Sahara Weekly Magazine

Category: Business

  • FIRSTBANK HOLDS NON-OIL EXPORT WEBINAR SERIES, CREATES AWARENESS OF THE BANK’S EXPORT SOLUTIONS

    FIRSTBANK HOLDS NON-OIL EXPORT WEBINAR SERIES, CREATES AWARENESS OF THE BANK’S EXPORT SOLUTIONS

    FIRSTBANK HOLDS NON-OIL EXPORT WEBINAR SERIES, CREATES AWARENESS OF THE BANK’S EXPORT SOLUTIONS. 

    First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the convening of its non-oil export webinar series. The Event is centered on deliberating opportunities that will enhance the country’s expansion of its drive towards diversifying the national economy, thereby reducing the reliance of oil as a mainstay of the country’s revenue.

    The first series of the virtual event is scheduled for 10am on Tuesday, 30th November 2021 via Zoom meeting. To register and be part of this transformational knowledge session, click on this link-https://www.firstbanknigeria.com/business/non-oil-export/ . Registration is Free!!

    The event is themed “Building Sustainable Non-Oil Export in Nigeria; Harnessing Opportunities within the AfCFTA Treaty & Agro Commodities” and will have the attendance of Mr. Segun Awolowo MD/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC); Dr Biodun Adedipe, Founder and Chief Consultant of B. Adedipe Associates Limited (BAA Consult)  amongst others, as guest speakers.

    The webinar series aims to facilitate sustainable exports as well as guide participants on ways of navigating the hurdles and challenges of exports in Nigeria. The webinar will explore market and economic trends, unique export opportunities and potentials within the non-oil export industry across the geopolitical zones in the country.

    The importance of exports in Nigeria remains a front burner conversation by individuals and organisations as it provides a means of increasing the markets for producers, and an opportunity to attract the much needed foreign exchange earnings to boost the national economy, which is critical to expanding its Gross Domestic Products.

    Speaking on the event, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney said: “in recent years, the country has witnessed increased activities by the government towards diversifying the economy, thereby boosting the export potentials of the country – beyond the contribution of crude oil – which has been the mainstay of the national economy for many decades.

    Our forthcoming Non-oil Webinar series will expand discussions that are crucial to the growth of Nigeria’s export potentials as we unlock numerous opportunities that will promote the economic diversification drive of the government which is essential to the continued growth of the national economy, especially with the current business challenges posed by the pandemic.”

  • Dangote Refinery to Become Highest Employer of Chemical Engineers in Nigeria

    Dangote Refinery to Become Highest Employer of Chemical Engineers in Nigeria

    and Dangote Refinery to Become Highest Employer of Chemical Engineers in Nigeria*

    …Engineers hail the huge scale of the project
    The National President of Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCh) has revealed that Dangote Oil Refining Company will be the highest employer of chemical engineers in the country when the refinery comes on stream.
    The Society’s National President, Engr. Saidu A. Muhammed, disclosed this during the NSCh’s visit/tour of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical project at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos at the weekend.
    He commended the company for its contribution to energy security in Nigeria.
    Engr. Muhammed, who led members of NSCh on a tour of the Dangote 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery project in Lagos, to mark the end of the association’s 51st-anniversary celebration, said the industries in Nigeria have not been able to absorb the over 1,000 engineers yearly from Nigerian Universities.
    Muhammed stated, “We, the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, have keenly been watching the progress of the refinery project.
    “When completed, the refinery will be the singular largest employer of chemical engineers in the country. Nigerian Universities turn out about 1,000 chemical engineers every year and the avenues for employment have been very scarce.
    “The industry has not been able to fully absorb the number of chemical engineers that passed out of the universities years ago.
    Some companies within the sector are not running at the optimum level. Therefore, employment is really key.
    “However, from the energy security point of view, chemical engineers are always concerned about what can be put in place to guarantee energy security the country. Nigeria is blessed with abundant crude oil, but unfortunately, we are importing petroleum products simply because Nigeria’s own refineries are not utilising their installed capacity”, he said.
    “Therefore, when you see a brand new refinery like the Dangote Refinery that has the capacity to meet the petroleum products needs of the country, there is need to celebrate such company”, Muhammed added.
    He expressed delight over the size of the project and the level of work that has gone in the construction of the refinery.
    “The Dangote Refinery project is very impressive, very big. There is no project of this magnitude right now in this part of the world. We are delighted to see that the project is nearing completion and many things have been done.”
    He commended the Dangote Group for its plans to ensure that Nigerian engineers are trained to handle the operation of the refinery plant, which has been acclaimed to be the largest single-train refinery in the world.
    “We are most impressed by the numbers of Nigerians that we see within the site working at various sections of the plant. We are glad that Dangote is building this type of project in Nigeria, which is one of the largest in the world,” he said.
    Muhammed added that the members of the association are happy to see that Dangote Refinery will contribute significantly to energy security in Africa.
    “We are also happy about the refinery’s contribution to energy security in Africa. The refinery is also going to have positive impact on Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas industry.”
    Speaking also at the event, the Technical Consultant to the President of Dangote Group, Engr. Babajide Soyode commended the chemical engineers for coming on a tour of the refinery.
    According to Soyode, Dangote’s refinery will help Nigeria meet and exceed its current demand for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and kerosene, leaving ample product for export.
    “This connotes significant positive economic impact on Nigeria and the West African region, transforming Nigeria from a net importer to exporter of refined petroleum products and curtailing significant foreign exchange outflows. “Additionally, the availability of excess fuel will also provide a catalyst for eliminating Nigeria’s expensive fuel subsidy,” he added.

