Sehinde Afolayan, the CEO of Haul247

By Lucy Ogalue

Haul247, an end-to-end logistics tech platform connecting businesses to haulage and warehousing assets in one ecosystem, has raised 3 million dollars in a seed funding round.

Sehinde Afolayan, the CEO of Haul247, said in a statement on Tuesday that the fund would be channeled into increasing its market share in Nigeria and other African markets.

Afolayan who founded the company with Tobi Obasa, and Akindele Philips, also said that the fund would enable the company recruit talents, develop its technology and cement its position as Africas Airbnb for trucks and warehouses.

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Alitheia Capital led the million seed funding round via its uMunthu Fund. Investment One also participated in the round through debt funding.

This investment follows a pre-seed funding round in 2021 by Khafid Gbadamosi and Horsham Gates.

More recently, the company was selected as one of the recipients of the 2022 Google for Startups Black Founders Fund.

Africas logistics sector continues to be hampered by a lack of supporting infrastructure, bottlenecks in service delivery, and a widespread informal approach to logistics business.

Over 80 per cent of the market is dominated by informal carriers operating with one to three vehicles, Afolayan said.

He further said that solutions to logistics in Africa that do not solve warehousing challenges would be more costly, inefficient, and risky.

We provide a unique platform for businesses to seamlessly book trucks and warehouses across multiple geo-locations in Africa, using real-time technology, with over a thousand trucks and about 151,000 sqm of warehouse space across various locations.

We founded Haul247 to address the supply-demand mismatch in the ecosystem, and this funding will enable us to optimise logistics service delivery in key African markets.

Our platform connects businesses with reliable and efficient haulage and warehousing assets, making the movement of goods across the continent easier and faster.

With the support of our investors, we will expand to new markets, recruit more talent and develop our technology to make logistics even more accessible and efficient for businesses in Africa.

Tokunboh Ishmael, Managing Partner at Alitheia Capital, said the organisation was excited to be at the forefront of optimising logistics service delivery in key African markets.

Ishmael said trade and commerce had been the key lever for driving development and would catalyse economic benefits and transformation across the continent.

Our investment further enables Haul247 to provide a seamless logistics solution for transporting and storing goods across the continent in a way that unlocks value and amplifies impact for individuals and companies throughout the value chain.

The timing of Haul247s fundraising aligns with the critical importance of logistics for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Logistics plays a vital role in driving development, and the World Economic Forum predicts a 28 per cent increase in demand for intra-African freight by 2030. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

One of Africa’s largest economies, Nigeria is poised to grow by leaps and bounds by 2050, at an average of 4.2% year-on-year, rising eight places from 22nd to 14thin the rankings. While the government has struggled with corruption, residents have an entrepreneurial attitude that keeps pushing the country forward. According to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data, more than 30% of Nigerian residents are new entrepreneurs or the owner-manager of a new business, among the highest rate in the world.

“There is a ‘hustle and bustle’ culture in the air,” said Nigerian native Colette Otusheso, CEO of Accelerate TV, who lives in Lagos. “Nigerians are hard workers and it almost comes naturally for us to be working on several things at once, which means there is always something going on.”

Even the country’s challenges, like minimal public transportation, have segued into business opportunities. “We now have an app very similar to Uber for okadas (motorbike transport), which is the most used form of transport in Nigeria but in the past has not been very reliable,” said Otusheso. “Now we can track okada drivers and locations just as you do for transport and deliveries with Uber.”

Residents mostly feel positive about the county’s future but are wary of government corruption and foreign investment. “We need to be careful what country we take money from, who we allow to help us improve our infrastructure and what strings are attached to it,” said Nigerian native Chizoba Anyaoha, Founder of TravSolo, noting their history of other nations taking advantage of their natural resources and raw materials.

Newcomers should settle in Lagos or Abuja, both big cities with good schools and great nightlife and food. Just like any big city, street smarts are key. “The best way to acclimate here is to know someone currently living here you trust,” said Anyaoha. “It is quite easy to identify expats, making them easy targets. Keep a low profile, take precautions, always be aware of your surroundings and the people in it.”

Source: BBC

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Living life to the fullest does not just happen; we have got to work it out. This means finding a balance between work and rest. And what better way is there to do this than finding a place to relax and enjoy what nature has got in place for one. Talk about somewhere you can slip into and let the pressure of life struggles off your mind.
This is exactly why beach resorts are there for you and in the light of this, we shall be looking at five (5) amazing beach resorts we have around – in Nigeria.

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Abraka Beach Resort
Abraka Beach Resort is no doubt a wonder in the Niger. The resort is located along Agbor-Sapele road, in Abraka, Delta state, and it is right on the coastline of River Ethiope. The resort has got white sandy beach and the things you need to relax [there] as you sink into the tranquillity of its natural space. But should that not be enough, taking a cruise through the river or engaging in some sporting activities will ensure that you do not have a dull time-out on the beach.

Finima Beach Resort
Finima beach resort is situated on Bonny Island, Rivers State. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, and it is a choice vacation spot for a host of pleasure seekers. The extensively stretched beach and the cool sea breeze on offer at this resort make it a place to spend a day out with your family.

Inagbe Beach Resort
This resort may not be a very popular one among folks but it is no pushover when considering excellent spots for relaxation in Lagos state – and even Nigeria as a whole. It is located on Inagbe Island, and it is just a 15-minute boat ride from Victoria Island. Besides the ‘goodies’ nature has to serve you while on this island, you will also get to utilize the classy amenities provided therein. There are accommodation spaces, swimming pool, spa among other exciting add-ons. Plus, security is well guaranteed at this very (relaxation) spot.

La Campagne Tropicana
The first thought that crosses the mind of many persons when Lagos is being talked about is a busy city [filled with commercial activities]. But there is more to Lagos than that, and a visit to an exotic resort like La Campagne Tropicana will let you in on what I mean. This resort is located at Ikegun, Ibeju-Lekki along Epe Expressway in Lagos. The facilities at La Campagne Tropicana are top-notch, and there are chalets available for anyone who desires to spend the night within this beautiful natural space as he/she beholds the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean. A good zone for a couple to spend some time together.

Whispering Palms
All the way down to Badagry, Lagos state – in Iworo town to be precise – is a serene resort known to be surrounded with tremendous natural endowments, the Whispering Palms Resort. It lies on the lagoon, and it is encompassed by lush green vegetation. It provides a great getaway for those who desire to escape from routine ‘busyness’ of life. The cool, breezy atmosphere around this resort is second to none. There are also facilities as well as rooms available for vacationers’ use.

This is definitely not an exhausting list [of wonderful beach resorts] around the country; there are a whole lot more, and these, we hope to talk about in subsequent reviews.

