General
Stanbic IBTC: Impacting Communities Through CSI, Employee Volunteerism
Global climate change affects countries differently. The negative consequences such as flooding are usually more pronounced in developing countries. Poor urban planning, population growth and poor regional cooperation in the use of natural resources such as rivers and lakes are also factors that contribute to incidences of flooding, for instance, in Nigeria.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in 2018 earmarked 12 states as frontline states to be affected by flooding in that year and by September 2018, a national disaster had been declared in the four worst affected states while the others were flagged under red alert.
In one of its reports in 2018, NEMA revealed that 327,052 people were directly affected in the 12 flooded states of which 77,460 were displaced. There were 70 recorded cases of loss of life and 151 injuries. Displaced individuals also faced a higher risk of contracting diseases such as malaria and cholera on account of living in makeshift/temporary shelters and poor water supply.
Along with the efforts of the federal and state governments, succour came to the victims of the 2018 floods in the form of support from notable corporate organizations who responded as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
One of such organizations was Stanbic IBTC Holdings which made a timely intervention to ameliorate the plight of the flood victims. The institution donated relief materials to victims in five of the affected states namely Jigawa, Katsina, Delta, Rivers and Ogun states.
Upon selecting the states that would benefit from the relief materials, Stanbic IBTC immediately deployed staff on ground in these states/regions to conduct thorough impact assessments of the affected locations as well as living conditions in the relief shelters. Major considerations included; food, potable water, health/hygiene and comfort. The institution also identified and partnered with relief agencies in the respective locations.
Therefore in meeting the need for potable water for instance, boreholes were provided in shelters for which potable water was lacking; a major boost to the prevention of water borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. In addition, ample supply of water also fosters the attainment and maintenance of better hygiene levels.
For the comfort of the victims, Stanbic IBTC provided mattresses with blankets and bed sheets, treated mosquito nets were also provided to prevent the scourge of malaria. The financial institutions also provided soaps and detergents among other essentials.
For the displaced victims, for many of whose sources of livelihoods had either been completely damaged or destroyed, adequate feeding was a major issue. For these non-perishable food items (in packets, tins, etc) were provided and distributed.
For Stanbic IBTC, Corporate Social Investment is ingrained in its corporate philosophy and DNA, it says it’s just as critical as adhering to the highest corporate governance principles. It is viewed as part of its business operations.
This partly explains why its flagship CSI initiative, tagged Together for a limb checks all the boxes on novelty, innovativeness and multidimensional approach to transforming the lives of indigent children who have suffered limb loss(es). Beneficiaries are offered prostheses and educational trust funds of N1.5m each. They are thus provided quality education along with the improved quality of life that the prostheses provision engenders.
The beneficiaries being young growing children also get a replacement of their prostheses as they grow and as required until they turn 18 years of age. Therefore the beneficiaries receive regular health checks as their usage of the prostheses is monitored and additionally get a comprehensive medical check every time replacement prostheses are to be fitted.
Stanbic IBTC goes further to bring attention to the plight of citizens with limb losses through an annual charity walk that is incorporated in its annual events calendar. In fact, the launch of the Together for a limb initiative in December 2015 was preceded by the charity walk on November 14 of that same year and the charity walk has been held every year ever since, usually preceding the unveiling of beneficiaries for the year to further raise public awareness for the cause. So far, 20 young Nigerians have benefitted from this initiative.
As its tagline, “Moving Forward” suggests, the organization has a desire for a nation with prosperous citizens but also understands that beyond corporate CSI, a lot more mileage will also be covered by the active involvement of individuals. Therefore it has encouraged and actively promoted a staff volunteer scheme for all its employees.
Volunteering enables individuals to connect better with their communities to make them better places while offering a lot of benefits to the volunteers themselves. Expert opinions that outline the many benefits of volunteering are replete in health and business journals.
According to the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr Yinka Sanni, the staff CSI and volunteer scheme has seen staff contribute and invest over N100 million towards various charitable courses that cover health, education and economic empowerment, which are the core CSI pillars of Stanbic IBTC.
Employees with similar interests are encouraged form groups and raise funds to address respective causes that each group has identified with. Consequently, the staff volunteer scheme has donated classrooms, libraries, health facilities, boreholes and other social interventions over time across Nigeria.
Along with carrying out its core business operations, Stanbic IBTC has consistently promoted deliberate social investment programmes to improve the lot of individuals and communities across Nigeria. Its 360 approach which has birthed the employee volunteer scheme is further extending the frontiers of and giving a new meaning to CSI in Nigeria.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, has commended the Nigerian Army for intensifying its fight against pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering, saying the security operations are yielding positive results by boosting crude oil production and improving national revenue.
Mr Fubara made the remarks while receiving the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt, ahead of the 163rd Nigerian Army Day Celebration scheduled to hold in Rivers State.
The Army Chief was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, and other senior military officers.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Fubara said the military’s sustained operations against oil theft and pipeline sabotage have significantly reduced disruptions to oil production.
“In the face of everything, I can conveniently say that there are a lot of positive things that our state has recorded in terms of security,” the governor said.
He noted that the Army’s efforts in curbing pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering had translated into increased crude oil production and higher revenue for the country.
According to him, the operations of the 6 Division Nigerian Army have also strengthened the security of lives and property across Rivers State.
Governor Fubara congratulated Mr Shaibu on his appointment as Chief of Army Staff and expressed confidence that his tenure would deliver even greater improvements in national security.
“I’m commending you because within the short period that you’ve been appointed, I can conveniently say that there are a lot of positive things that our state has recorded in terms of security. I wish that your tenure will record a lot more positive improvements for the Nigerian Army,” he said.
The governor also welcomed the decision to host this year’s Nigerian Army Day celebration in Rivers State, describing it as a vote of confidence in the state’s security situation.
“We are really happy that, in the face of everything, you chose Rivers State for this very wonderful celebration. This is significant for us. It speaks to two things: that Rivers State is peaceful and Rivers State is worth securing.”
Mr Fubara pledged continued support for the Nigerian Army, assuring the military of the state’s cooperation in ensuring the success of its operations.
“You’re doing this work and every one of us is enjoying the positive effects. We owe you our support. We are not going to rest on our oars in ensuring that we do whatever we need to do to make you succeed,” he added.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff said he was in Rivers State to participate in activities marking the 163rd Anniversary of the Nigerian Army and thanked the state government for its support.
“I want to specifically thank you for the support you have rendered us, especially the infrastructure, the stadium that you have put at our disposal for hosting the event and other things that you have done at the Divisional Headquarters as part of your own contributions to ensure the success of the celebration,” Mr Shaibu said.
The Army Chief explained that the anniversary would feature a week-long programme of activities, including civil-military engagements aimed at strengthening relationships between the Army and host communities.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has revealed that the phantom Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) does not operate any account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that no public funds or salaries have been paid to the organisation.
The latest clarification was issued by the director of public relations at the OAGF, Mr Bawa Mokwa, amid controversy over the status of the PFIPC as a Nigerian government entity.
Earlier on June 11, the Chief of Staff to the Nigerian President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, said in a disclaimer that the purported activities of the so-called ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC)’ were a fictitious entity and that his office had not appointed anyone to lead it.
The Chief of Staff said the PFIPC/PEAC convener, Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi, is an impostor and is facing criminal prosecution.
The Presidency, in an X statement on July 1, said that Mr Adeyemi used forged documents to fraudulently open a CBN account by deceiving the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“The police found that Adeyemi, using the fake documents he created, fraudulently opened a CBN account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. According to the police, no government money has been transferred into the account,” it said.
Meanwhile, on July 2, Mr Adeyemi countered the Chief of Staff’s disclaimer, alleging that Mr Gbajabiamila received N400 million through a proxy to facilitate his appointment.
The OAGF spokesperson explained that the process of opening a CBN account for the PFIPC was never completed because the required documentation to activate the account was not submitted.
“You cannot open an account at the CBN without authorisation from the Accountant-General. The Accountant-General will authorise them to open an account at the CBN,” Mr Mokwa said.
Mr Mokwa stated that the purported PFIPC Director-General, Mr Adeyemi, approached the OAGF and presented an appointment letter, but alleged that the document concerned an already existing agency rather than the PFIPC.
The OAGF press director explained that the account-opening process commenced based on the document presented. Still, the account never became operational because the names of the officials expected to serve as account signatories were not submitted.
He insisted there was no channel through which the Office of the Accountant-General could release government funds to the agency because it did not have an operational account or a CBN-created one.
“The account, till today, has not seen the light of day. It has not seen one kobo because the account is not completely operational.
“That portrays that he has not collected a dime. The AGF has not released a dime to him because they don’t even have a place where the money can be paid,” Mr Mokwa said.
Mr Mokwa explained that before any federal agency can recruit workers and place them on the government payroll, it must first obtain the necessary approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the Budget Office, and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
He added that after the approvals are granted, the names of employees can be submitted to the Office of the Accountant-General for enrolment on the federal payroll and payment of salaries.
“If they give you a waiver for 200 people, you take the waiver to these agencies and then present the papers to the Accountant-General.
“He cannot capture even one name without those approvals because once they are captured, payment will come from the budget,” Mr Mokwa explained.
Mr Mokwa added that none of those requirements had been completed.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, July 10, to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had initially scheduled the judgment for Monday after the parties adopted their final written addresses in May. However, the court postponed the ruling to July 10 without stating the reason for the adjournment.
The EFCC is asking the court to order the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government, arguing that they are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
Counsel to the commission, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), maintained that Mr Malami and the other respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that the properties were lawfully acquired.
Opposing the application, Mr Malami’s counsel, Mr Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the agency’s case was based on suspicion rather than credible and admissible evidence.
He further submitted that the EFCC relied largely on extrajudicial statements and contended that several of the properties in dispute were acquired before Mr Malami assumed office as Attorney-General, making them unrelated to any alleged criminal proceeds.
Counsel representing other individuals and companies named as respondents in the matter also asked the court to reject the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
The court is expected to determine the application on July 10, when it delivers judgment on whether the disputed properties should be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
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