Students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree (OSPOLY) were disrupted from their ongoing examination when a swarm of bees attacked the examination hall chasing away the students and invigilators.
In the viral video, students could be seen running helter-skelter from the stinging bees.
A student has also been reportedly hospitalized as a result of the bees stings.
Watch video below
The bank won the prestigious award at the New Telegraph 2021 Awards in recognition of its leadership position in delivering sterling development and growth of the Agricultural sector and the Small and Medium Enterprises.
Presenting the award to Sekibo, earlier in a letter to congratulate him for his nomination as the Banker of the Year (SMEs & Agric) of the year 2021, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Ayodele Aminu explained, “after a thorough scrutiny of Heritage Bank’s laudable support for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), as well the country’s agricultural sector, in the last one year by our Panel of Judges and Editors, we at the New Telegraph 2021 are pleased to award Heritage Bank, Banker of the Year (SMEs & Agric).”
Receiving the award on behalf of the bank’s CEO, the Executive Director, Jude Monye stated that the Bank was honoured and motivated to do more for the sustainability and growth of the Agric and SME sectors following the award received from New Telegraph newspaper.
“We are highly honoured to receive the award as the Banker of the Year (SMEs & Agric) from the Board and Management of New Telegraph Newspaper. This validates the hard work and success story of the bank to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations, as amongst other sectors of the economy, we have continued to ensure our efforts to support the Agric and SMEs sector in Nigeria counts.
“This is a result that will continue to motivate us to deepen our supports to Agric, SMEs sector and the economy at large for sustainable growth,” he assured.
Sekibo vowed that in line with its core mandate to create and transfer generational wealth, the bank would continue to make farming profitable to stakeholders and attractive to the youth, as Heritage Bank had taken the front seat in financing critical agricultural projects in several states in the country, especially in Oyo, Kaduna and Zamfara and recently in Plateau Jos.
He noted that most of the ventures in the agriculture sector fall within the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME) sectors of the economy, which Heritage Bank in close collaboration with CBN has been championing.
According to him, in complimenting the efforts of the Central Bank, Heritage Bank has made a huge success of the established agricultural schemes by making funds available to both small holder farmers and SMEs (Prime Anchors) in their efforts to increase agricultural output especially rice and wheat productions.
He explained that Heritage Bank has deepened support of small holders’ farmers and anchors in Ogun, Niger and recently Plateau state in rice and wheat seed and grain production under Prime ABP, which would help tackle gaps inherent.
“Heritage Bank in partnership with CBN is set to reverse the adverse trends by eliminating dependence on imported wheat which currently stands at over $2 Billion and the unavailability of high yield wheat seed that stands at 63,000 MT through a strategic approach which would facilitate import substitution and promote self-sufficiency in the wheat value chain in Nigeria, by funding the local production of wheat and encouraging backward integration by wheat millers,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Heritage Bank has recorded notable success stories in the Agric and SMEs’ spaces which in 2017 the bank won the maiden award from CBN for Sustainable Transaction of the Year in Agriculture.
In 2018, Heritage Bank emerged as a winner in the Agriculture Category during the year’s CBN Sustainable Transaction of the year award. The Nigeria Agriculture Awards (NAA), announced Heritage Bank as the Agric. Bank of the Year. According to NAA, Heritage Bank was selected in recognition of its footprints in the Agribusiness space.
In 2019/2020, Heritage Bank secured mandate as Transaction Advisers and Settlement Bank on Agribusiness and Solid Minerals to Lagos Commodities & Futures Exchange.
The yuletide season has come to life in Lagos with the 2021 Zenith Bank Christmas Light-Up Ceremony, which held at the Ajose Adeogun Street Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, November 20 2021.
With the theme “Let There Be Light”, this year marks the 15th edition of the traditional Light-up Ceremony at the Ajose Adeogun Roundabout. Following the onset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which stopped the annual event from holding last year, this year’s ceremony is indeed a momentous and significant one as it signals the return of what could be described as a spectacle that has come to be recognized by not only Lagosians but Nigerians in general as an iconic place and tourist attraction because of the beautiful decorations adorning the length and breadth of Ajose Adeogun Street – home to Zenith Bank’s Headquarters, during the yuletide season.
The official lighting ceremony, which was performed by the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, supported by Executive Management, saw thousands of the Bank’s staff and customers joining virtually and through the Bank’s social media platforms.
Speaking during the ceremony, Onyeagwu praised Quantum, the company responsible for the annual decorations, for the very outstanding, gorgeous and extremely beautiful work that they have done this year. In his words, “each year when we come in, and we see the decorations, I keep asking myself what next? Would there be something better than what we have seen and I see that at the end of every season, they come up with innovations and creativity, and they make it even far better and take it to a higher level”.
