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ONDO 2020: Chief Bukola Adetula’s Preparedness

Gentlemanly, suave, highly cerebral are words that best describes Chief Adebukola Adetula, a man who has been destined for greatness since his formative years. Those who are close to him, will attest to the fact that; he is an angel in human form. If there is one thing he loathes so much, that will be the sight of his fellow human in distress, he is always ready to render assistance at all times.

Adetula is well grounded politically, most especially at the grassroot level, with his knowledge of the Ondo political terrain laced with his career exposure across the world. He is hell bent on making Ondo a better place for his people by placing it high in all ramifications among other state in the country. Junior Adetula, is indeed a chip of the old block, as his late father, Chief ZOK Adetula, popularly known as ZOKA was one of the foremost political leaders of the progressive family in Ondo State, whom under his watch, Bukola learnt the rudiments of politics before throwing his hat in the ring to contest gubernatorial in 2016.

ZOKA was a contemporary of Pa Adekunle Ajasin, former Executive Governor of Ondo State and a protege of the late sage and former premier of the defunct Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. His father popularly called ZOKA, represented Owo constituency at the Federal House of Representatives between 1979 and 1983 before military Government took over power.

This is a clear indication that the Owo Born politician is born ready for the herculean task ahead with his “Credible Alternative Mandate”, as he jostle with the incumbent Governor Arakurin Akeredolu at the forth coming primary election. He is the favourites of many political elites and grassroots politician, whom have vowed to repay his kind gestures and goodwill for the state with a vote at the primary election to help him secure the ticket as the Gubernatorial candidate of the APC.

Ever since he announced his candidacy by throwing his hat in the ring once again, he has created a frenzy of excitement at the grassroots level. The U.S trained Criminal lawyer, formed a strong affiliation with the Unity Forum, under the leadership of Alhaji Ali Olanusi, a former Deputy Governor and serving Board of Trustees member of the APC. His influence has growed and fluttered across Ondo state like wild fire. Both the young and old are patiently waiting to have him as the parties flagbearer at the primariy election. They are all aware that ,he will bring hope and succour by restore the lost glory of Ondo State within a little space of time.

Political pundits in Ondo State avered that; “This years primaries election is not going to be an easy ride for Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu like it was in 2016. Adetula has an edge over him because of his family pedigree at Owo. If you can remember vividly in 2016, Akeredolu and Adetula participated at the exercise that led to Akeredolu’s emergence as Governor. This time around, there are factors we can’t take away between the duo. They are both from Owo Kingdom, both are lawyers and are contesting under same party, APC.

This is a clear indication that the ring is open but Adetula has done his underground work and has gathered the support of the masses across Ondo with a tour to all the local government areas.”

Apart from his political resume, his personal career resume is quite an intimidating one. Bukola Adetula is a successful international businessman, who has his hands across many pies of business chains across the world like; Oil & Gas, Media, Law and Training.
He attended the prestigious Government College, Ibadan and thereafter travelled to the United States of America from where he received B.Sc. (Criminal Justice); B.A. & M.A. (Political Science) and a Juris Doctor (J.D) in Law, degrees.

Gov. Sanwo-Olu Agrees with Prophet T.B. Joshua on Church Re-opening

The governor of Lagos state, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu has maintained that churches and mosques in Lagos state remain closed despite the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari had lifted the ban on religious organisations in the new directives to battle covid-19.

This is coming after the founder of SCOAN, Prophet TB Joshua said his church will not open till God asks him to , even after the ban has been lifted on religious organization.

It will be right to say Governor Sanwoolu, having thought about the welfare of lagosians, and the possible repercussion of opening churches at this time, concur with the prophetic message of Prophet TB Joshua too.

The prophet when delivering the message of not opening his church made it known that God gave him the revelation three times that the church will be closed and that he is also waiting for the same God to tell him when to open it.

He therefore urged listeners to join him on Emmanuel TV as he awaits God’s instruction.

‘’ Viewers, don’t forget there was a revelation three times concerning the church closing.