    Soyode said that the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery would complement other major infrastructure investments that Dangote has planned at the strategically located Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, including a port, gas processing facility, power plant, and petrochemical and Fertiliser complex. “When completed, this infrastructure complex will create a significant economy of scale for one of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates, supporting jobs in both Nigeria and other African countries”, he added.

  • UBA Foundation Projects Message of Hope, Encouragement as Uzoka lights up the Foundation’s Garden Ahead of the Yuletide

    UBA Foundation Projects Message of Hope, Encouragement as Uzoka lights up the Foundation’s Garden Ahead of the Yuletide

    UBA Foundation Projects Message of Hope, Encouragement as Uzoka lights up the Foundation’s Garden Ahead of the Yuletide.

    • Set to Give Back at Its Annual Food Bank

    Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa, through its UBA Foundation has been spreading joy across Africa for many years as they continue to give back to the underpriviledged in the communities in which they operate.

    At the UBA Foundation gardens in Lagos where the bank is head quartered, a lights up ceremony was held to mark the start of the festive season. The garden lights were activated by UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka who was joined by other key management staff and some customers of the bank.

    Uzoka who is also the chairman of  the UBA Foundation, emphasised that giving back was the main tenet of the UBA Foundation. He said ‘We have over the years, engaged in various activities aimed at appreciating our host communities all around Africa and especially in countries where we operate and so for us, these lights symbolise hope for the future and all the goodness it will bring into people’s lives.

    ‘it is hard to believe that we have been in this pandemic for almost two years. People have lost friends and family members and businesses decimated by the effects of the pandemic. There has been a general feeling of hopelessness but our desire is to fill people’s lives with hope once again.’ Continued Uzoka.

    l-r: Group Head, Customer Fulfilment Centre(CFC), United Bank for Africa Plc, Prince Ayewoh; Group Head, Personal Banking and Retail Liabilities, Ogechi Altraide; Deputy Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Executive Director, Chiugo Ndubisi;  UBA Foundation, Bola Atta;  Head, Commercial and Corporate Banking, Muyiwa Akinyemi; and Head of Operations, Alex Alozie, at the  2021 Christmas and New Year Light Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation, Garden, by  UBA Foundation at Marina, Lagos on Friday

    The UBA Foundation has been very active in combatting the spread of Covid -19 across Africa as the bank did not waste any time at the start of the pandemic, donating over $14m  to its communities across Africa to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

    This year, the Foundation will be feeding tens of thousands of people across Africa through its annual Food bank initiative where food, hygiene products and other gifts items are handed over to those who have less, especially during the festive season.

    The CEO, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, said that the light up ceremony was important for the Foundation adding: “This goes beyond lighting up the Marina and adorning the streets with beautiful colours. It reminds us as an institution of our promise to continue to touch lives and treat our communities with kindness. We are living in very difficult times and a little gesture to put a smile on even one face, goes a very long way. We should all endeavour to do whatever we can, within our power, to uplift others’

    Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; flanked by Executive Director, Chukwuma Nweke; Head of Operations, Alex Alozie; MD-CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, and other staff members at the  2021 Christmas and New Year Light Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation Garden, at Marina, Lagos on Friday

     

    The Lighting Ceremony which observed all necessary Covid-19 protocols was witnessed by members of staff and customers, and featured Christmas carols by UBA’s CFC choir, as well as a guided tour around the beautiful UBA Foundation Garden at the Lagos Marina.

    UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the UBA Group, is committed to the socio-economic betterment of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in the areas of Education, the Environment, Economic Empowerment and other Special Projects.

     

  • Implementing SDG 8 in Nigeria: What Role Should the Sustainability Profession Play?

    Implementing SDG 8 in Nigeria: What Role Should the Sustainability Profession Play?

    The Association of Sustainability Professionals of Nigeria (ASPN) is set to host a virtual seminar on “Implementing SDG 8 in Nigeria: What Role Should the Sustainability Profession Play?” to understand the role of sustainability in advancing the development of effective policies around SDG 8.

    The virtual seminar will hold on Monday, November 29, 2021, from 10:00 am -12:00 noon. Participation at the seminar is free and will be drawn from the public, private and development sectors. To participate in the webinar, registration via the link https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsfu6qpjgrG9NhxW5i8eIqCmhOrFeaSgzM is required.

    Unemployment and under-employment are major challenges faced by many developing countries such as Nigeria. As at the last quarter of 2020, the data from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics put unemployment and youth unemployment rates at 33.3% and 53.4% respectively. Some direct outcomes of these two conditions are poor economic growth and poverty. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 is the global ambition set to address inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. The goal identifies that not only should jobs be created but they should be decent and capable of lifting people out of poverty.

    Over the years, organisations have played a critical role in addressing issues related to SDG 8 such as employment, economic inclusion, non-discrimination, capacity building, availability of a skilled workforce, elimination of forced or compulsory labour. Organisations have created job opportunities, offered apprenticeship opportunities, mentored young entrepreneurs, initiated skills development programmes, put in place mechanisms to identify child and forced labour throughout its supply chains, and developedpolicy against unfair hiring and recruitment practices, amongst many interventions. There is no doubt that sustainability professionals have been at the centre of developing and implementing these interventions for organisations,

    Therefore, sustainability professionals have been and will continue to be crucial in the achievement of the SDGs, and it is on this backdrop that the Association of Sustainability Professionals (ASPN) has decided to organise a seminar on Implementing SDG 8 in Nigeria: What Role Should the Sustainability Profession Play?

    This high-level stakeholder engagement programme aims to unravel the issues and challenges faced by the sustainability profession and its professionals in the implementation of the SDGs within the context of SDG 8 in Nigeria. This is in direct alignment with the objective of ASPN to support and enhance the development of the sustainability profession and advance sustainable development in Nigeria. The workshop will also provide a compelling examination of the state of the profession in Nigeria. This will include, how the profession has contributed to the sustainability evolution both in the fiscal policy, regulatory and private sector spaces; the capabilities and competencies required by sustainability professionals for the growth of the profession; and the solutions that will transform the profession to have a broader sustainable socio-economic development role in the holistic implementation of the SDGs and within the context of SDG 8.

    Speakers at the seminar will comprise of leading voices in the sustainability space such as Ismail Omamegbe,Director, Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations Directorate, ASPN; Professor Chris Ogbechie, Dean, Lagos Business School; Professor Kenneth Amaeshi, Chair, Business and Sustainable Development, University of Edinburgh; Rukaiya el-Rufai, Partner, Sustainability and Climate Change, PwC West Africa; AmarakoonBandara, PhD, Senior Economic Adviser, UNDP; Soromidayo George, Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business, Unilever, West Africa; Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Co-Chair, Private Sector Advisory Group on SDGs, Nigeria; Eunice Sampson, Director, Learning and Development Directorate, ASPN.

    Participants at the seminar stand to benefit from the opportunity to identify ways of strengthening and developing the sustainability profession in Nigeria; contribute to an innovative transition that will have a significant impact in Nigeria by helping devise strategies for sustainable socio-economic development, inclusive growth and decent work; be part of and network with a community of practice to shape, drive and support the sustainability agenda across different sectors

    Additionally, the seminar participants will also be able tounderstand the challenges associated with Nigeria’s SDGs implementation journey, the fundamental linkage between SDG8 and other SDGs that are required to be taken into consideration in developing effective policies around SDG8, and understand the trend (evolution and current state) of the sustainability profession in Nigeria and the contribution of the profession to the sustainability agenda amongst others.

