‘Like Father, Like Son’: Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2nd Son, Mateo, Hits the Gym, Behaves Like Football Dad [VIDEO]
AFOLABI
Cristiano Ronaldo's second son, Mateo, is fast taking notes from his superstar dad's books after he was spotted in the gym.
At just six years old, Mateo is already displaying a keen interest in fitness, taking after his father, who is renowned for his dedication to training and staying in shape.
In a post shared on Georgina Rodriguez's Instagram stories, Mateo, shirtless and determined, was seen lifting a small weight suitable for his age while going through his workout routine.
Accompanied by his twin sister, Eva, who also attempted some exercises under Georgina's watchful eye, it's evident that fitness runs in the family.
Although it may seem unusual for children of their age to be hitting the gym, it's hardly surprising given Ronaldo's commitment to fitness and athleticism.
Widely regarded as the epitome of professionalism in sports, Ronaldo's relentless pursuit of excellence, coupled with his disciplined approach to training, has enabled him to maintain peak physical condition well into his late 30s.
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Fitness runs in Ronaldo's family.
— Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe (@NiiArmahGoddey) April 8, 2024
His 6-year-old kid, Mateo, has already hit the gym. ????????♀️
What were you doing at the age of six?
Me: sleeping and eating. ????
Video credit: georginagio/Instagram. pic.twitter.com/mjpJUUtEns
You can't fake these things.
— Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe (@NiiArmahGoddey) April 8, 2024
Ronaldo's kids love working hard in the gym, like their superstar dad. ????????♀️
Eva, Mateo's twin, worked out with Georgina Rodriguez.
Video credit: georginagio/Instagram. pic.twitter.com/GLLL9fnbC2
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has frowned at the recent hike in the electricity tariff in the country.
Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) raised electricity tariffs for customers enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily on April 3.
The Commission said customers in this category are said to be under the Band A classification, and the increase will see them pay N225 kilowatts per hour instead of the current N66.
In a statement on Sunday signed by its National President, Adebiyi Adeyeye, the NUEE strongly the recent hike and demanded a reversal of the recent increase in electricity tariff.
The union stated that it would not hesitate to withdraw its members, which would be used by distribution companies to impose the new tariffs if the hike was not reversed.
NUEE said the tariff hike would disproportionately affect those who rely heavily on electricity for their daily needs and added that the shift in pricing dynamics threatens to further expose inequalities among Nigerians by placing undue strain on the less privileged.
Adeyeye argued that there was nothing wrong with the government subsidising electricity, as the leadership of advanced countries also subsidised electricity for people.
The statement partly read, “It’s not out of place to have the government subsidise electricity. In some advanced countries, they still do that till now. Germany, for example, has a long history of supporting renewable energy resources through feed-in tariffs. The subsidy is paid based on the amount of electricity produced, and it helps to offset the initial cost of installing renewable energy systems.
“Also, the United States has various programs that provide subsidies to low-income households to help them afford their electricity bills. These programs are typically administered by state and local governments, and they can take the form of direct bill discounts or assistance with weatherization measures that can help reduce energy consumption.
“The recent electricity tariff hike is a blatant disregard for the economic struggles of Nigerian workers. Not even in a society where minimum wages are ambivalently doubtful.
“If the government fails to address the crippling cost of electricity, NUEE will not hesitate to take strong action, including the swift withdrawal of our members expected to be used by DISCOs to impose the tariff hike on the good people, to protect the livelihood of our members.
“I, however, call upon all Nigerians to join us in raising our voices against this injustice. Together, we can force the government to prioritize the well-being of its citizens over corporate interests. Our unwavering commitment remains to safeguard the interests of our members and ensure equitable access to electricity for all Nigeria.”
Two suspects have been arrested in Nigeria after they were accused of allegedly trying to extort an Australian teenager by threatening to release n3de photos of him online.
Australian police said Monday, April 8, that the boy had killed himself after being threatened by the suspects in the alleged “s3xtortion” scam.
