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NO CRISIS ON OLOJA Of LAGOS STOOL- Kosoko Family Declares

-1983 Registered Declaration still subsisting, intact.

Alhaja (Chief) Mrs Ashabi Abimbola Alli-Balogun, the Olori Ebi

The king Kosoko royal family/ Oloja of Lagos chieftaincy family has declared that there is no crisis within the family and that the ascension to stool of Oloja of Lagos is a settled matter.

Kosoko family also stated that the 1983 Registered Declaration guiding the selection of occupant of the Oloja stool is still subsisting and intact.

These were contained in separate statements signed by Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Abimbola Alli – Balogun, Head of the Kosoko Royal family and Prince Sikiru Kosoko, the General Secretary on Friday.

They debunked insinuations contained in an online report that the Lagos State Government is making moves at resolving the crisis surrounding the Oloja of Lagos stool, a first class chieftaincy title in the class of Akarigbere chiefs of Lagos.

The General Secretary of the family, Sikiru Kosoko, who denounced the report, which was based on a purported statement online, declared that only the Olori Ebi, Alhaja Mutiat Ashabi Ali-Balogun or her assigned members of the family has the right to issue statements or engage in official correspondence on behalf of the family.

According to the statement, the purported statement and reports are filled with falsehood and misinformation, adding that contrary to the misinformation in the report, the family, through the Olori Ebi of the entire family and those of the various branches, an Omo Oye, (Oloja of Lagos elect), has been chosen and ratified in the person of Prince Abiola Olojo Kosoko”.

“The attention of the king Kosoko Royal Family of Lagos/ Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family has been drawn to a publication purportedly coming from the family which is not true.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the king Kosoko Royal Family/ Oloja of Lagos chieftaincy family has a strict line of official communication, which is through the Olori Ebi of the family, Alhaja Mutiat Ashabi Ali-Balogun or her assigned member of the family.

“It is also important to note that the Kosoko Royal Family already has an Omo Oye {Oloja of Lagos elect} in the person of Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko, whose selection has been ratified by the Olori Ebi of the family and the kingmakers from all other ruling houses in accordance with the 1983 Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Declaration”, the family said.

The family scribe further added that the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Declaration of 1983 upon which Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko was selected and ratified, is the authentic law guiding the Oloja of Lagos stool, as it is at the moment the only recognized law.

According to the family, the year 2000 Government View, an offshoot of a tribunal headed by retired Justice Akin Holloway, is merely an observation and still ‘in view’, which is yet to be promulgated into law, thus, without any effect or force of law. The guiding principles still remained in the existing 1983 Declaration”.

“Contrary to the reports making the round, we declare that the 1983 Declaration remains sacrosanct as the year 2000 Government View referred to in the report is a mere view and not law”, the statement said.

“It is also important to note that the cases at the High Court and Court of Appeal referred to in the highly misinforming report were not our cases but issues of the chieftaincy family merely mentioned.

“We are by this statement, informing the general public that there is no crisis in the Kosoko Royal Family of Lagos regarding the filling of the vacant Oloja of Ereko stool as all that is necessary have been done to fill the stool and that those agitating against the choice of the family are mere trouble makers bent of dragging the good and eminent name of the family in the mud.”

Also denouncing a press statement allegedly in circulation calling for the ratification of the Registered Declaration of the family, the Kosoko Royal Family said:

“This is also to call the attention of the authorities and the general public to a letter circulating in the name of the Kosoko Royal Family/Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family calling for ratification of the valid registered declaration, a move contrary to the position of the general family and without the consent of the head of the family.

“The judgment of the High and Appeal Courts being referred to in the said press releases does not in any simple language be mentioned or talk about the registered declaration of 1983.

“The judgement of the Appeal Court directed the litigant to go back to the High Court by setting aside the High Court judgment against the litigant.

“The judges in their judgment did not at any point make mention of the declaration because that was not the substance taken to the High Court and as such the Appeal Court cannot give what you did not seek for.

“It is also on record that there is only one registered declaration regulating the process of ascending the stool of the Oloja of Lagos and there are no court cases of any sort against it till date”, the family stated.

While stating that the litigant voluntarily withdrew from the matter, Kosoko family also affirmed that the entire family unanimously approved Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Abimbola Alli-Balogun as the head ( Olori Ebi ) of the family.

The family also added that based on the 1983 Declaration, the family also conducted the selection of the new Oloja of Lagos and concluded it with Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko as the Oloja – elect.

“The litigant in October 2014 on his own made an official statement not to continue the legal process in the court of law and the report of inquiry”, the family said in the statement.

“The family has an approved and unanimously accepted Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Abimbola Alli-Balogun as the head ( Olori Ebi ) of the family who is saddled with the responsibility to manage the affairs of the family until there is an Oloja of Lagos in place.

