FEATURES
The remains of 17 military personnel, comprising four officers, 13 soldiers, slain by some irate youths in Okuama community in Delta State during a peace mission on March 14, have arrived at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, for burial.
The bodies, which arrived at about 2:30 p.m., were conveyed by the FCT Ambulance Emergency Services and other vehicles.
In attendance are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, are also present.
Tinubu
Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), and Abba Yusuf (Kano) are also in attendance.
President Bola Tinubu joined the solemn assembly at exactly 04:10p.m.
Family members and relatives of the deceased personnel, as well as those of other military officers, are also on ground to honour the fallen heroes.
Meanwhile, at the time of this report, the burial ceremony for the 17 military personnel was already underway.
![LIVE] Delta 17: Tinubu, Govs Pay Final Respects As Military Holds Burial For Gallant Soldiers • Channels Television](https://www.channelstv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Soldiers_Burial_C.jpg)
On March 25, President Bola Tinubu approved the creation of the renewed hope infrastructure development fund (RHIDF).
The fund, according to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, will invest in critical national projects that will, among other things, promote growth, enhance local value-addition, create employment opportunities, and stimulate technological innovation and exports.
Making clarifications about the fund in a statement on March 26, Bayo Onanuga, a presidential spokesperson, outlined the details of the infrastructure development fund.
WHAT DOES RENEWED HOPE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND MEAN?
According to the statement, Nigeria needs $35 billion each year until 2040 to cover infrastructure expenditures.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, realising that the government could not meet the huge cost, according to the statement, established the presidential infrastructure development fund (PIDF) — with National Sovereign Wealth Authority playing a vital role.
The PIDF, he said, contributed to the realisation of critical projects, such as the second Niger bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
However, Onanuga said the PIDF faced funding constraints, and delays in project execution, resulting in rising costs of materials and bureaucratic and institutional challenges.
These challenges, FG said, are what Tinubu’s RHIDF aim to overcome.
ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Onanuga described the initiative as a game-changing, inventive and transformative fund that will drive economic growth in road, rail construction, agriculture, aviation, education, health, energy, and technology.
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He said it will also provide the elixir for crucial national projects that will accelerate infrastructure and economic development nationwide.
“With eyes on raising N20 Trillion, about $14 billion take-off capital, the Fund will support projects that will promote growth, enhance local value-addition through backward, forward and parallel linkages,” the spokesperson said
Onanuga said employment opportunities will also be created and exports promoted.
Providing an example, the presidency said improving the agricultural value chain will be the fund’s core focus to boost food security.
By fortifying agricultural infrastructure, the fund will ensure that post-harvest losses are reduced and food supply chains reinforced.
Major road networks, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway, Sokoto-Badagry expressway, Lagos-Kano, and Eastern rail lines are being targeted by the fund, while ports and aviation facilities will be modernised.
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The fund, he said, will cast its net for investment capital wider than the PIDF.
“It targets Pension Funds, Concessionary Loans, Insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, private sector arms of multilateral development institutions, bilateral private sector investors,” he said.
“Other financing sources are individual investors, including the Diaspora Nigerians, endowments and equity funds.”
WHY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND WAS CREATED
At the federal executive council (FEC) meeting on March 25, where the fund was first presented by Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on behalf of the president, the rationale for its conception was explained.
He said the fund, which will be supervised by a director-general, will be domiciled in the presidency.
According to the president, this will cut through bureaucratic bottlenecks that typically impede the implementation of beneficial projects.
Tinubu cited the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), which he conceived during his tenure as Lagos governor in 2004, and how the agency oversaw the construction of two rail lines as well as some of the city’s important major roads.
Justice Olaolu Olanipekun of the Oyo State Magistrate Court Seven sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) church, Prophet Ojo Amos (a.k.a Elewuogbo).
Justice Olanipekun ordered that Elewuogbo and his two sureties be arrested and detained till the next adjournment date for refusing to present himself in court after being granted bail.
Prophet Elewuogbo is currently standing trial before the court over alleged defamation of the character of the Founder of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaji.
Elewuogbo and a Lagos-based blogger, Gbenga Dan Asabe, had through media publications accused Maharaj Ji of selling human body parts for money ritual purposes.
The court also granted the request for the consolidation of the cases against Elewuogbo and Dan Asabe brought by Maharaj Ji’s counsel, Dapo Akinosi.
Akinosi had prayed the court that since the facts of the two cases are related, it would be better if they were merged.
The court granted the application and adjourned the case till 30th of April, 2024.
Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, on Monday, March 25, signed a law restricting social media access for minors under 14.
The bill will prohibit children younger than 14 from joining social media in the state, reports NBC News.
Those who are 13 years old and younger will not be able to open a social media account in the state, and 14- and 15-year-olds will need parental consent to use such platforms.
The bill, HB3, also directs social media companies to delete the existing accounts of those who are under 14.
Companies that fail to do so could be sued on behalf of the child who creates an account on the platform. The minor could be awarded up to $10,000 in damages, according to the bill.
Companies found to violate the law would also be liable for up to $50,000 per violation, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs.
“Ultimately, [we’re] trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids, and so I appreciate the work that’s been put in,” DeSantis said in remarks during the bill-signing ceremony.
DeSantis said: “We’re trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids.”
Speaker of the Florida House, Paul Renner, said that social media is fraught with risks from traffickers and paedophiles, and that “social media platforms have caused a devastating effect on the mental well-being of our children.”
Most platforms require users to be 13 or older, though they do little in terms of enforcement.
Across the country, there has been rising concern about the effects of social media on child and teen development and learning.
But the law has also sparked concerns among those worried it sets a precedent for restricting free speech online.
DeSantis, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for president and dropped out in January, has argued many times that parents should have more control over decisions affecting their children, particularly in education.
Parental rights legislation in Florida and other states has sought to give parents more input in areas deemed controversial, especially education around LGBTQ topics in schools.
While the social media ban gives parents oversight on the matter, others say that the government should stay out of such fights altogether.
DeSantis previously vetoed a stricter social media ban, which would have blocked access for those under age 16.
He said at the time that a better balance was needed between competing parental rights, privacy issues and free speech.
Best-Dressed Controversy: Women Have No Choice Than To Accept Me As Part Of The Sisterhood – Bobrisky
AFOLABIControversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has knocked women who are criticising him for identifying with the female gender.
Naija News recalls that social media was agog after the organisers of the Ajakaju movie premier announced Bobrisky as the winner of the female best-dressed category.
However, reacting to the outrage, the movie producer Eniola Ajao explained that the organisers decided to give the best-dressed female category award to spark controversy as a publicity strategy.
Responding to those women criticising him after he received the award, Bobrisky, in a now-viral live Instagram session, said that women have no choice but to accept him as part of them.
He said, “Some people are saying Bobrisky, are you a woman, are you a this, are you a that? I’m not here to come and argue anything. Respect people how they want to be addressed, even without just looking at my body, without just opening my body to see anything. Number one, you need to respect people how they want to be addressed.
“I can see a lot of women coming out, you know, saying different things. I’ll not insult anybody. I love women. Women are the most powerful gender in the world, so I’m not coming here to say, oh, they are this, they are that; see you guys, ehhhn, you have no choice. You have to accept me as part of the sisterhood. Do you hear me? You guys have no choice. I’m part of the sisterhood already, so deal with it.”
The son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, has been sent to prison in the United States.
Naija News learnt that the US Justice Department on Tuesday announced that the Sanha had bagged more than six and a half years in prison for involvement in a transnational heroin trafficking conspiracy.
The statement also disclosed that Sanha was a leader and organizer in the heroin trafficking conspiracy and was involved in its importation from Europe to the United States.
In July 2022, he and a co-conspirator were arrested after arriving in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and they were extradited to the United States shortly afterwards.
In September 2023, Sanha pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance for unlawful importation.
According to the statement released by the US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, “Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, planned to use the proceeds to finance a coup in the West African country that would lead to his eventual presidency and establishment of a drugs regime.”
Also, the special agent in charge of the FBI Houston, Douglas Williams, said, “Malam Bacai Sanha Jr. wasn’t any ordinary international drug trafficker, he is the son of the former president of Guinea-Bissau and was trafficking drugs for a very specific reason – to fund a coup.”
Guinea-Bissau has a history of military coups interspersed with periods of democratic rule, though elected leaders have managed to serve a full term since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1974.
Sanha’s father, Malam Bacai Sanha, was initially installed by a junta as interim leader in 1999 before he lost the election the following year.
He won the presidency in a 2009 election but died while seeking medical treatment in Paris in January 2012 before completing his term.
His son, known as “Bacaizinho” in Guinea-Bissau, has served in several government roles, including his father’s economic advisor.
Kemisola Bolarinwa, a Nigerian robotics and embedded systems engineer, has created a smart bra designed to detect early-stage breast cancer before symptoms manifest.