    About ASPN:

    The Association of Sustainability Professionals of Nigeria (ASPN) is a body of sustainability practitioners set up to develop the capacity of members and support Nigerian businesses towards actualising sustainable business growth, while driving Nigeria’s sustainable development.

  • 2021 NCOY: FIRSTBANK PARTNERS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NIGERIA, REITERATES COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND EDUCATION

    2021 NCOY: FIRSTBANK PARTNERS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NIGERIA, REITERATES COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND EDUCATION

    2021 NCOY: FIRSTBANK PARTNERS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NIGERIA, REITERATES COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND EDUCATION

     

    For 11 years, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has partnered with Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) to host its annual flagship event; the National Company of the Year competition (NCOY), which convenes winners of the JA Company Regional Competitions across Nigeria to compete for the National Company of the Year Award.

    This year, the event will bring together outstanding ‘student business teams’ across Nigeria to compete for prizes and an opportunity to represent the country at the national competition – JA African Company of the Year Competition (ACOY). The 2021 edition of the NCOY competition will be held virtually via Zoom meetings at 10am on Saturday, 27thNovember 2021.  Interested participants are to register via the link https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtd-qvqz4pE90NXOHcy-tve6aEXpY_yYAE

    The competition themed ‘Innovation with Grit’ will have 12 teams from 12 schools pitch their innovations to a team of 5 guests judges. The represented schools at the competition include: The Seer company from Alvana High School; Sonic Informatics company from Heritage Global Academy; Nexus Queens company from Queens School; JA Stars from Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN); Amazing Amazon Students from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Abaji; KereTerra Company from Secondary School Etoi, Uyo and The Exploit thinkers from Taidob College.

    Other teams competing include: Mystic Global Company from Rosa Mystica High School, Agulu;  PetraMech Tech from Petra Schools; The Amazing Inventors from Government Secondary School Tudun Wada; Blue crystal company from Methodist Girls school and the Artisans from Igbobi College.

    Judges at the event include: Oludolapo Adigun, Group Head, Retail Banking Lagos & West First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Chidimma Juliana Okparah, Project Management Consultant (PMIEF); Sheila Ojei, Head of Communications Jobberman;  Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative and Simbo Olatoregun, Policy Programs Manager for Facebook in Africa. In attendance also is the Honourable Commissioner for Education Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo as a Special Guest.

    The 2021 National Company of the Year Program will also feature SPARK Competition. SPARK as an initiative of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, is an acronym for Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness. SPARK reiterates the Bank’s commitment to institutionalise kindness in Nigeria by encouraging and amplifying a culture of kindness.

    The SPARK competition will feature 15 finalist schools across Nigeria, whose CSR projects align with the Bank’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability pillars of Education, Welfare and Health, Financial inclusion and Responsible Lending and Procurement.

    Speaking on the event, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney said “FirstBank’s partnership under its Future First initiative with JA Nigeria Company programme has positively impacted over 100,000 people in different locations across the country in preparing and teaching them how to generate wealth, effectively manage it and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Our commitment to fostering entrepreneurial development amongst youths is mainly the driving force behind our support of the National Company of the Year (NCOY) and Africa Company of the Year (ACOY) competitions in past 11 years”.

    According to the Executive Director, JAN, ‘’the National Company of the Year Company competition provides our students with a platform to show how innovative they are while displaying their dexterity and grit especially as it relates to creating sustainable business solutions to problems in their immediate community. The students have learned critical skills during the implementation of the Company Programme and we are proud to celebrate them as they compete in the National competition. I would like to specially appreciate FirstBank Nigeria for their continued support and belief in the boundless potential of young Nigerians’’.

  • EFFICIENT ENERGY: BUA SIGNS ANOTHER 70MW GAS POWER PLANT CONTRACT WITH FINNISH COMPANY, WARTSILA OY FOR ITS CEMENT LINE

    EFFICIENT ENERGY: BUA SIGNS ANOTHER 70MW GAS POWER PLANT CONTRACT WITH FINNISH COMPANY, WARTSILA OY FOR ITS CEMENT LINE

    EFFICIENT ENERGY: BUA SIGNS ANOTHER 70MW GAS POWER PLANT CONTRACT WITH FINNISH COMPANY, WARTSILA OY FOR ITS CEMENT LINE

     

     

    BUA has signed yet another agreement with Wartsila OY of Finland for the construction of a 70megawatts dual-fuel power plant for its BUA Cement Obu Line 3 project in Edo State, Southern Nigeria. This agreement was signed between both companies at a ceremony in Abuja presided over by the Deputy Minister for International Trade for Finland, Ms. Nina Vaskunlahti. This gas power plant will also be the third power plant to be commissioned by BUA from Wartsila as BUA Cement seeks to increase its total production capacity across all its locations to 17million metric tonnes by 2023.

