With the inauguration of the Warri Itakpe rail station in Agbor, Delta State, due in a few days, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Transport, Honorable Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi have prioritised the security of passengers and others with the introduction of top notch security baggage scanners in railway transportation across the country.
The Warri Itakpe station, connecting Kogi, Edo and Delta States, has been slated for inauguration on Tuesday, September 29, in fulfillment of the promises of the administration to deliver on some of its big projects in infrastructure before the end of the year.
To complement the initiative, the Nigerian Railway has successfully installed world class security baggage scanners with super high speed electronic digital passenger screening point and notification sign across the railway station IDU terminal and more.
Identified as the first of its kind with a unique design technology worldwide, the ASNL TB 100/100 has the capacity to scan through baggage and luggage at same speed, processing and breaking down all contents packed at the fastest advanced inbuilt technology.
These scanners also have inbuilt display detection system for safety and suspected dangerous substance.
Also, its high-speed detection system is at five seconds per luggage with video image CT of detecting objects for analysing and tracing, assisted by an easy wheel for movement with programmed lock for and against vandals.
With this development, it is safe to say the authorities in the transportation ministry have made the safety of Nigerians in the railway system as important to the government.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Eng. Fidet Ohikira, while praising President Buhari and Amaechi for making the initiative come through, has encouraged Nigerians to be patient so they could see more of the transformation already taking place in the railway sector of the economy.
According to him, “We will not stop until all the railway stations are fully equipped with security gadgets. Our passengers are of great value. We want to ensure lives and properties are safe, while not forgetting the great boost this brings to our economy through interstate transport logistics.”
On his part, the CEO of Advonics Group Ltd, the company overseeing the project, Mr. Emmanuel Egboh, said, “It’s my desire and joy to see this project come to life, while ensuring that the safety needs of the people are inline with the requisite security measures that are fully in place.”
Ecobank Nigeria in partnership with Vanguard Conferences and Economic Forum Series have announced that it is convening a Digital Financial inclusion Summit to drive, promote and deepen financial inclusion amongst the unbanked and underbanked population in Nigeria. Current statistics shows that 84.6 million Nigerians accounting for 47% of the population are unbanked, against mobile phone penetration which is up to 94.5%.
The Digital Financial Inclusion Summit slated for October 21st, will bring together trade groups and associations with large unbanked populations and individuals within the lower rung of the society who have not seen the need to be included in the financial sector or adopt financial services through digital platforms. This is a direct response to encourage the adoption of innovative payment solutions and digital banking services in the post covid-19 era.
Announcing the summit in Lagos, Head, Consumer Banking, Olukorede Demola-Adeniyi said the Digital Financial Inclusion Summit will be a platform to discuss the need for a comprehensive alignment of policy and regulatory frameworks among regulators like CBN, NCC, NITDA to support a sustainable digital financial inclusion growth, examine key issues and ways of advancing digital financial inclusion for women, youths and MSMEs and discuss the role of interoperability in mobile payment innovation. Further she mentioned that the role and impact of agency banking for financial inclusion growth will be x-rayed as well as the need for public and private sector investments in internet infrastructure and mobile connectivity growth in rural areas.
According to Demola-Adeniyi, the digitisation of payment and financial services has become an important economic development priority with the prospect of reaching far more people with a broad range of financial services they need, to fight poverty and build resilience. She noted that new data on mobile phone ownership and internet access show huge opportunities to drive digital financial Inclusion in Nigeria. She reiterated that this was in line with Ecobank’s vision which is to consolidate a modern pan-African bank and to contribute to the economic development and financial integration of the continent.
In her words “ there is no better time than now to harness the strength of our population, and support people to embrace the financial system. Financial inclusion for us at Ecobank means taking banking to the people wherever they are. Our agency banking, that is the Ecobank Xpress Points, for instance create a consumer experience which is very good, as the customers can do simple deposit, payment and transfers in their own neighbourhood rather than travel for hours to a bank branch. The aim of the Xpress Point is to let every Nigerian and household have access to Ecobank services within their neighborhood to provide easy banking services. This is the same objective for our mobile app and USSD platforms. We are desirous to put banking services at the finger tips of every citizen, no matter where they live”
Also speaking, Jude Ndu, Director Vanguard Conferences and The Economic Forum Series, says “as a follow up to the huge success of the Ecobank Agribusiness Summit, we are indeed pleased and delighted with the ongoing high level partnership with Ecobank Nigeria in the area of strategic thinking, conceptualisation and execution of high profile bespoke events. The upcoming Digital Financial Inclusion Virtual Summit speaks to the strong sense of confidence the bank has in us to help create content and context for the promotion and positioning of the brand given the strategic and thematic nature of conversation, marketing power and prowess of our thought leadership programs in critical stakeholder audience engagements across different industry sectors and customer segments”.
The Ecobank Digital Series is a virtual programme organised by Ecobank to educate and enlighten the public on crucial issues of public interest, especially as it relates to their financial freedom.
The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan has reiterated that Ecobank remains the gateway financial institution for African regional trade. Akinwuntan who was speaking at the Ecobank Digital Series virtual Africa Trade Conference 2020 titled: ‘Facilitating Regional Trade in the emerging AfCFTA Era’ maintained that Ecobank, the pan – African bank was set up to be the leader in intra-Africa trade, adding that leveraging on its knowledge, footprint and digital payment platforms, the bank is set to lead the financial services support for the new Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
According to him, “while intra Africa trade provides opportunity for the growth of our economy in Africa, Ecobank is ‘the go to bank’ for Africa regional trade”. He stressed that the Ecobank Regional Trade conference was designed to “primarily explore the massive trade opportunity before us in Africa, particularly after the pandemic. Ecobank decided to set the agenda for Africa to take its place in global trade. The opportunity is massive: withmarket size of 1.2 billion, estimated GDP of $2.5 billion, Africa free trade area is the largest since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO); more than 65 member states across the African union, population to reach 2.5 billion by 2050”.
lso speaking, Segun Awolowo, Executive Director/ Chief Executive, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said with a marketof 1.2 billion people and combined GDP of $3 trillion, there is huge potential for Nigeria to increase its export to Africa. According to him, most exports had been informal exports but with platforms, like Ecobank, it is going to be official and add real value to the economy. He said in 2018, the export value of Nigeria to Africa totaled around $6.99 billion but its export to the rest of the world totaled $45.92 billion. However, Nigeria export is majorly crude oil and natural gas which constitute 91%.
Speaking on “International trade, the pan African perspective”, Tei Konzi, Commissioner, Trade, customs and free movement, ECOWAS, represented by Kolawale Sofola, Acting Director, Trade ECOWAS said 85 % of our products go outside the continent and this must be changed. “We can bring these trade back to Africa and increase activity in the continent in agriculture, mining amongst others. We are yet to conclude our tariffs, but at the moment, ECOWAS trade more with outside countries than it does with African countries and this is why we are bent on making sure the AfCFTA succeeds”.
He noted that the AfCFTA is a comprehensive trade agreement that seeks to create a single market for goods and services and free movement of persons through the progressive liberation of the market for goods and services and also contribute to the movement of capital to facilitate investment. He said it is meant to be the foundation of continental customs union at a later stage.
The Ecobank Nigeria ‘Africa Trade Conference 2020’ which is part of the Ecobank Digital Series is to showcase Ecobank’s unique intra-Africa trade solutions that enable settlements of international transactions and mitigation of payment risk while providing regional solutions to exporters. Ecobank trade products and solutions are designed around two broad areas; trade finance and trade services. Trade Finance enables customers benefit from adequate and well mitigated credit facilitation in the area of Import finance, export finance, bill discounting, trade loans, distributor finance, payables and receivables finance, structured trade and commodity finance amongst others while trade services, offer our customers the advantage of speedy turn around and error free processing of their import letter of credits, import collections, avalised bills, Customs bonds, export collections as well as their local purchase orders and payment invoices, via our electronic trade platforms OMNI e-Trade and OMNI eFSC (electronic financial supply chain.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, today announced the appointment of Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo as a Non-Executive Director. Mrs. Muoyo joined the board of FirstBank from FBN Holdings Plc., the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
Speaking on her appointment, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, FirstBank said, “We are excited to welcome Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo to the FirstBank Board. She brings to the Board her depth of experience which spans over three decades in various leadership and strategic positions across the private and public sectors. I am assured that these rich experiences will have an immediate impact in the board which will transcend the activities of the Bank as a whole.”
“On behalf of the board, management and staff of FirstBank, I congratulate Mrs Muoyo and look forward to working with her,” he concluded.
Oluwande Muoyo was appointed to the Board of First Bank of Nigeria Limited in 2020. She is a Chartered Accountant, Banker and former Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Ogun State.
Prior to being appointed an Honourable Commissioner, Oluwande worked with Stanbic IBTC Bank for over 22 years in various parts of the bank, including Financial Control, Treasury and Financial Services, Trade Finance and Corporate Banking. She holds a BSc degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos. She started her professional career with the international firm Price Waterhouse (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers). A Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Oluwande has, over the years, acquired competencies and skills in public financial management, policy formulation, business development, banking, budgeting, planning, auditing and taxation.
Her past Directorships include the Governing Board of the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and FBN Holdings Plc. Oluwande has attended many training programmes including Strategic Marketing Management at Harvard Business School, Advanced Strategy at INSEAD and Advanced Management Programme at the Lagos Business School. Oluwande is married with children and enjoys reading and swimming.