Bolarinwa made the invention known to the world in February 2022, by designing the prototype of the smart bra. It was spurred by the death of her loved one in 2017.
She said before the death of her aunt, she rarely paid any attention to breast cancer. This was because it was just something she heard on the TV or radio.
Bolarinwa is the founder and chief executive officer of Nextwear Technologies, the first wearable technology startup in Nigeria. She said she was moved to invent the smart bra, after frequent visits to the hospital where her aunt was before she died.
According to her, seeing other women battling breast cancer was painful. She then intensified efforts on the invention.
Her invention was recognised by BBC Africa. She spent a year and a half of intense research, before the smart bra came up in 2019, Bolarinwa added.
How breast cancer bra works
To detect lumps in the breast, the smart bra repurposes ultrasound technology into a small form factor. The initiative is to shrink down an ultrasound machine to a portable size where it becomes wearable.
According to Bolarinwa, this was possible with nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a branch of science, technology, and engineering that deals with the manufacturing of tech in small sizes.
For more context, the smart bra uses an ultrasound system called the Doppler that bounces high-frequency sound waves off the body to detect blood clots, heart defects, and blocked arteries. This works differently from ultrasound machines that use sound waves to generate images of the scanned area.
More work on smart bra
After years of research and developing a prototype, she revealed there is still a lot of work before the breast cancer bra can be commercialised.
Bolarinwa said the smart bra still needs further development and extensive clinical. She gave a time frame between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 for mass production.
Aside from being an inventor, Bolarinwa is also a strong advocate for getting more women interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), something she was passionate about growing up.
Bolarinwa called for more work on research for inventions to be effective in solving the problems they are designed for. Also, she lamented that there are not adequate research organisations to help.
She said: “In four months, a fintech platform will be built and be ready for the market. This is one of the reasons why few people play in the hardware or deep tech side of technology in Africa. There aren’t enough research institutes.”
Who she is
Bolarinwa holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering from the University of Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University).
She has more than 10 years of experience, exceptional tech skills and strong problem-solving skills. She is passionate about solving complex problems and staying up-to-date with the latest technologies.
Bolarinwa is an inventor, innovator, entrepreneur, and president of the Women In ICT Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing technology education, leadership, and businesses for women and young girls to resolve problems of the under-representation of women in leadership, policy-making, and math-intensive fields of science and technology.
The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, Akwa Ibom, has apprehended a suspected oil thief who was en route to Cameroon with 15,500 litres of suspected Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The Commanding Officer, Capt. Uche Aneke, made this disclosure at Ibaka while handing over the suspect and the seized product to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.
Aneke said that the suspect was arrested with the exhibit at about 2:00 am on Friday.
According to him, the navy received an intelligence report that a boat was conveying suspected smuggled products through FOB, Ibaka operational area, and heading towards Cameroon.
”We intercepted the boat and discovered that it was laden with 15,500 litres of products suspected PMS concealed under a tarpaulin.
”We also found a suspected smuggler onboard who was arrested immediately,” he said.
The commanding officer warned against smuggling of illegal consignments in or out of the country, saying that the navy was committed to tackling such activities.
”We are committed towards detecting every criminal move around our operational area using advanced surveillance equipment and intelligence.
”Criminals are warned, Nigeria’s water and coastal areas are not for illegal activities,” he said.
Receiving the exhibit, Mr Etefia Koko-Ette, Head, Anti Vandal Unit of the NSCDC command in Akwa Ibom, said further investigation would be conducted on the matter.
Nigerian actress, Beverly Naya, has stated that she contemplated quitting her acting career because a blog damaged her self-esteem.
The 34-year-old decried that the post made by the blog almost made her give up her career.
According to her, the blog post “Nollywood, Can We Please Stop Making Beverly Naya Happen!”
She said, “It really got to me and it damaged my self-esteem and it made me doubt myself like I really don’t feel like I want to continue in this industry, I wanted to quit on several occasions.”
She added that since then she had won an international award and the blog no longer exists.
[Thisnigeria]
Popular socialite, Pascal Chibuike better known as Cubana Chief Priest has unveiled his son’s multimillionaire project.
He shared via his Instagram, a video of a hotel under construction taking pride in his son, Obinna.
He stated that it is a great pleasure for him to watch his son become a hotelier at 6, assuring that his son would do well just like his elder brother, who opened a restaurant.
Cubana Chief Priest stated that he plans to make Owerri, the capital of Imo State, look like Lagos.
