guilty plea is a much-needed win for the SFO, which has suf fered a series of humiliating court reversals due to missteps by the agency’s leadership. A governmentrequested review said that some of the failures in another high-profile oil corruption case were caused by“cultural issues” within the SFO.

tion of N50million to Deltans who have lost their homes and source of livelihood and who are currently in IDP camps," he disclosed, assuring that the money would be made available to them through the Director General of the campaign, Elder Godsdey Orubebe.

"We are going to sit down and work out the modality on how this N50 million will be shared to each of the IDP camps to ameliorate the conditions of our people. We know that no one man can restore the losses suffered by our people. So this is Tinubu's own way of showing love to the people of Delta State.

"In addition to that, in my capacity as the governorship candidate of APC in Delta State and as Deputy Senate President and Senator representing Delta Central, I have also made arrangements and we have acquired relief materials worth N150 million.

"We have made all of the procurements, food items, cement, mattresses, rice, roofing sheets and more. And beginning on Friday, we are going to set up a committee that will move from IDP camp to IDP camp to distribute all of these materials to our people who have been displaced as a result of this flood", he said.

At Okwagbe, where he led the APC train to visit the IDP camps, Omo-Agege expressed sympathy on behalf of Tinubu and himself, and said the N200 million donation was a heartfelt contribution by both of them to cushion the plight of the victims of the flood.

He said the people of Delta were prepared to vote out the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and asked Okwagbe people to join the APC winning team

Omo-Agege’s running mate, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, led the mission to Kwale IDP camp, while DG of the campaign, Orubebe led another team to Patani IDP camp.

Flooding: FG Has Contigency Plan to Prevent Food Shortage, Says Minister

Meanwhile, the federal govern ment yesterday disclosed that arrangements have been put in place to forestall food shortage in the wake of losses recorded in the farms as a result of recent flood disaster that ravaged the country.

Agriculture and Rural Devel opment Minister, Mohammed Abubakar, made this known while speaking with newsmen at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which was presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.

The minister also talked about FEC's approval of a memorandum presented by his ministry for the Revised Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Nigeria, (the Animal Component).

Abubakar listed multiple dry season farming and other measures as part of government’s plans to mitigate the losses to the floods.

Asked if the federal government had any plan to forestall food shortage as had been projected by various sources, following the devastating flooding, Abubakar said besides re-strategised planting patterns, funding has been secured to aid the plans.

He explained: “What are we doing to avert food shortage? Number one, first and foremost, we have in place an intensive plan for dry season farming. We have gotten funding from the African Development Bank, we have some money also in our own provision, also, IFAD, that is the International Fund for Agricultural Development also just donated or grant, if you will, $5 million.

“So, we have some money that we are already planning to do dry season farming. Also, in areas of conflict, we are recruiting additional rangers.

“I told you in another forum that we have Agro Rangers that provide some measure of security on farm lands. We are recruiting more to do that.

“Also, we are intensifying farming in areas that have no conflict to make up for those areas that we are getting little or no access.

“So the thing is the government, Mr. President, have specifically directed that we do everything humanly possible to make sure there is no food shortage in the country and I can tell you, there will not be any food shortage.

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri; former President Goodluck Jonathan, and former Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Seriake Dickson, during the State’s 11th Annual thanksgiving at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene…yesterday

Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Sylvester Idowu in Warri and OlusegunSamuel in Yenagoa

RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF

Nigeria at Crossroads, Needs DivineIntervention, Says CAN President

holds prayers, retreat for peaceful poll

make utterances from the pulpit that are likely to flare tempers."

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh has declared that Nigeria is presently at a crossroad and would need divine intervention to overcome its present challenges.

He stated this in a message at the opening of the 2022 Annual Ecumenical Service of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement holding in Oyo state.

Okoh also decried the worsening economic situation in the country.

"Your eminences, you are meeting at a defining moment in our nation’s political and economic history. Our nation today is at a crossroads and will need divine intervention and wise counsel to meander through these challenging times,” Okoh said.

Okoh, whose address was delivered by the North Central Zone Chairman of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Mr. Martins Olobatoke, told religious leaders not to join politicians in overheating the polity.

Okoh said religious leaders as the country approaches the 2023 general elections should, "speak only when it will make sense and communicate the right message to the right audience.

"This is not a time to join politi cians in overheating the polity or

He told religious leaders that they have a duty, "to be a father - figure to all your members irrespective of their political leanings."

Okoh also challenged the confer ence, "to take time to pray for our country Nigeria, the continent of Africa and by extension the whole world that God will cause a wind of revival to blow through the earth and bring forth repentance and righteousness that will put an end to wickedness ravaging our world now."

In his opening address, the Spiritual Leader of the CSMC Worldwide, Most Reverend Samuel Adefila Abidoye, decried the rampant killings of Christians by bandits and terrorists. He therefore asked the federal government to find solution to the problem and other security challenges facing the country.

Abidoye tasked Nigerians to, "keep their voter’s cards," in preparation for 2023 general election and also vote for candidates of their choice in the election before admonishing Nigerians to remain peaceful throughout the election.

Leaders and Secretaries from districts of the church across the country are attending the one-week conference.

Meanwhile, CAN has declared Friday as a national day of prayers

to seek divine intervention in the affairs of the country.

A statement by Chairman, Local Organising Committee, National Prayer Day, Archbishop John Praise Daniel, said the event would also be used to implore God's help in preventing violence, manipulation, intimidation of voters and other electoral crimes in the forthcoming elections.

He said association would pray God to use the programme to ad

dress the spiritual dimensions of the challenges plaguing the nation and frustrate every evil plan against the unity of the people.

"We consider this imperative in view of the fact that our nation is passing through very challenging times at the moment, despite its abundant natural, human, and material resources.

Nigeria is a vibrant and virile land that is full of colour, wealth and all that it would take to be

one of the greatest nations on earth. Sadly, the country has not yet reached where it should be at the moment due to some inherent problems.

"Consequently, all Christian groups or organisations, stake holders and Christian politicians, especially those vying for offices, are invited to participate in the programme.

"All bloc chairmen, zonal chair men, states and local chairmen, and

all church leaders, are to mobilise their members nationwide for the programme,” the statement added. He said Participants are to as semble at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, for the prayer retreat by 10:00am prompt on Friday this week.

"We urge all and sundry to join the solemn assembly in order to usher the country into a new era of peace, unity, safety and all-round prosperity," he said

Under Obasanjo, Yar'adua, Jonathan, Buhari, 19 Journalists Killed without Conclusive Investigation, Prosecution, Says Rights Group

No less than 19 Nigerian journalists were brutally killed between May 29, 1999 till date, without conclusive investigation on their deaths and prosecution of the perpetrators, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has revealed.

THISDAY's checks showed that the killings happened under the administration of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, late Musa Yar'adua, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and

the current President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been in charge since May 29, 2015.

The group also revealed that no less than 47 incidents of attacks against journalists, media work ers and media houses had been perpetrated in the last one year, and forecasted escalating attacks on journalists and media houses as the 2023 general elections draw near.

Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, in commemoration of the International

NBTE Boss: Nigeria’s Quest for Skills May Remain Mirage without Re-inventing Technical Education

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris

Bugaje has said Nigeria’s quest for skills acquisition would remain a mirage unless technical education is reinvented and re-engineered.

Speaking yesterday in Kaduna, while declaring open a workshop on the review of 10 National Technical Certificates (NTC) and Advance National Technical Certificates (ANTC), Bugaje said improvement on the curriculum of technical education alone, would not achieve the desired result without adequate funding,

provision of infrastructure and the training of technical teachers.

According to him, provision of infrastructure, establishment of technical colleges and training of technical teachers were required to reinvent and re-engineer the technical education.

Bugaje said, “Our polytechnics in Nigeria are supposed to admit students from technical colleges, but t because the admission to technical colleges is so low…

“We will not go anywhere if we do not re-engineer and reinvent the technical college.

