Author: society_admin

Basketball Star Lebron James Invest £540m in Sport Group that Own Liverpool FC

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is joining Fenway Sports Group as a partner, giving him an ownership stake in its subsidiaries that include the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, Roush Fenway Racing and the regional sports network NESN, sources told ESPN.

James, 36, already owned 2% of Liverpool, the current English Premier League champion. In joining FSG and expanding his investment, James and his business partner Maverick Carter will become the company’s first Black partners.

FSG is among the largest sports ownership entities in the world, and James’ involvement will only increase its reach. In addition to James coming onboard, FSG received a $750 million investment from RedBird Capital Partners, according to The Boston Globe, which first reported James’ ownership stake.

With league rules preventing current players from owning portions of the NBA or WNBA, James, who has earned more than $1 billion in his career, according to Forbes, branched out with a conglomerate that started by owning the Red Sox. FSG’s broad footprint could expand even more with the infusion of cash from RedBird Capital.

FSG bought Liverpool in 2010 for $493 million — and James joined in the investment for a reported $6.5 million. FSG turned down a $2.6 billion bid for the team in August 2018, leaving James with tens of millions in profit from his initial investment.

The investment will also hand FSG a timely boost in the transfer market. With Jurgen Klopp’s side struggling to make the top-four this season, new signings look to be needed.

While Klopp has ruled out wholesale changes of his squad, speculation will now begin about who they might sign. Indeed, it was reported at the weekend that Klopp will prioritise three major signings this summer. Top of Klopp’s agenda are a new attacker to revitalise his ageing strikeforce. And while targets have not been named, several big names, including Kylian Mbappe, have been touted of late.

It will also come as no surprise to see Liverpool targeting defensive reinforcements given their issues this season. The Athletic claims Ozan Kabak is auditioning for a long-term role at Anfield. He signed on loan in January and the Reds do have an option to make the move permanent. However, RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate, Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car and David Carmo of Braga all remain alternatives.

Klopp will also likely need to sign a replacement for the departing Georginho Wijnaldum in midfield. The Dutchman has continued to be as reliable as ever in the Reds’ engine room, amid swirling uncertainty over whether he will be at the club next season. Wijnaldum’s contract expires at the end of the campaign and no concrete news over an extension has so far surfaced.

James, who has never hidden from his support for Liverpool, nor his wish to take on a greater role has also not been shy about his desire to own an NBA team. At the NBA All-Star Game in 2019, he told reporters that upon his retirement, “I believe if I wanted to, I could own a team or be part of a basketball team. I know I got so much knowledge of the game that I don’t want to, once I stop playing — I just [do not] want to get away from the game.”

In January, when the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream were put up for sale, James tweeted: “Think I’m gone put together an ownership group for The Dream.” He proceeded to help Renee Montgomery, the former WNBA player and activist, meet with commissioner Cathy Engelbert before she joined with two partners to complete the purchase.

With the Red Sox, James gets limited partnership in one of Major League Baseball’s jewel franchises. The team’s estimated value is more than $3 billion, and while it’s expected to lag behind in the competitive American League East division this season, Boston has significantly improved its farm system and should increase its payroll going into the 2022 season after paring back spending the past two years.

James’ connection to FSG goes deeper than his investment in Liverpool. Among the executive producers of the comedy “Survivor’s Remorse,” which aired for four seasons on Starz: James, Carter and Tom Werner, the longtime television producer and chairman of the Red Sox and Liverpool. Werner owns the second-largest stake in FSG behind principal owner John Henry.

James has long said he’s a fan of Boston’s historic rival, the New York Yankees, and publicly rooted for the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s World Series.

UBA to Support Businesses on Budgeting and Forecasting, Holds Workshop Today

As part of its continuous effort to catalyse the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium-Scale businesses in Nigeria and Africa, Pan Africa Financial Institution, United Bank for Africa, (UBA) Plc will be hosting its next Business Series on Wednesday, March 17th, 2021.

The UBA Business Series, which is held quarterly, is a capacity building initiative where professional business leaders share insights on best business practices and how entrepreneurs can build a sustainable business empire especially in a challenging business environment in Africa, aggravated by the COVID 19 pandemic.

In this edition, which will be held via Microsoft Teams, UBA will host the founder, Accounting Hub, Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze, a seasoned accountant with years of experience across multinationals including PWC.

