*JUST IN*…..

*UNIPGC Executives visits Mayor Of Brampton ahead of the 2nd Edition of Global Peace Leadership Summit and Awards*

… In a notable diplomatic engagement, delegates of the United International Peace and Governance Council (UNIPGC) Canada Chapter paid a courtesy visit to His Worship, Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton, Canada on September 25, 2024.

During the visit, the UNIPGC delegation extended a formal invitation to Mayor Brown to attend the forthcoming event scheduled for October 25th, 2024, at the Brampton Conservatory Hall.

This highly anticipated event marks a significant milestone for UNIPGC Canada as it commemorates the UNIPGC CANADA inaugural ceremony, Commissioning of its operations, inaugurates its newly appointed Country Director and Investiture of other Executives into various offices.

The visit to the Mayor aimed to officially invite him to deliver the Welcome Address, where he will greet distinguished guests and dignitaries from around the world who will be present to witness this landmark occasion.

Notable figures expected to attend include *Her Excellency, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor*, former Vice President of Liberia, *H. E Amb. Dr. Marshall Jonathan Ojadah*-UNIPGC Global President, *Hon. Chambu Mwavita Permette* – DR Congo Minister Of Human Rights, *Hon. Kevin Uguru* – Member Of German Parliament, Berlin Germany, *HRH Queen Meenakshi Ravi* – Mrs Universe, Texas USA among others.

The event will underscore UNIPGC’s unwavering commitment to promoting international cooperation, peacebuilding, and good governance, while also spotlighting community empowerment initiatives both within Canada and globally.

For more info visit www.unipgc.org

Idera Pathfinder Foundation Boosts Education Sector In Ogun*

…Donates Block of Classrooms, Educational Materials To Schools

Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Adviser, who is also the Co-founder of Idera Pathfinder Foundation, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, has been commended for donating blocks of classrooms and furniture to his alma mater.

Commending the donor during the commissioning and handing over of the facilities to Moslem Primary Schools I and II, Isoku, Ijebu-Ode, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, informed that the donations which include, reconstruction of one block of four classrooms, fully equipped with 80 pairs of furniture and four teaching boards in School I, was an expression of passion for learners’ success.

Prof. Arigbabu added that one block of three classrooms, was also reconstructed and fully equipped with 60 pairs of furniture and three teaching boards in school II, to enhance conducive learning environment and promote quality teaching.

According to the Commissioner, the foundation also provided school bags and writing materials to all pupils in the two schools, commending the donor for supporting the ‘Adopt a School’ mantra of the present administration in the state.

“It is not common nowadays to see people giving back to their old primary schools; that is why I’m commending Mr. Okubadejo for this laudable gesture. The gesture will linger on in the minds of the pupils because it is engraved in their hearts already”, he said.

Prof. Arigbabu, while congratulating the management, staff and entire pupils of Moslem Schools I and II, charged them to put the facilities into good use, saying, “maintenance of projects encourages donors to do more”.

Earlier, Mr. Okubadejo, represented by his wife, who is also the co-founder, Mrs. Olufunke Okubadejo, noted that Idera Pathfinders Foundation is a non-political, non-religious and non-governmental organization established by Hon Oladapo and Mrs Funke Okubadejo to support the socio-economic and human capital development through targeted intervention in education and healthcare with a focus on the indigent, vulnerable communities and micro and small enterprises.

Mrs Okubadejo added that the foundation which has supported several people in the past is a movement dedicated to transforming lives, one step at a time seeking to bring peace, comfort and posterity to the society.

The Finance Commissioner, who was the Head Boy of the school in 1979, said the gesture was in memory of his mother, who was teacher in School I and later became a Head-teacher in School II, as well as expand the capacity of the schools for more enrolment drive, thereby raising future generations of educated and responsible people.

Appreciating the donor on behalf of other students, the Head Girl of the School II, Ibidapo Kafilat, expressed gratitude to the donors, promising to make judicious use of the facilities and writing materials.

