Uncategorized
Expert Canvasses Further Down-sizing of Insurance Firms
As the financial sector continues to reap the gains of consolidation initiated by the Charles Soludo- led Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) insurance stakeholders are agitating for further down-sizing of registered insurance companies, with a view to strengthening them like the banks. While acknowledging the fact that the present level is a big achievement, considering the weedy level prior to consolidation, Barrister Olugbenga Tobe, insurance and pension consultant has called on the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the ministry of finance to commence another round of consolidation, which would further reduce the number of operators to fifteen mega insurance companies nationwide. He stated that such exercise would not only financially empower the operators, but would engender public confidence which has eluded the industry over the years. He applauded the fact that the insurance consolidation boosted the industry image, having reduced the number of registered insurance firms from the over 100 pre- recapitalization level to the present 50. He however added that it was the needed move to further consolidate insurance business in Nigeria and boost the confidence of the insuring public, especially if the growing confidence in the sector is to be sustained.
While reflecting on the challenges facing the industry over the years, he explained that poor public image, sharp practices such as rates-cutting and perceived negative public views that insurance companies often repudiate from paying claims to the insured are some of the issues which have impacted negatively on the industry. The consultant stressed “going by the last mandatory recapitalization, insurance companies that are rendering life insurance had an N2bn minimum requirement, while non-life was pegged at N3bn and N10bn for the reinsurance companies.”
This, he said was a “significant lift from the hitherto low level where the highest capitalized insurance company in Nigeria could not even fit into the categories of the poorest in the world.”
He said even now, the highest capitalized insurance companies in Nigeria even though it has risen sharply through private placement, are still within the bracket of the weak ones in the world, going by the industry international standard. The insurance consultant explained that the best way to address the contending issues in the industry is to merge operators of like minds, while combining to raise their capital base, adding that the present number of registered operators which stand at 50 should be further reduced to a maximum of twenty.
He explained that the present large number is still not good enough for the industry; stating that with fewer companies, rate-cutting will be eliminated, while corporate governance will be deeply entrenched for the over-all growth of the industry. While emphasizing that he was not advocating for a deregistration of the present operators, he opined that mergers and acquisition will lead to mega insurance companies that can compete anywhere in the world. He emphasized that this would give the industry a competing edge with banks instead of the present trend where banks are dictating the pace in the financial market.
Tobe called on operators to close rank and adhere strictly to the rules of insurance business. For instance, he said, “If all members of the Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA) take sustainable steps to address the key issues confronting the industry, a decisive step to shun rate- cutting, it could be eliminated once and for all.
He said merger and acquisition has helped the developed economies to come out of their woods, stressing that Nigeria cannot be different. He said going by our current standard, there is no way any Nigeria insurance company can meet the rating of global rating agencies like Standards and Poor and Fitch Rating Agencies.
“For Nigeria insurance companies to get to the level of international companies, it would need to merge and recapitalize continually.” he said.
Uncategorized
Uche Ikejimba Secures Sixth Consecutive AMVCA Nomination With Best Unscripted M-Net Original Nod
Uche Ikejimba, Award-winning producer, has secured her sixth consecutive Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award nod. The organizers made the nomination announcements on Sunday, March 24, 2024, across all Africa Magic channels. It saw Ikejimba clinch a nom in the ‘Best Unscripted M-Net Original’ category for What Will People Say.
In 2022, Ikejimba received two nominations for ‘Best Africa Magic Original Drama Series’ for Unmarried and Dilemma. She secured two other nominations in 2023 in ‘Best Unscripted Original’ for Come Play Naija and ‘Best Original Drama Series’ category for Unmarried.
Speaking about her latest nomination, Ikejimba said, “I’m very humbled and beyond grateful to be receiving my sixth consecutive AMVCA nomination. Anyone who knows me will acknowledge that I often put my blood, sweat and tears into the shows I produce. After Truth won its nomination in 2020, I’ve been holding on patiently for a second win and I hope this is the year. So, here’s my hearty congratulations to my fellow nominees and a huge thank you to the AMVCAs organisers for honoring me.”
Ikejimba is one of Africa’s most-sought after serial producers, and has earned herself the title, ‘Reality TV Series Savant’, with work on 100% Naija, Vodafone Icons, Naija Sings, Calabar Festival Diaries, Big Brother Reunion, Shoot Your Shot, What Will People Say, Come Play Naija, and the more recently airing Husband Material and Overall Best.
She came into the world of Television production as an associate producer on Moments with Mo, the first and only syndicated daily talk show in Africa at the time. However, she has also proven that her talents go beyond producing reality shows or unscripted serials, and she can run with the best in producing original drama series.
In 2016, she landed her first commissioned project with Africa Magic titled Hustle. The series about a young man’s first time in Lagos became an instant hit and ran for three seasons, with 360 episodes. She created, wrote and produced Blink’s original 26-episode drama series titled Truth. The show won an AMVCA for ‘Best TV Series’ in 2020. That same year, she produced and wrote the hit series, Unmarried. The show ran for four seasons and ended on a high.
Off the success of these drama series, she produced Africa Magic’s Dilemma, a 260-episode telenovela. She produced Shallow and the recent Africa Magic fanfavourite original, Manfriend. The show follows the women of the King family and their dysfunctional relationship with the men in their lives. She also produced Showmax’s first original law limited series, AGU in 2023. Her first feature length film, Phantom is a co-production and is also nominated for several awards such as the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF).
Uche Ikejimba has beaten many odds to become a producer and remained steadfast in her commitment to producing the best shows Africa has ever seen. As the continent prepares for the milestone 10th AMVCA, the Reality TV Series Savant and producer extraordinaire is content to celebrate her sixth consecutive nomination. Find out if she clinches her second AMVCA win when the awards air live across all Africa Magic channels on May 11, 2024.
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
Uncategorized
Dubai-Based Citizenship Firm Imperial Citizenship Expands to Lagos, Targets Africa’s Growing Wealth
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.
Rewane, Financial Expert Backs Telcos’ Move to Hike Tariff
Digital Transformation Can Unlock Nigeria’s Prosperity -NIGCOMSAT Boss
ISDL Achieves IMS Certification
Africa Data Centres Unveils ADC Channel Programme
Court Jails Nwachukwu, Ex FCMB Manager 121 Years for N112m Fraud
CBN Sacks another 50 Staff, 117 Disengaged in 20 Days
AfDB, AGF Partner on Female Entrepreneurs’ Access to Finance
IMF says Rising Cyber Threats Pose Serious Concerns for Financial Stability
Financial Firms Lost $2.5Bn To Cyberattacks in 4 Years – IMF
Sun International Finalizes $14.4M Exit from Nigeria, Sells Interests to RFC
News3 days agoNAEC to Deploy Nuclear Science for Power Generation
Telecom3 days agoMastercard Women SME Leaders Awards to celebrate success of women business leaders in EEMEA region
Telecom3 days agoAirtel Hosts Interactive Knowledge Session for Secondary School Girls
News3 days agoNIPOST Clampdown on Illegal Courier, Logistics Service Operators in Kano
News3 days agoHistory as Nigeria Acquire First Cosmic Rays Detector in Africa
News3 days agoINTERPOL Appoints Uche, Nigerian CP as Chairman, African Heads of Cybercrime Units
Telecom3 days agoInfobip, Nokia Partner to Enable Developers to Build Wider Array of Telco Network Powered Applications Faster
E-Business3 days agoExperts Report More than Two Critical Cyber Incidents per day in 2023