First Bank, NAOSRE & Internal Security is a contextual analysis of NAOSRE’s commitment to a safer Nigeria and the supporting role of First Bank through a philosophical approach to the relationship between media and corporate institution. Andy Ennette, a NAOSRE member, writes from Lagos.
Unarguably, the year 2020 has particularly been very contending for Nigeria as a country. The year has been a very tough one for citizens, businesses and indeed, the security operatives. For a country like Nigeria that has to daily contend with other variables, this could be worrisome.
Aside the problem of kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery, which the people have been subjected to across the nation, Covid – 19 pandemic added to the dimension and took toll on the people.
There was the issue of ASUU strikes. There was the threat of Labour unrest. The culmination of these crises was the #ENDSARS Protests which recently took the country by storm.
However, when the country is faced with myriads of challenges, ranging from insecurity, food scarcity and infrastructural deficit, the role of the media as the fourth estate of the realm for objective presentation of facts and the banking system in providing financial succour for small and medium enterprises, SME cannot be over emphasized.
These two institutions are very central in the quest for solutions and ameliorating the problem. First Bank Nigeria Plc, for instance, has, since the beginning of the pandemic, offered several financial succour to the banking public. The bank has shown uncommon responsiveness and compassion towards customers and communities through various offerings. Amongst them are the e learning for children in school when the foremost financial institution discovered that the recent lock down was going to negatively affect school children.
In like manner, First Bank , through its financial inclusion initiative, FirstAdvance, has disbursed over N17 billion as loans to individuals, across the country. Just last Friday, December 11, 2020, First Bank made a remarkable showing at a security dinner summit organized by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE which held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
The security dinner was organized by NAOSRE to aggregate options for a secured Nigeria. The physical presence of its staff and financial support were the needed convictions that First Bank’s commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s economy is proportionate to the efforts it deploys to the security of its personnel, deposits and assets. These financial offering and innumerable Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, projects across the country and beyond have earned the bank, with over a century banking experience, many awards and rewards home including overseas.
Moreso, media anywhere in the world is central to the resolution of peace and tranquility necessary to the success of national development efforts. The Media must be very responsible and responsive to the needs of the populace in information gathering, processing and dissemination to avoid spreading false and dangerous information referred to as ” Fake News” , which are capable of compromising national security.
Therefore, the choice of theme by the National Association of Online Security Reporters known as NAOSRE, for this year’s Annual Dinner Night Discourse which is tagged: 2021 Nigerian Security Issues, Funding and Prospects” is apt, and the ideas generated from the deliberations would no doubt assist greatly in finding lasting solutions to the security challenges which the country is currently facing.
Interestingly, NAOSRE has successfully established a sustainable working relationship with key security players in the corporate world and security agencies in the country, including but not limited to Nigeria Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Executive/ Legislative Arms of government as well as the traditional institution across the country.
This, we hope, would organically shape policy direction in 2021 for a safer Nigeria.
Leadway Assurance’s position as one of Nigeria’s most valuable and employee-sensitive organisations received a boost at the 2020 edition of the Best Workplaces Award Ceremony organised by the influential Great Place to Work Institute (GPTW) where the Insurance icon was crowned as a winner in the Silver Category.
The Great Place to Work awards ceremony was instituted in Nigeria in 2012 by the Great Place to Work Institute, a global research and consulting firm best known for producing the Fortune 100 Best Companies list in the United States and similar lists in 45 other countries. The Institute defines great workplaces as companies where employees trust the people they work with, take pride in their work and enjoy a good relationship with their colleagues.
According to the Great Place to Work Institute, “the Great Place to Work awards ceremony aims at celebrating outstanding performance in the Trust Index and Culture Audit Survey, in addition to showcasing best global practices in employee policies and programmes which exemplify the five dimensions of the Great Place to Work Model, namely credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie’’.
Reacting to Leadway Assurance feat at this year’s event, Human Resources Director, Leadway Assurance, Kunbi Adeoti, said the award was a “testament to the company’s dedicated pursuit of excellence in the management of our greatest asset—our people.”
“The acknowledgement given by this award as well as the impeccable reputation enjoyed by Leadway as a trustworthy and value-adding partner to our customers have come through the consistent devotion of employees to operational improvements to promote and maintain competitive advantage. We will continue to work hard toward maintaining this business approach”, she submitted.
