Economy
Excitement As Kwara Senator Rolls Out Programs For Women, Youth
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Mr Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, has launched a foundation aimed at giving empowerment to youth and women in the state.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Rafiu Ibrahim Bilal (RIB) Foundation in Offa, Kwara State on Sunday, the lawmaker emphasised that the foundation will focus on educational support and entrepreneurship education; empowerment of indigent youth and women; and enterprise development services.
At the occasion also to mark his 50th birthday, the Senator noted that he was inspired to start the foundation after reflecting on his “humble beginning.”
Describing himself as “fortunate”, the amiable and easy-going Senator revealed that though “growing up was difficult” for him, he, however, “remained focused and determined to achieve greatness.”
The respected and big-hearted lawmaker also stressed that his decision to start a foundation did not just happen, pointing out that he has “been doing [it] for many years”, but only felt like taking it to “another dimension.”
“RIB FOUNDATION is targeted at giving back to my community either while in office or out of office. We are also in partnership with the recently launched Saraki Employment and Empowerment Centre for Skill-acquisition, Training Empowerment Programme (SEEC-STEP) of our leader, distinguished Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to provide jobs for 40,000 Kwarans.
“In my own capacity, Kwara South-STEP, as part of our programme under RIB FOUNDATION, targets 8,000 Kwara Southerners in four years to reduce poverty and unemployment in line with the current economic reality in the country now.
“This and many other programmes under RIB FOUNDATION and our regular empowerment, bursary, scholarship awards, business financial supports, health bills, provision of school fees and books for our students etc are what I pray to continue to do for the rest of my life. I pray this should not be the end of it, Amin,” he said at the occasion also witnessed by the Senate President and other political bigwigs in the state.
Senator Ibrahim showered praises on the Saraki political dynasty, praying for God’s increased protection and divine guidance on Dr Bukola Saraki.
Recalling his foray into politics, the lawmaker narrated that it started in in 2009, when late Olusola Saraki (Senate President’s father) “endorsed me for the Kwara State House of Assembly to represent Oke-Ogun Constituency.
“That day, Baba Saraki told all the stakeholders from Oyun LGA that I was one of the most trustworthy persons he had met in his life time.
“I was moved to tears and vowed never to disappoint my destiny which had brought me this unimaginable favour from such a man of unquantifiable and unequalled greatness.
“Behold, with his endorsement, I was elected a Member of Kwara State House of Assembly for Oke-Ogun Constituency of Oyun Local Government Area in a re-run election in 2009 after the demise of Raufu Lambe. (RIP)
“As destiny would have it, my election in to the state Assembly was just a precursor that shot me into the National politics. In 2011, I was elected into the National Assembly, as a Federal Honourable of the House of Representatives to represent Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency.
“Four years later, despite the hullabaloo in the polity of our country, our Leader, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki gave me the nod to consider the seat for the Kwara South Senatorial District.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Four price gainers lifted the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.54 per cent on Friday, February 14.
Okitipupa Plc improved its share price by N11.29 to close at N124.18 per unit versus N112.89 per unit, Mixta Real Estate Plc appreciated by 34 Kobo to finish at N3.76 per share versus the preceding day’s N3.42 per share, Afriland Properties Plc went up by 62 Kobo to settle at N21.03 per unit compared with N20.41 per unit, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc jumped by 5 Kobo to trade at N39.95 per share, in contrast to the preceding day’s N39.90 per share.
At the close of business, the market capitalization rose by N9.91 billion to N1.828 trillion from N1.818 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) increased by 17.49 points to 3,227.53 points from the 3,210.04 points recorded on Thursday.
During yesterday’s session, the volume of securities transacted by investors jumped by 1,001.3 per cent to 5.1 million units from the 465,820 units transacted in the previous trading day.
Also, the value of transactions surged by 1,025.4 per cent to N108.5 million from N9.6 million, while the number of deals went south by 10 per cent to nine deals from 10 deals recorded on Thursday.
Impresit Bakolori Plc finished the day as the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 519.5 million units worth N504.3 million, trailed by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 7.4 million units valued at N293.2 million, and Geo-Fluids Plc with 9.3 million units sold for N44.8 million.
Similarly, Impresit Bakolori Plc ended the session as the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) with 519.5 million units worth N504.3 million, followed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 69.6 million units sold for N23.6 million, and Geo-Fluids Plc with 10.7 million units valued at N51.2 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira was relatively stable against the United States Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Friday, February 14, though it shed 10 Kobo or 0.01 per cent to sell at at N1,510.10/$1 compared with the previous day’s value of N1,510.00/$1.
However, it depreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the trading day by N7.32 to quote at N1,879.42/£1 versus the N1,872.42/£1 it was sold at the previous session and lost N6.27 against the Euro to settle at N1,566.23/€1, in contrast to Thursday’s closing rate of N1,559.96/€1.
At the parallel market, the Nigerian Naira improved its value against the US Dollar yesterday by N5 to finish at N1565/$1 compared with the preceding session’s value of N1,570/$1.
As for the cryptocurrency market, it was positive on Friday after investors overlooked recent data that frustrated the landscape.
This week, the US data released showed increment in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This shows the US Federal Reserve will likely wait till June before making changes to the current interest rate levels.
Over the last two weeks, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also acknowledged applications for Litecoin and Solana exchange traded funds (ETFs) — indicating that the SEC’s leadership under the Donald Trump administration has changed its tact to crypto-related listings.
Ethereum (ETH) expanded its value by 5.4 per cent to sell at $3,394.79, Solana (SOL) recorded a 4.4 per cent appreciation to end at $260.86, Cardano (ADA) jumped by 2.9 per cent to trade at $1.00, and Litecoin (LTC) saw a 2.6 per cent surge to quote at $116.78.
In addition, Bitcoin (BTC) appreciated by 2.1 per cent to settle at $1o4,978.31, Ripple (XRP) rose 0.7 per cent to $3.16, Dogecoin (DOGE) increased by 0.6 per cent to finish at $0.3572, and Binance Coin (BNB) gained 1.6 per cent to sell for $710.31, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 each.
Dipo Olowookere
It was a sad Valentine’s Day for local stock investors as the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited depreciated on Friday by 1.02 per cent as a result of profit-taking.
This dragged the market capitalisation below N68 trillion because its value went down by N697 billion to N67.419 trillion from the N68.116 it closed on Thursday.
In the same vein, the All-Share Index (ASI) decreased by 1,118.09 points to 108,053.95 points from the 109,172.04 points recorded a day earlier.
The market bled yesterday as a result of the selling pressure across the key segments of the bourse except the industrial goods space, which closed higher by 0.78 per cent.
The consumer goods counter weakened by 5.01 per cent, the energy sector lost 2.34 per cent, the banking industry slumped by 0.75 per cent, and the insurance index depreciated by 0.15 per cent.
However, investor sentiment remained strong during the session. This was because the exchange ended with 38 price gainers and 28 price losers, implying a positive market breadth index.
BUA Foods slipped by 10.00 per cent to N373.50, DAAR Communications went down by 9.09 per cent to 70 Kobo, Aradel Holdings shed 6.90 per cent to trade at N530.00, Livestock Feeds tumbled by 6.09 per cent to N6.01, and Beta Glass plunged by 5.74 per cent to N95.20.
Conversely, Royal Exchange gained 10.00 per cent to sell for 99 Kobo, UPDC improved by 9.88 per cent to N3.78, The Initiates advanced by 9.76 per cent to N4.05, Red Star Express surged by 9.09 per cent to N6.00, and CWG increased by 7.41 per cent to N8.70.
A total of 478.8 million equities worth N13.9 billion exchanged hands in 15,613 deals on Friday versus the 427.1 million equities valued at N9.2 billion traded in 16,342 deals on Thursday, representing a fall in the number of deals by 4.46 per cent, and a growth in the trading volume and value by 12.11 per cent and 51.09 per cent apiece.
Leading the activity chart was Sterling Holdings with 88.6 million stocks valued at N531.8 million, Access Holdings transacted 29.7 million equities worth N835.1 million, Veritas Kapital traded 21.6 million shares for N26.0 million, AIICO Insurance exchanged 20.1 million stocks worth N34.6 million, and Honeywell Flour traded 18.4 million equities valued at N267.7 million.
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