Viewers, that same God, we are waiting to hear from on when to reopen – when things will go back to normal – as usual. God’s time is the best. We are waiting at His feet for that time. We are tarrying for the Holy Spirit’s instruction. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Meet us as usual on Emmanuel TV until we hear from God when to reopen, the same God who gave us the prophecy three times about the church closing. It is God’s work, not our work. Here, our thanks go to the authorities for understanding. Jesus is Lord!

FIRSTBANK LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE VIRTUAL BANK ACCOUNT OPENING FOR CUSTOMERS

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced that it has reinforced its technology infrastructure to enable anyone in the country open a FirstBank account through their mobile phones, without visiting any of its branches nationwide.

The investment in the Bank’s mobile banking infrastructure is in furtherance of the need to deepen financial inclusion in the country, enabling account opening to be carried out on its *894# USSD banking, FirstMobile (self-service telephone banking), its website – www.firstbanknigeria.com – as well as the Bank’s staff, through the Direct Sales Executive (DSE) application installed on their mobile phone, ATMs and the bank’s over 55,000 FirstMonie Agents spread across the country. Opening an account with FirstBank through any of these means is seamless, convenient, fast, and user-friendly.

The DSE App is an end to end encrypted mobile application installed on the phone(s) of FirstBank staff which enables them to open an account for to-be customers. Upon the completion of the account opening process via the DSE App, the customer is notified of his or her account number through a text message on the mobile phone used to register the account.

With FirstBank’s *894# USSD banking, various banking activities are carried out on a mobile phone – across the four major GSM network operators in the country – without the use of the internet. To open an account via this means, dial *894# then select ‘open an account’ to provide the information required or by simply dialling *894*0#. The Bank currently has over 9.5 million of its nearly 20 million customers on its USSD banking platform.

The FirstMonie Agent Banking is an agent banking initiative from the bank that is designed to take banking closer to people, thereby bridging the gap between the banked and unbanked. FirstMonie is a channel through which various banking activities like FirstBank account opening, funds transfer, bill payments, data and call credit recharge services, amongst others are carried out. The Agent Banking initiative has also contributed to reducing poverty, being responsible for the indirect employment of over 150,000 people across the country.

According to Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, “beyond opening an account in any of our over 700 branches, we are delighted with the investments at reinventing our business processes over the years, especially with the use of technology. This has been critical to staying relevant in the industry for over 126 years and being the financial partner of the first choice to all our customers and Nigerians, irrespective of where they are.”

Creating these virtual ways of opening a bank account with us – thus; the staff DSE App, ATMs, FirstMonie Agents, *894# USSD banking, FirstMobile and our website – reinforces our resolve to ensure that more Nigerians and residents have access to banking, especially through our state of the art financial services and we remain resolute to being the key to banking, enabling business and financial activities that would continue to propel the country’s economic growth and development.

ZENITH BANK EMERGES BEST BANK IN NIGERIA IN THE GLOBAL FINANCE WORLD’S BEST BANKS AWARDS 2020

Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s leading financial institution, has emerged as the Best Bank in Nigeria in the recently released Global Finance Magazine World’s Best Banks Awards 2020.

The awards, which was published in the May 2020 edition of the Global Finance Magazine, was based on the performances of the banks in their respective regions and countries over the period from January 1 to December 31, 2019.

Global Finance’s “World’s Best Banks Awards” are recognized amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in more than 150 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.

Founded in 1987, Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other providers of financial services and the awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.

Commenting on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Mr, Ebenezer Onyeagwu said that “this award is a clear demonstration of the bank’s market leadership, occasioned by our superior product offerings, best-in-class service and top-of-the-range technology which create value for our teeming customers.”

Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. The bank, with a knack for setting the pace and raising benchmarks, is a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.

As a testament to its resilience and market leadership, Zenith Bank announced an impressive result for the year ended December 31, 2019, with profit after tax (PAT) of N208.8 billion, achieving the feat as the first Nigerian Bank to cross the N200 billion mark. In the recently released Q1 2020 unaudited financial results, the bank also recorded an improved result over the corresponding period in 2019, with gross earnings rising by 6% to N166.8 billion and profit before tax (PAT) growing 3% to N58.8 billion.

