The Federal Government on Monday said Nigerian scientists have produced two local COVID – 19 vaccines and were awaiting clinical trials and certification.
The government also raised the alarm over reported racketeering of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in some vaccination centres.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19, Boss Mustapha and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said these during the press briefing Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 in Abuja.
The SGF said, “The disclosure that Nigerian Scientists have produced at least two local COVID – 19 vaccines which are awaiting clinical trials and certification is significant. I call on all relevant agencies to provide the required support and an enabling environment for smooth conduct of the remaining protocols for the certification of these vaccines with a view to encouraging and motivating other researchers.”
The PTF chairman recalled that one year ago on March 21 2020, a total lockdown was declared by the government in some parts of the country due to coronavirus pandemic that hit the nation.
He said, “In the past one year, the socio-economic impact on us cannot be underestimated. Many people lost their livelihood and many people lost loved ones.”
The SGF also said that on Sunday, Nigeria recorded the lowest number of cases so far this year.
He said, “We have also seen a decline in cases in the high burden countries around the African region. This does not call for us to lower our guards as the virus is still potent and virulent. This is the right time to adhere to the full compliance of the NPIs and be vaccinated.”
The SGF said on Sunday, March 21 2021, the PTF received 300,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from MTN Nigeria.
He commended the organisation and urged other partners to contribute towards the fight against COVID-19.
The PTF boss added that in the past few weeks there were discussions on the KLM and Emirates Airlines services in Nigeria.
He said, “Today, I will like to inform you that KLM has commenced full operations in and out of Nigeria since 15 March, 2021 while operations of the Emirates in and out of the country has been suspended with exemption of Cargo and Humanitarian flights.”
Ehanire, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Abdullaziz Mashi Abdullahi, said the racketeering of vaccines was unnecessary because vaccination had been scheduled in phases such that frontline health workers and those at higher risk of the infection were vaccinated first after registration at the portal.
The Minister also said government met with the AstraZeneca group at the Federal Ministry of Health.
He said, “The outcome of the meeting was a reassurance of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine against Covid-19. We have not yet recorded unusual side effects among those who have received the vaccine which include me. NAFDAC is monitoring the process as part of a global tracking of adverse effects of the vaccine.”
While acknowledging that there has been a reduction in the number of confirmed cases daily even with sustained testing rate and government intend to keep it so, he said that the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria as of Monday morning was 161,737 from 1,727,467 samples tested with a test positivity rate of 9.4 percent.
He, however said that Nigeria recorded 2,030 deaths.
Ehanire said, “In the last week, we have recorded a total of 1,080 cases. This is less than what was recorded daily during the second wave even with sustained testing. While this is good, we shall not on account of this, rest on our laurels for it is still too early to do so.”
Also, the Federal Government has enlisted the support of regulatory and anti-corruption agencies to strengthen vaccine accountability and check cases of vaccine theft and mismanagement, the Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said on Monday.
He added that government had commenced investigation of alleged mismanagement of vaccine in some vaccination centres, including the police clinic in Falomo, Lagos State.
Shuaib, who spoke during the press conference of the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19, assured that the procurement of vaccines would be done with utmost transparency.
He said, “Some of the information reaching us from the states is that there are reports of alleged vaccine mismanagement at some vaccination sites, including the Police Clinic, Falomo, in Lagos state. This is currently being investigated and we understand from the Lagos State Government that a report would be made available today.
“We anticipate that decisive action will be taken against anyone found culpable of subverting the vaccination process.
So, we do expect full application of the accountability mechanism. Beyond this case, the Federal Government is following closely on its vaccine accountability framework to ensure that similar cases of vaccine mismanagement and other sharp practices are quashed.
“We have established a collaborative partnership with regulatory and anti-corruption agencies to further strengthen vaccine accountability.
“We have also instituted mechanisms to ensure that the roll out of the COVID – 19 vaccines in all the states is equally free from corrupt practices. Therefore, any information of vaccine mishandling and mismanagement will be handled using stringent measures and appropriate sanctions.”
Speaking on concerns raised on the safety and efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine presently used for vaccination in Nigeria, Shuaib reiterated that the World Health Organisation was unequivocal in urging countries in Europe and globally to continue its administration.
“Furthermore, results from the long-awaited US trial of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine confirm it is both safe and highly effective. It is 79 per cent effective at stopping symptomatic COVID-19, 100 per cent effective at preventing serious illness.
