Business

Bank, Firm To Empower 300 Youths

Published

8 years ago

October 4, 2017

Fidelity Bank Plc says it is partnering with Empretec Nigeria Foundation to empower 300 youths with entrepreneurial skills in the FCT.
The bank’s Managing Director, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo in a statement said the initiative was part of the its entrepreneurship support intervention for state governments.
He explained that it was also a way to support Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to empower Nigerian youths with requisite entrepreneurship skill needed to thrive in today’s highly competitive business landscape.
Empretec Nigeria Foundation (ENF) is part of an international network of enterprise support institution and programmes under the UNDP Africa region.
It is flagship capacity-building programme of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and is expected to promote entrepreneurship and msmes with a view to facilitating sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Okonkwo noted that the training programme, which commenced on September 25, had been reciprocated in Lagos State and Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
“The Bank has once again reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to build a new breed of entrepreneurs, especially among Nigeria’s boisterous youth population.
The Fidelity bank boss, who was represented by the banks Group Head, Specialised SME, Ndubuisi Onuoha, said the training was designed essentially to assist young entrepreneurs build capacity needed to survive today’s business world.
“The lender’s decision to embark on the programme was borne out of the need to resolve the issue of failed business start-ups in Nigeria.
“Studies have shown that only 20 per cent of MSMEs survive beyond their fifth year of operations.
“ In view of this, the programme is aimed at building stronger and well informed entrepreneurs who have unparalleled management skills and can obtain and manage funds efficiently if needed.
“The bank, through a meticulous selection process, has identified young and budding entrepreneurs with great prospects of becoming the next ‘Dangote’, to be part of this training,” he said.
Okonkwo assured that the bank would provide participants with necessary support required to sustain their businesses. He also expressed the bank’s commitment to help entrepreneurs take advantage of the myriad of opportunities prevalent in the Nigerian economy.
Also, the Head, Business and Strategy, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, Mr Bright Osakwe, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank for its continued support for entrepreneurship development.
He, however, explained that so far the foundation trained about 3,000 Nigerians and intended to step up its efforts in this regards.
Also, the bank’s Head, Abuja II, Halilu Malabu, urged participants to take advantage of the free training programme to enable them to become dominant players in their industries.
Malabu also advised selected participants to repay the bank’s faith in them by building successful businesses.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu