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  • NDLEA sets ablaze 1.8 tons of cocaine as Marwa promises drug cartels tough time

    NDLEA sets ablaze 1.8 tons of cocaine as Marwa promises drug cartels tough time

    Tougher time awaits drug barons and cartels operating in Nigeria if they fail to back out of their criminal trade and embrace legitimate ventures. Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) gave the assurance on Tuesday 27th September 2022 while leading stakeholders to witness the crushing and setting ablaze 1.8 tons of cocaine recovered by the Agency from a warehouse in Ikorodu area of Lagos last week.   

    The NDLEA had in a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation that lasted two days last week stormed a hidden warehouse at 6 Olukunola street, Solebo estate Ikorodu where 1.8 tons of cocaine were recovered and five suspects including a Jamaican were arrested. Following the historical seizure, which is the largest in the Agency’s history, an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos was obtained for the public destruction of the consignment.

    Speaking at the venue of the public destruction in Badagry area of Lagos Tuesday, Gen. Marwa who was represented by the Agency’s Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics, DCGN Sunday Joseph, said the sheer volume of the drug haul, with street value put at two hundred and seventy-eight million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($278, 250,000), equivalent to one hundred and ninety-four billion, seven hundred and seventy-five million (N194, 775,000,000) naira, speaks volume about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld. He said this has made it imperative for Nigerians to continue to support NDLEA in the renewed war against illicit drugs.

    He said out of the 1.8-ton seizure, 1, 828 blocks of the cocaine will be crushed and set ablaze while the remnant will be secured for purpose of prosecution of the suspects who were brought to witness the procedure and sign the certificate of destruction. According to the NDLEA boss, “the Agency is proceeding with the prosecution of those arrested in connection with this consignment. On this, the public can rest assured that NDLEA shall pursue the trial to a logical conclusion. Since January 25, 2021, when we commenced our offensive action against drug traffickers, the Agency has secured record convictions. Presently, 2, 904 drug offenders are serving various jail terms, while other cases are ongoing in court, which we are confident will end in positive results too.”

    To the drug underworld, he said “the bust of the syndicate responsible for the cocaine warehoused in Ikorodu is a message to drug cartels that their investments in the illicit drug trade will go up in flames as you are about to witness while they also risk losing their freedom because the present NDLEA is committed to arresting, prosecuting and ensuring the conviction of those involved in illicit drugs. That is not all, we now also go after their assets acquired with the proceeds of the criminal trade.”

    Marwa said the fact that the Ikorodu operation was conducted clinically without any skirmish or bloodshed is further testimony to the evolution of the NDLEA and its new capabilities and a pointer to the fact that the game has changed in the war against illicit drugs.

    He expressed appreciation to the Agency’s international partners, especially the American Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) which supported the cocaine syndicate bust and the Nigerian military that provided additional firepower during the operation, as well as other law enforcement agencies that have been supporting efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs.

    While soliciting for more support for the Agency’s work, Marwa said “the safety of our society is the responsibility of every one of us and every citizen shall be fulfilling his or her civic duty by assisting the Agency to clean up our communities and cities by joining our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)”, adding that “together, we can make this country secure.”

  • FAAN to take delivery of ten fire trucks, 14 boarding bridges

    FAAN to take delivery of ten fire trucks, 14 boarding bridges

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is to take delivery of 10 brand new fire trucks and 14 manufactured passenger boarding bridges before the end of this year.

    Managing Director, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu who disclosed this at the Airports, Airlines, Business Summit and Expo, AABSE in Lagos said, the deliveries of these equipment are to improve passenger service delivery and better airport experience.

    He said, for the effective handling of these facilities, 15 airports fire and rescue instructors have been trained in the United Kingdom and over 4,500 personnel trained by the Airport Council International, ACI instructors.

    According to him, the Ease of Doing Business geared towards ensuring seamless airport experience is not just facilities alone but also the personnel who manage these facilities for customer satisfaction.

    In line with the theme of the summit: ‘Fixing the Broken Link’ Captain Yadudu said, all noticeable broken links in seamless air transportation system were being addressed with many ongoing projects some of which had been completed and 80% delivered.

    These he listed to the installation of Airfield Ground Lighting System (AGLS) at Lagos Domestic runway, provision of carry-on Baggage Screening machines, hold-on Baggage Screening machines, Cargo Screening machines and 3D Body Scanners.

    The MD FAAN also mentioned the launch of the Aviation Portal for the provision of real-time information to passengers and feedback from them, approval for the establishment of an aviation-based centralized Contact Centre to be operated by FAAN as part of what had been done.

    “The provision of thirty-six (36) customer service work stations, one hundred and twenty (120) office chairs across airports, enabling of cashless policy for departments and agencies involved in the collection of payments for services at the airports.

    “Enabled compliance with single passenger interface by providing the necessary infrastructure for our partner agencies, CBN is assisting in the setting up of an online payment system to enable the full implementation of our Forex cashless policy, Increased security and safety within the airport environment by ensuring constant lighting through the walkways and the car park for the safety and comfort of our airport users”.

    The Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu stressed the need for airlines to remain focused onmaintaining customer trust and pave ways for quick recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Captain Nuhu represented by the Director, Aerodromes and Airspace Standards, DAAS in the NCAA, Mr. Mohammed Odunowo urged the airlines to recognize the role of mobile apps for day-of-travel communications to avoid the problems of delays, cancellations and others associatedwith air travel.

