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Recare Wins NIVA Next Bull’s Award
Recare Limited, makers of Natures Gentle Touch haircare brand has emerged winner of the Next Bull Award at the 2022 edition of the Nigerian Investor Value (NIVA) Awards.
The highly coveted award organised by BusinessDay Media and Nigeria ExchangeLimited recognises outstanding private companies that have built strong national brands, market share and reputation for standards and processes, in the Next Bull category.
Formerly known as the Top 25 CEOs & Next Bulls Awards, winners were selected through a proprietary survey carried out by the BusinessDay Research and Intelligence Unit (BRIU) with respondents, including equity analysts, retail and institutional investors, financial journalists, sectoral experts and professional advisers.
Speaking on the feat, Recare General Manager, Mr. Chijioke Anaele, said the recognition has further inspired the company and its flagship brand, the Natures Gentle Touch haircare range to do more for the Nigerian women.
“We received the latest award in our kitty with great enthusiasm. The NIVA Next Bull award reinvigorates our mission of offering women haircare solutions that aid them to express individuality, unleash personal style, and reveal inner beauty through the knowledge of beauty and style. It has given us more reasons to do more,” Anaele said.
Speaking further on the company founded over 25 years by Mr. Chika Ikenga, Anaele noted that, “The story of Recare’s Natures Gentle Touch aligns with the Nigerian women. From the beginning, it set out to be deliberately different. The objective was to provide every woman with a hair that is 100percent healthy, beautiful and natural through plant-based chemistry and use of organic ingredients from the very beginning.
“The Recare brand empowers users to overcome challenges like dandruff, hair breakage, alopecia, dry hair, receding hair line, slow hair growth, hair loss, weak or damaged hair, dry hair and others to bring out the inner beauty.
“Our footprint continues to grow as our products have become available in many countries in Africa reflecting our determination to bringing world-class personal style solutions closer to millions of women and men,” he stated.
Since 2006, Recare also runs the Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute through which it educates and empowers a new generation of beauty professionals and provide world-class brand experience to consumers.
In the same year, Recare became the first company to manufacture the full no-lye relaxer kit in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited, Mr. Temi Popoola, who was represented by the Divisional Head, Capital Market, Mr. Jude Emeka, said the award by the Businessday Media Limited underlined Nigeria Exchange Group’s goal of promoting actionable and effective multi-stakeholder dialogue on issues central to a well-functioning financial system.
While acknowledging that the winners are worthy and truly deserving the honour, he clarified that the winners were selected from among companies that are active and the investors have expressed strong demand to own their shares.
“As a responsible entity, known for aligning with best global practices, we recognise the importance of corporate governance and effective board leadership in driving sustainability on the business front.
“That is why we choose to not only recognise listed companies who are blazing the trail in investors relations but those also contributing to building a sustainable socio-economic standard in governance, regulation and compliance,” Popoolasaid.
The Publisher, Businessday, Mr Frank Aigbogun, remarked that the NIVA Award recognises leaders of private and public companies who have created sustainable alpha-generating value for their shareholders through strategic priorities, operation efficiency, organisational values and marketing engagement activities.
He explained that COVID-19 was what most companies, including Nigerian businesses, never envisaged but the reality today is that Russian-Ukraine crisis has again emphasised the need for backward integration and value addition to the nation’s primary produce.
By: Amadi Akujobi
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene