The Nation Newspaper

Tag: manager

  • NCRIB gets new PR Manager

    The management of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has appointed Oladele Ayeleso as its Public Relations and Communication Manager.

    He is a graduate of Statistics of the Polytechnic, Ibadan. He has attended several trainings and seminars both in and outside Nigeria on reportage of insurance and pension industry with over 13 years of working experience spanning diverse functions of reporting and teaching.

    Prior to his career in journalism, Ayeleso has worked as a teacher where he rose to the level of a supervisor in Bofel Group of Schools, Ibadan. He joined African Newspaper of Nigeria, Publisher of Nigerian Tribune titles in 2005 and rose to the level of Chief Correspondent before his exit in 2012.

    Ayeleso joined West Africa Business News as Insurance Editor where he worked until his recent appointment.

    He is expected to use his wealth of knowledge of the industry to further boost the image of the council and that of the entire insurance industry, the Council said in a statement.

    It is expected that the appointment of Ayeleso will further enhance the positive perception of public about the functions and importance of insurance brokers, the group said.

  • Manager refuses agency’s out-of-court settlement offer

    A manager with the Oil &   Gas Free Zone Authority  (OGFZA), Omosule David Funmilayo, has rejected the company’s offer of payment of his salaries and allowances from April 2011 (when he was suspended) till January this year as a condition for an out-of-court settlement of their dispute.

    Omosule argued that the company’s resolve to pay him his outstanding salaries and allowances, without being prompted, was an admission that he was wrongly suspended. He also refused the company’s demand that he voluntarily retires, describing the condition as absurd.

    Omosule was the company’s Abuja branch manager until his suspension because he allegedly refused to carry out the management’s directive. He denied the allegation and sued the company before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    He claimed to have been unlawfully suspended without pay, shortly after he discovered a fraud in the company’s Abuja office and insisted that the management must move against those involved.

    At the last hearing on March 27 this year, Justice Gabriel Kolawole advised the parties to explore an out-of-court settlement option and adjourned to June 16, for report of settlement.

    It is in line with the judge’s advice that the company purportedly made its offer contained in an April 29, 2014 letter signed by its Head of Administration, C. O.  Maduekwe and addressed to Omosule through his solicitors, Leslie Vera & Associates.

    OGFZA admitted in the letter that Omosule “was suspended from office from April 20, 2011 till date.” It accused Omosule of not exploring “internal mechanisms of settling disputes before proceeding to the court.”

    It stated that “in view of the above, the board and management hereby make the following offers as full and final settlement:

    • That you be paid your salaries and allowances from the April 2011 to January 2014 respectively.

    • That you should voluntarily tender your letter of resignation and withdraw the matter you instituted against the Authority before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    • Indicate the acceptance of the offer within one week from receipt of the offer.”

    Upon receiving the letter, Omosule, through his solicitors, said though he was not averse to amicable resolution of the dispute, the company was not being sincere in its offer.

    He noted that the company, in its letter, vaguely stated that he was suspended from office on 20th April, 2011 till date, thereby undermining the severity of his unlawful suspension by the company’s board since 2011.

    Omosule denied the company’s claim that he did not explore internal measures for dispute resolution before heading for the court. He stated that his efforts to make the company’s management and board understand his position were rebuffed, a development that prompted his petitions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney general of the Federation (AGF) before institution the court action.

    “Our client is however disposed to settlement of this matter out of court, in the circumstance of which our client makes the following proposal:

    • Payment of his salary arrears and entitlements from the date of suspension (20th April, 2011) till date.

    • Our client maintains that there is no reason for calling for his resignation from his employment. Our client wishes to serve out the duration of his employment as guaranteed under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    • Further to the above, our client demands that he be reinstated to Grade Level 17 by virtue of the Administrative Manual guiding promotions in the Authority. Recall that as at 2011 when he was unlawfully and unjustifiably suspended by the authority he was due to be elevated to GL 17 having been over 17 years post NYSC.

    • Our client hereby demands the sum of N10 million as damages for the untold hardship, trauma, embarrassment and ridicule occasioned by the unlawful suspension from his gainful employment by the Authority.