Most times, we overlook little details that could possibly help us save some cost on a couple of things and eventually feel the weight of irretrievable spending bearing down on us after a while. In line with this, I am moved to discuss how you can save cost on fuel - using less(er) volume of fuel to cover more mileage. Tips such as putting off the air conditioner while on the move and turning off the engine whenever your car is stuck in traffic are about the most common measures people resort to when it comes to preventing the fuel from burning out fast. Spare me some seconds before I delve into the article proper: it pays - more economical - to wind up the windows and allow the a/c breathe while at high speed than shutting it off and leaving the windows open. The reason is that leaving the windows at a high speed increases the probability of drag - I will shed more light on this as the article progresses - occurring and this, in turn, causes the fuel to get used up quickly.

Now, I shall be sharing the other tips that should help you help optimize the fuel in your car’s tank and save you some cash.

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Unclutter the boot: A lot of persons are fond of packing extra luggage in their cars thus turning it into some form of mobile wardrobe or store. But here is what you should know: the more weight you have in your car’s boot, the lower the fuel economy. As such, it would be wise to take whatever (items) that significantly add(s) to the carriage and save some penny on fuel.
Well, just to let you know; the physics behind this is that weight increases aerodynamic drag - which is the force exerted on an object moving against the wind - and this consequently increases fuel consumption. The need to limit the effect of aerodynamic drag is one of the major reasons pick-up truck owners usually install tonneau cover over the (truck’s) bed.

Invest in the right engine lubricant: The hard truth here is that ‘quality‘ might not be enough to give you optimal performance when one considers the impact of engine lubricant on fuel economy - and by extension, the overall functioning of the car’s engine. The perfect word here is ‘right‘; you have to use the engine lubricant that has been recommended for your automobile’s model/type. Hence, in case you do not have the car’s instruction manual with you, there may be an urgent need to do research to know the right engine oil for your car.

Ensure proper inflation of tyres: Tyres that are not well inflated will ultimately lack enough pressure to roll smoothly on the road - even though the car may be moving somewhat unhindered - and this tells (negatively) on fuel economy. Therefore, you should make sure that your car’s tyres are properly gauged before setting out. Do your checks [with the aid of a pressure gauge] and make necessary fix when need be.

Back to cruise control: Without an iota of doubt, there are many speedy temptations on our roads, and the truth is that we, more often than not, fall for them. But before you get tempted to hit the pedal (accelerator) and ‘make your car fly‘ just like the other road user(s) right ahead of you, you should consider utilizing the cruise control feature to stay at a steady speed range and burn less fuel.

Monitor the air filter and fuel injectors: Accessories such as air filters and fuel injectors also play some important roles in improving fuel economy. So, make it a point of duty to check them and do proper cleaning regularly; more so, replacement should be done as soon as it may be required - when these accessories are worn out.

Let the brake be: An incident during your learning (how to drive) years or some other unfortunate occurrence might have made you form the habit of having your foot on the brake pedal; that may be fine by you - moreover, who wouldn’t go for safety first? That aside, some persons have unrepentantly resorted to driving this way since they got their first automobile. It is, however, important to state here that such an act normally causes fuel to be used up fast(er) - and even cause you to seek a replacement (brake) more often. In essence, you should not be so ‘brake-fastidious‘ that you keep placing your foot on the pedal when you do not need to.

Ensure proper alignment: Uneven/imbalanced alignment makes the work of an automobile daunting and also results in increased fuel consumption. Hence, any time you observe that your vehicle is jerking towards one side [than the other], your car’s tyres are making squeaking noise or wears out rather too easily, it might be high you took it to an expert to correct the alignment before you spend more (money) on fuel.

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The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mabushi, Abuja in collaboration with Jiadnis Consultancy Services Limited is inviting applications from new entrants, artisans and craftsmen in the Building industry for core skills training program in Lagos and Abuja.

Applications are invited for:

Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Anchorship Skills Training Program for Artisans and Craftsmen

Description

The training package is aimed at giving the participants the knowledge and approaches needed to ensure effective delivery of their Trades relevant to the Building Industry.

Scope of Training
A total of 240 participants will be trained in 2 Locations for 4 weeks (Lagos and Abuja) for the following Trades:

Painting and POP Design Plumbing Carpentry/Furniture/Woodwork Masonry/Concreting Tiling and sub-divided into 2 segments: Course 1 For New Entrants Course 2 For Craftsmen and Artisans

Certification

Professional Certificates will be issued to participants atter relevant evaluations.

Eligibility Requirements and Entry Qualifications
Interested Participants are to submit copies of their Identity Card alongside their certificates:

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Course 1 Minimum of:

Secondary School Modern III Certificate Trade Test III. WAEC S.75 Certificate JSS III Certificate

Course 2 Minimum of:

WAEC Technical Certificate C&G Certificate Part 1 or intermediate Craft Training School Certificate Trade Test I and II.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates are to submit 2 hard copies of their credentials in sealed envelope clearly marked as “Course 1” or “Course 2” and addressed to:
The Principal,
Building Crafts Training School,
Harvey Road,
Yaba, Lagos State.
Or
The Principal,
Architectural Technicians and Building Crafts Training School,
Kuje, Abuja.

Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should have the name, address, phone number and email of the Participant.

General Information

Applicants cannot apply for more than one course

All submission costs will be borne by the participants

Documents submitted after the deadline will be returned unopened

All shortlisted candidates will be contacted at a later date for details of Training.

Application Deadline: 2:00 pm, 18th October, 2019.

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The Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association, popularly known as Yellow Taxi/Eko Cab, on Tuesday, unveiled EkoCab Mobile App to promote the transit system in the state.

The app tagged “EkoApp: A New Approach to Lagos Transport” was launched in Ikeja at an event attended by stakeholders in the transport sector.

Mr Taiwo Omolekan, the General Secretary and incoming President of the association said that the development was to ensure that it was not left behind in the technology-driven world.

Omolekan said that henceforth, commuters could download the app and book for a taxi (branded) or a cab (unbranded) in the comfort of their homes to commute around the state.

“With the advent of technologies, taxi business has moved from the traditional flagging down of taxi on the road to electronic ride-hailing services, in which taxi drivers could be called from the comfort of one’s home for a ride to any part of the state.

“Therefore, the Yellow taxi, which is the pride of the Lagos State, is not ready to be left behind. This has prompted us to introduce our own taxi apps to the members of the public as EkoCab.

“You can call us from the comfort of your home and our good air-conditioning vehicles will be available to drop you at your destination at a minimal cost,” Omolekan said.

According to him, the Yello taxi is an institution that is well established all over the state with correct data-base of all members with a sticker that is displayed on the front and back windscreen.

