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Tag: IBILE

  • IBILE partners firm to power SMEs

    IBILE partners firm to power SMEs

    • By Alabi Ogunlade

    In a strategic move to cushion the impact of Nigeria’s energy crisis on low-income earners and small businesses, Lagos State-owned IBILE Microfinance Bank has partnered with Solaris Global Technology to provide affordable access to clean, off-grid solar energy solutions.

    Speaking recently in Lagos, Adegboyega Kazeem, the Managing Director/CEO of IBILE Microfinance Bank, disclosed that the initiative is a direct response to the growing burden of energy costs on economically active Nigerians, particularly those at the grassroots who remain underserved by traditional financial institutions.

    Kazeem said: “Lagos State has always demonstrated a strong commitment to the welfare of its people especially those at the base of the economic pyramid”.

    “These are the small traders, artisans, and informal business owners who are often financially excluded and yet contribute significantly to the local economy.”

    “Under the new partnership, IBILE is facilitating access to a comprehensive solar power package that includes solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, an inverter, energy-efficient LED bulbs, and a fan”.

    “Energy is the backbone of all economic and social activity. For people at the bottom of the pyramid; market women, barbers, tailors, roadside traders, reliable power is not a luxury, it is a necessity for survival. Without it, their livelihoods are at serious risk.”,” Kazeem said.

    He noted that in today’s climate, following the removal of fuel subsidies and the introduction of cost-reflective electricity tariffs, energy affordability has become an even more pressing concern.

    “Ordinarily, purchasing this kind of solar solution would require a one-time, out-of-pocket payment that most of our target customers simply can’t afford,” he explained. “But with this partnership, we’ve reduced the financial barrier and made the product accessible through easy, monthly repayments.

    Kazeem also emphasised the long-term economic and environmental benefits of the product, citing the use of lithium-ion batteries, which have a lifespan of up to eight years, significantly longer than traditional wet-cell or tubular batteries.

    “This isn’t just about power it’s about progress, by embracing solar energy, we are aligning with the Lagos State THEMES+ agenda and key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly those related to poverty reduction, affordable energy, and environmental sustainability”, he added.

    Read Also: FBI moves to arrest Lagos fraudster over N460m Trump inauguration crypto scam

    Kazeem said the initiative reflects IBILE’s broader mission of empowering small businesses and financially excluded Nigerians with solutions that drive inclusion, resilience, and economic growth.

    “Transforming Lagos into a 21st-century economy isn’t just about revenue generation,” he said. “It’s about building a future where even the smallest players in the economy can thrive.”

    While many microfinance institutions in Nigeria face credibility challenges and operational risks, Kazeem said IBILE has remained stable due to good governance and strong systems.

    “Our dream is simple, and it is to move people from survival to stability and from small business to industry leader. With access, affordability, and assurance, we are empowering the future, one loan, one life, one business at a time,” he said.

  • Lagos flags-off Ibile Youth Academy

    Lagos State Government on Monday flagged off IBILE Youth Academy leadership training for youths at the five divisions of the state.

    The divisions are Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.

    Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf  said the IBILE Youth Academy (IYA) have been specifically designed to be a life changing experience for all participating youths in all its training centres across the state.

    Akinbile-Yusuf, who was speaking at the flagging off ceremony of the IBILE Youth Academy in Epe, said the academy in no limitations or segments will be giving a lifetime platform to youths across the state to be part of a life changing experience, also to help them grow through the training which would be held annually.

    She said: “IYA is all about helping the youths to chart a path for a progressive and prosperous adult life while it promises to be a life changing and once in a life time.”

    She noted that the best ten participants in each centre would be going on camping where they would be taken through different exercise which will produce one participant each as the ambassador for his or her division and will be opportune to be presented as youth Ambassadors across the state.

    She appealed to all 500 participants to be of good values, by being disciplined, punctual, team building effort, active participation, and to know the importance of social interaction.

    A participant, Funso Mojisola Jelilat (18), said she has been blessed being a participant at the academy as she her eyes is now open to so many things that seemed hidden to her before the commencement of the academy.

    She thanked the Lagos State government for paying utmost attention to the well-being of its youths knowing full well that when government builds its youths, it is this building the nation.

    The training will educate youths on self-discovery, volunteerism, goal-setting, creative thinking skills, team building, effective communication and public speaking skills, environmental responsibilities, sex, sexuality and relationships, adolescent health, entrepreneurship, employability skill, finance and investment, ICT innovation and review of Child’s Right Law.

  • As Ibile Games 2015 Ends: Lagos students receive Adidas awards

    As Ibile Games 2015 Ends: Lagos students receive Adidas awards

    The closing ceremony of the Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games 2015 was a moment of joy for some students who performed brilliantly  in the two weeks championship.

    Adidas Special Awards were given to four outstanding athletes during the closing ceremony held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere at the weekend. The awards were presented to the athletes by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, who declared the tournament closed.

    Yinusa Idowu, 16-year-old JSS 3 student of Mobolaji Bank Anthony Junior High School, Sabo, Yaba was rewarded for winning five gold medals in Gymnastics Junior Boys’ event, while 13-year-old Morayo Okungbuwa, a JSS 3 student of Meadow Hall, Lekki won eight gold, two silver in Swimming Junior Girls’ category.

    Oluwadare Samuel, 15-year-old SSS2 student of Questland College, Idimu won three gold medals in Chess Senior Boys’ event, while Ojo Franca Benson, 15-year-old SSS2 student of Ipakodo Senior Grammar School, Ikorodu won seven gold and one silver medal in the Swimming Senior Girls’ category.

    Some schools were recognised in the Deaf Schools Athletics.

