Zenith-Prudential Insurance berths in Nigeria

Zenith-Prudential, the outcome of the partnership between Zenith Life Insurance and Prudential Life has berthed in Nigeria’s Insurance landscape.

“The union is set to literarily redefine the Nigerian insurance sector considering the pedigree of Prudential Plc, as one of the oldest and most capitalized life insurance companies in the world and Zenith Life been one of the fastest growing life insurance companies in Nigeria, with gross written premium of N3.3 billion at the end of 2016,” a spokesperson for Zenith, Victor Adojie, said in a statement emailed to PREMIUM TIMES.

Zenith Life, incorporated in 2001, has grown its gross written premium by 22 per cent per annum over the last five years.

According to the Head, Corporate Communication for the Zenith Group, Mr. Victor Adojie, the partnership, will see Zenith Life trading as Zenith-Prudential Life, and also involves an exclusive bancassurance agreement with Zenith Bank Plc in Nigeria and Ghana.

The partnership and bancassurance agreement will allow Prudential access to Nigeria’s huge 180 million-market, which is the largest in Africa, Mr. Adojie said.

Prudential Plc was founded in London in 1848 and, together with its affiliated companies, constitutes one of the world’s leading financial services groups, serving around 24 million insurance customers, with £599 billion of assets under management (as at 31 December 2016).

The company, which has operations in the UK, the US, Africa and 14 markets in Asia, is incorporated in England and Wales and is listed on the stock exchanges in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York.

Jim Ovia, Founder of Zenith Bank and Zenith Life, said: “This landmark transaction is set to redefine the life insurance industry in Nigeria. Given the combination of Zenith Life’s local presence with one of the world’s oldest and most successful life insurers, we expect Zenith-Prudential Life to act as a significant catalyst within the sector. We anticipate creating thousands of employment opportunities in Nigeria by embarking on this transformational deal”

Matt Lilley, Chief Executive of Prudential Africa, said: “Today’s announcement is an important milestone for Prudential and our growing portfolio of high quality life insurance businesses in Africa. We are excited by the opportunity of partnering with Zenith Bank, one of the largest and most dynamic banks in Africa, and working with our new colleagues to build Zenith-Prudential into a leader in Nigeria’s growing life insurance industry.”

In his contribution, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Peter Amangbo, said: “Zenith Bank has always sought to partner with best-in-class global players. By developing a bancassurance offering in conjunction with Zenith-Prudential Life, we will be positioned to offer our clients a greater bouquet of products, enhancing our ability to meet their financial needs.”

Zenith Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s biggest banks, provides corporate, business and personal banking products through its network of over 350 branches, serving millions of customers

HEINEKEN AFRICA FOUNDATION AND NIGERIAN BREWERIES DONATE MULTI MILLION NAIRA NEO NATAL EQUIPMENT TO LUTH.

Heineken Africa Foundation (HAF) in collaboration with Nigerian Breweries Plc (NB Plc) on Thursday, July 13, 2017, commissioned an upgraded neo natal ward at the Lagos University Teaching hospital, LUTH.

The project involved a physical and infrastructural upgrade of electrical installations to modern versions as well as a provision of piped oxygen and air to the neonatal unit complex. It also involved an upgrade of plumbing facilities to ensure availability of potable water in the unit.

The facility was also equipped with 2 Bubble CPAP Machine Systems, 1 Neo Puff F/P Resuscitator, 12 Phototherapy units, 2 Pulse Oximeters, 8 baby incubators and 4 Multiparameter monitors, 6 infusion pumps, 6 Humidifiers continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) Spares, 1 ISTAT Blood Gas Machine and two weighing scales.

Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, representing Johan Doyer, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc revealed that the Heineken Africa Foundation partners with Heineken Operating Companies like Nigerian Breweries Plc, in Africa to execute projects in communities identified with health and water challenges.

