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Tag: inaugurates

  • NBA inaugurates Anti-Corruption Committee

    NBA inaugurates Anti-Corruption Committee

    NIGERIAN Bar Association (NBA) President Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) has inaugurated the association’s Anti-Corruption Committee.

    Dr. Theo. Osanakpo is the Chairman; John Baiyeshea (SAN) is Alternate Chairman and Joshua Usman  is the Secretary

    Alegeh urged the committee to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission, which is headed by Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), to eradicate corruption from the association and the nation.

    Alegeh said: “As the proponent of rule of law and voice of the people, the NBA under my watch has declared a zero tolerance on corruption, thereby reforming and strengthening the NBA Anti–Corruption Commission to monitor and report cases.

    “The fight against corruption by the NBA will not be taken seriously by any Nigerian except the NBA is seen as having done a serious battle against the perceived corruption within the Association.

    He continued: “Corruption, no doubt, is one of the major cankerworms that have eaten deep into the fabric of our national lives. It is responsible for the underdevelopment of our nation as resources meant for development are brazenly looted by few shylock individuals.

    “Over the years in Nigeria, the issue of corruption is a malaise in our society and in the whole world as well.  The NBA intends to join in the crusade against corruption in our country for the promotion of rule of law and entrenchment of tenets of democracy in our society.”

    Alegeh said example abounds on how some greedy Nigerians have cornered and looted the country’s resources. The ones that readily come to mind, he said, are the $180 million Halliburton scam, $4.5 billion fuel subsidy probe scam, $16 billion power probe, and N32.8billion pension scam to mention, but a few.

    “As part of its effort to develop and promote our nascent democracy, the Nigerian Bar Association has always been involved in the vibrant advocacy over the issue of corruption in Nigeria.

    “The leadership of the NBA issued a press statement at the last International Anti-Corruption Day on the 9th of December, 2014 that it will help the government at all levels to fight and break the corruption chain as it undermines the social and economic development in our society,” Alegeh said.

    Alegeh listed the committee’s terms of reference to include: “To Work with the 109 Branches of the NBA to set up an Anti-Corruption Committee each, to set and maintain the highest standards of conduct aimed at avoiding corrupt practices at the Bar and the Bench; to develop and facilitate policy dialogue and anti-corruption training courses/workshop for stakeholders in the fight against corruption, to develop feedback mechanism from anti corruption agencies and the public and to do all things necessary to ensure a corruption free society.”

    The President also inaugurated the NBA Prosecutors team and the Young Lawyers Forum.

  • NBA Abuja inaugurates new officers

    The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice I. M. Bukar has inaugurated new officers of the Abuja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Justice Bukar, represented by Justice Jude Okeke, administered the oath to the 10 new officers who would run the association for the next two years.

    They are Mr. Agada Elachi (Chairman), Betty Umegbulem (Vice Chairman); Kola Omotunigbon, Secretary; Christopher Eiche, Treasurer; Chinedu Obienu, Welfare Secretary;  Silas Joseph Onu, Publicity Secretary and Obioma Ezenwabodo as Provost.

    Others are Nduka Okatta, Social Secretary; Philemon Yakubu, Financial Secretary and U.M.D. Umukoro as Assistant Social Secretary.

    The officers were elected on December 12, last year, but their swearing-in was delayed due to the strike by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) until January 29.

    The event was noted as the most attended inauguration in the history of the Branch.  Justice Ishaq U. Bello of the FCT High Court made glowing remarks on the cordial relationship that exists between the Bar and the Bench in the FCT.

    The event was attended by prominent Bar leaders in the FCT, including the NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN).

    He praised the branch for blazing the trail in conducting the first electronic voting by any branch of the NBA.

    Also at te event were the General Secretary of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), who was represented by a Director from the Ministry of Justice, Mr. P. I. Oteh. Two former Presidents of the NBA, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) and J. B. Daudu (SAN) were also present.

    Also present were: Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), Chief IkechuKwu Ezechukwu (SAN),  Chief Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN),  Chief S.I. Ameh (SAN), Chief Godwin Obla (SAN),  Chief Karina Tunyan (SAN),  Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) and Director, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Pius I.  Oteh.

    Past and present national officers of the NBA were also in attendance.

  • NBL inaugurates plant in Aba

    NBL inaugurates plant in Aba

    The Nigeria Breweries Plc has launched an N18b plant in Aba, Abia State’s commercial nerve.

    On hand to witness it were Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, and the state governor Theodore Oji, among other dignitaries.

    President Jonathan commended the company on the laudable project, saying its effort could not be taken away from what contributed to its listing as one of the top100 firms in Nigeria in 2014. “The project is also a reflection of our future as a nation,” he added.

    In his remarks, Governor Orji said that the project showed a perfect partnership between the government and private investors owing to the tangible achievement of his administration in fighting insecurity in the state.

    He enjoined the people of the state to continue to support the company as the new plant will enhance direct and indirect employment, increase revenue generation to local, state and federal governments, as well as raise the standard of living of the people.

    The chairman of the company, Chief Kola Jamodu, stated that the expansion project reflected the firm’s confidence, not only in Abia but the entire Southeast as an investment destination.

    He said, “Our company started business in 1946 in Lagos as Nigeria’s first brewing company. In 1949, the first bottle of Star beer was produced. Aba Brewery was commissioned in 1957 and today starts another milestone in our company’s socio-economic developmental journey with Eastern Nigeria.”

    He added that over the years the company has been very active in supporting Nigeria’s national development aspirations as exemplified by its continuous identification and response to major challenges confronting the nation through corporate social investments, especially in the areas of education, environment, water, youth empowerment, talent development and sports, among others.

    The Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde pointed out that as Nigeria’s leading brewing company, the plant’s takeoff demonstrated NBL’s commitment to ‘Winning with Nigeria’ through “our investments, our footprint, our people and our socio-economic impact. This journey which commenced with the registration of our company in 1946 continues today with a footprint of 11 breweries and two malting plants strategically spread out across Nigeria.”

    While thanking Governor Orji for providing the enabling environment for their engineers and workers throughout the building project, the NBL chiefs expressed happiness that there were no accidents or loss of personnel while the work lasted.

    They said the plant would create jobs and increase revenue generation across the tiers of government.

    Vervelde said, “We brewed our first bottle of Star in 1949 in Lagos but it was very quickly clear to the founding fathers of Nigerian Breweries that we needed to expand our operational footprint around the country. It is for this reason that the Aba Brewery holds a very special place in our hearts because it was our very first Brewery built outside Lagos and perhaps it was the success of Aba that sharpened our corporate courage to push further which culminates in today’s enviable spread that enables us to serve diverse consumer needs across the country with our well-loved brands.

    Jamodu said, “Our socio economic impact report shows that in 2013 alone, the value added by Nigerian Breweries to the Nigerian Economy stood at N292 billion value added or 0.4 per cent of GDP. N98billion or 0.1per cent of GDP out of this stood as direct support. Our company supported 279,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

    Aganga who said that the citing of the project in Abia State has made the state fit and open for investment, commended brewing multi-national company for sourcing about 50% of their raw materials locally stated that such action has encouraged Nigerian farmers to grow in their businesses.

     

  • Council chief inaugurates creche, promises more democracy dividends

    Council chief inaugurates creche, promises more democracy dividends

    The Chairman, Yewa South Local Government Area in  Ogun State,Alhaji Safiu  Abiodun Odebiyi, has inaugurated a creche  built by the council.The facility  was personally equipped and furnished by Engineer Batunde Odunlami , the council’s head of administration.

    Speaking at the event,Alhaji Odebiyi  expressed  appreciation for the kind gesture  of  Odunlami, saying the well-being of the children of workers had been paramount  to his administration  since he came on board.He observed that  the crèche would allow proper monitoring  of workers’ children and also enable nursing mothers to pay attention to their mother while at work.

    He admonished workers to emulate the good spirit of Odunlami whose  exemplary  leadership style he has been enjoying since he assumed office.The council chief  used the occasion to encourage voters to vote for the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the coming  election ,assuring them  of more dividends of democracy.

    Speaking  earlier ,Odunlami  said  it was a rare privilege  for him to work  with the chairman  and members of his executive  council .He said his simplicity  and focused life style had attracted large scale development to Yewa South Local Government Area.

    Giving reasons for  his action, he said he observed that children could be  a source of  distraction to nursing mothers,hence the need to provide a conducive atmosphere for them while their mothers were at work.He added that  other benefit to be enjoyed by the children include their  interaction with one another, which  according to him,will  promote cordial relationship  among parents.

