The Nation Newspaper

Tag: partners

  • Renewable energy: Ogun partners independent power provider

    The Ogun State government and Independent Energy Provider have restated their commitment towards the actualisation of the proposed Ogun State/UKPA Independent Power Plant in Ota Industrial Estate.

    The Consultant to the State Government on Energy, Chief Taiwo Fagbemi, broke the news at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The governor’s aide urged industrialists to cooperate with the government to enable it realise the project.

    He said all parties would benefit from the project as it was a metering process and pay-as-you-go.

    In a statement by his Press Officer, Mrs. Kemi Ogungbade, the governor’s aide said the waste-to-energy project would reduce cost of power generation among the industries, adding that this could be used for workers’ welfare.

    According to him, it will also be a waste-to-wealth opportunity for the residents.

    Fagbemi said the project would improve business activities in the area and help to develop infrastructure as well as boost government’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Plant, Chief Ewie Aimienwauu, stressed that the proposed energy initiative chose the state as it had become investment destination of choice through various infrastructural projects and facelift by the Ibikunle Amosun administration.

    Aimienwauu said the new technology had been adopted by most develop countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), adding that the project, which would gulp about $35 million, would be jointly provided by the state government and his energy company.

    He said, on completeionexplained that the project, on completion, would be powered by the government, while the agency would be in charge of distribution to consumers, saying, the power plant would be restricted to industries in the area.

  • Foundation partners Union Bank for playwright competition

    BEETA Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF), in partnership with Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, has announced the second edition of Beeta Playwright Competition (BPC), aimed at discovering new talents in play writing.

    The competition is also aimed at preserving the Nigerian culture, history and heritage through raising new playwrights adept at conceptualising new drama that capture all areas of the country’s life from the grand to the absurd.

    Entry for the competition, which is open to indigenous playwrights between 18-40, will end on August 31. This will be followed by the announcement of the top 10 finalists, who will participate in a writing workshop after which the winner will be announced at a grand finale.

    Award winning actress and producer, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, conceptualised Beeta Playwright Competition (BPC) to make a difference in unveiling and showcasing Nigeria’s emerging playwrights for the next generation.

    Paul Ugbede’s play, Our Son the Minister emerged winner of the competition’s first edition. Graham-Douglas’ foundation published the play and staged it to give it flesh and life at Terra Kulture Arena, Lagos. It also toured the country.

    According Union Bank’s Head of Corporate Communication and Marketing, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem, the bank recognises how invaluable arts are to Nigeria’s culture and history, hence the commitment to developing talents in the creative industry through partnership with BUAF.

    The competition, which is also supported by The Guardian, WAPIC Insurance Plc, Terra Kulture, Olajide and OyewoleLLP, and YNaija.com awards N1 million worth of prize to the winner plus a publishing deal with Paper Worth Books Limited.

    It culminates in the stage production of the winning entry by BUAF at Terra Kulture Arena. The second edition will has Shaibu Husseni, Ego Boyo, Ayo Jaiyesimi, Kenneth Uphopho, and Ibiso Graham-Douglas, as the panel of judges for the competition, with Prof. Ahmed Yerima as chairman.

  • Techno partners MTN on Mpulse for teenagers

    Techno mobile has partnered MTN to launch mPulse, a unique initiative to channel the work ethic of teenagers and create a subconscious template of optimal productivity which would be beneficial to themselves and their environment.

    The specially designed platform is for youngsters from ages 9 to 15, to enable them learn and gain pragmatic skills while also having fun.

    The unveiling, which held at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, was lit up with excited and the attractions included a Virtual Reality Master Class facilitated by Obaloluwa Odelana, a 13-year-old JSS3 pupil, and the youngest African hyper-realism artist, Kareem Waris Olamilekan of Waspa Art, who inspired children at the event through their craft which had recently gained massive recognition through social media.

    As proud partners of the event, TECNO’s recently released Spark 2 was showcased as the kids trooped to the TECNO experiential booth to have a first-hand feel of the device which comprises features such as a 6.0 HD+ screen, 13MP rear camera, 3500mAh battery and so much more.

    The mPulse package comes with a voice plan and a fun, educative website which hosts a variety of courses and study aids to help children from Primary 1 to SS3 excel. The portal also provides a bouquet of single and multiplayer games, as well as life skill videos, from computer programming, fashion designing, medicine and blogging to engineering, writing, data science and motivational speaking etc.

