British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush to Speak at the GTBank Fashion Weekend

Caroline Rush has achieved remarkable success in promoting the British fashion industry, particularly through organizing the globally renowned London Fashion Week and the prestigious British Fashion Awards. In 2015, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen of England for services to the British fashion industry. Caroline Rush will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to offer insights on how to successfully position a fashion brand.

Breaking! Lagos Governor Drops 3 Commissioners

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday effected a reshuffle of his cabinet, with the dropping of the Commissioners for Tourism- Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker; Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi and Transportation, Dr. Ekundayo Mobereola.

This development comes exactly one year after the Governor constituted his Executive Council, precisely on October 19, 2015.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, the Governor also directed the Special Adviser, Arts and Culture to take over as the Acting Commissioner for Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Special Adviser on Transportation will take over as Acting Commissioner for Transportation while the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance takes over as the Acting Commissioner for Finance pending the appointment of new Commissioners in the respective ministries.

The Statement adds that the Governor expresses his appreciation to the former Commissioners for their service to the State and wished them well in their future endeavours.

 

SIGNED

TUNJI BELLO

SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT (SSG)

OCTOBER 19, 2016

 

Again Nigerian Navy Crackdowns on Oil Thieves and Illegal Refineries

In line with the resolve to eliminate all forms of economic sabotage, crude oil theft and other criminal activities, the operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) have continued the crackdown on criminals within the maritime domain.

The patrol team deployed by NNS JUBILEE has arrested 13 suspects allegedly involved in illegal bunkering activities around Ibeno area of Akwa Ibom State. The suspects were arrested in 3 Cotonou boats. Two of the boats were carrying 55 and 48 drums of suspected illegally refined AGO respectively, while the third Cotonou boat was carrying about 188 empty drums. However the suspects and exhibits have been handed over to officials of NSCDC for necessary action.

Similarly, the patrol team deployed by FOB ESCRAVOS has arrested 3 persons suspected to be oil thieves. The team also destroyed 6 Cotonou boats carrying suspected stolen crude oil around Sandhill Creek in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. More so, the team recovered 2 wooden boats laden with 300 Metric Tones (MT) of stolen crude oil and a pumping machine during the raid.

Meanwhile, a patrol team deployed by NNS PATHFINDER has raided Adokiakiri Creek around Okirika axis and Dutch Island at Onne in Rivers State. During the operation, the Team arrested 8 suspects and destroyed 4 speedboats laden with 100 MT of illegally refined AGO. Two barges containing 500MT of suspected stolen crude oil were also destroyed by the team. In another raid, the Patrol Team also arrested 3   suspects onboard MV OMETE VI and a large wooden barge laden with        about 120MT of illegally refined AGO around FOT Onne in Rivers State.

In further development, NNS DELTA patrol team raided an illegal refinery site at Saba Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State. During the operation, a suspect was arrested while the illegal refinery site and a Cotonou boat laden with about 82MT of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed in situ.

'Dele Dele-Olukoju Writes:Is Dangote truly a killer brand?

The richest black man and Africa’s exceedingly rich man, multi-billionaire entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON, is a man to be admired for a myriad of reasons. He’s a trailblazer, pacesetter, conqueror, and achiever. His is an inspiring story. And despite the humongous wealth and intimidating achievement, he remains modest, meek and rather reserved.

Dangote has turned packaging to a goldmine, and literally dug up gold from his quarries, just a fraction of the business. The man who struck gold in manufacturing, Oil & Gas and Cement production, has yet struck gold. This time, not he, but his employees; they struck Funke Gold, twice!

According to reports, Funke Gold, a performing musician, was on her way to Ifo, Ogun State driving to honour a performance engagement when her car was hit by one of the now notorious Dangote trailers twice, and sent flying across the road like a ragdoll, definitely no match for a 40-ton 18-wheeler!

In the car with Funke were members of her crew, all injured with her, and helpless. Those in the vicinity were quick to help, reaching the victims before death could, and rescuing them from the wrecked car for onward transportation to a medical facility. 

But since that incident happened in July 2016, this young woman and her crew have been allegedly left for dead. After several surgeries setting their families back by several millions of naira, the management of the multinational remain unperturbed despite several entreaties, save for only one unproductive visit to the hospital in August.

Funke is now wheelchair-ridden, effectively halting her career and sole source of income - singing. The only song she sings now is that of justice, a tune that has not struck a chord with the management team at Dangote. Whatever was left of her fortune had been put into rehabilitation. Over N5,000,000 has been spent by Funke’s family, yet no compensation appears forthcoming from the corporate giant, Dangote! (N5m is the equivalent of the annual salary of a Dangote Graduate Driver).

The drivers of Dangote trucks, need I say, are reputed gods of the road, particularly on that old Abeokuta Motor Road axis, and all around Ilaro and Ibese where Dangote Cement factories are located. Aided by the sorry condition of the roads, they act like the rest of us are at their mercy, and like they’re being magnanimous for allowing us ply the roads in the first place. And to think that the company recruits graduate drivers who underwent rigorous trainings!

You’ll be alarmed to see the way they drive exiting the Apapa Quays every time, like it’s a Formula 1 flag-off. Driving a Ports vehicle like a sports vehicle cannot be acceptable in a sane society; and the FRSC can do better putting the reins on such truck drivers as they put the reins on those drivers that have not put their belts on. 

In the foregoing manner, Dangote trucks had mauled quite a number of people in 2016 alone. In April, Ajayi Yekini, a Dangote truck driver crushed his own conductor, Mojeed Jubril, to death. In May, an entire family of six was mauled to death in Akwa-Ibom State by a Dangote truck driven by Isa Bello. 

In July, a Dangote truck rammed into a kerosene tanker at Ugep, Cross River State, crushing the driver’s legs, with injuries from which he later died. In August, near Fibawe, along Bdola-Kapiri Road, Zambia, eight people were killed when a Dangote truck overtaking recklessly caused a multiple accident. And these are just the tip.

A popular Lagos lawyer is said to be very much interested in helping Funke Gold get justice, hoping it will also help slash the excesses of these hapless drivers of Dangote trucks, and help Funke back to being herself.

Written by ‘Dele Dele-Olukoju, Marketing Communication strategist, and publisher of the online Marketing Communication Digest. He writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

 

'Dele Dele-Olukoju

Award-winning Marketing Communication Practitioner

Twitter:         @deleolukoju

Facebook:      facebook.com/deledele-olukoju

BBM:              26BD900F

Mobile:          +234 803 358 9908; 807 481 2389

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

'Dele Dele-Olukoju Executive Director, The Eureka Tribe +234 1 295 4195  | +234 803 358 9908  | dele"eurekatribe.com  | www.eurekatribe.com | 387B, George Crescent, Wempco Road, CBD, Ikeja, Lagos

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle!

Philips clippers debut in Nigeria, other Sub-Saharan Africa Markets

Philips, a global leader in health and wellbeing has launched its first brand of clipper for the African market, and the company is confident that the product has all it takes to be a major player in the clippers category in Sub-Saharan Africa market.
The company said the new clipper was launched after a four year long research in several markets across sub-Sahara Africa. It added that the new Philips African clippers were designed to offer a more effective and precise haircut without the risk of cuts, rashes or bumps.
“The Philips clipper was developed and extensively field tested, taking into account the core concerns that came out in the research- mainly the need to get that clean shave feeling but to avoid the scratches, cuts and bumps that sometimes develop on the skin,” General Manager, Philips Personal Health- West Africa, Chioma Iwuchukwu-Nweke, said.
The clipper market in Africa is valued at about 200million pounds and the Nigerian market accounts for a major share of that sum, as about 3.5million units of clippers are sold in the country.
The two clippers launched by Philips are Philips Clipper Pro, which is ideal for professional barber styling and Philips Clipper Home, designed for personal use. Both products have been launched into the premium category of the clipper segment and would be contending in that category with other existing market leaders.
“Yes; there are loads of competition out there. But we intend to beat competition. We have spent lots of time on research, finding out what the market wants. We know the market wants more, that is why we produced the Philips clipper.
“Some clippers out there will give you the perfect precision, but then they cut the skin. Some are gentle on the skin but don’t give precision. But Philips is offering the best of both worlds. That is why we say ‘cut your hair and not your skin’”, Mrs. Nweke further stated.
The Philips hair clippers are already on sale in major supermarkets and online malls around the country including Yudala, Jumia, Next Time and Market, and they come with a 2-year guarantee.