“The issue of the Omo oye (Oloja of Lagos Elect) has since been concluded by the king makers, who had rectified the Omo oye presented by the next ruling house (Akinsanya Olojo) as expressed in the only registered declaration dated 1983 in person of Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko from the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House being declared as the Omo Oye Elect for the stool of the Oloja of Lagos.

“The Olori Ebi, Alhaja Alli-Balogun and the General Secretary of the King Kosoko Royal Family/Oloja of Lagos chieftaincy family, is using this medium to inform the general public and the Lagos State Government of the illegality being put together by some unknown persons to create unrest within the King Kosoko Royal/the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family and to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere presently enjoyed within the Ereko, Idumota and Balogun area of Lagos Island”, Kosoko family warned.

ThisDay/Arise Owner, Obaigbena Lies Again Without Shame as He Manufactures Alternate Reality – Dele Alake & Bayo Onanuga

Ordinarily, we consider it beneath us as well-bred media professionals to continue to engage in public spat with Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, a congenital blackmailer and hustler, especially in deference to ceasefire calls by well-meaning leaders and elders. The interventions followed our statement on Monday entitled “Obaigbena and His THISDAY/ARISE News’ Hypocritical Grandstanding On Public Morality”.

But we crave the indulgence of these well-meaning Nigerians to allow us respond to Obaigbena’s latest rambling, called a statement.

The largely diversionary composition was an attempt to deodorise his ethical problems.

Obaigbena tried to deflect attention from those pertinent issues we raised about ethics. There is nothing he said to creditably detract a jot from our accurate summation of his well-known perverse and ignoble approach to media practice over the years, a practice that continues to undermine the integrity of journalism profession in the country.

In his first statement attacking us, Obaigbena craftily attempted to mis-characterise as an attack on free speech, our principled stand against his blackmail to have Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu appear on Arise TV and its PDP sponsored Town Hall meetings.

In the second statement, he was still adamant that our candidate must attend his Town Hall debate, despite our stance that our candidate is already executing another communications strategy to reach the most important target: the Nigerian voters. We, repeat again: We will not make our candidate available to validate a scheme which, in the light of unassailable information at our disposal, is nothing but a racket by the Arise TV owner, designed to embarrass our candidate.

We now proceed to give a blow-by-blow response to Obaigbena’s latest very poor attempt at red-herring:

Rigmarole on Dasukigate: How laughable that Obaigbena is now denying he was not in EFCC custody for receiving illicit funds from NSA Sambo Dasuki. He attempted to rationalise that the money received was compensation for losses incurred by newspaper proprietors following the clampdown by security agents. But he craftily glossed over the meat of the matter: the grave misconduct to have the funds paid into the bank account of Hydrocarbon, a shell company (obviously set up for money-laundering) to which Obaigbena was the sole signatory. Since NPAN has bank accounts, why was the money not transferred there directly?

Moreover, the petty lie in Obaigbena’s statement was punctured by the joint disclaimer issued on 12 December 2015 by Tribune, New Telegraph and Peoples Daily in whose names he had collected money. The three newspapers said they did not receive a kobo.

His claim that he pocketed the chunk of the money received from Dasukigate as compensation for the alleged terrorist attack on his Abuja office is a laughable afterthought.

2. Rewriting June 12 story: Contrary to Obaigbena’s lame attempt to rationalise his campaign against June 12 as action taken in furtherance of his membership of NRC, nothing can be further from the truth. His long story about sitting close to MKO Abiola on a London-Johannesburg flight begs the questions. He craftily sidestepped the issue of being recruited by the military regime to go on CNN to unconscionably declare “Abiola did not win any election”, shortly after NEC suspended the announcement of June 12 results. That dirty campaign was to prepare the grounds for the eventual annulment on June 23 of the election. If Obaigbena was pro-democracy as he falsely claims, why did he take up media consultancy work to Ernest Shonekan, the head of the Interim National Government, cobbled together by the junta to legitimise the illegality?

3. South African/London fiascos: Obaigbena also tried to downplay the gravity of his misadventure in South Africa for which he had to flee, abandoning his office equipment and furniture till today. On one hand, he lied that it was President Nelson Mandela who asked that he set up the newspaper in South Africa because the dominant newspapers in the country were owned by the white establishment. On the other hand, he claimed that the same white establishment frustrated his venture. He forgot that when he floated ThisDay South Africa in 2003-4, a black President was in power!

Contrary to claims that he met a hostile environment, his habitual unethical practices gave him out. His business model of funding his newspapers and a champagne lifestyle from proceeds of blackmail rackets fell flat in South Africa where rules of a good society are rigidly enforced. To deceive advertisers, he inflated his circulation figures which the regulatory agency frowned at. Also, he owed printers and his workers. Gale of complaints against the “carpetbagger from Nigeria” soon reached the authorities and one official was quoted as famously saying, “You call yourself Thisday, very soon it will become That-day”. The prophecy came to pass with chilling accuracy soon after.

On his misadventure in London, Obaigbena disingenuously put it down to Forex crisis as if it happened this year or last year. The details of the judgment by the presiding judge were damning enough: Obaigbena lacks the personal honour and integrity to run any decent company.

His claim that his seven year directorship ban has been appealed is not the full story. He already lost one appeal at the Chancery in August.

4. Payment of salaries/pension: Obaigbena tried to deflect his chronic indebtedness as something common in the media industry. It is an affliction peculiar to THISDAY/Arise which purports to make lots of money (as reflected by bumper advert patronage) but curiously still fails to pay workers as and when due. Even when the economy was relatively “good”, Obaigbena never paid workers regularly. His popular saying to staff, as well known in the industry, is that : “THISDAY/Arise ID card alone is your meal ticket”.

Such corrupt philosophy underlies the unethical practices in media companies run by Obaigbena.

A classic illustration of the untold hardship and dehumanization of his workers was provided by Mr. Paul Ibe, who is now the Special Adviser on Media to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Obaigbena tricked Ibe to South Africa with mouth-watering offers. But Ibe ended up enduring hunger there before finding his way back to Nigeria. Following a suit filed at the National Industrial Court in 2011 (suit no NICN/ABJ/26/2011), Mr. Ibe was awarded damages against Obaigbena for backlog of salaries, non-remittance of taxes and pension deducted from his wages over the years and outstanding entitlement. Tens of other staff of Thisday have died due to lack of money for medical care while awaiting Obaigbena to pay them their entitlements.

5. Open partisanship/Mefy racket: We observe too that Obaigbena disingenuously sidestepped the questions raised about employing the services of Dr Reuben Abati, a card-carrying member of PDP as anchor person on Arise TV, as well as Obaigbena’s multi-million Naira consultancy role in the ill-fated attempt by a sitting Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele to compete for APC’ presidential ticket.

These are weighty moral issues Obaigbena, with all his resourceful facilities to lie and dissemble, could not defend.

Again, we challenge him to deny if Abati wasn’t the running-mate of Senator Buruji Kashamu on PDP’s platform in the governorship contest in Ogun in 2019. Kashamu was a wanted drug lord in the US. Of course, the same Abati, who never allows any opportunity to pass without attacking Asiwaju Tinubu daily, would have been one of those Obaigbena would have lined up at his dubious Town Hall meetings to “interrogate” Tinubu! Such shameless, unethical practice!

Further, while pontificating on public morality, Obaigbena conveniently ignored the perversity of collecting hundreds of millions as “media consultant” to Godwin Emefiele, the occupant of a critical public office from which utmost sobriety and non-partisanship is expected. Through patronizing reportage in THISDAY/Arise, Emefiele was egged on to openly descend into the political arena and bid for the presidential ticket of APC in its last primaries in what is now commonly called the “Mefy racket”.

This has antecedents: Obaigbena was also “consultant” to President Jonathan as he was to Chief Ernest Shonekan. Whatever happened to journalism ethics?

6. The culture of media merchandising: In a futile attempt to burnish his image, Obaigbena resorted to dropping the names of U.S. and UK leaders who had attended events staged by him. Dropping the names and pictures of these former Western leaders who attended paid-for-appearance ThisDay events as if they attended when serving in office, is another Obaigbena’s vainglorious clout chasing scheme to scam the public. He failed to disclose that the high-profile personalities who delivered keynote addresses at such events were handsomely paid from money he collected through media blackmail from captains of industries notably bank chiefs. To con the outside world, Obaigbena had boasted in an interview with New York Times that he had corporate fortune of $100m accruing to his company annually. But later, tax officials in Lagos could not reconcile those bogus claims with his tax records and non-remittance of taxes deducted from workers. It was so easy to expose his fake lifestyle.

7. Since Nduka Obaigbena introduced his blackmail and extortionist brand of journalism into Nigeria, generation of Bank CEOs, company Chief Executives, politicians and Governors from 1999 have suffered in silence, seeking liberation from oppressive journalism by intimidation. In 2009, Nduka Obaigbena raided Niger Delta states with his Thisday Entertainment’s packaged Niger-Delta Peace Concert. He coerced the Niger-Delta Governors then to contribute hundreds of millions of Naira with a promise to bring A-list pop stars such as Jay-Z and Beyonce to perform. After collecting the money the promised superstars didn’t show up. One of the governors was at the airport till almost midnight waiting to receive the superstars. These governors complained and suffered in silence because they were afraid of Nduka and his Thisday Newspaper which he has turned to instrument of oppression.

8. We took notice of Reuben Abati’s ramblings on Arise TV on his Wednesday Morning Show where he laboured in vain to defend his despicable record and perversions. Abati queried our statement that he is a registered member of PDP.

The query is rather for him. How did he become a deputy governorship candidate to Late Senator Buruji Kashamu in 2019 without a membership of PDP as required by law?

