The Nation Newspaper

Tag: deal

  • Ecobank, Eleni sign deal

    Ecobank Transnational Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with commodity exchanges developer Eleni LLC,  to establish  a co-operative for  promoting  and accelerating the development of Africa’s agricultural sector

    Ecobank’s Group Chief Executive, Albert Essien, and CEO of Eleni, Dr Eleni Gabre-Madhin,  signed the deal  during the AfDB’s Annual General Meeting(AGM) in Kigali.

    The partnership is aimed at realising a shared vision to transform Africa’s competitiveness in global commodity markets, enhancing value addition and processing in the domestic economy and enhancing food security. The partnership will look to build on the synergies between Ecobank’s unrivalled pan-African presence and its commitment to financial inclusion and eleni’s successful track record of creating and operating commodity exchanges in Africa, with projects in Ghana, Cameroon, Mozambique, and Nigeria.

    Ecobank  announced that it was a key investor in the establishment of the Ghana Commodity Exchange, Eleni’s first major foray in West Africa.

    “As well as increasing market transparency and reducing transaction costs, commodity exchanges play a crucial role in the monitoring and assessment of risk,” commented  Essien.

    “Instruments such as warehouse receipts reduce uncertainty and improve access to finance across the value chain. We look forward to collaborating further with Eleni to enhance Africa’s agricultural financing capabilities.”

    “We are very excited to be working with one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, with a solid pan-African focus, as this opens up a tremendous opportunity to establish the leading platform for commodity-related payments and transactions across the continent,”  Gabre-Madhin added.

  • Emirates, Arik Air sign deal

    Emirates Airlines and Arik Air  have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost their  commercial relationship.

    The deal was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Planning, Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs, and Chris Ndlulue, Arik Air’s Managing Director, at Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai.

    Emirates and Arik Air have a one-way interline agreement, whereby Emirates passengers are connected throughout Nigeria and West Africa via Arik Air’s current domestic and regional network.

    “Both Emirates and Arik Air have expressed interest in exploring ways to expand on our existing commercial relationship and to look at different areas in which we can cooperate that will be mutually beneficial to both airlines, including seamless connectivity for our customers on our respective networks.

    We also intend to explore the potential of code share arrangements as passenger traffic flows mature between both parties’ networks,” said Kazim.

    “Arik Air is delighted to partner with Emirates. Both airlines share a similar vision of convenience and safety for our customers.

    “While Arik Air is happy to open its network in Nigeria and West Africa to Emirates passengers, we are excited at the vast worldwide network of Emirates being made available to Arik Air’s passengers.

    The invaluable cooperation between the two airlines offers a lot of synergy to both airlines in achieving their objectives,” added Mr Ndlulue.

    Emirates and Arik Air will also explore other areas of cooperation for the future, including frequent flier programmes, passenger and cargo handling.

  • Okpako joins Santos on a year’s deal

    Okpako joins Santos on a year’s deal

    Ex-Nigeria youth international Solomon Okpako has joined South African first division club Santos on a year’s deal, his agent has told AfricanFootball.com

    Okpako was part of Chippa United who secured promotion to the PSL, but he was released at the end of the season.

    “Solomon (Okpako) has joined Santos. It is a year’s deal with option to extend it by another year,” his agent Mohammed Lawal told AfricanFootball.com

    The former Kano Pillars midfielder has played for Panionios (Greece) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).

    He was part of Flying Eagles squad prior to the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt, he won WAFU Cup in 2010 with the home-based Eagles and he was called up to the country’s full international team ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

  • Keshi demands N72m yearly deal

    Keshi demands N72m yearly deal

    • Danagogo reveals that Big Boss wants N6m monthly
    • Vows to pay coach for Congo, South Africa games if NFF refuses

    Sports  Minister,Tammy Danagogo has revealed that Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, who is on the verge of renegotiating a new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, has actually requested for a monthly salary of N6 million contrary to the N15 million he was touted to have demanded for.

    The Minister also disclosed that Keshi has exhibited patriotism to the extent that he is willing to even dropped the idea of the increment in his monthly wages to help his country prosecute the two Africa Nations Cup qualifiers holding next month. Danagogo however blamed the NFF crisis for the delay in sealing the coach’s contract.

    “The NFF has been negotiating with Stephen Keshi but apparently because of the situation on ground the negotiation has not been very successful. If you look at it his contract expired about when we just exited the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    “Apparently the NFF as at then was not very eager to re-negotiate with him. So we (National Sports Commission) were trying to see whether the NFF will negotiate with him. They were on that when a few things started coming up. Then Maigari left, Maigari was suspended and Mike Umeh came in. Umeh then commenced negotiation with him (Keshi) but negotiation was stalled because they couldn’t agree on the remuneration.

