Category: Business

UBA: USA CEO, Yomi-Ajayi, appointed to US EXIM’s sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee

Dorothy Ewah

Sola Yomi-Ajayi, the CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA)’s operations in the United States, has been appointed to the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) Committee on sub-Saharan Africa for 2020/2021. Established by the US Congress, the sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee provides guidance and advice regarding US EXIM policies and programmes designed to support the expansion of financing for US manufactured goods and services in sub-Saharan Africa. The committee is composed of prominent members of the US business community and Ms. Yomi-Ajayi is the sole representative…

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COVID-19: Heritage Bank, FAMO provide succor for 300 teachers

Dorothy Ewah

  Heritage Bank Plc in partnership with Honourable Fatima Mohammed (FAMO) foundation has provided succor to over 300 affected private school teachers and small medium enterprises (SMEs). The gesture is part of efforts to cushion the effect of COVID-19. A statement issued at the weekend said in alleviating the challenges, Heritage Bank and its partner supported over 300 private school teachers and small businesses as palliatives in 15 local governments; including five major markets in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Ifako Ijaiye, in Lagos State. Speaking at the event,…

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Stocks: Banks post N92bn gain in August

Funke Adeko

Investors in banks quoted on the main board of the nation’s stock market reported a cumulative gain of about N92 billion during the month of August 2020 following fair earning results released by most lenders despite COVID-19 ravaging the country. Checks revealed that the stocks recorded a gain of N92 billion or 4.67 per cent to close at N2.063 trillion in market capitalisation on the last trading day of August 31, as against the opening figure of N1.971 trillion at the beginning of trading on August 1. Market watchers believe…

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Investment migration: Wealthy Nigerians boost $3bn industry with traffic to Caribbean Island

Oladipupo Johnson

The decline in standard of living and an unimpressive return on investment prospect in Nigeria has again been accentuated by a report that wealthy Nigerians have started buying their way into the citizenship of St. Lucia, a small island in the Caribbean. According to the report by Quartz Africa, the office of Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) of St. Lucia, which had no application from Africa in the last five years of its operation, has suddenly been invaded by Nigerians with the intention of relocating their families to the tiny…

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Access Bank signs $93.8m loan with Dutch bank

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  Access Bank Plc has signed a subordinated  syndicated loan agreement totalling $93.8 million with the Dutch development bank (FMO), the French private sector development bank (Proparco), and leading investment firm, Symbiotics.   The tier-II capital facility was structured as a “10 years non-call five years” subordinated debt instrument, benefitting the bank for a period of five years.   Access Bank’s Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, said the  facility would enable the bank continue on its strategic path to becoming Africa’s gateway to the world even after the unexpected simultaneous…

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NAICOM tasks insurers to reposition for post-COVID-19

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  The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Sunday Thomas, has charged operators in the insurance industry to deal with unethical business behaviour in the sector, with a view to repositioning the industry for post-COVID-19 era.   Thomas, the Chief Executive Officer, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), spoke at the 2020 Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) CEOs’ retreat, held virtually with the theme: ‘X-raying The Finance Act 2020’.   He said that as the insurance industry positions itself for Post COVID-19 era, the demands of the insuring public would require sound…

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Royal Exchange Insurance posts N10bn premium

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Royal Exchange General Insurance Company (REGIC), on Tuesday, declared a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of N10.58 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2019.   The company’s Chairman, Alhaji Rabiu Gwarzo, made the declaration at the firm’s 12th Annual General Meeting held virtually in Lagos.   Gwarzo explained that the financial results showed a gross premium income of N10.86 billion while total net claims paid to policyholders stood at N1.11 billion.   The underwriting profit stood at N1.14 billion for the period under review.   “Total assets for the…

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African Alliance earns ISO 22301:2012

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  Nigeria’s foremost life insurer, African Alliance Insurance Plc, has been awarded the ISO 22401:2012 certificate for Business Continuity Management (BCM).   The certificate, which was awarded by the Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB) signifies that African Alliance has met the requirements for BusinessContinuity Management (BCM).   ISO 22301:2012 is a globally recognized Business Continuity management standard developed and published by the International Standards Organization (ISO). This standard provides a model that organizations of all types and sizes can use in building an effective Business Continuity System.   ISO…

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Recapitalisation: NAICOM tightens noose on underwriters

Dorothy Ewah

  …says assets, others must be converted to cash   With four months left to the end of the first phase of recapitalisation, the National Insurance Commision (NAICOM) has further tightened its noose on insurance companies  with regard to meeting the minimum paid-up share capital in cash.   The first phase of the recapitalistion exercise is expected to end December 31, 2020 while the whole process ends September 2021.   In a circular issued yesterday, which is furtherance to earlier ones referenced /25/2019, dated May 20, 2019, July 23, 2019…

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NIPC: Oil, aviation firms file for tax holiday

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Eight firms from power, oil and gas, ICT, and aviation sectors have filed fresh applications to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) for tax holiday. The commission disclosed this in its Q2 Pioneer Incentive Status report just released. A pioneer status incentive grants companies making investments in qualifying industries and products a tax holiday of three years from the payment of company income tax. The three-year tax holiday has the possibility of an extension for one or two additional years to enable the industry concerned to make a reasonable level…

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