We really do not expect much from Abati. He is a known pathological liar, who has lived on lies and deceit all his professional life. While he has successfully created the image of a conscientious public intellectual over the years, the fact is that he is a morally bankrupt man who has no scruples in selling his soul to the devil as long as money is involved.

Abati has very odious reputation within the corporate and political circles as “anything goes newspaper columnist” as long as the money is right.

Issued by DELE ALAKE and BAYO ONANUGA on behalf of Media and Communication Directorates of APC Presidential Campaign Council

Breaking: Yemzan Restaurant Kicks off operation in Abeokuta

Yemzan Restaurant has launched its presence in Abeokuta with a multi million naira outlet in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The new restaurant which opened to customers on Monday 12, 2022 December will graciously serve people within and outside the state, newslensng learnt.

The Restaurant is located at Adehun, beside Crescent University, Abeokuta

While speaking during the launch, the CEO Ogundeji Yemisi noted that yemzan restaurant is a customer-oriented restaurant with its customers at the core of it’s mission.

She added that every decision made is to cater for the needs and preferences of their intending customers.

“we will be bringing a variety of healthy meals closer to our customers” She stated.

Additionally, she noted that the quick service restaurant will enhance its service delivery to its amazing customers with quality and healthy meals in a nice environment and hygienic place.

“We will be dedicated to serve our customers with top-notch services. We promise to deliver our promise of making a variety of homemade meals available at an affordable price”. She said

See rundown of Yemzan Restaurant Services below

Catering services
Events decorations
Home delivery
Outdoor services

Breaking: Lagos Assembly Passes ₦1.768Trn 2023 Budget

– Obasa commends colleagues for their sacrifice

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a total of ₦1,768,014,155,285 as the budget for 2023 with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, thanking the lawmakers for their collective sacrifice and the swiftness with which the Appropriation Bill was handled.

A breakdown of the approved budget size shows the sum of
N748,096,508,571 as Recurrent expenditure and N1,019,917,646,713 as Capital expenditure for the year
ending 31st December, 2023.

A part of the breakdown for the sectoral allocations also shows that N3,228,396,960 was approved as the new Overhead Cost of the Office of Civic Engagement for drug abuse advocacy.

The sum of N802,987,206 was approved as the new Capital Expenditure of the Ministry
of Economic Planning & Budget while N1,200,000,000 was approved as the new Overhead Cost (Social Intervention
and Humanitarian Programme) in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

Dr. Obasa, who presided over the plenary, said the passion with which the lawmakers processed the bill for passage showed their love for the progress of Lagos State.

He also expressed hope that residents of the State would show their satisfaction with the lawmakers and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by voting for candidates of the party in Lagos and at the centre during the forthcoming election.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in October presented the sum of N1.69 trillion ‘budget of continuity’ to the House.

While receiving the proposal from the Governor, Speaker Obasa had urged that the 2023 budget “should have more human face, be targeted at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of the residents of the State as part of the THEMES agenda of the administration.”

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

SENATOR YUSUF ABUBAKAR YUSUF PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO NAMMBO IN ABUJA

Sen. Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (APC, Taraba Central), Chairman Senate Committee on Special Duties, paid a courtesy visit to the National Mass Movement for Better Orientation (NAMMBO), at The National Head Office located at No:20 Birnin Kebbi Crescent Garki Abuja office on Saturday,10th December, 2022, he was ably received by the National Executives of the organisation ably led by its National Coordinator, Dr. Hajiya Hauwa Bagu Hayatu, the Deputy National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, the National Secretary Mallam Junaidu Kadi as well as all other national executive members of the organisation present.

NAMMBO was formed in order to play the role of uniting Nigerians in the realisation of Good Governance at all levels and tiers, with special attention on the forthcoming 2023 General Elections.

Sen. Yusuf was impressed with the organisational structure of the outfit, he spoke glowingly of NAMMBO’s preparedness towards mobilising for the forthcoming elections.

On Sen.Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf’s entourage were:
Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Na’ahwai,
Hon. Usman Biri,
Hon. Hamza Zubairu,
Hon. Aliyu Zubairu,
Muhammad Adamu (Barrister),
Hon. Ibrahim Iya (Mambila),
Hon. Mahabub Sani Fari, and
Hon.Ibrahim Adamu Takalafiya
Hon. Emma Sale Garba Chede
Princess Nafisa Abdullah

NAMMBO (National Mass Movement for Better Orientation) is committed to mobilizing and sensitizing Nigerians to participate in the decision making process particularly as it concerns how citizens are governed and is dedicated to promoting good governance, economic growth, security of lives and property, rule of law, empowerment of the women and youth.

Therefore NAMMBO will be playing a vital role of educating and mobilizing Nigerians to participate in the coming elections, so as to elect able leaders at all levels of governance.

