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Our Reporter

Caught up in the mood of the Yuletide, prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dr Ayo Ogunsan, has penned down a heart-warming message to his business associates, friends and Nigerians at large.

Ogunsan who is the Chairman of a conglomerate, Executive Group, doubles as a Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

In his recent message, Ogunsan urges everyone to embrace the ideals of Christmas, charging that the nine lessons of Christmas be imbibed by all. He, however, admonished all to celebrate the season with a thankful heart to God, despite the litany of challenges posed by the lingering pandemic.

“Christmas is here again and I daresay that it is a season of not just love and merriment, but also an opportunity to reflect on the birth of the Saviour of the world whose birth denotes and connotes our remission and redemption from sin, sickness and shame. Hallelujah!

“Perhaps the birds are already singing — Jingle bells all the way, and oh what fun it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh.

“Christmas remains one of the most enjoyable times of the year and comes with its own special kind of warmth, glamour and glitz.

“In itself, the shimmering and twinkling lights that brighten the season in their kaleidoscopic manner is somewhat worth reminiscing and rhapsodising for a long time.

“And of course the Yuletide often reminds us to stick to the essential aspects of humankind. Hence, as we all light up our homes, workplaces and the streets with Christmas trees and lights, let us remember the nine lessons of Christmas.

“As challenging as 2020 has been for businesses and individual economies, one still feels that there is so much to be thankful to God for, while looking ahead for better years to come,” he said.

Not oblivious of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ogunsan, however, advised that safety measures laid down by the government at all levels be strictly adhered to, even as the season is lit up in celebration.

His words: “As we savour the sweetness of the season, I wish to bring it to our notice that we need to be safety conscious. Adapting to all COVID-19 guidelines won’t be such a Herculean task for anyone, especially as the country has just hit the second wave of the pandemic, reportedly. Please, remember to keep safe and enjoy the season.

“From all of us at Executive Group, we want to wish all our clients, associates, friends and families a very colourful Christmas celebration.

“May the joy and goodwill that come with the season by default find its full expression in us all. Merry Christmas and cheers to a prosperous new year ahead!”

Our reporter

Cadbury Nigeria Plc has recently announced the appointment of Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe and Ms. Nadia Mohammed, as Non-Executive Directors, with effect from 1st January 2021.

Mrs. Akinkugbe is the founder of SecureID Nigeria and Secure Card Manufacturing, where she currently serves as the Managing Director/CEO.

SecureID is a MasterCard, VISA and Verve certified Smartcard Personalization Bureau and Digital Technology Company, whilst Secure Card Manufacturing is the first polycarbonate Smartcard manufacturing plant producing high-security identity cards and documents for the Banking, Telecoms and Public sectors across Africa and beyond.

She is a graduate of Mathematics from the University of Lagos and a Chevening scholar at the University of Strathclyde Graduate School of Business, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

She has attended several international leadership and personal development programmes at leading global institutions including London Business School, INSEAD France, Lagos Business School (Chief Executive Programme (CEP), and Harvard Business School (Owner/President Management – OPM) course.

Mrs. Akinkugbe’s initial work experience spanned the banking and financial services sector where she had stints at International Merchant Bank (IMB) – affiliate of First National Bank of Chicago, and Chartered Bank Plc – now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.

She currently serves as a member of both the Nigerian Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, and the Reguvators’ Forum (a part of the Fintech Association of Nigeria). She sits on the board of several local and multinational corporate, philanthropic and humanitarian organisations.

Ms. Nadia Mohammed is Marketing Director of the Sub Sahara Africa Business Unit of Mondelez International, leading the marketing portfolio of some of the world’s most iconic and loved brands.

Ms Mohammed is a seasoned marketing and business leader, whose experience spans across industries and global geographies.

Prior to joining Mondelez, Ms. Mohammed held the role of Commercial and Marketing Director for McCain Foods Retail and Food service Africa. Ms. Mohammed has worked for global FMCG, Telecommunications and Financial Services organisations such as Vodafone, Wool worths, AVI and more recently, returning from Australia after being Chief Marketing Officer of Tyme Digital at Commonwealth Bank of Australia-the world’s 10th largest bank.

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Ms. Mohammed serves as a Gerety Awards Jury member and as a Non-Executive Director for two nonprofit organisations, most notably representing Africa as a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, and currently on the board of the Women’s Business Network for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Ms. Mohammed has an extensive pedigree in brand custodianship and is often regarded as one of South Africa’s most innovative and forward-thinking brand custodians.

Commenting on these appointments in a statement, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria said; “Kofo brings on board, her sterling leadership qualities and wealth of experience, which cut across diverse industries. We are also extremely fortunate to have Nadia on our board. Nadia’s experience will be crucial in helping us navigate through the next stage of our growth trajectory.”

According to the statement, issued by Mr. Frederick Mordi, the Company’s Corporate Communications and Government Affairs Manager for West Africa, the two appointments attest to Cadbury Nigeria’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels within the organisation.

Our Reporter

A leading aspirant for the chairmanship seat of Abeokuta North Local Government in the forthcoming elections, Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo (LOS) on Wednesday, delivered a fully renovated and upgraded Imala Model Health Centre in response to the residents’ pressing needs and furthering the works of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun to deliver better health care for all and sundry.

The project implemented by the LOS Development Foundation is the most recent in a long list of community projects embarked on by LOS, in fulfilment of his long-standing commitment to sustainable, humanitarian developmental projects in different Abeokuta North LG communities.

Speaking at the event, Lanre Oyegbola – Sodipo said, “the initiative was birthed during one of our consultative visits to the Oke Ogun division a few weeks ago which afforded us the opportunity to learn more about development-oriented issues in order to meet the expectations of the people.

While at Imala, we noticed that the health centre which is the public maternity facility had suffered some neglect structurally, lacked basic equipment and unfortunately, being the only one in the community, made it difficult for the residents to access the most mundane healthcare service.

The dilapidated health centre had no portable water, hospital beds, toilet facilities and most importantly, no Blood Pressure apparatus. Immediately, we ordered and donated two sphygmomanometers and promised to rebuild the facility in order to stop the unnecessary loss of lives within their community. And today, by God’s grace, that promise has been fulfilled as we are here to hand over the renovated and upgraded facility to the community.”

One of the special guests and a quintessential elder statesman, Hon. Adekunle Adeshina commended the efforts of LOS at delivering a better livelihood to the Imala residents. In his own words, “It is not every day that you meet young people who aspire and carry out people – centred projects. Therefore, I congratulate Abeokuta North for producing a unique son whose desire is for the common good. I pray that as you have renovated this health centre, you will also build a university here for our people.”

In the same vein, High Chief Fatai Bodunrin, a foremost APC chieftain declared that Oyegbola – Sodipo is a true son of Egbaland and is worthy of emulation, considering the numerous worthwhile humanitarian projects he has completed in recent times.

“In addition to the rehabilitation and upgrade of Imala Health Centre to a model in this environment, LOS trained our youths through his free skill acquisition and empowerment programme in collaboration with Redeemed Initiative for Skills and Empowerment (RISE) on various skills ranging from paint making and application to the production of disinfectants, dusting powder, skin care cream, toilet and dish washing liquids.

Miss Adebesin Sofiat, one of the beneficiaries of the programme expressed her gratitude to the chairmanship aspirant for the opportunity to partake in the first-ever skill acquisition programme, especially as it also provided empowerment.

She said, “As soon as we completed the training, some of us repainted the health centre while others supplied liquid soaps, toilet washing liquid, disinfectants and we were paid for the products and services rendered. Interestingly, our vocation is directly connected to the products and services required by the facility.”

It will be recalled that during the peak of COVID-19 in the state, LOS presented 20,000 face masks to Abeokuta North residents as complementary to the state government’s efforts in curtailing the community spread of Coronavirus.

Through his #Mask4AllNigerians initiative, LOS contracted 80 tailors, selected from within the local government, to sew and deliver the face masks, which were distributed across the 16 wards of the local government.

In commemoration of the global hand washing day and to curb the Coronavirus pandemic, he taught the pupils of Abeokuta North Local Government Primary School, Oke Ago Owu, how to wash their hands properly and donated hand wash paraphernalia to further imbibe the culture.

During the lockdown in April, he had distributed food palliatives to Oke Ona residents at the Sodipo ancestral home in Ikereku and other locations outside Abeokuta North Local Government Area.

Interestingly, these efforts are a demonstration of LOS’ strategy to grow local commerce through the localization of contracts. It will also create communal wealth by empowering and patronizing our youths and strengthen the ISE YA agenda of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The handover ceremony had in attendance the SA to the Governor on Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Oladapo – Adeleye, top business and political leaders, government dignitaries, community leaders and Imala residents.

Our Reporter

Not less than 200 families drawn from two communities in Delta have benefited from the kind gesture of a non-governmental organisation, Sly Foundation.

Renowned for philanthropy, the foundation held the event on the eve of Christmas as beneficiaries turned out en masse.

Convener of the Sly Foundation, Sylvester Omobor, who hails from Agbarha in Ughelli North Local Government Area, took to the streets, alongside ace comedian Whalemouth, as well as many other friends and associates of The Sly Foundation.

”Amidst the challenges that came with 2020, we are here to say that The Sly Foundation felt the pulse of the common man and woman, boy or girl in our society.

”It is with this great purpose that we, at The Sly Foundation, on December 24, 2020, decided to once again put joy and laughter on the faces of the old, needy and impoverished in two Delta State Urhobo communities — Emeragha Community and Omavovwe Community — both in Ughelli North, Delta State.

”First, at the town hall in Emeragha Community from the town hall, we met an indigene of the community, told him our purpose and volunteered to lead us to all the very old and needy. We headed to the homes of the very old and impoverished, sharing bags of rice and tomatoes and every home had a reason to smile and give thanks to God, courtesy of The Sly Foundation Christmas Outreach.

“Nothing is as soothing as when the very old prays for you as most of them expressed their gratitude in prayers; some in hilarious exclamations.

