Odumakin Contracted COVID-19, Recovered, Dies of Lung Complications Buhari, Osinbajo, Obasanjo, Jonathan, Atiku, Tinubu, Govs, others pay tribute to late activist Our Correspondents complications, after testing discharged penultimate have been intubated and, in he was rushed to the at IDH had so affected his negative to COVID-19 twice. Monday from the Infectious the process, suffered lung State University Teaching lungs that recovery was The fiery spokesperson of He had earlier contracted the Diseases Hospital (IDH), Yaba, complications. According to Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, difficult. Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba COVID-19 but had recovered Lagos, the isolation centre for close family sources, when where he eventually passed Odumakin’s wife, Dr. socio-political group, and tested negative to the COVID-19 patients. the complications in his on yesterday. Joe Okei-Odumakin, who Comrade Yinka Odumakin, virus on two consecutive But while still battling respiratory organs did not give Family sources told yesterday, died from lung times. Odumakin had been the disease, he was said to way as quickly as expected, THISDAY that the intubation Continued on page 8

Report: Fintechs Raised $120.557 Million in 60 Deals in 2020… Page 5

Sunday 4 April, 2021 Vol 26. No 9492

www.thisdaylive.com T N400 RU N TH & REASO Sule Cautions against Reprisals over Murder of Herders’ Leader Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday expressed sadness over the killings of two leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breaders Association (MACBAN) in Nasarawa State and cautioned against reprisal attacks capable of worsening the situations. Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nasarawa State, Alhaji WEDDING FATIHA Mohammed Hussain, and R-L:: Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila; Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje; Speaker Kano State House of Assembly, Rt Hon his counterpart in Toto Local Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari; and Rep. Sani Bala during the wedding Fatiha of Chairman, House Committee on Power, Rep. Magaji Dau’s son on Saturday 3 April Government Area of the state, 2021. Photo: Speaker's Media Unit Continued on page 15 Buhari Laments Influx of Illegal Arms, Condemns Killings in Ebonyi, Anambra Directs relevant agencies to fish out perpetrators President to submit supplementary budget on security, says Lawan Adopt new strategies to fight insurgency, banditry, Niger Senator tells security agencies Deji Elumoye in and killings in both Anambra and face the consequences of their In a related development, Senatorial district in the security base in the Shiroro Laleye Dipo in Minna Ebonyi States, which claimed action, however, sympathised the country's security agencies national assembly Senator local government of Niger some lives, including three with a former Central Bank have been advised to adopt Mohammed Sani Musa has state on Thursday. President Muhammadu Buhari policemen. of governor, Professor new strategies to fight suggested. This is as the President of has expressed worries over Buhari, who immediately Chukwuma Soludo, who also insurgencies and banditry Musa made the suggestion the Senate, , has the increasing influx of illegal directed security agencies to survived a recent attack at now prevailing in parts of against the backdrop of disclosed that President Buhari weapons into the country, even fish out the persons behind his hometown in Isuofia, the country, the Senator the massacre of 7 security as he condemned the recent the attacks and make them . representing Niger East operatives in their Allawa Continued on page 5

At Easter, Nigerian Leaders Felicitate with Christians, Urge Unity, Cooperation…Page 12 2 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY  ͼ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 5 PAGE FIVE

REMEMBERING CHRIST AT EASTER L-R: Palm - Avenue Senior Circuit Steward, Bro. Abiona Babarinde; Palm - Avenue Circuit Presbyter, Very Rev Mathew Ogunsiji; Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, The Rt. Rev.(Dr.) Sunday Ogunlere; Conference Legal Officer, Very Rev (Barr.) David Olufemi; Palm - Avenue Cathedral Senior Steward, Bro. Olabode Adeyemi; all of Methodist Church Nigeria at the Palm Sunday service held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of Blessing, Palm - Avenue, Lagos Report: Fintechs Raised $120.557 Million in 60 Deals in 2020 Obinna Chima services providers; while 74.7 last year were startups year, with $35 million Series “For the third time in a solidified global financial per cent was attributable to in agriculture ($200,000), B fund raising. It is however, session, technology startups services providers’ interest Financial technology (fintech) six startups that individually education ($150,000), energy worthy to note that the fintech in the financial services in the Nigerian market. startups in Nigeria raised a raised at least $10 million. ($3,000,000), financial services startup last month raised $170 industry raised more than half “Unlike in the last two years, total of $120,557,026 in 60 Also, while 3.5 per cent, ($64,793,455), healthcare million in a Series C funding of the total amount raised by the industry didn’t get any deals in 2020, the Nigerian which was 15 of the deals were ($32,249,955), human resources round, bringing its total fund Nigerian technology startups regulatory hit. In June 2020, Startup Funding Report 2020 local; 37 (71.2% of the total ($2,830,000), media ($750,000), raising to $225 million since in 2020. In 2019, financial the published by Techpoint Africa amount raised), were foreign mobility and logistics its launch five years ago. services had 51.1 per cent released an exposure draft of has revealed. deals, and nine (25.3% of the ($793,616), online retail Other companies that with the share rising to 53.7 a regulatory framework for According to the report total amount raised) were deals ($13,970,000), retail ($20,000) featured among the top deals per cent in 2020. sandbox operations to guide obtained yesterday, of the 60 with participation by both local and services ($1,780,000). of the year were 54gene, Aella “The acquisition of Paystack innovation in the country’s deals, 18 of it were pre-seed and foreign investors. However, In all, the report showed that Credit, Helium Health, Kuda, – a financial services provider financial services space,” it rounds. it pointed out that there were 26 financial services providers TradeDeposit, Field Intelligence, founded by Nigerians – by stated. A further breakdown of more than 15 undisclosed deals raised a total of $64,793,455. Autochek Africa, Resource Stripe for over $200 million the amount raised showed in the year. Flutterwave which had a Energy, CredPal, YellowCard, topped the list of happenings t4FF QBHFT  GPS that 53.7 per cent of the total Some of the sectors that Series B funding in 2020, was Youverify, Xend Africa, in the Nigerian tech startup NPSF PO 5FDIQSFOFVST  funding was raised by financial benefited from the funding listed as the top deal of the Lifestores Pharmacy and Okra. space in 2020. This further DPOUJOVBUJPOGSPNMBTUXFFL BUHARI LAMENTS INFLUX OF ILLEGAL ARMS, CONDEMNS KILLINGS IN EBONYI, ANAMBRA would later this month submit illegal weapons and arrests Allawa and Bassa as a result security, I think the National in this area and, Mr. President done quite a lot in that area. a supplementary budget to of a large number of arms of the Thursday incident. Assembly has done quite a lot gave the security chiefs six If you look at the spread of the National Assembly to suppliers would be intensified. Closing the camps is not in that area working with the weeks to restore security in federal government projects request for more funds to According to him, the federal the solution to the problem Executive arm of government our rural areas, particularly, across the country, you will tackle insecurity across parts government would continue since chopping off the head and, recently, on Monday or because the rainy season will agree with me that the federal of the country. to empower the police and the has never been the solution so, the Speaker of the House come pretty soon – maybe government has not favored Buhari, in a statement armed forces in their brave to persistent headache, what of Representatives and I met in the next two months and any part of the country. yesterday by his Media struggle against terrorism, we should do is to devise new with Mr. President, and the without security in the rural “I think the government is Assistant, Garba Shehu, banditry and kidnapping". methods of tackling insurgency center of our discussion was areas, there’ll be no farming. doing quite a lot to ensure condemned a deadly attack and banditry. the security of the country. “And when there’s no that there’s that equitable that took place on Monday Senator Mohammed Closing of the camps will “How do we engage the farming, our food security distribution of projects night in the three communities Sani Musa open the communities to more security of this country? It has will be threatened and our across the country. I believe of Egedegede, Obegu and attacks by bandits he said. been a nagging issue, but it security situation will be that the unity of this country Amuzu in Íshíelu Local The federal Lawmaker Musa commiserated with is not an issue that cannot be further complicated.” will continue to be our major Government Area (LGA) of lamented that the nation was officers and men of the solved. With the appointment The Senate President, who focus. From time to time, you Ebonyi State and promised losing too many of its trained Nigerian Army and those of the new Service Chiefs, we underscored the importance of hear some people talking of that the perpetrators of the personnel to bandits and even of the police as well as the have seen newer strategies and unity in national development, maybe establishing their own “heinous attack” would not the Boko Haram elements families of the deceased Mr. President and the National said those clamouring for the country or secession. be spared. which requires that the top security operatives who lost Assembly will be working to break-up of the country were “I believe that majority of The president also extended echelon of the armed forces their lives in the attacks by provide more resources in the in the vast minority, adding Nigerians believe that they his sympathies to families and should re-strategise to protect these bandits and pray to supplementary budget, which also that, those behind the should stay together – and I friends, who had lost their our soldiers and policemen. God to grant the souls of the the presidency will submit minority agitations were mean the ordinary Nigerians. loved ones, and to every He said it will not be out of departed eternal rest and their sometime maybe this month disgruntled elites bent on These are people who believe member of the communities place if the military and other families the fortitude to bear to the National Assembly.” satisfying their self-serving in the unity of this country. in Ebonyi State traumatised security forces force out the the irreparable loss. According to him, “We interest to the detriment of But the elites is where the by the despicable acts of bandits and other criminals (National Assembly) are majority of Nigerians. problem is. The elites will tell wickedness. from their hiding places in the Senate President prepared to give every He added that the unity you, no, we have to secede. I In his message of sympathy forests since they have turned possible resource to our of Nigeria would continue believe that we should be fair to Soludo, Buhari stated: the forests to their abodes from Meanwhile, Lawan, who security agencies to fight and to be the cardinal focus of to the multitude of Nigerians "I strongly condemn the where they unleash mayhem made the disclosure while restore normalcy to every part the National Assembly by – those ordinary people of cowardly terrorist attack on on innocent and peace loving speaking to journalists in his of the country, whether it is ensuring equity, justice and Nigeria. What they require an outstanding Nigerian, Nigerians. home town, Gashua, Saturday, insurgency, banditry, militancy fairness for every part of the is leadership. Professor Chukwuma Musa described as shocking all of which were captured or kidnapping. country. “We must give them Soludo. Our prayers are with and totally unacceptable the in a statement by Ezrel “We believe that we need to “Nigeria will continue to leadership, a fair leadership. If him and the families of the massacre of these security Tabiowo, Special Assistant to have security before life can be one. What we need to we have any issues, we should security operatives, who lost men by these lawless and President of the Senate, said be better, because you can’t emphasise always is equity, be able to discuss the issues. their lives trying to defend blood thirsty bandits saying the National Assembly would do anything or attract direct justice and fairness to all, for We should not neglect people innocent citizens assembled for everything should be done to stop at nothing to ensure that foreign investments, even all. I think this is one way to when they complain, but that a peaceful meeting", he said. exterminate them once and normalcy and security were farming becomes impossible go, probably the only way to is not likely to be the most Expressing concern at the for all. restored to states faced by in some states, because of the go to ensure that everybody popular position of the people influx of illegal weapons, the He however said the army challenges such as kidnapping, level of insecurity. feels belonged. from any part of the country. President reassured Nigerians and police authorities should insurgency, banditry and “So, security is key. It is Speaking on the achievement So, I believe that unity of this that ongoing efforts, which had reconsider their decision to militancy. essential and a necessity that of the government, he noted country is non-negotiable”, led to the record recovery of close the military camps at He said: “About the issue of we have to restore normalcy that, “This administration has Lawan said. 6 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 7 8  ͼ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NEWS ODUMAKIN CONTRACTED COVID-19, RECOVERED, DIES OF LUNG COMPLICATIONS confirmed some of the Fani-Kayode said, "The information in a brief statement South-west and, indeed, Nigeria formally announcing her has lost one of its greatest sons husband’s death, stated, “With and brightest stars. Those of gratitude to the Supreme us who had the honour of Being for a life well spent, I being called your brother and announce the passing on of who stood by you shoulder my beloved husband, Comrade to shoulder through the most Yinka Odumakin, to the great trying times for our people and beyond after a brief illness.” the most bitter battles for the In the statement titled, “A emancipation of our nation Part of Me Is Gone!” Mrs. shall miss you dearly. Odumakin said, “The sad “You were a Spartan and a event happened this morning Roman all rolled into one in (Saturday, 3/4/2021) at the every sense of the word. intensive care unit of LASUTH, “A great son of the West who where he was being managed inspired millions, who made us for respiratory issues due to proud of who we are and what complications from COVID-19, we stand for, who humbled which he had recovered from our collective adversaries and about a week ago. who harboured no fear. “I appreciate the outpouring “Your legacy is truly blessed of grief and sympathy from and wrapped in glory and it home and abroad as I mourn shall surely endure.” my irreplaceable soul mate. I urge us all to remain steadfast Ekweremadu: in the cause of the masses to which he dedicated his life.” Odumakin was gallant There was a massive soldier for democracy outpouring of grief, emotion, and eulogy at the news of Former Deputy President Odumakin’s death, as national of the Senate, Senator Ike leaders, prominent Nigerians, Ekweremadu, condoled and citizens from across the with the pan-Yoruba group, country paid tribute yesterday describing Odumakin’s death to one of the country’s most as a heavy loss, not only to the outspoken advocates of social Yoruba nation, but also to the justice, and spokesman of the country as a whole. pan-Yoruba socio-political Ekweremadu said Odumakin group, Afenifere. was a courageous leader, who President Muhammadu worked tirelessly for a peaceful, Buhari, in an emotional equitable, and prosperous statement, described the fallen Nigeria. “He was a gallant soldier spokesman of Afenifere as a Odumakin dutiful man of conviction. for democracy and will be In the condolence message “As a cultural enthusiast, Mr. person, because we’ve been him as a seasoned public personally signed statement, remembered for his dogged signed by his Special Adviser Odumakin lived his short life so intimate. analyst, activist, politician and titled, “Yinka Odumakin: battles in this regard,” on Media and Publicity, Femi as a force to be reckoned with “He’s been my right-hand patriot, who was relentless in Premature Departure of a Bright Ekweremadu said, adding, “It is Adesina, Buhari commiserated in propagating and protecting man in Afenifere management. canvassing and serving the Star,” said, “Odumakin never sad that we have lost him, but with the family, friends, and the interest of the Yoruba in It’s terrible. Yinka should not interests of Yorubaland and the held public office. But he has it is even sadder that Nigeria acquaintances of Odumakin. the larger Nigeria social space. have gone at this time. progress of the country at large. been a constant feature and is far from the egalitarian and The late Odumakin was “This is not a time to lose “It’s a terrible blow to Secretary of the APC Caretaker/ part of our public consciousness prosperous nation he had hoped spokesman to Buhari in 2011, such a strong promoter of the Afenifere and Nigeria. We’ve Extraordinary Convention over the last two decades of and worked for.” when he ran for president on ideals that would progress our lost a brilliant chap with Planning Committee, Sen. John this unbroken democratic the platform of the now defunct nation in the desired direction intelligent and brilliant ideas. Akpanudoedehe, in a statement dispensation. He epitomised He had unparalleled Congress for Progressive of a united, just and equitable This is sad, very sad.” issued Saturday said Odumakin the true definition of the commitment to Change (CPC). society.” was an uncommon patriot. citizen; a patriot who was ever equity – Southern and The president said Odumakin Odumakin was conscious of the fact that his died at a time when he had a He Was a Strong He was a Champion life could not be complete or Middle Belt Leaders lot more to contribute to the a focused social his humanity meaningful if he Forum country. He prayed God to Believer in Good crusader – PDP of Egalitarianism – did not take an active interest grant repose to the soul of the Governance – Atiku Sanwo-Olu in and join likeminded fellow Southern and Middle Belt departed activist and comfort Abubakar The main opposition Peoples citizens in seeking always to Leaders Forum said concerning all those he left behind. Democratic Party (PDP) said Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu of promote the common good of its late National Secretary, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Former Vice President Atiku Odumakin’s death was a said, in a statement his community and country.” “Although he was an Afenifere in a release on Saturday by his Abubakar described Odumakin huge loss to the country and, by his Chief Press Secretary, chieftain, his commitment to media assistant, Laolu Akande, as a promoter of good particularly, the PDP, given Mr. Gboyega Akosile, that He was Embodiment building a Nigerian State, expressed sadness at the news governance. In a statement his erudite contributions to the late activist was a great where fairness, equity and of Odumakin’s death. Osinbajo he personally signed, Atiku national dialogue and relentless nationalist, passionate leader, of Noble Virtues – justice reigns, was unparalleled. commiserated with his wife, said, "Odumakin was a patriot commitment towards the and champion of a true Nigeria Makinde "For Southern Nigerian and family and associates, and and strong believer in the development of democratic that would work for every Middle Belt Forum, Yinka was prayed that God will comfort promotion of good governance, ethos in the country. citizen. Governor 'Seyi Makinde of Oyo a backbone who in the past the family. democracy and the rule of law. In a statement, National The governor said, State described Odumakin’s few years worked tirelessly Former President Olusegun I sympathise with all Nigerians Publicity Secretary of PDP, "Odumakin as civil rights death as the personal loss of to give the organisation both Obasanjo also reacted to the sad who share these same values Kola Ologbondiyan, said, activist was selfless. He spent a good brother and a great national and international news and immediately paid a with Odumakin, especially the "Odumakin was consistently the greater part of his life in the loss to the Yoruba race. In visibility and recognition. condolence visit to the leader of Afenifere group, of which Yinka focused in fighting for a nation service of humanity, particularly a statement by his Chief He also brought clarity and the pan-Yoruba group, Pa Ayo was the publicity secretary – a in which the principles of the emancipation of the Yoruba Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, common understanding to Adebanjo, at his Lagos residence role he played with so much equity, fairness and justice will people, the development of the Makinde said the late Afenifere the problems bedevilling our to commiserate with him over commitment and admiration. thrive in every sphere of our South-west region, in particular, spokesman was a true Yoruba country, aimed at providing the demise of Odumakin. "Much as our heart national life. and the nation, in general." son, who embodied the ethos of timely solutions to them.” In an equally touching tribute grieves over this unpleasant "He dedicated his life as Odumakin "stood firmly Omoluabi, a dogged and true The forum’s condolence titled, “A strong voice for equity development, we must take a journalist, human right behind the attainment of fighter of the Yoruba cause, and message was jointly signed is gone,” former President solace in accepting it as an activist and social crusader for constitutional democracy and an advocate of good governance by its National Leader, Chief Goodluck Jonathan described act of God and acknowledge improvement in every phase fiscal federalism as the basis and true federalism. Edwin Clark; President-General Odumakin as “a courageous the fact that Yinka lived a of the live in our country. for sustainable development He said Odumakin's death of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prof. patriot and rights crusader who life of purpose in defence of "Indeed, if Yinka Odumakin and lifting the masses out of had created a huge vacuum George Obiozor; President- gave his all to the struggle for the ordinary people of this had the last pint of blood in poverty," Sanwo-Olu added. He in Yoruba land and Nigeria. General of Middle Belt Forum, a better Nigeria.” country and to enthrone a his vein and there was a need said, “I personally followed the The governor said, "While we Dr. Pogu Bitrus; and National Jonathan said Odumakin was better Nigeria." to drop same for democracy to late Odumakin and found his submit to the will of Almighty Chairman, Pan Niger Delta a man with rich democratic be strengthened in our country, principled position and capacity God, who retains the right over Forum (PANDEF), Senator credentials who “played active he would have readily made to speak truth to power as the lives of every mortal, we are Emmanuel Ibok-Essien. Afenifere: It’s a Loss it available crucial for Nigeria’s political convinced that the values and roles in the years of activism Too Heavy to Bear that birthed and stabilised civil "Our party commiserates and economic development." ideals that Odumakin fought Odumakin was a true rule in our country.” with his dear wife, Joe, who for in his lifetime have not died The former president stated Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo has also remained steadfast in with him." Yoruba son – Gani Adebanjo, tweeted a photo of A Bright Star Departed regarding Odumakin, “He was a fighting for human right, good Prematurely – Tinubu Adams great asset for just causes whose Odumakin, which he captioned, governance, credible elections He was a Great Son “This is too heavy to bear.” as well as justice, especially considerable contributions to National leader of the ruling of the West – Fani- The Aare Onakakanfo of the growth of civil society is Secretary-General of for the downtrodden." Yorubaland, Gani Adams, Afenifere, Basorun Sehinde All Progressives Congress Kayode not in doubt. He also acquitted (APC) and former governor described the death of himself as a seasoned journalist Arogbofa, described the death Odumakin as one death too of the Afenifere spokesperson He was an uncommon of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola A former aviation minister, Femi and columnist who promoted patriot – APC Tinubu, called Odumakin a many, saying the Yoruba egalitarianism and social well- as a terrible blow to the country Fani-Kayode, said described nation has lost a gem who and the group. dedicated and courageous Odumakin as a great warrior being, in his regular essays.” All Progressives Congress civil society activist. Tracing was a dependable ally. The statement signed by Arogbofa, who reacted in who feared nothing and stood Adams, in a statement by his Akure, said, “it’s a terrible blow. (APC) mourned the death Odumakin’s activism to his for truth and justice right to Jonathan’s media adviser, of Odumakin, describing student days, Tinubu, in a Ikechukwu Eze, also said, A terrible blow to me, as a the end. Continued on page 15 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 9 10 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 11 12  ͼ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NEWS At Easter, Nigerian Leaders Felicitate with Christians, Urge Unity, Cooperation Our Correspondents our ethnicity, tribe, religion or creed.'' “I also call on you to continue to pray candidate of the PDP in the last general election, fervently against the security challenges in Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has urged everyone Nigerian leaders from different walks of life, Ugwuanyi Preaches Peace, Faith the country as well as the Covid -19 pandemic, to remain thankful to Almighty God for His yesterday, joined people of Christian faith which is still very much with us. We are indeed benevolence by sending his son to die and across the globe to celebrate Easter, which in God in a trying moment but I am optimistic that takeaway the sins of the faithful. marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ and with collective commitment, sacrifice and by He also urged Nigerians to be thankful for urged the Nigerian people to embrace unity Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has turning to God through prayers, we shall giving mankind the knowledge to over come at this critical time in the nation’s body polity called on all Nigerians to take advantage of the overcome all the trials and emerge stronger,” the coronavirus pandemic. as well as cooperate with the leadership on significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ he said. In his Easter message, Atiku said the essence the need to move the country forward. to advance peace and commit themselves to of Easter celebration was not merely to merry, God, in faith and in practice. Some of the prominent Nigerian leaders, Makinde: Be Your Brother's rather, "It is a season to reflect on the purpose who seized the occasion of Easter celebration to Ugwuanyi, in his Easter message, and meaning of love and sacrifice. Love, because address some of the nation’s challenges included congratulated his fellow Christians for the Keeper, Forgive God says we should love our neighbours as former President Goodluck Jonathan, former successful forty-day long Lenten season in ourselves. And sacrifice, because love is hardly Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Speaker of the penance for the atonement of sins and salvation Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has practicable without an intention to make a House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; of mankind, which Easter portends. felicitated with Christians in Oyo State and sacrifice. former President of the Senate and his deputy, The governor, who maintained that Easter around the world on the occasion of the 2021 "Therefore, on this occasion of Easter David Mark and . was the hallmark of Christianity, stressed that Easter celebration, urging them to continue celebration, I urge all Nigerians to take time Others, who also shared in the joy of the the celebration of Christ’s resurrection and to be their brother's keepers and to learn to to pray first of all for peace to return to the season were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu salvation, offered Nigerians a great opportunity forgive others. country and also for unity. Nigeria is at the (Lagos), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Diouye to come closer to God and promote all virtues Makinde, who stated this in a statement by precipice of insecurity, poverty and, most Diri (Bayelsa), Muhammadu Yahaya (Gombe), that would enhance peace, love, unity and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, unfortunately, disunity. These are challenges, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), (Edo), progress of the country. expressed gratitude to God for sparing the not impediments. Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), former Anambra While wishing the good people of Enugu lives of residents of the state, especially, the "The way to surmount these challenges is State governor, Peter Obi and House of State and indeed all Nigerians a spiritually Christian faithful, to witness the Easter season. to learn from the world when super power Representatives Minority Leader, Ndudi rewarding Easter celebration, Ugwuanyi urged He charged residents of the state to continue countries, who are rivals suspended politics Elumelu. them to reflect soberly and intensify prayers for to support "their government," saying, “I want to face a common threat in Covid-19", he said. In their respective messages, apart from God’s intervention and abiding grace, for the to thank God for sparing our lives up until country and the world to fully overcome the this moment and to encourage the people, alluding to the significance and importance of Mark, Ekweremadu Canvass for Easter, they all saw the need for Nigeria to come rampaging Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) residents, and indigenes of Oyo State to remain together at this crucial moment, irrespective pandemic and other challenges. steadfast." Love, Justice He, therefore, reiterated his resolve to He charged Christians in the state not to of political leanings and confront the common Former President of the Senate, Senator David monster that currently challenges her unity. continue to serve with the fear of God, and take lightly the price Christ paid for their to work assiduously towards the advancement salvation and to continue to remain connected Mark and his erstwhile deputy, Senator Ike of peace and development of Enugu State, to Jesus Christ. Ekweremadu, have canvassed for a greater Jonathan Urges Nigerians to for the wellbeing of the people. "Christ has paid the price for us. So, they Nigeria where love and justice would prevail. Imbibe Godly Values should keep on supporting their government In separate Easter messages, the duo stressed Diri Urges Bayelsans to Sacrifice, and should, in the spirit of the season, be the need for tolerance among Nigerians at Former President Goodluck Jonathan has their brother’s keeper. If anyone has offended all times. felicitated with Christians as they mark this Embrace Love you, this is the period to forgive. This is the Mark, in his Easter message issued by his year’s Easter season, charging them to imbibe period also to get connected to our Lord and Media Adviser, Paul Mumeh, urged Nigerians Godly values of righteousness, peace and justice. Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Saviour, Jesus Christ, who died so that we to consciously imbibe the culture of religious The former President also urged Nigerians has implored citizens of the state to embrace may be saved,” he said. tolerance and peaceful coexistence in order to work in love, unity and faith as a means of the virtues of sacrifice, love and hope that to actualise development for the good of all. the Easter season typifies. overcoming current challenges and building Resurrection of Christ, Sign of He canvassed for a harmonious society that a prosperous nation. Governor Diri in his message to Bayelsans guarantees a win-win situation for all, stressing In a statement by his media aide, Ikechukwu said Easter not only embodied the culmination Victory, Says Secondus that religion should ordinarily be the elixir for Eze, Jonathan said: “The death and resurrection of the perfect plan to reconcile humanity to peace, good neighbourliness and development of Jesus Christ are at the cornerstone of the divinity, but also reminded mankind of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic rather than the later day version. Christian faith. At Easter, Christians celebrate unique love of God, the supreme sacrifice Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has charged He said: “It is time for all men and women hope, eternal life, salvation, and redemption. of Jesus Christ and ultimately the hope for Nigerians to allow love which is the cardinal of good conscience to rise up and make a “On this year's Easter, I call on all Christians redemption for those who acceptedthe free point of Christian injunctions to guide their positive difference in our country. We should to imbibe and sustain Godly values of gift of salvation. actions in relating with one another. ponder on the supreme sacrifice of Jesus righteousness, peace and justice, which are He urged the people to see the sacrificial Secondus, in a message to Christians at Christ, selflessness, forgiveness and eschew the true nature of Christ. death and unstoppable resurrection of Jesus this year's Easter, said with love and piety, all forms of religious or social vices tearing “As we celebrate, I urge all Christians and all as a pointer that hope was available to those Nigerians wouldsurmount all the challenges the nation apart. Nigerians to work in love, peace and unity and who believed. the country was currently facing. “Let us work towards building trust and exercise faith and hope, so we can overcome Urging them not to despair due to challenges In his message titled: “Nigeria will Overcome" confidence between and amongst our people in our current national challenges and build a of the times, the governor assured that in and signed by Ike Abonyi, his media Adviser, order to stimulate a harmonious relationship. prosperous nation.” keeping to its promises, his administration Secondus said “the Easter period reminds We are stronger together and we can surmount would continue to be people-focused in its us of brotherly love, peaceful co-existence, our difficulties as a people." policies and projects. tolerance, honesty, humility, justice, equity Gbajabiamila Calls for Prayers, On his part, Ekweremadu emphasised that "In celebrating the season, our citizens in and fairness to all without discrimination the mounting challenges facing the nation could Unity Bayelsa State have cause to be doubly joyous as contained in the Scriptures. be effectively addressed if Nigerians unite in as the present administration, in word and "This particular injunction is important to love, peace, and with every sense of justice Speaker of the House of Representatives, deed, continues to demonstrate that government us as a nation as we continue to contend and sacrifice as exemplified by Jesus Christ. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Nigerians belongs to the people. That those things that with the challenges of nation-building, bad The ranking Senator, in his Easter message, especially,Christians to use this period of Easter matter most to the wider body of citizens economy, insecurity and poor leadership.” signed by his Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, to pray for the country and her unity. shape public policy and spending.” In the same vein, the Edo State chapter of expressed concern that the country had seriously Gbajabiamila in his Easter message, said the PDP, said the Easter story represents the retrogressed, because love had waxed cold, despite the challenges facing the country, there Yahaya Felicitates with Christians, fulfillment of God’s Prophecy that mankind while injustice was palpable, thereby resulting would be light at the end of the tunnel hence Preaches Tolerance would be offered the hope of eternal life through in bad blood, disunity, and incompetence even the need for prayers now and always. the sacrificial death of His son, Jesus Christ in the most critical matters that affect the nation. The Speaker also called for unity of purpose and His subsequent resurrection from the “There was sacrifice as symbolised by Good among Nigerians, saying there was more that Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu dead, saying it is the faith that has kept the Inuwa Yahaya, has felicitated with the Christian Friday before there was ever a resurrection as united the citizens as a people than that which Christiandom alive and enabled its followers represented by Easter. Therefore, at Easter, we sought to divide them. community on the occasion of this year’s Easter to significantly contribute towards making the celebration, calling on the faithful to use the are reminded by the sacrifice of Christ, who ''Nigeria is a great country with good people, earth a better place for all mankind. paid the supreme price for the salvation of who have great potential,” adding that if well period to pray for the continued peace and In a statement by Chris Osa Nehikhare, stability of the state as well as the country mankind that we can actually take Nigeria harnessed, the nation and the citizens would the party stated, “Let us also at this time back to the pinnacle of glory if we sacrifice be better for it. in general. reflect on the enormous progress we have In his goodwill message yesterday, Yahaya ethno-religious and numerous other narrow He continued, “Christians should imbibe made as a party and state and to strive to interests for the collective good and progress the virtues of Jesus Christ. The life and noted that the Easter period provided an ensure that the gains made over the years opportunity for unity of purpose, reinforcement of the country. time of Jesus Christ are a perfect example are not squandered by those with unpatriotic “This is a call for us to unite, love, and treat of selflessness, care, affection, compassion and of bond of brotherhood and dedication in predisposition. service to God and humanity as exemplified one another with every sense of justice so service to humanity,” calling on Nigerians to “As we celebrate Easter, let us re-commit that the whole nation is effectively mobilised emulate same. by Jesus Christ. ourselves to do all within our power to help He said Easter symbolised love, sacrifice, to confront and surmount our numerous "At this time of Easter, we have to unite as our beloved state to soar to even greater heights challenges with oneness of mind. It is a call a people. We have to pray for our country. service to God and country as well as triumph in the true spirit of Easter. Let’s have faith of good over evil, urging the people to always to be our brother’s keeper in order to make We should also be our brothers' keepers as that Easter signals a season of renewal, of the much-needed progress as a people.” always. I am certain that together as a people, reflect on the lessons and significance of the change, and of moving ahead as we defeat we will achieve more. Our unity is ultimately season and demonstrate same in their lives. the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic that is our strength. “On this occasion of Easter feast, I want to ravaging the world.” Obi Charges Nigerians to Work “I call on all Nigerians to remain steadfast enjoin our Christian brothers and sisters in Gombe State and the world over to continue for Peace and resolute as we match forward as a nation Atiku: Love is Impossible Without bound by our diversity. Let's pray for our to promote peace and good neighbourliness. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice leaders. Let's pray for us to overcome our I want to also urge you to remain steadfast Sacrifice presidential candidate in the 2019 general challenges, especially, the insecurity in our land. in prayers and continue to sacrifice for the Let's show love to one another, irrespective of good and advancement of our dear state. A former vice president and presidential Continued on page 14 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 13 14  ͼ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NEWS ANALYSIS Customers Groan as MTN Nigeria, Banks Bicker over Commission Obinna Chima writes on the dispute between MTN Nigeria and banks over commission for use of the financial institutions’ online platforms n Friday, customers of the source stated. in Telecoms and Mobile Money. to ensure financial inclusion. MTN Nigeria awoke to the He added, “In response, the banks have “In Nigeria, MTN now intends to force The communiqué had explained, “To promote unpleasant reality that they decided to suspend the service. Note that this aggregators and banks to a lower discount to transparency, the new USSD charges will be could not purchase the telco’s relates to MTN alone. make up for its inability to charge a higher fee collected on behalf of MNOs directly from airtime through the online “The banks are insisting that they won’t take for USSD banking services. The parent company customers’ bank accounts. Banks shall not platforms of the commercial anything less than four per cent because they is unhappy with CBN and NCC’s resolution impose additional charges on customers for banks. This caused a general bear the cost of maintaining the infrastructure, of the USSD issue and has instructed MTN the use of USSD channel. sense of astonishment, which was followed protecting it from cyber-attacks, among other Nigeria to implement this new commission “A settlement plan for outstanding payments Oby an explanation by MTN Nigeria via a text costs. reduction to put further pressure on Nigerian incurred for USSD services previously rendered message to its customers. The Short Message “We have decided we would not offer MTN's banks and its business partners.” by the MNOs is being worked out by all Service (SMS) read, “Dear Customer, our bank services on our platforms anymore. Attempts to speak with staff of MTN parties in a bid to ensure that the matter is recharge channels are currently unavailable. “It was agreed that same date that MTN Nigeria’s communications department were fully resolved,” Kindly recharge using physical cards. We Nigeria gave us that it would start charging not successful. A senior staff of the department The CBN had in 2018 accused MTN Nigeria apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you.” the 2.5 per cent, that we would stop offering refused to pick his calls, and did not reply a of forex manipulation to the tune of about The development was as a result of a fresh its services on our platforms. Unless MTN text message by THISDAY. $8.1 billion. price dispute between MTN Nigeria and the reverses the discount and goes back to the four Currently, over 60 per cent of airtime vending Stakeholders fear that the recent moves banks, following the telco’s unilateral decision per cent, we would no longer sell its airtime by telcos are done electronically through the by MTN may ruin Small and Medium-sized to reduce the commission offered to financial on our platforms. banks. Enterprises (SMEs) in the country, given the institutions for airtime sales, from four per “This is not an industry issue, this is personal However, reacting to the development, the extant policies making it difficult for business cent to 2.5 per cent. This did not go down to MTN alone. We cannot allow a foreign Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators owners to break even. well with banks, as they complained about company come in here and take advantage of Nigeria (ALTON) faulted the action of the It is widely thought that MTN had long the cost of managing the infrastructure and of Nigerians. No Nigerian company can do banks. ALTON expressed concern that the action sought to monopolise the telco space, and it other operational costs they incurred. this in South Africa and get away with it.” of the banks would affect MTN subscribers. almost paralysed Nigeria’s nascent renewable In a letter to one of the MTN Nigeria’s The source alleged that MTN’s plan was to Chairman of ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, energy sector with its battery product. distributors, dated March 31, 2021, the banks had outperform Nigerian banks and dominate the said, “If this is the way the banks want to An industry stakeholder, who preferred protested that the proposed effective discount business environment. show to the public that they have impact on anonymity, said, “The biggest casualties of rate of 2.5 per cent did not cover their product He further alleged that the telco’s position telecoms subscribers, then only time will tell. MTN’s aggressive exploitation of Nigeria marketing, application management, customer was based on a directive from its parent So if there is a commercial agreement dispute are not just the SMEs, who are seeing their complaints management, and fraud management company to implement a market-dominant between banks and MTN, I think it is also the commissions constantly cut down till they die costs associated with the airtime vending service. plan, which includes: controlling the Nigerian duty of CBN, which is their regulator, to stop out of business; ordinary Nigerians bear the In the letter, seen by THISDAY, the financial telecoms and financial sectors; eliminating them from disconnecting innocent subscribers. biggest brunt, without even knowing it. institutions insisted that an effective discount rate aggregators and squeezing margins from all We are watching to see how both regulators “Nigeria has some of the most expensive of four per cent was the minimum acceptable third party contractors and business partners; will handle this issue.” mobile data prices in the world, more than to them for rendering the service on behalf of and preventing Nigerian banks from winning Adebayo urged the federal government to 10 times what Indians pay. Telcos like MTN MTN Nigeria. They demanded maintenance the battle for customer engagement via the step in and deal with the issue once and for all. take advantage of their massive size to keep of the status quo to enable them continue to telecom’s platform. The latest dispute came about two weeks the price of data high so that they can keep render the service. According to the source, “The recent after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and extracting money from unsuspecting citizens “Please note that if we do not receive a written Unstructured Supplementary Service Data the Nigerian Communications Commission and a hapless country, all the while repatriating confirmation of the acceptance of the above (USSD) pricing war sponsored by MTN with (NCC) resolved a dispute on USSD fee between all the money to South Africa and not paying terms, we will be constrained to disconnect this support from lobbyists and the new reduction in the banks and the telcos. their fair share in taxes. service on our platforms and channels by close airtime discount rates is part of the company’s CBN and NCC had in a recent communiqué “It is yet to be known if for once the Nigerian of business, April 1, 2021,” the bank stated. plan to curtail the financial inclusion initiatives issued at the end of a meeting to resolve the government and even big private institutions An industry source, who is familiar with the of the financial sector and force the CBN to disagreement on USSD fee agreed that with will stand up and stay strong to this drowning matter, said MTN Nigeria’s position, which grant it a banking license to offer financial effect from March 16, 2021, USSD services for of Nigerian SMEs and daylight robbery of the came 48 hours before its implementation date, services based on its own terms and conditions. financial transactions conducted at the banks country.” was clearly in bad faith and without regard “MTN’s use of lobbyists and practice of and all CBN-licensed institutions would be a flat Analysts believe there is need for the telco for the interest of the banks. exerting aggressive margin pressure on business rate of N6.98 per transaction. This replaced the and the banks to quickly resolve their dispute “But it is in line with MTN’s monopolistic partners was the model used in Ghana, Benin, previous per session billing structure, producing to avoid the devastating loss of revenue on all tendencies and working against national interest,” Uganda, and Ivory Coast to achieve dominance a much cheaper average cost for customers sides and the ripple effect on the customers. AT EASTER, NIGERIAN LEADERS FELICITATE WITH CHRISTIANS, URGE UNITY, COOPERATION election, Mr.Peter Obi has called on Nigerians Elumelu called on leaders at all levels to another, forgiveness, empathy and hope.” among humanity. to be mindful of the need to continue to work jettison every selfish and narrow-minded While wishing Edo residents a hitch-free “As we mark this events, I want to urge for peace, which underscores the essence of proclivities and put on the spirit of selflessness, Easter celebration, Governor Obaseki urged Christian faithful in the state to continue to Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. which triumphs over primordial sentiments them to adhere to the state’s COVID-19 live in peace and harmony with believers of In a statement from his media office, that breed division, strife and hopelessness preventive protocols as they go about their other faiths. We should emulate virtues of the former Anambra State governor urged among the citizenry. activities. humility, perseverance and compassion as Christians to imbibe the ideals of perseverance, He also called on those behind the acts of “As we mark this day, kindly adhere to the exemplified by Jesus Christ. sacrifice and commitment to the will of God, terrorism and bloodletting in the country to government's directive on good hygiene and “This period offers us an opportunity to which characterised the Lenten season. retrace their steps and know that their actions safety, including regular washing of hands rethink our relationships as individuals, as He congratulated Christians and all Nigerians, could not be justified under any guise. and use of sanitisers and observe social communities and as a nation. The death and who are alive to witness this year’s Easter, He said: ''Indeed, Easter reminds us, as distancing.” resurrection of Jesus Christ signified love, reminding them that, “We are alive today only a nation and mankind in general, that all affection and tolerance. It also marked the by God’s grace and favour and not that we hope is not lost as long as we put our trust Sanwo-Olu Wants Nigerians to end of evil and beginning of good deeds.” are in any way special before the almighty and faith in God in all our dealings. The Emulate Christ or better than the dead.” triumphant resurrection of the Lord Jesus Abiodun Asks Nigerians to The statement reiterated the need for Christ from the dead reinforces the victory Nigerians to pray continually and work of life over death, light over darkness, hope Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu Embrace Peace, Unity towards peace, stability and progress, noting over despair, and success over failure in our has felicitated with Nigerians especially, the that peace could only be achieved when lives as individuals and a nation.” Christian faithful as they celebrate this year’s Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has Nigerians from across the country imbibe Easter, which is the commemoration of the called Nigerians especially, residents of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. state, to embrace peace, love and unity as peace by shunning terrorism, banditry and Obaseki Preaches Love, Hope other acts inimical to peaceful coexistence. Governor Sanwo-Olu in his Easter message the world celebrates Easter. and Forgiveness issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega The governor, in his Easter message made Akosile, noted that, “Good neighbourliness, available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun House Minority Caucus Urges Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has selflessness and patience were among the State capital, by his Chief Press Secretary, National Regeneration, Hope charged Christians to imbibe the exemplary several lessons taught and exemplified by Kunle Somorin, urged Nigerians to avail life of love, selfless service and forgiveness, Jesus Christ and his resurrection.” themselves with what the resurrection of The Minority Caucus in the House of which Christ demonstrated in his death and Sanwo-Olu reminded Lagosians that the Jesus Christ symbolises, and live in peace. Representatives has urged Nigerians to use resurrection. events leading to the death and resurrection He noted that the country was going through the occasion of this year’s Easter for spiritual Obaseki, in his Easter message, urged the of Jesus Christ were epochal in the annals challenges and implored the people to emulate regeneration as well as re-dedicate themselves Christian community to emulate Jesus Christ of Christianity and humanity, therefore the love Christ showed while being crucified, and pray for God's intervention in the security by making sacrifices that would advance the urging every citizen to reflect on how best in order to move the country forward. challenges facing the country. cause of development and reflect on the purpose to positively impact the lives of friends, According to Abiodun, the resurrection of The caucus, in a statement by its Leader, of Easter and redemption of the nation. colleagues, neighbours and family members. Jesus had indeed shown that the country has Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, stressed that Easter, The governor stated: “As we Christians “As we celebrate Easter, I am extending a great hope to rise from the present ashes which marks resurrection of the Jesus Christ, celebrate the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ my best wishes to every Nigerian especially, to a powerful nation. amply demonstrates that no matter how on Calvary and His resurrection, let us use Christians across the country and other parts While wishing Christian faithful a wonderful hopeless a situation appears to be, solution the opportunity to reflect on the purpose of of the world. The commemoration of Christ’s Easter celebration, the governor also charged was always found in God’s love and infinite Easter and the redemption of our nation that death and resurrection is a reminder of His them to pray for the country to overcome power to save. will happen with selfless service, love for one virtues of harmony and peaceful coexistence the socioeconomic challenges confronting it.  ͼ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 15 NEWS Police to Investigate CCT Chairman over Alleged Assault on Security Guard