    “Airlines must not display or advertise wrong flight times. In the event of a flight disruption the airline must provide timely information to passengers and live up to their obligation to provide care, refreshments, meal, refund/re-routing on another flight in a timely manner) and in adherence to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2015 Part 19”.

    He also stated that, the airport manager must ensure improvement in the airport ambience, especially in the seating, restrooms, restaurants and shopping areas, check-in counters as these serve as confidence driver and a guarantee that the airport is a safe place for its customer, the passenger.

    “Airlines and airport operators must adopt the use of technology, smartphones etc. touch point kiosks for check-in so as to reducethe cluster of persons around the check-in areas and clearly marked bag drop of zone, parking zones, seating areas, lavatories, Ambulifts and wheelchairs and Keeping all measures in place is certainly a confidence driver and a guarantee that the airport is a safe place for its customer, the passenger”.

  • NCC, Civil Defence Corps align to Tackle Telecoms Crimes

    NCC, Civil Defence Corps align to Tackle Telecoms Crimes

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has teamed with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to tackle some of the criminal activities bedeviling the telecom industry, such as telecom equipment vandalism and fraudulent registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards among others.

    Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who addressed a gathering of the senior management staff of NSCDC in the South West Zone, at an exclusive workshop organised by the Commission, hailed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sealed between the agency and the Commission, for which the gathering was to explore how the Corps will deploy enabling laws, subsidiary legislations, and extant guidelines to arrest any form of criminality in the sector. 

    Danbatta, who was represented at the workshop by the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement at the Commission, Ephraim Nwokonneya, said, over the years, the NCC has been working with relevant law enforcement agencies, and in particular the NSCDC, towards protecting telecom sector from all kinds of criminal behaviour.

    “Through despicable activities that are criminal and totally at variance with national security concerns of government, the deviant elements in our midst have been acting to undermine efforts put in place to consolidate the gains of the sector,” the EVC said.

    Danbatta declared that “These criminal activities include theft and vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, the illegal use of fraudulently-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, operating without license, illegal call masking, and so on.”

    He said while the NSCDC officers have been of tremendous assistance, the objective of the workshop was to constantly engage and update them on new trends and existing regulations, requiring concerted efforts for their implementation towards enhancing sanity in the telecom sector.

    Danbatta said the NSCDC and other agencies have done very well with the assistance of their personnel in carrying out raid exercises and mopping up fraudulently-registered SIM cards found in circulation, as well as in raising the banner of awareness on the need to protect critical national telecom infrastructure.

    Some of the topical issues discussed at the workshop covered the activities of the Commission as presented by the relevant departments in the context of laws and other regulations, and in relation to the roles of NSCDC, as depicted in the presentation made by the NCC’s Head of Enforcement, Salisu Abdu, during the workshop.

  • The EFG Hermes Foundation for Social Development Signs Partnership Agreement with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education in Upper Egypt

    The EFG Hermes Foundation for Social Development Signs Partnership Agreement with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education in Upper Egypt

    …aims to secure sustainable education in Upper Egypt through renewable energy, in line with the national strategy to increase reliance on clean energy, and reflects the Foundation’s holistic approach in tackling economic, social, and environmental challenges

    The EFG Hermes Foundation for Social Development, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that supports sustainable, high-impact development initiatives to assist local underprivileged communities, has signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, represented by the General Authority for Educational Buildings, to transition 102 schools across Luxor and Aswan to clean solar energy by providing, installing and operating solar panels. The project is to generate 700 KWH contributing to an annual reduction of 250 tons CO2 emissions. 

    This comes as part of the country’s national strategy to reduce emissions and increase reliance on renewable energy as part of its National Climate Strategy 2050 and the national initiative Haya Karima. The investment also reflects the Foundation’s holistic strategy and integrated approach in tackling economic, social, and environmental challenges, as it frees up financial resources for injection in other lacking areas by education bodies, contributes to a clean environment, and engages youth in remote regions in climate action.

    Major General Engineer Yousry El-Deeb, Director of the General Authority for Educational Buildings said “We’re proud to establish partnerships with private sector institutions that work towards achieving Egypt’s Social Development Goals (SDGs), such as supporting the education sector and addressing climate change. We aim to take advantage of this precious opportunity to develop schools’ infrastructure and make a positive impact by providing long-term, sustainable educational services to all students. I personally commend the Foundation’s tireless efforts to bring about a qualitative shift in the lives of citizens in areas most in need, especially in Upper Egypt, and hope we continue working with the Foundation on other projects that upgrade the education sector and deliver better services to students.”

    Mona Zulficar, Chairperson of EFG Hermes Foundation said “Our mission is to improve the lives of people within our surrounding communities and make a sustainable economic, environmental, and social impact in underserved and marginalized regions. Partnerships are an integral component of how we achieve impact, and by working together with the public sector, we want to build Egypt’s resilience and adaptability to climate change as we align with the government’s Climate Strategy for 2050, which fits within the nation’s 2030 vision for sustainable development. Clean, affordable energy is a priority in this vision, and we are committed to allocating development funds towards transitioning to alternative energy sources, as it drives innovation, economic prosperity, and overall citizen welfare.”

    Commenting on the partnership, Hanaa Helmy, CEO of the EFG Hermes Foundation and Head of CSR at EFG Hermes Holding said: “We’re very happy to be contributing towards sustainable education through renewables in Luxor and Aswan. By providing schools with clean energy, students are guaranteed no interruptions to their school activities, and by reducing carbon emissions, they can learn in a healthy and safe environment. It’s also an opportunity to create awareness in the classroom on the impact and value of transitioning to clean energy and create a conversation around climate change. We foresee it also opening doors for youth in the field of maintenance and installation services, which will need to be availed for the solar panels systems. It’s an exciting step towards a positive impact that builds a better future.”