The men, who had been talking with the teenager online, said they would release “personal photos of the boy” if he did not pay them Aus$500 (US$330), Australian police said.
The boy is alleged to have taken his own life in 2023 as a result of the threats.
Working with authorities in South Africa and Nigeria, Australian police said they had tracked the two men to “a slum in Nigeria”.
Under Nigerian law, local authorities “have the power to prosecute for Australian-based offences”, they added.
“The s3xtortion of children is a borderless crime, as these arrests show,” said Australian Federal Police commander Helen Schneider.
Olaniyi Afonja, the well-known Yoruba actor also known as Sanyeri, has addressed the widespread speculation surrounding his matrimonial state with wife Omolara Jimoh, who publicly declared a crisis in their marriage.
Recall that several months ago, the wife of the movie star stunned many fans on social media by revealing that she and the film star are no longer a couple.
She took to her official Instagram page and shared a detailed post explaining that she and the actor have actually been separated for nine years.
In an exclusive and revealing interview on the Oyinmomo podcast with media personality Bolanle Onistory, Sanyeri passionately addressed and rebutted the swirling rumors surrounding his marriage.
Defying his wife’s earlier proclamation of a marital crisis, Sanyeri emphatically stated that his wife is still a vital part of his life, residing harmoniously under their shared roof.
According to Sanyeri, the heart of the issue stemmed from a misunderstanding regarding the demands of his acting career, which often takes him away from his wife and children.
He revealed that this separation caused confusion and tension within their matrimony, as his wife struggled to reconcile the demands of his profession with their family life.
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Nigerian renowned comedian cum filmmaker, Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, has confirmed that his marriage to Mabel Makun has crashed after 15 years.
Naija News reports that there have been rumours that the movie star and his wife have parted ways over alleged infidelity.
In a statement via his Instagram page on Sunday, AY confirmed that his marriage has hit the rock but will not be entertaining the public with personal issues about his family.
The comedian admitted that he has found himself doing some things that he isn’t proud of, and it is sad to watch his marriage slip away.
He wrote:
“Many people believe that staying silent simply means that one is incapable of dealing with issues. Projecting a negative narrative against someone who is not struggling to defend himself doesn’t mean he is weak. Some of us are just logical enough to understand the difference between opinions, values, beliefs, and facts.
“The personality and ability that I possess simply confirm that i have reached that stage in my life where I can not be entertaining the public with deep personal family issues. They just might be too much to handle concerning the individuals involved. Not even when I have a grown-up daughter who has access to social media. Her mental health needs to be protected from seeing things she can not be proud of online.
“Yes! Without compromising my family, I have found myself doing some things that I am not proud of today. It is one thing to watch my friendship/marriage of 20 years slip off my hands, but it’s another thing for the parties involved to understand how to appropriate the blame in a space that is designed for most women to always play the victims and win. I can tell you for free that no one is completely INNOCENT enough to cast stones.
“Presently, I am loving the way that lies about me in all these blogs are traveling faster than the truth. But my painful truth will eventually beat away all the lies.”
Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, delivered a thought-provoking message during a virtual Ramadan lecture on Sunday, emphasising the importance of spiritual introspection and condemning societal ills such as greed, selfishness, and corruption.
In his address titled “Some Dimensions of the Concept of Ibadah,” Emir Sanusi expressed a profound perspective on morality, suggesting that actions driven by greed, selfishness, and envy are more egregious sins than those traditionally considered taboo, such as unlawful sex, homosexuality, and gambling.
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) highlighted a prevalent issue in Nigerian society, attributing social disorder to a lack of Islamic values in people’s hearts despite religious observances such as prayers and fasting.
Emir Sanusi went further to denounce corrupt practices within political leadership, alleging the misappropriation of public funds by a governor of a state implementing Sharia law. Though he refrained from naming the governor directly, he cited the example of a governor who purportedly embezzled funds to purchase a hotel in Lagos, condemning such actions as a betrayal of public trust.
Sanusi lamented the state of affairs in the mentioned state, branding it as a “most serious example of backwardness,” implying that corruption and mismanagement hinder progress and development.