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja guard at the popular Banex moment Umar and a security "Following the incident of of Police CP Bala Ciroma It was gathered that a Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja. guard were allegedly engaged alleged assault involving the wishes to reassure members of trader, Mr. Peter Onyuike, was The Federal Capital Territory A statement issued by in a brawl at Banex Shopping CCT Chairman and a security the public that the command arrested by the Department Police Command said Police Public Relations Officer, Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja where guard that occurred at Bannex will be professional, fair and of State Services in connection yesterday it had launched ASP Yusuf Mariam, said the the CCT Chairman went to Plaza on Monday March thorough in its investigation", with the incident and handed an investigation into a case command would be fair and make a purchase of some 29th,2021, the command it said. over to the police. of assault involving the professional in the conduct items. wishes to state categorically The command urged Another trader, Mr. Oyuho Chairman of the Code of of the investigation. The altercation, according that discreet investigation is residents to remain calm Augustine Samuel, is also Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. A viral video on social to the video, bordered on still on-going. and allow the law to take being investigated for the Danladi Umar and a security media had captured the breach of parking space. "Hence, the Commissioner its cause. same incident. ODUMAKIN CONTRACTED COVID-19, RECOVERED, DIES OF LUNG COMPLICATIONS Special Assistant on Media, life and fought a good fight trillionaire in integrity, honour the fact that he was gradually announced a seven-day Mike A.A. Ozekhome Kehinde Aderemi, said the late for Nigeria. In a statement and dignity. His legacies are becoming a credible voice mourning period for the Odumakin was a true Yoruba by his Chief Press Secretary, trailers-load. Yinka was not for true federalism and fiscal democracy activist. And this gadfly and searing son, a committed fellow, and the Kunle Somorin, Abiodun just an Activist per Excellence; restructuring, which Nigeria Okunniyi, while virtually pain in successive government’s voice of the people, especially, said, "For those of us who he was an uncommon public needs badly. So, I always wished addressing leaders of the June flesh has gone? Just like that? the downtrodden. have followed Odumakin's Affairs analyst, social critic, him well. Now, I will miss him 12 movement yesterday, said This pear? This gem of a Adams stated, “We'll all trajectory in journalism and politician and political strategist, very much.” Odumakin was one of the pan-Nigerian? This Yoruba miss his voice. We'll miss his activism, he lived a good life who shot from all cylinders on fiercest and most prolific Nationality Crusader for self- commitment, we'll miss his and fought doggedly to defend matters of national interest. Jimi Agbaje comrades of the pro-democracy identity and self-determination? bravery because the late Yinka the defenceless. He and his wife He was fecund cerebral. He movement in Nigeria, who This shinny and incandescent Odumakin's fearless image were always at the forefront walked the talk. He fought wars A former governorship spent most of his adult life candidate of the PDP in Lagos example of a genuine Comrade loomed larger than what we to protest against oppressive and battles…He left no stone fighting the cause of a just and unflagging struggler, can easily forget in a hurry." government policies. unturned and no turn unstoned State, Jimi Agbaje, said, "Nigeria and equitable Nigeria. He said lost a towering patriot in Yinka who, in his lifetime, inspired "He was a phenomenon that "As the spokesperson of the in his desire for a better Nigeria. the late activist deserved to be a whole new generation of spoke truth to power. He cut Afenifere, he discharged his A Nigeria imbued with mutual Odumakin." immortalised. a picture of an all-rounder, a duties diligently and defended rights crusaders? This bold, respect, ethnic nationalities’ self- A statement on Saturday fearless, courageous wordsmith, media personage, an analyst the cause of the South-west determination; inter-religious Inibehe Effiong by media assistant to and public commentator that passionately. He never hid harmony, egalitarianism and Okunniyi, Obafemi Olubori, whose pen was mightier than had warmed himself to the his passion for the Yoruba social justice.” An activist, Inibehe Effiong, said, "Odumakin and others the sword? Good God! Our hearts of many people." people and was never timid wrote, “Rest in peace Comrade in the National Conscience loss is heavens’ profit. Our pain to speak against any policy that He was true Yinka Odumakin. You followed Party (NCP) led by Chief is paradise’s gain. Odumakin He Fought for Noble would affect the generality of the path you believed with Gani Fawehinmi of blessed championed the people’s cause. the nation.” federalism apostle – courage and tenacity. As an memory teamed up with the He fought on behalf of the Ideals – Obaseki Ibori activist, you were never afraid Campaign for Democracy (CD) voiceless and the beleaguered. Yinka was a change of speaking truth to power. led by Dr Beko Ransome Kuti He was not materially rich. But, Edo State Governor Godwin Former governor of Delta State, Your role as the spokesman of he was a trillionaire in integrity, Obaseki stated, "Odumakin, a agent – Obi in the 90s to flush military rule Chief James Ibori, described Afenefere will not be forgotten.” out of power. As fate would honour and dignity. His legacies man of many parts, tirelessly Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Odumakin as the kind of are trailers-load. Yinka was not spoke unequivocally for have it, he met his heartthrob vice presidential candidate in gadfly any nation would need, Pro-democracy and greatest supporter, Joe Okei, just an Activist per Excellence; Nigeria's advancement, the 2019 general election, Mr saying he was indefatigable in he was an uncommon public pursuing causes to open up Movement of Nigeria in the cause of that struggle, Peter Obi, called Odumakin his advocacy for true federalism. which led to the restoration of Affairs analyst, social critic, the civic space and engender a change agent. Obi said, In a statement by his media politician and political strategist, community engagement in Pro-democracy Movement of the present democratic rule in however, “I am sure he died assistant, Tony Eluemunor, Ibori Nigeria mourned Odumakin's Nigeria" who shot from all cylinders on governance and politics." a sad man, sadness not in said, “Though Mr. Odumakin matters of National interest. He Obaseki added, "As an activist demise, calling it a huge loss. terms of being regretful of his was not among my supporters, Convener of the June 12 Pro An Irrepressible was fecund cerebral. He walked and politician, he was in a personal life nor the extent of his and our paths rarely crossed, the talk. He fought wars and class of his own. He fought Democracy Movement of Warrior Goes Home - accomplishments, but in terms yet, that did not blind me to Nigeria, Olawale Okunniyi, battles. He won most. for noble ideals; gave himself of being weighed down, as to the struggle to make Nigeria surely as all patriotic Nigerians great and never ran away from are, by the ugly development the clarion call for national in Nigeria that has made life redemption…Odumakin will be seem hopeless.” missed for his candour, courage Lawyer and human rights and strength of character, which activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, was never in short supply when in a statement titled, “Yinka it mattered the most.” Odumakin - The Irrepressible Warrior Goes Home,” recalled It’s big loss to Yoruba his recent engagements with nation – Oyetola Odumakin on the state of the nation. Ozekhome wrote in the Governor of The State of poetic tribute, “And this gadfly Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, and searing pain in successive called the late activist a government’s flesh has gone? unique advocate of justice, Just like that? This pear? This fairness, good governance, gem of a pan-Nigerian? This and a better Nigeria. Oyetola Yoruba nationality crusader said, "The death of Mr Yinka for self-identity and self- Odumakin is a great loss to determination? This shinny Yorubaland and Nigeria as a and incandescent example whole. His contributions to the of a genuine comrade and enthronement and growth of unflagging struggler, who, in his democracy in the country will lifetime, inspired a whole new never be forgotten.” generation of rights crusaders? This bold, fearless, courageous He lived good life, wordsmith, whose pen was mightier than the sword? Good fought good fight – God! Our loss is heavens’ profit. Abiodun “Our pain is paradise’s gain. Odumakin championed the Ogun State Governor, people’s cause. He fought on CLASH OF INTERESTS... Prince Dapo Abiodun, said behalf of the voiceless and Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (middle) with the former Transition Committee Chairman, Udi Local Odumakin was a fearless public the beleaguered. He was not Government Area of the state, Hon. Sheddy Ozoene (left) and Dr. Malachy Ochie, during the public presentation of the commentator who lived a good materially rich. But, he was a book, Clash of Interests, written by Ozoene, held at Ingrace Event Centre, Enugu, at the weekend. SULE CAUTIONS AGAINST REPRISALS OVER MURDER OF HERDERS' LEADER Mohammed Umar, were elements disturbing the peace state. and Mohammed Umar, the Narrating how MACBAN father last by 5pm that fateful killed by suspected bandits of the state. Commissioner of Police Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle chairman was killed, a friend Friday, when he came back at Garaku market on Friday According to the statement, in the state, Bola Longe, Breeders Association, Toto LGA of his, Wasiu Hassan, said they from a journey and dropped night during an attack. Sule spoke at the funeral confirmed the incident in a at Garaku market. were together in his shop, them Mango fruits at home. The governor, however, gave prayers for Mohammed statement signed by the Police "Upon receipt of the when they sent him to buy "I was taking my friend the caution while speaking Hussein and called on those Public Relations Officer of information, the Commissioner them water. on bike to town, when we to sympathisers, who had bent on breaching the peace the command, ASP Ramhan of Police, Bola Longe, swiftly "As I stepped out of my started hearing gunshots. So thronged the residence of enjoyed in the state to turn a Nansel. deployed Operation Puff shop, I started hearing sporadic I quickly dropped him and the late state chairman of the new leaf for the development The statement stated: "At Adder II personnel to the gunshots. So, I have to run for rushed back home. Then my MACBAN, Alhaji Mohammed of the society. about 1930hrs, information scene, where the two corpses my dear life and before we mother asked me what was Hussaini. He also urged families of was received that gunmen were recovered and taken know what was happening, happening and I told her they Also, in a statement signed the deceased to remain faithful suspected to be Fulani to the hospital; the corpses the gunmen killed my friend were robbers. by Governor Sule’s Chief Press and take solace in God, while Bandits attacked and killed deposited at Anthony and the other person," Hassan "When she put calls to my Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, the assuring that his administration one Mohammed Hussaini, Memorial Mortuary for post said. father's phone numbers, my governorpromised to work would continue to work hard the Chairman, Miyetti mortem examination after On his part, one of the sons father didn't pick. Then shortly with security agencies to at ensuring adequate security Allah Cattle Breeders being confirmed dead by a to the deceased, Kamaludeen a family friend called to tell arrest and prosecute criminal of lives and property in the Association, Nasarawa State medical doctor." Mohammed, said he saw his us that my father was killed." 16 APRIL 4, 2021 ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA EDITORIAL Email [email protected] THE ENDURING MESSAGE OF EASTER

It’s time to renew hope and faith in our country

s Christians all over the world is the reason we know that there is an today mark Easter, rejoicing answer to the darkness and brokenness of this world. There is hope and salva- over the death and resurrection tion. There is a light that cannot be of Jesus Christ, Nigerians must overcome,” says Smith. This is a mes- resolve to imbibe the ideals sage that will serve us in our country. that speak to the season. With our country increasingly torn igerians are invited to emulate apart by hate, violence and the exemplary life of humility, all manner of social strains, our streets and self-abnegation, forbearance Aalleyways are now overrun by kidnappers, and self-sacrifice of Jesus bandits, hired assassins, armed robbers and Christ who submitted himself to death on the Cross. As a sundry assortments of trouble makers. More people, we must begin to replicate that than at any period in our recent history, this N sort of sacrifice for the common good, Easter season offers a unique opportunity which is the true meaning of Easter. For to identify the enduring values on which to us in Nigeria, especially at a time like build a new order this, we need to erect effective bulwarks against the current impulse to violence Easter provides of justice, service, and unbridled individualism. Those at a unique peace, respect for the helm of affairs should also begin to human dignity and realise that politics is essentially about opportunity mutual understand- rendering service to the people. to interrogate ing. On a special day such as this, it is important to remember that Christ spent the killings, the Commemorat- his whole life and ministry with the maiming, the ing the death and poor, the weak and the oppressed. He banditry and resurrection of Jesus shared their anxieties, their hopes and other forms of Christ and the re- their aspirations. He fed the hungry demption wrought for from the finest wheat; and he healed the bloodletting sick, consoled the sorrowful and wept for the Christians on the cross SUNDAY NEWSPAPER dead. These are the attributes worthy of emu- while working for of Calvary is signifi- EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU lation by leaders and indeed all Nigerians as solutions to the cant. But the essence of DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI we celebrate Easter. More importantly, the new the occasion should not wave of insecurity and spilling of blood in our challenges they MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO be limited to adherents country is a further invitation to all compatri- present DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE ots to join hands in building a new civilisation of the faith alone. It CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI of love that eschews hatred, violence, rancor is a time for all Nigerians to reflect on what EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN and acrimony across the divides. is wrong with us as we witness, almost on a MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE While Easter Sunday is important to Chris- daily basis, a mindless orgy of violence that tians, its message of salvation through faith is the essence of hope, regardless of one’s reli- has put our nation under a serious siege. Easter gious persuasion. Friday’s death on the cross provides a unique opportunity to interrogate THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED and today’s resurrection after three days in the the killings, the maiming, the banditry and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA grave symbolises for Christians the ultimate other forms of bloodletting while working for GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, victory of life over death. The risen Christ solutions to the challenges they present. ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI brought to the world hope, faith and love and DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI , PETER IWEGBU, adherents are enjoined to always seek love. If Underscoring the significance of the season, humanity would only heed that message, this Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI world would be a better place to live. So, on Geoffrey Smith, says the world continues SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI this Easter Sunday, we invite all Nigerians to to witness the darkness of Covid-19, racism, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SAHEED ADEYEMO renew hope and faith in our country while relating with others with love. May Easter domestic violence, gender inequality, etc. But CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI awaken in each of us true joy shown in dedi- Christians, according to Smith, are called DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA cated service and love for our fellow country to be lights into all these manifestations of men and women. darkness. “The death and resurrection of Jesus TO SEND EMAIL: first [email protected] We wish all our readers a Happy Easter!

