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The much-anticipated second edition of the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC) got off to a boisterous start on Tuesday, 24 October 2023 as leading financial institution -Fidelity Bank Plc -hosted a broad range of businesses, regulators, members of the diplomatic corps and other guests to the opening ceremony in Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Tagged FITCC Houston, the two-day event is aimed at achieving several objectives including increasing the pipeline of Nigerian businesses that export into the US market, providing the diaspora market with more ethnic product options and enabling exporters to build capacity to improve product quality and meet international standards.

Welcoming participants to the event, MD/CEO, of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said, “Developments on the global scene have necessitated the need to constantly seek viable alternatives as businesses work to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving macro-economic environment.

On the supply side, businesses are waking up to the imperative of catering to an international customer base to hedge against currency devaluation risks, increase the reach of their products, and ultimately ensure the long-term sustainability of their ventures. Indeed, globalization has emphasized the need for businesses to improve in terms of cross-border offerings and collaborations.

“To bridge these gaps, we created the Fidelity International Trade & Creative Connect (FITCC) in 2022 and hosted the inaugural edition of the expo in London last November.

At the event, we had over 100 Nigerian businesses connected to United Kingdom business counterparts and deals worth about 200 million dollars closed on the spot and post-event. This year, we are taking it a notch higher as we aim to close deals worth about 250 million dollars. We have therefore put in place an elaborate experience to help stakeholders achieve this and several other objectives at this expo.

Following the welcome address, keynote and goodwill addresses were presented by the President and chairman of the Board of Directors of AfricaExport–Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Benedict Oramah; and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr Uzoma Emenike respectively.

A key part of the event was the exhibition which featured more than 160 Nigeria and US-based businesses active in the fintech, commodities, fashion, cosmetics, service, creative, agriculture and extractive industries in the non-oil sector.

One of the exhibitors and the Founder/CEO, of Oriki Spa, Joyce Awosika said, “We look forward to meeting all our amazing customers and we promise them an impactful experience with our products that would leave a lasting impression. We urge them to join us at booth 520 here at FITCC Houston.”

The expo also featured the signing of a $40 million pre-export finance facility in favour of JohnVents Industries -one of the exhibitors at the expo. The loan, which has been adjudged as a landmark development by analysts in the export space -would be provided by AFREXIM Bank with Fidelity Bank acting as the local administrative agent.

“We are delighted to participate in the tripartite loan signing ceremony as it demonstrates the size of the opportunity in the Nigerian cocoa market and its potential to meet the demand of off-takers in the US. The ceremony also highlights the value of our partnership with AFREXIM Bank especially in providing much-needed credit to last-mile beneficiaries to upscale their operations and cater to a global market. These align with our objectives for FITCC and we are thrilled to host the formal deal signing event here”, commented an elated Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe in a chat with journalists at the event.

Day 1 of FITCC Houston closed out with a fashion show dedicated to unique Nigerian pieces. Themed, “The Connect Plus Fashion Show”, the event featured elegantly styled models adorning distinctive and culturally inspired designs from several Nigerian labels including Bijelly Couture, Eclectic Chique and MODChic. The fashion show also provided networking opportunities for guests and participants.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

The bank was recognized as the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. The bank has also won awards for the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

The Federal Government will on Friday stop the salaries of any public officer whose records could not be verified on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, and made available to journalists by her Director of Communications, Mohammed Ahmed, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, a two-week verification, which will end on Friday, October 27, 2023, was put in place as an act of magnanimity for officers who did not participate in the earlier verifications.

“Adequate arrangements were put in place for a smooth exercise in designated areas of the FCT, however, the officers’ impatience and lack of orderliness in the first two days made the exercise rowdy. This has been duly addressed and the two-week exercise, scheduled to end on Friday, October 27, 2023, is progressing very well.

“The verification of records of all civil servants will be finalised at the end of the ongoing exercise and any officer whose record could not be verified will be delisted from the payroll of government,” the statement read.

It recalled that in 2013, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, being the repository of official records and information on all public servants, was saddled with the responsibility of cleansing the record on the payroll.

Leveraging technology, the statement added that the office opened a verification portal in April 2017 and directed all public servants to carry out online updates of their records.

The office, it added, carried out aggressive sensitisation and publicity via official, conventional, and social media.
According to the statement, an initial period of three months was given for compliance, which was extended to one year, May 2018, to enable all officers to update their records.

The statement added, “Sequel to another wide publicity accompanied by numerous pre-verification sensitisation visits by IPPIS staff to Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments, and Agencies nationwide, the second phase of the exercise, the physical verification, commenced in 2018.

In this regard, 500 staff from the OHCSF were trained and deployed, in well-communicated and coordinated phases, to the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT between 2018 and 2019 to enable officers to carry out the physical verification in their states and save them to from traveling to Abuja.

The statement further maintained that some erring officers’ pleas to be given the last opportunity to comply were granted, adding that the portal was, therefore, reopened from October 3-13, 2023, for them to update their records and now to Friday, October 27, 2023, before action is taken on defaulters.

