The yuletide season comes to life in Lagos as Zenith Bank Plc lights up Ajose Adeogun Street with the theme “LET THERE BE LIGHT”
This year marks the 14th year since the traditional Light up Ceremony at the Ajose Adeogun roundabout came to be. The official lighting was done by Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu the GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc supported by Executive management, staff and customers in attendance.
Speaking during the Light up Ceremony, the GMD/CEO said “Ajose Adeogun Street has come to be recognized by not only Lagosians, but Nigerians in general as an iconic place and tourist attraction because of the beautiful decorations adorning its length and breadth during the yuletide season. In fact, people from all walks of life visit with their friends and families to take pictures of this wonderful spectacle, especially at night and enjoy the ambience of the street and season.”
The light up ceremony came shortly after the ‘Zenith Bank Aspire Music Festival’, which took place in September and is part of the Bank’s line up of events ushering in the yuletide season and end of the year festivities. Others include ‘The Zenith Bank Tech Fair, Style by Zenith 2.0 and Zenith Bank Christmas Youth Parade. These events are in line with the Bank’s retail business drive and continued commitment to customers as they are guaranteed opportunities to network and enjoy discounts on products displayed at these events.
Leader in property development and housing, RevolutionPlus Property Ltd has struck a dual partnership with star actress Omoni Oboli as the company unveiled the leading role interpreter in the movie industry as its latest brand ambassador.
According to Bamidele Onalaja, Chief Executive Officer of RevolutionPlus, the deal will see Omoni Oboli headline mostly the construction arm of RevolutionPlus while the company will in turn partner with the actress on two of her upcoming projects; Sisi London and Unfaithful.
Onalaja had earlier hinted that the RevolutionPlus settled for Oboli out of the many that were screened for the role because of her track record in the industry and being a scandal-free thespian who will be an asset to the RevolutionPlus brand.
According to him, “her wealth of experience and character will boost RevolutionPlus’ profile of integrity and excellence.”
While justifying the company’s choice of Omoni Oboli as the new face of the property giant, Tolu Onalaja, Executive Director, RevolutionPlus maintained that the company settled for Oboli since “we share similar values of excellence and trust” saying it’s a relationship that will be to the benefit of our customers.
Moments after she signed the contract and was unveiled as a brand ambassador of the leading property merchandising company in Nigeria, Omoni Oboli said: “I am attracted to RevolutionPlus because the company radiates trust and excellence being rare qualities we have in common.”
She noted that Nigerians in the diaspora need the services of integrity proved property companies like RevolutionPlus because “Nigerians in the diaspora have been duped in the past by family, friends and mushroom property companies, who they send money to for the purpose of acquiring and developing properties and ended up with nothing.
It is definitely a week for sporting events as philanthropic billionaire businessman Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation will be hosting golf enthusiasts to a great time on the green with One Day Par-3 Golf Tournament on Saturday 23rd November at Royal Golf Course, Idumuje Ugboko Aniocha North Local Government, Delta State.
This is the second sporting event in one week that has something to do with the foundation of this billionaire with milk of kindness, he had earlier in the week brought in foreign coaches, football agents and football scouts into Abuja the country capital under the Prince Ned Nwoko’s Foundation Soccer Star Project. The project which is a football talent hunt where grassroots players are given opportunity to be coached by foreign tacticians after which their talents will be exposed to the football agents and scouts who will be picking 40 best for a footballing tour of Europe.
The golf tournament is the third edition of the yearly sporting event that is promoting tourism and sport development in the country. According to close source, this year’s event will even be greater as it will attract known international golfers with lots of prices to be won.
Prince Ned Nwoko’s Foundation is a non-governmental, non-partisan ethnic neutral organization that is dedicated to improving sport, tourism and environment while working tirelessly to better the lives of an average Nigerian.
For Participation and inquiries contact @megastar_magazine on Instagram or call 07053111111
Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Service Provider celebrated International Men’s Day 2019 themed: “Making a difference for Men and Boys”, with event held at every Experience Centres- ECs (branches) of the bank across the country.
The financial institution leveraged on this theme and coined a personal theme, which is “Break the Ice; Inspire another Man”.
To help chart a path that will champion gender parity in grand style, the male staff had engaging activities which include a men’s bonding/mentorship session with various appealing subject of discussions in the ECs, where the senior colleagues initiated the talks alongside other male staff contributed freely to break into the parity ice; pry into how to excel in their homes, career, mental health, politics, family, education, sports and other endeavours of life. Also, as part of the activities are a themed dressing for the men (Club Jerseys or Polo Shirts on Jeans or Beige Chinos) and a celebration of the men by their female colleagues.
Commemorating the International Men’s Day celebrated annually in various countries around the world, the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo emphasized that its serves as an opportunity to highlight the issues affecting the male gender and to also appreciate the men around us.
