The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced the detection of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in Nigeria.
According to a statement by Ifedayo Adetifa, the NCDC director-general, the variant was detected in two Nigerians who arrived in the country last week
The Omicron variant, a new strain of the coronavirus disease, was first reported by South Africa.
Following the detection in South Africa, NCDC said there was no case in Nigeria but proper monitoring would be done.
On Tuesday the government of Canada had also stated that it discovered two cases of the variant from two passengers arriving from Nigeria.
The Federal Government through the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 had, however, said it was investigating the issue to get more details.
But the NCDC on Wednesday morning confirmed that the two cases were detected and linked to two passengers from South Africa.
“In line with the routine travel tests required of all international travelers and genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control through its National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, confirms Nigeria’s first case of the Omicron variant.
“Retrospective sequencing of previously confirmed cases among travelers to Nigeria also identified the omicron variant among samples collected in October 2021”.the statement read.
Prophet Joshua Iginla celebrates Champion’s 15th Anniversary With Car, cash gifts to pastors and Members
It was signs, wonders and miracles galore as Prophet Joshua Iginla led Champions Royal Assembly Church celebrated her 15th anniversary with exotic car and cash gifts worth millions to pastors and deserving workers in the ministry.
The epoch making anniversary inside the 80,000 seaters auditorium was a week long celebration which began with school of the prophets programme, international women’s conference ,and the international ministers and leadership conference. And the theme was greater glory. Of a truth, diverse miracles and deliverance were wrought through his servant with prophetic conformations.
The peak of the power packed event was the anniversary celebrations which drew partners and participants from across the world. In the process, the philanthropic prophet Joshua Iginla dazzled some of his ministers and workers when he gave them awards which comes with car and cash gifts.
Pastor Ekene won the best evangelist of the year 2021 and was blessed with a new exotic car and a cash gift of N500,000. Pastor Bright emerged second best performing pastor with a gift of 400k.
And the third pastor was the pastor from Minna branch, pastor Femi jakes who won 300k, while Pastor Osi from America won the best international pastor with a 1000 dollars.
Interestingly, the Sons of the prophet and daughters of the prophet who composed award winning birthday songs for him during his birthday won the best group artistes of the year with 500k each making one million.
The best male artiste was bro Sunday Onaja with 500k. And the best female artists of the year was the choir mistress with a gift of 500k while the best producer goes to the choir master of that ministry know as mr make it happen. He was given the award of excellence with the sum of 500k.
UBA Foundation Projects Message of Hope, Encouragement as Uzoka lights up the Foundation’s Garden Ahead of the Yuletide
Set to Give Back at Its Annual Food Bank
l-r: Group Head, Customer Fulfilment Centre(CFC), United Bank for Africa Plc, Prince Ayewoh; Group Head, Personal Banking and Retail Liabilities, Ogechi Altraide; Deputy Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Executive Director, Chiugo Ndubisi; UBA Foundation, Bola Atta; Head, Commercial and Corporate Banking, Muyiwa Akinyemi; and Head of Operations, Alex Alozie, at the 2021 Christmas and New Year Light Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation, Garden, by UBA Foundation at Marina, Lagos on Friday
Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa, through its UBA Foundation has been spreading joy across Africa for many years as they continue to give back to the underpriviledged in the communities in which they operate.
At the UBA Foundation gardens in Lagos where the bank is head quartered, a lights up ceremony was held to mark the start of the festive season. The garden lights were activated by UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka who was joined by other key management staff and some customers of the bank.
Uzoka who is also the chairman of the UBA Foundation, emphasised that giving back was the main tenet of the UBA Foundation. He said ‘We have over the years, engaged in various activities aimed at appreciating our host communities all around Africa and especially in countries where we operate and so for us, these lights symbolise hope for the future and all the goodness it will bring into people’s lives.
