The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bank chief

  • Bank chief, govt seek solutions to violence against women, children

    How can violence against women and children be addressed?

    It is through public participation and sustainable approaches, says Access Bank Plc Managing Director  Herbert Wigwe.

    Wigwe spoke on the sideline of a public programme held by the Financial Control and Strategy Group of Access Bank in partnership with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

    The event tagged “it’s on you and I’’ to end violence against women and children, was attended by many dignitaries.

    Wigwe said curbing domestic violence was long overdue, adding that there was need for public participation to end it.

    He said: “In the country, there should be need to mobilise the public in providing viable solutions to addressing and ultimately resolving the wicked act.

    “We are happy to partner with DSVRT; together, we are ready to make this a common problem to ourselves. There is never ever a good reason for violence against women and children.

    “All women have fundamental rights to live and we must ensure that this right is established.

    “Most of these victims do not come forward, thinking their lives are in danger and in the case of sexual abuse, it is a stigma.

    “A woman is a mother, a daughter, a sister and a wife. She is active, emotional and devoted. She will nurture, fight for and she deserves nothing less from each and every one of us.

    “As we keep saying, it is on you and I to end and stop violence against women and children.”

    Wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs Bolanle Ambode, said it was the responsibility of everyone to end the act “as it remains a horrible and devastating issue in the society’’.

    “It is our responsibility to ensure we sustain public discourse on this issue of gender-based violence.

    “I, therefore, join all stakeholders and relevant agencies to ensure public awareness and sensitisation on this.

    “The law enforcement agencies must hold any offender accountable and protect victims so as to encourage others to speak out and break the conspiracy of silence,’’ Mrs Ambode said.

    The DSVRT Coordinator, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, urged more stakeholders to join in the fight against the act to protect girls and women from sexual and domestic violence.

  • Blogger arraigned over ‘adultery’ reports on bank chief

    A BLOGGER, Desmond Chima, was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday for allegedly publishing two defamatory stories against United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc’s Managing Director Philips Oduoza.

    The police said he connived with some persons who are at large to post a story entitled: Randy UBA MD, Philips Oduoza in adultery mess…romances star acress, Genevieve Nnaji…?

    He was arraigned on two counts of cybercrime before Justice Mohammed Yunusa.

    The blogger was also alleged to have posted a second with the title: Randy UBA MD, Philips Oduoza’s wife to divorce him over affairs with actress Genevieve.

    Police prosecutor Henry Obiazi claimed the blogger published the stories knowing them to be false.

    According to him, it was for the purpose of annoying Oduoza and causing him ill-will and needless anxiety.

    Obiazi claimed that Chima violated Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.

    One of the counts reads: “That you, Desmond Ike Chima ‘m’ and others now at large, in March 2015, at Ojodu, Lagos, in the Lagos Judicial Division, intentionally sent or published an article by means of computer on the Internet entitled: ‘Randy UBA MD, Philips Oduoza in adultery mess…romances star actress, Genevieve Nnaji…’ for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to the said Philips Oduoza and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015.”

    Chima pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Justice Yunusa adjourned to November 6 for hearing of his bail application.

     

  • Publisher arraigned for ‘adultery’ report against bank chief

    The Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) yesterday arraigned the publisher of Best of Nollywood magazine, Mr Seun Oloketuyi at the Federal High Court in Lagos over a story that Fidelity Bank Managing Director Nnamdi Okonkwo impregnated a staff.

    He was accused of publishing the report on his website – www.naijahottestgist.com.

    Oloketuyi, who is the organiser of the yearly Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), was arraigned on a two-count charge.

    Count One reads in part: “That you, Seun Oloketuyi on or about June, 2015 did knowingly or intentionally send a message and other matters by means of computer systems or network on one Nnamdi Okonkwo the Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing him annoyance, insult and ill-will on www.naijahottestgist.com.”

    In Count Two, Oloketuyi was accused of publishing “defamatory matters” against Okonkwo “with malice” while knowing that the information was false.

    Prosecution counsel Olakanmi Omisope, said the alleged offence contravened Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38.

    Oloketuyi pleaded not guilty.

