The Nation Newspaper

Tag: partners

  • FirstBank partners WAEC on e-registration

    First Bank of Nigeria Limited has been designated as sales points for the e-registration forms of candidates for this year’s November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    With over 750 branches across the federation and 120 years of business operation, the lender said that it has been a consistent partner for educational and economic development.

    The e-registration materials which have been available since Monday May 5 until Friday July 4 and can be obtained over the counter at all FirstBank branches across the country, at a cost of N11,440. Also, a late registration window period between Monday July 7 through Friday, August 1, this year will be available but at an additional charge of N21, 400.00 as stipulated by WAEC. Candidates are expected to collect an e-Receipt containing the registration PIN, the registration kit and the result checker scratch card after the payment of the fees.

    According to FirstBank’s spokesperson, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank has been a major player in youth empowerment and development and welcomes this partnership as yet another platform for promoting excellence in the development of education in our country. Ani-Mumuney said the Bank had since been providing adequate support across its social media platforms to ensure that prospective candidates for the WASSC (Private Candidates’) Examination receive up-to-date information on the sales of the e-registration materials.

    She said: ”Our network of over 750 branches nationwide offers prospective candidates the opportunity to acquire the e-registration materials at locations close to them.“

  • Anambra partners traders on revenue collection

    To stimulate trade and commerce in Anambra State, the state Commissioner for Trade and Commerce,  Mr Ifeatu C Onejeme, has held a meeting with  leaders of the various market associations in the state to seek their support in the drive to “extend the frontiers of excellence” in the state.

    Onejeme met with executives of  AMATAS, including its President,  Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo; Vice President,  Chief Dozie Akudolu as well as the chairmen and secretaries-general of the major market associations in the state to get their support on how to achieve the four-point agenda of the administration.

    Presenting his economic agenda to the citizens shortly after his swearing in on March 17, this year, Governor   Wiillie Obiano, listed the four pillars of his administration to include, agriculture, trade  and commerce, industrialisation and oil and gas.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the state Board of Internal Revenue, Sir Okey Mokah, cleared all grey areas  agitating the minds of the traders and market associations.

    The executives of the market associations pledged their support and readiness to work with the government to achieve its objectives.

    They agreed that outstanding market stallage fees, levies and traders tax for 2012, 2013 and this year would be paid considering that the Obiano administration would no longer tolerate delays in the payment of  revenues due to the government and would close any market that fails to collect and remit  revenues, levies and taxes promptly.

    The traders agreed to set up a joint Revenue Collection Task Force with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce to collect arrears of stallage fees, levies and traders taxes for 2012, 2013 and this year.

    On sanitation and environmental cleanliness, it was agreed that the leaders must ensure that their members maintain cleanliness in all markets in the state as the present administration  will not hesitate to shut any market that fails to meet acceptable  sanitation standards.

    The commissioner assured that the Obiano administration would fast-track the modernisation of the markets and construct  new ones to demonstrate its commitment to encourage the traders.

    He said: “Government has resolved to improve and modernise existing markets, especially the state-owned markets through the provision of boreholes, conveniences, fire-fighting facilities and other specific facilities required by the markets.”

    In addition, the traders said the government  planned to partner with the private sector to build ultra -modern hyper-markets and malls to further drive the government’s initiatives to expand state’s capacity for trade and commerce activities.

    The traders were also informed that the government’s determination to stop street trading and eliminate  street markets. The government added that Williams Street, Bright Street, Sokoto Street and New Market Road Street markets in Onitsha would be relocatedwhile Williams Street traders should move to their markets.

    Chief Ezenwankwo pledged his association’s commitment to work with the government, assuring that AMATAS would facilitate the movement of street traders to the shops built for them.

    The meeting also discussed modalities for working with commercial banks, the office of the Attorney- General, the Lands Registry and the government-owned market associations to develop a government-managed shop title documents’ registry that would record and manage all transactions involving transfer of title, mortgages and pledges over shops in the market.

  • Dangote Cement partners bricklayers

    Dangote Cement Plc, last week, expressed its willingness to partner members of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association (LSBA) towards curbing collapse building in Lagos.

    The company has collaborated with Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to train building materials dealers in Benin, the Edo  State capital.

    At the inauguration of the new executives of LSBA in Lagos State, Regional Manager, Marketing Services of Dangote Cement Plc,  Johnson Olaniyi, said the company’s new product, Dangote 3X Cement was developed to enable builders build with peace of mind.

    According to him, the new 42.5 3X cement is quick setting and has better strength than other brands in the market.

    Highlighting the advantages of the new Dangote 3X Cement and other brands in the market, he said “The 3x is an acronym for more profit to all users of cement while allowing the builders to build with peace of mind. The product comes with more yield, more strength and more life.”