The revered economist stressed the importance of accountability among leaders, asserting that a consciousness of answering to a higher power for entrusted responsibilities would deter corruption and promote ethical governance.
His words, “On Social order and Ibadah, you know when our hearts are not good, our deeds will not be good,” he said.
“We say we are Muslims, we go to the mosque and pray and Allah says prayer stops evil deeds and wrong deeds. Why is it that we go to pray all the time, we fast all the time and then we are committing this evil?
“How do you get a Muslim to become a minister or governor and all he is thinking of is how he is going to steal public funds to build a big house for himself or have billions for his children and deny people?
“When you know what the prophet has said about leadership. It is a trust and on the day of judgment, it would be a source of bitterness sadness, and regret, for those who do not keep that trust properly.
“When you sit down and know that you are going to account to Allah for this wealth, you are going to answer for it, how do you get to that office and steal public funds? This is why you have a social disorder.
“We even have had state governors who said they were practising sharia, they were leading the implementation of sharia and they were stealing money and buying hotels.
“There was a governor implementing sharia in a sharia state who stole public funds and bought a hotel in Lagos. And he says Allahu Akbar.
AS the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, moves to end petrol scarcity in Lagos and its environs, Dangote Refinery and oil marketers have intensified efforts at taking final decisions on pricing and delivery of petrol to filling stations nationwide.
Dangote Refinery, which can refine 650,000 barrels per day, bpd of crude oil, intends to commence production and distribution of the product, the bulk of which is currently imported from the global market, in May 2024.
A Checks by our currspondent, weekend, indicated that the parties have been meeting and exchanging notes on the pricing, distribution and margins to stakeholders in the value chain, including transporters and insurers.
Recall that depot owners buy the product from NNPC Limited at N556 per litre and sell to independents at N640 per litre.
It was, however learnt that independent markers have proposed N550 per litre to management of Dangote Refinery who is currently in a discussion with them.
The President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Alhaji Abubakar Migandi Garima, who confirmed the development yesterday, said: “We have been discussing with Dangote Refinery. The discussion, centering on pricing, margins and other issues, is still ongoing.
“We have proposed that the lifting price should be N550 per litre in Lagos. The price of the product will differ from one part of Nigeria to another because of distance and cost of delivering petrol to different locations.
“We are currently waiting on Dangote Refinery to conclude and communicate the price per litre, so we can plan to lift the product when it comes on stream.
‘’We expect that the price of the locally refined petrol would be cheaper than imported petrol, due mainly to local availability of the bulk of its crude oil and removal of transportation cost.”
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a nine-man gang of suspected ritualists under the name of ‘Neo Black Movement, NBM, with one full jerry can of human blood.
The suspected ritualists were arrested at a Cemetery in Dutsen Abba Ward along the Zaria -Kaduna expressway.
ASP Mansur Hussaini, Public Relations Officer of the Command, confirmed the arrest on Sunday.
Hussaini said their arrest followed a tip-off after a source drew the attention of the service formation that some group of people were sighted at the said cemetery, which in turn Saye Lowcost Division was alerted.
He added that those arrested for alleged involvement in ritual activities are, Samson Ezekiel (32), Samuel Francis (27), Usman Nura (34), Gabriel Sheba (23), Haruna Sa’id (37), Bala Lukman (27) and Jabir Rilwan (37).
The PPRO explained, “A search was conducted on their vehicle, a Lexus sedan, with registration number RSH 712 CW, where two locally made pistols, one Beretta pistol, two jacket knives, two calabashes and a jerrycan, full of human blood were recovered.”
He said the suspected ritualists, comprising the new and old members, were apprehended while initiating the new members, saying the gang confessed to getting the human blood after slaughtering an aged man and disposing of his body along the Jaji military cantonment, in neighbouring Igabi Local Government Area.
The suspects also confessed that the man’s vital body parts were dismembered but were taken away by another gang which came from Kaduna.
