Metro

Cleric Cries Out For Help as wife gives birth to 11 babies

Published

4 months ago

August 29, 2024

Cleric Cries Out For Help as wife gives birth to 11 babies

A 56-year-old Islamic cleric based in Ajasse-Cotonou in the Benin Republic, Alfa Yahya Nafiu, has confirmed that his wife delivered 11 babies in Nigeria’s neighbouring country between July and August this year.

Yahya, an indigene of Onikeke compound, Popo Giwa area, Ilorin, Kwara State capital, said his wife, whose name was given as Chognika Latoyossi Alake, a native of Ajasse-Cotonou, gave birth to the 11 babies in a traditional birth attendant’s home in Porto Novo in Benin Republic between July 7 and August 14, 2024.

He, however, lamented that two of the 11 children were lost at birth leaving the rest nine surviving.

In a telephone conversation on Wednesday, Yahya said, “Yes, it is true that my wife gave birth to 11 children after a long period of pregnancy. They are eight boys and three girls. The babies were delivered in two separate months, July 7 and August 14 at a traditional birth attendant’s home in Porto Novo. She gave birth to six children in July and the rest five in August. We lost two of the children at birth. One out of the first six died while one of the last five children also died but I’m grateful to Allah that the rest nine children and their mother are alive”, he said.

He, however, lamented that his family was having financial challenge due to the huge amount of money required in taking care of the babies and their mother as well as transporting the babies to Ilorin.

“One other major challenge that we are now facing before we could bring the children home to Ilorin to show them to my parents is how to raise money for the marriage rites, as well as medical bills and police report”, Yahya said.

He appealed to both the Federal and Kwara State governments as well as well-to-do people in society to come to his aid by giving him financial assistance to take care of the babies whom he described as a favour from Allah.

Also, the Chief Imam of Iponrin in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Zakariyau Nafiu, who is the elder brother of Yahya confirmed that Latoyosi, who is the third wife of his brother, gave birth to 11 babies in Cotonou.

He said, “My brother’s third wife, Latoyosi, gave birth to 11 children in Cotonou. As it is customary of the Ilorin people, we have informed the Emir of Ilorin, Mai Maitaba Olola wa Alhaji Sulu-Gambari of the birth of the children and other people who are supposed to know of it.”

Also reacting to the news of the birth of the babies, the national president of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, Alhaji Abdulmumini Abdulmalik, confirmed that the father of the children hails from Onikeke Compound, Popo Giwa area of Ilorin.

He expressed delight that an Ilorin indigene living in Cotonou, Benin Republic had been blessed with decuplets.

“While welcoming the decuplets and congratulating the parents on this uncommon blessing, we rejoice with the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during whose reign this glorious history of an Ilorin indigene having decuplets is recorded”, he added.

Abdulmalik appealed to both government and public-spirited individuals, especially the philanthropists in Ilorin Emirate, to support Nafiu financially and materially to enable him to fulfil his parental responsibility.

Business

Port Harcourt Refinery Stays Active: NNPC Denounces Sabotage Rumors

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Port Harcourt Refinery Stays Active: NNPC Denounces Sabotage Rumors

NNPC Debunks Shutdown Rumors, Confirms Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed reports circulating in certain media outlets claiming that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, which was re-streamed two months ago, has been shut down.

In a statement released by Olufemi O. Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, the company clarified that the refinery is fully operational. The statement noted that the facility’s operational status was recently verified by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC during a site inspection.

“Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing,” the statement confirmed, emphasizing that allegations of the refinery’s shutdown are baseless and intended to create panic or artificial scarcity in the fuel market.

NNPC Ltd urged members of the public to disregard such misleading reports, labeling them as the work of those seeking to exploit Nigerians.

The Old Port Harcourt Refinery has been in operation since its re-streaming, and the company remains committed to ensuring stability in the supply of petroleum products across the country.

Business

Nigerian Banks Donate Multimillion Naira Relief Materials to Jigawa Flood Victims

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Nigerian Banks Donate Multimillion Naira Relief Materials to Jigawa Flood Victims

In a show of solidarity, the Committee of Banks in Nigeria has extended a helping hand to victims of the September 2024 floods in Jigawa State. On Thursday, a high-profile delegation led by Dr. Oliver Alawuba, Chairman of the Committee and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), visited Dutse, the state capital, to present relief materials to the state government.