    Among facilities at the crèche include: story books,different  sets   of standard toys,well furnished beddings and  painted walls ,alphabets  and hanging almanacs showing animals.

  • FA ELECTION: Niger State inaugurates electoral committee

    TheExecutive Committee of Niger State Football Association has inaugurated a seven man electoral committee to organise and supervise the election of the next executive of the state’s FA.  The committee has been mandated to make a good show of the election scheduled for February 16.

    It also inaugurated a five man appeal committee headed by  Ibrahim Liman Wushishi that would look into all matters arising from the election.

    While announcing the committee, Niger State FA chairman Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh enjoined the members to see the mandate as a service for the growth of football in the state and the nation at large. He reminded them that they had been chosen based on their track record and impressive reputation adding that they must do everything to live to expectation.

    He also said the process of organising and supervising the election process and decisions relating to the election should be in conformity with the NFF electoral code as approved by the NFF General Assembly in Abuja on December  29.

    Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, who was represented on the occasion by the 1st vice chairman Yabagi Baba extolled the members whom he describe as men of proven integrity.

    The electoral committee is headed by Justice Yusuf Kontagora.  Other members of the committee include Alhaji Yahaya Garba,  Suleiman Isah, Umar Ango Badeggi, DSP John Magaji, Maryam Abdullsalam, Comrade Musa Maitani and Alhaji A A Nagya. The appeal committee has  Liman Ibrahim Wushishi as chairman, while other members are Andy Bala Likate, Saidu Anaba, Abbas Sufiyanu Danlami. Secretary of the committee is Saidu Jagaba who will be assisted by Garba Danfulani.

    In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the electoral committee Justice Kontagora promised to organise an election that will be so free and fair that there would be no need for members to be aggrieved and forced to go to the appeals committee.

    “This assignment is a collective responsibility, I would not let the state football association down but would deliver credible election that members may not run to the appeal committee,” he said.

  • Firm inaugurates N1b headquarters

    Firm inaugurates N1b headquarters

    Courteville Business Solutions, yesterday inaugurated its new headquarters valued at over N1 billion in Lagos.

    Its Group Managing Director, Bola Akindele,  said the firm, quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), is focused on process re-engineering in both the private and public sectors.

    The new headquarters, he said, would boost its operations, adding that the companyprovides cutting edge solutions to complex operational challenges.

    This, it does through the development and delivery of unique business solution models, revenue stream improvement and cost management processes.

    The launching of the building, from where it now operates, Akindele said, coincides with the firm’s 10th anniversary.

    “The new head office is a befitting architectural masterpiece with all the trappings of top corporate offices worldwide. The four storey building has so many features which include panoramic elevators, private lounge, water fountain in the lobby, existing facilities for branch banking and ATM galleries, a 60 person training facilities with modern training equipment, 36 CCTV cameras all wired, teleconferencing system at three different locations within the building and Biometric access control. The building and its content values in excess of N1 billion,” he said.

    Akindele said the new headquarters is ‘a thing joy for all the Courteville family’.

    “This is an indication that our business has grown tremendously in the last 10 years when we started the company. It is a thing of joy for all of us at Courteville to move into this new befitting new head office. Most importantly, it coincides with the 10th year anniversary of the company,” he said.

  • LCCI inaugurates power sector group

    LCCI inaugurates power sector group

    As a demonstration of its support for the ongoing re-forms in the power sector, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has set up a Power Sector Group to further its advocacy role.

    At the inauguration of the group in Lagos, President of the Chamber, Alhaji Remi Bello identified it as one that would provide useful inputs for the Chamber’s advocacy activities “for the protection of stakeholders’ interests and improvement of the power sector as a whole”.

    He disclosed that the LCCI’s objective was to obtain optimal results on the current reforms of the sector by seeking maximum value for electricity consumers. It is also to assist private sector investors, especially the indigenous ones, and seek proper identification of strategic areas in which government intervention is necessary along the power delivery chain. “The Chamber is desirous of making the reform work for the economy, private sector and Nigerian citizens,” Bello submitted.

    Participants at the inauguration, who were mainly stakeholders in the power sector of the economy, lauded the Chamber’s initiative and assured that the contributions of diverse stakeholders at the event towards the promotion of the sector would ensure ultimate realisation of the Chamber’s goal.