     

  • Glo partners CIPM on HR

    Nigeria’s fully integrated telecoms company, Globacom, has lent its support to the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) to organise a capacity-building forum for top-level human resource professionals in the country.

    The forum, co-sponsored by Globacom, featured one of the world’s most renowned executive coaches, John Mattone, among other resourceful persons who addressed an august audience of Nigeria’s foremost human resources professionals.

    Globacom in a statement from its head office in Lagos said it decided to partner with CIPM to facilitate the forum as a way of contributing to the development of transformational leadership culture in Nigeria’s corporate environment.

    “Nigeria is blessed with diverse human resources, bursting with amazing talent, boundless energy and incredible passion. Forums such as this one put together by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management are immensely useful in optimising efficiency in the workplace,” Globacom said.

    The telecoms company pledged to continue to support initiatives that seek to elevate the quality of corporate leadership in Nigeria.

    The forum, with: “Talent and Intelligent Leadership: Roadmap to unleashing greatness in your current and future leaders,” as its theme, was held at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, and drew participants from key sectors of the economy, including telecommunications, oil and gas, banking and media.

    In his opening remarks at the forum, CIPM Vice President, Mr. Wale Adediran, who represented the President of the Council, said the 10th Special Human Resource Forum was organised in pursuance of the institute’s mission to promote excellence in the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills by practitioners.”

    He thanked participants and the sponsors, including Globacom, for partnering with the institute to make the forum a reality.

  • Lekki mall owner battles AY, partners over 47m debts

    •AY’s name is mentioned because he is popular, says manager

    OMISSON Emporium, Lekki, was home to a lounge known as Virus, owned by popular comedian Ayo Makun (AY) and his partners. The space occupied by the lounge, formerly known as MVP Restaurant and Lounge, is now the subject of a feud between the lounge’s owners – AY, Joseph Tubdei and Lucky Ahkiwu – and Higher Ground Nigeria, owner of the mall.

    The mall is located on 5, Durosinmi Etti Drive, Lekki Phase 1. AY uses this address as his office. His website still bears the address, even though he and his partners have officially vacated it.

    Higher Ground Nigeria Ltd is accusing AY and his partners of owing N47 million and destroying his property, after vacating the premises.

    On December 29, 2016, a letter signed by Soji Adelore, for Higher Ground Nigeria Ltd, was sent to AY and his partners on outstanding electricity bill and service charge. The letter was received by Anyanwu Chidozie for MPV Lounge.

    The letter showed that the bill as at the time of disconnection was N1.2 million, and it was agreed that the club would pay 70% of the accumulated bill of N840, 000.

    Also the monthly service charge of N500, 000 for November and December 2016, another six months in 2017 is yet to be paid, summing up to N4 million.

    In a letter by Aremo Dotun Hassan for Jury Associate Chambers, solicitor to Higher Group Nigeria, Ltd, on April 24, 2018, to the area commander, Area ‘J’ Police Command, Ajah, Lagos, it was noted that the tenancy period had expired and a notice was served for vacation of the premises, and pay off of outstanding bill of N47 million being payment for rent, accumulated electricity bills and service charge.

    The firm also sought the police’s intervention to ensure AY and his partners fix the property to its initial design before the lease.

    In this letter a copy of which was received on AY’s behalf by his younger brother, Lanre Makun, the mall owner accused the partners of abysmal use and claim of ownership of the building.

    But, AY’s manager, who simply identified himself as Amadi, refuted the allegations.

    In a phone chat with The Nation, he said the comedian had no direct dealing with the owner of the property, and therefore should not be called out as a debtor.

    “AY is just a part of the Board of Directors,” said Amadi, who added: “He is the lowest of the directors. There are others that are higher in position and there is also the head of the board, who all issues concerning the property should be directed to.

    “The reason AY’s name is being mentioned is because he is popular. That building is used as a company, it is not owned by an individual. When the place was rented, it was in shambles, but the company fixed it up to what they wanted to use it for, which was a club.

    “And when they were ready to vacate the place, they took everything that was theirs. There was also a case of elevator, which was promised by the owner of the building when the club started running, which he promised to fix, but did not.”

    The last has certainly not been heard of this matter because Higher Ground Nigeria Ltd has vowed to use all legal means to ensure the debts are paid and the property fixed to its pre-lease status.

