The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SKYE BANK

  • Skye Bank Xmas promo to produce new millionaires

    Skye Bank Xmas promo to produce new millionaires

    Skye Bank Plc has begun the Christmas edition of the Reach for the Skye Millionaire promo expected to produce new winners early next month.

    Both new and old customers stand a chance to win N1 million and other monetary and material rewards at the next draw which is scheduled to take place in Akowonjo, Dopemu Lagos State.

    The bank launched the sequel edition for The Skye Millionaire Campaign in January and the campaign has produced a total of 164 winners – 4 Millionaires, 40 winners of N100,000, 40 winners of N50,000 and 80 winners of N20,000 each with gift items given to several customers and prospects as consolation prizes.

    The reward campaign which has seen several customers of the bank winning N1million, and other consolation prizes, will open opportunities for more winners at the popular Akowonjo roundabout in Lagos.

    The open air event will be announced at Akowonjo roundabout through a transparent electronic draw projected on a mega screen, for members of the public and business leaders to be active participants in drawing the winning account numbers.

    A chance to win cash prizes: N100,000 for 10 customers and N50,000 will go to 10 customers and 20 loyal customers will win N20,000 every month. Gift items such as table top fridge, generator, table top gas cookers, mobile phones, blenders, recharge cards and table Top Gas Cooker are also available to be won.

    Since it was introduced, the Skye Bank ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire’ reward promo has been changing the lives of many for the better. The campaign, which is a feature for its flagship savings products, is meant to encourage savings culture amongst the mass market segment.

    Speaking on the bank’s commitment, its Group Managing Director/CEO, Tokunbo Abiru said “the promo provides a unique opportunity for the bank to stay in touch and reward its savings customers, who have a unique role to play in the country’s economic expansion”.

    Giving insight on the campaign, the Group Head, Retail Banking of the bank, Ndubuisi Osakwe, disclosed that, “part of activities lined up for the event is the instant reward for people who open any savings account during the draw, adding that “the instant reward items at the draw venue include; generator sets, refrigerators, blenders, phones, table gas cookers and even recharge cards.

    Four millionaires; Olusola Olusegun Ezekiel, Mrs. Ohaeme Elizabeth; Aminu Buhari and Tolani Ahmed/Omole Akanni, joint account owners, have already emerged earlier draw in the reloaded season II edition which took place in Ikorodu, Lagos; Owerri, Abia State, Kano in Kano State and Ibadan, Oyo State with various consolation prizes won by several customers and prospects of the bank.

  • Skye Bank, COPE move against breast cancer

    Skye Bank, COPE move against breast cancer

    For Skye Bank Plc, health is wealth. That is why the leading retail lender, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is helping to fight breast cancer by partnering the Care, Organisation and Public Enlightenment (COPE) Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) bringing relief to breast cancer survivors and patients, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    Skye Bank Plc is showing renewed commitment to tackle the menace of breast cancer. The lender has, through funding and commitment, taken strategic steps to ensure that Nigerians are protected against the cancer scourge.

    The lender has also partnered Care, Organisation and Public Enlightenment (COPE) Foundation, a non-governmental organisation to bring relief to breast cancer survivors and patients.

    “We are committed to the fight against the high incidence of cancer, especially breast cancer in the country and with our NGO partner, Care, Organisation and Public Enlightenment (COPE) Foundation, no stone is going to be left unturned until the disease is brought to a halt,” the bank’s Group Managing/CEO Tokunbo Abiru, said in a statement.

    He added: “Our concern and desire as a financial institution and a corporate citizen, is to stem the growing trend of the disease,”  pledging that Skye Bank will continue to support worthy social causes in the health sector to improve the wellbeing and healthcare of Nigerians. According to him, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

    Also, the bank had in the past and in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, sponsored a 10-kilometer walk in two different locations within the Lagos metropolis with over 2,500 participants to draw the attention of the public to the deadly cancer scourge.

    Skye Bank, in collaboration with, COPE Foundation, is providing free breast cancer screening opportunity for hundreds of women as it continues to support the fight against cancer in October and beyond.

    The bank, in the last 12years, has made huge commitment to the fight against cancer and other Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) as part of its contribution to the society through its flagship CSR footprints.

    Some of the bank’s footprints over the years include the Seek-A-Care project, a long term relevant home care delivery service offered to breast cancer patients. The lender has also established a Breast Cancer Information Service Centre to serve as a databank where relevant and up-to-date information on breast cancer is made available.

    The lender has also donated cancer screening machines – LogiQ C2 and Mind Ray Ultra-Sound System, to enhance quality diagnosis and clinical practices at the C.O.PE Center.

    The provision of the equipment has increased the chances of early detection of breast cancer, which has significantly raised the survival chances of cancer patients and also given opportunity to more women  to determine their status. “Over 30 indigent cancer patients were supported by the bank for treatment in addition to providing free scanning programs for over 12,000 women within and outside Lagos. We helped to beef-up the capacity and skill set of officers from C.O.PE Foundation by sponsoring them to UICC World Cancer Training and Conference in Australia,” the statement said.

    COPE Foundation Managing Partner, Mrs. Ebun Anozie, in her comments, called for the establishment of cancer care centres in the country where specialists would be available to provide care and treatment to patients and survivors.

    She praised Skye Bank for sponsoring over 30 indigent cancer patients for treatment in addition to providing free screening programmes for over 12,000 women within and outside Lagos.

    “Unfortunately, we have noticed the prevalence of breast cancer in younger women and late presentation is still on the increase. Women should please avail themselves of the opportunity to free screening because early detection and treatment is safer and cheaper”, she said.

    A Consultant Oncologist, Dr. Anthonia Showunmi, advised  the public to live a healthy lifestyle, avoid risky behaviours, and go for general medical checkup once in a year.

    October has been set aside as the Breast cancer awareness month and it is marked globally to draw attention and support for awareness, early detection and treatment of the disease.

    The disease is the second most common kind of cancer in women and strangely, it accounts for about half a million deaths each year which is due largely to inadequate medical care and lack of awareness about the disease.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 70 per cent of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Consequently, deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 13.1 million in 2030.

    Stakeholders said these alarming figures call for a concerted effort by government, research institutes and the private sector to fight the scourge of cancer in our society in order to reduce the mortality rate among the womenfolk.

    According to research conducted by US based medical experts, Laurie Glimcher, MD, Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College; Wendy Chen, MD, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and Patricia Steeg, PhD, deputy chief of the Women’s Malignancies Branch at the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research, there are indications that the three most recent big breakthroughs in the fight against breast cancer -taming rogue cells; treating from the medicine cabinet and catching cancer before it spreads, may be able to stem mortality in women as a result of breast cancer.

     

  • Skye Bank empowers women entrepreneurs

    Skye Bank empowers women entrepreneurs

    Skye Bank Plc is committed to empowering women entrepreneurs across various sectors of the Nigerian economy. This position was further reinforced by the bank when it presented certificates of proficiency to three lucky members of the Skye Pearl community who participated in the just -concluded three-month art of fashion training organised by Ibile Vogue Academy.

    The training, which is a give-back initiative of Skye Bank and Ibile Vogue Academy, entails both executive and full time classes that teaches students everything about fashion; from pattern drafting, colour sequencing, garment construction to soft business skills; as well as provide linkages to help students develop their own clothing line with the aim of grooming top notch fashionprenuers.

    Speaking at the presentation of the certificate, the Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank Plc Mrs. Ayodele Olojede, lauded the graduands and praised everyone who played a significant role in making the dreams of the participants in the training come true. She challenged them to start adding value with the skills they have acquired, so as to stay competitive.

    Mrs. Olojede also noted that the initiative was embarked upon as part of the gains of being part of the Skye Pearl community. “This, for us, is both a give-back and value add under our Skye Pearl Initiative beyond just funding which a bank is naturally known for adding that, “our aim is to address the peculiar challenges of the woman, the wife, the mother and the professional with a view to empowering her economically.

    Director of Studies, Ibile Vogue Academy, Mrs. Temitope Olanre-Alade, applauded the bank for the initiative and particularly for providing the platform (Skye Pearl) that made it possible for her organization to also give back to society. In her words to the graduands: “You owe Skye Bank and Ibile Vogue Academy immensely and therefore you should do everything within your power to make us proud.”

  • Skye Bank harps on early savings culture

    Skye Bank harps on early savings culture

    Skye Bank Plc has underscored the importance of inculcating financial literacy and savings culture in children to nurture life-long culture of prudence and diligence in them.

    To foster financial literacy and savings culture, Skye Bank last week presented awards to winners of its nationwide Skye Rainbow Essay Competition. The competition, which kicked off last April across the six geopolitical zones of the country saw 21 pupils emerging winners across the nation. The winners were presented with state-of-the-art educational tablets.

    Speaking during the presentation in Lagos, the bank’s Executive Director, Technology & Services, Mr. Innocent Ike, said the competition demonstrated the commitment of the bank to the development of financial literacy among the Nigerian youth and the education sector generally.

    He commended the pupils for believing in Skye Bank by taking up the challenge of going through the essay process.

    “As a bank, we believe in promoting excellence and we are happy that you have taken the challenge of going through the rigours of the competition by applying your thinking and expressing yourself, as best as you could,” Ike said.

    According to him, Skye Bank is committed to the support of efforts aimed at improving the welfare of children; a commitment that is expressed in the various financial solutions and inclusion initiatives undertaken by the bank, including the Skye Rainbow savings account, which promotes good savings culture among children.

    He congratulated the winners-Ajayi Samuel, Chiemeta Pascal and Chukwuebuka Michael and commended them for demonstrating unusual strength and brilliance. He also thanked their parents and teachers for standing by them till they emerged winners in the competition.

    He urged the winners and their colleagues who accompanied them to the award presentation to start saving early as this will show they have plans for their future.

    “As one of the largest retail banks in the country, we encourage savings,” Ike said.

    On what motivated the competition, Ike said the competition’s overall goal was to develop in the Nigerian child, creativity, good presentation skills and proper use of English, as a medium of communication.

    He added that the competition intended to inculcate in the Nigerian child, a culture of appreciation for the positive parental influence over their lives in shaping their destiny.

    “I’m very happy. It makes me feel good and it makes my parents proud and this has begun a good race in my life. My family and my friends will be happy with me,” Samuel Ajayi, a student of Caleb International College, Magodo and the overall winner of the competition said.

    Mrs Ajayi Ololade, mother of Samuel Ajayi, the star prize winner, said she paid attention to savings and financial literacy in nurturing her children.

    “All my children have Rainbow account. I opened the account for Samuel when he was three years old. Now he is 12 years old. I set up a standing order instruction which has been making it easy for me to have funds whenever I need money for his education. The bank’s new digital banking solution; SkyeXperience, makes it even easier to set-up standing instructions,” Ololade said.

  • Skye Bank unveils SkyeXperience

    Skye Bank Plc has expanded its digital financial offerings with the launch of SkyeXperience, a unique banking solution meant to add more value to customers.

    Speaking at the launch, the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Adetokunbo Abiru, said the objective of SkyeXperience was to simplify service delivery and personalise customer experience.

    “As a pledge of commitment to a new service charter with our customers, we have decided to render to them this digital banking solution, which we have called SkyeXperience, denoting such positive values as experience, excellence, excitement and experiential,” he told the bank’s customers, stakeholders and the regulator during the unveiling of the solution in Lagos.

    According to the Skye Bank’s GMD, “SkyeXperience is Nigeria’s most advanced digital financial solution that will make banking a hassle-free and provides exciting lifestyle for both the young and the old”.

    The unique features of the SkyeXperience digital solution is its overriding benefit of providing for the customer an omni-channel experience and seamless navigation on multiple platforms. The solution is also self-service – enabling the customer to do several transactions on the go – and to manage time better.