“It is very easy to know the location and the taxi park that each driver belongs for security purpose. We are the best alternative as the traditional taxi of the state.

“Also, we have an edge over other taxi apps because we are very conversant with the road and know how to manoeuvre in case of gridlock, unlike others that depend on google maps for direction,” he said.

Omolekan urged Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to the aid of the association by providing loan to re-fleet vehicles like his predecessor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, did for the association.

The general secretary also urged the Lagos State Government to assist the association by instructing all housing estates, hotels and local airports to allow Yellow Taxi and Cab entrance to pick and drop commuters.

He said that without access to such places, the essence of the apps would be limited and defeated.

Omolekan said that e-taxi and cab services like Uber and Bolt would redefine the transit system by providing quality ride services at affordable fares.

In his address, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, the Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, who welcomed the operators to the digital world, said the launch was in line with Sanwo-Olu’s vision for efficient traffic management and transportation.

Oladeinde, who was represented by Mr Sewedo Whenu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, urged the operators to continue to obey traffic laws to reduce gridlock and road crashes to the barest minimum.

According to him, technology has reduced the world into a global village and there is the need to move all sectors of the economy, including transportation, to meet current global technological practices.

Oladeinde said: “As an emerging Smart City of the world with an estimated population of over 22 million people, we can no longer afford to live in the past.

“We must imbibe the necessary technology that will change our ways of life, especially our transport system so that we can be at par with other civilised climes that have made significant progress in digital mobility.

“The government has not relented in her commitment to providing suitable public transport system that is functional, effective and affordable with dedicated lanes expansion and development of other modes of transportation like the rail system and water transportation.

“The administration has continued to invest heavily in the transport sector because transportation has remained an integral part of the economic development anywhere in the world.”

He pledged government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that would attract more investors into public transportation.

Oladeinde, who urged operators to adhere to extant laws, assured that the government would continue to support the association to ensure the success of the initiative

On the journey so far, Mr Segun Cole, the EkoCab Chief Executive Officer, said that the association, after conceiving the idea, approached all relevant stakeholders, conducted training for drivers and carried out pilot programmes.

Cole, who noted that the App would provide the Ministry of Transportation a dashboard to monitor the operations, said that the operations would start on March 17.

In their goodwill messages, the representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Vehicle Inspection Services, Lagos State Drivers Institute among other agencies in the sector, urged the operators to heed traffic rules and regulations.

The Lagos State Government says it will tackle the menace of unauthorised real estate practitioners across the state.

The Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Housing, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said this in a statement in Lagos on Monday.

Benson-Awoyinka said that the state government had planned a stakeholders forum for real estate practitioners, aimed at tackling the menace.

She said that the one-day stakeholders engagement slated for Wednesday, had as its theme Lagos Real Estate: Achieving 21st Century Compliance.

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The special adviser said that the theme of the forum showed that the state government was making frantic efforts to eradicate the dubious practices of some real estate practitioners in the state.

According to her, the forum will help restore sanity and orderliness to the housing sector.

Benson-Awoyinka said that a legal approach alone might not be enough to solve the problem of fraud in the real estate business in the state, without the commitment of all the stakeholders.

She, however, said that the present administration was determined to ensure conducive environment for seamless operation within the sector.

I implore the real estate/agency businesses to cooperate with the state government, so that the state as a smart city would be made investors haven, not only in Africa, but the world at large, she said.

The SA called on all interested stakeholders across the state to register for attendance through the link: http://lasretrad.eventrite.com free of charge. (NAN)

Source: NAN

There are many potential ideas for mobile apps, and the best one for you will depend on your interests and goals. Here are a few ideas to get you started

A social networking app that connects people with similar hobbies or interests.

A productivity app that helps users manage their time and tasks more efficiently.

A workout tracker and fitness planner app. A recipe and meal planning app. A travel planning and booking app. A language learning app. A mindfulness and meditation app. A budgeting and personal finance app. A virtual reality or augmented reality app. A messaging app with unique features, such as self-destructing messages or encrypted communication.

The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers (ATCIS) on Tuesday (10/03/220) has assured of its readiness to collaborate with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to promote the rights, interests and welfare of the ever-growing telecoms subscribers in Nigeria.

Speaking through its President, Prince Sina Bilesanmi, at a meeting with NCC in Abuja, the group said that since one of the agenda of the Commission is promoting subscriber's satisfaction, it was poised to advance a mutually-beneficial relationship with the Commission on all fronts, with respect to the protection of the over 185 million subscribers under its watch.

“We believe that working together, we will also bring the regulator closer to its core stakeholders (consumers) and make demands occasionally on behalf of the consumers. We believe this is a quicker way of getting to the regulator and to bridge the communication gap and promote co-operation,” said Bilesanmi.

Bilesanmi also appealed to NCC to try to reduce tariffs of data and voice services, and to ensure affordable and reliable Internet service for subscribers. The advocacy group also appeal to the Commission to ensure there is no automatic fix charge and non-charges for drop calls.

The group also request NCC to make MNOs to grant subscribers voice and data-free day every Independence Day (October 1) in Nigeria, as a way of appreciating the consumers, who are the important stakeholders of the telecoms industry.

Responding, the NCC said, though the demands brought forward by ATCIS to the Commission are multidimensional, it was ready to collaborate with any stakeholder that offer suggestions that may move the industry forward. He stressed that industry collaboration is part of the Commission’s 8-Point Agenda.

“We are all stakeholders and subscribers in the industry. Despite some challenges, we are always working with the operators to improve the quality of service,” said Hafsat Lawal, Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, who led the NCC’s team to receive ATCIS delegation on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta.

Lawal also stressed that the issue of quality of service (QoS) is a function of many factors, some of which are environmental. For instance, it is doubtful if "any operator will deliberately wish its consumers experience poor network or drop call on its network because those issues will affect the revenue of the operator."

The challenges, according to her, have to do with vandalism of telecom infrastructure and closure of base stations by communities where telecom installations such as base stations and fibre optic cables are sited or laid respectively.

Lawal also told the ATCIS that its request for collaboration will be conveyed to NCC Management for review and necessary action.

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Africa recorded its first case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday as a foreigner who had been put in isolation at a hospital in Egypt tested positive for the disease.

In a statement, Egyptian Health Ministry said it had informed the WHO and had taken all necessary preventative measures.

It did not give the nationality of the affected person or any other details.

A total of 17 African countries, including Nigeria, have confirmed having facilities where the disease can be detected.

Apart from Egypt, other countries where the virus has been confirmed are Singapore, UK, Malaysia, Taiwan, Spain, Vietnam, Germany, UAE, France and Japan.

Other countries where cases of the disease have been reported are Thailand, Canada, Australia, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Cambodia, and the United States.

WHO said it could take 18 months for the first vaccine for coronavirus to be ready.

Meanwhile, the WHO says in the last 24 hours China has reported 1,820 laboratory-confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total to 46,550.

Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said this in a statement posted on the agency’s website on Friday.

Ryan gave the figures while briefing newsmen on COVID-19 at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

“China reported 13,332 clinically confirmed cases in Hubei province.

“ We understand that most of these cases relate to a period going back over days and weeks and are retrospectively reported as cases, sometimes back to the beginning of the outbreak itself.

“So this increase that you have all seen in the last 24 hours is largely down to a change in how cases are being diagnosed and reported.

“So, in other words, in Hubei province only a trained medical professional can now classify a suspected case of COVID-19 as a clinically-confirmed case on the basis of chest imaging, rather than having to have a laboratory confirmation,” he said

According to him, this allows clinicians to move and report cases more quickly, not having to wait for lab confirmation, ensuring that people get to clinical care more quickly.

“It also allows public health responses in terms of contact tracing and other important public health measures to be initiated.

”You have noticed with suspect cases, there have been some backlogs in testing and this is also going to help ensure that people get adequate care and adequate public health measures can be taken.

“So we are not dealing, from what we understand, with a spike in cases of 14,000 on one day,” he said.

According to him, to an extent this is an artefact of the reporting and we are working with our colleagues in China, and our team there are working very hard.

“They are working hard to see exactly how many days and weeks and how those numbers are spread across those days and weeks.

“In the rest of China and the rest of the world, laboratory confirmation for reporting is still required,’’ he said.

According to him, WHO will continue to track both laboratory and clinically-confirmed cases in Hubei province.

“We have seen this spike in the number of cases reported in China, but this does not represent a significant change in the trajectory of the outbreak.

“Outside China, there are 447 cases from 24 other countries, and now two deaths. In addition to the death in the Philippines, there is now one more death in Japan ,’’ he said.

Source: NAN

I often get asked different versions of this question by the same set of people and the questions all boil down to one thing, someone who is looking for a quick way to become a millionaire.

If you have stayed long enough on the internet, you will notice that this question has all the ingredient of a troll question. While that may be true, I have also found out that a totally innocent person can ask a naive question such as the above. So what you will learn at the end of this post is how to ask question without appearing like a troll on the internet. But first, I will walk you through the process of becoming a millionaire.

So are you ready to become a millionaire? Good, let’s start with this little disclaimer first.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER 1

If you are looking for a quick fire way to become a millionaire in a week, you should stop reading this because you wouldn’t find the answer anywhere in this post, but if you are looking for a practical principled based approach that has proven to work time and again, then continue reading.

After the disclaimer, if you are still reading, it would seems to mean you are one of the few species of human who still believes in the principle of nothing good come easy. I salute you for that.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER 2

Depending on your situation, there are more than one way to become a millionaire, for instance; Warren Buffet made his money through investing in stocks, Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, Sundai Pichai all made their money by working for big company, and there is Bill Gate, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk who became billionaire as entrepreneur.

Notwithstanding the above, entrepreneurship (which is the focus of this post) is central to becoming a billionaire due to level of control and leverage it contains.

With all that out of the way, how can you become a millionaire you ask? The easiest and most obvious answer would be to look for anything people can pay 1 dollar for and sell it to one million people. But that wouldn’t help much. A more accurate answer will be to start a need-based business that has the potential to scale exponentially to the masses.

But how do people come up with great ideas? Books have been written on this topic and I for once don’t claim to be an expert on the subject. Yet, there are few things I have picked from people who have come up with great ideas over the years. One, not all great ideas appears great from inception, even Zuckerberg admitted that no one could have convinced him that Facebook will scale the way it did in such a short time. Also, I disagree with people who claimed that great idea can only come in certain places. Idea that could change our world as we know it can come to you anywhere; under the tree, in the bathroom, in your dorm etc, you just need to have the right awareness. In coming up with the right idea, my advice will be to spend some days, weeks or if possible months looking at the world around you thinking of one problem that need solving and that people will be willing to pay for. It’s that simple or that hard it all depends.

Assuming you have finally figure out that one business idea with huge growth potential, well done! But that is not all, now is time to validate the idea. To do this, savvy entrepreneurs will start talking to people who will be paying for the final product. Among other things, they want to find out how much the people are willing to pay for the product. Now you may be wondering why should a total stranger decide the price of your product if they don’t even know how much it would cost you to make it, well, that is because the price you call your product doesn’t matter, what matter is what people are willing to pay for it.

If after this stage you still have a profitable business and the potential customers can’t wait to start paying you.

Congratulation! But don’t go and price the Mercedes Benz yet.

Now this is where the real job begins: it time to roll up your sleeves and start work on turning your idea to a product.Now, this is when things become more complicated. The 2+2 surprisingly will not equal to 4 anymore (welcome to real world) and things you assumed would be seamless would turn out to be more complicated than you had ever imagined. Everything that could go wrong will indeed go wrong.

When that moment come (and it will come, it doesn't matter where you are in the world, but it is even worse if you are in Africa) it is natural that you feel overwhelmed, confused and dumbfounded.

Only then do you have a legitimate reason to ask questions without appearing like a troll. When you can show people how serious you are through all the efforts you have put into making your idea a reality.

The question is are you ready and willing to do this?

Start by annexing the creative part of your brain to come up with the idea the world will be willing to pay for, you can do this!

Footnote: As you can see, the road that leads to a millionaire island is full of potholes, one smart way you can mitigate many of these potholes is to leverage on the knowhow of others. By so doing, you will be leaning on the shoulder of a giant which will save you time, money and stress.

OLANIYAN TONI is the co-founder and ceo of Scalerites, a Lagos based business and marketing development company providing end to end business solutions to Africa startups. You can connect with him socially on twitter or professionally on LinkedIn

Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo has bared his mind on what he knows about the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

MC Oluomo described Tinubu as a man whose quality leadership has been an inspiration to him.

“Your leadership and words of encouragement mean a lot to me. I’m very grateful for the opportunities you have given me,” he said.

He said Tinubu has been a great father, leader, mentor, teacher and guide to him, a role model and an inspiration

“Your support and advice have helped shape my professional career.Thank you Sir,. The great Leader of our time, HE ASHIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU JAGABAN BORGU,” he wrote on his Instagram page.

MC Oluomo also expressed gratitude to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and others for the role they played in his life.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus as the pandemic continues to rock the sporting world.

The 37 year-old former Arsenal captain was the first to be announced to have the bug, days after the team members were asked to self-isolate , following their interaction with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who tested positive for the virus after visiting the Emirates during the 27 February Europa League match with Olympiacos.

