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Adewale Ayuba Special : Why I built a digital studio + clears the air on the controversial born again report

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Multiple award winning fuji star,  Adewale Ayuba has cleared the air on his born again controversial story.  In an exclusive chat with Sahara Weekly,  he opened up on his career,  new studio   and host of other sundry issues

  Q –. Can you tell us what you are working on presently?

R – We are working on digitalizing fuji music. We are trying to see fuji from a different angle. We want to put fuji music in a level where people can tap from,. Where you can easily send singles from your phone to another because the world now belongs to social media and we are trying to do what is in vogue. To realize this, we must have our own digital studio because 99% of fuji music is done by analogue studio. We want to make it crispy now.

Q – Arguably, everybody acknowledge your standard when it comes to fuji. Your own style differs from others. A lot of people blend with your style. What inspired that?

R – From day one of my life, my prayer has been to make fuji music popular. I want to be a preacher that will preach fuji to the western world. When I started, I had 5 albums that wasn’t even played at all and all my friends were mocking me in school that I was doing something local., I realized it’s not their fault, , its because fuji wasn’t doing well. In this fuji music, lyrics is supposed to be in Arabic or Yoruba but how do you want young ones to understand and appreciate Arabic and Yoruba? And that is why we started writing 50% of English and 50% of Yoruba in our songs. Even for foreigners, it will be understandable for them that way.

  Furthermore, the sound of fuji music rhythm used to be slow so we made the tempo fast and thank God everything went fine.

  Q – A lot of people had this general belief in those days that Fuji music is for illiterates but when you came on board, a lot of people believed that your level of education is why you were able to make it to the top and modernize fuji music, would you agree with that?

 R- I can’t lie to you, it’s part of it. The reason is that education is life but at the same time, I’m a good listener. If you are working for me and I want to do something, I’ll call you to hear your own part before going on. I can call my gateman or anybody and that is why my producer can work with we smoothly.

Q – Another thing people appreciate about your brand is the energy. A lot of people believe you brought the energy into fuji industry. Where do you get the energy from?

R – I had an artist I always look forward to then. He was Micheal Jackson. Anytime I watch him, I marvelled with the energetic things he does. I also wanted to be like King sunny Ade because of his energy .That is the brain behind that.

Q – Interestingly, You just got a new studio, can you tell us more about that?

R – The studio you are talking about is to digitalize fuji music. I realize that I don’t need analogue studio alone. I need the combination of Analogue and Digital studio. There’s no analogue and digital studio in Nigeria, I’m not saying I’m the only one but it’s not much here in Nigeria because nobody wants to digitalised fuji . I’m the one that realize that we need to do this in order to make fuji music move forward. When I start, other artiste will join me. The push came from Late Ayinde Barrister. Before he died, he called me and told me not to let Fuji music go down and that I should do my own. He laid the legacy.

Q – To what extent will the digitalization affect your brand and how about the fund?

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R – It’s about determination. Once you are determined, you won’t think of how much you are paying. My prayer is that God should let me achieve this. My plan is to see other artiste come in to record because it’s not for me alone, it’s a commercial thing but whoever does fuji music will pay just 70% of the normal amount because I opened it because of Fuji music.

Q – How do you joggle your music career and your hospitality business?

R – Thank God for that and there is nothing bad in trying to diversify especially when you don’t make money from entertainment. When we sell our albums, we don’t make money because of piracy. My hospitality business is just something I have. It’s just there to boost my career. I don’t know much about it because I have someone managing it for me, it’s just for my career.

Q – Can you clear the air on the issue surrounding your testimony in church recently?

 R – About religion, we are talking about Christian and Muslim, which are the same thing. I was misquoted as regard my testimony. I said I had wanted to be a Christian from my day one maybe because I don’t understand Arabic but I have to know it because without it, I won’t be able to read the Quran and I realize I’m not serving my God well with what he has done for me. I’m calling myself a Muslim but can I read the Quran? But I can read the bible well because it’s comprehensive.  But because of my background; my parents are Muslims and most of my fans are Muslims too, I was afraid. It’s not as if my parents were going to kill me, they are not killers, Muslims are not killers too. I was just misquoted. Nobody should care about my religion; they should talk more about my career. I did the testimony in my church, not to the public. I’ve been to Hajj and most of my fans are Muslim so it’s impossible for me to say there are going to kill me.

