society_admin, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Ethnic Business Awards Rewards Best Foreign Enterprise

A chapter and befitting accolades for foreign business personalities and migrants community who have chosen to find a home in the Nigeria’s stormy trading soil have finally birthed. Billed to hold at the prestigious Oriental hotel, Lekki Lagos on February 14th, 2020, the epoch making event is no doubt, the most appropriate way of celebrating the historic St. Valentine’s Day.

Sprouting under the acronym of The Ethnic Business Awards (www.theethnicbusinessawards.com), the awards project promises to celebrate and honour recognized Nigeria-based foreign investors, dedicated entrepreneurs, business moguls, corporate firms, the diplomatic coterie as well as the migrants community.

The Ethnic Business Awards, according to Lanre Odukoya who’s the project’s scribe, is aimed at recognizing and appreciating the outstanding contributions of foreign businesses, organisations, individuals and communities to corporate Nigeria, “this is like thinking outside the box, the awards is designed to reward and encourage innovations and excellence among Nigeria-based foreigners in enterprise”, Lanre said.

Inspired by the growing population of foreign investors, organisations, individuals and migrants communities who have impressed with remarkable inputs into the growth of the Nigerian economy, the Ethnic Business Awards [EBA] seeks to reward the best practices in commerce, international diplomacy and excellence across other industries.

Nigeria became Africa’s largest economy for the second year in a row according to a multinational professional services network, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in 2019. Beyond doubts, this feat would have been impossible without the faith reposed in her by men and women of other nationalities who have defied doom prediction to swarm Nigeria to grow her commerce.

The EBA (www.theethnicbusinessawards.com) pays very special attention to promising and established foreign companies, communities, organisations and individuals of sterling qualities all of whom will be identified and grouped into different categories following a public opinion poll and wide consultations with some of the industry’s finest experts.

Though debuting tad late, the organizers, Pun Communications’ recognition of this very vital segment of the nation’s economy will boost the morale of the recipients of the honour and intending foreign investors, groups or individuals to join the Africa’s largest economy.

The grand celebration of the winners and presentation of the awards is scheduled to hold on February 14, 2020 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Lagos SCID train Officers on Community Engagement, Security Services

In addition to efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and Lagos state Police command to further strengthen Community Policing and ensure maximum safety of lives and properties in the state, the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Lagos, has on Monday trained police officers on community engagement and security services.

The one-day workshop which was approved by the Lagos state commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, and facilitated by United Kingdom-based security company, Target Search Global (TSG) was held at the department’s lecture hall at the SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

According to the Officer-in Charge of the SCID, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Yetunde Longe, she said that the training has become necessary in order to reaffirm the vision and dedication of the Inspector-General of Police towards reforming the Police and members of the Nigerian Police Force.

The Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos state Commissioner of Police are working tirelessly in reforming the Police force and ensuring maximum safety of lives and properties. This is why the CP has approved this training in order to further help us improve on our relationship with members of the public as one of the steps in achieving this goal.” She added.

Speaking to one of the facilitators of the workshop and Lead Consultant of Target Search Global, Mr. Olufemi Aratokun-Ale he also added that the training will also focus on unveiling new trends and techniques of combating security issues and eliminating security threats in Nigeria.

Other area of focus during the training include: Mental health awareness, intelligence profiling, criminal data collection, modern interview technique, forensic evidence analysis, and so on.

L-R Business Executive Director TSG Nig. Ltd- Blessing Nwakanma, Officer-In-Charge of the SCID- DCP Yetunde Longe, Lead Consultant Target Search Global Nigeria- Olufemi Olatunji Arotokun-Ale

FBNHOLDINGS, FBNBANK GHANA CALL ON PREZ AKUFO-ADDO

The Group Board Chairman of FBN Holdings Plc, Dr. Oba Otudeko CFR and Directors of FBN Holdings, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited and FBNBank Ghana Limited have paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo-Addo in Accra.

The visit was to show appreciation to the President and thank him for participating in First Bank of Nigeria Limited’s 125^th anniversary activities held earlier this year and update the President of some recent investment activities of the Group.

Dr. Otudeko assured President Akufo-Addo that FBNHoldings believes in the Ghanaian economy and indicated that it was evidenced by the recapitalization of FBNBank Ghana by its parent bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited. He pointed out that the Group’s investment of US$100 million was well above the new minimum capital requirement set by the Bank of Ghana into its Ghana operation.

