cover Archives - Page 382 of 631

‘You Don’t Deserve My Sympathy Mr President’- Bisi Akande Tells Buhari At Book Launch

The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Bisi Akande, seemed to attack President Muhamnadu Buhari who attended his book launch in Lagos on Thursday by saying he deserved no sympathy because he wanted to be President of Nigeria.

Akande, who took the hard-line stance against Buhari said the president deserved no sympathy because he got what he wanted and should rather concentrate on doing the job.

This is coming after continuos condemnation of the president especially in the area of insecurity.

Several dozens of travellers were set ablaze in Sokoto in a latest incident on Monday, a few weeks after bandits killed over 60 persons in the state.

The pervasive insecurity has enveloped the country and the president is being bashed for inability to stem the tide.

At the Public Presentation of his autobiography, ‘My Participations,’ attended by Buhari, APC National Leader, and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and top party members including Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Akande attacked Buhari to the surprise of all in his brief address.

The event, which happened at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was also attended by the Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola and Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, represented by his son, Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, represented by his deputy, Gawuna, Governor of Kwara State Abdulraham Abdulrasak, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

Others include Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Senator, Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos Senatorial West, Opeyemi Bamidemi, Governor of Yobe State, Maila Buni, Governor of Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun, Senator Musuliu Obanikoro, Senator Ganiyu Olarewanju Solomon, GOS, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, members of the Lagos State Executive Council, Executives of Bola Ahmed Tinubu supporters Group, Women for SWAGA, Lagos State, a delegation from Osun State, the traditional ruler of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu I, represented by White Cap Chiefs, among others.

Akande said: “We (Nigerians) know you love the country, but we want Nigeria to be peaceful, to prosper. We abuse you for everything that is wrong in the country.

“We know we are fraudulent, cheaters and for all the wrongs we still blame you for it. I don’t sympathise with you because you applied for the job.”

He added, “So Mr President, do the job, okay, do the job and do not complain because it won’t solve the problems.”

Mixed Reactions As Senator Ndume Controls Traffic In Abuja (Video)

The Senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, was seen controlling traffic in Abuja on Wednesday.
A video that has now gone viral captured the lawmaker taking up the job of a traffic warden for a few minutes before heading to the National Assembly for plenary.

Reacting to the lawmaker’s action on social media, some Nigerians commended Ndume for his selfless act while others accused him of using the opportunity to further his political career.

Video Player

https://www.societygazetteng.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Senator-Ali-Ndume-takes-up-the-job-of-a-traffic-warden-for-a-few-minutes-in-Abuja.mp4?_=1

Some of the reactions are below:
@ladyque_1 wrote: “Mr senator this format don cast.”

@ceemplybecca said: “Abuja still get normal people, come and control in Mushin sir.”

@krisfun_ wrote: “Election strategy 😂😂😂”

@symplychi_oma said: “Election 2023 Na your mate ?? 😂”

@aymid_official wrote: “Show off, election around the corner… Eyin Werey”

@offordike said: “His CONVOY was probably in hot traffic and he wanted to pass ASAP.”

Meanwhile, a woman identified as Lisa has taken to the video-making app to show off her huge 2021 savings stirring reactions.

According to Lisa, who shared the video on Tiktok, she started saving in her piggy bank from January through December and only opened it a few days ago.

The excited lady who had saved enough cash urged people to save their money come 2022.

She also said that she wants people to get inspired by her achievement, and do the same next year.

BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu cancels Lagos #EndSARS ‘Peace Walk’ over Omicron variant

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday cancelled the Lagos peace walk planned for this month.

POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that Sanwo-Olu, in an address on November 30, 2021, had invited some EndSARS frontline protesters in the state to a peace walk for “the healing of Lagos”.

Specifically, the governor had invited Folarin Falana (Falz), Debo Adebayo (Mr. Marcaroni), Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti and others to join him in the “historic march for our dear Lagos.”

But Falz, Mr Macaroni, Seun Kuti, amongst some arrowheads of the protest had declined the invitation, saying there must be justice for EndSARS victims before peace.

Subsequently, in a press statement today, Sanwo-Olu said he is “constrained to stand down all preparations for the Walk for Peace” so as not to “endanger the life of any Lagosian” amid the outbreak of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

His words, “Between Tuesday 30, November 2021 that I made my address and now, we have seen a significant rise in cases associated with the Omicron variant of this pandemic.