On his part, MD/CEO, Leadway Assurance, Mr. Tunde Hassan-Odukale expressed his appreciation to the staff of the organisation. According to him, “I would like to thank staff at Leadway for their contributions to making Leadway a Great Place to Work. As we celebrate this unique award, it is my hope and prayer that we will all double our resolve and commitment to making our organisation not just the best place to work, but the pride of the Nigerian employment market and a respected entity globally acknowledged for delivering high performance and creating value for our clients”.
Mr. Hassan-Odukale pledged the company’s readiness to continue to invest in best in class skills, tools and processes to aid the provision of a continuously appealing work environment, geared towards producing innovative and comprehensive business solutions as well as delivering sustainable benefits to all stakeholders
Following the ugly incident that led to the abduction of students in Katsina, The leader of INRI Evangelical spiritual church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has exposed the hidden secret of the Boko Haram on the whereabouts of the children.
Primate Ayodele stated that the abducted children are between Nigeria and Niger Republic, and actions should be made as soon as possible in order to avoid deaths of the abducted students.
The popular prophet made it known that God showed him where the children are being held hostage in a vision, and that it was a mere setup to terrorize Nigeria.
He further explained that Covid-19 has come to take those who have hands to the destruction of Nigeria.
‘The kidnapped children are between Niger Republic and Nigeria, that is where they are, let actions be made so they won’t kill them, we appeal to Katsina state governor, chief of defense staff and army staff to work immediately.
Those who kidnapped them are terrorist, the government should act fast. I appeal with their parents to have patience and Hope in God, by His grace, they will be rescued.
The kidnap was a set-up, there are some people behind it just to terrorise Nigeria, that’s is why I said those who deep hand into the destruction of Nigeria, covid-19 has come to take them away. So many things will still be exposed to the public.’
Also, Primate Ayodele spoke against the operation of Miyetti Allah, making it known that God showed him that the association will become a terrorist group as time goes on. He knocked the government that approved the association, maintaining that they should be scrapped.
‘The government that approved Miyetti allah is devilish, Miyetti Allah group will turn to a terrorist group, I pity the government that approved the association, Miyetti allah should be scrapped because there is no difference between them and ISIS.
I am talking as a prophet of God, that is the revelation I received, anyone can kick against it, I don’t care, I speak as I hear from God’
L-R: Bayo Olanrewaju, Head, Digital Banking, FirstBank; Adewale Salami, Chief Technology Officer, FirstBank; Banji Fehintola, President, CFA Society of Nigeria and Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay Newspaper during the presentation of the two awards won by FirstBank; Best Mobile App and CSR Bank of the Year Awards at the 8th BusinessDay Banking & Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI) which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
From the publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun’s welcome address at the recently held BusinessDay’s Banks and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards came the following words: ‘The year 2020 has been a most interesting year. The economy and communities have been managed by disruptions imposed by COVID-19. Yet financial services have shown uncommon responsiveness and compassion towards customers and communities.’ Indeed, this has been an unusual year, no thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but it has been a year defined as much by COVID-19 and its associated disruptions and difficulties as by the unprecedented response in kindness by corporate Nigeria.
BusinessDay’s BAFI Awards recognised achievements in a number of separate categories, each of which was worth its weight in gold. However, it could be argued that in this year of COVID-19, any recognition that took into account and was informed by the awardee’s COVID-related activities was probably the most significant of the awards/categories. It is against this backdrop that the recipient of the CSR Bank of the Year award at the BAFI Awards should be celebrated and projected as a model other corporate should emulate. And it came as no surprise that the bank that considers its destiny to be intertwined with Nigeria’s and whose commitment to nation building largely informs its approach to corporate responsibility and sustainability (CR&S), was so crowned as CSR Bank of the Year at the BAFI Awards.
The award was a well-deserved recognition for the exemplary role played by First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Nigeria’s leading financial services provider, in support of the government and individuals’ as well as its own efforts to deal with the impact of COVID-19. Before the BAFI Awards, and, undoubtedly, proof that the award was not a fluke, CSR Reporters had named FirstBank as the 2020 Philanthropic Financial Institution of the Year in recognition of the bank’s social responsibility in the areas of e-learning and empowerment of SMEs in Nigeria. These CSR awards took cognisance of FirstBank’s unparalleled contributions to CSR, particularly through its e-learning initiative delivered in collaboration with partners from within and outside the continent, such as IBM, UNESCO and Robert & John, and the Lagos State Government.
