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WeForGood, IHS Nigeria Boost Youth Enterprises with $250,000 Grant

From left: Yejide Aina, CEO, The Illuminator Academy; Oluwatoyin Aralepo, Director, Corporate Excellence & Programme Mgt, IHS Nigeria Ltd; Cima Sholotan, Director, Sustainability and Corporate Communications, IHS Nigeria Ltd; Martin Abraham, Asst Director, Training & Development, IHS Nigeria Ltd; Temitayo Ade-Peters, CEO, WeForGood International; Ireayo Oladunjoye, Head Startups, LSETF and Sandra Iheanacho, Human Resources Consultant at the UN World Youth Skills Day Conference themed “Promoting Eco-Focused Solutions, Africa’s Pathway To Sustainable Growth” held in Lagos at the weekend

A Lagos based non-governmental organisation, WeForGood International, through the support of organisations such as IHS Nigeria, has disbursed N104 million to viable eco-friendly sustainable enterprises owned by young African entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years.

This was disclosed last weekend in Lagos by the Chief Executive Officer of WeForGood, Ms. Temitayo Ade-Peters, during the 2022 Sustainable Solutions Africa Project Conference to mark the United Nations’ World Youth Skills Day with the theme “Promoting Eco-Focused Solutions Africa’s Pathway to Sustainable Growth.”

Ade-Peters said: “In the past three years, through our fellowship programme, we have directly supported close to 60 African startups with training and coaching and facilitated over $250,000 to promote sustainable solutions on the continent.

“We’ve reached about 1,400 youths and entrepreneurs exploring skills for impact to further scale their reach. The start-ups we support run for-profit and not-for-profit businesses addressing one or more areas of the SDGs.”

She said that the conference was focused on innovative solutions that addressed SDG-focused environmental challenges and to provide strategies that would help youths to harness and maximise their skills and talents in response to the increasing call for climate actions, adding that “every young person here will leave this conference well inspired to embrace and explore opportunities to build a sustainable Africa.”

She said that enterprises that qualified for funding from the organisation must be economically viable and have eco-solutions projects that would enhance environmental sustainability.

She also said that “through the support of IHS Nigeria, we have opportunity for young people to get up to N3 million to support their individual projects” that could be used to create sustainable solutions to solve Africa’s problems.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), HE, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in her special remark during the conference said that the participation of youth in the advocacy for a real shift is essential in order to combat climate change.

Orelepe-Adefulire said: “Government, private sector and civil society must all look towards young people, as we aim to strengthen both formal and informal education on climate change and viable lifestyles. In addition, sustainable production and consumption patterns must be promoted and supported by the youth as environmental champions in their local communities.”

She added that “we are partnering with UNDP to launch six SDG Innovation Hubs across the country which will prioritise the engagement of young people as catalysts for innovative technical, technological and business solutions to help us accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.”

A panelist during the conference, who is also a Human Resources Consultant, Mrs. Sandra Iheanacho, said that education is very essential to produce young Nigerian entrepreneurs that would become job creators.

Iheanacho said: “To take care of tomorrow we have to prepare by taking care of the education of our youths that are capable to create jobs.”

The Chief Executive Officer of The Illuminator’s Academy, Ms. Yejide Aina, who was among the panelists during the conference, said that Nigerian youths need quality educational curriculum that would equip them with innovative and entrepreneurial capacity to create economic opportunities in the country’s economy.

Another panelist who is the Head, Startups, Lagos Innovates LSETF, Ms. Ireayo Oladunjoye, tasked young entrepreneurs to acquire skills that would imbue them with leadership skills to influence their environment.

The Director, Corporate Excellence and Programme Management at IHS Nigeria, Ms. Oluwatoyin Aralepo, advised the young entrepreneurs to base their entrepreneurial development on three leadership ladders of personal vision, higher standard and influence.

Aralepo said: “Leadership has to be strategic and patient to be able to carry all members of the team along to achieve the group’s objectives.”