“Given this development, I am constrained to stand down all preparations for the Walk for Peace. I will not endanger the life of any Lagosian in my sincere search for peace. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support the initiative received from far and near. The deluge of support is, however, indicative of one thing: our people know the strategic place of peace to our quest for development.”

Ecobank Group Announces N143.7bn Profit Before Tax in 9 Months

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) has announced N143.7 billion profit before tax in its audited nine months ended September 30, 2021, an increase of about 316 per cent from N34.5billion reported in nine months ended September 30, 2020. By the results filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), the bank triple-digit growth has resulted in earnings per share of over N3.01 kobo during the period under review.

Profit after tax also grew by 916 per cent to N104.51billiion from N10.28billion reported in prior nine months of 2020. Growth in gross earnings, net investment income, Other operating income and decline in operating expenses were major financial parameters that contributed to the Group’s significant increase in profits amid macro economy challenges where it has branches.

Gross Earnings for the period grew by 12 per cent to N686.8billion from N614.5billlion reported in 2020. As net investment income rose by 523 per cent to N5.56billion from loss of N1.3billion in 2020; Other operating income closed at N11.59billion from N3.3billion reported in 2020. The group’s total assets grew by five per cent to N10.9trillion as at September 30, 2021 from N10.38trillion in full year ended December 31, 2020.

In his comment, Group CEO, Ecobank, Ade Ayeyemi said: “We reported strong results, reflecting the continued diligence of Ecobankers in putting our customers first and ensuring that we meet their respective needs.

“For the nine months period up to September 2021, we earned $352 million in pre-tax profit, a 41per cent increase compared to the prior year and revenues of $1.3 billion, a four per cent growth. Hence return on tangible equity increased to 17.9per cent, and we grew the per-share value of our shareholders’ equity by 11per cent to 5.52 US dollar cents.

“These results also demonstrate the hard work invested in driving efficiency in all our businesses in line with our deliberate focus on driving down our cost-to serve, sustain improvement in the quality of our credit portfolio, and strengthen liquidity and capital buffers.”

“As a result, our cost-to-income ratio has been declining consistently quarter on quarter, currently 58.3 per cent. In addition, the stock of nonperforming loans as a percentage of loans outstanding is now at 6.9 per cent compared to 9.9per cent a year ago. We have boosted the firm’s liquidity profile, thanks to growing customer deposits fueled by an acceleration in digital channel adoption, partnerships with Fintechs, Telcos, and businesses in the Payments Ecosystem,” Ayeyemi added.

“Finally, we continue to invest in new digital and mobile capabilities to enhance customer experience, alongside the investments we are making in our people, processes, and controls, to ensure the continued resilience of our business and service delivery to our clients. I am deeply grateful to all our customers and the Ecobank team for the remarkable job,” Ayeyemi added.

FirstBank DecemberIssaVybe: Showing Kindness as You Vybe

The roof is already getting raised with #FirstBankIssaVybe, #DecemberIssaVybe campaigns. With FirstBank, it is always a total experience of being woven into the fabric of society from banking at its finest, to music, fashion, arts, and sports. Across the spectrum of human endeavour, FirstBank stands tall behind its over 32 million customers and counting.

As FirstBank makes every day a vybe every December, it is also passionate about ensuring that everyone vybes with kindness. This is in sync with the words of Maurice Elias, Professor of Psychology, “without kindness, our communities, families, schools, and classrooms become places of incivility.” As we get the blast of the season, the 127 years strong banking brand in furtherance of its kindness campaign has created a simple calendar to ease your ability to create a SPARK in the lives of people around you.

At FirstBank, SPARK stands for Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness. The SPARK initiative was launched 4 years ago to make a difference in the nation by seeking to inspire and institutionalize kindness. By encouraging kindness, empathy and consideration for others, SPARK is placing FirstBank at the forefront of the social impact space. The unique way FirstBank is amplifying kindness is through its different directorates and departments. This way the Bank is reaching more communities, touching more lives, and spreading kindness.

