News

Fidelity partners SMEDAN to empower SMEs

Published

2 years ago

September 29, 2022

In what has been termed a major move to bridge the gap in helping small businesses access much needed funding and capacity development initiatives, leading financial institution — Fidelity Bank Plc — has announced a strategic partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN).

At a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony held in Lagos recently, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said the partnership reinforces the fact that the bank is a leading supporter of SMEs in Nigeria.

“For us at Fidelity Bank, supporting SMEs is in our DNA and for more than two decades we have been creating multiple platforms to help them thrive. These include the numerous products we have pioneered for the sector, our collaboration with the Lagos Business School to host the Export Management Programme, the Fidelity SME Academy and our weekly SME Forum radio programme where we have had successful business owners and even SMEDAN share tips on running thriving ventures with listeners.

“This partnership is therefore another step in our journey of helping entrepreneurs grow and compete favourably in any market they operate and we are very happy to have SMEDAN join us,” commented Onyeali-Ikpe who was represented by the Executive Director, Lagos and South-West, Fidelity Bank, Dr Ken Opara.

On his part, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, SMEDAN, Olawale Fasanya thanked Fidelity Bank for facilitating the partnership emphasizing that the MOU was particularly significant not just to the Agency but to the MSMEs ecosystem.

“Fidelity Bank is one of the few commercial banks in Nigeria that have shown immense interest in providing support to the large MSME community. I am very aware of some of your products purposely designed to serve the MSMEs. This explains why the Agency is very excited entering into this relationship that we believe will help change the narratives of the sub-sector,” commented Fasanya.

Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 7 million customers serviced across its 250 business offices and digital banking channels. The bank was recently recognized as the Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking & Finance Awards. The bank has also won awards for the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

News

Installation of e-gates at airports is to enhance national security – Minister

Published

5 hours ago

April 19, 2024

NewsDirect

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo says the installation of e-gates at the five international airports in the country will enhance national security.

He also said it would ensure seamless processing of passengers coming into and going out of the country.

The minister made the remarks on Friday when he inspected the newly installed e-gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo said that from the preliminary test conducted, it will take less than 30 seconds to process passengers with valid passports, thus reducing the delays and inconveniences hitherto faced by passengers.

He said about 21 e-gates would be installed at Lagos airport by the end of April, while those in Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu would be ready by the third week of May.

“Having tested it on various scenarios, we saw that a Nigerian carrying a valid passport will only take less than 30 seconds to be checked in, which I think is a record time.

“We have also tested it with people carrying other people’s passport, and we saw that it is practically impossible for people to use another person’s passport to gain entrance into the country unlike in the past.

“With what we have also seen, it is practically impossible to enter into the country with an expired passport,“ he added.

According to him, the scanners will enhance the nation’s security architecture and enable immigration officials to work seamlessly.

The minister thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support towards making the project a reality.

News

Plateau varsity suspends exams over killing of student

Published

6 hours ago

April 19, 2024

NewsDirect

The Management of the Plateau University, Bokkos, has suspended ongoing examinations in the institution over the killing of a 200 level student .

Mr Yakubu Ayuba, the Registrar of the institution disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen had on Thursday night attacked Chikam, a neighbouring community to the university ,killing the student, identified as Dading Jordan.

Ayuba said that the university had also declared a two-day mourning in honour of the slain student.

”The Vice-Chancellor and the entire management convey their condolences to the family of the deceased student, the student body and the university community.

”In view of this sad development, management has declared a two-day mourning, from Friday, April 19 ,to Saturday, April 20.

”Accordingly, all the examinations earlier scheduled for Friday and Saturday are hereby suspended

”While we call on our students to remain calm and law abiding, we wish to urge the security agencies to beef up security around the university in order to secure staff and students”,he said.

NAN reports that the Gov. Caleb Mutfwang had condemned the attack ,calling on residents to remain calm.

He said that government and security agencies were doing everything to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.

News

Customs seizes N126.2m smuggled goods in Kebbi

Published

6 hours ago

April 19, 2024

NewsDirect

The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Kebbi Area Command, says it has seized smuggled goods worth N126.2 million within two months in its intensified fight against smuggling in the state.

The Customs Area Comptroller, Mr Iheanacho Ernest-Ojike, made this known on Friday while briefing newsmen on the command’s activities for March and April in Birnin Kebbi.

He said that the command had intensified the fight against smuggling to curb its menace by engaging in intense patrols throughout the nooks and crannies, barely two months after the comptroler was posted to the state.

“Our operations so far have yielded positive outcome leading to several seizures of items within the period under review.

“We have seized 212 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50Kg each, and 28 bags of 25Kg each; 200 bales of used secondhand clothing (Jumbo size) and 50 bales of normal size,” he said.

Others according to him, are; 10,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 39 lumps of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) and 78 rolls of Diclofenac Sodium.

“300 wraps of diazepam tablets 5mg each, 57 packs of sex enhancement drug (Black Diamond) and 150 Expired Powdered Milk, among others.

“The combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items is N126.2 million.

“The PMS value is not included in the DPV because it is given at our revenue generation section as receipts from auction sales,” Ernest-Ojike said.

He also said the command’s achievements was as a result of the resilience and courageous effort of the operations teams, intelligence unit, Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) and collaboration with sister agencies.

According to the controller, the Indian hemp will be handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while the Diazapem tablets will be given to NAFDAC as the appropriate agencies to attend to the respective substances.

He added that just recently, the Federal Government had authorised the re-opening of Kamba border as the only import/export outlet for the state.

“Even with this challenge, the command manages to generate the sum of N7.2 million in the two months under review, which is 125 per cent increase as compared to the two previous months.

”The 10,025 litres of seized PMS, which is valued at N2 million, is expected to also increase the revenue when auctioned to the public,” Ernest-Ojike said.

On trade facilitation, he said that the command had been engaging stakeholders on the need for legitimate trade.

“We also collaborate with relevant sister agencies to also enhance our operations in terms of security and intelligence to improve legitimate cross-border trade with our neighbours.

“It is notable to mention that exportation of grains are still restricted, and we are here to ensure they do not leave the shores of this country as it has become imperative to secure our locally produced grains.

“We need to prevent our country from plunging into food crisis,” Ernest-Ojike said.

The comptroller appreciated all well-meaning citizens who helped the command with useful information to nip smuggling in the bud.