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Tag: Chief Executive Officer

  • Danbatta to Deliver The Bullion Lecture 2021

    The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, is the distinguished personality to deliver the 2021 edition of The Bullion Lecture.

    Danbatta will speak on the theme: ‘Telecoms, Digital Banking and Nigeria’s Economic Development.’ at the annual Lecture scheduled to hold by 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at The Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Danbatta, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Nigerian Academy of Engineering (FAEng.), Renewable and Alternative Energy Society (FRAES) and Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (FNIEEE), is an erudite engineer, philanthropist, and a nation builder per excellence.

    An astute administrator and a renowned scholar, Danbatta holds BEng and MSc degrees from the Technical University of Wroclaw in Poland, and PhD from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, The United Kingdom.

    Until his appointment as the country’s chief telecoms regulator in 2015, Danbatta was a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Bayero University, Kano, for 32 years, where he taught courses in telecommunications engineering and electronics, and held academic positions of Dean of the Faculty and Head of Department at different times.

    Prof. Danbatta has also supervised more than 60 PhD, MEng and BEng projects in diverse areas of telecommunications and has also served as external  examiner  to  seven universities  and  polytechnics  and  is  an  assessor,  technical  reviewer and editorial member to eight research journals.

    He has to his credit more than 50 articles in journals, conference proceedings and technical reports in addition to being the author of a six-chapter, 167-page book titled: Elements of Static Engineering Electromagnetics.

    The Bullion Lecture is a platform conceptualised by the Centre for Financial Journalism (CFJ Nigeria) for lively and professional discourse on national and international issues.

    Founder/Chief Executive Officer of CFJ Nigeria, Ray Echebiri, said the lecture will be chaired by the President, Africa FinTech Network and former President/Chairman of Council, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Dr. Segun Aina.

    Distinguished panelists, who will dissect the lecture, are Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Mrs. Chizor Malize and the Executive Director, SystemSpecs Limited, Mr. Aderemi Atanda.

    Expected guests at the lecture include government officials, captains of industry, banking industry executives, Information and Communication Technology professionals, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of multilateral institutions, senior media executives, and other journalists, and members of the public. Participation at the lecture will be virtual and in-person.

  • Evercare Begins Operations of its State-of-the-Art Hospital in Lagos

    Evercare Begins Operations of its State-of-the-Art Hospital in Lagos

    Evercare Hospital Lekki, a private multispecialty tertiary care facility, has commenced operations in Lagos. The purpose built state-of-the-art 165-bed multispecialty, tertiary care hospital is part of the Evercare Group, a leading impact driven healthcare group in emerging markets operating hospitals, clinics and diagnostic facilities across Africa and South Asia.

    The new hospital brings Evercare Group’s significant expertise in operating and developing quality healthcare facilities to West Africa, and is positioned to be at the forefront of advanced treatment in major clinical specialties in Nigeria. The facility will offer exceptional patient care and high-quality, accessible services across core medical, nursing and surgical services that are in line with global standards and available to all.

    Evercare’s facility is equipped and designed with modern state-of-the-art infrastructure and diagnostic services, with core focus specialties including: Mother & Child Services, Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Critical Care & Emergency Medicine. The team is comprised of a mix of highly skilled local and international full time and visiting consultants, setting a benchmark that will enhance the long-term sustainability of the country’s healthcare ecosystem for both patients and practitioners.

    As Evercare Hospital Lekki opens its doors, the hospital is already on the panel of the leading HMOs in Nigeria including Axa Mansard, Avon HMO, Oceanic Health, Leadway Health, and Bastion HMO. In addition to adding more local payors on a rolling basis, Evercare Hospital Lekki is also in the process of finalizing agreements with leading international health insurance providers.

    “Quality is at the core of Evercare Hospital Lekki’s healthcare mission,” says Rajeev Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of Evercare Hospital Lekki. “At Evercare, we will constantly innovate to ensure delivery of best-in-class standards of patient safety, clinical excellence, and outstanding clinical outcomes. Our dynamic and passionate team of caregivers will ensure an unparalleled patient experience as we have a philosophy of ‘patient first’ and are always available to cater to healthcare needs. We look forward to embarking on our journey to transforming healthcare.”