Whilst different organisations rose to the various challenges resulting from COVID-19 crisis and were supporting in areas such as health and welfare, FirstBank chose and developed the e-learning initiative. FirstBank felt strongly that the peculiar needs of children and the youth risked being neglected at a time of unprecedented crises – with schools being closed, parents losing jobs, businesses shutting down, government revenues shrinking, health care resources being over-stretched, economic conditions worsening, etc. The bank therefore kicked off an initiative to move one million students to e-learning, alongside its partners, to minimise the disruption to the their education resulting from the prolonged closure of schools across Nigeria and ensure that they remain fully engaged during the difficult period, so they can continue to learn and compete favourably with their peers across the world. Over 140,000 students have benefitted from the e-learning initiative.
Focusing on key elements that resonated with its brand, such as dynamism, innovation and nation building, FirstBank’s e-learning initiative is an innovative and dynamic approach to learning which is not only a suitable and resourceful solution at this time, but also one that is intertwined with perhaps the next century’s likely digital approach to learning, especially with the addition of courses such as coding and robotics, which can usher students into the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and prepare them for jobs of the future. The e-learning initiative also aligns with the bank’s key focus area in its CSR framework – education. Education remains the single largest beneficiary of FirstBank’s enormous investments in CSR. Currently, 10 universities and three secondary schools enjoy FirstBank’s infrastructure projects; 10 universities are endowed with professorial chairs by the bank; and over 80,000 students in over 80 secondary schools in Nigeria have benefitted from financial literacy, and entrepreneurial and career counselling provided through FirstBank-sponsored programmes. Education consistently attracts the bank’s keenest attention from year to year. This is because FirstBank believes that education – quality and relevant education – remains the bedrock of any society and that when children are properly educated, the nation is enabled and global citizens who provide groundbreaking solutions for the continent and the world at large, are produced.
L-R: Oze K. Oze, Head, Internal Communications & Content Management, FirstBank; Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, E-Business & Retail Products, FirstBank; Bayo Olanrewaju, Head, Digital Banking, FirstBank; Helen Willie, Transaction Banking Manager, FirstBank and Adewale Salami, Chief Technology Officer, FirstBank during the presentation of the two awards won by FirstBank; Best Mobile App and CSR Bank of the Year Awards at the 8th BusinessDay Banking & Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI) which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
FirstBank’s partnership with IBM on the e-learning initiative, is making available to students the Digital-Nation Africa program, an online youth-focused learning programme that enables innovation and skills development on emerging technologies The IBM Digital- Nation Africa aims to provide African youth with effective digital literacy. The Platform seeks to enable African citizens, entrepreneurs and communities with the knowledge, tools and skills to innovate, design, develop and launch their own digital skills. It also helps African citizens enhance their digital skills to best meet the needs of the job market.
DNA provides a broad range of courses for various levels of digital literacy, from providing an introduction to the key emerging technologies beneficial for all, through an integrated innovator section to a focused skills enablement section where users can understand the skills and demands of the market and gain proven skills to enhance their job prospects. In addition, it provides free access to practical exercises and to allow for new ideas to be brought to life through focus areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Coding, Cloud, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Data Science and Analytics, and Cyber Security. There are currently nearly 14,000 registrants on the program, which is promoting opportunities to learn skills of the future.
The partnership with Curious Learning is designed to reach smartphone users using available curated and tested literacy and numeracy apps – with free access provided to these apps. Curious learning is delivering academic-based content for students aged three to eight through a number of mobile applications designed to empower these young children in a fun, self-guided learning process through exploration and curiosity to help them with their cognitive skills at a fundamental level. Examples of these apps are Feed the Monster and Read with Akili. Efforts are in place through Curious Learning to ensure the e-learning initiative swiftly moves across the country to school children and individuals with the need to promote the pursuit of knowledge, irrespective of age. This is critical in identifying with the roles of children at securing the future of any country.
Another partnership in FirstBank’s e-learning initiative is the one with Lagos State Government and Robert & John, an Edu-tech company that owns Roducate. The Roducate e-learning platform, structured in line with the government’s accredited curriculum for primary, secondary and tertiary schools across various fields of academic endeavours, such as science, commercial and arts, includes tutorial videos to reinforce the learning engagement, as well as assignments and mock exams to test students’ knowledge and progress in the course of studying. Learning on the platform also enables note taking for quick reference, and to foster extra-curricular activities, provides exciting features to make learning exciting and fun, such as podcasts and various games like brain pulse, monster munch etc. which allows students to play with one another online, thereby building relationships and promoting interactive learning.