Apart from the intellectual discussions that gave participants a rich time of learning and networking opportunities, the conference, anchored by the delectable Woli Arole, also featured other side attractions such as entertainment, quizzes and raffle draws with amazing gifts such as laptops, home gadgets among others won by attendees.

Interested participants can register to apply for the next cohort of the Sustainable Solutions Africa Fellowship Program for free by visiting this link https://bit.ly/SSAfricaFellowship2022 and more information is available on WeForGood’s website: www.weforgood.org.

AFRIMA 2022: Entry Submissions End In 3 Days…Who Will Lead Africa’s Groove?

IT’S three days till the closing of the entry submission portal for the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2022. Entry submission deadline remains Friday, August 5, 2022. If you are an entertainer, or you are acting on behalf of one, don’t lose out on a chance to #WINITALL by submitting your song/video.

Submit here: https://afrima.org/AFRIMA-2022-ENTRY-SUBMISSIONS/

LIRS Set To Launch Whistle-Blower Initiative August 5

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) is set to launch its Whistle-Blower initiative, a state-wide project, introduced to provide a platform for employees, stakeholders and the general public to report any observed violation, misconduct, or unethical behaviour across the state on Friday, August 5, 2022.

In a public notice signed by the LIRS Executive Chairman, Ayodele Subair, the Whistle-Blower initiative is a public policy of the State Government to encourage reporting of illegal actions or financial crimes, through the appropriate channel, with a view to correcting the violations or non-compliance.

According to the LIRS boss, “In line with the LIRS core values of integrity and accountability and our commitment to uphold the highest standards of openness, probity and accountability in our dealings with stakeholders, the platform is anonymous and confidential and it is independently managed by Deloitte, a globally accredited company.”

“The objective of the Whistle-Blower initiative is to guarantee transparency, accountability, and confidentiality to all taxpayers and stakeholders in general.

“The policy is designed to protect whistle-blowers from victimization and to encourage them to freely report without fear,” Subair submitted.

The launch of the Whistle-Blower initiative is scheduled to take place at the Protea Select Hotel, Assibifi Road, Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos.

Suspected Ritualists Kill 65-Year-Old Woman, Remove One Eye

Osun State Police Command on Tuesday said the corpse of a 65-year-old woman, declared missing in Ilesa, was found on her farm with one of her eyes plucked.

SP Yemisi Opalola, Osun Police Spokesperson in a statement, explained that the daughter of the deceased reported the discovery of her mother’s corpse to the police.

She said, “At about 1.00 p.m on Monday, One Dare Oluyemi of Odundun Area Ilesa reported that her mother, Oluyemi Tunmise, 65, who the family had been searching for since Saturday, had been found dead.

“She said her mother was found dead with one of her eyes removed by yet-to-be-identified assailants on her farm at Fadahunsi Area of Ilesa, at about 11.30 a.m on Monday.”

Opalola said the police had visited the scene of the crime and had taken photographs.

She said the complainant that reported the incident and the other children of the deceased, however, refused the police to take the body of their mother to the mortuary or carry out further investigation.

She said they threatened to unleash violence and that they wished to bury the corpse.

Biden Reacts As US Army Kills Osama Bin-Laden’s Deputy In Afghanistan

The United States army has successfully conducted a counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan leading to the killing of the emir of al-Qa’ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The US President, Joe Biden, announced this in a national address.

Biden claimed that al-Zawahiri served as deputy and number 2 to Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attack on US soil that took the lives of over 2,000 people in one-day.

He said that US intelligence showed that the target planned the attack against US alongside Bin Laden.

Writing on his Facebook page on Tuesday morning, Biden vowed that no matter how long it takes, the US will continue to ensure that justice is served against all enemies of the state.

He wrote,” On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully conducted an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed the emir of al-Qa’ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri.

“Justice has been delivered.

“The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm.

