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Tag: Singapore

  • Remittance data shows COVID-19 sparked an increase in money sent globally-WorldRemit

    Remittance data shows COVID-19 sparked an increase in money sent globally-WorldRemit

    The most common countries remittances sent by our respondents were to the Philippines (18%), Nigeria (11.5%), Ghana (10.5%)

    Research from WorldRemit, a leading global payments company, has found that people sending money from the US, the UK and Canada continue to adjust their remittance habits to a new way of living due to COVID-19.

    The results from WorldRemit’s study of more than 3,000 of its customers paint a striking picture of the importance of remittances to the loved ones of immigrants, alongside the impact we know it has on the global economy. 68% of respondents sent money abroad at least monthly, with a further 28% sending multiple times a year.

    The pandemic has had a significant effect on the amounts of money sent, particularly for the key reasons people send money abroad.

    When asked to provide context to the reasons people send money home to loved ones, the most common were daily expenses, gifts, medical expenses, and education. As a result of COVID, people sent more money abroad for the following categories during 2021:

    ●      44% cited the amount they send for medical expenses has increased

    ●      41% cited the amount they send for daily expenses has increased

    ●      38% cited the amount they send for utilities increased

    ●      35% cited the amount they send for education increased

    The most common countries remittances sent by our respondents were to the Philippines (18%), Nigeria (11.5%), Ghana (10.5%), which have all seen significant GDP growth – 4.5% in the Philippines,2 1.5% in Nigeria3 and 5.1% in Ghana.4 This trend is likely to continue as these countries continue to recover rapidly from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Karen Jordaan, Head of UK at WorldRemit said: “We understand the unique challenges migrants face on a day-to-day basis when supporting  loved ones overseas, whether it be helping to ensure their family members get access to medical care or have money to pay for basic cost of living expenses.

    “WorldRemit understands the needs of our customers and strives to offer a safe, fast and convenient service. We are also encouraged by our customers and how they are investing in the future, namely education and new business ventures.”

    To learn more about WorldRemit, or to see more results from the survey, please visit this website.

    WorldRemit is a leading global payments company and, along with Sendwave, part of Zepz, a group powering two global payments brands.

    The brand disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online – making them safer, faster and lower-cost. The brand currently send from 50 countries to recipients in 130 countries and operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and employs over 1,200 people globally.

    On the sending side, WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money.

    Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog – WorldRemit’s headquarters are in London, United Kingdom with regional offices in the United States, Poland, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Somaliland, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Belgium.

  • Buhari Approves 5 New Varsities, With N5b Take-Off Grant

    Buhari Approves 5 New Varsities, With N5b Take-Off Grant

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of five new universities specialised in technology and health to close the huge gap in the doctor-patient ratio as well as in medical research and production of pharmaceutical products.

    He also approved a take-off grant of N4 billion each for the Universities of Technology and N5 billion each for the Universities of Health Science from the funding resources of TETFund to ensure early take-off of the institutions.

    The Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education, Arch Sonny Echono who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja said the president approved two additional University of Technology in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom states.

    Also, the establishment of National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Abuja and two specialized universities in Health, Nutrition and Medical Sciences to be located at Azare, Bauchi State and Ila Orangun, Osun State.

    Echono also disclosed that the president approved that four existing Universities of Technology located in Yola, Akure, Owerri and Minna be upgraded and equipped.

    He said, “The two new Universities of Technology will be established in 2021 while the upgrade of the existing four Universities of Technology and the National Institute of Technology will come on stream next year.”

    The Permanent Secretary said the specialized universities would lay a solid foundation for building national preparedness and resilience in anticipation of future challenges in the health sector while reducing medical tourism to countries like India, UAE, Egypt, Europe and the USA.

    While noting that the presidents had promised to establish an apex National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Abuja with six Satellite Universities of Technology, one in each geo-political zone of the country, he said the objective is to stimulate rapid technological transformation of the country.