GESTAPO ARREST OF JUDGES AND UNABATED ARBITRARINESS OF BUHARI REGIME: OUR STANCES

 

The National Conscience Party, NCP, watch with amazement and utter disgust the events that unfolded within the past days in Nigeria, though we are not in any way surprised by the turn of events. We are not surprised because we have consistently warned of the insincerity of this inept and pretentious APC regime and the script been played now only confirms our position about this regime and the fact that nothing has fundamentally changed for the better. 

 

We cannot but condemn in the strongest term the crudity, barbarism and hypocrisy in the arrest and detention of five judicial officers on Saturday 8^th of October 2016 by the Department of State Security, DSS, under the instructions of the Gen Muhammadu Buhari APC regime under the guise of fighting corruption in the judiciary. We are not up to discuss the technicalities, the legality or illegality of the arrest, detention, search and invasion of privacy of the persons involved, what we considered most important is the exposure of the real intentions of this regime based on the facts and why there is a cause for worry.

 

We assert that what happened over the weekend was nothing but a deceitful adventure that has nothing to do with really fighting corruption in the judiciary an any way, rather, it is nothing but a plot to intimidate thejudiciary as a whole, deal brutally on some judges that do not readily bend to this regime’s whims and caprices, create more confusion in the public and divert attention away from the numerous shortcoming and abysmal failures of this regime to prepare ground to install stooges or persons who would do the bidding of this regime into the judiciary.

 

First, a regime that is plotting to selloff public assets, that has refused to take action on the issue of corruptly padded budget, that refused to do anything about the massive hunger in the land, that has refused to act on the issue of the houses of the chief of army staff in Dubai,that close its eyes to allegation of corruption against the likes of Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi or that overlooked the use over 270 million naira in cutting grass at the IDP camp just to mention a few, to our mind does not have the moral standing to claim that it is fighting corruption in any sector. In fact, the corruption in the presidency today is monstrous, as scores of billionaires are been created overnight within their closed circles. The allegations of corruption against key officers of this regime have been mounting by the day and the regime is doing nothing about it. 

 

In addition, the intra party conflicts within the APC itself have further exposed the real face of this regime. 

 

Second, that the Nigerian judicial system is hopelessly corrupt and for the rich, just like presidency, the police, army, customs, immigrations, FRSC etc. is no news.The question is what has the APC regime concretely done since it came to power to address this question, the answer is NOTHING. The Buhari regime has no plan apart from propaganda, cheap talk and blackmail, and it also wants to use the judiciary to do its bidding of attacking the regime’s perceived enemies, attack agitators and the masses. The judiciary remains the property of the super-rich under this regime. 

 

Third, is the fact that some of the judges involved are the sitting judges in several legal suits involving the government and Buhari APC interests over the past sixteen months - the Dasuki and IPOB cases, Buhari’s certificate and affidavit saga etc. And they have been ruling against the regime!

 

Fourth, is the fact that some of the judges involved already have cases pending in the National Judicial Council, NJC. What the law says are the primary functions of the NJC, police, EFCC and ICPC are clear. Therefore, the use of the DSS is quite suspicious and reflects desperation. It is nothing more than trying to intimidate.

 

The arguments of using the DSS don’t add up in any way. They can be applied to justify the use of the Nigeria Customs or the Prisons to investigate murder. 

 

To us, when the ruling party and elites can no longer obey their own laws, it confirms not only deep crises but also the fact that things are bound to get worse so long they remain in power.

 

To us, after all the hullaballoo around the arrest of the judges and the media drama and trial that began immediately, one would have expected that by the following Monday or by now the judges would have be charged to court but that is not what happened. They were all released on personal recognition from DSS custody and as we speak there is no evidence that they would be charged. 

 

To us the entire episode is nothing but a farce and a reflection that this regime is getting more desperate as it continues to fail on all fronts. This regime wants to get more dictatorial and fascist in order to silence to opposition and mass revolt.

 

We totally support the positions of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, and other mass organization that are standing up to this regime. It is clear that only mass actions can contain the numerous atrocities of this regime.

 

Finally, corruption in the judiciary like in all sectors of Nigeria body polity has to be confronted, but in doing so we cannot give blanket support to DSS or any security agency to brutalize people unnecessarily, intimidate, violate fundamental human rights and civil liberties, and such actions must be holistic not a witch-hunt and not partial. 

