Romance

POISONED LOVE Episode 1

Published

6 years ago

May 14, 2019

Every lady’s dream is to get married to a young, charmingly handsome, educated and above all, sparklingly wealthy guy.
Well, that was the kind of person Steven was.
Everything a woman desired – or perhaps, almost everything a woman desired – was found in Steven. Yes, Steven, the son of a billionaire; the King of hearts; the champion of Cariters University.
He was this kind of guy that every lady felt special just having to spend a minute with him. He was this kind of guy that every lady was ready to defile their dignity for, without a second thought.
Yes, Steven; Steven Damola – also a spoilt brat.
He parked his SUV jeep in the school garage and looked through his phone. There was a message; a message from Cynthia.
It read:

“hello, Steven. I really did enjoy last night. I hope that could happen again anytime soon. Please, give me a call whenever you need me”.

Steven scoffed and smiled.

“of course, I will. Whenever I need you” he thought to himself as he alighted from his jeep with his designers school bag.
*
Along the eatery in Cariters, Michelle walked along with her best friend, Patricia, laughing and nattering.
But, they were finally interrupted by the presence of Lily and her gang of friends – Stacy, Gwen and Chinwe.
They stopped right in front of Michelle and Patricia, making it difficult for them to you pass on.
“you little bitch”, Lily rasped at Michelle. “I heard you went over to Steven’s home yearsterday. You really are so shameless, aren’t you?”
“is that what you’re burbling about?” Michelle asked. “is that why you had to disrupt my way?”
She has paused and laughed and finally wore on a frown.
” I know you’re just angry you weren’t the one who had the opportunity of going over to his house. Well, that’s because Steven would never accept you into his bedroom.
“now, get out of my way”, Michelle said and walked away with Patricia, brushing Lily’s shoulders.
“Hah! That little bitch! She’s really getting on my nerves. I might just squeeze her to death.”
“calm down, Lily,” Gwen said, placing her hand on her shoulders. “we’ll look for a way to deal with her.

Mrs Kate parked in front of Cariters University as she awaited her daughter to get off the car.
“bye, Sophia” she said to her, her hand on her laps.
“bye, mom”, Sophia replied with a smile and got off the car.
She waited till her mother drove away before waking into the school building.
It was magnificent.
That was her first day there in school and she was really hoping she would have fun in it.
she was really hoping it could perhaps, be compared to her previous school. It really pained her a lot that she had to change from it, but there was nothing she could do since her mom was transferred by her company to the state.
They had to relocate.
Well, maybe it was going to be fun, because a week after their arrival, she had made a friend – Treasure – who was also a student of Cariters.
As a matter of fact, Treasure had been the one who had recommended the school to her.
She stopped somewhere along the library and wandered where Treasure might be. She also wandered where she could find her first lecture hall.
She finally thought of bringing out her phone to call Treasure, but she was halted at the sight of a guy she has seen.
“Damn!” she exclaimed silently.
Was that for real?
She saw him walking with some group of boys, but he was extremely outstanding.
He had these eyes that displayed a romance feeling. He had pink lips that longed for some kissing. He had this dark curly hair that fitted his fair complexion.
And when he laughed, smiled, Gosh! It was so charming.
Sophia saw him walking away and felt a life time opportunity walking away. She couldn’t help but wonder if someone could be that cute.
“hello, Miss. Are you lost?” she heard a voice behind her and quickly turned around to see who it was.
It was a boy; also good looking, but couldn’t be compared to the guy she had just seen.
“uh… No. I mean, yes. I’m looking for the GST department”, she replied quickly.

Business

EXPANDING FOOTPRINT – NIGERIA’S FIRSTBANK SETS SIGHTS ON ETHIOPIA, ANGOLA, CAMEROON

Published

60 minutes ago

January 9, 2025

Sahara Weekly

EXPANDING FOOTPRINT – NIGERIA’S FIRSTBANK SETS SIGHTS ON ETHIOPIA, ANGOLA, CAMEROON

Building on its long-standing presence in sub-Saharan Africa, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is gearing up for its next growth phase as financial systems across the continent open up to new opportunities.

More than a decade after an acquisition spree that boosted its footprint in sub-Saharan Africa, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is looking to expand into several other countries, including Ethiopia, Angola and Cameroon.

“There are a number of large economies with large banking pools that are of interest to us because their financial markets are opening up,” Deputy Managing Director, Ini Ebong told The Africa Report in December on the sidelines of the Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS).

“So, you look at countries like Ethiopia and Angola. In francophone West Africa, we want to expand our presence in places like Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon. The market opportunity is there, and we seek to continue to exploit it,” said Ebong.

Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country, is poised to partially open its banking sector to foreign banks following a vote by lawmakers in December. The new banking law, passed by a majority in parliament, allows foreign banks to open subsidiaries in Ethiopia. Foreign firms will only be allowed to own 49% of shares, according to the Ethiopian news magazine Addis Standard.

Speaking during a panel session at AFIS, Ethiopia’s central bank governor Mamo Mihretu said the country had been working on the legislation that would finally open the banking sector to foreign competition over the past one year.

After the ratification of the legislation by the parliament, the largest economy in East Africa is “open for business” for any banks looking to come into the country, according to Mihretu.

Previously the executive director in charge of treasury and international banking before his appointment in June 2024, Ebong said that there are growing opportunities in markets across the continent with the expansion of financial systems similar to “what we saw in the early 2000s in some of the larger African markets”. “We believe it is an opportune time to take part in the phase of growth that we see,” said Ebong.

‘Strong franchise’

FirstBank, which has been operating in Nigeria for 130 years, began establishing subsidiaries in other African markets in 2011, when it acquired Banque International de Credit, one of the leading banks in Democratic Republic of Congo.

In November 2013, it snapped up the subsidiaries of International Commercial Bank Financial Group Holdings AG (ICBFGH) in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Guinea. It went ahead to purchase ICB Senegal the following year, completing its acquisition of West African assets and operations of ICBFGH.

FirstBank also has a subsidiary in the United Kingdom with branches in London and Paris, France, as well as a representative office in Beijing, China. Its parent company FBNHoldings saw its pretax profit for the first nine months of 2024 soar to N610.86bn ($395m) from N267.88bn in the corresponding period a year earlier.

Fitch Ratings said in July last year that FirstBank, Nigeria’s third-largest lender, represented 10.7% of banking system assets at the end of 2023. “Its strong franchise supports a stable funding profile and low funding costs. Revenue diversification is significant, with non-interest income typically exceeding 40% of operating income,” it said.

Culled from The Africa Report

Business

ABRIDGED PROFILE OF CHINEDU NSOFOR (CEO, WORKWIS GROUP)

Published

2 days ago

January 7, 2025

Sahara Weekly

ABRIDGED PROFILE OF CHINEDU NSOFOR (CEO, WORKWIS GROUP)

Chinedu Nsofor is a Professional Social Worker, a Seasoned Technocrat, an International Development Expert, a Change Agent, a Media Guru/Wikipedian, and a Versatile Project Management Expert with a passion for developing and implementing programs and initiatives that touch lives and impact different segments of society, focusing on bringing about massive change, especially in Africa.

He holds an M.Sc. in Social Work, specializing in Industrial Social Welfare from the Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, and a B.Sc. in Social Work from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

As a Media Guru/Wikipedian, he is the Founder/CEO of WORKWIS Media Ltd., a leading and reputable media outfit in Nigeria and Africa.

As an International Development Expert, he is currently the Country Director of Rapid Heal Nigeria, a leading wound and skincare treatment company with its global headquarters in Malaysia. Prior to assuming this role, he served as the Country Programs Director (Nigeria) and Africa Director of Asia Pacific Sports International, a reputable sports business and management firm headquartered in Malaysia, with branches in Singapore and other Asian countries.

As a versatile Project Management Expert, Chinedu has coordinated over 50 impactful programs at national, regional, and state levels in Nigeria, touching the lives of over 50,000 Nigerians. Some of these include:

Coordinator of the IMOFINTECH Program for 5,000 Imo youths, organized by the Imo State Government in partnership with Iwuanyanwu Foundation (October–December 2019).

Program Coordinator of safety training for ambulance drivers in Southeast Nigeria during COVID-19 (2021).

Coordinator of the Central Bank of Nigeria-Southeast Entrepreneurship Development Centre’s Program, Owerri Study Centre (2018).

Program Coordinator of the maiden edition of the Inter-secondary School Debate Competition for all secondary schools in Abuja (2018), organized by the Federal Road Safety Corps in partnership with Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance Foundation.

Coordinator of the 2017 Accident-Free Ember Month Program of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Owerri Safety Command) and Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance Foundation.