Germany based Kenyan born singer, Patricia Mwaura whose stage name is Treesha has hit the Nigerian radio airwaves with her brand new lovers rock single ‘Angel of Mine’, a cover originally done by Eternal. Treesha, the last child of a family of four children started singing at the age of 8, influenced by her dad John Ben Mwaura who was also a singer and a guitarist.
After moving to Europe and training as a medical assistant, she joined international reggae act Gentleman as a background vocalist whom she still works with and this experience brought her in contact with Skarra Mucci, who released her album under his label. Treesha was also part of Gentleman’s team that performed at Femi Anikulapo’s Shrine in 2013 when the artiste came to Nigeria.
‘Angel of Mine’ continues to enjoy massive airplay Nigerian radio stations especially in the south western part of the country while popular reggae music presenter Daddy Faizer says the music will be be pushed further to other parts of the country in the coming weeks. Angel of Mine is a production of BuffBaff Records
All is set for another time of open doors get ready for overflowing joy this Friday, as God will grant answers to your prayers.
#globaldayofprayer #gdop #pastorchris.
Sahara Weekly had reported that the Believers Loveworld Incorporated also known as Christ Embassy will begin its international day of intercession 2020 this Friday, September 25th, 2020 by 6pm to Saturday, September 26th, 2020.
Being a Man sent from God and a unique minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Rev Chris Oyakhilome’s Spirit-filled and anointed leadership will continue to propel a dynamic, multifaceted and global ministry at this year’s programme.
The programme will be available online via: prayer.rhapsodyofrealities.o for a life transforming encounter
Chief Executive /Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo has said with a market of 1.2 billion people and combined GDP of $3 trillion, there is huge potential for Nigeria to increase its export to Africa. According to him, most of exports had been informal exports, but with platforms like Ecobank, it is going to be formal and add real value to the economy. He said in 2018, the export value of Nigeria to Africa totaled around $6.99 billon but its export to the rest of the world totaled $45.92 billion. However, Nigeria’s export is majorly crude oil and natural gas which constitute 91%.
Mr. Awolowo, who was speaking at the Ecobank Digital Series virtual Africa Trade Conference 2020, revealed that using the international trade center export’s tool, NEPC has identified areas of untapped potential for Nigeria in Africa such as fertilizer, ginger and sesame, as these are what other African countries are buying. “Nigeria must, and can, live in a world where it no longer sells oil. Nigeria is working on key game changers in infrastructure in order to achieve this, especially in the area of ease of transportation and also in the area of incentives, export expansion grant like pre-shipment incentives and export development fund, which serve to prepare , facilitate and support exporters to the global market”. He stated
Speaking on “International trade, the pan African perspective”, Tei Konzi, Commissioner, Trade, Customs and Free Movement, ECOWAS, represented by Kolawole Sofola, Acting Director, Trade ECOWAS said 85% of our products go outside the continent and this must be changed. “We can bring these trade back to Africa and increase activity in the continent in agriculture, mining amongst others. We are yet to conclude our tariffs, but at the moment, ECOWAS trade more with outside countries than it does with African countries and this is why we are bent on making sure the AfCFTA succeeds”.
He noted that the AfCFTA is a comprehensive trade agreement that seek to create a single market for goods and services and free movement of persons through the progressive liberation of the market for goods and services and also contribute to the movement of capital to facilitate investment. He said it is meant to be the foundation of continental customs union at a later stage.
In his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Ade Ayeyemi has reiterated that African countries must adopt a continent wide approach to business and also focus on wealth creation to be relevant in the global value chain. According to Ayeyemi for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to become a reality there must be commitment and readiness for trade facilitation by the individual nations. He noted that African governments must unequivocal commit to the agreement and their preparedness as individual nations with their implementation strategies, commitment to free movement-signing and ratification of protocol on free movement of people and country’s Visa openness, readiness for trade facilitation – quality of trade infrastructure and efficiency of ports/Customs, which is still work in progress in nearly all countries.
Ayeyemi noted that Ecobank is fully committed to Africa as the foremost Pan-African Bank to Unequivocal support for the implementation of AfCFTA, readiness to use its unique pan-African platform to facilitate trade, payment and business and deployment of its strong Africa knowledge to support governments and businesses. The Ecobank CEO emphasized that “no country is so poor that it has nothing to give and no country is so rich that it has nothing to receive. All of us must come together to become better.”
