- Oluomo, Ogundoyin, others commend Obasa for commitment to legislative principles Speakers of state Legislatures in the Southwestern part of Nigeria on Monday gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly for discussions aimed at the progress of the zone. The gathering comes few days to the Abuja meeting of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria where a national chairman is billed to emerge. State Speakers at the meeting hosted by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, include Rt. Hon. Taiwo Oluomo of Ogun, Adebo Ogundoyin of Oyo, Adeoye Aribasoye of Ekiti, Adewale Egbedun of Osun and Olamide Oladiji of Ondo. The Speakers held a closed-door session after which Dr. Obasa told journalists that different issues relating to the growth and progress of Southwest were discussed. "We looked at the progress of the legislature in the Southwest. Let me remind you that during the last Assembly, we all adopted a single Business Rules and Standing Order, which we have reviewed at this meeting. "We also discussed the coming election of the Conference of Speakers. We deliberated on that because we have to be there with one voice. We have two Speakers, Ogun and Oyo, running for the position. So we have to harmonize our position before we go for the election. "We also discussed the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) as it relates to the economic progress and development of Southwest. I am happy to tell you we made tremendous progress in our discussion and we have concluded that we will meet again to continue our deliberation. But in all, we have discussed in the interest of the Southwest," Dr. Obasa said. Confirming discussions at the meeting, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye, said: "We met to discuss the Southwest, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, the coming election, the security of our zone, and the need for cross-fertilisation
Author: Tunde Ogunmola
'Tunde Ogunmola Executive Editor/CEO (OBAT CONNECTS CONCEPTS) Publishers of Naija News Direct) Tel: 08055102893, 08126439182 (WhatsApp)
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Interswitch Launches Google Pay Support on its Payment Gateway in Nigeria
Starting today, Interswitch, Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, will support Google Pay on its Interswitch Payment Gateway (IPG) platform. This initiative enables businesses and individuals in Nigeria to benefit from the simplicity and security of contactless payments and digital storage, aligning with the global trend towards more streamlined transactions. Merchants can now store payment details within Google Wallet. This integration facilitates a smoother checkout process on the Interswitch platform, heightening the user experience. Additionally, the collaboration enables the acceptance of international cards on the Interswitch Payment Gateway, positioning businesses to seamlessly cater to a broader international clientele. Utilizing Google Pay on the Interswitch platform ensures safer transactions fortified by advanced security measures. This includes industry-standard tokenization where transactions utilize a virtual card number, adding an extra layer of protection against potential fraud. And in cases of misplaced devices, users can quickly safeguard their information using the "Find my device" function. Muyiwa Asagba, Managing Director, Digital Commerce & Merchant Acquiring at Interswitch, said, "We are proud to align with Google Pay, as it exemplifies our commitment to delivering cutting-edge payment solutions that facilitate seamless transactions for businesses and their customers. By integrating Google Pay into our Payment Gateway, we are empowering businesses to harness the potential of a global customer base while ensuring secure and reliable payments." “Google Pay provides a fast, easy, and safe way for users in more than 70 countries and territories to pay with their Android phone or Wear OS device,” said Jenny Cheng, Vice President and General Manager, Google Wallet. “Users can simply add their debit and credit cards to the Google Wallet app and feel confident that their financial information is safe and secure when they’re making a purchase or catching a train.” As a technology-centric company, Interswitch continues to align with brands that hold shared values
Unity Bank Grows Gross Earnings to N27.5 Billion in H1’2023 – Naijanewsdirect
Retail lender, Unity Bank Plc grew its deposits to N333.38 billion, representing a marginal increase of 2% compared to N327.42 billion recorded in H1’22 in its Half-Year unaudited financial statement submitted to the Nigeria Exchange Group Limited. The growth in deposits demonstrates incremental gains by the lender from its commitment to deepening its retail footprint through a well-diversified banking product suites that caters to different segments of the retail market. Other highlights of the unaudited financial statement include gross income and total assets which recorded N27.5 billion as against N27.4 billion and N512.1 billion from N510.1 billion respectively within the period under review. The net loans portfolio reduced significantly by 31% to N198.6Billion as at 30 June 2023 from N289.4Billion as at 31st December 2022. The Bank’s NPL Ratio remained moderate at below 3% while liquidity ratio stood strong at over 45%. However, the Bank’s profit for the period was impacted by foreign exchange revaluation on the back of Nigeria’s recent FX liberalization policy, resulting in a slide in our position. Notwithstanding, the retail lender grew its FX trading income significantly by 17% to N239.8 million from N204.4 million in the corresponding period of 2022, underscoring the Bank’s strategic focus on diversifying and growing its earnings portfolio. Similarly, fees and income commission also witnessed a 10% growth to N3.5 billion from N3.2 billion compared to the corresponding period of 2022, on the strength of the growing popularity of its digital banking platforms and customers’ acquisition in the retail space. Commenting on the financial statements, the Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun noted that the significant disruptions which characterized the operating environment has impacted the positions of the Bank to the extent that we have constraints in income generation on the back of revaluation of the bank’s net foreign liabilities occasioned by the Naira devaluation
PEPC: Jide Kosoko Congratulates Tinubu, Shettima, Says Nigeria in for Unmatched Progress
Veteran actor and movie director, Prince Jide Kosoko has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima over their victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which validated their elections as President and Vice President respectively. Kosoko, who was the Secretary of the Creative Arts Directorate of the dissolved Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement on Friday, said the decision of the PEPC was in sinc with the wishes and aspirations of majority of Nigerians who voted for them. This, he said, has once again demonstrated the faith of Nigerians in Tinubu administration's Renewed Hope Agenda and the ability of the present administration to turn around the fortunes of the country in all facets of the national life. He said: "I wish to heartily congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on their victory with the Presidential Election Petition Court judgment, which validated their elections. There is no doubt that the decision of the tribunal is the needed tonic for the administration to focus on the Renewed Hope Agenda and also fulfil its electioneering campaigns for the masses of the Nigerian people. "Despite widespread falsehoods and gross misrepresentation, many of us have always known that the election of February 25, 2023, was won fair and clear by President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima and that the decision of the tribunal was only the icing on the cake. It is my honest opinion that with this victory, Nigeria and Nigerians are in for an unmatched progress and development in the anals of the country. "Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate Her Excellency, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for this victory, knowing that she has always stood strong, not just with Mr President but on the side of the
OPINION: NFF’s Obedience to Primate Ayodele’s Divine Counsel Is Paying Off ***By Ojulari Kemi
‘’He that honours a prophet will get a prophet’s reward’’, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has honoured the word of a famous Nigerian prophet, Primate Ayodele, which is seriously paying off for the federation. Yesterday, the Super Eagles had a qualifier game against Sao Tome And Principe at Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. It was one of the most entertaining football matches the Eagles have played at home. The match ended 6-0 in favour of the Super Eagles team, it also solidified the team’s bid to qualify for the 2024 African Cup Of Nations coming up in Ivory Coast. Home games for the Super Eagles team especially have always been played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. The last World Cup qualifier played against Ghana at the stadium ended on a really bad note; the team couldn’t secure a victory and a riot situation took place, leading to the death of one of the officials of the match. Shortly after that, Primate Ayodele advised the NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Gusau to sack the coaches and most especially, leave Abuja stadium whenever the team wants to play a serious game. According to the prophet, MKO Abiola stadium is not a point of victory for the Super Eagles. He asked the NFF to check other parts of the country whenever the team is about to play any serious match. These were his words: ‘’NFF should sack all our coaches and get new, experienced ones that can move our football to the next level. Nigeria needs to go to the world cup, AFCON, there is no excuse for it. The president of NFF should sack these coaches. Moshood Abiola Stadium is not always a point of victory for Super Eagles, the NFF should check stadiums in Lagos and parts of the country’’ In response to his counsel, the NFF wrote