“My Son Obinna Is Working On An Amazing Project, It’s My Pleasure Watching My Son Become A Hotelier At 6, I Know He Will Do Well Just Like His Big Brother Is Doing With His 24hrs @donaldsfastfood The Plan Is To Make Owerri Look Amazing Like Lagos. Any Good Thing We See On The Island We Copy It & Paste It In My Beautiful New Owerri. 70%…. Our Harvest Season Is Near,” he wrote.
[TheNation]
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More than ever before women are bringing their A-Game to the table of their career. While distinguishing themselves in diverse sectors, they are breaking records in fields formerly the exclusive preserved of men. One of such sectors is banking.
Currently, Nigeria has 25 major banks with the number of female chief executives soaring from just one in 2019 to 10 in 2024. This represents 36 per cent of Nigerian major banks’ chief executive officers. Welcome to the age of the banking Amazons.
Women are taking over
Happily, over the past two decades, the Nigerian banking landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation, catapulting many industry players onto the global stage. Amidst this dynamic shift, marked by two recapitalisation exercises and a surge in foreign investments, one of the most profound changes has been the recalibration of human capital. This transformation has opened doors for female bankers to assume leadership roles, steering banks to unprecedented success.
At a time when the notion of a female bank CEO was but a distant dream, pioneers such as Cecilia Ibru of then Oceanic Bank shattered the glass ceiling. Since then, a wave of exceptional women, including Funke Osibodu, Sola David-Borha and Bola Adesola, have followed suit, ascending to the helm of some of some leading banks.
It is now becoming appealing and commendable to have more women in top management positions. The sector is sure to see more women in top management positions in banks, giving gender-mandated regulations by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which recognised the positive impact of gender parity on the economy.
However, experts have maintained that advancement towards gender equality and inclusivity in corporate governance in the sector mark a welcomed exodus towards an improved balanced and diverse leadership landscape.
Meet women steering the wheels in banking sector
Currently, 10 of the country’s top banks are led by visionary women, embodying strong leadership qualities and driving exceptional financial performances. Among them are Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank, Yemisi Edun of FCMB, and Miriam Olusanya of GT Bank, each leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, a lawyer-turned-banker who was appointed as the CEO of Fidelity in 2021, has steered Fidelity Bank towards unprecedented heights. Under her leadership, the bank has maintained high asset quality and a robust balance sheet, consistently earning accolades from leading rating agencies. Fidelity Bank’s financial statement for 2023 was nothing short of impressive. This remarkable growth is a testament to Onyeali-Ikpe’s strategic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Fidelity Bank’s recently released condensed unaudited financial statement for 2023 was very impressive. The bank has expressed its desire to play in the international market. And most notably, in 2023, it acquired the United Kingdom subsidiary of Union Bank to show its intent, even as it reiterated plans for further acquisitions on the Continent.
Hear what Onyeali-Ikpe told Bloomberg: “The strategy is for us to move our footprint outside Nigeria and compete favourably with our peers. In the next three years, we should be able to be in six countries by doing at least two yearly.”
This strong financial performance has endeared the bank to capital market investors as reflected in the sustained interest in its shares on the NGX.
Yemisi Edun of of FCMB Group
Following her appointment in 2021, Yemisi Edun wasted no time in making her mark as the leader of FCMB Group. She has a background in finance and extensive experience in the banking sector. With a staggering 72 per cent growth in Profit before Tax in 2022, Edun’s strategic acumen has propelled FCMB towards unprecedented success. In the 2023 financial year, the group achieved gross earnings of N516.8 billion, representing an 82.6 per cent growth over the previous year.
Edun’s leadership has not only consolidated the bank’s liquidity position but has also created new avenues for growth and expansion. FCMB recorded a 206.9 per cent growth in net income in the 2023 financial year to N95.52 billion as against the N31.13 billion recorded in 2022. Total assets grew by over 48 per cent to N4.41 trillion from N2.98 trillion. Edun has consolidated the bank’s liquidity position and exploit growth opportunities.
Miriam Olusanya of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB)
In July 2021, Miriam Olusanya made history as the first female to direct Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), ushering in a new era of innovation and growth. Olusanya’s leadership prowess was on full display as GT Bank posted remarkable financial performances in Q3 2023, reporting a 155.2 per cent Profit before Taxation of N433.2 billion. With a dual listing on the Nigerian Exchange Group and the London Stock Exchange, GT Group’s metrics speak volumes about Olusanya’s foresight and operational excellence.