    The story claimed that Okonkwo impregnated the bank’s “top marketer” known as Justina, which resulted in her husband, Ben, leaving their matrimonial home. The story also claimed that Okonkwo took responsibility for the children’s welfare and schooling.

    Oloketuyi had apologised and retracted the story via www.bestofnollywood.tv, saying: “Naijahottestgist hereby apologises to the Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the management of Fidelity Bank Plc over a story published on www.Naijahottestgist.com on June 18 and titled “Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo breaks Justina’s home, impregnates her”, where we had erroneously alleged that Mr Okonkwo was having an extra marital affair with Mrs Justina, the Head of Marketing team of the bank.

    “Regrettably, Naijahottestgist has discovered that the story wasn’t true as there was never a time Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo indulged in an extra marital affair with the said staff member, Justina.

    “We hereby tender our unreserved apology to Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo and the entire management of Fedelity Bank Plc.

    “Similarly, we hereby retract the story and appeal to all bloggers and news site that might have copied the story from Naijahottestgist to remove the story with immediate effect.”

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned to September 1.

  • Bank chief advocates two-year jail term for defaulters of agric loans

    Bank chief advocates two-year jail term for defaulters of agric loans

    Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Prof. Danbaba Danju, has suggested a two-year jail term for defaulters of agricultural loans in the country.

    Danju spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Makurdi, against the backdrop of increasing cases of loan diversion and default.

    He said that owing to the frequency of loan default in the country, it has become imperative for the government to enact a legislation that would reduce the occurrence.

    According to him, such a law will prescribe appropriate punitive measures against such defaulters. He, however, suggested a two-year jail sentence for such offenders.

    Danju regretted that many beneficiaries of agricultural loans deliberately misapply them, while some never pay back at all.

    He also advised the government to fashion ways of stabilizing the exchange rate to support the growth domestic industries.

    He said the government should focus on achieving low exchange rates to boost agricultural production.

    The bank top executive said the current exchange rate, aimed at raising the local currency, was not good for agro-business in the country.

    Although, he admitted that the exchange rate was a function of both the fiscal and monetary policies of the government, he insisted it was better for the government to control it in favour of agro-business.

    He advised the government to learn from the Chinese model which was in support of the depreciation of its local currency to boost local production and discourage imports.

     

     

  • Diversify forex earnings, bank chief urges govt

    The Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking, UBA Plc, Femi Olaloku, has called on the Federal and state governments to  diversify the productive bases and foreign exchange (Forex) earnings of the economy.

    This, he said, would enable the economy overcome the challenges brought about by dwindling revenues from crude oil sales. Olaloku made the call while speaking as one of the panel discussants during the Banking and Oil industry Forum in Lagos.

    “Dwindling oil prices around the globe pose serious challenges to a developing economy like Nigeria, hence the need for government to also consider various diversification options,” he said.

    He said further devaluation of the naira is imminent and this will make the importation of goods into the country more expensive, encourage local manufacturing and inflow of foreign capital. He assured that Nigerian banks have been strengthened over the last few years and are now well positioned to fund new opportunities that the country may wish to explore as a result of dwindling oil prices.

    “We have a banking system that is today a lot stronger than what it was 10 years ago. Whether in power infrastructure, or in the agriculture, Nigerian banks have been able to meet the growing demand for funding.”

    He said the country needs to leverage on the successful change of political power, and the resulting increased foreign interest in Nigeria to drive economic growth.

    While expressing optimism on the growth opportunities available in the Nigerian economy, he urged   right policies and measures be put in place to fully tap the increased potential of the Nigerian economy.

  • Be job creators, bank chief advises PG students

    Be job creators, bank chief advises PG students

    •UNILAG admits 5,390 for PG

    Postgraduate(PG) students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have been urged to embrace job creation, rather than be job seekers, as a way out of unemployment.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank, Mr Ifie Sekibo, gave gave the advice while delivering a motivational speech at the 2014/2015 session orientation for fresh PG students of the university.

    Sekibo, who was represented by the Group Head, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) of the bank, Mr Adebayo Ogunnusi, said: “There is nothing wrong with looking for a job, but it is better to create jobs. You must change your mindset because many people believe they must have money before they can start a business. Start something from your house. The only way we can move this country forward is when everybody has a hand in a business, thereby creating jobs for the younger generation.’’

