WORLD BANK APPOINTS ANOTHER NIGERIAN

It is not uncommon to find Nigerian women prospering in all spheres of life: From, business to banking, to agriculture and even politics.

A Havard alumnus. Arunma Oteh graduated from University of Nsukka with a first class honors degree in Computer Science. She later went ahead to obtain her Masters Degree in Business Administration from Havard University.

An Abian by birth, Oteh was recently made a Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank by the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. A position she will fully resume September 28, 2015. 

In her new role at the World Bank, Ms. Oteh will manage and lead a large and diverse team responsible for managing more than $150 billion in assets.

Before now, Arunma Oteh served as the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria from January 2010 to July 2015. Here, she was known for her toughness in reeding the SEC of identified market abuse. Due to her tenacity in bringing the culprits to book, she was removed a few months after she was appointed but was called back two years later.

She had worked with the Harvard Institute for International Development and Centre Point Investments Limited of Nigeria in corporate finance, consulting, teaching and research. And in 1992, she joined the African Development Bank (AfDB) where she served as a Senior Investment Officer/Senior Capital Markets Officer from 1993 to 1997, then Division Manager Investments and Trading Room from 1997 to 2001. She was late appointed the Bank's Group Treasurer responsible for fund raising and investments in major international capital markets. By March 2006, she got appointed as the Vice-President for Corporate Management at the African Development Bank (ADB).

Some of Ms Oteh’s achievements and recognition are;

• Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) 
• Co-edited the book, ‘African Voices African Visions’. 
• Serves as a Member of Advisory Board at Africa investor Ltd.
•  Serves as a Non-Executive Director of AMCON, Inc.
•  member of the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)
•  Chairperson of the Africa Middle East Regional Committee of IOSCO.
•  "Distinction In Public Service" award from the Commonwealth Business Council/African Business.

CREDIT: en.wikipedia.org, allafrica.com, bbc.com, devex.com, , worldbank.org, bloomberg.com, mynewswatchtimesng.com

IKOYI CLUB CLOCKS 77

The heritage of Ikoyi Club over time has been rather phenomenal and enduring. A family membership Club that was built in 1938. The celebration will go on for a week and the Family Funfair will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015.

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NIMASA SIGNS MoU WITH EGYPT, AUSTRALIA AND THREE OTHERS

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (Mou) with Egypt, Australia, Bahamas Vietnam, and Dominican Republic on the certification of cadets.

The agency has also concluded plans to sign the same deal with Singapore, Luxembourg and other European countries with a view to ensuring cadets or mariners who want to upgrade their certificate can do so with ease.

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WHEN THE ELEPHANTS DECIDE TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF A LIONESS

As far as the jungle is concerned, the lion remains king. It does not matter whether it is male or female, young or old. It’s also not about the look of the lion but the heart. So when the wise man says, he is not afraid of a pride of lions led by a sheep but he is afraid of a flock of sheeps led by a lion. We understand. 

So, when First bank of Nigeria decided to make this dynamic, resilient and superb woman-entrepreneur its chairman, it came as no surprise but a break of norm. A position no female has been able to reach since the establishment of First Bank of Nigeria in 1894. Did I hear you say, this lady must be lucky? Luck? This new position vested on Ibukun Blessing Awosika, came as a result of hard work, diligence, high level of integrity, self confidence and positive business attitude.

Many have since used the opportunity to congratulate her doggedness and excellent spirit which has brought her to where she is now but one seem to strike me, and that’s from one Aisha Yesufu - “You dared to dream. You dared to achieve. You are daring others to dare.”

Blessing was born on the 26th of December, 1962 to the Adekola’s family in Ibadan. Third child of a family of seven. She was born into a Muslim family. Attended Methodist Girls High School and won the Dotun Okubanjo prize for the most outstanding student in her set.  Ibukun Blessing Awosika is a graduate of Chemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University and an alumna of the Chief Executive Programme at the Lagos Business School and the Global Executive MBA programme from IESE Business School, Barcelona.

