Category: Society

If U.S-based tech businessman Niyi John Olajide was to count his blessings, it will take him forever to finish counting.  On relocating to the United States of America USA, it didn’t take him too long to find his feet as a seasoned IT personality founding Axxess Technologies in 2007, with a two-person staff in a rented apartment, a company at the forefront of creating a lasting solution to home healthcare delivery across the world.

The Erinmope-Ekiti-born philanthropist started the global healthcare technology company after graduation from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he got a BSc in telecoms engineering.

He is a globally celebrated icon who has changed the world with  Axxess, the fast-growing and leading home healthcare technology company. Through his creative ideas, he was invited to the White House to meet President Barrack Obama who lauded his effort to create a digitalized healthcare delivery platform.

Today, Axxess played a major role in shaping the $100 billion home health industry in the USA and the $600 billion global industry and has also processed over $30 billion in claims for over 3 million patients served by over 9,000 organizations around the globe. With a massive presence in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa, boasting more than 1,200 employees from over 45 countries, Olajide made a covenant never to forget his roots.

He has invested Millions of Dollars in capacity building, creating employment, mentorship and reducing the exportation of our best brains outside the shores of Africa.

With his love for Nigeria, improving it to meet the demands as regards job creation and reduce its exportation of the best tech brains in software development, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning he created a hub where new generation Nigeria tech enthusiast can build their craft and also contribute their quota to the dwindling health care and tech system by creating solutions to issues across the world. The soft-spoken tech billionaire launched Cavista Technologies Nigeria partnering with Axxess Global Technology. Apart from creating job opportunities, he made history with the employment of over 250 tech engineers, becoming the highest number of specialized tech engineers employed in the history of Nigeria.

Describing Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as a misunderstood person affirms the public perception of his persona. For him, the word cowardice has never existed in his lexical book, more reason he has remained dogged, fearless, and daring. However, a substantial amount of people take his confidence as an act of cartesian skepticism. He believes in himself and his ability to turn things around leveraging on his passion to better his state using all available resources with huge investment in infrastructural development, human capacity building, and repositioning his immediate environment to meet global standards.

His sojourn into the murky waters of politics and how he has risen through the ranks before becoming what he is today remains an interesting story to always be told. Starting as an LG chairman to becoming Chief of Staff, to becoming a Minister for State Education before becoming Governor of Rivers. Since assuming as Governor of Rivers State, he has done the unthinkable. Today, he has created his name in the golden and history book in the state in which his giant strides in development remain a major attraction. As a Governor, he single-handedly held the PDP together when many thought it was going into extinction. He was said to have invested in the affairs of the party and was also a very loyal member whose dedication and selflessness cannot be over-emphasized. Despite being ousted from the party’s Presidential primary election, He has ensured he got justice, equity, and fairness in his demands to enable him to work for the success of the party. While many tongues wagged over his way and mannerism of showing his grievances to the leadership of the party but he has maintained his stand for fairness.

Read Also: Ohuabunwa backs Wike on PDP crisis

Aside from politics, his giant strides in infrastructural investments are being felt across the board. Under his watch, Rivers has witnessed a massive revamp through the provision of quality infrastructures. Sources disclosed that week in and week out, he has been flagging off projects and also commissioning top-notch projects that have gulped billions of Naira. In a bid to reduce medical tourism making rivers state a hub for health care service in Nigeria, it was said that the Wike is getting set to commission the much-awaited Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and cardiovascular centre constructed by Julius Berger.

Barrister Siju Iluyomade is well known as a humanitarian who loves to drive woman-oriented programmes in a bid to give women a voice in a male-dominated society. With her Arise Women movement a programme set out to awaken the consciousness of not only women in the society but humanity as a whole and as well support the efforts of the government to cushion the effect of the current socio-economic situation in Nigeria.

In celebration of women, the 14th edition of the Arise Women conference is set to commence. This year’s event has already started with several sensitization programmes including the official unveiling of the 14th edition special T-Shirts with different designs as well as a revelation of the official theme of the season tagged ‘Appointed To Live’. The Convener, Dr Siju whose passion to continue impacting positively to the upliftment of the downtrodden made past editions of the event to be successful despite the financial constraint, is again poised to make sure all activities proposed for the 2022 season are achieved.

According to Iluyomade, this year’s main event will kick off with the Arise Golf Tournament on Friday, October 7 at the Lagos Ikoyi Club and it is expected to take off by 7 am.

Later in October, there will be skills acquisition programmes in different fields, including hairdressing, catering, computer training, and soap and cream making among others. The event will culminate with the Arise Women Conference.

Cosmopolitan banker, Olufemi Nojeemdeen Bakre is no greenhorn when it comes to the issues of finance, accounting, and corporate governance. He has dedicated all his life to the banking profession sitting atop several managerial positions in the banking industry with record-breaking achievements to his credit. If you wake the Oluomo of Ago-iwoye from his sleep and ask him any question about Risk Management, Customer Service, Banking, Credit Analysis, and Financial Analysis, you would be marveled at his spontaneous answer. He is vast when it comes to the issues of finance which gave birth to his astronomic rise in the profession ever since his foray into the banking profession since his one-year mandatory NYSC service in 1987, serving at the defunct Continental Merchant Bank.

