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DESPITE DIFFICULT TIMES, FIRSTBANK EXCITED FAMILIES WITH UNIQUE “DECEMBERISSAVYBE” EXPERIENCES By Femi Oyewale

It was glitz and glamour as the premier and leading financial institution in the country, FirstBank thrilled their customer to a memorable “DecemberIssaVybe” at the just concluded Vibe on the Beach, featuring sensational music act, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun widely known as Big Wiz. The timing of the concert was right, having had Asake and Kiss Daniel’s concert precede that of the grammy award winning music sensation.

DecemberIssaVybe is not just about music but fun, fun and fun in its entirety, from stage plays to art and culture… the list comprised Culturati to Beeta Arts Festival Abuja, Koffi Tha Guru Unorthodox, Duke of Shomolu Production’s Encore, Our Duke Has Gone Mad Again and Ufok Iban.

Others supported by the Bank include; Joromi: The Musical Concert; Osamede, Awo and Ufok Iban by Duke of Shomolu Productions.

So back to the main gist… tell me who does not love gist, especially when it comes to Big Wiz.

Vibes on The Beach was held at Landmark Beach Oniru, Lagos on Friday, December 30th, 2022. It was unarguably an amazing night of fun and nothing but a star-studded show which exploded the audience to the height of ecstasy and rhythm of bliss courtesy of FirstBank.

With the kick time slated for 6 pm, the environs of Oniru were a beehive of activities as thousands thronged Landmark to be a partaker of the grandest Lagos concert of the year.

The organizational skills of the organizers and sponsors were nothing short of perfection as Landmark was transfigured into a haven of an international center, divided into regular, VIP, and VVIP.

Of a truth, the attendees who cut across individuals, friends, family members who came for reunions, and lovers were all smiles as they passed through the passage of entrance branded with FirstBank, the only financial brand which has provided them the opportunity and platform for yet another memorable homecoming experience with their idol, Wizkid.

Those at the regulars, VIPs, and VVIPs stands were mesmerized by the decoration and branding of the venue and the cool atmosphere which prepared them for the entrance of their favorite show hosts, Mr. Macaroni and Kiekie whose real names are Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori.

Guests and fans of Big Wiz were in High expectations of the fun-filled experience they signed for the night when Popular skit maker cum musician, Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, famously called Carter Efe and Berri Tiga sang their trendy song, Machala, a blend of Afro-fusion. The song is widely attributed to be an anthem in honour of the superstar singer, Wizkid.

Afterwards, Landmark was thrown into a frenzy as Big Wiz, the biggest act of the night was ushered on stage. Interestingly, the entrance of Big Wiz was a barrier breaker and line crosser as those in the regular, VIP, and VVIP stands all melted into unison to the scintillating performance of the music superstar as he took everyone down memory lane starting from his evergreen debut singles to the newest and fresh contemporary songs. And guess what? Wizkid surprised everyone and added a juicy flavour to the event by doing a collaboration with the popular act, Naira Marley.

Truth be told, the 2022 edition of “#DecemberIssaVybe” by FirstBank goes beyond excitement but birthed memories that will be hard to fade off attendees’ minds for many years.

The bank’s dedication to going beyond functional products and benefits for its stakeholders and providing these types of enabling experiences sets it apart in the industry and solidifies its position as a leader in not just directly supporting the arts and entertainment industry but economically impacting its value chain.

Anyone not following the Bank is surely on a long thing but hey, it is never too late as there are still many excitements the Bank creates on its social media ecosystem via @firstbanknigeria (Instagram); @FirstBankngr (Twitter) and First Bank of Nigeria Limited (Facebook).

2023 will surely be another back-to-back hit as the financial giant creates more memorable fun for its customers and followers.

WEMA Bank Plc announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of new MD/CEO

· Managing Director/CEO Ademola Adebise to retire from Wema Bank Plc; with effect from March 31, 2023.
· Moruf Oseni, current Deputy Managing Director appointed as Managing Director/CEO

· Wole Akinleye, Executive Director appointed as Deputy Managing Director and Tunde Mabawonku appointed as Executive Director.

