The Future Africa Leaders Foundation is an initiative aimed at exploring and expanding the leadership potentials in Africa and for Africa.
It is for identifying, celebrating and supporting young Africans who have demonstrated exemplary leadership by impacting their generation positively through education, youth empowerment and mentoring through other projects aimed at building young people and preparing them for a positive future.
NDIC begins verification of 42 failed MfBs’ depositors – THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced the closure of 42 Microfinance Banks (MfBs), which licences were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with verification of their depositors.
This was made known in a statement signed by the Director, Claims Resolution Department of the Corporation, Mrs. Nurat Ajigbewu, in Abuja on Monday.
According to the NDIC, the CBN revoked the licences of the failed MfBs with effect from November 12, 2020.
Consequently, the Corporation as the official liquidator of the banks commenced the closure and payment of insured sums to verified depositors of the banks.
Read also: CBN extends deadline for MFBs’ recapitalization to 2021-2022
In carrying out this mandate, the Corporation has requested depositors of the closed banks to visit the banks’ addresses between December 21 and 24, where NDIC officials would verify their claims.
The statement listed the affected MfBs as Hedgeworth MfB, Future Growth MfB, Bagwai MfB, Ere City MfB, Cafon MfB, Akcofed MfB and Gufax MfB. Others are Partnership MfB, ICB MfB, Onima MfB, Hometrust (Nations) MfB, Ringim MfB, Bigthana MfB, Rogo MfB, Makoda MfB, Takai MfB, Bebeji MfB, Ajingi MfB, Garko MfB, Kangiwa MfB, Augie MfB and Mopa MfB.
Also on the list are Solid Base MfB, Ultimate Benefit MfB, Ovidi MfB, Kirfi MfB, Credit Express MfB, King Solomon MfB, Riggs MfB, Billionaire Blue Bricks MfB, Susu MfB, Wealthstream MfB, Aguda Titun MfB, Sapphire MfB, Metro MfB, Mountain Top MfB, Unyogba MfB, Wapo MfB, Ibogun MfB, Korede MfB, Ahetou MfB and Fufore MfB.
The Corporation requested eligible depositors to visit the banks’ locations with proof of account ownership such as passbook and cheque book as well as valid means of identification to enhance their verification.
Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State has signed into law the anti-kidnapping, anti-land grabbing, cultism and other anti-violence related matters bill passed by the State House of Assembly.
According to Governor LaLong, the law was long overdue because of the increase in kidnapping, land grabbing and other violent crimes within the state.
He said:
“As a responsible government, we cannot fold our arms to see people being terrorized by criminals who are clearly out to cause mayhem. This new law will deal with anyone caught in the act and I urge security agencies to be on their toes and ensure that culprits are apprehended and made to face the law.”
He called on communities to rise up to the challenge by identifying and fishing out criminals within their domains and passing relevant information to security agencies to act.
The law provides death sentence for those convicted for kidnapping while those found guilty for cultism shall be jailed for a minimum of 7 years.
Others involved in meting out violence on anyone risk spending up to 10 years in jail upon conviction.
The governor again appealed for adherence to COVID-19 protocols saying his experience in the past one week confirms the reality of the pandemic.
He recognised the patriotism, sacrifice and diligence of front line medical personnel who continue to risk their lives in fighting the pandemic, asking them not to be deterred in saving lives.
The United Kingdom has distanced itself from the alleged financial looting levelled against a former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, by a member of its parliament, Tom Tugendhat.
The action followed a petition to the British Parliament by a group, Igbo for a Progressive Nigeria (IPAN), demanding details about the allegation.
Tugendhat had during the Westminster Hall debate on November 23, accused Gowon of looting half of the Central Bank of Nigeria while he (Gowon) held sway.
According to Tugendhat, “Some people will remember when General Gowon left Nigeria with half of the Central Bank, so it is said, and moved to London.”
Replying IPAN’s petition in a letter dated December 21 and signed by a member of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Nigeria Unit, one Angela disclosed that Tom Tugendhat made the statement in his own personal capacity, and not for the British Parliament or United Kingdom.
Angela said: “Thank you for your email of 29 November to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office about the debate on Nigeria.