    The EFG Hermes Foundation has been operational since 2006 in the field of integrated development through partnerships with the Egyptian government, Egyptian education bodies, healthcare providers, and local civil society in Upper Egypt’s governorates, perceived as the most in need areas of development funds. It focuses on education, health, food security, poverty reduction, housing, drinking water and sanitation, and economic empowerment.

    Earlier this year, the EFG Hermes Foundation for Social Development entered into an MoU with the Ministry of Social Solidarity to impact the lives of 15,000 people with the rehabilitation of an additional 30 homes in El Deir, Esna and development of waste management infrastructure in Naga’ El Fawal area in the same village. The project is part of an EGP 70 million Integrated Development Project in alignment with the UN SDGs to develop and revamp the rural communities of the Luxor governorate.

    Since 2011, EFG Hermes Holding has been making strides to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into all aspects of its operations. The Firm seeks to align its development frameworks with the best international standards and practices, such as the United Nations’ 17 SDGs.

  • Teach For Nigeria Inducts Its 6th Cohort of Teaching Fellows

    Teach For Nigeria Inducts Its 6th Cohort of Teaching Fellows

    …trains 319 Fellows to teach in underserved schools

    Teach For Nigeria (TFN), a non-profit organization that is developing leaders to ensure that children in under-served communities can fulfil their potential regardless of their socio-economic background. This year, the Teach for Nigeria Fellows went through a five-week hybrid Training Institute which kicked off virtually on the 31st of July 2022. A two-week residential training at Greensprings School, Lekki Campus, Lagos, followed running from 1st August – 16th August 2022.  

    The Teach For Nigeria Fellowship is a leadership development program that equips Fellows with teaching and leadership skills to effect change in their classrooms and beyond. Every year, Teach For Nigeria recruits promising graduates, engages them through an intensive Pre-Service Training Institute, and then places them in under-served schools where they make a remarkable impact and contribute immensely to changing the trajectory of their learners.

    The guest speaker at the event, Director, Enterprise Development Center of the Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Peter Bamkole, reminded the Fellows that they were on a mission. “When you do what you do with your whole heart,and you can do it for free and you’re still happy, that is not work, that’s a mission,” he said. In addition, Dr. Peter stated that the Fellows were the agents of change who would drive the needed change in the educational sector.

    Blessing Adeyemi, one of the Fellows, delivered a valedictory speech on behalf of the Fellows. In her remarks, she noted  “ we have not just been taught the art of teaching, but there’s been a transference of the heart of collective leadership to a shared vision.

    The Fellows were inducted formally into the Fellowship through a commitment pledge/oath led by the CEO of Teach For Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle. She encouraged Fellows to fully honour this promise that they have made to that one Nigerian child as they enter the classrooms.

    Present at the event was the Executive Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, who was represented by the Board Secretary, SUBEB, Mr. Wasiu Kuye. The Honourable Commissioner of Education, Lagos State, Folashade Adefisayo, represented by Dr. Olufunke Oyetola, Tutor General/Permanent Secretary (TGPS), Education District 3 was also in attendance.

    In her goodwill message, the Honourable Commissioner of Education, Lagos State, Folashade Adefisayo, represented by Dr. Olufunke Oyetola, Tutor General/Permanent Secretary (TGPS), Education District 3 charged the Fellows to be change agents. “As you go out today, I want to encourage you to be good ambassadors, be an agent of change because education will take Nigeria to a greater level” She said.

    “You have come, you have seen and you have reconquered. Effecting change, requires time and lasting efforts. You are set for a new journey, new experience, in a new environment which will inform a major part of your decision in life now and beyond the fellowship”  This was the goodwill message from the Executive Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, represented by the Board Secretary, SUBEB, Mr. Wasiu Kuye.

  • 9mobile Offers Massive Voice and Data Bonuses with the New 9Konfam Package

    9mobile Offers Massive Voice and Data Bonuses with the New 9Konfam Package

    In line with its commitment to offer amazing value to Nigerian mobile telephone customers, Nigeria’s leading telecom service provider and youth-friendly brand, 9mobile, has announced the launch of 9Konfam, a tariff plan that rewards customers with generous airtime and data benefits upon SIM activation, and on every recharge. 

    According to the telco, 9Konfam empowers customers to connect and to do more with their airtime and data purchases. 

    “At 9mobile, we are committed to releasing products and services that allow customers to get the most out of their subscriptions. “With 9Konfam, new and existing customers get to enjoy exciting bonuses on their airtime and data recharges,” said Kenechukwu Okonkwo, Director, Product Innovation & Business Development at 9mobile. 


    With 9Konfam, customers who purchase a new 9mobile SIM card will enjoy N1,000 welcome bonus once they activate the SIM. In addition, they will get 9 times the value of all recharges from N100 and above to call all networks, send text messages, and for data/internet activities., What’s more? Customers on 9konfam will receive a double data bonus on their first recharge of the month (for the initial six months of joining the network) so long as they recharge with N200 or higher. Notwithstanding all these listed benefits new customers would continue to enjoy a 100% bonus on data bundles that they buy, till they exceed six months on the network.

