society_admin, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Access Bank, Barclays, others launch Global Principles for Responsible Banking

Nigeria’s sustainability champion, Access Bank Plc., today launched the Global Principles for Responsible Banking as one of the Founding Signatories alongside other global banks. This is a further commitment to strategically align its business with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

By signing the Principles, Access Bank is demonstrating its commitment towards using its products and services to support and accelerate positive changes in both local and international economies as well as promote lifestyles necessary to achieve shared prosperity for both current and future generations.

Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc., stressed the need for continued collaboration and long-term approach to sustainability, recognising the benefits of sustainable banking and the positive effect it has on the Bank and society.

“There is a greater need now, more than ever, to promote sustainability in the global financial sector. This is therefore the right time to launch the Global Principles for Responsible Banking. At Access Bank, we are committed to setting standards and engendering innovative solutions that address social, economic and environmental challenges. We believe that the Sustainable Development Goals will be better achieved if we can work together, using these Principles as a guide,” he said.

As expressed in the Global Principles for Responsible Banking, Access Bank is convinced that humans and businesses can only thrive in an inclusive society founded on human dignity, equality and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The official launch of the principles which marked the beginning of the most significant partnership to date between the global banking industry and the UN held at the start of the United Nations General Assembly.

“The UN Principles for Responsible Banking are a guide for the global banking industry to respond to, drive and benefit from a sustainable development economy. The Principles create the accountability that can realize responsibility, and the ambition that can drive action,” said UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

With increasing concerns about climate change leading to a shift in the perception of climate risk among financial institutions and investors, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) urged financial institutions to adopt adequate risk management planning, saying:

“A banking industry that plans for the risks associated with climate change and other environmental challenges can not only drive the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies, it can benefit from it. When the financial system shifts its capital away from resource-hungry, brown investments to those that back nature as solution, everybody wins in the long-term.”

The Principles for Responsible Banking will provide Access Bank with an effective framework to systematically identify and seize new business opportunities created by the emerging sustainable development economy, while at the same time enabling the Bank to effectively identify and address related risks.

Peter Obi to Ngige: Your achievements can’t stand mine

Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state, says Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, achieved little when he governed Anambra.

Obi said what Ngige achieved as governor of the state cannot be compared to his records in his eight years of leadership.

The vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said this while reacting to comments credited to the minister in which he reportedly said Obi did not construct quality roads in the state after succeeding him as governor.

But in a statement issued by Valentine Obienyem, his spokesman, Obi said Ngige achieved “little or nothing” when he governed Anambra for about 32 months.

“Over 90 per cent of the roads, Ngige mentioned he built were done in his Local Government Area,” he said.

“Knowing the importance of road maintenance, shortly before he left, Obi set up the Anambra State Road Maintenance Agency with full compliments of brand new equipment.”

He said unlike Ngige, he patronised local contractors in the state and “left over N4bn in the ministry of works for road maintenance before he handed over”.

“Where will the comparison start? Is it health, where Ngige did nothing? Is it education, where Ngige did nothing? Is it commerce and industry, where Ngige did nothing?” the statement added.

“Is it the provision of infrastructure, where all he did was to cause the burning down of the state? Is it our relationship with donor agencies? Where? What is most condemnable in Ngige’s attacks are the lies he tells just to bring Obi down.”

After corruption trial, Ngwuta, supreme court judge, resumes duty

Sylvester Ngwuta, a supreme court justice who faced trial for corruption, has resumed his official duties.

Ngwuta, who has been absent from the bench since 2016, was seen at a ceremony on Monday in Abuja, where the title of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) will be conferred on 36 lawyers.

He is the third most senior judge on the bench of the apex court. Bode Rhodes-Vivour is the second most senior while Ibrahim Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), is the first.

In October 2016, Ngwuta’s home in Abuja was raided by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The secret police claimed it found hard currencies believed to be proceeds of corruption in his residence.

He was asked to step aside from his duties, though his salary was not stopped, to face charges of money laundering brought against him at a federal high court in Abuja.

He also faced charges of false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). But both cases were dismissed in 2018.

The charges were dismissed based on a judgement of the appeal court which held that serving judges cannot be prosecuted until they have been disciplined by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

However, the CCT overruled itself on this precedent in the case of Walter Onnoghen, former chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen was found guilty and convicted of false asset declaration in April – without discipline or recommendation by the NJC.

BIZARRE: Lightning kills 36 cows on Ondo ‘sacred mountain’

At least 36 cows were reportedly struck dead at Oke Owa in Ijare community, Ifedore local government area of Ondo state during the weekend.

According to a community source, the cows were killed by lightning shortly after they strayed to a mountain where the monarch of the town makes sacrifices on an annual basis.

A resident said Adebamigbe Kokotiri, the monarch, accompanied by his chiefs, carry out yearly sacrifice on the mountain described as a secluded place.

Speaking with reporters through Wemimo Olaniran, one of his chiefs, Kokotiri described the incident as an act of God.

The Sapetu of Ijare said the herdsmen had been destroying their farmland for a very long time which had led to confrontation on many occasions.

“We were there this morning and we saw about 36 cows dead apart from the one inside the bush. It has happened and there is nothing we can do, we regards it as the act of God which nobody can query,” he said.

“There had been occasions like that but not as massive we are having it now, to some individuals who desecrated the land. In the past we did witnessed thunderbolt attack, when you desecrated any part of Ijare particularly the sacred places.

“The dead cows will be there forever; it is part of the history in our land for people to see as testimony in future that such a thing happens, a whole Oba buried there live and heaven did not fall talk less of ordinary cows.

“Oke-Owa is a sacred hill where the Oba and some of his chiefs visited once a year during new yam festival to offer sacrifices on behalf of the community. Even those chiefs accompanying the Oba must not go to the inner part of the hill because there is a particular place where only the Oba have to enter and spend a night.

“This is a hill that the herdsmen wanted to desecrate with their herds. It is a taboo. When we heard about the incident, we invited the herdsmen and they confirmed that it was lightning that struck the cows.

“We went to the police station to report the matter and the Divisional Police Officer was contacted before chiefs including myself went there.

“Those cows would remain there and rotten because nobody must touch them otherwise there would be problem.”

Rider lottery launches Daily million, Lucky lady and Food basket into Nigerias lotto market.

Rider lottery, an online lottery enterprise Powered by ridder software Nigeria Limited. Is out with three exciting lotto products
Geared towards giving Nigerians opportunity to become millionaire through lottery .

In its latest press Release, the management of Rider lottery stated that rider lottery has entered the Nigerian lottery market with the UK model of National lottery In which several people have benefited through lottery to improve their income and impart on their lifestyle thereby improving on their revenue

The lottery which is basically for adults from 18 years and above as done globally is now in Nigeria..

The three brand new products played with 6 numbers in a set played within numbers one to forty nine in 3 straight lines is generated by a power ball machine in a very transparent and open method gives Nigerians the opportunity of becoming a millionaire dail Prospective player’s are advised to visit ..www.ridderlottery.com and play now

The maiden draw and lunch will take effect on 28th September 2019 and will be streamed live on all the social media handles. There’s a special bonus number for prospective players on the first draw. According to the chairman of (Ridder Sports Software Nig Limited) Mr Ola Omotoso “i’m excited to alleviate poverty in
Nigerians through rider lottery..”he stated

The chances of becoming millionaire through
Daily millions _which plays daily

Lucky Lady_ Plays every Wednesdays

Food basket_ Plays every Saturdays

With a twice daily draw, begins from Now. Players are advice to start playing now to increase their chances of winning daily millions.

CAMA 2019 Chats Way Forward For Nigeria’s Security, Economic and Political Stability

…Sanwo-olu, Ganduje, Nwoko, Kanu, Akiolu, Sunday Dare, Obasa, Akande, Rashida Yahaya Bello, others gears up for honour

The much-awaited and much publicized glamorous event of class and panache, Classic Africa Merit Award (CAMA season 9), is on daily basis gaining momentum as D-day draws near as the evening of candor and splendor is all set to hold on Sunday 29th September, 2019. The event, which has been on the mouth of many in the know, is tagged CAMA 2019.

Designed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Classic International Magazine, this year’s edition of the most sought after award event in African promises to cut across the frontiers of this country to other parts of the continent.

With the harsh realities of a biting economy and challenging security situation across the nation more than ever, organizers of the award led by the publisher of Classic International Magazine, Mr. Dave Agwazim has decided to chat a way forward for the nation with the gathering of eminent personalities to deliberate on the missing link in our nationhood and how to get out of the quagmire, hence the theme, “Next Level: Chatting A Way Forward On Infrastructural Development For Economic And Security Stability in Nigeria”

The expansive and beautiful 10 Degree Events Center, Billings way Alausa Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos will play host to CAMA 2019; kicking off with sultry Green Carpet “Meet ‘n’ Greet” event at 4pm while the main event commences at 5pm..

The basic and essential objectives of the event is to identify, screen and objectively honour and recognize without bias or sentiment, selfless and industrious individuals across the nation who have severally and individually excelled and performed exceptionally in their respective areas of endeavors and chosen fields, even as this applies to responsive and responsible corporate citizens and industry giants who have brought their products and services to bear on the collective growth of the economy.

Feelers and responses we are getting so far have been encouraging, but like Oliver Twist, we are all expecting more, just as dignitaries, movers and shakers of industries, showbiz impresarios, top notch politicians, top government functionaries and media gurus are billed to attend the all-embracing annual event. The veteran versatile writer, David Agwazim, whose style of doing things is never in small measure. No doubt, from analysis, CAMA 2019 promises to be a memorable event as usual for those who will attend.

Some of the expected dignitaries to grace this grand high octane event are His Excellences, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu and Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, executive governors of Lagos and Kano States respectively. Others are the highly revered Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Prince (Dr.) Ned Nwoko, an accomplished and cerebral international legal luminary; First Lady of Kogi State, Hajia Rashida Yahaya Bello, MD of Sonola Foods, Dr. Satish Nair; Honourable Minister for Youth and Sports, Dr. Sunday Akin Dare; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Lagos State Commission for Commerce, Chief (Mrs.) Lola Akande, highly celebrated Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson, Bishop Anene Nwachukwu, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, honourable member representing Kosofe Constituency 1 at Lagos State House of Assembly; fastest rising film-maker, Mrs. Regina Daniel Nwoko, and chairman of Classic International Magazine, Dr. Iyke Kanu, etc.

Distinguished sons and daughters of African descent, nay brands will be honoured with merit awards for their dexterity and quality service within the year under review.

There is always a reward for every good work done on this planet earth. Man does not only work to earn a living but also to make a contribution to life, to make an impact and living his name in the sands of time. This fulfillment is the real purpose of life. ‘There is dignity in labour’, they say, and when a man does not work hard to justify his pay, he of course does not show that he is worthy to live.

CAMA is an award event endowed in 2011 by celebrity journal, Classic International Magazine to reward and celebrate excellence in service across the length and breadth of Africa, promote African culture and provide opportunity for networking.

Reps ask CBN to suspend cashless policy implementation

The house of representatives has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to hit the brakes on the implementation of the cashless policy it recently re-introduced.

At the plenary session on Thursday, the lower legislative chamber said the policy will lead to a significant decrease in credit extension by Nigerian money deposit banks.

The lawmakers also said the policy will have negative impacts on small and medium enterprises “which are clearly the engine room for growth of the economy”.

In a circular released on Tuesday, the CBN had directed all deposit money banks in the country to charge 3% processing fees for withdrawals and 2% for deposits of amounts above N500,000 for individual accounts.

Corporate account holders will be charged 5% processing fees for withdrawals and 3% for deposits of amounts above N3 million.