‘it is hard to believe that we have been in this pandemic for almost two years. People have lost friends and family members and businesses decimated by the effects of the pandemic. There has been a general feeling of hopelessness but our desire is to fill people’s lives with hope once again.’ Continued Uzoka.
The UBA Foundation has been very active in combatting the spread of Covid -19 across Africa as the bank did not waste any time at the start of the pandemic, donating over $14m to its communities across Africa to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year, the Foundation will be feeding tens of thousands of people across Africa through its annual Food bank initiative where food, hygiene products and other gifts items are handed over to those who have less, especially during the festive season.
Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; flanked by Executive Director, Chukwuma Nweke; Head of Operations, Alex Alozie; MD-CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, and other staff members at the 2021 Christmas and New Year Light Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation Garden, at Marina, Lagos on Friday
The CEO, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, said that the light up ceremony was important for the Foundation adding: “This goes beyond lighting up the Marina and adorning the streets with beautiful colours. It reminds us as an institution of our promise to continue to touch lives and treat our communities with kindness. We are living in very difficult times and a little gesture to put a smile on even one face, goes a very long way. We should all endeavour to do whatever we can, within our power, to uplift others’
The Lighting Ceremony which observed all necessary Covid-19 protocols was witnessed by members of staff and customers, and featured Christmas carols by UBA’s CFC choir, as well as a guided tour around the beautiful UBA Foundation Garden at the Lagos Marina.
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, the Environment, Economic Empowerment and other Special Projects.
The maiden event took place at UBA’s Amphitheatre on Tuesday, 2021, and was very well attended by Ex-staff in line with the Covid-19 protocols. A number of ex-staff of the bank from within and outside Nigeria who couldn’t attend physically joined the session virtually and were able to participate in the epoch-making event.
The Chairperson of the UBA Alumni Network, Mosun Yusuf – (Matron) who was a former staff with the Employee Experience unit, welcomed all participants and explained the reason behind the establishment of the Alumni Network. She also shared the team’s expectations for the network.
She said, “What we are witnessing today is a result of enormous collective efforts that came about with the express desire of ex-staff to network and maintain a cordial relationship after their exit from the bank. It is an innovative effort to build a strong bond of human community especially in the face of technological developments that is forcing people into some sort of isolation.
Continuing, Mosun said, “We believe human connectivity is necessary to promote cordial living and will assist to achieve the individual and collective goals that we plan to attain,”
UBA’s Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking, Chiugo Ndubisi, who gave the goodwill message on behalf of the Group Managing Director, Kennedy Uzoka, commended all those who had worked tirelessly behind the scene to ensure that the Alumni was up and running.
He said, “We are indeed glad at the launch of this Alumni Network and the bank will continue to support you in any way we can. We who are still staff of the bank will follow through to ensure that things are working well so that we can also join this great network in future.”
The former FIRS Chairman and member of the UNILAG Alumni, Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, who gave the keynote address at the event, commended Ex-UBA staff and the steering committee for this great idea of setting up an alumni network.
“I cannot over emphasise how networking and strong bonds remain essential for people even after they have left their places of employment and I therefore must commend both the Ex-staff and the bank for this great feat.
Ifueko who is currently the President of Queen’s College Alumni, cited examples of how successful her career in the FIRS was as a result of support from members of her various alumni groups despite having no prior experience working in a government parastatal.
She stressed the need for members of the Alumni network to have a clear objective and look for ways to support each other and the bank’s brand to meet their common goals.
ZENITH BANK ACTIVATES THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS WITH AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET LIGHT-UP
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu flanked by Executive Director, Mr. Dennis Olisa (1st Right); Head, Retail Banking, Mr. Lanre Oladimeji (4th Left); Executive Director, Mr. Henry Oroh (3rd Left); Head, Credit Risk Management, Mr. Felix Anahve (2nd Left) and General Manager, Mr. Lawani Adamu (1st Left) at the 2021 Zenith Bank Christmas Light-Up of Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island on Saturday, November 20.
