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FirstBank to Empower 500 Widows through its SPARK Initiative

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FirstBank to Empower 500 Widows through its SPARK Initiative

As part of activities marking the 2019 First Bank of Nigeria Limited Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Week (CR&S) the Bank has empowered 125 widows as identified by the International Women Society (IWS) vis-à-vis their initiative for widows – Widows Trust Fund – with funding to grow their micro-medium scale businesses. However, the desire of the Bank is to scale up the empowerment to 500 widows before the end of the year.

Speaking at the 125 widows’ endowment empowerment programme in commemoration of FirstBank 125th Anniversary, the Group Executive, International Banking Group (ITBG), First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu, said the Bank’s partnership with IWS was designed to further the empowerment of women, especially widows. She also stated that the CR&S week themed: ‘Ripples of Kindness; You First’ reflects the brand promise to always put its stakeholders first and is designed to offer employees and other stakeholder, opportunities to give their time and resources to defined causes.

Odunewu, who was represented at the event by theBusiness Development Manager (ITBG), First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Kunle Olorunfemi explained that as part of the Bank’s employee giving and volunteering programme, the week focuses on wide range of activities under the SPARK (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness) initiative, which include partnership with IWS for the empowerment of widows, as well as visit and donations to orphanage/less privileged homes, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and deepening the values of SPARK amongst school children.

According to Odunewu, “A world without active collaboration amongst people, organisations, nations and regions is inconceivable. We are here because of our collective desire to pursue synergies that would generate progress for us and future generations. That is the focal piece of sustainability. I am, therefore, optimistic that this partnership will help drive sustainable development. 

“At FirstBank the partnership amongst people and stakeholders have sustained us for over 125 years. As you might be aware our impact traverses virtually every sector of the economy. This indeed resonates our 125 anniversary theme ‘Woven into the Fabric of Society’

“Such partnerships have also provided the opportunity for us to help create an enabling platform for Small and Medium Enterprises to thrive and develop the national economy. 

“The partnership with International Women Society is designed to advance social and economic impact by providing capital and capacity building for women running small businesses including widows.

“We believe that a committed, well-funded and well implemented partnership with International Women Society will enhance our goals as a responsible corporate citizen which include focusing on empowering women and nation building.   

“The partnership with International Women Society is also in line with the Bank’s financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment policy which promotes accessible and affordable financial products and services to disadvantaged groups with the goal of bringing these marginalized populations into the mainstream economy, improving their chances for resilient livelihoods and financial stability.

“In partnering with International Women Society, by providing opportunities for widows in areas of capacity building and access to start-up capital, the Bank advances social and economic impact,” he concluded.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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CNG CAMPUS: 20 Federal Tertiary Institutions to Get CNG Conversion Centres and Refuelling Stations

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CNG CAMPUS: 20 Federal Tertiary Institutions to Get CNG Conversion Centres and Refuelling Stations
…6 to be Fully Operational by May 2025

 

In alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to affordable, clean, and sustainable energy, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), in collaboration with Femadec Energy, is set to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres and refuelling stations across 20 federal tertiary institutions nationwide.

 

The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Morufu Olatunji Alausa, recently convened a meeting with Vice-Chancellors and executives from Femadec Energy, MDGIF, and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) to finalise project details and ensure timely implementation.

Dr. Alausa emphasized the project’s significance: “This initiative not only aims to reduce transportation costs for our students and lecturers but also represents a pivotal step towards integrating clean energy solutions within our educational institutions.”

Echoing this sentiment, a representative from Femadec Energy stated: “Our collaboration with MDGIF and the federal institutions underscores our dedication to promoting sustainable energy. By introducing CNG infrastructure, we aim to provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation options, fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability among the academic community.”

This project is designed to alleviate the high transportation costs faced by students and lecturers. It aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to leverage Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources for cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable transportation.