“I am replying as a member of the FCDO Nigeria Unit. I recognise there is concern about the comments made by Tom Tugendhat MP about former Nigerian Head of State, General Gowon, during the Westminster Hall debate on 23 November.
“I would like to clarify that Mr Tugendhat was speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the UK Government.
“The High Commissioner has written to the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, as well as to General Gowon, to reiterate this point. Yours Sincerely, Angela.”
But the National President of IPAN, Lawrence Onuzulike, in the petition made available to our correspondent, demanded the proof of the allegation against the former Head of State, threatening to drag them to court over character defamation.
Onuzulike’s petition partly reads: ” I am writing on behalf of millions of patriotic Nigerians to voice our concerns on a pronouncement made by the British parliament.
“We are made to believe, from information on your website, that we should get a response to this letter within 20 days.
“Recently, at the UK parliament committee debate on a petition on the Nigeria’s #EndSARS crisis, Tom Tugendhat, a member of the United Kingdom Parliament, had accused Yakubu Gowon – a former Nigerian military head of state who ruled Nigeria from 1966 to 1975 – of looting half of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Back home, millions of Nigerians are taking this allegation very seriously, and for that, we’re calling for a proof. We, Nigerians, are seeking a proof of the allegation that Mr Gowon looted half of the Nigeria’s Central Bank because we want to hold him accountable.
“In a case where there’s no proof, then we ask that Mr Tom Tugendhat immediately offer unreserved apology to both Nigeria and Nigerians.
“We, Nigerians, have passed through a lot in the past few months and the least we need at the moment are inciting statements and words that cause division.
“I hope to get a response soon which I’ll diligently pass back to Nigerians who knew of this my letter of complaint to the British Parliament.”
2020 is the year of Anthony Joshua (AJ), world heavyweight boxing champion. The boxer born to Nigerian father and Irish mother in Watford-U.K, had produced a brilliant display against Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on December 7, 2019 to reclaim the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO straps he’d lost to the Mexican-American in June.
AJ, however, chose this year to cement his greatness in the minds of boxing followers around the world.
If 2019 and the shocking loss to Ruiz Jr had created doubt about the Sagamu lad, 2020 erased any iota of hesitation that AJ can hold his own in the heavyweight class. It has also brought to the fore the unification bout about to happen between AJ and Tyson Fury. The ultimate megabuck and epoch fight is expected to happen in 2021.
This is made possible by AJ after dominating Kubrat Pulev in a ninth-round shut-out in which he dropped the Bulgarian four times on December 12, 2020.
In the presence of only 1000 ringside viewers inside SSE Arena, Wembley, AJ pummelled Pulev, who had no answer to the tirade of upper-cuts and jabs that rained on him all night.
Joshua was patient, methodical, and when openings presented themselves, he did not hold back. He pounded from ends to ends, making Pulev to commit boxing errors –like turning his backs- on at least two occasions.
Boxing buffs in Nigeria were especially grateful for the night that brought out again the resilience of Nigerians-don’t mind the fact that he was born and bred and taught the fine art of boxing abroad.
It is gratifying to note that AJ also made a massive homecoming campaign this year February. His Nigeria visit took him to the slums of Makoko, Afrikan Shrine where he joined Femi Kuti on stage during a performance and his ancestral home Sagamu where he sparred on the sandy streets with local kid boxers, reminiscent of 1974 Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle promotion in Kinshasha-Zaire.
All is set for Joshua vs Fury showdown which will determine the undisputed champion in boxing glamour division. Expected to happen in 2021, it will generate hundreds of millions of dollars. Guaranteed, AJ will stay in the news come 2021.
The year 2020 has thrown up a new champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight division and he is a Nigerian by the name Israel Adesanya.
Kicking off his professional career in 2018, Adesanya was only on the lips of UFC diehards until his convincing dismantling of top contender Paulo Costa, on 27th of September, 2020.
Within two years he has fought 20 times and emerged winner in all.
Adesanya made his debut in UFC in February 2018 and quickly amassed an enviable record to become the UFC middleweight champion on the world in 2020.
