*Wema Bank Launches #MyTeacherMyHero Challenge to Celebrate Exceptional Educators in Nigeria

As the world celebrates the invaluable contributions of teachers on World Teachers’ Day, Wema Bank proudly joins this global recognition by launching the #MyTeacherMyHero Challenge to honor and reward exceptional educators in Nigeria. This initiative aligns with the bank’s commitment to the theme, “Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education.”

Abimbola Agbejule, Head of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, shares her thoughts on this initiative: “At Wema Bank, our dedication to education extends far beyond providing financial services. It’s about celebrating the educators who light the path of knowledge for our future leaders.” She added, “Through the #MyTeacherMyHero Challenge, we aim to honor these remarkable teachers while reinforcing our commitment to corporate sustainability. We believe that investing in education is essential for fostering a sustainable future for our communities.”

Wema Bank has consistently demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering educational engagement, making a positive impact on society, and promoting personal development through education. This year, the bank is determined to make World Teachers’ Day unforgettable by celebrating the educators who have made a lasting impact on their students’ lives.

The #MyTeacherMyHero Challenge encourages students, alumni, and parents to nominate the teachers who have left an indelible mark on their lives. These teachers deserve to be recognized and celebrated for their outstanding contributions to education and personal development.
Participation is Simple:
1. Follow @WemaBank on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
2. Upload a 1-minute video sharing the story of your most cherished teacher. Explain why they are special and how they have positively impacted your life.
3. Tag @WemaBank and use the hashtag #MyTeacherMyHeroByWema.
The call for entries opened on Monday, 7th October, and closes on Friday, 18th October 2024. The Top 3 teacher nominations will be announced and unveiled on October 25th, 2024, creating excitement and marking a significant moment in the teaching profession.

This initiative reflects Wema Bank’s dedication to education, personal growth, and the individuals who inspire and mold our nation’s future. We invite everyone to participate in

*Jesam Michael Wins Double Honors at the Decentralized Intelligence 2024 V2 Summit*

The Decentralized Intelligence 2024 V2 Summit, a leading event in the fields of Blockchain, Web3, and AI, commenced today at the Civic Center, Lagos, drawing a large audience both in-person and online. Organized by the Blockchain Nigeria Users Group (BNUG), the two-day event was live-streamed, attracting thousands of viewers from around the globe.

The summit began with a welcome address from Mr. Chimezie Chuta, founder of BNUG. He introduced this year’s theme, “Intelligence Unleashed with Decentralization in Action,” emphasizing the transformative power of emerging technologies. In his speech, he remarked, “We live in an age where the convergence of disruptive technologies is not just changing the world – it’s rebuilding the foundation of how we interact, work, create, and exchange value. The decentralized future is not some distant dream; it’s happening now, and it’s up to all of us to be on the cutting edge of this revolution.”

He further highlighted the goals of the conference, saying, “This year, our goal is clear: to equip each of you—founders, builders, investors, and enthusiasts with actionable insights. We are diving deep into how Blockchain, Web3, and AI are transforming industries, from finance to supply chains, from digital identities to data privacy, all while making space for new business models that empower individuals over centralized institutions.”

The summit gained momentum with engaging presentations, including a notable session by Mr. David Oden and Mrs. Peace Mbui of Afriq Group of Companies. They spoke on “Real World Assets Tokenization and Economic Freedom (RWA),” delivering insights into how tokenization can enhance business transactions and economic growth. Their presentation captivated the audience, earning commendations from the event organizers.

One of the highlights of the summit was the awards ceremony, which celebrated excellence in the block chain industry. After an online voting process with 4,203 participants, Mr. Jesam Michael, CEO of Afriq Group of Companies, emerged as the winner of the “Exceptional Blockchain CEO and Team Leader of the Year” award. Additionally, Afriq Group of Companies received the “Most Impactful Crypto Community Award of the Year,” bringing the company a second prestigious accolade at the event.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Jesam Michael expressed his gratitude for the recognition, dedicating the awards to the “Spartans” a term he uses to describe the passionate supporters of Afriq Group. He thanked the BNUG and all participants, reiterating his commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in blockchain and decentralized technologies.