    The power sector group is a fall out of the existing science, energy and technology group which has Vice President,  Mrs. Joana Maduka as chairperson. A renowned engineer, Mr. Effiom Edet, was appointed as interim chairman of the power sector group.

  • Enterprise Bank inaugurates SMEs’ product

    Enterprise Bank inaugurates SMEs’ product

    Enterprise Bank has tailored its unique products and services to specially cater for young graduates that lack the financial capacity to achieve their life ambitions.

    Called Enterprise Graduate Empowerment Scheme (EGES), the product which was inspired by a personal experience the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mallam Ahmed Kuru, had in an encounter with a bright but unemployed young graduate was designed to bridge the gap that exists between the innovative entrepreneurial ideas of young school leavers and access to the right financial support to transform these ideas into concrete money making enterprises.

    In a statement,  the bank explained that such candidates must be university or polytechnic graduate of not more than three years prior to the time of application are to apply through the bank’s website for a pre-qualification exercise. Those candidates who meet with the criteria will now be invited, taken through an intensive business appreciation programme, where they will learn practical book keeping, market intelligence, human resource management, conceptualisation and implementation of business proposals among others.

  • UBA Capital inaugurates trading portal

    UBA Capital inaugurates trading portal

    UBA Capital at the weekend , launched an online trading platform with real time investment account funding role.

    The platform, investnow.ng,  allows investors to fund their investment accounts directly and instantly, without going through an account officer in the option of a client-company funds lodgment.

    It also provides a live price feed (intra-day) for listed stocks, enabling investors to make informed decisions based on the latest data.

    Speaking at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), UBA Capital Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oluwatoyin Sanni praised the milestone, saying “since UBA Capital was founded our mission has been to develop the capital markets in Nigeria in order to give the investing public the confidence to invest actively. The  platform combines world class technology with a robust client data protection and security framework in order to give our clients a seamless experience when processing transactions. Our clients will have access to research materials to make informed investment decisions.”

    He said UBA Capital’s clients will be able to manage their portfolios online on mobile devices, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.

    By making investing in Nigeria quicker and simpler, Sanni said, the platform will unite it with its customers.

    Managing Directors such as Wale Shonibare (UBA Capital Investment Banking); Tokunbo Ajayi (UBA Capital Trustees); Modupe Mujota (UBA Capital Asset Management) and Jude Chiemeka (UBA Capital Securities Trading) also supported the platform.

    They said innovation remains a key driver for all the businesses within the group to continue to provide outstanding quality of service and value to customers.

  • BoI inaugurates N5b fund for agric processing

    BoI inaugurates N5b fund for agric processing

    The Bank of Industry (BoI) has set up a N5 billion Cottage Agro Processing (CAP) fund to assist farmers procure processing equipment for their operations.

    BoI’s  Managing Director,  Rasheed  Olaoluwa who spoke in Lagos,    said loans from the    fund  will be given at a single digit interest rate of nine  per cent and five year-tenor. He projected that the fund will help to create a total of 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. He also said the projects that support food processing, will be given priority in giving out the loans.

    Olaoluwa  said the  bank  will support as many projects  as it  can, including  cocoa, cashew, shea, rice and aquaculture,   among  others.

    He said applications from farmers and food processors, with bankable proposals   will be particularly encouraged . He  explained  that  bankable applications  will be  approved  between  two and  four  weeks.

    According to him, the N5 billion is only a starting point, adding that the bank intends to move to the second phase after full utlilisation of the initial fund.

    Olaoluwa  said the  Federal  Government  through the Agriculture Transformation Agenda  is working  to make the nation a food  hub and that  the fund would  support farmers with resources  that  will enable  acquire  agriculture related agro processing  equipment . According  to him, a  lot of  positive support is  coming to agriculture that  will get  impetus  the  value chain activities ,which in a way ,would help the entire  industry.

    Olaoluwa said the industry is seeing investments from local and foreign companies. He said  the bank  has successfully implemented the N3.4  billion Cassava Bread Fund established by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    The fund, he explained was designed to finance the establishment of 41 processing plants for high quality cassava flour (HQCF). He added that the bank is working with the ministry   on a N13 billion Rice Intervention fund to establish 10 integrated rice mills and six cassava mills across the country.

    BOI said the  bank  is interested in venture fund  for  small and  medium  entrepreneurs ,adding that  this  would help  agro entrepreneurs  in  a big way.