    “You will agree with me that 9Konfam is loaded with full options”, Okonkwo said. He, therefore, enjoined all telecom subscribers to get a 9mobile SIM and be “confirmed” with 9konfam.

    To subscribe to 9konfam and enjoy these exciting bonuses, simply activate a new 9mobile SIM or dial *1400# from an existing 9mobile SIM.

  • The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund secures A2 credit rating from Moody’s

    The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund secures A2 credit rating from Moody’s

    • …rating affirms EAIF’s strong capital position, moderate leverage, diversified portfolio, and strong shareholder base.

    Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF or The Fund), today announced that Moody’s has assigned EAIF a foreign currency long-term issuer rating of A2 with a stable outlook.

    EAIF mobilises public and private debt capital to deliver transformative infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its establishment in 2001, up to December 2021, EAIF has closed 90 projects for a total investment of $2.1 billion and mobilised private sector investment commitments of $15.2 billion.

    International Rating Agency Moody’s confirmed that the main factors underpinning the EAIF’s A2 rating are:

    1. A strong capital position that reflects moderate but rising leverage, and a diversified lending portfolio notwithstanding weak asset credit quality;

    2. A robust base of liquid assets stemming from highly-rated development finance institutions and commercial lenders;

    3. A high level of member support from a base of highly-rated shareholders, reflecting EAIF’s strategic position in the broader Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG).

    The rating affirms EAIF’s leading position as an attractive vehicle for investors seeking exposure to the burgeoning African infrastructure asset class, with strong Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSES) performance, a proven ability to generate sustainable development impact and significant downside mitigation due to strong anchor support from four European governments.

    EAIF’s unique blended finance model is backed by leading development finance institutions and commercial and institutional lenders, with a dual mandate to deliver commercially competitive returns and sustainable impact. The Fund has received US$395m of equity capital from four Governments (United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden) through the Private Infrastructure Development Group. Retained earnings are over US$100m and have been recycled back into the Fund. The Fund’s loss rate has been low, demonstrating the essentiality and commercially conservative financing structures of the projects it funds.

    Martijn Proos, Director at Ninety One, the fund manager of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, said: “We are proud to initiate a rating with Moody’s, which recognises the Fund’s unique business model, 20-year track record of success and conservatively levered balance sheet. The A2 rating evidences our ability to take on and proactively manage risk to deliver returns and generate sustainable development impact. We are committed to building our diversified portfolio as we ramp up vital funding for strategic projects that boost Africa’s resilience. This rating will assist us to further diversify the types and sources of funding we can access as we build our business in the years to come.”

    EAIF’s current committed loan portfolio is US$ 1.15bn and diversification is strong, with projects spread across 17 African countries and 9 infrastructure sectors (digital communications infrastructure, energy generation, transmission and distribution, gas transportation, distribution and storage, bulk storage and logistics facilities, infrastructure for agribusiness and mining, transportation, affordable housing, manufacturing of infrastructure components and equipment, water, sewage and sanitation). An estimated 151.4 million people across Africa are benefitting from EAIF-funded projects.

  • Olubadan of Ibadan Backs Clamour for Telecom Infrastructure Protection

    Olubadan of Ibadan Backs Clamour for Telecom Infrastructure Protection

    The advocacy for telecom infrastructure protection across the country by the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) has received royal blessings and support of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, who has urged every citizen in Nigerian to take responsibility for the protection of telecom facilities for mutual benefit of all. 

    The monarch, who spoke through the Ayingun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Ademola Odunade, at the Village Square Dialogue (VSD) of NCC at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan recently, advised the Nigerian public “to support NCC to achieve its objectives of protecting telecoms consumer because this should be seen as a collective responsibility.” 

    The event, which was presided over by the Chairman of the Board of the NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, was designed to discuss one of the most important issues affecting the operations of the telecom industry – the protection of telecoms infrastructure to guarantee improved quality of service for benefits of businesses and the consumers. 

    Akande, in his address to guests at the forum that witnessed large turnout of traditional rulers, representatives of telecom operators and consumers, asked the consumers and other stakeholders to join hands in protecting telecoms infrastructure in their communities to ensure sustained connectivity.

    Akande said the objective of the consumer engagement was “to explore how we can all protect telecom infrastructure to continue to provide us with life-supporting services and we are happy to bring this programme to Oyo State to really sensitise telecom consumers and other critical stakeholders in this regard.”

    Prof. Akande noted that without telecom infrastructure, it will be difficult to communicate with family and friends over long distances while conducting banking, insurance, or access government services, education, entertainment and other essentials of life. 

    “This means that telecom infrastructure is important, and we must all ensure that we guard and protect this Critical National Infrastructure,” Akande said. 

    He also listed such destabilising situations in the telecom sector to include the negative attitudes and actions of hostile communities; theft of diesel, batteries and power generators from base stations; digging up and cutting of fibre optic cables; sealing/locking up of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites and other disruptive activities which must be tackled decisively.

    Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Efosa Idehen, who commended the consumers from the Ibadan axis for turning out in numbers, pledged the Commission’s commitment towards the care of the consumers. Idehen stated that NCC has the responsibility to protect, inform and educate the millions of telecom consumers in the country.  

    “Therefore, part of activities to deliver on this mandate is this type of programme holding in Ibadan today. We value your feedback on all kinds of services you receive in the telecoms sector but most importantly, we implore you to join hands in protecting telecom infrastructure in your areas,” he said.