FIRSTBANK DECEMBERISSAVYBE: IF YOUR DECEMBER IS NOT VYBING, YOU AREN’T IN DECEMBER

In Nigeria, the first day of December ushers in the advent of the festive season which runs through the month progressively till early January when businesses and official duties resume fully again. December, in the world’s most populous black nation, is characterised, with fascinating scenery, by shops, streets, offices and homes getting decorated with twinkling lights and dazzling ornaments.

The month also welcomes religious festivities of Christmas, the biggest celebration for christians globally which takes place just a week before the New Year rolls in amidst celebration unmatched by any other from the rest of the year. The season is generally enveloped by festive concerts, feasts, celebrations, carnivals, musical shows, colourful decorations and family reunions.

For almost everyone, it’s a time to merry with friends and family, attend celebratory events, give and accept gifts, enjoy entertainment and feast together. December is such a big deal in Nigeria and the people know just how to savour the moments well. Interestingly, the celebration is not limited as it cuts across all classes and shades irrespective of social status, religion, personality or age – the rich, poor, young, old, cool and radicals. It’s usually a time everyone earnestly awaits for fun, merrymaking and relaxation, mentally and physically. In fact, to get ample time for merry making, employees in Nigeria push hard in offices to get annual leave approvals for the period.

Another key, exciting hallmark of the festive season is the homecoming visits of Nigerians who have travelled abroad for greener pastures, a trend popularly called ‘Japa’ in local parlance. It’s a common belief that the Nigerian spirit is a hustling one, and no distance is too large to scare a Nigerian from a potential source of income, be it the journey from the remotest village to Lagos, or from there to the farthest corners of the world. The December period thus presents an opportunity to reunite families.

The returnees constitute an essential ‘life of the party’ as they hit the country ready to visit places, mingle and bond, to the admiration and embrace of peers and family members. It’s always a great period for the returnees and their loved ones to create great memories, spending time, going round town for great entertainment and having fun together.

Their presence also commands attention and adds colour to village and town hall meetings, community projects and social gatherings, especially wedding parties, as well as other family functions deliberately fixed around the season to court the beloved presence of the “I just got backs” who bask endlessly in the euphoria.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited as a company with the mantra of being woven into the fabrics of society has continued to demonstrate its understanding of the uniqueness and essence of the festive season with its consistent support for same through the ‘December Is a vybe’ campaign.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian economy has struggled sluggishly for some time with attendant harsh impact on individual and household finances and sliding purchasing power. This gets worsened by the galloping inflation, increasing cost of living and the sky rocketing price of premium motor spirits (PMS) locally called petrol.

Yet, the average Nigerian craves for great fun and quality entertainment during the Yuletide season. So, the December festivities come as added weight with tickets as high as N70K for A-list musical acts like Asake, Kizz Daniel, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and others.

To throw off the weight, the December Is a vybe campaign offers free VIP tickets from FirstBank to Nigerians for access to coveted A-list musical concerts, opera, comedy shows, stage plays, dance and other genres of entertainment throughout the festive season to assure maximum pleasure.

Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank Global Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications said, the premier financial institution which has operated in Nigeria for over 125 years deliberately orchestrated the campaign to create platforms for Nigerians at home and those returning from abroad to enjoy entertainment, bond well and enjoy the best of the festive season together after a period of separation in pursuit of excellence and success.

“Through ‘December Is a vybe’, FirstBank has always brought Nigerians the best exciting, fun-filled, memorable experience in December with the sponsorship of concerts, creative arts; food Fiesta; fashion etc and it’s set again with a bang in 2022 ready to enable people relive the experience and live their dreams, ” she stated.

She noted that the 2022 edition offers fresh opportunities and platforms for yet another memorable Homecoming experience this December for Nigerians visiting from abroad; wedding celebrants; friends and family reunions. FirstBank ‘December Is a vybe’ offers the returnees a good opportunity to reunite and enjoy premium entertainment with family and friends.

She explained: “The programme has not slowed down since it kicked off. We supported Waka the Musical in 2017 which was also taken to Abuja in 2018. We gave Nigerians premium access to Davido show amongst others in 2017, Burna Boy in 2018, Future in 2019, Davido and Burna in 2021 and for 2022, we will start with VIP access to Kizz Daniel’s show, followed by many more.

The foremost banking giant has in recent years made December quite memorable. From the exciting Alternative Sound 4.0, held at Terra Culture on 5 December, 2019 to the memorable Cardi B live in Lagos by Livespot Concert on 7 December 2019 and the unforgettable “An Evening with FBNHoldings” held on 13 December, 2019 to the pleasure overload of Island Block Party at Oniru Lagos on 14 December, lucky customers and followers of the Bank’s social media handles were given free tickets to have loads of fun!

Also, in the bouquet of fun extravaganza was Teni – The Billionaire Experience musical concert held at Eko Hotel on Monday, 16 December 2019 which had many thrilled to the finest of tunes by the Billionaire crooner and other guest artistes present.