He said that out of the 122,410 people who have been vaccinated with the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine, “no Nigerian so far has developed any known severe side effects following vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.”
The need to follow all precautionary measures of Covid-19 and be committed to staying Safe and Alive has been re-emphasized by a Membership based Non Government, Non Profit Organisation, Junior Chamber International Ikeja through the medium of a Short Film titled “ STILL WITH US”
JCI Ikeja took up the initiative to shoot a Short film/Campaign sensitizing the entire public and the world at large on the need to Stay Safe through the #CommitToQualityHealth Project Initiative .
– ‘STILL WITH US’ is a story of OLa-Fathia’s Buka amidst a raging pandemic and the casualties that go with it. Costumers of OLA-FATHIA’s buka seem to care less. Tomiwa enlightens them that when it rains, even the grasses are not spared and covid-19 isn’t any different. The Short Film was Directed by the very delectable Film Maker – Usman ‘Blackky’ Ogunlade.
Speaking on the Project Initiative, The Project Coordinator , a Ghanaian-Nigerian – Ruth Oriyomi Idowu and the the 2021 Local Organisation President, JCI Ikeja – Tricia Inalu amongst others spoke on why they had to communicate this through the media of Entertainment which in their words is the best way to get the message across.
The Short Film is set to premiere in Lagos on Sunday,14th March 2021.
The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, in compliance with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, NPM, and the government of Osun State, to enforce the federal government order on COVID-19 safety protocols, has put all necessary mechanism in place to sensitize members of the public to comply with the COVID-19 safety protocols.
In a Police public service announcement signed by Superintendent Opalola Yemisi Olawoyin, Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command, Osogbo, the Police emphasized that the COVID-19 law sensitization exercise will be a joint exercise between Police, Sister Security agencies and Vigilante groups.
The exercise, the statement stated, will be in two phases.
The sensitization phase is set to take-off on 11th February, 2021 till the end of February, 2021 and during this exercise, there will be no arrest of person(s). Thereafter, there will be a review of the level of compliance with the safety protocols. The aim is to educate the public on the need to use their facemasks to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The monitoring team will be stationed at strategic places/junctions like Market places, Motor parks, Schools, Hospital and other public places. Also, the monitoring team will be stationed at Mosques on Friday and Churches on Sundays.
The Commissioner of Police urged members of the public not to panic but to collaborate and cooperate with security agencies deployed for this special assignment to ensure effective compliance.
The director of MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL has advocated for creation of a unified voice in the funeral industry which can push a united cause that is favourable to Nigerian government and all stakeholders on funeral insurance policy.
In an interview with the London-certified funeral director, he stated that creating an association for funeral directors in Nigeria will result in a win-win situation for the government, insurance brokers, Nigerians and the directors.
Olumuyiwa Onikoyi emphasised the importance of funeral insurance policy to include less financial and logistics burdens on the relatives of deceased; ease of doing funeral business; cutting the red tape to give way to modern approaches and reduce risks amongst other benefits.
He said, ” To create an enabling environment for funeral directors, the main issue is identifying the strategies which the government will push out. In Nigeria currently, we don’t have a unified funeral directing association which is very important if we want to have a headway and gain the government’s attention. All funeral directors need to have one unified voice that will stand and push the cause of the industry across to the government”.
He also stated that livestream coverage during funeral services is gaining prominence considering the impacts of the pandemic lockdown amidst other changes, an encouragement for MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL who have prior plans to venture into broadcasting on radio transmitters as a means of contributing to social distancing.
However, the reluctance of some clients in Nigeria to foot all bills relating to effective delivery of the services which is seldom encountered with overseas clients, is proving to be a challenge. In his words, “MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL have received a lot of success in the areas of livestreams during funeral services. We intend getting into broadcasting burial services on AM/FM transmitters so people don’t have to get out of their cars”.
“At MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL, we have been doing drive-by funerals. We once had a young woman that passed away and the family really wanted to have a service, so we did a set up in our parking lot, and more than 10 cars drove by and paid their last respects to the deceased”, he added.
Onikoyi, a Master’s Degree holder in Information Security and Computer Forensics from University of East London, MPhil in Cyber security and BSc in Computing Information System from Goldsmith College, University of London revealed that Covid-19 has effected diverse changes in the industry.
