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Obasanjo, Vanguard’s Amuka Lead Prayers for Zinox Chief Leo Stan Ekeh @70

African statesman and former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday night, joined several distinguished Nigerians including Mr Sam Amuka, media icon and Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, to pray for Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group, on his 70th birthday.

R-L President Olusegun Obasanjo, his wife Chief Mrs Bola Obasanjo and Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh at the event
Obasanjo who graced the thanksgiving meeting with his wife among other dignitaries prayed for more years on earth for Ekeh, whom he described as an “achiever and a very kind man who deserves to be celebrated.” The meeting which held in Ekeh’s residence was organised by his wife and children with opening prayer said by Reverend Father Francis Ike, of the Church of Assumption Falomo, Ikoyi.
Obasanjo who was President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 described Ekeh as “one of the people who made it possible for people to say the good things they say about me and about my period in government.”
President Obasanjo who never hid his admiration and love for Ekeh showered praises on the tech billionaire for taking advantage of the opportunities he created during his eight years as President.
He said: “Leo Stan Ekeh is a very kind man, an achiever. People have been celebrating you but I particularly have to celebrate you because of what you mean to me. Wherever I go in Nigeria and outside Nigeria, people say to me, you did this and that especially in enhancing both local and foreign investments. An African President, five months ago, even invited me to his country to show him how I was able to create many billionaires in Nigeria during my tenure.
“I celebrate Leo Stan because it is one thing to create an opportunity, it is another thing to find people who will even see that as opportunity and take advantage of it and achieve success with those opportunities. Leo Stan is one of the people who made it possible for people to say the good things they say about me and about my period in government.
“That’s why I have to join your family and every other person in identifying those qualities in you that made you a great achiever that you have been. The lesson for all of us is that in spite of the hardship, there are still opportunities. The challenge is how to identify those opportunities and take advantage of them and individually and collectively turn our poverty into prosperity just as Leo Stan has done.”
Obasanjo while thanking God for the gift of long life told Ekeh: “Today, you are celebrating 70 and I am here with you at your invitation. You will celebrate 80, whether you invite me or not, I will be there. You will celebrate 90, you will celebrate 100 and I don’t pray to be there,” he said wittily, eliciting laughter from guests.
Aside Obasanjo and Amuka, others who joined in honouring Ekeh were former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his wife, former INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu and his wife, Chairman of MTN, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and his wife; Mr. Atedo Peterside, Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank and his wife; Chairman of Fidelity Bank, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu; Managing Director Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Mr. Udoma Udo-Udoma, Chairman Seplat Energy and his wife; secondary school mates of Ekeh including Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) who came with his wife; Leo Stan’s elder brother HRM Eze George Ekeh (aka Saint George), the traditional ruler Ishi Ubomiri Autonomous Community in Imo state who performed the traditional rites to usher Leo Stan into the traditional club of Elders of Ubomiri; representatives of multinationals with whom he has partnered all through the years; among other distinguished Nigerians and foreigners.
Ekeh in his response thanked Obasanjo for adopting him as his son and trusting him. He attributed his success to the prayers and blessings of Obasanjo, describing him as the President who made most of the billionaires in Nigeria.
The Zinox boss who recalled his little beginning as a mass servant and chorister, said he chose his path early in life, refusing to drink alcohol and smoke cigarette, and keeping to it till this day.
“I am a promoter of trust economy and I believe that trust must define everything you do if you want to succeed,” he said.
He recalled how he woke his parents one night to tell them he was going to start a tech business which sounded strange to them because technology was non-existent in his state at that time.
He acknowledged the role of his wife in his life. “My wife is my strength. I was very clear I was going to marry an intelligent woman. My wife ticked all the boxes for me,” he told the audience.
“I started my business with my school fees and I have been able to build myself and my companies as collateral. People trust me and trust my companies because I was intentional about building trust and integrity in all we do,” he said.
News
Guinness Rolls Out Nationwide Consumer Rewards Promotion

Guinness Nigeria has launched a nationwide National Consumer Promotion (NCP) tagged ‘Open For More’. This is a consumer rewards initiative that will see more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes won by consumers across the country.