The donated items, worth several million Naira, included essential food supplies such as rice and cooking oil, along with mattresses and beverages. Dr. Alawuba highlighted that the gesture aimed to alleviate the hardship faced by flood victims and support critical institutions, especially public hospitals, in their efforts to assist those affected.

“We stand in solidarity with the people and government of Jigawa State during this difficult time. This donation is our way of expressing empathy and supporting those who have lost loved ones, properties, and livelihoods,” Dr. Alawuba stated.

The delegation included notable banking leaders such as Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna of Access Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji of Zenith Bank Plc, and Dr. (Mrs.) Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank Plc, among others. Their collective presence underscored the banking sector’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and national development.

Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi expressed profound gratitude for the donation, describing the visit as a rare and commendable act of compassion. He assured the delegation that the relief materials would be judiciously distributed to the intended beneficiaries, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in rebuilding lives and communities.

The Committee of Banks also reiterated their commitment to supporting Nigerians during emergencies, drawing attention to previous interventions, including relief efforts during the 2011 and 2013 floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and security initiatives like the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

This humanitarian gesture reflects the collective resolve of Nigeria’s financial institutions to foster social and economic growth, making a meaningful impact in times of need.

Bank

Polaris Bank Clinches SERAS Award for Excellence in Sustainability and CSR

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Polaris Bank Clinches SERAS Award for Excellence in Sustainability and CSR

Polaris Bank has once again cemented its position as a leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR) by winning the prestigious Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility Awards (SERAS), Africa’s foremost recognition for impactful community and sustainability initiatives.

The bank was honored at the 18th edition of the SERAS Awards, held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, for its unwavering dedication to sustainable development and critical community interventions across Nigeria. The organizers commended Polaris Bank for its consistent efforts to improve lives and foster growth in underserved areas.

The SERAS Awards, often regarded as the gold standard in sustainability and CSR, celebrate organizations that drive innovation and create lasting societal and environmental benefits. Polaris Bank stood out this year for its extensive portfolio of impactful projects, earning the “Best in Rural Population Integration” award.

Some of the bank’s notable initiatives include:

Sponsoring the planting of 2,000 economic trees in communities like Ajingi, Kano State.
Renovating the Ibeju-Lekki Skill Acquisition Centre and donating essential equipment.
Installing boreholes in underserved rural areas to provide clean water access.
Supporting over 15,000 indigent students in public schools with educational resources, including uniforms, sandals, and books.
Providing free breast cancer screenings to 20,000 women over a decade and supporting survivors through retreats.
Establishing hospitals and rehabilitation centers for victims of sexual violence and vocational centers for women.
Donating ICT labs to skill acquisition centers and promoting financial literacy among students.
Organizing medical outreach programs and aiding Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
These initiatives have not only improved living conditions but also reduced rural-to-urban migration by making communities more self-reliant and livable.

Rebuilding Community Resilience
Polaris Bank recently demonstrated its commitment to resilience by rebuilding its Sagamu branch, which was destroyed during the cash crunch riots following the Naira redesign policy. The bank fully reconstructed and re-equipped the branch, restoring critical banking services and supporting economic recovery in the community.

Commitment to Sustainability
Speaking on the award, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director, Kayode Lawal, emphasized the institution’s dedication to sustainability. “This recognition underscores our deliberate efforts to drive impactful socio-economic interventions and address the effects of climate change on our environment, economy, and people,” he said.

Lawal reiterated that for Polaris Bank, sustainability is not just a destination but a continuous journey of creating positive change.

Celebrating Africa’s Sustainability Leaders
The SERAS Awards brought together policymakers, business leaders, and global sustainability experts to celebrate organizations shaping Africa’s future through innovative solutions. Attendees used the event to connect with like-minded professionals and reaffirm a shared vision of lasting positive change across the continent.

As a trailblazer in sustainability and CSR, Polaris Bank remains steadfast in its mission to uplift communities, foster economic growth, and champion solutions to pressing societal challenges.