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Sterling Bank Plc, has said it is giving out not less than 100,000 free Naira debit cards to its teeming customers across the country. The bank in a statement signed by its Group Head, Digital Banking, Dipo Alabede, noted that the free cards were for current and savings account holders who self-on-boarded via the newly launched OneBank App. Alabede added that new users on the App can apply for the free Verve Debit Card, which will be delivered to their choice address. He noted that customers must have done at least one transaction on the app to qualify for the free card. According to the Group Head, “customers with active cards are not qualified for the free verve cards, noting that the free cards are part of the bank’s effort to appreciate our esteemed customers for keeping faith with us and for doing business with their truly ‘One Customer Bank.” Assuring that the gesture and delivery are at no cost to the customers, and stress-free, Alabede added that timeline for card delivery is

.But Naira depreciation persists in parallel market The nation’s external reserves, last week, rose (though slightly) for the first time in 12 weeks, to $35.66 billion. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, shows that the reserves rose to $35.66 billion on Thursday last week, from $35.59 billion previous week. This represents the first week-on-week, WoW, increase in the external reserves since June 4, 2020, when it recorded WoW increase of $64 million. The increase in reserves follows the four-week steady rise in the price of crude oil, which accounts for 90 percent of the nation’s dollar earnings. After falling steadily to less than $10 per barrel on April 21, 2020, from $71.98 per barrel on January 6, 2020, the price of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude oil rose steadily to $44.3 on Monday, August 24, though it dropped to $42.93 last Friday. But the declining fortunes of the nation’s currency, the Naira, in the parallel market persisted last week, in spite the announcement of res

Former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the successful reconstruction and re-opening of Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu. Kalu said the President Buhari is committed to infrastructural development across the country, adding that the landmark projects being executed in the South East by the federal government should be applauded by Ndigbo regardless of political affiliation. The former governor, while urging Igbo sons and daughters both at home and abroad, to support the federal government in its efforts to reposition Nigeria, stressed that the South East has witnessed robust development under President Buhari. Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, while hosting a cross-section of professionals of Igbo origin , Kalu noted that President Buhari is determined to sustain investments in critical infrastructure across the country , adding that the welfare of Nigerians is a top priority in the policy t

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) said it will conduct its NBC/NTC examinations from Sept. 21 to Oct. 15. Registrar/Chief Executive of NABTEB, Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday. Isiugo-Abanihe added the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for JSS 3 Students’ admission to Technical Colleges had been brought forward from Oct. 3, to Sept. 5. “While commending the Federal Ministry of Education and all state Ministries of Education and their stakeholders, for excellent planning and a smooth resumption of school and examinations for the exit classes, I wish to, on behalf of my Board – NABTEB – provide the following updates on our examinations. “A reminder that the NABTEB NBC/NTC examinations will soon commence on the Sept. 21, and end on the Oct. 15, as already announced by the Federal Ministry of Education. The National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for JSS 3 Students’ admission to Technical Colleges h

The National Co-ordinator, Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu, on Saturday said its members were ready to resume work. Sunmonu said this in a statement he issued after its National Executive Council meeting and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos. He urged the Federal Government to reopen universities and put in place infrastructure and COVID-19 protocols that would facilitate resumption in the institutions. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CONUA was an association of lecturers from five universities following cracks in the Association of Senior Staff of Universities (ASUU). The new Union was announced at the end of its stakeholders’ forum at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in October 2019. ”CONUA members are ready to resume work. ”Everything necessary in terms of COVID-19 protocols must be put in place before reopening the universities in order to prevent students and staff from contracting the disease. ”The education sector cannot con

Stanley Nwadike. Author: The Outstanding Student School is scam when said in Pidgin English (a parlance in Nigeria) can be rephrased to “School na Scam”. This slogan according to its users connotes that the idea of going to school is a waste of time because school is not contributive to one’s betterment in life. To them, going to school is not important because it seems there is no difference between those that went and those that did not.  When you here the slogan “School na Scam”, it’s just like one saying ‘school is useless’. This slogan or parlance is entirely false. It is being pushed and propagated by some deviants or those who are not willing to strive towards becoming useful or responsible to themselves and society at large. These set of people look for short cut to success and get-rich-quick avenues. To them, why waste time in school when others are making it big in the outside world. The funny aspect with people with this kind of mindset is that some of the famous people th

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday suggested that criminal cases from the high court to the Supreme Court should be concluded within a year. He also wants civil cases to end within 15 months. Buhari spoke at the 60th Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), with the theme: ‘Stepping Forward.’ The President was represented virtually by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the conference that had 24,000 participants. An erstwhile United Kingdom Prime Minister, Tony Blair, also spoke at the Conference, despite the petition against him for his role in the 2003 British and American invasion of Iraq. Others that spoke at the conference were Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad; Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Governors Babajide Sanwolu (Lagos) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) as well as out-going NBA President Paul Usoro (SAN); the newly elected President of the association, Olumide Akpata, and a former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu Buhar