Onyeagwu expressed his delight that this year’s Light-up Ceremony is able to hold following the cancellation of last year’s edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the EndSARS protests. According to him, “last year was a very unusual year. Covid threw a curveball at humanity, and as a result, it changed the way we engaged and the way we live; it transformed so many other things, and as a country, we had some unique challenges. As a result of those challenges, especially the EndSARS protest, last year we couldn’t light up, not because there was no money. It was because we had to grapple with Covid-19, and again during the EndSARS protest, the fittings that we employ in having this light-up were terribly vandalized, and it required time and resources for us to put it together. We didn’t want to have any undue exposure or create vulnerability. Therefore we had to allow time to put the fittings back, and as soon as we have put it back, here we are today”.
He noted that Zenith Bank is very happy to be able to reconnect with activating the spirit of Christmas, with the return of the annual turning on of the Christmas lighting and the decorations of Ajose Adeogun Street, which can compare and compete with any decorations anywhere in the world – be it in Europe, North America, or Asia.
Whilst wishing everyone a Merry Christmas filled with joy, love, peace and harmony, he enjoined all to remember that Christmas is also a time for sober reflection when we think about things that we couldn’t do and focus our thoughts on being better people and building a better society and country. He also used the opportunity to remind Nigerians and the whole world in general that the fight against COVID-19 is far from over. He, therefore, appealed to everyone that as “we celebrate Christmas, we should celebrate responsibly, maintain social distance, wear our masks and for those of us who haven’t been vaccinated, please take your vaccine for vaccination is saving lives”.
The Light-Up Ceremony is one of the many Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Initiatives of Zenith Bank, as the Bank continues to lead in corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions and spending by Nigerian financial institutions. Indeed, Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry as an institution that is committed to building a more sustainable and inclusive economy and one that promotes responsible business practices in Nigeria through the integration of sustainability principles in its business operations.
Zenith Bank’s sustainability and CSR initiatives are hinged on the belief that today’s business performance is not all about the financial numbers – the Bank believes that an institution’s social investments, contributions to inclusive economic growth and development as well as improvements in the condition of the physical environment, all constitute a balanced scorecard.
Through its CSR initiatives, the Bank has embodied the overarching objective of the 17 SDGs, which provide a framework for addressing the major challenges confronting our society. Its social investments are targeted at health, education, women and youth empowerment, sports development and public infrastructure enhancement. Overall, Zenith Bank’s total social investments in 2020 stood at NGN3.29 billion ($8.62million), representing 1.66 per cent of its Profit After Tax.
The Bank remains committed to furthering the economic, cultural and social development of host communities, particularly through community-based initiatives and philanthropy. As a good corporate citizen, it continues to deliver projects that have long-term social and economic benefits for the communities because it believes that its business is only as strong as the communities in which it operates.
To demonstrate its commitment to creating and expanding opportunities, the Bank regularly makes donations towards the setting up of ultramodern ICT centres in several educational institutions across the country. It also supports various developmental projects, and healthcare delivery causes in Nigeria and contributes to the development of sports in Nigeria through its sponsorship of the Zenith Women Basketball League and the Zenith Bank Delta State Principals’ and Headmasters’ Football Competitions, to mention a few.
The Bank also demonstrates leadership when its host communities deal with a crisis. For example, following the unfortunate gas explosion incident of March 15, 2020, which led to the loss of lives and properties at the Abule-Ado area in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Zenith Bank made a donation of NGN100 million to the Emergency Relief Fund set up by the Lagos State Government for the victims of the explosion.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Zenith Bank’s commitment to sustainability has not waned, as the Bank donated NGN1 billion as part of the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), a private sector-led initiative to support the Nigerian Government to combat the Covid-19 crisis.
The Kogi Government has denied ownership of the N19.3 billion, allegedly returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by the EFCC.
The state has also threatened legal action, if the EFCC did not within 48 hours, retract the statement that the fund it allegedly returned to the CBN, belonged to Kogi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, said it returned the N19. 33 billion Kogi salary bailout funds it recovered, to the CBN.
Spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, on Friday.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, described the commission’s claims as “mischievous, false and politically motivated.”
“Let it be known that the Kogi government has disbursed its bailout loans for the purpose of which it was granted as of October 2019.
“There is therefore no hidden bailout funds/loan’ belonging to Kogi that is capable of being returned to the CBN or frozen by an order of Court.
“The EFCC knows this, which is why it withdrew the suit it filed in Court on the bailout fund,” he said.
The commissioner reiterated that the state does not operate a fixed deposit Sterling Bank account, which had been clarified by the bank in its letter, dated Sept. 1.
“The Kogi government knows absolutely nothing about the ownership and control of the said N19.3 billion, allegedly returned to the CBN.
“The Kogi government did not also open or operate a Kogi State salary bailout fixed deposit account, No. 0073572696, where the said funds were allegedly warehoused and dissipated and now allegedly returned to the CBN,” he said.
