The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Stanbic IBTC Bank offers financial solutions to SME owners

    Stanbic IBTC Bank offers financial solutions to SME owners

    Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, has further supported small and medium-scale businesses  (SMEs)  by storming markets across different states to introduce financial solutions that can transform their businesses.

    In line with its commitment to driving the growth of SMEs, Stanbic IBTC Bank is collaborating with various businesses to drive growth and scale by providing tailor-made financial solutions ranging from flexible loans to specialised products to fuel business growth, a dynamic community of like-minded entrepreneurs for collaboration and networking and business advisory from renowned experts within the Enterprise Academy platform.

    With the market undergoing rapid changes and facing various challenges, market traders have been confronted with the need to adapt and reposition for success. To achieve this, businesses are required to comply with regulatory documentation requirements and fulfil tax obligations.

    Stanbic IBTC recognises the importance of compliance and understands that having a Tax Identification Number (TIN) is a key requirement for businesses to access loans, therefore, Stanbic IBTC Bank will be facilitating the generation of Joint Tax Board (JTB) Tax Identification Number (TIN) at these market storms.

    Read Also: Stanbic IBTC Bank global outlook paves way for businesses

    Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank,Wole Adeniyi said: “We are delighted to visit indigenous markets in Nigeria before our annual training programme. The training has been instrumental in improving the livelihoods of small business owners and building their skills. We are proud to contribute to the development of small enterprises across Nigeria to accelerate their business growth and especially, create a level playing field where women can thrive and make significant contributions through the Stanbic IBTC Blue Blossom Initiative.”

    He added that the market storm is part of the bank’s initiative to support the growth and success of SMEs who account for 86.30 per cent of the national workforce, according to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and who also contribute an average of about 50% to Nigeria’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    The market storms will kick off in Ibadan, Oyo state and will continue to four major states across the nation including Rivers, Abuja and Anambra in the following markets – Agbeni market, Gbagi market, Oyigbo market, Mile Three market, Rumomasi market, Utako market, Kubwa market, Relief market and Head Bridge market.

    Stanbic IBTC remains committed to adding value and ensuring the growth of entrepreneurs and their businesses by providing them with quality advisory services. Through the years, it has empowered over 10,000 SMEs with quality business advisory and capacity-building programmes aimed at equipping them with the required knowledge and skills to grow their businesses.

  • Flood destroys multi-million naira businesses in Akwa Ibom

    Flood destroys multi-million naira businesses in Akwa Ibom

    Flood has destroyed shops and residential buildings along Grace Bill, by Marina junction, in Eket Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

    The incident, which occurred at the weekend, following a heavy rain, has shut down businesses.

    The area is home to 15 commercial banks and other businesses and corporate organisations. 

    Lamenting their losses, residents and shop owners said the flood was caused by an abandoned drainage project.

    The project is supposed to collect volumes of water from Afaha Eket, Grace Bill, Enenekpene streets and other adjoining streets for channelling.

    Evangelist Essien Nsikan of Throne of Grace Deliverance Ministry said: “We have been suffering losses due to flood in this area. That of Saturday was too much.

    Read Also: First Lady donates N14.25m to Abuja flood victims

    “Whenever it rains, we always live in fear, as water will enter our houses and shops, destroying items and in some cases lives.”

    A shop owner, Mr. Emeka Chuks, said: “What happened on Saturday is not a new thing to us. Water entered my shop and destroyed goods. 

    “The flood soaked cartons of items I kept on the ground. I can’t tell you the quantity of what I have lost because I am still counting the losses.”

    “The abandoned drainage project is the cause of our problem. We are imploring the government to complete the project and compensate us.”

    Another resident, Mr. Wilson Bassey, said: “Yesterday (Saturday) was a hell for us. Water entered our houses and spoiled things. We were scooping water from our homes.

    “The government needs to rescue us because if this type of thing continues to happen, it will be a bigger tragedy. 

    “You can imagine how flood almost swept away a little boy on Saturday. But for good Samaritans, who rescued him, the boy would have been dead.”

  • Group lifts 17 indigent undergraduates with scholarships

    Group lifts 17 indigent undergraduates with scholarships

    Seventeen indigent students of tertiary institutions across Anambra State have benefited from Dr. Chioma Awuzie Foundation (DCAF) scholarship scheme.