The annual Nativeland music festival at Muri Okunola Park was another fun spot which has since its inauguration in 2016, featured breathtaking performances by A-list artistes.

Youth and teenage fashionistas were not left out; as with Street Souk, they had a feel of current trends and creativity in the fashion industry. The event held on 18 December 2019. For those keen on getting the best and latest designs, wears and fabrics in fashion, the African Fashion Week Nigeria was another port of call. The event which held 20 – 21 December, 2019 attracted leading players in the fashion industry and deepened the fashion appetite and interest of participants.

Building into Christmas was Flytime Rhythm Unplugged, which started on 20 December at the Eko Hotel and Suites. The 5-day music festival had performances from leading artistes in the country. Olamide, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, MI, Ycee, Patoranking, Mayorkun, Teni, Zlatan, Joeboy, Fireboy, B Red, Tolani, Jeff Akoh, Oluwadamilola thrilled fun lovers to the best of charts topping tunes not just in Nigeria but the continent. On the wheels of steel was DJ Neptune, DJ Consequence, DJ Obi, and DJ Cuppy.

Kizz Daniel’s Toro concert on 26 December 2019 and Tu Face’s musical show on 28 December built up to the wrap-up of the list of December events with Future, the American rap music sensational performance live in Lagos.

The Future Live in Concert held on 29 December 2019 at the Eko hotel. The 80s boy band, New Edition performance at the FlyTime Music Festival in Lagos was also electrifying with Burna Boy Live, Davido Live and many more in action!

For plays, the December Issavybe train featured sponsorships of Moremi and Oba Eshugbayi plays which focused on highlighted history of Lagos: the struggle over water tax imposed by the British on the people of Lagos and the expulsion of Oba Esugbayi, who stood against tax, to Abeokuta. The play was from the stable of Joseph Edgar of the iconic Duke of Shomolu Production.

Two lucky fans, Tina Ediale and Timilehin Anibaba, amongst others got to see their favourite star Davido Live in Concert; another winner, Azeez Animashaun couldn’t believe his luck when he got a VIP Rhythm Unplugged ticket while some got special treat watching ace actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde as Esumirin in Moremi The Musical. Social media followers also scored invitation to parties including Island Block Party, All Black Everything; conferences Golas Grit Grind 2.0; festivals: Native Land, Palmwine Festival; and pop-up sales: Mente de Moda.”

For the 2022 campaign, FirstBank says it will start the festive season with VIP access to rave of the moment, Kizz Daniel’s show. Kizz is so loved right now and many Nigerians especially women can’t seem to get enough of his monster hit, Cough (Odoyewu). He also has many songs that will make his show a delight any day, including Buga, Lie, No Wahala, Oshe, Yeba, One Ticket, Woju, Laye, Jaho, Sofa and many others. With First Bank, December promises to be an awesome experience!

To participate, all that is required is to just follow FirstBank’s social media pages and updates on – Facebook: First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Instagram: @firstbanknigeria and from there get the tickets.

Signs and Wonders Galore As TB Joshua’s protege, Evangelist Joseph David Conquers Mexico For Christ! (Video)

The Bible declares, “Those who know the God they serve shall be strong, and do exploits.” This scripture is being fulfilled in the life of God’s anointed servant and late Prophet T.B Joshua’s protege, Evangelist Joseph David as God wrought signs and wonders through him in faraway Mexico.

Like when David went to the battlefield to check on his brothers and he beheld Goliath roaring against the army of Israel, He made inquiries to confront him but his brothers questioned him. And he said, is there not a reason why I am here? The beginning of Evangelist Joseph David’s ministration in Mexico City to continue with TB Joshua’s mandate is a confirmation of why the great Prophet included him among the SCOAN Board of Trustees as diverse deliverance occurred during his ministration.

We reliably gathered that akin to the tutelage he received under TB Joshua, Evangelist David has been waiting on the Holy Spirit in prayers for divine direction.

And by divine instruction, he and some other disciple colleagues moved to Mexico. In his words, “Our coming to Mexico was by a divine revelation. One of the friends of TB Joshua’s Ministry said shortly after the Prophet passed on, he saw the Prophet in a

vision, and he told him to invite his disciples to Mexico to continue the work he started in the nation of Mexico beginning with Mexico For Christ Crusade in 2016.

To confirm his words, in the first service the Evangelist conducted, he started with a message titled, THE STATE OF OUR HEARTS. Everyone was overwhelmed as they saw the same grace and move of God upon TB Joshua manifesting through him effortlessly.

Immediately after the message, he began mass prayer and people started vomiting and manifesting with massive testimonies backing it up.

Ms Martha, the lady who interpreted for him in Spanish was the first to share a testimony that same day. The lady said immediately she got home and narrated the to her aged mother the message the old woman packed all the idols she had worshipped all her life and threw them into the refuse bin. Martha said that for over 5 years she has urged her mother to do away with those same idols but she bluntly refused, she vowed to serve them all her life. According to Martha, “Sunday 4th of December will remain a memorable day in her life.”