    “We again told Umeh to allow Maigari to come in to finish his tenure and do a peaceful election. From that Maigari came back and they too said that that amount of money they won’t be able to agree with it.

    “Then I look at it that we have a match on the 6th of September (2014) why do we unduly delay the contract. So I called Keshi personally to know what the issues were. He told me what they have offered him and what he has asked to be paid.

    “I asked him if he is desirous to do the job. He said he is desirous and I told him I will undertake to see that when the dust is settled on NFF issue we will get him and the NFF to sit down and sign the contract. I then asked him to come and do the work and if need be the Ministry can pay him. I told him if the NFF cannot pay him the NSC can pay for things to be done.

    “He then told me for the love of his country he will come and start and when the NFF is settled they can agree. What they have offered and what Keshi is demanding is not even more than a million naira difference. It is just for the NFF to be settled and then Keshi’s contract will be signed.The issue of what to pay Keshi is no longer a challenge.

    “Even with what I have discussed with him now he can even waive that. So it is now left for the two sides to sit down, sign the contract and also agree on other issues in the contract. The issues to be resolved are assistant coaches, and so on. These are the details of the needful to be sorted out,” Danagogo explained.

  • Keshi’s deal ready in 24 hours

    Keshi’s deal ready in 24 hours

    • NFF man keeps mute on details

    Stephen Keshi’s new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will be ready in the next 24 hours, according to his agent, Emmanuel Ado.

    Keshi’s representatives have been locked in talks with the NFF team led by Deji Tinubu, and after almost six hours of discussions on Wednesday, Ado has told SL0.ng that the contract should be ready for Keshi’s signature within the next 24-hours.

    He said: “Negotiations have been going on well and we are very hopeful that in the next 24-hours, there will be a contract ready for Stephen Keshi to sign.”

    NFF had announced a couple of weeks ago of their desire to have Keshi continue as the Eagles gaffer, but SL10.ng can report that contract negotiations only officially commenced on Wednesday. And Emmanuel Ado posits that negotiations have been progressive.

    “The talks have been progressive and Keshi’s lawyer will take a look at the final draft of the contract once it is ready so I don’t think we have any problems there.”

    Meanwhile, he went on to say that they haven’t asked for a N10m monthly salary, but insists that Keshi is not N5m Coach.

    “There was never a time we asked for N10million and Keshi shouldn’t be portrayed as a money monger. But be that as it may, I insist that Keshi is not a 5million Naira Coach, neither is he a 10million Naira Coach. But there are a lot of issues besides money that has to be sorted and that is what Keshi is asking for,” he posited.

    On the part of the NFF, their chief negotiator ‘Deji Tinubu has refused to speak on the details of the contract, but reacted to the position of Keshi’s camp that the former Nigeria captain is not a N5m Coach after it emerged that was the NFF’s opening offer.

    He said: “I cannot talk about the details of the contract yet until it is ready and signed. We have to keep the confidentiality of the deal but we have to deliberate on it and get back to them so it can be signed as soon as possible.

    “If somebody says he’s going to pay his staff a particular amount, it is alright for the employee to reject it because he or she probably has a valuation of his or herself. They’ve come to us with something but we will get back to them with what we can afford and what we think is adequate,” Tinubu said.

  • Buba Seals Al-Masry deal

    Buba Seals Al-Masry deal

    Ahead of the start of  the season, Egyptian Premier League side Al-Masry have completed the signing of Minusa Buba.

    The attacker has penned a two – year deal with the Green Eagles that will keep him at the club till the end of the 2015 – 2016, provided both parties honour the agreement.

    Minusa Buba might be an unknown quantity in his homeland, but he is regarded as one of the top marksmen to grace the Egyptian championship, having topped the goal-scoring charts back in 2010.

    ”I had prayed to God to show me the club I will play for this summer. After three days, the coach of Al Masry called me.

    ”He told me he really needed me to join this team and I accepted. I signed for two years,” Buba said to SL10.ng.

    The 29-year-old played for El-Kanemi Warriors before transferring to Coton Sport FC de Garoua.

    He has spent most of his career in Egypt representing Arab Contractors, ENPPI, Ittihad El-Shorta and El Gouna.

  • Manu Garba: Iheanacho is the real deal

    Manu Garba: Iheanacho is the real deal

    • Yaya Toure tips Nigerian youngster for success

    Nigeria national Under-20 coach Manu Garba says Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho has the quality to play for any team in the world.

    Garba, who was in charge of Iheanacho when Nigeria won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup last year, knows the youngster very well and what he is capable of doing.

    The forward been impressive for City during their pre-season tour of the United States, scoring goals and being generally very impressive for the Blues.