Following the arrest of the seven suspected ritualists along the Zaria -Kaduna expressway, he said that two other suspects were apprehended by the locals, at ABU Congo Conference Hotels, along old Jos road, stressing that they are Austin Ifinju from Ondo State, aged 28 and Yoruba by tribe and Aliyu Ali Yahaya, resident of Hadu Nasko road Abuja, aged 24. Agatu by tribe and a student of ABU Samaru.
ASP Mansur Hussaini, Public Relations Officer of the Command confirmed the arrest, explaining that investigations are ongoing.
A convicted kidnap, Hamisu Bala, better known as Wadume, on Sunday, received a heroic welcome at his hometown of Ibbi in Taraba State after serving his jail term for kidnapping.
Naija News gathered that a large crowd of women and children trooped out to welcome the convicted kidnapper back to his hometown after he was released from Kuje Prison in Abuja, on Friday.
Sources told Daily Trust that Wadume had concluded his jail sentence which ran concurrently and was ferried into Ibbi through river Benue, where he was received by thousands of people, including youths and women.
After arriving in the town, Wadumi visited the Chief of Ibbi chiefdom, Alhaji Salihu Danbawuro, at his palace.
Wadume told the chief that he was at the palace to thank him and the entire people of his chiefdom.
He said through out his trial, the chief and his subjects stood firmly with him and prayed for his safety and good health while in prison.
The chief, Saliha Danbawuro, told Wadume that he and his subjects were happy that he is out of prison.
“I and the entire people of Ibbi chiefdom are happy that Hamisu Wadume is now back in Ibbi his home town.” the chief said.
Recall Wadume was arrested by men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police, in 2019, led by the now-suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari,
During the attempt to arrest him in 2019 by the IRT over alleged kidnapping, he had enlisted the help of a Captain of the Nigerian Army, who aided his escape from Police custody when the van of the IRT was stopped at a military checkpoint by gunfire and labelled as kidnappers instead, who had attempted at kidnapping Wadume.
Residents of Ibbi town consequently pounced on the Policemen for daring to kidnap their ‘saviour’, killing about three of the elite Policemen, a development that attracted national attention to the ugly incident.
Wadume then went into hiding there for days before the IRT team smoked him out from his hideout in the Kano metropolis of Kano State.
Adejumoke Aderounmu, a popular actress in the series Jenifer Diary is dead
Tragically, the Nigerian film industry mourns the loss of Aderounmu Adejumoke Oreoluwa, a beloved actress renowned for her portrayal of “Esther” in the popular series “Jenifer Diary.”
On April 6th, 2024, at the age of 40, she departed this world, leaving behind a legacy cherished by many.
The somber news of her passing swiftly spread, accompanied by circulating graphics detailing her impending burial arrangements.
Despite the widespread grief, the cause of Aderounmu Adejumoke’s untimely demise remains undisclosed at the moment
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In the fast-paced and ferociously competitive airline sector, price wars have become like Siamese twins that can not be separated by the actors, as a surviving strategy.
While price wars are a common occurrence in the airline sector, they represent intense competition that sees airlines cut prices in an attempt to snatch passengers from their competitors. The subsequent implication may automatically trigger reduced margins and profitability. To thrive amid these price wars, airlines need strategy and competitive intelligence, specifically competitive flight price data to survive.
This is what is presently playing out in Nigeria’s air transport sector with focus on international flights since Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier, commenced flights to London Gatwick on March 30, 2024.
Prior to the entrance of Air Peace to the Lagos/London route, foreign carriers had, for many years, not only monopolized the lucrative route, but exploited the Nigerian travelers who were made to pay the costliest fares in the region while neighboring countries like Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic enjoyed very low fares.
The exorbitant fares by the foreign carriers reached its peak following the over $800 million of their proceeds trapped in Nigeria with the mega carriers withdrawing their lowest inventory fares, leaving the highest inventory fares for Nigerians to grapple with.
The withdrawal of low inventory fares by the foreign carriers saw airlines like Virgin Atlantic increase fares on the economy class to N2.353,200 for just a seat while the business class skyrocketed to N5,345,700 on the Lagos-London route.