    Wesley School 1 (For Deaf), Ajao Surulere won JSS Best Boys School award. State Junior Grammar School, Eric Moore, Surulere won the JSS Best Girls School award.

    Do-Estdot College, Idimu won the SSS Best Boys School award, while State Senior Grammar School, Eric Moore, Surulere won SSS Senior Girls School award.

    Two most outstanding athletes (boys and girls) in each of the 22 sports featured in the competition were also recognised by the Main Organising Committee(MOC) of the tourney.

    Governor Fashola enjoined all the students to face their studies very well, even as they continue to excel in their sporting career. He praised the organisers of the maiden secondary schools sports festival in Lagos for a job well done.

    The chairman of the MOC, who is also the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development in Lagos,  Wahid Enitan Oshodi, also hailed the spirit of sportsmanship of the participating athletes, saying that championship targeting at discovery of talents from the schools is the backbone of meaningful development of sports of the country.

    Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council, Dr. Kweku Tandoh said that “from the array of budding talents identified in all the sports competed in, we are further convinced that a deliberate and consistent schools sports development focus is the right way forward to sporting excellence.”

    Queens College students thrilled the students and the invited guests to an exciting callisthenics display.

  • Registration for Ibile Games 2015 ends Jan. 16

    The Main Organising Committee (MOC) of Lagos State Secondary Schools Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games 2015 has said that the ongoing registration for the competition will close on January 16.

    With two weeks to the commencement of the tournament, no fewer than 174 schools have so far registered to participate in the competition, which holds from Monday, 26 January 26  to February 6.

    The MOC in a statement said that entry forms (sport by sport for schools), athlete’s individual registration and entry forms for participation in the games can still be collected by schools at Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Institutional Sports Department inside Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Agege Stadium, Campus Mini Stadium, Lagos Island, Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island and the five Education Districts in Lagos State.

    Permanent Secretary, Office of Sports, Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Sewedo Oluseyi Whenu said  Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)  has made available all resources and logistic support for a successful organisation of the games

    Forms are available in Junior Secondary School category, Senior Secondary School category and open category – combined JSS and SSS.

    The Ibile Games 2015 is for all public and private secondary schools in Lagos State that include Lagos State Government schools, Federal Government schools, military, missionary and other privately owned secondary schools.

    The schools will participate in Athletics (including Deaf Athletics), Chess, Gymnastics, Scrabble, Swimming, Weightlifting, Boxing, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Badminton, Table Tennis (including Deaf Table Tennis), Tennis and Squash.

  • 2014 IBILE GAMES: SWIMMERS SATISFIED WITH TOURNAMENT’S OUTCOME

    2014 IBILE GAMES: SWIMMERS SATISFIED WITH TOURNAMENT’S OUTCOME

    SWIMMERS at the ongoing 2014 Lagos State Sports Festival, “Ibile Games”, have expressed satisfaction with the competition, saying it afforded them the opportunity to show their skills.

    The swimmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the swimming pool of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, venue of the event that the Games were not only to discover talents but also to develop them.

    NAN reports that the Games were organised by the Lagos State Sports Council to prepare athletes ahead of the 19th National Sports Festival in Calabar in November.

    John Faith, a swimmer from Pakoro Junior Grammar School, Majidun, Ikorodu, told NAN that she was impressed with the event, saying she had excelled in the tournament.

    Faith, who had won two of the four events she participated in, described her participation as a step to improving her skills ahead of the upcoming national and international meets.

    “It’s a good competition; it has motivated me to do more in spite of winning.

    “We competed with older and more experienced swimmers and which did not really favour us the upcoming ones.

    “I took part in four events and I came first in 200 freestyle, first in 50m butterfly, second in 50m freestyle,’’she said.

    Ronald Victor from Majidun Ikorodu, a swimmer in the junior male category, said that in spite of his ill health, he won one of his events.

    “Although, I’ve been a bit ill, I still came first in the 50m freestyle, third in 200m freestyle and second in the individual event, it’s been a good feel,’’ Victor said.

  • PRELIMINARY ENTRY FORMS OUT FOR LGS/LCDAS, SCHOOLS

    PRELIMINARY ENTRY FORMS OUT FOR LGS/LCDAS, SCHOOLS

    THE Technical Committee of the 2014 Lagos State Sports Festival tagged IBILE Games has called on eligible schools, local government councils and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, to undergo preliminary registration of sports they are interested to feature in during the sports fiesta which holds April 30 to Saturday, May 10.

    According to the statement from the Secretary of the competition’s Technical Committee, Adewale Adelekan, the preliminary registration is meant to indicate sports which each LG, LCDA, private and public school is interested in during the championship.

    According to the statement, the forms will be available for both open and junior categories through the email of the tournament; ibilegames2014@gmail.com, officials of the Lagos State Sports Council, LSSC posted to the 57 LGs/LCDAs, Technical Department of the LSSC at Rowe Park, Yaba, various secretaries of sports associations at Rowe Park, Yaba, School Sports Department at LSSC and through sports officers of the six Education Districts in Lagos State.

    The closing date for all preliminary entry forms is March 31, while submission in the case of open category should be made to the Technical Department of the LSSC and to the Technical Department or School Sports Department, LSSC in the case of the junior category.

    The statement added that “upon submission of the preliminary entry forms, the final entry forms will be given to the LGs/LCDAs and the schools (public/private) for them to register with each association of the sports they wish to take part in during the Ibile Games.

    “The closing date for the final entry forms is April 14 and these forms should be submitted to the Technical Department at LSSC in Rowe Park, Yaba.”

    The Technical Committee warned that the deadline for the submission of the forms should be strictly adhered to in order to give various sports associations sufficient time to prepare for their draws ceremony and conclude other pre-competition organisational procedures.