Economy
Lawmaker Buoys Oyo Economy With N300m Cash Grants, Others
By Dipo Olowookere
A federal lawmaker from Oyo State, Ms Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has contributed her own quota in improving the economy of the state by empowering some of her constituents.
The House of Representatives member over the weekend distributed cash grants and some items like vehicles, laptops, amongst others to about 300 small business owners in the Oluyole federal constituency.
The items were given to participants of a vocational training programme, which was concluded on Sunday, November 21, 2021, in Ibadan, the state capital.
Business Post gathered that Ms Akande-Sadipe, who is the House Committee Chairman of Diaspora, facilitated several vocational skills and economic enhancement schemes and shared no fewer than 15 cars, 35 laptops, 165 vocational equipment and cash grants worth N300 million to the beneficiaries.
The programs included indigenous fabric production (tie and dye) practical in Abeokuta; Aso Oke production in Oyo town and aquatic agriculture fish rearing with value-adding marketing options in Ibadan city.
She organised the week-long training in conjunction with the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Speaking at the event, she disclosed that it was the 15th program of its kind since she was elected into the National Assembly in 2019, noting that, “My primary function is to make laws for my constituency, but because of the state of our nation, I have prioritized empowerment in my constituency as a key responsibility, still within my WWREEEP campaign promises.”
The lawmaker disclosed that “this empowerment programme is in fulfilment of my electoral promises during the 2019 general elections. I am poised to do more, as a lawmaker representing this constituency.”
“The present crop of leaders at the 9th Assembly is unrepentantly committed to our constituencies. We honestly are working on ways to lift the majority of Nigerians out of poverty and this is why we promulgate laws that will affect every stratum in Nigeria,” she further said.
She assured the people that, “I am still vehemently focused on facilitating the rehabilitation of key road construction projects.
“To mention a few, I have facilitated repairs on Odo-Ona Elewe Idi-Iroko Olugbemi Adewole (Liberty Academy) Road, Ayegun Oleyo-bare Abeokuta Road and Olomi Olojuoro-ita Egba-Ijebu Igbo Road and will continue to lobby the appropriate agencies, FERMA and the Ministry of Works and Housing on these roads.”
“I believe so much in empowerment, and this is why at every given opportunity, I collaborate with relevant agencies to empower my people in a bid to add more value to their socio-economic well-being,” she added.
Ms Akande-Sadipe implored the beneficiaries to ensure that the materials are used for income potential, urging them to use the items for long term economic gain and not to sell the empowerment items allotted but to use them and multiply wealth
While the lawmaker thanked all agencies who collaborated with her in ensuring her constituents are happy, she also eulogized party leaders for supporting her.
The Deputy Chairman, Oyo State All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr Adegboyega Adeyemo, in his remarks, said “this has been a good decision for the residents of Oluyole Constituency to give us a chance to represent them in 2019.”
According to him, the federal legislator has already surpassed all legislators in Oyo State, describing her as the “best I have seen.”
“Oyo APC will do everything to support Akande-Sadipe in 2023 because she has done more than enough to achieve this,” he assured.
One of the beneficiaries, Basiru Adewale, confessed that the empowerment programmes of Ms Akande-Sadipe have been “one of the best things the people of Oluyole Constituency have enjoyed. She is the best, no doubt. I advise other political leaders to emulate the woman’s virtue and values. We can all achieve more.”
One of the highlights of the event was a raffle draw, where a constituent won a 7-seater Opel car that can be used for both personal use and income generation.
By Dipo Olowookere
About 0.04 per cent was recovered on Friday from the loss recorded by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) the previous due to profit-taking.
Yesterday, investors were in the market with renewed vigour, mopping up stocks trading at relatively cheaper prices.
According to data, the insurance counter gained 0.41 per cent, the banking sector appreciated by 0.38 per cent, and the consumer goods index grew by 0.14 per cent.
The gains achieved by these three sectors were enough to lift Customs Street at the close of business despite the 0.26 per cent decline printed by the industrial goods segment and the 0.14 per cent loss suffered by the energy industry. The commodity counter was flat during the session.
A total of 43 equities gained weight on the last trading day of this week, while 26 equities shed weight, indicating a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.
Red Star Express increased its share price by 10.00 per cent to N13.20, NCR Nigeria grew by 9.97 per cent to N128.55, SCOA Nigeria inflated by 9.96 per cent to N14.90, Omatek appreciated by 9.94 per cent to N1.77, and Deap Capital expanded by 9.85 per cent to N4.46.
On the flip side, McNichols decreased by 8.81 per cent to N6.00, Legend Internet crumbled by 7.56 per cent to N5.50, Cornerstone Insurance crashed by 6.48 per cent to N6.35, C&I Leasing contracted by 6.29 per cent to N8.20, and Austin Laz slipped by 5.78 per cent to N3.75.
Yesterday, 539.9 million shares valued at N16.7 billion were transacted in 48,023 deals versus the 1.0 billion shares worth N31.6 billion executed in 51,227 deals in the preceding day, implying a shrink in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 46.01 per cent, 47.15 per cent, and 6.26 per cent apiece.
Zenith Bank was the most active for the day with 54.6 million stocks sold for N3.8 billion, Jaiz Bank traded 41.5 million units worth N359.4 million, Secure Electronic Technology transacted 37.7 million units valued at N39.2 million, Access Holdings exchanged 30.5 million units for N699.2 million, and Lasaco Assurance transacted 27.2 million units worth N68.3 million.
When the market closed for the day, the All-Share Index (ASI) went up by 72.21 points to 166,129.50 points from 166,057.29 points and the market capitalisation gained N31 billion to N106.354 trillion from N106.323 trillion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
It was a positive ending for the Naira this week after it further appreciated against the US Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, January 16 by N1.33 or 0.09 per cent to sell for N1,417.95/$1 compared with the previous day’s N1,419.28/$1.
The domestic currency also gained N2.41 against the Euro in the official market to close at N1,647.51/€1 versus the preceding session’s closing price of N1,649.92/€1, however, it suffered a N7.97 loss against the Pound Sterling in the same market window to trade at N1,901.32/£1, in contrast to Thursday’s closing price of N1,893.35/£1.
In the same vein, the Nigerian Naira depleted against the Dollar at the GTBank FX counter by N2 to quote at N1,427/$1 compared with the previous day’s N1,425/$1, but strengthened against the greenback at the black market yesterday by N5 to settle at N1,485/$1 versus the N1,490/$1 it was exchanged a day earlier.
Improved supply conditions helped keep the market within range as exporters’ and importers’ inflows in addition to non-bank corporate supply enhanced liquidity as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made no visible intervention.
Stronger external inflows from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and improving current account dynamics, continue to align with structural support in the wider economy.
Nigeria has seen projections of a stronger economic or gross domestic product (GDP) growth and lower inflation in 2026, with these forecasts citing improved macroeconomic fundamentals and reform impacts.
As for the cryptocurrency market, it was mixed following selloff in precious metals and lower US stocks appeared to be denting crypto sentiment.
Gold and silver, both of which also enjoyed big rallies earlier this week, tumbled 1.2 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively while key US stock indexes — the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average — all reversed from early gains to modest losses in Friday trade.
Dogecoin (DOGE) shrank by 2.2 per cent to $0.1370, Ripple (XRP) slipped by 0.8 per cent to $2.05, Ethereum (ETH) went down by 0.7 per cent to $3,228.56, and Bitcoin (BTC) slumped by 0.6 per cent to $95,086.80.
Conversely, Litecoin (LTC) appreciated by 3.2 per cent to $74.48, Solana (SOL) rose by 0.4 per cent to $143.70, Cardano (ADA) jumped by 0.2 per cent to $0.3942, and Binance Coin (BNB) increased by 0.1 per cent to $935.88, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 each.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Oil prices settled higher amid lingering worries about a possible US military strike against Iran, a decision that may still occur over the weekend.
Brent crude settled at $64.13 a barrel after going up by 37 cents or 0.58 per cent and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at $59.44 a barrel after it gained 25 cents or 0.42 per cent.
The US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was expected to arrive in the Persian Gulf next week after operating in the South China Sea.
Market analysts noted that it doesn’t seem likely anything will happen soon. However, the weekends have become the perfect time for actions so as not offset the markets.
The market had risen after protests flared up in Iran and US President Donald Trump signalled the potential for military strikes, but lost over 4 per cent on Thursday as the American president said Iran’s crackdown on the protesters was easing, allaying concerns of possible military action that could disrupt oil supplies.
Iran produces approximately 3.2 million barrels per day, accounting for roughly 4 per cent of global crude production, so it was not a coincidence that markets rallied sharply through Tuesday and Wednesday as President Trump canceled meetings with Iranian officials and posted that “help is on its way” to Iranian protesters, raising fears of potential US military strikes that sent prices surging toward multi-month highs.
Weighing against those fears are potential supply increases from Venezuela.
The Trump administration is exploring plans to swap heavy Venezuelan crude for US medium sour barrels that can actually go straight into Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) caverns, since not all all oil belongs in the reserve.
According to Reuters, the Department of Energy is considering moving Venezuelan heavy crude into commercial storage at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, while US producers deliver medium sour crude into the SPR in exchange.
Analysts expect higher supply this year, potentially creating a ceiling for the geopolitical risk premium on prices.
Some investors covered short positions ahead of the three-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend in the US.
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