 

One of the most fanatical supporters of the then Ribadu-led EFCC was our founder and mentor, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAM, SAN, but when the then IG, Tafa Balogun was forcefully handcuffed to the court, Gani in an angry letter to Obasanjo on April 5,2005 said, ’It was clearly needless and absolutely unnecessary for EFCC or the Nigeria Police to handcuff the accused – the former Inspector General of Police in view of section 34(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I personally condemn this degrading treatment….I hope that henceforth, the EFCC, ICPC, and the Nigeria Police will respect these laws that govern the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizen where they are accused either inside or outside the courts’’ The EFCC subsequently apologized! We stand by this legacy unrepentantly!!

 

I DON’T WANT TO BE IMPRISONED THE EIGHTH TIME – suspect

A 41 year old man arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police for stealing the phone of his helper has pleaded that he should be assisted from going to prison the eighth time.

The suspect, Emmanuel Oyewunmi, 41, from Ikale, Ondo State, was arrested by the operatives on Friday night at Ojodu Berger Bus Stop for stealing N600 and a phone from a bus driver and a passenger.

Oyewunmi, before now, has been on the wanted list of RRS’s operatives for stealing a Samsung Galaxy S4 belonging to one Mrs Adesewa Oni from her car. 

On the said day, Oyewunmi was a park keeper outside Shoprite Shopping Mall, Ikeja when Oni drove in to attend a ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero, Auditorium, Alausa.

For keeping an eye on her car, Oni instead of offering Oyewunmi the N200 he requested decided to drive him to a nearby ATM to withdraw some money out of which she gave him N1000. 

Unwittingly for her, she left Oyewunmi inside her car while she gets the money from the ATM. Upon returning, she handed Oyewunmi the N1,000:00 and she drove off.

“I have driven 5 minutes away from Alausa when I felt the urge to make some calls for appointments, and I realised that my phone, Samsung Galaxy S4 was missing. Quickly, my mind raced to him and I realised my folly.

How could I have left a total stranger in my car alone, leaving documents and valuable items in the car with him? It was just a silly thing to do for me. I traced him back to that spot but he was gone,” she explained.

"When I was done looking for him everywhere, I was advised to report the incidence at the RRS’s Headquarters the same day", he added. 

Oyewunmi on interrogation admitted stealing the phone of his helper while she left him in the car to get money through the ATM last week Sunday.

“I was push into it by the need to get hard drugs. As soon as I got the phone, I went to Ipodo in Ikeja to get hard drug. It was the hard drug dealer that bought it from me. He bought it N8, 000:00.

I spent the rest on drug. I was so pained that I forgot to shave and barb from the proceeds of the stolen phones”, he stated.

He explained further, “hard drug has spoilt my life. It was the cause of my rejection by my wife, and my father. I got hooked on drug while I was young and getting out of it has been extremely difficult for me.

Some faith based non-governmental originations have assisted me through rehabilitation in the past, I have always gotten back into it. Drug has been the predominant cause of my imprisonment.
If I am imprisoned now, it would be the eigth time and third time this year”, he said. 

On his second offence, Oyewunmi admitted stealing a phone and N600 from the bus driver and a passenger but pleaded that he was under the influence of drug.

Confirming the arrest of the suspected thief, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Dolapo Badmos, urged Lagosians not to expose themselves to criminals.

The suspect has been transferred to the Lagos State Taskforce for prosecution.

LAGOS STATE ENDORSES HERITAGE BANK SKOOLYMPICS PROJECT

Lagos State Government has endorsed the Heritage Bank Skoolympics project, an initiative of Heritage Bank Plc, aimed at building a heritage of champions through youth sports competition at the secondary school level

Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Sports, gave the endorsement at a stakeholders meeting held at the corporate headquarters of the bank in Lagos recently, noting that Heritage Bank is the only bank at the moment that is undertaking such a lofty and premium sporting project in the state, which maiden event will take place from November 2 to 4, 2016.

He said, “We are very excited at the project because it will help to develop youths in the state in a disciplined manner,” adding that we have mobilized and created awareness among students in the state for the project and were looking forward to it.

He said the Heritage Bank Skoolympics was a “very fantastic idea” and that the state was interested in the “pre, during and post event activities because it intended to expose the beneficiary students to proper mentoring and counselling.”

Tinubu, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission said the state government was building a sports culture in the state as it is in most metropolis, through the creation of an enabling environment for sustainable sporting activities to thrive in a variety of sports events, in a bid to cater for the passion of majority of the citizenry.