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.
A Zimbabwean woman without limbs has shared pictures of her wedding on social media.
The 26-year-old woman, Sinikiwe Kademaunga who showed off her man, Reuben, few months back has now tied the knot with the love of her life. She took to Instagram to share the good news
Kademaunga was born without hands, knees, and feet.
In other news, a video of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, dancing with one of his young Queens has surfaced on social media.
In the viral video, the 83-year-old king was pictured showing off his dancing skills with one of his Queens on stage.
Naija News understands that the Alaafin has more than ten wives, many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In the shared video, one of his young Oloris was spotted giving him a lap dance on stage at an event while cash rained on her.
Reacting to the video, some social media users expressed fear for the king due to the kind of dance which seemed too tasking for someone as fragile as him. While others revealed their curiosity over the level of attention young ladies pour at the king. Read more
To this end, the stylish Queen celebrated her birthday with over three thousand indigents in the Ikate kingdom, as well as petty traders and market women in Ajah, Jankande and Ikate Elegushi market of Eti-Osa LG Area. She doled out millions of naira to support these petty traders and market women in commemoration of her birthday celebration.
Aside the celebration, she also ensured a free medical treatment for the aged members of the Ikate Kingdom, conducted free health checkups that include breast cancer, eye-screening and other health-related checkups. She also distributed free drugs and ensured medical personnel were on ground to give advice on living a healthy lifestyle devoid of sickness and other health complications. Also were free eye-test treatment and distributions for many, and distributed over two thousand free-eye glasses for the people as part of the activities for her 45th birthday celebration.
On the day, November 10, 2021, Queen Elegushi’s very loving husband, plus many of her unrepentant admirers, followers and fans wouldn’t allow the day to just go by like that without celebrating her to high heavens.
The highlight of the celebration was when her effervescent and the support she gets from her super wealthy, well-connected husband and king, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi.
King Gushi, who remains one of the youthful and wealthiest monarchs in Nigeria till date and also probably one of the most stylish, most distinguished looking king in the country, the handsome Kabiyesi took the media space to celebrate his beloved wife and mother of three, whom he extolled graciously in his birthday statement saying, “…so my QSE, I celebrate you today- as I always do; it is undeniable my connection with you, unbelierable is how much I love you, and unbreakable is the bond that we have formed with each other. I thank you for all that was; all thar is and all that will be. Have a wonderful birthday my Queen.”
Queen Gushi as she is fondly called by admirers has always been a support system to her hubby. As she continues to take great steps in this dimension, especially when her husband is in the vanguard of doing great things for his people, she was applauded by many for her giant strides in constantly engaging and bridging the gap between the palace and the people.
UBA Foundation Sensitises Staff, Customers on Mental Health Awareness, offers Therapies, Creative Opportunities, Giveaways
In line with its commitment towards giving back and impacting lives,UBA Foundation – the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc – has kicked-off a week-long series of activities aimed at promoting mental health awareness for staff and customers starting with a panel session on Wellness at the Workplace.
Whilst studies revealed that over 19% of adults struggle with their mental health every year, a majority of those affected are reluctant to speak-out and seek help for fear of stigmatisation, UBA Foundation, through the panel discussion, sought to address the challenges that individuals are facing and how it has now become important to create consciousness and prioritise the general well-being of employees and clients.
UBA’s Group Managing Director, Kennedy Uzoka, delivered a good will message at the event emphasising the importance of wellness and mental health. He stressed the need for more organisations to ensure that the mental health of their staff and families are taken more seriously.
He said, “UBA has always engaged in a lot of ground-breaking initiatives and the issue of mental health is important to us. We have found that people do not want to talk about mental health because they think it is bad, but the truth is that you can only get good productive people when challenges like these are addressed and I am so happy that this has commenced here. “
The panel was moderated by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, who spoke about UBA’s goal to remain the best place to work. She noted that the bank is addressing these issues and championing the narrative that says that mental health issues shouldn’t be swept under the carpet.