The FBNHoldings Group Board Chairman added that the bank’s confidence in the Ghanaian economy and the talent of Ghanaians had resulted in the appointment of Victor Yaw Asante as the first Ghanaian Managing Director of FBNBank Ghana Limited.

Dr. Otudeko lauded the President of Ghana for giving the youth opportunities to serve in his government, saying it will prepare them to take over the leadership of Ghana in the near future. He congratulated the President on the choice of Ghana as host of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, saying that it must have taken significant effort to bring this to Ghana.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo thanked Dr. Otudeko for his kind words and recounted the crucial bilateral and economic ties as well as historic bond, pre and post-independence, that exist between Ghana and Nigeria.

While stating that it is important for the economies of both Ghana and Nigeria to do well for ECOWAS to succeed, the President thanked FBN Holdings Plc for investing in Ghana and gave the assurance that government will provide the necessary support to FBNBank Ghana Limited and the entire business community.

The President also touched on the banking sector reforms and observed that Nigeria also had to embark on a similar exercise in the recent past. He said it was a painful but necessary exercise to strengthen the financial services industry and position it to support business and the economy.

President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of providing opportunities to the youth to enable them support the nation’s growth and development agenda and the need for all citizens of the two countries to find avenues to give back to their nations.

Members of the delegation pledged, on behalf of FBN Holdings Plc and FBNBank Ghana, their commitment to helping build a stronger Ghanaian economy, as well as forging stronger economic ties between citizens and businesses of Ghana and Nigeria.

The FBNHoldings Group Board Chairman, Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, was accompanied by Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Mr. U. K. Eke, MFR, Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc.; Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun, Non-Executive Director, FBNHoldings; Dr. Hamza Wuro Bokki, Non-Executive Director, FBN Holdings, and Mr. Victor Yaw Asante, Managing Director, FBNBank Ghana Limited.

FBN Holdings Plc is the most diversified financial services group in Nigeria and includes FirstBank of Nigeria Ltd the mother company of FBNBank Ghana and other subsidiaries around the world.

ZENITH BANK/NFF FUTURE EAGLES PUT HUNGARY TO THE SWORD AT THE 2019 FIFA UNDER-17 WORLD CUP IN BRAZIL

Almost all the impact players for the Golden Eaglets in Saturday night’s 4-2 defeat of Hungary in the opening match of the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament in Brazil are products of the annual Zenith Bank/NFF Future Eagles Championships, including the goal scorers.

The competition, sponsored by NFF’s partner, Zenith Bank Plc, was launched in 2016 and has been widely lauded for its vision, with both U-13 and U-15 competitions running side-by-side right from the states to the zones and then to the national finals.

Samson Tijani, captain of the team and playmaker, who netted two goals (Nigeria’s first and last goals), and was named Man Of The Match, is a product of the competition, as well as defender Usman Ibrahim, whose powerful header off a corner kick restored parity after several attempts by Nigeria had been foiled.

Right back Oluwatimilehin Adeniyi, whose powerful header off a cross by another substitute Ibraheem Jabaar put Nigeria ahead for the first time in the game (3-2), also emerged from the Zenith Bank/NFF Future Eagles competition. He was severely injured before the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania in April, and could not make the trip.

Also of note is Akinkunmi Ayobami Amoo, whose entry into the game in the second half brought more vigour into the Nigerian attack. Amoo is a product of the Zenith Bank/NFF Future Eagles Championship, alongside forward Olakunle Olusegun, who also fought like a Trojan in Saturday’s encounter.

Another player who is a product of the Future Eagles Championship and is with the Eaglets in Brazil is Divine Nwachukwu, but he did not taste action against the Hungarians.

The Zenith Bank/NFF Future Eagles Championship also supplies the players to the U-15 National Boys’ team, which finished as runner-up at a tournament in Japan few months ago. In fact, Usman Ibrahim, who netted the equalizer against Hungary before further goals by Adeniyi and Tijani, was in the squad that went to Japan.

Nigeria, five –time champions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup take on Ecuador, host of the 1995 edition, in their next match of the tournament on Thursday, also at the Estadio Olimpico in Goiania where they put Hungary to the sword. Their final match of Group B, against Australia, will take them to Brasilia, on Friday.