    “For our worthy individual customers, who need to pay school fees from their home or office to our SME customers and retail entrepreneurs who need to make instant payments to suppliers and vendors in distant cities, this solution is for you,” Abiru added.

    The bank’s Chairman, Mohammed Ahmad, said the launch of SkyeXperience is the bank’s modest contribution towards the economic development of Nigeria, especially in the area of financial technology and digital revolution.

    He noted that Skye bank has always taken the lead in terms of digital offering in the financial service space, saying this launch is a response to the needs and expectations of the customers, especially the digital natives who are either caught up or born with technology.

    “By the unveiling of this new service platform, called SkyeXPerience, we are offering you a smarter way to bank, and a more convenient way to live,” he said.

    Ahmad lauded the Federal Government’s policy on digital revolution which seeks to achieve 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018, adding that the SkyeXperience will encourage more Nigerians to embrace the use of technological solutions to attain a more convenient and quality living, irrespective of their social status.

  • Skye Bank seeks to take over Omokore’s oil wells

    Skye Bank seeks to take over Omokore’s oil wells

    The management of Skye Bank Plc is seeking to take over some oil wells belonging to Jide Omokore, a businessman involved in some corruption cases within and outside Nigeria.

    The bank said Omokore is indebted to it to the tune of about N110bn at an exchange rate of $1/N315.

    The loans were said to have been obtained through three companies namely: Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts (N56 billion), Cedar Oil and Gas Ltd (N22.4 billion) and Real Bank Ltd (N31 billion).

    In a report by online paper, TheCable, the management of the bank said the repayment of the first two obligations is tied to the controversial strategic alliance agreements (SAAs) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Atlantic Energy was awarded SAAs by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Ltd, a subsidiary of NNPC, to develop and finance production from OMLs 26, 42, 30 and 34 – four oil blocks in all – in 2011.

    NPDC valued its stake in the oil wells at $1.8 billion then.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the assets of Omokore over suspicion of money laundering and procurement fraud.

    In a letter to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the bank appealed to the federal government to grant it access to the assets that were funded with loans from the bank.

    “We will require assistance for the extrication of the real estate assets that were fully funded with loans from the bank from the assets of Omokore presently under the forfeiture order from the court,” the letter read.

    “This will enable us have access and rights over these assets and put the bank in a position to realise the assets that form the collateral for the loans granted to Real Bank limited.”

    The bank also sought assistance to take control of the oil assets of Omokore.

    “We will require some political intervention working with the NNPC to be able to bring this matter relating to Atlantic Energy to a quick resolution,” the letter read.

    “The assets belong to the NNPC and we will require the NNPC to approve the transfer of the rights under the SAA’s to another company that can take over the obligations and repay the bank facilities.

    “Our proposal is to work with the NNPC to take over these assets (since NNPC is a joint venture partner with 60 percent stake) and thereafter re-auction them to affirm that has the financial capability and credibility to take over and turn around the fortunes of these assets.

    “This arrangement will also require strong political support at the highest levels. The positive outcome of this arrangement will enable the bank to repay NNPC’s TSA funds totalling USD$262.7m, and also part of CBN’s financial accommodation to the bank.”

  • Students praise Skye Bank on USSD

    Students praise Skye Bank on USSD

    A cross section of students in select universities have praised Skye Bank for the introduction of *833# Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code solution on campus life, describing the evolution as a defining development that has simplified banking transactions for undergraduates on campus.

    Commenting on the introduction of the Skye Bank *833# USSD code, Stephanie Okoro, a 400 level student of English, Obafemi  Awolowo University said: “Sincerely life has been made so easy for me with the introduction of the USSD code as I can now do practically everything with my phone.”

    Speaking from Amadu Bello University, ABU, Danladi Garba, 200 level student of Geography and Town Planning, noted with excitement that: “Gone are the days when to buy airtime, you’d have to walk long distances and buy with physical cash, but nowadays, in the comfort of your hostel or wherever, just dial *833#, and you are home and dry.”