     

     

     

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA, who signed on behalf of the cement producer said that BUA was committed to utilizing cleaner, more efficient energy sources for its cement operations rather than relying on coal or heavy fuels. According to Rabiu, the 70MW gas-powered plant ordered by BUA for its Obu Line 3 cement plant will ensure that the company remains very efficient in its energy utilization in the cement production process.

     

     

     

     

    Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder/Executive Chairman, BUA Group and the Deputy Minister for International Trade for Finland, Ms. Nina Vaskunlahti when the Deputy Minister paid a courtesy call on the Chairman at the BUA Regional Office in Abuja.
    “Currently, we have phased out the use of coal across our factories and are shifting to gas powered plants. As we ramp up our capacity, there is need to complement it with efficient power supply and Wartsila’s technology has been found to be durable and uniquely aligned with our vision for more efficient power generation at all our production locations,” Rabiu added.

  • Polaris Bank’s VULTe wins Business Day’s Digital Bank of the Year Award

    Polaris Bank’s VULTe wins Business Day’s Digital Bank of the Year Award

    *Polaris Bank’s VULTe wins Business Day’s Digital Bank of the Year Award*

    Polaris Bank has been recognized as the Digital Bank of the Year (Global Award category) at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks And Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) award for its trailblazing delivery of VULTe Digital Bank.

    The Organisers at the award ceremony which held recently at Lagos International, Victoria Island, disclosed that Polaris Bank’s VULTe outperforms all its peers in the industry across 8 metrics considered by the award selection/review Committee.

    The 8 metrics considered are: strength of strategy for attracting and gaining digital customers; accelerated user engagement since the pandemic; success in getting clients to use digital offerings; growth of digital customers and platform security.

    Others include: the breadth of product offerings fir retail and corporate clients; evidence of tangible benefits gained from digital initiatives and web/mobile site design, intuiteveness and functionality.

    Other Nominees in the Digital Bank of The Year Award category were: ALAT by Wema, Kuda and VBank.

    In the words of BusinessDay “According to the selection parameters, the selection of Polaris Bank was based on VULTe satisfying and exceeding the hurdle scores in the period under review.

    Polaris Bank had on May 18, this year launched VULTe at a grand ceremony in Lagos where it predicted that the the Digital Bank will redefine Nigeria’s Digital banking landscape.

    And in a space of four months, VULTe performance and quantum of Customer uptake within and outside Nigeria confound Analysts as it crossed the one millionth customer uptake marking a major milestone with the likes of ThisDay newspaper describing the feat as revolutionary.

    Receiving the award, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Innocent C. Ike who was accompanied by his management Team at the ceremony, thanked customers of the Bank for their loyalty and patronage assuring that the best was yer to come.

    While appreciating BusinessDay for the award, Mr. Ike confirmed that VULTe recorded the 1 million customer before the end of 4 months of its launch justifying that the huge ICT investment made by the Bank paid off ultimately with this recognition among several plaudits VULTe has recorded.

    “We thank our customers for the trust they have in our Bank and our services and our dedicated Team that put VULTe together for a job well done. We live in a digital era, and we have no choice but to lead this era as a Bank. Thank you all and God bless”, the Polaris CEO remarked.

    United Bank for Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank were also recognized, carting home Bank of The Year Award, CEO of The Year and MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of The Year respectively.

    Culled from BusinessDay

  • Unity Bank Targets Women; Launches Yanga Account

    Unity Bank Targets Women; Launches Yanga Account

    Unity Bank Targets Women; Launches Yanga Account

     

     

    In its bid to demonstrate increased commitment towards promoting financial inclusion and women empowerment, Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc has launched Yanga Account, a new retail product designed to deepen beneficial impact on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs operated by women in the mass market retail space.