Ifeanyi-Eze will be speaking on Budgeting and forecasting for Business Growth and will give tips to business owners and intending start-ups on practical ways to ensure their businesses survive and thrive and essential strategies on how to recover and mitigate losses especially in these difficult operating environments in Africa and beyond

The open event will be held virtually by 2pm WAT on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 and interested participants can register via this link: http://bit.ly/UBASMEWorkshopMarch2021

UBA’s Group Head, Consumer and Retail Banking, Sampson Aneke, who spoke ahead of the event, said that far beyond banking services, UBA is interested in ensuring that customers and entrepreneurs run businesses that can stand the test of time, adding that the Business Series, will assist to arm business leaders with all the knowledge and experience required to take their businesses to the next level.

He said, “Even in this period of the pandemic, it is interesting to note that some businesses are still making it big. How? you will ask, these are some of the questions we will address in our seminar on Wednesday.

“Chioma Ifeanyi Eze, who is experienced in every sense of the word is willing to share insight with others on ways to grow their business and put it on firm footing as we try to move beyond this pandemic. I will advise everyone to tune in, even if you do not have a business, it is an opportunity to learn something new,” Aneke said.

This novel initiative is a quarterly enterprise championed by UBA, and has been instrumental in helping to support and elevate businesses to new highs for many years now.

United Bank for Africa is a leading pan-African financial institution offering banking services to more than twenty million customers globally. With footprint in 20 African countries and presence globally in the United Kingdom, the USA and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary

FINAL CALL: APPLICATIONS TO THE TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME CLOSES MARCH 31

open to all African entrepreneurs with business ideas from across all 54 African countries

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs, will close applications for the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme on its TEFConnect digital platform (www.tefconnect.com) on March 31. This year’s intervention prioritises the economic recovery of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities.

To address the unique challenges arising from the pandemic, lift millions out of poverty and create sustainable employment across the continent, the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme will empower over 3,500 young African entrepreneurs in collaboration with global partners.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which celebrated ten years of impact in 2020, is empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.  Successful applicants receive a world-class business training, mentorship, non-refundable seed capital up to $5,000, and global networking opportunities.  The Programme is open to entrepreneurs across Africa, both new start-ups and existing young businesses, operating in any sector.

According to the Director of Partnerships & Communications at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, “Africa’s growing, and active youth population must take advantage of this opportunity and apply for the programme before the 31st of March, as their full participation will create a pathway to economic prosperity. This year, we have the capacity to empower more African entrepreneurs than ever, further ensuring that they have adequate training, funding and mentorship to boost their performance. It is time for young African entrepreneurs to embrace this much-needed support system to enable thriving and sustainable economic activity. We believe we will continue to see exponential change in sectors across the continent.”

The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s $100million Entrepreneurship Programme, launched in 2015 to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs over 10 years, is now entering its 7th year and has empowered to date, over 9,000 young African entrepreneurs from 54 African countries.

Prospective applicants should apply on the digital networking hub for African entrepreneurs, www.tefconnect.com.

FIRSTBANK PROMOTES CROSS BORDER PAYMENTS IN SUB SAHARA AFRICA WITH FIRST GLOBAL TRANSFER

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the launch of First Global Transfer (FGT) to promote international transfer of funds across its subsidiaries in sub-Saharan Africa. The Bank’s subsidiaries in Africa include FBNBank DRC, FBNBank Ghana, FBNBank Gambia, FBNBank Guinea, FBNBank Sierra-Leone, FBNBank Senegal.

The First Global Transfer (FGT) initiative is specifically designed to ensure safe, timely and improved efficiency in the transfer of funds across the network of FirstBank subsidiaries in Africa. The FGT is not restricted to FirstBank and FBNBank Customers alone but it is also open to every individual resident in the country the funds transfer is originating from.

Intending users of the initiative are to visit any of the Bank’s branches in Nigeria or subsidiaries in Africa, which are: FBNBank DRC, FBNBank Ghana, FBNBank Gambia, FBNBank Guinea, FBNBank Sierra-Leone, or FBNBank Senegal to enjoy the service. For example, with First Global Transfer, individuals and customers in Sierra-Leone can walk into any FBNBank branch to send money to FirstBank customers in Nigeria as well as FBNBank customers in Gambia, Ghana, DR Congo, Senegal or Guinea.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, FirstBank said “today’s customer is influenced by the technological advancement shaping businesses across various industries and our First Global Transfer (FGT) initiative is one of those advancement created to impact every individual in our host community in Africa, whilst promoting the ease and swift transfer of money from one country to another for business or personal activities.”

“With the launch of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 1 January 2021, the First Global Transfer (FGT) is indeed very timely as it will play an essential role in stimulating business activities across borders, thereby impacting the growth and development of the continent. I enjoin everyone to visit any one of our branches nearest to you in Nigeria or our subsidiaries in Africa and send money to your loved ones or business partners with FirstBank or FBNBank account(s),” he concluded.