“We want to create a workplace environment where people feel comfortable and encouraged to seek help when necessary, so that they can give the best of themselves in their respective roles. We hope to stomp out the stigma that keeps people suffering in silence and bridge the gap between mental health inclusivity, support and recovery in Africa,” Atta who is also UBA’s Group Head Corporate Communications, explained.
The panellists, UBA’s Group Head, Human Resources, Patricia Aderibigbe, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, BTH Therapy, Chris Abojei, Co-founder Africa’s Health Matters Foundation, Vanessa Adebayo and Angel Yinkore all agreed that wellness, especially at the workplace, has become a front burning issue and should be well addressed.
Atta announced the partnership with UBA Foundation and Inside Out as part of the weeklong activities to shine some light on mental health. Inside Out aims at teaching youths to channel their feelings through art expression and photography. She added that staff members would be able to benefit from free therapy sessions from BHT Therapy and many wellness giveaways such as spa and fitness vouchers.
Another major highlight of the week will be an intimate discussion with the Founder, Genevieve Magazine, Betty Irabor, on Thursday, November 11th, where she will share insights around her personal journey and the realities of balancing life, family, and mental health.
Celebrating The Doyen, Ace Journalist Publisher of Top News Magazine/ Online Dapo Olaniyan
… Salutes His Humility and Intellect
~By Oluwaseun Trust Bethnews
Within Lagos, Ogun State and outside the state, I join all well wishers to celebrate and pay tribute to a great publisher who I always refer to as doyen in the industry, Dapo Olaniyan on his birthday today Wednesday 10th of November 2021.
I described him boss of the bosses as a distinguished media guru and accomplished businessman per excellence, whose life is an inspiration to the younger generations and everyone aspiring to be great in life. Dapo Olaniyan, unarguably deserves all the accolades that have come his way, and even more.
“Without mincing words, the life of Dapo Olaniyan is a clear testimony that with determination and hard work, one can excel in all that he lays forth his hands to do. I salute his determination, intellect, humility, philanthropy and integrity.
His life is worth understudying and stands as both blessing and inspiration to the younger generations.”
I therefore, pray that God Almighty elongates his life as the celebrant of today in good health and abundant prosperity.
There is no doubt that female entrepreneurs are making waves in and outside Nigeria. In almost every sector and across every profession, women are not only participating, but are taking charge of key positions as well.
It is on this premise, that Ikeanumba Africa magazine is set to host the first ever Lagos Female Entrepreneur Award, LAFE, in 2022. LAFE is an award event set up to promote and celebrate female entrepreneurs in Lagos, who founded and have succeeded in their various businesses, making them a case study to be emulated by upcoming entrepreneurs.
The event is a huge gathering of top female entrepreneurs like Funmilayo Babington-Ashaye, BilikissAbiola, Olamide Orekunrin, Mo Abudu, Tara Fela-Durotoye, AdenikeOgunlesi, Stephanie Obi, Deola Ade-Ojo, KofoAkinkugbe, Linda Ikeji, etc.
Top female entrepreneurs in Lagos are set to know how much their success stories have impacted their fans and audience, and the entrepreneur with the highest votes will take home the LAFE Award. The Lagos Female Entrepreneur Award, LAFE, will take place in March 2022, at the Glitz Event Center, Lekki, Lagos.
The aim as always, is to encourage entrepreneurship, which is the objective of Ikeanumba Africa Magazine, a magazine that promotes the idea of economic development, through decent afro-capitalism.
The LAFE Award, will indeed show whom among these 11 female entrepreneurs will emerge as the Female Entrepreneur of the year 2021.
More details about the LAFE Award would be released soon, but you can visit the website, www.ikeanumbamedia.comor the social media handles to vote for your favorite Lagos female entrepreneur.