Interestingly, All those who vomited poisonous substances testified to their healing.

watch the video here:

FIRSTBANK, OTHERS PARTNER WITH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT ON AFRICA’S LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETITION

Winners of the FirstBank Sponsored National Company of the Year (NCOY) Competition Represents Nigeria in the ACOY Competition

FirstBank has partnered with JA Africa on Company of the Year (COY) Competition, Africa’s largest high school entrepreneurship competition scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria from 7th to 9th December under the theme, “Fueling Changemakers.”

The JA Africa Company of the Year (COY) Competition which returns for the 12th year in a row and the first in-person meeting post-COVID, after two successful virtual competitions is JA Africa’s annual celebration of winning teams from the JA Company Program, a program which equips senior secondary school level students with the entrepreneurial skillset and mindset to solve problems in their communities by launching a business venture and unleashing their entrepreneurial spirit.

The young entrepreneurs who compete at JA Africa’s COY go through qualifying competitions at national and sub-national levels, competing against thousands of youth startups to qualify for the regional competition. This program transitions them into employment and transforms them into employers. Having emerged as national winners, they will represent their countries on the continental stage where they have the arduous task to impress a panel of international business professionals who serve as judges.

FirstBank’s sponsored winners of the 2022 Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) National Company of the Year (NCOY) Competition – Green Apex from the International School, University of Lagos – will represent Nigeria in the JA Africa Company of the Year (COY) Competition.”

“Given the increasingly complex set of global challenges facing young people around the world from unemployment to climate change and food shortage, we focus on equipping our students to be solution providers who bring about positive change within their communities while developing businesses that generate wealth,” said Simi Nwogugu, JA Africa’s CEO. “Our students have demonstrated great resilience and innovation in grappling with these challenges and I am extremely proud of all of them. I am also deeply grateful to all our sponsors who stayed with us throughout the pandemic period and contributed greatly towards making this a live event again.”

Also speaking on the forthcoming Africa Company of The Year Competition, Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank said; “the 2022 Junior Achievement Company of The Year competition remains another viable opportunity to promote the entrepreneurship skills, spirit and talent innate in school children, across Africa. We commend Junior Achievement Africa on the COY initiative as it serves as an avenue to expose participants to inter-cultural values and traditions that will foster the unity of the continent.

We wish all participants, particularly the Nigerian representatives – Green Apex from the International School, University of Lagos – the best as learnings from every initiative could solve critical problems facing mankind as we collectively make the world a better place.

This year, nine student startups representing Eswatini, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe will put their business acumen to the test as they present the achievements of their businesses in numerous formats to win the prestigious title of JA Company of the Year and other amazing prizes from the sponsors. The highest among the prizes at stake will be the opportunity to represent the African region at the Ralph de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Competition which will bring together COY winners from the six regions where JA Worldwide operates to compete for awards, $15,000, educational opportunities, and more.

The 2022 JA Africa COY Competition is made possible by the generous support of Headline sponsors FedEx, Citi Foundation and PMIEF; Platinum sponsors: Bloomberg, Johnson & Johnson, Delta Air Lines and First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Gold sponsors: Tomorrow Foundation, Nascon, GB Foods and Rise, who by supporting this competition are demonstrating their commitment to job creation and youth empowerment on the African continent.

For more information, visit: www.ja-africa.org/coy2022

Winner of the 61st FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship gets listed in The World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR)

Winner of the 61^st FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship gets listed in The World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR)

Emmanuel Ojeabulu, winner of the 61^st FirstBank Lagos Open Golf Championship has been listed in the WAGR.

The premier golf championship which was held from 18 – 20 November at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 was keenly contested by over 190 low handicap players from several golf clubs in the country. Benin based Emmanuel Ojeabulu won the 3-day championship.

Playing three-shots off the pace going into the last 18-holes, Ojeabulu played one of the best golf of his life, maintaining steady pars for a closing 74, 3-over the course par to win the World Amateur Golf Ranking recognized event by two shots.

Ojeabulu started his game with an opening 75, a second day score of 78 and a closing 74 to replace Ilorin based Aminu Kadir, the tournament defending champion on the winners list.

Overnight leader, 20-year-old product of David Mark Golf Academy, George Paul who was tipped to win the tournament collapsed under pressure closing with an unimpressive 79 to lose by two-shots.

In the third position is Muyideen Olaitan, three-time winner of the coveted FirstBank Lagos Open trophy while Iyare Osaze was further down on the winners chart by one-shot, leaving perennial contender, Olajide Owolabi, who shot tournaments best score of 72 on day two of the competition in the fifth position.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, sponsors of the annual Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship has pledged its commitment to the continuous sponsorship of the tournament which is one of the longest running golf tournaments in Nigeria.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 61^st edition of the tournament in Lagos on Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan who was represented by Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu said “This year made it 61 years of our undiluted commitment to this cause, and we are absolutely delighted with the amazing support and partnership we have enjoyed from Ikoyi Club 1938 thus contributing to building a legacy not only for golf and golfers, but sports in its entirety.