With the availability of the webpage www.mofuneral.com, it has become easy to engage clients and complete all pre-arrangements virtually. He further expressed surprise at African system not embracing cremation, especially considering the changes which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to funeral services.
“One surprise we had at MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL is that the pandemic has not increased demand for cremations. Notably, As African we are not really into Cremation but the shutdown/Lockdown may also be reversing the trend toward traditional funerals.”
According to him, “…the key reasons why many people are choosing cremation are: separation of family across the U.S. (non-traditional family nucleus); increasing acceptance of the cremation process in our culture; eco-consciousness tendencies in consumers (don’t want to take up precious land space with a traditional burial in a cemetery; etc.”
“Pre-planning arrangements culture is also on the rise. The percentage of the population that feels it’s important to pre-plan funeral and cemetery/vaults purchases has jumped up. MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL pre-need appointments have really picked up. We can send you all you need for the planning of your loved ones funeral electronically”, he said.
With offices in UK and South Africa, he revealed that most of the MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL committed employees had to work from home in compliance with Covid-19 regulations to ensure efficient delivery of services.
He added that Covid-19 played a significant role in the recent upsurge witnessed in the funereal industry.
“Senior managing partners at MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL have continued to come into the office with strict Covid-19 regulations adherence — even as many employees work from home — to show solidarity with the workers who have to go into houses and hospitals to retrieve the remains of those who have died.”
“MO FUNERALS INTERNATIONAL view ourselves as ‘final responders’, which is a play on the words ‘first responder’. When the pandemic hit, it gave a chance for the industry to thrive, because we were going to be there, no matter what we had to go through to be able to serve our communities”, he added.
He further added that the idea to venture into the industry came to form when he travelled abroad, though he grew up as a member of Boy’s Brigade. As a Senior Project Manager at Ministry of Defence in UK where he was the focal point for bereaved fallen officers, the experience gained and moments shared propelled him to engage in the funereal industry.
“Seeking to promote one-stop funeral directing business in Nigeria, my role as a managing partner is to provide a memorable experience for the deceased’s family to reflect the celebration of their life style even in death via phone or face to face, as well as to build customer loyalty by leveraging interpersonal skills and offering top customer service to our numerous client during the most difficult time of losing their love ones.”
“With over 10 years of professional experience in dealing with bereavement across multi-cultural ethnicity around the globe and Nigeria in particular, these tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as well as the arrangements for the funeral ceremony (although not the directing and conducting of the funeral itself unless clergies are not present)”.
“Funeral directors may at times be asked to perform tasks such as dressing (in garments usually suitable for daily wear), casketing, motor hearse, music, and pall bearing who are the professionals that carry the casket before being interred.”
The Lagos House of Assembly on Monday called on the governor of the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to commence very tough enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols among residents of the state. The House said its decision follows the outright disregard for the protocols against the pandemic by some residents and visitors to the state.
The members of the House also asked the governor to call on the state’s commissioner for information, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, to embark on enlightenment campaigns and education of the people concerning the dangerous effects of the pandemic on the society.
Prior to the decision of the lawmakers, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, noted that the state, just like the country, cannot afford another lockdown because of the adverse effect such would have on the economy.
Speaker Obasa said there was need for more enlightenment because COVID-19 in the state and country was taking a dreadful dimension.
He noted that the life of every single individual in Lagos remains precious and as such, there must be conscious efforts to protect the residents.
Kicking off the debate, the acting chairman of the House committee on health, Hon. Hakeem Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1), had raised concerns over the new wave of COVID-19 in the state.
Sokunle told his colleagues that before now, only few patients needed oxygen. The situation, he said, has changed as over 80 percent of patients now needing oxygen.
He proposed that apart from enlightenment, there should strict compliance to the COVID-19 protocols as well as the cancelling social engagements.
He also urged that wearing of face masks should be enforced.
Sokunle’s position was supported by Olowo and other lawmakers.
The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan has said the bank’s newly sourced N50 billion credit will be deployed to support Micro, Small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) and small corporates in the country. He pointed out that the bank recognizes MSMEs as the drivers of post COVID-19 economic recovery for Nigeria, stressing that additional funding support from the bank would further generate and bolster activities in the sector thereby driving the much-needed growth in the country, provide jobs and support wealth creation.
According to Mr. Akinwuntan, “The proceeds of the financing will support MSMEs in the country and is particularly useful for this segment where access to bank loans is considered as the biggest impediment to growth. As MSMEs currently account for about half of the country’s gross domestic product and circa 96 per cent of the total number of businesses, this support will definitely make a positive impact.”