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact Letters to the Editor details to [email protected]. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to [email protected] along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer. LEGITIMATE SUCCESS IN NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE n this first quarter of 2021, six Nigeri- numbers obviously, but she has also king’s son’s wedding (something he Like To Party that propelled him to stardom States and sits on the boards of companies ans have received global recognition stayed up late at night practicing to does regularly in real life). Davido ap- and now he’s a bonafide superstar – win- such as Twitter and Standard Chartered for their professional achievements: get good grades in her school work pearing in this movie will show any ning a Grammy for his fifth studio album Bank: she could very easily have called it Faith Odunsi, Davido, Burna Boy, and in maths competitions. She is a Nigerian musician that they there is Twice As Tall in the world music category. a day with a good CV and directorships Wizkid, Kelechi Iheanacho and fine example to any Nigerian child no limit to the height their talent and Burna grew up in Port Harcourt, Rivers to rely on for the rest of her days. But Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Their ages in primary or secondary school work ethic can take them. Davido has state. Humble Kelechi Iheanacho used to no, she sought the Director General Irange from 15 to 66 years old. What who wants to pursue a career in a tremendous work ethic – putting call his Manchester City teammates “Uncle” position at the World Trade Organisation makes it even more remarkable is that academia (or who just wants to win out numerous several singles every out of respect, coming from Owerri, Imo in her mid-sixties and got it! This is a these six individuals all spent their cash in international school subject year since 2011, featuring on other State. He was 18 years old at the time. After lady that spent the first 19 years of her formative years in Nigeria. They all competitions!) musicians’ records and signing new learning European professional top-flight life at Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State and grew up here; they ate rice and stew, Davido appeared in the Hol- talent to his label…it doesn’t stop. Oh, football there for two years, Leicester City , Oyo State, before relocating to the ate eba and sweated in the Nigerian lywood movie Coming 2 America by the way, he got paid $15,000 daily bought him for 25 million pounds and other country she calls home, the United heat. They don’t have two heads. Some that came out a few weeks ago. for being on the Coming 2 America just last week his goals against Manchester States. Okonjo-Iweala has never changed, of them came from poverty, some Why is this important? The first set. United made him the highest goal-scoring wearing her ubiquitous geleand traditional from the middle-class and some from Coming To America movie is the Have you ever heard of Shotti African in the history of the FA Cup, Nigerian dress almost everywhere, even wealth. I want to examine each of their first Hollywood movie to show black Gunz? Probably only if you’re an putting Leicester in the FA Cup semi-final amongst world leaders and magnates. Q1 2021 achievements and mention people as royalty. It gave a sense Afrobeats enthusiast! Shotti Gunz for the first time in 39 years! Wow! Being the best version of herself and what it means to Nigerians. of pride to African-Americans and was Burna Boy’s stage name before Last but not least is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, wearing her Nigeriannessproudly has got Faith Odunsi is the youngest Africans everywhere that we could he changed it to Burna Boy. He the oldest Nigerian in this story. Before you her this far. at 15: she won the Global Open live in castles and have generational was Shotti from his mid-teens in crucify me that it is rude to mention a lady’s In conclusion, no one can cheat the Mathematics competition. This wasn’t wealth. It was a positive narrative for secondary school and even when he age, permit me to write that I did so to process. There is a general tendency in our a fluke. She’s been participating and us. Davido wasn’t even born when left these shores for the UK to further prove a point – which is that it is never too country to look down on struggle and opt winning medals in international the first movie was made but he was his studies. That’s how long he’s been late to go for more! Okonjo-Iweala has had for ease by cutting corners, leading to law- maths competitions for years. She asked to be in it and played himself making music. He’s 29 now. In 2012 a successful career in multiple lucrative and breaking. Let’s #NGchangethenarrative didn’t cheat; she has the head for as the musical entertainment for the at the age of 21 he put out the single prestigious roles in Nigeria and the United ––Obinna Inogbo, Lagos. APRIL 4, 2021 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 17 SPECIAL REPORT TECH, NIGERIA’S NEW OIL (2) SHAPING NIGERIA’S ECONOMY THROUGH INNOVATIVE, DISRUPTIVE IDEAS

As emerging technologies continue to drive global economies, Nigerian tech startups, especially those in the financial technology space, are developing disrupting technology solutions and innovative ideas that will help Nigeria drift from oil economy to knowledge-based economy, last week THISDAY ran the first part of the publication profiling techpreneurs. Emma Okonji went to Yaba, the tech hub of the country to interact with some of them, who share their experiences

he world has since shifted driving that revolution. Nigerian fintechs He said fintech is only a payment aspect from the agrarian revolution are building the economics of scale in the of the general startup ecosystem, since to knowledge-based economy financial sector by expanding their solutions diversification in the startup ecosystem driven by technology and services to outside of the country,” has led to the development of solutions innovations that are disrupting Eniolorunda said. that are addressing challenges in sectors of Texiting structures and systems. He explained that TeamApt had been the economy, using the same technology In Nigeria, financial technology (fintech) involved in developing digital banking skill in different ways. players and others in the tech startups space solutions that have been driving the financial are reshaping the Nigerian economy for devices sector since 2016. DEEPENING FINANCIAL INCLUSION global competitiveness in a manner that Founder, PhastMoney, Mr. Dotun Adefioye, Fintechs are also playing key roles in is bringing convenience to lifestyles, while whose company plays in the lending space promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, creating individual and national wealth of the fintech sub-sector said his firm has through tailor- made solutions targeted at for the country. developed solutions that address unique the small businesses, the unbanked and Fintech solutions have completely approach to lending and growing the underbanked communities, with a view changed the financial services sector by finances of Small and Medium Size (SME) to offering access to financial services in taking financial services from the banking companies in Nigeria. the country. halls to homes and offices of customers, “Fintech community, especially the Eniolorunda of TeamApt said one of the where people can sit in the comfort of their payment industry, is making remarkable biggest challenges of financial inclusion, offices and homes to carry out successful progress, and at the same time driving the had been the inability of those at the lower financial transactions without going to bank nation’s economy big time,” Adefioye said. cadre to open a bank account because of branches. Most of them are being acquired for huge their minimal earnings and savings. When the founder of Facebook, Mark sums of money, running into billions of He, however, said the solutions developed Zuckerberg visited Nigeria in August dollars, while some go into merger to form by TeamApt, make it easy for low income 2016, he was amazed about the vigour a robust and viable Fintech company. earners to save with banks through money and entrepreneurial spirit he saw among To the Managing Partner, Pelse Consult- agents and grow their savings with time, Nigerian startups and he encouraged them ing, Mr. Boboye Oluwafemi, who runs a with visiting the bank branches to open to do more. fintech, technology has made the world an account. Today, the world is being ruled by young a global village. “The first step to improve financial inclu- technocrats who are technology savvy and Founder and CEO, TeamApt, He said any company that would suc- sion, is to provide access to the unbanked innovative and Nigeria is not lagging behind TOSIN ENIOLORUNDA ceed, must embrace technology and infuse and underbanked communities and that as the country’s tech startups and fintech technology into the business. is what we have done with our solution players are making waves both locally and Founder and CEO of TeamApt, Mr. Tosin According to him, technology would reduce at TeamApt,” he explained. internationally. Eniolorunda, who spoke with THISDAY overhead cost and would help businesses To Oluwafemi, his company provides It is estimated that the fintech players in on the future of fintech in Nigeria, said to scale fast. It is the same technology that financial services to small businesses, thereby Nigeria are worth over $10 billion. the future remains bright for Nigerian is driving fintech businesses all over the giving them access to financial inclusion. fintech players. world and Nigerian fintech companies “With P-Connect, we are able to create THE FUTURE OF FINTECH TeamApt provides financial technology are taking advantage of the technology to community platform where SME businesses In recent times, technology has become solutions and infrastructure for underserved develop innovative solutions and creating leverage to carry out financial transactions. the oil that is generating revenue for customers and businesses in emerging and ideas that are driving development in the With the solution, we provide investment global economies and fintech is driving frontier markets. country and beyond, Oluwafemi said. and loan opportunities for small businesses the financial services as well as other sectors According to him, people find it easier, Founder of Interswitch, a fintech company and over the years, the platform has of the economy such as manufacturing, faster and cheaper to carry out digital that plays in the payment space, Mr. Mitchell supported several SMEs and has helped telecommunications, commerce, sports, banking transactions from mobile devices, Elegbe said opportunities abound for fintech them remained in businesses in spite of health among others. which makes the services of fintech players players, and they do not need big capital challenges,” Oluwafemi said. In Nigeria, fintech players have disrupted valid and acceptable to many. to begin. To Adefioye, the vision of PhastMoney financial services rendered by banks with “The digital trend in the financial services “It’s about a knowledge-based economy is to change the face of financial services their innovative solutions and the future sector, makes financial transactions easier that requires skills and little capital that in Nigeria. of Fintech in Nigeria looks bright, despite and cheaper for people, and fintechs are grows into large financial base over short “For us in the Fintech space, we are the challenges. period of time,” he added. working towards reducing lending time 18 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 FINTECH (2) SPECIAL REPORT SHAPING NIGERIA’S ECONOMY THROUGH INNOVATIVE, DISRUPTIVE IDEAS from two month to three business days in the digital banking space which is the future of banking. “That timing is key for most businesses and we have also introduced simple application processes for financial transactions. “The essence is about partnering SMEs and helping them grow their businesses, using simple technology solutions,” Adefioye said. STARTUPS’ CAPABILITIES Nigerian startups over the years, have shown dexterity and capabilities in develop- ing solutions that address key challenges in various sectors of the economy, cutting across, health, telecoms, agriculture, manu- facturing, education, sports, among others. Eniolorunda was of the view that Nigeria has entrepreneurial skills and capacity to develop solutions that address identifiable societal challenges. Elegbe of Interswitch, however said every startup must understand the risk of business owners and develop solutions with good resilience to prevent online attacks, if the business is exposed to online activities. “Fintech players must factor in what it takes cyber criminals to steal or corrupt data, while designing a solution for online businesses. Again having good education of the market is key before developing solution to address challenges of the market. The reason being that if the business is success, it will attract more people and more competitors,” Elegbe said.

BUILDING SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS Industry players are of the view that building a successful startups has to do with determination, timing, skills and collabora- Fintech players brainstorming in TeamApt technology space in Lagos tion. According to Eniolorunda, building a successful startups would entail adequate timing and team collaboration. We have considerable flow of infrastructure and data availability, but the ability to developing solutions that are timely in addressing societal issues, goes a long way to make a successful startup, Eniolorunda said. For Elegbe of Interswitch, in order to build a successful startup, the players must understand the industry they are providing solutions for and they must ask the right questions that will give them a clearer view of what they want to do. According to him, having an idea about the population of Nigeria, for instance, is not enough information that will help any startup to develop the right solutions for Nigerians. The startup must ask further relevant questions about the different demographics that make up the total population of Nigeria like the number of old people, youths, children, men and women, in other to have a better understanding of the type of solutions that will address the challenges of the different demographics of people in the country. He said a successful startup must under- stand the actual challenges of the people and develop solutions that will address specify challenges and the solution must Founder, PhastMoney, DOTUN ADEFIOYE Co-founder and CEO, Appzone, OBI EMETAROM be affordable.

FUNDING and startups,” Adefioye said. harsh regulatory policies implementation. spending power will increase through access Although Nigerian startups have the Eniolorunda of TeamApt, who also Adefioye said there would be need for to loans, velocity of money will accelerate capability and innovative ideas in develop- acknowledged the challenges of fund- collaboration between digital banks being through digital payments and idle funds ing workable solutions and ideas that are ing, attributed it to two factors. These he sort after by fintechs and the traditional within the economy will be captured more driven by technology, but most often, they described as fear of immediate returns on commercial banks, because their services effectively through savings. The increased are faced with the challenge of funding, as investment and lack of understanding on the would be complementary, for improved efficiency in deployment of latent wealth they barely have seed funding from local part of investors about the risks involved customer experience. He said there has towards productive activities will inject new venture capitalists and angel investors. in startup companies. been mergers and acquisitions in the funds into the productive economy and Most of their funding come from foreign He explained that local investors are fintech space and there would be more effectively stimulate economic growth.” venture capitalists and angel investors who more interested in immediate returns on of that going forward, through workable are always attracted to their business ideas. their investment rather than investing in collaboration among startups. BUILDING SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS Speaking on the challenge of funding, long-term ventures. Emetarom of Appzone, said: “To Adefioye said one major reason why He, however said most Nigerian startups THE FUTURE OF FINTECH be successful, a startup has to find a most startups do not have good funding get foreign funding because the foreign Giving insight to the future of Fintech pressing need amongst a large enough is because most of them do not have good investors understand better the risk part in Nigeria, the Co-founder and CEO of target customer base and develop the financial books and appropriate accounting of the business and they are more money Appzone, a Fintech company, Mr. Obi competences to meet such need better records. He cited an International Finance abroad than local. He also said getting Emetarom, said: “Fintech is transforming than any other organization in a profit- Corporation (IFC) report that states that funding outside, boosts the profile of a the way financial services work in Nigeria able way. Achieving this goal requires there is $158 billion credit gap that exits startup. and is expected to completely replace brick a combination of dogged relentlessness, within the Nigerian SME space. and mortar operations within five to ten flexibility to adjust/iterate strategy as much “Investors and banks wants to be sure that COLLABORATION years. Fintech platforms will significantly as required, and openness to learn from the solution is commercially viable, with Collaboration is key and industry players reduce the cost of delivering financial the business environment very quickly. the capacity to pay back whatever amount are of the view that startups need to services to the extent that micro, consumer It also requires finding a small highly is invested in the solution or business. collaborate with each other to develop and SME customer segments that were talented core team and selling them a “One of the funding challenges of SMEs, robust solution with high commercial previously unprofitable to service will compelling vision. To become successful, which cut across tech startups, is that they value. There is also need for collaboration become attractive targets for innovative a start-up has to find very creative ways to do not have proper financial books to keep between fintechs and the industry regulator new offerings.” get maximum value from extremely limited records of transactions, and it is the reason in order to provide a favourable work According to him, “Consequently, access resources while managing cash wisely to why local banks do not invest in SMEs environment that will not be scuttled by to finance will become ubiquitous, consumer ensure that it stays solvent.” APRIL 4, 2021 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 19 FINTECH (2) SPECIAL REPORT 20 TECH ENTREPRENEURS In continuation of its series on Nigeria’s growing fintech sector, THISDAY highlights 20 more leading personalities in the sector. writes Obinna Chima

BOLAJI AKINBORO NONSO OKPALA EKECHI NWOKAH CHIOMA NKECHIKA

BOLAJI AKINBORO Migo, a US-based fintech start-up. In 2019, with a mission to provide technology that 0.5 per cent of Nigerian graduates are being kinboro is the Chairman of Migo closed a $20-million Series-B round empowers people with unlimited access to recruited and trained into world class software the Board at Voriancorelli. led by Brazil-focused venture capital (VC) financial services. engineers to fuel the growth of the African Voriancorelli is a marketplace firm Valor Capital Group. Migo’s platform technology ecosystem. Decagon’s engineers company that provides a enables companies to offer credit to their TOSIN ENIOLORUNDA now work for companies like Carbon, Paga, platform to match buyers, customers, augmenting traditional bank and Eniolorunda is the founder and CEO of Access Bank, Sterling, Union Bank, Terragon, Asellers, commodity aggregators, logistics payment card infrastructure. The startup TeamApt, a financial software company and Interswitch. US-based companies like partners, financiers and food processors was founded in 2014 by a Nigerian team. focused on building solutions and running Varuna which was recently recognised by to ensure the economic wellbeing of all Nwokah is a former computer scientist infrastructure for African banks, businesses, Google also use Decagon engineers as does stakeholders. Akinboro is also the Co- who previously served at Amazon Web and people to manage their money.Founded the largest job board in the world based in Founder of Cellulant Nigeria Limited. Service’s A9. in 2015 with the goal of creating financial Austin, Texas. Nwobi has been one of the According to the Chairman, Voriancorelli solutions for optimising partner banks and pioneers of the growth of the tech industry. was designed to connect businesses with CHIOMA NKECHIKA financial institutions’ operations. It also As far back as 2001, he led a team of young opportunities that would help them grow Nkechika is the CEO CoralPay Technology focuses on how to improve the experiences of Nigerians to launch Nigeria’s first mobile thereby solving the problem of market Limited.CoralPay is a CBN-licensed pay- customers and businesses. TeamApt presently internet service in partnership with MTN as linkages. ment solution service provider (PSSP), a services over 26 financial institutions and its well as the first mobile banking service in non-bank acquirer and a switching company products have helped optimise core bank Nigeria in 2003. Nwobi is also co-founder of NONSO OKPALA operating in Nigeria since 2004.CoralPay in back-office operations. Cheki which became Africa’s largest online Okpala is the Group Managing Direc- 2019, deployed the first interoperable USSD cars marketplace with operations in Nigeria, tor/CEO at VFD Group Plc, a proprietary and mobile payment platform to Nigerians OLUSEUN ONIGBINDE Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. Other companies investment firm in Nigeria with interests in desirous of a seamless and secure payment Onigbinde is the Co-Founder of BudgIT. he has invested in include Babybliss, Bamboo, foreign exchange, debt investment, interna- solution. The solution allows for enhanced He has worked on several projects funded Moneymie and DavtonLearn. tional remittance, real estate and payment interoperability amongst stakeholders in the by MacArthur Foundation, Ford FounDFID, businesses. Until recently, he was the CFO payment ecosystem. It allows customers using Open Society, OXFAM and Omidyar Network. KELECHI EKEGHE at Heirs Holdings, an African proprietary the USSD short codes of their respective BudgIT is a Nigerian civic organisation that Ekeghe is the CEO at Options.ng, Nigeria’s investment company. Okpala began his banks alongside their Mobile Apps to pay applies technology for citizen engagement with free, independent online comparison platform career in 2004 with KPMG where he had for goods and services directly from their institutional improvement to facilitate societal for products across industries and providers. the opportunity to work with Nigeria’s top bank accounts and wallets. change. The company launched operations Ekeghe, who until last year was a staff of tier banks and other financial institutions. in Lagos in 2011 to provide social advocacy Union Bank, joined the company to help VFD’s flagship solution is its ‘V’ bank app EMEKA EMETAROM using technology. In 2014, it developed Tracka, build the business and scale the firm along which was launched in March 2020, as a Emetarom is the Co-Founder and Execu- to track the implementation of government the lines of its growth objectives. Ekeghe is digital bank. In the past 10 months, the app tive Director at AppZone. He has immense projects in various community to ensure a seasoned digital business leader with a has acquired more than 40 million users and exposure in business management as well service delivery. Tracka allows Nigerians deep understanding of digital marketing and its users are mostly between age 21 and 45 as the IT industry, at various levels. His to post pictures of developmental projects transformation strategies. He has over 15 years years, spread across Nigeria. Its active users passion for IT resulted in his foray into the in their communities to communicate with of experience across digital businesses, the are mostly in Lagos, Anambra, Abuja, Port electronic prepaid airtime distribution. In their elected representatives, and demand banking sector and has pioneered start-ups Harcourt and Enugu. 2006, he championed the development of completion of the government projects in in e-Commerce as well as consulting. He Nigeria’s premier mobile airtime distribu- their respective neighborhoods. is also an experienced brand expert and a EKECHI NWOKAH tion service.AppZone is Africa’s provider of CHIKA NWOBI capacity-building coach. He started his career Nwokah is the CEO and Co-founder at home-grown banking and payment solutions Nwobi is founder of Decagon where the top in business development at Connectnigeria.

EMEKA EMETAROM TOSIN ENIOLORUNDA OLUSEUN ONIGBINDE CHIKA NWOBI 20 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 FINTECH (2) SPECIAL REPORT 20 TECH ENTREPRENEURS

KELECHI EKEGHE TITI ADEOYE AKIN JONES EMEKA ILOELUNACHI com, before he moved to Jobberman.com, working capital to Nigerian SMEs according then to Fidelity Bank Plc where he pioneered IBIKUNLE ADEOLUWA to their individual requirements and suited the bank’s digital marketing function and Adeoluwa is the Co-founder of AirSmat, to their business and finance needs. later to Union Bank where he led the bank’s a software company founded on the belief digital platforms’ team. that drones will shape the future. In 2020, NNAZILIM EGBUONU AirSmat launched a revolutionary Artificial Egbuonu is the co-founder of Mint Digital TITI ADEOYE Intelligence (AI) powered software platform Bank. Mint Digital Bank, a subsidiary of Adeoye is the Founder and Chief Investment to help farm owners and other corporate Finex Microfinance Bank. The bank offers Officer of Sankore, a Wealth Management organisations have access to actionable intel- Africans a new way to carry out core banking firm that runs Nigeria’s only “Wealth as ligence that will help drive efficiency in cost transactions, through application and web a Service” platform offering investment savings, enhance their business operations technology. He began his entrepreneurial strategy, products, advice and technology and improve their profitability. The company journey by co-founding an inter-state bus ag- to the clients of Private Banks and other had disclosed that the products, SmatCrows, gregation platform called ‘Oya,’ later acquired financial institutions.Her skills in investment SmatAI, SmatSat and SmatMapper, were the by Wakanow.com. After he existed Oya, he strategy were honed at firms like Goldman first of its kind that would enable predicable co-founded a leading air travel aggregator Sachs in New York where she was able to improved crop yield for farm corporations. company called Travelbeta.com with over IBIKUNLE ADEOLUWA learn the intricacies of asset allocation and It explained that its innovation was born out $40 million in transaction volume since portfolio optimisation. Her area of expertise of the quest to use technology to improve inception. He graduated from University of is strategies for the creation, growth and modern day farming with seamless data Nigeria Nsukka, where I obtained a degree preservation of individual or family wealth gathering. in Biochemistry. in Africa with a focus on alternative asset classes like venture capital, real estate and NELSON OCHONOGOR HUSSEIN AZEEZ agriculture due to the higher potential for Ochonogor is the Co-founder/Chief Operat- Azeez is the founder of Paychange, a mobile financial and social returns. ing Officer, GetRates, a one-stop source of payment platform with over 7,000 users. credible investment information that promotes He’s a will driven entrepreneur with an AKIN JONES investor education and enlightenment. The interest in economic prosperity and poverty Jones is the Co-founder of Aella Credit. firm is a financial product marketplace for reduction. He is proficient in product/services Started in 2015, the US-incorporated company retail investors in Nigeria. Ochonogor’s work development and implementation strategies. was launched to simplify and open up finan- experience span through banking and the He has previously founded two tech startups. cial services to support financial inclusion in fintech industry with critical roles in Business Paychange is a web and mobile platform emerging markets. The startup operates in Development, Product conceptualisation/ designed to enable cashless payments between two countries Nigeria and the Philippines. development, innovations and strategy, merchants and customers through USSD, Aella’s main offering is lending. It provides electronic/digital banking and project QR technology, and a unique identification NELSON OCHONOGOR quick loans directly to consumers and uses management at reputable institutions such as and wallet system. proprietary information and information from First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Heritage credit bureaus to gauge the creditworthiness Bank, Access Bank and ATM Consortium. BOSUN TIJANI of borrowers. It also offers a service called Tijani is a Nigerian-British entrepreneur “Network loans” where companies can sign JUSTICE IRIVWIERI and co-founder and CEO of Co-Creation up on Aella and allow their employees to Irivwieri is the founder of Paygital founded Hub, a pan-African innovation enabler borrow loans on the platform. In 2020, it in 2019 as a payment gateway that helps that works at the forefront of accelerating raised a new round of funding to enable it business process secured online and offline the application of innovation and social scale its financial solutions. The micro-lending transactions. It is a new gen (escrow) payment capital for a better society. CcHUB which company had announced a $10 million debt system, which permits satisfactory buying stands at the forefront of the fastest moving funding from Singapore-based HQ Financial and selling within and outside eCommerce technology industry trends has maintained Group (HQF). market activities. Paygital is a chat market its focus of shaping the economy and the EMEKA ILOELUNACHI Escrow payment processor for buyers and future of Africa.The firm is dedicated to Iloelunachi is the MD/CEO at FastCredit sellers on social media platforms. This is accelerating the application of social capital Limited. His career spanned from Branch as a result of the gradual shift of interest and technology for economic prosperity. and Regional Operation Services, Product from online shopping platform to buying JUSTICE IRIVWIERI Management, Business Banking and E- and selling on Instagram, Facebook, twitter, ABBEY WEMIMO business as the Group Head e-Channel whatsapp amongst others. Wemimo is the co-founder of Esusu, a Services Operations in Daimond Bank. fintech startup that helps individuals save Consequnetly, he joined Page International SEUN OYEDIRAN money and build credit. In 2019, the company Financial Services (PIFSL) in 2015 as Head Oyediran is the Country Managing Director, raised $1.6 million to scale, expand market Digital Business, and managed the Retail Lendigo. He has spent over 12-years creating share, and focus on product development. lending before rising to Vice President. Fast significant economic value that runs into tens The seed round was led by Acumen Fund Credit Limited was established in 2014 to of millions of dollars for the four financial with participation from Sinai Ventures, Kleiner operate as a finance company under the Bank service companies he has worked for. His Perkins, Katapult Accelerator, Plug and Play and Other Financial Act, in line with Central core expertise is in the art of deal-making, Tech Center, Global Good Fund, Temerity Bank of Nigeria regulations to carry out developing and executing growth plans, Capital Partners, and prominent angel the business of financing personal, business capital raising, managing P&L, and leading investors. Esusu serves lower-income and and emergency loans as well as create a teams to greater productivity and overall historically credit-challenged consumers, while platform for the investment of wholesale improved performance year on year. Lendigo simultaneously empowering these consumers funds via investment notes and borrowings is a financial technology firm dedicated to with credit-building tools that can transform from individual and institutions for good SMEs through technology and innovative their access to wealth-building – rather than returns and fund safety. practices. It provides easy and fast access to predatory products and services. SEUN OYEDIRAN

ABBEY WEMIMO BOSUN TIJANI HUSSEIN AZEEZ NNAZILIM EGBUONU APRIL 4, 2021 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 21 FINTECH (2) SPECIAL REPORT

President Muhammadu Buhari Isa Ali Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Unlocking Opportunities in Fintechs

Olusegun Adeniyi and Obinna Chima example, providing business-to-consumer customer segments, especially if the sector national identity database, fintechs will have (B2C) marketplace tools such as payment can find ways to move beyond addressing a more dependable information infrastructure espite the increasing activities integration on social media platforms, and known pain points of the banked population to access for financial innovations,” Ogbobine of financial technologyfurther enabling the Nigerian e-commerce and expand the banking pool. explained. (fintech) companies in the industry. “The COVID-19 crisis has heightened Similarly, the International Monetary Fund country, there is need for the “And finally, fintech can support Nigeria’s the challenges. The investment required (IMF), had in a report stated that fintechs federal and state governments human capital development by driving to foster innovation in order to meet these could be key to structural transformation toD focus on developing policies that financial inclusion and literacy through challenges and realize fintech’s potential in in Nigeria and other African countries. would boost contribution of the sector the provision of accessible and affordable the longer term could be significant, but It noted that innovation was allowing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product financial products that are innovative positive results could be achieved through Africans to move up the financial services (GDP) significantly. and cater to the needs of unbanked and collaborative action. value chain. The sector can unlock economic benefit underserved segments of the population “If all stakeholders in the fintech by driving increased productivity, capital, across culture, gender, and geography. ecosystem, including government regulators, HOW DIFFERENT COUNTRIES and labor hours through digitisation of “Significant opportunities also exist for infrastructure players, private organisations, HANDLE TECH STARTUPS financial services. fintech to enable solutions within education and providers of capital work together, the Additionally, it will play a leading role and health to address societal challenges country can start to unlock the potential UNITED KINGDOM: in the federal government’s much-desired such as student financing, digital learning, of its fintech assets,” it added. The UK government has taken proactive drive towards economic diversification. and affordable health insurance,” McKinsey In his opinion, the Head of Consulting steps to boost the success rate of UK tech While fintech investments in Nigeria grew added. at Lagos-based pan-African rating agency, startups, while developing an ecosystem to approximately $460 million in 2019, One of the key factors preventing the Agusto Consulting, Mr. Jimi Ogbobine, noted (across public and private sectors) that is the majority of which was from external sector from achieving its full potential that one of the ways the government could conducive of innovation. In terms of funding, investors, this was only a small fraction of has been that, to date, fintechs have had stimulate growth in the fintech space was there are a range of government grants the $36 billion invested in fintech globally, limited appetite to develop commercially by firstly avoiding knee-jerked regulations offered by the Department for Business, McKinsey & Company, stated in a report viable use cases to serve the mass-market that could distort the current strong growth Energy & Industrial Strategy. The Startup which focused on fintechs in Nigeria. segment owing to the significant investment trajectory trend. Loans scheme is another initiative that also The global management consultancy required. Speaking in a chat with THISDAY, he offers loans of up to £25,000 at a fixed Services Company pointed out that with But this, according to McKinsey is said government’s support for fintechs interest rate of 6% per annum for new the right support, fintechs could create changing as a result of the impact of should be largely concentrated on resolving business ideas — this scheme provides impact in three broad dimensions: through the COVID-19. structural bottlenecks that could inhibit advice on writing up business plans, along stimulating economic activity, by creating With consumers turning to digital options the growth of the industry. with free mentoring from business experts. a multiplier effect, and by driving progress during lockdown and government using “One of the major structural bottlenecks Innovate UK, among others, presents towards development goals. digital channels to roll out aid packages, it will be the internet penetration levels across another funding option. Startups like “Economic impact will primarily come became clear that there was an untapped the country. And that’s why the current Divido, have experienced the benefits of from expanding revenue pools and attracting opportunity to convert the under-banked positive disposition of states to reducing these type of initiatives firsthand. foreign direct investment to the country. and unbanked to fintech solutions and taxes and levies on the right of way (RoW) The CEO and co-founder of the company, The sector can unlock economic benefit unlock the economic and social benefits needs to be retained. Christer Holloman, explained: “We set Divido by driving increased productivity, capital, that this promises. “Secondly, the government needs to up back in 2014, and in 2015 we were lucky and labor hours through digitization of “Digital financial services have the potential concentrate efforts on streamlining and enough to receive an official government financial services. to unlock significant benefits for Nigeria’s improving efficiencies around the national backing in the form of an Innovate UK “Increased fintech activity could also economy and society. There are multiple identity management processes. grant to further develop our platform. The indirectly grow the digital economy by, for opportunities across product ranges and “With more Nigerians registered on the support from the Innovate UK allowed 22 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 FINTECH (2) SPECIAL REPORT UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES IN FINTECHS

