News
Connect Nigeria, Union Bank Celebrate Top 100 Emerging SMEs
Connect Nigeria in collaboration with Union Bank PLC over the weekend held an Award Ceremony aimed towards celebrating top 100 emerging SMEs in the country.
The event which was held at the Union Bank Head Office in Marina, Lagos, had in attendance nominees, award recipients, representatives from the award partners, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Sawubona, members of the press and a host of others.
Mrs Ogochukwu Ekeide, Head, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Union Bank, in a welcome address said that the award was put together to challenge, encourage and recognize Nigerian SME Businesses.
She noted that the campaign was officially kicked off in February 2018 with a call for nominations of emerging SMES who have distinguished themselves in providing excellent products and services for due recognition, honor and celebration.
She added that Union Bank recognized the 100 emerging businesses as part of the bank’s yearlong celebration of 100 years of operation from a record total of 13,470 nominations in 25 broad categories.
Ekeide commended the recipients for their hard work and dedication expressing Union Bank’s willingness to partner with, support and reward SMEs.
She also encouraged them to keep up the good work and expressed the desire to see them become fortune 500 companies in the future.
Emeka Okafor. MD, Connect Nigeria, in his welcome address extolled all those who participated in the top 100 emerging SMEs event, noting that they were are all winners.
Okafor, who was represented by Uzo Anekwe, Head, Business Development, Connect Nigeria, observed that businesses in Nigeria were beginning to understand the dynamics of doing business in a global economy and putting systems and structures in place, to be able to compete globally.
He added that Connect Nigeria as a brand is committed to investing in the SMEs because they are the future of Nigeria and to this end; he unveiled a series of ongoing benefits that would accrued to the winners.
According to him, “All 100 winners will be published in featured articles via the Connect Nigeria online platform, to boost their visibility, and online presence.
“100 free tables will be given to all the winners of this year’s event, to showcase and exhibit their products and services at Africa’s largest SME event in April 2019.
“All winners will enjoy free 1-year membership on the Club connect Platform with all the benefits that come with it.”
He concluded by congratulating the award recipients for their sterling efforts and assured them of Connect Nigeria’s support as they continue to raise the bar while doing business the right way in Nigeria.
Mr. Paul Aseme, Head, Retail Segment, Union Bank, also gave a short seminar on Union Bank’s special business Advisory services for SMEs. He assured the audience of the Bank’s commitment to their growth and prosperity.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of Award certificates to the winners of the Top 100 Emerging SMEs in attendance by representatives of Union Bank, Connect Nigeria, LCCI, and Sawubona.
The recipients expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the event and described their joy at being honored for their modest contribution to the growth of the economy.
They entertained hopes of surpassing their previous achievements in the coming year with the aid of such initiatives as this put together by Connect Nigeria and Union Bank.
The event ended amidst cheers, music and networking, with closing remarks by Mr. Oriyomi Bernard, Head, SME Banking, Union Bank.
The next edition of the Connect Nigeria Top 100 Emerging SMEs is expected to take place sometime in 2019.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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