He noted that “As an MSME friendly bank, we have been helping them with capacity building; providing simple and easy access to loans in various sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, creative industry, healthcare, general commerce and services. Our robust digital platforms help facilitate transaction convenience for our clients particularly during this Covid pandemic and helped with the ease of doing business. Our award winning Omnilite digital banking platform helps businesses with a wide array of payment services electronically, while our POS machines and Ecobankpay solutions are widely deployed to assist with collections.”
Adding further, the Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Mrs Carol Oyedeji affirmed that Ecobank Nigeria has been in the forefront in supporting small businesses. She stated that “The bank has entered strategic partnerships with various development institutions to support both funding and risk sharing for MSME lending across various sectors of the economy. Small business owners can therefore avail themselves of this opportunity presented to grow and further expand. ”
Ecobank was recently named among the top 3 banks for SMEs in the Customer Experience Satisfaction survey conducted by a leading audit and professional services company, KPMG Nigeria. Prior to this the bank was given the BusinessDay award for Best Agric Bank in Nigeria.
The N50bn raised was a bilateral funding and provides stable medium-term liquidity to the balance sheet of Ecobank Nigeria. It has positively improved its balance sheet ratios, especially the capital adequacy ratio and is for a tenor of 10 years
L-R: Bayo Olanrewaju, Head, Digital Banking, FirstBank; Adewale Salami, Chief Technology Officer, FirstBank; Banji Fehintola, President, CFA Society of Nigeria and Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay Newspaper during the presentation of the two awards won by FirstBank; Best Mobile App and CSR Bank of the Year Awards at the 8th BusinessDay Banking & Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI) which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
From the publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun’s welcome address at the recently held BusinessDay’s Banks and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards came the following words: ‘The year 2020 has been a most interesting year. The economy and communities have been managed by disruptions imposed by COVID-19. Yet financial services have shown uncommon responsiveness and compassion towards customers and communities.’ Indeed, this has been an unusual year, no thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but it has been a year defined as much by COVID-19 and its associated disruptions and difficulties as by the unprecedented response in kindness by corporate Nigeria.
BusinessDay’s BAFI Awards recognised achievements in a number of separate categories, each of which was worth its weight in gold. However, it could be argued that in this year of COVID-19, any recognition that took into account and was informed by the awardee’s COVID-related activities was probably the most significant of the awards/categories. It is against this backdrop that the recipient of the CSR Bank of the Year award at the BAFI Awards should be celebrated and projected as a model other corporate should emulate. And it came as no surprise that the bank that considers its destiny to be intertwined with Nigeria’s and whose commitment to nation building largely informs its approach to corporate responsibility and sustainability (CR&S), was so crowned as CSR Bank of the Year at the BAFI Awards.
The award was a well-deserved recognition for the exemplary role played by First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Nigeria’s leading financial services provider, in support of the government and individuals’ as well as its own efforts to deal with the impact of COVID-19. Before the BAFI Awards, and, undoubtedly, proof that the award was not a fluke, CSR Reporters had named FirstBank as the 2020 Philanthropic Financial Institution of the Year in recognition of the bank’s social responsibility in the areas of e-learning and empowerment of SMEs in Nigeria. These CSR awards took cognisance of FirstBank’s unparalleled contributions to CSR, particularly through its e-learning initiative delivered in collaboration with partners from within and outside the continent, such as IBM, UNESCO and Robert & John, and the Lagos State Government.
Whilst different organisations rose to the various challenges resulting from COVID-19 crisis and were supporting in areas such as health and welfare, FirstBank chose and developed the e-learning initiative. FirstBank felt strongly that the peculiar needs of children and the youth risked being neglected at a time of unprecedented crises – with schools being closed, parents losing jobs, businesses shutting down, government revenues shrinking, health care resources being over-stretched, economic conditions worsening, etc. The bank therefore kicked off an initiative to move one million students to e-learning, alongside its partners, to minimise the disruption to the their education resulting from the prolonged closure of schools across Nigeria and ensure that they remain fully engaged during the difficult period, so they can continue to learn and compete favourably with their peers across the world. Over 140,000 students have benefitted from the e-learning initiative.