To all the amateur golfers produced at this year’s championship, these champions are an inspiration and testament that you can do the impossible and I look forward to celebrating you as winners in future championships. Remember that in the words of Ben Hogan, “The most important shot in Golf is the next one”, he added.

Satisfied with the turnout of the participants, Golf Captain, Tony Oboh thanked the sponsors for keeping the tournament going, saying FirstBank commitment should be emulated.

“It is not easy to keep a tournament like this going, I therefore congratulate FirstBank for their commitment”, Oboh said.

Since its debut, FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship has been the most consistent and premier amateur golf event in West Africa and has produced great champions most of who are competing in the elite professional golf cadre. Last year, the Championship threw up Ilorin based Aminu Kadir who won the landmark edition. It is expected that this year’s edition will produce another great winner.

Other FirstBank-sponsored sporting events include the Georgian Cup of Kaduna Polo Tournament, sponsored for 102 years; the Dala Tennis Hard Court in Kano Club for over 30 years; the Obasanjo Pro-Amateur Golf tournament of Abeokuta Club now in its 6th year. The Bank’s influence in the development of sport in Nigeria is under its First@Sport initiative.

ISSAN Confab: CBN to Collaborate with Stakeholders to Check Rising Cyber Attacks

From Left: Managing Partner, Technology Advisors LLP, Basil Udotai, Esq; Co-founder/Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode, Dr. Adewale Obadare; Director, IT Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Rakiya Mohammed; President, Information Security Society of Africa – Nigeria (ISSAN) & General Manager, Ecobank, Dr. David Isiavwe; Director, Payments System Management Department, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Musa Jimoh; CISO, Heritage Bank of Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Eduje Ighoakpo and 1st Vice President, ISSAN Mr. Laja Sorunke at ISSAN Annual Cybersecurity Conference in Lagos last week

The Central Bank of Nigeria has assured information security stakeholders and the general public of its collaboration to check the rising cases of cyber-attacks within the Nigeria cyberspace. Director, Payments System Management Department of the CBN, Mr. Musa Jimoh in his keynote address at the annual Information Security Society of Africa – Nigeria (ISSAN) Cybersecurity Conference in Lagos, stated that the apex bank was firmly committed to building a sustainable payments ecosystem in the country. He commended ISSAN for organizing the event, stressing that CBN will continue to collaborate with organisations that are committed to addressing the rising activities of cyber-attacks.

Also speaking, President of FinTech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR), Ade Bajomo said to adequately address the rising rate of cyber-attacks, organizations should embrace collaboration and information sharing on cyber breaches. According to him, keeping silence on the part of organizations that had been attacked would not help others, stressing that full disclosure, synergy and information sharing on reported cyber-attacks and how it was managed would guide other organizations to put preventive and counter measures in place. He called on organizations to constantly upgrade their technology to counter cyber-attacks, urging them to have data backup.

The Co-founder/Chief Visionary Officer of Digital Encode, Dr. Adewale Peter Obadare, while expressing his views at the panel session, made case for collaboration amongst stakeholders, noting the need to strike the balance between the investments in people, technology, and processes to fight cyber-attack and fraud. He further stated the need to build cybersecurity intelligence quotient, which will comprise of Augmented Intelligence to check what is happening on the system real time, Anticipatory Intelligence to analyse what could happen, and Assistive Intelligence to determine what needs to be done. He recommended that digitization, digitalization and digital transformation should be addressed.

In his welcome address, ISSAN President, Dr. David Isiavwe said the conference was devoted to further expose the new threats and trends in the cyber security space and also offer practical steps on what businesses and individuals need to know and do to check the rising tide of the activities of cyber-criminals. He observed that cyber attackers are getting more sophisticated globally, which is an aftermath of Covid 19 pandemic, stressing that greater awareness must be created to minimize attacks on businesses that may result in losses by various organizations.

Further, Dr. Isiavwe who is also General Manager at Ecobank made case for customer awareness as well as collaboration by all stakeholders.

Other speakers at the conference include Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Digital Jewels Limited, Mrs Adedoyin Odunfa; Founder & CEO, Mint FT Innovative, Mr. Similolu Akinnusi; Chief Information Security Officer, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Harrison Nnaji and Managing Partner, Technology Advisors LLP, Basil Udotai, Esq; Others are Group Head, Customer Fulfillment Center, UBA, Mr. Prince Ayewoh; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Financial Services Limited, Mr. Stanley Jacob; Sales Director (Africa), OneSpan Europe, Mr. Nicholas Poire and Field CTO, OneSpan Europe, Mr. Dan Mcloughin.

ISSAN is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace specifically and the entire cyberspace in Africa, generally.