Fanwo challenged the EFCC to provide details of the fixed deposit account, as no one or group could operate such account without a mandate, an agreement as to terms including tenure, interest rates and the rest.
He said the whole saga was aimed at tarnishing the rising political image of Gov. Yahaya Bello, bring him to disrepute by portraying him as a corrupt governor/person.
“The EFCC must be mindful of how this issue will affect the fortunes of the state, shake investor confidence and the possibility of setting the people of Kogi against its government.
“Consequently, the Kogi government demands a retraction of the statement and all allegations of crimes levied against the Kogi government and its governor.
“We further demand an apology published within 48 hours from today, in one national daily and on all EFCC official and social media platforms, addressed to the governor and the entire government and people of Kogi.”
On EFCC’s claim that the sum of N666,666,666.64 was transferred from the N19.3 billion on the instruction of the Kogi government, the commissioner said that Sterling Bank had clarified that the account was not an operational account but was a mirror account opened for administrative purposes.
“We challenge the EFCC to produce the account mandate, account package, and the phone number and BVN of those who allegedly opened and operated the ‘Kogi State salary bailout fixed deposit account No. 0073572696’ on behalf of the state government.”
Fanwo said the EFCC should tell Nigerians who was drawing the interest from the said fixed deposit account and where same was being paid by Sterling Bank Plc. (NAN)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has opened a campaign office in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, as part of preparations to contest the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Blueprint gathered exclusively that the campaign team under the aiges of Progressives Consolidated Group (PCG) has also been inaugurated on Saturday.
The said campaign office is located at No. 15b, Buchanan Crescent, off Aminu Kano, by Emab plaza Wuse 11, Abuja.
Blueprint learnt reliably that the campaign office is already decorated with the Vice President’s banner with inscription “Face of Hope.”
Sources at the campaign team told our correspondent that the Chairman of the PCG is President Muhammadu Buhari’s kinsman from Kastina state known as Dr. Aliyu Kurfi.
Other members of the team include; Musa Liman as deputy chairman North, Dr Ebenezer Faji as deputy chairman South, Dr. Eli Eberechukwu Dibia as Vice Chairman, Dr. Ahmed Muhammed as the National Coordinator, Dr. Usman Ibrahim as Organising Secretary and Barrister Emmanuel Pippa as the Publicity Secretary.
Details later…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a Brazil based drug dealer, Okafor Moses in connection with over 2.55 kilograms of cocaine.
This is contained in a statement signed by NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, in Abuja on Sunday. He said that drugs were recovered from a toilet at the E-Arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
Babafemi said that the drug was discovered in the toilet of the airport on Friday Nov. 12, after it was dumped there by a trafficker who was obviously scared of being caught by narcotic officers positioned at the airport.
“The following day, Saturday Nov. 13, the actual owner of the consignment, Moses arrived the airport from Brazil via an Ethiopian Airline flight and was promptly arrested.
“While being interviewed in custody, he confirmed he is the owner of the seized illicit drug, ” he said.
“In other interdiction operations across the country, over 6,043.857 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs were recovered in five states.”
Babafemi named the states as Adamawa, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Ebonyi, adding that more than two hectares of cannabis farms were also destroyed.
He said that a suspected fake security agent, Abdullahi Mohammed, who claimed to be serving in one of the security formations in Mubi, Adamawa state, was arrested over four blocks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 4kg on Bazza-Michika road.
“In the same vein, four other suspects were arrested at different locations in Jimeta, Yola North LGA, with assorted substances such as Cannabis, Diazepam, Exol-5 and Tramadol tablets.”
“In Ondo State, three persons: Alabi Idowu; Oluwatomipe Olorundare and Finity Sunday were arrested on Monday, Nov. 15 and a total of 2,771kgs of Cannabis recovered from them at Oke Ogun camp, Ipele, Owo LGA.”
“While 59-year-old Mrs Joy Peter was nabbed with over 39kg cannabis and Tramadol tablets on Wednesday Nov. 17.”
“In the same vein, over 2, 832kg of drugs were seized and more than two hectares of cannabis farms destroyed in parts of Ekiti state.”
Babafemi said that 2,582kg of cannabis were recovered on Tuesday Nov. 16 from Itapaji forest, Ipao, Ikole LGA, 250kg was seized from Ise forest, Ise-Orun LGA where the cannabis farm was also destroyed on Thursday 18th Nov.
“In Ebonyi, 29-year-old Ivoh Chukwuemeka accompanied by his girlfriend Ogbonna Peace, 18, was intercepted along Enugu-Abakaliki expressway with 20.357kg cannabis on Friday Nov. 19.Similarly, 377.5kg cannabis was seized from at least two suspects: Lucky Okhian and Aaron Monday in Owan West LGA as well as Okpokhumi forest in Owan East LGA of Edo state,” he said.
Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men involved in the operations across the commands for sustaining the heat on drug cartels in the country.
“We are proving to the bad guys and merchants of death that we’ll not stay a step ahead of them but two steps in this game, and this we must sustain as we prepare to go into the new year,” he said.
Manchester United ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s three-year reign as manager at Old Trafford on Sunday following a run of one win in seven Premier League games.
“Manchester United announces that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as Manager,” the club said in a statement. “Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision.”
The club also announced that Michael Carrick will now take charge of the team for forthcoming games, before the appointment of an interim manager.
Manchester United announces that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as manager.
Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision. While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success.
Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as Manager and our very best wishes for the future. His place in the club’s history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a Manager who gave us many great moments. He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family.
Michael Carrick will now take charge of the team for forthcoming games, while the club looks to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season.
Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri has praised talented Nigerian singer, Davido for donating the sum of two hundred and fifty million naira to orphanages across the country.
Davido took this decision after he hit more than two hundred million naira in donations in two days from his friends to clear his Rolls Royce from the port.
Reno in his reaction said Davido is much wiser than those who gave him monies, stressing that he understands the spiritual realm and the ways of God.
The former presidential aide also commended the singer for having a heart of Gold.
He wrote, “Davido is much wiser tha those who gave him monies. He understands the spiritual realm and the ways of God. He has secured a soft spot in the Heart of God by virtue of James 1:27. I commend him. What a heart of Gold. Those who gave to him should read Proverbs 22:16
“To show you how vain human nature is, very few people will donate ₦1 million to orphanages, who really need the money. But they fall over themselves to donate ₦1 million to Davido, who does NOT need the money. Davido understood that. And did what he did. Bravo!
“Those saying Davido donated the money as an afterthought are pathetic. Look at the calibre of people on the committee to disburse the funds. It would‘ve taken days, if not weeks to contact them and get their buy in. This was a carefully thought out act of goodness.”
A former governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Senator Gbenga Aluko is dead.
He was 58 years old.
The Ode Ekiti born politician was said to have slumped in his office in Abuja and rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
He died Saturday evening.
Daniel Olugbenga Aluko was born on 20 July 1963, to Professor Sam Aluko, a prominent Nigerian Economist from Ekiti State. He attended Federal Government College, Ilorin, and then was admitted to the University of Benin, graduating in 1982 with a degree in Geography and Regional Planning. He went on to the College of Energy and Petroleum Studies, Oxford, England for a Post Graduate course in International Oil Trading and Pricing. Positions held between 1983 and 1999 included Managing Director/CEO of HYGYNIX, Executive Director of Baseline Petroleum and Chemicals and Executive Chairman of Independent Strategists. He was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of Transport and Aviation and General Manager of Nigeria Shipper’s Council from 1993 to 1995.
After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999 Aluko was appointed to committees on Selection, Senate Services (vice chairman), Aviation, Women Affairs, Finance & Appropriation, Social Development & Sports and Local & Foreign Debts. He was appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate. Later he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Gas Committee and Chairman of the Petroleum Committee. Aluko was opposed to plans to privatize the Nigerian Mint. He was appointed Chairman of an ad hoc committee to investigate the controversial closure of Savannah Bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
After leaving the Senate, Aluko continued in private enterprise, holding a controlling interest in Alstegg and Midlands, a Civil Engineering Firm and serving as a Director of Crest Healthcare, Consultant to DFID on Parliamentary Matters and Director of Government Affairs with Chevron Nigeria.
He was married with five children.
Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola has urged Nigerians to be patient till January 2022 to find out whether or not the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu would run for president in 2023.
Fashola said he did not know if the former Lagos State Governor had a presidential ambition.
Speaking on Friday during a Channels Television programme ‘Hard Copy’, Fashola explained that Tinubu had not informed him he was running in 2023.
“I saw him last week; he didn’t tell me he was running for office and to the best of my knowledge, the last statement he made about it was that people would know in January,” the minister said.
The Minister was also asked if he enquired from Tinubu about his intention to run.
He replied: “No, I didn’t ask him, I only went to see how well he was doing.
“He has issued a statement that ‘I will speak in January’, so let’s wait for his speech.”
On whether he was speaking for any aspirant come 2023, the minister declined.
He said: “As far as I am aware, nobody has said, ‘I want to be Nigeria’s President’. There are people speaking for people. Nobody has come out; we are not at that stage yet.
“I can’t venture out and say that I will speak for X or Y. Let the person come out and say, ‘I want to serve Nigeria’.
“It pains me sometimes when we seed that very important job and responsibility to, ‘My people said’. I think the whole sense of it should be that I am able, I have looked at myself, give me your problem, you go to sleep’.”
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