Access Bank PLC has once again cemented its position as the leading bank in Nigeria by winning the most improved bank award at the 70th Anniversary of Africa Newspaper of Nigeria (ANN), publishers of the Nigerian Tribune in the capital city of Oyo State, Ibadan.
At the event which has notable personalities from all sectors gathered at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre to celebrate the 70th anniversary with the oldest newspaper in Nigeria.
Abdul Imoyo, Head, PR & Media Relations of Access Bank, receiving the award on behalf of the Bank, said the Bank’s leadership position to its vision of becoming Africa’s gateway to the World at large.
According to him, ”We are delighted to be honoured by the special award and we want to thank the board and management of Nigeria Tribune. The Merger gave us this award and you will agree with me that the merger between Acccess Bank and the old Diamond Bank was the fastest and the most efficient merger ever in the history of banking in Nigeria .
“The merger today has transformed Access Bank to be the leading Bank. I must also say that the merger was informed by our corporate strategy of being Africa’s gateway to the World and that has simplified the process and everything we have achieved even after the merger, now we have more than 31 million customers and over three thousand ATMs ”.
Imoyo further stated that the achievement so far recorded by the bank is as result of the support and the trust which the Bank is getting from its customers and from media houses like the Nigerian Tribune stressing that the Bank wil do more in the coming year and will continue to grow in order to satisfying the yearnings of Nigerians.
Meanwhile the Bank recently expanded its digital lending portfolio, which gives Nigerians quick and 24/7 access to funds for emergencies without any collateral, has hit a record N1billion daily in loan value.
Access Bank’s digital loans are accessible 24hours, 7 days a week service and can be accessed via the short code *901*11#.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) — Africa’s leading philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs — will begin accepting applications for the 2020 cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, on January 1, 2020.
Applications are made through TEFConnect, the digital networking hub for the African entrepreneurship ecosystem, created by the Foundation.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is open to entrepreneurs from across Africa, either with new startup ideas or existing businesses of less than 3 years existence, operating in any sector. Successful applicants will join the over 9,000 current beneficiaries, from 54 African countries, and receive business training, mentoring, a non-refundable $5,000 of seed capital and global networking opportunities.
Last year, the Foundation received about 216,000 applications, with 42% coming from women entrepreneurs, from every country on the continent.
The Programme is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 young African entrepreneurs. The goal is to create millions of jobs and the revenue required for the sustainable development of the continent, implementing the philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector as the growth engine for Africa and emphasises the importance of creating social and economic wealth.
According to the Foundation’s 2018 Impact Report, 70% of the total number of businesses in its alumni network were still operational two years after benefitting from the Programme. The report also identified an increase of 189% revenue generated and 197% increase in the number of additional jobs created by beneficiaries post-graduation from the Programme, as well as a 100% commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
This is definitely good news as help has finally come for the complete operations of former Nigerian youth international Sani Shehu also known as Sani Emmanuel, you will recall we reported earlier that the 2009 FIFA U17 tournament Golden Ball winner has been down with leg injury (Achilles Tendonitis), and Evangelist Bisola Hephzi-bah Johnson’s Bisola Johnson’s Foundation has been at the forefront of those trying to raise money for his treatment.
It was also well covered when former teammate and friend Ogenyi Onazi, decided to foot part of the bill to the tune of N1.4million which he had already paid into a Lagos based hospital that is supposed to carry-out the operation sometimes last week. However, help has come from a new direction has one of those who were reached by the social media campaign seeking help for him, later reached-out to the anchor of Brekete Family on Human Right Radio 101.1 FM Abuja, who in turn brought the young boy to the live programme where he was promised an all-expense paid proper treatment in Germany.
This information was made known to us be the convener of Bisola Johnson’s Foundation, who while appreciating the Brekete Family also frown at role of religious leaders who turned blind eye to his plight, the statement on her Facebook account states “Brekete Family is taking up Sani Emmanuel’s case. Shame to religious people. I bless God for this.”
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN has visited the family of the late Urhobo leader, Olorogun Dr. Ramsey Mowoe, CON who died yesterday, Monday, November 24th, 2019 to pay his last respect.
The late Olorogun Mowoe was an influential civil servant who rose through the ranks to an enviable position of Permanent Secretary with the Presidency. Before his retirement, he was with the Ministries Works and Housing, Industry and Finance.
The late octagenarian who was the former President of Urhobo Progressive Union was survived by 2 wives and 5 children.