“At the core of our services, we recognise the need for gender equality. As we know that International Women’s Day is observed on 8 March globally. In the same way, there is a day for Men’s on 19th Novembers, which is also observed worldwide. This day highlight the positive difference that men bring to the world, communities and to their families. It also raises awareness about men’s well-being and issues that men face on a global scale,” he explained.
Addressing the Management and staff of the institution, Sekibo who recognised the immense contributions of the male counterparts, noted, “we are proud to affirm that having you men in different capacities working to imbed a difference in this organization have proved you worthy to be celebrated.
“Strong yet supportive, tough yet so kind…You sacrifice all your life for the family to bring a smile on their faces…You toil in the office just to support your colleagues and the organization.”
He, however, assured the staff, “we also understand that having a family and a career can be a balancing act and strive to support all our staff to ensure that each person is able to reach their full career potential while maintaining a good work-life balance. Maintaining a fulfilled workforce is important to us, whilst we conversely ensure that all our clients have the best possible experience.
“So, here’s a special thank you to all our male brilliant staff who are helping to create a more gender-inclusive world.”
Heritage bank did not fail to celebrate its loyal male customers with the bank helmsman, Sekibo via deploying special messages acknowledged their positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, childcare and to the environment.
Just like the proverbial cat of many lives, corruption in Nigeria seems to possess several lives as it will not just die despite the current administration’s claim that it has reduced the despicable act to the barest minimum. It was reliably gathered that the Civil Servants saddle with the responsibility of employing and confirming workers has turned their position to money making venture, to the chagrin of many Nigerians that truly deserve the job.
Sources revealed to www.societygazetteng.com that employment into the Federal Civil Service Commission in Nigeria is no longer based best suited in terms of qualification, but on who you know and how much you can cough out, insiders squeak that you must know somebody well placed or ready to pay between N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) depending on who your link to the recruitment office is to get employment into the federal civil service in Nigeria.
This sad occurrence is not restricted to a particular ministry as it cut across ministries and parastatals of the Federal Government, since all employments are done in the Abuja head office of various ministries, the act usually take place under the nose of different organisations saddled with the responsibilities of stamping out corrupt practices in the country.
Our sources also revealed that for years now the civil service commission compulsory confirmation examinations, which is supposed to be the last step of completely absolving the new recruits into the civil service has also been bedeviled with allegations of large scale corrupt practices which will see the new recruits being asked to pay a certain compulsory amount of money which is meant to be use in settling those who will be marking their exams, has unconfirmed story claimed those who decided not to pay the previous times end-up failing the confirmation exams.
This has allegedly been the way of doing things in all ministries and parastatals, with none of the agencies saddled with the responsibility of tackling such looking the other way.
It would be recalled that earlier in the year, the Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, had resigned her position after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had grilled her over an alleged contract scam to the tune of N3billion with about N600million traced to the account of one of her key aides.
It was reported that she came into the picture when the EFCC were investigating a former minister whose ministry she had worked as a Permanent Secretary. This has forced her to call it quit and since her decision to resign no charges has been brought against her. A decision many said is feeding the fuel into the fire of unending corruption consuming the Nigerian Civil Service.
As part of sustained efforts to promote ethical values and professionalism within the bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, weekend disclosed plans to participate in this year edition of the Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week. Commencing on November 3 and running up until Friday, November 08, the bank has organised series engagement initiatives that are part of the annual activities around the celebration.
Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week, organised annually by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) provides organisations with the ideal occasion to demonstrate their extensive and comprehensive compliance and ethics programmes in a manner that strengthens its ideals while educating employees.
Commenting on the celebration, Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo pointed out that the bank remains committed to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in its dealings with customers.
“Guided by the Fidelity Code of Business Conduct & Ethical Policy, we expect our employees to uphold its tenets always, and act in a way that reflects the bank’s principles. We have instituted an Ethics Committee to drive this agenda and intervene in guiding staff when necessary”, he stated.
Okonkwo also promised to put the best interest of its teeming customers first, adding that strict adherence to proper ethical values has helped sustain the bank’s standing as a socially responsible organisation and good corporate citizen.
As part of the Compliance & Ethics Week, the bank will conduct a host of engaging staff activities including trivia contest, quiz and lectures. “The focus is to remind ourselves of the need to imbibe ethical values within the organisation even as we strive to build an enduring institution”, concluded Okonkwo.
Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 5 million customers who are serviced across its 250 business offices and various digital banking channels. The bank remains focused on select niche corporate banking sectors as well as Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and its currently driving its retail banking businesses through its robust digital banking channels.
