The Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has elected Prince ‘Degun Agboade as President and Chairman of its Governing of Council. At its 7th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos and drew members from all chapters across the country, was well attended by corporate and institutional members. The Council elected 19 members into its Governing Council. NASME is a business membership organization founded in 1996 and currently has 26 active state chapters with over 25,000 companies and institutions as members. At the AGM, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi was elected Deputy President, Finance & Administration. Others who were elected into the Governing Council of NASME to run its affairs for two years are Engr. Abdul Rasheed Yerima, Deputy President, North: Chief M.O. Nlemigbo, Deputy President, South: Alhaji Bala Othman Suleiman, Zonal Vice President (North East): Hon. Ibrahim Dasuki Haske, Zonal Vice President (North West): Mr. Vincent Dumoni, Zonal Vice President (North Central): Mr. Chiedu Anyaso, Zonal Vice President (South East): Mr. Oladipo Jemi Alade, Zonal Vice President (South West) and Dr. Oko-Jaja, Zonal Vice President (South South) as well as Mr. Monday Michaels Ashibogwu, Publicity Secretary. There were also UNION BANK as Treasurer, Dr Obiora Madu as Private Sector Representative, Mr. Oladipo Bankole as Private Sector Representative, Mr. Tayo Omidiji NEXIM Bank as Representing Financial Institutions, Mr. Felix Oyakhamoh ECOBANK as Representing Financial Institutions, Mr. A. Sowunmi CBN as Representing Financial Institutions, Mr. Tokunbo Habeeb RMRDC as Representing Public Sector Institutions and Dr. DM Ibrahim NOTAO as Representing Public Sector Institutions. In his acceptance speech, the newly elected President and Chairman of Council, Prince ‘Degun Agboade thanked outgoing members of the Council for their selfless service for the past four years as he outlined a 7-point agenda to move NASME forward. The association, being the largest Business Membership Organisation representing various sectors of MSMEs, noted for driving the country’s economy is repositioning to serve better the interests of MSMEs in Nigeria. [myad]
President Barak Obama has, for the first time since he took office in January 2009, has visited a U.S. mosque, eager to speak to America on behalf of its Muslim citizens and to counter what the White House describes as poisonous election-year rhetoric from Republicans.
“We have seen an alarming willingness on the part of some Republicans to try to marginalize law-abiding, patriotic Muslim Americans, and it is offensive,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday.
“We have seen a willingness on the part of leading Republican presidential candidates to try to appeal to people’s fears and anxieties.”
White House aides said that Obama won’t call out any Republicans by name during his visit to the Islamic Center of Baltimore mosque, but that they privately said that the spark for the president’s visit was Trump’s call to halt Muslim immigration to the United States, a proposal that drew condemnation from some — but not all — of the bombastic billionaire’s rivals to be the Republican standard-bearer in 2016, and won considerable support in Congress.
President Obama’s advisers also bristle at charges from some in the GOP that Islam is inherently prone to violence. And administration officials worry that coverage overseas of Trump’s remarks could fuel what one called a “false impression that we are at war with Islam.”
Republicans have often countered that Obama’s refusal to brand the enemy “Islamic extremists” is a nod to politically correct sensibilities that shows he does not take the threat seriously.
Public opinion polls in late 2015 found that a majority of Republican voters backed Trump’s idea. Democrats overwhelmingly rejected it, and most independents sided with them.
Among the key audiences for Obama’s remarks is America’s Muslim community, which he needs to have as an ally against home-grown extremists, like those who carried out the deadly attack in San Bernardino, Calif., in December.
“We will have more success in our efforts to prevent that if we work effectively with the Muslim community to confront that threat as opposed to branding everybody who attends a mosque as a potential enemy of the United States of America,” Earnest said.
Seven years ago, Obama’s key audience was Muslims around the world, a constituency he described as vital to allied efforts to stamp out the kind of violent extremism that plotted the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Back then, the centerpiece of his outreach was a June 2009 speech at Cairo University in which he pleaded for “a new beginning,” acknowledged “civilization’s debt to Islam” and highlighted the contributions of American Muslims.
“They have fought in our wars, they have served in our government, they have stood for civil rights, they have started businesses, they have taught at our universities, they’ve excelled in our sports arenas, they’ve won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building and lit the Olympic Torch,” he said.