CHRISTER HOLLOMAN, CEO, Divido, United Kingdom PETER NJONJO, CEO, Twiga Foods, Kenya HAMAD BUAMIM, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber us as a business to not only gain some supply platform. He added that Dubai Chamber supports support to develop. needed investment but it also provided Fourth, M-Kopa provides “pay-as-you-go” the growth of startups in Dubai through its The fostering of innovation in the our business with that added validation energy services for offgrid customers across entrepreneurship initiative Dubai Startup capital has seen the creation of Hub71, that only a government can give. emerging markets; this is done with their Hub by providing startup members access an international tech base, which brings “This is something that the UK government patented technology platform that combines to resources, tools, knowledge and market together startups, top VC funds, and needs to ensure that it continues doing, embedded GSM + mobile payments. The opportunities that can help them thrive investors. particularly in the current political and company had already connected 600,000 and grow. ADIO has also encouraged innovators economic Brexit climate. The UK fintech homes across Africa, providing 75 million Vice Chairman and CEO of the Dubai to flourish in the Agricultural Technology market has always been ahead of the curve, hours of kerosene-free lighting each month. Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), Dr (AgTech) space, offering incentive programs, and now other countries have caught on The bill highlights that in the African Mohammed Al Zarooni, noted that Dubai’s including financial incentives, to companies and are playing catch-up so they’re getting continent, Tunisia and Senegal have noticed competitiveness attracts innovative thinkers, looking to relocate or expand in Abu Dhabi. more attention. the potential of startups in their countries to positioning it as a preferred destination Hendi believes that, “Every company is a “As long as the government continues support rapid social-economic development, for entrepreneurs in diverse industries, technology company or needs to become a to reinforce its commitment to this sector which has resulted in them enacting their especially those in technology and fourth technology company,” narrowing the ADIO’s through different funding initiatives and own laws to recognise, support and regulate industrial revolution applications. focus on preparing companies to pivot. events, then I expect the UK and London to start-ups activities. The Kenyan Startup These sectors have recently surged, given “Today what we’re seeing with companies continue on its path to being the ultimate Bill 2020 then justifies its own rationale. the measures in response to Covid-19. is that if they don’t adapt technology, they’re fintech capital of the world.” Al Zarooni said: “Start-ups are a pillar of a left behind,” Bin Hendi told Euronews. Also, Innovate UK is part of UK Research DUBAI: flexible economic system that is agile enough “But, if they adopt the wrong type of and Innovation, a non-departmental public The Dubai Startup Hub, an initiative of to quickly adapt to new developments and technology or don’t get the support that body funded by a grant-in-aid from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, achieve sustainable growth. The facilities they require, particularly in the micro and UK government. It drives productivity and in cooperation with Dubai Technology that Dubai offers to this dynamic segment, the SME space, then someone needs to economic growth by supporting businesses Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), recently through a supportive ecosystem and an be there to support them, So we provide to develop and realise the potential of released the Dubai Startup Report 2021, incubator for innovation, helps them grow those financial incentives, we provide the new ideas, including those from the UK’s an informative guide on Dubai’s startup and achieve strategic business objectives. access and we provide the growth.” world-class research base. ecosystem for international startups and “The Dubai Technology Entrepreneur ADIO is also focused on building bilateral investors that are keen on exploring business Campus at Dubai Silicon Oasis, which is ties in the near and long-term, which KENYA: opportunities in the emirate. home to hundreds of technology start-ups, is involves opening international offices Kenya, in particular its commercial and The report brings together the hands-on an exemplary model of the unique ecosystem to support global companies looking to financial hub of Nairobi, is a major player experience of Dubai Startup Hub and Dtec that Dubai and the wider UAE offers.” establish and expand their operations in generally from an economic point of view, serving a community of more than 10,000 the capital. not just in East Africa, but the African founders and investors, and the public policy ABU DHABI: continent as a whole. and legal perspective on incentives and The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) SOUTH AFRICA: Dubbed as “Silicon Savannah,” Nairobi schemes available in the Emirate. is the central government hub supporting Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs (E4E) has a strong fintech and wider tech and Featured in the report are several business- investment in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Its Africa, an entrepreneur-led South African financial services ecosystem. friendly measures introduced in recent years vision is to develop a thriving, knowledge- venture capital (VC) firm, recently launched As reported by The FinTech Times in to support business activity, boost foreign economy for Abu Dhabi that is competitive its Section 12J offering. Disrupt Africa September, the Kenyan parliament has investment and attract promising companies and diverse, whilst attracting FDI. How? reported last year on the launch of E4E, published a Startup Bill, whereby the and investors from around the world such The entity cites the UAE’s strategic location which is backed by a founding investment Kenyan government is aiming to develop as several stimulus packages, the golden between East and West, its high ranking from the SA SME Fund and has a first a number of incentives for startups. This card permanent residency system for expat in regional reports relating to the ‘Ease close of R135-million (US$8.1 million). In is in addition to having a protection investors, a 5-year visa for entrepreneurs, a of Doing Business’, plus its positioning addition to its regular fund, E4E has now for intellectual property among several virtual working programme and a decision on global competitiveness and innovation launched a Section 12J facility, which grants interesting provisions. The Startup Bill 2020 to grant UAE citizenship to select foreigners. indexes. investors a 100 per cent write-off for their provides a framework for the development The report highlights various programmes, Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, is an Emirati- South African taxes on any investment made of innovative entrepreneurship, establishing resources and value-added services available American, London-trained economist who in the Section 12J fund. incubation hubs, and building a network in Dubai that are designed to support the hopes to expand Abu Dhabi’s economy as “The 12J incentive offers South Africans, of global and regional investors. growth of startups and connect them to the Director-General and CEO of the Abu people or companies, a unique opportunity At present, as what the bill highlights, new business opportunities. Dubai Startup Dhabi Investment Office. to invest in high growth, early-stage Kenya has some significant successes in Hub, an initiative of Dubai Chamber, along The former Emirates NBD executive is businesses in a way that lowers risk and the fintech and wider tech space. The with Dtec are among the most active startup interested in cultivating a viable ecosystem increases potential returns through the tax examples highlighted in the bill included, ecosystem players in the emirate. for SMEs and startups in the UAE’s capital. saving – while helping build a better South first, Cellulant. They have developed a Among other topics of interest covered With a forward-thinking approach, Bin Africa,” said E4E partner Bas Hochstenbach. digital payment platform that offers in the report are ease of doing business, Hendi links diverse value systems across Since its mid-2020 launch, E4E has created flexible payment options for consumers economic competitiveness, government cultures to attract foreign investment. a significantly-sized fund, investing in a and businesses, and works with financial initiatives supporting startup growth, Ghadan 21 is a $13 billion accelerator variety of companies that are innovating institutions, governments, and mobile venture capital activity, free zones and program looking to support SMEs in the across key sectors of the South African network operators to increase transparency the services they offer, access to finance, country. economy. These include leading township and expand their reach in Africa. investment incentives and availability of When Inspire Middle East asked about food solutions enterprise YeboFresh, data Second, Sendy is a logistics platform skilled talent, in addition to useful tips on the impact of Coronavirus on Ghadan 21, annotation and labelling startup Enlabeler, that provides drivers to fulfil customers’ setting up a company in Dubai. Bin Hendi said adaptability is key, with and e-health startup Vula Mobile. logistics needs from motorcycle deliveries President and CEO of Dubai Chamber, Ghadan 21 being both a proactive and “With our proven track record as to trucks; they started operating in Kenya Hamad Buamim, described the report as a reactive program. entrepreneurs and investors, we believe before Uber entered. valuable and reliable resource for startups The economist maintained that by that E4E is uniquely placed to ensure that Third, Twiga foods sources quality produce and investors in other markets as it provides adapting policy and with resources such anyone using our 12J facility has the best from thousands of farmers around Kenya, a wealth of practical information about as sovereign wealth funds, support from possible chance of achieving real returns,” providing them with a ready guaranteed Dubai’s dynamic and fast-growing startup larger government entities, as well as the said E4E managing partner Philani Sangweni. market; this is done with their mobile-based ecosystem. private sector, SMEs have the backing “This is only advanced by the fact that we APRIL 4, 2021 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 23 FINTECH (2) SPECIAL REPORT UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES IN FINTECHS

TARIQ BIN HENDI,DG/CEO, Abu Dhabi Investment Office PHILANI SANGWENI, E4E South Africa AMR MAHFOUZ, CEO, ITIDA, Egypt

invest in innovation-led, transformative accompany” the various arms and branches over specific societal impacts in Europe’s businesses that have the potential to scale of government on that journey; aka “to “Economic impact courts. Such as, in 2010, when a Spanish globally.” help make things happen” with a startup citizen challenged Google’s refusal to delist hat on. will primarily come outdated information about him from its EGYPT The national strategy envisages index — which led, in 2014, to Europe’s top In Egypt, the Information Technology entrepreneurship/startup innovation as from expanding court backing what’s colloquially referred Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) has the driving force at the top of a pyramid to as the “right to be forgotten”. also launched a new round of its annual that sits atop existing sectors of the Spanish revenue pools and Uber’s regulation-dodging was also “Export IT” programme. The programme economy — “spearheading the innovative successfully challenged by Spanish taxi was introduced as a coping mechanism for system that we want to generate”, as Polo attracting foreign associations — leading to a 2017 ruling at the unprecedented challenges caused by the puts it. “We are not only focusing on the highest level in Europe that Uber is global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. innovative entrepreneurship. We are also direct investment to the a transport service (and therefore subject The agency introduced the cash incentive to trying to create virtuous cycles between to local urban transport rules; not just a provide economic relief for small businesses this ecosystem and the actual driving country. The sector can technology platform as the ride-hailing and tech startups, and to boost exports sectors of the Spanish economy — that’s unlock economic benefit giant had sought to claim). amid the pandemic. why we listed a set of 10 driving sectors Anti-Uber (and anti-Cabify) strikes ITIDA CEO, Amr Mahfouz highlighted that represent above 60% of the GDP. And by driving increased have, meanwhile, been a quasi-regular that the approved stimulus comes as this is of utmost importance.” (and sometimes violent) feature of Spain’s part of the agency’s relief plan to curb The listed sectors where the government productivity, capital, streets — as the taxi industry has protested the economic impact of COVID-19, and wants to concentrate and foster support at a perceived lack of enforcement of the ensures more aid for small businesses and — so those same sectors can leverage and labor hours through law against app-based rivals who are not local IT companies. gains through closer working with digital competing fairly, as it sees it. Mahfouz, underlined that the export innovation are: Industry; Tourism and digitization of financial And while gig platforms (even homegrown incentive package is to encourage the culture; Mobility; Health; Construction European ones) tend to try to shrug off local companies to boost exports, secure and materials; Energy and ecological services.” such protests as protectionist (and/or the position of Egyptian IT products in transition; Banking and finance; Digitalization “anti-innovation”), they have oftentimes existing markets, and increase market and telecommunications; Agri-food; and found themselves losing challenges to the penetration capabilities. Biotechnology. legality of their models — including most The programme deals with local ICT “We decided we needed to make the cut recently in the U.K. Supreme Court (which companies which are more than 50% at some point and we decided that putting know that everyone is called to make this just slapped down Uber’s classification of owned by Egyptians, headquartered in together 60% of the GDP in Spain was a a reality.” drivers/riders as self employed — meaning Egypt, and are exporting ICT services, clear direction of the sectors that we could it’s liable for a slew of costs for associated IT-enabled services such as call centre be using in order to accelerate the change DIGITAL DIVIDES benefits). services, consultation and training services that we want to see,” says Polo. “Basically Digital can itself divide, of course, as has All of which is to say that the muscular related to the IT industry. what we want to shift with this model is been writ large during a global pandemic in sense of injustice that segments of Spanish ITIDA has excluded Egyptian IT that the innovative entrepreneurship that which the development of children excluded society have willingly — and even viscerally startups founded in 2016 or later with has been quite enclosed in the past starts from attending school in person can hinge — demonstrated when they feel unfair the “headquarters in Egypt” condition. working with the different driving sectors on whether or not they have internet access impacts flowing from shiny new tech tools According to the programme’s terms that we have in the country because they and computer literacy. should not be dismissed; rather it looks and conditions, approved companies can help each other solve their different So the principle of entrepreneurial growth like people here have their finger on the receive direct cash incentives of up to 10 issues. being predicated upon social inclusion looks pulse of what’s really important to them. per cent, and with a maximum limit of “So first, for example, for investment — like an important one — even if pulling That may also explain why the government 20 per cent of value-added exports based what if big companies start investing more off major industrial transformations which is so keen to ensure no one in Spain feels on the company size. and more than they are actually doing? We will necessitate a degree of retraining and left behind as it unboxes a major packet accelerate also that path — into innovative upskilling in order to bring workers of all of startup-friendly policies. SPAIN entrepreneurship system. That is going to ages along the same path is clearly not Among a package of some 50 support There’s money on the table too: Spain help close that gap… What if startups and going to be easy. measures, the entrepreneurial strategy will be routing a portion of the “Next scale-ups in Spain work together with our But the 10-year time frame for “Spain makes a reference to “smart regulation” Generation EU” coronavirus recovery international companies in order to attract Entrepreneurial Nation” looks like a and floats the idea of sandboxing for testing funding it receives from the pan-EU pot and retain that talent? That is going to recognition that inclusion requires time. products publicly (i.e. without needing to into this “entrepreneurial” push. put us as a country in a better position. The long-term plan is also intended to worry about regulatory compliance first). “Specifically, for 2021, the budget assigned “To me the best example is about scaling address a common criticism of Spain’s The idea of opening up sandboxing is to the different goals of the strategy — we up: Because what is better than scaling politics being too short-termist, per Polo. popular with local gig platform Glovo. “I have more than €1.5 billion for the main up on the shoulders of giants? We have “In Spain particularly it’s been a regular really believe this is key; allowing innovation measures that we want to start setting up. already a big number of international of criticism that politics always look in the small to test products/services without having And for the period 2023 it’s over €4.5 billion world-class companies that are in different term so this is proof that this government to go through regulatory nightmares to dedicated to the rest of the measures. So markets so what is better than being able is also addressing the short-term issues test. This would really drive innovation,” basically between 2021 and 2023 we will to scale up with a company that is already but also is preparing Spain for the future,” co-founder Sacha Michaud tells us. “This be setting the basis/foundations of the there, that has the knowledge and that he says, adding: “We really believe that is working well in financial services but Spain entrepreneurial nation,” says Polo. can help you mature as a scale-up in a [presenting a long-term vision is] a good could be applied across a wide range of Execution of the strategy will be down shorter period of time. So there are a lot thing and it’s an answer to that social tech areas.” to the relevant ministries of government of virtuous cycles that we can generate demand.” Attracting more investment to Spain — who will be enacting projects and and that’s why we wanted to make also The country has also — over the last decade and improving stock options so that local passing legislation, as needed — but a broad appeal to the different driving or so — gained a bit of a reputation for companies can better compete to attract Polo’s department is there to “guide and sectors. Because we want to let the country successfully challenging digital developments talent are other key priorities for him. 24 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 25 26 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡APRIL 4, 2021 27

Editor: Kunle Aderinokun BUSINESS 08033204315, 08111813084 Email:[email protected] Is Corruption the Reason for Nigeria’s Underdevelopment? &orrXption is systemic and cXltXral in Nigeria, and it has been said to be the single greatest obstacle preventing Nigeria from achieving its enormoXs potential.

conomic growth is the single most BXhari administration, the economy has continXed imSortDnt IDctor inÁXencing to sink and totter to recession and non-growth. poverty. According to the IMF, 7he idea that the totem of ¶Àghting corrXption’ DEXndDnt stDtisticDl stXdies hDve is the magic wand for driving economic growth IoXnd ´D strong DssociDtion and development cannot bXt be XntrXe. between national per capita Anna Marie 6antacreX and Heting =hX’s analysis income and national poverty of the ¶Miracle of the Han 5iver’, the period of indicators, Xsing both income rapid economic growth in 6oXth .orea, following and nonincome measXres oI povertyµ. the .orean War 1950²195 , dXring which 6oXth ItE is generally agreed that ´soXnd policiesµ .orea transformed from a developing coXntry to oXght to be MXdged by their e΀cacy in IXlÀlling a developed coXntry, show that corrXption cannot the socioeconomic obMectives oI steady growth, IXll and shoXld never be Xsed as an excXse for not employment, price stability, and a viable external growing and developing an economy. As they payments sitXation, as mandated by the prevail- noted, following the Miracle on the Han 5iver, ing socio-political consensXs, and Iramed by the 6oXth .orea has been held as an economic model for Xnderlying economic strXctXre and institXtions. other developing coXntries and acceded to the *20 1otwithstanding, a  stXdy by AXstralian in November 2010, capping a sXccessfXl sixty-some Economists, 3alle Andersen and 'avid *rXen, years of rebXilding and modernisation. shows that a macroeconomic policy framework 6oXth .orea experienced one of the largest condXcive to growth can be characterised by Àve economic transformations of the past 0 years. It featXres. 7hey are a low and predictable inÁation started as an agricXltXre-based economy in the rate; an appropriate real interest rate; a stable and 190s, and is cXrrently the 10th largest economy sXstainable Àscal policy; a competitive and predict- in the world in terms of gross domestic prodXct, able real exchange rate; and a balance of payments and ranks 1th in pXrchasing power parity *'3 that is regarded as viable. &oXntries with these in the world, identifying it as one of the *-20 maMor macroeconomic characteristics tend to grow faster economies. It is a developed coXntry with a high- than those withoXt them, thoXgh there are many income economy and is the most indXstrialized individXal cases of both developing and developed member coXntry of the 2EC'. 6oXth .orean coXntries sXggesting that satisfying only some of brands sXch as /* Electronics and 6amsXng these conditions does not sXstain strong growth. are internationally famoXs and garnered 6oXth Between 2002 and 2015, the Nigerian economy .orea’s repXtation for its TXality electronics and experienced an astronomical rate of growth. How- other manXfactXred goods. ever, sXch level of growth did not translate to the Many stXdies attribXte 6oXth .orea’s strXctXral expected increase in employment opportXnities transformation to policy reforms aimed at open- and poverty redXction on the groXnd. ing the coXntry to foreign markets. Indeed, the While average growth rate between 1990 and export-oriented policies of 6oXth .orea are one 1999 was a little over one percent, the Nigerian of the most important factors of its sXccess 6oXth economy grew by as mXch as 15. in 2002, .5 .orea is now the Àfth largest exporter in the world. the following year, 9.25 in 200, and between  7wo additional factors have contribXted to the and  in the sXcceeding years, Xntil the coming increase in international trade and indXstrialization to power of the BXhari administration. in 6oXth .orea; an improvement in the bXsiness 8nder the BXhari administration the Nigerian environment as well as policies incentivizing economy is to all intents and pXrposes in ¶intensive Buhari investment in innovation. care·. In 201, the economy grew at -1.2, 0.1 in 6antacreX and =hX note fXrther that 6oXth 201 and an average of 1 in the sXbseTXent years. .orea dominates in the ease to start a bXsiness It was the Economist Magazine that lamented the spheres, others posit that corrXption has a negative opinion polls in &hina and sXrveys by international and enforcing contracts. which play a signiÀcant periloXs state of the Nigerian economy as ´stXck eͿect on the ratio of investment to *'3 thXs aͿect- organizations show that the level of corrXption role in encoXraging investment, prodXction, com- like a stranded trXck. Average incomes have been ing economic growth. It has also been argXed that in China is high, deeply rooted, and widespread. mXnication and, eventXally, economic growth. falling for Àve years; the IMF thinks they will not corrXption discoXrages investment and distorts ´In spite of the rampant corrXption, the Chinese FXrthermore, ´6oXth .orea has devoted extra rise for at least another six«µ the composition of government spending XsXally economy has been growing rapidly, with an attention to technology development and innovation A FebrXary 2021 report by Bloomberg noted that to the detriment of fXtXre economic growth. average annXal growth rate of approximately 10 to promote growth. Innovation and technology ´Africa·s most popXloXs coXntry exited its second 2n the other hand, EmmanXel AnorXo and per cent. Moreover, China is not alone; there are are the key factors that have Xnderpinned 6oXth recession in foXr years in the foXrth TXarter of HabtX Braha are of the view that corrXption can other coXntries that have relatively high corrXption .orean export competitiveness and fXelled the 2020, with economic growth of 0.1. 7he economy be growth enhancing in the sense that with the and economic growth rates. 3resXmably, one can coXntry’s remarkable economic rise over the past shrank 1.9 last year, the biggest contraction in help of corrXption, e΀ciency in the economy is argXe that this is becaXse there are many factors decades.5 more than two decades. improved. 7his is so becaXse strict measXres that are that aͿect economic growth and corrXption is only ´In fact, 6oXth .orea is now spending the largest Economic growth has lagged behind popXla- imposed by the government, impeding investment one of them. share of its GDP on research and development tion growth rates every year since BXhari came and other economic decisions favoXrable to growth ´In China, dXe to the monopolistic control of most 5 D , even larger than the 8.6. and -apan, two to power in 2015, leading to a decline in average are removed. 7herefore, corrXption according to economic resoXrces by the government, corrXption of the global leaders in innovation based on 5 D income per capita. these scholars ´greases the wheelµ is rampant. 7he widely accepted view in China is intensity. Between 199 and 2015, 6oXth .orea’s 7he impact of the coronavirXs pandemic will It is commonly agreed that corrXption distorts the that ´power cannot be deposited in a bank, so yoX 5 D intensity grew .5 percent from 2.2 percent pXsh 20 million more Nigerians below the poverty allocation of resoXrces by diverting mXch-needed had better proÀt from it while yoX can.µ in 199 to .2 percent in 2015 , while the 8.6.’s line by 2022, according to the World Bank. AboXt 0 capital for economic development to corrXpt of- While the misXse of resoXrces and power for only grew 1. percent from 2. percent in 199 million of the coXntry·s popXlation are classiÀed as Àcials’ pockets. 7hXs, a high-level corrXption in private gain has no doXbt negatively aͿected the to 2.9 percent in 2015 µ. extremely poor, the highest nXmber of any nation. a coXntry is detrimental to its economic growth. Nigerian economy since independence, what has

ecently, the Central Bank of Nigeria came hard on the security agencies for investigation. Also, the government has patrons of cryptocurrency, asking banks to close spoken, through its SA Media that this is the report they have from accounts of their customers linked to cryptocur- the United Arab Emirate (UAE); reporting that this kind of activities rency transactions and exchanges. This decision is going on. Like I said, Ànancial institutions are the most vulnerable; by the banking regulatory authority has attracted when it comes to terrorism and money Laundering Ànancing. It is an GLYHUVHUHDFWLRQVIURPGL;HUHQWTXDUWHUV:KDW·V evolving phenomenon. Every day, criminals develop processes to beat your view on this development? the system in order to perpetrate their nefarious acts. They even beat Advanced countries are in the fourth revolution in terms of develop- banks. This is why you have FIUs (Financial Intelligence Units) all over ment,R while Nigeria is yet to have a grasp of even the Àrst revolution, the world; and you know Nigeria’s position is a bit weak, generally, in which is the agricultural to industrial then digital revolution, which terms of even the membership status. Yes, there was a time Nigeria is the apex of all revolutions, today. was suspended because of so many lapses … Digital currency is a global phenomenon and without a doubt, it is the Like I said, the matter is under investigation and so, there isn’t much future of global currency, considering the challenges of paper money. I can say on the issue… So, it has its own beneÀts and its own vulnerability. Other countries that have perfected the art of tracking transactions When you heard the news that some of your members were on the digital platform still exercise some level of caution, even though involved, were you shocked? Deriving from this development, the central banks still Ànd ways to monitor its trends. what measures is ABCON putting in place to prevent such from The main purpose of digital currency is to break the monopoly of happening again? central banks because the central banks monitor, control, coordinate First, my reaction: being an operator that also knows about the AML and trace transactions. CFT structure I cannot be surprised because it is a global phenomenon. However, for now, the cryptocurrency world is so anonymous by It happens everywhere in the world even in countries such as UAE. its operation that it is a challenge to trace parties to a transaction. Which means, I shouldn’t be surprised if, it is happening in Nigeria; This is where the conÁict lies; between the advocacy of digital cur- because it is a crime; and crime has no jurisdiction! More so, these are rency and the regulators. But I believe, over time, it is going to be a complex transactions that also demand complex structure to tackle. welcome idea. So, when we heard it, of course as a leader, your members are being On our part as Bureaux de Change (BDCs) with over 6,000 members, alleged to have been found in such a case; and especially, an act, which we have been advocating our transactions to be digital. While we we have consistently warned members never to indulge in. So, we acknowledge that the country may still be moving within the orbit of were shocked that, yes, our members have been found to be allegedly the Àrst revolution, transactions in the country, especially with today’s Gwadabe involved in such a crime; and it is a grievous allegation. Terrorism generation have been taken to the digital realm. So, people have to Ànancing is grievous. So, deÀnitely, you had to be shocked about that key in and transform their transactions to digital windows of money kind and level of allegation. So, based on that, we had to meet, go exchange. should be suspicious of the source of the money. It could be proceeds to the agency that invited our members and let them know ‘we are Now, the leadership of our association has succeeded in digitising of armed robbery. But I will still go ahead and complete the transaction here…’ Our members came and some didn’t come back again; and ABCON’s operations. with you. However, I will Áag and report it as a suspicious transaction their families are on our neck because their breadwinners, who went Today, our operations are digitised into four automations of transac- because the things I have seen around it. Or, you come and I tell you with us to honour the invitation did not return with us and so, they tions: We have one called the SAS Masters, a digital operation by our the rate is, say, N700 per dollar and you say “am ready, just give me, cannot see them. The agency has responded and informed them that, members, whereby you operate from the comfort of your o΀ce. Over give me…” all these are some of the traits of suspicious transaction. yes, their people are with them, but on charges based on Ànancial 4,000 operators are on that platform. You can render your returns in real Also, we are in the process of integrating our members into the edict transactions that are illegitimate and bordering on serious crime. They time, online, direct to the central bank server. Before this technology, we of the Data Protection Law of 2019 by NITDA. This is because we told us to be patient and allow them conclude their investigations. used IFAS; people had to come to a central place to start downloading receive information that belongs to members of the public. We receive After that, we issued a press statement where we said, our members transactions. So, we have digitised that part of our operations. We are BVN, phone number, international passport, visa of the individual. were invited and detained for AML CFT breach and the KYC status. also on the platform of NIBSS (Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System). These are the information and the edict demands that whoever is We also supported any measures to be taken especially in view of There is this issue of validation- .YC (.now Your Customer) status; doing 2,000-10,000 information must be audited, must be certiÀed the security situation in the country currently. We will support any you have to know your customer and one of the key information we by that agency; because if, tomorrow you are audited and certiÀed measure the government will take to get rid of terrorism once and are meant to receive is the BVN. You know BVN is an identity now. by the agency and one of your client’s information is exposed and for all in the country. If that is what it will take to achieve that, why We conÀrm your identity and how do we do that" The agency that suspects the leak of his personal information is from your source, you not; every right thinking Nigerian should support such strategy. warehouses the BVN is the NIBSS. They have a portal, where you can can be liable to prosecution. So, we are telling our members to get on Also, in that press statement, we appealed to the security agencies go in, see the picture, date of birth, name and signature of the owner the platform. Then, there is sanction and Politically Exposed Persons’ to expedite action so that while the guilty is duly punished for their of the BVN; for you to know the true identity of the customer you are (PEP) list. You know, Terrorist List; whereby we use one of our partner crime, the innocent among them should be released to reunite with transacting with. platforms, DataPro, to also go in. If you are PEP, for instance… not that their families. Societies are built on the rule of law. We are also on the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) platform, politically exposed persons are criminals; you know it is because they For us, therefore, it is still an allegation and one of the problems it used to be Go-AML. But because of the nature of our transaction, are vulnerable. So, I would look at it and see… ‘This man is PEP o!, let we have is the issue of clariÀcation. In Nigeria, when they say you mostly we are engaged in smaller volumes… I am not saying there are me be cautious in doing the transaction with him. Like what we have are a bureau de change, nobody wants to know whether you are no bigger volumes; but the scope does not allow us. The scope of our been hearing now that people use Ànancial institutions in terrorism licensed or not. transaction is $5,000 maximum for school fees or $5,000 for business Ànancing, money laundering. There is a big diͿerence between licensed and unlicensed bureau transactions. So, we are on the NFIU platform, where we render Cash So, these are some of the things we put in place as an association to de change. Licensed bureau de change is licensed by the Central Transaction Report (CTR) and Suspicious Transaction Report (STR). move our members to the digital mode of operations. Bank and registered with CAC. They carry out their obligation such As you are aware, there is an Act of the NFIU that pegs the maximum as digitisation of their operations and also registered with the Federal transactions for individuals at N500, 000 and N5,000,000 for corporate The latest revelation by the federal government on its war against Inland Revenue Service as required by the Law. We pay our Taxes. bodies per transaction. Any amount above it is expected to be reported insecurity in the country is that it has discovered that some of the And we have o΀ces. So, basically, there are varying degree of people to the NFIU. Then, there could be suspicious transaction. I don’t know sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria include BDC operators. What is on the FX transaction turf. you and the Àrst time, you are coming to do forex transaction in my your reaction? o΀ce, you come with hard currency stained with human blood. So, I Well, I don’t want to be subjudiced, because the matter is before See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com 54 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡APRIL 4, 2021 THE EXECUTIVE LEEMON IKPEA How NCDMB Can Further Deepen and Strengthen Local Companies

Dr. Leemon Ikpea is the Chief Executive O΀cer of Lee Engineering Construction Company Limited. He speaks with Bayo Akinloye about the positive impact of Nigeria’s local content policy on the nation’s oil and gas industry, the vital role played by the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board in deepening local companies participating in the industry and strengthening their capacity. Ikpea also discusses the new normal occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and its eͿects on his organisation’s operations and business outcomes. Excerpts:

ow has it been running your business during the pandemic? The COVID-19 pandemic is like a swarm of locusts of biblical proportion. The health crisis has brought the world toH its knees. This is not just in terms of physical well-being; that is, one’s health. It has, in a literal sense, wreaked havoc on every human system. Well, almost, because during this crisis, the Internet-based tech- nology companies have boomed. Some Àrms, hitherto, making average revenues, have seen their earnings hit a record high that they did not dream of. It has also widened the scope of their businesses. To come back to your question, the business has not been easy since the Àrst index case of COVID-19 was recorded in February in Nigeria. There is no mincing words that it has been tough running a business under the clouds of the coronavirus crisis. It is no longer news that many businesses have closed shop in the country. Following closely to that is the grim reality that many people, unfortunately, lost their job. But solace can be taken from the fact that while there is life, there is hope. Life continues. This also underscores the fact that health is wealth. When health is absent, everything else is a void, a striving after the wind. In our case, we are in the third decade in the industry. Yet, we were not immune to the virus’ virulent impact in the sector we operate. It was a painful decision for us to let some employees go. These are people we have trained over the years. It was challenging to ask them to go. The reality was grim; production was very low. But at the end of the month, you have to pay salaries. With integrity and prudence, your organisation has survived and thrived over the years. But with the COVID-19 pandemic making physical contact a ‘taboo,’ what has been the experience for you? The best way to Àght and win the coro- navirus pandemic is to stay safe and be strong. I think living and working under a Ikpea cloud of COVID-19 is another, if you like a new way, of life. With all the seeming doom and gloom of the moment, people vendors, and clients. Communication Having said that, I will mention hard work. old-fashioned. Yet, it remains what propels have realised that the crisis has opened the via the Internet became seamless using Hard work always pays oͿ in the long run. businesses in this modern, sophisticated eyes regarding saving cost. Think about various tools videoconferencing. It has When you honestly apply yourself to the world. It does not have to be the buzzword. the cost of travelling from one state to been a culture for our organisation to job at hand and work hard, you are more It is something every responsible busi- another, from one country to the other, hold virtual meetings and has proved likely to succeed. The least product of hard ness must live. For us, integrity is not a Áying from one continent to the next. It invaluable. It cannot be overemphasised work is dignity. The satisfaction that you concept. It is who we are. With integrity, costs money to do all that. With restric- that it is an eͿective and e΀cient way of work for what you earn. Closely related to every business partner, client, supplier, or tions on air travels, one is forced not to doing business. It has reduced our cost that is integrity. One must have integrity. vendor looks for you because they trust travel. Therefore, if you are not Áying, you of operations. That is good for business. You must be known not just for being you. Who will do business with you if you are saving money. Besides, it reduces the hard-working, but you must let integrity are not trusted" Integrity is our watchword. possibility and probability of accidents. Lee Engineering has witnessed phe- permeate every process of your hard work, We run an honest business. We have hon- You are more likely safe in your conducive nomenal growth over the years. To what your operations. For Lee Engineering and est and hard-working staͿ. We are not environment. But everyone is feeling the joy will you attribute this growth? me, personally, integrity is the key. You honest and hard-working some of the of working remotely. The Internet became It may sound like a cliche, but I am not may have all the technical know-how, but time. We are honest and hard-working more handy and something nobody took hesitant to admit that the phenomenal without integrity, how far can you go" all the time. The company is transparent. for granted for a moment. Virtual meet- successes we have recorded over the years Not really far. Not far at all. Integrity is For almost 30 years that we have been in ings can be held with workers, partners, are attributable to God’s special grace. the key in our business. That may sound business, there is no stain on our name. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡APRIL 4, 2021 55 THE EXECUTIVE The Key to Lee Engineering’s Thriving Businesses is Integrity