The FirstBank kindness drive stands on three (3) pillars of compassion, civility, and charity. Compassion and charity readily come tops when we think about kindness, and FirstBank is championing the cause to also promote civility through the SPARK initiative. Civility covers the aspects of kindness that does not cost you anything to use in igniting the world around you. Imagine as you get to the venue of the next FirstBank’s DecemberIssaVybe show, and you give up a parking lot closer to the event hall to the car behind you?

The global head of marketing and corporate communication of FirstBank, Folake Ani-Mumuney says “At FirstBank, we spend every waking moment working to create meaning in the lives of our customers and publics. We are inspiring kindness because it brings meaning to lives and creates a happier society. So, as you vybe this Yuletide, vybe with kindness.”

Kindness does not have to cost you a kobo, so click here download and share your kindness calendar for those simple tips to start performing acts of random kindness every day this December.

The need to promote kindness in our homes, schools, fun places, and the society at large cannot be over-emphasized especially with the increased incidence of bullying prevalent around us. In promoting the need for kindness in education and ‘cyber kindness’, FirstBank sponsored two impactful webinars during its corporate responsibility & sustainability week in July 2021. You can click here to access the Zoom recordings of the webinars.

Kindness should be a way of life, and FirstBank is at the forefront. Join the kindness train, vybe with kindness this Yuletide and always!

Eziaku Esther, Emerges Winner of UBA Foundation’s NEC 2021

Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa, (UBA) Plc, Kennedy Uzoka; 1ST Prize Winner, 2021 UBA National Essay Competition, Eziaku Esther Enwereuzo, (Middle) and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta at the grand finale of the UBA Foundation, National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, held at UBA House, Marina, Lagos on Tuesday

UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, on Tuesday, held the Grand finale of its eleventh annual National Essay Competition (NEC) at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre at the UBA House, Marina Lagos, in a ceremony that was well-attended by students, staff and parents.

A visibly excited 15-year-old Eziaku Esther, a student of His Grace High School, Enugu State, emerged the overall winner with the best essay. For the fifth consecutive year the girls have clinched the best prize as, Esther beat 11 other finalists selected from over 7,000 entries received digitally by the UBA Foundation from students of senior secondary schools across Nigeria.

Esther won an educational grant of N3 million to study at any African university of her choice. She also received a brand-new state-of the-art laptop and many other educational tools from the UBA Foundation. She will be supported throughout her educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the UBA Foundation.

The 15 year old winner who was escorted to the event by her mother, Mrs Joy Chika Eziaku, said she was excited to have come top in the competition, adding that the experience has bolstered her confidence; “I am so grateful to UBA Foundation for this grand opportunity. it was not very easy as I had to study hard and conduct a lot of research, but I am happy that it paid off for me. This opportunity has changed my life, made me want to learn more, read more and to aspire to be a better person and I really appreciate the UBA and the UBA Foundation for this,” she said.

The UBA Foundation’s Education initiative has been changing lives for over a decade as the tertiary education scholarship programme continues to impact the lives of many students and their communities at large.

The second prize was bagged by Nduka Chukwuemeka, male, aged 17, of Oxfords international School, Abia State, who won a N2,500,000 educational grant and a laptop; while the third prize of N2,000,000 and a brand new lap top went to 15-year old Hajarat Abdulwahab of Addy Basic School, Kano. The other 9 finalists also received brand new laptops as well as consolation prizes, including books and other learning materials.

In his remarks the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Plc Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said UBA as a bank is happy that it has been touching lives and making a solid impact through the UBA Foundation, adding that the annual competition which is in its 11^th year, has produced hundreds of winners, some of who have long graduated from higher schools and have been impacting their communities.

He said, “Like we did last year, we again increased the prizes to match the rising cost of living. Over the years, we have been assured that we are doing something very unique and truly African, and this is why the initiative is for those who wish to study in Africa, because we are proud of our continent.”

The MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, whilst congratulating the winners, commended them for their exceptional brilliance. “Every student who sent in an entry is a winner. To be confident about your writing skills and ambitious enough to enter a competition to further enhance your educational path is laudable. For those that did not win, I would say do not be discouraged. Take it as a challenge to perfect your writing skills and enter for the competition again next year” she said.

