Olaniran Olayinka Becomes Acting MD/CEO of Keystone Bank

By Modupe Gbadeyanka A veteran journalist, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has been appointed as the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy. A statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, said Mr Tinubu also appointed Ms Delu Bulus Yakubu as his Senior Special Assistant on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. In the statement, the President wished his new aides “well in the discharge of their duties,” noting that their appointments were “part of efforts to prioritize effective and efficient working synergy between the Presidency and Federal Ministries.

By Adedapo Adesanya The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, has disclosed that so far, about 550,000 applicants have indicated interest in the first phase of the government’s plan to train three million tech talents in Nigeria within two weeks of initiating the scheme. The Minister recently revealed that the training would be done in three phases, starting with the training of 30,000 persons in the next three months as dictated by the 1-10-100 model. “We are using a 1-10-100-model. We are starting with 1 per cent of our 3 million target, and that will be

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Mr Olasupo Olusi has been appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry (BoI). He is to replace the former occupier of the seat, Mr Kayode Pitan, who resigned from the lending institution for small and medium-sized business owners in the country. In a statement issued by his aide on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, the President tasked the new BOI chief executive to ensure that Nigerians, who are operating all sizes of enterprises across sectors, are given fair and equitable access to much-needed support

By Adedapo Adesanya President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 20 Nigerians to serve as Federal Commissioners in the National Population Commission (NPC). According to a statement signed by Mr Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, nine current Federal Commissioners were appointed to a second term in office, while the 11 others are serving their first term. The list includes Mr Emmanuel Trump Eke — Abia, Mr Clifford Zirra — Adamawa — Reappointed, Mr Chidi Christopher Ezeoke — Anambra — Reappointed, Mr Isa Audu Buratai — Borno — Reappointed, Mr Alex Ukam —

By Adedapo Adesanya Oil prices further moved downwards on Tuesday as a surge in the number of Delta variant coronavirus cases in China signalled a dent in demand for the global oil market. Brent crude oil futures went down by 42 cents or 0.58 per cent to $72.47 per barrel, while the United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures depreciated by 66 cents or 0.93 per cent to sell at $70.58 per barrel. In China, the Delta variant has spread to 32 provinces within the last two weeks, indicating a rapid spread in the world’s largest oil importer.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned speculators in the foreign exchange (FX) market not to convert their Naira to Dollar because the policy reforms it was planning would make them lose their investment. The acting Governor of the CBN, Mr Folashodun Shonubi, sounded this bell while speaking with newsmen after his meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Monday. He blamed the free fall of the local currency on activities of speculators in the parallel market, which he said are not “driven by pure economic demand and supply.” Mr Shonubi said efforts are being

By Dipo Olowookere The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has welcomed the unilateral six-month cessation of hostilities jointly declared by, among others, the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement-Gibril (JEM-Gibril), which entered into effect on 31 October 2016. UNAMID also noted and hailed the earlier announcement by President Omar Al Bashir on 10 October of a unilateral cessation of hostilities till the end of this year. Although mindful of existing challenges, UNAMID said it acknowledges the positive opportunity such a cessation of hostilities offers. The body said it is hoped that such gestures

By Investors Hub Asian stocks turned in a mixed performance on Monday even as Chinese factory activity data beat forecasts and the White House said nothing has been decided on curbing some U.S. investments in China. China’s manufacturing sector expanded at the fastest pace since early 2018 in September despite the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, survey data from IHS Markit showed. The Caixin factory Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 51.4 in September from 50.4 in August. However, official data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that the factory sector continued to contract in September, although the

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Rice is no doubt one of the most popular staples in Nigeria and there is almost no home in the country where it is not consumed. At an event recently, the firm said it was committed to producing quality rice for Nigerians to consume. Group Director of Stallion Popular Farms and Mills Limited, Hapreet Singh, stated that the company’s vision has always been to “preserve and enhance rice production in Nigeria by ensuring genetic integrity of seeds, encouraging scientific agricultural practices and promoting world-class processing techniques to emerge as industry benchmark for product quality.” He said further

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Nigeria’s senior unsecured green notes have been assigned a Green Bond Assessment of GB1 (Excellent) by Moody’s Investors Service. A statement issued by the rating agency disclosed that the GB1 grade is supported by a full allocation of proceeds to renewable energy and afforestation projects that qualify under Nigeria’s domestic green bond guidelines and international green bond taxonomies, including the Green Bond Principles and Climate Bond Initiative’s (CBI) Climate Bond Standard. On December 18, 2017, Nigeria will launch the Series 1 green bond of 10.69 billion, with precise coupons and maturities to be determined at the time

By Ahmed Rahma An additional €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) is to be donated by Germany to boost the rollout of vaccines in the world’s poorest countries, increasing an earlier contribution of €600 million. The country’s Finance Minister, Mr Olaf Scholz, revealed in a statement that, “Today, we want to make clear: we stand with the poorest countries. Germany is providing a further €1.5 billion for Covax, WHO, and others.” The donation was announced following a virtual G7 meeting at which leaders pledged to move as one in ensuring coronavirus vaccines reach everyone in the world. Financially secured countries have come

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Some children living in the Tarkwa Bay area of Lagos State were recently given a big treat by a leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), Eat ‘N’ Go Limited. The firm partnered with Slum2School, a foremost non-governmental organisation (NGO), to celebrate the Tarkwa Bay children in commemoration of the 2021 International Literacy Day. “We are delighted to be an active participant of such a formidable partnership, by providing a sound education for underserved children across different communities in the country, which gives them aspiration and hope for a brighter future through the provision of quality education,” the Group