    The beneficiaries were drawn from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam and Federal Polytechnic, Oko. 

    Others are Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, Federal College of Education, Umunze and Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe.

    Foundation convener Dr. Chioma Awuzie said the annual scholarship scheme and charity programme was to mark her 50th birthday, adding that over 50 students had benefited since inception of the scheme.

    Awuzie, who is also the director, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Federal Polytechnic, Oko said the beneficiaries were selected from a poll of nominees by heads of public tertiary institutions in the state.

    She said: “The scholarship is targeted at promoting access to quality education and improving lives of the indigent students.”

    Read Also: Anchor varsity gives scholarship to UTME highest scorer

    “For this year, the 17 beneficiaries will get cash support to allow them pursue their academic dreams without worrying about any financial burden for the session. 

    “We also distributed food items, foot wears, raincoats and clothing materials to students and residents of the polytechnic.”

    Congratulating and encouraging the recipients to take advantage of the gesture to become self-reliant in future, Awuzie solicited support from individuals, corporate bodies, local and international donors towards improving lives of youths and women.

    The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Dr. Francisca Nwafulugo, praised the foundation for investing in the educational aspirations of youths, especially the financially vulnerable. 

    Nwafulugo, represented by the Deputy Rector (Administration), Dr. Ken Ezekwe, advised others to emulate DCAF by using their resources to add value to the lives of the underprivileged.

    The President, Chemical Society of Nigeria and chairman of the event, Prof. Moses Chendo, thanked Awuzie for her investment in human empowerment and development.

    “Her project is laudable because she understands that the future is in the hands of youths and they need all the support to become responsible citizens,” he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Miss Awele Okocha, hailed the benefactor for the gesture, promising to make judicious use of the funds.

  • Bayelsa poll: ‘Diri’s camp jittery over Sylva/Maciver ticket’

    Bayelsa poll: ‘Diri’s camp jittery over Sylva/Maciver ticket’

    Youths’ coalition under the auspices of New Generation Leaders of Bayelsa State (NGLBS) has alleged that the Governor Douye Diri administration is jittery over the candidacy of Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    NGBLS Director General Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei said in a statement yesterday that youths were supporting the Sylva/ Joshua Maciver joint ticket to unseat Diri in the November election.

    He said the remaining days ahead of the poll were just a countdown to the official handover of Diri to a new administration under the leadership of Sylva, ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. 

    Kemepadei said as the state prepared for transition next February, fear and anxiety had gripped the Diri administration over its imminent defeat in November.

    He said: “We are aware that the Diri administration has begun an early chase through litigations, sponsoring fifth columnists and seeking court judgments as shortcut strategies to return to the Government House. 

    “These measures will amount to a futile exercise, as youths have resolved to end their suffering, hardship and the tag of ‘beggars’ used to brand them in Bayelsa.

    Read Also: Amnesty programme: Ex-agitator speaks on status of Sylva’s running mate MacIver

    “As passionate ‘Bayelsans’ and new generation leaders, who owe the state a duty of patriotism, we say Senator Diri, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, has lost touch with the people of Bayelsa State. 

    “The Diri administration, aware of an imminent defeat, is busy moving from court to court, shopping for kangaroo judgments as a shortcut to power.

    “We advise the Diri government to begin preparation of the handover note, as the current status of Bayelsa State under his watch is bedevilled by poverty, hardship and unemployment.”

    Kemapadei alleged that political appointees and commissioners under Diri’s administration had become beggars in a supposed ‘Prosperity Government’ and their ministries were moribund.

    He said: “The Sylva/Maciver ticket enjoys support from ‘Bayelsans’. The new government will be sworn on February 14, 2024.

    “Sylva and Maciver are known as human capacity builders in wealth creation and infrastructural development in Bayelsa State. As such, they will become victorious in the November 11 election.”

    “The Diri government is bereft of ideas to push the state on the map of prosperity, hence it is using propaganda and campaign of calumny to create panic among Sylva/Maciver supporters.”

