Heritage Bank promotes culture, as winner emerges at 42nd edition of Miss Nigeria

Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s most innovative banking services provider; has partnered with Folio Group, owners of Daily Times, the organizers of the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant to host the 42nd edition of the contest.

Speaking at the grand finale of the contest in Lagos, Mr. Fela Ibidapo, Head of Corporate Communications of Heritage Bank said the bank stands with anything that has to do with culture, adding that the bank is at the fore front of ensuring that it promotes and pushes the Nigerian heritage.

Ibidapo who commended the organisers and the contestants added that the bank would continue to support the contestants and the winner in their various dreams post the event.

Miss Chidinma Leilani Aaron emerged as the 42nd Miss Nigeria from the South East Zone at the keenly contested beauty pageant at the high brow Eko Hotel in Lagos, beating other 17 contestants that were unveiled at the grand finale.

Miss Aaron is a graduate of Business Administration from Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State and is the best graduating student in human resources among her set of enterprise students. She is an entrepreneur, business administrator and a chef and is currently undergoing her National Youth Service at Blencc Solutions Limited, Abuja.

She is also an associate member of IPO-CRM as well as a certified COMPTIA Project Management and a Customer Relationship Management.

The new Miss Nigeria has worked with top brands in television, fashion, hospitality and food industry as a presenter, model, actress and management staff. She has also served as the pioneer female president of the National Association of Business and Management Students of Lead City University chapter.

18 contestants from the six geographical zones of the country made it to the grand finale from which eliminated six to pruned down the number to 12 made up of: Ntan Nton, Egede Lagele, Thomas Mseve, Ameh Munirah, Otunba Ifunaya, and Shitta Remilekun.

Others are Tizhe Usa Miriam, Okudili Odinaka Doris, Agida Stephanie, Ugwu Ijeoma, Aaron Chidinma Leilani, and Dunu Chisom Olivia

This was subsequently later reduced to five by the panel of judges made up of Rita Dominic, Jasmine Tukur, Fade Ogunro, Tatiana Moussalli among others, from which Miss Aaron emerged.

The five finalists were Dunu Chisom, Ntan Sharon Nton, Ameh Munirah, Agida Stephanie and Aaron Chidinma Leilani. Dunu emerged the first runner-up while Ameh was named the second runner-up.

Miss Aaron, the winner of the pageant, took home N3 million from Heritage Bank. She takes over the crown from Mildred Ehiguese who won the 2017 edition.

The Miss Nigeria beauty pageant started in 1957 as a photo contest. Contestants posted photographs of themselves to the Daily Times headquarters in Lagos where finalists were shortlisted and were invited to compete in the live final. A UAC employee, Grace Oyelude won the maiden edition of Miss Nigeria and used part of her £200 prize money to travel to England to study Nursing.

FG floats another 100bn Sovereign Sukuk Bond to address infrastructural deficit

L-R: Managing Director, Lotus Financial Services Limited, Mrs. Hajara Adeola; Director General, Debt Management Office, Mrs. Patience Oniha; Deputy Managing Director, FBN Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Taiwo Okeowo and Head, Market Development Department, Debt Management Office, Mr. Monday Usiade during the media launch of N100Bn Sovereign Sukuk Bond Offer held in Lagos recently.

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Debt Management Office (DMO) has launched the sale of the second N100 billion Sovereign Sukuk Bond as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s infrastructural deficit.

Speaking at the investor launch held last week Friday in Lagos, the Director General of the Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniha expressed delight, explaining that the government is happy with the success of the first tranche of the bond which had resulted in the improvement of infrastructural facilities across the country.

She said that this outcome has informed the decision to issue another bond to further strengthen the country’s infrastructure. The launch, which was witnessed by representatives of several banking institutions, representative of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, individual investors, portfolio investors, among others was held to announce the call for more private sector involvement in this second tranche which would lead towards a more sustainable economy.

