PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NIGERIA’S RENOWNED BANKER, JIM OVIA AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND

Sahara Weekly Reports That President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This was announced in a State House Press Release by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on April 26,
2024.

According to the statement, ‘‘the President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense
a wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important
the vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers in the consistent end to their pursuit of
higher education over a lack of funds and ensuring that Nigerian youths, irrespective
of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them
productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global
economy of this century.’’

Jim Ovia, CFR, is the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, one of Africa’s largest
banks with over $21.4 billion in assets and shareholders’ funds of over US$2.4 billion as
of December 2023. Zenith Bank is a global brand listed on the London Stock Exchange
and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In addition to major operations in Nigeria and other
West African countries, the Bank has sizeable operations in London and Dubai.
Jim Ovia is the Founder and Chancellor of James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos which
was recently approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to offer
postgraduate degrees in business courses. James Hope University commenced
activities in September 2023.

Through his philanthropy – the Jim Ovia Foundation – he has shown the importance of
accords good education. In support of the Nigerian youth, the Jim Ovia Foundation offers
scholarships to needy students through the Mankind United to Support Total Education
(MUSTE) initiative. Most of the beneficiaries of the Jim Ovia Foundation scholarship are now
accountants, business administrators, lawyers, engineers, doctors, etc.

He is the author of “Africa Rise and Shine”, published by ForbesBooks. The book which
encapsulates Zenith Bank’s meteoric rise, details the secrets of success in doing
business in Africa. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (OPM), University
of Louisiana (MBA), and Southern University, Louisiana, (B.Sc. Business Administration).  Jim Ovia is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Community
of Chairpersons and a champion of the Forum’s EDISON Alliance.

In recognition of Jim Ovia’s contributions to the economic development of Nigeria, in
2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored him with Commander of the Federal
Republic, CFR. Also, in May 2022, Jim Ovia was conferred with the National Productivity
Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Earlier, he has
been conferred with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic,
MFR, and Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, in 2000 and 2011, respectively,
as a testament to his visionary leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s financial
services sector.

The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee
sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students
and youths. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this
innovation, demands excellence, and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.

Nigerians must support President Tinubu as he addresses Nigeria’s many challenges – Sola Adeyemo

A socio-commentator and public affairs analyst, Mr Sola Adeyemo has called on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his efforts and commitment to turn the country around.

Adeyemo made the call Saturday morning in Lagos fielding questions from jounalists who paid him a courtesy visit on the sideline of the GTCO Food And Drink Festival organised and hosted by one of Nigeria’s biggest banks, Guaranty Trust Bank in Lagos.

“We must continue to support Mr President and remain united behind his policies as he works to bring the country out of the woods.

The Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of CityNews Newspaper said Nigerians must also shun actions capable of breaching peace in our society.

He added, “As an opinion leader in the country, I’m in total support of Mr President in his determination to around Nigeria’s economy and other challenges bedevilling our country.

Adeyemo who is also the President of Special Committe On BAT(Bola Ahmed Tinubu) for online journalists called on Nigerians in all walks of life to support the present administration as Nigeria is occupying a very important position in the scheme of things globally at this particulat point in time…because of the ‘resoucefulness,ingenuity and positive energy of its people’.

GTCO Food & Drink Festival is an annual food exhibition and sales event that projects the diverse angles of the food industry by connecting various businesses involved in the production and sale of food-related items to a cosmopolitan audience of food enthusiasts.

Lagos To Ikere Ekiti:
Primate Ayodele’s Homecoming with Charity and Salvation
-by Folorunsho Hamsat

Encouragement can seem like a good, but small thing to us. But encouragement is massive. Popular prophet, Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, understands in his dealings that encouragement is such an important element of church life that, like the Bible commands, he makes it his regular routine to encourage others, particularly, the downtrodden, to value life. For 30 years, Primate Ayodele has applied his Holy Spirit empowered ability not just to preach and prophesy, but to also encourage by giving.

A typical village boy that he loves to call himself, the famous seer from the agricultural and mine Southwest town, Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti State, had profound spiritual insight to understand the mysteries of God early enough. Thus, when he escaped to Lagos in the mid-80s after suffering the disappointments of not realizing his childhood dream of studying Mass Communication or becoming a soldier, the zeal to excel in whatever he chose to do afterwards stole his attention.

The task to forgive and love whomever he might have already had a strained relationship with back in his town of birth was first. He needed to move on and shine. Ayodele did not have a church when he became known for prophesying. Six years before he established the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, he had been noted as a possible replacement for one of the then globally known prophets, Primate Theophilus Olabayo. His prophecies rang through all corners of the globe. And his journey to attain leadership began in earnest.

Something occupied his thoughts; how to get to the top of the Mission and impact others. He said he then realized that the secret to the pinnacle of God’s assigned task is giving. Ayodele says that sharing does not only affect the receivers in positive ways, it also transforms the life of the giver in great ways. “I give out more than a half of what God has blessed me with, and I don’t expect any reward for this other than to be acknowledged as a man who shares from the little he has,” the servant of God declared while addressing journalists at his last birthday celebration in Lagos.

Ayodele’s passion to encourage and empower the oppressed, help those with lost hope to dream and hope again, blossomed. His prophecy aided by heart for charity, announced him to the world as unique among his contemporaries in God’s vineyard. On Thursday, 25th of April, 2024, Primate Ayodele returned to Ikere Ekiti, in a large entourage, wonderfully overwhelmed by the welcoming warmth by his kit and kin.

What a joy it was for the God’s servant to see a packed venue of Ikere Ekiti young and old folks, including the king and political leaders pouring their hearts out in prayer for him as he laid the foundation of the town’s branch of INRI Ministry the next day, Friday 26th of April, 2024.

Typically, the day witnessed both empowerment and spiritual relief. Essential items were made available at ridiculously affordable prices, scholarships were provided for indigent brilliant students while the servant of God spoke into people’s life for transformative power of faith, healing and breakthrough.

Speaking on the essence of giving, Primate Ayodele averred that the Lord provides us with one incredibly encouraging reason to excel in the grace of generous giving: to prove our love for others. This, he said, he has satisfactorily done establishing his ministry in his place of birth, thus physically empowering his people and bringing them closer to salvation.

-Folorunsho Hamsat is a Lagos based journalist