    Idehen advised members of the public to report any suspected cases of threats to telecoms infrastructure to law enforcement agents in their areas for necessary interventions. He reminded them that they can call toll-free numbers 112 in cases of emergencies or 622 to report complaints bordering on telecommunications services to the NCC.

  • NCC Restates Commitment to Fund Research as VCs attend Roundtable

    NCC Restates Commitment to Fund Research as VCs attend Roundtable

    Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has restated the commitment of the Commission to commit more funds to research and prototypes resulting from grants from the Commission to the academia.

    This is coming at the backdrop of the recent revelation that the Commission has committed more than N500 million in funding research across the Nigerian universities.

    Akande told a gathering of vice-chancellors and professors from universities in the southern parts of the country at a roundtable conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, that the Commission acknowledges the importance of working with stakeholders to engender innovations and build indigenous technological capabilities that would strengthen the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem.

    “We want to use this opportunity to assure you that the Commission will continue to give support to the educational sector in the interest of national development. We will also continue to encourage research and innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions,” Akande said, explaining that the essence of the roundtable was to dialogue with the academia, industry and other stakeholders on how research efforts and prototypes can be transformed into commercially-viable products that solve real-life problems.

    “Consequently, the Commission will continue to allocate the requisite resources to research, development and innovations necessary for the industry to continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country,” Akande said.

    Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, represented by the Director, Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission, Ms Josephine Amuwa, said academia is a key driver of innovation in all spheres of human endeavour.

    He said this is why his leadership at the Commission is determined to not only give grants to the academia but also support the commercialisation of the prototypes developed to deepen the indigenous technological capabilities which would support the overall development of the industry.

    NCC Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska, who was represented by Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the Commission, Bako Wakil, revealed that the Commission had, so far, awarded a total of 49 telecom-based research grants to the academia out of which 10 prototypes have been successfully developed.

    “We are hopeful that these sessions will culminate in the development of a common framework that would facilitate the commercialisation of the existing prototypes and future research outcomes (prototypes) for the benefit of the economy and the industry,” he stated.

    Coming shortly after a similar roundtable in Kano for the northern region, the event organised by the research prototypes and Development R&D Department of the Commission, was aimed at bringing together Resources persons, business savvy industry experts, the academia, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), entrepreneurs and renowned individuals who have successfully commercialised their inventions to brainstorm on the way forward for research output commercialisation.

  • Fidelity Bank deepens Exporters’ capacity in Abuja

    Fidelity Bank deepens Exporters’ capacity in Abuja

    Leading financial institution -Fidelity Bank Plc – has once again demonstrated its devotion to boosting the volume of non-oil exports in the country as it recently hosted entrepreneurs within the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria to the 13th edition of its Export Management Programme (EMP 13) in Abuja.

    The five-days intensive programme, held between Monday, 18 and Friday, 22 July 2022 at Novare Central, Wuse Zone 5 in the nation’s capital. It featured insightful presentations from leading experts in the nation’s export industry including regulators, academics and businessmen.

    Speaking on the EMP, the Divisional Head, Export and Agriculture, Fidelity Bank Plc, Isaiah Ndukwe said, “We launched the EMP in 2016 with the objective of helping Nigerian businesses pivot to exports. Since then and in partnership with the Lagos Business School and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), we have hosted 12 editions of the training. We are delighted by the feedback from customers and non-customers that have benefited from the initiative especially the uptick in their business performance after participating in the programme.”

    It would be recalled that Fidelity Bank launched a series of sensitization programmes to drive non-oil exports across the country in February this year. Tagged, “The CBN RT200 FX Sensitisation Seminar”, the workshops featured presentations from experts in the exports space on how businesses can take advantage of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) drive to raise $200billion in foreign exchange earnings in the next three to five years through non-oil exports. Till date, the bank has hosted the seminars in Kano, Akure, Jos and Benin-City -in partnership with the Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO) and GIZ.

    “Just like our CBN RT200 FX Sensitisation seminars, our EMP initiative is driven by our vision of establishing exports as a strategic business pillar given the immense opportunities it bodes for our customers and the nation’s economy. We have therefore become the go-to bank for established and budding export businesses. Participants in EMP 13 have learnt how to list their products on global e-commerce platforms like Amazon, the necessary documentation for exports, how to take advantage of export-oriented policies, amongst a host of insightful discussions”, explained Ndukwe.

    Making a case for Nigerian businesses to embrace non-oil exports at the opening ceremony of the training, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), who was represented by Mr. Babatunde Falake, Director, International Export Office, NEPC said, “Recent developments in our national economy and indeed the global economy have made it clear to us that more emphasis should now be laid on export of our vast resources if we must survive as a nation. It is unfortunate that Nigeria, having been blessed with resources in agriculture, solid minerals, entertainment industry, creative arts, Information and Communication Technology, fashion, and of course, manufacturing, has continued to rely on export of crude oil as the major source of foreign exchange.”

    The well-attended capacity development programme also features insightful discussions facilitated by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) as well as excursions and networking sessions.

    Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 6.5 million customers serviced across its 250 business offices and digital banking channels. The bank was recently recognized as the Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking & Finance Awards. The bank has also won awards for the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

  • Strengthening Health Security Cannot Be Achieved Without Universal Health Coverage

    Strengthening Health Security Cannot Be Achieved Without Universal Health Coverage

    …Multiple Stakeholders gathered to discuss Nigeria’s health security

    :  To strengthen health security and a decentralized health system in Nigeria with regards to epidemic preparedness, the Federal Government of Nigeria has been encouraged to not only pay keen attention to strengthening human resources for health security but also set data and accountability structure at the national and sub-national levels. 