COZA Pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo Celebrates Mum @77

The founder of Common Wealth Of Zion Assembly COZA and Erukucity-born pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo has join family, friends and well-wishers across the globe to celebrate a woman of substance Mrs Comfort Fatoyinbo, whose simplicity and approach to life inspires innumerable people to greatness, as she turns 77 on Sunday 14th of March 2021.

In his congratulatory message to the quintessential, septuagenarian, philanthropist and woman of God’s heart Mrs Comfort Fatoyinbo as “a builder of dreams, a promoter of good course, and a compassionate aged-woman, always driven by what benefits humanity.”

He furthered that the auspicious birthday of our good Mummy worth celebrations for her humanitarian contributions to a better society.

He said “I’m proud to be one of your son also associate with you on this auspicious occasion of your birthday and acknowledge your excellent track records in motherhood and philanthropy.”

“On behalf of my family and my numerous followers, I congratulate a great woman that has touched a lot of lives positively and wishes you more years of prosperity and happiness.”

Chief of Army Staff, Attahiru, Visits Yobe, Addresses Lafiya Dole Troops

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, on Sunday, March 14, inspected a guard of honour at the Sector 2 Headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole during an official visit to Damaturu, Yobe State capital, North East Nigeria.

The Army Chief told the troops to be courageous in the discharge of their duties saying that the visit was intended to familiarize himself with how the officers are going about ending the war against insurgency throughout the theatre in the whole region.

He noted that he was also in Yobe to convey special greetings from Mr President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari to the troops, stressing that the President has full knowledge of the efforts the officers are putting into the battle.

He said, “Being the Chief of Army Staff, I am aware of the challenges you are facing. I am making frantic efforts to see we overcome it so as to have and ensure you have the highest level of morale to be able to accomplish the task before you.”

Addressing Journalists shortly after, Attahiru revealed that he is touring theater headquarters as well as all the sectors of the operation Lafiya Dole in the country.

Audu Madaki Orders Full Investigation Into Mrs Aganya’s Murder

Benue Commissioner of Police Audu Madaki has ordered full scale investigation into the gruesome murder of Chief Mrs Eunice Aganya.

A statement signed by DSP Anene Sewuese Catherine, Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue Command and made available to NAOSRE, stated that on March 13 at about 9.30 am, information reached the Command that Chief Mrs Eunice Aganya, wife of Commissioner Ebezimako Aganya, ret’d, who resided at Austin Iwar Street, off David Mark Bye-Pass in Makurdi could not be seen by her co-chiefs who had planned to pay a courtesy call on a Royal Father in Makurdi.

The statement stated that Police detectives who received this report swiftly moved to her house where she resided alone behind her bakery.
At her residence, her car was seen parked in front of her gate and her fence broken into but her doors were locked.

According to the Police, the team noticed blood stains on the window of the deceased and curiously broke into the house where they found the lifeless body laying in a pool of blood with a deep cut on the head.

Following this sad development, Commissioner Madaki has ordered a full scale investigation to be carried out by detectives of the Command Criminal Investigation Department.

The Benue Commissioner has commiserated with Commissioner E. Aganya, ret’d as well as family members and vows not to leave any stone unturned apprehending the culprits.

Meanwhile, the Corpse has been deposited at Bishop Murray Medical Center Morgue while one suspect has been arrested in connection with the case.

Ecobank Nigeria Launches Super Rewards Scheme; 50 Customers to Get N25k Weekly

  •  4 Customers To Get One Million Naira Each at the end of campaign

Ecobank Nigeria has launched the Super Rewards Scheme, which gives 200 of its customers an opportunity to earn different cash gifts monthly, with four of them becoming millionaires at the end of the four months campaign. Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, who announced the commencement of the campaign in Lagos , said the scheme is designed by Ecobank to reward customers’ loyalty, explaining that 50 customers with the highest deposit will be rewarded with cash prizes worth N25,000 weekly. The campaign runs between March and July 2021. 

 

Demola-Adeniyi stated that participation is open to both new and existing individual customers of the Bank, adding that, this is the perfect time to open an Ecobank account or reactivate and fund  a dormant account to qualify for the reward and enjoy a first-rate banking experience. “Fifty (50) customers with the highest deposit will be rewarded with N25,000 every week.  And four customers with the highest deposit and transaction value within the campaign duration will be rewarded with N1 million naira each.”

 

Speaking on the dynamics of the scheme, Daberechi Effiong, Head, Consumer Products, Ecobank Nigeria, said the conditions to qualify for the scheme are simple  and easy to ensure both new and existing customers participate and get rewarded.  According to her, new customers are expected to open an account with a minimum of N5,000 and maintain the deposit for a 30-day period; same she noted applies to existing customers, who only need to fund their active account with a minimum of N5,000 or reactivate their dormant account with a minimum of N5,000 and maintain the deposit for a 30 day period. Other conditions she noted are listed on Ecobank’s website, she also explained that customers can withdraw funds from their account during the campaign period but will  only be qualified for the reward when they maintain at least a balance of N5,000 in their account.