Read Also: I thought I’d die very young-Femi Kuti

After his long years of working at the First City Monument Bank FCMB, he resigned as the executive director of institutional banking after a decade of meritorious service to join Parallex Bank as MD and CEO. The Otunba Bobaselu of Awa Kingdom’s magic wand has turned the fortune of the moribund bank around to become one of Nigeria’s financial powerhouse; all thanks to his uncommon wizardry. Under his watch, the bank is winning big in its commitment to offering customers a limitless banking experience. Femi Bakre’s enriched workforce of seasoned, dynamic, and visionary professionals with the right mix of skills, expertise, and experience made the bank receive eight different international certifications to strengthen its services and enhance its top-notch banking services. The International Standards Organization (ISO) is a non-governmental organization that comprises standards bodies from more than 160 countries, with one standards body representing each member country, outlining the requirements and specifications a product, process, or service must meet to ensure its quality is consistent from country to country.

In July 2022, the bank received an initial international certification for business continuity and management, an information technology certification, and a certification that Parallex Bank has met all of the requirements to deliver managed IT services of acceptable quality to its customers. In the latest global certification last week, Parallex Bank received five certifications, which are: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCIDSS); COBIT 2019; ISO 27017; ISO 27031; and ISO 29100.

Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah remains the proverbial cat with nine lives. In several attempts to cut him down, he has over conquered his enemies both politically and in business. Since his foray into the murky waters of politics, one thing was constant for him, his ability to bring about the much-needed change to his people and give them the dividend of democracy at all costs.  After his victory at the 2019 Anambra South Senatorial election with Young Progressive Party YPP, he emerged victorious. Despite several attempts to steal his mandate from him via the judiciary, the generous moneybag came out victorious as he won at the polls and at the courts, where his winning was contested. Since then he has remained victorious. Last week, when the news of his escape from whiskers broke many didn’t know the level of loss and damage that was done by some unknown gunmen who ambushed his convoy and killed over eight of his escorts and personal aides. It was a black Sunday for the senator as he was said to have escaped like a flash of the light using his bulletproof car also guided by providence a few days after celebrating his 51st birthday. Those close to the senator averred that he wept profusely like a baby over the loss of his people. Some say he is heartbroken, mourning the deceased.

Read Also: Attack on Ubah: Buhari concerned over armed groups in Southeast

Those in the know also raised an eyebrow to ask why Senator Ubah is a target for those who want to take him out. After several forth and back, some people disclosed that it might not be unconnected to his generous donation of N500 million to his state to fight insecurity. The funds he donated were to enable the state government to train security personnel, acquire security communication gadgets, and also to acquire solar street lights that will illuminate the streets in a bid to fight those who are hell-bent on causing unrest within Anambra State.

Old wine tastes better and so does Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin, a former banker and beauty queen who turns 50 today. The two-and-a-half-decade-old wife of the respected preacher and General Overseer of House on the Rock Pastor Paul Adefarasin has remained vintage. She has come of age as a woman of virtue who knows the true essence of life and the responsibility saddled on her shoulder. The founder of woman-to-woman ministries is an embodiment of aura matched with sartorial elegance, glitters like precious stones, and radiates like a shining star. Anytime she speaks, be sure that you will be moved by her powerful oratory prowess. She is often known for her fight against lack of provision, education, and other basic amenities and she has silently given back through philanthropic gestures. Though she loathes media attention and praise singing, giving generously is one of her strong virtues.

In celebration of her 50th birthday, her husband sent out invitations to the high and mighty in society to join him in giving his wife a birthday treat. The birthday will commence with a service at the auditorium of the House on the Rock at noon today after which everyone will proceed for a cocktail reception.

When Oba Sulaiman Adekunle Bamigbade emerged as the 20th Olofin of Isheri-Awori in 2022 after the passing away of his predecessor Oba Nurudeen Adekanmi, there were wide cheers across the land as many saw him as fresh dust of summer wind who will consolidate and bring change as well as exposure to the ancient Awori land. A few months after he was crowned and given a staff of office, the monarch who graduated from the Nigerian Defense Academy with a bachelor’s degree in Computer science hit the ground running and ensured peace reigned in all ramifications. Under his supervision and watch, he also ensured that the infrastructural deficit Isheri lacked was given top priority owing to his exposure and his ability to seek partnership with the government.

On Thursday, September 15, Olofin marked his first anniversary on the throne and he converged dignities to the commissioning of his ultra-modern Olofin’s palace.

Highly influential and well-respected Etsu Nupe and the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar CFR is one man who has kept true to the culture and tradition of his people which he has always represented. Since his ascension to the throne of his forefathers in 2003, the 13th Etsu Nupe Abubakar has shown the qualities of a man destined for greatness after towering high to reach the rank of a Brigadier general in the army before he answered the clarion call of his people to serve in the capacity as custodian and leader of the Bida Emirate.

