Jonathan Preaches Integrity, Good Governance

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May 20, 2023

Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has called for the entrenchment
of a culture of integrity across both the corporate and civil spaces
as a way of addressing the problems associated with governance,
democracy and development in the country.

Dr. Jonathan stated this on Wednesday in Lagos at the 40th anniversary
dinner of the Institute of Directors (IoD Nigeria), where he also
made a case for closer cooperation among African leaders, especially
former and serving presidents, stressing that Africa needs such
synergy, to ensure peace and progress on the continent.

Noting that there is a trust gap between leaders and the people of the
continent, the former President emphasised that the challenge could
only be addressed by honest and dependable leaders.

He said: “A culture of integrity is what is needed to address many of
the challenges confronting governance in our country. When integrity
is entrenched as a culture and a corporate lifestyle in many
organizations, the problems associated with corruption, dishonesty,
poor governance, and even election management will be significantly
addressed.

He also noted that cordial relations exist among Nigeria’s former
leaders, describing the development as commendable and healthy for
the nation.

In this regard, he commended IoD for the cooperation among its
leaders, saying: “I have also noticed a similar trend within your
Institute, where former Presidents cooperate and advise the current
President and Chairman of Governing Council.
“This, regrettably, is not the case in some African countries where
political transitions and relations between serving and former leaders
are quite challenging and unhealthy because of unnecessary rivalry. In
some of these countries former presidents and sitting Presidents are
like enemies who hardly talk to one another.
“In Africa, We need to develop a sustainable political culture that
treats elections as a contestation of ideas, where whoever wins will
be disposed to run the country with other broadminded patriots for the
benefit of the citizens.”
Dr. Jonathan further charged members to continue to strive to project
IoD as the go-to organization for integrity and exemplary leadership.
“A place like IoD, given the reputation you have built for yourselves,
could serve as a think tank or policy institute where corporate and
political leaders could visit to test their ideas for responsible
leadership and good governance. It can also serve as the place where
leaders could go to headhunt for tested and trusted technocrats to
occupy strategic national positions; those that would justly deploy
their skill and experience in exemplary service to the nation. This is
my hope for IoD Nigeria as you celebrate this milestone. “

Edo: Obaseki Laments Rising Rot At Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Vows To Deal With Perpetrators

By

Ayodele Oni

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May 20, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has announced that a team is currently working to unravel cases of fraud, examination malpractices and other vices at the state owned university, Ekpoma.

Obaseki added that government, in partnership with security agencies is stepping up effort at investigating the alleged crimes at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, reassuring that anyone found culpable will be duly arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Governor said this when he received the executive members of AAU Alumni Association Worldwide, who were on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City.

Commending the leadership of the alumni association for their support to the government in repositioning the institution to meet global standards, Obaseki noted that Edo has become “a proxy for Nigeria globally when you talk of accelerated countries and people redefining their educational system.

“We are transforming the junior school system, dis articulating it from the secondary school system, and can’t allow AAU to remain without developing and growing.

“We call on you to join us to save this University and ensure we maintain the standard in terms of infrastructure and learning, among others. We must not allow some persons to kill our institution because it belongs to Edo people.

“I heard some people still call themselves union going around and addressing the press. We have said everybody who has been involved in any criminal conduct in AAU is currently under investigation.

“We will arrest and prosecute. You can’t go and harass other people’s children and sell transcripts as these are criminal activities and in the name of unionism, we allow them to go.

“No way, it’s one fight we will fight till the end. It is either they win and take the University or Edo people win and take back their University. It’s time to take politics out of the school and reposition it for the betterment of our people.

“For close to two decades, some group of persons has held the University hostage as several administrations have tried to rescue the University but failed. My predecessor tried and failed too and went to establish another State University.

“We decided not to shut it down but rather get a team to do a surgical operation and look at all issues to ensure the school’s development. From their findings, we can’t run a successful university like that. The school is enmeshed in politics and the school can’t be run like that.

“We have the will as a government to correct the anomaly, and with the support of associations like yours, nobody can stand in our way.”

The head of the AAU Special Intervention Team (SIT), Mr. Andrew Olotu, said staff of the state-owned tertiary institution have been engaged in a lot of illegal activities, including selling of examination question papers, harassment of female students, turning transcript and certificate collection into big business, among others.

Also, the President of the AAU alumni association, Dr. Clifford Omozeghian thanked the governor and the SIT for their efforts in repositioning the institution, pledging to collaborate with the government and other relevant authorities to take AAU to greater heights.

In another development, the leadership crisis that has engulfed the Ambrose Alli University(AAU) Alumni Association worldwide is far from being over. The crisis deepens by the day.

The association in a statement has disowned the executive members led by Godwin Nogheghase, that visited Governor Obaseki, describing them as impostors.

In the statement which was signed by all the branch chairmen of the association and made available to the Press, the association said: “The attention of the Executive Council of AAU Alumni Association worldwide has been drawn to the purported visit by an imposter and self-acclaimed Worldwide President, one Mr. Godwin Omozeghian.

“We wish to use this opportunity to inform Mr. Governor and the general public of a pending case in Benin High Court, suit no B250 05/22 instituted by majority of Branch Chairmen against the Constitutional abuses of the Alumni Association.

“We appeal with you to disregard this so call visit, pending the determination of the ongoing Court Case.”

Kano Releases N1 Billion For Students External Examinations

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Ayodele Oni

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May 20, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Kano State Government has approved over N1Billion for the sponsorship of 66,102 Kano state indigenes’ bid to write three external examinations, NECO, NBAIS and NABTEB) this year.

The Commissioner of Education, Ya’u Abdullahi Yan’shana who disclosed this commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for approving the sum.

The Commissioner explained that students that will benefit from the government’s gesture are those that passed the qualifying examinations with six Credits and above including English and Mathematics from the conventional Secondary Schools.

“Similarly those writing NBAIS Examinations must also passed the Qualifying examination with six Credits including Arabic and Islamic studies, as well as Qur’anic Studies and Arabic for NBAIS Tahfiz/Tajweed and NBAIS SAISCE examinations respectively.

In the same vein those writing NABTEB from Science and Technical Colleges must also possessed 5 Credits and above including English and mathematics.”

The Commissioner therefore, directed the students to go to their respective schools beginning from Monday to collect their results and proceed with the registration for the external examinations.

He further, urged them to double up to reciprocate the government’s gesture by passing their Examinations with flying colours.

The Commissioner, thanked the stakeholders that have jointly contributed in ensuring the student’s sponsorship as well as benchmarking six Credits and above as against the preceding years.

“Arthur Eze Made Me Governor” – Umahi; Begs Eze To Be Face Of Ndigbo In Tinubu’s Government

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The Source

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May 20, 2023

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By Charles Igbo

Outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, has acknowledged billionaire business man, Chief Arthur Eze, as the person who made him the Governor of the State. Umahi said he became Governor just by being taken to President Goodluck Jonathan by Eze in Eze’s car.

Umahi revealed this at the commissioning of a flyover at Abaomege Junction, Onicha Local Government Area and Abaomege- Ukwu-Ngwulangwu-Okposi Road, Ebonyi State, both of which he named after Eze.

At the commissioning if the projects performed by Eze, Umahi told the people: “He (Arthur Eze) took me in his vehicle to the Villa to meet President Goodluck Jonathan, and he said this is the man that will be the Governor of Ebonyi State, and Mr President ticked my name.”

Umahi, also, asked Eze to be “the face” of the South-east in the Tinubu Administration so that the Igbo will not be neglected.

Umahi: “I am using this opportunity to beg you to be the face of Ndigbo in Tinubu’s Administration. If you put yourself forward, the Igbo man will not be neglected.

“You have raised a lot of people. I have never seen any man that has outperformed you in this regard.

“History is made today. I think it should be three years back when we invited Arthur Eze to lay the foundation of this flyover. For so many reasons, he was very key to our struggle

“He took me in his vehicle to the Villa to meet President Goodluck Jonathan and he said this is the man that will be Governor of Ebonyi State, and Mr President ticked my name.

“A man that has made so many politicians, he gives money in millions of Dollars, and he doesn’t ask you back.”

Earlier, Eze had assured Umahi that he (Umahi), will be the President of Nigeria, one day.

