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Zamfara: Food Poison Kills Family Of Seven

By
Ayodele Oni
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Zamfara State

By Ayodele Oni

Seven persons, all members of the same family, have lost their life in Zamfara state after consumption of meal made from grain.

Malam Hassan Danbaza, head of the family, explained that he lost two of his wives, three children and two grandchildren in the incident.

The incident happened at Danbaza Village of Dosara District, Maradun Local Government.

He said the bags of grain were purchased from a local market in the community like every other food items without suspecting that they had been poisoned.

Zamfara state commissioner of information, Ibrahim Dosara during a visit to the family of deceased persons, advised people in the state to always be careful of what they eat and how they prepare their food.

Dosara, who shared the view of the family head that the grain could have been mixed with poisonous chemicals, called for caution on the part of food consumers.

The commissioner counselled that people should always verify to ensure that, the food they prepare is not mixed with insecticides or chemicals that are harmful to human with a view to ensuring safety of their lives.

He described the death of seven members of the family as tragedy and prayed for the repose of their soul and the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Responding on behalf of the family, Malam Hassan Danbaza said he lost two of his wives, three children and two grandchildren in the incident.

2023: Obasanjo Says It’s Time For South To Rule After Meeting Tinubu

By
James Orji
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0

Following the meeting with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said it’s the time for power to shift to the south.

Speaking after the meeting with the APC flagbearer, the former leader said it was wrong for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to give its presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar, a northerner.

Atiku, a former vice president under Obasanjo’s presidency had emerged the winner in the shadow presidential primary held in June after defeating Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state.

The rancorous PDP primary has since polarized the party, as its elders are still trying to bridge the gulf between Atiku and Wike’s supporters who appear dissatisfied with the outcome of the election.

No one can tell yet whether Obasanjo’s comment meant he’s now supporting Tinubu’s presidential bid, but the former president has recently made a veiled attack against the PDP presidential candidate by saying he regretted picking him as his vice president in 1999.

“One of the mistakes I made was picking my Number Two when I wanted to become the president. But because it was a genuine mistake, God saved me,” the former president said of Atiku.

On the other hand, the former president and the APC flagbearer are considered political rivals, and both have shaded themselves on several occasions. Therefore, political watchers are still trying to figure out whether they will try to form an alliance against Atiku ahead next year’s presidential election.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Obasanjo said he was disappointed that PDP still went to pick Atiku as its torch bearer despite a provision in the party’s constitution that power should rotate between the North and south.

The incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari’s is from the North and his tenure will end next year after which a southerner is expected to take power. But PDP has breached the law, according to Obasanjo, who said the party’s decision is not politically correct and is against the spirit of the understanding between Northern and Southern Nigeria.

Obasanjo said, “I am very much aware that it’s the turn of the South to produce the next President of Nigeria. I was part of the meeting when the agreement was made between Northern and Southern leaders,” he said.

“I am even surprised PDP gave her ticket to another Northern candidate.

“It will be an injustice to the South if the North retains power after eight years of rule. We will do the right thing when the time comes.”

Costa Rica 2022: Falconets Defeat Canada To Go Top Of Group D; To Face Netherlands In Knockout Phase

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

An Esther Onyenezide brace from the penalty spot with a late Olise Strike cancelled out Canadian, Helen Novak second minute strike to give the Falconets of Nigeria a 3-1 win and the maximum points to top Group D at the ongoing FIFA Under-20 Women World Cup in Costa Rica played in the hours of today, August 18th, 2022, at the San Jose Stadium.

The Nigerian Ladies had already qualified for the Quarter Finals of the Championship having won their first two matches against France and South Korea by solitary goals.

They proved their supremacy as contenders for the coveted trophy by defeating Canada which lost all their three Group matches.

The Falconets went  into the game quite jittery after a blunder from Goalkeeper, Monle Oyono in the second minute, which made the Falconets nervy.

The Nigerian Ladies composed themselves and piled pressure on the Canadian defense which led to a foul on Okwuchuwu was led the Falconets attack and the resulting spot kick was converted by Esther Onyenezide in the 24th minute.

Eight minutes later, after a review by the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, the Falconets were another spot kick which was coolly slotted home by Onyenezide for her Third Goal of the tournament.

The first half ended with the African Team taking the lead.

As the second half commenced, the Canadians searched for the needed equalizer but to no avail.

In added time, substitute, Joy Olise added the third goal for Nigeria, to give the team a comfortable victory heading into the knockout phase.