    Massimiliano Colella, CEO, Evercare Group, added: “Our goal at the Evercare Group is to create a long-term blueprint for the healthcare sector and support the advancement of medical care across Nigeria. Evercare Hospital Lekki brings first-class healthcare services to the people of Nigeria and will reduce the need for Nigerians to travel overseas in search of quality medical care. We are making specialty and sub-specialties available and will elevate the standards of service delivery. Our aim to build a sustainable future to provide world-class healthcare facilities in emerging markets and one of our key missions is to invest in local resources to help them expand their reach to help communities in need.”

    The new hospital is part of the Evercare Group, which is wholly owned by the Evercare Health Fund, a US $1bn emerging markets healthcare fund managed by TPG. The construction and opening of Evercare Hospital Lekki exemplifies the ways in which Evercare benefits from the healthcare investing experience of TPG’s global team and the impact investing expertise of The Rise Fund. The Rise Fund’s investment in Evercare, alongside other leading impact investors and global development finance institutions, is playing a critical role in addressing systemic underinvestment in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure while remaining committed to delivering measurable, long-term impact.

    “It is an exciting time for us to work collectively to offer Nigerians superior healthcare options that meet local needs and build the country’s response in tackling diseases,” commented Jide Olanrewaju, Partner at TPG Growth, Africa. “Evercare Hospital Lekki, and its best-in-class facilities, are a great example of how impact investment can address crucial funding needs in the march to bolster Nigeria’s medical ecosystem and its economy. We are deeply proud of the hard work that has culminated in the opening of Evercare Hospital Lekki and we wish our colleagues continued success as we work together to improve healthcare in Nigeria.”

    Evercare Hospital Lekki has a strategic focus of employing and retaining local talent while also developing skill sets through international expertise. This commitment is to ensure a highly experienced, well-rounded, and diverse team, poised to support the advancement of medical care across Nigeria. Evercare underscored its mission by appointing Tosin Runsewe as the Chairman of Evercare Hospital Lekki while construction was underway in 2020. Runsewe is the Founder and CEO of AfyA Care, an integrated healthcare company that seeks to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible within sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Dubai To Host Charitable Virtual Concert with World’s Best DJ David Guetta

    Dubai To Host Charitable Virtual Concert with World’s Best DJ David Guetta

    Dubai Tourism has announced its partnership with renowned International DJ and producer David Guetta to host the Dubai Edition of charitable the concert tagged #UnitedAtHome, slated for 6th February 2021. The charity concert is aimed at supporting UNICEF and Dubai Cares’ campaign ‘Education Uninterrupted’ an initiative targeted at education and distance learning for children, students and teachers in the aftermath of COVID-19.

    Ranked world’s #1 DJ in 2020, David Guetta, a French superstar and Dubai resident will deliver an eclectic performance, inviting millions of fans worldwide to come together for the online event at Dubai’s legendary a landmark in a show of solidarity, hope and optimism, as the world continues to battle the pandemic.

    Set against the backdrop of Dubai’s beautiful sunset, fireworks and indomitable spirit, the stunning production of music and lights will see the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah helipad transformed into a DJ booth for an incredible virtual concert streamed via David Guetta’s social media platforms, free of charge.

    Speaking about his incredible charity performance, David Guetta said, “After Miami, New York and the Louvre in Paris, I am very proud to announce that we’re heading to the top of the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah for another United At Home show, this time in a city that is dear to my heart: Dubai. In these difficult times, we hope to bring comfort, joy, and support through the power of music and emotions. We have supported many charities and helped make a real difference in people’s lives during the pandemic”.

    As a supporter of the entertainment industry and the arts, Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) commented: “Dubai Tourism is proud to support the ongoing efforts of award-winning international artist David Guetta and stand together in solidarity with people all over the world.

    We are also appreciative of the support and efforts being made by UNICEF, Dubai Cares and Jumeirah Group to leverage the strengths of the city for a worthy cause, especially during these challenging times”.

    Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares and Member of its Board of Directors said “as an initiative that was launched to spread positivity across communities and cultures and bring nationalities even closer, this innovative and uplifting online performance by David Guetta atop the iconic landmark of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is symbolic of the strong sense of vibrancy and optimism prevailing across the city”.

    He added that “with David Guetta and his millions of followers around the world, the message extends globally, and we are privileged at Dubai Cares to be a charity beneficiary of his global initiative with Dubai Tourism”.

    Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s most promising destinations are home to captivating events including the Roger Federer vs. Andre Agassi tennis match, boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s Sky Fight, the Formula One team Red Bull Racing doughnut stunt, amongst others, all designed to contribute towards efforts to keep the city and its diverse offering in the global spotlight.

