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Tag: Ibukun Awosika

  • Awosika, Nwuneli to speak at The Platform

    The Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika; President, Africa Institution of Technology Dr. Ndubuisi Ekekwe; Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting Ndidi Nwuneli have been listed to speak at the second edition of The Platform.

    The Convener, Pastor Poju Oyemade, reiterated that The Platform is aimed at stimulating, equipping and challenging the mind, will and the intellect of Nigerians.

    Themed ‘The Drivers, Enablers and Obstacles to our Growth’, Oyemade said the second edition is focused to examine growth, its drivers and obstacles at personal, organisational and national level, looking at the things that will propel growth.

    He added: “It is a highly respected organic movement, conducting a series of impactful   intellectual events that have transformed the minds and lives of hundreds of thousands of people, thus propelling them into to new level of operation.”

    The cleric noted that The Platform has garnered successes in helping individuals make paradigm shifts and yet continues to unfold new levels of remarkable insights.

    Venue is the Covenant, beside National Theatre Iganmu, Lagos.

  • Awosika, Nwuneli, others to speak at The Platform

    The chairman Board of Directors First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika; President Africa Institution of Technology, Dr. Ndubuisi Ekekwe; Managing Partner Sahel Consulting Ndidi Nwuneli have been listed to speak at the second edition of The Platform conveyed by Head Pastor Covenant Christian Centre, Poju Oyemade.

    Oyemade stated it is committed to facilitate growth in a personal capacity, productivity and foster national development.

    According to Oyemade, the event scheduled to hold tomorrow May 1 at the Covenant beside National Theatre Iganmu Lagos, is aimed at stimulating, equipping and challenging the mind, will and the intellect of Nigerian.

    The theme of this edition ‘The drivers, enablers and obstacles to our growth’, according to the convener is targeted at triggering growth personal, organisational and national level looking at the things that will propel growth.

    He said: “It is a highly respected organic movement, conducting a series of impactful   intellectual events that have transformed the minds and lives of hundreds of thousands of People thus propelling them into to new level of operation.”

    Oyemade noted that The Platform has garnered huge success in helping individuals make a great paradigm shift and unfold new levels of remarkable insights.

    Other speakers include Founder, B. Adedipe Associates Limited Dr. Biodun Adedipe; Founder Pando Daily, Sarah Lacy; Chairman, Editorial board, Thisday Newspapers, Segun Adeniyi; and Dr. Anil Guta

  • N17b judgment debt: Appeal Court sets aside convictions of First Bank chiefs

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos, has set aside the decision of a federal high court, Lagos, which convicted the Chairman of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Pastor Ibukun Awosika and the bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan for contempt over a judgment debt of N17 billion.

    The appellate court voided the decision of the lower court on the ground that the judge erred in law when it convicted the bank chiefs for contempt on the allegation of breach of an undertaking.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba of the federal high court in Lagos had found Awosika and Adeduntan guilty of refusal of the bank to release N17 billion plus interests that First Bank allegedly guaranteed to pay the Ejama-Ebubu community on behalf of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited in respect of the judgment debt against SPDC in an oil spill suit filed by the community.

    The judge in his judgment of June 6, 2018 sentenced them to three months imprisonment but suspended the sentencing till September 6, 2018 to enable the bank and its officials to purge themselves of the contempt

    The court had in its judgment ordered First Bank Plc to pay Ejama-Ebubu community of Ogoni in Rivers State the sum of N17 billion bond guaranteed by the bank on behalf of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC). But First Bank Plc refused to obey the order of the court forcing Justice Ibrahim Buba to commit the 1st to 3 defendants to jail for contempt.

    In the substantive suit, ten indigenes of Ejama community in Ogoniland, had through their counsel, Lucius Nwosu (SAN) sued Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands; Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom; and SPDC over alleged oil spills that occurred when Shell operated in the community at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

    Dissatisfied with the decision of Justice Buba on their conviction for contempt, the bank chiefs through their lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) filed an appeal.

    In the appeal, the bank chiefs had asked the appellate court to set aside the decision of the federal high court on diverse grounds, which include that the lower court erred in law, acted without jurisdiction and reached a perverse decision when it granted the respondents’ motion on notice for committal of the appellants for contempt in respect of the Order of Court dated August 5, 2010 in suit No: FHC/PH/CS231/2001.

    According to the Notice of Appeal, the said Order of August 5, 2010 was not made against the appellants (Awosika and Adeduntan), adding that the appellants were never parties to the suit in which the order was made neither did order mandated the appellants to perform any act.