For Turkish airlines, the economy class ticket for the Lagos-Istanbul route rose to N874,661 while the business class ticket jumped to N1,980,876.
This was the same situation Nigerian travellers experienced with other foreign carriers like British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, KLM/Air France, Air Maroc and Ethiopian Airlines.
Before the foreign carriers ganged up to increase their fares, economy class tickets on the Nigeria-UK route was between N400,000 and N650,000, depending on the booking period while business class was between N800,000 and N1.2 million.
The financial pressure the exorbitant fares inflicted on the Nigerian travelers became so unbearable that those who could not afford it were forced to suspend international trips while some like students shifted their patronage to the neighboring countries where low inventory fares were available.
The rip off continued even after the federal government had paid the substantial part of the trapped funds with the outstanding funds now put around $29 million.
Relief however came with the commencement of Air Peace flights to London.
Immediately Air Peace announced its fares which have been found cheaper and more affordable for Nigerians, the foreign carriers, out of fears of losing their Nigerian, passengers to Air Peace have engaged in price wars for survival.
According to investigations, majority of the foreign carriers operating on the Nigeria/London route have conspired to drastically slash fares to the point of charging fares lower than Air Peace fares.
Apart from introducing new incentives and more friendly marketing strategies, the foreign airlines are neck deep in dangerous battles for market share that is capable of sending weaker airlines out of business and equally wreak havoc on profit margins or even challenge the very survival of Air Peace.
A price list sighted by Saturday Tribune showed Air France luring passengers to book between May 15 and June for economy class seat on the Lagos/London route with N907,782 fares as against the over N2 million for the economy it charged before now.
British Airways has also slashed its fares on the Abuja/London Heathrow to N1,394,536 as against the over N3 million it was formerly charging. Now, an economy class ticket on Virgin Atlantic from Lagos to London has been brought down to N980, 654,000 as against the N2.353,200 it used to charge.
The ongoing price wars and other gang ups by the foreign carriers which has raised concerns amongst key players have been attributed to the desperation of the mega carriers to push out Air Peace out of the Lagos/London route.
The price war strategy adopted by the foreign airlines has been described as one of the unjust engagement of the use of international Aero politics to frustrate any African carrier they see as competitive like Air Peace.
Many of the foreign carriers are said to be uncomfortable with the presence of Air Peace in view of its capacity in the areas of modern day aircraft in its fleet that can compete favourably with those of the foreign carriers.
The global record of the Nigerian carrier as a carrier that had in the past engaged in flight operations between Nigeria and other countries like China, UAE, Israel Brazil and South Africa during the pandemic seamlessly may have caused sleepless nights for the foreign carriers.
Many key players while reacting to the foreign airlines price wars described the market as extremely agile and impatient. They advised Air Peace to urgently change its game plan by making “the world taste what it means to be a truly Nigerian brand. You could see the presence of intentionality in their campaigns. It shows a clear understanding of the market. They are unleashing on Air Peace products of insights derived from the algorithm in their passengers platforms. They know where these customers are, they have their details, they may even be engaging passengers directly.”
The sudden reduction in the fares the key players said will be for the benefit of the Nigerian travelers who are the brides. They, however, expressed surprise at how the foreign airlines that refused to reduce their fares ab initio suddenly slashed the fares just to get at Air Peace.
Nollywood actress and producer, Ruth Kadiri has issued a stern warning to her colleagues to desist from using her artiste in their movies.
The filmmaker, renowned for her exquisite production and distribution of movies on YouTube, via her Instagram story, stated that they should either grow their channel organically or groom their own artists.
She said:
The first quarter of 2024 saw a swift rise on the Nigerian stock exchange, with the All-Share Index reaching a laudable 104,562.06 points, marking a major increase of 39.84%.
During this period, NGX trading capital volume also experienced a substantial uptick, rising by 44.5% to close at N59.13 trillion by the quarter’s end. This surge reflects a notable N18.21 trillion increase from the initial N40.92 trillion at the beginning of 2024.