The promotion, which runs nationwide, offers consumers the opportunity to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash rewards for 1,000 winners, and a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. The campaign is designed to reward loyal consumers while creating more opportunities for everyday Nigerians to celebrate life’s meaningful moments.
To participate, consumers are required to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, check for the unique code beneath the crown cork, and enter the code at www.guinnessng.com/1759 for a chance to win.
Speaking on the launch, Ramanathan Solayappan, Marketing and Innovations Director, Guinness Nigeria, said the promotion reflects the brand’s longstanding relationship with consumers and its commitment to creating memorable experiences beyond the product itself.
“Nigerians have made Guinness part of their celebrations, milestones, and everyday moments for over seven decades. The ‘Open For More’ promotion is our way of rewarding that loyalty by giving consumers genuine opportunities to win prizes that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.”
Solayappan added that the promotion was deliberately designed to make participation simple and accessible to consumers across the country.
“We believe, at Guinness, that there is always room for more possibilities, more progress, and more reasons to celebrate. Through this campaign, we are inviting consumers and beloved Nigerians over the age of 18 years to take part in an experience that goes beyond enjoying a Guinness. Every eligible purchase could open the door to something more.”
Beyond rewarding consumers, the promotion comes at a time when many Nigerians are placing greater value on opportunities that offer tangible returns. By putting more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes directly into the hands of consumers, Guinness Nigeria is creating a campaign that celebrates loyalty and delivers meaningful rewards that can support personal aspirations, family needs, and everyday goals.
As part of the campaign, winners will emerge weekly throughout the promotion period, with regular winner announcements and prize presentations aimed at ensuring transparency and public confidence in the process.
The Open For More National Consumer Promotion strengthens Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumers while creating excitement around the brand through meaningful and impactful experiences. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and further information on participation mechanics.
News
Nigeria Lost N34 Trillion to Import Waivers in 2025, Customs Tells Senate

Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has disclosed that the value of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) approvals granted by the Federal Government rose to about N34 trillion in 2025.

Adeniyi made the disclosure on Monday during an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja.
He said the import duty exemptions had significantly affected the service’s revenue generation, although many of the waivers were introduced to support critical national priorities.
According to him, about 60 per cent of the approved waivers were granted for the importation of military hardware in response to the country’s security challenges.
He said other beneficiaries included importers of compressed natural gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare equipment and medical supplies, industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs and food intervention programmes.
“IDEC approvals reached about N34 trillion in 2025, about 60 per cent of which was rightly granted for military hardware procurements due to Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges,” Adeniyi said.
The Comptroller-General noted that the introduction of the IDEC scheme in March 2020 had remained one of the major fiscal policies affecting Customs revenue.
He said the service would have generated significantly higher revenue over the years if not for government fiscal measures and other external factors that reduced its revenue base.
Adeniyi, however, maintained that fiscal policy should not be evaluated solely on the basis of revenue generation.
He said government interventions through duty waivers were intended to stimulate economic growth, improve healthcare delivery, encourage industrial production and address national security concerns.
He urged the Federal Government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure that beneficiaries of import duty waivers achieved the intended objectives, including reducing prices, increasing production and improving access to essential goods and services.
The Customs boss also disclosed that the service generated N7.28 trillion in revenue in 2025.
He added that out of the N11.04 trillion revenue target for 2026, the service had realised N4.5 trillion as of June 30.
Adeniyi expressed optimism that the service would continue implementing measures aimed at improving revenue collection while supporting government fiscal policies.
News
DataPro Upgrades Dangote Cement’s Credit Rating to AA+

DataPro Rating Agency has upgraded the long-term credit rating of Dangote Cement Plc to AA+ from AA, citing the company’s strong financial performance, market leadership and ability to meet its financial obligations despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.

In its latest rating report, the technology-driven credit rating agency also affirmed Dangote Cement’s short-term rating at A1, with a Stable Outlook. The ratings are valid until June 16, 2027.
DataPro said the upgrade reflects the cement maker’s sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and dominant position in Nigeria and across Africa.
According to the agency, the assessment followed a comprehensive review of the company’s capital base, earnings, liquidity, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and the sustainability of its financial performance over the medium to long term.
It noted that Dangote Cement’s strong brand, leading market share, solid earnings, robust asset base and experienced management continue to strengthen its ability to meet financial commitments on time.
The agency also highlighted the company’s outstanding financial performance in 2025.
According to the report, Dangote Cement posted N4.31 trillion in revenue during the year, representing a 20 per cent increase from the previous year. Profit before tax more than doubled, rising 109 per cent to N1.53 trillion, driven by higher sales, improved operating efficiency, lower finance costs and a stronger capital structure.
DataPro said the AA+ long-term rating indicates low credit risk and reflects excellent financial strength, business profile and operating performance relative to its rating benchmarks.
It added that the A1 short-term rating signifies good credit quality and shows that the company has a strong capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
The rating agency, however, noted that the credit rating has a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months in line with international best practice and should be used only as a reference, not as an offer to trade in securities or as a substitute for investors’ independent judgement.
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