“One way of doing that is the curriculum which you are already doing, but mostly

important we need to put the correct infrastructure, we need to improve the environment.

“We need to kill this broken window syndrome- once you go to a technical college, the gate is broken, the windows are broken, the machines are dilapidated… that has to change. We need to proper infrastructure, proper machinery and train the teachers,” he said.

According to him, those who studied sociology and Nigerian Languages and end up heading technical colleges should be booted out for the right people to be recruited.

“I know of a technical school

where somebody who studied Hausa is the principal! What does he know about skills?

“Technical colleges must also be linked so that they can provide dual certification- ATC and ANTC,” he said.

He noted that, “Everybody is talking about the German dual system whereby children in sub- tertiary level go to school for three days and three days apprenticeship in industry.

“Our own version of the dual system is let them do the conventional NAPTIP exams, NTC etc, but let them also do NSQ, so that they would be able to get two certificates.

Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the Programme Director, Media Rights Agenda, Mr. Ayode Longe, said the Nigerian state has failed in its statutory duty of ensuring protection and safety for journalists discharging their legitimate functions of keeping the citizens informed and holding government accountable.

"Unfortunately, since the begin ning of this democratic dispensation on May 29, 1999 till date, MRA has collared and documented a total of 19 journalists killed and in none of these killings has the federal government investigated, arrested, prosecuted or brought any of the perpetrators to justice.

He said the press conference was being held to draw attention to the fact that 10 years after the United Nations came out with the Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, Nigeria had not taken any concrete action to stem the spate of attacks against journalists and the media in the country.

"We all know that the federal government has never made any serious effort to investigate attacks against journalists or to prosecute the perpetrators of such attacks.

"Despite the dozens, even hundreds of attacks against journal ists that have been reported and documented by organisations like Media Rights Agenda and others over the years, we are yet to hear

of any instance where a journalist has been killed in Nigeria and a serious investigation was conducted and the perpetrators arrested and prosecuted.

"This is a serious cause for concern for us because either wittingly or unwittingly, the impression is being given that it is okay to harm journal ists in Nigeria and that whoever does so will get away with it because there will be no serious investigation into their actions and nothing will be done to them," Longe said.

Noting that the group collated and documented no less than 47 incidents of attacks against journal ists, media workers and media houses in the last one year, the programme director pointed out that MRA's records showed that the men and officers of the Nigerian Police were the major perpetrators of these attacks.

He said MRA had documented over 15 incidents in which officers of the Nigerian Police were the per petrators, with thugs and unknown gunmen following closely the Police in the number of attacks against journalists and media houses.

He also berated the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), saying data collated by MRA during the period under review showed clearly that the commission had become a major impediment to broadcasting freedom and the development of broadcasting in Nigeria.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Peter Uzoho

Enugu State PDP governorship candidate Dr Peter Mbah and member representing Awgu/Oji River/Aninri federal constituency, Hon. Tony Okechukwu, during a reception in his honour by the Greater Awgu at Ugbo, Awgu LGA on Tuesday.

DELIBERATING ON OGUN 2023 BUDGET...

PDP Drags APC to Court over Alleged Unlawful Convention

Seeks sack of Adamu-led exco, party’s candidates for 2023 polls

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dragged the ruling All Pro gressives Congress (APC) before the Federal High Court, Abuja, alleging illegality of the process that produced the current leadership of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Beside seeking the sack of the Adamu-led executive for emerging through a process that violated both the country’s constitution and

the Electoral Act, PDP asked the court to void all steps and actions taken so far by the APC national executive body.

The main opposition party said that its prayers were sequel to a recent judgement of the Federal High Court, delivered on September 30, 2022, which declared as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional all actions and activities of Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of APC.

The Buni committee midwifed

the process that produced the current national executive of APC.

The courts had sacked APC candidates in Rivers State, Adamawa State, Ekiti State, and Osun State due to the fact that the Buni leadership of the party conducted the primary elections in those states.

PDP, in the suit filed by its lawyer, Mr Ayo Ajibade, SAN, therefore, demanded an order of the court disqualifying all candidates of APC for the 2023 general election on the grounds that their nominations by the party

under Adamu was done in breach and gross violation of the 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act 2022.

THISDAY gathered that Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, had assigned the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1864/2022, to Justice Inyang Ekwo for determination.

The trial judge, it was learnt, had also fixed November 22 for mention of the suit, while directing that all the 53 persons listed by PDP in the suit as defendants be served with hearing notices in their respective locations.

Business Leaders, Investors Endorse Mbah, Enugu PDP Guber Candidate’s Economic Blueprint

Business leaders, investors and private sector professionals in Enugu State under the aegis of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA); the Enugu State Coalition of Business and Professional Association (ECOBPA), Enugu Women in Business, among others, have endorsed the development proposals of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state, Dr. Peter Mbah.

Among the proposals thatexcited the industrialists were Mbah's strategies on strengthening the Ease of Doing Business that would involve tax consolidation, sustainable water and electricity supply, modernisation of agriculture, infrastructure improvement and diversification of transportationin the state.

According to a statement, they approved Mbah's proposal at the Enugu Business Town Hall Meet ing with the PDP gubernatorialcandidate at ECCIMA House in Enugu on Tuesday.

The ECCIMA Board of Trustees Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of the Roban Group, Rob Anwatu after listening to Mbah's explanations said: "I can see whytomorrow is here. This is first-hand information. I now know Peter Mbah. He is a man prepared for a job ahead."

In his presentation, Mbah

said he came to share his dream and desire of growing the state’s economy in a manner that would shock the naysayers, noting that his manifesto was people-focused and tailored towards making the state the preferred destination for investment, tourism and living.

He said him and his team envisioned an Enugu that could achieve a zero poverty headcount index with up to $30 billion GDP, which would be a departure from the state's marginal growth that had not been experienced in the past, insisting that the state must grow exponentially with a radi cal approach and deployment of technological bundle of possibilities.

He identified one of the key sec tors that would drive the economy to include commerce and industry, stressing that as a businessman he understood the pains of running businesses in Nigeria.

"I'm also a CEO of a thriving industry and I know what it takes dealing with external factors such as massaging the ego of regulators. So I feel your pains and I don't think any other person will dobetter than me.

“We'll create the enablers of ease of doing business, the skills and the labour, our job is to ensure thatwe take care of them.

"We will look at the sectorial classifications and de-risk their commerciality. We are going to

ask tough questions, discuss withbusiness owners and ensure that we increase our service levels. We'll set up a N100BN Enugu State Industrial revolving fund for those who don'thave access to fund.

"There will be an innovation incubation center for talents, where we will provide amenities such as electricity, water and internet to explore their full potentials. We'll inject economic activities to enhance our GDP," Mbah pledged.

He also disclosed that under

his administration, agriculture would be technologically driven to enhance productivity, provide agro-processing zones in the threeSenatorial zones which will make lack of storage for agricultural produce a thing of the past.

Mbah also promised to make the state an oil producing state with its several oil fields and gas reveres, saying his administration will work with the other governorsof South East states to build the region's economy.

Among the 53 defendants in the court process sighted by our Correspondent on Wednesday were the presidential candidate of APC in the 2023 general election, Bola Tinubu; his running mate, Kashim Shettima; and all APC governorship candidates and their deputies. Also included were all senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the party in the 2023 polls.

The plaintiff prayed the court to make an order disqualifying the APC candidates because their nominations violated the provisions of the constitution and Electoral Act.

Speaking on the case, National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, declared that by Section 183 of the 1999 Constitu tion, as amended, "No governor is expected to hold any other executive position, as Governor Mai Mala Buni did as the APC interim chairman

"APC cannot legitimately field candidates for 2023, as no governor can combine two executive posi tions. The Federal High Court has ruled in the judgement of the court that Session 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a sitting governor, and I quote, ‘A governor shall not, during when he holds office, hold any other

executive office, in any capacity whatsoever’.