    In a chat with the Manchester Evening news site, Garba says he is not surprised to see the 17-year-old thriving.

    “I am not surprised at all by what Iheanacho has shown because, if given the chance, he can play for any team in the world,” he said.

    “He already has the technique to flourish at the highest level and the only thing the more established players at City could have over him is experience.

    “At his age, his finishing around the box puts him in a class of his own. He usually scores five goals during our training sessions.

    “Once you give him the space and allow him to control the ball around the goal area, he can convert three of the five chances he gets. He is that good.

    “His recent performance for his club will give him even more confidence to step up his game,” he added.

    Nigerian youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho has been tipped to record massive success in future by Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure.

    Iheanacho has impressed with Manchester City in the club’s tour to the US with manager, Manuel Pellegrini extravagant in his adulation for the 17-year old’s talents.

    Toure, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, has moved to salute the prowess of the former Nigeria under-17 star.

    “Kelechi is an exciting player. I love the way he plays and I feel that he will have a good career at the club and go on to become one of the players of the future,” he told the club’s official website, mcfc.com.

    Iheanacho has been impressive for City in pre-season and scored in his senior debut against Kansas City on July 23.

    His performance against the MLS side was so impressive that Pellegrini described him as the “future” of the club. He showed his display against Kansas City was no fluke when he netted his second goal in as many games against AC Milan on July 27.

    Following his heroics in pre-season Toure has now joined Pellegrini to express admiration for the talent of the youngster.

    It is still unclear if Iheanacho will be integrated into the full City squad for the 2014/15 season.

  • Obasi hopes to seal a deal

    Obasi hopes to seal a deal

    Deportivo de La Coruna hopeful and Nigeria youth – teamer Chigozie Obasi has given an overview of his first ten days of practicing with the La Liga newcomers.

    Sunday will make it two weeks since he departed the shores of the country to resume training with the Brancoazuis, with the hope of signing a pre – contract with them in the coming days.

    In a telephone conversation with allnigeriasoccer.com on Thursday afternoon, Obasi said: “Training is good, everything is okay. I have not missed a single training since I started training with Deportivo de La Coruna last week Monday.

    “I am training with the Reserve Team. I have been involved in a friendly with them and hope to play again this weekend in our next friendly. My teammates have been nice to me; everybody has been good to me.”

    His teammate in the 2013 Golden Eaglets setup, Isaac Success, is also in Spain training with Granada, and both players will meet again this weekend to take stock of their activities.

    “Since I came to Spain, I always speak on phone with Isaac Success. I will go and see him and Uche Agbo on Sunday. I miss them a lot, so I have to see them.”

    Obasi made two appearances for the Golden Eaglets at the FIFA Under17s held in United Arab Emirates towards the end of last year.

  • Al Arabi deal: Standard Liege agree 8m Euros deal for Imoh Ezekiel

    Al Arabi deal: Standard Liege agree 8m Euros deal for Imoh Ezekiel

    Standard Liege have announced that the club have struck a deal with their Qatari counterparts Al – Arabi over the transfer of Nigeria international Imoh Ezekiel.

    The financial terms and duration of the contract the 20 – year – old will sign probably this weekend have not yet been disclosed.

    But it is understood that the product of 36 Lion will append his signature to at least a three – year deal, with the Belgium champions set to pocket 8 million Euros as transfer fee for agreeing to do business with Al Arabi.

    “Being with Standard has filled me with good memories and I cannot thank the club enough.

    “When I came to Europe, other clubs never gave me a chance to play. But Standard Liege gave me an opportunity, a chance to show myself and my talent, for me that will stay with me forever,” Imoh Ezekiel told the official website.

    “I owe everything to Standard and I really appreciate everything they have done for me since the first day I got here.

    “I will always have Standard Liege with me wherever I go.”

    In his two – and – a – half year stay at Standard Liege, Imoh Ezekiel netted 32 goals in 91 appearances in all competitions.

  • Alampasu to sign Genk deal Sunday

    Alampasu to sign Genk deal Sunday

    Nigeria U20 goalkeeper Dele Alampasu is set to sign a pre-contract with Belgian club Racing Genk on Sunday.

    A top source close to the former Nigeria U-17 shot stopper informed AfricanFootball.com that he is waiting for his agent to join him in Belgium for his contract negotiations to be finalised.

    He is expected to sign a professional contract when he turns 18 on Christmas eve.

    Alampasu, who was on the final squad to the 2014 CHAN in South Africa, first tried out with Genk before a freak training ground accident cut short his stint with the club as he suffered a knee injury that required surgery.

    The player’s agent Sunday Orelaga has always maintained that Genk are keen to sign the tall goalkeeper even though the club’s management has been overhauled.