The directive was, however, criticised by some Nigerians for various reasons.

In a motion introduced during the plenary session, Benjamin Kalu from Abia state and spokesman of the green chambers urged the lawmakers to call for the suspension of the policy pending further consultations on it.

He said while the policy is expected to reduce risk of cash-related crimes among other benefits, its implementation would have negative impacts on micro, small, and medium enterprises “thereby throwing many of them out of business and sending more Nigerians into poverty”.

Kalu said while Nigerians are still battling with the burden of the numerous bank charges introduced by commercial banks, the CBN deemed it necessary to “impose the implementation of cashless policy on deposits, without due consultations with all shades of stakeholder who will be impacted by the policy”.

“This overbearing burden is aimed at closing down majority of micro, mini, small and medium businesses in Nigeria while enriching Nigerian money deposit banks owned by a privileged few, without any known financial contribution to the consolidated revenue fund of the federation.”

The lower legislative chamber subsequently adopted the notion and urged the CBN to suspend the implementation of the policy “until the appropriate and extensive consultative process is concluded”.

It also directed its committee on banking and currency to meet with the apex bank to ascertain the relevance and need for such measure considering the prevailing economic situation of the country.

CAN Raises Alarm as El-Rufai moves to Demolish 110-year-old church

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised the alarm over a 7-day quit notice issued to St. Gregory’s Anglican Church, Sabon Gari, Zaria, by the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA).

In the notice seen by TheCable, the agency said the failure to comply with the directive will lead to the forceful eviction of the church.

“Reference to the directive given by the Executive Governor on the issue of Market development which compensation has been duly paid, you are hereby directed to vacate your residence within Seven (7) days from now, failure to comply will leave the Agency with no option than to evict you at your own expense. (from 19h – 24 September),” the statement read.

The zonal head of the agency, who signed the notice on behalf of the zonal manager, did not include his name.

Reacting to the development, Joseph Hayab, chairman of CAN in Kaduna, said the association is alarmed over the quit notice.

“CAN wishes to draw the attention of the Kaduna state government to a quit notice to St. George’s Anglican Church in Sabon Gari, Zaria,” he said in a statement.

“The 7-day quit notice by the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA), is purported to be a directive from the executive governor.

“The notice also claimed that compensation had been duly paid to the church. We are alarmed and apprehensive about this if it is true that it is a directive from the governor. But we doubt much if the governor issued the directive.”

Hayab said the state government made moves to relocate the church over the expansion of the market at Sabon Gari in February 2016 but later realised that the church had all valid documents and that even some parts of the market are on the church’s land.

Hayab said following the presentation of the necessary documents by the church, the matter was resolved amicably.

He called on the governor to immediately investigate the quit notice from KASUPDA and take prompt action.

”This will go a long way in allaying fears and apprehension among Christians in the state and the nation at large,” he said.

“This unfortunate notice is coming just a few weeks after the alarm about the purported demolition of a mosque in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, which, upon investigations, was later confirmed to be false. We urge the governor to take a step to avert that kind of situation in Kaduna.”

Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesman of Nasir el-Rufai, the governor, said he was not aware of the notice.

“I am not aware of the notice you are talking about. What I know, and is a fact that is very much in the public domain, it is that the Kaduna State government is redeveloping and expanding markets, including the Sabon-Gari market” Adekeye said via a text message.

No official of KASUPDA could be reached for comments as of the time this report was filed

110 years old St. Gregory’s Anglican Church, Sabon Gari, Zaria

Osinbajo to NEC: Don’t ask Me for Anything on the New Economic Council ask Buhari

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the national economic council will have to send a request through the president to get a briefing from the newly appointed economic advisory council (EAC).

Osinbajo made this statement on Thursday in response to a request for clarification by members of the national economic council regarding their relationship with the newly appointed council.

A statement by Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s senior special assistant on media & publicity, quoted the vice president as saying both councils are for the benefit of the president.

“If NEC wants to be briefed regularly by the Economic Advisory Council, EAC, we will request the President to do that,” he said.