"He was purported to have been chairman for the APC Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Com mittee, which was amorphous in law, it is unknown, a body that is foreign to the constitutions of both the APC and Nigeria and in that position, he is a serving governor. Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe State governor attempted or pretended to have been chairman, and in that position.

"If those who pretended or attempted to create an NWC are illegal, then they can't give anything. The Mai Mala Buni committee has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be an illegal contraption. And this way, issues well canvassed in the celebrity case of Eyitayo Jegede versus INEC and Akeredolu and they were celebrated in that judgement.

"Particularly, in the Court of Appeal, the law stated that any violation of any provision of the constitution is fatal. If there is a violation of Section 43, like APC and Mai Mala Buni have done, it is fatal with heavy consequences and that's why APC is rattled. Today, there is illegality and the fact is that there is no legitimacy of the whole process that they had.”

Lai Mohammed: Security Nigeria's Major Challenge, Not Economy

Insists more funds needed to fight disinformation Lawmakers demand true situation of terror alert

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed yesterday opined that the major challenge facing the country was not the economy but insecurity.

The minister who said this when he appeared before the Hon. Olusegun Odegbumi led HouseCommittee on Information to de fend the Ministry's budget for 2023, reiterated that the ministry needs more funds to tackle the scourge of fake news, disinformation and maintain stability in the country. He lamented that his ministry was dealt a heavy blow by the

Executive, which allocated a “small sum” of N869 million for the ministry for 2023.

Mohammed who also lamented that N345 million from the total sum was for information, noted that while he understands the current challenges the country was facing, the ministry of information andculture at this critical time should have more allocation to carry out its job effectively.

He stated that he went with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, in a helicopter over the oil producing area and saw how in broad daylight pipelines were being vandalised and stolen.

The minister also made reference to the security threat issued last week by US government and other foreign countries and as well the upcoming general elections and national census, insisting that is the more reason the ministry should be well funded to be speaking every moment.

He therefore urged the lawmak ers to raise his budget, adding that the parliament was his last hope to try the best to fight disinformation.

Mohammed said, "I want to draw the House attention to the fact that the ministry of information has been dealt a very heavy card in this year's budgetary allocation.

“In 2022 the National Assembly approved N2.5 billion for this ministry, as capital. Of which N1 billion belong to information, this year the capital provision for the entire ministry of information and culture is N869 million, of which only N345 million is for information.

“I fully understand the current challenges the country is facing, but during challenges like this you need your information ministry, not only to chronicle what you have achieved but to combat fake news, disinformation, hate speech which today has taken quite a height that's threatening our very existence as a country.

Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi; Governor Dapo Abiodun and his Chief Economic Adviser/Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, putting heads together at the Treasury Board Meeting on the State Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2023 - 2025 and Year 2023 Budget at Abeokuta…yesterday

HEALING STREAMS LIVE...

FG Okays Policy TransformingSports to Revenue Generating Sector

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The federal government, has approved a new policy, which fully makes the sports sector a revenue generating business for both the government and the private sector.

Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, said the approval was for the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) from 2022 to 2026.

He said with the approval, sports, in the country, has added a structured business portfolio to the recreational value, adding that the new policy has provided for various categories of the sports sector stakeholders, including the youths, who mostly make the world of sports enthusiasts.

Dare also disclosed that the policy contained an array of compartments taking care of sports governance regulations, infrastructure develop ment plans and other modules aimed at standardising the sports sector.

His words: "The Federal Executive Council, chaired by His Excellency, the Vice-President, approved the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) 2022-2026.

“The policy has as its core, the building of a business model into our sports development. Recall that over a year ago, the President, in council, with other FEC members approved the reclassification of

sports as business. So, sports is business, in addition to recreation and part of the plan is to bring the policy to be able to tie this in for implementation.

“Today, that policy, 2022 to 2026, was presented to Council and the Federal Executive Council, has ap proved National Sports Industrial Policy 2022 to 2026. This approval brings to the final closure, the idea that, or the principle of sports as business, which opens the door to private investment, driven by

incentives and also investment from the private sector.

“The approval obtained today will also look at sports’ code of governance regulations, as it relates to our sporting federations, to create a sports governance structure as we have in other sectors that will be attractive to the private sector and this code of governance will attract obligations like accountability, which are critical to investor confidence and also sector clarity.

“The approval also covers

incentives for private investors and sports development. Approved were proposed tax and fiscal incentives needed to drive sports as business and also to attract the much needed investment from the private sector.

“The approval also covers the ability of the Sports Ministry to drive the application of a medley of funding and financing approaches to develop our infrastructure and to develop our sports from ROT, which is Renovate, Operate and Transfer, to BOT, which Build,

Operate and Transfer, to the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and also the Nigeria Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan. All of these have been approved as approaches we can employ to boost sports as business.

“Most importantly, the triggers of sports as business, which is infra structure development, investment from public and private sector, and also incentives, that were presented to council, were all approved and with this development, we believe

that a new dawn has come for sports development in our country.

“In this policy is something for the athletes, in this policy is something for the government, in this policy there’s something for the mass of sports loving Nigerians and in this policy, there's definitely something for our youth population, because it has a fully developed sports value-chain into which most of our youths can plug in and also investors can plug in,” he further explained.

2023: Abdullahi Promises Uncommon Representation in Senate

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A former Minister of Youths and Sports Development and Kwara Central senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 election, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has reiterated its com mitment to provide uncommon representation for the people of the senatorial at the senate to put the area on the world map of development and growth.

Abdullahi made the remark in Ilorin, the state capital, on the sideline of the recent mega rally organised for him by the people of his ward, Ubadanwaki ward of the PDP in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state as part of move to show their commitment to his aspiration.

The rally witnessed a large

turn out of the people of the area without parties’ affiliation.

The former minister said, he has requisite exposure, education and other qualities that could be used to bring the much-expected socio-economic development to the area if elected to the senate.

He said he has been tested in various state and national positions and performed creditably and this will be replicated at the national assembly if elected so as to add more values to the well being of the senatorial district.

Abdullahi, who was elated following the large turn out of the people said , he would do everything possible to live up to the expectations of the senatorial district devoid any political parties’ affiliation.

He noted that, he would not

betray the confidence reposed in him if elected, adding that, "the people of Kwara Central senatorial district deserves good and quality representation and this will be

“Between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Develop ment, the Central Bank and other private investors in agriculture, there's enough grains in our own silos, in CBN and silos, that will cater for any eventualities and currently, the Humanitarian Ministry is picking up some grains from us to distribute to the needy. So I can assure you, by the grace of God, there will be no food shortage.”

On what the preliminary outlook of the damage to farming by the

EMEFIELE: WEAK INFRASTRUCTURE, LOW INCOME, OTHERS HAMPERING DIGITAL FINANCIAL INTEGRATION

He added that these innovations have benefitted from expanding payments system infrastructure, among other kinds of institutional support while digital technology has notably been disruptive to the financial landscape, threatening the intermediation role of traditional financial institutions.

“However, it presents new opportunities and unique chal lenges that require corresponding regulatory expertise and innovation, to continue to achieve the goals of monetary policy,” Emefiele noted. Among other things, he said monetary authorities were catalysing interoperability within the financial system by enabling seamless interac tion across networks, supporting entry and innovation into payments system networks while introducing new initiatives that facilitate access to financial data, such as open banking, leveraging application programming interfaces (APIs).

Continuing, Obiora, said among other milestones recorded by the CBDC, over 3,320 merchants have successfully registered on the eNaira platform across the country. He listed the merchants to include Shoprite, Sahad Stores, A.A. Rano, among others, adding that there are over 2.5 million daily visits to the eNaira website.

He said the central bank remained committed to attaining lofty heights in the adoption and integration of its digital currency in collaboration with the federal government and other relevant stakeholders as it continues to unlock new phases and possibilities in facilitating a reduction in cash processing costs and an efficient payment ecosystem in Nigeria.

