The National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, an association made up of the finest hands in Nigeria’s security reportage, heartily congratulates Ibikunle Daramola, Nigerian Air Force, NAF Spokesperson, on his well deserved promotion from the rank of Commodore to Air Vice Marshall.
The promotion was announced on 26 November 2020, as approved by the Air Force Council,AFC.
In a statement signed by NAOSRE President, Mr. Oyewale Femi, the security media association stated that it is particularly delighted about the promotion of Commodore Ibikunle Daramola to the rank of Air Vice Marshall as a result of his professionalism in managing the image of Nigerian Airforce.
“NAOSRE is elated over the promotion of Commodore Ibikunle Daramola to the rank of Air Vice Marshall. He is one officer who has been diligent on his job as Air Force image maker. We look forward to working with him in the years ahead for safer Nigeria,” Oyewale stated.
Oyewale however added that “It is NAOSRE’s hope that this elevation will spurn Ibikunle Daramola into more commitment in offering greater service to Nigeria at this trying period,” he advised.
Air Vice Marshall Daramola was the Commander, 041 Communications Depot, Shasha, Lagos, before he became the Nigerian AirForce spokesman in 2018.
He is a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular Course 39 and was commissioned into the NAF as a Regular Combatant officer in September 1991.
Daramola holds a Master of Science Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America.
He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
His degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from NDA and a Certificate de Langue Francais from Alliance Francaise
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Tukur Buratai has congratulated newly promoted Nigerian Army Spokesman, Sagir Musa, who was among the officers promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General on Wednesday.
In a statement signed by the Army spokesman, now Brigadier General Sagir Musa,that the Army Council, on Wednesday the 25th of November 2020, approved the promotion of senior officers to the next ranks of Major General and Brigadier General respectively.
A total of 39 Brigadier Generals are lucky to be meritoriously promoted to Major General, while 97 Colonels have also been elevated to Brigadier General accordingly.
Those lucky to be promoted to Major General are – Brigadier General O O Oluyede, Acting Commander Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Damaturu, Brigadier General BR Sinjen Acting Director Operations, Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations, Brigadier General AK Ibrahim Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Maiduguri, Brigadier General OR Aiyenigba Head Operations Monitoring Team Army Headquarters Abuja, Brigadier General SG Mohammed Commander 23 Brigade Yola, Brigadier General UU Bassey of the Army Resource Centre Abuja, Brigadier General KN Garba Office of the Chief Army Staff, Army Headquarters Abuja, Brigadier General A Bande Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Division Sokoto, Brigadier General CV Eze Nigerian Army Special Projects, Office of the Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier General KI Yusuf Acting Chief of Accounts and Budget of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General SI Igbinowanhia Acting Commander Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Monguno.
Others are – Brigadier General H Ahmed Acting Provost Marshal (Army), Brigadier General AS Ndalolo Nigerian High Commission London, Brigadier General AA Fayemiwo Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Brigadier General IM Jallo Commander 63 Brigade Asaba, Brigadier General E Akerejola of Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics, Brigadier General AJ Fagge Ministry of Defence Abuja, Brigadier General JO Ochai Nigerian Army Resource Centre Abuja, Brigadier General IS Ali Department of Defence Logistics Defence Headquarters Abuja, Brigadier General GU Chibuisi Headquarters 19 Brigade Baga, Brigadier General S Dahiru of Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre Jaji, Brigadier General OO Soyele Defence Headquarters Abuja, Brigadier General ML Augie Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna, Brigadier General PI Eze Headquarters Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE Maiduguri, Brigadier General BH Mohammed Commandant Nigerian Military School Zaria, Brigadier General EAP Undiandeye Defence Intelligence Agency Abuja, Brigadier General MK Yunusa of Command Finance Office Apapa Lagos, Brigadier General AM Dauda National Defence College Abuja, Brigadier General JO Iwara Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, Brigadier General MG Kangye, Brigadier General GB Audu Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General TT Numbere Post Housing Development Limited Abuja, Brigadier General R Abubakar of Defence Headquarters Abuja, Brigadier General NC Ugbo Nigerian Army School of Signals Apapa Lagos, Brigadier General AI Taiwo 81 Military Intelligence Brigade Lagos, Brigadier General BH Tsoho Nigerian Army College of Education Ilorin, Brigadier General HG Tafida Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Makurdi and Brigadier LM Zakari Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology Makurdi and Brigadier General BU Yahaiya Nigerian Defence Section Cairo.