 Q- That means you still appreciate and associate with your muslim fans…..

R – Of course. I’ve been a Christian since 2010. Had it been I just got converted last week, it would have been a different story. In my band, most of them are alhajis. I can’t say muslims will kill me. NO!!!. Religion is like Chelsea and Arsenal, you choose the one you prefer. I was surprised when people started calling me to know if I’ve become a Gospel musician now. Nigerians should talk more about my career. If anyone was offended by my testimony, they should just forgive and forget but I didn’t mean when everyone thought. My parents are not killers. Muslims have given me four different notable titles so why would I say they will kill me? I did the testimony in church and someone spread it and I was misquoted.

Q – People believe Fuji is a house that isn’t united. To what extent do you want to unite artiste in the fuji industry?

R – I don’t know why people think fuji musicians are not united. Have they ever seen two fuji artiste fighting each other publicly? If I say I’m the best dancer in the world now, people will say I’m throwing shades at one artiste. It’s people that is making it look like we are not united. If I call Pasuma and Osupa now, they will join me here and they will be relating well with each other but because marketers believe people like negative stuffs, they sell it to people too. Journalist should help too because their pen can change lives, change the nation.

Q – What should your fans expect from you this year?

R – By God’s grace, the studio is working and my single Is coming up. It will be out before easter. I don’t want to do lengthy albums again. When my album comes out, it will be like 12track in an albums.  Also the studio gives discount to all fuji artistes.

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DANGOTE GROUP, SUBSIDIARIES SHINE AT NECA’S 2024 VISIBLE IMPACT AWARDS

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DANGOTE GROUP, SUBSIDIARIES SHINE AT NECA’S 2024 VISIBLE IMPACT AWARDS

…Dangote Cement, Refinery win Sectoral, Groundbreaking investment awards 

 

In a blitz of honour, the Pan-Africa Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), and its subsidiaries Dangote Cement Plc and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals stole the show at the weekend in Lagos when they carted away excellence awards bestowed by the private sector employers’ body, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) during its 2024 annual night of recognitions.

Dangote Group was recognised under the Visible Impact Award for Resilience & Entrepreneurship; Dangote Cement won the Sectoral Excellence Award in the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products category, while the 650,000bpd capacity world’s largest single train refinery, Dangote Refinery won the Groundbreaking Investment award.

Basking in the euphoria of the recognitions, Dangote Industries Limited’s Vice-President, Oil and Gas, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, who was on ground to receive the awards described them as reflecting the values of Dangote Group and its subsidiaries as top employers of labour showing resilience in the face of tough business operating environment.

He said the award would only spur the management of Dangote to continue in the trajectory of the fine best global best practices in business with more investments in the task of rejuvenating the nation’s economy.

In the same vein, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and her counterpart in Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) were recipients of the “Visible Impact in Public Service Award.”

This year’s awards, dubbed “Defying the odds”, NECA said, is geared towards promoting and encouraging best practices in Corporate Performance, People Management and Industrial Relations practices amongst employers in Nigeria.

This, it explained, is in a bid to celebrate outstanding contributions of enterprise to national development, noting that the award provided a platform for celebrating the resilience, doggedness and outstanding performance of employers in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, President of NECA, Dr. Ifeanyi Eric Okoye, noted that the award ceremony was to celebrate the excellence, resilience, innovation and unwavering commitment demonstrated by businesses across the various sectors of the Nigerian economy in 2024.

He said the Awards’ theme, “Defying the Odds,” reflected the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian enterprises that had consistently risen to the challenges posed by the dynamic and demanding local and global economic landscape.

Said he, “This annual ceremony is a testament to remarkable progress made by organisations that share our vision of a thriving private sector as the bedrock of national development. Over the years, the NECA’s Excellence Award has become a hallmark of prestige highlighting organisations that exemplify best practices in corporate governance, industrial relations and environmental sustainability.

“Our honours tonight do not only serve as a beacon of hope, and a reminder that in the face of adversities excellence is achievable, it is also an opportunity to increase visibility by highlighting their achievements and innovations to a wider audience.