    • Our client intends to withdraw this suit from Court if the above proposals are met by the Authority,” Omosule’s solicitors said.

  • Manager accuses colleagues of threat to life

    •Company denies allegation

    Why will co-employees threaten to eliminate a colleague with whom their employer had, in the interest of peace, entered an out-of court settlement in an employment related dispute?

    This question forms the kernel of a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) by a manager with the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority (OGFTZA), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Funmilayo Omosule.

    Omosule said he had sued his employer and its board of directors when he was unlawfully suspended without pay, shortly after he discovered fraud in the company’s Abuja office. He said by the advice of the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja and others, an out-of court settlement arrangement was agreed on by parties.

    He said while he considered resuming back at the office, some of his colleagues, who were behind the fraud he uncovered, and had instigated his suspension, have threatened to eliminate him should he return to office.

    Omosule, in the petition titled: ”Threat to life”, filed earlier this month, alleged among others, that about four senior officials of the organisation (names withheld) have threatened to eliminate him if he return to work after a peaceful resolution of the court case between him and his employer.

    The 47-year old man said his trouble started when in 2011, he uncovered fraud in the company’s Abuja office and informed the Managing Director (MD), who promised to take prompt action.

    He alleged that rather than allow the MD look into the fraud related issues, those who were uncomfortable with his position, connived with the company’s leadership to raise a spurious allegation of certificate forgery against him.

    The petitioner stated that he was consequently suspended without pay, an action which he said, contravened Public Service Rules.

    “The above led me to sue the authority and Board Chairman, to enforce my fundamental human right to fair hearing, before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    “The new MD, Victor Alabo, a gentleman, approached me to settle the case out of court. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) also advised in the same vein,” he said.

    According to him, he would have returned to work after the settlement, but  four members of staff of the organisation, (whose names he included in the petition), who he accused of being the masterminds of  the criminal and illegal acts that led to the crisis, are manipulating the MD and openly threatened him not to dare to return.

    Omosule said his four colleagues resorted to threatening his life to avert his resumption and thereby, prevented their arrest and prosecution for their alleged roles in the fraud uncovered.

    His lawyer, Vera Leslie has written to the Minister of Police Affairs on the matter. A copy of the letter dated January 22 this year, was sighted by The Nation at the weekend.

    Omoosule wants the IGP to invite the four members of staff of the organisation to “sign an undertaking that my life is no longer under threat and set up a very high powered investigative team to look into the remote cause of the crisis and prosecute whoever is criminally liable to serve as a deterrent to others.”

    However, the management denied that any of its staff members has threatened to eliminate Omosule.

    A senior official at the company’s Abuja office, who wished not to be named, told The Nation that the petitioner’s suspension was informed by his alleged disobedience of a directive by the company’s board. He denied any threat to Omosule’s life.

    The official said he thought the issue had been put to rest after a team of policemen from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, investigated an earlier petition by Omosule.

    The company’s position on the issue was captured in a counter affidavit deposed to by Racheal Osibu of the firm of Paul Erokoro & Co. Osibu, who said she got her information from OGFTZA’s Company’s Secretary, Abdul-wasiu Sule, to the effect that Omsosule was suspended pending his compliance with directive to produce and submit his original certificates, which he has allegedly failed to do.

    She said under the company’s rules, disobedience is a serious misconduct, punishable at the discretion of the company’s board of directors. Omosule’s memo of February 7, 2011 forwarding the certified true copies of the certificates, she said, “did not state his reason for not submitting his original certificates as instructed.”

  • Anichebe’s manager sacked

    Anichebe’s manager sacked

    Victor Anichebe’s manager at West Brom, Steve Clarke, has been sacked following a 1-0 loss to Peter Odemwingie’s Cardiff City in the English Premier League.

    It will be Clarke’s fourth loss in a row which left them just two points above drop zone.

    And the game was the first time Nigeria international Odemwingie, will play against his former club since leaving the Baggies in the summer after a six-month unhealthy relationship.