Clem Agba, the minister of state for budget and national planning, gave the balance of the federation accounts as at September 17 as:

Excess crude account: $274,583,856
Stabilization account: N23,796,349,487.76
Development natural resource account fund: N105,135,613,817

Agba also said state governments are expected to start servicing their budget support loans from September 2019 and the repayment will be done over 240 months.

“Council resolved that Governors should meet with the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria to sort out the details of repayment modalities and the Vice President will ensure same and ensure the meeting between the Governors, CBN and Finance Ministry in order to facilitate the speedy resolution of the matter,” the statement read.

The national economic council is made up of the 36 state governors and the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The NEC is empowered by section 18 of the 1999 constitution to advise the president on the necessary measures for coordinating the economic planning efforts and economic programmes of the various governments of the federation.

The president, on Monday, disbanded the economic management team headed by the vice president and appointed an economic advisory council in its stead.

Africa’s Global Bank, UBA is Now Available on Apple Business Chat

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, on Thursday, announced that the services of its Chatbot, Leo is now available for customers on Apple Business Chat, where its users can communicate directly with businesses using the Messages app on iPhone and iPad.

“As a brand focused on providing excellent customer experience, we are always looking for new ways to serve our customers easily and on time; we are therefore thrilled to support Apple Business Chat, which gives us a powerful and engaging connection with our customers,” said Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, Group Managing Director of UBA, who spoke at the launch of the service in the bank’s Head office on Thursday. “Most of our customers prefer iOS, and we always want to exceed their expectations when they experience UBA. Apple Business Chat makes communicating with us as easy as messaging a friend, so we expect it will quickly become our customers’ preferred customer service channel.”

He explained that UBA customers can now use the services of LEO, through the Apple Business Chat to open an account, buy airtime, check account balance, make account transfers and pay bills. With Business Chat, customers can always reach a live person and are always in control of whether they share any contact information with a business.

Uzoka said, “Today, we are covering a segment that has been missing for some time. It is our desire to ensure that we put Leo everywhere, and today it is now on the IOS platform as the users approached us that they needed to enjoy the service which Facebook and WhatsApp users had been enjoying from LEO. Consistently, we have been the first in the use of intelligence banking, this is the first time this is happening in Africa. LEO is live in English on the IOS platform, and by the end of October, it will be live in other languages. As you know, LEO is already on WhatsApp and Facebook in English, French, Portuguese and Swahili languages.”

To start Apple Business Chat, customers can click the ‘Chat with Messages’ button on UBA’s website or in mobile banking app, available in the App Store. A conversation with UBA’s agents will open instantly in the Messages app, and users can take their time responding when it’s convenient.

The Group Head, Online, Banking, Austin Abolusoro, who spoke at the event said the bank is always looking for ways to improve upon its services to its teeming customers.

“We are leading financial industry AI in Africa. Our customers have been increasingly asking for mobile services that make their lives easier, and Leo has become a growing choice for his convenience and personal solutions, Over a million customers are already on the LEO platform. Before now, customers can only come to the bank, but today we are on social media as well as on the IOS platform, and the launch of LEO has helped customer to get their complaints resolved without physically visiting the bank. Leo makes use of available data to resolve complaints and where more information is needed, Leo will transfer the customer to human agents.”

“As we continue to advance our work on AI-driven developments, it is important that we listen to our users today and further enhance Leo to align to client feedback in order to better meet and anticipate needs and even continue to give them increased value,” Abolusoro added.

He added that Apple Business Chat is available in beta for users and businesses around the world, and is built into iOS 11.3 and higher. For more information, visit: apple.com/ios/business-chat.

United Bank for Africa, Africa’s global bank, was founded 70 years ago in Nigeria and today, operates in 20 African countries and in the United Kingdom, the USA and with presence in France. UBA serves over 17 million customers across the globe with more than 1000 branches and touch points. In 2018, the bank received the award of Africa’s Best Digital Bank by the Banker’s magazine.