    He pledged Dangote Cement’s willingness to partner with the new executive led by Abel Kayode in training new bricklayers and retraining old hands in the sector to adapt to modern standards in bricklaying. The training, he said, will help greatly in reducing the spate of collapsed building in Lagos State.

    Mr. Olaniyi added that Dangote Cement will be providing the bricklayers with basic tools that will help them do their jobs more efficiently and called on interested members to come and become distributors of Dangote Cement.

    Responding, the new President, LSBA, Abel Kayode commended Dangote Cement for sponsoring the inauguration of his executive and pledged to work hand in hand with the cement company towards eliminating the menace of collapsed building.

    In a related development, the Edo/Delta Zonal office of  SON has commended Dangote Cement for partnering the agency in training members of Cement, Iron, and Asbestos Free Products Dealers Association (CRADA) in Benin City.

    State Head, SON, Edo/Delta, Mr. O.I Akogun who gave the commendation at a one-day seminar for CRADA members said that though a lot of  organisations were approached for sponsorship of the training, only Dangote Cement responded. He commended the company for the introduction of the new 3X cement and called on participants to buy the products as it has been approved by SON.

    Responding, representative of Dangote Cement, Mr. Johnson Olaniyi said that the company’s sponsorship of the seminar is a deliberate strategy of collaborating with stakeholders to promote standardization in the building and construction industry.

    He informed CRADA members that they form a vital link in the distribution network of Dangote Cement and pledged that all their demands will be met. About 300 dealers attended the training.

  • Kogi Poly partners NASRDA on space tech

    The Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Kogi State, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), to run a National Diploma in Aerospace Engineering Technology. This automatically makes the polytechnic the first institution to run such programme in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the ceremony which took place at the Boniface Boroffice Conference Hall of NASRDA in Abuja, the Director-General of the agency, Prof Saidu Mohammed, said the event was historic, as NASDRA was signing MoU with a polytechnic in Nigeria for the first time.

    Prof Mohammed said Kogi State Polytechnic is unique in the sense that it occupies central position in Nigeria and is also located in the same area with iron and steel company.

    He said in the light of this, the engineering programmes of the polytechnic are particularly important.

    The NASRDA DG stressed that space technology is not on1y about designing and building of satellite, but the fastest way to fast track development in all areas.

    “Space technology is not only scientific but also political because of its impact in national economy,” he said.

    In his response, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof Mathew Ajibero, thanked NASRDA for providing an enabling environment for the programmr.

    Prof Ajibero, who considered himself lucky for signing the pact during his tenure, promised to leave up to expectation.

    The Rector further said the institution is already engaging some consultants to design the Department of Aerospace Engineering, adding that the agency and the polytechnic teams are working on the curriculum. Ajibero subsequently sought the approval of the programme by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) so that the programme can start by next academic session.

  • IoD partners govt

    IoD partners govt

    THE Institute of Directors (IoD) is seeking partnership with government with a view to improving the operating business environment.

    Its President, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, while inauguration the first Port Harcourt interim executive in Port Harcourt Presidential Hotel, Rivers State, said her dream for the association is to capture Port Harcourt business environment.

    Mrs Fadayomi said with the IoD in the state capital, it will be easy to ensure close relationship between the directors and the government.

    She said the inauguration will enable the association to discuss national issues that border on business and economy in the interest of the society.

    She noted that the Port Harcourt branch will help the association to identify and to solve the challenges confronting directors in the state capital and the entire Niger Delta region.

    She said: “For years now, our dreams have been how to bring regulators and operators of different sectors of the economy together for the smooth running of business environment in Port Harcourt. We are happy today to make a bold step for the actualisation of this dream.

    “For those who are yet to join the institute, we are the last bus-stop of business leaders worldwide, IoD is indeed a great place of honour and prestige to belong. Our coming to Port Harcourt is to reposition the directors and penetrate the business environment.”

     

     

     

     

  • Access Bank partners oil sector players

    ACCESS Bank is working with independent and small producers in the oil sector to improve their governance structure, its Group Managing Director Herbert Wigwe has said.

    He spoke at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference in Abuja.

    He said this would enable the operators to attract more cash for their operations.

    He said the lender has noted the challenges confronting indigenous operators and is helping them to address these by strengthening their governance structure, as well as helping to address the issue of infrastructure in the sector.

    He explained that despite the problems and challenges facing the subsector, banks are working together with international institutions to support the sector.

    According to Wigwe, local banks working together with international institutions have been able to support much larger projects, so the capacity is building.

    “There are several problems that have to do with the companies themselves. The first and most important one is governance. Most of them lack the corporate governance structure to support that kind of debt and even when they do have the structure, there are issues around capacity and how much equity they have built in and there are also issues of those that are growing a bit too rapidly and the capacity to manage their growth,” he said.