As the Decentralized Intelligence 2024 V2 Summit continues, industry leaders, investors, and enthusiasts are set to explore further discussions and insights into the future of Blockchain, Web3, and AI, solidifying Lagos as a hub for technological advancement and innovation.

Caribbean countries seek Dangote’s partnership in Cement, fertiliser production

…Grenada PM says Dangote Refinery will save Africa from being a Dumping Ground

The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as a significant investment in industrialisation and manufacturing needed by developing countries for their industrial growth.

He noted that it is through this type of investment that Africa and the developing countries can reverse the cycle of exporting raw materials while importing finished products from developed countries.

This is as Dangote hinted at potential partnerships with the Caribbean community in the production of cement and fertilisers as well as petroleum products.

Mitchell, who is the chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) – a political and economic union of 15 member states and five associated members throughout the Americas, The Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, disclosed this on Thursday during his tour of the Dangote Petroleum refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

Mitchell said the investment is a tribute to the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and his vision not just for Nigeria but Africa as a whole.

“This investment is a tribute to Dangote and his remarkable vision. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, symbolising what the developing world needs: significant investment in industrialisation and manufacturing. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to Mr. Dangote’s vision, not just for his company, but for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

“Dangote exemplifies what an African leader should be. We need not just political leaders, but business leaders who are willing to invest in Africa, particularly in manufacturing and industrialisation. We must ensure that we don’t continue to export our raw materials to the developed world, where they can be turned into sophisticated products and sent back to us. We need to reverse that cycle; it is the only way to grow the wealth of Africa and the developing world. Additionally, we need to support this with training and invest in job opportunities,” he said.

Applauding the sophistication and automation at the refinery, the Prime Minister expressed optimism for Nigeria’s future, especially given the number of young Nigerians trained and working at both the refinery and fertiliser plants. The $20 billion refinery, the largest private investment in Africa, stands out for its team of young professionals, predominantly aged between 26 and 28, most of whom hold advanced degrees and were educated in Nigeria.

“It has been a wonderful experience to witness the shared skills, depth of sophistication, and automation here. Seeing so many bright young Nigerians, particularly in the laboratories, is truly inspiring. I believe this bodes well for the future development of Nigeria,” he added.

Mitchell stated that the Caribbean Community would be exploring partnership opportunities with the Dangote Group to enhance its economy.

“One of the reasons I am here is to pursue synergies and partnerships between the diaspora and Africa, particularly in areas such as the refinery, cement, and fertiliser. We believe there are fantastic opportunities to develop partnerships between the Caribbean and Africa,” he added.

On his part, Dangote described the visit as symbolic, noting that many Caribbean countries are beginning to discover crude oil and are exploring opportunities to build their own refineries. This would help them address the challenge of exporting crude while importing refined petroleum products at high costs.

“The visit shows that many countries are proud of what we have been able to achieve because a lot of countries have been unable to deliver their refineries. It shows their pride in seeing a Black person like them at the Caribbean, although I am from Nigeria, succeed. For them, this is a dream, especially as many Caribbean countries are beginning to discover oil but still depend largely on exporting crude while importing petroleum products, which is costlier than in America. Their dream is to set up a refinery—perhaps not of this size—but one that would cater to their people,” he said.

Africa’s wealthiest man emphasized that the company is looking for partnerships in the Caribbean not only in petroleum products but also in cement and fertilizer production. He mentioned ongoing discussions about importing crude from these countries while supplying them with refined products.

“There are numerous partnerships in place. He is not only the Prime Minister of Grenada but also the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We are exploring collaboration in areas such as cement and petroleum, including the possibility of buying crude from them while selling some of our petroleum products to them. We already export to the U.S., Mexico, and other regions, so there is significant collaboration we are looking to develop between us and them,” he added.

The 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) Dangote Oil Refinery—the largest single-train refinery in the world—is designed to process a wide variety of crude oils, including those from Africa, the Middle East, and US Light Tight Oil. It conforms to Euro V specifications and is built to meet stringent standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), European emission norms, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA). The refinery has the capacity to satisfy 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet fuel, with additional surplus available for export.