    Peter Whittingham scored a 65th minute goal to seal three points for Cardiff.

    Anichebe was not listed for the encounter following an injury.

    Clarke had been set for fresh contract talks in the New Year but the club said Saturday evening’s decision to dispense with the Scot – and place him, along with assistant Kevin Keen, on gardening leave – was the board’s unanimous decision.

    Joint assistant head coach Keith Downing will assume control of first-team affairs while the club searches for a successor.

  • Udoh up for Akwa Utd target

    Udoh up for Akwa Utd target

    Newly appointed Akwa United manager, Patrick Udoh, has revealed that he’s looking forward to achieving continental target with the Uyo-based side.

    Udoh has resumed in what is his second spell at the club since acquiring coaching experience at First Bank and Bridge Boys FC.

    “As a banker I love targets so it’s no surprise that Akwa United have set a continental target for me. If you don’t have targets, then there is no destination in life. I’m not new to the job having worked at First Bank and Bridge Boys FC,” he told supersport.com.

    The former Nigerian Under-20 goalkeeper, who was in his country’s squad that made the debut at the former World Youth Championship (now FIFA Under-20 World Cup) in Mexico in 1983 expressed satisfaction with his return to the club.

    “I was stand-in coach when Godwin Uwua left and later worked with Bernard Ogbe, before leaving Akwa United. Besides, I see this as an opportunity to prove a point,” Udoh said to supersport.com.

    Udoh expressed confidence that he will build a strong side despite the exit of top scorer, Mfon Udoh to rivals, Enyimba.

  • Nigeria gets manager for N500m venturecapital

    A Venture Capital Fund Manager has been appointed to manage the N500 million seed fund made available by the Federal Government to develop the software industry in the country, the Project Manager, Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA), Helen Anatogu, has said.

    iDEA is the special purpose vehicle (SPV) put in place to oversee the implementation of the sotware incubation centres conceived by the Minsitry of Communication Technology in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) at the close of last year.

    Speaking in an interview in Lagos at the weekend, Anatogu said a venture capital has finally been selected to manage the fund, adding that the firm is an internationally recognised entity.

    “A venture fund capital manager has been selected; unfortunately, we cannot let you know the identity of the manager now,” she said.

    She admitted that the software incubation centres were actually taking off behind schedule blaming breaucracy for the development.

    She said the project will soon take off in Lagos and Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

     

    Vice Chairman iDEA Governing Board, Pius Okigbo, explained that the centres will help address the typical barriers to success – the lack of access to funding; the costs associated with acquiring technology, knowledge and expertise; and the limited ability to obtain broad exposure for their creations and innovations.

    According to him,.iDEA is a not-for-profit organisation which primary purpose is to accelerate the development of the software industry in Nigeria by nurturing and helping to grow the software businessess, stressing that iDEA provides essential support to entrepreneurs to build software skills, solutions and businesses critical to their success.

    He opined that entrepreneurs accepted into iDEA Centres have access to physical work space, shared facilities, training, business services as well as access to capital.

    “iDEA is partnering with technology companies to offer training and access to software development tools across a number of platforms. Entrepreneurs will also have access to guidance from our network of mentors.

    “iDEA will engage the student community by getting them involved in many activities organised by the centres. They will also attend low or no cost technical training at the centres.

     

    iDEA will engage established local software development companies to build new innovations or assist in bridging the gaps preventing the companies from fully exploiting and commercialising existing innovations,” Okigbo said.

    The programme partners with various stakeholders such as technology partners, public sector partners, investors and training providers (including universities).

    Technology partners are among the major beneficiaries of the talent pool represented in the incubator. They provide support for these early stage companies in form of training, equipment and customer introductions and provide assets such as hardware, software and curriculum. technology partners include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), software companies, telcos and service companies such as Microsoft, Nokia, and Google and others.

     

  • We were match-rusty, says ABS manager

    We were match-rusty, says ABS manager

    Manager of ABS FC Sulaimon Dogo has attributed his side’s goalless draw with city rivals Kwara United on match day one of the Nigeria Professional Football League to the delayed kickoff of the league.