 

Further, Mrs. Effiong noted that the beneficiaries of the reward will be announced every week  on different platforms, including the Bank’s  social media handles like Facebook – @EcobankNGR, Twitter and Instagram – @ecobank Nigeria and direct communication to customers. She stated that “the bank will also send congratulatory SMS/email to the beneficiaries of the reward. She further explained that a customer can be rewarded more than once. “However, they will be required to make additional deposits and fulfill the other conditions for eligibility.” She advised those seeking further enquiry to do so via the Bank’s social media platforms and contact centre.

Femi Fani Kayode Thumbs Up NAOSRE For Commitment To Security

Femi Fani Kayode, Nigerian former Minister of Aviation has given thumbs up to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE over its commitment to unbiased security reportage in the face of

He gave the appraisal on Saturday in Abuja during a late night meeting with the President of the online media association, Mr. Femi Oyewale.
The former minister enthused that he has been following the activities of the association especially in its commitment to bridging the information gap between citizens and security agents.

Femi Fani Kayode emphasized that the task to enthrone a secured Nigeria should be all inclusive.

“All hands must be on deck to fight insurgency. The media has a big to play and I am very happy NAOSRE has engaged itself in such onerous task. I am proud of you Femi and you have my support,” he said.

Continuing, the lawyer noted that he has always been a friend of the media and would continue to hold the media in high esteem despite the once-a-while disagreement adding that he would have been personally present at NAOSRE Dinner Summit which held at Oriental Hotel on December 11, 2020 in Lagos but for other tight schedules

“I have always maintained that I am a friend of the media and it remains so. We may disagree sometimes. Disagreement is an integral part of friendship and should be expected amongst friends,” he explained.

Oyewale however thanked Femi Fani Kayode for his words of advice and promised that the NAOSRE he leads will not disappoint Nigerians.
Femi Fani Kayode whose father was a minister in the first republic, was the Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to President Olusegun Obasanjo from July 2003 until June 2006. He was appointed the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 22 June to 7 November 2006 and as the Minister of Aviation from 7 November 2006 to 29 May 2007

Buratai Becomes NAOSRE Grand Patron, Thanks Buhari For Confidence

Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, ret’d, the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, is now Grand Patron of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE.

In a brief ceremony on March 11 at the Army Resource Centre, Asokoro, Abuja, where the President of the online media association, Mr. Femi Oyewale presented a plaque of honour to the Ambassador Designate, Buratai thanked the association’s leaders and members for considering him for such enviable position.

He re emphasized the importance he attaches to the media as useful partners in nation building. He reinstated his determination to always co operate with the media, in any way possible, for a better and safer Nigeria.

Buratai urged NAOSRE not to relent in its patriotic efforts at promoting unity and harmony between citizens and security operatives through professional and unbiased reportage.

“I thank NAOSRE leadership and members for being here today to involve me as the association’s Grand Patron for a better and safer Nigeria. The unity and peaceful co existence of our dear country is what I have always worked for. I will continue to support anything that will make Nigeria safer and secured even outside office as Chief of Army Staff.

“I also want to use this opportunity to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the confidence he reposes in me. I will never betray that confidence and I will not disappoint the Commander-in-Chief in any position of trust I am assigned from time to time,” Buratai stated.

Earlier in his presentation, Oyewale described General Buratai as radiating Warren Bennis’s philosophical definition of leader as a servant with capacity to translate vision into reality. He said “Of a truth, His Excellency, General Ambassador Dr Tukur Yusuf Buratai epitomized and exhibited those leadership skills as Chief Of Army Staff. We are sure he will do more in subsequent assignments.”

Oyewale disclosed that the idea to choose Buratai as NAOSRE Grand Patron is a product of the association desire to minimize errors in its pursuit of creating harmony between citizens and military operatives.

He said, “With an experienced General like Buratai as NAOSRE Grand Patron, we will always interface with him in the discharge of our media responsibilities especially security matters for a safer Nigeria.”

Oyewale’s statement reads in part:
“After an exhaustive evaluation of his unmatched pedigree in professionalism, humanitarian services, commitment to officers’ welfare and undiluted love for Nigeria’s security, the leadership, Board of Trustees and members of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, have collectively chosen His Excellency, General Ambassador Dr Tukur Yusuf Buratai as our Grand Patron.

“The certificate of your Investiture as NAOSRE’s Grand Patron is hereby handed over to you.”

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