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Unity Bank Trains Students To Mark Global Money Week

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

As part of activities to mark the 2022 Global Money Week, GMW Nigerian lender, Unity Bank Plc facilitated Financial Literacy Training at St Columba’s Grammar School, Agbor, Delta State, as well as in 30 other schools across the federation. The

An annual event, GMW which started in 2012 is an annual global awareness-raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people, from an early age, are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve financial well-being and financial resilience

The ultimate goal of GMW is to ensure that all children and youth have access to high-quality financial education, they learn about money matters and are able to take smart financial decisions that can improve future financial resilience and financial well-being.

Initially developed by Child and Youth Finance International (CYFI) in 2011, GMW continued to grow by engaging an increasing number of public, private and civil society organisations. In 2019, CYFI reported that over 150 countries and overseas territories participated in GMW over the years.

As of 2020, the campaign is coordinated globally by the OECD International Network on Financial Education (OECD/ INFE) and organised nationally by a wide range of stakeholders.

Participating organisations encourage youth engagement during GMW through a variety of financial education activities in person and on line which can include financial education workshops, trainings and seminars, visits to money museums and financial institutions, public debates and competitions, financial literacy games and fairs, and many more.

In many countries, financial education messages are broadcast and disseminated via a variety of channels including social media, websites, TV, radio, printed media and other online channels. Over the years, many of the countries represented in the OECD/INFE have joined the GMW campaign.

Kaduna Train Bombing: How N3bn Caused Terror Attack

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s Minister of Transport has disclosed that the failure by the National Assembly to approve N3 billion for the provision of digital and surveillance equipment on rail tracks led to the Abuja-Kaduna train bombing. NASS is responsible for appropriating funds for government’s projects.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies to hunt down the terrorists in the wake of the attack which led to  at least 10 passengers dead  and dozens feared kidnapped by the criminals. Close to 400 passengers were on board at the time of the attack.

Some passengers, including a former Deputy Governor of Zamfara state are still being treated for gun injuries sustained from the incident.

The attack has elicited angry reactions across the country as many Nigerians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemning the attacks, calling on the federal government to rise arrest the growing insecurity.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday canceled his planned trip to Lagos State for the Tinubu colloquium and travelled to Kaduna State to assess the situation.

But Amaechi said the incident could have been avoided if funds were provided for surveillance equipment around the rail line, in veil reference to the National Assembly who, he said failed  to approve funds for the project.

The minister said he had requested for necessary digital security and crime prevention equipment that could forestall such disaster but was rebuffed by the lawmakers.

Briefing journalists after visiting the scene of the incident on Tuesday, the minister expressed dissatisfaction over the incident, which he claimed, could have been averted with relevant digital security equipment in place.

The minister said the cost of human lives lost to the attack is more than the N3 billion he requested for the project.

According to him, “We knew what the problem would be. We knew we needed to have digital security equipment. We applied for it,” he said.

He said further that, “Because if we had those equipment, you will see nobody on that track. And I warned that lives will be lost. Now, lives are lost. Eight persons dead, 25 persons in the hospital.

“We don’t know how many persons have been kidnapped. And the cost of that equipment is just N3 billion. The cost of what we’ve lost is more than N3 billion.

“We’ve lost tracks, we’ve lost locomotives and coaches. We’ve lost human beings. And the equipment is just N3 billion.

“To fix all the things on that track now, will cost us more than N3 billion. And now even the things we said give us approval to buy – at the time we asked for it, dollar was N400, now it is N500. When you come with sincerity to government and your colleagues and people are stopping you, it is annoying,” Amaechi said.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has ordered the military to deal ruthlessly with terrorists, asking them to go all out against the criminals.

Buhari who gave the order while receiving the Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja led by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, also directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja to Kaduna rail line.

The president said the contract should be extended to cover the Lagos-Ibadan rail line.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday titled, ‘Kaduna train attack: President Buhari directs immediate implementation of security solution; condemns incident’.

According to the statement, the President “also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation management to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay.”

“He charged the law enforcement chiefs to bring back all passengers kidnapped and ensure that each of the callous terrorists are hunted down and made to face justice for their heinous acts as no one or group should be allowed to make the country prostrate,” Shehu stated.

NIMASA, Barge Operators Collaborate To Reduce Port’s Gridlock

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh noted that a well-regulated barge operating industry in the maritime sector is critical to ending gridlocks on ports access roads in Nigeria.