  • Reps call for restoration of street lights in FCT

    Reps call for restoration of street lights in FCT

    A HOUSE of Representatives member for Eket Federal Constituency, Okpolupm Etteh has called for the restoration of street lights in Federal Capital

    Following a motion raised by Etteh during plenary,  the House called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to sestore street lights in Abuja Metropolis.

    The House urged the FCTA to “as a matter of urgency restore the street lights in Abuja Metropolis and ensure maintenance as the Federal Capital and Administrative Headquarters of Nigeria”.

    According to the Motion, “constant darkness on the major roads and streets in the FCT creates avenues for some criminal-minded elements to perpetrate crime, touting and intimidating innocent law-abiding Nigerians and also makes the city unsafe for residents and visitors.”

    Read Also: Reps panel to screen Service Chiefs Monday

    “Aware that most of the street lights installed on many highways and streets in the FCT are moribund and not functional. On major roads like Herbert Macaulay Way, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Jabi area, Aminu Kano Crescent, Ahmadu Bello Way and Independence Avenue; which houses the Three Arms Zone, National Assembly, Supreme Court and the Presidential Villa. Also from the Federal Secretariat to Louis Edet House (Police Headquarters), the street lights are comatose.”

    “Further aware that despite the prevailing darkness in most areas of the Federal Capital Territory at night, there is minimal and inadequate presence of stationary policemen or police patrol vans along some dangerous stretches of roads and under the bridges,” the House maintained.

    The House also raised concern that “the Federal Capital Territory; the nation’s capital, ought to have been maintained with modern facilities and should have alternative sources of power Like standby generators at strategic positions on the main roads, as a backup power supply in cases of power outage.”

    Before adjourning its plenary to tomorrow by 11:00am, the House, in its resolution, mandated the Committee on FCT, when constituted, to ensure implementation.

  • 200 get medical outreach free

    200 get medical outreach free

    A non-profit organisation, Ovie Brume Foundation, in partnership with Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry and Chike Okoli Foundation have provided free medical checkup and drugs to 200 adults, youth and children in Surulere, Lagos State.

    The outreach featured cholesterol test, blood sugar, blood pressure, malaria treatment, de-worming, medical insulation, counselling and free drugs.

    Ovie Brume Foundation’s Programme Coordinator, Oluwaseyi Olawuyi, noted health is one essential need. He added the outreach was a way to give to the community.

    Chike Okoli and Emzor Project Coordinator, Mrs. Obiageli Adimachukwu, urged people to check their health status.

    Read Also: Medical team takes outreach to palace

    “The foundation was set up to reach out to people on health. We enlighten people on health because most do not know they are ill,” she said.

    A beneficiary, Faith Oludare, said “I thank the foundation and appreciate them for bringing this opportunity.”

    Esther Ayo,  a nurse at the outreach, noted the medical personnel talked to the people on  diets, exercise, and advised them to go for check ups.

    “From the test, most of people are just finding out they have hypertension,” she said.

    A community leader, simply Philips, urged government to improve the health sector.

    He commended the foundations for the outreach.

  • APWEN rewards Best Female Science student in Niger

    APWEN rewards Best Female Science student in Niger

    The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has awarded Maryam Sani Zubairu of Government Girls Secondary School, Minna for emerging as the best female student in Science in Niger state public secondary schools.

    Zubairu came top in the written contest organised by APWEN for over 50 participants selected from schools across the state while Osioje Goodman of Government Day Secondary School Maikunkele and Ezenweta Anita of Government Girls Secondary School, Old Airport came second and third.

    Army Day Secondary School emerged as the best public secondary school in Science while Niger Teachers Professional Development Institute and Government Girls Secondary School, Old Airport came second and third.

    Read Also: Nigeria Energy Transition Plan should not be politicised – APWEN

    The participants were tested on Mathematics, English, Physics, and Chemistry which make up the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

    The Chairman of APWEN Minna Chapter, Muibat Yahya, an engineer, said: “From what we have seen, we realise female students do not want to study engineering, they feel it is meant for the male gender. We are working to change the mindset of female students, especially those in public secondary schools.

     The APWEN President, Elizabeth , an engineer,  said: “The accomplishments of the talented female students we honor today exemplify the limitless potential that lies within each one of us, regardless of our gender.