  • Fundbae Hits N100 Million Transaction Value within One Quarter

    Fundbae Hits N100 Million Transaction Value within One Quarter

    Fundbae, a money app, which launched in November 2020, enabling individuals to reach their financial goals has hit the 100 Million Naira savings deposits mark in its first three months of operations.

    Fundbae achieved this deposit milestone through patronage of its high savings/investment interest rate as well as customers’ flexibility in investing for shorter investment cycles of 24 hours and ability to access savings daily.

    The app has four features:

    • Flexbae, flexible savings account where customers earn interest on extra funds every 24 hours
    • Save2b, which allows customers access a 200% loan of their total savings after a 6-month period
    • Vault Lite, which enables individuals to save towards a particular financial goal,
    • Vault Plus, a fixed savings option that allows customers earn higher interest per annum.

     

    The Chief Executive Officer, Fundbae, Sola Adeyinka (CFA), stated that Fundbae was born out of a passion to help individuals achieve their financial goals, easily and seamlessly.

    “We created the Fundbae app, which is a holistic and integrated goal-based experience that serves the financial life of our customers over the short, medium, and long term. We understand the struggles our customers face, especially during the pandemic, and that is why our Fundbae experience empowers our customers with services, resources to help them find fulfilment and happiness with their finances.”

    “Our customers love the Flexbae feature because it allows them to save any extra fund and earn interest daily that can be spent on anything they want. So, they don’t need to wait till maturity before accessing their funds.”

    In answering the question, “what is next for Fundbae?” The Chief Operating Officer, Femi Darabidan, stated that our focus for our customers is to do more of what helps them master their money. We will achieve this by creating more personalized tools and experiences on the app for individual financial growth. We will also create lots of avenues that will increase the financial literacy of our existing customers. We believe an individual can do their best to prepare for the future by getting their finances in order, no matter how much or how little they make.”

    Fundbae, as of today, has over 3,500 active customers and is available to users on Web and Android platforms.

  • Ardova to Acquire Enyo for Downstream Business Expansion

    Ardova to Acquire Enyo for Downstream Business Expansion

    The management of Ardova Plc is looking to boost the revenue of the company, which will in turn make shareholders get more value for their investment.

    On Wednesday, the firm said it was discussing with a retail and supply company in the downstream sector in Nigeria, Enyo Retail and Supply Limited, for a possible acquisition.

    Ardova is a big player in the ecosystem and with the acquisition of Enyo, it hopes to further increase its share of the market.

    In a statement today, the energy firm described Enyo as a technologically driven player currently operating over 90 stations across the country, attending to over 100,000 retail customers daily across 15 states of Nigeria.

    According to the chief executive of Ardova, Mr Olumide Adeosun, after the acquisition of Enyo, which should be completed in the first quarter of 2021, the brand would be retained and it would operate side-by-side with Ardova.

    It is not certain if this promise would be fulfilled because after Ardova acquired Forte Oil from Mr Femi Otedola in 2019, it promised to retain the brand name, but it later reneged.

    “Ardova Plc (AP), a leading Nigerian integrated energy company, and the shareholders of Enyo Retail and Supply Limited have entered discussions relating to AP acquiring Enyo.

    “Enyo is one of the newest and fastest-growing retail and supply companies in the downstream sector.

    “Enyo is a technologically driven player and currently operates over 90 stations across Nigeria attending to over 100,000 retail customers daily across 15 states of the country.

    “This announcement is pursuant to the acceptance in principle of AP’s offer and acquisition framework by the shareholders of Enyo, it is subject to the successful completion of a due diligence exercise and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals,” the statement signed by the acting company secretary/General Counsel for Ardova, Mr Oladeinde Nelson, said.

    In the statement sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the CEO of AP was said to have stressed that parties were committed to concluding the deal by the end of Q1 2021, promising to provide further information on progress made on the proposed acquisition.

    Lately, the shares of Ardova have been witnessing an upward movement and today, it was not a different story as the equities appreciated by 1.52 per cent or 30 kobo to close at N20 per unit.

  • Szulce, Babaeko, Adisa, Others for IAA Nigeria webinar

    Szulce, Babaeko, Adisa, Others for IAA Nigeria webinar

    Concerned on how to ensure that businesses &  organisations remain relevant and stay afloat amidst and after the global Corona Virus pandemic, the Nigeria Chapter of the global International Advertising Association (IAA), is set to hold a webinar tagged, “Creativity in Crisis: Innovative thinking in Challenging Times”.

    Scheduled to hold on Tuesday July 28, 2020, the webinar will have the keynote address delivered by the IAA Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dagmara Szulce, while Mr. Steve Babaeko, President, Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria (AAAN); Mr Lanre Adisa, Chief Executive Officer, Noah’s Ark Communications; and Nnenna Onyewuchi, Founder & Director of Strategy, Yellow Brick Road will seat as panelists.

    Speaking about the webinar, the Executive Director, IAA Nigeria, Robert Awokuse noted that, “With more challenges facing businesses today following the disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, there is a need for creativity and innovative thinking for businesses to survive and thrive”.

    Awokuse further noted that, the webinar aims to make participants see thatcreativity has become imperative because the current crisis must be turned into pragmatic opportunities through the positive engagement of ground breaking ideas and innovation.

    His words;  “Like other countries and businesses, this period apparently is a difficult time in the history of our country, Nigeria and the marketing and communications industry is not left out. However,  more can be done to turn the tide and tramsform this crisis into more opportunities with our creative minds and prowess as creative professionals”.

    “Now, more than ever, it is vital that we act as that valued ‘brains trust’ to offer sound strategic and creative works and counsel to our clients/customers and communities who trust our judgment when it comes to brand management. We cannot afford to fail their trust. Therefore we must deliver to remain afloat”, he added.

    The International Advertising Association champions the common interests of all the disciplines across the full spectrum of marketing communications ranging from advertisers to media companies, agencies to direct marketing firms, as well as individual practitioners.

  • FBNQuest MB Funding SPV PLC Bond gets listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)

    FBNQuest MB Funding SPV PLC Bond gets listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)

    FBNQuest Merchant Bank, the investment banking and asset management subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, has announced the listing of the FBNQ MB Funding SPV PLC Series 1 Bond out of the ₦50 billion Bond Issuance programme.

    FBNQuest coordinated the principal activities of the transaction ranging from the structuring, arranging, and issuing the Series 1 Bond out of the Bond Issuance Programme launched in November 2018.  The organisation advised on the transaction structure and marketing strategy for the bonds including investor engagements.

    The Bonds were successfully distributed to a diversified mix of investors which included Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Insurance Companies, Asset Managers, HNIs and Others. The offer was 2.3 times over-subscribed, which assisted in driving the closing price down to 10.50% and the Net Proceeds will be utilised for the purchase of three-year 10.50% Senior Unsecured Notes issued by FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, pursuant to the terms and conditions in the executed transaction documents.

    The transaction adds to the organisation’s impressive portfolio, and highlights its capabilities in the successful execution of sizeable capital market and commercial debt transactions. Speaking on the transaction, Kayode Akinkugbe, Managing Director/CEO, stated, “We are pleased to announce the listing of the FBNQuest MB Funding SPV PLC Bond on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. This is the debut bond issued by the organisation, and the success recorded attests to the degree of confidence investors have in the business”.

    He further stated that “As a full-service investment bank and asset manager, we advised on the bond issuance and structure; and also leveraged our extensive distribution capability to ensure the success of the transaction.”

    Commenting on the listing, the Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON said, “We welcome FBNQuest Merchant Bank’s debut listing of its N5 billion Series 1 Bond on the Exchange, as we continue to support the Bank in meeting its capital raising needs and business objectives. We also commend all the parties to the transaction.  At the NSE, we are committed to giving issuers and investors a platform to access right-sized capital even in the toughest of times as well as providing opportunities for secondary market trading activities across multiple asset classes – equities, bonds, ETFs.”

    FBNQuest has advised on the issuance of several bonds and commercial papers for organisations such as Interswitch; Mixta Real Estate plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc (NB), Lafarge Africa Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN), Wema Bank Plc, and UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC) to mention a few. The organisation received the award for the Most Innovative Registration Member at the 2019 FMDQ Gold Awards, in recognition of its continuous delivery of value in the registration of bond-related transactions at the FMDQ Securities Exchange.