Our dedicated staͿ have ensured that. I have used my exemplary life of honesty, hard work, integrity, and transparency to demonstrate to them how invaluable those values are. They share the dream of the company and run with it. How has the local content policy of the federal government impacted your business? There is no need to mince words; it has been a fantastic policy since it was signed into law in 2010. That was during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. I take my hat oͿ for the federal government for conceptualising and actualising that policy. Imagine what the oil and gas industry will be like for local players without the local content policy. With the advent of the local content policy, Nigerian companies have been strengthened to play important roles in the industry. It is a thing of joy and pride to let you know that local content discussion started in my o΀ce in my Warri o΀ce back in the days in the early 1990s. We started this discussion. We were work- ing with multinationals. They would get the job directly from the IOCs, that is, International Oil Companies, then they will sub-contract the job to us. Ultimately, we were the ones doing the jobs, but they were the ones getting the fat paychecks. However, with the establishment of the local content policy given teeth by law, operating as local companies in the oil and gas industry is now a diͿerent ball game. Local companies have been given a platform to excel. Our hands have been strengthened. We are working directly Ikpea with the IOCs. The local content agency of the federal government. The people working in the for that good people to continue to manage awards and certiÀcates from both local and back to the society? Nigerian Content Development & Monitor- the industry. If the federal government international organisations and agencies. Giving back to society is one of the gifts ing Board are hard-working, wonderful allows for consolidation in the agency, We have made modest contributions to God has given to me. I have established a people. They love Nigerians. This is no Nigeria’s oil and gas industry will see better our host communities in terms of our HSE foundation, Agbonjagwe Leemon Ikpea mere platitude. The crop of Nigerians work- times. The factory, when operational, will policy and higher quality outcomes of Foundation (ALIF). The foundation was ing at the agency have the core interest of provide many jobs and save the country the our projects that oͿer our clients the best established in 2012. Nigeria and Nigerians at heart. I am of the rigours of foreign exchange. The factory value for money. The beauty is that we The foundation has trained students, opinion that the federal government should will be a one-stop-shop. It is one of a kind. have not recorded any accident. We are the majority of them without parents. give those working at the agency enough safety-conscious. We have a 100 per cent It is said that there are some brilliant time to build and strengthen the structure What do you think can be done to safety record. That’s a fact; for 30 years, children but nobody to pay their school they are working with. This is especially so strengthen the Nigerian Content De- we have a 100 per cent safety record. Zero fees. The foundation does not only pay with the leadership position. They should velopment & Monitoring Board? accident. The culture of safety is a part their tuitions but follows up to monitor allow the agency to run seamlessly so that To be honest, I will encourage that the of our day-to-day activities. With each their progress in their various schools. As if there is a person at the helm of aͿairs, agency should be allowed to drive itself. passing year, as an organisation, we have of 2019, the foundation has produced 119 things will work as if it is on auto-pilot. It should be run without political interfer- got better and better. We are still waxing graduates that included medical doctors, Currently, the crop of staͿ at the agency ence. The government should encourage stronger. nurses, architects, nurses, accountants, are very meticulous, e΀cient and they the agency to deepen its implementation quantity surveyors, medical laboratory follow the book. They ensure that local of the local content policy to ensure that What will you say are the low moments? scientists, lawyers, and other specialists. players in the industry receive adequate Nigerian companies are fully empowered In the about three decades of operation, These are the ones in universities. Some training. The agency also encourages us in the industry. Since its establishment, the there have been ups and downs. It has started from secondary schools. Besides to establish fabrication workshops where agency has had about four or Àve execu- not been easy. We started on a very small that, the foundation trains people in skills heat exchangers, high-pressure vessels, tive secretaries. I am not sure that is the scale. We didn’t want to jump the gun. acquisition, including welding, fabrica- valves, and other things. Today, I am sure way to go. There should be the stability We started with the supply of manpower tion, engineering, etc. Among other things, you have seen the place before, if you go of leadership. I can beat my chest that the and safety equipment. We started with the company executed an electriÀcation there today, we are almost there. current set of people at the agency are N100,000 as of 1990; then, that was big project in Okpokunoe in Delta, completed As of now, I will say the fabrication very e΀cient. The majority of the people money. We have endured risks and worked a rural water project for Ewatto in Edo, plant is about 85 per cent completed, working at the agency are extremely ex- in diͿerent terrains. The rest, as they say, provided speed boats Odidi and Kantu soon to be inaugurated. I am con- perienced individuals. is history. in the coastal area of Delta. vinced that this year the plant will be The federal government does not need The low moment was during the early inaugurated. We will also include the to change the leadership of the agency days of the company while we were in Looking back, what do you have to say? manufacturing of industrial gases and too frequently. I will suggest a tenure of the throes of the learning curve. There What else can I say but, ‘God, I thank domestic gases. We are ready for the a minimum of 10 years for the agency’s some projects we embarked on. As we you!’ I am also grateful to my team of gas revolution. Soon, gone will be those executive secretary. With that, I am con- started the projects, we discovered that dedicated staͿ. So far, so good. Ninety days when gas cylinders are imported; Àdent Nigeria can experience a boom in our numbers were very low. per cent of the companies we started we will manufacture the cylinders here. the industry. Even though the numbers were low, with are no longer in existence. Today, It is part of our plans. The agency has we could not abandon the project. To we have 2,000 employees in the group; helped Nigerian companies tremen- Will you say the local content policy abandon the project will aͿect our cred- that is, Lee Engineering Group and Allied dously. The Nigerian government is has encouraged more Nigerians to go ibility. Despite being apparent that our Companies Limited. In this group, you saving businesses billions of naira. into the oil and gas sector? numbers were low, I approached the bank have Lee Engineering, Tribet Ltd (travels The business is done locally and by Yes. Nigerians now go into marginal and took a loan. It was a risk I had to take and tours), Tribet Aviation, Tribet PuriÀed local contractors. What is more, the Àelds. We have our marginal Àelds. By the for the sake of credibility and integrity. Waters, and Lee Oasis. The major project monies are domiciled in the country. time we start our production, we do not In the end, we successfully executed the going on now is the gas project, domestic Just imagine the multiplier eͿects. need to bring many things from abroad. We project and saved our name. It was a loss. gas, and gas to supply the LNG Train Once our factory in Warri, Delta state, will use our equipment, manufacture them, But what we lost in numbers, we gained Seven. There is also a gas project in Imo. is completed and declared open, it will and use them for what we manufactured in credibility. Our Àrst nine years were It is a gas transmission facility. positively impact the economy. Think of them for. That is cost-eͿective. riddled with losses, about $3 million. We the many suppliers and vendors that will lost a lot. That was tough for us. Over time, Any message for aspiring young be involved. It will be a huge market that What are Lee Engineering Company’s we recovered fully. And, as we recovered, entrepreneurs? will attract diͿerent people from diͿerent milestones? we began to diversify our business. We are For all Nigerian youths with the passion parts of Africa to patronise us. That is not First of all, I will say the grace of God. into retail, tourism, aviation, and manu- and persistence to work and earn a living all; we are going to engage in capacity Then, experience. In addition, with facturing. We are also into exploration and without taking a fraudulent shortcut, keen building. People will receive training at honesty and hard work, you can reach production. The dividends from that can on learning, I will say, ‘Pause, ponder and our plant if this factory is not there, all any height. I worked in the construc- be used to expand our diversiÀcation. We take pride in hard work, honesty, and that will not happen. tion industry for 14 years. What are Lee are prepared for the future of fossil fuel. patience.’ Nigeria is a very big country The local content body is real help from Engineering Company’s milestones? Lee We know that oil will not be there forever. and highly blessed. Nigeria is blessed the federal government to Nigerians. Be- Engineering and Construction Company We have a factory that produces water with a lot of natural resources. To fully lieve what I tell you: this is my 44th year Limited, as a leading indigenous EPCOM and juices. We have a huge market base harness these material resources, the na- in the industry. Giving the local content (engineering, procurement, construction, that we have not met up with demands. tion’s leaders will have to seek ways to policy legal backing is perhaps the big- operation, and maintenance) company in bring out the best in the people. We stand gest development I have witnessed in the Nigeria, has achieved several milestones You have done so much for yourself to gain as a nation beyond description as industry. Let us keep hoping and praying and received numerous commendations, and your company. What are you giving long as we manage all the resources well. 56 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 57 A WEEKLY PULL-OUT 4.4.2021

is athletic figure and height cut the image of an Olympic champion. He may look unassuming and straightforward, but the Nnewi Anambra born lawyer is an extraordinary Nigerian who has made giant strides in Canada. KeneH Ilochonwu made a global headline late last year when he attained a feat never achieved by any black man. The legal counsel with Parkland Corporation broke 113 years jinx by becoming the first Black Bencher at Law Society of Alberta Province in Canada. He was sworn in on February 25, 2021. Excited and grateful, but before this defining moment, there was a beginning, which kicked off at age six in Lagos. He said, “I grew up in Nigeria; I was born in Onitsha and moved to Lagos when I was six years old. I attended high school at Federal Government College . I come from humble beginnings. I do not take anything in life as it is on merit; a lot of times it is luck, being at the right place at the right time, or just meeting the right people to help you. My dad was an industrialist and businessman, but I wasn’t cut out for that. I was more interested in attending school and gaining higher education, which is why I went to live with my uncle in Lagos at six years old.” He added, “My uncle trained me from when I was six until when I left the country. My uncle had returned to Nigeria from Zambia with his family, and he had told my parents that he could take me with him to Lagos because he had a son who was two months younger than me. I then became a second son to him, and he trained me from the time I was six up to my Master’s degree, which he paid for. And that was part of the luck I had as well. So I didn’t have a scholarship or anything. I was lucky my uncle was there for me and did everything.” Becoming a global icon wasn’t part of his life trajectory or planned out. It is just by accident. He explained: “I have lived in three worlds; Nigeria, Scotland, and Canada. It was by accident, totally by accident. Moving to Scotland was KENE ILOCHONWU when MTN and Econet came out here in Nigeria. And being a lawyer, I said it would be good to do telecoms law so that I will work in MTN or Econet. So there were only two universities that offered communications law, the The Nigerian Who Broke University of Strathclyde in Scotland and the Queen Mary University of London. Queen Mary University was about £10,000, while Strathclyde was £7,700. So I said I would go for the cheaper option so that I could convince Canada’s 113-Year History my uncle to pay for the tuition fees. “So while I was in Strathclyde, I had travelled to Canada on a visit to a friend, Ako Ufodike. During the visit, he asked me about exploring moving to He recently joined the league of the accomplished who have put Nigeria Canada. This was in 2003 or 2004. The Canadian economy was expanding. The on the global map. Kene Ilochonwu last year became the first Black Canadian government had a good and proactive immigration system. Getting Bencher at the Law Society of Alberta Province in Canada after 113 years. a permanent residency in the UK would have taken me like seven years, but The legal counsel with Parkland Corporation tells Funke Olaode his applying for permanent residency to Canada was a more straightforward and shorter route. So I said, why stay moment, luck and being at the right place in the UK and struggle for permanent

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/[email protected] THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͳ˜ͰͮͰͯ 59 COVER I Was Lucky And Want To Be The Luck For Others

residency, struggle for citizenship Bencher position, and what influenced when I can go to Canada. In 2004, I Ilochonwu with his boys that? applied for my permanent residency “Well, a lot of people thought it would in Canada and received it in 2006. So be a good thing for me to run because of again, it wasn’t a trajectory I planned. what I had been doing in the community, It just happened that I visited my was enjoying business admin, so I didn’t lawyer and start earning five figures. want to go. My uncle worked in Savannah I wasn’t humble. I wasn’t determined what I have been doing in the legal good friend Ako, he encouraged me profession etc. So I ran for the election, to apply, and I applied and got it, and Bank back in the day, and his colleague, a enough, I practised the supply chain, branch manager in Enugu, encouraged me and I did very well.” and I was lucky enough again and the I moved. Interestingly, my friend Ako determination, apart from the fact that I am lived in Toronto, but my wife at the to pursue a degree in law. I yielded to his While exploring the corporate world advice and moved to Abia State University making money, it was later short-lived. the first black person, I am also the most time lived in Calgary (which is like junior. In Canada, I am only three years the oil capital of Canada). So I went to and registered. I was the second to the last Recalling that defining moment in his person to register before matriculation. life, he stated, “I got fired from my job call. People who are three years call are Calgary. Two months later, I got a job still learning the ropes. So, I am sure I am in the oil-producing area (called Fort I think I registered on Tuesday, and the in 2015. So I didn’t have my six-figure matriculation was on Friday. I would have income anymore. So I then started the most junior bencher ever to be elected. McMurray), which is like the Port Because most of these benchers, you need Harcourt of Canada. missed it. When I started studying law, networking with a few lawyers, and I loved it. And that determination to do that determination came back again. A to be elected, you need to be known by “If I was living in Toronto, I your colleagues. Usually, you are like 10, wouldn’t have applied for the job well helped me. My family was in Lagos lot of people find it hard to get articling. and Onitsha, and I was in Abia State. I had If I hadn’t been laid off, I wouldn’t have 15, 20 years at the bar for people to know because Fort McMurray is like a you and vote for you. It was a huge leap 5 hours flight from Toronto. But never been to the East before. Since leaving gone back to law, and if I hadn’t gone Onitsha and moving to Lagos when I was back to law, I wouldn’t have been here for me, and it paid off. because I was living in Calgary, How did he feel becoming the first which is just a one-hour flight from six years old, I have not been back to the today. So that adage they say, what East except for school vacations, and having the enemy meant for evil, God turned black man in the history of the Law Society Fort McMurray, I got the job, and that in the province of Alberta? “Interestingly, was what saved me. I didn’t have lived in Lagos and the West, most of my for good is very true. I have a lot of life, when I moved to Abia State to study, I mentees, and I tell them, do not look at I didn’t know I have broken the jinx, but to practice law because I was doing then when I heard I was the first black supply chain, and it set me up good. couldn’t really speak Igbo. I had to learn to your current situation. Sometime in the speak Igbo at Abia State University.” future, you are going to look back and bencher, I looked around and said I don’t I got a house within four months know if I am ready for this popularity. I of coming to Canada. Because He found himself in the law field say wow, and thank God I was in that accidentally or by persuasion, but he really situation. It is good to have obstacles am just a simple guy that just wants to the company I worked for really go out and help people. Go and promote encouraged us to settle in the city and wanted to be a farmer. because when you have obstacles, and “Interestingly, when I was in JSS, I you excel, you will look back and say, internationally trained lawyers, promote build houses. So I was so lucky,” he visible minorities. So it was bittersweet explained his life in Canada, which wanted to be a farmer because I like the God took me through that. But when soil. I had a school guardian when I was people excel without obstacles, you for me. It was good, the popularity was later paid off. there, it was good, and I made history. But But has Kene been a gifted child? in Secondary, and he had a farm. I actually get arrogant. You have an ego. You wanted to study agriculture, but I am not think it is through your own efforts I don’t want you to take away from the “Not really,” he responded. task at hand. It is important to understand “I am just determined because into the sciences. To study agriculture, you that you did it. You don’t realise that had to do chemistry, biology, and all that. a greater force put you through that. that there is a lot of work to be done. After when I came to Lagos as a six-year- all the noise about being the first black old, I really missed my parents. But But I was good at history. I was good at So I got laid off in 2015. I met with a English, literature, so that was the part for few lawyers. I met one of my mentors. bencher, if I go there and I don’t do a good remembering the fact that I moved job, what will be the point of being the to Lagos because I was bright, I was me to go. What I was good at determined Her name is Lara Pella. She mentored what I studied.” me, and I went into a programme for first black bencher. Obama being the first determined to prove them right. In black president, needed to leave a legacy. order not to disappoint my parents His career path was defined in Canada, internationally trained lawyers. I did the land of his dream. How did he do it? my articling in a law firm called DLA In Alberta, we have the first black Minister and my uncle, who nurtured me of Justice in the whole of Canada, Kelechi to be educated, I was determined “In Canada, you first do exams called Piper, which is an international law firm the National Committee on Accreditation. and also at Imperial Oil which is the Madu. He is doing a good stuff job. I met to succeed. Then when I did my with him, and he also encouraged me. So common entrance, obviously, I didn’t So all internationally-trained lawyers had Canadian arm of Exon Mobil. I finished to do those exams to be an equivalent of my articles. And Lara again mentored the point is to go there and do a good job. do primary six like most children. So really, I can’t wait for all these things My cousin had passed from primary a Canadian law graduate. It is like doing me. I got to work in a law firm, one of some university courses to be an equivalent the biggest law firms in Canada, Blake, happening in the world to die down so I five, so seeing somebody ahead of can get to work.” you, you are challenged to keep of a law graduate. I was called to the bar Cassels & Graydon. I was in Blakes for already, but I still had to do it. I passed the a year, then went in-house. Because of Blessed with two boys, Kene, a fan pushing because my cousins were of Chelsea Football Club’s passion also geniuses. When I finished secondary exams in 2012. After passing the exams, you my supply chain experience, I loved need to do what they call articling, which is business, the business of companies. lies in mentoring people, particularly school, I didn’t get into university internationally-trained lawyers. immediately. Then I sat JAMB again like law school. It is a one-year traineeship I tend to like business law, so I went or internship. But I was already doing so into my current role, which is Parkland “I like to be a mentor because people while I was already in IMT Enugu helped me get to where I am. I would say studying business administration. well in my supply chain field, and I didn’t Corporation, which is a downstream oil think I needed to do the articling. I was and gas company until I ran for bencher I was lucky, and I want to be the luck for This time I got an admission to study some other person to help them get to law at Abita State University. But I already earning six figures, like why would position.” I go back and start all over again as a junior At what time did he run for the where they want to go,” he stated. 60 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͳ˜ͰͮͰͯ

with KAYODE ALFRED HighLife ͮͶͯͯʹ͵ͳͷͶͮ͵˜E-mail: kayfl[email protected] ...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

WENA Takes Centre Stage Lekan Ajisafe Wins Big,Clinches Coveted ISO 9001: 2015 Another milestone in the professionalism dexterity of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Post Assurance Brokers Limited, Lekan Ajisafe, was recently unveiled after his insurance brokerage firm became the recipient of the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 Certification. The foremost insurance company was Babangida honoured with the Certification, having met the required standardisation of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), hat the Women Enterprise joining the few Nigerian firms to have Alliance (WenA) has begun achieved such feat. is raising a banner for While it was a huge achievement for women under which they the corporate existence of the firm, board might develop themselves, members, clients, customers, shareholders, push the frontiers of what policyholders, financial consultants and the Wis considered possible for social, cultural, investment community are of the strong political, economic contributions to Nigeria opinion that the recognition was elicited and her citizenry. So far, WenA has not only by the insightful transformation that the accomplished a reasonable degree of its Managing Director has ensued in the intended objectives but has begun to call insurance landscape. Nigerian women to a higher standard - Ajisafe, an alumnus of the University of standard pessimists might tag unreachable. Lagos, has kept a high standard in insurance For Nigerian women, WenA is likely management, identifying and building the most practical platform for bursts national standardisation strategies to widen of speed and expansion towards the Africa’s insurance space opportunities. pinnacle of social and financial life. WenA With over nine years of maximising commemorated this year’s celebration of resources with appropriate financial Women’s History Month (March) with structures at the insurance organisation, the accomplishments of sky-trampling Ajisafe has created a pathway for modern personalities: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, super insurance practice in Nigeria, strengthening economist, development virtuoso, and the links between standardisation and public 7th Director-General of the World Trade policy by providing thoughtful leadership Organisation (WTO); Aisha Babangida, and promoting awareness of best practices. visionary extraordinaire, the brain behind His indulgence in excellence and quality WenA and the initiatives to raise practical service delivery has unlocked new growth pedestals for Nigerian and African women; potential, increasing consumer value Amal Hassan, CEO of Global Technologies and better returns on investment to its s Ltd., technopreneur, an all-round genius hareholders. and proponent of all things technological Through his innovation, Ajisafe has and innovative; Honourable Abike Dabiri- increased adherence to Good Standardisation Ajisafe Erewa, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Practices (GSP) among standards experts in (NiDCOM), political Amazon and world- every national organisation and evaluating wealth, reducing anxiety and creating value Assurance Brokers, under the able renowned diplomat; and Kofo Akinkugbe, all processes to determine their alignment for clients. leadership of Lekan Ajisafe, signify that the Bosslady of SecureID Nigeria Ltd., with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Commercially, the business is expanding the most potent corporate approach to another champion whose work is also Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement. its reach and deepening penetration to tackling global challenges is to advance recognised on a global level. The high level of capacity building meet the people’s insurance needs, thereby the influence of the insurance industry In commemorating the Women’s associated with the firm is allowing the firm contributing more to the national economy. on national policies. History Month of 2021, WenA shined the to experience increased profitability, capital With a view to maintaining integrity and Little wonder that Post Assurance spotlight on these five women, crushing adequacy, credit rating, dividend stability trust necessary for the advancement of the Brokers, through the incredible social the African/Nigerian woman’s image as and financial ratios. industry in Nigeria, the firm led a consortium and business networks of Lekan Ajisafe, a passive member of society. But that is As a hallmark of a reputable entity, Post of international insurance companies to has continued to serve the insurance the style of WenA, to deliver practical and Assurance Brokers Limited has ensured interact with major stakeholders in the needs of most of the leading organisations productive ways for women to be world- efficiency in operation while managing Nigerian insurance market. in Nigeria and within the international class entrepreneurs who could compete financial sustainability and risk, preserving The efficacy and resilience of Post corporate circle. globally. Something else WenA is delivering is an entire spectrum of opportunities and prospects. At the Women Entrepreneurship Programme (WEP) conclusion, WenA graduated 23 women business owners Babatunde Fashola Still Riding High or Wenapreneurs—and inducted them The Chinese are fond of concluding The Third Mainland Bridge was a as Wenapreneurs. The graduation was arguments with “...as long as the verdant trending topic in 2012, thanks to the also accompanied by access to finance hills remain, there is no fear of lacking cautions of Senator Gbenga Ashafa. For and networks. In other words, the newly firewood.” There are many likely those who have forgotten, Senator Ashafa inducted Wenapreneurs would both chart interpretations to this, but one that applies called on concerned parastatals to give the course for themselves and utilise their to politics and public service is that as long serious thought to the bridge, warning newly acquired associations for paving the as a person is relevant, appreciation and that the chances are that if nothing is done regard will never be out of the question. to repair fractures on its foundations, the path for others. And so it is in the case of Babatunde whole stretch of nearly 12 km might collapse All of these are possible because of WenA Fashola that after many decades in the thick and result in immeasurable damage to life, and the organisation’s impossible-to-ignore of public service, he continues to soar and property and the economy. objectives. This has compelled government surge. Over time, only side repairs have been and non-governmental organisations to A deluge of approval and encomium carried out—that is until Fashola decided to gather under Lady Aisha Babangida’s is currently gathering around former go all out, shut down traffic, and renovate waving flags and her expectations of WenA. Lagos Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. the entire length of the bridge. This is in One of the latest of these organisations is the Some of these praises refer to Fashola’s keeping with Fashola’s adherence to the National Export Promotion Council (NEPC). past accomplishments as governor, but dictum that what is worth doing is worth This single collaboration between WenA and the majority of them extol his dazzling doing well. NEPC is expected to engender boundless contributions to Lagos state and Nigeria Asides from the Third Mainland Bridge, opportunities and benefits for Nigerian while serving as Federal Minister of Works Fashola has also taken an interest in securing women in business/business owners. and Housing. the country’s dignity via dependable, long- There is much to expect from WenA According to those in the know, lasting constructions and encouraged in the coming months. Then there is the Fashola’s completion of the Third Mainland indigenous contractors to take up the WenA Conference slated for June and for Bridge is the strike that broke the dam. It is challenge and make us all proud. What else November, and WEP Stream 3 (10 weeks of to Fashola’s credit that the bridge serving can one ask of the Federal Minister of Works coaching and training for capacity building most of central Lagos has been repaired and Housing? and access to finance). and fortified against future perils of further So, Fashola has done well, is doing well, damage or collapse. and will obviously continue to do well. Fashola THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͳ˜ͰͮͰͯ 61 HIGHLIFE Tajudeen Adefisoye Dazzles All Eyes on Constituents with ‘Community Grants’ The famed nursery rhyme goes like impassionately noted that such a this: a man of words and not of deeds thoughtful and generous gesture is like a garden full of weeds. To the has never materialised before, even knowledgeable, this piece of singsong though many statesmen and public wisdom is a handy summary of the figures have promised much less and average politician’s life and legacy— much more. Thus, Adefisoye’s grants and words and no works. But this is have stabilised the board and restored not the style of Hon. Tajudeen Adeyemi the people’s regard and confidence Adefisoye, as he has begun again to in their delegates at all other levels of prove. government. The people of Idanre/Ifedore To be sure, there is a lot of pressure Federal Constituency, Ondo State are on Adefisoye to pave the path for presently rolling on beds made with the new kind of governance: the feathers and nodding at themselves for interactive, innovative, participatory having made a solid decision a while and responsive model that the ago to have Adefisoye (aka Small Alaji) educated of society have set be their ears and voice at the House forward. As the youngest member of Representatives. Amidst mixed of the House of Reps, if Adefisoye emotions about his age, they still voted adhered to traditional self-centred him in. And now they are mightily glad and nepotistic government, the that they did. efforts of our heroes past would be According to reports from the in vain. But thank God that the man constituency, Adefisoye has launched Adefisoye is progressive and sensitive to the annuities to support his people’s people’s needs. business ventures. Given the humble Ondo State, have already received the The community grants are only allocations. title of ‘Community grants’, several the first of many to come, the same Ubah members of the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Saluting the actions of with those who will emulate Hon. Constituency in Ilaramokin town, Adefisoye, some of the beneficiaries Adefisoye’s model of politics. his is the season of political anticipation and excitement, with state elections just over the horizon. The stakes are Great Times for NFF just as high in Anambra state, the ‘Light of the Nation,’T as they are everywhere else. President, Amaju Pinnick Nevertheless, renowned statesman, Ifeanyi Ubah, has made the prospects across to the renowned football Island, Lagos, Pinnick was treated to of Anambra’s gubernatorial election administrator. the best of everything, including wine into something of a spicy delicacy. Who One of the best and most welcome and dance and the spectacular spices can resist discussing and debating the developments to Nigerians since the of all parties that are super comedians possibilities? start of 2021 is the election of Amaju AY and Bovi, and sensational artiste Melvin Pinnick, current President of Seyi Shay. Unsurprisingly, the night To say that Senator Patrick Ifeanyi the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), only got better and better until the Ubah’s confidence is something worth into FIFA’s Executive Council. Based very end. emulating is to play it down. One can on the fact that the body oversees Clasping hands in appreciation, conclude based on Ubah’s certainty the activities of six (continental) Pinnick appreciated the grand gesture that the Anambra governorship seat is confederations and over 200 national of his host, Ayo Animashaun, as well his for the taking because Ubah knows associations, the significance of as the presence of everyone else. The Pinnick’s appointment is not lost on latter included several Super Eagles something that the rest of us do not, and Nigerians. Thus, celebrations are still such as Ahmed Musa, Joseph Yobo, so has more advantages than are visible going on in many places. Samuel Chukwueze, Segun Agbede, to the naked eyes. Pinnick Nigerian entertainment William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Danny Based on reports from all around, entrepreneur and CEO of HIPTV, Kioupourouglou, Arin Adeniyi, and Senator Ubah is not racking his “It was the best of times…”. These Ayo Animashaun, is the first to Wole Olagundoye. opening lines to Charles Dickens’ formalise these celebrations with a Although Pinnick is not the first brains over what to do to secure the classic, A Tale of Two Cities, perfectly dinner in honour of the FIFA delegate. Nigerian to occupy a high FIFA chair Anambra state’s apex position. He has describe the air around the Amaju According to the HIPTV boss, the (the late Orok Oyo and Amos’ Mr Fix’ been reported as saying that the top Pinnick, who was recently elected as whole gig was set up to pay accolades Adamu also reached these heights), political parties’ defeat (including the an Executive Council member of the to a man who has devoted the better Pinnick’s trail has never run cold. One Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Federation of International Football part of his life to the Nigerian football expects the Delta man to keep shining All Progressives Congress, APC) is Association (FIFA). Folks have begun, industry’s growth and development. and shining, reaching further and in droves, to send their felicitations Held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria farther, making us proud. guaranteed. According to the reports, Ubah’s confidence comes from years of experience with politics in Nigeria and Nigerians in general. As the Senate The Jesus Women of Influence representative of Anambra South Senatorial District, Ubah has a launching pad for his gubernatorial ambition. Conference is Back He is then set to fly his banner under Optimists remain convinced that the truths and facts, allowing them to rise beyond the Young Progressives Party (YPP), a future holds better days than the present and mediocre expectations and change their lives relatively unknown party. But none of that the present is a necessary stepping-stone and the lives of others. these is worth talking about considering for these better days. What they sometimes Notable personalities have laboured in Ubah’s confident expectation of victory. leave out of their argument is that that this regard. These include the Victorious future is not set in stone but requires Army Ministries General Overseer, Pastor For those who know him and care the contributions of far-seeing people Dominic Joseph Agboli; Pastor Paula enough to educate the rest of Nigeria to materialise. The Jesus Women of White-Cain; Pastor Funke Adetuberu; about him, Ubah is a strategist who Influence is one of such people, and Pastor Patricia Bailey Jones; Betty Irabor does not make a move until whatever their contributions are well worth and Nkechi Ngonadi, and even Omotola he pursues has almost fallen into his celebrating. Jalade-Ekeinde. This is excluding pocket. This is how he built a business The Jesus Women of Influence is renowned music ministers like Sinach, a movement and organisation that Tope Alabi, Chinyere Udoma, Efe empire from next to nothing and became has been making waves in Christian Nathan, and more and more. one of Nigeria’s most enterprising circles and the general society in recent This year, the conference is slated for 20- businesspeople. Furthermore, Ubah’s times. Founded and managed by Mama 23 May 2021. The theme is ‘Woman the Help boundless wealth makes it difficult Blessing Agboli, wife of Rev. Joseph Mate.’ Past attendees are doubtless unable to to accuse him of being dependent on Dominic Agboli (the General Overseer wait to zip by. Moreover, the Jesus Women of of Victorious Army Ministries), the Influence Annual Conference offers the counsel someone else’s agenda—as he has organisation has grown more relevant of life-changing decisions and experience and been reported to bring up on several and well-known over the years, thanks creates an opportunity for the empowerment occasions. to Mama Agboli’s commitment and of women. This year’s edition is no different, At the moment, all eyes are on the Jesus Women of Influence and the organisers with Mama Agboli Senator Ubah and flashing with Annual Conference. have shared the good news that around calculations on the possibilities of The annual conference is a set time 200 women will enjoy Victorious Army victory and defeat. But no rush—the for Nigerian Christian women from all Ministry’s generosity. That is how you change Agboli over the country. In previous such meetings, the world, one person at a time—just like the election exercise is at hand. these women are ‘cooked’ and refined with Jesus Women of Influence is doing. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͳ˜ͰͮͰͯ 62