Wema Bank Plc. hereby announces the retirement of its Managing Director/CEO, Ademola Adebise. He will be proceeding on terminal leave from January 2nd, 2023, after over 13 years of meritorious service on the Board of the Bank. He will be succeeded by Moruf Oseni, currently the Deputy Managing Director.

Ademola Adebise was appointed as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank Plc in June 2018. He joined the Bank in June 2009 as an Executive Director and rose to become the Deputy Managing Director in 2015. Under his leadership, he expanded the bank’s footprints to other locations in Nigeria, he improved the performance of the Bank and spearheaded the first Dividend payment in 13 years, since then, he has ensured consistent dividend payment over the last 4 years. The Bank has grown its Total Assets by 155%, from N470 billion to over N1.2trillion. Deposits also grew by 214% from N350 billion to N1.1 trillion. He initiated the partnership with Bank of Africa to support its customers across the African continent which has increased the Bank’s market share and customer base. All these led to an additional growth of 2 million customer accounts in Nigeria and a market share of 3% of industry volumes. The Bank is now the leading collection bank for state and government agencies due to its effective and efficient platform. The Bank’s rating by agencies was upgraded to BBB investment grade.

The Bank significantly changed the digital landscape through the ALAT platform. The innovative platform also came tops in the KPMG Digital Scorecard for leading retail banks in Nigeria and this was based on in-depth insights into the state of user experience on retail banks’ digital channels. Furthermore, the Bank launched the first SME Business School for capacity building and empowerment of SMEs – this has benefitted over 20,000 small businesses. The Bank also became one of the founding members of the United Nations Environmental plan for financial institutions (UNEP- FI) and continues to provide digital solutions for societal impact.

The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Babatunde Kasali on behalf of the Board and Management expressed its profound gratitude to Ademola for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Further, Wema Bank Plc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Moruf Oseni as the Managing Director/CEO subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Moruf Oseni joined Wema Bank in June 2012 as an Executive Director. He has over 25 years of experience with more than 16 years at Senior and Executive Management levels. Moruf Oseni was an Executive Director for 6 years and Deputy Managing Director for the last 4 years and has demonstrated capacity to lead the Bank. He presently has responsibility for the Digital Optimization Directorate which includes – Digital, Retail, Treasury, Operations, and the Technology Divisions. Moruf is also the Executive Compliance Officer of the Bank. He supervised the launch of ALAT – Nigeria’s 1st digital Bank that has received local and global awards and multiple accolades. Before joining Wema Bank, Moruf was the CEO of MG Ineso Limited, a principal investment and financial advisory firm. Prior to MG Ineso, Moruf was a Vice President at Renaissance Capital, and an Associate at Salomon Brothers/Citigroup Global Markets in London.

Moruf holds an MBA degree from the Institut European d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in France, a Master’s in Finance (MiF) from the London Business School and a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of both the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Harvard Business School and King’s College, Lagos.

Other Board appointments include:

Wole Akinleye: Appointed as the Deputy Managing Director. Wole has over 32 years Banking experience. He presently oversees Corporate Banking and South West Business Directorate for the Bank. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Wole is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School. He obtained his first degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1989 and subsequently, a master’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from the same University.

Tunde Mabawonku: Appointed as Executive Director. He has over 23 years of experience and is presently the Chief Finance Officer and the Divisional Head of Finance & Corporate Services. Tunde has a master’s in finance from the London Business School and a first degree in Economics from University of Ibadan. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) & Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and is an Honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (HCIB). He has also attended several Senior Leadership programs.

In conclusion, the Board of Directors are confident that the appointment of the Executives will lead to the continued transformation and growth of the Bank, particularly as the Bank positions itself as a market leader in Nigeria’s retail banking segment through technology and innovation.

The appointments take effect from April 1, 2023 and are subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other regulatory authorities.

By Order of the Board.

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD
SIGNED

Johnson Lebile

Company Secretary/Legal Adviser

2023 General Elections: Awesu Mobilises Residents’ Support For Atiku In Ikorodu

A contender for the Ikorodu House of Representatives seat, QS. AbdulAzeez Adekunle Awesu and his political group has called on the youths and entire residents of Ikorodu to support the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the forthcoming presidential election.