    Leading the charge at a health security policy dialogue organized by the Nigeria Health Watch in Abuja recently, Peter Hawkins, country representative, UNICEF, spoke passionately about Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 and its preparedness for possible future epidemics. He said: “We can affirm that Nigeria did a remarkable job to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for instance stretched and brought on its a-game despite the challenges in the sector. Also, many initiatives like the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) were timely interventions by the Federal Government and private institutions.

    He also added that “whilst we got several things right, much more could have been done. Knowing that the pandemic is not over, and we might be at the beginning of many other, there is a need to tighten efficiency within the sector. One of the key areas to focus on is sealing the big black hole in managing human resources as Nigeria is losing its key health personnel to other nations”.

    The policy dialogue, themed “Decentralising Health Security, Lessons from COVID-19” featured two panel sessions joined by a plethora of leading voices in the health sector. It dissected issues around Nigeria’s current response structures to epidemics as well as the role of private sectors in strengthening the health security structures at the national and sub-national levels. 

    Speaking specifically about strengthening Nigeria’s health security and the sub-national level structure with regards to pandemic preparedness, Dr. Patrick Nguku, Country Director, AFENET, said “We cannot achieve health security across the national and subnational levels if we do not achieve a universal health coverage (UCH) and have a robust primary health care.

    Also speaking on the same topic, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director General, NCDC advocated for multi-level collaboration amongst key stakeholders within the states and specific bodies. He said, “part of our Key focus at NCDC is to give keen attention to sub-national support activities. We have seen how collaborations with key bodies like the Red cross have spurred improvements in the sector, especially at the local levels. We will continue to drive initiatives to ensure Nigerian health security is strengthened”

    Addressing how public-private partnerships can be strengthened, Dr. Aliu Isreal, National Laboratory Manager, Clina-Lancet Laboratories said “We cannot over emphasis the role of public and private partnership. For players like us in the private sector, solving customers’ challenges sits at the heart of what we do. And as we continue to place priority on meeting the customers’ needs, we are propelled to improve our system or mode of operation. This by extension improves the health sector”. 

    The forum had in attendance many leading voices in the health sector including Dr. Ngozi Azodoh, Director Health Planning, Research and Statistics; Dr. Olaolu Aderinola, Head Response Division Department of Health Emergency, Preparedness; Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor, Senior New Voices Fellow, Aspen Institute, Washington DC; Dr. Patrick Nguku, Country Director, AFENET; Dr. Njide Ndili, Country Director, PharmAccess Foundation; Dr. Festus Soyinka, Director, Public Health, Ogun State Ministry of Health; Dr. Alex Okoh, Director Public health, FMOH; Dr. Yahaya Disu, Director, Risk Communication, NCDC; Niniola Williams, Managing Director, DRASA Health Trust; Dr. Anne Adah-Ogoh, Head of Policy, private and sector health alliance of Nigeria; Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, Managing Director, Society for Family Health; Dr. Emmanuel Agogo, Country Director, Resolve to Save Lives. 

    Over the years, Nigeria Health Watch led by Vivianne Ihekweazu has continued to champion policy dialogues that bring together stakeholders from the public sector, civil society, and the private sector to present issues that affect the public health of Nigerians, discuss potential solutions and opportunities for progress, and chart actionable recommendations for policy action.

  • Miss Eva Virtual Talent Competition set to Open

    Miss Eva Virtual Talent Competition set to Open

    Nigeria’s No. 1 premium non-alcoholic wine drink, Eva Wine has announced the launch of the “Search for Miss Eva” contest, a 5-week Online competition to choose a new brand ambassador for Eva Wine.

    For five weeks, Eva Wine Nigeria is deploying an exciting online activation that will engage young ladies across Nigeria in a reality-type talent competition with intense activities to test their eligibility for the coveted role.

    The excitement starts right from the call for entries. Ladies between the ages of 25 to 35 across Nigeria are required to record a short video celebrating creatively with a bottle of Eva Wine and vibing to the campaign theme song #happymisseva.

    Contestants with the best entries will be shortlisted based on the panel’s verdict and the social media engagement they generate. They will advance to the Eva Wine Nigeria portal:  for the next round which is the online contest. In this round, shortlisted candidates will be tested for their intelligence, charisma, etiquette, exposure, fitness and other qualities.

    Social media users and Nigerians all over the world will also have the opportunity to engage and vote for their favourite contestants via all official handles of the brand; @evawinenigeria on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

    According to the agency managing the Eva Wine Campaign, Etu Odi Communications, the ideal Miss Eva must be someone whose profile and personality resonate with the premium qualities of the Eva Wine brand which is known globally for its class, heritage, and beautifully unique packaging and sparkling taste.

    “Nigerian women are among the most colourful and beautiful in the world and it is only natural that our Miss Eva comes from one of them. We expect that she is not only an exceptionally colourful personality but also one who is very intelligent, cultured and confident. Because Eva wine is an international brand, our Miss Eva must be a well-educated and exposed young lady who can hold conversations and public debates about a variety of themes.

    “Eva wine is made from 100% natural ingredients and offers consumers the healthiest route to self-indulge. Therefore, our ideal brand ambassador, by her carriage and habits, must drip fitness and a healthy lifestyle,” said the Director, Olumide Campbell.

    The Search for Miss Eva is a hybrid competition which will be held on social media and other online channels but will also be broadcast to other traditional media channels: TV and Radio.