“No matter how long it takes.
No matter where you try to hide.
We will find you.

“I made a promise to the American people that we’d continue to conduct effective counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond.

“We have done that.”

Tinubu, Shettima Meets APC Governors In Lagos

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Monday met with some governors elected on the platform of the ruling party.

Tinubu met with the governors at his residence in Lagos to strategise ahead 2023 general election.

The vice presidential candidate of the ruling party, Kassim Shettima was also in attendance during the meeting.

The Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje were among the APC governors in attendance at the meeting.

At the time of filing this report, the details of the meeting were not disclosed.

The APC presidential candidate is hoping to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari at the end of his Tenure in 2023.

Tinubu would be contesting against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, the flagbearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso and other candidates in 2023.

2023: Atiku Makes Fresh Appointment

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has made a fresh appointment.

Naija News reports Atiku appointed Ms. Lynne Bassey as Special Assistant on Gender Issues and Women Advancement.

The appointment is in furtherance of his commitment to women and youths empowerment, his media adviser, Paul Ibe told our newsroom via a mailed statement on Monday.

The statement noted that “Ms. Bassey is an alumnus of both University of Calabar where she is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree in Development Sociology and the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos Business School.

“Her appointment as Special Assistant will make the fifth to be announced by the PDP presidential candidate in the past few weeks.”

It added that “Ms. Bassey’s appointment is in keeping with the promise by Atiku Abubakar to reserve a good percentage of his appointment, if elected President, for women and youths.”

The appointment is effective 1st of August, 2022.

Breaking: ASUU Extends Strike By Another Four Weeks

The strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been extended by another four weeks.

The development was confirmed on Monday in a statement by the ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke on behalf of the union.

Naija News reports the decision to extend the strike was reached at the end of the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at its national secretariat in Abuja on Sunday and concluded in the early hours of Monday.

ASUU explained that the time extension is to allow the federal government enough time to meet their demands.

The statement signed by Osodeke reads in part: “following extensive deliberations and taking cognisance of Government’s past failures to abide by its own timelines in addressing issues raised in the 2020 FGN/ASUU Memorandum of Action (MOA), NEC resolved that the strike be rolled over for four weeks to give Government more time to satisfactorily resolve all the outstanding issues.

“The role-over strike action is with effect from 12.01a.m. on Monday, 1st August, 2022.”

Origin And Timeline Of Current ASUU Strike
ASUU embarked on a one-month strike on February 14, 2022, over a series of disagreements with the federal government and non-implementation of agreements.

The strike was extended on March 14 by two months, Naija News recalls.

The strike was further extended after the two months expired and has now entered its 168th day as at August 1, 2022.

Some of the issues causing disagreement between ASUU and the federal government are the demand for the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) instead of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), payment of revitalization fund, the poor funding of universities, non-payment of salaries and allowances of some university lectures, as well as the non-payment of earned academic allowance to lecturers, among other issues.

2022 ERUKU ANNUAL YAM FESTIVAL: OUR CULTURE, OUR HERITAGE, OUR PRIDE

…Television Crew, Other Press Men Storms Erukucity To Propagate, Bring New Innovations To Eruku Culture and Heritage

~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

The annual yam festival of the Erukuans again witnessed mammoth crowd of young, old and dignitaries across the neighbourhood as EPA, EFON appeared to entertain the crowd for the three days celebrations, while ‘Agan’ would comes out at night after the grand finale. The event is fully back again after eight-year lull due to the reasons wouldn’t want to mention on the news circle.

The Eruku annual yam festival is an annual event that brings sons and daughters of the Erukuans together in unity to celebrate yam festival which dates back to the 19th century.