Present at the commissioning exercise include The Onimoru of Imoru-Ijebu, Ogun State, Oba Munirudeen Adeposi, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Oluwatosin Oloko, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, a former Permanent Secretary in the state and Chairman, Ogun State Governor’s Elders Advisory Council, CDC/CDA and other notable dignitaries.

Wema Bank Shines at Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards 2024
…Awarded:

• SME Financier of the Year (Africa)
• Platinum Award for Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs (Africa)

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has received two awards of excellence at the Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards 2024 which held in São Paulo, Brazil between September 16 & 18, 2024. The awards received are SME Financier of the Year (Africa) and Platinum Award for Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs (Africa).

The Global SME Finance Forum is the world’s leading, technically oriented and geographically diverse platform focused solely on scaling SME financing worldwide. Managed by this Forum, The Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards is dedicated to acknowledging the effective and successful practices of financiers across the world, honouring the innovative products and services these financiers create for SMEs, recognising the impressive results in expanding finance and services to SMEs, and celebrating these exceptional financial institutions. Wema Bank emerged Africa’s top financier not just for the general SME landscape but also particularly for women-owned SMEs, at the 2024 edition of the annual Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards.

Reputed as the Bank of choice for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Wema Bank received recognition for its commendable track record of developing innovative, sustainable and significantly impactful products, services, solutions and opportunities for businesses of all sizes across Nigeria. The Bank’s impact ranges from affordable financing options and seamless payment collection solutions to access to market, digital solutions for efficient business operation and management, SME Advisory services, and a vast range of products tailored to the needs of businesses across every part of Nigeria. Through its women-focused proposition, SARA by Wema, Wema Bank continues to tailor its SME offerings specifically for women, helping these women build sustainable businesses and access the resources needed to scale and thrive. The Bank further supports overall growth and well-being of these women with affordable to free healthcare packages. It is beyond doubt that Wema Bank is indeed deserving of its recognition as Africa’s top financier for SMEs and particularly, women entrepreneurs.

Expounding on the Bank’s glaring commitment to empowering MSMEs, the MD/CEO of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, articulated the big picture for the Bank. “MSMEs make up the bulk of Nigeria’s economy and they are critical to not only mitigating unemployment and other macroeconomic challenges but also promoting innovation and significantly boosting the economy towards national development. At Wema Bank, we recognise the potential that MSMEs hold as well as the challenges that threaten the maximisation of this potential, and we have made a lifelong commitment to providing viable, seamless, accessible, affordable, reliable and effective solutions tailored to the needs of businesses of all sizes across Nigeria; especially women-owned businesses. There is a rising need for intentionally inclusive empowerment strategies in not only stimulating growth in the SME sector but also bridging the gap in gender equality, and we have undertaken the responsibility of fulfilling that need. As a Bank, our mission is to empower lives through innovation, and as always, we will continue to seek more effective ways to empower businesses for optimal productivity and sustainable growth”.

“We are honoured by the global recognition accorded to us by the Global SME Finance Forum and as we receive these awards, we reiterate our commitment to providing businesses with the resources they need and a bouquet of intelligent solutions that mitigate prevalent challenges and make business management and operation seamless, maximally profitable and efficient. Thank you to the Global SME Finance Forum for the acknowledgement, and also to our valued customers who continue to entrust the future of their businesses and their financial well-being in our hands. This prestigious recognition honours our unwavering commitment to empowering SMEs and fostering innovation in SME finance, further fuelling our drive to consistently go above and beyond in accelerating growth for SMEs and delivering optimum value to every stakeholder. We are indeed the Bank of choice for MSMEs and women across Nigeria, and we will never relent in empowering women to thrive and businesses to scale regardless of economic fluctuations”, Oseni remarked.

Wema Bank continues to raise the standards of banking and financial services in Nigeria, demonstrating a commitment to generating positive impact across diverse verticals, a dedication to exceeding expectations and a passion for empowering lives and businesses for success.

Businesses interested in accessing the Bank’s tailored range of finance options and business-centric solutions are encouraged to visit https://wemabank.com/smes or send an email to [email protected] to get started.