    Last season ended on September 7, 2012, with the new season kicking off on Match 9, 2013.

    Dogo said the over six months without a competitive action in the league was the reason his side struggled for fitness and balance which saw them unable to score a goal on Sunday.

    “We’ve been sitting down for the past six months without any competitive game in the league, that was why my boys were struggling,” he told futaa.com.

    “The fans were also fully behind Kwara United, though they are not a bad side. We thank God for the result, it was not a bad game. As the league progresses, we will improve and hit our form.”

    ABS will travel to Gombe where they will be hosted by Gombe United in a week two encounter today.

  • Ilasa-Ekiti robbery: Ex-bank manager, four others arraigned

    A former bank manager, Ayokunle Asaba (36), and four others were yesterday arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrate’s Court for allegedly robbing a first generation bank in Ilasa-Ekiti on May 24, last year.

    The others are Dele Ajayi (29), Banji Adedayo (37), Tajudeen Salawu (22) and Akeem Ahmed (36).

    It was learnt that Ahmed, a former police corporal, served at Aramoko Division before he was dismissed for undisclosed reasons.

    On May 24, last year, robbers attacked Ilasa Police Station and a bank.

    They killed two policemen who were guarding the bank -a sergeant and a constable- and stole N7,833,000.

    At the police station, they stole four AK 47 rifles, one Berretta pistol, one smoke gun with 10 catridges, 10 hand grenades, one handcuff and 1,295 live amunition.

    The suspects were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on armed robbery.

    Although their charges were read, no plea was taken from the accused as the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter.

    Police prosecutor Enabulele Curtis said he had forwarded a copy of the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice and prayed for an adjournment.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Funke Ajibade, remanded the accused in prison custody, pending the receipt of the legal advice .

    She adjourned the case till April 10.

     

  • Fed Govt shops for venture fund manager

    With initial seed fund of N500 million made available by the Federal Government as part of the $15 million Technology Venture Capital Fund needed to grow the nation’s local software sector through incubation programme, the government said it is searching for reputable venture fund manager to manage the fund.

    Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said the N500 million seeded through the Nigeria Information Technology Development Fund (NITDEF) is expected to attract the remaining $12 million from private individuals and investors locally and internationally.

    She said, “The Federal Government has allocated N500milion to the fund. We are looking for fund managers to raise the remaining. We are not only looking for institutional investors but also individual investors,” Omobola said, adding that telecoms operators are not barred from funding the venture capital.

    According to her, as part of efforts to grow the software sub-sector of the ICT industry and make it contribute substantially to the gross domestic product (GDP) the government came up with the idea of setting up incubation centres with the pilot project located in Lagos and Calabar, Cross River State capital.

    Johnson said the e-Learning Centre would host the software incubation centre in Lagos while Tinapa Knowledge City would house the Cross River State innovation centre.

    Rather than being government-owned, the minister said the innovation centres would be ‘government-inspired’ or ‘government- catalysed’ but would eventually be run by a non-profit organisation to be set up soon.

    She assured that the Federal Government would initially provide the enabling environment for the proper take off of the incubation centres and later step aside and allow the centres to have lives of their own.

    Specifically, the minister said the software incubation programme would initially be government-funded with the aim of attracting more investors in the long run.

    Shedding more light on the programme, Ms. Helen Anatogo, programme manager in charge of the implementation of the software incubation programme, in a presentation, disclosed that the Federal Goverment planned to have established six incubation software incubation centres by the end of 2015.

    Abeokuta, Enugu, Ife and Abuja have been chosen as potential centres for the establishment of incubation centres in the country. The choice is based on parameters like presence of large students and availability of tertiary institutions in the areas.

    The focus of the software incubation programme and centres, according to her, include enterprise software development, linguistic software, custom programming, mobile software, business intelligence and gaming.

    Essentially targeted at students, start-ups and software development companies, the programme would offer business and technological training, access to software development tools at no cost, use of facilities and computer resources for development purposes, mentoring, assistance with marketing and promotion, as well as access to finance.