A number of Arsenal players met Marinaki after the game.

Arteta revealed he took the test and will now be put in quarantine in a bid to limit the spread.

Arteta added he hopes to be back “as soon as allowed” after becoming the latest name in football to be struck down by the illness.

“This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly.I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed, ”he said.

Marinaki’s testing positive was the reason that led the Premier League to postpone Arsenal’s game against Manchester City on Wednesday.

In a statement, Arsenal said they have closed their London Colney training ground after the Arteta positive result.

“Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive COVID-19 result this evening.

“Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. We expect this to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full first-team squad and coaching staff, as well as a smaller number of people from our Hale End Academy which we have also temporarily closed as a precaution.

We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to work in the coming days. In the meantime our Colney and Hale End training centres will undergo a deep clean and our other club sites are operating as normal.

Managing director Vinai Venkatesham said: “The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is. Our thoughts are with Mikel who is disappointed but in good spirits. We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows.”

Head of football Raul Sanllehi added: “Mikel and the full first-team squad, players and staff, will be fully supported, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows. Obviously Mikel’s full recovery is the priority now for us all.”

“We will work with Public Health England on the next steps in regard to our facilities and staff, and with the Premier League, Football Association and relevant clubs around our forthcoming matches in the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup.

“It is clear we will not be able to play some fixtures on their currently scheduled dates. We will update supporters who have tickets for forthcoming games with more information as soon as possible.

“We are now working to trace any other people who have had recent close contact with Mikel. We will let them know what has happened and they should follow the NHS guidance which is likely to recommend self-isolation”.

A divorce-seeking woman, Mrs Blessing Abu, who accused her husband, Benjamin, of infidelity makes u-turn and begs the Igando Customary Court in Lagos not to dissolve her marriage.

When the case came up on Wednesday for judgment, the petitioner came up with a letter, informing the court of her intention to withdraw the case.

She begged the court to discontinue the case that she and her husband would work to resolve their differences and reconcile.

The court president, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye, while striking out the case, admonished the couple to maintain peace and to continue to live in love and harmony.

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The court has received a withdrawal letter to that effect, therefore, the case is hereby struck out.

I urged both of you to go home and live in peace and love. he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Blessing Abu had approached the court to dissolve her 12-year-old marriage over husbands infidelity.

My husband is cheating on me; he got a girl pregnant on two occasions.

I have gone to several hospitals and herbal homes, just to have another baby but my husband is busy making babies with another girl, she lamented.

The 36-year-old tailor accused her husband of denying her the pleasure of having sex with him.

My husband refused to sleep with me, in spite of the fact that I desire another baby, he told me to look for another man to sleep with me and vowed that he will not sleep with me again, she alleged.

Blessing accused her husband of posing serious threats to her life.

Benjamin told me that I am eating poison in his house, that I should pack out, else he will kill me or cause me to run mad, she told the court.

The petitioner said that her husband had abandoned her with the only child of the marriage.

The mother of one begged the court to terminate the marriage, adding that she had long lost interest in it.

While responding to the allegations, the 42-year-old technician, Benjamin said that his wife pushed him into adultery.

My wife always tells me that I cannot impregnate another woman and that if I try to make love with another woman, my male organ will get stuck inside that woman, that she had done something concerning my male organ.

I was afraid initially, but later I decided to try it to know if she is saying the truth.

But luckily, the girl I met got pregnant and had a baby, when my wife got to know, she told me that the baby was not mine.

After some months, I decided to do it again to prove her wrong, and the girl took in again.

Since then, Blessing made the house unbearable for me by fighting me regularly. She called the Police to arrest me and when I could no longer bear it, I packed out of the house, he told the court.

The respondent said that his wife starved him of sex, claiming that sex gives her headache.

He urged the court not to grant his wifes wish by dissolving their marriage, saying that he still loves her. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Muhammadu Buhari administration has concluded arrangements to deploy 300,000 new beneficiaries in the second batch of its N-Power Volunteers Corp. The deployment will be effective from 1st August.

With 200,000 beneficiaries currently benefitting from the programme, this means that by August, 500,000 unemployed Nigerian graduates will be beneficiaries of the scheme, which is a crucial part of the administration’s National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP).

The N-Power Volunteer Corp scheme is designed to benefit all Nigerians irrespective of their backgrounds and is currently in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity.

“President Muhammadu Buhari made it clear that the SIP would be a major programme of the administration because he was concerned about poverty and unemployment,” Vice President Yemi Osinbajo once said.

In conjunction with all State N-Power partners, the new beneficiaries will be promptly deployed to their assigned Primary Places of Assignment (PPA) on or before the said date.

The final selection lists broken down in States/Local Government Area (LGA) for each of the (3) N-Power component would be circulated to all focal persons in the states and FCT by July 20, 2018.

All successfully deployed N-Power beneficiaries in the second batch will be engaged for two-years starting from August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2020.

In order to qualify for their first monthly payment stipend of N30,000 by August 31, 2018, all deployed volunteers are expected to upload on their N-Power portal page their stamped and signed confirmation of resumption on or before Friday, August 10, 2018.

Through the N-Power scheme, hundreds of thousands of young, unemployed Nigerian graduates have been empowered through training and skills acquisition in different areas of public services, including education (N-Teach), health (N-Health), agriculture (N-Agro), and building/construction (N-Build).

Each N-Power beneficiary learns entrepreneurial skills to enable him become a business person and become a professional on his own, while beneficiaries are given electronic devices to enhance their work and paid a N30,000 monthly.

State-based N-Power partners comprise, but are not limited to the following: N-Teach – State Universal Board for Education (SUBEB); State & Local Government Area (LGA) Offices for Adult Education Centres; State & LGA Offices for Nomadic Education; N-Agro – State & LGA Offices for Agriculture Development Programme (ADP); and N-Health – State & LGA Offices for Primary Health Care Board.

American country music legend Kenny Rogers has died aged 81.

A family representative said he "passed away peacefully at home from natural causes".

Rogers topped pop and country charts during the 1970s and 1980s, and won three Grammy awards.

Known for his husky voice and ballads including The Gambler, Lucille and Coward Of The County, his career spanned more than six decades.

He once summed up his popularity by explaining that he believed his songs "say what every man wants to say and that every woman wants to hear".

After growing up in poverty on a federal housing estate in Houston, Texas, Rogers began recording with a string of bands, including Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, before launching his solo career in 1976.

He was never a favourite of music critics, but became one of the most successful pop-country crossover acts of all time, and the 10th best-selling male artist in US history in terms of album sales.

He collaborated with other country music legends during his career, including Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.

n 2007 he unexpectedly found himself back in the limelight in the UK when The Gambler became the unofficial World Cup anthem of England's Rugby Team.