According to Atta, UBA Foundation, being the CSR arm of UBA Plc, makes it a point of duty to give back to communities where UBA operates. Education remains one of the Foundation’s focus areas as it is the bedrock of any nation

UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition has been rolled out to other African countries including Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea, with plans for more footprints in 2022.

UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the UBA Group, is committed to the socio-economic betterment of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in the areas of Education, Environment, Economic Empowerment and Special Projects.

Judge, National Essay Competition, (NEC) Professor Sam Oniugbo; Member Board of Trustee, UBA Foundation, Mary Udu- Ejembi; 3rd Prize Winner, UBA National Essay Competition, (NEC) Hajarat Abdulwahab; Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa, (UBA) Plc, Kennedy Uzoka; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta; Judge, NEC Professor Ini Uko; 2nd Prize Winner, Nduka Chukwubikem and Judge, Professor Emmanuel Omobowale at the grand finale of the UBA Foundation, National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, held at UBA House, Marina, Lagos on Tuesday

3rd Prize Winner, 2021 UBA National Essay Competition, Hajarat Abdulwahab; Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa, (UBA) Plc, Kennedy Uzoka; 1ST Prize Winner, Eziaku Esther Enwereuzo; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta and the 2nd Prize Winner, Nduka Chukwubikem, at the grand finale of the UBA Foundation, National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, held at UBA House, Marina, Lagos on Tuesday

Suspected Yahoo Boys stab RCCG pastor to death in Lagos church

Suspected hoodlums have attacked and killed a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in FESTAC Town, in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim, Pastor Babatunde Dada, was killed inside the RCCG Chapel of Resurrection on 13 Road, 6th Avenue, FESTAC Town.

The killing, which happened on Thursday, December 2, was said to have been perpetrated by two new converts who came to the church for the first time a Sunday before the incident.

The two youths were said to have come out during an altar call and surrendered their lives to Jesus.

The church accommodated them on its premises after they claimed to be stranded.

They had barely spent a week in the church when they reportedly stabbed the cleric to death.

A senior pastor in the church, Akin Odejare, declined comment on the incident when contacted by PUNCH Metro.

However, the wife of the pastor, Bose, told our correspondent on the phone that she called her husband on the day of the incident and he promised to come home to rest.

She said, “My husband was killed on December 2 at the church. He was the admin/accounts officer, as well as the parish pastor. I was not with him when he was killed, but I was told that they collected money from him. I heard that those who killed him were new converts.”

A family member, who is also a security expert, Mr Abolarinwa Olatunbosun, told our correspondent on Wednesday that the pastor was killed after withdrawing money from a bank.

He said, “The pastor went to a bank to withdraw some money and went to rest on the first floor of the church. Two persons said to be new converts went to meet him upstairs, broke his head and killed him.

“The matter was reported to the police and one of the suspects, who ran to Ilorin, has been arrested.”

Olatunbosun said the killing might be for ritual purposes, adding that the assailants were suspected Internet fraudsters, aka Yahoo boys.

The expert said criminals were beginning to attack churches and pastors because they believed there was money in church.

He advised religious centres to be security conscious and put in place strategies that could stop criminals from killing, kidnapping and robbing leaders and worshippers.

A friend of the slain pastor, Fred Enemigin, who is the founder, Highflyers International, Lagos, said in a Facebook post that the pastor was stabbed multiple times.

He wrote, “Two boys had come to church last Sunday and they responded to the altar call by giving their lives to Christ. After church service, they waited to see the head pastor and told him that they were stranded without any place to stay.

“On compassionate grounds, the pastor allowed them to stay somewhere within the church premises pending when they would be resettled. Pastor Tunde Dada, who had for almost a decade been the accountant of RCCG Chapel of Resurrection Parish, was assigned to provide needed welfare for the boys until their matter would be sorted.

“On the fateful Thursday, Tunde was seated in his office and the boys targeting that they were alone on the church premises with him, entered his office and attacked him with knives and other sharp weapons. He was stabbed multiple times and places until they had him killed right there on the spot.

“Our minds are still searching for what the rift between the boys and Tunde was considering the fact that the Tunde we knew was a very gentle soul. Could they have asked for more welfare than what was approved for them and Tunde declined? What on earth would warrant this brutal killing by those who were recipients of a server of the church’s benevolence? There are many more questions that we have not found answers to.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said he had yet to be briefed about the case.