The 31-year-old silenced his critics with a comprehensive second-round win over rival Costa, a formerly undefeated Brazilian, to keep his record clean at 20-0-0. He has never been beaten.
In-fact the story of the teenager from Lagos-Nigeria who refused to give up his fighting ambition from Nigeria to Kiwi country New Zealand, has become an inspiration among youths the world over.
Adesanya think himself a fighting machine from when he was able to run and jump. In a recent interview, he said of his consummate ambition to become a professional fighter: “I was not afraid to tell them (his parents) that I won’t do any other thing but to fight. I’m obsessed with performing and tried my luck in dancing by joining a dance group. I switched to karate and joined a karate gym and started attending competitions.”
He went on to stockpile a terrific amateur kickboxing record. He went unbeaten over 32 fights before moving to China to reside and fight.
While AJ and Israel Adesanya are becoming champions of the world, another Nigerian, Efe Ajagba, also made the big headlines in the heavyweight boxing division.
The Ugheli, Delta State born heavyweight boxer is only 26, but has done enough to get heads turning and tongues wagging about him as a leading contender and a potential champion.
The hard-hitter has scored big in 2020 twice outpunching his opponents to climb up the world title contender’s ladder and attract the attention of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Tyson, in September, listed him among heavy punchers he would like to engage before retiring.
Ajagba knocked out Razvan Cojanu on 7th March 2020 in the 9th round at Barclays Center, New York, United States and won a unanimous decision over Jonathan Rice in Nevada, United States on 19th September, 2020.
He currently stands at 14 wins, 0 losses and 0 draws. Of those 14 wins, he has stopped 11 of his opponents, so his current knock-out ratio is 79%. He’s boxed a total of 50 rounds, meaning his professional fights last 3.6 rounds on average and currently ranks 11th by the WBC in the heavyweight division.
The Africa games gold medallist and 2016 Olympics quarter-finalist is both tough and ambitious. “I want to get into the Top Five of world heavyweight boxing. I’m not scared. I respect boxers like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and (Deontay) Wilder. AJ is successful but I’m the best heavyweight right now,” Ajagba said of himself. Boxing world will definitely hear more of Ajagba in the coming years.
The Nigerian football star rising profile hit a crescendo in 2020. His phenomenon rise began unfolding in June, 2020 when the Lille’s forward was named the Marc-Vivien Foé RFI-France 24 Prize for best African player in the French Ligue 1, the French football championship for the 2019-2020 season.
The former Nigeria U17 star was chosen by a jury of sport journalists specialising in French and African Football. He garnered a clear 284 points ahead of Ilam Slimani of Algeria and Monaco and Yunis Abdelhamid of Morocco and Stade de Reims, who got 95 and 89 points respectively.
The Nigerian international ended the Ligue 1 season with 18 goals and six assists in 38 appearances- a feat that earned him Lille’s player of the season award.
By July, 2020, his name was ringing louder than church bell and the media were awash with genuine and fake transfer news for the Nigerian international. He was linked to nearly all the biggest clubs in Europe from Liverpool to Manchester United to Barcelona.
On 31st of July, Serie A club Napoli announced the signing of Osimhen for a club-record fee of 70 million Euros with add-ons, making him the most expensive African transfer to date. The five-year deal is about $94m with personal earnings to the tune of about $4.5m per season.
In his first major interview in Italy, Osimhen said; “my goal is to do very well and win trophies for Napoli and this is the most important thing for me.
“I have been settling down well here and it is important for me to continue from where I stopped at Lille.
“I am very happy to be in a great and big club like Napoli; and the fans, my teammates and the whole staffs at the club have been wonderful, which is important for a young player coming into a great team like Napoli.”
On October 17, 2020, Osimhen scored his first goal for Napoli in a 4-1 win over Atalanta and he celebrated by holding up a shirt calling for the ending of police brutality in his country-Nigeria.
After years of consistent showing at the World and Africa championships, Nigeria top wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye hit jackpot in 2020. The African title holder, who is repeating the feat for the sixth time, was rated world number 1 in the women’s 57kg category.