    He expressed confidence on the viability and bankability of indigenous oil companies, stating that some of the companies have put in place the right structures from the governance standpoint, while a number of them have also built up enough equity which they are deploying into the business.

    He maintained that the bankable oil companies will stand the test of time, while the weaker ones will fizzle out overtime. He noted that the bank will support the gas sector the same way it supported the oil sector, saying, “It is often said that Nigeria has oil, when in actual fact, we have much more gas than oil.”

  • Firm partners Harvard Business School

    Firm partners Harvard Business School

    Aventure capital firm, L5Lab, is partnering the Harvard Business School to launch a competition to give aspiring entrepreneurs in Africa a chance to win up to $10,000 to start their own businesses.

    The competition, tagged the New Venture competition, will be held during the 16th annual African Business Conference of the Harvard Business School. At the event, three judges will select the best business plan to get a grand prize of $10,000 and a people choice prize of $5,000.

    The Managing Director, L5Lab, Chika Nwobi, said: “We are excited to be part of this year’s conference, because it presents an opportunity to invest in the future of Africa.”

    The firm suports West Africa’s top start-up firms, including Jobberman and Cheki.

    “L5Lab is committed to building a new generation of business leaders in Africa by providing a platform for emerging professionals and entrepreneurs to harness their competencies and bring their ideas to fruition. This conference helps us connect with such people,” Nwobi added.

  • Law firm appoints new partners

    The firm of Babalakin & Co. has announced the admission of three of its lawyers to partnership positions. They are Mobolaji Olusegun Kuti, Oluseun Adeniyi Awonuga and Kehinde Adeyemi Daodu.

    According to a release by the firm Kuti attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria where he obtained an LL.B (Hons). Second Class (Upper Division), in his class in 1988. He attended the Nigerian Law School where he made a Second Class (Upper Division) and was called  to the Nigerian Bar in 1989.

    Awonuga attended the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he obtained an LL.B Hons. in 2001 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. He joined the firm in 2006.

    Kehinde attended the University of Ilorin, Nigeria where he obtained an LL.B Hons in 2001 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2003.

     

  • Lagos partners Germany, others on energy

    Lagos State Government will continue to encourage and collaborate with Germany and other foreign investors to promote energy efficiency and conservation in the state, Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello, has said.

    Bello, who spoke at the opening ceremony of a two-day seminar on renewable energy in the state, said the state, being the industrial hub of the country, would continue to promote acts that would boost its energy needs.

    He said the seminar was to form a more formidable synergy with the State of Bavaria, Germany, to develop capacity and sharing experiences on energy sector for the socio-economic growth of the state.

    Bello also noted that huge gap existed between energy supply and demand in Nigeria, adding: “The average annual energy consumption in Nigeria is one of the lowest in the world; this has left the economy in a comatose state. In fact, very few African countries could satisfy their energy demand.”

    He said the status of Lagos as the commercial nerve-centre of the nation placed a huge demand on energy owing to population increase and environmental pressure on the state.

    Bello said: “This administration has put in place some Independent Energy Projects (IEPs) such as Solar Power Station for Electricity Board Office, Ikeja, and the Secretariat with energy-saving bulbs, thus departing from the conventional bulbs (60watts), thereby saving 3398.98 kilowatts monthly. Another IEP is the Akute Independent Power Project which will supply power to the Akute intake facility of the state Water Corporation (LSWC) among others.”

    “Lagos State has enjoyed a healthy partnership with Bavarian Government on building the capacity of government functionaries on renewable energy,” he added.

  • Nigeria partners South Africa on tourism

    Nigeria partners South Africa on tourism

    Nigeria, in partnership with South Africa, has set up the Grand Tower Boutique Hotel in Abuja, said to be coming with a different concept and style of hotel management.

    The Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Hon Nze Chidi Duru disclosed that the hotel is redefining hospitality, with staff knowing the names of guests and making them feel completely at home.

    Duru disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the hotel in Abuja.

    He stated that guests will be so at home that things they should ordinarily do in their house can be done in the hotel.

    On affordability, he said the price rate is not different from other hotels in town, with what is on the ground it is even cheaper than what Abuja residents expect.

    Managing Director, Mentiques Collection, Mr. Peter Shorten said Nigeria and South Africa are in a strong partnership on tourism.

    He said with the way Nigeria is going, it will definitely surpass South Africa in all aspects of the economy by 2014.

    It is obvious that in the whole of Africa, Nigeria is the fastest growing nation at the moment, he said.

    Mentiques collection is presently setting up hotels in other states of the country apart from Abuja and has come to Nigeria to stay, but the only challenge is that the country’s tourism is not as developed as other sectors of the economy.