However, he said the banking and financial systems are still grappling with some challenges including depth of financial inclu sion, which the Enhancing Financial

Innovation and Access (EFInA), said 17 million adults are not currently making electronic payments but own phones and are interested in mobile money.

“Another 22 million adults are not currently making electronic pay ments but say that they could be convinced to use it,” Obiora said.

He said the theme of the seminar remained apt, "considering that the payment landscape and ecosystem in Nigeria have attained lofty heights relative to its peers on the continent. As we are all aware, very few countries have launched a digital currency in the global space, and these include some emerg ing economies, namely Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Eastern Caribbean.

“While the motivation for issuing a digital currency by dif ferent countries depends on their specific economic situations, the creation of programmable money;

improvement in the transparency of money flows; and the provision for the seamless and easy flow of monetary and fiscal policy, remain at the forefront of each country’s agenda.

“Let me commence by underscor ing the fact that the digitalisation of money enhances the powers of the CBN to impact its monetary policy. Consequently, it has the potential to change traditional structures of the banking and financial systems, while sustaining the primary mandate of the CBN.

“The gains in the digitalisation of money span across enhancing tax collection, social welfare transfers, and more importantly, provide benefits that would enhance the goal of cashless policy in Nigeria. Similarly, the digitalisation of money is very important for the facilitation of remittances, financial inclusion, financial market deepening, and ultimately, economic growth.”

pursued to the latter if given the mandate."

He further reiterated his confidence in all the promises made by the people to ensure his

floods looked like, he said, “defi nitely, it’s telling us that yes, we have lost some farmlands. For example, I can give you one. The Olam, which is a private organization, has a rice mill that has been totally submerged, about 4000 hectares.

“So there are farmlands that are definitely damaged. But what are we going to do, like I said, it’s to use dry season farming to compensate for this loss. In fact, we are planning to even produce twice during this dry season farming for some of the crops,” he said.

Speaking on the approved memorandum, the Minister said, “today the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Rural Development presented a memo on the Revised Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Nigeria, (the Animal Component).

“If you’ll recall, bird flu has been something that we see and hear about in Asia, but of course, in 2006, Nigeria experienced the very first one and at the time, we lost about 1.2 million birds, chicken.

“This is a highly pathogenic viral infection that is so contagious and Zoonotic, meaning it can go from animals to humans and can cause death and can cause sickness. So the previous policy was put together by experts back in 2005, in order to contain, quickly, any kind of outbreak of bird flu. But the sector has grown so much with additional importation of maybe new and exotic birds.

“Therefore, the need to revise this policy and produce a new one

victory at the poll stating that, "If anyone was ever in doubt as to whether we will win this election, this rally has erased that doubt completely.”

that will conform with the current happenings in the industry. That is why this new policy is being put forward by the ministry and it’s the same, I mean, it's called the Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan to contain any future occurrence”, Abubakar said.

Bayelsans Holds Thanksgiving Despite Travails as Diri UrgesCalm

Bayelsans in their hundreds yesterday trooped out to celebrate and give thanks to God at the annual thanksgiving day with the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, urging the people not to be daunted in the face of the obvious challenges caused by the ravaging floods.

This year’s event which was the 11th edition of the annual event initi ated by the former Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, had in attendance many prominent Bayelsans from all walks of life including former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking during the annual thanksgiving at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene, Diri commended the people for turning out en masse for the event despite being displaced and rendered homeless by the floods.

The state’s helmsman com mended the resilience of the people that he noticed as he traversed the length and breadth of the state to sympathise with the victims and expressed optimism that better days were ahead.

L-R: Catherine Udensi; Grace Ibhakhomu, and CEO Loveworld Incorporated and Zonal Pastor Christ Embassy Lagos Zone 5, Bamidele Onalaja, leading the City Walk ahead of the Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris…recently

TINUBU, OMO-AGEGE DONATE N200M RELIEF MATERIALS, CASH TO DISPLACED FLOOD VICTIMS IN DELTA

CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE COURT ORDERED MEETING…

Gunmen Kidnap Retired Police Officer, Brother in Plateau

PolicekillnotoriouskidnapperinA’Ibom

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and Okon Bassey in Uyo

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a retired Police Officer, Mr. Ayuba

Mangdihis at his residence of Daika community of Panyam District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This is just as operatives of Akwa Ibom State Police

Osun Tribunal Accepts More Exhibits against Adeleke, INEC

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Osun State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday admitted another set of vital documentary evidence as exhibits against the declaration of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor-elect of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The documents admitted were another set of Form EC8As, which are results of the election for 10 wards in Egbedore; 11 wards in Ejigbo’ 10 wards in Ilesa West, and 11 wards in Irepodun Local Government Areas of the state.

The state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and the

Amby UnezeinOwerri

The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Coordinator of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State, Chief Martin Agbaso has expressed confidence that Mr. Peter Obi would become the next president of the country in 2023.

He also stated that his party will win the governorship seat in the state as well as all the political positions being contested for in the 2023 general election because Obi and his running mate Dr. Ahmed Datti remain the best and credible candidates.

Agbaso, who disclosed this while welcoming guests to the opening of the PCC office in the State, vowed that his party will

All Progressives Congress (APC) are challenging the declaration of Adeleke by INEC as winner of the July 16 governorship election in the state.

Recall that the tribunal had last Tuesday admitted the first set of exhibits against INEC, Adeleke and the PDP.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel for Oyetola, Chief Yomi Aliu (SAN), informed the tribunal that another schedule containing the list of other documents to be tendered had been given to the respondents’ counsel, and they have jointly cross-checked the documents.

He then applied to tender the documentary evidence as exhibits as listed on the schedule.

fix all the infrastructural and other amenities yawning for attention in the country and State if his party presides over the administration of the country.

He said: “Whether they like it or not, we’re going to sack all of them from up to down once Peter Obi becomes the president, once he enters everywhere would be open.

“Our government will win the Senate, House of Assembly and other positions ,the governor is guaranteed but all the candidates must be Obedient. I don’t want to know how we would fix over 163 thousand kilometres of roads or the schools, hospitals,the time is in the future and Labour Party will provide it,” Agbaso said.

RETRACTION/APOLOGY

In our Monday, October 31, 2022 edition, we published a story with the headline, ‘Terrorism: Kogi Asks Security Agencies to Invite Akpoti-Uduaghan for Questioning’ on page 61 of THISDAY Newspapers. We have since found out that the information that formed the basis of the story was totally wrong. We can affirm here that Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband have NO links whatsoever with anyone suspected to have been involved

in terrorism or terrorist activity and have not been invited by any security agency in the country on suspicion of involvement in terror related act. We can also state that there is no petition against them in that regard. We therefore retract the story in its entirety and apologise to her and her husband unreservedly for for any damage the referenced story may have caused them. The public is hereby advised to disregard the report.

Command have killed a notorious kidnapper and robbery kingpin, as well as arrested three suspected murderers in the state.

The dead kidnapper, Emediong Nse Etuk (aka Mopol), was said to have been responsible for kidnapping and armed robberies with his gang in Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo, Abak Local Government Area in the state.

The Panyam District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State has been under perpetual attacks by kidnappers in recent times, with no fewer than three dignitaries falling victims in a space of two months.

A source from the community said Mangdihis had gone to bed on Tuesday night when the assailants invaded his house

after forcing the door open.

“They came knocking on his door and threatened to kill Mangdihis, if he did not open the door. Every plea fell on deaf ears as the kidnappers eventually pulled down the door and gained entry. They even manhandled him before taking him away with them,” the source said.

According to the source,

the gunmen also picked up Mangdihis’ cousin, simply identified as Mr. John from a neighbouring house before leaving the community after firing several gunshots.

A family source said that they were still waiting for the abductors to make contact with them for possible negotiation on payment of ransom.