Six institutions are slated to have fully operational CNG facilities by May 29, 2025, demonstrating immediate impacts and paving the way for broader adoption nationwide.

#RenewedHope #CNGRevolution #CleanEnergy #SustainableTransportation #AffordableEnergy #GreenCampus

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Cyberpedia Internet Governance, Presidential Office of Digital Engagement & Strategy partner to Pioneer AI-Driven Civic Dialogue Initiative

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Cyberpedia Internet Governance, Presidential Office of Digital Engagement & Strategy partner to Pioneer AI-Driven Civic Dialogue Initiative

 

Abuja, Nigeria – The Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy (PODES), under the leadership of Senior Special Assistant to the President, Otega Ogra, has entered into a partnership with Cyberpedia Internet Governance—an African Artificial Intelligence, Data & Cybersecurity corporation—to reimagine civic communication in Nigeria.

This groundbreaking collaboration, announced ahead of Cyberpedia President Abiodun Sowemimo’s keynote at the global Cloudfest conference in Frankfurt, Germany, aims to strengthen the government’s digital resilience by equipping citizens with innovative tools to identify and counter misinformation in real-time.

Addressing the challenges posed by disinformation, misinformation, and fractured digital attention, the partnership is built upon two core pillars, including Mapping Public Sentiment by Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to capture real-time insights across Nigeria’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape, where over 400 languages create complexities in centralised messaging, and Grassroots Empowerment with would include Collaborating with local influencers, content creators, community leaders, and cultural ambassadors to co-develop relatable, engaging content that promotes clarity and national values, combats misinformation and fosters constructive dialogue among citizens.

“This initiative is not about controlling the narrative—it’s about equipping Nigerians with the tools to lead their own informed conversations,” noted Otega Ogra. “In an age of digital disruption, trust is the ultimate currency. Our goal is to build transparency by empowering Nigerians directly, meeting them on platforms where they already engage, debate, and form opinions.”

Cyberpedia Internet Governance’s President, Abiodun Sowemimo, described the collaboration as an innovative model for governance in a disrupted digital era. “This initiative goes beyond Nigeria,” Sowemimo emphasised. “It is about demonstrating how democracies can harness technology ethically, ensuring greater citizen participation without compromising democratic principles.”

Still in its early stages, the partnership will prioritise digital literacy initiatives designed to equip citizens with tools to identify and counter disinformation proactively. Planned initiatives include interactive mobile applications and gamified educational experiences to help citizens recognise manipulated content, fake news, and deepfake technology.

This groundbreaking initiative comes at a critical time as democracies worldwide grapple with misinformation amplified by emerging technologies. Nigeria, home to a vibrant digital landscape and one of the continent’s youngest populations is uniquely positioned to pioneer scalable solutions and set new standards for digital engagement and public trust globally.

PODES and Cyberpedia will unveil additional details of the partnership’s initiatives in the coming months. Sowemimo will formally introduce the initiative later this week at Cloudfest in Frankfurt, Germany, home to the largest gathering of internet infrastructure industry with over 9,000 leaders in the tech ecosystem globally, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to innovation-driven civic engagement on the global stage.

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ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

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ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

 

 

ASR Africa emerges the Corporate Social Responsibility Champion of the Year at the Independent Awards 2024 in Lagos recently. Dr Ubon Udoh, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, represented the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON) at the event to receive the award on his behalf.

 

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

 

 

Dr. Ubon Udoh thanked the organisers of the Award for recognizing the immense contributions of Abdul Samad Rabiu in creating sustainable homegrown solutions in Nigeria and Africa at large, in the area of health, education, mentorship and social development. He noted that the award, no doubt, will serve as an impetus for ASR Africa to continue to do more.

 

ASR Africa is an initiative of one of Africa’s biggest philanthropists and serial entrepreneurs, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder & Executive Chairman, BUA Group. At the heart of our mission lies a deep-rooted commitment to fostering substantial progress across the African continent through focused investments in education, health, and social development sectors.

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