Those Promoted to Brigadier General are – Colonels BA Muhammadu of Defence Intelligence Agency Abuja, Colonel AA Egbejule Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, UM Alkali of Army War College Nigeria, DC Bako (promoted Posthumously), AK Lawal Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE Monguno, ID Oloyede Depot Nigerian Army Zaria, AM Usman Army Headquarters Garrison Abuja, SM Uba of 401 Special Forces Command, Cross kauwa, AGL Haruna Commander 7 Division Garrison Maiduguri, AIM Lapai of 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) Onitsha, OD Williams 244 Reconnaissance Battalion Saki, IA Ajose Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, OA Awolo Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations, AM Grema 402 Special Forces Brigade Ngamdu, EA Orakwe Headquarters 5 Brigade Gubio, AA Idris of 1 Military Intelligence Brigade, Kaduna.
Also elavated to Brigadier General include – UG Yusuf of Army Headquarters Abuja, Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, MHB Manu Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre Jaji, D Dieke of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Kaduna, JK Feboke Defence Headquarters Abuja, OS Obot Headquarters 404 Engineer Brigade Doma, Nasarawa, S. Musa Army Headquarters, Directorate of Army Public Relations, UG Simon Headquarters 33 Brigade Bauchi, JD Bulus Headquarters Command Finance Office Lagos, OB Davies Defence Headquarters, MA Sadiq Headquarters Operation LAFIYA DOLE Maiduguri, EA Obona Army Headquarters Garrison Finance, H Sarkin Fulani Army Headquarters Garrison Supply and Transport, OSA Fashina Sector 2 Military Intelligence Brigade Operation LAFIYA DOLE and Col E Egbe 303 Artillery Regiment (General Support) Jos.
Others include – IEE Akpaumontia Nigerian Defence Section Harare, IU Akpan Army War College Nigeria, MK Ibrahim Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, Abuja, NUC Ogili 37 Brigade Garrison Maiduguri, A Rabiu Directorate of Army Recruitment Resettlement and Reserve Abuja, Col MCE Ejike of Sector 3 Operation DELTA SAFE Okrika, DK Zirkushu Headquarters 1 Brigade Gusau and OT Ojuoloruntaiye Defence Headquarters Communications, SA Emmanuel Headquarters 57 Signal Brigade Maiduguri among others.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai congratulates all the promoted officers and their families, and urged them to redouble their efforts to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Sagir Musa who hails from Katsina State was until the appointment acting Director of Army Public Relations was the spokesman of 82 Division, Enugu.
He replaced Brigadier General Sani Usman, who voluntarily retired from the service
There’s a saying that what men can do, women can do as well, though men are seen as stronger but so many women have come to show strong character and ability to thrive in male dominated industries. One of such amazing women who has been doing a exceptionally well in male dominated carpentry works and interior decoration is Mrs Juliet Chigozie Anorah, she’s the CEO, Julian Interiors and furniture.
She’s a wife, a mother and an entrepreneur whose Nigeria of her dreams is to see government give the youth an enabling environment to maximize their potential. Not minding how strange it sounded this incredibly hardworking woman has proven she’s a good capenter with a touch of luxury if we are putting into consideration the furniture works on display in her showroom located at Fola Oshibo, Lekki phase 1,Lagos.
In this exclusive interview with Adeniyi Ifetayo, she talked about her unique designs, surprises for her clients and palliative to be given to the less privilege during her birthday which has been scheduled for 2nd December, 2020. Excerpts…
Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself and how your growing up is like?
My names are Juliet Chigozie Arinze, growing up was fun because as a child you have nothing to worry about lol . I was born in the north but we later moved to east where I did my primary and secondary education. So growing up was memorable in a family of 6 siblings. So I had a great childhood experience.
What did you study and how did you come about Julian Interior and Furniture?
I studied Business Administration at the Lagos State University, Julian Interior came from the passion I have in making every little space in my house beautiful and I realized I can provide good services for people because that’s one thing I’m very passionate about and from there we started growing the company gradually.
Providing luxury furniture is not easy, What were the challenges when you started and how do you overcome them?
The challenges with providing luxury furnitures is always about finding the right customers and most importantly the huge capital involved in running the business, in today’s world social media has made it easier for us to find customers online and also with the help of our marketing team we are making progress.
Julian luxury interior and furniture design are so unique knowing you are operating in a supposed male dominated industry, what’s gives you an edge over others in this industry?
Our products are unique because we don’t compromise quality. Our products are made by the best craft men in the industry, and also gone are the days when the furniture business are dominated by the men as u know now there are so many female interior designers that have made name for themselves, so I would say women are taking over the business already.