Focusing on key elements that resonated with its brand, such as dynamism, innovation and nation building, FirstBank’s e-learning initiative is an innovative and dynamic approach to learning which is not only a suitable and resourceful solution at this time, but also one that is intertwined with perhaps the next century’s likely digital approach to learning, especially with the addition of courses such as coding and robotics, which can usher students into the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and prepare them for jobs of the future. The e-learning initiative also aligns with the bank’s key focus area in its CSR framework – education. Education remains the single largest beneficiary of FirstBank’s enormous investments in CSR. Currently, 10 universities and three secondary schools enjoy FirstBank’s infrastructure projects; 10 universities are endowed with professorial chairs by the bank; and over 80,000 students in over 80 secondary schools in Nigeria have benefitted from financial literacy, and entrepreneurial and career counselling provided through FirstBank-sponsored programmes. Education consistently attracts the bank’s keenest attention from year to year. This is because FirstBank believes that education – quality and relevant education – remains the bedrock of any society and that when children are properly educated, the nation is enabled and global citizens who provide groundbreaking solutions for the continent and the world at large, are produced.
L-R: Oze K. Oze, Head, Internal Communications & Content Management, FirstBank; Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, E-Business & Retail Products, FirstBank; Bayo Olanrewaju, Head, Digital Banking, FirstBank; Helen Willie, Transaction Banking Manager, FirstBank and Adewale Salami, Chief Technology Officer, FirstBank during the presentation of the two awards won by FirstBank; Best Mobile App and CSR Bank of the Year Awards at the 8th BusinessDay Banking & Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI) which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
FirstBank’s partnership with IBM on the e-learning initiative, is making available to students the Digital-Nation Africa program, an online youth-focused learning programme that enables innovation and skills development on emerging technologies The IBM Digital- Nation Africa aims to provide African youth with effective digital literacy. The Platform seeks to enable African citizens, entrepreneurs and communities with the knowledge, tools and skills to innovate, design, develop and launch their own digital skills. It also helps African citizens enhance their digital skills to best meet the needs of the job market.
DNA provides a broad range of courses for various levels of digital literacy, from providing an introduction to the key emerging technologies beneficial for all, through an integrated innovator section to a focused skills enablement section where users can understand the skills and demands of the market and gain proven skills to enhance their job prospects. In addition, it provides free access to practical exercises and to allow for new ideas to be brought to life through focus areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Coding, Cloud, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Data Science and Analytics, and Cyber Security. There are currently nearly 14,000 registrants on the program, which is promoting opportunities to learn skills of the future.
The partnership with Curious Learning is designed to reach smartphone users using available curated and tested literacy and numeracy apps – with free access provided to these apps. Curious learning is delivering academic-based content for students aged three to eight through a number of mobile applications designed to empower these young children in a fun, self-guided learning process through exploration and curiosity to help them with their cognitive skills at a fundamental level. Examples of these apps are Feed the Monster and Read with Akili. Efforts are in place through Curious Learning to ensure the e-learning initiative swiftly moves across the country to school children and individuals with the need to promote the pursuit of knowledge, irrespective of age. This is critical in identifying with the roles of children at securing the future of any country.
Another partnership in FirstBank’s e-learning initiative is the one with Lagos State Government and Robert & John, an Edu-tech company that owns Roducate. The Roducate e-learning platform, structured in line with the government’s accredited curriculum for primary, secondary and tertiary schools across various fields of academic endeavours, such as science, commercial and arts, includes tutorial videos to reinforce the learning engagement, as well as assignments and mock exams to test students’ knowledge and progress in the course of studying. Learning on the platform also enables note taking for quick reference, and to foster extra-curricular activities, provides exciting features to make learning exciting and fun, such as podcasts and various games like brain pulse, monster munch etc. which allows students to play with one another online, thereby building relationships and promoting interactive learning.
So far FirstBank has provided 20,000 low-end devices preloaded with Roducate offline (presented to Lagos State Government for distribution to students) and enabled over 120,000 free sign-ups, on the Roducate e-learning platform, with the ultimate goal being to empower at least one million students. ‘This [e-learning] solution,’ according to Dr Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, ‘will see Lagos State offer children in the lower bracket, who may not have access to devices or data from home, affordable smart phones preloaded with the curriculum. The phones have SIMs and limited data tied, only, to the Roducate learning product, which means the recipients cannot browse, encouraging safe learning, but they can still submit tests, mock exams, etc.’ Dr Adeduntan, who encouraged parents and guardians to have their children and wards registered so their educational development is not held back, noted that the initiative is ‘in keeping with who we are at FirstBank, [where] our commitment to self-development and continuous improvement is never far from our thinking.’ In addition, FirstBank is a member of the Global Education Coalition led by UNESCO which is a platform for collaboration and exchange to protect the right of education during this unprecedented disruption and beyond.
