First Bank

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Eguavoen resigns, Amuneke, Yobo, others sacked after Nigeria’s World Cup miss


The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that Austin Eguavoen, Coach of the Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles have stepped down in his role.

A statement by the NFF on Thursday, March 31, reads: “Following the failure of the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the erstwhile Technical Adviser, Augustine Eguavoen has stepped down from that position with immediate effect.”

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Olubadan withdraws promotion letters to 3 Chiefs


The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has withdrawn three promotion letters earlier issued to some Ibadan chiefs describing it as an administrative error.

The letters of promotion were issued to three individuals who were due for promotion in both Balogun and Olubadan lines.

It was gathered that a letter of promotion from Mogaji to Jagun Olubadan was issued to one of the Mogajis, while two letters of promotion from Mogaji to Jagun Balogun were issued to two Mogajis.

How Zenith Bank MD/CEO pocketed N246 million as executive compensation in 2021


The CEO and MD of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu received a sum of N246 million as salary in 2021 from the bank, which is 6.97% higher than the N230 million received in the previous year.

This is according to information gathered by Nairalytics, the research arm of Nairametrics, from the audited financial statement of the bank.

Mr. Onyeagwu, who took over at the helms of affair in Zenith Bank in June 2019, is one of the highest-paid MD/CEOs in the country. According to a related ranking by Nairametrics in 2021, Mr. Onyeagwu was the 9th highest-paid chief executive in 2020, with a take-home of N230 million.

Meanwhile, Zenith Bank, which is the most capitalized financial institution on the local equities market, with a total valuation of N729.9 billion also paid a sum of N1.66 billion to its directors as emoluments.

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Tinubu cancels colloquium over Abuja-Kaduna train attack


Former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has cancelled the colloquium organised in commemoration of his 70th birthday.

The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the event could not continue in the wake of the attack on a train heading to Kaduna state from Abuja.

“I have just been informed of a very sad incident of over 60 people and many more were killed and bombed on a train between Kaduna and Abuja just last night,” he said.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

The SPARK of kindness that is impacting communities through FirstBank staff initiatives

 

Have you seen the videos on this link: https://www.firstbanknigeria.com/home/impact/crs-week/? Piece of advice: Please hold your handkerchief or make sure there is a good supply of tissue paper while you view.

The initiative that inspired the efforts and results seen in the videos is not a strange one but it has a way of surprisingly leaving people teary-eyed. Viewers tear up as they get to see the positive difference it has made in the lives of ordinary people in communities across Nigeria.  

Many people across the country are familiar with SPARK – Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness – an initiative by First Bank of Nigeria Limited, West Africa’s premier banking institution with its impact woven into the fabric of society. SPARK was initiated to spread the message of kindness and inspire people to adopt kindness as a way of life. What many may not know is how much of a kindness revolution the initiative has birthed within FirstBank itself.

 

President Buhari impressed with Dangote’s $2.5bn Fertiliser plant


…surprised at scale of investment; says nation set to witness agric boom

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commissioned the new 3 million Metric Tonnes capacity per annum state-of-the-art Dangote Fertiliser Urea Plant, with an emphatic assurance that the project would give a huge fillip to Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which revitalisation has been a focal point of his administration’s economic policy. 

The new plant, which he commissioned in the presence of some 18 governors, ministers, captains of industries as well as prominent traditional rulers, is located at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos Free Trade Zone within the periphery of the Dangote refinery.

 

Sunday, March 20, 2022

FirstBank Partners with CDC/BII to Support Women and Small Business Owners with a US$100 million Credit Facility

  • Facility to strengthen FirstBank’s commitment to gender financing with US$30 million targeted to women-owned and led businesses
  • Partnership will enhance funding to local SMEs to boost growth and promote financial and social inclusion across Nigeria
  • The facility adds US$100 million to CDC/BII’s contribution to the 2XChallenge 

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced its partnership with CDC Group, the UK Government's development finance institution on a US$100 million finance facility to FirstBank. This new facility will direct funding to women-owned and led businesses as well as to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. 

The deal will support FirstBank to deliver financial solutions that help to address the challenge of limited access to capital faced by underbanked and underserved groups in the country. As part of the new facility, a minimum of US$30 million will be allocated in the form of credit lines to women entrepreneurs. The facility will also support FirstBank’s ‘FirstGem’ gender-focused services offering, which takes steps to promote gender inclusion by improving lending and support to female entrepreneurs.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Ex Gov Obiano’s wife, Ebelechukwu, slaps Bianca Ojukwu at Soludo’s inauguration


Drama ensued on Thursday at the inauguration of Prof Chukwuma Soludo as the governor of Anambra when the wife of outgoing Gov. Willie Obiano, Ebelechukwu, slapped Mrs Bianca Ojukwu at the event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who was at the scene of the event reports that the incident occurred immediately after Soludo took his oath of office.

NAN reports that dignitaries including Ex-Gov Obiano were already seated when Mrs Obiano stepped in and moved to the front row where the widow of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu was seated and slapped her.'

The action drew the attention of security agents and some personalities who pulled Mrs Obiano off the hold of Bianca who was visibly shocked at the action.

Mrs. Obiano was later taken away and shortly afterwards, her husband left the venue since the incident happened after the new governor had been sworn in.

NAN

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Firstbank rewards customers with 50-million-naira worth of prizes in Verve card campaign


FirstBank, Nigeria’s leading financial inclusion services provider has urged its customers to take advantage of the Bank’s ongoing Verve Card campaign designed to reward customers for their continued usage of the Verve debit Card. 

 

The Eight-week promo will end on Wednesday, 30 March 2022 as 2,601 customers will win various prizes. These prizes include: N20,000 Cash Prize, N10,000 Cash Prize, N10,000 worth of airtime; power generating sets, refrigerator, cooking gas and the grand prize of a brand-new car.

 

'A serial betrayer': Wike fires back at Obaseki, apologises to Oshiomole


The rift between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Governor Nyesom Wike has taken a new twist as the Rivers governor fires back at his Edo State counterpart.⁣


Addressing a crowd at an event on Monday in Rivers State, Governor Wike accused Governor Obaseki of betrayal and ingratitude.⁣

He alleged that the Edo governor has refused to be grateful to the party and the people who supported him to be re-elected when he left the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Wike, however, apologised to a former national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, whom he said had initially warned them about accepting Governor Obaseki into the PDP fold.⁣

“If you check the DNA of Obaseki, what you will see in that DNA is betrayal, serial betrayal, and ungratefulness,” he said while addressing a crowd at the commissioning of a secondary school in Omuanwa community, Rivers State.“⁣

Let me stand today to apologise to Adams Oshiomhole who has been vindicated by telling us that we will see the true colour, the insincerity, the ungratefulness of Governor Obaseki.⁣

“We have voted for PDP since 1999 till now; ask Governor Obaseki if he has done anything for PDP (or) voted for PDP. The only election he voted was his own election – where we gave him an umbrella.”⁣

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Tickets, properties worth millions of Naira missing as MC Oluomo, loyalists break into NURTW Lagos HQ


The suspended State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Musiliu Adesanya (MC Olumo) has been accused of stealing the NURTW's property worth Millions of Naira. 

NaijaCelebrities gathered that immediately after MC Olumo's suspension from the  National Executives of the Union in Abuja and his subsequent withdrawal from the Union, Musiliu Akinsanya and his loyalist invaded the Union Secretariat located at Oko-oba, Agege Lagos and carted away the union's tickets estimated to worth over 40 Million Naira.

The invading of the office Secretariat by the former head of the Union and his loyalists is directly against the announcement made by the State Government on the activities of the Union in the State.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Malnutrition: Dangote honours late brother by commissioning therapeutic Food factory in Kano


President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Wednesday, promised to enter into agreement with governments, local governments and local producers of Nutri-K’s Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to guarantee adequate supply directly to primary healthcare centres that treat severe an acute malnutrition(SAM) on sustainable bases.

He stated this at the inauguration of a factory meant to produce the RUTF in Kano on Wednesday. Dangote recalled the idea as one of the visions of his late brother which he also expressed happiness that it has come true and will be sustained.

NURTW suspends MC Oluomo from union activities indefinitely


The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has suspended its Lagos State chapter’s Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as Mc Oluomo, indefinitely over alleged misconduct, insubordination, and inciting members of the state chapter against the apex body.

UK says Chelsea can keep playing after Abramovich sanction, sale halted


Britain's government halted a planned sale of soccer club Chelsea as well as the sale of players, new tickets and merchandise after it imposed sanctions on its owner, Roman Abramovich, but said the team will be able to play matches.

Abramovich said last week he was putting the club up for sale, but Britain's asset freeze and sanctions on him bar that process under the terms of the licence granted to the club.

The government said it had issued a special licence to allow Chelsea to play fixtures and pay staff, but it will limit the sale of tickets, merchandise and even players effective from Thursday.

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Igboho can’t leave Benin Republic despite release – Lawyer


The Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has described the release of Sunday Igboho from detention in the Benin Republic as personal liberty and victory for those who believe in personal liberty and the right of the people to self-determination

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, said this when contacted for his reaction to the development on Monday.

He said, “Afenifere and indeed Yoruba people as a whole are very happy that the Yoruba Nation agitator has been released.

Monday, March 7, 2022

Nigerians blocked from joining Ukrainian army


The Nigerian government on Monday said it will not tolerate the recruitment of its citizens as mercenaries to support Ukraine fighting Russia.⠀


Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry spokesman Francisca Omayuli in a statement said Nigeria is in talks with Ukrainian counterparts to forestall such an occurrence.⠀

“As a responsible member of the international community and consistent with our obligations under international law, Nigeria discourages the use of mercenaries anywhere in the world and will not tolerate the recruitment, in Nigeria, of Nigerians as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine or anywhere in the world,” Omayuli said.⠀

“The Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.”⠀

Nigeria’s opposition to hiring its citizens to fight Russia in Ukraine comes days after media reports suggested that Nigerian volunteers were being drafted for the ongoing war.⠀

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky last week called on foreign nationals who are “friends of peace and democracy” to travel to the country to fight against the Russian invasion.⠀

“Anyone who wants to join the defence of Ukraine, Europe, and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals,” Zelensky said.⠀

Friday, March 4, 2022

How Fidelity Bank workers stole customers’ N874m, witness tells court

 A prosecuting witness told the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, on Wednesday, how some Fidelity Bank staff members allegedly stole N874 million from the bank its customers in within three days.

Peter Ige, an Information System Auditor with Fidelity Bank, testified as the second prosecuting witness presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to testify against the accused staff members.

He told the judge, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, how the four accused persons hacked the bank’s database and cloned more than 22 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to steal N874 million, according to a statement by the EFCC, on Wednesday.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Roman Abramovich puts Chelsea up for sale, £4bn asking price


Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has put the club up for sale amid the looming threat of sanctions from the UK government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.


Abramovich is alleged to have close ties with Moscow and president Vladimir Putin, who ordered troops into neighbouring Ukraine last week.

Although it was previously stated the club was not for sale, it was revealed on Tuesday that Abramovich's stance might have shifted due to the escalating conflict and calls for him to be sanctioned by the government, and The Telegraph reported that the Russian-Israeli has put Chelsea on the market.

It is claimed that potential buyers have been approached by a US-based merchant bank and have been told Abramovich will demand £4bn for his asset, although he may only receive offers of half of that sum as a result of his weak bargaining position.

In the past Abramovich has rejected bids of £2.2bn for the Stamford Bridge side, with a similar proposal certain to cover the club's £1.51bn debt to him.

2021: Dangote Cement’s commitment to climate change yields dividend

  Proposes dividend of ₦20.00 per share


Dangote Cement’s commitment to environmental disclosures and sustainability is yielding the desired results with Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) raising its rating from C to B- even as it proposes a dividend of ₦20.00 per share in the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

The CDP is an international non-profit organization based in the United Kingdom which runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

 

CDP explained that it raised the rating because of the Company’s commitment to climate change. The upgrade clearly illustrates the progress made by Dangote Cement regarding commitment to transparency and mitigating its carbon dioxide footprint. This is one of the highest ratings in Sub-Saharan Africa and the only Nigeria company rated by CDP.

Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos, in his response to the development said: “We are pleased to be recognised for the progress that we are making in our environmental disclosures and sustainability. The CDP rating upgrade clearly illustrates the steps that Dangote Cement is taking in its commitment to transparency on climate and environmental issues.