Zenith Bank remains the biggest corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributor in the Nigerian financial services industry. The bank regularly make donations towards the development of various sectors of the Nigerian economy including education, health, sports, etc. In addition to being a major sponsor of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Zenith Bank is the sole sponsor of the Zenith Bank/NFF Future Eagles Championship, the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League (for 15 years running), the Zenith Bank Delta Principals’ Cup, and the Zenith Bank Next Gen Tennis Championship, amongst others.

PHOTOS: Buhari, Heritage Bank, Zamfara State, others hold discussion on boosting solid mineral development

In a bid to boost the nation’s economic growth, Heritage, Zamfara State Government and the Pan African Capital, at the just concluded Russian-African Summit in Sochi, Russia, held a meeting to brief President Muhammad Buhari on the African Export Import Bank cooperation with Zamfara on solid minerals development put together by the two aforementioned financial institutions.

This is coming on the heels of the signing of $1bn Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the areas of mining, agriculture, water resources and others, between Afreximbank and Zamfara, which Heritage Bank is the banker to the project.

President Muhammadu Buhari (4th right) with Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Muhammad Matawalle (3rd right); Minister of Solid Minerals, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite (3rd left); President/CEO AfreximBank, Prof. Benedict Oramah (4th left); MD/CEO Heritage Bank Plc, Dr Ifie Sekibo (2nd right); Managing Director, Intra-African Trade Initiative, AfreximBank, Mrs. Kanayo Awani (left); Zamfara State Official, Alhaji Bashir Hadejia (2nd left) and Managing Director, Pan African Capital, Mr. Chris Oshiafi, during a meeting to brief President Buhari on the Afreximbank cooperation with Zamfara State for Solid Mineral development put together by Heritage Bank and PAC, in Sochi, Russial, weekend.

Sight & Sound of Regina Daniels Nwoko Birthday Bash in Dubai

Much has been said about the exquisite birthday bash thrown by Hon. Ned Nwoko the billionaire husband of beautiful Nollywood actress Regina Daniels Nwoko, for her in far away Dubai recently.

The birthday which have in attendance very few people was described as simple but fabulous and it is to mark the twentieth (20th) years birthday of the beautiful script interpreter. Though there has been so much said about it but we will be giving you all the footage of the high-class event and some interview sessions with the celebrant;

https://www.societygazetteng.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WhatsApp-Video-2019-10-23-at-5.17.17-PM.mp4?_=1

FIRSTBANK CELEBRATES TOP PERFORMING FIRSTMONIE AGENTS NATIONWIDE

In recognition of the contribution of its Firstmonie Agents towards the Bank’s resolve at promoting access to financial services to all Nigerians, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced that its Agent Banking National award ceremony would hold on Friday, 25 October 2019 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. The event is themed “Planting Community Heroes Nationwide”.

Since its inception in 2017, the FirstBank Agent Banking scheme, popularly called Firstmonie, has recorded giant strides at promoting financial inclusion across the nook and cranny of the country. With almost 40,000 Agents in 99% of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria, processing approximately 1million transactions daily, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is leading the effort at supporting the Federal Government’s objectives to deepen access to financial services.

FirstBank’s Firstmonie service is providing financial/banking solutions to rural and semi-urban locations across the country, such as account opening, cash deposit, cash withdrawals, airtime purchase, bill payments, BVN enrolment and much more. Through this channel, the Bank is providing convenient services that endears trust and provides ease of access to banking products, thereby saving time and travel costs for users of our network. During the award ceremony, the bank will be recognising top performing Agents at National, Regional, and State levels.

FirstBank’s financial inclusion activities is in line with the mandate of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure the availability of affordable financial products and services to all individuals and groups of people in the country; irrespective of location, literacy levels, familiarity with technology and accessibility to modern infrastructural facilities. The Firstmonie Agent channel is amongst the Bank’s many initiatives to expand financial access in the country.

“According to Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited “the unwavering efforts and remarkable contributions by our Firstmonie Agents at promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria is indeed very much appreciated. Within the past 2 years we have been able to create not only 40,000 access points, but over 150,000 indirect jobs. We remain committed to doing more, strengthening business activities, driving economic growth and development; thereby reducing poverty”

“We would not rest on our laurels because without a doubt, every individual’s contribution to national growth and development, regardless of where they are, is indeed very important to us” he concluded.