Driving this market performance were the outstanding results of individual stocks. Behind these successful companies are visionary Chief Executive Officers who navigate the challenges and steer their organizations towards financial success. With this in mind, Nairametrics highlights some of the CEOs of companies with the best -performing stocks on the NGX during the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2024).
9. Dr. Lars Richter- Managing Director/CEO Julius Berger Nigeria Plc
Dr. Lars Richter holds a Doctorate Degree in Civil Engineering, and brings to the table vast operational experience, comprehensive technical expertise, and an in-depth understanding of Julius Berger’s operations nationwide.
- He became Managing Director and Director at Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on October 16, 2018.
- Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the local arm of the Julius Berger Group, witnessed a significant 53.5% surge in its share price during the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2024). Starting the year at N43.00, the company’s share price soared to N66.00 by the end of the quarter.
Furthermore, the company’s market capitalization experienced a noteworthy appreciation, increasing by N36.8 billion to reach N105.6 billion by the close of the quarter. This marks a substantial rise from the N68.6 billion valuation recorded at the beginning of the year on January 1, 2024.
8. Andrew M. Ikekhua, Managing Director-NEM Insurance
Andrew Ikekhua holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Plateau State School of Accountancy & Management Studies, Jos, and an MBA in Administration and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Business and Finance.
- He also obtained an MBA in Entrepreneurship from ITTL-Doctoral Research Center and the University of Phoenix, Arizona. Ikekhua is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (ACIIN), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (FCE 2009), and holds memberships with several other professional bodies.
NEM Insurance Plc saw a remarkable 57.1% increase in its share price, closing the quarter at N9.90 compared to the N6.30 at the beginning of the year. This surge contributed to an impressive gain in the company’s market capitalization, which rose by N18.1 billion from N31.6 billion to N49.7 billion during the same period.
7. Owen Omogiafo- Transnational Corporation Plc (TRANSCORP)Dr. (Mrs.)
Owen D. Omogiafo serves as the President and Group CEO of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp), Nigeria’s leading diversified conglomerate. Prior to her current role, Owen led as MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, overseeing the $132m renovation of the Transcorp Hilton Abuja. As a seasoned professional, she boasts over two decades of experience across various domains, holding key positions at Heirs Holdings Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Accenture.
Transnational Corporation Plc, a conglomerate powerhouse, saw a 64% surge in its share price, soaring from N8.66 to N14.20 in Q1 2024. With significant holdings in Transcorp Hotels Plc and Transcorp Power Plc, the conglomerate achieved a substantial market capitalization of N577.2 billion during the quarter. This marked an impressive N225.2 billion uptick from its starting position of N352.0 billion on January 1, 2024.
6. Adaobi Nwakuche- Managing Director Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc
Adaobi Nwakuche, appointed Managing Director in December 2023, brings over 25 years of expertise in insurance. Her vast experience includes strategic partnerships, deal negotiations, channel development, and team leadership.
- Previously, she served as Managing Director/CEO of Heirs Insurance Limited, shaping its strategic direction.
- With roles as Executive Director at Heirs Holdings Group and Director of Commercial Operations, Adaobi holds a government and public administration degree from Abia State University, an MBA from ESUT Business School, and a Doctorate in Insurance and Risk Management from the European American University. She’s a member of CIIN and CII, and an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School and Lagos Business School.
Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, one of the insurance companies listed on the NGX was one of the best performing stocks in the NGX in Q1 2024. It gained an impressive 81.1% as its share price moved from N0.37 at the start of the quarter to N0.67 at the end of the quarter.
The company’s market cap also appreciated by N4.16 billion during the first quarter.
5. Chief Adebimpe Giwa – GMD Tripple Gee and Company Plc
Chief (Mrs) Adebimpe Giwa is a highly accomplished Administrator with extensive experience and a strong educational background, including a B.A ED (English) and Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Lagos State University.