  • Sterling Bank, Parthian Partners unveil T-bills App

    Sterling Bank Plc has partnered with Parthian Partners, a pan African inter-brokerage services firm to unveil I-invest.

    The I-invest, a mobile application allows users purchase Treasury Bills (T-Bills) directly from their smartphones.

    The I-invest enables both new and experienced investors match their investment maturities to their needs.

    The investment app levels the playing ground for new investors providing them with equal opportunities available to experienced and institutional investors to save money and improve their money market portfolios through Treasury Bills. It eliminates entry barriers such as lack of education and information to make smart investment decisions and the ability to get a broker and/or time required to visit banks to fill forms for treasury bills.

    Commenting on the app, CEO, Parthian Partners, Oluseye Olusoga, said, “I-invest extends the use of mobile technology beyond money transfers, utility bill payments and airtime purchases. It broadens the choice of money market products available to new and experienced retail investors in the Nigerian money market to include Treasury Bills. Potential investors require only a smartphone with a functional mobile phone line and data subscription to use I-invest.”

    Olusoga added that I-Invest will appeal to the typical Nigerian who is looking to grow their savings through a diversified money market portfolio but has hitherto encountered numerous challenges while attempting to do so. Now they can invest in Treasury Bills irrespective of their location in Nigeria.

    Additionally, Chief Marketing Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Ibidapo Martins said, “I-invest is a secure and convenient mobile app that deflates the elitist and upmarket status associated with investing in treasury bills. A first-time investor can download the app from the android app store, follow the step by step instructions to register and start investing within five minutes.”

  • Cross River gets partners in fight against human, wildlife trafficking

    two groups, the Conference of Western Attorneys-General (CWAG) and the Africa Alliance Partnership (AAP), have partnered the Cross River State to tackle human and wildlife trafficking.

    They held a one-day symposium on Investigation and Prosecution of Transnational Crimes: Wildlife Trafficking in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    Speakers at the symposium said there was the need to have joint responses to transnational crimes by establishing and building cooperative relationships.

    The event was sponsored by the Cross River State Ministry of Justice in partnership with CWAG and AAP.

    At the event were representatives of CWAG; Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Michael Edem; representatives from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation; Nigeria Customs Service; Nigeria Immigration Service; the Police and the National Park, among others.

    CWAG Director, Mr. Markus Green, said given the trans-border nature of wildlife and human trafficking, child pornography, drugs, firearms, among others, no single country can address the challenge of the global crime alone.

    “It is on this note that CWAG-African Alliance Partnership seeks to contribute to the reduction, prevention and elimination of transnational crimes. This is part of the symposium that we are doing around nine different countries in Africa.

    “Primarily, what we are doing is to encourage the rule of law. We deal with a range of topics, including human trafficking, wildlife trafficking and some of the general administration of the rule of law practices.

    “Like anything new, the initial reception for the training was met with scepticism in Nigeria. But the idea is that we all belong to a global village and so we talk about the global social justice system. Whatever impacts United States also impacts Nigeria, and the reverse,” he said.

    Cross River Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Joe Abang  said United States Attorneys-General were in the state due to their passion for conservation of wildlife and bio-diversity.

    He said: “We are host to one of the largest national parks, which houses chimpanzees, monkeys and other important species to humanity.

    “These western attorneys-generals in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Justice, state ministries of justice and body of attorneys-general in Nigeria chose Calabar as a biodiversity hotspot to share experiences they have had in the United States, Mexico and other countries and to deliberate on the way of preserving these endangered species.”

    AAP’s representative, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) said CWAG and APP had held other trainings around Africa, such as the one on the rule of law.

    He said: “This time our focus is on wildlife trafficking. Agreed, there are laws against wildlife trafficking but the problem is always around the enforcement of the law.

    “What we have done is to bring in different people from abroad to come and share their knowledge on how they have been able to succeed.

    “I think one of the things that will come out from this training is the need for cooperation among the different agencies. There are so many agencies involved.

    “All these agencies are involved in trying to enforce various laws. The question is whether they are working in any coordinated manner to ensure that they are effective.

    “With respect to wildlife, clearly, you cannot have the parks working alone because something can slip out of the park and if that happens, there will be the involvement of other security agencies.”

