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Chike Okoli Foundation Celebrates 15 Years of Promoting Healthy Living and Entrepreneurial Culture
It was a night of elegance, enterprise and entertainment as Chike Okoli Foundation held its 15th Annual Heart & Soul Gala. The event was held at Kairos Hub, Lekki, Lagos on Sunday with the theme, “Rays of Hope, New Visions of Tomorrow” to celebrate the legacy of late Chike Edward Okoli. The 2021 edition of the event, which was held to mark the 16th year remembrance of the passage of Chike Edward Okoli and the 15th anniversary of the Foundation brought together thousands of families and friends who attended virtually.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Foundation, Dr. Stella Okoli, while thanking God for the grace to ensure that the short life of Chike Okoli is turned to an enduring legacy said; ” the event is about celebrating a Nigerian youth and a good example of an enterprising Nigerian.”
According to her; for the past fifteen years, Chike Okoli Foundation has been promoting a legacy of touching lives and building entrepreneurs. She further said; “the focus at Chike Okoli Foundation includes ensuing that every young Nigerian is fully knowledgeable about the dangers of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and the available preventive measures and treatment options, as well as adequately equipping every young Nigerian with entrepreneurial skills to enable him or her to set up and manage a profitable business of his or her choice. At the Chike Okoli Foundation, our aim is that every Nigerian youth shall be lifted in this great nation as a healthy individual to assist the nation to take the place it rightfully belongs.”
In the same vein, a Board member of the Foundation, Chief. Mrs Taiwo Taiwo said “It is over fifteen years that we lost a brilliant and enterprising youngster, but to the glory of God the legacy of the young man is renewed by the efforts of the Foundation through its commitment to raise young and healthy people as accomplished entrepreneurs.”
Meanwhile, it should be noted that since inception, Chike Okoli Foundation has successfully held programmes for youths and entrepreneurs in collaboration with leading corporate institutions in Nigeria. These programmes have enhanced the lives of over 12 million Nigerians especially youths. The Foundation has also reached over 10,000 aspiring entrepreneurs through its Brainchild, Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (COCES) situated at the main campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. In turn, many of Chike Okoli Foundation’s beneficiaries have continued to spread the message of healthy living in their environments, while most graduates of COCES have initiated various small and medium scale projects.
In this regard, the Heart & Soul Gala is an annual fundraising event organized by the Foundation, aimed at raising awareness about the foundation’s core projects, as well as soliciting support for the sustainability of COF’s vision. The Foundation has published 24 booklets and five posters on healthy living. These materials are distributed freely at designated hospitals, Clinics, Banks and pharmacies.
Congratulating the Foundation at the event, the wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun said the Foundation had gone a long way to resourcefully lift Nigerian youths and educate the people through its initiatives. She said, ” the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (COCES) situated at the main campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State is a big testimony to what the foundation has done to help the Nigerian youths and its publications and communication materials have provided millions of Nigerians relevant information on how to live an healthy and prosperous live.”
Remarkably, the event which was anchored by the elegant Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi featured a night of entertainment, enterprise, and art where some highpoints of the events included great and electrifying performances by music stars, such as delectable Yinka Davis, Soloist Preye, Alternate Band, Gospel Force Band among others. A special rendition on the activities of the Foundation for the past fifteen years was also done by a veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Nwuche as well as a live painting auction in support of the Foundation by a Nigerian paint artist, Ice Nweke.
The event also witnessed a health talk on common tips for keeping heart healthy by Dr. Ramon Moronkola, a Consultant Cardiologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Ikeja and a special session on entrepreneurship by an American based entrepreneur, Mr. Chika Nwobi.
The Chike Okoli Foundation (COF) is a non-profit organization established in May 2006, in memory of the young and vibrant Chike Edward Okoli, who passed away due to an undetected coronary artery disease, five days after his 25th birthday. A budding entrepreneur, Chike was until his death, the Founder/Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Carden Energy Services Ltd, an indigenous Oil Services Company in Lagos, Nigeria.
More than ₦3 billion was targeted, but about ₦677 million reached the culprits, with recovery and prosecutions underway, reflecting how banks are responding to more sophisticated fraud risks.
Nigeria’s expanding digital banking sector is facing increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts, as financial institutions adapt to faster transactions and broader online services.
A recent case involving First City Monument Bank (FCMB), linked to fraudulent activity detected in December 2025, has drawn attention to how banks are responding to such incidents, with a focus on limiting exposure, recovering funds and working with law enforcement.
According to findings referenced in proceedings before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, the incident involved unauthorised transactions tied to a digital product. Early reports erroneously suggested more than ₦3 billion was lost. Subsequent clarification shows that over ₦3 billion was targeted, ₦2.4 billion was blocked and recovered, while ₦677 million got into the possession of the culprits. This outcome reflects the bank’s cyber security and monitoring capabilities, as well as improved collaboration among regulated financial institutions and with law enforcement agencies. Several suspects and beneficiaries have been apprehended, while recovery and prosecution efforts are ongoing, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Proceedings at the Lagos State Special Offences Court have resulted in convictions, including that of a repeat offender, with restitution orders issued. Related matters are also being handled at the Federal High Court in Lagos, where additional suspects are being tried in connection with the scheme. This process is aimed at ensuring that bad actors are identified and permanently blacklisted from the financial system.