United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, has said that 2,360 children have died in counter attacks on Gaza Strip.

The aid group, which spoke of the “relentless attacks” said 5,364 children have been injured.

Since the surprise Hamas attacks on October 7, Israel’s army have been bombing targets in the Gaza Strip and preparing a ground offensive in the sealed-off coastal area.

“The situation in the Gaza Strip is a growing stain on our collective conscience. The rate of death and injuries of children simply staggering,” said Adele Khodr, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

He said the Gaza Strip is suffering from acute water shortages, with severe consequences for children, who make up about 50 per cent of the population.

UNICEF urged all parties to agree to a ceasefire, provide humanitarian access and release all hostages.

President Bola Tinubu has approved N18bn as Group Life Assurance benefits and other entitlements for families of fallen servicemen and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Leading reporters gathered that the President announced the approval at the Launch of the Emblem Appeal for the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

“I have approved the sum of N18bn for the payment of the Group Life Assurance benefits and other entitlements to the families of service members who lost their lives in line of duty,” Tinubu said.

He added that this was in appreciation of the sacrifices of the men and women of the armed forces and to underscore the government’s commitment to their welfare.

He affirmed his administration’s continuing support to the armed forces by repositioning the institutions for better service.

According to him, “We owe a debt of gratitude to our gallant troops, who have risen to the challenge of securing this great nation.”

Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau has sworn-in Amos Yohanna as the new Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District.

He was inaugurated at the commencement of sitting on Wednesday by Barau, who presided over the plenary.

Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) replaced Elisha Abbo, who was sacked by the Appeal Court last Monday.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja voided the election of Abbo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abbo: Akpabio orchestrated my sack from Senate, Orji Kalu is his next target

I have no hand in your removal from Senate, Akpabio replies Abbo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abbo winner of the February 25, 2023 parliamentary election, but Yohanna rejected the result and headed for the court.

The tribunal, in its judgement, dismissed the Yohanna’s petition for lacking in merit.

The PDP’s candidate, through his counsel Johnson Usman (SAN), approached the Appeal Court.

The Court of Appeal, after hearing arguments from parties, agreed with Usman that based on Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the results tendered clearly showed that there was no compliance with the Electoral Act.

The court, thereafter, deducted the invalid votes from the parties and found that Yohanna and PDP won the election by majority of lawful votes.

The three-member panel presided over by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme, in a judgement, ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Yohanna as validly elected lawmaker for the senatorial district.

Reacting to the judgement, Abbo alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was behind his removal from the Senate.

Akpabio denied the allegation, saying he had no hands in the appeal court judgement.

Twenty-four hours later, he recanted and apologised to Akpabio.

“I had a discussion with my leader, senior brother, colleague and the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Akpabio and I am convinced that he was not involved in my exit from the Senate,” Abbo said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has appointed Dr. Barivure Fred Kpakol as his Senior Special Assistant on Environment and Waste Management.

A statement signed by the Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, said Kpakol’s extensive experience and qualifications make him a valuable addition to the FCT Administration’s dedicated team.

The new appointee was born on the 26th of May, 1961, in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State and has a remarkable academic background..

The FCTA statement noted that the Rivers-born appointee holds a doctorate degree in Banking and Finance from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

Notable positions he has held include: Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Rivers State Commissioner for Finance, Vice Chairman of the PDP in Rivers South East Senatorial Zone, Executive Chairman of Gokana Local Government, State Secretary of Rivers State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON.

Some unknown gunmen have killed three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were fishing in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

The chairman of Agagbe IDP camp in Gwer West LGA, Ibaah Terna Jacob, confirmed the incident to journalists on Wednesday.

Jacob said that the men went fishing on Monday but were accosted by the armed invaders who gunned them down.

He identified the victims as Igbahemba Abua, Iorhemba Cletus and Akaa Clifford.

Jacob said that they had gone fishing in Gbange/Tongov council ward of Gwer West and did not return home.

He said during a search for them, an eyewitness informed them that they were chased by armed invaders who opened gunfire on them.

The camp manager added that by Tuesday morning, the corpses of the trio were found after an intense search.

He said the bodies have since been buried.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has deleted the names of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the list of candidates for the forthcoming Bayelsa State gubernatorial election.

INEC on Tuesday released the amended lists of candidates for the Bayelsa and Imo States governorship elections and uploaded the same on the commission’s website.

The list was also signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the column for the names of the APC candidate and his running mate was left blank with “court order” remarks.

The Secretary, Oriaran-Anthony, in the amended document, explained that the commission’s action was in obedience to court orders on the lists served on the commission.

She stated that the commission published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9 following the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.

However, she noted that the commission was served with a court order regarding the nomination of the APC candidate for the Bayelsa State governorship election.

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the commission is bound to enforce the orders of the court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.

“The amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of court served on the commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.