    Two celebrity influencers; BBNaija Star, Anita Natasha Akide, popularly known as Tacha and Nollywood star and AMVCA 2022 Best Actor, Deyemi Okanlawon, have been appointed alongside other influencers to lead the search for Nigeria’s next big brand.

    When asked why Eva Wine Nigeria decided not to engage a top celebrity as its brand ambassador, the Country Manager for Eva Group, Mr. Temitope Akanji Sanni, said that one of the driving forces of the brand is the desire to support the Nigerian youth through the media and entertainment industry.

     He explained further, “So, we are not just looking for a ready-made star, we rather want to make a regular, everyday lady a star. Let that average Nigerian woman who is smart, witty and beautiful be allowed to become a celebrity as well.

    “Another way to look at this is that the role practically offers her a path to grow her career with a well-paid job representing our brand for 1 year, as well as the goodies and job benefits it affords her, like international travel opportunities, representing the brand in corporate functions, hosting parties and fun occasions, international exposure; mingling with the A-list celebrities in and outside the country etc.

    “The opportunities are simply enormous and our ultimate fulfillment would be when on that stage at the Grand finale, a truly convivial lady with exceptional personalities and brains emerges as our Miss Eva.”

    The Grand Finale of the competition – a live show to unveil the New Face of Eva Wine – will be held on Sunday, 7th of August, 2022 in the 5-star Marriot Hotels Ikeja. It promises to be an evening of glitz, glamour and quality entertainment with the handsome and amiable host Deyemi Okanlawon.

    Eva Wine was introduced into Nigeria in 1989 by Ekulo Ltd, the largest wine distributor by volume in Nigeria. Over the last three decades, Eva Wine has become a household name in Nigeria and a generic name for non–alcoholic wines in the country.

    The brand has since evolved with great equity, authority and approval in Nigeria.

    See interesting #HappyMissEva entries on TikTok –  j

  • One billion Naira for Grab in the new Dangote Cement Promo

    One billion Naira for Grab in the new Dangote Cement Promo

    Consumers of Dangote Cement Plc, a leading cement brand in Nigeria, stand the chance of winning over N1 billion cash prizes in the Dangote Bag of Goodies Season 3 promo, tagged ‘Spell Dangote and become a multi-millionaire.’

    The promo, which was launched in Lagos yesterday in the presence of regulators from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, is expected to offer life-changing prizes, which will have immense economic values to the loyal consumers.

    According to the company, Dangote Cement Bag of Goodies Promo Season 3, which runs from July 5 to October 31,2022, promises to be a blast as there are over 32.3 million mouth-watering prizes to be won, including television sets, refrigerators, rechargeable fans, 2KVA generators, and millions of airtime gifts of major networks in Nigeria.

    Interestingly, every single bag of Dangote Cement to be produced daily through the promo period will contain scratch cards for various gifts to be won by consumers.

    Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos stated that the Bag of Goodies Promo series is designed to continuously reward loyal Consumers who have stayed faithful and remained the backbone in the cement business. He said these consumers have contributed in no small measure to making the Dangote range of cement products the first choice for construction purposes across the country.

    Puchercos explained: “We are offering life-changing prizes, which have immense economic values as they can be used to kick-start small scale businesses. These prizes are targeted to help many families recover from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which adversely affected their sources of livelihood.”

    Giving details about the promo, National Sales Director, Dangote Cement, Funmi Sanni, described the promo as a huge investment aimed at rewarding new and existing consumers, “, especially in these trying times of our nationhood with the much needed financial and material palliatives.”

    She said the promo is also targeted at stimulating the economy that has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and global energy crisis to move towards much needed recovery, especially in the construction/real estate industry sector.

    She explained: “To emerge as one of the lucky winners, all you need to do is to pick out the scratch card inserted in the bag; scratch the panel at the back of the card to reveal what you have won; go to any of the over 200 redemption centers to collect an instant prize. Collect cards, spell D-A-N-G-O-T-E and win a star prize of N1 million instantly. Additionally, if you find an eagle in one of the letters, you will automatically win N5 million.”

    Sanni said N125 million worth of prizes are expected to be won monthly, among which there will be 25 multi-millionaires. “The good thing about this promo is that a consumer stands the chance of winning the N1 million repeatedly. There is no limit to the number of times you are expected to win. All you should do is continue to buy Dangote Cement.”

    Validating the promo, the Head, Lagos Office, Federal Competition, and Consumer Protection Commission, Mrs. Susie Onwuka commended Dangote Cement for giving back to consumers through the Bag of Goodies promo.

    “Dangote has always fulfilled its promises to the consumers of its product. Our duty at the agency is to protect the right of the consumers. Dangote Cement has lived up to expectations,” she said.

    Director, Inventory and operations, National Lottery Regulation Commission, Mr. Obi Iregbu said Dangote Cement Promo has always been massive and impressive.  “This Season 3 promo is bigger than Season 1 and 2 past promos. I want Dangote to continue to add value to the lives of the consumers of its product. In so doing, the company is also helping to boost economic activities in Nigeria,” he said.

    The Group Managing Director, Mr. Puchercos further stated that: “Testimonies abound from the previous winners in Bag of Goodies Season 2 Promo. Onwemere Anselm, a winner from Ihiala, Anambra State invested his million-naira prize money in starting a new business. Today he has opened three shops in different locations. Opara Augustine from Imo State invested the prize money in his block-moulding business. He is buying more bags of cement which translates into more blocks and better sales. Edet Udeme from Delta State acquired a motorcycle to increase mobility in reaching more cement customers. Yahaya Isah Abdullahi from Kano State expanded his business, as he buys more bags of cement for sale rather than depending on credit grants from distributors. He has more capital to run his businesses.”