    The appellants submitted that the learned trial judge erred in law and acted without jurisdiction when he heard and determined the contempt application dated March 19, 2018, adding that the judge lacked the jurisdiction to commit the appellants for alleged ex-facie contempt of the order he had made.

    The appellants also contended that the lower court erred in law and reached a perverse decision when it convicted the appellants for contempt of court and imposed a prison sentence without taking oral evidence of witnesses.

    The appellants submitted that the respondents as complainants before the lower court did not call oral evidence; the lower court did not hear any oral evidence and the criminal allegation of contempt of court was not proved beyond reasonable doubt before proceeding to commit the appellants for contempt and imposing a sentence.

    They also contended that the lower court erred in law and breached appellants’ right to fair hearing when it convicted and sentenced them to term of imprisonment in their absence, adding that the presence of the appellants is mandatory for conviction.

    The appellants therefore asked the court to dismiss, strike out the respondents’ motion dated March 19, 2018, strike out the Suit No: FHC/L/NRJ/1/2018 and make an order discharging and acquitting the appellants from the committal and sentence imposed by the lower court in its decision of June 6, 2018.

    The court of appeal in its lead judgment by  Justice J.Y. Tukur on Friday, granted the prayers of the appellants and therefore set aside Justice Buba’s decision, which earlier convicted the bank chiefs.

  • Awosika tasks women on financial discipline, management

    Mrs Ibukun Awosika, the Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), has urged Nigerian women to develop discipline in financial management by shunning extravagant and unnecessary spending.

    Awosika made the remark in a capacity building programme entitled, ‘’FirstGem Empowerment Programme’’ organised by (FBN) on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

    She observed that some women spent more money on expensive things like weave-ons, especially Brazilian hair; gold jewellery, clothing and others, urging them to cut down their spending and save money.

    She said that women were assets to their households, adding, ‘’this is because they are able to stand in on the day of hardship,’’ she said.

    She noted that some women could make money but did not understand the real management of money or have informed judgement on how to manage money.

    Awosika said some women could not even make efforts to make money on their own but relaxed because they had rich husbands.

    She said, ‘The wife of a rich man is not a rich woman; she has a borrowed appearance.’’

    She explained that that was why when the rich husband died, the wife if lucky not to be thrown away by her husband’s relatives, would not know how to manage the wealth left by her husband.

    Awosika urged women to start wealth creation and shun being a wife who is a liability.

    She said that they needed courage, resolve and strength of character as well as grit and grind in order to be relentless in their will to do their best in wealth creation.

    Read Also: Awosika to youths: you’re Nigeria’s hope

    ‘’If you want to be successful in building wealth, you must build the right circle of friends, who can set goals and come back together to check the rate of achievement,’’ she said.

    Also speaking, Mrs Subu Giwa-Amu of Brookstone Investment and Properties said that the steps along real estate investment journey was to aspire, set target, act, manage and diversify.

    She urged women not to invest in any business they did not understand and should not always jump at the first offer given to them.

    She also advised them not to wait for opportunities to come as there is a lot of opportunities around.

    Giwa-Amu added, ‘’start now but respect certain life principles, do not cheat so that you will be successful.’’

    One of the participants, Mrs Meke Therazita, said that she liked the lectures and hoped that women would try their best to improve and be self-dependent on their business as well as help their husbands.

    Another participant, Miss Juliana Masi described the lecture as having great impact, saying she learnt a lot from it.

    She said that she had resolved to embark on real estate business.

    According to her, as a woman there’s a strong need for me to create wealth for myself and my children and of course to support my husband, I will not like him to always give me what I want.

    ‘’I can be self-reliant, self-sustainable and FirstGem has given me a platform by building my capacity to do that and I am very grateful,’’ Masi said. (NAN)

  • Awosika challenges youths on self-reliance

    Chairman, Board of Directors of First Bank Plc. Mrs Ibukun Awosika,  has urged Nigerian youths to be self-reliant and be optimistic in overcoming challenges of life.

    She made the call at a workshop organised by the bank for students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Friday in Ile-Ife, Osun.

    While narrating her life experiences and how she climbed the ladder of success, Awosika advised youths to be prepared to be champions in any given society they might find themselves.

    She said that “the struggle of man which begins at birth is a necessity for every individual to face.

    “Every human must be determined to weather the storm of life, if success is desired.

    “Students should think of what they can do for Nigeria, rather than wait for what Nigeria can do for them because the country is a land of opportunities, despite all odds.

    “Our students should not allow the challenges of the nation to dampen their morale, rather, they should see themselves as one of those who will impact positively on the nation.”

