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TEF entrepreneurship: 5,000 recipients will each receive $5,000

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TEF entrepreneurship: 5,000 recipients will each receive $5,000

On November 12, 2021, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy for young African entrepreneurs, will announce the beneficiaries of the 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme at an official Selection Announcement event in Lagos, which will be streamed live online. The groundbreaking hybrid event will introduce 4,800 African entrepreneurs selected from all 54 African countries to the Foundation’s annual program’s 2021 cohort.

 

The Tony Elumelu Foundation opens its application portal to African entrepreneurs with businesses that are less than five years old every year on January 1st. This year’s recipients were chosen from a pool of over 400,000 applications, with their innovative and impactful business ideas being the deciding factor. The selected beneficiaries will include both new start-ups and existing young businesses in various stages of operation across various sectors, in line with the Foundation’s mission to catalyze entrepreneurship in Africa.

Read also: In the midst of an inconclusive election, supporters flock to Soludo’s home

Each beneficiary has received world-class business management training and mentorship conducted exclusively on TEFConnect, the Foundation’s proprietary digital platform that provides capacity-building support, advisory, and market linkages to over 1 million Africans and counting, as part of TEF’s objectives to ensure that African entrepreneurs are well equipped to build investable and profitable businesses. Starting Your Business, Business Management & Fundamentals, Leadership & Business Growth, Marketing Strategy, Product Design, and Selecting & Building a Team were among the topics covered by the platform’s unique training curriculum.

Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, said ahead of the Selection Announcement event, “This year, with support from our global partners, we will be scaling our impact and empowering nearly 5000 entrepreneurs.” The economic recovery of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities remains a top priority for us at the Foundation in 2021. We are very excited to announce the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship program’s 2021 cohort. I believe the $5,000 we’re giving each entrepreneur will help meet some pressing needs and alleviate some of the pandemic’s burden.”

In the midst of an inconclusive election, supporters flock to Soludo’s home

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In the midst of an inconclusive election, supporters flock to Soludo’s home

On Sunday night, supporters and well-wishers gathered at the home of Charles Soludo, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, in Isuofia, Aguata local government area, to await the election results.

The results of 19 of Anambra’s 21 local government areas were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Hundreds of political associates, youths, and women flocked to Mr Soludo’s home in Isuofia to await the announcement of the results.

Read also: Despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home program, Anambra’s highways are deserted

Some residents predicted that the APGA candidate would come out on top at the end of the election.

Chioma Ocha expressed her delight at the prospect of a governor from her community.

Ms Ocha stated, “We are here to show solidarity with our brother and son while we wait for INEC to announce the final result.” “However, I’m especially pleased that my hometown of Isuofia will produce the next governor of Anambra. That is a huge accomplishment.”

Chinedu Ogubuiro also spoke, explaining that he came to celebrate with Mr Soludo ahead of INEC’s announcement.

“I’m a relative of Soludo’s, and I want to be there to celebrate with him when INEC announces the election results,” he said.

 

Mr Soludo, who sang along with the crowd, urged them to be patient.

Re- CBN Spends N58.6 billion to print notes

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Re- CBN Spends N58.6 billion to print notes

By Philip Agbese

The above news headline, “CBN spends N58.6bn to print 2.5bn Naira notes”, which got my attention requires analysis and a rejoinder to set the record straight. As a public affairs commentator, one is bound at all times to educate the public. So, it is not to hold brief for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or its Governor but to fulfill a sacred obligation which is to always set the record straight thereby saving the country from the grief some people are hell-bent on visiting the nation and the rest of us collectively.

One would be forgiven for frothing at the mouth and raining curses upon seeing the headline that suggested that the CBN spent N58.6 billion for printing currency notes. Such response is natural at a time when the average person is beginning to sign up to the clamor for streamlining the cost of running the Nigerian state. But one would discover the response is misplaced upon reading through the accompanying story and realizing that the N58.6 billion, relative to the N1.063 trillion or the 2.518 pieces of currency notes, is actually a downward trend in the amount the CBN spend for printing the naira.

Research would have shown that Nigeria is not in any way different from other countries when it comes to the cost of printing currency. The CBN, like its contemporaries, has to factor in the size of the notes, the number of denominations, embedded security features that are included in the notes, the existing currency stock, and the type of currency being ordered – paper or polymer.

There is equally the population ration to consider in addition to the attitude towards the handling of naira notes, which people routinely subject to abuse with the attendant consequent that more have to be printed.

The headline(s) looked away from these variables and played up the cost of printing in a manner that gave a negative spin to an otherwise sterling achievement. One is thus constrained to ponder what other angles this/these headline(s) could have exploited. Let us not forget that the apex bank did not attempt to conceal this cost that it transparently published on its website as its 2020 Currency Report.

There is nothing wrong with highlighting the decrease in the bank’s expenditure on currency printing, which at N58.6 billion in year 2020 is a reduction from N75. 523 billion, in 2019 and N64. 040 billion, in 2018. Nothing would have been lost by playing up the local handling of the printing or using the reported cost as a basis for urging Nigerians to increase their adoption of cashless banking in order to slash the amount the country expends on providing physical naira notes.

While at it, we should find a place to put in some commendation for the CBN Governor and the bank for staying true to the Federal Government’s commitment to building local capacity and strengthening the economy based on the report that the notes were printed in-country by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM Plc). This in itself is a confirmation that things were done in a manner that saved the country some money.

Not to be left out is the realization that the cashless policy has in its own way reduced the volume of physical cash once required to cater to the need of the population. Things may not be picture perfect yet but the movement despite the antithetic outcome that “report indicated, however, that Currency-in-Circulation (CIC) increased by 19.06 per cent from N2.441 trillion at end December, 2019 to N2 .907 trillion at end-December 2020.”

The lesson here is for us as Nigerians to orientate ourselves to the tyranny of the news headline, which can get us to react negatively without realizing that rather than being calamitous what we have just read is a piece of good news. When we also report monetary issues like the printing of currency, we must bear in mind that sending the wrong signal to the world can hurt the economy in matter of hours. There are folks with sadistic bent of mind who will rush to brandish these headlines as their smoking guns on why global anti-corruption bodies should unleash more woes on the country through damaging ratings while their currency speculating associates will find in such the leverage to further underprice the naira.

Other than pouring accolades on the cost saving decision on the printing of the currency, a desirous response from anyone that finds the cost shocking is to encourage Nigerians to improve on their handling of the naira. We throw our notes around at parties, step on them, write on them, expose them to moisture and do the unthinkable to the naira, which makes our currency wear out quicker than it happens to other currencies – one needs to see the utmost care the same abusers of the naira take of the money from other countries.

If we treat our notes right then the amount the CBN will spend printing subsequent batches will decrease even further. If we embrace the cashless policy, as we should, then the volume of physical currency to be printed will reduce even more and free vital resources for use where they are sorely needed.

Agbese is a UK trained human rights activist and public affairs commentator based in London.

Anambra: NYCN Commends Corp Members for role in strengthening democracy in Nigeria

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Anambra: NYCN Commends Corp Members for role in strengthening democracy in Nigeria

 

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has commended Corp members that served as adhoc electoral officials in the Anambra Gubernatorial election that held on Saturday 6th of November 2021 for the applaudable role they have played in strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

In a statement issued by the Vice President of the organization, Amb. Comrade Akoshile Mukhtar.  He noted that the commitment and dedication of the Corp members to the election is an indication that the Nigerian Youth are not just ready to partner with the government to ensure the sustainability of Nigerian Democracy but also are willing to make sacrifices to drive positive changes.

According to him, on the spot information has it that the election was conducted in a free and fair manner, while Corp members deployed for the election showed the highest level of professionalism and moral uprightness. No Corp member was fingered for any malpractice or unethical behavior.

On behalf of the NYCN, he appreciates the Corp members and refer to them as a true ambassador of the Nigerian Youth. Furthermore, he applauded the men and women of the Nigeria Police Force for protecting Nigerians especially the Corp members during the electioneering process.

Mukhtar assures the Corp members, the security operatives and the Nigeria government of the Council’s support and collaboration to ensure the achievement of socio-economic and political development for Nigeria.

Anambra Guber: DG hails corps members on election duties

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Anambra Guber: DG hails corps members on election duties

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has commended the patriotism of Corps Members engaged in the conduct of the Governorship Election in Anambra State.

The Director-General made the commendation today while monitoring the election in nine Local Government Areas of the State.

He said the Corps Members had written their names in the anals of history, having contributed towards the entrenchment of credible electoral process.

Ibrahim enjoined them to remain impartial and perform their duties in line with the established rules.

In all the polling units visited, there were security agents on ground, and the Corps Members informed the Director-General that the conduct of the exercise was peaceful.

At Unit 003 Ward 007 in Awka South Local Government, an election observer, Nwadishi Faith Ossai, from the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, was full of praises for the Director-General for taking time to go round and see how Corps Members were faring during the exercise.

She also remarked that the Corps Members’ performance was commendable.

Despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home program, Anambra’s highways are deserted

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Despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home program, Anambra’s highways are deserted

Despite the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issuing a statement on Thursday canceling the one-week sit-at-home order that was set to begin on Friday, November 5, Anambra state streets were deserted today.

Motor vehicles were off the roads, motor parks were closed, and banks and other financial institutions were also closed, just as they were on typical Sit-At-Home days.

Few transport buses dared to travel the roads because there were no passengers.

On Thursday, November 6, IPOB issued a statement signed by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, canceling the Sit-At-Home that the group had previously announced would take place from Friday, November 5 to Tuesday, November 10.

“Following the genuine intervention of our elders, esteemed traditional Institutions/Rulers and Religious Leaders, and after due consideration of the positive impacts of their engagement, and sequel to the fact that Our elders have spoken in our terms,” IPOB said.

“We’ve also taken into account several appeals from our mothers who rely on their daily economic activities for a living, which will undoubtedly be harmed if Biafra land is shut down for a week.” We never want to add to our people’s suffering, which is why we’ve decided to call a halt to the sit-ins.”

Furthermore, a pro-Biafran group claimed to have met in Awka on Thursday, November 4, and agreed to lift the IPOB-ordered sit-at-home.

The group issued an eight-point communique suspending the sit-at-home order following a joint meeting said to have taken place in Awka.

Dr. Law Mefor, for the Customary Government of Biafra, Nwaada Eberechukwu Anigbogu, for the De Facto Biafran Government, and Bar P. N. Okoro, for Bilie Human Rights, were among the signatories to the communique.

Other speakers included Comrade Zulu Ofoelue of the Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria (MOBIN), Chukwuebuka Ikenwa of the Biafran United Liberation Council (BULCO), Comrade Osita Chukwuagbanarinam of the Salvation People of Biafra, Comrade Clinton Umeh of the De Mobilizers Initiative (DMI), and Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck O

The group decided, among other things, that “the Anambra State governorship election, scheduled for November 6, MUST HOLD UNDERMINED in the overall interest of Ndigbo and the long-term benefits of the Biafran struggle”;

“The Joint Meeting also noted that, based on all empirical evidence, continued Sit-At-Home, whether ordered by IPOB or not, must end because it is only exacerbating the suffering of long-suffering Biafrans, in line with the position of revered Igbo elders, particularly the Council of South East Traditional Rulers and Council of Igbo Archbishops/Bishops,” and “the Joint Meeting also resolved to constructively engage the IPOB

“All Pro-Biafran groups and Biafrans in general are urged to avoid violence in the upcoming Anambra election and vote for the candidates of their choice,” the group said, “while denouncing the nefarious activities of the Unknown Gunmen as anti-igbo and a precursor to armed struggle.”

On Friday, however, the streets of Awka were deserted, with few people visible, resembling the normal state of ghost Mondays.

Meanwhile, the state is tense ahead of Saturday’s election, with a large security presence in the area.

The Anambra State Government has also expressed concern about the removal of Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

“There is palpable fear in Anambra State over tomorrow’s gubernatorial election following the unannounced election,” the government said in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba.

Ortom has turned Benue into Afghanistan – House of Reps aspirant, Agbese

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Ortom has turned Benue into Afghanistan – House of Reps aspirant, Agbese

Benue State under Governor Samuel Ortom is now at par with war-torn Afghanistan in terms of poverty, hunger and hardship, House of Representative aspirant, Philip Agbese, has said.

Agbese, an aspirant for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency said the governor’s sheer disregard for human lives, gross incompetence and negligence of duty has led to the death of many Benue natives.

Speaking with journalists on Friday, Abuse, a UK-trained legal practitioner and philanthropist lamented the governor’s refusal to pay pensioners and government workers for over three years.

He said the hardship and suffering in Benue are even worse than in Afghanistan, where the Taliban are now controlling the country’s affairs.

While an average Afgan can still afford at least a meal per day, Agbese said hunger dwell with the majority of Benue sons and daughters, especially the senior citizens neglected by the current administration.

“I hear pensioners are being owed for 36 months. That’s three years without pay. I also learnt primary school teachers haven’t received a dime in the same period. Please is this not equivalent to Afghanistan”, the philanthropist queried.

According to Agbese, Benue is at an all-time low with the level of hunger despite all the efforts by the Buhari-led administration to cushion the economic effect of the pandemic and other social interventions.

Consequently, he added that people are relocating drones to neighbouring States like Kogi and Nasarawa as they believe that the governments there have the interests of the populace at heart.

Mr Agbese further revealed that more people have been killed by hunger which he described as “state-sponsored sponsored terrorism” than insecurity owing to Ortom’s blatant refusal to pay salaries and move the state forward.

“I can assure you that if the Federal government provides a bus today, many Benue residents will be ready to move to neighbouring states where they will at least be spared from hunger,” he noted.

Agbese recalled that recently the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared N739.965 billion as federation allocation to the three tiers of government.

He noted that states received N220.272 billion of which Benue got its share as wondered what Ortom did with such allocation in the last years.

According to the All Progressives Congress chieftain, the governor’s only project is Buhari and the numerous allocations that the state has received since 2015.

He, however, called on Benue People to dare the hunger in the land to challenge Ortom to account for all monies accruing to the state since he became governor.

Terrorists attack Magumeri in Borno, destroying the hospital and leaving only the GSM tower standing

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Terrorists attack Magumeri in Borno, destroying the hospital and leaving only the GSM tower standing

Terrorists stormed the Magumeri Local Government Area headquarters in Borno State, destroying the council’s only operational telecommunications mast.

The Borno State Government recently equipped a fully equipped general hospital, which was also burned to ashes.
Terrorists also seized a tractor provided by the state government to the council in order to alleviate farmer hardship.

The insurgents stormed Magumeri Town around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday and began firing sporadically around 04:57 p.m., lasting nearly two hours.

Read Also:  Group commends NYSC for promoting national integration in the southwest

Despite military attempts to dislodge them, they carried out the devilish acts.

According to the Magumeri Social Media Forum – MSF, an innocent lactating mother died as a result of sporadic gunshots between insurgents and the military, while another was injured.
Meanwhile, police in Borno denied media reports that the terrorists kidnapped two police officers during the attack on Friday.

Mr. Abdu Umar, the state’s commissioner of police, stated that the attack had no effect on the police.

“The story going around that the Magumeri Police Divisional Office was attacked, looted, and burned while two policemen were abducted is false.

“The police station was not attacked, no officers were abducted, and no detainees were released, as falsely claimed.”

Read Also:  Anambra Election: INEC Starts Distribution Of Sensitive Materials

“Instead of drugs, the terrorists stole bedspreads, towels, and outpatient chairs from an unused small clinic.” They also set fire to the grasses around the building,” he said.
Umar went on to say that the terrorists, who were thought to be from a faction of the Islamic West Africa Province, also set fire to a GSM tower and stole a generator.

Anambra Election: INEC Starts Distribution Of Sensitive Materials

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Anambra Election: INEC Starts Distribution Of Sensitive Materials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began distributing sensitive materials across Anambra State’s 21 local government areas on Thursday, ahead of the state’s governorship election on Saturday.

The materials deposited at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Awka included the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), ballot booklets, result sheets, and other documentary materials for use at various polling units throughout the election.

Festus Okoye, the INEC national commissioner in charge of Anambra election supervision, told reporters that seven resident electoral commissioners had already arrived in the state to take charge of three local government areas each on election day.

Read Also:  Anambra gubernatorial election on November 6, no going back, says INEC

He stated that adequate security arrangements had been made to secure the materials at INEC offices throughout the state’s local government areas.

He went on to say that the vehicles transporting the materials were electronically tracked to ensure they took the correct routes to their destinations.

“The materials were brought out for intact assessment by political party agents before being handed over to each of the 21 electoral officers for the State to be escorted by security agents,” he explained.

INEC’s Director of Electoral Operations, Mr Abdulrazak Yusuf, stated that the materials were specifically designed for their designated polling units.

Read Also:  IPAC urges INEC to maintain neutrality, warns youths against thuggery

He also mentioned that the Commission provided for replacements of both result sheets and ballot papers in the event of damage or an emergency.

Separately, Tony Ifeanyi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Alex Obiogbolu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Mr Chukwuma Agufugo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed satisfaction with the process.

Fraudsters hack into Delta’s website and set the job application fee at N8,500

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Fraudsters hack into Delta’s website and set the job application fee at N8,500

The Delta State Government has denied the publication of an online advertisement for recruitment into the state civil service, claiming that it is fraudulent.

On Wednesday, suspected hackers posted a recruitment application form on the Delta State Civil Service Commission’s website, instructing applicants to obtain entry forms from the state civil service’s Department of Recruitment and Promotion.

The submission of the form was contingent on the payment of a non-refundable fee of N8,500 in the form of a bank draft drawn on the civil service commission’s Unity Bank account no. 0010840393.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Delta State Civil Service Commission’s Director of Information, Mrs Theresa Oliko, the Delta State Civil Service Commission has not received approval from the state governor to conduct any recruitment, has not placed any advertisements for such, and has not authorized anyone to do so.

Read Also:  In one year, the value of currency in circulation increased to N2.9 trillion

“The commission does not advertise recruitment or any of its activities online,” the statement said, adding that “no one should make any payment whatsoever into the bank account mentioned in the said fake online advertisement.”

The director referred to the advertisement as a hoax and advised the public to disregard it.

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