(PHOTO) Heritage Bank joined other Corporate Agencies at the Ongoing Russian-African Summit

In a bid to support the nation’s economic drive, the Management of Heritage Bank Plc joined other Corporates and government agencies to brainstorm on the way forward for the African continent

ZENITH BANK REAFFIRMS MARKET DOMINANCE AND LEADERSHIP WITH Q3 2019 RESULTS

Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the period ended 30 September, 2019, with numbers that clearly demonstrates its market dominance and leadership.

From the unaudited account which was presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), gross earnings increased by 4% percent from N474,607 billion recorded in Q3 2018 to N491,268 billion in Q3 2019. Profit Before Tax (PBT) grew by 5% from N167,307 billion in Q3 2018 to a record N176,183 billion in Q3 2019. Also, profit after tax rose by 5% from N144,179 billion in Q3 2018 to N150,723 billion in Q3 2019.

Despite a challenging macro-economic backdrop, the Group recorded a significant growth in Non-Interest Income, expanding by 22% from N128.7 billion in Q3 2018 to N156.8 billion for the current period. Our platforms and channels have been the enablers of this growth, with fees from electronic products doubling to N35.3 billion from N17.6 billion in Q3 2018.

Our cost optimization strategies and aggressive retail banking drive are yielding the desired effects as cost-to-income ratio declined from 51.2% in Q3 2018 to 50.1% in Q3 2019 with Earnings Per Share (EPS) growing by 5% from N4.58 in Q3 2018 to N4.80 in Q3 2019.

Our retail and corporate banking franchises continued its momentum with customers’ deposits growing by 7% to N3.95 trillion from N3.69 trillion recorded as at December 2018, a reflection of increasing share of the industry’s deposits and customers’ confidence in the Zenith brand. These deposit acquisitions have directly contributed to our cost of funds improving from 3.3% in Q3 2018 to 2.95% as at Q3 2019.

We have continued to deploy capital to creating viable risk assets with gross loans and advances growing by 9% from N2.02 trillion as at December 2018 to N2.2 trillion as at Q3 2019 across both the retail and corporate segments. Our focus remains the search for bankable lending opportunities to ensure the attainment of the minimum regulatory loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) of 65% by December 31, 2019 without compromising our prudence.

Our robust risk management framework has ensured that non-performing loans (NPL) ratio declined from 4.98% in December 2018 to 4.95% in the current period. Our commitment to maintaining a shock-proof balance sheet remains with liquidity and capital adequacy ratios at 63.8% and 23.8% respectively, both above regulatory thresholds.

In this final quarter of the year, we will sustain our competitiveness and share of market in the corporate segment and build upon our digital foundations to reinforce our retail banking initiatives.

As a testament to this superlative performance and in recognition of its track record of excellent performance, the bank was recently named as the Bank of the Year and the Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks’ and Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI Awards).

Trace Live Presents “SIMI: TO BE HONEST”

TRACE continues to innovate in entertainment with TRACE Live, the next edition of which will be headlined by the incomparable, Simi. Themed, ‘Simi: To Be Honest’, on October 25^th, TRACE Live will take the audience through a journey of music, and candid opinions and truths from one of Africa’s biggest stars.

Always a night filled with rich music and cultural appreciation, TRACE Live celebrates the beauty of music by highlighting a blend of vocals, instruments, dancers, and an energetic audience. Previous performers include Flavour, Adekunle Gold, Falz, Tubaba, Wande Coal, Reekado Banks and Runtown.

Simi is a singer, songwriter, sound engineer, and producer who has constantly and passionately done the work of being true to herself and her fans. Beginning her career as a gospel musician, she released her debut album ‘Ogaju’ in 2008. In 2014 she released, ‘Restless’, an EP which earned her a record deal with X3M Music, where she went on to release three critically acclaimed works, one of which made it to number 5 on the Billboard World Chart. In doing so, she has gained fans worldwide. Currently, Simi is forging a new path. Having founded Studio Brat, she is fully independent and ready for her next chapter.

Simi, who is known as someone who uses her voice to fight for truth, will for the first time mix her performance with live and exclusive insights into her world. The combination of TRACE Live and Simi is sure to bring a show that will be talked about for months to come.

TRACE Live, Lagos’s largest live show series, is presented by TRACE in partnership with Cabal Entertainment and Bolanle Austin-Peters. The show is proudly sponsored by Lord’s Gin, Munch It, Pepsi and Tom Tom.

TRACE Live with SIMI will give the public a possibility to be part of a unique live experience with an opportunity to purchase tickets HERE or a chance to win tickets via our social media page HERE