Awesu said that Atiku is a unifier who needed to bring the various parts of the country together and with the capacity to salvage Nigeria out of his economic and political problems.

The PDP contender who is challenging the withdrawal of his mandate at the Supreme Court made the appeal during a massive rally he convened in Ikorodu on Wednesday.

The march, attended by several candidates, former aspirants and other stakeholders in Ikorodu PDP, was staged to mobilise support for the PDP Presidential candidate and others.

According to the Convener, it was also staged to re-assure party members and residents who have been complaining of dull moments within the major opposition party since the last rally that was organised on the Independence Day, by the same House of Representatives contender.

He led the massive crowd across major roads in Ikorodu which include Awolowo Road, Ireshe Road, Oriwu Road, Ayangbure Road, Ikorodu Garage Roundabout and along the Ikorodu – Shagamu Road.

Awesu, speaking with newsmen during the rally, said that:

“This rally is basically to let people know that PDP is still on ground, because if you can recall, we started this journey couple of months ago, and we knew the pace that we were going, but considering the circumstances, the whole things seem to be dying down but then, people really need to know that PDP is still on ground, that is just the basic essence of this and to know that that Atiku Abubakar is going to be the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he explained.

“Atiku Abubakar is the unifier. That is the major reason while we are doing this to bring Atiku Abubakar to each and every one’s door step, knowing that it is Atiku Abubakar that can do it on the platform and umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party

“That is why we are mobilising our people and residents to put on their dancing shoes and come out here to know we have a lot of work to do”.

He said that he was impressed with the turnout, and added that many have been expecting such outing.

“I’m really happy with the turnout. It showed that a lot of people have actually been waiting for this to happen. The essence of the whole thing is just to bring us together instead of sitting in our houses and thinking there is nothing to be done. There is a lot to be done in PDP, and we need to come out. This is our time, we have every chance; we have every opportunity to take back what is ours”.

Speaking on how the party intends to win the next general elections, Awesu said that more engaging activities have been planned which are going to unfold soon.

“We have lots and lots of strategies in place and for sure, I tell you that in Ikorodu for one that I know of, PDP is taking the Ikorodu Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate and the Gubernatorial seat. All of these will be ours.

“You can see from the turnout how people came out massively despite the weather and trust me, if you tell the people that we are still going further, they will be willing to go because they are very much on ground. The truth is that we have a lot of activities, and other functions to put out there”, Awesu said.

He also hinted that there will be three or more rallies which are going to include the PDP Governorship and other candidates to mobilise people for the next year’s general elections.

“Trust me, we are going to have three to five more rallies, and the essence will be to bring PDP to the people’s door steps. You know that people out there have been hearing Awesu and it was possible that they met him first at our first and today, lots more came to meet him again. I am sure that the third rally is going to include our Excellency, Olajide Adedoyin Jador, who is our Governorship candidate; Senatorial candidate, in person of Akobada; House of Assembly candidate constituency 1, Hon. Lawal Olamide, and our House of Assembly candidate Constituency 2, in person of Hon. Oyebo.

“So, the whole thing is just to bring everybody together. It is said that say a tree does not make a forest. We just need to come together, and make the whole thing robust and give Lagos the results we are looking for”, he said.

The PDP candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency I, Mr Olamide Olamilekan Lawal, also speaking, said that the rally was aimed at giving the youths the opportunity to prove that the party is still much a force to reckon with, and to mobilise people for Atiku’s victory.

“As you can see around you, most of us here are young. I am a youth, so also is my counterpart, Awesu. We are here to let people know our position that youths are on board. We are fully on ground, and we are here to support Atiku and Okowa for President. If you look around, there are about 5000 thousand people matching for Atiku/Okowa Presidency come 2023”, he said.”

“Well, it is an election we hope to win for Atiku, and we are going to do all our possible best here in Ikorodu and Lagos at large to ensure that Atiku/Okowa become our next President and Vice President, come 2023 lnshallah”.