Furthermore, in a bid to support SMEs operating in the education sector, FirstBank created a matching fund scheme of ₦5 billion LSETF-FirstEdu Loan, in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF). The scheme is designed to cushion the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on low-cost private schools by providing loans to them at an attractive interest rate. At the launch of the scheme, the Managing Director/CEO of FirstBank, Dr Adesola Adeduntan said: ‘At FirstBank we recognise the indelible role played by the education sector in the growth of any economy and this underscores our partnership with Lagos State Government for continuous development of the education services in Lagos State and the nation as a whole. The commitment by the Lagos State Government – including this partnership – to enable schools is quite commendable as this will mitigate the challenges caused by the lockdown on the education sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.’
Woven into the fabric of society for over 126 years, overcoming challenges and remaining a dominant player in Nigeria’s financial services landscape, FirstBank has been partnering and supporting various sustainable activities towards the continued growth of its host communities and the nation at large. As a responsible corporate organisation committed to supporting all its stakeholders in the most sustainable manner possible, the bank has partnered various state governments through the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) intervention with a view to promoting the readiness and efficiency of health care professionals and other compatriots at the forefront of fighting the pandemic. Beyond Nigeria, FirstBank’s sub-Saharan African subsidiaries have also been involved. So far they have made donations amounting to US$173,000 in cash and kind towards alleviating the impact of COVID-19 on the continent.
According to BusinessDay, the BAFI Awards, convened annually to recognise and celebrate organisations that have achieved excellence in the delivery of their financial services across the entire client and customer spectrum, is adjudged the most rigorous, prestigious and transparent awards programme in the industry. Since its inception in 2014, when the first edition held, its organisers, BusinessDay has implemented an audit-based approach in the evaluation process, meticulously reviewing each shortlisted company’s financial reports, commissioned customer perception surveys and analyst opinion, then comparing these with its competition in a longitudinal study. The BAFI Awards have become established as the benchmark of distinction for institutions in the financial services sector. Its rising popularity among leaders in the banking, investing, insurance, and asset management subsectors have earned the BAFI Awards a reputation as ‘the only recognition you deserve’.
The BAFI Awards is backed by the BusinessDay Research and Intelligence Unit (BRIU). Nominations for the BAFI Awards are the culmination of a rigorous review process. The BRIU and an independent panel of judges evaluate more than two hundred and fifty institutions and benchmark them against their global peers using several indices in a thorough evaluation process. Nominees are assessed for their vision, execution and market leading propositions. The BAFI award categories cut across banking, insurance, capital markets, investment, pension funds, trustees, registrars, stockbroking and private equity. This year’s event where FirstBank won Best CSR Bank of the Year (and a second award – Best Mobile Banking App), was themed: Interpreting an Irrational Year: Coping, Adjusting and Thriving in a Wicked Learning Environment.
L-R: Bayo Olanrewaju, Head, Digital Banking, FirstBank; Adewale Salami, Chief Technology Officer, FirstBank; Banji Fehintola, President, CFA Society of Nigeria and Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay Newspaper during the presentation of the two awards won by FirstBank; Best Mobile App and CSR Bank of the Year Awards at the 8th BusinessDay Banking & Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI) which took place at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
The Nigerian Army has cancelled the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 that took place in Abuja.
The military formation announced this haven realised that an officer who participated in the conference tested positive to COVID 19.
According to the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa, all the participants of the conference, including himself have been mandated to immediately proceed on self isolation in line with the Federal Government’s protocol for COVID 19 and to prevent any further spread of the disease.
The statement reads;
“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform members of the public that due to resurgence of COVID 19 Pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on Tuesday 8 December 2020, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 here in Abuja tested positive to COVID 19, the remaining activities of the conference have therefore been immediately cancelled.
“All the participants have been mandated to immediately proceed on self isolation in line with the Federal Government’s protocol for COVID 19 and to prevent any further spread of the disease.
“All inconveniences hereby regretted please. Thanks for your usual understanding and cooperation please.”