The Ecobank virtual Nigeria ‘Africa Trade Conference 2020’ which is part of the Ecobank Digital Series is to showcase Ecobank’s unique intra-Africa trade solutions that enable settlements of international transactions and mitigation of payment risk while providing regional solutions to exporters. Ecobank trade products and solutions are designed around two broad areas; Trade Finance and Trade Services. Trade Finance enables customers benefit from adequate and well mitigated credit facilitation in the area of Import finance, export finance, bill discounting, trade loans, distributor finance, payables and receivables finance, structured trade and commodity finance amongst others while trade services, offer our customers the advantage of speedy turn around and error free processing of their import letter of credits, import collections, avalised bills, Customs bonds, export collections as well as their local purchase orders and payment invoices, via our electronic trade platforms OMNI e-Trade and OMNI eFSC (electronic financial supply chain.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced its partnership with Arese Ugwu for the TV adaptation of her best seller, Smart Money Woman. The weekly show – in its first season – is billed to premiere on Africa Magic Showcase on Wednesday, 23rd September 2020 at 9:30pm.
The Smart Money Woman is a programme that shows the experiences, sacrifices, struggles and vigour of women in society as they carry out their day to day activities in spite of the gender imbalance in the society, especially in Africa. The series is an adaptation of Smart Money Woman written to tackle debt, providing tips on inculcating the right savings culture of the African middle class (why don’t we say – every individual – as against limiting to African middle class), the fear and misconceptions surrounding money and the lack of it, love, friendships, cultural and societal pressures and the roles they play in success.
The half hour 13-episode series which is directed by Bunmi Ajakaiye and Co-, produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, Akin Marinho and Arcadia Tv Africa will have viewers exposed to financial literacy nuggets. Its cast include; Osas Ighodaro, Toni Tones, Ini Dima-Okojie, Eby Eno, Eso Okolocha, Timini Egbuson, Karibi Fubara, Tope Tedela, Seun Ajayi and Temisan Emmanuel.
According to Author and Executive Producer, Smart Tribe Media, Arese Ugwu; “The Smart Money Woman is a love letter to every modern and upwardly mobile African women who are exploring life opportunities and experiences to find that right balance in their day to day activities especially in their career, friendship, relationship and of course, family.”
“We thank First Bank of Nigeria Limited for being the first corporate sponsor to believe in my dream and take a chance on a first-time producer. This is a partnership we are pleased to reckon with, whilst we recognise how they have successfully empowered women across the geo-political zones in Nigeria through its various initiatives, especially the FirstGem product. They have provided mentoring, support and capacity building opportunities for all to create a new generation of financially literate women thereby contributing to the continued growth and development of the country.”
Speaking on the TV show, Folake Ani-Mumuney, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said “FirstBank has been at the forefront of promoting female empowerment and we understand the role financial literacy plays in deepening financial inclusion, whilst promoting female independence. The essence of the TV programme is to raise financial awareness to inspire every individual in the society, especially women, to make informed choices and take effective actions for their financial wellbeing, she concluded.”
Congratulations on your fruitful years on the planet which is indeed a wonderful milestone for a wonderful person. Dr. Toyin Aborisade popularly known as and addressed as Toyinstars, it is a great privilege for me to wish you a happy birthday and congratulate you on turning this special age today Sir.
You are such a special person who has been an amazing influence in the life of our people from ‘Erukucity and the people around you, as a fine gentleman who dedicates his time and life for the work of kingdom expansion and humanitarian Services on this planet of earth, to crown it all; saving lives has been your watch words, in fact you have shared the good times with us, you have shown us the way, I mean the path to better life and the way to salvation. Here you’re today celebrating your special birthday on earth.
Oga, Boss, big Egbon (like I fondly call you), not everyone can reach this age looking so healthy, handsome, and happy just as you’re. It is the grace of God that keeps you waxing stronger. I celebrate you today Sir and I pray that God bless you with many more happy and healthy years, and may love and peace continue to fill your heart. You are such a blessing to many. I hope that this day turns out more wonderfully than you expect.
In the past three months, pitched battles have raved in the airwaves, in towns, in the streets, in villages and in every hamlet across Edo State for the governorship seat at Osadebey House.
In this same period, I have witnessed the most orchestrated attacks on my person where I was continuously in defense because of my beliefs and the position I took.
The Candidates presented their manifestos to the great people of Edo State. Thankfully, the elections have been free and fair and peaceful.
The people have spoken in no uncertain terms.
It is incumbent upon me as a protagonist for the candidate of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to now issue a statement in my personal capacity as a private citizen as I did at various times during the campaign.
First of all, I congratulate the people of Edo State who took their civic responsibility with a sense of urgency and trooped out to express themselves. I also wish to congratulate His Excellency, the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki for winning the mandate to continue for another four years. Congratulations.
May the next four years take the state to the promised land under your leadership. As a loyal citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an Indigene of Edo State, I urge all of the people at home and abroad to join hands with the governor to build a vibrant democracy, and also to build a vibrant economy where the youth can find gainful employment in an atmosphere of peace and security.
God bless the people of Edo State and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