Consistent with this superlative performance and in recognition of its track record of exceptional performance, Zenith Bank was ranked as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria 2019 by the World Finance and the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co. The bank was also voted as Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Most recently, the bank was recognized as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria, for the third consecutive year, in the Banker Magazine “Top 500 Banking Brands 2020” and the Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020.

APPLE Announces DJ Cuppy as their First ever African Radio Host in Million- Dollar Deal

DJ Cuppy, the celebrity daughter of Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola, has landed first-of-its-kind deal with Apple Music in a move that entertainment industry watchers have labelled “watershed”.

Apple Music is launching its first radio show in Africa.

The streaming platform announced today, Thursday, that “Africa Now Radio with Cuppy” will debut Sunday and will feature a mix of contemporary and traditional popular African sounds, including genres like Afrobeat, rap, house, kuduro and more.
The weekly one-hour show will be hosted at 3 pm Nigerian time on Sundays.

As face and voice behind Apple Music in Africa, Cuppy will be bringing the world to Africa.
Besides DJing all genres of African music, the show will see Cuppy entertaining the listeners with interviews from artists across the continent and even beyond.

“The show represents a journey from West to East and North to South, but importantly a narrative of Africa then to Africa now,” Cuppy said.

African music and artists have found success outside of the continent and onto the pop charts in both the U.S. and U.K. in recent years.

Develop Homegrown Solutions, Human Capacity and Invest in Agriculture to Rebuild Africa; Experts say at UBA Africa Day Conversations

Prioritise SMEs Development
Advocate Partnerships between Private Sector and Government

African thought leaders and great minds have noted that the development of homegrown solutions and adequate investment in human capacity building and agricultural expansion are key steps that will help to rebuild Africa and put the continent on a stronger footing post Covid-19.

Analysing the theme ‘Domestic Policies, Regional Development and a Global Agenda: SDGs and African Development at Crossroads; the speakers collectively gave this submission during the second panel session of the 2020 edition of United Bank for Africa (UBA) African Day Conversations.

The virtual session, which was moderated by Veteran Journalist and Media Consultant, Eugenia Abu, was made up of thought leaders from across Africa, including the Regional CEO, UBA West Africa, Abiola Bawuah (Ghana); Senior Program Coordinator, Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes, Dr Nalishebo Meebelo (Zambia); Leadership Coach and Chairman, Go Ahead Africa Ltd, Roland Kwemain (Cameroon); Founder and Executive Director, Social Change Factory, Sobel Aziz Ngom (Senegal); Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital and New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi (Nigeria); and Social Entrepreneur and Founder, LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli (Nigeria).

Abiola Bauwah who emphasised how Africa should rely less on foreign donors, said, “There are five areas we should work on more for us to reach the SDG goals; the private sector; rapid industrialization; institutions and the rule of law; develop our human capital; remove the barriers across Africa. We should institute Africapitalism which is an economic philosophy that says that the human and capital resources of Africa are the only ways in which we can develop Africa.”

Nalishebo Meebelo noted that there’s a lot that young people can do along the value chain of manufacturing, transporting, technology and marketing, adding that, “Government cannot do it alone, they need to work with other stakeholders. Cut and paste solutions do not work for us here in Africa, we need to have our own homegrown solutions to fight this pandemic.”

Eugenia Abu, who focused on the huge role that women and youth must play in rebuilding the continent, said that Africa had to work together to provide solutions to its numerous challenges. “Women, entrepreneurial champions, young people and collaborations between African countries are very key to developing Africa,” she stated.

Ndidi Nwuneli who was saddened that the agricultural sector remained hugely untapped, emphasised the need for a change of mindset where people usually equated agriculture to poverty. “This is a $1 trillion industry and we are neglecting it; therefore my charge to you is that we invest in the agricultural sector, prioritize it, leverage it, transform our educational system to prepare our young people for this sector, change the mindset and trade with each other,” she explained.

Sobel Aziz Ngom pointed out the need for the youth to take charge in Africa. “It is time to not just serve young people, but to trust them to lead. The challenge that we have at the domestic and continental level is making the change in our structure and in the political system that give the place to young people to be 100% engaged,” Ngom stated.