Obama is certain to echo that part of his Cairo message today as he visits the Islamic Society of Baltimore mosque, holds a round table with key community figures and makes remarks. [myad]
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a handshake with a student while President of AUN, Prof Margee Ensign (right) watches at the unveiling of the American University of Nigeria founded Technology Enhanced Learning for All project during the launching of USAID Year of Literacy Programme in Yola on Monday, February 1.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (left) and Adamawa State Governor, Jibrila Bindo (right) at the unveiling of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) founded Technology Enhanced Learning for All projects, during the launching of USAID Year of Literacy Programme in Yola on Monday. Atiku Abubakar listening to a student at the unveiling of the American University of Nigeria founded Technology Enhanced Learning for All project during the launching of the USAID Year of Literacy Programme at AUN, Yola. [myad]
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright has assured that his country is accelerating the process of returning the money which Nigerian politicians stole and stashed in the banks there.
Arkwright, who spoke while delivering a keynote address at the first annual conference on combating financial fraud, cybecrime and other cross-border crimes today in Abuja, explained that there are legal procedures to observe in returning stolen funds, adding that the government of UK would accelerate the process. He also said that the UK government has been supportive of the fight against graft in Nigeria, adding that his home country committed £7 million to Nigeria to stamp out corruption in the last five years. Arkwright said that recent actions of UK law enforcement agencies demonstrated that there was no impunity in the UK system. ”I am aware of criticism – unjust though it may be – that the UK has not returned Nigerian stolen assets quickly enough. As you will appreciate, there are legitimate legal hurdles which need to be overcome, But we are looking actively at how we can accelerate that legal process. In any event, recent actions by the UK law enforcement agencies demonstrate clearly that there is no impunity in the UK for those who seek to conceal stolen assets in the UK.” [myad]
The controversial Catholic Priest and Director of Adoration Ministry, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka has made it clear that he doesn’t take bribe from anybody, saying that God has blessed him.
The Rev. Father who was recently transferred from the Enugu branch of the Ministry narrated how he returned the money in dollar which the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his wife brought to him during the 2015 campaign.
Speaking to newsmen today, Mbaka said: “So the case of Jonathan and the wife, God in heaven knew that apart from the offertory the woman gave at the Altar, (which amount I knew), I took that amount and put in the bag that one of the aides of the former President brought (it was a small bag filled with dollars in appreciation).
“But the Holy Spirit said, send back this money and I returned the whole money plus the one she put as offertory. All of them were returned back. There is no one kobo of Jonathan or Mrs. Jonathan in my hand. The Holy Spirit rejected all of them.
“When the saga was going on, I put my hands on the altar, swore an oath that if I ever touched Jonathan’s one kobo, may he win the election and that if I never and am being accused of it, he will fail the election.
“I demanded the phone number, not for any personal encounter, it was so that if any message comes that we could give to him privately, we will do so. Some prophecies should not be made public, but when the person that should receive it privately inhibits the opportunity of receiving it, God may force you to air it publicly. It burns like fire in your heart. I don’t take bribe from anybody. God blessed me.
“Many people think I live by offertory, but I want to say that throughout my stay in GRA, I was never fed with one kobo of offertory money. I am a musician; I have Music worth multimillion naira. I don’t know how to write sulfa notation, it comes by inspiration and it is a gift from God. But I swore an oath that whatever God gives to me will go for charity, to help the poor and less privilege, the church and ministry.
“The type of church I am talking about is the interdenominational and even inter- religious. When I want to do charity, I don’t look at who is a Muslim or Christian, it is global. So why would I take money from Mrs. Jonathan for what?
“If I need money from them, I know what was offered me but I don’t need that kind of money. At that time, people were saying five million naira, but if I tell you what I was offered, you will drop what you are holding. Two senators were there when I returned the money, one of them, said if he was in my shoes, he will take the money and be prepared to die.
“He said a normal man of God cannot return it and I said then, I am not normal. I left the money there and came back. So when they could not give me their number, they asked Kennedy Opara to give me his number. So I will call Kennedy that we were praying for them to win the election. I did not prophesy the day the woman came. I was praying for them and then on December 31, the prophesy came undiluted, just like the prophesy of 2013 that Nigerian oil boom time will turn to oil doom, that Jonathan should wake up and diversify our economy, that in distance time, our naira will have a problem, our oil will fail in the market.