The song became so popular that during his 2013 Glastonbury Festival legends slot Rogers played it twice.

That same year, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Country Music Association.

In their statement his family said he had "left an indelible mark on the history of American music".

A keen businessman, Rogers led several ventures over the years, mainly in property and the restaurant sector.

He also acted in several movies and TV shows, including starring as a race car driver in the 1982 movie Six Pack.

Source: BBC

The cliché that ‘anything goes‘ is one that we are quite familiar with in this part of the world; it is a saying that clearly highlights the poor state of the reverence for the rule of law and/or justice system. Time and again, we have seen and heard of how perpetrators of dastardly acts walk free and left off the hook as though nothing happened. This has often left those have been directly short-changed - with respect to having an unbiased judgement - as well as a number of concerned Nigerians frustrated about the unbalanced/ineffectual structure of the justice system.

While the voices of many persons might have been drowned by the prominence of the ‘high and lofty‘ subverters but there remains a few that would not be silenced and with these ones have found a great help in a ‘lousy and never-tiring‘ medium called the Internet.
As you read the topic of this particular discourse, you must have perceive or have an inkling of what inspired the write-up that is about to follow, and as the persons involved have no hiding place to save their shamed faces so has the hand-writing been made profound.

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Long before I became a University undergraduate, the issue of sex-for-grade had pervaded the university community and while I traversed my university campus, the matter was never unheard of - then, with the news currently trending, it could be assuredly concluded that the last of the such incidences is yet to be seen or heard of.

The common thing about these events is that we kept hearing the stories of different students that have been alleged abused but never got to hear of concrete disciplinary action(s) being taken against the ‘high-handed‘, erring lecturers that were involved. This alone makes the whole issue look like a norm - a course that further highlights the rot that exists in the justice system firstly in the universities and then the country at large.

It is the lacunae that is noticeable in seeking justice for (female) students who have been picked on by lecturers with wanton desires that spurred Kiki Mordi - with the backing of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) - into action to unravel the faces of perpetrators as we now have on videos that have gone viral on the internet. And, the vastness of this ‘unforgiving‘ tool (that is, the internet), has now drawn huge attention with many persons now raising their voices to call for justice. But then how much of an elixir could this act of public shaming be in a system with long history of unresolved cases surrounding social justice?

It is quite obvious that the purpose of the one-year investigative journalism anchored by Kiki Mordi has achieved its aim - maybe in the interim though. However, in order to achieve a far-reaching outcome, it is incumbent that the authorities [in various universities and other tertiary institutions], as well as, the government take issues hovering around sex-for-grade to heart and work out an effective means of curtailing such incidences in the future. More so, avenues to have students safely report lecturers with illicit advances should be put in place, and such students should be given assurances that there will be no reprisal attack(s) to their life or academics. The ethics committee in these institutions has to be proactive in dealing with these cases to adequately protect the interest of the student body and the institution on the whole.

Beyond sex-for-grade
Without making any attempt to water down the magnitude of the infamy attached to sex-for-grade, it has to be emphasized that there are other forms of abuses that lecturers often subject students to without them (that is, lecturers) being call to order. In such circumstances, these lecturers play ‘god‘ over the students and end up putting students that dared to cross their path into some sort of academic misery. This kind of scenario has sometimes driven some students who could not handle the problem suicidal. All these abuses obviously show the lapses that exist in institutions of higher learning where you expect a high degree of sanctity.

In the meantime however, it is apparent that it is no longer business as usual and issues like we have in the sex-for-grade cases cannot be swept under the carpet. Even if there be any attempt to do so, those that are aiming to do so should be reminded that the internet never forgets.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Belema oil petroleum company in collaboration with Jack-Rich Tein Foundation has commissioned 400,000 litres capacity solar powered water treatment plants in Daura and Musawa local government areas of Katsina state.

Mr. Jack Rick-Tein, President and founder of Jack-Rich Foundation who stated this during the commissioning ceremony of the projects in Musawa and Daura, said the initiative was based on the fact that water is a fundamental human need.

He maintained that each citizen required no less than 20 to 50 litres of clean, safe water daily for drinking, cooking and other domestic activities, hence the decision to construct the water treatment plants in Musawa and Daura towns.

“We also constructed 100,000 litres water treatment plants at Daura airstrip, water treatment plant at Musawa and potable water facility with 100,000 litres capacity tanks at Central Mosque, Daura,’’ he said.

He said that the company was ready to collaborate with other relevant stakeholders to execute more developmental projects in Nigeria.

NAN reports that Mr. Rich-Tein used the occasion to preach oneness among Nigerians irrespective of tribal, religious and political affiliation.

In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Masari, urged stakeholders in the areas and people of the community to setup community-ownership committee to safeguard the facilities from beingm vandalised.

Masari warned that anyone found vandalising the facilities would face the wrath of the law, adding that protecting the facilities remained the core responsibility of the community members.

“Gone are the days when government property will be destroyed by citizens. Water is life, so you most do everything humanly possible to protect these facilities.

“I thanked Mr. Jack Rich-Tein and NNPC for bringing these important projects in Katsina state,’’ Masari said.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, represented by Mrs. Tolu Adefuwa, admonished the benefiting communities to use the facilities judiciously.

She added, however, that the Corporation has embarked on numerable empowerment programmes aimed at ameliorating the plight of rural dwellers in the country.

As part of the highlight of the commissioning ceremony of the projects, the Emir of Daura, Dr. Umar Farouq Umar, bestowed a chieftaincy tittle of Sarkin Ruwan-Hausa on Mr. Jack Rich-Tein and urged him do more for the country. (NAN)

Tennis star, Serena Williams stunned fans with a black sleeveless Kimono jacket by a Nigerian designer, Jane Michael Ekanem

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the jacket was part of her fashion ensemble for the cover of Essence Magazine’s latest issue.

Essence is a popular monthly magazine for African-American women. It was first published in 1970.

Ekanem is a popular Nigerian fashion designer who has styled Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage and other celebrities.

Serena paired the Kimono with a floor-length skirt, white shirt, and strappy heels and has raved about how much she loves the design.

According to Ekanem, the Kimono represents light and energy which Serena is known for globally.

The kimono featured inked artwork on the lapels by Laolu Senbajo, another Nigerian designer, was also responsible for Serena’s face art on the magazine cover.

Laolu, who is a popular name in the international fashion scene, is also a renowned face artist.

He has worked with notable brands like Nike, Bvlgari, Beyoncé, and most recently a Grace Jones-inspired bodysuit for Hollywood actress, Taraji P. Henson.

In the cover feature interview, Serena spoke about her take on the fashion world following the launch of her own fashion line ‘Serena’ in 2018.