Covid-19 pandemic affected a lot of industry, how did you scale through?
Most entrepreneurs felt the impact of covid 19 because nigeria is in recession already and that makes it hard for a lot of people to afford luxury goods, but like I said we have a wonderful marketing team and our products speaks for itself . So by Gods grace we are still making sales.
You are a wife, mother and entrepreneur, how do you combine these together?
Naturally women knows how to multi task, though it’s never easy but thank God I have grown up kids, so it is easy to find a way to make time for my family and business as well.
What will be your advice to the youth even as they strive to be successful?
My advise for the youth is to never give up on their dreams, anything is possible when u set your mind to a task. Focus on your dreams and find something you are passionate about, even when it doesn’t work at first, never give up and surely you will succeed.
What is Nigeria of your dream?
The Nigerian of my dream is where the one where government will create an enabling environment for youths to reach their full potentials, provide good road and electricity to enable small and medium scale industries to succeed in the country, providing basics amenities shouldn’t be a problem in our country but it’s unfortunate we are in a position like this at this time.
Your birthday is around the corner, what are your plans? And you distributing palliative?
My birthday is usually celebrated with a small circle of my family and friends, and definitely we will reach out to the less privileged with our palliatives (smiles) .
For people that want to patronize you this festive period, are you doing clearance sales or there’s special discounts for December?
I can’t wait to have a lot of people patronize us this period and trust me we have something special for them,
First we will give them the best price you can’t get anywhere else and then a nice gift to appreciate them for trusting us.
In a report on Business Day dated June 5 2020, sports betting has an estimated 60 million Nigerians actively involved with over 50 betting sites operating in the country, it reads that sports betting is experiencing a massive surge in Nigeria and is consequently having a huge impact on the economy.
This is an attempt by some pundit who are relatively doing well but will not want to be mentioned to aid gamers by reeling out their daily forecast to help them make decision on the likelihood of sporting events that may yield positively for them.
Note: This is not a sure banker but honest forecast of games and the site will not be liable for the outcome and based on this we recommend that gamers should look through and edit to make sure they are not losing money
The Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited, at its meeting held on Thursday 26th November 2020, has elected Mr. Olanrewaju Shittu as Chairman of the Board of Directors to replace Mr. JIbril Aku.
The board has also approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Datti Yola as a Non-Executive Director, Subject to the approval of the CBN.
Mr. Shittu was a Director at Central Bank of Nigeria. He retired in 2018 and is a holder of MBA degree, Fellow (FCA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Associate (ACA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate (ACTI) Chartered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria.
Mr. Datti is a retired General Manager at the National Pension Commission (PenCom). He earlier worked at Central Bank of Nigeria where he rose to the rank of a Senior Bank Examiner before joining other commercial banks. He is a holder of MBA degree and a Fellow (FCA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Associate (ACA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
The Bank expresses it gratitude for having such gentlemen as members of its Board of Directors and assured its stakeholders that their wealth of experience will be brough to bear in the success of the bank.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, who has been detained in prison since Monday over his suretyship for Abdulrasheed Maina believed to have jumped bail.
Justice Okon Abang in a ruling on Friday said he chose to grant the senator bail based on his record of good behaviour before the court, notwithstanding that the other grounds of his bail application failed.
The judge granted bail to the senator pending the hearing and determination of Ndume’s appeal filed at the Court of Appeal to challenge Monday’s order sending him to jail for his inability to produce the fleeing Maina.
He ordered the senator to produce one surety who must be a resident of Abuja and present evidence of ownership of property anywhere in Abuja.
According to the judge, the surety must also depose to an affidavit of means to indicate his readiness to forfeit the bail guaranty should the senator jump bail.
The judge also ordered the senator to deposit his passport with the Chief Registrar of the court.
He also ordered the lawmaker to file an undertaking that he would compile records of appeal and transmit it to the Court of Appeal within 10 days, a way the court wants him to demonstrate his readiness to prosecute his appeal.
Maina, a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, is being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges of money laundering involving N2bn.
On November 18, 2020, Justice Abang revoked the bail granted him, ordered his arrest, and directed that his trial would proceed in absentia.
The judge also on Monday remanded Ndume in prison until he produced Maina or paid the sum of N500m bail bond to the Federation Account.
Ndume, through his lawyer, Marcel Oru, had on Tuesday filed an appeal against the remand order at the Court of Appeal, along with an application for the bail of the defendant filed before Justice Abang.
Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko, mostly known in the business, entertainment and political circles as Ned Nwoko, has become Grand Patron to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, , an association made up of the finest hands in Nigeria’s security reportage.
Ned Nwoko is one of Nigeria’s outstanding investors in hospitality, a business that requires committed attention to safety and security.
The chairman of THE MOUNT NED NWOKO RESORT, comprising THE TOWER, a 100FT structure built on a 1000FT location and unarguably, the highest point in Delta state, confirmed his acceptance in a meeting with the leadership of NAOSRE led by its President, Mr. Oyewale Femi, in Abuja on Thursday, November 26, 2020.
As a grand patron, Ned Nwoko is expected to play an advisory role in guiding the leadership of NAOSRE in key security information dissemination for a safer Nigeria.
Billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates will pay off $76 million of Nigeria’s debt through their namesake foundation. The payments, which will be made over the course of 20 years, are due to begin this year.
In 2014, Nigeria borrowed the money from Japan to fund its fight against the preventable disease, Quartz reports. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has “agreed to repay the loan after Nigeria met the condition of achieving more than 80% vaccination coverage in at least one round each year in very high risk areas across 80% of the country’s local government areas,” according to Quartz.
No new cases of polio were reported in the country in 2017. That’s a drastic change from 2012, when Nigeria had over half of all polio cases worldwide, according to the publication.
In a recent blog post, Gates acknowledges the significant strides made towards wiping out the disease globally — 30 years ago, there were 350,000 cases of polio per year worldwide, while last year, that number dropped to just 21.
“The heroes who have made this progress possible are the millions of vaccinators who have gone door to door to immunize more than 2.5 billion children. Thanks to their work, 16 million people who would have been paralyzed are walking today,” Gates writes.
Polio is “a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease,” which, after invading the nervous system, can cause paralysis. Among those paralyzed, two to 10 percent die.
The Gates Foundation spent $3 billion in 2017 to help stop the spread of the disease, and names polio eradication one of its “top priorities.” The foundation says it has supported the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s efforts to wipe out the disease by contributing technical and financial resources to accelerate targeted vaccination campaigns, community mobilization and routine immunizations.
“Progress in fighting polio might be one of the world’s best-kept secrets in global health,” Gates previously acknowledged in the foundation’s 2017 annual letter. “If things stay stable in the conflicted areas, humanity could see its last case of polio this year.”
In 1988, the virus was present in over 125 countries, paralyzing about 1,000 children per day. Since then, cases of polio have decreased by over 99 percent.
The Gates’ donation is not out of character; in 2017, they gave $4.6 billion to their namesake organization. In addition to its work with polio, the foundation has also spent $1 billion in an effort to send over 20,000 kids to college and has committed millions more toward fighting Alzheimer’s and providing resources to women in developing countries.
Thanks in part to his massive philanthropic efforts, Gates is no longer the richest person in the world, a title that he had held for much of the last decade. Jeff Bezos is currently the richest person, with a net worth of more than $108 billion, according to Forbes. Gates is currently worth $92 billion.
However, Bloomberg notes that Gates would have a net worth of $150 billion if he had not been so generous. While Bezos is not known for being particularly philanthropic as billionaires go, in January he announced a $33 million donation toward TheDream.Us, an organization that provides scholarships to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as “dreamers.”
Gates also founded The Giving Pledge with Warren Buffett. Its billionaire signers have promised to give away at least half of their wealth.
“We have been blessed with good fortune beyond our wildest expectations, and we are profoundly grateful,” Bill and Melinda wrote in their Giving Pledge letter, CNBC Make It previously reported. “But just as these gifts are great, so we feel a great responsibility to use them well.”
To enhance effective growth in profitability and good returns on shareholders’ investment, the Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited, has elected Mr. Olanrewaju Shittu as Chairman of the Board of Directors to replace Mr. JIbril Aku.
This decision was made at its meeting held on Thursday 26th November 2020. The board also approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Datti Yola as a Non-Executive Director, Subject to the approval of the CBN.
While Mr. Shittu was a former Director at Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Datti is a retired General Manager at the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
SunTrustbank, it would be recalled was licensed on September 15, 2015 as the first new commercial bank license given by the Central Bank in 15 years and its journey as a bank began in 2009. It commenced business on August 1, 2016.
The new Chairman, Olanrewaju Shittu retired in 2018 and is a holder of MBA degree, Fellow (FCA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Associate (ACA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate (ACTI) Chartered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria.