    “Today, we gather here not only to acknowledge the exceptional academic achievements of our talented female students but also to commend their courage to pursue their passion in engineering. Each one of these extraordinary individuals has shown resilience, intellectual prowess, and a commitment to excellence that is truly inspiring.”

  • Senator upskills pupils in STEM education

    Senator upskills pupils in STEM education

    BENEFICIARIES of SAIL Innovation Lab have completed their training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM for SSS) Cohort 2 in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    STEM education, a specialised training, was made possible by Senator Tokunbo Abiru, his wife and trustees of SAIL Empowerment Foundation.

    Abiru urged the graduates to deepen their quest for knowledge by devoting time for studies and research in STEM education.

    He said: “These are skills to enable them to navigate the landscape of STEM fields as they progress and make contributions to society.

    “In addition to their academic achievements, it is noteworthy students delved into physical  computing, robotics, and artificial intelligence…”

    The senator announced expansion of the STEM programme to public schools in Lagos East.

    Read Also: AGRA launches strategic plan on food system transformation

    He said the initiative, which brings together  20 pupils from each school on weekdays, demonstrated his commitment to providing opportunities for young minds.

    Abiru thanked faculties and organisations instrumental to success of the programme, including STEMCafe and CCHub, for their  dedication, support, and efforts.

    He stressed: “Our challenges,  such as climate change, food shortages, global health crises, and technological  inequality, are complex and multifaceted. It is through collective effort we can overcome challenges and create a brighter tomorrow.”

    SAIL Innovation Lab started in 2022 from the constituency office of the senator, later moving to the permanent site at 1, Muba Abiru Street.

    Abiru and his wife, Feyi, co-founders, as part of their endowment to Lagos East, believed young people must be provided with opportunity to learn tech, digital skills which have been the currency of the present fourth industrial revolution age.

    Africa’s renowned innovation and tech company, Cc-Hub is the technical partner that manages SAIL Innovation Hub for the trustees.

  • Oluwo seeks Akpabio’s cooperation with Abbas over monarchs’ constitutional role

    Oluwo seeks Akpabio’s cooperation with Abbas over monarchs’ constitutional role

    Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has hailed House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas over his assurance to ensure a constitutional role for traditional rulers.

    Oba Akanbi described the speech made by the Speaker during his visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, as promising, calling on the Senate President, Godwin Akpabio, to support the legislation establishing the Federal Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.

    He said such would empower traditional rulers constitutionally and create a sense of belonging in administering Nigerians. 

    Read Also: Tinubu will turn around ECOWAS as Chairman, says Speaker Abbas

    A statement by Oluwo said: “I’m elated listening to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during his visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, where he assured the revisitation of the bill empowering traditional rulers constitutionally. 

    “With this noble assurance to the crowns, you have started well and you will be the best Speaker of the House of Representatives just like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Everyone is writing history and yours is a good start.

    “I seek the support of the upper chamber, Senate, most specifically the Senate President, Godwin Akpabio, to cooperate and support the bill.”

  • Body honours ex-IGI CEO Olowude

    Body honours ex-IGI CEO Olowude

    The Professional Insurance Ladies Association (PILA) has honoured the late founder of Industrial and General Insurance (IGI), Remi Olowude, with a posthumous Special Award of Excellence, for his moral and financial support to the body during his life.

    The recognition, according to PILA, was part of the body’s 50th anniversary celebration held in Lagos.

    Olowude, who died in 2014, was the prestigious insurance company’s Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer.

    In a letter of invitation sent to the family, which was signed by Bola Onigbogi and Margaret Moore, Fundraising and Awards Committee Chairman, and PILA’s President, the association said the selection process took time and deliberation.

    Read Also: PILA honours late IGI CEO Olowude

    “The late Dr. Olowude and the other selected recipients stood out as leaders who made their mark in their spheres and who have shown exemplary traits worthy of note,” the letter said.

    The award was received by the wife of the deceased, Bunmi, in company with Foluso Gbadamosi, Bukky Akomolafe and others.

    Born in 1951, Olowude was an economist and chartered insurance practitioner who many revered as the expert who changed the face of insurance marketing in Nigeria.