LOUD WHISPERS with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791) Mr Danladi Umar – What a Shame! You know some of these videos I could not hear him from the cowardly this fight have ended the way it did? that go ‘viral’ can be misleading. As an commentary of the person shooting This person conducted himself from the important commentator, I have to be the video, I could see his agitation level video I have seen, and which millions of extra careful in commenting or reacting. unbecoming of a person of his stature. Nigerians have seen in a manner very In fact, the first comment I saw on the This was really sad. Forget the statement unbecoming of his education, status in video was ‘wetin dey even do this, later purportedly released by his aide society and professional standing. But Senator Abo, first na slap now na kick.’ referring to the people as ‘Biafran Boys.’ I then again, my friend Obinna Ihunna I screamed, but what is wrong with this won’t even give that statement respect by used to say, “Edgar, clothe a pig...” I senator. Then I looked closely and saw commenting. Abi how will you rate a full cannot complete it abeg before they come that it was not him - apologies, sir, but judge shebi na judge fighting in public and kick me. If you don’t know the full it was this person. He was wearing a like that? Even me, a common Duke, saying, I cannot help you. As I watch this suit. He was held down by security men, used to comport himself o. Remove the video, I remain sad and angry at the same both armed and unarmed. Even though security men, remove state power. Will time. Nigeria is a country, I swear. Umar

BOLA TINUBU – AGE JUST A NUMBER adverts celebrating his birthday. The clip that. That is the situation with this Bello know because as we begin to discuss Let me declare last week the Bola Ahmed ended with the man saying he would fight thing. If it is true that the man is gunning Okupe, Bello and Edgar, the real magic Tinubu week. Mbok, the daddy seized for a refund since nothing was in the paper. for the presidency, turning his back on a is going on, and before we realise it, 69 our imagination and made him the only So, my take on this is very simple. This much more debilitating situation in his has entered. This one is looking for press subject of discussion in Nigeria. First, he man is emerging as the only serious figure Kogi, which I hear is one of the poorest in secretary job. Instead, make he come out decided to fall somewhere, and that video as we begin to move into 2023. I see his the land, then let him throw his cap into and talk. He is equating himself with the went everywhere. Falling or stumbling is moves o: the Ganduje angle, the donation the ring. Of course, when he does that, we Jagaban if I slap...Lol a normal thing. After all, President Biden to the Katsina fire, the colloquium in the will now show him what my Uncle Ekpe has been falling and rolling on the floor all North – mummy attending or not and used to say, “aya kop se ukwak abre.” COVID-19 VACCINE BLUES over the place, so what is the issue here? the courtesy calls to some places show a Please, that is Ibibio. You know say, I just Me I can fear. My greatest fear in this But not when you are Tinubu. Tinubu general getting ready and warming up. come back from Uyo so the thing still dey world is dual. Loss of erection and prison. falling is a major news headline. I just tire. The rest of us be doing social media and my body. If you don’t know the meaning, These two things I dread. Nothing must People spent productive hours discussing be calling the man the horn of Satan. The leave am, busybody. Go to work abeg do my erection o. You can do anything to and analysing the fall. Nothing I have man is moving. For me, whoever is ready, except you are among the 42 per cent of me as long baba is still working we are not heard. Mbok, anybody that has not we will support; enough of the emotional us wey no get work. Then go to the other good. I tell you. It is the worst thing that stumbled in this life should please stand up gibberish. Abi, is it on Instagram that we room. Thank you. can happen to any man. Imagine yourself and be counted. As that one was trending, will vote for youths? Is it on WhatsApp after you have suffered to secure the his birthday was announced. This was the that we will vote for a new breed? If DOYIN OKUPE – SILENCE OF THE LAMBS interest of a mermaid, she enter room, lay cake. They say he is 69; his Wikipedia page Tinubu is working and working well, we This title is from a movie. I have forgotten down, open leg, and you come dey look was immediately assaulted. They say they will look at him no matter the age. But what I watched in the movie sef. But I am like clown of Ikot Ekpene. The girl will attached the thing over 80 times. Pictures seriously, daddy, is it true that you are like the title for this thing I want to write. now be saying daddy hope no problem. of him with his age mates like Abacha close to 100? I really doubt o. I would really like for Chief Okupe to You will say, wait, I am coming, and you and MKO were released, and calculations remain silent like the lamb that he is. disappear. Mbok, God forbid. The second started. In fact, some people have tried to YAHAYA BELLO – THROW YOUR HAT INTO We have been regaled with all sorts of one na prison. Even when I drive past bribe those close to him to collect either his THE RING statements purportedly from daddy on his Ikoyi Prison, I dey get headache talk less saliva or bottle his fart for precise analysis They say youth, bobo jump into the presidential ambition, and most targeted of being forced to live there for a number at the Pfizer lab, those people that do the ring. He say he is youth and begin to at my lord that I will for this write-up call of years. The Lord of Hosts, the one who covid vaccine for better elucidation to come wear Igbo cloth. I don’t know what ‘Peter Pan’ – Peter Pan is that fairy tale saved the children of Israel from Egypt up with his real age. Igbo people have done to this country. figure that does not age. My brother says and the patron saint of Akwa Ibom, will Nothing I have not heard, I have heard Even with their 12million people or that our lord is a worthy opponent but has never allow that be my fate in this life, in 70. I have heard 80. I have even heard so, anybody that wants to be president the edge over him because of his national Jesus mighty name. When this vaccine 108, which is plausible, especially if you will first go and wear Igbo cloth and political experience. My brother, I almost comes, my fear is side effect; not any side see how he drawls when he talks. As if pose for a billboard. The ones that wear choke on the fufu I was eating. Yes o, I was effect but any possible link to the erection. that was not enough, daddy now comes Igbo cloth in 2015 shey we have seen at the famed Monty Suite in Uyo indulging At 51, you will agree that I am a rare and says Buhari should deliver 50 million what they have turned us into. Now in a big bowl of Fisherman soup and fufu specimen who can get it up at any time, Nigerian youths into the army. They later they have run to London for a medical – not afang this time, you see yourselves as place or situation simply by my thought corrected it and said five million. check-up when the rest of us have only my oga Wale Oluwo will say- when I saw process. Most of my mates will need to But the damage had been done. I do 40,000 doctors to take care of over 200 this statement. start getting ready by Monday if they not believe my own Tinubu could have million people. Well, this is how this I ask myself mbok, where is the are shagging on Saturday so that by made that statement. My own Tinubu is bald-headed cowboy starts to wear Igbo experience in national politics. Media Friday night, they would have succeeded much more connected to the dynamics of cloth, show us picture of him in the gym aide, spokesman? That is the experience in getting a partial erection, and then the world than that statement. The bobo that looks like somebody boys’ quarters o. I think bros should relax and face more Saturday, they rush in very quickly two fall my hand. The army of the future na and begins to regal us with statements of pressing issues like his domestic problems minutes, they are done. They will now drone-led. Not this one that you will be his readiness to be our president. Well, he with the ‘rebel in France’ cos that is where jump up in praise to the Most High. So throwing bodies at issues. Obama used has the right. He is well-positioned. After I really feel we as a nation need him the for me, because of covid wey na just almost no soldier in most of his battles as all, he is a youth and a sitting governor. So most. In writing this and that of the Bello fever and cough and wey we dey use president; that is where the world is going; he must jump up to be seen. The thing is upstairs, I have it at the back of my head agbo knock am out to now go and take a not carrying people looking for food to very simple. It is like wooing a woman. It that during ties like this we will begin to vaccine that will now come and redefine eat and giving them weapons and calling is your right to feel anything you want to see what I want to call ‘political Abutata’ my true worth and the main reason that them soldiers. To me, daddy was hacked, feel, and it is your right to talk about it. But begin to mill, fly around, make those I am in this world, dey hard o. People, not him. Then finally, another video of it remains the woman’s inalienable right irritating noise positioning themselves you see my dilemma. As all my people some busybody going through a particular to decide who she gives her something to, and looking for relevance and platforms to dey go take the vaccine take picture, I dey newspaper that daddy is rumoured to and except you want to rape or take by negotiate themselves into small positions o. fear. Uncle Soni Irabor take, send picture. be involved in carrying over 80 pages of force, there is nothing you can do about This can be distracting for those who don’t Many people take and send pictures. I ask

Tinubu Bello Okupe Soludo THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͳ˜ͰͮͰͯ 63 LOUD WHISPERS them any effect on the erection, you know change, and the monster left my screen and Nigerians, they will not answer o. I even was replaced with me again. The federal ask my sister Ife Fashola wey tell me say government needs to listen more and her husband don take. I say any effect, she should not now be gloating with this US say come on shut up. Please, can someone report because the next minute now, Lai tell me, I cannot go and be asking Buhari will start talking. Sha listen more. or Osinbajo this kind question. Can the health minister sign an invocable letter of UDEME UFOT – A SWEET GENTLEMAN guarantee that I will not lose my libido if I I have known this erudite gentleman take this vaccine? Because if I don’t get that forever. But he just met me. As a banker at document, he be like say we go face the the then NAL Bank, I had gone to market covid and continue to fight am with ginger him in his office. He was gracious but and garlic. Make una no mind me o. Go, didn’t give me the business. I liked his take the vaccine o. You know I can be crazy demeanour and the way he received me, so like that. Take the vaccine, guys. I started following him. From his position at S0&U down to his AAPN activities, his CHARLES SOLUDO – NIGERIA IS LBS Alumni presidency, where I am also a UNRAVELLING distinguished member and social secretary As I write, the news of the attempted of SMP32 to his work with the Dakada assassination of Prof Charles Soludo is Initiative of the present Akwa Ibom filtering in. Yes, na: what else can we call government. He has always remained it but an assassination attempt? We have very respectful in my eyes. So when I flew been told that three security men were into Uyo to start to look for money for killed, and a commissioner was abducted. Ufot Wike my new Play Ibiom, I called him. I didn’t The prof I hear is safe. No Nigerian should laptop and see that their papa is always even know he was chairman of the stately be exposed to this kind of threat to life flowing anymore, and my Friska BP tea and elegant Hotel - Ibom Golf Resort. I had started coming in very late by that watching Xvideos. I say let’s discuss to talk less of a man of this stature simply understand each other better. They talk stood on its well-manicured grounds to because he wants to serve. What kind of time I would have slept off. These children explain to him my then frustrations. Akwa were fighting back through other means. o. they tell me things about themselves jagaja country is this one? The whole thing and myself that shock me. I look Duchess, Ibom people were not taking my calls, I is unravelling. Society is almost gone. We Since they could not confront me frontally, screamed down the line. This was the first they move into guerrilla warfare. I had to look these girls. I was a stranger to them. are even tired of lamenting because it is I swallow my pride, I beg and promise to time I was speaking to him in my life. He becoming almost an everyday occurrence. call a truce before they go and infiltrate my calmed me down and moved me from Shooting, bombing, maiming, kidnapping, hysteria to a well-disposed conversation and all we get are people wearing that touched on so many aspects of camouflage and saying dem be service national life in general and the vision of chiefs or wetin them call themselves. I am MEFLYN ANWANA – AN AMAZING AMAZON our state Akwa Ibom. I was impressed tired and fearful. This is not the Nigeria of and happy. The conversation gave me the my birth. This is not the Nigeria I want to It was my brother Charles O’tudor that belief of His excellency that there can be strength to enter the market again. Today, I bequeath to my children. This is a jagajaga said, “Edgar, why not call Meflyn? She no industrialisation of the state without want to say thanks to Mr. Ufot. Uyo is alive construct. Why won’t judges be kicking is of the Dakada Initiative and will be a robust and concise entrepreneurial to my vision of dropping a mesmerising people all over the place and senators very happy to work with you on Ibiom. driven enterprise development was on show. A show that will see over one million be slapping people because he wants to I said OK na, let’s go there. He sent her point. She spoke for over thirty minutes people be a part of via the wonderful ogelle wank and is delayed and nothing? Almost number, and I called. She didn’t pick on these issues, tying them to trade video streaming platform of my brother absolutely nothing is done about all this but called back later in the evening. We balances, local and international trade Osita. Thank you so much Mr. Ufot for insecurity, but lip service and Garba Shehu had a very beautiful conversation, and policies, and Akwa Ibom’s repositioning your kind support and encouraging words. press releases? Is this a country? she immediately struck me as a go- within the vortex of global trade. I was getter and brilliant associate. I said I dey mesmerised. I was happy Duchess was WIKE’S WINDFALL #ENDSARS – WHAT MASSACRE? come Uyo. She say when you come. So sitting down there and listening too. This daddy is confusing to me. At some Even me I got carried away o that night I landed in Uyo, and for the first three Mbok after the meeting when we got to point, he will be making sense. At the as I watched. The military has moved days, we could not meet. She busy die. the family house and in-between bowls other time, he will be doing things that in, I screamed. What madness, they are So I say no problem, life. Then I met of Afang, Duchess was just gushing will make me want to ask that question killing our children. The bastards are with Commissioner Esin, who had been about the beautiful half-caste Ibibio we used to ask people who go to UNA killing our children. I start to cry and wonderful, and he took me to Ekerete, women we just met. I smiled. Meflyn Primary School grounds in Shomolu at run into all my children, both home and who is the Chief Press Secretary to His has a fire. I sensed that fire, and I know night to be doing some things. So Burna abroad, both inside and outside marriage, Excellency, and they both said -Meflyn. the state is using that fire well from the Boy wins a Grammy. Major achievement. to make sure they are not anywhere near I say Meflyn? They say Meflyn. She things I have seen and heard. Well done, He goes home for a welcome carnival, the toll gate as I watch. After, they start understands you, she has the clarity, and my sister. You are truly a gem, and much beautiful. The governor just on a whim to share pictures of the dead blood on she has the reach. She is brilliant. So I sat more importantly, I thank His Excellency and in the moment doles out N10 million the Nigerian flag. I even write an article there and called her and said, they say with the team he has built and the to all musicians that performed at the that Osinbajo should resign. I beg Pastor it is you o. She said come. I went, and empowerment he has given them, reception. Just like that. This country ehn. Adeboye to ex-communicate am because she blew my mind. Her talk on people which is quite novel. Akwa Ibom isongo. We never even start. The arbitrariness he was part of a murderous regime. One development policy of His excellency, the Let’s go there. that comes with governance is mercurial. very beautiful Lagos socialite send a video The same man just like that during Covid abusing Sanwo-Olu. When the dust clear, demolished a whole hotel. I don’t know we start to ask, where are the dead? We the reason o but just like that. I don’t know now see o. I come dey regret. Shamefully, how many musicians performed on that I start to ask where are the dead? What day, but even if it was just one, do you just happened? Where is the massacre? With jump up because you can squander the time, even CNN start to look stupid. These people’s heritage because you can? Which people have used a combination of fake kind country be this na? Meanwhile, if news and Internet wizardry to sell a lie. you go into the waterside of his state, you The US State Department has come out to will see squalor. You will see the kind of say that what we were initially sold was poverty that will give you Ebola. It cannot a lemon. But wait before we gloat. When continue like this o my people. At some you are fighting a monster who will not point, something will give, and we will be budge and is too powerful, this is what saved. May not be in this generation sha. you get. Abi, you want to go and fight the It will surely happen. We cannot continue federal government with that huge army in this state. It is atrocious. Please pardon that is very adept at fighting children at me. I no dey vex like this normally, but the bus stops, or you want to change a system sadness of it all is depressing. Kai. that is endemic in its atrocious state of anomie? The only thing you will resort to is manipulating minds hoping that awe of INYANG IBOK EDGAR – A WORD OF discontent can come and sweep away the APPRECIATION oppressors. But this failed. Simply because On behalf of the whole Edgar clan, it had no ideological backings or leanings both at home and in diaspora, I want and was most probably backed by selfish to say a big thank you to all of you and narrow interest. Maybe it was not a that supported us in the interment true agitation of the oppressed people. of our late mother – Mrs Inyang Ibok This reminds me of the recent fight I had Edgar. My greatest appreciation goes with Chantal and Zara. So to them, I am to His Excellency, Governor of Lagos the federal government with authority that State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who sent I am misusing. I shout them down, don’t his wishes and support at a time when I allow them the freedom they want. That was in the dark as to how to move. I also is their position o, so I am not describing will like to say thanks to his predecessor, myself o. So one day, I noticed that my Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and many Netflix Identity on the screen in my room Nigerians who came around me during that used to have a very handsome image this period. Even Chief Olusegun Osoba of myself had turned into a very ugly that I have never met down to Mrs. Onari monster. The wifi wey na me dey pay Duke, who just heard after the burial. I was not reaching my room again, and my say thank you all. The little lady who sent favourite yoghurts that I take overnight N5,000, you are the biggest. God bless you. before I sleep was turning sour. Kai, hot Mama has gone to rest. We can only say watervine, only my bathroom was not Anwana hallelujah. 64 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͳ˜ͰͮͰͯ Adebayo Adeoye   [email protected]; 08054680651

SIFAX Boss, Taiwo Afolabi’s Marriott Hotel Set for Inauguration To say that the beautiful dreams of Dr. inspiring and contemporary décor within the Taiwo Afolabi, Group Managing Director, capital of Nigeria’s commercial hub, expected to SIFAX Group, are coming true is, to put it bring a new dimension to the hospitality industry. mildly. The amiable businessman is continually Over the years, he has contributed pregnant with great visions for Nigeria’s business immensely to Nigeria’s economy, as he climate. Since he made an entrance into business continues to make impacts in the maritime, in a grand style, he has been soaring higher like freight and forwarding, and oil and gas an eagle that has defeated the raging tides of the businesses, amongst several others. Seven wind and always ready to soar to an inestimable years ago, Afolabi, gifted with uncommon height of abundant success. With his entrance Dasuki business savvy, had had a secret desire, which into hospitality, the industry would experience a he held so close to his chest. He planned, turnaround. Afolabi began his professional career strategised, and prayed ceaselessly over it. with a shipping company, Nigerian Express Hon. Abdussamad Today, he can beat his chest that his dream Agencies Limited, where he distinguished himself of revolutionising the hospitality industry in and rose to become the head of operations. Nigeria is gradually coming to fruition. With the zeal of entrepreneurship burning Dasuki‘s Memorable Indeed, when he decided to build a 250- in him, he left the company in 1988 to establish room, five-star Marriott Hotel in Ikeja GRA, what has now turned into a big conglomerate, Moment Lagos, those who were privy to the plan SIFAX Group, a business interest with diverse never doubted him because they were aware investments in Maritime, Aviation, Haulage, or Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, of his ability and his Midas touch, as anything Logistics, Oil & Gas and Hospitality, among April 4 will go down as most he touches turns into gold. others. He started his business on a shoe- memorable. Dasuki will play Society Watch gathered that the seven- string capital from little beginnings as a freight host to friends, families, and floor gigantic edifice, which stands on over forwarding agent in Lagos. business associates who 7,000sqm of land, will be open for business He currently operates across the world with will converge on Sokoto, the from May 19 to be launched by Vice President a presence in the United States, United Kingdom, caliphate’s seat, to be turbanned as Yemi Osinbajo. Known to be a man of class, Ghana, South Africa, Holland, Belgium, Morocco, Afolabi F elegance, and panache, he took his time to get Spain, and Djibouti. the Santurakin Sokoto; a title recently conferred on him by His Eminence, the best out of the hotel. Aside from being renowned for his business public causes. This philanthropic initiative’s Sultan Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar. The Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, according acumen, Afolabi has also established a reputation major focus is education, where many schools, To be held at the Sultan’s palace, to insiders, will set a new standard of a as a public-spirited individual. His philosophy from primary to tertiary level, have received the royal ceremony will have in premium business hotel, showcasing has driven him to give hope and support to many immense support and assistance. attendance eminent personalities and admirers from within and outside the state. The conferment of the Santurakin title on this prince of the caliphate is no doubt a well-deserved honour. When Billionaire Businessman Abdussamad, an economist, is Sokoto’s finance commissioner, in which capacity he has been Kola Karim Shut down Ibadan implementing Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s reform agenda of the North-West state. the youngest tipped for the title, became the Junction in the city’s Challenge area, is Before joining the Tambuwal popular choice based on his influence and specially built not just as a lounge but cabinet, Abdussamad, son of the late connections beyond Africa’s shores, as well as embedded with everything entertainment, Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki (18th Sultan his almost unmatched generosity. ranging from food, drinks, grills, gaming of Sokoto), served in the House of The Olubadan Palace in the Popo Yemoja shop, and unisex salon, among others. The Representatives between 2015 and area had been enlivened with select dignitaries Karim brothers’ investment prowess has 2019, where he represented Kebbe/ who witnessed the billionaire’s traditional famously propelled them into the list of Tambuwal Federal Constituency. installation as the Agbaoye, while a lavish Nigeria’s wealthiest. While there, he chaired the House reception later held at the popular Jogor The sons of a policeman and an Committee on Navy. Centre along Liberty Road in the heart of entrepreneurial mother who ran a small Dasuki began his political career Ibadan. Karim commodity trading firm’s antecedents with his election in 2011 into the The ancient city was shut down and precede them anywhere they go. Through Sokoto State House of Assembly, Again, billionaire businessman Orikolade shaken to its very foundations. There, it their various investments, primarily representing Tambuwal East State Ayodele Karim impressively established his was obvious to all that the billionaire had a construction and oil and gas, the extremely Constituency. Between 2011 and privileged position and connections on April commanding sense of hospitality, as the gaily private pair has grown to own a slew of 2013, he chaired the Assembly’s 3 during his installation as the Agbaoye of dressed guests were treated to continental, other juicy business concerns. Committee on Agriculture and later Ibadanland by the highly revered Olubadan Chinese, and local delicacies and expensive Fifty-two-year-old Kola is the chairman of served as chairman of the State of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty Oba Saliu wines. Shoreline Natural Resources Ltd. It is the Assembly Committee on Finance and Akanmu Adetunji.Since he was announced Meanwhile, another member of the Karim third-largest indigenous oil exploration Appropriation from 2013 to 2015. As as the successor to the late titleholder, Chief Family, Ayodeji, is planning to extend the company in Nigeria. He also owns 45 a lawmaker, Abdussamad sponsored Harry Ayoade Akande, after a rigorous fun to Sunday as the majority of the eminent per cent participating interest in OML 30. several bills and motions that search, preparations had been in top gear individuals at his brother’s soiree on Saturday Reports have it that he has in his employ positively impacted good governance towards the installation of Karim, an ally will join him for the official opening of his more than 5,000 people in several countries and the lives of his constituents. of the former Emir of Kano, Mohammed new venture, Pythagoras Lounge. It is a new through his Shoreline Group. Kola is also a With his turbanning today, Sanusi. hospitality haven regarded as the biggest director of other blue-chip establishments, Abdussamad becomes the second A source privy to the selection process hangout in Ibadan, with Fuji music czar including Ecobank, Schlumberger, Nigerian Santurakin Sokoto. The first disclosed to Society Watch that Karim, boss Adewale Ayuba on the bandstand. Ropes Plc, African Eagles Plc, Trans Amadi Santurakin was the late Alhaji Bello of Shoreline Natural Resources and one of Pythagoras, located on the popular Felele Facilities, and Grange Education Ltd. Dogondaji, a seasoned administrator and educationist who served as education minister in Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s military government. Incidentally, Dogondaji was turbanned as Santurakin Sokoto When Kayode Ajulo Feted Staff by the late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki in June 1995. As Santurakin, he Since he started his career as a lawyer, Ona’Kakanfo of Yoruba also takes his represented Sultan Dasuki on various Olukayode Abraham Ajulo has remained staff’s welfare to heart, believing they are a occasions and events both within the pride in the nation’s legal firmament. major contributor to the success story of his and outside the Sultanate. Alhaji Ajulo ensures he is never caught chambers. Dogondaji died on May 15, 2020. napping, so he deploys all he has to Society watch gathered that the The Santurakin title originated stay on top of his game. Perhaps this Principal Partner of Kayode Ajulo & Co from Kano royalty and later spread explains why he is constantly in quest Castle of Law, in his usual practice, recently to some emirates in northern Nigeria, of knowledge. invited friends and associates to his Castle including the Sultanate Council. Ajulo, an alumnus of the Imperial of Law, Maitama, Abuja office for a three-in- The title, which is administrative in College, London and Chartered one cocktail, dinner and open house party. purpose, is usually held by a prince Institute of Arbitrators, United The event, which was a way of and an inner member of the royal Kingdom, is also the founder of celebrating the chambers’ staff, was also family. The titleholder assists the Egalitarian Mission Africa, a platform designed to provide an ideal environment Sultan in the day-to-day running through which he defends people and to interact, integrate and connect with of the Sultanate. Like in all royal helps them claim their rights. members of the society, and recognise, ceremonies, today’s turbanning of The former national secretary of the appreciate and celebrate specific successes Abdussamad Dasuki promises to be and the Mayegun Are and objectives achieved by the firm. splendid. Ajulo SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 65 66 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY ARTSARTS && REVIEWREVIEW A PUBLICATION 04.04.2021

WITH ART, DAMILOLA OPEDUN SOWS SEEDS OF HOPE IN MAKOKO… Cover continued on Page 68 Opedun in a close interaction with Makoko children EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ [email protected] 68 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 ARTS & REVIEW\\ART-ICLES WITH ART, DAMILOLA OPEDUN SOWS SEEDS OF HOPE IN MAKOKO...