The NIMASA DG stated this when he played host to the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) led by the President, Hon. Bunmi Olumekun at the head office of the Agency in Lagos.

“Barge operations have helped to reduce gridlocks in Apapa, as they are involved with the transportation of container goods from one point to another within the inland waters, thereby putting less pressure on our roads, while also contributing their quota to national economic development”, Jamoh remarked .

The NIMASA boss urged the operators to invest in modern state of the art barges that can enable them compete favourably with their foreign counterparts, as this will help them remain in business and protect them from foreigners taking over their jobs.

While assuring them that the Agency will do all it can to promote barge operations as an alternative means of transportation, he enjoined them to brace up in the aspect of training of their members, as this will help them meet up with modern day realities and encourage professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

”Capacity development is good for the industry players in order to remain relevant, while being able to compete favourably with operators in other climes.

“The business of shipping is evolving with increase in technological advancement; hence training cannot be toiled with, in order to remain valuable in the shipping market,” Jamoh said.

He disclosed further that the Agency has begun the wreck removal exercise across the country, in line with the directive and approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in order to ensure the channels are free for navigation, while also avoiding accidents on the waterways.

According to him, “This is the first time the Agency has undertaken a holistic approach to wreck removal, cutting across all the zones from Lagos, Port Harcourt among other areas all geared towards safety of navigation”.

Earlier in his address, the President of the association, Bunmi Olumekun acknowledged the efforts of the Agency in carrying out its mandate for the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime sector, and pledged the continuous support of the association and cooperation with the Agency towards the realization of the three-point agenda of the current administration.

Olumekun, who noted the involvement of foreigners’ in barge operations in Nigeria, called on the Agency to facilitate access to loans at single digit interest rate to help operators acquire state of the earth barges.

Fidelity Bank To Assist Exporters Explore US Market

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Managing Director/ chief executive officer CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe has assured exporters that they will be provided with necessary expertise and financial support that will enable them export to the United States of America, USA.

The lender’s chief executive disclosed this as the leading financial institution prepares to host a workshop for businesses looking to scale and expand their reach into new international markets.

“For more than three decades, we have helped customers scale up their businesses through the right mix of financial and non-financial solutions including access to markets initiatives like our Export and Sell workshop scheduled for Aba.

“With the workshop, we aim to guide customers and prospects in developing the competence necessary for selling to the US market,” Onyeali-Ikpe said.

The training, which is scheduled for Wednesday, 6 April 2022 in Aba, Abia State, is being put together in collaboration with Export & Sell Limited -a trade enabling platform that facilitates the listing of Nigerian businesses on Amazon as well as access to other US off-take markets.

Similarly, Nduka Udeh, Managing Director/CEO of Export and Sell LLC, expressed his excitement to collaborate with Fidelity Bank on the project and commended the financial institution for the initiative.

Giving a summary of what participants are to expect, Udeh explained, “The training offers a practical approach to exporting and will show businesses how to prepare the correct documentation required to export to the United States of America (USA), how to find buyers, how to list products and sell on Amazon, how to export food products and the various licenses needed as well as other aspects of exporting”.

He added that assisting businesses to export would have an enormous ripple effect across the economy by increasing the volume of export earnings.

According to the bank, the seminar is designed for businesses in the following sectors: Food and Beverage; Fashion and Textile; Leather and Foot ware; Furniture and Woodwork; Art and Craft, Beauty and Cosmetic Industries, Pet Products, Building Materials; Light Equipment; as well as Chemical and Petrochemical industries.

After the training, Export & Sell would help businesses to revamp their products packaging, and sales literature, making sure they meet the specifications to sell on Amazon and other US outlets.

The workshop comes to join a long list of dedicated initiatives put in place by the bank to help local businesses play on the global scale and attract foreign exchange earnings. For instance, it’s Export Management Programme (EMP), which was launched in 2016 and is hosted in partnership with the Lagos Business School and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), equips participants with requisite knowledge for driving non-oil exports.

The bank also launched the CBN RT200 FX Policy Sensitisation series in February 2022 to highlight opportunities for importers looking to pivot to exporting with the aid of the policy.

Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with about six million customers who are 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 and in 2021, the bank won the awards of the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

Kaduna Train Attack: Life is Near Worthless Under APC, Buhari – PDP

By
The Source
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President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

The opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has, at once, condemned, in very terms, the fatal attack by Terrorists of an Abuja-Kaduna bound Train in the evening of Monday, March 22, 2022, and what it termed the insensitivity of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime.

The train, which had over 900 passengers was immobilised when it ran into bombs planted along the railway tracks by terrorists. The terrorists then embarked on a shooting spree. There were fatalities, many were injured and some kidnapped.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the fact that the terrorists operated brazenly for about an hour without any challenge confirms that this Buhari Government has surrendered to terrorists.

Most of the passengers, who survived the attack slept in the bush and were rescued Tuesday morning by a combination of military personnel and Operatives of the Department of State Services.

Following, hereunder, is the full text of the PDP statement.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in the strongest terms the continuing insecurity and near worthlessness of the lives of Nigerians under the insensitive and cruel All Progressives Congress (APC) government as evidenced by the vicious terrorist attack on innocent Nigerians travelling in a Kaduna State-bound train on Monday, March 28, 2022.

“The successful ambush of the train on the Abuja-Kaduna service by terrorists who killed many Nigerians, abducted scores of others in an operation that lasted for over an hour, again confirms PDP’s stand that the security command and control coordination structure under President Buhari has collapsed.

“More alarming is the fact this particular attack took place within two days of the deadly terrorist attack on the Kaduna International Airport on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in the same Kaduna State controlled by an APC Government.

“The PDP insists that the complicity of silence by the Buhari administration on the Saturday’s airport attack emboldened the terrorists to assault the train; a development which also validates PDP’s position that the APC administration has conceded sovereignty over parts of our country to terrorists.

“The continued silence and obvious helplessness of the Buhari Presidency on these deadly attacks on our nation’s key transportation sectors raises apprehensions of possible complicity at the very top level of the APC administration.

“It is callous and unfortunate that the APC government, in its usual insensitive nature attempted to suppress information by keeping mute over 24 hours after this horrendous attack which claimed the lives of promising Nigerians among whom was a young medical doctor, Dr. Chinelo Megafu who was fatally shot in the ill-fated train travel.

“Nigerians can recall the confession by a former APC leader that these assailants are terrorists brought from neighboring countries by the APC as ‘political mercenaries’ to rig the 2019 general elections.

In 2021 over 10,366 Nigerians were killed by terrorists with over 2,900 abductions in countless terrorism related attacks in which no fewer than 964 security agents were killed, as revealed by SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence Report published in the Guardian Newspaper of Thursday, January 3, 2022.

“Those killed in 2021 represents a scary 47% increase in the 7063 massacred by terrorists in 2020.

“More alarming is that the killing spree has continued in 2022 unabated. More than 536 Nigerians have been killed by terrorists since the beginning of this year. In the first three weeks of January 2022, about 486 Nigerians were killed by terrorists as reported in Premium Times of Sunday, January 23, 2022.

“Again, only last week, 50 innocent Nigerians were reportedly hacked to death by terrorists in the same Kaduna State!

“This is beside the hundreds of Nigerians, including students who were abducted by terrorists with many of them still languishing in their abductors’ den.

“The question to ask is, how many more Nigerians can our nation afford to lose because of the recklessness and arrogance in failure of the APC?  Nigeria bleeds, families are hurting, parents mourn and agonize, yet the APC Government is on vacation.”

President Buhari has ordered that the perpetrators be fished out and punished.

Qatar 2022: Nigeria Bundled Out, As Black Stars Qualify For World Cup

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Super Eagles

By Akinwale Kasali

Super Eagles fans and supporters that thronged the 60,000 capacity filled MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, were silenced by the determined and focused Black Stars of Ghana team. Ghana Kicked Nigeria out by  recording  a 1-1 draw against their host. By doing that, Ghana’s Black Stars booked a place to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup via away goal rule.

Having played a goalless draw at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, four days ago, the Thomas Partey captained Ghana stuck to their gun and game plan. They got the much needed away goal as early as the 12th minute into the encounter courtesy of the Arsenal Football Club of England midfielder, Partey, following a howler from the Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho.

A lackluster Super Eagles Team rallied back into the game as Leicester City Football Club of England winger, Ademola Lookman won a penalty that was converted by William Troost Ekong in the 22nd minutes of the encounter.

The Super Eagles struggled throughout the entire match. They lacked coordination, coherence, accuracy, depth and urgency. The   Ghanaians dictated the pace of the game

Coach Augustine Eguavoen made some changes from the first leg, by starting Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka and Emmanuel Dennis, but this never metamorphosed into positive result for the team.

The draw means that Nigeria’s flag won’t be hoisted at the World Soccer showpiece, as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the World Cup for the second time since making its debut at the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the United States of America.

Nigeria has always qualified for the World Cup since making its debut but failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and now the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the first of its kind to be hosted in the Middle East.

Kaduna Train Attack: We Shall Overcome – Buhari; Issues Security Directives; Manhunt For Perpetrators

By
The Source
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Muhammadu Buhari

“At my Meeting with Security Chiefs at the State House this afternoon, following the dastardly terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line, I issued the following Directives:

“—Immediate conclusion of all processes for implementation of the Integrated Security Surveillance and Monitoring (ISSM) Solution for Abuja—Kaduna Rail Line

“—Extension of the ISSM Solution to cover the Lagos—Ibadan Rail Line

*—Rescue of all kidnapped passengers, and a Manhunt for the terrorists, to ensure they are all made to face justice for the heinous acts.

*—The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) management is to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay.

*My earlier directive about that the military should deal ruthlessly with terrorists stands. Anyone found unlawfully wielding an AK 47 should not be spared! No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom.

*I am deeply pained by this attack, the second of its type. The attack on the train, a safe means of transport to many, is callous; our thoughts are with the families of the deceased, and prayers for the injured.

*I commend the Law Enforcement agencies for their prompt response, and all the emergency personnel who were responsible for the evacuation and treatment of the injured persons.

*Nigeria will overcome the forces of evil. We will not relent until this is accomplished.

President Buhari today, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, following the horrifying attack on the Abuja-Kaduna Train on Monday, March, 28, 2022

Train Attack: VP Osinbajo Diverts Plane To Kaduna, Tinubu Cancels Colloquium

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

As the extent of the tragedy of the bombing of an Abuja-Kaduna bound Train begins to hit home, Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has diverted his Lagos-bound Aircraft to Kaduna.

This came as criticisms has greeted the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari and his APC-led Government, almost 24 hours after the tragedy that has shaken Nigeria to its foundation.

Osinbajo was billed for Lagos to attend aTV Colloquium to mark the 70th birthday of former Lagos State Governor, and a Presidential aspirant, under the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Instead of attending the 13th Colloquium, he diverted  to Kaduna over the fatal attack. His spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the Vice President diverted to Kaduna after hearing the news of the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, Tinubu in the sobre mood of the Nation over the fatal terror attack has canceled the 13th Colloquium to mark his 70th birthday.

Kaduna Train Attack: Barrister Musa-Lawal Ozigi, TUC Sec-General Killed; Buhari, Amaechi Mum

By
The Source
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Barrister Musa-Lawal Ozigi

By Gideon Njoku

Adamu, Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Among The Kidnapped

Almost 24 hours after the fatal bombing of an Abuja-Kaduna bound Train, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has not said a word, nor has the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi who supervises the Nigeria Railway Corporation.

This is as the  names of either those killed,  kidnapped or injured become public.

Already, eight people have been confirmed dead, as rescue and recovery operations continue.

Among those confirmed dead is a young female Medical Doctor, Chinelo Megafu. She was a staff of Gerald’s Hospital, Kaduna, and was billed to leave Nigeria this weekend before she was killed..

Also dead is the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Barrister Musa-Lawal Ozigi.

Kidnapped and still missing is the Managing Director of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Kabir Mohammed Adamu.

The former Deputy Governor  of Zamfara State , Ibrahim Wakkala was also kidnapped. He was shot in an exchange of gunfire between the Terrorists and  Security operatives. He was, however, rescued and currently Hospitalised.

Peter Obi Condemns Kaduna Airport, Train Terror Attacks

By
The Source
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Former Governor, Peter Obi has described as shocking, the recent terror attacks on Kaduna Airport and on an Abuja – Kaduna bound train, with several persons reportedly abducted, saying that the worsening level of insecurity across the country is depressing and disheartening.

Obi, a Presidential aspirant for the 2023 elections, in a Statement from his Media Office, said that the terror attacks in Kaduna and different parts of the country, have become very worrisome and should serve as wake up call to the government to beef up the country’s security architecture and be more proactive in handling security issues.

In a statement signed on his behalf by Valentine Obienyem, Obi lamented that the challenges of insecurity will be too much of a burden on Nigerians already battling with hardship and poverty. He explained that the worsening level of insecurity further aggravates the negative performance of Nigeria’s economy.

While condoling with the families of the bereaved and sympathising with the traumatized passengers, Obi urged the different security agencies in the country to remain resolute in the fight against terrorism in the country.

He called on Nigerians to eschew all forms of violence and terrorism, while encouraging everyone to remain security conscious for the good of society.

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