A man of many parts, he has distinguished himself to be devoid of tribal sentiments but has worn on his sleeves the unity of Nigeria like a badge of honour. He is a golden but very godly monarch with a high consciousness of the huge responsibilities for his subjects and kingdom on his shoulders. Estu founded the first private university in Niger state, Edusoko University, Bida, which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021, since its creation decades ago. Edusoko’ means a sea of God in Nupe, bearing in mind that knowledge is an endless sea. More reason when he clocked age 70 on September 12, it was a roll call of goodwill messages as many celebrated him to the high heavens. He also used the occasion to celebrate his 19th year as ruler of the Bida emirate which amounts to a double celebration.

At the double celebration, Estu on Sunday, September 11, gathered his array of guests at the Forecourt Of Etsu Nupe Palace in Wadata Bida where he had prayers and dinner to eulogise his mother Hajiya Habiba Abubakar Nee Hajiya Inna Bantigi. A mammoth crowd gathered to celebrate with him and pay homage to the respected and well-loved monarch. Sources said that in celebration of his birthday, he also spoiled himself with the acquisition of a brand new cream on ash colour 18-seater luxury Gulf stream Private Jet.

Despite the dwindling business climate in Nigeria, there are some people who strongly believe in the country bouncing back, shaking off its shackles. One of the few people who have never made a disparaging comment about Nigeria is Barrister Allen Onyema; head honcho of Air peace. Anytime he is given the opportunity to speak; he is ready to pitch Nigeria as an investment destination. Despite the lingering crisis affecting prices of Aviation fuel currently affecting airlines operation, Onyema believes it’s temporary and things will soon move back to what they used to be. In a nutshell, he is a very proud Nigerian ambassador who believes strongly in the virtues that Nigeria and represents it well at any point in time.

A man of few words but many actions, has shown his capacity as a man who is giving Nigeria that ray of hope that Nigeria will soar higher. When many foreign airlines were grounding their operations due to funds hanging in Nigeria, Air peace was silently positioning itself and expanding its routes to become fill the lacuna created. When many were looking for excuses; Onyema saw opportunitiues to be explored and with his wizardry in business, he is currently winning as his airline is fast becoming the delight of many travellers. The airline has cut travel time by flying straight to foreign destinations across Africa, Europe and the Asian continent. Despite recently launching its inaugural flight to China which runs once a week, also made a shocking revelation which will further cut travel time for passengers plying Nigeria- Brazil. At the celebration of Brazil’s 200 years of independence in Eko Hotel, Lagos on Wednesday the 7th of September night, Onyema disclosed that; Airpeace would launch their 6-7 hours flight directly from Nigeria- Brazil from Abuja and Lagos respectively. He noted that; With the current fleet of modern aircraft owned by Air peace, it will cover Lagos to Brazil in 6 hours which will cut travel time by 10 hours. “the hours we spend connecting flights while travelling to Brazil is so much. You will literally travel around the world before getting to Brazil which is not more than 6hrs flight. We have spoken with the Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria and also the Minister of Aviation so we can commence flying Nigeria to Brazil. Nigeria and Brazil share things in common and we have over a 40million Brazilians of Nigerian and Yoruba descent who are willing to visit Nigeria on a regular but the stress of connecting flights, turns many of them off. When we commence the flight before the end of the year, it will help cultural, trade and commerce exchange. We are currently expecting over 20 aircraft worth Billions of Dollars under construction fully paid for from Brazil. Air peace will make Nigeria proud.”

He was quietly doing his thing underground until he made his grand entry into the oil and gas business in 2018 after his Prudent Energy & Services Limited, acquired Femi Otedola’s 74% divested shares in Forte Oil. City businessman Abdulwasiu Sowami made the headlines as the feat was widely celebrated by all and sundry after he also disclosed his quest to make the oil and gas firm to the next level with his lofty ideas. As part of his rebranding process, he changed the brand name from Forte Oil to Ardova Oil and Gas plc.

During the acquisition, Sowami had promised Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited to pay a balance of $6 million after three years which he was supposed to have done on or before June 18, 2022. After several internal issues, rise and fall in global oil prices among the dwindling business climate in Nigeria, Sowami’s projection for the company didn’t come to reality as he was unable to pay the debt owed within the stipulated time. In a bid to recover the debt, Zenon Oil petitioned Prudent Energy & Services through its entity, Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited owns 74% of Ardova Petroleum, a company listed on the Nigerian Exchange and chaired by Sowami in a legal suit before the federal high court in Lagos to wind up the company.

We gathered that Sowami is currently in talks with friends and associates for an out-of-court settlement which will enable him more time to pay up the said amount. Sources said that the debt accumulated would have been sorted but Sowami’s quest to take over the Downstream and Upstream Oil and Gas supply, and acquisition of Enyo Oil further worsened the matter. Currently, he is in talks with a close associate of Femi Otedola to enable him to buy more time to make sure he raises the funds to clear the debt so he won’t lose his stake in the company.