Advertisment

Business

Nigerian, Kenyan Elected President, Secretary General of APRA

Published

8 years ago

June 3, 2016

Sahara Weekly

Advertisment

Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, a strategic communications expert and PR practitioner was, on Friday May 27, 2016 elected President of Africa Public Relations Association (APRA), the continent’s Public Relations professional regulatory body.

The election, conducted by the Governing Council of APRA, also saw Mrs. Jane Gitau of Kenya emerged as Secretary General. It climaxed activities marking the 28^th edition of APRA International Conference tagged APRA Calabar 2016..

The new APRA Executive was immediately inaugurated by the Council led by the outgoing President Mr. Peter Mutie from Kenya, and witnessed by Ms. Christina Chima, outgoing Vice President from Zimbabwe; Mr. Bart de Vries, President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA); and delegates from various part of the continent also witnessed the transition.

According to Mutie, other committee’s positions zoned to other regions in the continent will be made public at a later date. The executive committee will serve for two years with a maximum of two terms.

The new President, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya is a known name in the practice and development of the public relations profession in Nigeria and in Africa. Prior to his emergence as President, he was the Secretary General of APRA. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and past Chairman, NIPR, Lagos State Chapter.

YBO as he is fondly called by friends and associates had also served on the council of NIPR at national level. He is a consummate public relations practitioner and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of one of Nigeria’s foremost and largest strategic communications firms, CMC Connect Group. He has over two decades of work experience in integrated marketing communications coupled with the edge of pioneering perception management business in the Nigeria’s communications market. He twice emerged PR Personality of the year (NIPR Golden Eagle Award, 2010, 2011).

On the other hand, the Secretary General, Jane Gitau is currently the President of Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK). She has built a strong professional and academic career in the field of communications with special emphasis in communications strategy development, public relations, writing and editing.

In November 2015, under her leadership, the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) successfully delivered over 800 delegates to the first ever World Conference on Communications and Public Relations in Emerging Economies (WCPREE) in Nairobi, Kenya. Jane is a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship awarded by the British Government to talented scholars.

APRA, formerly known as the Federation for African Public Relations (FAPRA) is a non-government, non-political, non-profit making professional association, established to foster unity, via interaction and exchange of ideas amongst public relations practitioners in Africa.

The continental PR body in agreement with the African Union, is geared towards selling Positive Africa through the instrumentality of the public relations profession while promoting social, political and economic integration on the continent.

This year’s edition of APRA’s annual International Conference tagged APRA Calabar 2016, and themed Leapfrogging Africa: The Role of Communication, had industry leaders across the globe in attendance. Special guests and speakers include: President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR who sent a personally signed goodwill message; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President/CEO, Dangote Group (represented); Mr. Maxim Behar, President, International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO); Mr Bart de Vries, President International Public Relations Association (IPRA); Dr. Rotimi Oladele, President Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); and Mr. Justin Green, Managing Director, Wake Up Communications, and former President of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, among others.

Advertisment

Business

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

Advertisment

Mubi, May 3rd, 2024

Sahara Weekly Reports That The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) commences the construction of a 500-capacity lecture theatre and wash facilities for the Adamawa State University, Mubi. This project is coming after the nomination of the institution as a recipient of the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGS), by the Board of Directors of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Stephen A. Lagu, expressed his appreciation to the Chairman of BUA group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for the rare philanthropy gesture towards the university. He stated that the intervention of the Chairman would reduce the physical infrastructure deficit at their new campus and promote sanitation and hygiene in the university. He added that the choice of the 500-seat lecture theatre with the four boreholes at different locations within the campus was identified and agreed to by the relevant organs of the institution with the ASR Africa team.

Dr Ubon Udoh (MD / CEO, ASR Africa), in his remarks, congratulated the institution for qualifying for the nomination by the Board of Directors of ASR Africa. He stated that the rigorous selection process which includes stringent criteria such as the quality of service delivered by the university and the pedigree of graduands from the institution at the national and international levels, proves that the university is keeping up with its vision as a leading institution of learning in the region. He encouraged the management and students to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities as a show of appreciation for the grant given to them.

The Tertiary Education Grant Scheme of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative is part of the efforts of the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu to give back to the African continent and make a lasting impact in education as a means of uplifting and restoring the dignity and lives of Africans.

About ASR Africa

ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

Advertisment

Business

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

Advertisment

Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as A.A Rano transformed from a humble boy from Kano Village into a billionaire magnate, overseeing a conglomerate that includes 120 filling stations across Nigeria.

Advertisment

Born into an average family in Lausu, Kano State, Rano started small, with an ice block and groundnut oil business, including other local items.

Rano has gone into building a multi-billion naira enterprise spanning various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

Today, Rano owns AA Rano oil & Gas industry in Nigeria with 56 ML Tank farm in Lagos, with 120 retail outlet/ fillng stations across Nigeria and over 600 trucks & LPG terminals as well as acquired vessel (M.T LAUSAU).

His ventures include RanoGaz, a state-of-the-art Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal, a rice milling company, Rano Lubricant, Rano Air, Lausu Marine and Logistics, AA Rano Terminal, and AA Rano Road Haulage.

@PUNCHNG

Advertisment

Bank

Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Advertisment

Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

Advertisment

In line with its upward growth trajectory, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has posted an impressive 120.1% growth in Profit Before Tax from N17.9bn at the end of Q1 2023 to N39.5bn for Q1 2024. This was made known in the Bank’s unaudited financial statements released on the issuer portal of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

According to the statement, Gross Earnings increased by 89.9% yoy to N192.1bn from N101.1bn in Q1 2023. The increase was led by a combination of interest income (90.7% yoy) and non-interest income (84.0% yoy). Growth in interest income was primarily spurred by a higher yield environment and strong earning assets base, while the increase in non-interest income was led by double-digit growth in account maintenance charges, FX-related income, trade, banking services, and remittances, supported by increased customer transactions.

Commenting on the results, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc stated, “We are pleased to report another quarter of strong financial performance driven by our strategic focus on customer-centricity, digital innovation and operational excellence. Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, we remained resilient and agile, delivering double-digit growth on key income lines while advancing our business sustainability agenda.”

In the period under review, the bank grew Net interest income grew by 89.5% yoy to N99.6bn from N52.6bn in Q1 2023, driven by interest and similar income as the yield on financial instruments improved to 14.7% from 10.1% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 11.6%). In line with the steady rise in interest rates through the year, average funding cost increased by 80bps ytd to 5.2%. However, NIM came in at 8.8%

compared to 8.1% in 2023FY, as increafeatsed yield on earning assets surpassed funding cost to 15.1% from 13.3% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 13.5%).

Similarly, Total Deposits increased by 17.2% ytd to N4.7tn from N4.0tn in 2023FY, driven by double-digit growth across all deposit types (demand, savings and term). Net Loans and Advances increased by 21.2% to N3.7tn from N3.1tn in 2023FY.

“Beginning the year on this inspiring note reaffirms our strategy of helping individuals to grow, inspiring businesses to thrive and empowering economies to prosper. We are committed to our guidance as we build a more resilient business franchise with a well-diversified earnings base in 2024,” explained Onyeali-Ikpe.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8.5 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

Advertisment