     

    As a product targeted to boost the Nigerian women entrepreneurs, the initiative was intended to create Yanga Experience, from promoting the business, capacity building to health insurance scheme for Yanga Account holders.
    A statement by the Bank said that the benefits for signing up to Yanga Account are summed up as ‘The Yanga Experience’. This means that as we target every woman in the mass-market retail space, the Yanga account holders will enjoy many benefits including stress-free savings and investment, access to the services of dedicated Sales Agents, Agency Banking services close to the location of their businesses, special business seminar and training on how to grow business, access to microloans, customized debit cards and other bundled e-banking products.
    Speaking at the launch of the product in Abuja on Tuesday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun stated the “Yanga Account is being launched as a bold attempt to directly cater to women and their respective businesses.”
    The Unity Bank Boss, therefore, asserted that the Account “is open to all market women in farming, fashion design, tailoring, frozen food, pastry and baking, cosmetics, jewellery designs and making, skincare, eateries and restaurants, etc. whether living in the communities or cities.”
    “Yanga Account is conceived and designed for the financial literacy and empowerment of Nigerian women. It is about making sure that our women who make up 55% of the financially excluded Nigerians have access to basic and life-changing financial services.”
    Recent research by Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) has shown that “Women need economic opportunities if countries are to realize the full potential of their human capital. Financial inclusion can benefit individuals, families, and businesses, supporting key outcomes such as GDP growth”.
    Speaking further, Somefun said: “The Yanga account will also be incorporating an affordable Health insurance scheme not only as a part of the product bouquet underpinning the Bank’s belief in health and wellness which translate to wealth creation but also to drive insurance penetration which is presently at 2% in Nigeria. We, therefore, believe that this will provide essential ingredients to growing a business as well as adding greater value for Yanga account holders.
    “At Unity Bank, through products like Yanga Account, we continue to align with the vision of the Central Bank of Nigerian and the financial services ecosystem to provide needed support for Nigerian women by enhancing access to wealth-creating opportunities in the financial services sector”.
    Also, speaking, Group Head, Retail, SME Banking and E-Business, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Funwa Akinmade said: “the official launch of the Yanga Account is an extremely important step for us as a Bank because it is one step that brings our services closer to Nigerian women as Unity Bank makes the efforts to further expand its retail footprints in the market.
    “At Unity Bank Plc, we have devoted the past few years to constantly innovating with banking solutions to enable us to drive more financial inclusiveness in different market segments, but the Yanga Account is introduced as a bold attempt to directly cater to women and their respective businesses.
    “Unity Yanga is a well-packaged banking product that combines several services that most small businesses owned by women will need to become profitable. We are optimistic that Nigerian women will embrace the Yanga Account and leverage its full benefits to grow their businesses.”

  • NESCAFE Original – 25g with a Start!

    NESCAFE Original – 25g with a Start!

    NESCAFE Original – 25g with a Start!

     

     

    NESCAFE is a flagship brand of the largest food and beverage company in the world – Nestlé.

    Did you know that instant coffee was invented by Nestlé in the 1930s to deliver
    rich, bold flavor in an instant?
    The innovation also helped farmers reduce labour and post harvest crop waste.

    It is refreshing to note that helping farmers is something that Nestlé is still
    passionate about today.

    In Nigeria, Nestlé offers great instant coffee options to deliver that rich and bold flavor to consumers.

    Over the years, the NESCAFE Original 3 in 1 has delighted consumers with its
    rich creamy taste mixed with the irresistible coffee aroma.

    Now the brand is offering a new size – the NESCAFE Original 25g for the perfect cup of coffee.
    NESCAFE Original 25g is formulated to provide the thrill to “Start Strong, Finish
    Strong” for all those who know to start their day with the coffee experience.

    At the launch of NESCAFE Original 25g in Lagos, the Managing Director and
    CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini said, “At Nestlé, we
    constantly explore and aim to push the boundaries of what is possible with
    foods, beverages, and nutritional health solutions to enhance quality of life and
    contribute to a healthier future for everyone. We are excited to present NESCAFE Original 25g to all coffee lovers in Nigeria. We believe that the science of the recipe is excellent and the size delivers the perfect cup that Nigerians love.”