So far FirstBank has provided 20,000 low-end devices preloaded with Roducate offline (presented to Lagos State Government for distribution to students) and enabled over 120,000 free sign-ups, on the Roducate e-learning platform, with the ultimate goal being to empower at least one million students. ‘This [e-learning] solution,’ according to Dr Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, ‘will see Lagos State offer children in the lower bracket, who may not have access to devices or data from home, affordable smart phones preloaded with the curriculum. The phones have SIMs and limited data tied, only, to the Roducate learning product, which means the recipients cannot browse, encouraging safe learning, but they can still submit tests, mock exams, etc.’ Dr Adeduntan, who encouraged parents and guardians to have their children and wards registered so their educational development is not held back, noted that the initiative is ‘in keeping with who we are at FirstBank, [where] our commitment to self-development and continuous improvement is never far from our thinking.’ In addition, FirstBank is a member of the Global Education Coalition led by UNESCO which is a platform for collaboration and exchange to protect the right of education during this unprecedented disruption and beyond.
Furthermore, in a bid to support SMEs operating in the education sector, FirstBank created a matching fund scheme of ₦5 billion LSETF-FirstEdu Loan, in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF). The scheme is designed to cushion the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on low-cost private schools by providing loans to them at an attractive interest rate. At the launch of the scheme, the Managing Director/CEO of FirstBank, Dr Adesola Adeduntan said: ‘At FirstBank we recognise the indelible role played by the education sector in the growth of any economy and this underscores our partnership with Lagos State Government for continuous development of the education services in Lagos State and the nation as a whole. The commitment by the Lagos State Government – including this partnership – to enable schools is quite commendable as this will mitigate the challenges caused by the lockdown on the education sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.’
Woven into the fabric of society for over 126 years, overcoming challenges and remaining a dominant player in Nigeria’s financial services landscape, FirstBank has been partnering and supporting various sustainable activities towards the continued growth of its host communities and the nation at large. As a responsible corporate organisation committed to supporting all its stakeholders in the most sustainable manner possible, the bank has partnered various state governments through the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) intervention with a view to promoting the readiness and efficiency of health care professionals and other compatriots at the forefront of fighting the pandemic. Beyond Nigeria, FirstBank’s sub-Saharan African subsidiaries have also been involved. So far they have made donations amounting to US$173,000 in cash and kind towards alleviating the impact of COVID-19 on the continent.
According to BusinessDay, the BAFI Awards, convened annually to recognise and celebrate organisations that have achieved excellence in the delivery of their financial services across the entire client and customer spectrum, is adjudged the most rigorous, prestigious and transparent awards programme in the industry. Since its inception in 2014, when the first edition held, its organisers, BusinessDay has implemented an audit-based approach in the evaluation process, meticulously reviewing each shortlisted company’s financial reports, commissioned customer perception surveys and analyst opinion, then comparing these with its competition in a longitudinal study. The BAFI Awards have become established as the benchmark of distinction for institutions in the financial services sector. Its rising popularity among leaders in the banking, investing, insurance, and asset management subsectors have earned the BAFI Awards a reputation as ‘the only recognition you deserve’.
The BAFI Awards is backed by the BusinessDay Research and Intelligence Unit (BRIU). Nominations for the BAFI Awards are the culmination of a rigorous review process. The BRIU and an independent panel of judges evaluate more than two hundred and fifty institutions and benchmark them against their global peers using several indices in a thorough evaluation process. Nominees are assessed for their vision, execution and market leading propositions. The BAFI award categories cut across banking, insurance, capital markets, investment, pension funds, trustees, registrars, stockbroking and private equity. This year’s event where FirstBank won Best CSR Bank of the Year (and a second award – Best Mobile Banking App), was themed: Interpreting an Irrational Year: Coping, Adjusting and Thriving in a Wicked Learning Environment.
L-R: Bayo Olanrewaju, Head, Digital Banking, FirstBank; Adewale Salami, Chief Technology Officer, FirstBank; Banji Fehintola, President, CFA Society of Nigeria and Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay Newspaper during the presentation of the two awards won by FirstBank; Best Mobile App and CSR Bank of the Year Awards at the 8th BusinessDay Banking & Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI) which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
Mr. Steven Tuinstra CEO, President and Founder International Service Group (ISG & Partners) has revealed how the organisation has been creating employment for the unemployed in Africa.
Speaking in a statement issued by the outfit’s Media Director, Moses Owopade, Tuinstra said ISG creates employment in Africa by funding the government’s infrastructural projects as well as fund private sector in establishing new business.
According to the CEO, ISG supports the private sector in setting up new companies who can in turn employ staff adding that with a financially strong private sector , the concern create economic growth in Africa.
Apparently advocating for financial freedom for the Africa continent, Tuinstra said ”you cannot develop Africa and create a better life for the ordinary people when you dictate your political views and tell the governments of Africa how to run their country”
Continuing,Steven Tuinstra who has lived and worked almost two decades in Africa, and also lived, worked many years in various other countries in Europe and America,said there is a big difference between African culture and Western culture.