- She obtained her Masters in Marketing from St. Edward ‘s University, USA. She is an esteemed member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria and a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, FNIMN . Chief Giwa is an alumni of the Lagos Business School OMP 31 and also a dedicated Rotarian.
Printing firm Tripple Gee and Company Plc made a notable impact on the NGX in Q1 2024. The company’s share price surged by 92.1%, reaching N4.13 at quarter-end from N2.15 at the beginning.
Additionally, its market capitalization increased by approximately N980 million during the quarter, totaling N2.04 billion compared to N1.06 billion on January 1, 2024. This performance shows Tripple Gee’s strong showing in the market, reflecting positive investor sentiment and confidence in the company’s prospects.
4. Ayodele Musibau Abioye-Managing Director BUA Foods
Ayodele Abioye is an experienced and multi-skilled business engineer with over 25 years in business operations, leadership and management, food manufacturing, project engineering, supply chain, change, and general management.
- Ayodele Abioye joined the BUA Group in 2021 as Chief Operating Officer for BUA Group’s food businesses and was appointed Acting Managing Director of BUA Foods Plc in 2021.
- His previous roles include General Manager at Seven-Up Bottling Company, Franchise Technical Director at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Regional Supply Chain Director with Nigerian Bottling Co. Ltd., and Chief Operating Officer for SecureID Ltd.
- Ayodele has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ilorin, a Master’s degree in Engineering Management and a PhD in Manufacturing Engineering – both from the University of Benin.
Nigeria’s largest consumer goods company and the largest member of BUA Group, BUA Foods posted an outstanding performance in the NGX in Q1 2024. The company’s share price appreciated by 96.4%, moving from N193.40 to N379.90 during the quarter.
BUA Foods’ market capitalization also appreciated by N3.36 trillion, closing the quarter at N6.84 trillion, up from N3.48 trillion posted at the start of the year.
3. Ossai Mustapha Reuben-CEO/Group Managing Director of The Initiates Plc
Ossai Mustapha Reuben is a seasoned environmentalist and Waste Manager with over two decades of experience.
- Holding a Master of Engineering Degree in Environmental Engineering and a Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum and Environmental Law, he is a professional member of esteemed organizations like the Chartered Institution of Waste Management UK, ISWA Vienna, and the Nigerian Institute of Architects.
- Ossai’s expertise includes designing Wastewater Treatment Plants, crafting waste management programs, and serving on expert committees.
- He made history as the first African certified as an International Waste Manager by ISWA and served as the past President of Waste Management Society of Nigeria.
Waste management company, The Initiates Plc (TIP), demonstrated strong performance on the NGX in Q1 2024, with a 97.4% increase in its share price. Starting the quarter at N1.15, the company’s share price surged to N2.27 by the end of the quarter.
Additionally, TIP’s market capitalization saw a significant rise of N997 million, climbing from N1.023 billion to N2.020 billion during the same period.
2. Arvind Pathak – Group Managing Director Dangote Cement Plc
Arvind Pathak assumed the role of Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc on March 1, 2023, bringing over 36 years of experience in the cement industry.
- Before joining Dangote Cement, he served as MD and CEO of Birla Corporation Ltd, showcasing his expertise in business leadership.
- Pathak previously held positions as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Group Managing Director at Dangote Cement Plc until 2021, and as CEO of Reliance Cement from 2008 to 2015.
- He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Industrial Engineering and Management, complemented by international management training and a Fulbright scholarship.
Dangote Cement Plc, Nigeria’s most capitalized company, experienced a remarkable surge in its share price during Q1 2024, soaring by 114.7%. Starting at N319.90, the share price surged to N686.70 by the quarter’s end. Additionally, the group’s market capitalization witnessed a staggering increase of N6.25 trillion, rising from N5.45 trillion to N11.70 trillion.
Dangote Cement’s market share on the NGX also saw significant growth, climbing from 13.32% to 19.79% during the quarter, marking a substantial increase of 6.47 percentage points.