Mr Idowu Hammed Odunayo (Collaboration), a former House of Assembly aspirant, also expressed that Atiku will win the next election while also wishing the rally Convener to reclaim his mandate at the Supreme Court.

“Well, we, members of the PDP, are strongly behind Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Vice, Okowa. We are also solidly with our brother, Awesu, and we wish that he retrieves his mandate”, he said.

Mr Peter Ugoeze, Chairman, Non-Yoruba in Ikorodu Local Government, said that non-Yorubas in Ikorodu have decided to give their support for Atiku/Okowa come 2023.

“The non-Yoruba have decided to support Atiku Abubakar, because we have seen that he’s the only person that can give us the particular mandate that we are looking for, and he’s most experienced among all the presidential contestants. He is the only person that has adequate experience to deliver Nigeria from this mess that APC has led us into. So, that is why we are supporting Atiku/Okowa to win this election come February 2023”, he said.

He also said that his group is looking forward to Awesu reclaiming his mandate at the Supreme Court.

“By the special grace of God, we are also looking forward to Awesu reclaiming his mandate because he is the only person that can deliver this House of Representatives for PDP in Ikorodu. Without Awesu, I don’t think PDP is going anywhere in Ikorodu Local Government”, Mr Peter said.

A member of the PDP, Mrs Adenike Borokini who also said that they are rooting for Atiku to correct many disappointments of the APC government, also said that they believe in Awesu.

“You see, when it comes to the issue of Awesu, we, in Ikorodu, believe in Awesu so much, and he is the man of the people. He is the man people love so much. He knows our pains and what we are going through in Ikorodu, and we believe in him. We have 100% assurances that Awesu can do it better than anybody in Ikorodu. If it’s not Awesu, nobody in this lkorodu is worthy to represent us”, she stated emphatically

BBC: Tinubu got it right on territories reclaimed by Buhari – Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff and Nigerian ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai talked about the security situation in the country, he also lend his expert insight to the statement of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his recent BBC interview…

What is your take on the current military’s tactics in decimating banditry and terrorism in the country?

I’ll say, let them maintain it and keep up the aggressive assaults. Additionally, collaboration and synergy with other sister agencies is crucial. They must avoid being distracted and keep their attention on their task.

How would you describe the fight against terrorism in the country since you left office as the COAS?

Well, you must understand that the military is not a one man show; even when I was in service, I worked with a team, and I am happy to say that many of them are still in service. The current COAS served under me as Theater Commander of OP LAFIYA DOLE now OP HADIN KAI. By and large, I will say that they are doing well. Whatever little success we were able to achieve during my tenure, we did it together; it was a collective effort.

The 2023 general election is just by the corner; what advice do you have for the military to ensure a hit-free poll as far as security is concerned?

They must stick to their constitutional role and remain apolitical. I understand that the military may be called in to assist the civil police at some point, but only when things are about to get out of hand. I think the electorate must not succumb to fear or intimidation; they should come out and exercise their civic duty. At the same time, all of us must be vigilant; if you see something suspicious, try to say something to the right authorities.

According to PRNigeria the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu created an impression that the Buhari-led administration had inherited seventeen local governments and about four states which were under the control of foreign Jihadists in 2015. What is your take on this?

The conclusion and verdict of PRNigeria is false, wrong, and inaccurate. I was the first COAS to serve under President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and even before my appointment as COAS, I was the Force Commander, MNJTF, so I should have correct information and the situation of things in the North-East and Borno State, which is my state of origin. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu got it right. As of July 2015, the following LGAs were under Boko Haram in Borno State: Dikwa, Marte, Gamboru Ngala, Kala Balge, Guzamala, Damasak, and in Yobe State, we have Gulani and Gujba. The terrorists also partially occupied Kukawa,Gajiram, Kaga , Mafa, Bama, Gubio, Chibok, Gwoza, Damboa, and Nganzai. The wrong impression created by PR Nigeria should be corrected. I understand that they were misinformed, but this is the correct information.

What is your reaction on the report by PRNigeria that foreign technical experts, including mercenaries, assisted greatly in the recovery of the occupied territories in North-East?

If it does in fact occur, it did not occur during the time that I was in charge.