    “The Institute shall be patterned after similar institutions in Singapore and Malaysia to serve essentially as a postgraduate centre devoted to research and innovation, drawing the best graduates from the six Universities of Technology, as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria,” he said.

    He however noted that the Federal Ministry of Education will collaborate with the Federal Ministries of Health, Science and Technology, Communications and Digital Economy, the FCT Administration as well as other relevant agencies and Institutions to facilitate speedy actualization of these Projects.

    Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary also hinted Journalists that the president has also approved new Vice Chancellors for all universities in the country and that the details will be made available in due course.

  • Hogan Lovells establishes multi-disciplinary Sovereigns Practice

    Hogan Lovells establishes multi-disciplinary Sovereigns Practice

    Global law firm Hogan Lovells has enhanced its focus on sovereign clients by establishing a global, multi-disciplinary Sovereigns practice, aligned with the firm’s priority to invest in strategic markets.

    The practice is led by a core team with extensive experience in representing clients in sovereign matters across the globe, including Infrastructure partners Jeremy Brittenden (London) and Bruno Ciuffetelli (Houston), Regulatory senior counsel Senator Coleman (Washington DC), Arbitration partner Laurent Gouiffès (Paris), and Competition partner Ciara Kennedy-Loest (London).

    Together this team will coordinate a group of partners working across the entire Sovereign Cycle, from advising on Sovereign Debt, Infrastructure development and complex PPP projects, to Public law issues, International Arbitration and management of sovereign resources, all underpinned by a critical understanding of the environment in which sovereigns and their private sector partners operate.

    Hogan Lovells’ existing clients evidence the firm’s broad strength in sovereign matters, from government-owned banks in Iceland, Brazil and China, central banks and Ministries of Finance in Latin America, West Africa and North Africa,  national energy companies including Petroamazonas and Equinor, development finance institutions including African Export-Import Bank and International Finance Corporation, state pension funds including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, Queensland Investment Corporation, sovereign wealth funds in Asia and MENA including HRH Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Company, and governmental departments of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, Canada, Singapore, Mexico, and Hong Kong, to name a few.

    Jeremy Brittenden, Global Head of the Sovereigns practice, commented: “Sovereigns play a leading role in creating, stimulating, and stabilizing markets and will be fundamental in driving economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. In a sense they ‘make the weather’. The breadth of our practice means that we are uniquely positioned to advise and support sovereigns and their private sector partners as they navigate this challenging environment, and seek to deliver positive outcomes for the economy, society and the environment.”

    Reflecting on recent work, Bruno Ciuffetelli, Head of the Americas Sovereign practice, added: “Our work over the past 12 months has exemplified how we can support sovereigns and their partners to deliver swift positive outcomes. For example our work  advising the Government of Ecuador on their sovereign debt restructuring, supporting the UK government on the ground breaking Supercomputing 2020+, assisting in the reshaping of the UK sanctions applicable to Russia and successfully closing the innovative disposal of UK renewable energy rights.”

    A key driver of the initiative is Hogan Lovells CEO, Miguel Zaldivar, who has an extensive background representing clients in significant sovereign matters around the world said: “We’re not alone in seeing the importance of this practice, and the distinctive environment in which sovereigns operate. However, our extensive track record as the leading global provider of legal services at the intersection of business and government combined with our  network of local partners connecting key financial centers and emerging markets gives us an edge, and enables us to provide a unique integrated local and global advice tailored to the needs of our sovereigns clients and our clients who wish to work with sovereigns around the world.”

  • Facebook makes platform safer for Nigerian Journalists

    Facebook makes platform safer for Nigerian Journalists

    Nigerian journalists can now voluntarily register for our new security feature specifically tailored to protect their Facebook and linked Instagram profiles from harassment, hacking and generally from online abuse and harm.

    Today, Facebook announced the roll out of stronger security features for people who work at news organizations across the nation to voluntarily register as journalists in order to protect their Facebook profiles, while accessing benefits, tools and features built with journalists’ needs in mind. Facebook has also provided the option for journalists to extend this protection to their linked Instagram accounts. Registered journalists will also have access to CrowdTangle Search and can also apply for Facebook Blue Badge Verification.

    This new registration feature provides protection of information and online presence on Facebook against harassment and potential hacking threats for journalists and media professionals who are at a higher risk of online abuse and harm.

    Registration is voluntary. Journalists and news media professionals are encouraged to register as a journalist using their personal Facebook account.

    Facebook is providing this feature to journalists living in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, France, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya.

  • Eagles Kits yet to arrive Singapore

    Eagles Kits yet to arrive Singapore

    The Super Eagles kits for the high-profile international friendly against Brazil in Singapore on Sunday is yet to arrive camp with barely 72 hours to the game.

    This is the second time such is occurring in a month in the Eagles camp. Last month, an airline failed to arrive with the Nigeria team’s kit bags prior to their friendly game against Ukraine in Dnipro.

    Meanwhile, players in camp will hit the Fairmount Hotel gym in their various club kits for a routine exercise Thursday (today) morning.

    It was also gathered that Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has fixed Friday for the team’s first full training session, when all 22 players would be fully assembled in Singapore.

    The gaffer had invited 23 players for the tie but Torino left-back is out after sustaining an injury in a domestic accident.

  • Tiger Beer re-launches with ‘Uncage Party’

    Tiger Beer re-launches with ‘Uncage Party’

    In its quest to reintroduce itself as a favourite of many young Nigerians, the brains behind the Tiger Beer – a product of Nigeria’s leading brewer, Nigerian Breweries Plc lit up the city of Lagos with a re-launch party tagged: “Uncage Party”

    The event held last week, at the Landmark Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos, featured a host of celebrities and consumers, who got the chance to try out a series of exciting activities and “uncage”, as Tiger beer marked a new dawn in the Nigerian beer industry.

    The brand, which is enjoyed in over 60 countries, has been the brand known for its laudable advocacy for uncaging the pragmatic and resourceful sides of its consumers, breaking limitations, defying expectations, challenging conventions and setting new frontiers just like the beer brand itself.

    Here in Nigeria, the story is not any different and the brand has taken it a step further as it seeks to reestablish its stance as well as simultaneously uncage the restless Naija energy hidden beneath the Nigerian millennials’ constant hunger for a brighter future.

    The Tiger beer brand which champions unique creativity, distinct art, clear-cut bravery, fierce pursuit for passion in arts, music, fashion, food, adventures and entrepreneurship and above all an uncommon taste of refreshment is brewed with only the purest of ingredients through a careful brewing process which produces a unique tasting beer to uncage the thirst and refreshment of millions of its consumers.

    The A-list event featured some of Nigeria’s leading stars in the entertainment scene as the likes of BOJ, Rema, Ajebutter22, Noble Igwe, TeddyA, ShowDemCamp and Waye amongst others, graced the event and joined in on the “uncage vibe”.

    Commenting on the relaunch, Brand Manager , International Premium, Nigerian Brweeries Plc., Chinwe Greg-Egwu spoke of the brand’s commitment to remaining the uniquely brewed brand which is championing the cause for young daring Nigerians who are unafraid to break the norms.

    “We felt the need to once again re-introduce this laudable brand into the Nigerian market, but we assure our consumers that nothing has changed in the unique brew taste of Tiger. The brand is still the beer of choice for the daring ones who are unapologetically different and are unafraid to Uncage their fears,” she said.

    Tiger Beer was born in 1932 on the streets of Singapore. A world-acclaimed lager beer, Tiger Beer is made with only the finest ingredients through a precise brewing process and uses only the finest quality ingredients. The result is the intensely refreshing, full-bodied taste of one of the world’s leading contemporary beer brands that have won over 40 international awards and accolades including Gold at the prestigious world beer cup, Gold medal at the Commonwealth Bottled Beer Competition, and the BIIA’s World’s Best Lager Beer award among others.