During the condolence visit to the family residence at Sun City, Abuja today, the honourable Minister extolled the virtues of the 78 years old nationalist whom he described as one of the intellectual pillars of the Urhobo kingdom, “although I did not have the opportunity of meeting him in person, the Mowoe dynasty typifies dignity, I could remember one of them, I think the eldest who was a popular lawyer used to be an inspiration to us growing up, we can say we towed their path during our school days, Olorogun Ramsey Mowoe’s death is not just for the Urhobo nation but the whole country as a whole, we must rally around the family to give him a befitting burial”, the minsiter said.
The Minister was at the Mowoe’s residence earlier today to pay his last respect where he signed the condolence register.
Recently there’s story that former Nigerian youth international golden boy Sani Emmanuel has been off the radar because of a career ending injury, in the published news the player explained how injury forced him to quit the game of football at the time when he should be playing active soccer.
Sani Emmanuel was among the players who played for Nigeria at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup which was hosted by the West African nation. Nigeria reached the final of the championship before losing 1-0 against Switzerland, and Sani Emmanuel was among the players who helped Nigeria that year.
The 26years old Sani Emmanuel scored five goals for the Golden Eaglets in the championship to win the Silver booth after he had won the Golden Ball in a tournament that paraded players like Alvaro Morata and Isco of Spain, Neymar of Brazil, Mario Gotze of Germany and Nigerian internationals Kenneth Omeruo and Ramon Azeez, and was forced to call it quit with football just four years into his playing career due to an hamstring injury.
Sani who recently took to the social media to solicit for support from Nigerians to enable him operate on his unhealed leg injury (Achilles Tendonitis) that has kept him bedridden for so long, since he had depleted the money he made during the four years he spent as a player for Beitar Jerusalem of Israel.
According to a story published by Evangelist Johnson Bisola Hephzi-bah on her blog, she shed light on the relationship between the General Overseer of Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), Prophet T.B. Joshua and the injured player whose fame during his playing days for the Golden Eaglet of Nigeria had been harnessed for publicity to the advantage of the pastor.
In her right up, she explained that the boy was just one of the boys using the church’s open field for training and that they decided to do a documentary on the boy weeks after he returned from the Golden Eaglet assignment, teaching him what to say as if the church was part of his success story.
She challenged Prophet T.B. Joshua on the welfare of the boy that was once dubbed the Golden son of the SCOAN. It was discovered that the Prophet T.B. Joshua led church had during and after the World U17 tournament the church blog had published a story under the title “SANI EMMANUEL: FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH!”
In the article the church claimed the young player is back in the church where he’s living “The news is that the boy honed his soccer career at a most unlikely place – the church, specifically the Synagogue Church Of All Nations, where he is top striker with My People FC, a football club owned and funded by the church’s General Overseer, Prophet T.B. Joshua.
Emmanuel has since returned to the Synagogue where he lives. And last Sunday 22nd November 2009, he set thousands of parishioners into rapturous celebration as he stormed the sanctuary for a thanksgiving session. Former Zambian president Frederick Chiluba was among other eminent persons that rejoiced with Emmanuel, who dedicated his awards to Nigeria’s rising army of suffering youth, pledging to start a foundation that would help them become useful and influential members of the society” the report said.
Evangelist Biola Johnson also accuse the televangelist of using Sani’s documentary on Emmanuel TV to lure youths who were of the opinion that they have a career in football into the church while he’s doing nothing towards the development of these boy, she affirmed that the disposition of the supposed benevolent giver towards the health implication of Sani Emmanuel during this his trying period shows Prophet T.B. Joshua’s giving philosophy is to merely gather publicity towards his supposed philanthropic nature.
A group, Peace and Anti-Corruption Advocacy (PACA) has urged the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and its legal representative, Joe Dappa Esq., to exercise restraint and allow the judicial process take its course without taking laws into their hands in a matter over land.
The group asked AMCON to thread with caution and maintain status quo while awaiting the final decision of the Court of Appeal over a matter involving the asset management company and another company, Assorted Foods and Integrated Beverages Limited over the ownership and right to possession of Plot No. 136 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.
The group in a release signed by the group’s leader, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, appealed to AMCON to maintain Res pending the decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja that had fixed hearing in the matter for May 6, 2020, adding that no party however powerful and mighty should take law into its hands and disregard the court.
According to PACA, based on court processes, it appears that AMCON is not ready to await the Court of Appeal decision in a matter between it and Assorted Foods as to the ownership and right to possession of the said Abuja property though it is on record that the corporation got a judgment allowing it to take possession on May 16, 2018 in a suit delineated FHC/ABJ/CS/352/2015 though Assorted Foods had immediately filed a notice of appeal and Motion for Injunction which was duly served on AMCON and its lawyers.
According to PACA, records at its disposal revealed that AMCON filed responses to the appeal process to contest the appeal, indicating that parties have submitted themselves to the Court of Appeal and is expected to sheathe their swords and await the final decision of the Court of Appeal which has been slated for May 6, 2020.
Ahmed Kuru, AMCON MD
“Parties should respect the doctrine of lis pendence, which prevents the transfer of rights in the property i.e plot 136, Aminu Kano Crescent which is the subject matter of an action pending in Appeal Court, Abuja for it would be plainly impossible that any action or suit could be brought to a successful termination if alienation pendent lite were allowed to prevail,” PACA said.
Assorted Foods had through a letter submitted to the Court of Appeal on 21/11/2019, alleged that AMCON brought 30 mobile policemen to chase out tenants in the building at Plot 136, Amino Kano Crescent. Wuse II.
PACA described this as condemnable and an assault to sensibilities that AMCON staff could allegedly “detain the Court of Appeal Bailiff, Mr. Emeka Obiakor who came to serve it with the Appellant’s Notice of Appeal, motion for injunction and other appeal documents on 18/11/2019. This is an unacceptable conduct where parties are before the higher court.
“We therefore urge AMCON to thread with caution and await the final decision of the Court of Appeal over the subject matter i.e Plot 136, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.,” the group said.
In many parts of the world, including Nigeria, women often face the barriers of discrimination and persistent gender inequalities which deny them access to key positions in the corporate world as well as access to finance or the formal economy.
Women make up almost half of the world’s working-age population of nearly 5 billion people. But only about 50 percent of those women participate in the labor force, compared with 80 percent of men, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The IMF’s research highlights how the uneven playing field between women and men imposes large costs on the global economy. Early IMF studies on the economic impact of gender gaps assumed that men and women were likely to be born with the same potential, but that disparities in access to education, health care, and finance and technology; legal rights; and social and cultural factors prevented women from realizing that potential.
Nearly 70 UK companies have been told to employ more women in senior roles. Domino’s Pizza, JD Sports and Greene King are among those that have called out by financial trade sector body The Investment Association and the Hampton-Alexander review, a diversity study backed by the government.
The number of women holding the most senior jobs in the boardrooms of Britain’s biggest companies has fallen, according to a report that criticises the lack of progress made by businesses in getting more women to the top.
Analysis from Cranfield University, as part of its 20th FTSE Women on Boards Report, shows a sharp drop in the number of women occupying chief executive (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO) or other executive roles on FTSE 250 boards, and static numbers at FTSE 100 companies.
Women constitute almost half of the Nigerian’s population and its workforce. Yet the kind of work they do, the condition under which they work, and their access to opportunities for advancement at work place differ from that of men. Women are often disadvantaged in access to employment opportunities and in conditions of work as compared to men. In addition, many women forgo or curtail employment because of family responsibilities. The removal of obstacles and inequalities faced by women is advantageous to an economy’s development. For example, the Beijing Declaration affirms a national commitment to the inalienable rights of women and girls and their empowerment and equal participation in all spheres of life including the economic domain.
Also, Goal 8, target 8.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men (including for young people and persons with disabilities), as well as equal pay for work of equal value by 2030.
According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) the percentage of men employed in the State Civil Service from 2014 to 2015 was higher than the percentage of women for both senior and junior positions.
The average percentage of women employed in the State Civil Service from 2010 to 2015 in each category (junior and senior) was 38.16 per cent, while it was 68.84 per cent for men.
Also, men dominated employment in federal MDAs while women on grade level 01 –17 plus Special grade level was 34.67, 35.08 and 32.79 per cent for 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
In the financial services sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in 2014 directed that 40 per cent of banks’ top management and 30 per cent of board directors should be women.
Reports revealed that that women constitute only 22.3 per cent of the total board appointments in Nigerian banks, while their counterparts make up 77.7 per cent since 2014.
However, FBNHoldings, Nigeria’s leading financial holding company and parent company to FirstBank is no doubt exemplary at representing the change, thus demonstratively redefined the Women in Business trajectory with women occupying various leadership positions, positioning the financial group powerhouse as a leading institution at driving Gender Balance in the Boardroom.
Leading the pack of women in the board across the group structure which comprises FirstBank and its subsidiaries , FBNQuest is Ibukun Awosika whom has been Chairman of FirstBank since 2016. Prior to being the Chairman, she was a Non-Executive Director. since 2016 . The representation further cuts across the group entity of its parent company, FBNHoldings. Other companies across the group, FBNQuest and FBNInsurance are also not left out.