The title fetched her 18 points for her gold in Algeria plus 43 she has amassed to overthrow closest rival Risako Kawai of Japan, according to the United World Wrestling (UWW), in February 2000.
Adekuoroye, 27, started the year ranked third in the category before overthrowing Kawai and Rong Ningning of China after emerging winners again at the African championship.
The 2014 Commonwealth games gold medallist, who emerged Nigeria’s first ever silver medallist at the World Championship last year, is by this feat ranked among the world’s best.
Adekuoroye said of her record feat: “I feel so excited and happy I won my sixth and African title. This will only make me sit up for the Tokyo Olympic Games. It will make me train harder because every eye will be on me now as the number one wrestler in the 57kg.”
The world was jolted with the death notice of Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona on November 25, 2020. His demise at 60 was put at the doorstep of heart attack at the age of 60, though his fiery personality and excesses were of public knowledge. Notwithstanding, it sparked a global outpouring of grief and police enquiry. For days after his death leading on to his burial, thousands of fans and cult-hero worshippers stormed Buenos Aires to bid their hero farewell, while world leaders mourn the loss of a legend.
The 1986 World Cup winner for Argentina famous for his ‘hand of god’ genius goal against England en-route winning the Mundial, was by far the most popular footballer in the world, a flawed hero who stands in contrast to the athletes who often define the modern game.
While the world was mourning Maradona, the obituary of Italian footballer Paolo Rossi filtered in. He died of lung cancer at 64 on December 9, 2020.
Rossi became a national hero in Italy after scoring six times in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, including a crucial first goal in the 3-1 victory over West Germany in the final.
Many fans shared pictures of Rossi alongside Maradona, who passed away about two weeks ago. The pair played against each other during the 1982 World Cup and Italy faced Argentina again during the following tournament’s group stage.
Italian newspaper, La Gazetta dello Sport described Rossi as “the one who beat Zico’s Brazil, Maradona’s Argentina and Boniek’s Poland, and in the final, the Germany of Rummenigge.”
Of the sports personality deaths that characterised the outgoing year 2020, that of NBA legend Kobe Bryant touched the heart of the world more. 2020 was just breaking like an early morning fog when news of the demise of the basketball great came in on January 26, 2020.
Kobe’s death shocked the world in that he died alongside his favourite, Gianna, 13, and eight others in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California.
The death of the NBA five-time champions sent shivers down the spine of many who sent their condolences through the social media in the wake of the announcement.
Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posted a video to share his condolences via his twitter by saying “he will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete.”
Top athletes: Novak Djokovic, Christian Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Lewis Hamilton and Neymah also paid glowing tribute to him.
Veteran Nollywood filmmaker, Chico Ejiro is dead.
He died in the early hours of Christmas day from a seizure. He only just concluded directing his new movie on Christmas Eve.
His remains have been deposited at the morgue.
Ejiro was popular for blockbuster movies in the 90s.
The younger brother to another renowned film maker, Zeb Ejiro, produced movies like Silent Night, Blood Money, Deadly Affair, among several other notable movies.
It is believed he passed away after a seizure.
Ejiro has been in and out of hospital for an undisclosed illness in recent weeks and just finished shooting a new movie.
Also a screenwriter and director, he was born in Delta state. The same media said that he has the highest number of movies under his belt, having produced 85 home videos.
1. Chico Ejiro was born Chico Maziakpono in Isoko, Delta, Nigeria. He was a Nigerian movie director, screenwriter, and producer.
2. His enormous body of work was typical of the second generation that started in the 1990s when cheap video-production equipment became available in the country.
3. He owned a production company called Grand Touch Pictures, which is based in Lagos
SPEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Friday described Jesus Christ as an epitome of humility and sacrifice, urging Christians to focus and reflect more on the reason for the celebration of Christmas by embracing and emulating the virtues of Jesus Christ.
Oborevwori in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Dennis Otu, called for total reflection on the story of the birth of Jesus Christ and told Christians to work hard towards emulating the exemplary lifestyle of love and unity of Jesus Christ.
He said: “I greet the peace-loving people of Delta State in this season of the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us continue to believe that this yuletide season will usher in good tidings as the year 2020 has remained largely challenging”.