You actively supported one of the candidates in the presidential primaries of the ruling party. And you are on the side of your party’s presidential candidate in this election. Yet, you have always insisted, “I am not a politician.” How do you explain this position?

Our lives are in phases and chapters. When I said, “I am not a politician,” that was the truth and nothing but the truth. I was not a member of any political party then. I was a soldier who was under oath to protect and defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria. But as you know very well, that phase of my life is now gone. There is a time to join the Army and serve as a soldier, and there is a time to leave the Army and return to civilian life. I am a democrat; that’s why, when I was in the Army, I tried to keep soldiers out of politics and allow the people to choose their leaders as they wanted. We also protected this democracy. So now that I am a civilian, I think it won’t be out of place if I heed the call of destiny and enter politics. That doesn’t mean I will run for political office. My plan is to form a government with some Nigerians who I believe have good intentions for the country. I initially supported Rotimi Amaechi because I believed in him, but we lost the primaries. However, since the party is supreme and God has willed that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be the flagbearer of the APC, it is expected that I should support him to win the elections. This is what I am doing. And this is not a new thing in Nigeria or the US. Generals Shehu Yar’adua, Obasanjo, and Ibrahim Babangida, as well as Aliyu Gusau, David Jemibiwon, Abdurahman Danbazau, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, all played politics after their service in the military. There is no doubt; stakeholders and imminent Nigerians thought that I could add value and so invited me to join them to move the country forward. One thing I want to tell Nigerians is that I will surely add value. There is no doubt about that.

Your name isn’t going to fade away anytime soon from the Nigerian Army, both in terms of exploits and enduring legacies. How do you feel about your stewardship?

Honestly, it humbles me. We wanted to achieve much more than we have, but, you know, things don’t always work out as planned. But it’s nice to hear soldiers and officers talk positively about us. We did what we thought was best for the army and the wellbeing of Nigeria. As COAS, I worked virtually around the clock daily. Sometimes I just sleep for a few hours.

What do you see as the place of regional cooperation in addressing the security challenges in Nigeria?

Regional cooperation is strategic in addressing security challenges because our borders are porous and our people are interconnected. Some people in south-western Nigeria have blood relatives in the Benin Republic. Those in the North East have relatives in Chad, Cameroon, and the Niger Republic, as well as in Sokoto and other places. So it is easy for criminals to move into Nigeria from these neighboring countries. What affects our neighbors can easily affect us. Not just us, but the entire ECOWAS membership. When the Boko Haram insurgency started, some people thought it was a Nigerian problem alone, but it has now spread to Burkina Faso and Mali. So, regional cooperation is needed to tackle the issue of small arms proliferation, help with intelligence gathering, and conduct COIN operations. For example, the MNJTF is helping to deal with Boko Haram and ISWAP in a good way.

There is the story of your long connection to President Buhari, beginning with his deployment as Military Governor of North East State. Can you help us recall this and its culmination during your time as Force Commander of MNJTF and COAS?

Yes, President Buhari and I have come a long way because destiny connected us in 1975, when he was the military governor of Borno State and I was a Form One student at Teacher’s College Maiduguri. He used to come to the school in the evenings to watch us play football. When I was running off the pitch to get the ball after hitting the ball so hard that it knocked down one of our classmates, the then-Colonel Buhari said to me, “You this boy! The army is what suits you best.

One thing led to another, and I was transferred to Teacher’s College Potiskum, while then-Col Buhari left Borno to serve as Petroleum Minister in the government of General Olusegun Obasanjo. I finished Teacher’s College, taught in a primary school at Buratai, and then joined the NDA in 1981. I got commissioned in December 1983 and heard that Major General Buhari was now the new Head of State. I proceeded to Elele in Rivers State, and that was it until sometime in 2015, when he visited Ndjamena as the newly democratically elected President of Nigeria. At that time, I was the Force Commander, MNJTF. When he returned to Nigeria and wanted to appoint his service chiefs, he appointed me as the 20th COAS. So he has been my leader and mentor in the past, now, and always.

What advice is best for the young officers and soldiers on the frontlines of service to the nation?