This is not the first time Eze would tell Umahi he would be President. In 2019, Eze had said to Umahi, before Buhari, that Buhari would hand over to Umahi as his successor.

Apparently, Umahi believed Eze, which, perhaps, pushed the Governor to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a Party under which he won a second term in office as Governor, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Instructively, he lost his deposit when he vied to succeed Buhari. He failed at the Primaries which was won by the now President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Recently, he had another failure. He put himself up for the position of the Senate President. Tinubu asked him to stand down for the immediate past Minister for Niger Delta and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio. He obeyed.

Former Minister, Prof Nebo, Others Laud Uzodimma On Owerri-Okigwe Highway

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The Source

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May 20, 2023

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It was a harvest of commendations for Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Friday, at the 15th edition of Eni Njoku Lecture series, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as professors at the event took turns to laud the governor for solid road construction in the State.

Former Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo who was the Guest Lecturer opened the floodgate of commendations for Governor Uzodimma for the solid construction of the Owerri-Okigwe road, which hitherto was a death trap to motorists.

The former Minister said he drove through Okigwe-Owerri road two weeks ago with his family and “there was no single pot hole on the road.”

His colleague, Prof F.C Chilaka of the Department of Biochemistry of the University, who spoke immediately after the guest lecturer also applauded Governor Uzodimma for constructing durable roads in Imo State.

In like manner, Prof Chilaka said he was pleasantly amazed recently when they went to bury a late colleague, to discover that “Owerri to Okigwe that used to take three hours because of the bad state of the road, now takes only 45 minutes.”

Also, Prof Jerry Ugwuanyi, former Dean of faculty of Biological Sciences, who said that he was among those who went to bury their departed colleague, described the new Owerri-Okigwe road as “simply amazing,” adding that, “as a frequent user of the road I was truly amazed that the governor has turned it to a motorists delight through solid road work.”

Prof Nebo who said he was satisfied with the quality of the construction, noted that “commuters had before now suffered as a result of the deplorable condition of the road.”

Prof Nebo, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, also praised the governor for initiating the dredging of the Oguta/ Orashi to the Atlantic, which will lead to the establishment of a sea port in the South East.

He told Governor Uzodimma that if he accomplishes that, he should be assured that history will never forget him and that he has written his name in gold in the South East forever.

Speaking on the topic – Science and Technology as Allies with Good Governance in Wealth Creation and Poverty Reduction -, the erudite scholar told Governor Uzodimma that what he was doing in Imo State were examples of how good governance can create wealth.

He emphasized that more of such legacies were needed in the South East for the creation of wealth and reduction of poverty.

Prof Nebo charged Governors in the South East to evolve ways of initiating programmes that will create wealth for the teaming number of unemployed youths in the region.

He however praised the organisers of the Eni Njoku Lecture Series for their resilience in sustaining the legacies of the late don, saying that “posterity will always be kind to the icon for his trail blazing efforts in the development of academics in Nigeria,”

The event was well attended by academics, students and other invited guests.

Group Fingers Foreign Involvement In Move To Truncate May 29 Handover Date

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Ayodele Oni

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May 19, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

A Group, Peace and Stability Initiative (PSI) has alleged that some international pressure groups are planning to use fake reports to truncate the May 29 hand over date.

PSI in a statement on Friday, also fingered some aggrieved politicians in the country as their collaborators.

The statement signed on behalf of the group by its coordinator, Ali M. Ali stated that “Since the result of the Presidential election was formally announced on March 1, 2023, there have been many insidious plots by some foreign agent provocateurs working in cahoots with their local collaborators masquerading as civil society groups and others to instigate large scale political uprising in Nigeria because they failed woefully in their predetermined agenda to influence the electoral outcome.

“These agents of destabilization have not relented in their evil plots even though we are just few days away to the May 29, 2023 inauguration of a new central government that will be led by the President-elect , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We salute the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the fidelity to the transition programme and its insistence on peaceful and orderly transfer of power in Nigeria.

“Intelligence reports indicate a new plot by local opposition elements goaded by a foreign union to release a harebrained, skewed and stage-managed final report on the 2023 General elections in Nigeria, with emphasis on the presidential election.

“The heavily slanted report, based on the views of biased observers, will be released any moment from now. It shares the same denunciatory tone like the one released in March.

“The release is deliberately timed to achieve two sinister objectives. One is to dampen the celebratory mood in our country ahead of the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and delegitimize the incoming All Progressives Congress government that will be led by him.

“Second is to intimidate and hope to influence the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court that has just commenced the process of adjudicating on the petitions before it.

“We are putting this busybody, meddlesome international development agency that has constituted itself into an interloper in our country’s internal affairs on notice that Nigeria is a sovereign state.

“It is no longer a vassal state, tied to the apron strings of neo-colonialists, that can be harassed by special foreign interests seeking to cause internal strife.

“We also view their planned action as contemptuous of our country’s judicial system as all litigations about the general elections are now before our courts for adjudication.

“We reiterate and maintain our earlier positions that the 2023 general elections in Nigeria was the most peaceful, transparent, free and fair election in Nigeria since 1999 as attested to by all non-partisan foreign and local observers.

“Among these are the African Union, ECOWAS, Commonwealth Observer Mission and the Nigerian Bar Association. The winner of the election scored 8.7 million votes.

“The major opposition parties recorded over 14 million votes combined. This speaks to a free, fair, competitive and credible process. Right now, there is an ongoing healthy bid for the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

“The opposition parties combined have more members than the ruling APC. And this was an election conducted contemporaneously with the presidential election.

“The latter through its empirically based findings by 1000 observers found that 91.8 percent Nigerians rated the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections, despite some lapses, either as excellent or satisfactory. Only a negligible 8.2 percent rated the umpire, INEC poor or very poor..

“We are not unmindful of the consistent evil agenda of foreign crisis merchants to precipitate huge political conflagration in Nigeria to make it easy for them to continue to plunder our land.

“The ongoing civil war in Sudan where nations are struggling to get their citizens out of Khartoum with attendant loss of lives and industrial scale destruction is another sad reminder of how external forces have perpetually turned Africa into conflict zone.

“Nigeria is too big and too important for Africa’s survival, to be used as another cannon fodder for self-serving conflict merchants.

“Since 1999, we have chosen democracy as a form of government with established and entrenched democratic institutions to address electoral grievances.

“Despite challenges and sometimes boisterous nature of our politics, Nigeria’s democracy and democratic culture are maturing.

“It can only get better and stronger to deliver better governance outcome to all Nigerians when it is nurtured and protected by all men and women of goodwill.

“Since aggrieved parties that participated in the 2023 general elections have followed the rule of law by submitting themselves to the election petition tribunals, we appeal once again to them and their foreign collaborators to allow the already activated process to run its full course without intimidation and undue external pressure. That is the only way to preserve the sovereign integrity of our country.”

Lamidi Apapa Debunks Claims He Received N500m To Plunge Labour Party Into Crisis

By

Akinwale Kasali

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May 19, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Lamidi-Apapa, the factional National Leader of the Labour Party, LP, has debunked claims that he was paid a huge sum of N500 Million to destabilise and scuttle the ongoing case of the Party at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

A few days ago, the Party became a symbol of ridicule at the Tribunal when both factions, Apapa’s and that of the suspended substantive National Chairman, Julius Abure, engaged each other in a free for all fighting in the public glare.

Apapa escaped lynching by angry Party loyalists during an interview with newsmen. It took the intervention of Security operatives at the Tribunal who whisked him away to save him.

Though, Apapa, according to him, had called on the LP Presidential Candidate at the February 25th, 2023 Presidential Election, Peter Obi to intervene in the crisis bedeviling the Party objectively with a view to resolving it.

He said that Obi must be unbiased and objective in handling the crisis in order to resolve the leadership tussle.

Apapa decried what happened at the PEPC in the presence of Obi describing it as disgraceful and a test of Obi’s leadership quality.

The factional Chairman said that the leadership crisis would have been put behind them if the Presidential Candidate had respected an order of the FCT High Court.

The FCT High court had ordered Julius Abure and three others to desist from parading themselves as National officers of the party over their alleged indictment for forgery and perjury.

Tracing the genesis of the crisis, Apapa said that immediately the order of Court was served on the parties, he was unanimously selected to lead the party in an acting capacity.

He said that it was wrong for Obi to be according respect to Abure in spite of the order of the Court and as a Presidential candidate seeking justice from the same Court of Law.

He implored Obi to be open- minded and neutral in order to end the crisis.

In attendance at the briefing were the Deputy National Chairman of the Party in the North, Mike Auta, the National Publicity Secretly Olufemi Arabambi and the Acting Women Leader Rukkayat Salihu.

For his part, Auta denied that the All Progressives Congress, (APC) was behind the crisis adding that the allegation was baseless and unfounded.

He also said that the Apapa-led faction had no intention of withdrawing the petition at the PEPC.

Auta apologised to Nigerians who he said gave the party over six million votes during the Presidential Election saying they should not be discouraged by the current leadership crisis as it would soon be over.

He gave the assurance that the dispute would be resolved amicably.

There was drama at the PEPC when two factions of Labour Party clashed over which faction had the right to be present in court.

The drama led to Apapa receiving some punches before he was whisked away by security personnel to safety.

The trial Judge, Justice Haruna Tsammani, adjourned the case to party Friday.

When asked if he would be present at Friday’s sitting in spite of what happened in court on Wednesday, Apapa answered in the affirmative adding that except he would be barred by security personnel.

OAU Mourns Fourth Substantive VC

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Ayodele Oni

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May 19, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile-Ife, has announced the death of one of a former Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof Cyril Ahodi Onwumechili.

OAU said it received, with a heavy heart and deep sadness, the news of the passing of the fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Onwumechili.

A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the former Vice-Chancellor, who passed away at age of 91, was a visionary leader, an exceptional academic, and a compassionate individual, who made invaluable contributions to the growth and success of institution.

According to the release, during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor from 1979 to 1982, the renowned Physicist, Professor Cyril Onwumechili, played a pivotal role in shaping the university’s trajectory, steering it towards excellence, and upholding its commitment to academic rigor, innovation, and societal impact.

Describing the late University helmsman as a de tribalised Nigerian and a renowned academic of high repute, the current Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Adebayo Simeon Bamire said that he championed progressive policies, fostered a vibrant academic community, and strived for inclusivity, leaving an indelible mark on the Sixty-two (62) year-old University and the countless lives he touched.

According to him: “Under Professor Cyril Onwumechili’s leadership, the University experienced remarkable growth and advancement in various fields of study, research, and outreach as he spearheaded strategic initiatives that fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, established partnerships with renowned institutions worldwide, and ensured the university’s relevance in an ever-evolving global landscape.

”Prof Onwumechili was an exceptional scholar, renowned for his groundbreaking research as a Physicist who inspired generations of students and faculty members through his profound knowledge and unwavering dedication.

Enugu State Governor-Elect, Peter Mbah, Slams NYSC With N20b Suit

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Akinwale Kasali

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May 19, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has been slammed with a N20 billion suit by the Enugu State Governor Elect, Peter Mbah, with N20billion lawsuit at the Federal High Court.

He sued the NYSC over alleged conspiracy, deceit, and misrepresentation of facts.

The Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo, upon a motion ex-parte by Mbah’s counsel, Mr Emeka Ozoani (SAN), sequel to the lawsuit, stopped NYSC from disclaiming Mbah’s certificate.

Mbah is equally seeking a declaration that he participated in the NYSC scheme vide a call-up letter number FRN/2001/800351; Lagos code LA/01/1532 and upon completion was issued a certificate of National Service No. A808297.

The Governor-elect, also, alleged that the NYSC in a fraudulent design, suppressed and misrepresented facts in the supposition that his certificate of national service with number A808297 was not issued by it.

According to him, this is a fact they know as untrue, incorrect and which act he said constitutes conspiracy.

He also wants a declaration that the defendants were negligent and maliciously misrepresented facts, which facts the defendants know or ought to know as untrue and ought reasonably to have foreseen that damages would flow from such negligent misrepresentation of material facts.

An affidavit in support of the motion on notice deposed by Ms Grace Udeagha, stated among others, that Mbah, after graduating in law from the University of East London in 2000, returned to Nigeria.

She also deposed in the affidavit that as a prerequisite to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mbah applied and was admitted into the Bar Part I programme of the Nigerian Law School.