  • COVID-19: Eat’n’Go gives Food to Essential Workers

    COVID-19: Eat’n’Go gives Food to Essential Workers

    Amidst the rise of the Covid-19 global pandemic, Eat’N’Go limited, master franchisee for Domino’s Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery and Pinkberry Gourmet Yoghurt has rolled out its charity initiative to support the Nigerian government in combating COVID-19. This initiative has allowed the firm provide food to essential workers who are at the frontline in combating the spread of the virus. 

    This initiative which commenced since March has since provided boxes of large Domino’s pizza, cups of Cold Stone ice cream and Pinkberry Yoghurt to different institutions including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Yaba Centre, Oyo state ministry of health,  and various Police stations across the country. In addition, Eat’N’Go has committed to its support with food supplies, until the Covid-19 situation has been contained.

    Speaking about the initiative, Patrick McMichael, Chief Executive Officer, Eat’N’Go Limited acknowledged the sacrifice and diligence of all medical practitioners, the government as well as other essential workers who have put their selves forward to manage this pandemic. “We are thankful to everyone at the forefront of this battle, doing all it takes to end the pandemic. As a firm that holds the wellbeing of others in high esteem, we are committed to contributing our quota to ensure you remain healthy throughout this period, which is why we have decided to drive this initiative“

    Speaking further, he also expressed his utmost concern and sympathy, highlighting the effect the pandemic may have had on the Nigerian economy. He said “Having the understanding that the world, including Nigeria, is facing a global crisis which is eating deep into the nation’s economy, we believe that now is the time for corporates to rise to support the government more than ever. As a firm that has implanted its footprints in Nigeria through various capacities, we are committed to continue to lend our support to the country “

    Also commenting on the initiative, Oyo state Commissioner for Health, through Dr. T.O Ladipo, Incident manager, Oyo state COVID-19 Emergency response team, extended his appreciation to the firm. “We sincerely appreciate your relentless support and commitment in the fight to contain the spread of the virus in our communities, through the provision of refreshments for the Oyo state emergency team “he said.

    Since the outbreak of the virus, Domino’s Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery and Pinkberry Gourmet Frozen yogurt have shown constant support to the government, to help flatten the curve. All three brands are advocating for the stay-home policy and have since canceled their dine-in services and encouraging customers to order online and opt for contactless deliveries.

  • uLesson Learning app Launches

    uLesson Learning app Launches

    Nigeria’s Ed-tech startup, uLesson Education Limited has officially launched the uLesson app. The app offers students in Nigeria (SS1-3), Ghana (SHS1-3), Liberia (Grade 10-12), Sierra Leone (S1-3), and Gambia (S1-3) a holistic curriculum-relevant learning experience in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology preparing them for critical regional exams- WASSCE, SSCE, GCE and UTME as well as international tests like the SATs. 

    uLesson employs a simple and personalized approach to learning, leveraging quality lesson plans from the best tutors to amplify each student’s learning ability. Thus, encouraging deep and continued learning for students. 

    The learning content from the app is planned, executed and reviewed by subject matter experts using videos, interactive animations, quizzes, assessments and several years of official WAEC past examinations along with solutions. 

    Commenting on the app, Founder and CEO of uLesson Education Limited, Sim Shagaya said, “Learning is a crucial part of a child’s quest for academic excellence and success in life. The kind of universities and other tertiary institutions that they get into and, to some degree, the future that awaits them beyond their school years is largely determined by the learning opportunities and platforms available to them in their secondary school years. It is imperative then that investments are made in education that will help students be the best they can be, and in learning platforms that prepare them for a future in various disciplines and subjects, thus making them citizens for the world of tomorrow. It is with this knowledge that we designed the uLesson App; to particularly meet the needs of African students at the secondary school level and at all levels in the future”.

    Also speaking on the App, Vice President, Marketing and Analytics uLesson, Al-hassan Yusuf Junior said the App has been built to help students learn and maximize their academic potential. “uLesson is the first of its kind in Africa. We have leveraged technology to provide a learning solution that is of high-quality, affordable and accessible. Our team of passionate and talented people have built a learning experience that is unprecedented in richness, scope, interactivity, and effectiveness. Our personalized learning approach, the depth of our content, and our service which allows users to request free counselor visits from uLesson set us apart. We also go a step further to provide analytics and data reporting for parents and guardians to monitor their child’s academic growth and guide them to optimize their learning experience”. 

    uLesson is creating a platform to revolutionize the way students learn and study for their exams. While only four subjects are available now, the brand promises to include other subjects as well as expand to other regions in Africa