“As we celebrate tonight, let us not only celebrate the achievements of the award recipients; let also celebrate all businesses here present and those that have left in the past few years and recommit ourselves to fostering innovation, inclusivity and resilience in all that we do. Together we can build a future where Nigerian enterprises thrive as global leaders.”

Also speaking, the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, explained that the awards were a statement that, irrespective of the challenges the private sector employers have been facing “since January till now, there is time for all of us to sit down and just breathe and celebrate the resilience, doggedness, innovations your businesses were able to bring on-board and their contributions to national development”.

Oyerinde stated further: “So, we are gathered this evening to celebrate your businesses, contribution and support to NECA. We have broken away from the traditional issues of labour and employment that you know us with and are now dealing with all fundamental issues that affect your businesses either now or in the future like Environmental, Social and Governance in sustainability issues.

“We are also deepening our collaboration with CIPE moving into the realms of ethics with emphasis on doing business correctly. We are also deepening our engagements with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in the context of responsible business conduct for our members to operate responsibly within the context of the law.

“This strengthens our hands to advocate against unfavourable business regulations that see businesses as cash cows rather than agents of national development.”

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr. Shuaheeb Agoro, commended NECA for its remarkable legacy of championing enterprise, competitiveness, responsible business practices and industrial harmony describing the award as another remarkable way of motivating employers in the private sector.

Sanwo-Olu said, “This year’s theme could not to be more apt as it speaks to the determination that Nigerian employers have continued to demonstrate in overcoming challenges to sustain businesses, create jobs and drive national development. This resilience is a reflection of enduring entrepreneurial spirit that defines our great nation.”

The governor pointed out that the award inspires the culture of   best practices in corporate governance, industrial relations, environmental sustainability and responsible business conduct.”

DANGOTE GROUP, SUBSIDIARIES SHINE AT NECA’S 2024 VISIBLE IMPACT AWARDS

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No Disparity,’ NUPRC Confirmed 1.8m bopd NNPC Ltd Oil Production Figures At NAPE Conference

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No Disparity,’ NUPRC Confirmed 1.8m bopd NNPC Ltd Oil Production Figures At NAPE Conference

 

‘1.54m bopd production figure (quoted by THISDAY for October) is for September, not October,’ What NUPRC boss told highest body of petroleum explorationists and stakeholders in Lagos.

No Disparity,' NUPRC Confirmed 1.8m bopd NNPC Ltd Oil Production Figures At NAPE Conference

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed the 1.8 million barrels of per day (bopd) production figures earlier released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) at the conference organised by the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos.

This newspaper, which reported the Commission boss, Gbenga Komolafe, to have said this to stakeholders, maintained that the development is contrary to a report making the round that the NUPRC contradicted the NNPC Ltd figures.

Speaking at the 42nd Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Annual International Conference & Exhibition in Lagos, Komolafe said that Nigeria’s crude oil output, including condensate, increased by 16.56 per cent to 1.8 million barrels per day, bpd in October 2024, from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024.

He said that as a result of this feat, Nigeria has exceeded the 1.5 million bpd quota of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.

“This represents an increase of 253,710,
bpd to reach 1.8 million bpd in October, up from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024, representing 16.56 per cent month-on-month rise,” he said.

Represented by Enorense Amadasu, Executive Commissioner for Development and Production at NUPRC, the NUPRC boss declared that efforts were underway to further increase oil output to two million bpd by December 2024.

Highlighting the theme of the conference, “Resolving the Nigerian Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth and Affordability”, Komolafe, said the organization is committed to expanding Nigeria’s oil production capacity.

Checks by this newspaper showed that this is the same position of the NNPC Ltd, which said it and its partners have revved up crude oil and gas production to 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) and 7.4billion standard cubic feet (bscf) per day.

The company announced this at a press briefing, maintaining that the feat was achieved in compliance with the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This newspaper gathered that these figures are, contrary to misconstrued report, the same with the ones announced by the NUPRC.

Disparity Where There Is None

A THISDAY review of the delayed October production figures by the NUPRC, which is the oil and gas sector upstream regulator, claimed that Nigeria produced 1.538 million bpd of crude oil and condensate.