Budget Defence: House C’ttee Slams Foreign Affairs Minister over Extra-Budget

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday slammed the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama over an alleged extra-budgetary expenditure in billions of naira.

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs which was chaired by Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub at the budget defence,

alleged that Onyeama has become a law unto himself by refusing to adhere to the dictates of the Appropriation Act.

Yakub recalled the refusal of Missions and Embassies to constitute their Tender Board and render an account of their administrative charges allegedly at the behest of the Minister to buttress their assertions.

“One is therefore, surprised and indeed, it beats every logic

that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deliberately refused to abide by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and by other statutes of the land, including the Standing Orders of the House”

He added that “The question this Committee is asking the Minister of Foreign Affairs is: Is he bigger than Nigeria and its laws? Or how else will one explain the constant flagrant abuse of the laws of

the land even when we have continued to write letters to the Ministry reminding it of relevant provisions of our laws that demand abiding by”

“According to Section 10 of the Appropriations Act 2022 (as Amended), Missions and Embassies have been empowered to constitute their Tender Board for the purpose of the procurements they need to make”

Police Announce Arms Cache, Nab 10 for Gun Running in Delta

Omon-Julius Onabu inAsaba

Ten persons have been arrested by the police in Delta State for their alleged involvement in gun running. A total of 51 guns, including 42 locally fabricated single-barrel and six double-barrel guns as well as three pump-action guns, were also reportedly recovered by the police.

The state police command spokesman, Mr. Bright Edafe, a

deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said that the breakthrough was in line with an ongoing operation to reduce violent crimes and to rid the state of illegal arms and ammunition especially in the countdown to the general election in the country.

The arrest of the suspects followed a raid at Emuhu, a community near Umunede in Ika North-East Local Government

Area, based on “credible intelligence received by the state Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali, about a syndicate that specialised in manufacturing guns, and other arms.”

Subsequently, Ali, on Monday detailed the State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU) to carry out intensive raids of the said area, which adjoins Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area.

“The team led by the SACU Commander, SP Christopher Igbaji, on 31st October, 2022, raided the hideout in Emuhu Community, Ika North-East LGA, during which, 42 locally made single-barrel guns, six double-barrel guns, three pumpaction guns, two filing machines, and a tool box containing fabricated materials’ working tools were recovered”, the spokesman said in statement in Asaba yesterday.

Group: Students Threaten Teachers with Charms in Rural Areas in Kwara

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A pro-democracy group in Kwara State, ‘Kwara Must Change’, has raised the alarm that public school teachers in the state are facing serious threats from charms being carried about by students in rural areas.

The group said the ugly development has not only led to the displaying of anti-social behaviour and acts of extreme

hooliganism, but has also threaten teachers with rape and physical assault.

A statement issued in Ilorin yesterday and signed by the group state Coordinator, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said: “The alarm raised is based on one of its findings, which is at the forefront of improving public schools in Kwara State.”

It stated that its investigation shows that beyond the normal inconveniences some teachers

face as a result of being deployed to rural areas, one of the major challenges is lack of security in the school environments and for the teachers themselves.

Hamzat explained that: “Many teachers who spoke with ‘Kwara Must Change’ told us that the lives of teachers are not safe because of the nature of their rural environment. “Some students come to school with charms, display anti-social behaviour and

extreme acts of hooliganism, and when a teacher tries to correct or punish them, they threaten him or her with charms.

“The situation is even more aggravated because when some students are punished or caught with charms, and their parents are informed of such development, they take the side of their children, and such situation had made the students grown out of teachers’ control.

Food Security: NASENI Establishes Machine Design Institute in Imo

Stephanie Igben

The Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna yesterday said the agency will soon complete a local agricultural machine institute in Imo State.

Haruna disclosed this yesterday during a visit to Governor Hope

Uzodinma in Owerri. According to him, with the pace of work, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), Mbutu-Aboh in Mbaise axis will soon be inaugurated.

According He said the establishment of the institute was part of steps to promote food security in the country.

He said: “The Chairman of NASENI Governing Board, President Muhammad Buhari

was inspired by the mandate of AMEDI Mbaise and swiftly directed NASENI to establish similar institutes in the six geopolitical regions of the country to accelerate government efforts in food security for Nigeria.

“NASENI has responded immediately by proposing the establishment of AMEDI in the remaining five geo-political zones.

“ It is therefore imperative that the institute in Imo State is

a pacesetter for revolution waiting to happen in the agriculture sector.

He explained the objectives of NASENI to establish the agricultural equipment and machinery in all the six-geopolitical zones in the country.

He added: “The development of agricultural equipment and machinery and their production systems and the transfer of these capabilities to private sector satellite industries for mass production.

2023:‘Obi Remains Candidate to Beat’

L-R: Non-Executive Director, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Layi Fatona; Group Managing Director/CEO; Eddie Efekoha; Chairman, Obinna Ekezie; Company Secretary, Rukevwe Falana, and Independent Non-Executive Director, Shuaib Abubakar Idris, during the court ordered meeting of the company in Lagos…yesterday

PROMOTING LOCAL TECHNOLOGY…

IG Orders Probe into Alleged Assault on Policewoman

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Inspector General (IG) of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday ordered the Commissioner of Police, Osun Command, Olaleye Faleye, to investigate the alleged assault on woman Police Inspector, Bamidele Olorunsogo, by her Divisional Crime Officer(DCO), Ajayi Matthew, in Ode-Omu, area of the state.

A video showing a dehumanised and battered Bamidele had gone viral on social media. In the video, Bamidele accused Matthew, a senior

colleague of hers at the Ode-Omu Police Divisional Headquarters in Osun State, of assault and blackmail.

The policewoman alleged that Matthew had asked her out to be his girlfriend, a request to which she refused on the grounds that she was married, but Matthew continued to blackmail and ended up assaulting her.

According to Bamidele in the video, “What is my offence, that he started beating me, he naked me, he injured me on my chest, hand because he asked me out

Tejuoso Fire: 1,200 Artisans Rendered Jobless, Says NEMA

Rebecca Ejifoma

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in a post-disaster loss and needs assessment confirmed that about 1,200 artisans who specialise in assorted fabric making have been rendered jobless. The agency further noted that over 1,600 industrial, weaving and straight sewing machines were lost in a mid-afternoon fire disaster that struck the popular Tejuoso Market yesterday.

While the cause of the fire cannot be confirmed, speculations have it that it was caused by someone trying to fill up a working generator which gutted the fire and could not be controlled.

However, the Chairman of

the Traders, Comrade Godwill Okorie argued that the way the fire erupted and spread to the whole market within minutes makes him dispute the rumour.

The chairman further appealed to loan facilitators to consider the calamities and grant them more loans to enable them start and redeem all the loans.

While consoling the traders, the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed represented by Ibrahim Farinloye, urged them not to see the situation as a temporary setback but as a trial that would bring greater success.

The assessment also revealed that about 150 lock-up shops with at least eight registered traders are using each shop.

Three Arrested for Gang-raping 13-year-old Girl in Anambra

David-ChyddyElekeinAwka

Three persons have been arrested in Anambra State by operatives of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) working in collaboration with vigilance operatives for raping a 13-year-old girl.

Media aide to the Commissioner for Women and Social Affair, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, who revealed the arrest said the culprits have been handed over to the police, and would be charged to court soon.

Ikeanyionwu said: “According to the victim, the suspects were co-tenants with them but took her to Nkisi river to rape her after they had an altercation with her father.

“The victim while narrating her experience to the commissioner said she was first slapped by the boys, then dragged to Nkisi before she was ordered to remove her clothes

as the suspects took turns to have carnal knowledge of her.”

THISDAY gathered that the victim hails from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State, while the culprits names were given as Sunday, Emelie, Chiedu and Nwa Awo. While only three suspects were arrested, the fourth, Nwa Awo allegedly escaped when security operatives invaded the neighborhood at Nkpor, near Onitsha to arrest them.

Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon. Ify Obinabo lauded the victim for her courage in speaking up after the incident and assured her that she will ensure she gets justice.

The Women and Social Welfare Commissioner went further to register her displeasure over the increasing rate of rape incidents in the state and warned that the Professor Chukwuma Soludo led administration will not condone such.

and I told him I am married that I cannot and he started blackmailing me. He was telling people around that we were dating and I took offence to it.

On Tuesday, 1st of November, 2022, he went inside, carried a dane

gun and wanted to gun me down. It happened in the presence of two constables and 10 civilians. The civilians took me out of the office that I should run away, but I insisted that if he wants to kill me he should go ahead. Ajayi wants

to kill o, please assist me o.” Responding to the development, IG Baba has directed the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, CP Olaleye Faleye, to investigate the alleged assault on the woman inspector.

According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Abuja, Muyiwa Adejobi, yesterday, “We will await the report of the investigation from Osun State Police Command before necessary actions are taken.

SSANU Urges FG to Meet Terms of Strike Suspension

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has asked the federal government to expedite the process of upholding its part of the terms of agreement on which the university workers recently suspended eight months strike.

The union also appealed to the federal government to rescind

this decision of “No work, No pay” and release the withheld salaries of members of the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU.

It expressed particular concern over the poor status of funding and nonpayment of salaries of SSANU members working in nine state Universities, including:Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Olusegun

Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, and Kwara State University, Malete.

Others universities are: Plateau State University Bokkos, Abia State University, Uturu, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar and Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti.

In a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) held last in Abuja, SSANU said the root cause of the recent industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU was the failure of the government in honouring previous Collective bargaining Agreements entered into with the Unions.

Amnesty Administrator, Tompolo Discuss Future of PAP

Omon-Julius OnabuinAsaba Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj-Gen Barry Ndiomu (rtd), has met with a leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to rub minds

onthe future of the PAP, a peace initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The meeting, which was at the instance of Ndiomu, took place at the country home of the former MEND leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, THISDAY gathered.

Ndiomu is currently engaged in series of consultation with with critical stakeholders in the oil-rich region in the light of his new mandate for PAP and the federal government’s interest in peace promotion and protection of oil facilities in the region.

He was believed to have sought the cooperation of Tompolo towards

delivering effective on his “mandate of systematically bringing the PAP to its termination stage.” He reportedly gave Tompolo a pat on the back for the recent chain of quick successes his pipeline surveillance outfit has recorded since the federal government awarded it contract for surveillance over facilities in the Niger Delta.

Nigerian Youths Challenged to Participate Actively in Politics

Chairman of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Rt Hon Abubakar Suleiman, has challenged youths in Nigeria to take advantage of the Not too Young to Run law in order to actively participate in politics and take the country’s political scene by storm.

Rt Hon. Suleiman gave the challenge yesterday while speaking at a two-day youth policy advocacy consultative workshop on framing a youth policy advocacy agenda to improve the effectiveness of young people’s active engagement with policy makers towards shaping youth inclusive policy outcomes in Bauchi.

He said: “Politics without active participation of youths and women is not complete, therefore, I challenge the youths to come out and make the political atmosphere more competitive and active.”

Sulaiman, who is the Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly commended the NASS for the passage of the bill and President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting

to the bill making it an act of parliament.

He further commended the initiative of the Young Parliamentarian Forum (YPF) for encouraging young people to venture into politics full-fledged expressing optimism that with more efforts by the YPF, more young people will be drawn into politics.

Ugwuanyi’s Classmates Hail His Humility 35 Years after Graduation

Classmates of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, 1987 Finance Class, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), have counted the people of Enugu State lucky to have somebody like Ugwuanyi at the helm of affairs of the state, especially at this critical period in the life of the country.

Members of the 1987 Finance Class, UNEC, said they were delighted and grateful to God that Gov. Ugwuanyi has remained humble, peaceful, focused and visionary as he was during their days in the university, stressing that they are proud of him.

Gov. Ugwuanyi’s classmates made the commendation when

the governor hosted them to a cultural night dinner as part of their re-union programmes in Enugu, 35 years after their graduation.

The dinner preceded a visit to the Department of Banking and Finance, UNEC, the next day which stirred Gov. Ugwuanyi and his classmates to a thrilling

reflection of their days of toil, fun and burning of midnight candles in pursuit of academic goals.

During the Ugwuanyi and his classmates addressed students of the Finance Class, and encouraged them to remain focused and committed to their dreams and aspirations as future leaders.

Lagoon Park Global Resources Remains Our Attorney, Estate BoT Insists

Wale Igbintade

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the estate of Madam Efunroye Tinubu has refuted claims that they have changed their Attorney, Lagoon Park Global Resources. Reacting to a statement published in one of the national

dailies, the Secretary of the BoT, Mr. Temilola Daud Adesanya, described the publication as false, stressing that the trustees have not met to take such decision.

According to Adesanya, “The said public notice did not represent the position of the family,” adding that one of the two members of the

trustees was indisposed as at the time the publication was issued, and could not have appended his signature on it.

He warned that any person or group of persons that deals with the purported new Attorney, Walaris Nigeria, does so at his or her own peril, as the firm does not

have the support of the Efunroye Tinubu family.

Specifically, Adesanya stated that the BoT Chairman, Alhaji Shittu Adio Kassim Lumosa, and the Vice Chairman, Dr. Gabriel O. Fasetire, denied signing the said publication, as there was no time such decision was taken.

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

L-R: The Chief of Staff, Nnamdi Anyahie; Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku; Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma; Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna; Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission ( FRC) Chief Victor Chinemere Moruaku, and Dr. Mohammed Mohammed Aminu of NASENI, during a visit to Imo Government House in Owerri …yesterday

FG Okays Policy Transforming Sports to Revenue Generating Sector

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Federal Government has approved a new policy, which fully makes the sports sector a revenue generating business for both government and the private sector.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, said the approval was for the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) from 2022-2026. He said with the approval,

sports in the country, has added a structured business portfolio to the recreational value, adding that the new policy has provided for various categories of the sports sector stakeholders, including the youths, who mostly make the world of sports enthusiasts.

Dare also disclosed that the policy contains an array of compartments taking care of sports governance regulations, infrastructure develop ment plans and other modules aimed at standardizing the sports sector.

His words: "The Federal Executive Council, chaired by His Excellency, the Vice President, approved the National Sports Industry Policy

(NSIP) 2022-2026.

“The policy has as its core, the building of a business model into our sports development. Recall that over a year ago, the President, in council, with other FEC members approved the reclassification of sports as business. So sports is business, in addition to recreation and part of the plan is to bring the policy to be able to tie this in for implementation.

“Today, that policy, 2022 to 2026, was presented to Council and the Federal Executive Council has ap proved National Sports Industrial

Teenagers Shine as Man City, Chelsea Top Groups

Seventeen-year-old Rico Lewis scored on his full Manchester City debut as the Sky Blues came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 in their final Champions League group game.

City were trailing to a first-half header from former Wolves and Nottingham Forest striker Rafa Mir when Lewis strode on to Julian Alvarez's pass seven minutes after the break and drove a powerful shot past Yassine Bounou.

It was a moment Lewis will remember for the rest of his life and the joy on his face as he celebrated was something to behold. Elsewhere on the night, Denis

Zakaria scored on his Chelsea debut as the Blues came from behind to round off their successful Cham pions League Group E campaign with 2-1 victory against Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge.

The hosts had already wrapped up top spot with a game to spare but were looking to respond after they were stunned 4-1 in the Premier League by Brighton on Saturday.

They made the worst possible start as they fell behind in the sixth minute when the Blues defence reacted poorly to a cross and Bruno Petkovic was able to head in from close range.

NOC, Aquatics Federation Hail 4th Dolphin Swimming League

Hundreds of students from six Lagos schools thrilled parents and guardians at the kickoff of the season four of the annual Dolphin Swimming League at the weekend in Lagos.