“The warning was for us to maximize the boom time and wait for the doom period. The analogy given was Joseph quoted from Genesis chapter 49. Nobody listened; many men of God started criticizing me. I never criticized any man of God because of his message.
“I would say that the prophecy was that Jonathan will not win the election and he didn’t win it. What else do we need to do to know it is true? The accomplishments, the fulfillment and realization of prophetic utterance prove the reality.
“If it is God, it must come to pass, if it is not God, it must not come to pass. God cannot fail and if he had authored a prophecy, he will finish it. So the issue of Jonathan and his money, God in heaven knows, none of their one kobo was given to me. Why are people even making noise? Before Jonathan came, the prophecy came that the next president will come from Niger Delta, so why are they making noise?
“The day Abacha died, prophecy came a week before (Wednesday before the Monday he died), that the president will die next week. Instead of his aides coming to ask about the solution (because most of the time, when God gives me a prophecy, he gives the solution). Instead of asking how it could be averted, they pursued me; even my mechanic was almost killed that time. “They continued to witch hunt me. I ran into the bush, from Thursday morning, Friday, Saturday and on Sunday came from the bush to celebrate mass and the message kept coming that Abacha’s death was imminent and the next day, I was in the chapel when the message came that Abacha was no more. So that is it.
“I don’t know how it came. That I am a priest does not mean I am not Ejike Mbaka. So there is nothing fake or political about my prophetic life. I don’t say things to gain anything.
Even President Buhari, when it was prophesied that he was going to be the president, I had never seen or known him then. When eventually I met him (Buhari) when I went for prayers at Aso Rock (not the day people saw me shaking hands with him); what I demanded from him is good governance for Nigeria. I didn’t ask him to give me one kobo. One kobo of Buhari has never entered my hand. So when Abacha eventually died on Monday, people shuddered. I ask people to respect God and respect his words and ways.” [myad]
The immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan has declared that he is ready to work for his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari in any capacity he finds him useful.
Jonathan, who said however, that he would not force himself on the current government if his attention was not needed, said: “I am former president and I cannot throw myself on the new government. It depends on the assignment the current president decides to give me and also depends on if I have the capacity to carry out such assignment.”
The former president who was in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was honoured by an association of international diplomats, the Cercle Diplomatique, based in Geneva, for the roles he played during the smooth transition of power in 2015, however declined comment when asked by journalist to rate the current government.
“He is our president and can decide to send people on assignments based on national interests. When I was in office, I used to give assignments to former presidents and that is how it has always been. I am free to work for my country and indeed for any other African president that considers my service valuable.
On whether the current government is living up to expectation, Jonathan said: “but when you ask me about what is happening to all my legacies and what is happening in the government today, I will tell you that you are being unfair to me. You do not expect a former president to begin to speak of his successor, especially knowing that I have just left office.
“It is not standard practice anywhere because any comment I make now, whether positive or negative, could be misinterpreted. I will tell you that you are not helping me, you are not showing me love, if you continue to insist that I should run commentaries on the activities of my successor.” [myad]
The presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s foreign trips are meant to block all safe havens for looted funds from Nigeria was at the heart of the president on his trips outside the country.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu who spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja insisted that Buhari’s trips abroad has succeeded in making his administration secure agreements and understanding with various countries on recovery and repatriation of stolen funds.
He said that top security officials in the country would in the next one week, travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to further actualize an agreement on recovery and repatriation of stolen funds.
“You also see gradually the strategic efforts to go after the stolen funds abroad. The UAE is very important to the country.
“Don’t be surprised that in the coming week or two, you will see high level security officials leaving Nigeria for the UAE to begin to give expression to our wish to enjoy this new cooperation between the two countries with a view to recovering stolen assets.
“There are numerous agreements we have also signed with them. Drugs, human trafficking and stolen assets that have been hidden abroad. So, the president wants to make it difficult for people, even when they steal from Nigeria, there would probably be no hiding place for stolen assets.” [myad]
Soldiers have stumbled on a large number of Boko Haram insurgents out of which they killed 50, rescued over 500 captors and destroyed their logistics around Sambisa Forest.
