Connect with us

Business

Edo poll: Oshiomhole keeps mum on PDP’s petition hearing at tribunal

Published

on

Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday, refrained from making comments on the ongoing hearing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s petition at the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

Oshiomhole, who represents the Edo North Senatorial District, refused to comment on his observation of the proceedings while fielding questions from newsmen.

“You know you don’t comment on matters in court. I came to watch, to observe the proceedings and I am satisfied that the proceedings are going well.

“It is not for me to do any evaluation that is the prerogative and absolute responsibility of the tribunal.

“Well, I cannot comment on it,” he simply responded.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hearing of the petition filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, continued with the presentation of their 16th witness.

The witness, Haruna Ibrahim, told Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel that he served as a polling unit agent during the Sept. 21, 2024 election that was held in the state.

He told the tribunal that though the election was properly conducted, he observed some irregularities in the form of over-voting and immediately complained to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the polling unit.

Ibrahim mounted the box shortly after Oshiomhole, who is also a former governor of Edo, arrived at the venue of the tribunal to show solidarity with Gov. Monday Okpebholo.

Okpebholo is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was declared the winner of the governorship contest by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

ALSO READ:  FEC approves $2.2bn external borrowing plan – Edun

The immediate-past Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, who had since defected from the PDP to the APC, was also at the tribunal to observe proceedings.

NAN reports that the tribunal had, on Thursday, admitted in evidence, 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System Machines (BVAS) that were used during the conduct of the disputed governorship poll.

The electronic devices were tendered by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of INEC, Anthony Itodo, and admitted in evidence by the panel.

The petitioners had subpoenaed INEC to produce the BVAS machines that were used in 133 polling units where election results are being disputed.

INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247, 655 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the contest.

The petitioners, among other things, contended that the governorship election was invalid because of alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.(NAN)

Business

SEC DG advocates for women empowerment in capital market

Published

on

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Dr Emomotimi Agama has advocated for the need to educate and empower women to make informed decisions and create wealth in the capital market.

He made the call at an event to mark the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration organised by the commission in Abuja .

Agama said that victims of Ponzi schemes in the country were mostly women.

According to him,” women make up the commodities market. We want to make sure that we provide an avenue and a platform where they can sell their produce after producing them.

”I also want to speak about the vulnerabilities of women. Most of the Ponzi schemes that we have in Nigeria, the majority of the victims are women.

”And the reason is very simple, the woman’s heart is very empathic, all that she thinks about is how to resonate her family, help her family, and grow the provisions of her family.

”We must re-empower the women, re-educate them, and we must bring them to the fore of national recognition when it comes to the capital market.”

In the same vein, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, charged women to make their impact count through display of excellence.

The minister commended the SEC for financial literacy to the women on finance investment, saying it would help them make better investment decisions.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the programme would also equip them with sound financial knowledge on savings, investments, and wealth creation.

She added that it would provide access to secure financial products tailored to women’s needs and strengthen protections against financial exploitation, particularly through Ponzi schemes and fraudulent investment platforms.

ALSO READ:  Subsidy: Stakeholders, Experts Convene National Dialogue, Proffer Short, Long Term Solutions

In a lecture, Mrs Hafsat Rufai, the Director, Registration, Exchanges and Market Infrastructure, SEC, said that the capital market played pivotal role in economic development.

She listed some benefits of investing in the capital market to include wealth creation, dividend income, liquidity and tax benefits.

The director called on women to verify and ensure that investment companies were registered by the SEC before patronising them.

Similarly, Mrs Hansatu Adegbite, Chairperson, Association of Nigerian Business Women Network, commended SEC for the financial literacy initiative for women.

”Where poverty prevails, we need to create wealth. One place that women do not look at is the capital market. We need some of these lectures to educate more women.

”Women need to look inward to invest; you must multiply your money. It is time to arise and educate ourselves and take actions,” she said

Continue Reading

Business

UBA graduates 1,138 new advanced banking professionals

Published

on

The United Bank for Africa (UBA), on Wednesday, celebrated the graduation of 1,138 young professionals from its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the graduation ceremony for the class of 2025 GMAP held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The trainees, who underwent a six-month intensive training programme, were selected from Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, and Kenya.

In 2023, UBA graduated 700 trainees, followed by 398 in 2024, bringing the total number of graduates to 3,222 under the GMAP initiative.

They will be deployed across various departments, including Sales, Credit Analysis, Group Finance, and Treasury, to enhance operational efficiency and drive the bank’s strategic growth.

Speaking at the ceremony, UBA’s Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, congratulated the new entrants whom he referred to as his newest colleagues.

He stated that the six-month intensive training would shape the participants’ worldview and equip them with the skills to drive innovation in the banking and financial services sector.

Elumelu, who turned the occasion into an interactive session, addressed the graduands’ questions and concerns while also noting their suggestions.