The CEO explained that it is very important to solve the infrastructure problem in Africa by cooperating with the various governments in Africa.
”It is crucial that the infrastructure projects can support themselves, this is necessary to not get the governments into financial trouble.
”At the moment, the governments have run into financial problems regarding their infrastructure projects that cannot support themselves, partly due to the corona pandemic. This must be prevented in the future. When governments take out loans of financial institutions, they must strictly fulfill their loan contracts. Otherwise Africa will never get rid of the infrastructure problem”.
Tuinstra said “It is essential that African governments and financial institutions conclude loan contracts where both parties are sure that they can be fulfilled. Then it is no longer necessary to have these meaningless discussions about colonialism.
”ISG & Partners has a unique construction model to actualize this on EPC + F basis.
”By solving the infrastructure problem in Africa we support the private sector in setting up new companies who can in turn employ staff. With a financially strong private sector we create economic growth in Africa. The governments need the private sector to develop Africa and reach a higher economic standard.” he concluded.
How Women’s Participation Can Bridge Digital Gender Divide – Adeniyi
With growing concern over the participation of women in the tech industry, it has become imperative to establish a roadmap that will help draft more women into the sector. Speaking recently at the 2022 edition of SheCan Conference in Lagos, the Chief Digital Officer of Wema Bank Plc, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi identified various areas where women can take part in the growing digital economy to stem the current female underrepresentation in the sector.
Speaking on the subject, “She can do more in technology,” Mr Adeniyi said more women’s participation would address the imbalance and gender diversity in the digital space and create greater prosperity in the world.
He established opportunities for women in the digital sector to include cloud computing, green economy, sales, product development, content production and writing. Other opportunities, according to him, are marketing, e-commerce, product development, and digital healthcare services, among others.
Quoting the World Economic Forum’s 2018 report on the “Future of Jobs”, he said we could create globally about 150 million new technological jobs in the next five years but lamented that women were grossly underrepresented in the digital sector in developing countries.
“The International Telecommunications Union “Digital Gender Divide survey” reports that women using the internet are 12 percent fewer than men and are four times less likely to use digital technology,” he said.
Noting that more traditional jobs would become technological jobs soon, he advised women to embrace science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to play well in the digital sector.
Adeniyi also called for the eradication of the stereotype that only men can play in the sector and stressed the need for women to be encouraged and supported to close the digital gender divide.
More importantly, he canvassed for a paradigm shift among women to use technology and for them to gain criteria thinking skills, interactive, leadership, self-awareness and other skills that would immune them from machine replacement.
Wema Bank’s partnership over the past few years has resulted in the empowerment of over 5,000 women across various locations in Nigeria.The bank, through its Sara By Wema proposition, has led the frontier for women’s empowerment through initiatives like Shecan Nigeria, while also providing financial support through loans, business advisory, discounted health plans and networking opportunities.
His generosity and philanthropy are without equivalence, but some prefer to loathe him for these good virtues and in his usual self still remains a man that cannot be ignored from the consciousness of those who have drunk from his fountain of knowledge, wisdom, wealth and political clout.
For the former two-term governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they can hate him or detest him for frivolous reasons in their wildest thoughts; but his admirers are swelling in uncountable numbers, much to the chagrin of his loathers.
In their vitriolic of Bola Tinubu, he still stands tall and grandstands as a political titan, but try as they have continued in their accusations and counter accusations; they are not making any headway in their unjustified grievances against him and his big status in the political terrain.
The Jagaban Borgu has been called so many names and variously accused of so many things that many are now wondering his offence is. Even with the recent public outcries informed by the now-disbanded Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS,) arm of the Nigerian Police Force, they targeted him and every member of his household as being the sole bankroller of the crises, which later degenerated into unrests, chaos across the country.
Their prime allegation is that amongst many, Tinubu is the owner of Oriental Hotels, which is the most-talked about topic for some time now; even when some are claiming the 5-Star hotel, which has been put up for sale since 2017, belongs to the former governor of Lagos State. Going further, the real owners came out to categorically debunk the story on various news sites, but this set of people still continued in their quest to pin every highbrow property to him just to fit their narratives, in their campaign of calumny.
In their unbridled pull-him-down campaign, they still go ahead to allege that Tinubu is the owner of Lekki Toll gate which has never been set straight by those in authority. Wherever they got their information on Tinubu’s ownership of these plum properties will be left in their imagination and concocted allegations without solid facts and evidences to verify their claims.