According to history, the festival had its origin from our forebears with the intention to bring peace and unity into the community and not an harmful things as many thoughts or beliefs. History has it that in the 19th century there are families within Eruku community who are the real originators, in advancement for the worshiping of Female EPA and Male EPA the reigning monarch then supported and gave freehand to practice without hindrance even till date.
It was in appreciation of this gesture by the Monarch who will always comes out during the event in his full regalia, and made it a point of duty to dance round through the market and to pay homage down to his sons and daughters

But today the festival has gone beyond what it used to be. All sons and daughters of Erukuland, home and in diaspora, irrespective of their religious differences look forward to the festival as we bring new innovations to this heritage.

“I remember when I was young and in primary/secondary school, I would leave my house in Odolomu compound at Balogun House as early as 5 pm and walk all way to Oke ogi just to join other children that will hold leaves and be singing and dancing. It was such fun for us then because it allowed us to join in the colorful festival and to learn more about our culture also meet old friends seeing our Kaabiesi Owa of Eruku in his full regalia with his chiefs and his mothers (Iye Oba) who will also appeared in full White attire”.

The major highlights and attractions of the Eruku annual yam festival are the parades of the Owa and his Chief with those agedwomen ( Age Grades) and the equestrian displays of the EPAs, Efon dancing along with the families couples with the traditional drums (Eku)

“The whole essence of the annual yam festival celebrations is to bring peace and lasting unit amongst Erukuans both home and in diaspora” says Akogun of Erukuland

Watch out for the grand finale today as major Television stations, other press men would be granted exclusive interview by the Owa of Erukuland for full and future documentary which would later be shown on DSTV & STARTIMES. The allotted date, time shall be communicated shortly

Wema Bank Records Impressive Financial Performance In 2022 Half-Year Reports

Wema Bank Plc, pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank and one of Nigeria’s most resilient banks, has posted a growth performance across all financial indices in the First-Half of its 2022 operations. This information is contained in the Financial Results for the Period Ended 30 June, 2022 released in Lagos on 28 July, 2022.

In the report, the bank recorded an increase of 50 percent in its Gross Earnings from the ₦39.82 billion it recorded in H1 of 2021 to ₦59.59 billion. It also grew its Interest Income by 55 percent year-on-year, from the ₦32.19 billion recorded at this period last year to ₦49.75 billion. The bank’s Non-Interest Income went up from ₦7.64 billion in the period ended 30 June, 2021 to ₦9.85 billion, an increase of 29 percent.

Similarly, Wema Bank recorded a 43 percent increase in Profit before tax (PBT) from ₦4.30 billion over the same period last year to ₦6.13 billion for the period under review. The bank’s Profit after tax (PAT) also increased from ₦3.72 billion in H1 2021 to ₦5.30 billion reflecting a raise of 42 percent.

The bank also grew its deposit by 13 percent from ₦968.17 billion reported in FY 2021 to ₦1.09 trillion in the H1 2022. It also grew its loans and advances from ₦418.86 billion to ₦447.23b in H1 2022, an increase of seven percent.

Ademola Adebise, the Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the bank, attributed the remarkable performance to increased customer satisfaction the bank delivers through its investment in technology.

“Our performance has shown strong and promising results in the second quarter. Customers have continually shown trust in our proficiency, innovation, and service delivery even as the market gets more challenging. That said, I am confident, that despite increased volatility and uncertainty, we will continue to scale up, manoeuvre the environment, creatively manage our resources, and drive long-term, substantial returns for shareholders.”

In his own remarks, the bank’s Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Tunde Mabawonku, explained that the strong performance stems from the bank’s diversification of its business and value derived from its digital assets.

“This has been a strong first half with Interest Income up 55% and Profit Before Tax up 43% compared to H1 2021.” Mabawonku said.

“This strong showing is down to diversification at different levels of our businesses. Also, it is a testament to the advantage of our investment in digital banking assets which have continued to boost customer satisfaction and build trust for us. Also, we are aware of the challenges that the rising cost of living is having on our customers and stakeholders. Given the size of our balance sheet and income growth, we have trust in our ability to continue to provide support and help cushion the impact of growing costs in the market,” he explained.