1. Akin Akinfemiwa- CEO Geregu Power Plc
Akin Akinfemiwa, the CEO of Geregu Power Plc, oversees strategic leadership, direction, and expansion for the business. With over 22 years of experience, he specializes in International Petroleum Products Trading and Energy. Akinfemiwa served as Group CEO of Forte Oil Plc for 8 years, leading its transformation and turning it into a profitable entity.
He also chaired Forte Upstream Services and MOMAN, and held directorial roles in African Petroleum Ghana and Fineshade Energy UK. Akinfemiwa began his career as a Business Process Analyst at FSB International Bank plc before venturing into strategic trading and supply relationships at Oando Plc.
Geregu Power Plc, the premier power company listed on the NGX, saw an astounding 150.6% surge in its share price during Q1 2024. Witnessing an impressive rise from N399.00 to N1000.00 per share, the company’s stock soared to unprecedented heights.
This surge also propelled Geregu Power’s market capitalization, which experienced a substantial increase of N1.5 trillion. Starting the quarter at N997.5 billion, the company’s market value surged to N2.5 trillion by the end of Q1 2024.
[Nairametrics]
It Is Not Nigeria’s Responsibility To Forgive Boko Haram – Ex-soldiers Condemn Reintegrating Terrorists Into Society
AFOLABISome retired soldiers have warned the Federal Government to desist from rehabilitating and reintegrating some repentant terrorists who have gone through the government’s deradicalisation programme, Operations Safe Corridor (OSC).
Naija News reports that the rehabilitation programme began during former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and has seen no fewer than 4,000 ex-Boko Haram members go through the programme.
In January 2023, no fewer than 613 rehabilitated terrorists undergoing de-radicalisation were scheduled to be handed over by the military authorities to their respective state governors.
However, in July 2022, some repentant Boko Haram members, despite renouncing their membership of the terror group, were accused of having contact with their former colleagues and supplying them intelligence.
The former terrorists were said to be among the 800 persons who were recently reintegrated into the Bama community in Borno State and were resettled at the Government Girls’ Secondary School Bama.
Speaking on the development, a retired colonel, Hassan Stan-Labo told Punch that, “If we have mobilised and brought them (terrorists) out for rehabilitation, it is already too late; there is nothing we can do but to go the whole hog; go through the entire demobilisation, de-radicalisation and rehabilitation.
“However, if I were the commander-in-chief, my instructions would have been: ‘Don’t bring anybody for any damn rehabilitation; you bloody well will pay the price for whatever you have done on the battle front’.
“You want a battle, come get the battle. You have committed all kinds of atrocities and now, you turn around begging for forgiveness.
“We don’t have a responsibility to forgive you; we hasten your journey to heaven. Go and meet God and ask for penance. What do we tell the people in the displaced persons camps, who are not even getting the kind of treatment we are giving these guys?
“We can have the biometrics of these guys and since fingerprints are used in the course of recruitment, we should be able to fish out those who may want to join the military. If we have a very effective intelligence network on the ground, this wouldn’t happen. I’m also aware that the Borno State Government is documenting their biometrics data. That’s a very good starting point.”
Another retired military officer, who served in the Nigerian Navy but refused to be named, said it was wrong to assume that terrorists would repent because the government made them go through a programme.
He said, “We are talking of hard criminals who kill innocent people for a living and leave families deserted. They destroy people’s livelihoods and feel nothing. Why will a few months or years programme deradicalise them? What was the government thinking when it said it wants to reintegrate them back into the society to live with the same people whom they rendered homeless? The government needs to have a clear rethink. No terrorist should be treated with kid’s gloves.”
Also speaking, a former director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, said the rehabilitation programme seemed not well-thought-out and ill-timed.
He said, “The government has been releasing some of them under the notion that they have been de-radicalised. These same people will go back into the society and start wreaking havoc. I think the government should reconsider its stance on the release of de-radicalised insurgents to avoid reintroducing criminals into the society.
“You can’t continue to release them in the heat of the problems when none of the people that have been arrested has been successfully prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others. Since they are not prosecuted, they are not afraid of going back to their old way.”