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, October 31, 2020 for conduct of the bye election for Bakori Constituency in the Katsina House of Assembly. The Nation confirmed the new date from a notice on the board displayed on INEC Katsina headquarters. It was signed by its Public Affairs Officer, Mallam Buhari Abashe, requesting political parties participating in the bye election to hold their primaries to pick candidates from 27 August to September 8 2020. Also the list of nominated candidates for the bye election is expected to be displayed on September 17 while party campaigns would end on 29August, 2020. There would also be a stakeholders’ meeting on the bye election on September 14, 2020. The notice further warned participating parties to adhere strictly to all health guidelines and COVID-19 protocols The Nation recalled member representing Bakori constituency Alhaji Abdurrazaq Tsiga died in May after a protracted illness. Tsiga was said to have fallen

Thiago Silva Thiago Silva took to social media on Wednesday to bid farewell to the Paris Saint-Germain faithful ahead of his anticipated move to Chelsea. Silva joined PSG in 2012 from AC Milan and went on to lead the French side to seven Ligue 1 titles in eight seasons, part of a total haul of 23 trophies during his time at Parc des Princes. But the Brazil defender was not offered a fresh contract at the end of his current deal, instead signing a temporary extension which came to an end with PSG’s defeat to Bayern Munich in Sunday’s Champions League final, the first in the club’s history. Chelsea have since emerged as the front-runners to sign Silva, with reports that he will soon sign a two-year deal to join the west London club circulating. Silva took the opportunity to pay tribute to his former supporters, quoting renowned Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa in a heart-felt message shared on Instagram. “The value of things is not in the time that they last, but in the intensity with wh

The World Bank Ease Of Doing Business Report For 2020 listed Nigeria, the most populated nation in Africa, as one of the ten countries with the “most notable improvement”. Doing Business 2020 study conducted by the World Bank samples business regulation in 190 economies across the globe. Out of the sampled countries, the report indicated “115 economies made it easier to do business”. Along with Nigeria, also featuring on the list of the 10 economies that improved the most on the ease of doing business after implementing regulatory reforms were; “Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Togo, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, China, and India”. The report stated that “these economies implemented a total of 59 regulatory reforms in 2018/19 — accounting for one-fifth of all the reforms recorded worldwide. “Their efforts focused primarily on the areas of starting a business, dealing with construction permits, and trading across borders.” Also ticked for Nigeria as part of reforms that contributed to it

Ousted Malian President, Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, has turned down calls to be reinstated to power. ECOWAS Special Envoy and former President, Goodluck Jonathan, disclosed this yesterday while briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the political crisis in Mali at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Dr Jonathan, who brought the President up to speed on dialogue with the military coup leaders seeking to stay in power for three years before holding elections, said: “They call themselves National Committee for the Salvation of the People. ‘’We asked them to allow ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to return to his personal residence, where he would be given tight security, but they said he could travel abroad, and not return to answer questions they may have for him. “We also told them that what would be acceptable to ECOWAS was an Interim Government, headed by a civilian or retired military officer, to last for six or nine months, and maximum of 12 calendar months. The Interim Government w

MRS Josephine Nchetaka Chukwujama-Eze, who refunded the N13 million mistakenly paid into her account, has been rewarded with N1 million. Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development Princess Peace Nnaji stated this on Tuesday after a meeting with Mrs. Chukwujama-Eze. Mrs. Chukwujama-Eze, a teacher with a mission school in Enugu, is married to Chukwujama Eze, from Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area. Nnaji, who presented the cash on behalf of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, hailed Chukwujama-Eze for being a good ambassador of Enugu. She said: “This is the kind of culture we are inculcating in all our women, men, young boys and girls. “What we are witnessing today is heart warming and thought provoking. It is something memorable and substantial. This is a woman who had N13 million mistakenly credited to her account. But immediately she saw it, she alerted her husband and they went to the bank and returned the money to the rightful owner. “We all know that times are ha

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye DIRECTOR-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye on Tuesday stated that pieces of evidence from reliable researches and reports showed that Chloroquine can kill COVID-19 virus at the early stage. She stated that Remdesivir, made by Gilead Sciences Inc, has also been shown to kill the virus at late stages. The NAFDAC boss, however, noted that the cost for treating people with chloroquine was way cheaper than with Remdesivir. Remdesivir cost $2,500 to treat an average patient and Chloroquine is $10. She also noted that countries in West Africa like Ghana, Togo, and Senegal have also embraced the clinical use of Chloroquine for treatment. Prof. Adeyeye spoke on Tuesday during a virtual news conference in Abuja. She said: “In March 20, this year, just before the lockdown, I had a press briefing. At that time, people did not understand what clinical trial treatment meant. Once they hear treatment, th

Telemedicine Since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, the public healthcare centres have been overwhelmed due to urgent attention given towards combating the raging virus. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as at Tuesday July 22, COVID-19 has killed 813 patients out of the 38, 344 cases confirmed to have contracted the virus. As of July 22, there are 21,716 active cases across all states of the country and 15,815 discharged after testing negative. But, the media has reported the numerous cases of stranded citizens who died treatable illnesses because of neglect at the hospitals occasioned by the pandemic period. In an interview with The Nation, President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) AbdulRafiu Adeniji advised outpatient techniques for treatment to reduce the rate of mortality when access to hospital becomes difficult. “One of the lessons COVID-19 has taught us is the dire need for tele-medicine and tele-nu