By all instances, Lekki Toll Gate is currently owned authoritatively by the Lagos State Government after the Lekki Concession Company, (LCC,) was acquired and conceded as the rightful owners. Even as PDP chieftain, Chief Olabode George recent statement and that of others, linking Bola Tinubu to the ownership of the LCC is coming to nothing but lies and premeditated fabrications and should therefore be ignored in their entirety.
The Cable, published in June 13, 2018 a news story under the headline REVEALED: Lagos acquired LCC years before Lekki-Epe toll fare hike, how Lagos State Government under the current Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola had approached the State House of Assembly for funds to buy back the concessioned toll.
In their wake of unsolicited allegations against Asiwaju Tinubu, they are even making sure that LIRS coming redundant on the matter, because they believed in error that Alpha-Beta Consulting is collecting all IGRs in Lagos State.
For matter of fact, Alpha-Beta is known to many as a consulting firm handling the computation, tracking and reconciliation of Internally Generated Revenues, (IGRs,) in Lagos State; in return for a commission, this was on record as it started helping Lagos State with aggressive revenue mobilization and generation in 2000; until 2006 when LIRS was created to compliment the works started six years earlier by Alpha-Beta which eventually raised the Lagos IGRs from N22.2bn in 1999 to N79.7bn in 2005, before the two organizations now moved the state’s IGRs to the present enviable level it is at the moment.
Still in their unfounded allegations they are still going ahead to claim that Tinubu is the owner of Alpha-Beta and that he collects 15% of the money coming into the State. It is however suffice to say that, though there have been so many claims linking Tinubu to the company like they did with Oriental Hotels and other establishments nobody can be bold enough to present any document to attest to these.
It is to note here that the company’s former MD, Mr. Dapo Apara, recent name-throwing, may be as a result of the financial misappropriation probe launched against him by the organization’s management. Findings also show that there are many areas where Alpha-Beta Consulting only takes 10% commission in the areas it mobilizes and helps generate IGRs from, as it was made known that areas that were not discovered by the company are usually off-commission for it.
It is equally on record that Tinubu personally pioneered many developmental things in the country, all of which are being built on by subsequent governors in the state, and being copied by other states in and Nigeria.
Below is a list of the many good things which Senator Tinubu has left in his trail:
1. Tinubu instituted a reform plan that greatly improved the welfare of judicial officers including magistrates.
2. He revamped the civil and criminal procedure rule as well as creation of the Citizens Mediation Centre; a well-staffed and independent Office of the Public Defender, offering legal services for the poor.
3. He established additional five (5) general hospitals in Lagos state
4. He upgraded facilities at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH.)
5. He provided free healthcare services including free ante-natal care for women, free eye treatments and free glasses, popularly called ‘JIGI BOLA.’
6. He pioneered the Bus Rapid Transit System and LAGBUS.
7. He established the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA.)
8. Reference of at least 13 matters related to the principle of federalism to be tested by the Supreme Court
9. He created 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs against all odds.
10. He established the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, to clear mini hills of refuses all around the State.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, to intensify campaign against the new wave of COVID-19 in the state.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who brought the matter before the House during plenary, added that it was important for the state’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Tunji Abayomi, to brief the House on the efforts being made by the government to curtail the spread of the disease.
Obasa said there was need for the people to take precaution against the pandemic at this point to prevent further spread.
He also urged lawmakers to intensify observance of the protocols against it.
“The Governor is down with mild symptoms of COVID-19 and I want to urge all the lawmakers in the House to observe the protocols of the pandemic.
“The Clerk of the House should also ensure that the staff of the House and visitors observe COVID-19 protocols.
“We should sustain the campaign against the spread of the disease in the state. We all know that the disease is on the increase in the United States of America and in other countries.
“The Commissioner for Health, Professor Tunji Abayomi, would have to come and brief the House on efforts being made to prevent the spread of the disease in the state,” Obasa said.
Commenting on the matter, Hon. Bisi Yusuff, who is a member of the House Committee on Health Services, expressed fears concerning the new wave while lamenting that many residents have become careless.
He said Lagosians must continue to observe protocols.
Meanwhile, a bill for a law to provide for the registration of cooperative societies in Lagos State has been read a second time.
The bill was analysed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Ganiu Okanlawon (Kosofe 1) and it was debated by some members at the sitting.
The bill was then committed to the House Committee on Commerce and Industry to report back to the House in two weeks.
At the sitting, a report on Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Bill 2020 was presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Hon. Victor Akande, representing Ojo1.