Tiwa Savage, Obi Cubana Top 2021 Google Most Searched People In Nigeria

Popular Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage, and businessman, Obi Cubana, has topped Google’s 2021 list of the most trending people in Nigeria.

Google on Wednesday released the list showing the most searched terms, moments, people, topics, events, places that capture the world’s attention in the year 2021.

Savage was a major topic of discussion in October as she was involved in a sex tape scandal while Obi Cubana trended in July after an elaborate show of wealth at his mother’s burial in Anambra state.

Apart from Tiwa Savage and Obi Cubana, others that made the list are Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho, Romelu Lukaku.

Buhari Denies Ordering Sack Of AEDC Management

The Presidency has denied President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the immediate sack of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) management.
Reports had emerged that Buhari had through the minister of state for power ordered the sack of the AEDC management over the recent strike embarked upon by electricity workers.

But in a swift statement on Wednesday, Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu distanced the president from the news item making the rounds.

According to Shehu, since the privatization of the Power Sector in 2013, the management of the successor companies has reverted to the new owners.

He said: “It is, therefore, totally out of place and inconceivable that the President would be linked to the management of a private organization, let alone sacking it.

“It is gladdening to note that the minister quoted in the statement has himself distanced himself from it.

“The Presidency, therefore, wishes to state expressly and reassure investors in the economy that President Buhari did not order the sack of the management of AEDC, neither does he intend to interfere in the running of the affairs of private business entities.

“The Presidency, however, welcomes ongoing discussions with relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues surrounding the recent developments in the company.”

Naija News reports that the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on Monday embarked on a strike to demand their unpaid allowances, salaries and unremitted pension deductions.

This strike by the electricity workers left some areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states without power for hours.

Jailbreaks: I Don’t See Any Reason To Resign – Aregbesola

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesoa has said the calls for his resignation over recent jailbreaks in the country are unnecessary.

This as the Minister maintained that he won’t be resigning his position over the cases of jailbreak in the country.

Aregbesola made the position known on Wednesday while speaking with State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja.

He argued that those agitating for his resignation must understand the enormous security challenges facing the nation at this time and the sacrifices been made by security agents and agencies in tackling the situation.

Naija News recalls there have been a series of jailbreaks in different parts of the nation with the latest being the Jos Correctional Centre attack which happened in November 2021 in which hundreds of prisoners escaped while an officer of the service was also killed.

The development has sparked renewed calls for Aregbesola’s resignation as the nation’s custodial centers (prisons) are under the supervision of his ministry.

The Minister has however said he won’t be resigning.

“Morally, the state owes itself the responsibility of safe custody that must not be violated. So, on that account alone, we must appreciate the enormity of any successful attack on our custodial facility and I so do. But I want us to put these things in the context of our security situation,” he said.

“In Jos, our men died, meaning that the best we could put there was there and when your best could not suffice, it means that it is no longer a question of inability to make preparation or failure for preparedness, it is just that at that instance, we could not just hold the defence as expected.

“As to whether it calls for my resignation, I still don’t see any need for that because it’s not for lack of preparedness that the attacks were successful. No.”

He, however, assured that the federal government will scale up security within and around the various custodial centers to forestall such attacks in the future.

“What I can assure Nigerians is this: Yes, as contextual as these attacks and the successes such criminals are having, we are upping our game and we will not allow it. We will prevent any such opportunistic attack and even make it impossible. And that is what the state must do,” he said.

“We are working with all arms of government, particularly the security, to make our custodial facilities impregnable. We will not rest until that is achieved. That’s the assurance I want to give Nigerians.”

As part of the renewed efforts, the Minister disclosed the FEC on Wednesday granted approval for the sum of N965.9 million to be expended on the purchase of 49 operational vehicles for the correctional service.

The new vehicles will be added to the 513 operational vehicles the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) already possesses.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service, through the ministry of interior, presented a memo to council and obtained approval to spend the sum of N965,902,524.58 to procure 49 operational and Green Maria vehicles,” he said.

“These 49 vehicles will complement the 513 operational and Green Maria vehicles already purchased between 2016 and 2020.”