I have written and published a book known as Thoughts and Principles on Leadership. I am recommending it to all military officers to read. But that notwithstanding, my candid advice to young officers and soldiers is to remember the seven core Army values: their unit, the Army, God, and country. They must remain patriotic and keep on developing their skills and improving their competence.

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Brazilian Ambassador and others Bag Chieftaincy Title in Olu-Oje

Tag it unprecedented and you would have nailed it right where it matters. His Excellency, Ambassador of Brazil, Fransisco Carlos Soares Luz conferred with the title of JAGUNMÓLÚ ÀṢÀ OLÚ-ÒJÈ and his better half, Her Excellency Mrs. Ivana Panizzi Luz, YÈYÉ JAGUNMÓLÚ ÀṢÀ OLÚ-ÒJÉ.

This pioneering act of foresight by a Yorùbá monarch brings HRM Ọba Adéyínká Adéṣínà Àkòfẹ́ Ọbáwálé; Arólú(I) Olú-Òjé Òjénpetu Yorùbá Community of Gadumọ Kingdom, to another kind of limelight among other royal fathers.

During the conferment, he laid so much emphasis on the exceptional attention the veteran diplomat has been giving to all that concern culture. He has further strengthened and nurtured the erstwhile strong bond between the Yorùbá Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil and facilitated a greater traffic between the two countries. These were parts of the reason the title was conferred on him and his wife.

The Cultural and Educational Attaché to the Consulate General of Brazil, Mr. Adéníran Arímọrọ̀ also got the title of Fàṣàgboyè Olú-Òjé in recognition of his tireless cultural exploits.

Other chiefs that were honoured with a title were:

Ọmọọba Chief Adésọjí Tàlàbí (MD/CEO Fritots Global Communications PTY Ltd.) – Mójútáṣà Olú-Òjé; Ms. Onome Ogo-Ovwigho (Onome Signature) – Àṣàáwùnmí Olú-Òjé and Ms. Mary Onete Kasim – Àṣàágbèmí Olú-Òjé.

The monarch in company of his wife also conferred the titles of
Àṣàáyẹ̀lú Olú-Òjé and
Gbáṣàníyì Olú-Òjé on Messrs Ísíákà Ọláyínká Aìná (Easy Kampala) and Akíndiméjì Samuel Ọ̀násànyà respectively.

Their Excellencies Ambassador Fransisco Carlos Soares Luz and his wife expressed their surprise, joy and appreciation to the monarch, his Olorì, his chiefs and community. Not leaving out the staffs and the facilitators of the historical event; FROSEA GLOBAL ASSOCIATED LIMITED for deeming it fit to expose his gentle exploits to the royalty.
He promised to keep up the good work wherever he serves and to keep the Nigerian bond alive.

Also present at the event were Reverend Sam Ikpea, National Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club; Barrister Rónkẹ́ Kọkú, founder and president of Doors Youths Empowerment initiative; members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club and all the Consular staffs.

NOVA Merchant Bank Supports Blind, Partially Sighted Kids from Pacelli School

As part of its efforts towards commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, NOVA Merchant Bank visited the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Surulere, Lagos, last Thursday, donating valuable goods and materials worth millions of naira.

The International Day of Persons Living with Disabilities is a day set-aside by the United Nations to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, well-being, and inclusion of persons living with disabilities.

Led by its Executive Director, Mrs. Funke Okoya, NOVA presented gifts and other supports to the students, as part of its NOVA UPLIFT initiative, while assuring the school’s management of its continued assistance.

Okoya who told the Pacelli management that the acronym UPLIFT stands for Uniqueness, Passion, Leadership, Integrity, Fairness, and Teamwork, represents the Bank’s core value which has the specific objective of offering “Today’s solution for Tomorrow’s sustainability,” in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 2 “Zero Hunger.”

She said, “At NOVA, we are committed towards impacting various facets of the communities where we operate. These values are success tenets and should be embraced and demonstrated daily. We believe that everyone has unique abilities, and as a Bank, we are joining the conversation of creating innovative tools that are disability inclusive to help them function optimally in any workplace.”