The participants drawn from Greensprings School, Grange School, Lagos Preparatory and Secondary School, Children International School, Riverbank School and, St. Saviour’s School were cheered to victory by their parents and guardians while the presence of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) added glamour to the one-day swimming fiesta hosted by Grange School in Ikeja.

Titles were won in 60 events among the elementary and sec ondary students with Chukwudi Kanu being the star attraction of the tournament.

From the Technical Director of Nigeria Aquatics Federation, Samuel Jesimiel, the performance of the students has been impressive, especially the time posted by some

of the students was encouraging for the federation.

Jesimiel who is also the technical coordinator of the tournament admitted that the return of the league would surely help to unearth talents for the country.

Chukwudi Kanu, who rep resented Nigeria at the World Junior Championships earlier this year in Peru showed class as he dominated most of his events while also spearheading the dominance of Grange in the mixed relay events.

Taira Tijani, a parent, believes the students need support to showcase their talents in sports apart from their academics, adding that this would help broaden their knowledge and afford them total education beyond the four walls of the class.

For the Coordinator of the tournament, Oluseyi Oyebode, there are plans to partner the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) and NOC to expose the students to international tournaments.

Policy 2022 to 2026. This approval brings to the final closure the idea that, or the principle of sports as business, which opens the door to private investment, driven by incentives and also investment from the private sector.

“The approval obtained today (Wednesday) will also look at sports’ code of governance regulations, as it relates to our sporting federations, to create a sports governance structure as we have in other sectors that will be attractive to the private sector and this code of governance will attract obligations like accountability, which

are critical to investor confidence and also sector clarity.

“The approval also covers incentives for private investors and sports development. Approved were proposed tax and fiscal incentives needed to drive sports as business and also to attract the much needed investment from the private sector.”

“The approval also covers the ability of the Sports Ministry to drive the application of a medley of funding and financing approaches to develop our infrastructure and to develop our sports from ROT, which is Renovate, Operate and

Transfer, to BOT, which Build, Operate and Transfer, to the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and also the Nigeria Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan. All of these have been approved as approaches we can employ to boost sports as business,” the Sports Minister further stressed.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Results)

Chelsea 2-1 D’Zagreb

AC Milan 4-0 Salzburg

R’Madrid 5-1 Celtic

Shakhtar 0-4 Leipzig

Man City 3-1 Sevilla

Copenhagen 1-1 Dortmund Juventus 1-2 PSG

M’Haifa 1-6 Benfica

EUROPA LEAGUE

Sociedad v Man Utd Arsenal v FC Zurich

Bodo/Glimt v PSV

D’Kyiv v Fenerbahce

Rennes v Larnaca

Betis v Helsinki

Roma v Ludogorets

Braga v Malmo

U’St Gilloise v U’Berlin

Sherrif v Omonia

Midtjylland v S’ Graz

Olympiacos v Nantes

Qarabag v Freiburg

Monaco v C’ Zvezda

Trabzonspor v Ferencvaros

Rivers Utd, Plateau Utd Move Closer to Group Stage with Comfortable Wins

The quest of Nigerian clubs to retain four slots in continental club competitions next season received a massive boost yesterday as Rivers United and Plateau United won their respective home matches in the first leg of the CAF Confedera tion Cup play-off against Libyan oppositions.

Going by the new CAF rule, a Nigerian club side must reach the group phase of continental club tournament and also proceed to at least the quarter final to stand any chance of having two clubs in both the CAF Champions league and the Confederations Club tournaments.

Both Rivers United and Plateau United who were knocked out of the CAF Champions League did not disappoint yesterday as they picked massive wins in Port Harcourt and Abuja respectively.

Rivers United walloped El Nasr Bengazhi of Libya 5-0 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium while Plateau United defeated Al Akhdar 4-1 at the MKO Abiola

MOC, Others Arrive Asaba for Joint Technical Meeting, Facilities Inspection

As the build up to the 21st National Sports Festival tagged Delta 2022 continues, a joint technical meeting involving the Main Organising Committee (MOC), the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and other stakeholders of the event will hold tomorrow in Asaba. The Sports Festival will hold from November 28 to December 10.

According to the Secretary of the MOC, Peter Nelson, members

will arrive in Asaba, Delta State capital, today, while the inspection of facilities and joint technical meeting will hold tomorrow (Friday). Departure is on Saturday.

“The inspection of facilities and joint technical meeting is in line with the approval by the National Council on Sports,” Nelson said.

“As you are aware, Joint Technical Meetings are convened to enable concerned stakeholders discuss all technical issues related to the Festival, as well as inspect the venues and facilities earmarked for the Games.

“As a major stakeholder, you are invited to attend the meeting as scheduled. Please note that all expenses associated with your participation at the meeting shall

be borne by your state,” the MOC secretary stated.

Recall that President Muham madu Buhari performed the flag-off of the Torch of Unity Movement in Abuja last week to officially begin the countdown to Delta 2022.

Before the flag-off ceremony of the Touch of Unity Movement in Abuja, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Vice-Presidential can

didate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had taken his time to inspect projects at Stephen Keshi Stadium, the venue of the 21st National Sports Festival.

Okowa was optimistic that the facilities would be ready. “I would urge the contractors to move much faster than they are at the moment because there is a date for the festival already,” he stated.

12 minutes via an Ebube Duru strike before Kazie Enyinaya and Paul Acquah added up to the edge earning the hosts a three goal lead going into the break.

The Pride of Rivers people continued their impressive performance after the break and after 64 minutes, Duru struck again to make it four, extending the Port Harcourt side’s lead to 4-0.

A Malachi Ohawume volley eight minutes after, helped the Nigerian champions to a comfortable win and will hope to complete the job when the return fixture takes place in Libya next Wednesday.

The reversed game will be held at the Martyrs Stadium, Benghazi, Libya.

In Abuja, goals from Mustapha Yuga and Ifeanyi Emmanuel in the 27th and 40th minute were enough to secure a 2-0 first half victory for Plateau United.

Neither of the two sides could find the back of the net in the second half of the encounter until the 75th minute when Albert Hilary extended Plateau United but the visitors pulled one back ten minutes later.

Moments later, Albert Hilary hit his brace of the evening to seal an impressive 4-1 victory for Plateau United going into the second leg of the fixture.

The overall winner of the two-legged fixture will progress to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. Plateau United will lock horns with Al Akhdar in the second leg of the encounter next week on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 in Libya.

Rico Lewis, 17, scored in his first full debut as Manchester City defeated Sevilla 3-1 to top Group G of the Champions League...last night

Rivers United hammered Libyan side 5-0 to make reverse fixture mere formality next weekend

National Stadium in Abuja. Coach Stanley Eguma’s side dominated the game from the onset and got rewarded just after

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Of Money Wives and Wife Laundering

Arecent

twitter post by Tunde Onakoya on the ‘Money wife’ tradition in Cross River State communities generated considerable social media interest. But after trending for a few days, those excited by the story seem to have moved on since we live in a nation where, even at the best of times, it is one day, one drama. Today, the issue Onakoya raised has gone the way of similar reports regarding a tradition that dehumanizes women and girls in an attempt to reinforce patriarchy. But this is an issue that we must engage if we are to create a just society.

Earlier this year, in the 8th January edition of The Nation newspaper, Justina Asishana wrote extensively about the odd practice among the Becheve in Cross River State where girls, some as young as four years, “are used as collateral for loans their parents obtained from more illustrious kinsmen.” In the report, Asishana narrated how “the innocent girls are often turned into sex slaves in addition to performing other chores for which they are not paid,” in 17 communities in Obanliku local government area of Cross River State. Even though the bombastic Governor Benedict Ayade is from the area, he is not on record as having done anything to stop this sordid practice that I believe should be a campaign issue for the 2023 general election.

