General

Privatization of Power Sector Not a Failure—IBEDC COO

Published

5 years ago

25/08/2021

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr John Ayodele, has disagreed with those who said the privatization of the power sector has turned out to be a failure, unlike its telecommunications counterpart.

Mr Ayodele, while addressing newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday, said the electricity distribution company and others were making progress despite the challenges.

He said, for example, IBEDC runs a deficit of N4 billion monthly and that between January and July 2021, it has recorded 15,032 cases of vandalisation of distribution assets.

Mr Ayodele said the money paid by customers to the company also goes to generating (GENCO) and transmission companies operating in the sector as well.

He maintained that IBEDC does not have the full power to reduce the tariff, stressing that stakeholders must unanimously agree to review power tariffs in the country.

On the efforts of the company towards effective service delivery, he said the electricity distributing company, he been investing heavily in the sector.

All in the bid to improve service delivery, he highlighted that the company has added 2,632 distribution substations to its network, rehabilitated 39 dilapidated substations, replaced two failed power stations and 381 distribution transformers.

The IBEDC COO added that the company reconstructed six new 33 kilovolt (kV) and six new 11 kV outgoing feeders, rehabilitated 22 high tensions and 52 low tension overhead lines.

Mr Ayodele said the company has made progress on Asset and Customer Enumeration; an exercise that has made it possible to correctly capture the active consumer base of the company and aided the Distribution Transformer (DT) metering project.

According to him, the company has ensured that 50 per cent of IBEDC DT meters are smartly metered, adding that metering would aid management and solve problems of accountability of energy.

Also, he explained that the organisation has been working on improving occupational and safety management systems and initiated e-billing which enables effective delivery of bills to postpaid customers via SMS and Email.

Speaking on the issue of increase in tariff, he said that the increasing energy cost is driven by the impact of worsening exchange rate on gas price, the inflation evident in the economy, the constraints on the national grid and the frequent collapse of the grid.

Clarifying on compensation, the COO said many individuals and communities are not truthful about the real cost of the infrastructure provided and should have first consulted with the company to agree on the cost and structure of repayment hence the reason for non-compensation.

“The management, however, promised to work on its response system to ensure a close interaction with communities,” he said.

Mr Ayodele also responded to the allegation on the corruption of staff, saying that IBEDC has constantly been sacking employees found to be corrupt and even prosecuting them.

He advised the public not to keep quiet but report such incidences and urged all to deviate from the thinking that energy supply is a social service rather than an economic service.

He pointed that this perception was the reason why some bypassers do not want to accept meters but called for active cooperation from consumers.

General

IWD: Akanbi-Alade of Pathway Holdings Urges Stronger Inclusion of Women in Finance

Published

1 day ago

06/03/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Executive Director/GCOO of Pathway Holdings Limited, Mrs Dolapo Akanbi-Alade, has called for increased inclusion of Nigerian women in finance as the world marks International Women’s Day 2026.

International Women’s Day 2026 is marked every March 8, and this year’s theme is Give To Gain.

In a statement shared with Business Post, Mr Akanbi-Alade noted that while International Women’s Day highlights the need for gender equality, significant progress requires deliberate policies and systems that expand women’s access to finance and leadership opportunities.

She emphasised that many Nigerian women and women-led businesses still face limited access to finance, highlighting the urgent need for targeted inclusion initiatives.

“At Pathway Holdings, we empower women and give access to investment advisory, asset management, and lending solutions for institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and businesses. Ensuring that women and women-led enterprises can access these opportunities is critical to building a more inclusive financial system,” she added.

Mrs Akanbi-Alade said, “Women’s access to finance is not only a social responsibility but essential for national productivity and economic growth’’. She co-founded the following companies:

Pathway Asset Management Limited is registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, as a Fund and Portfolio Manager. The product range includes Pathway Fixed Deposit Notes, Privately Managed Notes, Pathway Private Portfolio Management, Investment Advisory, and Mutual Funds, which will be launched soon.

Pathway Advisors Limited is registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an Issuing House and financial adviser. Pathway Advisors’ services cover Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Capital-Raising, Financial Advisory, Rating Advisory, and Project and Structure Finance.

Fundbox Financial Services Limited is a wholly owned micro-lending company providing short-term personal and SME finance loans to salaried individuals, self-employed personnel, and small businesses. They offer services which include Cars4Cash, SME Loans, Personal Loans, and Group Employee Loans. Fundbox has successfully disbursed a wide range of loans to both corporate and individual clients, supporting their financial needs and business growth.

Pathway Holdings Limited is a notable investment holding firm focusing on private market investments, including private equity, private credit, and infrastructure. Pathway creates customised investment solutions for institutional investors and individuals, leveraging its extensive experience and local footprint.

General

Ambassadors: Tinubu Moves Kayode Are to US, Omokri to Mexico, FFK to Germany

Published

1 day ago

06/03/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has approved the postings of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to various countries and the United Nations, including the former head of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Lateef Kayode Are, who is to serve in the United States.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed on Friday that 31 non-career and 34 career ambassadors have been assigned to their duty posts.

The Senate had confirmed all 65 nominees in December 2025 following screening by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to immediately commence an induction programme for the envoys, who will assume duties after receiving agrément from their host countries.

Below is the full list of postings:

NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS

1. Senator Grace Bent — Togo (Lomé)

2. Senator Ita Enang — South Africa

3. Ikpeazu Victor — Spain

4. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu — Israel (Tel Aviv)

5. Mahmud Yakubu — Qatar

6. Paul Oga Adikwu — Vatican City Holy See

7. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas — Philippines

8. Reno Omokri — Mexico

9. Engr. Abasi Braimah — Hungary (Budapest)

10. Mrs Erelu Angela Adebayo — Portugal

11. Barr. Oluwayimika Ayotunwa — Japan (Tokyo)

12. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi — Greece (Athens)

13. Barr. Chioma Priscilla Ohakim — Poland (Warsaw)

14. Aminu Dalhatu — United Kingdom (High Commissioner)

15. Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau — China (Beijing)

16. Tasiu Musa Maigari — Gambia

17. Olufemi Pedro — Australia

18. Barr. Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu — Argentina

19. Lateef Kayode Are — United States

20. Amb. Joseph Sola Iji — Russia

21. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim — United Nations (Permanent Representative)

22. Femi Fani-Kayode — Germany

23. Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole — Canada (Ottawa)

24. Fatima Florence Ajimobi — Austria

25. Mrs Lola Akande — Sweden

26. Ayodele Oke — France

27. Yakubu N. Gambo — Saudi Arabia

28. Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut — South Korea (Seoul)

29. Barr. Joe-Kyari Okocha, SAN — Ireland (Dublin)

30. Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar — Tunisia (Tunis)

31. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe — Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain)

CAREER AMBASSADORS

32. Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka — Côte d’Ivoire

33. Besto Maimuna Ibrahim — Niger (Niamey)

34. Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi — São Tomé and Príncipe

35. Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele — Algeria (Algiers)

36. Endoni Syndoph Paebi — Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)

37. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno — Egypt (Cairo)

38. Ambassador Jane Adams — Jamaica (Kingston)

39. Ambassador Clark-Omeru Alexandra — Zambia (Lusaka)

40. Chima Geoffrey Lioma David — Mali (Bamako)

41. Ambassador Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen — Equatorial Guinea (Malabo)

42. Ambassador Wasa Segun Ige — Lebanon (Beirut)

43. Ruben Abimbola Samuel — Italy (Rome)

44. Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley — Mozambique (Maputo)

45. Ambassador Magaji Umar — DR Congo (Kinshasa)

46. Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru — India (New Delhi)

47. Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad — Senegal (Dakar)

48. Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde — Ghana (Accra)

49. Ambassador Aminu Nasir — Ethiopia

50. Abubakar Musa — Chad (N’Djamena)

51. Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris — Netherlands (The Hague)

52. Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar — Morocco (Rabat)

53. Ambassador Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed — Malaysia

54. Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle — Tanzania

55. Ambassador Shaga John Shamah — Botswana

56. Hamza Mohammed Salau — Iran (Tehran)

57. Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami — Kenya

58. Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola — Benin (Cotonou)

59. Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel — Belgium (Brussels)

60. Ambassador Akande Wahab Adekola — Switzerland (Berne)

61. Ambassador Arewa Esther — Namibia (Windhoek)

62. Ambassador Gergadi Joseph John — Gabon (Libreville)

63. Ambassador Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata — Sierra Leone

64. Danladi Yakubu Nyaku — Sudan (Khartoum)

65. Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru — Thailand (Bangkok)

Mr Onanuga noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for High Commissioner-designate Aminu Dalhatu, and from France for Ambassador Ayodele Oke.

Nominations of the remaining 62 envoys have been conveyed to their respective host countries pending agreement.

General

In Celebration of International Women’s Month, CANAL+ and MultiChoice Celebrate African Women

Published

1 day ago

06/03/2026

Business Post Contributor

Across Africa and beyond, women continue to shape and elevate the stories that define our societies. In celebration of International Women’s Month, CANAL+ pays tribute to the storytellers, athletes, mothers, creators, leaders and icons whose voices inspire millions of households across the continent.

The African entertainment industry is driven by women, actresses, directors, screenwriters and producers who bring depth and authenticity to every production. From captivating telenovelas and popular comedies to powerful drama series, female talent remains at the heart of the stories most loved by viewers on CANAL+ Group of channels. In sport, women redefine competition and excellence – on the field, behind the mic or in leadership. From football to tennis and athletics, women in sport don’t just participate, they elevate the game and inspire the next generation.

CANAL+ and its subsidiary MultiChoice have chosen to celebrate them through a dedicated campaign: “We are… because she is.” A 90-second spot, produced in both French and English versions, will be broadcast on the Group’s channels and social media platforms in more than 35 countries across Africa.

Watch the promo below

Throughout International Women’s Month, DStv and GOtv will spotlight female‑led films, series, reality shows and global cultural moments that reflect the brilliance and complexity of modern womanhood.