    According to her, when the society changes for the better, the outcome will result in emergence of good leaders who will take the nation to greater height.

    Read Also: FirstBank plans youth mentoring with Awosika

    The bank chairman, business magnate, author and motivational speaker said  “If every Nigerian is good, we won’t produce bad leaders” and urged the students to believe in themselves and be patriotic.

    She added that “every season is different in life and you can only succeed during your own season because it has its own time.

    “Ask yourselves as youths, how prepared are you to make your own impact during your season?.

    “You are accountable adults at this stage. Be old enough to discipline yourselves,” she counselled.

    Awosika also advised the students not to do what they wanted if left in an open ended setting, stressing that what they did would hunt them one day.

    NAN

  • Oyedepo, Awosika, challenge youths on right leadership

    Varsity holds 13′ Release of Eagles’

     

    Astute entrepreneur and Chairman First Bank of Nigeria Plc Mrs Ibukun Awosika, set the Covenant University Chapel on fire on Monday.

    As one of the firm believers in the Nigerian project, Awosika said she sees avalanche of opportunities in Nigeria regardless of her current social and economic challenges, adding that the youths are gladiators of these opportunities.

    Awosika was the keynote speaker at the 13th convocation of Covenant University Ota Ogun State, on Monday. This year’s convocation was tagged: ‘Release of Eagles 2018.

    She spoke on the theme: ‘Influencing change in Africa: Roles and responsibilities of emerging leaders’

    “I want to tell you that there is hope for this country, and you are that hope we are eagerly anticipating,” Awosika began.

    “Despite our social and economic challenges, I still remain a positive person. Do no allow anybody to tell you we have all hope lost in this country.

    “You are a shining example of the materials that would convince young men and women out there that they did not have to perish inside the Mediterranean Sea while desperately seeking greener pastures in Europe. You are the ones that will shut the mouth of that president who described our country as ‘shithole’

    Using her life experience as an example, Awosika said hardly has anything changed over the last three decades that she started her business. Nonetheless, she said her determination to brave the odds, saw her to the pinnacle of her career.

    “To succeed in life is all about perception. I recall one of the challenges I had when I started my business 30 years ago was power. Today, nothing has changed about power now; but I’m at the pinnacle of my career. This simply meant what I saw then was opportunities and not problems. If I had waited for power to adjust then, I wouldn’t have been where I am today.”

    She encouraged them to be flexible in a knowledge-seeking world in their quest for relevance,

    “In this generation, innovation becomes so fluid that whatever you acquired today becomes obsolete within two years. Therefore, you need to continually think through things, be more creative daring and enterprising to remain relevant,” she advised.

    Read Also: FirstBank plans youth mentoring with Awosika

    She warned them not to be worried when they see others getting rich without knowing the source of their wealth.  She also appealed to them to admit the stark reality that some of their contemporaries with whom they all graduated yesterday would strike gold early. She warned them not to show envy but celebrate them, knowing full well that by fate, Man is destined to arrive at his Canaan land at God’s appointed time.

    She challenged them to snap out of their parents’ world, and carve themselves a lasting identity, saying they would be running the greatest risk if they continue to think the wealth of their privileged parents would sustain them after graduation.

    In their quest for a life partner, Awosika also urged them to also seek a spouse who would identify with their dreams, share their moments of triumph and failure, and support them greatness

    Chancellor Covenant University, Dr David Oyedepo said Nigeria and other institutions have a lot to learn from Covenant University in terms of prudence and right leadership.

    He said: “Since 1999 that we started this university, we have never borrowed. Besides, we have never run out of power or electricity. At no time did we have any cause to adjust our calendar for convocation. This can only be achieved through right leadership and prudent use of resources.

    “This is what is lacking in Nigeria today. Unfortunately, many of our leaders don’t know the definition of leadership. A leader does not make progress by staying on the same spot; he needs to constantly be on the move. Leadership is not just mere talking but, demonstrating by taking the lead. Leadership not an endowment, but a product of outstanding accomplishments.”

    This, Oyedepo explained, birthed the Total Man Concept as a course meant to instill discipline and right leadership in the students.

    He said CU would remain committed to its vision of raising a new generation of leaders in every area of human endeavour for Nigeria, African and the world at large.

    “I implore you all to start thinking changing and start thinking solutions to challenges confronting the nation.” Oyedepo concluded.

    The graduating students comprised 238 first class recipients, 746 second class upper honours, 452 second class lower, 86 in third class as well as 365 post graduate students.