Reacting to the cover, an excited Jane Ekanem, on Instagram @janemichaelekanem appreciated Serena for rocking the designs.

She wrote, “About this same time 4 years ago, I posted a video of Serena Williams of how she said ‘I want other people to be like me’ when she was asked who she would like to be like.

“It’s not far fetched from mine as I always tell people I want to be a better version of myself.

“Today, at this same period, I have my piece worn by @serenawilliams, one of the most powerful and most accomplished women in the world wear my Kimono piece.

“(The piece was) tailored and made here in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria in a global magazine, @essence, in a global fashion edition.

“No matter who you are and where you are, when your time is here, your universe will come for you. Keep at what you are doing. Do good relentlessly.

“I am just that young black girl who is trying to keep the dreams alive. And as @lupitanyongo would say ‘your dreams are still valid’.

“I have never doubted my journey even though sometimes I got angry and impatient.

“My life is a work in progress and I will trust the process. A huge thanks to @laolunyc for being the bridge. The art you put on the lapel made it even more attractive.

“The kimono was inspired from the #EnergyGod kimono made by @janemichaelcollection for @do2dtun during his photoshoot. The Kimono symbolizes energy and light,” Ekanem said.

NAN reports that the outfit is the latest design in the Jane Ekanem’s eponymous brand collection.

In its quest to remain in the hearts and minds of its old and prospective customers, Mr. Bigg’s, Nigeria’s pioneer quick service restaurant (QSR) has commenced what industry watchers have described as a first-of-its-kind revolution in the sector aimed at redefining the brand as well as guarantee improve quality of service.

At a guided tour of some of the model restaurants in parts of mainland, island Lagos and its environs, recently, Mrs. Ethel Mba, Marketing Manager, UACN Restaurants led selected journalists to have enjoy a feel and look of the new-improved Mr. Biggs, an arm of UACN of Nigeria, which has existed for about 33 years.

Justifying the need for the new-look Mr. Bigg’s, Mrs. Mba who noted that there are over 100 restaurants under the brand, said the whole idea is to remodel the restaurants into a centre of excellence in the 21st century.

Speaking at one of the model restaurants located at Northwest Filling Station by the Victoria Garden City, VGC, Lekki, Lagos, Mba said the new approach promises to sustain excellence in wide variety of dishes, pastries and confectionaries to the delight of its teeming consumers, which is the heritage of Mr Bigg’s

Mba assured that apart from the VGC outlet, which was opened on the 9th of July, 2019, two more restaurants will spring up at Amuwo Odofin in Festac town and Abule Egba along Lagos Abeokuta Express Way and other parts of the country very soon .

“The new restaurants will be patterned after the structure of the Lekki restaurant to deliver high-quality food and good ambience as the basic standard. Aside this, the menu range will be equal and well-balanced in terms of meal choices depending on customers’ tastes or new trends,” she said.

Mr Bigg’s history began with the coffee shops inside Kingsway Department Stores in the 1960s. In 1973, these shops were rebranded as Kingsway Rendezvous, which became Mr Bigg’s in 1986. The chain saw rapid expansion after becoming one of the first Nigerian companies to sell franchises to investors and subsequently adopted a full franchising business model in 2012, making it the first to establish franchise restaurants in QSR.

Some stakeholders in the capital market have faulted the listing of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. on the nation’s bourse in spite of unavailability of the mandatory 20 per cent free float.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the price of MTN Nigeria shares would continue to skyrocket due to their scarcity at the detriment of retail shareholders.

The stakeholders blamed the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for approving the company’s listing without the mandatory free float.

Free float or public float refers to the shares of a company that can be publicly traded and are not restricted.

In other words, the term is used to describe the number of shares available to the public for trading in the secondary market.

NAN reports that free float for companies listed under NSE Premium Board is 20 per cent.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, Invest Data Ltd., expressed disappointment at the development, saying that the listing was at the expense of retail shareholders.

Omordion urged that market regulators should be committed to the protection of retail investors to encourage their participation in the market.

He claimed that the shareholding structure of MTN Nigeria showed that the 23.92 per cent, said to be floating, were held by institutional and individual high net worth investors.

According to him, the investors are using the exchange to enrich themselves at the expense of retail investors who want to be part owners of the company.

“The 20 per cent minimum free float is one of the listing requirement, but it seems to be post a listing requirement since companies are listed and given time to meet the minimum free float.

“The companies that got listed recently apart from MTN Nigeria that failed to meet the requirements are Global Spectrum, Notore Chemical,” Omordion noted.

He told NAN that the existing shareholders of MTN Nigeria were making it difficult for new shareholders to buy due to the tight holding structure and small float.

Omordion claimed that the high demand was currently causing problem at the exchange.

He said that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), NSE and brokers would benefit from the situation, leaving potential local shareholders to buy the shares at a high rate.

The Founder of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu, described the listing as dissatisfactory.

“Our conclusion as shareholders is that they have come to play us a game which is not far from a fraudulent game; the nominal value of MTN shares is not certain.

“These are areas SEC should ask NSE questions rather than the issue of gift sharing at AGMs and ban of pre-AGMs.

“Up until now, no prospective shareholder can tell you this is what MTN Nigeria stands for,” Nwosu said.

He said that the exchange set a bad precedence in the market by allowing some companies to list without meeting the free float requirement.

“There have been very bad precedents recently in the market; Dangote Cement and some other companies were given preferential treatment.

“Whenever any company wants to come for listing by introduction, that free float which they have agreed with, must be open and for the investing public.

“Let everyone scramble and get from that, and not a situation where you will be listed by introduction and the shares are not available,” Nwosu said.

The ISAN Publicity Secretary, Mr Moses Igbrude, described the listing as a welcome development, but urged the management of exchange to ensure compliance with the minimum free float by all listed companies in the market.

“If the requirement is not met, there will be artificial scarcity of the company’s shares, making new investors to buy at high price which is not supposed to be.

“The exchange managers should not allow such a behaviour because it can erode investors’ confidence in the market.

‘’They must be seen to be transparent as well as treat all companies equally,” Igbrude said.

NAN reports that MTN Nigeria on May 16, listed a total of 20.35 billion shares at N90 per share.

The stock at the first trading day rose by nine naira or 10 per cent to close at N99 per share.

It increased on the second trading day, on May 17, by 10 per cent to close at N108.90 per share.

The shareholding structure of MTN Nigeria shows that the controlling entity is MTN International Ltd., which owns 15,485,544,050, representing 76.08 per cent of the shares.

On the other hand, the non-controlling entities in the telecommunications company include: Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd. with 1,962,349, 050 (9.64 per cent), Chief Victor Odili, 806,886,900 (3.96 per cent) and Mobile Telephone Network N.I.C.B.V with 559,720,150 (2.75 per cent).