    Also speaking at the launch, the Category Manager for NECSAFE in Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Alabi said, “Nigerians have loved the rich creamy taste mixed with the rich coffee aroma of NESCAFE for many years. We are therefore excited to offer NESCAFE Original 25g which helps constitute a perfect cup at an affordable
    price, within the context of the current economic challenges.”
    “We believe that Nigerians will continue to enjoy their NESCAFE the way they
    love it, and we are proud to be a part of this experience.”

    Coffee contains a number of beneficial nutrients, including riboflavin (vitamin B-
    2), niacin (vitamin B-3), magnesium, potassium, and various phenolic
    compounds, or antioxidants.

    Experts say that these and other ingredients in coffee can benefit the human body in various ways.
    One serving of NESCAFE Original 25g offers up to 112 (Kcal) of Energy to start
    strong and finish strong every day.

    NESCAFE Original - 25g with a Start!

  • Heritage Bank CEO wins Banker of Year SMEs & Agric 2021 award

    Heritage Bank CEO wins Banker of Year SMEs & Agric 2021 award

    Heritage Bank CEO wins Banker of Year SMEs & Agric 2021 award

     

    Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria most innovative service provider has been adjudged Banker of the Year 2021 under SMEs and Agric category, which was awarded to the MD/CEO of the Bank, Ifie Sekibo.

    The bank won the prestigious award at the New Telegraph 2021 Awards in recognition of its leadership position in delivering sterling development and growth of the Agricultural sector and the Small and Medium Enterprises.

    Presenting the award to Sekibo, earlier in a letter to congratulate him for his nomination as the Banker of the Year (SMEs & Agric) of the year 2021, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Ayodele Aminu explained, “after a thorough scrutiny of Heritage Bank’s laudable support for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), as well the country’s agricultural sector, in the last one year by our Panel of Judges and Editors, we at the New Telegraph 2021 are pleased to award Heritage Bank, Banker of the Year (SMEs & Agric).”

    Receiving the award on behalf of the bank’s CEO, the Executive Director, Jude Monye stated that the Bank was honoured and motivated to do more for the sustainability and growth of the Agric and SME sectors following the award received from New Telegraph newspaper.

    “We are highly honoured to receive the award as the Banker of the Year (SMEs & Agric) from the Board and Management of New Telegraph Newspaper. This validates the hard work and success story of the bank to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations, as amongst other sectors of the economy, we have continued to ensure our efforts to support the Agric and SMEs sector in Nigeria counts.

    “This is a result that will continue to motivate us to deepen our supports to Agric, SMEs sector and the economy at large for sustainable growth,” he assured.

    Sekibo vowed that in line with its core mandate to create and transfer generational wealth, the bank would continue to make farming profitable to stakeholders and attractive to the youth, as Heritage Bank had taken the front seat in financing critical agricultural projects in several states in the country, especially in Oyo, Kaduna and Zamfara and recently in Plateau Jos.

    He noted that most of the ventures in the agriculture sector fall within the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME) sectors of the economy, which Heritage Bank in close collaboration with CBN has been championing.

    According to him, in complimenting the efforts of the Central Bank, Heritage Bank has made a huge success of the established agricultural schemes by making funds available to both small holder farmers and SMEs (Prime Anchors) in their efforts to increase agricultural output especially rice and wheat productions.

    He explained that Heritage Bank has deepened support of small holders’ farmers and anchors in Ogun, Niger and recently Plateau state in rice and wheat seed and grain production under Prime ABP, which would help tackle gaps inherent.

    “Heritage Bank in partnership with CBN is set to reverse the adverse trends by eliminating dependence on imported wheat which currently stands at over $2 Billion and the unavailability of high yield wheat seed that stands at 63,000 MT through a strategic approach which would facilitate import substitution and promote self-sufficiency in the wheat value chain in Nigeria, by funding the local production of wheat and encouraging backward integration by wheat millers,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, Heritage Bank has recorded notable success stories in the Agric and SMEs’ spaces which in 2017 the bank won the maiden award from CBN for Sustainable Transaction of the Year in Agriculture.

    In 2018, Heritage Bank emerged as a winner in the Agriculture Category during the year’s CBN Sustainable Transaction of the year award. The Nigeria Agriculture Awards (NAA), announced Heritage Bank as the Agric. Bank of the Year. According to NAA, Heritage Bank was selected in recognition of its footprints in the Agribusiness space.

    In 2019/2020, Heritage Bank secured mandate as Transaction Advisers and Settlement Bank on Agribusiness and Solid Minerals to Lagos Commodities & Futures Exchange.