Commenting on the bank’s operations so far, a senior executive in the bank said: “Over 90 per cent of banking transaction are being transacted electronically worldwide. Banking is no longer where you go to… the only financial institution that can stand in the future is no longer those with physical branches but only by banking services that will be driven by technology and therefore most customers of tomorrow will no longer be interested in going to the banking halls… We are a financial technology bank that will bring banking to your home rather than make you come to us…We will be everywhere but we will be nowhere…we will have the minimum branches required to operate as a bank but we will drive financial services through technology…”
The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan has advocated a closer collaboration between banks, Telcos, Fintechs and industry regulators to enhance savings and lending in the financial landscape. This development according to him will generate activities in the economy and expand wealth creation. Akinwuntan who was speaking at the ‘Fintech in Nigeria: State of Play’ event based on the research and moderation of the Economist Intelligence Unit, stated that the Fintech industry is currently more active in payments as against wealth creation, which is the ultimate goal for financial inclusion. He noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been proactive in providing a regulatory environment for the collaboration of players with emphasis on customer protection which has improved customers’ trust in using digital channels.
Mr Akinwuntan who commended the role fintechs play in facilitating payment, said “there is need to deepen their presence in lending and savings. This is why I maintained that collaboration between Fintech and banks is valuable. We are not at the stage of competition yet; we are at a situation where although we have our profitability interests, we will actually gain much more by collaborating”. He added that “in the area of savings and lending, be it to the agriculture sector, the creative sector or the young graduates setting out to be entrepreneurs directly, the ability to save even in little bits creates a profile that would be able to attract lending that you can translate into economic value.
Specifically, the Ecobank Managing Director stated that the Fintech industry rose to the situation especially in the payment space and increasingly in lending and savings during the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown in the country. He noted that “between March and April, the number of transactions in the payment space for Fintech grew in multiples of close to 800%. We saw significant participation of the Fintech industry in actually reaching more of the underserved in the market by reducing cost of access and making these services available all the time ether by using traditional banks or in collaboration with government agencies.”
Mr. Akinwuntan explained that Ecobank had uninterrupted banking services for its customers through its digital platforms and agency banking during the lockdown, “we had invested significantly in our digital platforms; given the nature of Ecobank as a pan African institution, the only way we could reach every household was to leverage the digital platform. We saw a marked growth in the number of digital based transactions as our customers continued in their way of life depending on these platforms. And most importantly is the use of our social media to drive advocacy with the stay safe campaign where we educated the masses on safety guidelines. We were ready for the situation giving the nature of our franchise. And with our agency banking push, people do not need to go beyond their neighborhood to do transaction.”
Also speaking, Director, Payment System Management, CBN, Musa Jimoh said the apex bank’s regulation is driven by innovation. “We have come up with regulations that will enable all the participants to behave symbiotically. Our payment system directive will be driven by the innovation in the banks. We don’t know what will happen in the future in terms of technological development, therefore we follow innovations and prepare a ground for all the participants to work symbiotically. A new innovation is studied before we provide the needed intervention in terms policy derivative that will help everybody to participate”.
He observed that Covid 19 lockdown provided opportunity for banks to sell digital products, test their back up and business continuity processes and explore the technological services available and push for their financial services, noting that CBN is backing up these areas with relevant regulations to ensure all the participants with the payment and financial service space can actually conduct their service responsibly.
On priorities in the regulatory space especially those championing Fintech, Jimoh said the apex bank currently operates both sandbox and the open bank regulation. “the sandbox provides a regulated environment for startups who don’t have the financial strength to take an authorization from CBN to go through the entire process of licensing to test their innovation. We are working hard to show case an environment where startups can come to the regulatory sandbox to test their innovation and services without having the license yet,” adding that “Open banking regulation is a principle that will allow third party to leverage on the existing bank accounts with the banks to get information and provide services. More like democratizing financial services where a person chooses the service provider that will provide services and the kind of services provided. As a Fintech, you will be able to connect to banks to provide value added services.”
Fintech in Nigeria: State of Play: is an Economist Intelligence Unit Research which examines key trends in the fintech sector in Nigeria and assesses both industry drivers and impediments to further growth. This report combines extensive desk research and insights from in-depth interviews with industry experts and executives at regulatory bodies and Fintech firms. Key findings of the report showed that Nigerian Fintechs are moving from payments into lending, micro-investment, wealth management, peer-to-peer transfers and insurance. Secondly, Nigeria’s regulatory environment balances innovation and consumer protection but must continually evolve to respond to market dynamics and lastly, Nigerian Fintech needs to address shortcomings in the broader ecosystem to develop and flourish.