Barely 48 hours after Bauchi and Gombe State governments received 3 ambulances and 50,000 facemasks each from BUA Group to combat the rising cases of COVID-19 pandemic, another 3 fully equipped ambulances and 50,000 reusable facemasks have been donated to the Kaduna State Government. This is in addition to a N100million donation given by BUA to the state government at the height of the pandemic.
While handing over the donations to Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State, Aliyu Idi Hong, the Government Relations Director of BUA Group, who represented Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder & Chairman of BUA, expressed worry over the recent rise in cases of Covid-19 especially in Africa.
Hong who commended the Kaduna government for its untiring effort in curbing the spread of the virus in the state added that BUA as an indigenous conglomerate will keep committing resources towards ensuring that citizens of Nigeria are protected against the COVID-19.
He said the fully equipped ambulances will assist in the conveyance of patients, specifically for COVID-19 and other medical emergencies
Receiving the donations, Governor Nasir El Rufai noted that BUA had earlier donated one hundred million naira to boost the COVID-19 fight in the state and thanked the BUA Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu for the kind gesture.
“I thank the management of BUA for this generous gesture. It is not the first time Abdul Samad Rabiu has assisted Kaduna State. He gave us one hundred million naira and other donations in kind. I am not only pleased to receive these donations but to hear that more help is on the way.
“This pandemic is still with us, it is still infecting people at a very rapid rate particular here in Kaduna state. So we are very concerned and every assistance we get, we appreciate”.
Since the start of the pandemic, BUA has so far committed over N8billion in cash donations, food stuff, infrastructure, medical supplies and equipment, amongst others.
– SPEARHEADS INNOVATION IN ELECTRONIC BANKING IN NIGERIA
In the light of COVID-19, FirstBank has launched the FastTrack ATM, a Next Generation ATM and first of its kind in Africa, designed to promote financial activities on the ATM devoid of any form of physical interaction with the machine. The introduction of the FastTrack ATM which is done in partnership with Inlaks enables customers carry out cash withdrawals without having to touch the interface of the ATM.
With the FastTrack ATM, widely referred to as Touchless Solution, the customer carries out the transaction by using his or her mobile phone to perform the needed steps designed originally for implementation on the ATM. By using one’s phone, the transaction is carried out – in advance – through the Bank’s USSD or mobile banking option. Upon the schedule, the customer visits the FastTrack ATM to complete the transaction by tapping a contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) card on the ATM to withdraw his or her cash.
FirstBank customers can now leverage the real-time mobile banking capabilities of their cellphone to activate cash withdrawals at the FastTrack ATM. The ATM solution is the Bank’s response to control the spread of COVID-19, whilst promoting the safety of customers that carry out transactions at the ATM.
Speaking on the launch of the FastTrack ATM, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said ‘at FirstBank, we are driven to provide seamless financial solutions to ensure our customers are able to timely carry out their transactions in safe, secured and efficient ways, thereby putting them ahead in digital banking, not just in Nigeria but Africa. We are delighted to set the pace regarding the use of the Next Generation ATM in Africa which enables customers to use their mobile phones to remotely initiate ATM-based cash withdrawals via our *894# USSD banking or FirstMobile application. At the core of our strategy lies innovation which is critical to adapting to the new normal’.
According to Olufemi Adeoti, Managing Director, Inlaks, “given that consumers are more adaptable to mobile technology Inlaks – the Africa’s leading Information Technology Solutions provider together with Hyosung ATM OEM are partnering with FirstBank to introduce the first fully compliant COVID-19 FinTech ATM. This is in alignment with the ‘new normal’ desired customer experience which includes digitalization and delivering a secure contactless cash access to the bank’s FirstMobile customers for better user experience, simplicity, speed and convenience”
In recognition of its giant strides at promoting electronic banking in the country, FirstBank’s mobile banking application – FirstMobile – was recently awarded the Best Mobile Banking App award 2020 in the Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2020 as well as 2019 Best Mobile Banking App by Global Business Outlook.
FirstBank has been at the forefront of promoting electronic banking solution in Nigeria. In 2017, the Bank was recognized as the first financial institution in Nigeria and the West-Africa sub-region to issue 10 million ATM cards to customers across the country. The bank was the second in Africa to achieve the milestone.
These feats are achieved through the trusts in its industry leading innovative banking solutions by over 10 million customers on its USSD *894# banking platform and over 4.1 million customers on its FirstMobile banking application, endearing the Bank to process about 30% of card transactions in the entire banking industry in the country.