    Puchercos said the company has a wide range of gifts and rewards for consumers of the Dangote Cement brand in this new promo. “We are expecting over 500 consumers to emerge as millionaires in the promo, and we have made the process of winning as easy as possible,” he added.

    He noted that the promo is open to all consumers of Dangote Cement products, while redemption of the gift items will be at the company’s depots, regional offices, and at specially selected wholesale outlets in areas that are distant from the company’s depots and offices.

  • Industry Collaboration will aid Successful Deployment of 5G in Nigeria- Danbatta

    Industry Collaboration will aid Successful Deployment of 5G in Nigeria- Danbatta

    Industry collaboration is very essential to the successful deployment of 5G Services in Nigeria, so says the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who in Lagos earlier today, urged industry stakeholders to stand with the Commission to explore the prospects and potentials of the new technology, which is enormous.


    Prof. Danbatta, who spoke at the 90th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) hosted by the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the Commission, said the policy framework for the deployment has come into place and will facilitate the deployment of services by the recent winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd and MAFAB Communications Ltd.

    He said the Commission has set out the regulatory instruments needed for fast deployment of the new versatile technology for the benefit of the consumers and the stakeholders.

    Prof. Danbatta, therefore, invited the support of all stakeholders to ensure that 5G technology is deployed in Nigeria in a manner beneficial to all telecom consumers and to support the emergent Digital Economy Policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    He highlighted the potential use cases for 5G networks as broadly categorised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to include Enhanced Mobile broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine-type Communications (mMTC), as well as Ultra-reliable and Low-latency Communications (uLLC)


    “We will continue to collaborate with stakeholders across sectors to ensure faster deployment of 5G services, and accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure,” he said.

    He identified some challenges in the deployment to include limited frequencies with the required spectral efficiency, skilled professionals with requisite knowledge of the technology, fewer number of 5G-enabled devices, and cost of deployment but stated that the industry must work to turn the challenges into opportunities rather than seeing them as obstacles.


    Prof. Danbatta said the issues that should militate against or slow down the deployment of 5G technology are themselves opportunities that can potentially create new revenue streams or new subsectors in the industry.

    “We must conclude this Telecom Consumer Parliament with solutions to challenges that are associated with 5G deployment in countries that had deployed the services ahead of Nigeria. We must also have a clear roadmap on how the opportunities offered by the technology can be maximized for the benefit of Nigerians” Adewolu said.

    The event was attended by representatives of Mobile Networks Operators (MNOs), the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), Association of Telecoms Cable TV and Internet Subscribers (ATCIS), and other key stakeholders in the telecom industry.

  • MTN Foundation Holds Quiz Competition, Urges Students to Shun Substance Abuse

    MTN Foundation Holds Quiz Competition, Urges Students to Shun Substance Abuse

    In line with its fight against substance abuse among Nigerian youths, the MTN Foundation in partnership with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) held the first edition of its Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) Quiz Competition for secondary schools students in Nigeria. The first round of the competition, was held on Tuesday, 7 June 2022.

    The ASAP  was started by the MTN Foundation in 2019 as a multi-sectoral platform to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of substance misuse and addiction among young Nigerians. The purpose of this program is to dissuade youths from using substances to promote a drug-free lifestyle.

    The Secretary, NDLEA, Shadrach Haruna, who represented the agency at the quiz competition, urged the students to take advantage of the opportunity the competition presents to create activities that promote a healthy lifestyle and impart knowledge to fellow students. According to him, “The issue of substance abuse among Nigerian students continues to rise at an alarming rate. The purpose of the quiz is not only to dissuade students from using substances, but also to protect their future and fulfil their dreams.” 

    Also present at the competition was Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, who spoke about the significance of drug abuse prevention and MTN’s commitment. 

    ‘’One might wonder what a telecommunications firm has to do with anti-substance abuse. It is really about the numbers. About 14.1 million Nigerian youths have at some point been under the influence of drugs. As we know, Nigeria is the youngest country in Africa by demography we have a budding youthful population. If we are to continue to birth our dreams as a nation we need to focus on the youth, which is why we are invested in this campaign to dissuade young Nigerians from substance abuse.”

    Speaking to the students present at the competition, Sanya said “The unique thing about all of you participating in the quiz is that you have all become ASAP ambassadors and we expect that you will take the ASAP message back to your classrooms, homes and communities. We expect you to spread the message that we are all better off when we don’t touch drugs and stay away from negative peer influence.  You all have been promoted to ASAP ambassadors today and we hope to continue to hear great things from you.”

    Other individuals present at the event were the Director, Drug Demand Reduction, Dr. Ngozi Madubuike and Representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Farida Tukur.

    Of the ten secondary schools that competed in the quiz, three schools advanced to the final round; Funtaj International School Abuja, Intelligence Quotient Academy, Abuja and Government Secondary Schools (GSS) Ilorin. These three schools will proceed to the final round of the competition scheduled to hold on June 14, 2022, after which the winner will be announced during the ASAP National Conference on June 26, 2022.

    The ASAP Quiz Competition aims to educate secondary school students about the dangers of substance abuse while also motivating them to influence their friends positively and establish activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.