  • Heritage Bank partners CeLD Innovations on Cashtoken

    Heritage Bank Plc has partnered with CeLD Innovations to launch CashToken, a consumer electronic reward system into the Nigerian economy. The product was launched at the Hyper Consumer Centricity conference held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos with top 500 Nigerian CEOs in attendance.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Director of Heritage Bank, Jude Monye, said CeLD is a very innovative organisation that is committed to bringing new innovation to the Nigeria’s economy to enable discerning companies to reward their customers.

    “We are at Heritage Bank believe in it, because we believe in trail blazing, which is our forte and our forte is innovation,” Monye said.

    The CashToken is an electronic reward and celebratory gift commodity, which costs only N30.00 and it, is aimed at making every patronage or celebratory gift a life-changing cash opportunity. The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Leo Stanley Ekeh said innovation in the third world comes with pain before pleasure, adding that “we are in an innovation century that the poorest man in the world will become the richest because of the power of digitizsation.”

    Mr. Lai Labode, Founder & CEO of CeLD Innovations said the company is the world’s first cash reward as a service company which has established a robust technology and business model that herald a new era of hyper consumer centricity.

    He said they are pioneering a performance based system designed to optimise consumer loyalty investments for businesses, celebratory gift value optimisation and public emotional equity for government.

    Labode said about N20 billion would be offered in the next three years of full operation of the fund; which is managed by Vetiva Capital Management, Nigerian Stockbrokers Limited and First Ally Capital.

  • Lagos partners police on training

    Lagos State is committed to building the capacity of policemen to fight crime, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Adeniji Kazeem has said.

    He spoke when Yetunde Longe, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, led a team of senior officers to visit him in Ikeja.

    Kazeem urged them not to hesitate to seek his support and the collaboration of his ministry in the fight against crime.

    He expressed his appreciation to the team for the visit and used the opportunity to explain in detail areas of training which the Ministry of Justice is sponsoring to build Police capacity. According to him, they include forensic,  crime investigation and criminal prosecution processes.

    The Attorney-General promised to continue to work with the Police as worthy partners to ensure a crime free state and facilitate speedy justice delivery for residents.

    Longe, on behalf of her team, thanked Kazeem for the cordial relationship between the ministry and her department.

    She pledged to enhance the areas of cooperation with a view to ensuring the efficient discharge of their mandate.

    Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey assured Longe and her team of the ministry’s support in dealing timely with matters that will be brought to her office by the Police, particularly those needing DPP’s advice.

    The visiting team included officer in charge of Legal section, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Effiong Asuguo; officer in charge of Homicide section, CSP  Rasaq Oseni and Superintendent of Police (SP) Taiwo Kasumu.

  • LASURA partners NGO on slum redevelopment

    In accordance with her plan to reduce the blighted areas in the state at five percent yearly, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) has collaborated with Justice and Empowerment Initiative (JEI), a non-governmental Organisation, to rid the state of challenges facing slum dwellers in the state.

    At a stakeholders meeting held in LASURA’s Ikeja office, the General Manager of the agency, Mr. Lateef Sholebo, stated that his agency’s plan of five percent annual reduction of slums in the state is crucial for improving the living condition of slum dwellers for a sustainable environment. He assured that his agency would not relent in achieving that plan.

    He said the Orisumbare Community was one of the slums LASURA plans to intervene in by facilitating the improvement in their living condition. This is by way of upgrading and empowering the community through the provision of infrastructure such as roads, drainages, drinkable water and electricity, among others. He revealed that it was one of the reasons why officials of the agency conducted enumeration and profiling of the residents of Orisumbare, in partnership with JEI.

    According to Sholebo, the study made the agency to know the basic infrastructure needs of the community, which he said would be provided by the government before total redevelopment of the slum.

    He assured the residents of the community that they would be encouraged to participate in the process of achieving the goal of upgrading and future redevelopment of the slum, adding that his agency intended to partner with private investors, NGOs and  other stakeholders in achieving the goals and objectives.

    The General Secretary of Orisumbare Community Association, Mr. Owolabi Mudashiru, praised LASURA for showing concern for the community and pleaded with the state government to urgently intervene in the community by providing basic infrastructure like water, drainages, electricity and roads for a better living condition.

    The co- founder of JEI, Mr. Andrew Mavin, thanked Sholebo for giving his organisation the opportunity to partner with the agency. He solicited for more synergy between the two organisations for bringing improvement to the slum.

    Andrew said that it was good for his NGO to work with LASURA as partners in progress since it was the responsibility of government to ensure general welfare of the people and that encouraged his organisation to associate with the agency.