The School’s Counsellor, Rev. Sister Christiana Ekechukwu, who commended the team for the kind and timely gesture, said, “These gifts could not have come at a better time especially as the Christmas celebration is fast approaching. We are very grateful to NOVA Merchant Bank for their generosity.”

NOVA Merchant Bank Limited is an investment grade rated merchant bank in Nigeria that offers an integrated suite of financial solutions covering Financial Intermediation, Wholesale and Investment Banking, Asset and Securities Management, Trade Services, Cash Management, Transaction and Digital Banking.

Lagos Speaker Celebrates Buhari At 80, Calls Him A True Democrat

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his 80th birthday describing him as a leader who remains focused on strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

Dr. Obasa’s congratulatory message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, said President Buhari’s humility, honesty, selflessness and passion for a better and more secured Nigeria makes him a true leader.

The Speaker said Buhari’s maturity, wisdom, courage and zeal to ensure Nigeria stands a united country remains a mark of his leadership capacity.

He commended the President for ensuring his administration’s success in infrastructure renewal and development in the nation.

He further noted how President Buhari’s effort to depeen democracy made him join the battle for the autonomy of State legislatures and judiciary in compliance with section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended).

“On behalf of my family and colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, I join President Muhammadu Buhari’s family, friends, associates and the government of Nigeria to celebrate him on his 80th birthday.

“The President deserves to be celebrated for the successes his administration has recorded since he took the mantle of the leadership of our dear country.

“History will always remember his efforts to build a stronger and more secured Nigeria through the fight against insurgency, infrastructural development and other social investment schemes.

“President Buhari’s love for our democracy remains appreciated, especially in relation to his signing of the celebrated Executive Order 10 to grant autonomy to legislatures and judiciary across the 36 states of the federation.

“The President’s honesty, dedication, courage and determination to leave a stronger and more United Nigeria is worthy of emulation.

“As he clocks 80, it is our prayer that Almighty Allah continue to grant him strength, good health, sound mind and the capacity to always contribute to our national growth, development and progress,” the Speaker prayed.

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly.

Lagos Red Line To Move 3.5m Passengers Weekly

– Lawmakers confirm 85% project completion

The chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transportation, Hon. Temitope Adewale, has disclosed that trains in the Red Line of the State’s rail mass transit will move 500,000 passengers daily.

This amounts to 3.5 million passengers weekly and 15 million passengers a month.

Hon. Adewale made the disclosure on Thursday when he led the committee on an on-the-site visit to the train stations between Ifako-Ijaiye and Yaba.

Adewale, who confirmed that the project was at 85% of its completion, said it showed that the State government understands the need to boost the transportation sector to ease daily movement of residents.

“Remember that the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, during the presentation of the 2023 budget, commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the purchase of trains and his zeal to complete the project.

“So today, by the powers conferred on us by the Constitution and under the headship of Mr. Speaker, we decided to conduct an oversight on the Ministry of Transportation and to be precise, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

“We have visited the railway and five stations in Iju, Agege, Ikeja, the Yaba and now Oyingbo where the rolling stocks or trains are parked contrary to what we’ve been hearing that the trains are not here.

“From what we have seen so far, the project is approaching completion and having spoken with the contractors, we are sure the Governor will do the commissioning as projected believing that the possibility is true and positive,” Hon. Adewale said.

He said the train service became necessary because the Lagos master plan indicates the need to inculcate it and increase passengers using mass transit.

“The red line will help move 500,000 Lagosians on a daily basis and reduce heavy traffic where more cars and personal vehicles would be left at home.

“This administration has achieved a milestone and the our Speaker has been able to give support to the executive to ensure that funds are put into good use,” he added.

On his part, Hon. Bisi Yusuff, a lawmaker, described the project as the result of good leadership and continuity in government.

According to Hon. Yusuff, the project was actually started by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and built upon by subsequent administrations.

Noting that the trains would help the State’s economic growth and smart city dream, the lawmaker pleaded for proper maintenance mechanisms.

He urged Lagosians to vote massively for the APC so they would continue to enjoy dividends of democracy.

Engineer Olasunkanmi Okusaga of the Directorate of Transport, promised that the project would be delivered at the target time.

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.