General

Buhari, Others Mourn Ocean Marine Boss Hosa Okunbo

Published

3 years ago

09/08/2021

By Sodeinde Temidayo David

Notable Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, have commiserated with the family of Mr Idahosa Okunbo, the chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, who passed on on August 8 at the age of 63 after months of a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer at a London hospital.

Mr Okunbo was a Nigerian business magnate, investor, philanthropist and trained commercial pilot.

His family, in an official announcement of his death, was proud that the late Okunbo lived a good life and would therefore not mourn like the downhearted.

Also, in the statement from the family, signed by the head of the Okunbo family, Mr Tinyan Okunbo, and made available by the deceased’s Media Consultant, Mr Samuel Ajayi, thanked God for a life of service and dedication to humanity that the late businessman lived.

“We do not mourn like those that have no hope and we take solace in the fact that he lived a good life and he has gone to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” a part of the statement said.

While thanking everyone for their prayers and support all through this trying period, the family craved the understanding of all and sundry at these trying times and would want the immediate family to grieve in private, adding that further announcement will be made at a later date.

Being an influential figure, an entrepreneur and investor in Nigeria oil and gas and other related sectors, President Buhari, Governor Godwin Obaseki and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, have sympathized with the family of Mr Okunbo and the people of Edo over the passing of their son, saying his exit was both painful and untimely.

President Buhari, in a release issued Sunday by his Media Adviser, Mr Femi Adesina, empathised with the family, friends and associates of Mr Okunbo, noting that the deceased, with investments spanning the petroleum, telecommunications, maritime, and power sectors, among others, contributed immensely to the development of the Nigerian economy, providing sustenance to many families in the process.

While praying for the rest of the soul of Mr Okunbo, Mr Buhari urged those who mourn him, particularly the people of Edo State, to whom he devoted time and resources, to sustain his legacies of well-spiritedness and large-heartedness.

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, said in his statement on Sunday, stated that the state had lost a brother.

“It is with a heavy heart that I mourn the passing of a great son of Edo State, a brother, a distinguished Nigerian, an illustrious businessman and an accomplished philanthropist, Captain Hosa Okunbo.

“A man of unparalleled energy and accomplishments, Captain Okunbo saw opportunities in adversity and from an early age in life, carved a niche for himself to become one of Nigeria’s most outstanding businessmen.

“A trained pilot, he conquered the air at an early age and set for the waters and land, building enterprises that distinguished him in the business world and embodied the hard work, perseverance, dexterity and acumen that espoused his Edo heritage.

“Okunbo was a philanthropist, who gave lavishly of himself and his resources; thousands of Edo sons and daughters benefited from his charitable works and benevolence.

“As a mortal, Captain Okunbo was not a perfect person just as none of us can claim to be, but he will be remembered for his undying love for Edo people.

“His desire for the development and progress of our dear state, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as well as his invaluable contributions to building bridges of peace across the country will never be forgotten.

“I commiserate with the Okunbo family, friends and associates of our departed brother and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.

Mr Obaseki predecessor, Mr Oshiomhole, a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), described the death of Mr Okunbo as an irreparable loss to humanity.

“I received Sunday morning, the unanticipated news that my friend, Mr Hosa Okunbo has passed on.

“I am in disbelief, shock and deep pain, to say the least. It is just too hard to come to terms with the reality that Capi is no more and words alone cannot appropriately capture the dark mood cast upon our land this day,” Mr Oshiomhole said.

Also, he noted that Mr Okunbo was not just a good friend, but a brother and an exceptionally dependable ally in all his efforts for a better Edo State and truly loved Edo State and wished only the best for his people.

Likewise, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba, mourned Mr Okunbo, saying, “His death has created a huge vacuum that will be difficult to fill.”

Similarly, the president of the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA), Mr Osahon Enabulele, described Mr Okunbo’s death as a tragic development.

“This explains why the death of our loved ones, as painful as it is, provides yet another opportunity for one to consciously reflect, refocus, and rededicate ourselves to cherished cardinal and theological virtues, and the upliftment of our common humanity.

“As you may already know, our combined efforts across Nigeria are focused on increasing cooperation on maritime and border security, the law of armed conflict and military justice, counterterrorism efforts against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa, defence trade, and strengthening governance and transparency of the security sector.”

General

National Grid, Mr Ibu Among Top Trending Searches by Nigerians in 2024

Published

18 hours ago

10/12/2024

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

Many events happened in 2024 in Nigeria but a few shook the nation because of their impact on residents of the country.

According to a report released by Google, the incessant collapse of the national grip, which plunged the nation into darkness, was among trending searches on its platform.

In the report made available to Business Post on Tuesday, the tech giant said this year’s results show a continued interest in the political and economic landscape, with searches related to the US elections, the new national anthem.

“The 2024 Year in Search offers a unique lens into the questions, interests, and conversations that shaped the lives of Nigerians this year.

“From cultural milestones to pressing concerns, these insights reflect how Search continues to be a valuable tool for users to navigate and better understand their world,” the Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Google West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, stated.

Google’s 2024 Year in Search for Nigeria showcased the most popular searches, notable individuals, actors, musicians, topics, questions, and other subjects that captured Nigerians’ attention in the year.

Google’s Year in Search is an annual analysis that reveals the top trending lists and also spotlights what the world searches to see, learn, and do.

The music scene in 2024 was marked by a surge in popularity for artists like Shallipopi and Khaid, who also featured prominently in the overall personalities list. The top trending song was “”I Don’t Care” by Boy Spyce”, followed closely by “Ozeba” and “Commas” by Ayra”. Nigerians also showed a keen interest in understanding the lyrics of various songs, with “Ogechi lyrics”, “Ozeba lyrics”, and “Omemma by Chandler Moore lyrics” leading the searches in the lyrics category.

This year, Nigerians continued to demonstrate a strong interest in entertainment with movies like “A Tribe Called Judah”, “Treasure In The Sky”, and “Damsel” topping the movie charts. The top TV series that captured the interest of Nigerian netizens included “Supacell”, “My Demon”, and “Queen of Tears”. In the culinary world, Nigerians explored diverse recipes with “Pornstar Martini recipe” leading the searches.

Concerns about personal well-being and global events were also reflected in search trends. Questions like “How much is dollar to naira today?”, “How to get perfectly defined curls for African hair?”, and “Who won the US presidential election?” topped the list of queries. Nigerians were curious about the meaning of words like “demure,” “steeze,” and “pet peeves,” turning to Search for answers.

General

Fiscal Responsibility Commission Backs Controversial Tax Reform Bills

Published

21 hours ago

10/12/2024

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has expressed strong support for the controversial Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly.

The bills, developed by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee on instruction by President Bola Tinubu, aim to improve fiscal governance, transform public revenue architecture boost economic growth.

The Chairman of the commission, Mr Victor Muruako, expressed the support of the organisation at an interaction with academics and journalists on the sidelines of the Fellowship Lecture and Investiture Ceremony of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (CMAN) on Monday in Abuja.

According to a statement by FRC’s Head of Strategic Communications Officer, Mr Bede Anyanwu on Tuesday, the agency revealed that a critical analysis of the bills showed that it does not contain any issue or item that could be said to be skewed to favour any region or section of the country.

“The bills rather create a more equitable distribution of resources amongst Nigeria’s federating states,” Mr Muruako added, noting that the analysis also confirmed that the proposed reforms are designed to benefit all Nigerians, particularly low-income earners and Micro Small and Medium Businesses (MSMBs).

Mr Muruako outlined some of the key benefits of the reforms, including tax relief for low-income earners: individuals earning less than N1.7 million annually will pay less income tax, exemption of tax on small businesses with turnovers below N50 million, and exemption of over 90 per cent of small businesses from profit tax payment.

It was stated that the new bills intend to simplify tax administration in the country and make it more transparent.

Increasing revenue for subnational governments as states and local governments will receive a larger share of VAT revenue, empowering them to provide better public services, and improving ease of doing business, noting that reforms will reduce the administrative burden on businesses and make it easier to comply with tax regulations.

The FRC explained that it is upbeat that the tax relief for low-income earners will enhance savings and capital formation at household levels.

The commission also expressed confidence that given the positive correlation between savings and investment, explaining that the increase in small household investments across the board would lead to improvements in the sustainable growth of the nation’s economy.

He also opined that the reduced tax burden on small businesses would give Micro-Small Medium Enterprises breathing space, and enable them to grow organically, hence contributing to a sustained increase in the nation’s GDP in the near future.

On the recent controversies over the bills, Mr Muruako praised President Tinubu for allowing room for further dialogue, appealing to all stakeholders across geopolitical zones to support the bills because their transformative potentials stand to benefit every Nigerian.

General

CSCS Gets Dual Management System Certifications

Published

2 days ago

09/12/2024

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc has been awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO 22301:2019 certifications by the globally renowned Management System Certification Body (MSECB).

According to a statement from the firm, the Managing Director of CSCS, Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri, said the ISO 27001 is an internationally recognised benchmark for managing information security, ensuring robust protection against data breaches and IT disruptions.

The ISO 22301 standard is an international standard that establishes the requirements for business continuity management systems.

Mr Jalo-Waziri said this recognition underscores CSCS’s steadfast commitment to international best practices in information security management and business continuity.

He noted that the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification highlights CSCS’s adherence to stringent information security measures, ensuring robust protection against data breaches and IT disruptions.

Mr Jalo-Waziri said that the ISO 22301:2019 certification also confirms CSCS’s business continuity and readiness to respond to unexpected incidents, minimising disruptions and safeguarding stakeholders’ interests.

“Achieving these certifications is a testament to our deliberate and strategic focus on embedding a culture of excellence, resilience, and trustworthiness in our operations.

“It underscores our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security and business continuity in delivering value to our stakeholders.

“These certifications position CSCS alongside leading global organisations that prioritise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems.

“They further validate the organisation’s dedication to securing its clients’ trust and ensuring operational resilience,” he said.

The CSCS MD added these certifications not only reinforce the trust of its clients, stakeholders, and regulators but also to validate the hard work and dedication of its team.

He said, that as Nigeria’s premier financial market infrastructure, the firm remains resolute in its mission to enable market confidence through best-in-class services and practices.

According to him, receiving these certifications from MSECB strengthens CSCS’s reputation as a reliable partner and a leader in the financial market ecosystem.

He said that the certifications assure stakeholders that CSCS’s processes are periodically monitored to meet and exceed compliance requirements.

This achievement, Mr Jalo-Waziri said, was a significant milestone in CSCS’s journey to consistently deliver secure, resilient, and innovative solutions to the Nigerian capital market and beyond.