Oborevwori appealed to well-meaning Christians to show love to the less privileged and the widows in this season, adding that; “In the spirit of the yuletide, let us give a helping hand to one another in the best way we can; we should share joy and love of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind.
While wishing Christians in the State and beyond Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance, the Speaker called for more prayers to enable the government to achieve set goals and the Stronger Delta vision of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has announced that the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Friday 25th, Monday 28th December 2020 and Friday, January 1st, 2021 as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year Celebrations respectively.
This disclosure was made by the Minister in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib M.L. Belgore.
The Minister who made the announcement today felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on this year’s Christmas and New Year Celebrations.
He called on all Christians to adopt the creed of Christ on faith, hope and love and urged Nigerians to adhere strictly to the Covid-19 protocols and guidelines, as stipulated by relevant authorities, during and after the festivities to curb the spreads of the virus, as the nation moves into the second wave of pandemic.
While admonishing all Nigerians to remain focused, determined, patient and patriotic, Aregbesola expressed confidence that the year 2021 would be a better year for all Nigerians and therefore urged Christians to use the period to pray for Nigeria.
The Minister said:
“We must emulate the life of humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness that the birth and Ministry of Jesus Christ signified, that will be the best way to know Christ and celebrate his birth.
“We should know that peace and security are critical factors needed to enable Government to accomplish its mission of revitalizing the economy, improving Foreign Direct Investment as well as generating employment opportunities for over 100 million Nigerian youths in the next 10 years.
“The Government remains committed to the fight against banditry, kidnappings & other crimes and criminalities in the country, however, Nigerians need to support the efforts of the security agencies by providing them with information that will enhance intelligence gathering.
What you should know: The Federal Government, however, declared Monday a public holiday, since Boxing Day, typically December 26th fell on a Saturday this year. Hence, the following working day was marked down for citizens to celebrate the holiday as part of the yuletide.
The National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, says it is upgrading its website for optimum performance as many Nigerians jostle to obtain their National Identity Numbers.
It also said the site, nimc.gov.ng, did not crash, adding that the site would be restored today (Tuesday).
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Communication Commission had last week ordered telecommunications companies to deactivate telephone lines of subscribers who failed to link their phones to their NIN within two weeks.
Thousands of Nigerians had trooped to NIMC offices all over the country on Monday for their NIN registration, thereby flouting the Covid-19 protocol put in place by the government.
The development forced the NIMC to shut down its offices in most parts of the country on Monday.
The government later bowed to pressure by extending the deadline to January 19, 2021 for subscribers with NIN and February 9 for those without NIN.
But many Nigerians who rushed to the NIMC website have been left stranded due to server downtime.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday morning, NIMC Spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, said, “Our site didn’t crash. We are upgrading the site, we are migrating it to a higher and better platform where information security will be topnotch.
“More users will be able to be on the site per time. It will also be able to accommodate more information. Information security is key. The site will be back today.”
The NIMC also said it would adopt a number-issuing style as it reopens its centres nationwide from Tuesday to ensure effective crowd control.
As of October, the total number of mobile network connections was 207.58 million, but currently, only 43 million Nigerians have NIN, thus 164 million telephone users are at the risk of being deactivated on December 31.
According to the NIMC, the NIN is used to tie all records about an individual into the National Identity Database and is also used as a valid means of establishing or verifying individual identity.
The Kremlin on Monday denied any role in recent cyberattacks on the United States, saying American accusations that Russia was behind a major security breach lacked evidence.
US lawmakers over the weekend urged a tough response to a huge cyber attack on government agencies and criticised US President Donald Trump’s unwillingness to point the finger at Russia which has been widely blamed for the hack.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the public debate in Washington about the breaches “has nothing to do with us”.
Russia is not involved in these attacks,” Peskov told reporters Monday.
The attackers managed to breach computer networks using enterprise management network software made by the Texas-based IT company SolarWinds.
US government agencies including the Treasury were among those reportedly affected, but it also hit targets worldwide with the list of victims still emerging, researchers say.
“Any accusations of Russia’s involvement are absolutely unfounded and are a continuation of blind Russophobia,” Peskov said.
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