However, the committee was asked to make some amendments on the bill based on the observations and comments of members on the report before it would be read for the third time.
Before adjourning the sitting to Monday, December 28, Speaker Obasa urged standing committees of the House to conclude work on bills before them.
He also urged the joint Committees on Budget and Economic Planning and Finance to complete work on the 2021 Budget proposal of the state.
Africa expresses wisdom in proverbs and one of the funniest proverbs I have heard in recent times is “A smelling mouth shouldn’t try to whisper words into anyone’s ears because of the odour”. This will best be used to depict Facebook fraudulent broadcaster, Maureen Badejo, who recently decided to paint me black for being a whip to straighten her lying curves.
Maureen had last week taken my case to her Facebook program she normally uses to blackmail people, reeling out all sort of lies she’s now known for about me, believing the story her fake informants gave her not even bordering to consult free to air google search engine to verify and find out more, since her program is designed for fake content and blackmail lacking any form of investigation she took it to the press not minding the lack of basis.
Before I go further, let me introduce myself properly, so you and your cohort will know who you are dealing with and understand why I will keep exposing your lies and treachery to your followers, since they are the ones that needs to be redeemed of what you are doing to their psych.
My name is Femi Oyewale and I am a journalist who won’t give room for quacks to spoil the good name of the noble profession as the PRO of the Nigerian Guild of Investigating Journalists (NGIJ) as well as the President of the National Association of Online Security Reporters known as NAOSRE. I graduated from Olabisi Onabanjo University where I finished among the top three, from the department of English.
I cut my teeth as a journalist under the tutelage of Mr Femi Adesina while in defunct Concord Newspaper, after which I joined Encomium Magazine under the leadership of Mr Kunle Bakare and Mr Azuh Arinze who are adjudged one of the best in their chosen careers.
In 2015, I started first Sahara international services, publishers of Sahara Weekly Magazine and Sahara online ( www.saharaweeklyng.com)
Within the space of 5 years, the medium has risen to become a force to be reckoned with. I made it a part of my business to create positive awareness campaigns around the Christian community by giving a voice to ministries through my online publications.
Like the saying that who goes to equity must come with clean hands, Maureen can you now reason some of us will always be in your space since you and your likes are giving the profession we love so much a bad name because you and your likes are dragging us in the mud for calling yourself a journalist while it is in public sphere that you are more of a fraudster, home wrecker, marriage scammer, a blackmailer and a LIER?
The story of how you left Nigeria is also public knowledge, how you left your husband, how you registered a church in England under limited liability instead of an NGO because I believe you had ulterior motives , Maureen we know you.
Let’s leave your life at the moment because it’s practically nothing to talk about. You cannot sit down in a COUNCIL FLAT in THE UK and begin to talk about people that transform lives, people that have toiled for the kingdom of God, to remain strong on the face of the earth, people that have raised men that have brought transformations worldwide and YOU expect me who is a kingdom defender to keep mute
Let me tell you why I followed you up on Dr D.k Olukoya’s case, it’s because from the very beginning your allegations were based on lies and emptiness and I will state a fraction of them below.
(1) you said his child was bought for a price and that he wasn’t the father and I replied you through proper investigation that the child was the flesh and blood of Dr DK Olukoya , born at a very popular hospital in London which I mentioned earlier and you can still go and find out
(2) You said Olukoya stole 4 million pounds , this was a display of abysmal ignorance because this 4 million pounds was an annual report of total expenditure of the ministry
(3) You said the Dr D.k Olukoya’s son Elijah had 6 billion naira at Heritage bank, meanwhile from our findings Elijah doesn’t even have a bank account in that bank
(4) You said the marriage of Dr Olukoya is no longer valid , that the wife had left for Canada but from our finding the lady in question visited Canada sometime in 2007 and she is still very much enjoying her marital journey unlike you that has had 3 failed attempts at marriage
(5) You claimed that there was a brawl in one MFM branch in London where people had guns and were shooting and even played a video for evidence meanwhile , it was a political brouhaha in south America , Dominican republic to be precise and I brought out the true story.
(6) You said a house called Shiloh was demolished because you spoke about it and that it harboured virgins, meanwhile when we decided to look into the case we realised that it was a building that was instructed to be pulled down by the Lagos state government cause of safety reasons and another house was built for the occupants, that where families and people alike not virgins.
(7) You said that Mrs Shade Olukoya (Dr Olukoya’s wife) is on the church payroll and she is earning a salary in the sum of 35,000 pounds from MFM. Although as a pastor, she is entitled to a salary but from our findings she has never taken a penny from MFM UK.