    Similarly, Miss Salami Toluwani, emerged the best students with Cumulative Gradient Point of Average (CGPA) of 4.99 from Industrial Chemistry, College of Sciences.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aderemi Atayero, said five of the 1,887graduands had already been conferred chartered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

    Atayero said CU is glad that many of their graduates are job creators, while those who sought employment are creating differences at their various duty posts as testified by their employers.

    Atayero, however, attributed the success achieved to high quality teaching and research, and entrenchment of discipline.

    He said “A major reason for this success is the focus Covenant University places on providing high quality teaching linked to high quality research. Our teaching is supported by leading edge research. Many of our teaching staff has received awards for their contributions to teaching and research.”

    Atayero implored the graduating students to deploy all what they had been through to solve the nation’s problems.

    Representative of the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission Dr Noah Salu who is in charge of commission’s accreditation, praised CU for being consistent with its convocation calendar, saying other institutions should learn a lesson from this.

  • Fashola calls for investment in education, others

    The Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has called for continued investment in education, hands works, production and love for the country.

    He spoke at City Hall in Onikan, Lagos on Thursday, during the Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) Gabfest 2018 to celebrate his 55th birthday. The theme was: “The youth in Nigeria: Mapping the future”.

    Fashola’s call were part of the resolutions he made for youths in Nigeria to map the future.

    He said there should be continued investment in education, adding that is what would secure the future of the youths and the nation at large.

    “We should also not let down our local language; we should try and explain things we know to our children in our local language, because the understanding is deeper when the teaching is in the local dialect.”

    Fashola also called for children to be taught how to use their hands, saying this would make them to become producers.

    “Often times, we are in a hurry to get our children memorize things without understanding and this makes them to only know how to take orders.

    Read Also: End estimated billing now, Fashola tells DISCOs

    Children should be originated to solve problems. We need to change our curriculum; classes should be dedicated to solve problems so that we will build a generation of problem solvers.”

    “We must not speak evil against our father land, which is our country Nigeria. If you love something, you will overlook the negative sides and focus on the strength. A lot of us have identified the problems we have as a nation, but how many of us have brought up the solution.”

    He urged Nigerians to spend more time on production and hard work, saying all should use made in Nigeria things.  “We want Nigerians to produce opportunities and food among other things.  It does not start and end with government alone; we all have a part to play,” he said.

    Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Chair Centre Group, Ibukun Awosika, said there is need to create a right environment, noting that it starts from harmonizing the education system.

    Awosika who was the keynote speaker said; “The future of the adults is not secured if we cannot secure the future of the youths. If we do not build the right generation of youths now in the country, they will be the one to destroy the country in the future.

    “We need to give the youths the knowledge that will be relevant now and in years to come. Graduates must have the skills that are needed in the work place. We need to review the knowledge we are passing in the institution, to know if the knowledge is relevant to the needs of the present day.

    According to her, “If we do not make the country stable by creating an enabling environment for the young ones to strive, and create jobs for themselves, the country would be at risk.

    “To map the future for our youth’s means that we must create an environment that empowers and allows people to create jobs for themselves. Nigerian youths need to retrain the youth’s people for new generation jobs,” she said.

  • Awosika mentors Edo youths on entrepreneurship

    Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, has charged youths in Edo State to take advantage of funding opportunities, especially low-interest credit facilities, to grow their businesses and contribute to the development drive of the state government.

    Awosika, who was a guest speaker at a two-day workshop for entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state, said that the Bank of Industry (BOI) presents a good window of opportunity for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses to scale.

    According to her, “Young entrepreneurs should take advantage of credit facilities offered by the BOI. The funding from BOI is at a price that no commercial bank can offer small businesses and start-ups.”

    She said, “youths don’t have an excuse not to be able to start-up small businesses in a country of almost 200 million people. All that is required is a platform through which people can be aware of an entrepreneur’s product or service.”

    Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Edo State, Mrs. Magdalene Ohenhen, urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity created by Governor Godwin Obaseki to groom themselves and grow their businesses, adding, “As the state has continued to create opportunities for youths to make wealth, I urge them to remain focused and dream big as the governor is determined to assist youths achieve that dream.”

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development/Head EdoJobs, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, said the workshop was organised for budding entrepreneurs, noting, “The collaboration between the state government through EdoJobs and First Bank of Nigeria is long term, which would facilitate the creation of job opportunities for youths in Edo State, in line with Governor Obaseki’s promise to create 200,000 jobs.”

    Dare said the workshop would equip the young entrepreneurs with skills that would enable them focus on the future while contributing their quota to the development of the state, stressing, “There are lots of opportunities out there for entrepreneurs to expand their market. The training was also packaged to assist them grow their businesses through which they would also employ others.”