Bolaji Agbede of Access Holdings
Bolaji Agbede, acting group CEO of Access Holdings, took over on February 13, following the death of Herbert Wigwe, the company’s former GCEO. Agbede has worked in banking operations, customer relationship management, and human resources management departments for over 27 years. Beginning her career in 1992 as an executive trainee, she worked her way up to manager in 2001 at Guaranty Trust Bank, where she also held various positions such as vault custodian and relationship manager. She subsequently served as CEO of JKG Limited, a business consulting firm, in 2003. Agbede joined Access Bank in 2003 as an assistant general manager and was responsible for managing the bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies. She also headed the bank’s human resources department between 2010 and 2022 and was appointed the company’s founding executive director, business support, in 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos (1990); and obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from Cranfield University in 2002.
Adaora Umeoji of Zenith Bank
In a more recent indication that women are inching steadily toward achieving gender equality in Nigeria, another female from Zenith Bank, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, is the latest to shatter the glass ceiling as she assumes the role of Zenith Bank’s first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Those who have close contact with her have said that her journey showcases the strength and capability of the girl-child, urging for their rightful inclusion in every sphere of society.
Adaora’s ascent within Zenith Bank is said to be evidence of her unwavering determination and exceptional abilities. From her humble beginnings as a youth corps member in the 90s, she showcased unparalleled prowess by securing significant business deals that propelled Zenith Bank’s growth. Her achievements, which surpassed the expectations of her peers and superiors alike, underscored the indispensable value of talent and merit, regardless of gender.
These women CEOs, alongside their male counterparts, exemplify the transformative power of inclusive leadership. As Nigerian banks continue to harness the full potential of their human capital, irrespective of gender, they pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous future for all.
Ireti Samuel-Ogbu of Citibank Nigeria
Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, appointed in September 2020, doubles as the CEO of Citibank Nigeria and Citibank’s country officer for Nigeria and Ghana. Before being appointed CEO of Citibank Nigeria, Samuel-Ogbu was the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) head, payments and receivables, treasury and trade solutions (TTS) under Citi’s institutional clients group (ICG) based in London, UK. She has also served as a non-executive director on the board of Citibank Nigeria Limited. For the past 32 years, Samuel-Ogbu has held various posts across Citi’s businesses in the UK, Nigeria and South Africa – having worked in each of the countries twice.
Samuel-Ogbu obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Middlesex University, UK, and has an MBA from the University of Bradford, UK.
Halima Buba of SunTrust Bank
Halima Buba, MD/CEO, SunTrust Bank, was appointed the MD/CEO of SunTrust Bank in January 2020. Halima Buba, is a seasoned banker with over 22 years of cognate experience obtained from working in All States Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Inland Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, and Ecobank Nigeria Limited. Buba was co-founder and former executive director at Taj Consortium — an organisation of young dynamic technocrats and financial advisory experts, from 2017 until 2020 — before her appointment to SunTrust Bank. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Maiduguri and an MBA from the same university.
Yetunde Oni of Union Bank
Yetunde Oni, in January 2024, was appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the MD/CEO of Union Bank of Nigeria. Until her appointment with the bank, Oni was a financial services leader with a successful career spanning over 30 years, holding senior positions in international and local banks, and focusing on emerging markets. Before she made it to the top, Oni had an 11-year stint at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated as a relationship manager, from 1994 to 2005.
In September 2014, Oni held the position of pioneer head of commercial clients at Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, before becoming the lender’s MD and country head of commercial banking in West Africa in 2017. In January 2021, Oni achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first female MD/CEO of Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone. Oni is a University of Ibadan graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and has an MBA from Bangor University, Wales.
Kafilat Araoye of Lotus Bank
Kafilat Araoye was appointed in 2020 as the MD/CEO of Lotus Bank. She started her career in 1988 at National Oil and Chemicals Marketing Company Plc (now Conoil Nigeria Plc), and moved in 1990 to GTBank, as the pioneer head of HR.
Her last position at the firm was general manager and group head, human resource group — a position she exited in 2015. Subsequently, Araoye moved to XYZ Outsourcing and Management Consulting Limited, from 2015 to 2020. Araoye holds a first degree in history from the Obafemi Awolowo University and a master’s degree in industrial relations and personnel management from the University of Lagos — graduating as the best student in her class.
Tomi Somefun of Unity Bank
Tomi Somefun was appointed MD/CEO of Unity Bank Plc in August 2015. Before her appointment, she served as the executive director overseeing the Lagos and south-west business directorates, and the treasury department of the bank. She has 35 years of experience in the private sector, 26 of which are in the banking industry.
From 1982 to 1986, she worked as a senior audit assistant for KPMG, which was the beginning of her nearly 40-year journey to become the formidable banker she is today.
After working for a few more years as a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen, she left in 1989 to become an associate at Ventures & Trusts Limited. Veering into the banking sector, she began working with Credit Bank Limited, before joining UBA Group, where she served as the MD/CEO of two significant UBA subsidiaries, including UBA Pensions Custodian, a start-up company, which was founded with her as the pioneer.
She graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1981 with a bachelor of education in English language.
[TheNation]
The Delta State House of Assembly has reversed the termination of Emmanuel Emenetie by the Post Primary Education Board, 24 years ago.
Emenetie had written a petition to the Assembly on February 17, 2000, claiming that the Post Primary Education Board had unlawfully terminated his employment.
In the petition, Emenetie prayed for his reinstatement as Permanent Secretary to be on par with his colleagues in service and for all financial benefits to take effect from the termination date.
He also requested the sum of N4,800,000.00 as compensation for the number of years he was out of employment.
However, in a unanimous decision during Tuesday’s sitting, presided over by the Speaker, Hon Emomotimi Guwor, the lawmakers stated that the sack was in clear violation of the law and should be set aside.
While recommending that Emenetie be paid all his salaries/emoluments, lawmakers directed that all benefits be paid from the date of his unlawful termination of employment.
While commending the Public Petitions Committee report, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to inform the appropriate authorities of the House’s decision and mandated the Deputy Speaker to do a follow-up for compliance.
The lawmakers said, “He should be paid other benefits he is entitled to from the date of the unlawful termination of his employment through the rank to the position of Director, which is supposed to be at least his present rank, and through to the date of his supposed retirement.
“That Mr Emmanuel Emenetie be made to retire at the grade level of a Director. That the Chairman of the Post Primary Education Board and Head of Service of Delta State be directed that the recommendations/directives of the house as contained in paragraphs 1-3 above are complied with forthwith.”
A married man, Ernest Okporu, who was accused of having unlawful carnal knowledge of his landlord's 11-year-old daughter in Osubi town, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, has been arrested.
Human rights activist, Kelvin Ejumudo, who disclosed this on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, said the 39-year-old suspect is currently cooling off in detention at the Orerokpe police station.
According to Mr. Ejumudo, the incident happened on Saturday 23rd March 2024, after the suspect told the victim to bring his charger to his apartment and then defiled her.
"One Mr Ernest Okporu, 39 years of age and married has allegedly r*ped and defile the daughter of his landlord on Saturday 23rd March 2024 in the Osubi area of Delta state," he wrote.
"I got a distress call from the mother of the little girl and well meaning Deltans that a minor has been r*ped and defiled. The little girl said Mr Ernest asked her to go bring his charger from his apartment at the back of his fridge and little did she know he followed her and grabbed her from the back, tied her hands to the back and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her
"Thereafter he threatened to kill her if she told anyone and then forced her to wash her bloodstained pants.
"The medical reports show that the hymen has been broken, there was penetration and presence of semen.
"Mr Ernest okporu admitted to the crime and was pleading for forgiveness from the father of the little girl. He’s currently cooling off in detention at the Orerokpe police station in okpe local Government council area of Delta state and will be arraigned in court before the end of the week.
"I especially want to appreciate the DPO Orerokpe Division of the Nigeria police force Delta State Command CSP Paul Oboware for his stand on this case to ensure justice is served and will not be swept under the carpet."
Three sisters who were abducted in Egbudu-Akah, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State have been rescued by the police.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, March 26.
The sisters have now been reunited with their families after they were rescued.
He wrote: “The command yesterday, March 24, 2024, rescued three sisters who were allegedly kidnapped in Egbudu-Akah, in Aniocha South LGA, and arrested one of the suspected kidnappers.
“The sisters have since been reunited with their families. This feat was achieved when a concerned resident of the community sighted the kidnappers dragging the girls to the bush.”
He added that in a stop-and-search duty on the same day, the operatives of the command also apprehended a suspected cultist and recovered a locally made cut-to-size double barrel gun.
He wrote, “On the same date in Agbor, a suspected cultist was intercepted during w stop-and-search duty. When searching, a locally made cut-to-size double barrel gun was recovered.
“CP Abaniwonda Olufemi has directed that the suspects be transferred to SCID for further investigation.”