Others are Kehinde Adenrele, Chairman, FBNInsurance, Folake Ani-Mumuney,Chairman, FBNInsurance Brokers; Ijeoma Agboti, Non-Executive Director, FBNQuest Capital; Funke Feyisitan Ladimeji, Non-Executive Director, FBNQuest Asset Management; Titi Adebiyi, Independent Director, FBN General Insurance and Margaret Dawes, Non-Executive Director, FBNInsurance.
Bashirat Odunewu, Group Executive, Energy and Infrastructure, FirstBank; Cecilia Akintomide (OON), Independent Non-Executive Director, FBNHoldings; Folake Ani-Mumuney, Chairman, FBNInsurance Brokers/Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank; Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Fiona Ahimie, Managing Director, FBNQuest Securities Ltd; Oluwande Muoyo, Independent Non-Executive Director, FBNHoldings; Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Managing Director, ARISE News Channel Africa; Otunba Debola Osibogun, Non-Executive Director, FBNHoldings and Oyinkan Adewale, Independent Non-executive Director, FBNQuest Merchant Bank in a group picture at the Women Corporate Directors (WCD) Foundation, Nigeria Chapter, meeting hosted by FirstBank, to promote female leadership in management.
With such an admirably notable representation, it is no surprise that only recently, Women Corporate Directors (WCD) – Nigerian Chapter – had FirstBank host its meeting, held on Thursday, 3 October 2019 with 60 female directors and leaders of various organisations across various industries in attendance. These women discussed pertinent corporate issues with a view to promote the continued influence of women in Business and the economy, also ensuring that the needed balance on the home front is bolstered. The keynote speaker is Osagie Okunbor, managing director SPDC & Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria.”
FBNHoldings recognition of female impact in its business operations at management level no doubt sets the tone for other institutions across other industries to promote women inclusiveness in management, thereby instrumentally shaping gender balance in the business atmosphere, thus influencing ethical practices in a cultured way worthy of consistently reiterating the recognition of female at impacting the economy and National Income as a whole. This in no small measure transcends to the political space, the cornerstone of legislative impact in the economy and business activities as a whole.
Godwin Emefiele, governor of the CBN, said recently that the Apex bank had made remarkable progress in closing the gender gap in the Bank.
“It is heartening that today, women represent 29.0 per cent of CBN staff and 29.0 percent of directors are women. Eight departmental directors and one Director General of WAMZ as against 26.0 per cent of staff and 25.0 percent of directors in 2014. Similarly, three out of 11 board members are women (27 percent)”, Emefiele said at the 2019 CBN Commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) in March, 2019.
Just like the proverbial cat of many lives, corruption in Nigeria seems to possess several lives as it will not just die despite the current administration’s claim that it has reduced the despicable act to the barest minimum. It was reliably gathered that the Civil Servants saddle with the responsibility of employing and confirming workers has turned their position to money making venture, to the chagrin of many Nigerians that truly deserve the job.
Sources revealed to www.societygazetteng.com that employment into the Federal Civil Service Commission in Nigeria is no longer based best suited in terms of qualification, but on who you know and how much you can cough out, insiders squeak that you must know somebody well placed or ready to pay between N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) depending on who your link to the recruitment office is to get employment into the federal civil service in Nigeria.
This sad occurrence is not restricted to a particular ministry as it cut across ministries and parastatals of the Federal Government, since all employments are done in the Abuja head office of various ministries, the act usually take place under the nose of different organisations saddled with the responsibilities of stamping out corrupt practices in the country.
Our sources also revealed that for years now the civil service commission compulsory confirmation examinations, which is supposed to be the last step of completely absolving the new recruits into the civil service has also been bedeviled with allegations of large scale corrupt practices which will see the new recruits being asked to pay a certain compulsory amount of money which is meant to be use in settling those who will be marking their exams, has unconfirmed story claimed those who decided not to pay the previous times end-up failing the confirmation exams.
This has allegedly been the way of doing things in all ministries and parastatals, with none of the agencies saddled with the responsibility of tackling such looking the other way.
It would be recalled that earlier in the year, the Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, had resigned her position after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had grilled her over an alleged contract scam to the tune of N3billion with about N600million traced to the account of one of her key aides.
It was reported that she came into the picture when the EFCC were investigating a former minister whose ministry she had worked as a Permanent Secretary. This has forced her to call it quit and since her decision to resign no charges has been brought against her. A decision many said is feeding the fuel into the fire of unending corruption consuming the Nigerian Civil Service.