The three-month low production data released by the NUPRC, the report claimed, contradicted the report announced by the national oil company and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Oil), which specifically put production at 1.808 million bpd.

Looking Beyind 1.8m bopd

Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, who reiterated that the Company revved up oroduction to 1.8 m bopd, declared the target to even increase the production to 2 million bopd.

Kyari congratulated the Production War Room Team that anchored the production recovery process.

“The team has done a great job in driving this project of not just production recovery but also escalating production to expected levels that are in the short and long terms acceptable to our shareholders based on the mandates that we have from the President, the Honourable Minister, and the Board,” Kyari explained.

Giving details of the efforts of the Production War Room, the Chief War Room Coordinator, and Senior Business Adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lawal Musa disclosed that the feat was achieved through the collaborative efforts of Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the Office of the National Security Adviser, as well as government and private security agencies.

He said the interventions led to the recovery of production cut across every segment of the production chain with security agencies closely monitoring the pipelines.

He stressed that when the Production War Room team was inaugurated on the 25th June 2024, production was at 1.430mbpd, but the team swung into action, culminating into it sustaining the production recovery to 1.7mbpd in August and hitting the current 1.808mbpd in November.

“We are confident that with this same momentum and with the active collaboration of all stakeholders, especially on the security front, we can see the possibility of getting to 2mbpd by the end of the year,” he stated.

Also speaking on the development, Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board of Directors, Chief Pius Akinyelure, who also congratulated the team, said he was happy to be part of the production recovery process, adding: “today, I will leave this place with my heart full of joy”.

He charged the Company’s Management to come up with a cashflow projection based on the new production figures to facilitate planning, stressing that he was looking forward to further production increase to 3mbpd.

 

-END-

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ZENITH BANK LIGHTS UP AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET, USHERING IN THE YULETIDE SEASON

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ZENITH BANK LIGHTS UP AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET, USHERING IN THE YULETIDE SEASON

ZENITH BANK LIGHTS UP AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET, USHERING IN THE YULETIDE SEASON

 

In keeping with its acclaimed annual tradition, Zenith Bank once again set the stage for the Yuletide season with the Light-Up of Ajose Adeogun Street and Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, 23 November 2024. The Light-Up ceremony was performed by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON.

ZENITH BANK LIGHTS UP AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET, USHERING IN THE YULETIDE SEASON

The Light-Up ceremony is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Zenith Bank. Now in its 18th year, the beautiful Christmas decoration, which transforms the entire stretch of Ajose Adeogun Street (home to Zenith Bank’s Corporate Headquarters) and Roundabout into a breathtaking yuletide wonderland, has come to be recognized as an iconic tourist attraction, bringing visitors from far and wide who visit with their families and friends to take pictures and enjoy the ambience of the street.

Speaking during the ceremony, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji said “Over the years, Zenith Bank has hosted this spectacular event, transforming the entire Ajose Adeogun Street into a breathtaking yuletide wonderland. Our beautiful and elaborate Christmas decorations have become a centre of attraction and shared on social media platforms globally. As we light up the street tonight, we celebrate the essence of Christmas and Zenith Bank’s unparalleled CSR. Our customers will always be at the centre of all that we do in Zenith Bank.” She urged everyone to imbibe the message and spirit of Christmas which is about love, kindness, generosity and respect for humanity, and thanked the Lagos State Government for creating an enabling environment for the initiative.

She also praised the efforts of Quantum Markets, who have been responsible for the annual decorations, for their expertise and creativity in putting together the lovely decorations. In her words, “I want to thank the management of Quantum Markets for all the beautiful, creative and innovative ideas they keep coming up with. Quantum Markets always make it bigger and better every year, and we are always looking forward to it.”

Zenith Bank remains committed to furthering the economic, cultural and social development of its host communities. The bank’s sustainability and CSR initiatives are hinged on the belief that today’s business performance is not all about the financial numbers – the bank believes that an institution’s social investments, contributions to inclusive economic growth and development as well as improvements in the condition of the physical environment, all constitute a balanced scorecard.

As a testament to its contributions and social investments in its host communities and the society at large, the bank was recognised as the “Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria” in the 2023 and 2024 International Banker Banking Awards and “Most Responsible Organization in Africa” at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021.

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