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Heritage Bank’s support for socio-economic growth earns Senior Executive EveAfrique Award

Senior Management Executive of Heritage Bank Plc received the “Heart of Gold” award by EveAfrique organiser of the annual Red Ball for Charity.

The awardee, Osepiribo Ben-Willie, Directorate Head, South-South, South-East & Private Wealth Management, who was part of the 10 awardees was honoured for her immense contribution to the sustainable development and socio-economic growth in the Niger Delta region.

EveAfrique’s Red Ball for Charity 2022 edition themed, “A night of Hope

with focus on Lupus Awareness and Management,” led to the awards and entertainment gala where the Heart of Gold awards were presented.

Speaking at the event, Ben-Willie stated that Heritage Bank has been at the forefront of investing in human capital development for critical economic recovery. This, according to her informed the keen interest in extending support to the Niger Delta region.

Specifically, she commended the organisers of the event for the award and on the need to raise awareness in addressing a peculiar health matter about Lupus signs and symptoms which happens not to be known by many individuals.

Ben-Willie said, “In Heritage Bank, health is priority that is why we will continue to partner and support the organizers of EveAfrique on knowledge increase about the importance of early detection and treatment, enhancing the self-management skills of people with lupus, and improving the capacity of health care providers in their ability to make quick and accurate diagnoses.”

She disclosed the Bank’s commitment to support one of the survivors of Lupus, Boma Alaiyiboba Graham-Douglas’s foundation, whilst stating that the bank has been at the forefront of addressing health matters through several partnership with state governments and NGOs.

In her

keynote address, the Convener of EveAfrique of Red Ball for Charity initiative, Ivy Davis Etokakpan said that her organisation in partnership with Heritage Bank has synergized to create significant awareness and support for individuals affected by the disease.

She further stated that the Heart of Gold award was presented in appreciation of well-deserved distinguished persons who have made notable strides in the areas of protection and respect for human rights, peaceful settlement of disputes, sustainable development to socio-economic growth in the Niger Delta region.

Breaking: Buhari Breaks Silence On ASUU Strike

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally shown concern about the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

ASUU had embarked on a month warning strike in early February over the failure of the Buhari’s government to meet its demands.

The varsity lecturers pressed home its demands, with the prominent ones being the renegotiation of the ASUU/FG 2009 agreement and the sustainability of the university autonomy by deploying UTAS to replace the government’s “imposed” (IPPIS).

Also in its demands is the release of the reports of visitation panels to federal universities, distortions in salary payment challenges, funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowance, poor funding of state universities and promotion arrears.

After a series of deliberations, ASUU’s demands were still not met at the end of the warning strike in March.

Without hesitation, ASUU on Monday extended its ongoing roll-over strike by another three months to give the government more time to meet its demands.

Naija News understands that President Buhari has been mute about the lingering strike which has caused university students across the country to return to their parent’s homes while others find their way into society doing dirty jobs.

However, the Nigerian leader on Thursday urged ASUU to consider the plight of the students and call off the industrial action.

Naija News understands that Buhari expressed his concern today at the 19th National Productivity Day Celebration and Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit Award, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The number one citizen also appealed to the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to exercise patience as the government tries to resolve the crisis.

Meanwhile, the President is reported to have earlier directed his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Education and Labour and Employment, Adamu Adamu and Chris Ngige, respectively, to address the concerns of the striking aggrieved workers’ unions.

2023: APC Denies Jonathan’s Membership

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Dennis Otiotio on Thursday said Goodluck Jonathan is not a member of the party in the state.

According to Otiotio, Jonathan can only join the ruling party if granted a waiver by the national chairman of the party, Adamu Abdullahi.

Otiotio disclosed this in a chat with Punch on Thursday morning.

The Bayelsa APC Chairman spoke amidst the claims that Jonathan had joined APC in his Ogbia ward in Bayelsa.

Otiotio said, “I think the person you people should be asking the question is the national chairman of the party. He should be the one to grant him (Jonathan) a waiver.

“As of now, he has not officially joined our party. Ask the national chairman if he has granted him a waiver.”

The APC Chairman, however, described the former president as a big fish and an elder statesman.

He further stated that it would be great if Jonathan decides to join the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general election.

‘I Avoided His Childishness For My Own Sanity’ – Comedian AY Speaks On Beef With BasketMouth

Nigerian comedian cum filmmaker Ayo Makun popularly known as AY has revealed why he’s currently at loggerheads with his colleague Basketmouth.

This comes after a curious fan asked Ay if he was having any issues with the comedian cum singer.

Responding, AY said there are no issues between him and Basketmouth noting that people having unnecessary issues sometimes pay with being progressive in life.

According to AY, his colleague Basketmouth has been battling an uncontrollable superiority complex for a long time.

The father of two who seemed not comfortable with the character of Basketmouth added that avoiding his incessant childishness became necessary for his own sanity.

When pressed further if they do not talk to each other, AY said people only talk to those who want to talk to them.

He said: “I don’t have issues with him. But people having unnecessary issues sometimes pay for being progressive. He has been battling with an uncontrollable superiority complex for the longest. So avoiding his incessant childishness only became necessary for my own sanity. We only talk to those who want to talk to us. Does this make sense?”

[Breaking] 2023: Buhari Orders CBN Governor, Emefiele, Others To Resign

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all heads of agencies, departments, parastatals and ambassadors with political ambitions to turn in their resignations.

The President in a circular on Thursday also directed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele to resign.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha signed the circular which directed all heads of agencies with political ambition to resign.

The circular with reference number SGF/OP/ I/S.3/XII/ 173 was titled, ‘Ministers, heads of government agencies, ambassadors and other appointees with political ambitions to resign.

Meanwhile, some ministers in the cabinet of President Buhari have turned in their resignation letters following the directive of the President during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The President directed them to submit their resignation letters on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.

The likes of Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi have tendered their resignation letter to focus on their presidential ambition.

Just In: Amaechi resigns as Transport Minister

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has resigned his appointment

Amaechi resigned his position following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that all cabinet members vying for elective offices in the 2023 elections, should resign before May 16.

The President’s directive was made known on Wednesday, at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

The resignation of Amaechi was confirmed in a tweet by APC Twitter UK handle.

It wrote, “Nigeria’s Minister of #Transportation, HM Chibuike R. Amaechi [@ChibuikeAmaechi] has resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to focus on his Presidential Campaign.

“Thank you for your service to Nigeria.”

Gunmen Attack JAMB officials In Lagos Hotel, Kill Gateman

A gateman with Mabila Hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos State, was killed in the early hours on Wednesday by some unknown gunmen and robbed some officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that lodged there.

The Police spokesman for Lagos Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the JAMB officials had been relocated to a safe place.

The PPRO said, “One Prof. Odunsi, an official of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) who lodged at the hotel was robbed of his two phones, one HP Laptop and N20,000 cash.

“Similarly, two female officials of JAMB, who lodged at the hotel, were robbed of their phones and jewellery,” he said.

The spokesman said that the hoodlums shot the hotel’s gateman, simply identified as Peter, 40, who attempted to prevent them from escaping.

He explained that the gateman was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he later died, adding that the corpse had been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.

Hundeyin said that the police got a distress call at about 2.40 a.m. on Wednesday that some hoodlums had invaded the hotel located at No. 60, Omodisu St., Asolo-Owutu, Agric area in Ikorodu.

He said that based on the call, the police from Owutu Division went to the place immediately, adding that when the hoodlums sighted the police van coming, they all fled in a Lexus SUV.

“The Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, CP Abiodun Alabi, has assured that no stone will be left unturned. He has ordered a serious manhunt for the suspects,” he said.

Palestinian Female Journalist Killed During Refuge Camp Raid By Israeli Soldiers

An Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, was killed at her point of duty covering Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.

The news network confirmed the incidence to AFP, describing the shooting of the Palestinian-American journalist as a deliberate act by Israeli forces.

A colleague of the deceased, Ali Samoudi, who also spoke to the French news agency said “We were going to film the Israeli army operation and suddenly they shot us without asking us to leave or stop filming.

“The first bullet hit me and the second bullet hit Shireen… there was no Palestinian military resistance at all at the scene,” Samoudi said.

The news network has called on the international community to “condemn and hold the Israeli occupation forces accountable for deliberately targeting and killing our colleague,” suggesting they may “try to cover up their crime.”

The fatal shooting comes nearly a year after an Israeli air strike destroyed a Gaza building that housed the offices of Al Jazeera and news agency AP.

Responding to the murder allegations, Israeli authorities claimed Palestinian gunmen had opened fire at the time Akleh was struck, adding that it is investigating the possibility that she was shot by Palestine gunmen.

Gov Abiodun, Amosun Clash Over Alleged US Criminal Records

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, have clashed over the governor’s alleged criminal records in the United States.

Abiodun and Amosun have been battling for the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

A petition submitted to the national secretariat of the APC had sought Abiodun’s disqualification from the party’s governorship primaries over fraud allegations.

A member of the party in the state, Ayodele Oludiran, had in the April 12 petition alleged that the governor had been accused of ‘concealing criminal offenses he allegedly committed in the USA in the 1980s’.

Oludiran insisted that Abiodun’s candidacy would portend danger for the APC with the damning allegations against him.

However, documents allegedly featuring the mugshot of Abiodun and his purported court conviction for criminal offences which bordered on credit card fraud, petty theft, and forgery surfaced online on Monday.

Reacting to the allegations, DailyTrust reports that Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organisation (DACA) accused Amosun of sponsoring a smear campaign to malign the governor.

The group in the statement, in Abeokuta on Tuesday by the spokesman of APC, Tunde Oladunjoye, accused Senator Amosun and his loyalists of fabricating ‘malicious, unfounded and totally false allegations to incriminate the governor and present him as one who is ineligible to contest the high office he’s occupying’.

But, Amosun in a statement by his media aide, Bola Adeyemi, described the allegations as ‘wild and callous’.

He implored Abiodun to employ every legal means to bring whoever is involved in any ‘smear campaign’ against him to book.

“Bigger Than Africa” Set to debut On NETFLIX May 13th 2022

A cultural documentary, “Bigger Than Africa” featuring some foremost and prominent Yoruba culture enthusiasts and traditional leaders which include, the Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Alaketu of Ketu, King of Port Novo, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof. Wande Abimbola, Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye, Fayemi Elebuibon, Femi Kuti amongst others, is set to debut on Friday, May 13, 2022 on global streaming platform, Netflix.

The documentary produced by Motherland Productions is directed by Nigerian born Los Angeles based filmmaker, Toyin Ibrahim Adekeye, who is also the founder of Motherland Productions USA.

The well researched documentary will expose the international audience to the historical influence of Yoruba culture and how it transcends continents and connects the Black diaspora.

Film synopsis:
“When the Slave ships docked in North America, Brazil and the Caribbean, hundreds of cultures, traditions, and religions landed with Africans on board. One transcended slavery beyond imagination to remain alive till this day in the new world; the culture of the Yoruba’s.”

In this regard, Bigger Than Africa Documents the journey of enslaved Africans through the lens of the Yoruba culture of West Africa. This historical documentary takes you through 6 countries, Brazil, Cuba, Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago, The Republic of Benin and The United States.

“I hope it becomes a unifying documentary for all people of African descent irrespective of their countries. It’s a film that uniquely tells the stories of our commonalities rather than our differences.” Said the director of the film, Toyin Ibrahim Adekeye.

Toyin Ibrahim Adekeye is described as an artist with eyes for detail and a passion for perfection. A product of the Los Angeles Film School Hollywood,
Bigger Than Africa is his first feature documentary and the film has screened at film festivals Worldwide winning multiple awards & earning prestigious screening invitations from venues like The United Nations and The Schomburg Center for Research on Black Culture amongst others.
The film is distributed by KAP Film with the participation of the New York based Management Agency EGMNY.

FILM AWARDS

• Charlotte Black Film Festival 2019 – Winner Best Documentary

• Silicon Valley African Film Festival 2018 – Winner Best Diaspora Documentary

• International Houston Black Film Festival 2019 – Winner Best Documentary

• AFI World Peace Initiative Cannes 2019 – Best Feature Documentary

• AFI World Peace Initiative Cannes 2019 – Best Documentary in cultural presentation

• Festivals International du Film Panafricain de Cannes 2019 – Winner Jury Special Mentioned

• African Movie Academy Awards 2018 – Best Documentary Nominations

• The African Film Festival TAFF Dallas 2019 – Winner Best Indigenous Documentary

• Africa World Film Festival Detroit 2018 – Best Documentary 2nd Place.

• Montreal International Black Film Festival 2018 – Best Documentary Nomination

Contact details:
Instagram: motherland production
Email: info@motherlandproductions.com