In his own submission, Tolu Ogunlesi, said, “All over the countries young people are seizing opportunities, and we need to start thinking about how to make sure that this is not just for the age of COVID but for now and beyond COVID-19. Even if the pandemic was to disappear today, I hope that the lessons we’re learning, we’re not going to forget them and go back to where we used to be.”

For Roland Kwemain, more institutions need to tow the line of UBA in events such as UBA Africa Conversations. “If 100 multinationals in Africa were doing that UBA is doing, we would go far because CSR is an amazing leverage not just for the brand but also for supporting people & women in terms of activities. The truth is that we need partnership between the government, corporates and the civil society,” he said.

The United Bank for Africa is a leading pan-African financial institution offering banking services to more than twenty million customers globally. With footprint in 20 African countries and presence globally in the United Kingdom, the USA and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.

Police Drag GTBank to Court over N260million Fraud

The Police Special Fraud unit (PSFU), has dragged Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc and two others before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged $667, 000 USD, fraudulently lodged with the bank.

Others joined with GTB Plc in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/586/2020, are: Albert Austine Ugochukwu and a limited liability company, Tasmara Integrated Services Limited.

GTB Plc and others were brought before the court presided over by Justice Ayokunle Faji, by PSFU in a motion exparte, pursuant to section 6(6)(b), (2)(k) of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); Executive Order 6, 2018, Section 4 of Police Act, 2004, section 13(1) Federal High Court Act, 2004.

And Section 13(1) of money laundry and prohibition Act 2011(as amended in 2012), Order 26(6-10), 28(1)(1-3),(2)(1-6) 30(A) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure Rule) 2019: Section 16(1)(A)(B) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud related offences Act, 2006 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
In moving the motion exparte, affidavit in support and written address, today, PSFU’s Head Legal, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) leading J. I. Enang, asked the court for an order restraining GTB Plc from posting any debt or allow any drawings or permitting any drawing on 35 accounts which were used to perpetrate the alleged fraud by some customers, pending conclusion of investigation on the accounts by the police.

PSFU also asked the court to direct GTB Plc to it the account officers of the said 35 accounts being investigated for an interview with the Commissioner of Police in-charge of PSFU. And to also furnish the Unit with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of some documents on the said 35 accounts.

These documents include: Statement of Account from January 1, 2018 till date; names and addresses of signatories to the accounts; photocopies on the Mandate Cards; Bank Verification Number linked to the accounts and Certificate of Computer printout in compliance with Section 84 of the Evidence Act.

CSP Jackson said the orders sought for is necessary, as it will allowed the police to carry on with investigation of certain money totaling $667, 000 USD, fraudulently obtained by false pretence from the bank’s customers.

He also told the court that the order sought for will also prevent the bank from lifting any restrictions placed or will be placed on the said 35 accounts.

The account numbers which SPFU sought the order against GTB Plc are: 205/153068; 228/678179; 402/649701; 220/876518; 224/980764; 220/877573; 220/877598; 220/885941: 209/822101; 209/823832; 246/296004; 246/297322; 265/231545: 265/231511.

Others are; 265/229254; 246/340436; 265/231542; 265/231625; 220/885852, 209/839097; 214/8682312; 220/886856; 220/886871; 220/886875; 246/340330; 246/344649; 251/292171; 251/292201; 265/231490; 220/886879; 220/886839; 220/886802; 251/292261; 265/231474 and 220/886811.

PSFU in an affidavit attached with the motion exparte and deposed by one of its investigators Shaibu Friday, who stated that he was directed by the Commissioner of Police to investigate a case of Obtaining the sum of $667,000 USD and money laundry based a petition dated March 26, 2020.

Adding that the petition was by one Segun Fadahunsi General Manager and Lanre Kasim Senior Manager both of Guaranty Trust Bank Headquarters, Lagos, against one Albert Austin Ugochukwu former staff of GTB Plc, of obtaining the sum of $667, 000 USD, using a company known as Tasmara Integrated ServicesLtd to open about 35 different accounts number which were use by him to launder money.