At the invitation of Ify Malo, co-founder/CEO, Clean Tech Hub Nigeria, I attended a programme last week organized by the Abuja-based Heinrich Böll Stiftung, a non-governmental agency affiliated to the ‘Alliance ’90/The Greens’ political party in Germany. ‘Rethinking the role of women in leadership positions’, featured speakers including Sharon Omotosho, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Asma’u Joda, executive chair, Centre for Women & Adolescent Empowerment, Ireti Bakare-Yusuf, a radio and television broadcaster, Simi Olusola, a social impact entrepreneur and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate in Osun State and Cynthia Mbamalu, director of programmes, YIAGA Africa.

According to the convener, feminist leadership conversations need to go beyond putting a few women in leadership position. The core of any intervention must promote gender democracy: “To bridge gaps that have impeded the advancement of feminist leadership on the continent, the creation of a shared understanding of what

this entails is essential. The definition and use of the term feminism in African discourse pose several problems for African women. Many of us tend to deny any affiliation to the feminist movement, even though our values promote feminist aspirations. This perhaps stems from the misconceptions that surround feminism that need to be overcome. However, in the end, the ways to tackle issues that affect African women should go beyond discussing labels.”

I enjoyed the session because the conversations were honest and devoid of the grandstanding and anti-intellectualism that usually dominate such engagement, especially on social media. Most speakers defined feminism as gender equality which, quite frankly, should be supported by everyone. It is far more thoughtful than the male disparagement and anti-family agenda peddled with warped ‘menarescum’ ideas. Although Joda,

who defined feminism as “equality between the sexes in everything except the process of giving birth while a good father can bring up a healthy baby without breastfeeding,” agreed with others that having women in public office does not necessarily equate to Feminist Leadership, she nonetheless referenced the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Arden as an ideal feminist. That for me is instructive because Arden is a mother who also has a male partner.

However, from narratives at the session, it is obvious that we have a long way to go in a country where impediments are cynically placed against women and girls, essentially from cradle to grave. This challenge is particularly evident in the political arena where change is supposed to be instituted. In the Nigerian context, most power spaces are occupied by abusive men. For instance, Olusola shared some of her campaign experiences. On one occasion, she met a ‘big man’ politician in her state to seek support. First, the man was interested in her marital status. After confirming that she was married, he followed up with another question, ‘do you have children?’ Despite feeling violated by such inquisition into her private life, Olusola said she replied to him. And then the man brazenly declared intention to father her first child in a manner that is as reckless as it is utterly disrespectful.

Meanwhile, Mbamalu’s story illustrates the paradox of feminist ideology having percolated through the society without any effect on male attitudes. She narrated how she led a team from her office to the palace of a traditional ruler in Anambra State where she hails from. Because she understands the culture and did not want to offend their sensibility, Mbamalu allowed a male member of her team to speak at the palace. When they shared the kolanut (a significant cultural rite in Igboland) Mbamalu was omitted to the displeasure of her team members who could not understand the discrimination. Apparently having noticed the mild drama, the traditional ruler, whom Mbamalu described as well-educated, referenced the kolanut episode in his remark. “I believe in gender equality”, the traditional ruler reportedly said with deliberate emphasis before he then added the punchline, “But it will never happen in this lifetime!”

Today, the reality of our country is that women and girls are not only discriminated against at every level but are also denied equal treatment on

The ‘Buried’ Naira Notes

In March 2002, THISDAY held a seminar in Abuja on the management of Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. Two days before the seminar, on a Saturday, the Board of Editors held a last meeting that went on for hours. After concluding deliberation, our chairman, Nduka Obaigbena, asked: “Is there anything else we have left out of our planning?” One hand went up. The editor in question said we had made a fundamental error of judgement in the list of invitees to our seminar because we left out the black-market operators otherwise known as ‘Mallams’ who were most critical to the subject under discourse. Almost everyone at the meeting agreed that was a grave omission on our part. But as we were about to re-open debate, another editor interjected, “But we have already invited the Mallams.” Roaring with laughter, he added:

“The real Mallams are in the banking hall!”

I first recollected that episode two decades ago in a column, ‘Now that the party is over’ but I could not but reflect on it again following announcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele that three Naira denominations (N200, N500, and N1000) would be redesigned. “People with illicit money buried under the soil will have a challenge with this but workers, businesses with legitimate incomes will face no difficulties at all,” President Muhammadu Buhari was reported to have said at the weekend to justify his approval of the policy on which the jury is still out.

To be sure, Emefiele was very clear about the rationale for the decision, and it is difficult to fault him. I also don’t share the position that the policy cannot work, afterall some people said the same when the banking consolidation

exercise was instituted by Chukwuma Soludo in 2004. But from my findings, the reason for the current free fall of our national currency in the parallel market is because those Naira notes “buried under the soil”, to borrow Buhari’s words, are being exhumed and dumped with forex Mallams in exchange for dollars at any price. Therefore, if this whole idea is to catch thieves, then the real joke may be on the president. I am willing to bet that every available Naira note—whether stashed in overhead or underground tank—will enter bank tills. Yet, if at the end people use the exchange rate of the Naira to measure the success or failure of the policy, there will be a problem. As we have learnt over the years, we live in a country that defies the law of gravity: Whatever goes up does not always come down!

issues that directly impact their well-being. More concerning is the level of its institutionalization, to the point that any kind of political action that might facilitate change is virtually impossible.

In September 2018, a watered-down version of the Gender and Equality Bill passed a second reading in the Senate. Provisions included equal rights for women in marriage, divorce, property ownership and inheritance etc. At the end, the bill was voted down because many senators said enacting a law to accord women equal rights with men was “un-African and anti-religious”.

A fundamental ground rule of democracy is fair representation. But the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Quarterly Bulletin released on 1st May this year revealed that women still do not have equal access to decision making and power-sharing at any level in the country. According to the report, the statistics of ministerial appointments from 1999 to 2021 stood at 13.73 per cent for females and 86.27 per cent for males while for senatorial seats, females had a representation of 15.91 per cent and 84.09 per cent for males. We all know there has been no elected female president, vice president or governor. And there is not likely to be one in 2023 since the female All Progressives (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa State has been upended by the court. Even the handful of women who are offered appointive positions, especially in the states, are hardly given responsibilities commensurate with their talents.

While we bemoan this state of affairs, a prominent traditional ruler in the Southwest who has failed repeatedly at serial monogamy (using a cynical method of wife elimination by substitution) has just decided to raise the stakes by engaging in what appears to me like wife laundering. He is marrying multiple professionally successful and beautiful women at the same time with some palace chiefs using the name of a Yoruba god as justification. People of course have a right to their choice. But the merchandising that is going on in the name of marriage by this traditional ruler and the blatant objectification that follows on social media can only reinforce patriarchy that is already ingrained in our society.

Goodnight ‘Aristotle’

mmediately the nurse escorted me to his hospital bed in Kubwa on 14th October and I saw the many gadgets attached to his body, I subconsciously started to sing a hymn. It is a habit that takes the better of me when I confront tough situations. A sharp rebuke from the nurse, “please don’t make noise here” roused me to the consciousness of my environment. But a familiar voice, even though weak, came from the bed to remonstrate with the nurse, “please allow him to sing.” I remembered that encounter last Thursday when news broke that Ariyo-Dare Atoye popularly known as ‘Aristotle’ was no more. A lot has been said and written about his activism in the political field. But my relationship with him was more personal. ‘Aristotle’ attended the same church with me and in our interactions over several years, I found him warm, friendly and very respectful. May God comfort his wife, Biola, their three young children and the entire family he left behind.

“It’s a mere expression of arrogance of power for Mr. President to think that he can run Nigeria, a country with more than 200 million people, from far away London. Something he has not done effectively even when he’s in the country”—Former Minister of Information and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark on the current trip to London by President Buhari for a routine medical checkup

Edwin Clark to Muhammadu Buhari

Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade