Odu’a Investment Company Limited at it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held yesterday in Lagos declared N1.961billion as profit before tax.

The General Meeting approved, among other resolutions, the company’s financial statements for the financial year 2023 as well as the payment of a cash dividend of N428 million to its Shareholders.

Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the group Chairman of Odu’a Investment, while announcing the modest 7% growth in operating revenue from N3.68 billion in 2022 to N3.95 billion in 2023 reiterated that despite the economic headwinds of 2023, it was another year of good performance by the company as it posted a Profit Before Tax of N1.96 billion.

Otunba Ashiru expressed satisfaction that with improved collaboration and synergy within the Group and leveraging shared services, cross selling, joint marketing and astute business innovation, Odu’a Investment is translating the timeless vision of the founding fathers of the company into reality by the implementation of the Group’s 5-Year Strategic Plan which aims to sweat, create and revive businesses and assets to deliver continuous growth and value to shareholders and stakeholders.

According to him, notable events in the year under review included the commissioning of the Phase 1 of Westlink Iconic Villa, Alakia, Ibadan comprising 67 residential units of 3-bedroom apartments, 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom duplexes; the launching of the Odua Investment Foundation and its flagship Educational Intervention Project tagged ’’Digital Education for Innovation & Economic Development (DEFINED)’’.

“Odu’a Investment also secured its first ever Credit Rating in 2023 with Agusto & Co awarding it ‘’A’’ Rating with a Stable Outlook attributed to its deft management and ’’ … good operating cashflows supported by its diversified income streams and portfolio of subsidiaries and associates’’.

Mr Adewale Raji, the group Managing Director/CEO, who officially will be retiring on 31st May, 2024 in his report, appreciated all the esteemed shareholders for the opportunity given to him to serve the company for two successive terms lasting 10 years during which the Group with their support enthroned a new corporate governance framework that depoliticized its operations, appointments and management.

Mr. Raji said the Group in this past ten years witnessed repositioning that was driven by her SRC – 2025 Strategy (i.e. Sweat, Revive & Create) to be a lean non-operating investment holding company focused on 8 sectors of Real Estate, Hospitality, Financial Services, Agriculture, Energy/Power, ICT/Digital, Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals and Logistics/e-Commerce.

“It is such focus on “Sweating’’ that necessitated the consolidation of the entire Group real estate portfolio under our Wemabod Limited subsidiary leading to the massive redevelopment either through own resources or joint venture partnerships of our real estate portfolio to optimize yield and return.

“Revive’’ is manifesting in our renovation and redevelopment of Premier Hotel at Ibadan with significant progress made in both the existing building and new developments on the site with phased re-opening starting in H1 of 2025. “Create’’ reflects in the significant step up in our BITA Exploration and Production Ltd marginal field (PPL 249) funding thrust to implement the Field Development Plan with our partner, Pioneer Global Energy Resources.

The company expects that once these funding and regulatory requirements are met; it will be able to achieve ‘’First Oil’’ within Q1 of 2025. All these translated to remarkable success in its financial performance, corporate governance, risk management, and asset optimization across its chosen sectors.

He noted that in real terms, OICL Profit Before Tax for 2023 actually increased by 62% to N1.772 billion from N1.092 billion in 2022 if we strip off Revaluation Gains arising from our Investment Properties portfolio in both years. He also recounted that the financial year 2023 will be the 10th consecutive year that the company will be paying dividends to Shareholders with the cumulative amount paid in this past decade amounting to N3.11 billion.

In his review of the operating environment, Mr. Raji expressed optimism that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s pursuit of a market-driven approach to resolving underlying problems of the economy will attract long-term investments into the country to fund infrastructure and social services that includes roads, rail, power, healthcare, education, etc that will translate into sustainable economic and human capital development.

In closing, Mr. Adewale Raji expressed confidence that under the leadership of Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa, the incoming GMD/CEO of OICL, the company will deliver on the ongoing redevelopment of the hotels in the Group, new pipeline of premium residential and commercial redevelopment projects, securing viable joint venture partnerships for the agriculture portfolio, achieve ‘’First Oil‘’ in the implementation of the field development plan of BITA marginal field, and facilitate the company’s mainstream participation in the turnaround of the power/electricity sector.

Commercial banks in Nigeria closed 2.021 million bank accounts in the first quarter of 2024, Q1’24, to clean their books of questionable accounts and comply with regulatory orders on the linkage of bank accounts to the National Identity Number (NIN).

This is contained in a report by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), which also indicated that the number of inactive bank accounts grew month-on-month, MoM, by four million or 2.0 per cent to 19.7 million in March 2024 from 19.3 million in the previous month, February.

A bank account is classified inactive when it records zero transactions including deposits, withdrawals, transfers or point-of-sale transactions for six months.

However, details of the “Industry Bank Account Database”, a monthly data reported by banks, and compiled by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, also indicated that the number of active bank accounts grew by 6.62 million or 3.0 per cent to 219.64 million from 213.02 million in February.

Recall that in December 2023, the CBN issued a directive to all commercial banks in the country to restrict tier-1 accounts without proper Biometric Verification Number (BVN), and National Identity Number, NIN, that are not linked by Thursday, March 1st, 2024.

According to NIBSS data on BVN enrollment count, 61.6 million Nigerians have BVN as of April 2024.

Credit: Vanguard

Imperial Citizenship, a Dubai-based firm specialising in Citizenship and Residency by Investment (CRBI) solutions, has set its sights on Africa’s burgeoning wealth with the launch of a new office in Lagos, Nigeria.

This strategic move positions Imperial Citizenship to capitalise on the continent’s growing population of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking international investment and mobility options.

Imperial Citizenship boasts a proven track record of success, having secured over 2,000 approvals for clients seeking alternative citizenship and residency pathways. Their partnerships with over 15 governments worldwide provide a diverse portfolio of investment opportunities that adhere to strict international regulations.

With its Lagos launch, Imperial Citizenship begins its foray into Africa. The continent boasts a burgeoning HNWI population, according to PwC, presenting a lucrative market for investment firms like Imperial Citizenship.

According to the World Bank, African economies are projected to grow by 3.4 % in 2024 as the African Development Bank Africa has reported that Africa will account for eleven of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in 2024. Highlighting the market’s potential, Mr. Zaid Al Hindi, Founder and CEO of Imperial Citizenship, says, “our expansion into Lagos allows us to directly cater to this affluent segment, offering them strategic solutions for global asset diversification, optimised investment opportunities, and enhanced global mobility.”

“At Imperial Citizenship, we do not operate through intermediaries, as we differentiate ourselves through direct government partnerships. This ensures transparency, legality, and efficiency throughout the application process, providing peace of mind for investment-minded clients” Zaid stated during the launch event in Lagos.

Speaking on the company’s approach to CRBI, Zaid mentioned, “At Imperial Citizenship, we prioritise a client-centric approach. We go beyond simply offering programs; we provide dedicated advisors who understand the unique needs and aspirations of each client. This personalised service ensures clients receive tailored investment options that align with their financial goals and risk tolerance”.

The launch of the Lagos office underscores Imperial Citizenship’s commitment to global expansion. With physical offices in Dubai and now Nigeria as well as operational representatives in Mexico, Algeria, and Turkey, Imperial Citizenship demonstrates its ability to cater to a geographically diverse clientele.

Looking ahead, Zaid highlighted that Imperial Citizenship plans to broaden its service offerings and expand its reach into new markets. By strategically targeting Africa’s rising wealth, Imperial Citizenship is well-positioned to solidify its role as a leading player in the CRBI industry, offering investors a gateway to global opportunities.