By Jeleel Olawale

A non-governmental organisation, Kunle Ayoola Foundation, has provided a sum of N20million loan facility to empower petty traders in their businesses.

The organisation that focuses on easing the burden of widows, orphans and youths also granted scholarships to some prospective undergraduates.

A philanthropist and founder of the Foundation, Kunle Ayoola disclosed during a press conference that many residents of Ile-Ife received free medical treatments for their ailments while food items were distributed.

Explaining reason behind the humanitarian gestures, Ayoola said it was his own way of reaching to the needy and addressing economic challenges bedeviling Nigeria.

While calling on other well-meaning Nigerians to be generous towards other citizens, especially the vulnerable, Ayoola disclosed that the foundation organised various programmes for a week to address the immediate needs of the public.

He said, “Kunle Ayoola Foundation (KAF) is a non-governmental organization and non- profit. It is focused on easing the burden of widows, orphans and youth. The Foundation was founded in Nigeria on 27th of August 2020 with the passion of empowering the people.

“The four day event started on Wednesday 26th at KAF Secretariat in Ile-Ife with a walk to live body fitness exercise and there was free medicals to the people. We also distributed food items to the indigent members of the society.

“Bearing in mind the economic challenges confronting us as a nation, we decided to empower petty traders by providing the sum of N20 million loan facility. We also have out scholarships to many candidates that KAF had already given free JAMB forms and they performed well in the just concluded 2024 exams.”

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has decried the negative impact of internet crimes popularly known as “yahoo yahoo’’ on the country.

Olukoyede disclosed that several international companies had to shut down their Nigerian operations following massive theft of their finances through local wire fraud.

He noted that in 2022, over $500m was lost as a result of the activities of Internet fraudsters.

A statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the EFCC chairman spoke at the Global Peace Movement International awards on Thursday, where he was named the Man of the Year.

He said, “In 2022, we lost over $500 million in our economy to yahoo boys. The statistics are there. In the same year, about 71 international companies left Nigeria because they hacked their accounts.

“We can’t get credit cards in Nigeria because of our poor credit rating because of the activities of these cyber criminals. So, the best we can get is debit cards.

“Do you know that there are some international merchants that you cannot use Nigerian cards on their platforms? Display your green passport outside the country and see if they will not take you aside and search you thoroughly.”

He stated that no shade of economic and financial crime would go unaddressed under his leadership of the EFCC.

Olukoyede added that people stealing money in high places started from local governments and school associations.

He said, “We will do the mini; we will do the mega. If you don’t do the mini, the mini will become the mega. Some of these people stealing money in high places started from the local governments, they started as leaders of associations in schools, where they stole money and they did nothing to them and it became part of their lives.”

Olukoyede promised not to disappoint Nigerians and not to spare the corrupt.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the clearing of all pension backlogs in the state on Thursday.

In a statement on X.com on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu stated that with a payment of ₦4.46 billion to 2,000 retirees, the state has fulfilled its commitment to eliminate outstanding pension arrears.

The statement read, “Today, we effectively cleared all pension backlog in Lagos State with the payment of ₦4,461,659,536.82 to 2,000 retirees.

“In February, we paid ₦3.1 billion to 1,013 retirees with a promise to settle all arrears and current pension liabilities, and that promise has been fulfilled today.”

He further stated that since assuming office, his administration has paid a total of over ₦68 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts of retirees across various government departments.

He added that the “Pay As You Go” pension model utilised by the state will ensure that future retirees receive their full benefits and gratuity immediately upon retirement.

Sanwo-Olu added, “Since the inception of this administration, we have paid a sum of ₦68,164,627,407.21 into the Retirement Savings Accounts of retirees in the Mainstream, Local Government, State Universal Basic Board (SUBEB), Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and other Parastatals of the State Government. We are very happy with this achievement.

“Employees of the Lagos State Government who retire from the civil service will now get their full pension benefits and gratuity immediately after retirement as Lagos State continues to lead in pension benefits administration with a Pay As You Go template.”

In his statement, Sanwo-Olu stated that to further enhance their well-being, the state launched a new Health Insurance Scheme specifically designed for retirees.

“We also launched a Health Insurance Scheme tailored specifically for our retirees. This scheme will provide access to a wide range of medical services, from routine check-ups to specialised treatments,” he added.

In February that Sanwo-Olu paid N3.149 billion to 1,013 retirees in its 103rd retirement bond certificate presentation.

The governor had also promised that another N4 billion outstanding will be paid in March while the government will try to clear all backlogs by April.