From Emeragha, we walked down to the next which is Omavovwe community and the gestures were nothing less than the former.

The foundation made sure that the 200 homes we touched have a reason to celebrate this festive season,” Omobor said.

The annual event is committed to providing, volunteering, and supporting the less-privileged in the society.

On why he decided to set up a foundation to help the have-nots in the society, the founder said: “I decided to set up a foundation and help the less privileged during this period also because I’ve been in the state of not having what to eat or drink. I know how it feels when you don’t have. This festive season is incomplete if love and smile is not on the faces of those around us.

“My daily mission is simple: To put food on the tables of our hungry neighbours and get more people out of poverty and problems. Giving is not determined by how much you have but how much your heart truly desires to sacrifice. There are people who will starve to death today. There are people who have to eat mud pies daily. We don’t truly understand how blessed we are to feed the poor and help people who are in need. Feeding the needy is part of serving one another.”

Lending his voice to the show of care for the low and destitute, comedian Kevin Usiaphe, popularly known as Whalemouth, who is the ambassador of the foundation, lauds the founder, while explaining the rationale behind the show of love.

“It is heartwarming to see Nigerians that have not yet given up on the country. There’s one absolute truth we can all agree on about this country. The country has been failed time and again by people in real positions of power to do something about its decay that it’s easy to completely lose all hope in the country. However, there are people who are not giving up just yet; people who still battle to protect the little flicker of hope in the pervading darkness that the country struggles in.

“Omobor Sylvester, popularly known as Sly, is only another average Nigerian who decided that he had had enough with the government’s system of willful neglect and disappointment and was intent on doing something about it. Sly had experienced hardship first hand, growing up in a ghetto. The things he was exposed to growing up inspired him to do his part to make sure he could prevent other people from having to suffer through the same. This led to what is known today as Sly Foundation.

“Sly came up with the idea for the foundation, on his birthday, two years ago, and with the help of his like-minded team, kicked off the non-profit organisation’s operation in March 15 by going on outreaches to destitute homes, feeding the young, the poor, the old, the lonely and the homeless who struggled to feed themselves with the worsening economic situation of the country.
Sly believes that you don’t have to possess the world before you can start to think about your neighbour, and this selfless thought is what drives him to cater for as many people as he can; who are vulnerable to hunger and poverty that continues to be on the rise in the country.

”According to a survey by Food Aid International (FAI) in 2014, nearly 14 million people in Nigeria go hungry daily with 3000 dying on a daily basis with poverty and lack of food regarded as the biggest factors in this sad trend. An article in The Telegraph in July 2016 claimed that 50,000 children were in danger of death by starvation in Northern Nigeria alone.

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”These damning statistics shine a bright light on the importance of what Sly Foundation is doing for fellow Nigerians. The foundation has successfully carried out outreach programmes across all South Western states of the country and in Abuja.

“The full extent of the problem of hunger is not obvious to most of us. We only see the homeless, but there are a great number of working poor, struggling to survive, who don’t have enough money to put adequate food on the table. We must find a solution to this ever-increasing problem — and quickly.

“The Hunger Heroes of Sly Foundation don’t just cater to the stomach; sometimes, they also render financial assistance to people who are struggling financially if a request is deemed as genuine and it is within their means to help.

”If Sly Foundation’s advocacy has taught us anything, it is that no help is too little to render and that as Nigerians, we can help this country grow in more ways than we think we are capable of. Like Ronald Reagan said, “Those who say that we’re in a time when there are no heroes, they just don’t know where to look. Sly Foundation should inspire us all,” he said.

 

Having successfully managed Luckybay Homes Nigeria Limited and Luckybay Estate and Properties Limited, the companies’ Chief Executive Officer, Lucky Ikechukwu Ujomu has some nuggets for the greenhorns in the real estate business.

“Some of the risks involved in running real estate business in Nigeria is buying land from the wrong source. It is a very big risk. Another major lesson a beginner in the real estate business must take note of is to be smart and have patience. This kind of business requires deep passion and integrity. That is the surest way to succeed.

Right now real estate in Nigeria is the surest investment that guarantees your 100% profit returns every year,” he said.

Providing insights into his background and how he built his real estate business, Ujomu, 46, an indigene of Ibusa, Oshimilia LGA, Delta State recalled, “I started as a real estate broker in 2009 and I was able to save enough money to start my first project in 2013 but it was very tough because there was no support, as a result, it took me five years to complete my first project which was two five-bedroom fully detached duplexes I sold in 2017 and 2018. That was my breakthrough.”

Continuing, he reflected: “With the help of God, Luckybay Homes has grown into what it is today, one of Nigeria’s best real estate development companies that specialize in building affordable luxury houses.”

Real estate, according to him was an easy career choice for him. “Growing up, I’d nursed an ambition to work in either oil and gas or the property business,” he revealed.

While stating that the choice of Luckybay as the name of his business was inspired by his personality, Ujomu noted that he would pick Roman Abramovich as his mentor because “he’s a philanthropist and he has a large heart came from a poor background.”