The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nnamdi Okonkwo

  • Air Peace makes history, orders 10 brand new 737 MAX planes

    Air Peace on Thursday signed an agreement with  Boeing Corporation  for the acquisition of 10 brand new 737 MAX 8 aircraft, making history as the first airline in West Africa to add the equipment to its fleet.

    Air Peace already operates Boeing 737s and Embraer 145s on its domestic and regional routes. The airline, which recently added Boeing 777s to its fleet, is looking to soon launch its international flight operations.

    Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony at the residence US Consul General in Lagos, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema said the airline was now more positioned to lift Nigeria’s economy, create jobs and transform air travel.

    “We are excited to add the 737 MAX to our fleet as we expand our network to offer more destinations and serve more passengers,” said Onyema.

    He added: “The fuel efficiency and superior operating economics of the 737 MAX will ensure that the aircraft will play a major role in growing our business in the years to come.”

    He commended Boeing, the governments of Nigeria and the United States as well as Fidelity Bank for their different roles in assisting the airline to achieve the feat.

    For his part, the Sales Director of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Mr. Larry Tolliver praised Air Peace for the feat.

    The new aircraft, he assured, would drastically cut the airline’s cost of operations.

    Read Also: Air Peace takes services to Kaduna

    Also speaking, the US Consul General in Lagos, Mr John Bray assured Air Peace of the support of his country’s government.

    He commended Air Peace and its chairman for the feat.

    The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, for his part, praised Onyema for his integrity and hard work.

    He confirmed that Fidelity Bank decided to support Air Peace because of its financial discipline and sound business model

    The 737 MAX 8 is part of a family of airplanes that offer 130 to 230 seats and the ability to fly up to 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 kilometers). With improvements such as the CFM International LEAP-1B engine and Advanced Technology winglets, the 737 MAX will help Air Peace save more than 20 percent on fuel costs compared to its current single-aisle airplanes.

    The MAX 8, in particular, offers airlines 13 more seats than its closest competitor, seven percent lower costs for each of those seats, and 300 miles more range.

    “Africa is a growing market for commercial airplanes and we are proud that airlines like Air Peace are selecting Boeing aircraft to be part of that growth,” said Marty Bentrott, Boeing Sales vice president for Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia & Africa. “This order reflects the strong demand that we are seeing for the 737 MAX as airlines choose the airplane’s superior performance and reliability.”

    The 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating more than 4,700 orders from 102 customers worldwide.

  • Publisher arraigned over ‘adultery’ report on bank MD

    The Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) on Tuesday arraigned the publisher of Best of Nollywood magazine, Mr. Seun Oloketuyi at the Federal High Court in Lagos over a story that Fidelity Bank Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, impregnated a staff of the bank.

    The police said the accused published the report on his website www.naijahottestgist.com.

    Oloketuyi, who is the organiser of the yearly Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), was arraigned on a two-count charge.

    Count one reads in part: “That you, Seun Oloketuyi ‘m’ on or about June 2015 did knowingly or intentionally send a message and other matters by means of computer systems or network on one Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing him annoyance, insult and ill-will on www.naijahottestgist.com.”

    In count two, Oloketuyi was accused of publishing “defamatory matters” against Okonkwo “with malice” while knowing that the information was false.

    Prosecution counsel, Olakanmi Omisope, said the alleged offence contravenes Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38.

    Oloketuyi pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime Act says: “(1) A person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems of network that (b) he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill-will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than three years or both.”

    Section 375 of the Criminal Code says: “Any person who publishes any defamatory matter is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for one year; and any person who publishes any defamatory matter knowing it to be false is liable to imprisonment for two years.”

    The story claimed that Okonkwo impregnated the bank’s “top marketer” known as Justina, which resulted in her husband, Ben, leaving their matrimonial home. The story also claimed that Okonkwo took responsibility for the children’s welfare and schooling.

    Oloketuyi had apologised and retracted the story via www.bestofnollywood.tv, saying: “Naijahottestgist hereby apologises to the Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the management of Fidelity Bank Plc over a story published on www.Naijahottestgist.com on 18th of June, 2015 and titled “FIDELITY BANK MD, NNAMDI OKONKWO BREAKS JUSTINA’S HOME, IMPREGNATES HER,” where we had erroneously alleged that Mr. Okonkwo was having an extra marital affair with Mrs. Justina, the Head of Marketing team of the bank.

    “Regrettably, Naijahottestgist has discovered that the story wasn’t true as there was never a time Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo indulged in an extra marital affair with the said staff member, Justina.

    “We hereby tender our unreserved apology to Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the entire management of FEDELITY BANK PLC.

    “Similarly, we hereby retract the story and appeal to all bloggers and news site that might have copied the story from Naijahottestgist to remove the story with immediate effect.”

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned to September 1 for hearing of Oloketuyi’s bail application.

  • Nnamdi Okonkwo rocks at 50

    Nnamdi Okonkwo rocks at 50

    Grand pageantry was recently at play when Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, joined the golden club. Family and friends stood to be counted at the celebration.

    Ruby Garden, along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, hosted the 50th birthday of the quintessential banker. The event, anchored by Uchechi Yakub-Lawal and Comedian Akpororo, also had a brief documentary of the celebrant viewed by cheering guests who came from all walks of life to celebrate Okonkwo. The cutting of the cake was anchored by Ali Baba, while music was supplied by reggae gospel sensation, Buchi.

    The event had in attendance Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; Ben Akabueze; Raginald Ihejiahi; Nkiru Anumudu; Kola Abiola; Alex Oti; Nicholas Okoye; Chidi Anyaegbu; Clint Obioha and many A-list celebrities.

    Nnamdi, no doubt has done well for himself. Prior to his ascendancy to the number one post at Fidelity Bank Plc, he was an executive director in charge of the South Directorate of the bank. Holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in Agric Economics from the University of Benin, and an MBA in Banking & Finance from Enugu State University, he has attended various business and management training locally and overseas, including Harvard Business School and University of Oxford, among others.

    He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Programme of INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France.

  • I’ll consolidate on my predecessor’s success, says Fidelity Bank CEO

    I’ll consolidate on my predecessor’s success, says Fidelity Bank CEO

    The Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo has said he will build on successes and achievements of his predecessor, Reginald Ihejiahi to take the bank to enviable heights.

    Speaking at the weekend during a valedictory and welcome dinner in Lagos for the bank chiefs, Okonkwo said the bank knows where it is going, and would not forget its past.

    The new Fidelity Bank chief said his former boss laid solid foundation on which his team would build on.

    “I have to consolidate the achievements of my immediate past managing director. I will also build on on that and take the bank to the kind of level, that when he looks back three to five years from now, he will be happy with the bank’s achievements,” he said.

    Continuing, Okonkwo said : “When investors invest in a company, they do so because they expect returns. We have to generate the kind of revenues that pays our dues, as well as return a profit. And from there, we pay dividend. So, we are not unmindful of this.”

    He said the lender has for years, kept a track record of unbroken dividend payment, and do not intend to discontinue that culture. “My Vision is to ensure that they do not only get dividend, but get higher divided than they have been getting in the past,” he said.

    Ihejiahi said his experience in the past 10 years with the bank has been interesting and challenging.

    “My 10 years experience was interesting and challenging, because that’s the nature of the banking industry. We have alongside executive and board, built a strong brand, and I think that’s very important. We have competent staff that are sensitive to the need of the customers,” he added.

    Ihejiahi added: “The wish of every leader is that the institution he left behind survives and excels in whatever it is doing. There is a great future for Fidelity Bank and we believe in its continued progress.”