Others are: Government Employees Pension Fund (represented by Public Investment Corporation SOC Ltd., 355,281,650 units (1.75 per cent) and Mr Pascal Dozie with 340,409,900 units (1.67 per cent).

Other non-controlling entities are: Mr Sani Mohammed Bello, 265,092,150 (1.30 per cent); Mr Babatunde Folawiyo, 218,815,100 (1.08 per cent); Mr Gbenga Oyebode with 181,776,250 units (0.89 per cent).

The others are Malam Ahmed Dasuki with 177,717,850 units (0.87 per cent) and Mr Karl Toriola with 920,000 units (0.005 per cent). (NAN)

By Sandra Umeh

As the World marks Day Against the Death Penalty, Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) and Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) on Thursday drew attention to the negative impact of the death penalty on children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oct.10, is slated as World Day Against the Death Penalty.

It is a day set aside every year to advocate the abolition of the death penalty and raise awareness on the conditions and the circumstances which affect prisoners on death sentence.

The day was first organised by the World Coalition against the Death Penalty in 2003.

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To commemorate the day, two Human Rights Organisations, HURILAWS and LEDAP have drawn public consciousness to the effect of the penalty on children in the society.

In a statement jointly signed by Mr Collins Okeke and Mrs Pamela Okoroigwe, representing both organisations, they, among others, called on government to put in place modalities with focus on children.

In its 2018 global report on death sentences and executions, Amnesty International recorded that in Nigeria; at least 19,336 people were on death row.

Many of these people have children connected to them either as daughters, sons, nephews or nieces.

The death penalty does not only affect the person who is sentenced, as family members of the sentenced persons are also collateral victims.

HURILAWS and LEDAP call on the Federal and State legislators and executives in Nigeria to:

Put in place an official moratorium on the imposition of death sentence and the carrying out of executions on the parent of a child.

Conduct a child rights impact evaluation of the actual impact of the implementation of current legislation and policies in their state, related to the death penalty, to assess the impact on children of the parental death penalty, the organisations said.

The organisations said there should be consideration of all aspects of childrens rights in this evaluation, including the right to be free from inhuman treatment and the rights to health, education, and an adequate standard of living.

They suggested engagement in thorough communication with children to facilitate their meaningful participation in this process and to identify their best interests, using child-friendly procedural safeguards.

Develop transparent and objective processes for legislative decisions made concerning the death penalty to ensure full consideration and respect of the human rights of children.

Enact legislation that requires in law the detailed procedural steps for conducting a best interests of the child assessment as set out in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

General comment on the best interests of the child and include a provision explicitly requiring that such an assessment be conducted before any sentencing decision is made that impacts a child.

Ensure that all the procedural requirements set out in this legislation are disseminated to both prosecutors and judges, they said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Babajide Awoyinfa

(Reuters/NAN) Novak Djokovic once again defeated his great rival Roger Federer at a Grand Slam on Thursday in a three straight sets of 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Australian Open final and remain on course for a record-extending eighth title at Melbourne Park.

It was the 50th act of one of the greatest rivalries of the sport and the odds were heavily stacked against Federer as the Swiss had not beaten the Serb at a major since 2012 on the grass courts of Wimbledon.

Federers journey on the blue courts of Melbourne Park had been far from smooth as he was two points from losing against John Millman in the third round and then saved seven match points to get past American Tennys Sandgren in Tuesdays quarter-final.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner, however, got out of the blocks briskly on a hot evening to wrest early initiative as Djokovic struggled with his service games.

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Federer was up 4-1 and 40-0 on Djokovics serve, but the Serb managed to save all three breakpoints to win his first service game as his opponent made an array of unforced errors.

The Swiss, who had to take a lengthy medical timeout against Sandgren for a groin problem, was not keen on engaging Djokovic in rallies and hit an incredible 26 winners in the first set.

But the count of his errors also started creeping up as Djokovic regained control to get the set back on serve and then played and took the set with an imperious display in tiebreak.

Both players received medical attention at the end of the first set and it was once again Djokovic who raised his game up a notch to convert his fourth breakpoint chance with a forehand winner at the net to grab the second set.

Djokovic kept up the pressure on the 38-year-old Swiss in the third set and the crucial break came for him in the sixth game with a forehand groundstroke winner for a 4-2 lead.

The 32-year-old, winner of 16 Grand Slam titles, sealed his 27th win over Federer with his first match point when the Swiss found the net with a backhand for his 35th unforced error of the night.

In Sundays final, Djokovic will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Austrian Dominic Thiem, who beat world number one Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, proposed a toast for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The vice president’s toast was proposed at a dinner organised in honour of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Prof. Vuong Hue.

Osinbajo, had earlier, at the Presidential Villa, received Hue and his team and witnessed the signing and exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding on waiver of visa requirements for holders of Valid Diplomatic and Official Passports.

The vice president, during the toast on a lighter note, said that Hue was his long lost brother as both of them were born on same year and same month– March, 1957.

Osinbajo said more so, that he and Hue were both lecturers and professors.

He said that Nigeria and Vietnam had maintained long standing diplomatic relations since 1976 but there were no high level engagements.

“So, this visit is very significant because we will be looking at the possibility of setting up a bilateral commission between Vietnam and Nigeria so that we can concretise the existing areas of cooperation that we discussed earlier today.

“ I am confident that we can build on the successes recorded in the past while we work on boosting cooperation in business, trade and investment and social and cultural relationship between both countries.

“We agreed on promoting a friendly football match between Vietnam and Nigeria.

“The Super Eagles and the Vietnamese National Team and as well the Female National Team of Vietnam and our Super Falcons.

“First toast to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Long live the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; the next will be the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he said.

In his response, Hue said that Nigeria and Vietnam had a lot of things in common.

He said that aside boosting economic and trade ties, there was need to enhance cultural relationship.

Hue said that the Vietnamese national team was a strong side in Asia as he was looking forward for a friendly match between both male and female national teams of both countries.

In his welcome address at the dinner, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, said that the Vietnamese delegation, led by Hue, had demonstrated willingness to strengthen relationship between Nigeria and Vietnam.

He said that the delegation had the opportunity of meeting people that matter in Nigeria, especially on the area of trade, commerce and investment.

“Indications are that their engagements are very fruitful and they are willing to take the relationship to the next level.

“On our part, we are, ready and willing to reciprocate; to pick up the challenge they have thrown to us.

“This evening, we, signed an agreement on waiving Visa for people carrying diplomatic passport,” he said.

Dada said that the dinner was put together by the vice president to introduce the Vietnamese delegation to Nigerian cuisine.(NAN)