How Primate Ayodele Foretold Powerful Earthquake In Morocco – Naijanewsdirect
Morocco's devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake which struck the country late on Friday night has claimed over 2,000 lives -- making it the deadliest the country has seen in decades. Around 1,404 others remain in a critical condition, according to Morocco's state TV Al Aoula. The earthquake struck at around 11:11 p.m. local time (6.11 p.m ET). The epicenter was in the High Atlas mountains, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a popular tourist city of about 840,000 people. The last time a situation like this happened in Morocco was in 2004 but it wasn’t as deadly and disastrous like this. No doubt, it will take several years for the country to recover. Sadly, this incident has confirmed the prophecy of popular Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele which he shared in his 2023 prophecies which were released on Friday, 23rd Of December, 2022. The prophet in an 78-page prophecy for the world at large stated that there will be disastrous situations in the African continent. He called on leaders and presidents in the continent to pray against any form of natural disasters including earth tremor, earthquake, deadly flood situations and many more. ‘’ Let’s pray against nuclear attacks and serious flooding in so many parts of the world. There will be a lot of climatic problems that will affect lives. Climate change will cause volcanic eruptions, earth tremor, landslide, major accidents and earthquakes.’’ In another publication later, Primate Ayodele mentioned that there will be natural disasters in the African continent. He stated that things that ordinarily don’t happen will start happening in the continent, while asking leaders in the continent to be watchful. The nature of the morocco earthquake has no doubt confirmed the prophecy of Primate Ayodele in the North African country.
Adron Homes Tackles Nigeria’s Housing Deficiency, Provides Succour To Tinubu’s Initiative
Temidayo Babalola As the economy continues to bite harder, Nigeria with an estimated population of over 200 million people and about 30 per cent of the entire population still grappling with the need to get quality shelter and affordable houses, there is a burning need for proactive steps to stem the housing deficits if we are serious about making any serious development as a nation. One key issue affecting housing delivery in Nigeria is that the level of housing shortage has not been adequately presented. This is a result of inadequate and inappropriate statistics and data by the managers of housing in Nigeria. However, there have been attempts to estimate the magnitude of the housing shortage. The National Housing Policy specified in detail that to achieve the goal of providing 15 million housing units, although President Tinubu has approved the construction of 1000 houses in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue states as part of a broad plan by the federal government to address the conflict in the North out of 1.2 Million Housing Units needed to be built each year in the whole country, which is the number necessary to compensate for the housing shortage in the country. Although the exact reasons for the housing shortage vary across the country, the main problem in Nigeria is the low income of residents. The incidence and growth of these problems seem to outpace the capacity of the government to take them on, requiring massive private investments. Tackling the housing deficit frontally, A reliable private investor, GMD/CEO of Adron Homes and Properties, Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing who is working assiduously to fulfill the mandate of his organisation in providing affordable housing for millions of Nigerians. According to promotional programmes announced by Adron Homes, "we are out to slash the prices of all our estates across the country
Aliko Dangote Celebrates African Young Global Leaders – Naijanewsdirect
At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011 in Davos, Switzerland, Aliko Dangote, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, learned about the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGLs) and the tremendous potential of this unique World Economic Forum community to develop the next generation of African leaders from all parts of society. The Young Global Leaders programme is an accelerator for a dynamic community of exceptional young people from all over the world with the vision, courage, and influence to drive positive change in the world. This philosophy aligned neatly with Aliko Dangote’s vision for an Africa whose people are healthier, better educated, and more empowered through enhanced opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education and broaden empowerment opportunities for individuals and communities. He, therefore, through Aliko Dangote Foundation, (ADF)partnered with the Forum to establish the Aliko Dangote African Fellowship programme to guarantee the full engagement of young African leaders from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and non-business entities who might otherwise not be able to participate in the Forum’s Young Global Leaders Community. The fellowship covers the cost of their participation at World Economic Forum and YGL-led events for 6 years for each Fellow. Now in the twelfth year of collaboration with the WEF YGL programme, the Aliko Dangote (WEF Africa YGL) Fellows continue to represent the continent on the global stage and give back to their communities in a multiplicity of impactful ways. The partnership has ensured a richness in the diversity of the YGL community – adding an important African perspective, inspiring impact, and making sure that all voices have a chance to be heard where global decisions are debated, discovered, and made. Since the start of the WEF YGL programme 20 years ago, the World Economic Forum nominates up to two hundred exceptional young leaders under 40 for a six-year period of membership. Following the partnership with Dangote 12 years
Primate Ayodele’s Recurring Fulfilled Prophecies On Nigeria’s Aviation Industry
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele is renowned for his prophecies on every sector of the nation. He released prophecies for the education, aviation, sports, entertainment, politics, and private sectors of every country. He doesn’t just release these prophecies, all of them come to pass the way he puts them. It’s quite mysterious that one man can say so much about the future of everything without missing for once. It’s indeed God’s work and it is marvelous in our sight. The prophet has been celebrated for his prophecies in these sectors and this is one reason heads of the aforementioned sectors don’t joke with his prophecies. He has been acknowledged severally by them for always directing, advising and warning them through his prophetic revelations. In recent times, the aviation industry in Nigeria has experienced hazards that could have led to serious disasters. At least in the last one week, a fire incident happened at the Muritala International Airport in Lagos while an aircraft skid-off its runway yesterday in Lagos. According to FAAN Spokesperson, a suspected electrical spark at the baggage hall ceiling caused the smoke incident that was reported at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, located in Ikeja, Lagos. Also speaking about the Airline skidding off its runway incident, According to United Airlines, the aircraft, with registration number U5 0513, encountered aquaplaning due to heavy rainfall during its descent at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos. These incidents were foretold by Primate Elijah Ayodele in one of the videos shared on his social media pages. In a video posted some month ago, Primate Ayodele warned airport authorities to be careful about emergency landings and unexpected inferno. He warned them to be watchful in order to ensure safety. These were his words. ‘’Let us be watchful about the emergency landing of an aircraft with
We’re Implementing Requisite Reforms to Strengthen Telecoms Sector, Says NCC
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it remains committed to its regulatory role of continually implementing requisite reforms to strengthen the communications sector in Nigeria. The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management at the NCC, Adeleke Adewolu, stated this while addressing stakeholders at the combined second and third quarters 2023 meeting of the Industry Working Groups (IWG) on multiple taxation and regulations in the telecoms sector. The meeting, which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State on Tuesday, was convened as a precursor to a more elaborate Regional Stakeholders Workshop on Multiple Taxation and Regulations, scheduled to take place in the State on Wednesday. Addressing the meeting, attended by senior executives of telecom licensees and their umbrella body, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), as staff of the Commission, Adewolu said the IWG’s activities are geared towards ensuring fair tax policies and eliminating every incident of multiple taxation and regulations impacting the Nigerian telecommunications industry. He stated that a lot of milestones have been recorded by the industry since the establishment of the IWG over two decades ago, as the platform has proven to be effective in articulating industry concerns in this area and also proffering solutions to these issues. “Considerable industry gains have been recorded lately, particularly as it relates to the issue of multiple taxation. For instance, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently signed Four Executive Orders designed to curb multiple taxation in the Country. “Key amongst them is the Executive Order for the suspension of the five per cent Excise Duty on telecommunication services as well as Excise Duties escalation on other locally manufactured products,” he said. He described the gains as laudable as, according to him, they continue to serve as inspiring landmarks for the industry, underscoring what can be achieved when the entire industry come together harmoniously to speak with