The Falconets will face Netherlands in the Quarter Finals on Sunday, while France that finished runners up in the Group behind Nigeria will face Japan.

2023: Ogun PDP Crisis Escalates; Showunmi Vows To Get Governorship Ticket

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Segun Showunmi

By Akinwale Kasali

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State has remained has continued to escalate as former Governorship Aspirant, Segun Showunmi has vowed to get the opposition Party’s Governorship ticket at all cost.

Showunmi is fighting over the PDP Gubernatorial Primary which saw Oladipupo Adebutu emerging as the Party’s Governorship Candidate.

He described the process as a charade,  prompting him to take a legal action against the process.

At the Court of Appeal on Monday, 15th, August, 2022, Showunmi had judgment of the Court in his favour. He  expressed confidence that at the end of the struggle, he would emerge the authentic candidate of the PDP in Ogun State in the next few weeks.

This was followed by, the August 17, 2022, judgment at the Appeal Court  Abuja, which he (Showunmi) said is  necessary to clarify, considering the barrage of calls and deep interest of the public in the matter. He noted that he was humbled by the number of Nigerians that were interested in the case.

Showunmi who was the spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2019 election, observed that for the health of democracy, Nigeria should have passed that stage where the imposition of candidates would be the order of the day.

The Court of Appeal in a judgement delivered by Justice Chidi Nwaoma Uwa, on Monday, found Showunmi’s appeal meritorious, with regard to two of the issues he raised in the suit against PDP and two others.

Reacting to the judgement, Showunmi said: “I went through the right channels right from the beginning even before the primary election, to draw the party’s attention to the anomaly going on in Ogun State. I want to put it on record that no one can intimidate me into conceding defeat where I am a winner. I will fight this battle to the end and will be on the ballot. No individual has a monopoly of wealth. Where is even the wealth? We must run on ideas. I have a network of family and friends that can easily and comfortably prosecute a governorship election.

“When the party declared open the sale of forms, it meant anybody who wanted to contest for any position including the presidency, should start buying form. My colleague, Hon Ladi Adebutu purchased his form on the very first day. Ironically, upon buying his form, Hon. Adebutu went to the media – the Television, Newspapers and Online platforms saying that the Executive Committee (EXCOs) of the Peoples Democratic Party bought the form for him.

“I reasoned that if we were to go into a contest that requires us to get adhoc delegates from the Excos in the wards and follow the rules that will lead to getting the delegates that will put together an electoral college that will elect the party’s candidate, I felt that the constitution of the PDP had been compromised and broken because the fact that they bought a form for a particular candidate shows that there is a bias, and that they have been compromised.

“Secondly, the Oath of Office of the EXCO which includes that they will be free, fair and just to all and sundry had also been compromised. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had also been breached relative to how political parties are to organise themselves.

“I, therefore, wrote a letter to the national organ of our party – the National Chairman’s Office, the National Secretary’s Office, the National Organizing Secretary’s Office and the National Legal Adviser’s Office, saying that it is unfair to purchase a contest form for one among several contestants. I offered remedial opportunities alongside my complaint.

“As a remedy, I recommended that the EXCO, which action showed bias should be dissolved or set aside while a fair set of people should be brought on board to superintend the primary election process.

“I gave a number of sound and progressive advice, and I explained that if they failed to do the needful, I would have no alternative but to seek redress in court. Because of their penchant to disregard everything that other people in other civilizations will treat as serious, I wrote the letter in the court and gave them a proof of service from the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

He said the Court of Appeal had been very thorough in its judgement and had given him victory in that first step, adding that every Nigerian must be able to exercise his legal rights within the law.

Reacting to the Appeal Court Ruling in a statement, the Director of Media, Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation, Afolabi Orekoya, said the purported affirmation of Showunmi as the candidate of Ogun PDP by the Appeal Court on Monday is a complete departure from the actual matter before the court.

Orekoya’s reaction came on the heels of the statement issued on Monday by the Showunmi group that the Appeal Court allowed the appeal of Showunmi and set aside the ruling of the lower court.

According to Orekoya, the fact of the matter is that the originating summons filed by Segun Showunmi was instituted at the State High Court of Ogun State on April 1, 2022 seeking:

“An order of the court to dissolve the entire executive of the Ogun State PDP on the premise that the executive of the state’s PDP was biased by obtaining form for one of the aspirants.

“An order seeking the barring of entire members of Ogun PDP executive from conducting the primaries of the party.

“An order seeking the national party to constitute a three-man caretaker committee to conduct the party’s primaries.”

He said that the trial judge, Abiodun Akinyemi of the State High Court on Thursday, May 19, 2022, ruled: “I find and hold that this court has no justification to entertain this suit. Accordingly, it is struck out.”

Orekoya said the above background was given for the public to be well informed that the basis of Showunmi’s appeal was based only on jurisdiction and not candidacy, saying: “The Appeal Court only sat on whether the state High Court has jurisdiction to hear his suit or not. The court only held that even though the matter is time-bound but the state high court should have given him an opportunity to hear his matter.

“Therefore, the purported report on some media platforms that the Appeal Court affirmed that Segun Showunmi is the candidate of the Ogun PDP was a fake and complete departure from the Appeal Court ruling.”

Alleged Blasphemy: Court Orders Retrial Of Singer’s Case; Affirms Blasphemy

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

By Akinwale Kasali

The hope of Kano Singer, Aminu Yahaya Sharif hangs in the balance, as it is still a long walk to freedom for him following the ruling by the Court of Appeal, Kano Division, on Wednesday, affirming the judgment of Kano State High Court.

It has ordered a retrial of a blasphemy case against Sharif, who was sentenced earlier to death for alleged derogatory remarks against the  Holy Prophet Muhammad.

It would be recalled that Sharif, a resident of Sharifai in Kano was arrested and arraigned before an Upper Shari’a Court for committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad in a song he circulated via social media in 2020.

He was charged under section 382 (B) of Shari’a Penal Code Law of Kano 2000 and consequently sentenced to death by an Upper Shari’a Court Filin Hockey in Kano.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, his Counsel, Barrister Kola Alapinni, approached the Kano State Appeal Court Division, asking it to quash the judgment of the lower Court, on the ground that the convict was not represented by a lawyer, which is contrary to the doctrine of fair hearing and natural justice.

Alapinni also urged the Court to quash the charge against Sharif, alleging that the Sharia Penal Code Law contravened the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

In its judgement delivered on 21 January 2021, the  Appeal Division presided over Justice Nura Sagir ordered for a fresh trial of the case with full representation of his counsel.

Against the judgement of the Kano State High Court, the Appeal Division, Sharif, again filed an appeal before Appeal Court, Kano Division.

After  the submissions and legal arguments of both appellant and defendant on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the Kano State High Court.

Similarly, the court upheld the legality of Shari’a Penal Code Law, 2000.

It was also recognised as a capital offence punishable by death under Kano State Shari’a Code Law 2000.

The three-man panel of justices that passed the judgement include Justice I G Mbaba, Justice B M Ugo and Justice Abubakar Muaz Lamido.

It was gathered that Justice Mbaba dissented with the majority while Justices Ugo and Lamido upheld the judgement of the Kano State High Court and consequently ordered for a retrial.

The State ’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, described the judgement as a victory for the entire Kano citizens.

He said the Appeal Court has fully recognized Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law, 2000.

The United Nation, UN, Human Rights experts had called on Nigerian authorities to immediately release the 22-year-old singer, who was sentenced to death over an allegedly blasphemous song shared on social media.

The experts had, in a joint statement titled: ‘UN rights experts urge Nigeria to overturn death sentence for singer, who shared song on WhatsApp’, asked for his release.

The experts called for the death sentence to be overturned and for the authorities to guarantee his safety, due process and rights, while appealing his conviction.

“We are deeply concerned over the serious lack of due process in Mr Sharif-Aminu’s case so far, especially reports that he has been held incommunicado, and that he did not have access to a lawyer during his initial trial, a trial that was not open to the public,” they had said months back.

Fani Kayode Ridicules Bode George; Says He Is Inconsequential

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Femi Fani-Kayode

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Aviation Minister,  Femi Fani-Kayode, has thrown tantrums at former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Bode George, saying he is inconsequential to the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Fani-Kayode, the Director General of former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Presidential Campaign in 2015, made this statement via his Social Media handle, dismissing the former Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, boss, as irrelevant.

Fani Kayode wrote: “Tinubu has always won elections fair and square, he has met Obasanjo, appeasing Bode George is inconsequential “.

Bode George
Bode George

This is coming after the APC Presidential Candidate, Tinubu, visited former President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo at the Penthouse of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in his chopper today, in company with some party leaders. They include: Ogun State Governor,  Dapo Abiodun, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, his predecessor, Segun Osoba, and other Ogun State government functionaries.

The meeting is connected to the ambition of Tinubu in the coming elections.  Obasanjo is alleged to have said at the meeting that people on Social Media have always said that himself and Tinubu are strong enemies, which is not true. He said they are brothers. He wished him well in his ambition to become the President of the country.

It would be recalled that before now, when the duo met was on 2015 when he escorted the then APC candidate, the President Muhammadu Buhari to Obasanjo’s residence.

He was also at the 78th birthday of the former President held at Abeokuta in March, 2015.

Lagos 2023: CSO Petitions INEC Over Breach Of Electoral Act By PDP Governorship Candidate, Jandor

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate in Lagos State, Olajide Abdulaziz Adediran, popularly known as Jandor has been petitioned against by a Civil Society Organization under the auspices of Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate, CPPM.

The petition is over an alleged breach of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 2022 Electoral Act.

The Group in the petition signed by the Executive Chairman of CPPM, Nelson Ekujimi, said that the PDP  Candidate alongside his Running Mate, Funke Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa, and a House of Representatives Candidate of the PDP, Bankole Wellington, aka Banky W. and others  are engaged in political campaigns. They accused them of  canvassing foe voters in utter violation of the law in a documentary to commemorate the 2022 International Youth Day on Friday 12th of August 2022 which was aired on a National Television Station (Arise TV).

According to the petition which was accompanied by evidence of complaints and addressed to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, the petition accused Adediran and others of willfully and flagrantly violating not only section 94 (1) of the Electoral Act, but also the publicly published INEC guidelines on the 2023 elections by commencing political campaigns well ahead of the official kick-off date.

The Group also  noted that section 94 (1) of the 2022 Electoral Act states that: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day”.

It added that the publication of the 2023 Election guidelines by the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled Gubernatorial and States House of Assembly elections campaigns to hold between October 12 2022 – March 9 2023, therefore, CPPM is of the strong view that by engaging in this act of lawlessness and brazen disregard for the laws governing our elections and democracy Adediran, his deputy,  Akindele, Wellington and others and their party must be made to face the full weight of the law for bringing Nigeria’s democracy to opprobrium.

Ekujimi in the statement specifically stated that it was motivated to petition the electoral umpire because of “its concern with upholding the sanctity and integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process by the stakeholders at all time, but which unfortunately and sadly has been imperiled by the conduct of Adediran, his deputy, Akindele, Wellington and others and is afraid that such a conduct, if replicated by other parties and candidates, is an invitation to a breakdown of law and order which is unacceptable and condemnable”.

CPPM  added that it is worried and alarmed that despite knowing fully well the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and published INEC guidelines, but still going ahead to campaign well ahead of the official commencement date, is a pointer to the character of all the PDP Candidates and others as persons who have no regard for the law, subsequently, the civil society organization is calling for appropriate response according to law to be meted to them to serve as a deterrent to other candidates and party’s who might want to toe the same line of lawlessness and  undermine our democracy and national security.

“CPPM is aware that Nigerian youths are law abiding citizens who are desirous of contributing their own quota to national development in a lawful manner and would not in anyway want to be associated with the conduct of this violators of the Electoral Act and published INEC guidelines on 2023 general elections.

“CPPM then called on INEC to live up to it’s constitutional responsibility of holding every stakeholder accountable to play according to the rules of engagement by meting out appropriate sanctions to violators according to law”, the statement reads.

EFCC Boss, Bawa, Urges Journalists To Verify Facts Before Publication

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Abdulrasheed Bawa

By Akinwale Kasali

Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called on Journalists to be factual, truthful and verify their information before going to press for publication.

The Anti Graft Agency’s boss  condemned  the profiling of the EFCC by the media in an undesirable manner.

Bawa made these remarks Wednesday at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja, during a workshop with journalists tagged, “Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission”.

The workshop which is targeted at guiding Journalists on the effective reporting of anti graft agency saw the Chairman urging media platforms and journalists to be cautious in the coverage of economic crimes and to ensure verification of stories before publication.

Bawa noted that the media sometimes portrayed the approach of the Commission in fighting cybercrime as draconian, adding that it was perhaps borne out of a poor understanding of the anti-narcotics agency’s modus operandi.

He said, “While wishing you a happy deliberation, let me use this opportunity to appeal to the media to be cautious in the coverage of economic crimes and ensure you verify your facts before publication. As a worthy, dependable, and reliable ally, I want to use this opportunity to further urge media practitioners to put the interest of our country at heart, particularly as it relates to a conscientious effort not to celebrate the corrupt in our midst, but to expose them on the pages of your newspapers, screens of television, or on our various online platforms.

The war against corruption is a worthy fight for the soul of Nigeria, and for the future generation. It should not be left to the EFCC alone. Nevertheless, there are issues in the media profiling of the Commission that are less than desirable.

“The notion, for instance, that the Commission is draconian in its approach to fighting cybercrime is perhaps borne out of poor understanding of its modus operandi. But I am convinced that at the end of this workshop, we will all be better educated on the processes and procedures of the EFCC.

“As watchdog of society, you must be mindful that your reportage is a mirror that shapes global perception of our institutions and nation. It logically follows that this sacred duty is one that must be discharged with a lot of responsibility and, of course, patriotism.”

FBN Holdings Appoints New Executive Directors

By
James Orji
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0

FBN Holdings Plc, the parent company of First Bank Nigeria, FBN Limited appointed has Samson Oyewale Ariyibi and Patrick Iyamabo as executive directors of the company.

Their appointment, the bank said is subject to the approval of the regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The Nnamdi Okonkwo-led Holding Company made this in a disclosure, signed by Adewale Arogundade, acting company secretary, which said Samson will serve as the Executive Director, Investment Management and Oversight of FBN Holdings Plc, while Iyambo will serve as Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, CFO.

Ariyibi is bringing to his new role, robust experience in the financial and corporate sectors locally and internationally. As an award winner, he had worked with Standard Chartered Bank, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), and Ernst & Young, among others before joining FBNH in 2013 as the pioneer Head of Finance.

He was later promoted to General Manager and appointed as the Chief Financial Officer in 2016.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree Second Class Honour Upper Division in Microbiology from the University of Ilorin and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) – Marketing from the University of Lagos. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (ACIT), the Certified Pension

On his part, Iyamabo is the Chief Financial Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) and its subsidiaries. Prior to joining FirstBank in 2016, he was Senior Vice President of Strategy and M&A at First City Monumental Bank limited and then the Group Chief Financial Officer of FCMB Holdings Plc.

Iyamabo has over 27 years of professional experience in Assurance, Risk management, Business development, Accounting, and Finance with Nigerian and multinational institutions both within and outside the country.

He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) from Ahmadu Bello University and a Master of Business Administration, MBA with dual majors in France and Strategic management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He also attended specialized programs at the Harvard Business School and The Wharton School.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and; Fellow, of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, FCITN.

Unity Bank Rolls Out Yanga Account For Women Entrepreneurs

By
James Orji
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0

Unity Bank Plc has deployed a new marketing campaign targeted at reaching millions of women entrepreneurs, especially the underbanked across Nigeria with its new retail product, the Yanga account.

Starting this August, the lender shall deploy strategic marketing campaigns leveraging several channels including the traditional and digital media to drive value proposition and increased adoption of the Yanga product.

The Yanga account, which was launched by the lender in November 2021 in line with Unity bank’s strategic vision of being “Nigeria’s retail bank of choice” debuted in four geographical locations: Mararaba/Nassarawa state, Ibadan/Oyo state, Uyo/Akwa Ibom state and Gombe/Gombe states

Commenting on the new Yanga Market Penetration Campaign, the Divisional Head, Retail and SME, Mr Olufunwa Akinmade stated that “having launched the Yanga Account, unveiled Veteran Actress, Sola Sobowale as “Mama Yanga’’, the new campaign is intended to further provide the engagement platform to empower core target of the product existing in our communities and found amongst millions of underbanked women”.

The product targets women entrepreneurs in the Micro, small and medium enterprises, MSME space, especially the underbanked, offering savings and investment, capacity building, agency banking, dedicated agents, medical insurance and microloans to the women, thereby deepening financial inclusion.

The marketing drive includes a well-targeted television commercial featuring the Bank’s brand ambassador, the award-winning Nollywood actress, Sola Sobowale who was crowned “Mama Yanga” at the launch of the product in November last year because of her strong appeal to the target market. Across the multiple channels deployed for the campaign, “Mama Yanga” will be sharing the stories of how Yanga is empowering women and changing lives across Nigeria.

Yanga is available to all women entrepreneurs nationwide, even as the Bank continues to drive strategic activations of the product across various locations in the country. So far, the activation train has been to Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.

Seeking to promote financial inclusion and cater to the unbanked women entrepreneurs, the new retail product is designed to deepen its beneficial impact on Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs operated by women in the mass-market retail space.

The product comes on the heels of Nigeria’s growing imperative to boost access to financial services by women as a recent EFInA report, suggests, “There are 51 million Nigerian women above 18 years of age, with over 41% of them unbanked.”

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