    On the other hand, Ekundayo Koleosho, a 500 level student of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, noted with emphasis, the freedom and ease with which transactions are now being carried out, stating that: “The fascinating thing for me is that no internet connection is required to consummate any transaction. The code works on all phone types and is a faster and more convenient way of carrying out transactions seamlessly.”

  • $15.5m fraud: Absence of EFCC’s prosecutor stalls Dudafa’s trial

    $15.5m fraud: Absence of EFCC’s prosecutor stalls Dudafa’s trial

    The absence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor on Wednesday in Lagos stalled the ongoing trial of Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former Senior Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dudafa is standing trial at a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged concealment of 15.5 million dollars (about N4.8 billion) which the former Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, has laid claim to.

    He was charged alongside two others, a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, a senior staff of Skye Bank , Adedamola Bolodeoku, and four companies.

    The four companies are Pluto Property Development Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development Company Ltd, Transocean Property Development Company Ltd, and Avalon Property Development Company Ltd.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, the court informed the defendants that the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had written a letter seeking for an adjournment.

    The letter stated that the prosecutor was on a national assignment outside the court’s jurisdiction.

    Responding to the EFCC’s letter, Dudafa’s counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, said it was an “unfortunate situation” for the defendants.

    He said if the defendants had acted that way, EFCC would have accused both the court and the defence of delaying the proceedings.

    “Rotimi Oyedepo is not the only lawyer in EFCC, the commission has the largest lawyers’ chamber in Nigeria. It is an unfortunate situation, and I urge the court not to grant the application.”

    Also, counsel to the second defendant, Mr Ige Asemudara, said he was surprised that the prosecutor would not be in court because of a “national assignment” which was not well explained.

    He, therefore, urged the court not to grant the application.

    Counsel to the third defendant and the four companies, Mr Joseph Okobieme and Mr Jeff Kadri agreed with the submissions of the first and second defendants.

    The lawyers urged the court not to grant the adjournment, but to dismiss the charge against the defendants.

    In his ruling, Justice Babs Kuewumi, said the court would adjourn the case in the interest of justice.

    He fixed Sept 13 for continuation of trial.

  • Ex-first lady Patience Jonathan sighted at Skyebank in Abuja

    Ex-first lady Patience Jonathan sighted at Skyebank in Abuja

    Former first Lady, Patience Jonathan was on Monday sighted at the Maitama branch of the Skye bank in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this may not be unconnected with her  5.9 million dollars which was recently unfrozen by a court order.

    NAN also reported that the former first lady was at the bank until 4:05 p.m. when she departed but declined to speak to hordes of reporters who sought to know why she was at the bank.

    A source, however, told NAN that while at the bank, Jonathan briefly met an Executive Director of the bank.

    One of her aides, who declined to disclose his name, told newsmen that “everything was okay”.

    A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday vacated its order which in 2016 froze the Skye Bank account of the ex-first lady.

    The account had a balance of 5.9 million dollars at the period.

    The Judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, set aside the ‘No-Debit Order’ which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission earlier placed on the account on allegations that the money found in it was a proceed of crime.

  • Skye Bank begins sale of 2017 JAMB/UTME E-Pins

    Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has accredited Skye Bank as one of the selling banks for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) E-Pins.

    The choice of Skye Bank amongst other banks selected for this exercise, followed a resolution reached recently at a stakeholders meeting held between the management of JAMB and Deposit Money  Banks (DMBs), Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) and Computer Based Test (CBT) Centres.

    Speaking on the development, JAMB’s Head of Public Relations, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the registration of candidates for the UTME would be for one month; as against the previous three months, saying the former system was fraught with issues that affect registration of candidates.

    “We are ready and will begin the sale of the admission forms from March 20, while the UTME is scheduled to hold in May,” he said.

    “We have also accredited select Banks in addition to over four hundred Computer Based Test (CBT) Centers, and they are to sell the E-Pins to applicants across the federation, including FCT Abuja,” Benjamin stated.

    Skye Bank assured the public, especially applicants of its readiness to accommodate the purchase requests from the general public; taking advantage of proximity of its retail outlets spread across the country.