Program Coordinator of the Imo State and Ebonyi State Free Automobile Training Program, organized by Innoson Kiara Academy in partnership with Iwuanyanwu Foundation and the governments of Imo and Ebonyi States (2021).

Coordinator of the Free Physiotherapy Treatment Intervention Program for arthritis, neck pain, back pain, and waist pain patients in Ikeduru LGA, Imo State (December 3–4, 2021).

Co-coordinator of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Program, Abuja Study Centre (April–December 2015).

Co-coordinator of the 20-day NAPSAS/National Power Training Institute Program in Abuja (May 2015).

Co-coordinator of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN)/SURE-P TVET training for graduate engineers in Lagos (February–March 2015).

Coordinator of the second edition of the seven-day “Work While in School Conference” at UNN, attended by about 3,000 students, organized by the Work While in School Foundation in partnership with the Institute of African Studies, UNN.

Project Coordinator of the Global Impact Show organized by Great Minds International and powered by the Faculty of Social Sciences, UNN (2012).

As a student leader/Igwe of the Faculty of Social Sciences, UNN, he organized the Faculty’s New Yam Festival in 2010, an event attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties and other national dignitaries.

Coordinator of the first “Work While in School Conference” at UNN (2011) for over 4,000 third-year students, organized by the Work While in School Foundation in collaboration with the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Development Research, UNN. This program is recorded as the largest student entrepreneurship conference in the history of UNN.

Coordinator of the seven-day African Education and ICT Conference, organized by WORKWIS Foundation and the Institute of African Studies, UNN (March 2010). The conference secured a renewal of the ₦5 million annual scholarship grant from the Dr. Sam Onyishi Foundation and attracted a ₦50 million donation to the university. Over 5,000 UNN students from seven faculties were trained in various skills.

Chinedu Nsofor is a man of integrity and deep spirituality, with a steadfast commitment to excellence in all his operations. His words are his bond, and his contributions consistently bring positive transformation to society.

Business

Adron Homes Unveils New Logo to Reflect Innovation, Growth, and Global Ambitions

Published

2 days ago

January 7, 2025

Sahara Weekly

*Adron Homes Unveils New Logo to Reflect Innovation, Growth, and Global Ambitions

In a groundbreaking moment of celebration and reflection, Adron Homes unveiled its new company logo on Monday, January 6, 2025. The unveiling ceremony, held at the company’s head office in Lagos, was attended by top executives, stakeholders, staff, and media representatives. This milestone event marked a significant chapter in the company’s twelve-year journey of innovation, transformation, and growth.

The newly redesigned logo preserves the timeless essence of Adron Homes while introducing a sleek, modern twist. Its bold and dynamic elements represent the company’s forward-thinking approach and readiness to embrace the future. The elegant globe encircled by interconnected homes reflects Adron Homes’ mission to build communities and expand its footprint beyond Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Chairman of Adron Homes, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, shared the inspiration behind the change. He said, “Logos are not just designs; they are prophecies that predict the future. Our new logo is a statement of who we are and where we are headed as a company. It is time to take Adron Homes to the world and bring the world to Adron Homes.”

Since its inception in 2012, Adron Homes has become a household name and one of the leading real estate companies in Nigeria. Highlighting the company’s remarkable journey, the Vice Chairman, Olori Aderonke Emmanuelking, remarked, “For 12 years, by the Grace of God, this organization has been on a journey of transformation, innovation, and commitment to our vision of making the dream of homeownership a reality for everyone. We identified a gap—a dream for affordable luxury that seemed out of reach for many—and we sought to fill that gap. This realization has fueled our drive to dream even bigger and aim even higher.”

As Adron Homes embarks on this exciting new chapter, the new logo stands as a symbol of the company’s aspirations and achievements. Over the past decade, Adron Homes has been dedicated to making homeownership an attainable dream, and this rebranding reaffirms its commitment to excellence, innovation, and growth.

The Chairman emphasized that this new logo embodies the company’s vision to create cities, communities, and homes without borders. “This rebranding effort signifies more than a change in design; it symbolizes our global aspirations. We are ready to shape the future of real estate by providing world-class solutions that transform lives and add value to communities,” he said.

The logo unveiling represents Adron Homes’ readiness to expand its influence globally, showcasing the company’s ambition to redefine real estate on an international scale. With a renewed focus on building sustainable communities and promoting inclusivity, Adron Homes continues to inspire confidence and innovation in the industry.