  By Rois Ola THERE’S a general assumption that secrets are bad. Honesty is expensive and something that if not properly handled can affect so many things in a relationship. Telling lies, hiding things are issues that partners should be accountable for. In this case, all manner of small and big secrets, but really who is to say what’s small or big in terms of secrets? What may be small to you will appear mighty to another person. A minor misdemeanor is another person’s betrayal. And betrayal of any sorts cuts deeper even than a sword because some wounds don’t heal quickly. The ability to handle confessions or confess relates differently to people. Some people may misbehave and quickly confess while some will wait till they get caught. Now remorse on misdemeanor is any discussion that can take days to argue on. I will discuss a few of these secrets with you below, just a few, because people experience so many more. These are tips that have been shared before, but will share again based

President Muhammad Buhari PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday revealed to diplomats from eight countries what his administration will be doing before he exits from office in 2023. President Buhari, who made the disclosure when he received Letters of Credence from Ambassadors/High Commissioners of the eight countries at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, assured Nigerians and the international community that his administration will use the remaining years in office to improve access to quality education, health care and enhance productivity while listing nine priority areas. He said efforts were being made to sustain Nigeria’s position as a profitable investment destination with unequalled incentives in all sectors, especially large market and flexible tax system which investors from various countries can take advantage of. The Ambassadors/High Commissioners who presented their Letters of Credence are: Hocine Latil of Algeria; Luong Quoc Thinh of Vietnam; Dr Benson Alfred Bana of Tanzani

National Union of Universities The Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, on Saturday, assured Nigerian students languishing at their homes that tertiary institutions across the country will reopen very soon. Though he did not give a specific date for the re-opening, he said he would articulate the situation report from the National Universities Commission, NUC, and other regulatory bodies of various tertiary institutions and present to the Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID-19 for evaluation. Nwajiuba disclosed this during an NTA programme on ‘Nigeria Policy Brief on Education and COVID-19’, adding that he has received calls from private universities and public universities for reopening of tertiary institutions in the country. “Tertiary institutions across the country will open very soon. Private universities have written us, requesting that they are allowed to reopen ahead of public institutions. Vice-Chancellors have also requested that we allow them to reo

People Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers have rejected the slots allocated to them in the ongoing recruitment of 774,000 artisan youths for public works jobs. President Muhammadu Buhari initiated the programme to keep some of the unemployed busy doing public works for three months, beginning from October. One thousand people are to be recruited from each of the 774 local government councils to participate in the programme. They are to earn N20,000 monthly per person. N52 billion has been voted for the programme in the 2020 budget. Governors, senators, House of Representatives members and ministers have been allocated slots to be filled from their constituencies. The average Nigerians will get the other slots after screening by the panels set up in each state. The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives said on Tuesday that allotting only 30 slots per local government to each member of the House from the 1000 jobs per local government, was unfair and unacceptable to the lawmaker

  Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi THE Enugu State Government has clarified its stance on the operation time for markets in the state, stating that they are to operate from 6am to 6pm, daily. The clarification was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya on Wednesday. The statement added that “this announcement supersedes any other announcement on this matter”. The state government, on Monday, issued new business operation times for Tricycle Operators (Keke Riders), markets, restaurants and bars in the state, in respect of cautious easing of COVID-19 lockdown in strict adherence to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocol.

Seplat Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, has reaffirmed its resolve to developing communities in Imo State, where it has operations, and ensuring that more lives are positively impacted in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Chairman, SEPLAT, Dr. ABC Orjiako, said this when he led a management team of the company in a courtesy call to the Imo State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma and leaders of host communities in Ohaji and others, at the Government House, Owerri. In a statement made available to Vanguard, the call, which was aimed at fostering better relationship among stakeholders to drive sustainable development in the State, had Governor Uzodinma laud Seplat’s success story in Nigeria and internationally. He also charged the Seplat Chairman and his team to take advantage of the current shared prosperity model of 3-R, which is the super structure of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery of key economic and political

  By Bishop David Oyedepo Welcome to another impactful week! I hope you were blessed by last week teaching. This week, we shall focus on:   Unveiling the Benefits of The Giving Covenant! We discovered from Scriptures that covenant practice is the platform for operating in the realms of financial fortune. That is, God empowers us for wealth on the basis of His covenant (Deuteronomy 8:18). It is important to note that God’s financial dominion plan anchors on the covenant of seed time and harvest, which connotes giving and receiving. Remember, a covenant is a deal enacted by God based on well-defined terms and sealed with an oath, committing God’s integrity to make good His promise (Job 22:21-26; 2 Corinthians 8:9). This covenant is as reliable as the covenant of the day and night. That means, as the day and night keep changing positions and the sun and moon continues to rule the day and night, this covenant remains in force (Psalm 89:34; Jeremiah 33:20-21, 25-26; Philippians 4:15). Let u