Nigeria’s premier and leading financial services provider, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced that the FirstBank Lagos Amateur Golf Championship scheduled to Tee-Off on Friday, 15 November 2019 is now listed amongst the golf tournaments in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). The WAGR isoffered by the R&A and the United States Golf Association as a global service to golf. Through incorporation and assessment worldwide of both amateur and professional events, WAGR™ encourages the international development of the competitive game.
Since 1894, FirstBank has continued to promote the growth and development of sports in Nigeria. Apart from the Lagos Amateur Golf Championship which the Bank has supported for 57 years, the Bank has sponsored the Georgian Cup of the Kaduna Polo Tournament for 100 years. Other sports supported by the Bank include; the Dala Hardcourt Tennis, Kano for 32 years and for over a combined 30 years, the Bank has sponsored and owned the popular Elephant Girls Basketball club – which has remained a dominant force in the Nigerian Women Basketball league for many years – and the Elephant boys football club. The highpoint of these is the 2019 100th unbroken years of sponsoring the Kaduna Polo Tournament, widely attributed as the longest running sports sponsorship in the world and a Guinness Book of Records potential.
The 56-hole golf tournament, to be played over three days would be rounded off with a grand finale and awards ceremony on Sunday, 17 November 2019. Other activities to be held in the course of the tournament are the “Professional Coaching Clinic” to nurture the skills of young and upcoming talents and “Beat the Pro Skills competition”. The 2018 edition which had over 260 golfers in attendance was won by Sam Njoroge from Kenyan.
Speaking on the Bank’s sponsorship of the tournament, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said; “We are excited at the giant strides achieved with the FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship. The championship is now one of the international golf events where all amateur golfers worldwide can now participate and amass points to aid their WAGR rankings.”
“FirstBank has been in the business of supporting sports in Nigeria throughout its 125 years of existence. We have partnered with individuals and institutions to provide support, not only in the sports arena, but also in Education, the Arts and Small and Medium Enterprises”, he concluded.
Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s most innovative banking service provider, disclosed that Nigeria’s Gold market is worth £4 billion Pounds with high prospects of profitability for all players in the subsector.
The MD/CEO, Ifie Sekibo, who stated this at the Nigeria-Canada Investment Summit, held in Abuja, yesterday also disclosed that the enormous potential of the industry was one of the reasons why Heritage Bank delved into the mining sector despite enormous risks.
According to him, the bank has Dukia Gold as its partner that would facilitate access to local miners and artisans to get value for their commodity at international market price after being registered with Dukia Gold.
Sekibo, who was represented by the Team Lead, Agric Finance and Export, Adelana Ogunjirin, explained that prior to now, local miners of Gold found it difficult to trade their commodities favourably but with the involvement of Dukia and its partner, Heritage Bank, a Quality-and-Quantity test will be conducted based on the arrangement they made with Dukia Gold and that will lead to additional value to the small holder miners. He explained that this will leverage the small miners the opportunity to also trade their commodities at international market price.
He further stated that a metric tonne of Gold is currently valued at $30million adding that it is worth investing in the industry, especially as gold is a kind of commodity that does not easily lose its value.
He said: “Mining sector is an area which has not been fully tapped in terms of the potentials around it, as there are quite a lot of opportunities around that sector. Recently we secured $1 billion funding line with our funding partner AfreximBank, which also is to support areas like solid minerals.
“Now with respect to this we have looked at the value chain of this space and we have looked at the opportunities that are there. A lot of fund providers have not really delved into this and it is because of the lack of understanding of the market.
“In terms of value, gold is an area where you can enhance the value. You hardly see Gold losing value and you see that in different exchanges you even trade those commodities.
“Looking at it in terms of trend, you see that gold is something that will appreciate definitely. So in terms of the profitability of this business, we have looked at it, the crunch, the numbers we see that is a space that the Bank will definitely earn a lot of income.”
He also expressed optimism that other banks would like to come into the Nigerian mining sector, but may be studying to understand the sector properly.
“Definitely other banks will come into the sector. For us we are leading, but the truth is they need to play in an area and space that they understand, as not everybody would be able to play in that space.
“Heritage Bank has already carved a niche for itself in agribusiness space, just like the Gold commodity, this would be exported. So, in terms of export proceeds too, there are opportunities to be explored. Generally, looking at the Nigerian outlook, on the long run, this will also enhance the country’s external reserves. There are multiplier effects of what we are doing today and that is why we are also moving in this direction,” the MD noted.
Also speaking, Managing Director, Nigeria Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, Abba Bello, revealed that the bank had gone into high level discussions with heavy equipment manufacturers and suppliers that would lease equipment to miners for exploration and processing, adding that this was expected to make the equipment accessible and affordable.
Bello said, “For equipment supplier or outright purchase of equipment, we have gone into discussions with Bluecare and now Mantrac for the supply of heavy equipment for gold processing or exploration on lease basis and, it is something that does not exist currently within the industry.
“Barrick Gold and Bullion Mart is something that happen in the mining world. You don’t have to own the equipment, but there are vendors who supply the equipment for explorers to hire.
“Discussions have gone very far with the equipment suppliers and very soon we will announce the programme.”
Meanwhile, the Country Manager, ITM, Nigeria, Habibah Waziri, raised concerns on human resources development that would sustain the sector.
Waziri also said there is need to formalize the sector and also invest in human capital in the sector for growth and development.
R-L: Team Lead, Agric Finance and Export Heritage Bank, Mr Adelana Ogunjirin; Dr. Hadiza Gado; Managing Director /Chief Executive of Nigeria Export -Import Bank (NEXIM ) Mr Abba Bello; Managing Director Dukia Gold, Bose Owolabi and Mr Tunde Fagbemi during NCIS Summit 2019 – Mining Master Class held at Transcorp Hotel AbujaR-L: Managing Director /Chief Executive of Nigeria Export -Import Bank (NEXIM ) Mr Abba Bello; Chief Executive of Bullion Mart, Mr Moniruz Zaman; Team Lead, Agric Finance and Export Heritage Bank, Mr Adelana Ogunjirin; Minister of State for Mine and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah and Dr. Hadiza Gado, during NCIS Summit 2019 – Mining Master Class held at Transcorp Hotel Abuja
Top global designers and brands will storm Lagos for the “Style by Zenith 2.0” Fair, the second edition of Zenith Bank’s highly anticipated Lifestyle Fair, which holds from Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, 2019 at the Eko Energy City, Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Some of the top designers billed to feature at the fair include Tom Ford, Dolce and Gabbana, Tokyo James, Eyola, Mai Atafo, Okunnoren Twins, Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, Telvin Nwafor, Fikirte Addis, House of Kaya, Gozen Green, Trish O, Chulaap, Agatha Moreno, Sunny Rose, Nonnistics, Caesar Couture, Yartel, Orapeleng Mdutle, Mustapha Hassanali and the Fabric Hub, amongst others.
Aside showcasing their designs during the runway modelling sessions at the fair, they will also be participating in the various Lifestyle masterclasses, offering expert opinions on recent trends and designs in the global fashion industry.
Launched in 2018, the “Style by Zenith” initiative was created with the objective of supporting and creating value for customers by focusing on various aspects of their lifestyle.
“Style by Zenith 2.0” caps a year of all-encompassing customer lifestyle engagements by Zenith Bank through events such as the Aspire Music Festival, a musical concert for millennials held in Lagos in September and the Aba SME Fair organised for SMEs in the Aba Fashion Market, Abia State last month. This is in addition to the Light-Up Ceremony of the yuletide decorations on Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island coming up by the second week of this month.
The three-day fair has an interesting line up of activities including runway modelling by leading Nigerian and international models accessorized by top global and Nigerian designers, modelling masterclasses, exhibition of lifestyle, beauty, health & fitness products, food and drinks, games arcade for both children and adults as well as musical concert featuring Nigeria’s biggest artistes.
Fashion One, the leading global fashion and lifestyle channel will once again be working with Zenith Bank on the “Style by Zenith 2.0” initiative.
Registration for the event, which is free for everyone, can be done by visiting www.zenithbank.com/style.
Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS). Most recently, the bank won the Best Bank in Retail Banking and the Bank of the Year at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards, and was ranked as the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co.
It is the general belief that no good work is lost, this can well be used to describe what happened recently when Honourable Prince Ned Nwoko was being given an award of honour as the Africa Community Developer of the Year by some Africans in diaspora under the name Africa Advancement Forum UK.
The award which is coming barely a month after the philanthropic billionaire had empower 50 Nigerians with a support cash of one hundred thousand Naira each through his Instagram account, an act that shows the Delta State born Businessman cum Politician as a natural giver and not one that gives only for publicity sake.
Presenting the award to Mr Nwoko during a brief ceremony in Abuja, the director, International Cooperational Africa Advancement Forum, David James Egwu said the award was in recognition of the frantic efforts and sacrifices being made by the recipient in the area of human and community development.
He urged the recipient to continue with the good works he has been doing and ensure that the image of the black man is restored through his philanthropic works.
Receiving the award, Mr Nwoko who expressed delight over the award said he felt inspired by the award to do more in sports and youths’ development.
Mr Ned Nwoko who is currently on the process of establishing a sports University in Idumuje Ugboko, Delta State said any young man or woman interested in sports and education combined would find a place at the University when recognized by the National Universities Commission, NUC.
According to him, the university will cover all Olympic sports when eventually commissioned.
Mr Nwoko noted that five of the seven structures recommended by NUC for a start are already in place, adding that efforts were on to ensure close collaboration with the Delta State government.