(8) You continued in your many lies that a particular pastor from MFM UK paid the sum of 150,000 pounds into the personal account of Dr Daniel Olukoya and then went to Nigeria to meet the GO so he could help him cover up his fraud. We later found out that no pastor has ever paid a cent into Dr’s account and these were fabricated stories
(9) You said That Dr Daniel Olukoya has abandoned his family members, refusing to take care of them. Meanwhile, members of Dr Olukoya’s family from both sides are all still alive to bear witness to the contrary, as matter of fact I believe that there are a few GENERAL OVERSEERS that take care of people worldwide like DKO. That is if there is any.
(10) You ignorantly told your viewers that Dr Daniel Olukoya as well as all the MFM UK Trustees are thieves because they are all deeply involved and participated in the alleged fraud that is being investigated by the Charity Commission. Unknowingly, the charity commission case was a fraud against mfm by a pastor and an external auditor and DK Olukoya was never a part of It, these are information you will never know because you don’t have that kind of intelligence
Maureen let me stop here out of your over 1000 lies and fabricated stories. We know you, and how you operate, how you arrange fake callers, how you don’t let other people with the right views speak. When people call into your show to correct your misinformation, you react like a person with a mad dog disease and display more of your ignorance to your ignorant viewers, whom the devil is snatching away through your bogus and inconsequential program
For your information I am a true journalist and my work takes me to different places including churches. For you to think that because I write about TB Joshua and other ministers means they are now related or friends, it simply shows that you have a tiny brain that doesn’t think, another proof of your pack of lies. To the best of my knowledge Ma, TB Joshua and DKO are two different personalities and ministries , and to the best of my knowledge, nothing connects these two people. So once again, do your investigations before you come and ventilate nonsense on the air. I believe I have spent too much time on your matter but I just want to make it clear that you have no business being in any kind of journalism be it blogging, vlogging, facebooking or whatever people call it these days. But I have one advice for You, Repent! Repent! Repent! Before it’s too late.
Junior Chamber International, Nigeria has called on Nigerians to nominate prospective young Nigerians that are advancing the cause of human and global development for its 2021 ‘Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award, that is also known as JCI Nigeria TOYP.
The nomination process for the TOYP commences from December 15th, 2020 via the organisation’s web portal www.toyp.jci.ng and will last for forty-five days slated to close by January 31st 2021.
TOYP Chairperson, Oluwakemi Irinoye said that the criteria for application enable nominees who are young Nigerians that have attained national prominence before the age of 40, and not JCI members alone.
“The process requires procedure that allows for the nomination of any young Nigerian, who resides in or out of Nigeria and is between the ages of 18 and 40”, she explained
Irionye further urged the general public to use the link www.toyp.jci.ng to nominate any outstanding young person with distinguished records in categories that include business, economic, entrepreneurial accomplishment, political, legal and/or governmental affairs, academic leadership and/or accomplishment, and cultural achievement.
Other category she mentioned are moral, environmental leadership, contribution to children, world peace, human rights, voluntary leadership, science, technological development, personal improvement or accomplishment in medical innovation.
She said the award selection process entails a panel of eminent and credible Nigerians from different works of life that will streamline the nominees to just thirty.
“This will be done after the close of the nomination process. Subsequently, the last ten finalists will emerge through a public voting process monitored by an audit firm and they will be recognized during a special TOYP award ceremony slated for 12th of August, 2021.
Winners in these categories will be further nominated for the World JCI TOYP where they get to be honoured worldwide if they are eventually selected.
The 2021 National President of the organisation, Abiola Olorunnisola said that JCI Nigeria as an organization believes that recognizing young people raises their status of being socially responsible leaders in the world as their stories of discovery, determination and ingenuity inspire young people to be better leaders and create better societies.
JCI is a membership based, non-profit organization of young active citizens between the ages of 18 and 40 that are dedicated to creating positive change in their communities. JCI forms a vibrant global community of nearly 200,000 active citizens and a rich alumni body.
Previous recipient that have won the awards on the global stage are Ray Ekpu (1988), Dr. Modupe Osho (1996), Dr. Ola Orekunrin (2013), Imrana Alhaji Buba (2017), Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba (2017), Jacinta Uramah (2018) and Samson Itodo in 2019.
Other winners of the award includes individuals like, Rt. (Hon.) Rotimi Amechi, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Shina Peters, Daddy Showkey, Richard Mofe Damijo, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Gbenga Sesan, Kanu Nwankwo, Kafayat Shafau, Linda Ikeji, Japheth Omojuwa.