    According to her, “There is arrangement in place for the participants to get access to funds which would serve as capital for their businesses. They would have access to the fund after completing the training.”

    Dare urged youths in the state to register on the EdoJobs portal as registration on the portal still continues, noting, “Those who participated in the training had their data captured on the portal.”

  • Why we turned out 1,027 graduates with pass degrees – OOU ‘s VC

    Why we turned out 1,027 graduates with pass degrees – OOU ‘s VC

    … As 15 make First Class list, 74 PhDs, others

    Olabisi Onabanjo University ( OOU ), Ago – Iwoye, said it has turned out 1,027 graduands with pass degrees despite directive by the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) which  abolished the award of a Pass Degree in Nigerian Universities.

    The NUC directive took effect from the 2013/ 2014 academic session.

    The University Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunde, said the awardees were not affected by the policy.

    Ganiyu who made this known at the institution’s Main Campus, Ago – Iwoye, while fielding questions from journalists at a press briefing on the activities lined – up for the 27th Convocation ceremony which began on Wednesday, said whenever NUC initiates a new policy, it does not take immediate effect.

    “When NUC gives directive on change in curriculum or policy, it does not start immediately. It will only start with 100 level students in the year the policy is initiated. 

    “So, our awardees are not affected and that is why we still having pass degrees, by the policy takes its full implementation, there will be no such again,” he said.

    He, however, revealed that 15 graduands mad First Class Degree list, 531 Second Class Uppers, 2,673 Second Class Lower, 1159 Third Class degrees, 74 Doctorate degrees and 105 Master Degree graduands at its 27th Convocation ceremony while one person bagged Master Philosophy (M.Phil).

    The Vice – Chancellor also disclosed that four distinguished Nigerians would be conferred with honorary Doctorate Degrees of the institution for their contributions to the development of Nigeria and humanity.

    The awardees are the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Chairman of First Bank PLC, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, foremost Nigerian banker, entrepreneur, philanthropist and investor,  Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and one other.

  • Business with First Bank: A Promising Future for Nigeria SME

    Business with First Bank: A Promising Future for Nigeria SME

    When the National Bureau of Statistics released the revised figure of active small and medium scale business operators in Nigeria, it looked normal; about 37 million SMEs are active in the Nigeria market.

    We have become too conversant with statistics without digging deep into the outcomes, the implications and the futuristic forecasts. For instance in 2007 Nigeria had a population of about 10 million out of school children according to the United Nations Organization. It was just like a statistics but that figure doubled in 2017.

    There is wisdom in acting upon development statistics. Buried in those statistics are information that can inspire action, create growth and sustain development.

    37 million SMEs in Nigeria sounds like one good news, the challenges notwithstanding, it generally reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians and the possible outcome if the right things are done.

    China is a good reference of modern development; about 40 years ago China was underdeveloped but visionary and determined to lead world economy. China’s strategy was investment in education and sponsoring a mass of micro cottage industries which engaged in diverse forms of production, about 30 million micro cottage, small and medium scale industries emerged with the goal to dominate the global market. It was not a perfect smooth; they made mistakes, had a bad reputation for fake production but with time, China perfected its acts through trial and error. Now, the world calls on China for technology or textile, China is destination for all forms of production.

    Nigeria too, can become that industrial hub at least in Africa. The opportunity abounds but the coordinated strategy seems to be lacking.

    Although financial institutions like First Bank leads in creating platforms to stimulate and advance the growth of small and medium scale businesses, government needs to create a clear vision and a more aggressive path.

    Creating that path was expounded by Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika when she observed that “Path to a sustainable economy for Africa, particularly Nigeria, is feasible only if efforts are made and sustained to build as many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as possible because SMEs constitute the bulk of most African economies, and comprise business enterprises that employ fewer people. She said.

    “To build a sustainable business, you need to be clear on where you want to go and why you started,” Awosika said.

    The programs and products of First bank attest to the positioning of the bank to deliver unequal service to the small and medium scale business sector.

    For instance, the Economy and You, a program which highlights essential capacity development for startups was conceived to deliver information that will inspire and support the growth of SMEs in Nigeria.

    No doubt First bank story is unique; the bank is the biggest lender to SME sector in Nigeria, through partnerships with organized small scale industries association, the bank has a single digit lending rate for members, smashing the high interest rate phenomenon, the very first steel ceiling that inhibits inclusion of small businesses in the corporate lending circle. This is a major step to advancing the Nigerian SME to the next level.