Since his first visit to the Lagos waterfront slum community Makoko in 2014, Damilola Opedun has remained resolute in his commitment to imparting art skills to its children. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

acob might just as well be any of the many nondescript teenage boys flitting about the Makoko community. Could that be why Damilola Opedun offers no further – not even sketchy – details about the 15-year-old? Makoko, where Jacob lives is, by the way, is an informal Lagos mainland littoral community. Some apparently informed sources estimate that a third of this community is built on stilts on the fringes of the Lagos Lagoon, across which the Third Mainland Bridge spans. Most of its residents, who are mostly fishermen,J are widely believed to have migrated from Badagry and Benin Republic. Back to Jacob. What matters here is that Opedun got talking to the youth one day. The fact that Jacob’s poor class attendance was taking its toll on his grades has not escaped his attention. Nor has the fact that the boy hadn’t been seen that often lately in his Saturday art classes… After the boy’s father gave up the ghost last year, his mother has been piling on the pressure on him to become the family’s new breadwinner. And one way she thought he could do this was to offer water taxi services within the Makoko community. Meanwhile, Jacob has since his father’s passage moved in with his uncle. Of course, making much money in a poor community like Makoko was out of the question. Hence, there were days Jacob couldn’t even make up to N2000, which would be just about $ 4.89. This, he told Opedun in a close interaction with the Makoko children Opedun, would make his mother so angry that she would accuse him of not being serious enough with the canoe taxi business. Sometimes, Thus, with the approval granted, his first art class in Makoko held on God is behind my vision and the inspiration that has fuelled my she would beat him when they were left with very little profit after the Monday, January 26, 2015. The art classes, which at first held thrice passion these years.” deductions of the cost of renting the canoe had been made. And the weekly, soon tapered off to holding just once a week (on Saturdays) Now, the Ondo State-born artist seemed to have successfully put sad thing, for Opedun, is that Jacob is a very talented and promising after he got married on Saturday, April 25 that same year. those periods of self-doubt behind him. “Now, I’m more passionate art student in his Saturday classes, who is committed to becoming a During the first two years, Opedun saw no need to publicise his about this work because the effect is so visible on the children that successful professional visual artist in the future. activities in the informal settlement. He at first cringed at the Pharisaic attend my weekly class,” he enthuses. “Their behaviour and percep- Not much better is the case of another youth, called Lazarus, who thought of announcing his good deeds from the rooftops. But then, on tions are positively dramatically different from other kids around is at the top of Opedun’s Saturday art class. Previously attending second thoughts, he reasoned that publicity would help the cause of them, they are really becoming beacons of light for their peers.” a French-speaking school back in his country of origin, the Benin these underprivileged children. Hence, by January 2017, he had started He remains grateful to the Almighty that he has also been able to Republic, he has since his family’s relocation to Makoko been forced to posting his activities on Facebook, with the hope that well-meaning provide 100-page sketch pads, pencils and erasers for each participant be out of school. His father, a fisherman, and his mother, a fishmonger, people out there would be inspired enough to wish to help the children. in the art classes and that he had remained resolute since the day he can no longer afford his education since Lazarus is just one – the fourth Yet, there were moments he was assailed with despair and self- vowed to dedicate his life in the service of building good moral values child actually – among their 10 children. On the brighter side, Lazarus doubt, even toyed with the idea of giving up on the project. Having people that cross his path. offers his skills and services to training younger and new students only two or three students sometimes showing up for the art lessons, Meanwhile, back in 2017, one Idowu Opaleye and his friends joining the art classes. because the others had gone to work to support their families, didn’t Gbenga Ijamakinwa and Banji Akande sponsored the registration Opedun first visited the famous slum community sometime in help matters. “I have also discovered from my interactions with the kids and the creation of the website of his NGO, The Seed of The True September 2014. He had accompanied an artist friend of his, Adebanjo that most of the parents do not wish their children to pursue any other Vine (TSTTV) foundation. Their efforts were later complemented Mesagan, to a part of the community called Oko Agbon to take photo- profession outside the common profession of fishing or whatever will by those of the architect Samuel Okai, who designed the proposed graphs as reference materials for painting. After he graduated from the keep them within the community for life.” Makoko art studio, the chartered accountant Conerlius Okai, who Auchi Polytechnic in 2010, Opedun was posted to Lagos State for the Then, another encounter with a preacher almost convinced him that is in charge of the TSTTV accounts, Damola Ogunbambo who is in mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme. He he was wasting his time with the children. This preacher, whose de- charge of the website and social media accounts, the University of had, at the end of the service year, opted to stay back in Lagos, where nomination failed to thrive in the community, condescendingly alluded Benin undergraduate Emem Ibanga, who creates content for the he at first tried to eke out a living by hawking his paintings to art galler- to the fact that some soils were destined not to produce good fruits no social media accounts and the artist Azeez Salami, who doubles as ies. This was before he crossed the path of an old friend Tenne Fatona. matter how much work one puts into them. Besides, he recalls being so a facilitator at the Makoko art classes and Ezekiel Onwuka, who Fatona, who owned a hotel in the middle-class residential mainland broke that he couldn’t afford the transportation cost to the community. handles the logistics. neighbourhood Gbagada, literally took him off the streets by offering “But because I’m dedicated to the vision, I would somehow manage to The recently-acquired studio space housing the TSTTV Studio him a job as a manager of this hotel. But this did not stop Opedun from go. The Almighty has always met my needs at the end of the day.” Two, which is along Ajayi Aina Street in Gbagada, was inaugurated continuing to work on his paintings. Of course, it wasn’t easy looking on, as his colleagues sold works on Saturday, January 16 this year. “We hope in this new year to build Shocked by the horrific living conditions he found among the in exhibitions and went for art residencies. And here he was going to a wooden structure in Makoko for the children and that will be the Makoko slum-dwellers, Opedun resolved, as they approached the Oko-Agbon, Makoko every week to teach and inspire underprivileged Studio One.” community chieftain’s house for permission to take photographs, to children! Perhaps, a precursor to this TSTTV studio would be a studio space make an additional request. And that was to be permitted to train the “Oftentimes, I have been asked what my inspiration for visiting this he used to have in a small compound at 10, Olufeyisan Street in the children in art skills. community was without any sponsor,” he muses. “To think that I’m a Lagos Lagoon-front neighbourhood Oworonsoki in 2016. This was The permission to impart art skills to the community’s children young man still trying to find his feet in Lagos. Well, my answer is that where he worked with a group of six students from the Yaba College was eventually granted after the elders had held several consultations there is an indescribable and profound love that I have for the kids. I’m of Technology’s art department, who solicited for an internship among themselves and done their background checks on the artist. gratified to see the joy in their faces every week they see me. I believe programme in his studio. DRAMA Cream Body Lampoons Prejudice Against Black Skin Yinka Olatunbosun tal is the landlord (Julius Obende), tones which depicts the daily Nigerian who constantly launches vicious face-me-I-face-you, where all the tenant n a world where the black skin is still verbal attacks against his tenants, rush to the bathroom at the same hour being discriminated against, the play- labelling one of the ladies a “pros- of the morning to get to work and avoid wright-director Joshua Alabi exposes titute” in reference to her skin tone. traffic,” he said. “The entire play had Cream Body is just one out of several all its characters clad in white towels the fundamentals and complexities artistic responses to the discrimination with props like buckets, toothbrushes, of the African perception of his own against the black skin. Movies, poetry, bathing soap, sponge and cream from the skin with the farcical play, Cream prose, podcasts, photography and beginning to the end. The goal of the play Body. Performed for the 2021 virtual paintings have explored this issue of in the end is for everyone to pay special edition of the Lagos Theatre Festival, black identity. The unfortunate truth is attention to the skin and be proud of our Cream Body is set in a multi-tenanted that while a black person may bleach identity no matter the colour; to shun apartmentI known as “face-me-I-face-you.’’ the skin in order to be more acceptable stereotypes, prejudices and biases based Its haphazard plot structure is developed to certain class of people, that identity on skin colour.” with the typical inconsequential conversa- crisis may still arise in other cultural A Kininso Koncepts Production, Cream tions in a household. A female neighbour contexts. Body is one is a series of drama that had The director of the play, Alabi been reproduced for virtual audience has an overbearing attitude towards others explained the story behind the high in the period of the pandemic. Other in the compound because of her perceived tempo drama, which was streamed productions include Talk N Do, Voices of superiority: her light complexion. on Stageplay Africa. “Cream Body is Women, World War, The Uncorrupt and A scene from the play Of the characters, the most temperamen- a comedic play with hilarious under- The People’s Court, among others. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 69

Editor:Olawale Olaleye CICERO mail:[email protected], SMS: 08116759819 IN THE ARENA ENDSARS/LEKKI SHOOTING It’s Time for Closure! A recent report by the US government faulting claims that the Nigerian Army killed protesters at Lekki Tollgate during the #EndSARS protests, is not a recipe for closure but could facilitate one, writes Louis Achi

n human affairs, closure means finality – a letting go of what once was. Finding closure implies a complete acceptance of what has happened and transitioning to something new. In other words, closure describes the ability to go beyond imposed limitations in order to find different possibilities. Often, people grieve before they could achieve a sense of closure. But ultimately, justice is the best facilitator of closure. The EndSARS protests, last year, Icaptured a sad human chapter in the troubling evolution of the Nigerian state. It now requires closure. The #EndSARS protests, which triggered unprecedent- ed agitations last year across Nigeria, by young citizens against the brazen, often bloody impunity, of notorious police unit, SARS, ultimately led to a ‘confrontation’ with the military at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, which claimed some lives – still being disputed. Related to the EndSARS protests, the U.S. Department of States in its 45th annual human rights report released last Tuesday said it could not confirm the accurate figure of casualties from last October’s Lekki tollgate shooting in Lagos during a protest against police brutality. Part of the report read: “On October 20, members of the security forces enforced curfew by firing shots into the air, to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, to protest abusive practices by the Nigerian Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end.” It further noted that besides “Amnesty International, which reported 10 persons died during the event, no other organization was able to verify the claim…. “One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma. A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds. The government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the #EndSARS protest in Lekki tollgate were present at the Lekki Toll Gate. At the year’s end, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continued to contradictory report. in the air. hear testimony and investigate the shooting at Lekki Toll Gate.” “On the one hand, the report claimed that the members of “Amnesty International stands by its initial findings that in The US report also added that, “demonstrations were largely the security forces were enforcing curfew by firing into the air to October we released based on the information that we’re able peaceful, but some protests turned violent after criminal elements disperse protesters at the toll gate. On the other hand, the report to independently verify as at that time and we’ve continued to infiltrated the protests and security forces fired at protesters at the stated that some protesters had turned violent after criminal ele- encourage the state government and the federal government to do Lekki Tollgate on October 20.” ments infiltrated them and so the security forces fired at protesters justice by the people,” Ojigho said. Significantly, the US report further challenged the claims by at the Lekki Toll Gate. The report did not mention the detachment More…“Amnesty International had asked for independent and several international media and organizations like Amnesty of the Nigerian Army, which perpetrated the mayhem”. transparent investigations into what really happened at the Lekki International and Cable News Network (CNN) that many had He then queried: “Do soldiers shoot into the air to enforce Toll Gate and we still haven’t seen that and that is what is really died during the Lekki tollgate incident. curfew in the United States?” Falana therefore advised the worrisome especially, because a lot of people will not be able to The U.S. report, now in its 45th edition, examines the human Nigerian media to stop treating Nigerians like colonial subjects move on until justice is served.” rights standing of 198 countries with a focus on seven sections, by celebrating a foreign report that is subversive of the rule of law Going forward, democratic countries must address how best including press freedom, corruption and transparency. in Nigeria. “How can the US government be allowed to treat the they will deal with the human rights crimes committed under its U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced the publica- proceedings before a properly constituted Judicial Panel of Inquiry watch. Increasingly, claims are made that truth commissions have tion of the report last Tuesday, saying his country acknowledges the so contemptuously? The report is prejudicial in every material beneficial psychological consequences; that they facilitate ‘catharsis’ “work ahead and expects all nations to respect human rights and particular”. to allow the nation to ‘work through’ a violent past. fundamental freedoms.” On its part, Amnesty International last Thursday said the US Calls or the necessity for closure may demand too much psy- But there have been pushbacks against the US report. Activist could have taken more time to evaluate all available evidence chologically from survivors and victims if they are not grounded and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has condemned the report, before publishing its reports on the October 2020 Lekki toll gate on justice. Even creating symbolic closures demand symbolic calling it prejudicial, contradictory, and misleading. According to shooting. AI’s Nigeria boss Osai Ojigho said the testimonies of justice. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission him, the report “attempted to cover up the brutal killings at Lekki witnesses at the Lekki Toll Gate affirmed that soldiers fired live has become the paradigmatic international model of how to ‘work and other parts of Lagos from October 20-27, 2020. It is a very rounds at demonstrators as against claims of firing blank bullets through’ a violent past and in so doing, to ‘heal the nation’. POLITICAL NOTES Tinubu and the Google Vandals

erhaps, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s“most profound” the same man seeks to rule the country. 69th birthday gift was the locking out of his profile Well, it’s okay for Tinubu to seek to be president of Nigeria, after page by Google over alleged“persistent vandalism” all, he is not an ex-convict in Nigeria as far as the records of the after his date of birth was reportedly edited 84 times. country are concerned. But given all that’s already in the public What more could have contested with such a gift – about him, his desire to run for the highest office in the land as well from all places – Google? as the staggering support he has begun to garner says a lot about But seriously, that isn’t something to laugh off or the Nigerian people. gloss over. Rather, it’s a further indictment on the much avowed Indeed, Tinubu’s current support base is a referendum on the characterP deficit of a man seeking to occupy the highest office in collective psyche of the Nigerian people. However, if Google can the land. From his parentage to his real name, schools attended shut down his profile page for the reasons advanced, the electorate and actual age, everything about one of Nigeria’s most famous can take an even more definitive action, when the time is nigh. The politicians is shrouded either in secrecy or alleged criminality.Yet, fate of the country is in the hands of her people. Let them deal with it! Tinubu 70 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 BRIEFINGNOTES Unravelling the Soludo Attack A recent attack on former Central Bank Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has raised more questions than answers, writes David-Chyddy Eleke

or over two years, some political to rescue.” interest groups in Anambra State had Since the attack, however, there have been worked to convince a former Central permutations on the reason for it, with two Bank Governor, Prof Chukwuma of the permutations standing out as plausible. Soludo to vie for the governorship While some people believed that the attack position of the state. The groups con- might have been politically motivated, since sisting of youths, men and women’s Soludo was already enjoying popularity in associations, had all along been the governorship race, others thought it might allegedly self-funded and had on many occasions, be the same trajectory of series of attacks on paidF the Professor of Econometrics visits at his home security agents, which began in March in town, Isuofia, through emissaries and in persons too, Anambra and some other south eastern states. all in a bid to get him to accept the charge of running Narrating his experience, Soludo said, for the Anambra governorship. “We were having an interactive session and The Independednt National Electoral Commission we finished the mass about 4pm and the had earlier announced that the Anambra governorship scheduled interactive meeting with the Isuofia election would hold on November 6th 2021, and this youths. By the way, Isuofia happened to be my has further heat up the state’s polity, with aspirants hometown. I’m a village boy and this is where from several political parties announcing their intention I feel safest anywhere in the world. I walk the to run for the position, which would be vacant on 17th street, I jog in my community, I take long walk, March, 2022, when the incumbent governor, Chief I am everywhere as a village boy. Willie Obiano would leave office after his two terms of “With this interactive session, there were eight years. over a thousand youths seated and I was just Soludo was amongst those who declared their making preliminary remarks to open up the intentions to run for the position, presumably heeding interactive session with other dignitaries from the call of the over 24 groups that had been prodding the communities, commissioners and members him to do so. of the house of assembly. And just as I was During a visit to the secretariat of the All Progres- about to wrap up and I said, ‘Finally!’ for sives Grand Alliance to declare his intention, he said them to open up for comments and answers, he decided to join the race to win the election for the gunshots! At first, I thought may be the party, stating that the election was very important to policemen were shooting in the air with the APGA, as the party might go extinct if it failed to kind of exuberance in the hall until I began to make it back to the Government House, as Anambra hear people screaming and we all scampered was the only state in the country controlled by the to safety. party. “It took more than 10, 15 minutes of His visit might have also thrown a shocker to continuous gun battle. By the time we all other aspirants on the platform of the party as it came back, we saw three bodies there lying in became obvious that all the top shots in the party the pool of their blood – they were the three were behind him. Members of the National Assembly policemen. May God grant their souls eternal from Anambra State on the platform of the party, who rest. We will continue to pray and support their joined Soludo on the visit threw their weight behind him, Soludo families. I was totally unhurt, not in anyway saying they would support him to clinch the ticket of the party hurt,” Soludo said. for the November governorship poll. Area of the state and disrupted the session with sporadic On whether it was politicall motivated, he said: “I am friend Hon Chinedu Obidigwe, who represents Anambra East/ gunshots, which felled three policemen – aides of the aspirant. with everybody contesting the office. I don’t think the office is Anambra West and spoke on behalf of other lawmakers said, The gunmen took along with them a commissioner in Anambra worth the blood of even a chicken let alone a human being. I “In 2013, Soludo was disqualified by the party as an aspirant State, who heads the ministry of Public Utilities, Emeka Ezen- will be shocked that it was politically motivated and that it was of APGA, and he took it in good faith. He was not among the wanne, said to be an inlaw to Soludo. aimed directly at me.” aggrieved aspirants, who decided to play a spoiler game for the Though five persons had been arrested so far in connection Though the ball is now in the court of the security agencies to party. We have been begging Soludo to run, and today he has to the shooting, police authorities are yet to disclose what the disclose what the attackers said was the reason for their action, it accepted to run. All members of the National Assembly caucus suspects gave as the reason for the attack. Spokesperson for might have also prepared Soludo for what lies ahead. Soludo is from APGA have resolved that we will support him. Just one or Anambra State police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga who not new to such attacks. During a recent meeting with journalists, two people person are disagreeing with this, but you know that spoke to THISDAY said the Commissioner of Police, Anambra he narrated how he got 19 threat messages after the CBN under majority carries the vote.” State Command, CP Monday Bala Kuryas visited Soludo over him announced the intention to recapitalize the financial base The declaration and the show of popularity were believed the attack, and also visted the scene of the attack. of banks in the country. He stated that attempts were made to to have caused a massive opposition against soludo’s bid by A police source added that: “One of the attackers forgot his kidnap his children from a school in Offa, Kwara State. members of the party, who support other aspirants. On a daily phone at the scene of the attack, and we found it when the CP His words: “You know it is not easy to change an existing basis, people who have been described as paid writers flood the visited the place. We tracked down the owner and arrested him, order. There was nothing I did not see. I received 19 written social media with messages against the former CBN governor, and he is helping us with investigation.” threats to my life. Even there were attempts to kidnap my describing him as being too elitist, and warning might not On Thursday, the command announced that four additional children at Offa in Kwara State. So, it was a very brutal revolu- support his aspiration, as he was more favourably disposed to suspects were arrested, and they owned up to being part of tion. I had to evacuate my family to be able to do the banking working with only professors, and might likely abandon his the attackers. Ikenga, in a press release said, “Police Operatives consolidation, because when you want to uproot a system, it is supporters if he won. attached to Anambra State Command today 1st April, 2021 usually a deadly routine.” Many people have also described the attack on soludo as arrested four (4) additional suspects in connection to the recent Today, Soludo has returned with plans to ensure that the 50 being sponsored by aspirants from other political parties, who attack and gruesome murder of three (3)Policemen at Isuofia years development plan of the Anambra State government, feared that if soludo clinched the ticket of the party, it might be Civic Center in Aguata LGA of Anambra State. which he graciously chaired it’s committee, is implemented. This difficult forAPGA to lose the election, just as it would be easier “The suspects are Mbah Victor ‘M’ aged 30years, John (governorship) for soludo may be another “uprooting of existing for other parties to win if APGA fielded a less popular candidate. Olisakwe ‘M’ aged 21years. Chigozie Omeh ‘M’ aged 20years order”, which he has acknowledged is a dangerous venture. Thus, on Wednesday night, yet to be identified gunmen and Emmanuel Nnobi ‘M’ aged 28years. The suspects confessed When THISDAY visited him recently at his Isuofia home, Soludo invaded the venue of an interactive session between Soludo and to have actively taken part in the attack and subsequent abduc- refused to speculate on the possible reason for the attack, saying youths of his community in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government tion of Ezenwanne, who the command is working assiduously he would rather leave that to the security agencies to unravel. NOTES FOR FILE That CCT’s Assaulting Statement One of the few Nigerians, who had proven unworthy of their assaulted and ultimately murdered the English language in their current postings is the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, response. Danladi Umar. Apart from lacking colour and carriage, he has least The whole of the statement was fraught with such grammatical shown requisite capacity, not to talk of allegations of corruption that errors that a 7th grader shouldn’t make.The embarrassing errors had since trailed his continued stay in office. included: “video cliff” instead of “video clip”; “packing lot” instead However, if there were reservations about his qualification for of “parking lot”; “rode” instead of “rude” and “fixe” instead of “fix”, his current job as the CCT chair, he gave the most fitting answer, last amongst several other poor sentence balancing that dotted the state- week, after he was caught on camera assaulting a security man at a ment. Although Al-Hassan would later come to explain away some popular plaza in Abuja. of the content of the statement, unfortunately, that afterthought But, if assaulting the security man was all that the public had to couldn’t do much in terms of damage control. Yet, the takeaway is deal with, perhaps, this intervention would have been needless. constant: that Umar and his team are unfit for that critical office. That Umar Umar, through his spokesperson, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, also was one assault too many! THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 71 CICERO/TRIBUTE   In Life’s Adversity, He Made A Difference

Louis Achi and Segun James pay tribute to the spokesperson of Afenifere, Comrade Yinka Odumakin, who passed on yesterday after a fierce battle with Covid-19

ormer French president, Giscard D’Estaing’s counselled political leaders that, “There can be no response to history without effort.” D’Estaing’s sage counsel was clearly inspired by the environ- ment of the human crises that defined his era. He was born during the First World War and fought in the second bloody, global conflagration. Of the few Nigerians, who took this free historical advisory seriously, Mr. Yinka Odumakin – cultural Ficon, activist and politician – was one. For a nation in the harsh throes of change, mirroring contrived crises of different colourations traversing the political, socio-economic and religious spheres, one Nigerian that gave so much of life, seeking to aid the birthing of transformative change was Yinka Odumakin. Yesterday morning, Saturday, April 3, 2021, Odumakin joined his ancestors, treading the path of all mortals. He died of complications from coronavirus disease, at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos. A statement issued by his grieving wife, Dr. Joe Okei- Odumakin, noted that the late journalist-turned politician “was managed for respiratory issues due to complications from COVID-19, which he had recovered from about a week ago.”

His Life and Times… Born on December 10, 1966, Odumakin hailed from Moro, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State – same town, where the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, hails from. He studied English Language at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and graduated in 1989. While at the university, he served as the public relations officer of the university’s students’ union. He was employed by The Punch Newspaper as a reporter, and later joined The Guardian Newspapers. Odumakin resigned from the Guardian in 1993 and established Effective Company Limited, a media and publishing company in partnership with fellow journalist and a former schoolmate, Femi Ige. Odumakin was part of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought the regime of the late military head of state, Sani Abacha, after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election. In pursuit of an old desire for a new Nigerian state, he also participated, alongside his wife, in the National Conference, convened by President Goodluck Jonathan, which held in Abuja in 2014. Odumakin, who was appointed the spokesman for the presidential campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2011, Odumakin later turned his back on Buhari in 2015, when he supported then outgoing President Jonathan. believed till the point of death that restructuring is the answer to last two decades of Nigeria’s unbroken democratic dispensation. As National Publicity Secretary for the Yoruba socio-cultural the survival of the Nigerian state. According to him, those against “He epitomised the true definition of the citizen; a patriot, who organisation, Afenifere, as in his many feisty engagements, he restructuring are those benefitting from the ‘failed’ arrangement in was ever conscious of the fact that his life could not be complete or wielded power with fetching humility and exemplary focus. the country “which favours few against the majority”. his humanity meaningful if he did not take an active interest in and He demonstrated that journalism, activism, culture and politics In 2019, Odumakin stated that, “The way forward is clear, at 59, join like-minded fellow citizens in seeking to always promote the fundamentally address transformation of the human condition there are two options for Nigeria, to reset and go back to default, common good of his community and country.” for good. A man of strong convictions, he mostly took pretty few which is restructuring. Let’s go back to what our founding-fathers President Buhari has also condoled with the family, friends and prisoners in his many bruising fights. agreed. When we do this, there is a chance for Nigeria to survive acquaintances of Odumakin, describing him as dutiful, and a person In 1997, Odumakin married his lovely wife and fellow activist but if we continue the way we are going, that would be disintegra- of conviction. Buhari expressed sorrow at his demise, “especially at a and blessed with children. tion.” time when he had a lot more to contribute to society and the nation Odumakin also saw as a waste of time and resources in the at large.” His Many Fights Amotekun idea. Hear him: “You are in bondage; in a cage, and Many prominent Nigerians have paid their tributes to Odumakin. Odumakin has fought the biggest political figures and tendencies instead of looking for your freedom, you are looking for something Indeed, no society can live without its dreamers and achievers. without any let up. He has engaged President Muhammadu else. Which ‘ekun’ (lion) are you looking for? You are in a cage, and It’s perhaps in recognition of this that a former US First Lady, Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Arewa Consultative instead of you looking for freedom, you are looking for a shortcut in Eleanor Roosevelt observed that, “The future belongs to those who Forum (ACF) and many others. He fought around a consistent Amotekun. Which ‘ekun’ does a rat want to know? believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Odumakin certainly did. He theme: a new Nigeria. But in death, his erstwhile antagonists was a mettlesome politician with a good dose of swagger. graciously recognise his convictions and merit. Tinubu’s Statesmanlike Reaction… At times when there is palpable decline of faith in the nation’s Odumakin and Tinubu, who had worked together during the But like a true statesman, former governor of Lagos State, common destiny, his peculiar energy and imagination represented days of NADECO, broke up irreconcilably. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who Odumakin engaged in one of a beacon of hope. His was the fearless voice that spoke abrasive Odumakin once alleged that Tinubu was working for the late his long bruising political face-offs brushed aside his pitched battles truth to power. Like an adroit alchemist, he wove a delicate balance Abacha and was a fake democrat. His words: “You were with with the fallen politician and paid him a touching homage. between the ethics of journalism, activism, politics and conviction. NADECO and also in bed with Abacha through whom you forged In a statement on Saturday, Tinubu described Odumakin as a He deeply shared with his compatriots in the dream of a new, a friendship with the Chagourys, who are your business partners till committed fighter for democracy, dedicated civil society activist, prosperous, secure and equitable society. In truth, certainly, this is date.” he wrote in an open letter to Mr Tinubu in 2019. courageous and outspoken defender of whatever ideals and not merely a pious wish, but a necessity and imperative for civilised More, Odumakin stated that a former governor of Lagos, principles he believed in. He said Odumakin remained fearless and survival. Akinwumi Ambode, “spent his life running errand for Tinubu but unrelenting in speaking up in promoting the cause of justice and In the troubled evolution of the Nigerian state, while some forces still got humiliated.” He was never a supporter of Tinubu’s 2023 what he perceived as the best interest of the citizens of Nigeria. remained apostles of socio-political stagnation and retrogression, oth- presidential ambition and even accused Tinubu of lying over his Tinubu recalled Odumakin’s participation in the various students ers represented untiring catalysts for progressive change. Odumakin age. and youth struggles against successive military dictatorships in belonged to the later class. A former Buhari’s spokesman, he later became an acerbic critic the 1980s and 1990s. “In the process, he was arrested, harassed Clearly, he was not a saint and never claimed membership of that of his administration, when he came into power in 2015. He boldly and even detained several times. Yet, he never allowed himself to arcane group. But then sainthood is not one of the parameters for scored Buhari low on his handling of national challenges, especially, succumb to tyranny or be pressured into submissive and pliant assessing or picking individuals, who give their life in the fight for the herder-farmer crisis, corruption, insecurity among others. silence. “In the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, human liberty and freedom. His words: “We had thought that if he comes to power, things presidential election and the perpetuation of military dictatorship, For being a key provider of clear, pragmatic leadership during would improve. But in the last three and a half years, not one thing Odumakin was never found wanting. He was at the vanguard of periods of self-doubt by a citizenry under contrived political siege, in has been done to improve our electoral process. In fact, things have the battle even at the risk of his life and liberty.” his beloved Yorubaland, he certainly will occupy a high pedestal in gotten worse.” According to Tinubu, the late activist never held public office, but its lore – as well as in larger Nigerian state. He was one of the advocates of national restructuring and he was a constant feature and part of the public consciousness over the In life’s adversity, he certainly made a difference. 72 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 4, 2021 BOOKREVIEW Leaving The Tarmac: Buying A Bank In Africa Augustine Isioma Iwelu selected from the best schools around. The MBA module has some of the banks policies and credit focus embedded in it. Estimated at Two million naira (N2,000,000.00) (USD 15,000) eaving the tarmac; buying a bank in Africa by per candidate, the programme comprise 15 examinations and Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede is a story in risk taking, case studies. Candidates must pass all. Pass mark is 65 percent. enterprenuerialship, genuine business partnership, strategic international alliance and passion for a Pan African Expansion professional career in banking. The Pan African Expansion of Access Bank Group birthed in The book highlighted the issues encountered The Gambia in 2006 as the first subsidiary to open shop, soon during the bank’s mergers and acquisitions Sierra Leone, Zambia and Rwanda in quick succession. processes in Nigeria and some of the banks Chapter 13 is basically on international expansion. acquisition in Africa. It also situated the growth of Access Bank The high point of this chapter is the experience encountered inL the complex process of growth and strategies to manage with the acquisition of Omini Finance in Cotedivoire in year each challenge as they occur. 2008. Written in simple language, explains the dynamics of From 2008 to 2013 when the bank exited, Access banks Access Bank growth under his watch as the Group Managing presence in Cotedivoire was characterized with regulatory Director. challenges, staff’s connivance and poor performance, serious The seventeen-chapter book touched on major regulatory efforts were made to revive the bank but it was grossly resisted. policies and development in Nigerian financial market. “we experience first hand problems that cultural differences can cause a business and I must say I am yet to fully understand In the beginning. the logic behind Coted ivoires law” Aig mentioned. Armed with a Law degree from University of Benin and Banking regulation in French speaking West African coun- after a year stint at Continental Merchant Bank as a legal officer, tries can be tasking while the labour law / country employ- which he started in 1988, Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede moved to ment terms of engagement is highly staff protective especially Prime Merchant Bank. when such senior professionals work under the Contrat a Some professionals who were at Continental Merchant Bank duree indeterminee; permanent contract (CDI) terms. left to set up Prime Merchant bank. He was called upon to join The complex regulatory structure and composition coupled the bank. with country specific laws contributed in no small measure to Aigboje was Inspired by the zeal and success story of the banks exit. Otunba Subomi Balogun who is the first Nigerian to promote a bank without government or foreign support. Intercontinental Bank Acquisition. Subomi Balogun, in 1979, applied for a merchant banking A major local acquisition that tested Aig’s leadership capac- license to establish First City Merchant Bank. Otunba Balogun ity is the Intercontinental Bank. on his part was inspired by the pedigree and entrepreneurial The transaction attracted big attention. Chapter fourteen is drive of London based investment banker , Sir Siegmund dedicated to the entire activity. Intercontinental Bank merged in George Warburg, who co-founded S.G. Warburg, he visited 2005 with three other banks where its shared similar sharehold- Warburg in London prior to establishing his merchant bank. ers. They are Equity Bank, Global bank and Gateway Bank. The Sir Warburg passed in Oct 1982 while Otumba moved on with post-merger integration was not a smooth sail despite initial the operations of his new bank in 1983. similarities communicated or assumed to the outside world. Balogun started a new model of owner managed bank in Grove advocated that a leader must be restless and constantly contrast to the government owned banks at the time. paranoid. Integrating culture, people and technology In the book, Aig equally appreciated the career trajectory of In the book, Grove also maintained that his new way of Acquiring banks to scale their growth was the easier part for Jim Ovia, Fola Adeola, Atedo Peterside and Keem Belo Osagie. measuring the nightmare moment every leader dread when Access Bank, integrating people to align with processes, culture As he was nursing the idea of acquiring a bank in year 2000, change occurs is through the Strategic Inflection Points. and policies is the most complex aspect of mergers. he needed a partner and he found one in Herbert Wigwe and According to Grove, Strategic Inflection Point can be set off by Integration cost and its consequences partly account for the this formed “four eyes “of leadership instead of two according almost anything; mega competition, regulation, or technology. major reasons why many banks shy away from mergers and to Aig on his choice of a business partner. “When strategic inflection point hits, ordinary rules of acquisition. The Intercontinental bank merger with three other business go out of the window” banks in 2005 still continue to play some negative develop- Banking in the 1990s… ments until 2012. The fragile Nigerian economy had some 140 commercial Access Bank Acquisition “to accommodate its different 2005 merger partners, Inter- and merchant banks in business in 1991. In the late 90s Access Bank Plc like most banks operating continental Bank adopted a decentralized approach to decision This was in response to the economic liberalization policy of in Nigerian financial market then had regulatory challenges. making, which exposed the bank to significant operational the General Ibrahim Babangida. The Central Bank of Nigeria had initiated an investigation risks. Its operations were quite inefficient and uncompetitive’’. Two banking ownership models held sway then. It was with respect to foreign exchanges infractions. This affected Access Bank inherited this abnormal development and the either the bank was promoted by some godfathers and a their operations, customers perception and morale to do more bank suffered a major setback post integration. professional Managing Director would be hired to drive the business. Chapter eleven and twelve practically concentrated on growth or some professionals obtained the banking license and In year 2001, Access Bank embarked on capital raising governance structures deployed by the bank, qualities they manage it themselves. through public offer, the strategy was to raise about One billion look out for when appointing directors, risk management While formal was easier to promote because of funding, the naira(N1,000,000,000.00) (USD 9 million) at an exchange rate of strategies and the banks numerous executions in sustainability end results are usually not heathy. Aigboje opted for the second N110 to one USD then. and responsible banking practices. model. The owner manager. The offer for subscription was grossly under subscribed as ” the owner/managers were insulated from the need to the deadline of the offer beckoned. This was a major issue for Minor gaps depend on a godfather, free to express their entrepreneurial the advisers, promoters, board and management of Access The author did not mention the promoters who contributed and managerial visions and they then worked hard to bring Bank Plc; this unfortunate development on the side of the the balance eight hundred million naira (N800,000,000) them to function” he mentioned in his book. bank provided a golden opportunity for Aigboje and Herbert (USD7,300,000) for the purchase of Access Bank shares on offer Access Bank Group is a commercial bank with leveraged Wigwe to strike. in year 2001. 20 percent of the required amount was raised by buyout, private equity, mergers and acquisitions themed With the assistance of the frontline investment banker, Aig and Herbert, who are the individuals, family, friends and expansion drive. This has played out severally in their growth deceased Albert Okumagba, they charted a course, defined investors who raised the balance 80 percent of the required strategy locally and internationally from year 2002 till date. strategy and mopped up the unsubscribed shares. amount? The acquisition and approval from regulatory were easy, The investors and promoters of Access bank are at liberty to Influenced by two great books the complex part was driving the business and presenting a disclose or not to disclose. A lover of books, Aigboje was partly influenced by the classic unique value proposition to customers already being serviced On page 158, precisely in the second paragraph and second work of Rick Rickersten and Robert Gunther. Aig had read the by leading banks. sentence, it was written that Intercontinental bank merged book and internalized the outlines enumerated by the authors. with three other banks in 1995.The merger occurred in 2005. Rickersten had identified key stages of a standard. Manage- Value Chain Banking Business Model However, this was corrected in page 170, second paragraph ment Buy Out. These stages were equally separated and Chapter Four is the most interesting aspect of the book and also, in the second sentence when it stated that Interconti- treated in each chapter. They are as follows; have a dream and because it explained a unique market entry strategy deployed nental Bank merged with three other banks in 2005. be bold, find or create an opportunity, develop a business plan, by Aig and Herbert, given the banks limited resources at its strike an agreement with the seller and make a deal with the embryonic acquisition. Recommendations equity investor, arrange bank financing, compete due diligence They opted for Value Chain Model. They pitched to The book is recommended for business owners, entrepre- and close the deal. Build the company and exit, then take the manufacturers, distributors, ware house operators, retailers neurs and top executives who are at various stages of their money and do it again. and major dealers of global system for mobile communica- career. Released in March 2001, titled Buy out; the insider’s guide tions service providers in Nigeria. It is a must read for businesses thinking of regional expansion to building your company. Rickersten s books is a standard Value Chain model in banking reviews the entire production in Africa especially in French speaking West Africa countries. text for Private Equity practitioners globally. Coincidentally, and distribution chains from source of materials to consum- The books will be valuable for consultants who train the acquisition of Access Bank was made 12 months after the ers business mechanism. It identifies the gaps and proffers management on strategy and market entry models and those official of Rickerstens Buy Out. solutions on how to either improve revenue or reduce cost who facilitates sessions on company retreats and year end Another great book which influenced Aigboje was written drastically. It required a detailed thought process and seamless panning period. by Andrew Grove, titled Only the paranoid survive. In that execution. Not many banks want to ply that route then. Above all, the books will be ideal for specific Africa themed book, Andrew Grove wrote that;” the things I tend to be para- Access School of Banking Excellence business cases especially for the popular Harvard Business noid about vary. I worry about products not getting screwed Running a forward-looking bank with clearly defined School course: Doing Business in Africa and the Lagos Business up, and I worry about products getting introduced prema- growth paths need human resource who will buy into the School adaptation of same. turely. I worry about hiring the right people and I worry about vision. This led to the idea of operating the most advance ––Augustine is the CEO of ZDMS Advisory. ZDMS morale slacking off. And, of course, I worry about competitors. training school ever in the history of Nigerian banks. is an economics consulting and Strategy firm in Lagos. I worry about other people figuring out how to do what we do Chapter Seven narrate the rationale behind Access School Augustine has qualifications in Economics, Managerial better or cheaper, and displacing us with our customers:” of Banking Excellence. A four-month training programme, Psychology and Corporate Governance and has con- Andrew Grove was at a time, President at Intel. In his book, it is also a mini MBA module with local and foreign faculty sulted widely for financial service companies. SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 73 74 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 75 76 SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͼ˜ͰͮͰͯ 77

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi NEWS E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ Report: Forex, Inflation Becloud Nigeria’s Growth Outlook ‡ Warns COVID-19 may impede economic recovery ‡ Says S’Africa, Egypt face uncertain economic future Gboyega Akinsanmi edged that GDP “is estimated Providing an overview of 7.7 per cent in 2020, the report market,” UN-DESA said in its that aggregate inflation trended to have contracted by 3.5% per African economic status the report said GDP “is projected to expand comprehensive report. upward in 2020 as a result of Rising inflationary pressures cent, amid lockdowns, lower oil said the lower external demand by 3.3 per cent in 2021.” In the case of South Africa, the exchange rate depreciation in and tighter foreign exchange production and weak oil prices.” and lower commodity prices, the However, the report observed report noted that the number domestic currencies and food price liquidity, among others, are Although output was projected collapse of tourism and lower that the growth projection, like of employed persons declined inflation associated with supply beclouding Nigeria’s economic to expand by 1.5 per cent in remittances-exacerbated through the case of Nigeria, “is uncertain significantly throughout 2020, disruptions in Nigeria, South growth projected at 1.5% in 2021, 2021, the report predicted that the institution of much-needed whether, amid power shortages, with the unemployment rate Sudan, Sudan and Zimbabwe. the United Nations Department tighter foreign exchange liquidity, domestic lockdowns and other elevated public debt and policy climbing to a record-high of In Egypt, the report noted of Economic and Social Affairs mounting inflationary pressures measures required to control the challenges, a strong and sustained 30.8 per cent in the third quarter. that higher fiscal expenditures (UN-DESA) has said in a new and subdued global and domestic spread of COVID-19 caused a recovery will materialise in the Specifically, the report further supported by foreign currency report. demand “are clouding the severe and widespread deteriora- medium-term. clarified that if renewed sup- financing secured through multi- UN-DESA, a pioneer of medium-term outlook.” tion of the economic situation. “Raising potential output in ply disruptions and financial lateral institutions and an easing sustainable development and The report, similarly, x-rayed After a strict lockdown, which South Africa is a step critical turbulence were to emerge, the monetary stance helped prevent the home of the Sustainable how the crisis dealt a major blow led her economy to contract by to tackling the strong impacts inflation outlook could worsen. a contraction on a yearly basis Development Goals (SDGs), to labour markets; and in 2020, what is estimated to have been of the crisis on the labour In this regard, it warned in 2020. warned that the new surge of unemployment rates increased COVID-19 might impede the across the continent, especially country’s medium-term economic in urban areas. outlook with the poor access to However, the report observed the vaccines. that the nature of its impact “has It expressed these concerns in been heterogeneous across the the World Economic Situation continent, being dependent on and Prospects 2021, a world the severity of the downturn and economic report UN-DESA the stringency of containment produced in partnership with measures.” the United Nations Conference As the COVID-19 discouraged on Trade and Development some workers from job seeking, (UNCTAD) and five regional the report noted that the size of commissions of the United the labour force “has declined in Nations. large economies, such as Nigeria In its 198-page report that and South Africa, which can analysed the world economic have longer-term consequences situation and forecast prospects for potential growth and fiscal country by country, the depart- revenues.” ment noted that all African states In Nigeria, specifically, the were experiencing an unprec- report noted that the unemploy- edented economic downturn with ment rate had risen to 27.1 per major adverse impacts on the cent by June 2020 and later to long-term development of the 33.3 percent by December 2020 continent. Notably, the report observed Among the largest economies, that the number of Nigerians, the report observed that Nigeria who are unemployed, “stands was dealt a severe blow by the at about 23.187 million, which CONGRATULATIONS. . . twin shocks of low oil prices and exceeds the figure for the popula- L-R: Kwara State Governor, Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulrazak; wife of the celebrant, Mrs. Kemi Kareem; Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; 13th COVID-19-related restrictions. tion of any one of more than Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido; wife of Olubadan, Olori Rasheedat and newly Installed Agba-Oye of Ibadanland, Chief Orikolade Kareem during In 2020, the report acknowl- 30 countries on the continent.” Kareem’s installation in Ibadan, Oyo State... yesterday Ekiti Didn’t Divest from Wema Bank, Says Govt Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti manage the state’s investments. Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) bank, Omole explained that He said: “Ekiti didn’t divest Nigerite Limited, Wemabod The Commissioner for Infor- by its Company Secretary, Mr. the state government only its interest or shares from Estates Limited and other The Ekiti State Government mation, Mr. Akin Omole made Johnson Lebile, the bank had transferred the shares to the Wema bank, either partially investments the state had in yesterday denied that it sold this clarification in an interview said Ekiti had sold N666.670 Ekiti Fountain Holdings, a or wholly. What we did was Odu’a Investment Company off 666.670 million of its 1.191 with THISDAY yesterday while million shares at 65 kobo per business and trading bureau to transfer the shares bought Limited and other private billion shares in Wema Bank dispelling reports that the state share on the floors of the NSE, owned by the state government, by Ekiti State in Wema to Ekiti investments of the government. Plc, saying it neither partially government had reduced its amounting to N433.336 million. for proper management. Fountain Holdings for proper “So, what happened was that nor wholly divested its interests stake by 666.670 million in The notification revealed The commissioner said management. Wema had officially transferred from the bank. Wema Bank Plc. that the transaction took Ekiti Fountain Holdings was “The government of Ekiti the shares to Ekiti Fountain The state government Reports had claimed that place between March 3 and saddled with the responsibility has no interest in running any Holdings to manage. We did clarified that it only transferred Ekiti, one of the shareholders of 4, which brought the stakes of handling business interests business and that was why we that because there had been 666.670 million shares to Ekiti Wema Bank Plc, had recently of Ekiti State to 524.1 million on behalf of the Ekiti State created the holdings to handle some neglect in the past Fountain Holdings, a busi- reduced its stake in the bank shares as against 1.191 billion Government, noting that government investments like when the government has no ness and trading bureau the by 666.670 million from 1.191 it previously had. Wema bank was also part of private ownership. separate department or agency administration of Dr. Kayode billion shares. Faulting reports of the the mandate the outfit was to “Like it was applicable to managing its business interests Fayemi set up to effectively In a notification to the state’s divestment from the oversee. Wema Bank, so was it in the or investments. Senator Blames FG for Federal Odinkalu, Osori Ask Appeal Court Lawmaker’s Death to Set Aside Libel Judgment Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Udora Tobi Soniyi and These were revealed in as shocking and devastating, when she failed to strike out book even when the witnesses Orizu in Abuja separate statements by Maitala’s Gyang lamented that the road A former chairman of the the plaintiff’s suit for want of failed to give evidence of where media consultant, Mr. Joseph crash would not have happened Governing Council of the jurisdiction. they bought the book. A member of House of Adudu and Gyang’s media if the Abuja-Jos expressway was National Human Rights Com- They argued that the publisher They stated that the respon- Representatives representing Jos assistant, Mr. Musa Ashoms. not deplorable. mission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu of the book - Kachifo Limited, dent sued them as authors, and North/Bassa Federal Constitu- In his own statement, Adudu Gyang noted that Maitala’s and Ayisha Osori have asked and the place of publication not as publishers of the book. ency, Mr. Haruna Maitala Friday said: “This is to announce the death brought “to the fore the the Appeal Court to set aside which is 253 Herbert Macaulay Justice Augustina Kingsley- passed on in a fatal road accident death of Honourable Haruna deplorable state of our road a judgment of a Way, Yaba, Lagos, as well as the Chukwu had found Odinkalu along the Abuja-Jos expressway. Maitala which occurred April 2 infrastructure, particularly the High Court which found them authors of the book were outside and Osori liable of defaming Maitala’s passage elicited as a result of a fatal road accident Jos-Akwanaga, Jos-Barde-Keffi liable in libel in a suit filed by a the territorial jurisdiction of the Odili in their book, ‘Too Good anger and disappointment on his way to Jos from Abuja. highways and the need for former governor of Rivers State, Rivers State High Court. To Die’ published in 2018. among the people of Plateau “Until his death, Maitala was reconstruction by the federal Dr Peter Odili. The appellants also stated that The judge consequently State yesterday with the Senator the member representing Jos government.” In an amended notice of the trial court misdirected itself awarded the sum of N250 representing Plateau North, North/Bassa federal constituency The senator noted that the appeal filed by their lawyer, in fact when, in order to million against them. Istifanus Gyang ascribing it in the National Assembly. He deceased had a gentle, steady Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, to justify the territorial jurisdic- Dissatisfied with the judg- to the failure of the federal would be buried this morning and unassuming personality, and the two human rights activists tion it assumed and exercised, it ment, Odinkalu and Osori have government to construct the according to Islamic rite.” related well with his colleague said the trial judge, Augustina held that the witnesses called by appealed to the Port Harcourt expressway. Describing Maitala’s death legislators. Kingsley-Chukwu erred in law the plaintiff bought and read the Division of the Court of Appeal. 78 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͼ˜ͰͮͰͯ NEWSXTRA Only Electronic Voting Can Guarantee Credible Election in 2023, Says Senior Advocate Ugo Aliogo youths to the Diaspora. electronic voting. general election. The Independent pensed with. person’s conscience to thrive and He expressed this concern in a He noted that a combination of National Electoral Commission (INEC) Banire said: “I read about 50 prevail. Electronic voting will also A former National Legal Adviser of statement he issued on Friday, tasking both manual and electronic modes promised to deploy electronic voting companies jostling for the contract eliminate multiple voting and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Assembly to revisit the be adopted in elections, adding that across the country and suddenly for the introduction of electronic voting tampering with electoral materials.” Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) has asked Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018 internet availability is still relatively realised that it was just being unduly system to the electoral process via He further explained that electronic President Muhammadu Buhari to and transmit to the president as early low, especially the bandwidth. ambitious in view of the limitations the procurement process of INEC voting will enable more informed sign the Electoral Act Amendment as possible. He said: “There is hardly any confronting availability of the Internet and I was elated. people to participate in elections Bill, 2018 to guarantee transparency Banire urged the federal govern- significant coverage in the rural in most parts of the country.” “Among the 50 bidders, I believe as opposed to the present system in the 2023 general election. ment to learn from the Nigerian Bar areas and the country cannot afford However, the senior advocate that a company with capacity for where the majority of the voters Without a credible and transparent Association (NBA), which despite to exclude this sizable number of argued that if it was possible to electronic voting will emerge. If this determining the leadership of the process in 2023, the senior advocate allegations of vote manipulation Nigerians from exercising their effectively use satellites to power the is eventually so, I fully support the country are largely uninformed, warned that the country might force had made steady progress with franchise. process, the advocacy for manual introduction of electronic voting endangering all of us. a teeming number of its frustrated each election, since it introduced “This factor played out in the 2019 voting in this regard might be dis- systems in the entire country. He added that most elite “avoid “This will, among others, enthrone going out to vote due to fear of some measure of transparency in the political thugs and other miscreants country’s electoral system; eliminate whose bread is often buttered by Stakeholders Lament 300% Rise in Cost of Printing Papers thuggery that leads to voter apathy; unscrupulous politicians to facilitate Oluchi Chibuzor President of Chartered Institute of Industry, Trade and Investment, lot of damages to the printing reduce, if not totally eliminate money electoral manipulation and are always of Professional Printers of Nigeria Mrs. Olumuyiwa Ade-Ajayi were industry. politics, as money could not be ready and available to unleash Stakeholders in the printing (CIPPON), Mr. Olugbemi Malomo part of the stakeholders’ meeting. Speaking on uncertainties received. mayhem to secure victory for their industry yesterday lamented that and Chairman of Paper Importers At the meeting, stakeholders that cloud the industry, Malomo “Electronic voting will allow a sponsors.” the prices of printing papers had Association (PIA), Mr. Bayo Abdul in the industry had expressed described it as a threat to national risen by 300% in the last one year, revealed this plan at an emergency their frustrations on how they security, saying the cost of papers thereby causing much damage to fact finding stakeholders’ meeting had lost businesses, incomes and was leading to increase in unem- Nigeria Won’t Drop AstraZeneca the industry. in Lagos. investments due to unstable prices ployment. Consequently, the stakeholders Among others, Director, Printing of printing papers nationwide. CIPPON’s president said: “It COVID-19 Vaccine, Says FG and Paper Group, Lagos Chambers Malomo told journalists that the agreed to set up a price modulating is also depriving our young ones Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja is continuing in the process of committee with the mandate to of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), decision was necessitated by the of education as most parents will administering roughly 4 million doses determine and regulate the prices Princess Layo Okeowo and Deputy daily increase in the cost of papers, not be able to afford books when The National Primary Health Care of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, of printings papers on a monthly Director, Paper, Pulp, Wood and which has risen above 300% in school resumes next session,” he Development Agency (NPHCDA), beginning with our frontline health basis. Industrial Development, Ministry recent times and had caused a stated. the focal agency responsible for workers and vulnerable individuals. the deployment of the COVID-19 There has been no change to current vaccines, has said that the country plans or supply.” Sterling Bank Reports 16% Profit Growth in 2020 will not stop the use of Astrazeneca He said the World Health Chibuzor Oluchi earnings of N150.2 billion in the the bank’s Chief Executive Officer to adapt to new banking methods vaccine. Organization, (WHO), British and same period of 2019, representing (CEO), Abubakar Suleiman said: through novel platforms like In a statement by NPHCDA’s European health regulators all have Despite the adverse effect of a 15.9% growth. “2020 was an extraordinary defined OneBank and Pay with Specta.” Head, Public Relations Unit, Moham- continued to advocate for the use the Covid-19, Sterling Bank Plc In response to the pandemic and by the global pandemic. COVID-19 Reflecting market dynamics mad Ohitoto yesterday, the agency of AstraZeneca. has reported a N12.4 billion profit expected credit losses, Sterling Bank disrupted society and severely influenced by the pandemic, the said many countries around the “AstraZeneca’s strong effective- before tax (PBT). proactively increased the cost of risk impacted economic activities. managing director said Sterling world are administering the Oxford/ ness against COVID-19 has been The lender reported the profit by 10 basis points to 1.0% while “And during the year, we Bank’s NIBSS Instant Payments AstraZeneca vaccine, including much demonstrated in clinical and human before tax on gross earnings of moderating the Non-Performing channelled our resources towards and transaction volume grew by of Europe, and United Kingdom trials: it has been shown to be 76% N138.9 billion in the financial year Loan ratio downwards by 30 basis empowering our stakeholders to 89.4% compared to the previous which have administered the most effective at preventing COVID-19 ended December 2020 compared points to 1.9%. respond to the unprecedented year on the back of investments doses of AstraZeneca globally. and 100% effective at preventing to a PBT of N10.7 billion on gross Commenting on the results, disruption while supporting them in digital platforms. The statement said: “Nigeria severe disease and hospitalisation. SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 • THISDAY 79 T RU N Sunday April 4, 2021 TH & REASO Price: N400 MISSILE Book Your Paper Importers to FG COVID-19 Tests & Vaccinations “Knowing the importance of paper in our lives and economy, the federal TEXT‘COVID’ TO58123 government should have given paper importers special access to foreign exchange to reduce the cost of paper” – Chairman of Paper Importers Association (PIA), Mr. Bayo Abdul lamentibg

This service is provided in association with accredited service providers 300% rise in the cost of printing papers. SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE! [email protected], sms: 0805 500 1961 Ten Unbelievable Things about Nigeria And Four issonance. Is that the right word eight numbers listed on the website but none is Other Things… to describe the contradiction working. It either doesn’t ring or nobody picks. between word and action? What does it take to answer phone calls? You can CODE OF MISCONDUCT Like the man putting up a “No even create a call centre in Nigeria to be answering Mallam Danladi Umar, the chairman of the Smoking” sign while a slowly calls on behalf of our missions abroad. We will Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has been burning stick of cigarette is be creating jobs for young people as a result. I caught in a storm aft er a viral video appeared trapped between his lips? There can understand if it is diffi cult for us to invent to show him assaulting a security guard. are too many things I cannot understand about my a telephone — that requires some IQ. But take I have read accounts, including an offi cial country.D They look so simple, so commonsensical phone calls? How simple can things get? Phone and so doable — like plucking low-hanging fruits calls, of course, are the least of the complaints. statement from the CCT, and I must say every — that they shouldn’t elicit any argument or To apply for a passport is not something you bit is disgusting. Is it the suggestion that foot-dragging. Yet, for decades on end, government want to do at some of our foreign missions. Umar was too big to be asked to obey parking after government, president after president and Well, your foreign mission is only a refl ection rules? Or the disturbing ethnically charged governors after governors keep going in circles. of your country. Shameful! use of “Biafran” in an offi cial communication They will proclaim one thing as policy and do Nine, we outsource bureaucratic work to rent from a federal government offi cial? Or the everything possible to undermine it. Is it an IQ collectors. One of the biggest scams producing assault on grammar in the press statement? problem? Or wickedness? Or blindness? Or plain overnight billionaires is the menace of “commission In a civilised society, Umar should have quit incompetence? I will highlight just 10 of these agents” — they do what government agencies were or the national assembly would have started unbelievable things today. Heartbreaking! set up to do and end up collecting outrageous the process of removing him by now. But this One, getting a certifi cate of occupancy (C of commissions. One company was to collect $2.15 is Nigeria. Sigh. O) is hell. In a country of 200 million people with billion to help us “calculate” arrears from oil an unemployment rate of over 30 percent and a production sharing contracts (PSCs). All the worsening crime rate, the least commonsensical President Muhammadu Buhari information is with FIRS, NNPC and DPR. YOU’RE ON CAMERA thing you expect of government is to make life as diabetes and hypertension) is owed a pension as For using their calculators, the agents were to The Lagos government has equipped its law- simple as possible for private businesses so that little as N30,000 a month! What kind of society is pocket over $2 billion in a country that does enforcement agencies with body cameras they can create jobs, add value and accelerate this? This is one of the most unbelievable things not have drugs in public hospitals! Somebody in yet another fi rst among Nigerian states. economic growth. Not in my Nigeria. A simple about Nigeria. Man to man is so unjust, in the else is waiting to be paid $3.2 billion for helping According to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, C of O that can enable entrepreneurs use landed words of Bob Marley. Wicked! states “calculate” Paris Club refunds. A private the body cam is intended for use to enhance property as collateral for loans is the most diffi cult Five, we collect so much biometric info company was pocketing billions for doing a safety as well as increase transparency document to get in many states. This locks down but millions of crimes remain unresolved. “secure anchorage” job on the high seas — a and accountability in the activities of the billions of dollars in the real estate – with the The government captures our fi ngerprints in clear mandate of the Nigerian Navy. Fraudulent! agencies. However, I see a situation where multiplier effects hurting several other sectors at least seven ways, namely: (1) voter registration Ten, FEC meeting is always about awarding if properly managed, the body cams can of the economy. This is to say nothing about (2) driving licence (3) SIM registration (4) BVN contracts. When you hear that 10 million children planning permits and ridiculous building charges are out of school, you would think that this is go beyond the intended purpose by also (5) national ID (6) pension verifi cation and (7) providing footages that can help resolve that make life even harder for the entrepreneur. integrated personnel and payroll information what the next federal executive council (FEC) Dissonant! system (IPPIS). There is every chance that the meeting would spend hours on, discussing the some issues, including robbery and missing Two, we want to create jobs but kill small government has the key biometric information on tragedy and working out policy responses. You persons. Lagos plans to deploy digital tools businesses. Small and medium-sized enterprises robbers, murderers, kidnappers and terrorists. In are deceiving yourself. When the meeting is over, for security operations across the state. (SMEs) are the engine room of economies. That is advanced societies, this is a huge bank for security the press conference is all about announcing Since 1999, Lagos has always shown an where the jobs are. For instance, SMEs represent agencies to resolve crimes. In Nigeria, the SIM contract awards. This has been the shameful appetite for innovation and modernisation. 95 percent of all businesses in the EU — and, card info is about the only thing that police fi nd tradition since 1999. Can you imagine the cabinet Kudos. overall, 85 percent of the jobs in Europe. In useful – and that is to track kidnappers. Pray, of any serious country announcing at the end of Nigeria, we claim we want to create jobs and does the police force of the world’s largest black its meeting that it has just approved the award SILENCING SOLUDO combat crimes — but it is like you are committing nation even have a modern forensic lab? We are of contracts to supply trashcans to the capital Prof Chukwuma Soludo, one of Nigeria’s a crime when you open a little shop. Rather just collecting biometric data for fun. Baffl ing! city? We have done that before! FEC is all about than help you fi nd your feet or leave you alone, contracts, contracts and more contracts! These leading lights, narrowly escaped death on Six, we have multiple security desks at Wednesday when gunmen att acked him at a government agencies will come after you with international airports. I must fi rst acknowledge things look little but they say a lot about the hefty levies and AK-47. You would think you have that after decades of complaints, the security quality of thinking. Tragic! town hall meeting as he prepared to launch just killed somebody. The federal capital territory agents at check-in counters of international airports This list is by no means exhaustive, so you his governorship campaign in Anambra state. is the most notorious in this war against SMEs. no longer require you to open your suitcases are free to add yours. Back to my question: most Am I surprised? No. The Nigerian political I have written a million times on this malady for inspection. They now do that with scanning of these things look so simple to address, but culture is steeped in violence. One of the and I will not stop until we have listening and machines. This has reduced the stress. However, why are we not making the necessary changes? requirements to be a Nigerian politician reasoning leaders. Counterproductive! it is a thing of shame that two offi cials – one For instance, what is so diffi cult about making is to have your own armed thugs and Three, we can neither import nor export from the Department of State Services (DSS) and sure C of O is issued seamlessly to unlock the militias — both for off ensive and defensive without tears. We import virtually everything the other from the Nigerian Immigration Service endless economic benefi ts — if not that something purposes. It is that bad. There is something we consume. That is a fact known worldwide. (NIS) – still have to check your travel documents is wrong with us? Why do we need to pay fundamentally wrong with us in Nigeria. It Common sense dictates that we should be able at the points of departure and arrival. This is anybody billions to calculate Paris Club debts to import hassle-free to save our lives. Some due to states and councils or how much oil is so sad that three policemen were killed a waste of time and personnel. I travel quite a by the assailants but we have to be thankful of the most traumatic and chaotic ports in the lot and I must confess that Nigeria is the only companies owe in PSC arrears — if not that we world are located in Nigeria. Your goods can country that does this. In nearby Ghana, only are a bunch of unpatriotic people? Why should that Soludo is still alive. I hope Soludo will not be stuck agonisingly for months, accumulating one immigration offi cial checks your documents. giving incentives to SMEs — so that we can tackle be intimidated out of the race. Courage. demurrage and extortion. Our neighbours also Isn’t NIS also a security agency? Shallow! our huge unemployment burden — be such a depend on imports but their ports are far more Seven, political cases always get priority in big deal? If we can’t help them, must we hurt FFK AND THE JAB effi cient. Government after government, nothing court. In a country that cares about the lives them? Is it an IQ problem? Or wickedness? Or Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister has changed. Now, don’t let us even talk about of its citizens, the justice system will no doubt blindness? Or plain incompetence? Unbelievable! of aviation, is a known COVID vaccine exports. We say we want to promote non-oil prioritise issues that affect them. In Nigeria, Caution: if you read this article and think I conspiracy theorist. He had consistently exports, but it would have been easier for my though, it is always political cases that get quickly am suggesting that the Nigerian case is hopeless, advocated against taking it — in the belief great grandmother to pronounce “cushion chair” dispensed with by the courts. Politicians are then you are not reading between the lines. In that Bill Gates had something evil in his than for you to export a bag of ginger. We can’t enjoying everything at our expense. Two courts fact, these are the things that give me hope: mind against Africans. Surprisingly, he import. We can’t export. Absurd! that it does not take much to make Nigeria a can grant different injunctions on the same issue has changed his mind and taken the jab. Four, we owe pensioners N30,000 and pay within one hour of each other. But thousands better place for the citizens. Just very simple N200 million severance to fat cats. After you of human rights cases that will benefi t ordinary things. Little tweaks here and there. All we Rather than disparage him, I think we should have been governor (minister, commissioner Nigerians will go on for decades untouched and need do is use our brains and put the interest commend him for being honest and open or whatever) for four or eight years and stolen unresolved. There are thousands awaiting trial of the country above other considerations. about his change of mind. Even President billions and bought up all the houses in Dubai and vegetating in police cells and prisons all There is nothing I have listed here that will Donald Trump took the jab, despite the and Grenada, you will still get a severance pay over Nigeria. Courts keep adjourning. Let a require an Albert Einstein or a Lee Kwan Yew stance of his eccentric followers. Some of running into hundreds of millions – as well as a politician bring a frivolous case asking for the to do. It is just common sense. Bits and pieces these pastors and governors pretending to pension package that includes a mansion in the opponent to be disqualifi ed and the court will that can move mountains. And herein lies my be anti-vaccine have probably fl own to Dubai state capital and another in Abuja, with three new sit and decide same day. Mindless! unbreakable optimism: that someday, we will and taken the jab secretly while their gullible cars every three years — in addition to cooks, Eight, some Nigerian missions abroad are a have the much-desired competent and patriotic followers will continue to worship and defend gardeners, drivers and all what not. Yet a retiree big disgrace. Have you tried calling the Nigerian leadership with the simple understanding that them. Hypocrisy. who served for 35 years (and is now treating high commission in the UK recently? There are changing Nigeria is not rocket science. Hopeful. Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: [email protected], [email protected]. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. 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