It stated that the funds the is investigating being proceeds of fraud, stand the risk of being dissipated by the suspect unless the Court restrains GTB Plc from posting debit or allowing withdrawals from the said accounts under investigation pending the Conclusion of Police investigation. Adding that it will be in the interest of justice to grant this application
Justice Faji, after listened to the submissions made by CSP Jackson ruled that: “I’m satisfied with the submissions of the applicant’s counsel. The order sought for is to preserve the ‘res’…..

“The orders are hereby granted as prayed”.

Exposed: Plots Against Speaker Obasa Take Fresh Dimension, 4 New Strategies Uncovered

Interestingly, new series of plots being hatched against the Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, by his traducers have been uncovered.

The plots, a four-pronged strategy, are believed to be the second phase of the plans masterminded by some alleged individuals using the media to malign the Speaker in what is now believed to be “an attempt to pull him down by all means.”

Available information shows that four new strategies are being adopted following the failure of an initial plot against Speaker Obasa which included the use of mostly doctored or alleged fake information and documents said to have been stolen from the State House of Assembly as well as claims of money appropriated for events not held.

One of the new strategies, it was learnt, is a plan to sponsor a protest against the Speaker over allegations of corruption which have all been debunked by the House of Assembly.

Findings have also indicated that on the table is the card of a plan to link the Speaker with a series of properties. Already, sources close to the plotters have hinted Obasa’s camp that photographs of the supposed properties are already being taken and these include houses and other assets with valid owners.

The source was quoted as saying, “The photographs are already being collated and they are meant to be released soon. However, there are issues which stem from the need on our side to give the accurate impression. So those saddled with the responsibility among us as trying to ensure there are no lose ends that would make public not believe the story.”

Recall that against what some analysts have argued as financial and banking impossibility, the Speaker was recently alleged to have 64 accounts with different names and dates of birth linked to his BVN.

According to the insiders, who spilled the plots, a third plan is to link the Obasa with any possible criminal act that may have been committed in the past by anybody believed to be close to him.

The plotters are of the view that this would put the Speaker on the defensive as he would, like the previous plots, work hard to wriggle his way out of the allegation even though it could be false.

The fourth plan, which a source said was being critically considered, is to link Obasa with Kingus Ltd, a company owned by a relative and which has had a relationship with the Lagos State Government for some years running.

Baring any unforseen circumstance, the plots are reportedly in top gear, it was learnt.
Recently, there have been allegations from Sahara Reporters, an online medium, which released what it termed exclusive stories about the Speaker.
However, each item of the reports has been deflated by either Obasa or members of the House of Assembly.

The House, sometime ago, released facts relating to an alleged N17 million said to have been spent on the Speaker’s guest House. From the reaction of the House, it was discovered that several items and offices are serviced with the sum.
Another report claimed that money was budgeted for Christmas party that never held. However, videos and photographs of the event have since dented the veracity of the report.

Meanwhile in reaction to the claim linking the Speaker to 64 accounts, a financial expert, who does not want his name in print, argued: “I stand to be corrected, it is certainly impossible and extremely difficult for one and same BVN number to be shared by Ajayi Mudashiru Obasa, Obasa Abdulrahman Gbadunola and Gabriel Adedoyin Savage except if the other two are minors and are also his children or wards under him.

“So we need the means of identification used to enable us arrive at reasonable conclusion. Differences in date of birth can also not fly because the BVN data bank will reject it unless a sworn affidavit is submitted to harmonise the differences in dates of births failing which d accounts will be restrained.

“It’s only one date of birth that is admissible and it should be the one backed up with affidavit. Hence, it’s not possible for two different dates of births to enjoy same BVN number.”

While some Nigerians believe that the goal of the nocturnal battle is simply to diminish his ranks ahead of 2023 and as such ensure that he does not end his tenure as Speaker, others have been asking questions about what sin Obasa could have committed to warrant the desire to bring him down.
This, it was learnt, was corroborated at a meeting aimed at further victimising him which held at the GRA Ikeja house of a former governor.

Who Is Afraid of Toni Kan?

Nigerian twitter is abuzz with news of the appointment of Toni Kan as Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.

Wailers are insisting and insinuating that Toni Kan, award winning writer, public relations expert and media entrepreneur is an enemy of the APC and the president.