He elaborated on UBA’s vision and commitment to youth empowerment across Nigeria and Africa, emphasisng the importance of hard work and resilience as essential leadership qualities for career growth.

Elumelu highlighted infrastructure deficits, inadequate power supply, and insecurity as key challenges that must be tackled for the continent’s rapid development.

Sharing insights from his personal and professional journey, he spoke about overcoming career and family challenges and advised new entrants on achieving a balanced approach to success.

ALSO READ:  Shamies Foundation Provides Nourishment to 1,000 Households To Combat Adversity

He underscored the importance of a strong financial system for national growth, urging the new team to spearhead innovation in the sector.

“We will remain competitive, but demand performance.

“All of use must keep reinventing. You must realise that status quo is not an option,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Oliver Alawuba, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UBA, commended the graduands for their resilience and discipline in successfully completing the rigorous training.

Alawuba expressed gratitude to their families and trainers for their support and encouraged the graduands to uphold UBA’s core values of excellence, enterprise, and execution, along with simplicity, responsiveness, and a goal-oriented mindset.

According to him, the GMAP programme reflects UBA’s commitment to equipping the brightest minds with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to navigate the evolving financial landscape and drive Africa’s economic transformation.

“Since inception, GMAP has successfully graduated 3,222 trainees across Cohorts 1 to 16, producing dynamic professionals, who are making significant contributions across various departments of the bank,” he said.

He said that the new cohort of 1,138 graduates included 666 women, representing 58 per cent of the total, in line with UBA’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusion.

He outlined the various career growth opportunities available to the new employees, emphasising that many GMAP alumni had risen to leadership positions within the bank.

“At the United Bank for Africa (UBA), we are more than a bank – we are an institution committed to transforming Africa,” he said.

Two GMAP alumni, Nneoma Chikere (2023), a Profit Centre Manager, and Gbolahan Adeyemi (2022), a Relationship Officer in the Corporate Banking Directorate, shared their success stories.

ALSO READ:  Guber Polls: NSCDC Beat, Injures Journalists On Election Duty In Nasawara

Both staff members, who have received multiple commendation letters and awards, encouraged the new entrants to be bold and innovative in their careers.

Awards were presented to outstanding trainees, with Nansy Olikeze emerging as the overall best trainee.

Collins Chekuba secured second place, while Owumi Omagbemi and Olusaseyi Awofade took third and fourth places, respectively.

Other award recipients in various categories included Yahaya Ham, Glory Ahmed, Fathait Yusuf, and Betty Dosumu.(NAN)

Continue Reading

Business

FG Commits To Gender-Inclusive Tax Reforms—Bagudu

Published

on

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to gender-inclusive tax reforms, highlighting the need for a fairer financial system to enhance revenue generation and economic development.

Speaking in Abuja at the launch of IBP Nigeria’s Strategy and Gender Research Findings, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Atiku Bagudu underscored the role of women’s advocacy groups in shaping budgetary decisions.

The former Governor of Kebbi State defended recent policy changes, such as the removal of subsidies and the simplification of tax systems, arguing that these measures would expand the tax base and improve revenue collection.

He also addressed the financial barriers women face, noting that systemic challenges often prevent them from accessing capital and fully participating in economic activities.

The IBP report called on governments at all levels to modernise tax collection through electronic payments and transparent processes, reducing inefficiencies and preventing exploitation.

It also recommended tax harmonisation to eliminate arbitrary levies.

A key focus of the report was the importance of raising public awareness about tax obligations and benefits, particularly among informal sector business owners, many of whom are women.

The report urged targeted campaigns using local media and community outreach to improve tax compliance.

Additionally, the report advocated for greater financial inclusion, recommending support for women’s access to microloans and savings programmes to empower female entrepreneurs and foster business growth.

It also called for grievance redress mechanisms tailored to the informal sector, with accessible reporting channels and gender-sensitive training for tax officials.

IBP Nigeria’s Country Manager, Yinka Babalola, stressed the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that public budgets work for all, particularly marginalised groups.

ALSO READ:  Senate Gives Nod To President Tinubu's $7.8 Billion, €100 Million Proposal

“We are looking at the entire process of raising and spending public resources, which we call the public resource governance system,” she said.

“It extends beyond traditional financial management to include the role of private sector operators, legislative bodies, and auditors in ensuring accountability.”

Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, expressed his country’s support for IBP’s research on gender and taxation, emphasising that public money belongs to the people and that civil society plays a crucial role in advocating for financial transparency and equality.

“Gender equality is central to achieving sustainable development goals,” he stated.

“Women’s voice, power, and agency must be strengthened at all levels, from households to governments, to ensure meaningful change.”

Baera praised IBP Nigeria’s locally led initiatives, highlighting the importance of community-driven approaches in tackling systemic financial inequalities.

Continue Reading