    Sekibo also gave the students business tips to improve their marketability.

    “Let whatever business you do become so much a part of you that your name changes to your business name. Understand it and let your passion for it grow. If you are selling snail, let people know you as snail man, before they even know your real name, because it is the business that matters, not your name,” he said.

    Delivering the welcome address at the event, the UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, said 5,390 students were admitted into the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) for the 2014/2015 academic session.

    Of these students, Rahamon said 451 were admitted for postgraduate diploma, 2,848 for masters, 2,014 for professional masters and 77 for doctoral degree.

    On the upcoming convocation, he disclosed that 45 per cent of the graduates are from the SPGS, including 103 PhD graduates.

    He advised the students to apply themselves diligently to their studies and mentor the undergraduates.

  • Bank chief urges bankers on integrity

    Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) president, Mrs. ‘Debola Osibogun has advised bankers on the need to embrace integrity and best practices in the course of their duties.

    Speaking at the CIBN Graduates Induction and Prize Awards Day held in Lagos, she said bankers would always abide by the CIBN code that condemns gratification and bribery among other unwholesome practices in banking. “I wish to remind you of some of the things contained in the Code of Conduct in the Nigerian Banking Industry recently approved by the Bankers Committee.

    You must endeavour to avoid these if only to ensure that you become the heroes and heroines of your chosen profession.  You must avoid engaging in any ventures of which there are clear issues of conflict of interest; abusing the trust reposed in you or your office; misusing official information in the course of your professional career; offering and or accepting gratification or bribe,” she said.

    Osibogun said the induction remains a symbolic reminder of the core mandate of the Institute which is to admit student members who have passed the prescribed examinations and fulfilled all other conditions set by the Governing Council into Associateship (ACIB); admit students into the Associateship of the Institute among others.

    She said this year’s induction sees a record high number of 993 student members who have all successfully completed the qualifying examinations of the Institute. “This number is the highest in the history of the Institute and it comprises of the following; 162 for Associateship, nine for Chartered MBA, four for Treasurers’ Dealership Certificate, 795 for Micro-finance Certification Programme, and, 23 for Certificate in Banking,” she said.

    She congratulated the bankers describing the achievement in completing an extremely demanding, rigorous and tough professional programmes. “Not only is today, a deserved testament to your hard work, your discipline and your commitment, it also represents a major milestone in your lives. It is equally a time for celebration as you mark both the end and beginning of exciting parts of your lives and an occasion on which to look forward to the opportunities available to you as Chartered Bankers, Certified Treasury Dealers and Microfinance Certified Bankers.

    I wish you all the best as you start the next adventure of your lives and hope that this accomplishment opens many doors of opportunity and helps you to realize your personal and professional ambitions,: she said.

    “In today’s dynamic business environment achieving such professional qualifications, demonstrate commitment to professionalism which is an important differentiator in the competitive market place. As bankers there are so much you can do to bring fresh lease of life to the banking & finance sector and businesses in both the private and public sectors. This implies that the economic potential of our country is not limited by your visions and the dreams of the future. I therefore urge you to always “shoot for the moon, even if you miss it you will land among the stars,” she added.

     

  • Bank chief praises holding structure

    Chairman, Stanbic/IBTC, Mr Atedo Peterside, has said the bank’s decision to adopt a holding structure, in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulations on scope of banking activities and Ancilliary Matters No.3 will aid its growth.

    Addressing shareholders at the bank’s extra-ordinary general meeting in Lagos, Peterside said the bank would leverage on the holding structure to consolidate the strenghts of each of its business units.

    He said the development would enhance the entire group’s ability to drive growth in the future. He said the new structure would accrue significant benefits to shareholders, adding that customers will not be exposed to the risks associated with non-banking activities of the other businesses or the group.

    Peterside said the major reason for adopting the new structure is to consolidate on the bank’s goal of building Nigeria’s leading end-to-end financial services organisation, stressing that the issue would help the financial institution to leverage on its competitive advantage in its various business segments.

    He said the bank will grow well, considering the financial resources and global network of Stanbic/IBTC Group.