She further deposed that the plaintiff upon completing the Bar Part I exam had to wait for the Bar Part II programme.

“That the plaintiff in view of the above was called up for the NYSC and was deployed to Lagos State, with the following particulars: Mbah Peter Ndubuisi; Call up letter No 01134613; reference No NYSC/FRN/2001/800351.

“That the plaintiff in the course of his NYSC programme aforesaid and after six months of NYSC, the Nigerian law School scheduled the commencement of the Bar Part II programme usually called Bar Finals.

“The plaintiff was offered admission to the Nigerian Law School by a letter dated June 20, 2002, the plaintiff applied to the State Director, NYSC, for deferment of NYSC year 2001/2002.

“Pursuant to paragraph 12 the NYSC directorate headquarters vide Ref: NYSC/DHQ/CM/M/27 approved the plaintiff’s application for deferment of NYSC Ref: LA/01/1532 of Aug.6, 2002.

“That the plaintiff upon completion of his NYSC service, was issued the NYSC certificate No. A808297 dated Jan.6, 2003, certifying that he completed the one year of NYSC from Jan.7, 2002, to Jan.6 ”.

The hearing for the motion is yet to get a fixed date.

GTCO HabariPay Most Profitable Fintech- Agbaje

By

James Orji

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May 19, 2023

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By Bayo Bernard Business Editor

When the Group Managing Direcror of Guaranty Trust Company, Segun Agbaje announced the take off of HabariPay last year, only a few gave it a chance of success in Nigeria, considering the number of Fintechs already in operations in Africa’s economic powerhouse.

Some financial experts have also mentioned the traditional banking culture in the country as one of the reasons why Habari may perform below expectations.

But Aloy Chief, the Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, SAANA Capital, had at the time urged customers to give HabariPay a chance because it offered GTCO an opportunity to get back on track to compete in the payment market.

“Nigerian banks need to be retooled and reinvented, and fast. The era of monopoly trusts mollycoddled by the regulator may be fast approaching its expiration date (Nigeria is broke and there’s only so much paper the regulator can print after all),” Chife said.

He was right.

Agbaje who spoke after GTCO received the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to operate assured the banking public that the platform will reinvent the role of banking in the country.

“By reimagining the role of banking and driving innovation in how we serve customers, we have built a platform that is less about us as a bank and more about the customers and everything they need to enable their lifestyle,” Agbaje said.

He couldn’t have been more succinct.

HabariPay a fintech firm fashioned in the manner of WorldPay, a globally renowned payment processing company has become one of the most profitable Fintech firms in the county, according to figures from the company.

Speaking on the Groups 2022 financial report on Wednesday in Lagos, the Group’s chief executive said HabariPay has become a torchlight for other Fintech companies in many ways, barely one year in business, noting that the firm now has an edge over other Fintechs in the industry.

The firm, according to Agbaje has also become the most profitable and transparently- run Fintech, by records among it peers.

Agbaje who described the figures being churned out by some fintech firms as a ruse said the Fintechs have so far refused to make their financial records public like HabariPay, for the banking public to know their true state of profitability.

He said HabariPay success has clearly shown that GTCO has an edge over other competitors, saying no bank “can beat us. We will compete with you on two fronts. We will compete with you as a bank and we will compete with you on Habari.”

Agbaje said “if you say we are slow in the bank Habari is not slow” and is the best among other Fintechs considering that “none of them publish their profits.”

The GTCO chief executive said HabariPay made over N900 million profit last year, and has recorded N400 million in the first quarter of 2023, HabariPay financial, he said, is regularly publishing its financial to the public because GTCO is interested more in transparency and making returns to shareholders rather than harping on market share and equity.

Other Fintechs should “publish their own financial” statements he said, adding that “they are all going for equity. The whole thing that you are beating the banks, we don’t even know if yiu are beating yourselves. Let’s see your PNL. May be you are even making loses.”

As one of GTCO ambitious efforsts to redefine banking services in the country, key players in the industry insist that HabariPay has now become a platform offering users direct access to the largest catalogue of on-the–pad services such as mobile banking, mobile shopping, online music, among other seamless transactions.