But nothing could be farther from the truth. An ideas man and committed Nigerian, Toni Kan has never been content to merely criticise. He is actually a firm believer in the fact that those who criricise must also show how the job can be done better.

When he got tired of seeing a lack of professionalism in the Nigerian online media space, he launched sabinews.com (now 1stnews) to provide an ethical and professional example. That site became the first Nigerian news site to be acquired in Nigeria, underlining its success and ethical bonafides.
Sensing a deep need for young Nigerian writers to be published and validated at home instead of abroad, Toni Kan launched thelagosreview.ng to provide a space for young Nigerian writers.

As to charges that Toni Kan is anti-APC and Buhari, many do not realise that when First Lady, Aisha Buhari was being attacked and accused of shutting down the Aso Rock chapel, it was Toni Kan who undertook an investigation and wrote a balanced report which summarily put paid to those attacks and they say he is anti Buhari.

Read the article here where he writes: “Sitting on the chair he has offered me, I take a few more shots and as I rise to leave I wonder where the story about the chapel being turned into a spa came from and what I would do if I was the president and the chapel was sitting that close to my wife’s residence. Knowing myself, I would never allow the chapel or children’s church to sit so close to her bedroom and kitchen and this is a Christian speaking.”

Femi Adeshina once criticized Professor Gambari and today they are playing on the same team.

Garba Shehu used to work as media aide for Atiku Abubakar who is without question President Muhammadu Buhari’s biggest political opponent, but today he is one of the president’s most trusted media aides.

How many people realise that Tolu Ogunlesi, one of the president’s media aides got his start in PR and Communications when Toni Kan hired him at Visafone.

The question to ask is this: is Toni Kan qualified to be media aide or not? The answer is a BIG yes.
M.A and B.A English literature from the universities of Lagos and Jos.
Best graduating student both times.
Magazine editor at 26.

Fellow of the Civitella Ranieri, Heinrich Boll and Yaddo writing fellowships, some of the most prestigious in the world.
Author of 12 books – novels, short story collections, biographies, poetry.
Multi sectoral experience consulting in Banking, Telecoms, Oil and Gas, Energy etc.
NIPR and APCON certified.

Former editor, Nigeria Monthly magazine (his first federal government appointment.)

A federal appointment offers an opportunity to serve one’s country at the highest level. Many ministers were PDP stalwarts just three years ago, but they are still serving in this government. Toni Kan is a man of ideas and action. A change agent, he is never content to just criticize. By taking this job, he means to do good instead of sitting on the sidelines and playing arm chair critic. We all have a stake in Nigeria and whether President Buhari or another, the country comes first.

COVID-19: PepsiCo, FoodClique to Give One Million Meals to the Vulnerable

PepsiCo Nigeria has unveiled its one million meals initiative hashtag #GiveMealsGiveHope to feed vulnerable communities amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Enabled by the PepsiCo Foundation, the meals will be packaged and distributed by FoodClique Support Initiative, an NGO with proven reputation in fighting hunger, identifying the most vulnerable communities through their volunteer network and working with community leaders.

PepsiCo’s Sergio Paya, General Manager Sub-Saharan Africa Beverages said, “We launched the Give Meals, Give Hope program to meet the basic needs of the most impacted segments of the Nigerian population, as food is at the heart of what PepsiCo does. As one of the leading food and beverages companies in Nigeria and across the African continent, we believe that we have a responsibility to focus on providing essential food items to those affected by this pandemic.”

FoodClique’s Founder and CEO, Bolajoko Fadipe explains, “We are at the forefront of the fight against hunger in Nigeria. The current pandemic has exacerbated the need to provide food across the country. Through our #GiveMealsGiveHope partnership with PepsiCo, we will organize food boxes and leverage on our network to distribute to those who need support the most.”

The #GiveMealsGiveHope relief initiative is part of a US$45 million global initiative launched by PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation, focused on helping people and communities most affected by this devastating virus.

The company is funding vital support including protective gear for healthcare workers, testing and screening services, and is already in the process of distributing more than 50 million nutritious meals to at-risk populations by supporting Food Banks and other partners around the world.