It is the general belief that no good work is lost, this can well be used to describe what happened recently when Honourable Prince Ned Nwoko was being given an award of honour as the Africa Community Developer of the Year by some Africans in diaspora under the name Africa Advancement Forum UK.
The award which is coming barely a month after the philanthropic billionaire had empower 50 Nigerians with a support cash of one hundred thousand Naira each through his Instagram account, an act that shows the Delta State born Businessman cum Politician as a natural giver and not one that gives only for publicity sake.
Presenting the award to Mr Nwoko during a brief ceremony in Abuja, the director, International Cooperational Africa Advancement Forum, David James Egwu said the award was in recognition of the frantic efforts and sacrifices being made by the recipient in the area of human and community development.
He urged the recipient to continue with the good works he has been doing and ensure that the image of the black man is restored through his philanthropic works.
Receiving the award, Mr Nwoko who expressed delight over the award said he felt inspired by the award to do more in sports and youths’ development.
Mr Ned Nwoko who is currently on the process of establishing a sports University in Idumuje Ugboko, Delta State said any young man or woman interested in sports and education combined would find a place at the University when recognized by the National Universities Commission, NUC.
According to him, the university will cover all Olympic sports when eventually commissioned.
Mr Nwoko noted that five of the seven structures recommended by NUC for a start are already in place, adding that efforts were on to ensure close collaboration with the Delta State government.
It is the general declaration that human life is priceless and it is expected to be treated as such in every condition. This believe was also at the fore-front of governments’ order to both private and public hospitals that every effort must be put into use should anybody needs urgent treatment to preserve their lives. It is however sad that some supposedly big brands in the country are acting as if the life of some members of their staffs count for nothing.
This discussion was raise in Mushin axis of Lagos State recently and some traders and residents of the town pointed fingers of guilt at one of the leading banks in the country the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
In their argument they claimed that years back, a vehicle belonging to the GTBank allegedly suffer break failure while in motion and in an effort to steer the car away from running into the pedestrians and the roadside traders along the ever busy Mushin/Oshodi road, the car ran into the median demarcating the road and in the process knocked down a pedestrian who was standing to cross to the other side killing the young man in the process.
They continued in their narrations that even while the driver who suffered broken leg and some other degree of injury that sees to him not being able to fend for himself and his family was still struggling to get out the money approved for him to pay for his medical expenses, the bank had made sure their car involved in the accident has been cleared and fixed for use.
Though going after such is not the main issue the speed at which they go about it according to the people was so fast and it seems they put so much value on the car even more than the driver whose condition they said cannot be ascertained as at that period. That incident has been years back now and the bank presently are not employing drivers on their own as such has been outsourced.
If one thinks that the story will be different now that the bank is not directly involved with their drivers now one may have to have a rethink.
The story now is like the Yoruba proverbial witch who had an all girl children, the condition of service of their drivers is suicidal. We were reliably informed that drivers attached to the bank are treated like they are expendable wares some drivers in the pool of the bank narrates how the nonchalant attitude of those in their transport department toward fixing the cars wherever it is faulty is generally responsible for nearly all incident of accidents involving GTBank drivers.
One of the two companies handling recruitment of drivers was given as Ademakinwa Ademiluyi & Co, though information available said FedEx Express has been added but that cannot be confirmed as at the moment we are writing this story. Insider revealed that Ninety-five percent (95%) of the drivers in the bank’s driver’s pool were employed through outsourcing and were prohibited from Union activities as this will contravene the contract signed by their respective employers with the bank.
We further gathered that there is also no provision for health insurance while all the cars they are driving are given premium insurance even though their fixed take home is Forty-Five Thousand naira (N45,000) with no pension plan or any form of gratuity not minding the years spent working for the bank.
It is even worse as the source also stated how faulty vehicles are after it has been reported are forced on the drivers without it being fixed, in a situation our source explained that a vehicle with bad break after it was reported was left unrectified for 4 months with the driver being forced to run errand with it all these while till it got involved in a crash.
With the condition of service which runs through 7 days a week, no pension plan, no health insurance scheme, no chance of becoming a permanent staff, abolishing of trade union activities among the drivers and many other deliberate shortcomings in the treatment of the drivers while all the cars they are driving are given premium insurance is invariably saying the cars to the bank holds more value than the human driving it and this may be the reason faults like that of the car breaking system are scarcely attended whenever such was reported to those in charge of that department in the bank.