Authorities say recovery efforts are continuing as additional funds are traced.
Analysts note that the pace of legal action reflects closer coordination between financial institutions and enforcement agencies in addressing cyber-related financial crime.
The case comes as banks contend with more complex fraud methods, including social engineering and automated exploitation of system processes.
As digital products and platforms expand, so too does the risk associated with cyber-crime and related fraud.
“The scale of digital banking means risks are evolving alongside the systems,” said a Lagos-based financial analyst. “Institutions are now judged by how they manage these events.”
Observers say the sector is moving toward a stronger focus on response and recovery, rather than prevention alone.
This includes improving monitoring capabilities, strengthening transaction controls and enhancing collaboration with regulators and law enforcement. The FCMB case, with limited exposure relative to the amount targeted and ongoing recovery, reflects that shift.
For customers, the primary concern is the safety of their funds. In this case, there has been no indication of losses affecting customer deposits. Maintaining that level of protection remains central to sustaining trust in the financial system.
Nigeria’s financial sector continues to grow, supported by digital innovation and expanding access to banking services.
However, analysts say fraud attempts are likely to persist as systems become more complex and interconnected.
They say institutions will increasingly be judged not only on their ability to prevent incidents, but on how effectively they respond and recover when they occur.
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Ex-APC Deputy Guber flag bearer, Joshua MacIver backs Tinubu, express fears over implosion in Bayelsa APC
….congratulates new State Party Chairman, Warman Ogoriba
APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in the 2023 general elections in Bayelsa State, Great Joshua MacIver has declared his total commitment to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu come 2027, declaring that the Tinubu re-election project is non-negotiable.
Great Joshua MacIver, in his statement titled ” BAYELSA APC CONGRESSES: GOING FORWARD, A CALL TO LOOK INWARDS” and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, warned APC leaders in the state to look Inward and take note of certain factors which may hinder or cut short our victory.
According to Great Joshua MacIver, such noticeable pitfalls include the imbalance in the united front being put up by the State Governor,Senator Douye Diri among various political blocs in the state.
In the statement issued at the weekend. Great Joshua MacIver stated that “First, before His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, joined the APC in the state, there were clearly two political blocs that made up the party, with the approximate population ratios of the blocs standing at 95% to 5%.”
“After the entrance of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, ONLY THE SMALLER BLOC IS BEING CARRIED ALONG IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE PARTY, leaving the greater percentage to their fate, and this situation has the potential to build anger and dissatisfaction in our dear party.”
” The consequence of this has been the high level defection we have witnessed in the party recently and we believe more may likely follow, if we do not put our house in order.”
” If we do not pull together as a party, we may witness a situation where we will lose key stakeholders, especially after the State and National Assembly Primaries as well the Gubernatorial Primaries.”
“Finally, while it is very clear that we are the party to beat in the 2027 elections and that our loyalty to Mr. President IS NON-NEGOTIABLE, we must make haste to say that we cannot afford to create situations or loopholes in our unity which will be exploited by other political interests in the state. We cannot afford to under-rate anyone.”
“Our core interest remains the re-election of Mr. President, a project to which we have committed our all. We also pledge our total loyalty to the party as we have no alternative to the APC. However, our concern is that we must, as a party, look inwards and ensure that we do not create loopholes that can impede our common goal.”
Great Joshua MacIver, however congratulated the newly elected State Executives of the APC in Bayelsà State led by Hon. Warman Ogoriba, saying their emergence is welcomed at this critical time in our national history.
At least 23 people were killed in a series of suspected suicide bombings, police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Tuesday.
https://www.stanbicibtcbank.com/nigeriabank/personal/products-and-services/all-loans/stanbic-ibtc-mreif-home-loans
More than 100 other people were injured in the blasts that took place on Monday evening in the capital of Nigeria’s restive Borno state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected attacks.
The deadly blasts come after a military post was attacked overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected Islamist militants.
This sad incident is coming barely two weeks after Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church specifically warned against attacks in some states. He mentioned these states while calling on security operatives to pay close attention to them.
These were his words:
“Another attack is coming up in these following states where the military must watch carefully and intelligently; Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Kwara and Kogi state. They want to do a deadly attack, it’s preventable but it depends on how they will handle it. I have told you about the danger coming up.”
@primateayodele
Unfortunately, some of our military agencies don’t believe spiritual intelligence can save the country from so much danger hence, their neglect of this prophetic warning but now, it has been fulfilled with the miliary losing credibility by the day while Primate Ayodele continues to gain momentum.
Likewise, At least 26 passengers and crew sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday following an accident involving the Kaduna–Abuja train, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Opeifa explained that the train departed Rigasa in Kaduna at 7:15 a.m. and was approaching Asham station around 9:16 a.m. when a loud bang was heard after the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the passenger coaches.
In July 2025, Primate Ayodele asked nigerians to pray not to see train mishap on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
@primateayodele #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #fulfillment #train #abuja #primateayodele
“Let’s pray not to see train mishap in Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja route.”
This has also been fulfilled.
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