During her youth service, Blessing worked at Akintola Williams & Co. (Delloite) as an Audit Trainee. It was after her National Youth Service (NYSC) programme, she had a three month internship with Alibert Nigeria Ltd (A furniture company) as a Showroom manager. Blessing started her own furniture manufacturing company, Quebees Ltd - now The Chair Center Limited. A company which has become a market leader in the office furniture and banking security systems industries. The Chair Center Limited has expanded into Accra and Tinapa in Calabar, Nigeria. She is also the CEO of TCC Security Systems, manufacturers and marketers of office furniture, office seating and Banking Security Systems in Nigeria and West Africa.

Other achievements, awards, recognition and charitable cause attributed to Ibukun Blessing Awosika are listed as follows;

• Founder of Christian missionary fund
• Past Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Women In Management and Business (WIMBIZ)
• Founder of the Afterschool Graduate Development Center (AGDC)
• Chairman of Intermac, the organisers of Smart Card Conference in Nigeria
• Member of the governing board of the Convention on Business Integrity.
• Member of the Board of Directors of Digital Jewels Ltd.
• Member of the Board of Directors of Cadbury Plc.
• Member of the board of the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund.
• Member of the Lagos State University’s governing council
• Member of the National Economic Summit Group (NESG).
• Served on the National Job Creation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee for NNPC.
• FATE Model Entrepreneur Award 2006,
• Golden Heart Awards 2007
• A fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
• Author of two books “The ‘Girl’ Entrepreneurs: Our Stories So Far” and “Business His Way"

Credit: reportnaija.com, connectnigeria.com, punchng.com, theglowingcolours.com, venturesafrica.com

NIGERIA'S ECONOMY IS ON THE VERGE OF SKY ROCKETING

Nigeria is about to join a network of 323 locations in 89 countries with New York City as the first location. The World Trade Centre (WTC) Abuja will cost over $1 billion upon completion, and should commence operation early next year. The state of the art center has been under construction since 2010 and nearing completion. The center after completion promises to be an iconic gateway to Abuja Business District.

  World Trade Centre Abuja (Prototype)

World Trade Centre (Under Construction)

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Credit: churchgate.com, cnn.com

LAST WEEKEND AT STAR MUSIC TREK 2015 FINALE

The rendezvous was at Gbagada Open Field last Saturday, as both young and old, male and female turned up for the Star Music Trek Finale. Marked as the entertainment hub for West Africa, Lagosians proved this right with the massive attendance.

It's not December but the crowd is amazing

The event had earlier taken place in Ibadan, Makurdi, Benin and some of the major cities in Nigeria where Star Lager Beer (Event Sponsor) have its consumers.

Some of the artists, DJs and MC at the grand finale were; 2Face Idibia, Seyi Shey, Sean Tizzle, Sound Sultan, Burna Boy, DJ Big N, DJ Spinal,Gbenga Adeyinka (1st), Lafup, Dotun of Cool FM, Olu Maintain and a host of others.

Credit: thenet.ng, olorisupergirl.com, hfmagazineonline.com, bgcl.net, naij.com

THE MAN SADDLED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also known as the Gates Foundation was founded in 2000, and it’s the largest private foundation in the world. The aim of the Foundation is to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty. The man saddled with the African responsibilities of the Gates Foundation is no other than Dr. Ayo Ajayi.

Prior to joining the Gates Foundation as the Director of the Africa Team, Dr Ajayi was the Vice President for International Development at PATH. Here, he led strategy development and implementation for all PATH’s country programs.

Dr Ayo Ajayi is a graduate of medicine from the University of Ibadan, and an alumnus of Boston University School of Public Health. Had a postgraduate certificate in Family Planning at the London University (School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine).

An internationally recognized expert in global heath, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has served as a government health officer in Nigeria, taught at the Boston University School of Public Health, and was Africa regional vice president for pathfinder International. Dr Ayo Ajayi has served as consultant and program evaluator for the US Agency for International Development, the World Health Organization, and several other United Nations agencies. A founding board member of Burkitt’s Lymphonia Fund for Africa. He is also a member of the Independent Audit committee of The Future Africa Awards and Summit. 

A quote from Dr Ajayi in his article titled ‘Africa: Making the next 15 years count’, “Partnership must be built with the private sector and new ways must be found to attract private finance. By strengthening the capacity of the capacity of the local financial industry and creating investment opportunities tailored to the needs of domestic and international investors, new inflows of capital can be created.”

Credits: path.org, globalheatlth.org, dailymaverick.co.za, premiumtimesng.com,