Also speaking, Chief Mrs. Mary Onyali, the Brand Ambassador of Heritage Bank Skoolympics said, “I was really moved when I was approached to be the ambassador.” She urged the stakeholders to make the Heritage Bank Skoolympics a continual project, as it consist of concepts that would benefit Nigerian children.

Earlier in her address of welcome, the Executive Director, Lagos and South-west/Corporate Banking of Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, who stood in for the Managing Director, Ifie Sekibo, affirmed that the bank was spearheading the noble project in the state because Lagos State has been known to be successful in driving sports initiatives. 

She said the bank has a sustainability plan to organise the programme yearly in a bid to identify, and mentor the winning youths over a long period of time to become medallists in international competitions.

Heritage Bank will be hosting over 200 public and private schools with about 6,000 students competing across all local government areas of Lagos State in the maiden event. The competition which will take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and Rowe Park Sport in Yaba will feature various sporting activities like basketball, athletics, handball, table tennis, swimming, track and field events among others.

Unity Bank Introduces UnityBiz Account to drive the SME franchise

 

Unity Bank Plc. has introduced the Unity Biz Account as part of its bouquet of SME offerings aimed at supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The SME space is a key market focus for the Bank as it provides the platform that will enable it tap into the business opportunities in the segment which has been identified as being the fulcrum of economic growth in the country.

The value proposition embedded in the UnityBiz current account lies in the fact that structured businesses in the SME space are able to access both the asset and liability side of the product at concessionary rates, which benchmark the best pricing offered in the industry.

The SME target market includes Retailers, Social Services, Schools, Contractors, Professional Service firms, Wholesalers, Manufacturers, Hospitality, NGOs, Clubs and Associations, Suppliers and the Agri-business value chain. The purpose is to offer the SME product that offers unbeatable value.

The UnityBIZ current account is also bundled with the Business Debit Card; a Verve- card which allows a maximum of five cards per SME such that each card can be programmed with separate transaction dynamics.

Unity Bank also offers SMEs financial advisory services as well as a free quarterly counseling and networking sessions to guide businesses that subscribe to the Unity Biz scheme.

Financial products analysts are of the opinion that Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, manufacturing, retail as well as wholesale segments of the market stand to benefit from the Unity-Biz product.

Unity Bank, a major promoter of agro-businesses, expects that agro-allied and packaging companies keying into the on-going diversification efforts of both federal and state governments will find the Unity-Biz account useful as a supporting tool for their operations.​

#WorldFoodDay2016: Let’s Take Action against Malnutrition, Hunger

When it comes to hunger , the only acceptable number is Zero.

On October 16, people around the world will come together to declare their commitment to eradicate hunger in our lifetime. The theme for this year’s World Food Day; “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too” is aimed at tackling one of the biggest issues related to climate change - food security. 

The worlds poorest - many of whom are farmers, fishers and pastoralists - are being hit hardest by higher temperatures and an increasing frequency in weather-related disasters. At the same time, the global population is growing steadily and is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050.
 
To meet such a heavy demand, agriculture and food systems will need to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and become more resilient, productive and sustainable. This is the only way that we can ensure the wellbeing of ecosystems and rural populations and reduce emissions.

FoodClique Support Initiative a hunger relief NGO leading the fight against hunger in Nigeria will be joining notable hunger NGO such as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ending Hunger, ONE, 7billion, World Food Programme (WFP), Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), etc. in celebrating World Food Day.

To mark this year’s event a Symposium will be held on Saturday 15th October, at 302A, Murtala Muhammed Way, Yaba Lagos by 1pm to discuss the theme – “Climate is Changing, Food and Agriculture must too”, and other pertinent issues as it concern Hunger in Nigeria. 

We also hope to launch in conjunction with Amplify Digital Agency  ‘The Social Meals’ A platform that uses our social media timelines to provide meals for less privileged children and families. 

On Sunday 16th October, there will be an outreach at the Makoko community, where we hope to provide nutritious meals to many disadvantaged families and children. 
 
We hope to reach as many families as possible on the day and we hope the action and advocacy against chronic hunger will receive a louder voice.
 
If you are interested to volunteer and help feed a child, please send a mail to info@foodcliquesupport.org or call FoodClique on 07089374896.

“An estimated 617,000 children in northeast Nigeria are suffering from acute malnutrition.”