The soldiers carried out the offensive around Mafa, Dikwa and Kala area of Borno State even as Nigerian Air Force Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UAV) destroyed a logistics base used by Boko Haram terrorists.
The UAV was said to have been on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission when it came across the gathering of Boko Haram terrorists at Garin Moloma, about one kilometre north of the Sambisa Forest.
A statement by the military Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said the strike is a major setback for the Boko Haram Sect and a major plus for the fight against insurgency by the Nigerian troops.
Famuyiwa said that at the time of the UAV attack, the location, though under surveillance for quite a while, had a large gathering of Boko Haram terrorists and vehicles.
“The multiple explosions and huge fire ball from the location, as can be seen from the enclosed video of the UAV strike, strongly suggests that it may be either an ammunition/fuel storage or weapons/technical workshop.” [myad]
Three Ecobank Plc employees have been alleged to have forged the signatures of the bank’s customers with which they stole N2.8 Million from their accounts.
The operatives whose names were given as Oluwatoyin Adetunji (41), Oluwatosin Obademi (32) and Olushola Ogunshina (39) have already been charged to a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court on Lagos Island, Lagos State , on a three-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and stealing before. The prosecutor, Inspector Nurudeen Thomas, told the court that the accused persons between July 10 and 14, 2015, forged signatures of several Ecobank customers and stole N2.8 million from their accounts at the Iyana-Ipaja branch of the bank. Thomas said Adetunji and Obademi were cashiers, while Ogunshina was Information Technology personnel in the bank. According to the prosecutor, Obademi and Ogunshina claimed that Adetunji came to them with the deal and promised to pay them N350,000 each. Thomas said that the offences contravene Sections 285, 361 and 409 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State, 2011. The Chief Magistrate, K. B. Ayeye, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case to February 22 for hearing. [myad]
A model student of Kwara State University, Hassan Jamiu Olawale has emerged the winner of the third Season of the GTBank’s GTCrea8 Mini Cooper giveaway special. Jamiu Olawale went home with a brand new Mini Cooper car after the draw that took place at the GTBank head office. Since the launch of the campaign, two lucky GTCrea8 customers have been rewarded with brand new mini cooper cars: in 2013, Shalom Wigwe Elisha – a 2nd year student of medicine of the University of Lagos became the first recipient of the prestigious car whereas Maryam Adebiyi, a student of Lagos state Polytechnic won it in 2014.
In a chat session with this season’s winner, elated Olawale said: “I come from a family of four and currently a student at Kwara State University, department of Banking and Finance. I am a model (MR. KWARA INT’L CHARISMATIC 2015). I do not have much hobbies but I pride myself at solving problems around me, especially business related puzzles. One of my recent business solutions is ICHOPPY, a feeding app for students. The other is called SALUBATA, a model invention of the past. “I heard about gtcrea8 from sources that include newspapers, online browsing and most especially there was a time I had issues with buying goods online. These made me to go to my bank (GTBank) seeking to be enlightened more about Internet transactions.” “The GTCrea8 account has come in very handy in many and different forms. Fashion and style has been my tool to get people to listen to what I have to say when it comes to my ideas and business motives. “Since most of my shopping is done online, the GTcrea8 account has made it very easy and fast indeed, therefore creating a seamless experience for me every time I shop. Its usefulness can therefore not be overemphasized.” Meanwhile, GTBank has restated its commitment to continue investing in both the academic and social well being on Nigerian university undergraduates, as it unveils the latest Mini Cooper winner. The Bank, which said that millions of undergraduates from across Nigeria took part in this annual campus activation, said that the aim of the Giveaway Mini Cooper is to appreciate and encourage GTcrea8 eSavers account holders in Nigeria and diaspora. “The initiative also seeks to inspire young people to cultivate the habit of saving. “ The GTCrea8 account is a trendy, card-based interest bearing account designed especially for undergraduates. It is part of the Bank’s value proposition to deliver banking in a different way to young people by engaging them with fun, exciting and interactive activities such as musical Campus Storms and master classes which resonates with their unique demographics. This year account holders of GTcrea8 account can look forward to yet another exciting season of the mini cooper giveaway as the Bank is set to commence the 4th edition. [myad]
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The Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has elected Prince ‘Degun Agboade as President and Chairman of its Governing of Council.