“We are glad that past investment in Sukuk bond has yielded fruit as we can see from the number of roads that are being built across the country. The government is really impressed with what the bond has been able to achieve in the area of road infrastructure. We believe this outcome alone would create more enthusiasm from the private sector to be part of it”, she said.
The bond which aims to fund road infrastructure across the six geo-political zones, is payable semi-annually for seven years, and is at a rental rate of 15.74 per cent to be due in 2025. The bond opens on December 6 and ends on December 17, 2018. The bond is offered at 1,000/unit (minimum of N10, 000 or 10 unit) as a regular bond.
The bond is certified by the Financial Regulatory Advisory Council of Experts (FRACE) of the CBN and is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and on FMDQ Over-The-Counter platform and classified as liquid asset by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Also speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of Lotus Financial Services Limited, Mrs. Hajara Adeola explained that the issuance of this second tranche of the bond signals another opportunity to partner with the government to provide the much needed infrastructure that guarantee good business investment returns.

She noted that the investment in the bond represents a unique way of securing one’s future as the funds would be utilized in accelerating the revamp of the economy through the execution of capital projects especially road infrastructure.

Speaking on the additional benefits of subscribing to the bond, Adeola stressed that issuance of the bond would go a long way to deepen the financial market, promote asset classification and promote financial inclusion especially among the segment of the population who do not invest in conventional financial instrument.

Sukuk bond or Islamic bond is a financial instrument structured to generate returns to ethical investors without infringing on the Islamic laws, which forbids interest payments on loan.
Lotus Financial Services Limited and FBN Merchant Bank Limited are the two financial advisors for the issuance of the Sukuk bond.

There is need for state police - Gov. Ajimobi

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called for the establishment of state police to curb crime in the country.

Mr Ajimobi made the call at the inauguration of the Oyo State Safe City Control Centre aimed at improving the security network in the state.

“As important as concepts such as democracy is, go around the world and see the best of democracies, there is none of them without its state police, all the states in America, France and other countries.

“State police will be staffed with people from the local communities where they have deep knowledge about the terrain and the inhabitants therein. That is why no crime goes unsolved in the western world,” he said.

Mr Ajimobi said the control centre was one of his administration’s efforts to ensure the restoration and sustenance of peace in the state.

“Before our administration came on board in 2011, what we had in the state was hooliganism, violence, brigandage and killings. On assumption, we swung into action and started from the restoration of peace and security.

“Our immediate effort in 2011 at stopping crime and criminal tendencies yielded positive results as our special security outfit was instituted.

“If we have not achieved anything since we came on board, we have achieved peace and security which is the major purpose of government,” he said.

He said the efforts accounted for the state being ranked as one of the most peaceful, adding it was also adjudged one of the five topmost states in the Ease of Doing Business by Nigeria Bureau Statistics.

Mr Ajimobi commended security agencies in the state for working with resilience to reduce crime in spite of poor logistics as well as lack of technology and database in Nigeria.

He assured the people of his administration’s commitment toward combating crime with the use of technology.

Abiodun Odude, the Commissioner of Police in the state, commended Mr Ajimobi for his support to security agencies, adding that this had made their work easier.

“If not for the intervention of the incumbent governor in providing operational vehicles, vehicle batteries, tyres and other needed materials like armoured personnel carrier, the security apparatus would have been grounded in the state.

“No security work can be done without needed materials. OYSSTF(Oyo State Security Trust Fund) has helped refurbish three armoured personnel carriers out of the 12 we have and I can assure you that one APC is equal to 100 policemen.

“So we must show our gratitude to the present administration for the support given over time,” he said.

Bayo Adelabu, the chairman of OYSSTF Board, said the Safe City Project was another landmark achievement by the administration.

He said the monitoring capability of the CCTV technology pre-empted crime in notable strategic locations in the state.

“Nobody will commit crime if they know they will be apprehended; the realisation that you are being watched is a measure of deterrence against crime,” he said.

He commended corporate organisations for their support, calling on others that were yet to contribute as well as private individuals to support the initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the control centre is the hub for the close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in some parts of Ibadan metropolis such as Sango, Mokola and Challenge.

2019: Saraki Condemns Use Of Security Agents To ‘Disenfranchise Voters’

Senate President Bukola Saraki has condemned the use of security agents and military at polling booths during elections.

According to him, these security agents collude with politicians to disenfranchise voters.

The Senate President said this on Monday during the public hearing organised by the National Assembly on improving electoral processes in Nigeria.

“It is all too clear that security agents are beginning to emerge as major clogs in the election process. Reports of collusion with political actors to disenfranchise voters is very worrying indeed.

“We cannot under any circumstances militarise elections, because that defeats the purpose of free, fair and credible polls.

“In an election, access to the polling units for the purpose of casting one’s vote is the bare minimum. Once a voter is denied the opportunity to vote through bullying, intimidation and other forms of harassment, then vote rigging and electoral malpractice have free reign,” he said.

Saraki noted that it is also important for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that those that collect the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) are actually the registered individuals. According to him, PVCs are as important as ballot papers during elections.

On the issue of vote buying, Saraki said this remains a major challenge which needs to be dealt with.

He said, “vote buying and election rigging by whatever means, remains one of the contemporary challenges that mar our electoral process. We must deal with them in such a manner that does not detract from the credibility and legitimacy of the coming 2019 Polls.”

He also emphasised the need for INEC to look into reducing the failure of card readers during elections. This, he said will help to close any potential loopholes that can be exploited.

Governor Bello sacks commissioner, announces appointment of 16 aides

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has sacked Arome Adoji, the commissioner for culture and tourism and approved the appointment of 16 new political office holders.

We gathered that Adoji was first appointed as commissioner for youth and sports and subsequently redeployed to Ministry of Culture and Tourism last year.

However, Adoji's sack is coming few days after his brother, Dr. Victor Adoji who is contesting for the Kogi East senatorial seat under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was presented the party’s flag ahead of the 2019 elections.

Bello also appointed Aliyu Salami who is to serve as the new chairman of the Kogi state Internal Revenue Service.

Salami replaces the former chairman, Alhaji Yakubu Oseni, who is now the Kogi Central senatorial flag bearer of the APC for the 2019 election.

Chief Lawrence Gbenga Asagu and Dr Moses Atakpa were appointed to serve as chairmen of Elders Advisory Council for Kogi West and East senatorial districts respectively, amongst others.

In a previous report by us, an aide to the Kogi state governor on new media, Odaudu Joel, on Wednesday, December 5, resigned his position. Joel in a letter to the governor, Yahaya Bello, through the secretary to the state government said he was compelled to tender his resignation following pressing family issues.

According to Joel, his resignation is in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

"Pursuant to Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I regret to write and notify you of my decision to resign my position as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media with immediate effect on personal grounds," Joel said in his letter.

Man allegedly kills, buries girlfriend in his room in Port Harcourt

A middle-aged man, Prince Owabie of Rumueperikom community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing and burying his pregnant girlfriend in his apartment.

Owabie is believed to have killed the girlfriend identified as Better Nwabueze and buried her inside his one bedroom apartment within Wimpy Junction by Ikweere Road last Sunday.

Owabie, popularly called J-BOY two days after confessed his deed to some of his friends who raised alarm to the police that led to his arrest.

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the incident.

Spokesman for the Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, told DAILY POST that the suspect has been moved to State Criminal Investigation Department.

DSP Nnamdi added that the Police have been mobilized to scene of the crime to exhume the corpse.

“We have credible information that J-Boy dug a shallow grave in his room where he buried the young girl friend,” he said.

In the meantime, a special squad has been deployed to Rumuepirikom Community to forestall a possible breakdown of order that may arise as a result of the slain girl.

2019 presidency: Political party pulls out of CUPP, denies endorsing Atiku

The Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria, GDPN, has pulled out of Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, that picked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer on Wednesday.

This is coming few hours after the CUPP announced the endorsement of Atiku as its consensus candidate,

GDPN distanced itself from such an arrangement.

GDPN’s position was conveyed in a statement signed by the Presidential Candidate of GDPN, Dr. Davidson Isibor Akhimien.

It said the party was neither aware nor in support of the CUPP decision to endorse Atiku.

CUPP is the umbrella body of about 45 major opposition parties in the country.

“For GDPN to abandon the mission of salvaging the country from the hands of old and recycled politicians responsible for the country’s total retrogression and stagnation will be a huge setback for the party.

“We can’t take Nigerians back to the dark ages. I want to state that the time to move Nigerian forward is now. We are a new party on a rescue mission. We can’t mortgage the future of our great Nation.

“We defer to the CUPP endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. We are on ground in the whole 36 states of the federation, and the FCT,” he said.