“The Heineken Africa Foundation was established to support projects that improve healthcare and water supply for communities in Sub-Saharan Africa where access to basic healthcare and clean water poses a challenge,” Ekanem said.

Ekanem further stressed that the donation is in line with Nigerian Breweries philosophy of winning with Nigeria. “As we win with Nigeria, we want other sectors of the economy to win and have significant growth that would positively affect the lives of the people,” he said.

Professor Chris Bode, Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, represented by Professor Olufemi Fasanmade expressed his profound gratitude to Heineken Africa Foundation and Nigerian Breweries Plc, commending the donation as phenomenal and comparable to none embarked upon by any corporate organization in the country.

“Nigerian Breweries Plc and Heineken Africa Foundation has brought succor to our aged infrastructures in LUTH which will save over 400 new borns that come to us through referrals monthly,” he said.

Professor Chinyere Ezeaka, Head, Neo Natology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH and President, Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine, NISONM, revealed that the facilities provided by HAF and NB will help challenge the index record which placed Nigeria as the country with the highest infant mortality rate in Africa and second highest infant mortality rate in the world. She applauded their commitment to healthcare and called on other organizations to take giant strides in the direction that the nation’s foremost brewer and its mother company, Heineken, has set.

Other guests present at the commissioning ceremony included Honourable Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, member, Federal House of Representatives, Mushin II Constituency, Lagos, Mrs. Christiana Odiazikwor, Public Relations Officer, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) who also represented the acting Director of NAFDAC as well as other professors of medicine, doctors, nurses, students and other staff of the hospital.

Since its inception in 2007, the Heineken Africa Foundation in collaboration with operating companies of Heineken in Africa has committed over €7.2 million to support over 83 projects focused on health and water across the African continent. In Nigeria, the collaboration between the foundation and Nigerian Breweries has impacted Vesicovaginal fistula, autism, accident and emergency care, among other medical specialties across Nigeria.

Dr Chris Okafor Set To Stage Two Night With The King In Lagos

The Annual prophetic Liberation program of greater liberation City worldwide, set for night with the king, the event will hold in Lagos Nigeria.

This year program is tagged Two night with the king because the program will hold for two days and with two prophetic man of God at the centre stage, the program is slated for 27th and 28th of July at the Tafawa Balewa squares Victoria Island Lagos. Thursday July 27 programme start by 4pm while the second day 28th will be a night vigil and will start by 7pm till every one that attends gets breakthrough. The chief host is the generational prophet Dr Chris Okafor, senior prophet greater liberation city world wide, while the guest prophet is Prophet Jeremiah omoto fufeyin. The general overseer of Christ mercy land deliverance ministry warrior, south west Nigeria. According to the visional, Dr Chris Okafor,said God is set and willing to give his people double portion of anointing that will breaks forth his people from any bondage of captivities from the kingdom of darkness, he said last year edition of programme recorded lots of testimony and he heard from God clearly that this year edition will be double in every ramification. Dr Chris Okafor also remarked that each day will be handle by one prophet saying it will be very difficult for the kingdom of darkness to escape this time around with the people, he said in as much as the people are willing to attend the program, there life will never remain the same.  Free transportation has been put in place for people in various part of Lagos to make movement easy for them.

Prominent gospel artiste as been line up to spark up the programme for the worshippers, among them are MO,from South African, Gozie Okeke,Eben,Joe Praise, Gabriel Peters,Amaka Joel and Samuel Out among others, a special thanksgiving service will come up at the greater liberation city international headquarter on the 30th of July 3017.

Real reason why Shareholders call for Keystone Bank MD, Ikeazor’s removal over N4.2bn illegal transaction

If the latest  information reaching us is anything to believe, then, these are not the best of times for Mr. Phillip Ikeazor, the managing director/chief executive officer of Keystone Bank Limited over an alleged N4.2 billion illegal transaction as some aggrieved shareholders of the bank have expressed dissatisfaction with the poor performance of the bank’s chief and are therefore calling for his resignation.

We learnt, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised a team to interrogate the managing director/chief executive officer of alongside two other directors of the bank.

The two other directors under investigation by the agency, a source at the anti-graft agency said, are the executive director, corporate bank and treasury, Mr. Hafiz Bakare and executive director, North directorate, Dr. Shehu Muhammad.

According to the source, the call for the investigation came on the heels of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) submission urging the anti-graft agency to beam its searchlight on the lender over its illegal movement of N4.2 billion from the Industrial Trust Fund’s account domiciled with the bank.

The committee said circumstances that led to the transfer of the fund without due permission from ITF should be investigated to ascertain the rationale behind such action.

Citing the auditor-general’s report, deputy chairman of the committee, Rep Ibrahim Baba (APC, Bauchi), who presided over the panel’s session on the matter said Keystone Bank moved money thrice from ITF’s account domiciled in the bank in November 2010.

He said on discovering the irregular transaction during one of its audit visits, the auditor-general’s team raised a query on the matter, saying an interest of N23.5 million was supposed to be paid by the bank.

But ITF’s director general, Joseph Ari, in his response said the transaction was carried out without the agency’s authorization and that the bank had explained that it was done in error.

He read a letter from Keystone Bank in which the bank said it had reversed the transaction but that no interest was paid to ITF.

He said as part of efforts to get the transaction rectified and the accrued interest paid, ITF reported the matter to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and that the apex bank advised an amicable settlement.

He said, however, that despite meeting with the officials of the bank on the matter, no solution could be found. Thus, the committee called on the EFCC to come into the matter with a view to investigating the transaction.

Meanwhile, one of the shareholders who spoke to our correspondent said that until the appointment of Ikeazor, the bank was doing well.

“Phillip Ikeazor does not have the ability to drive the bank. Since he assumed office in 2013, the bank has been struggling for survival; the fortune of the bank has continued to dwindle.”

“Recalled earlier last year, Mr. Ikeazor disclosed plans to sell the bank’s subsidiaries in three West African nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda due to insufficient funds to operate an international license or recapitalize them.” Why won’t it get to that point when he cannot present the bank viable for business?”

“This is an institution that buyers were jostling for as at 2012 but today, reverse is the case.

“He should honourably resign his position for a more competent hand,” the source noted.

Our findings on some of the bank branches showed that they were struggling from low patronage and it has closed down some of them in Lagos. The bank had shut down its Oko-Oba Branch and Ojodu Branch in Lagos.

Efforts to speak with Mrs. Omobolanle Osotule, Head of brands and corporate communications of the bank proved futile as her mobile line was not reachable as at press time.

Keystone Bank is one of the three commercial banks that were acquired by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) through a ‘bridging’ process. The bank was established from the carcass of the defunct Bank PHB in August 2011.

source; berth

FEDERAL SARS ARRESTS JOURNALIST, LAWYER FOR PLANNING TO BLACKMAIL AND EXTORT MILLIONS OF NAIRA FROM OUR DAILY MANNA BISHOP DR CHRIS KWAKPOVWE …….How they demanded for N18million Ransom!

The Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad SARS has arrested a 38-year-old journalist, Ohio Ojeagbase, who allegedly specialised in blackmailing popular pastors and celebrities in the country.

The command also arrested another Lawyer, Barr. Uche Iloani  who was accused of working together with the journalist to extort money from highly placed men of God and prominent people in the country. 

According to investigations and counter investigations we gathered that Mr Ohio had blackmailed many clergymen bout  business men in the country. The suspect according to information made available to us are used to planting people in form of staffers into the homes and working places of their targets to understand all about them and then plan how to penetrate. On the case of Bishop Chris kwakpovwe, the publisher of popular the daily devotional booklet OUR DAILY MANNA, and the General Overseer of the Manna Prayer Mountain,\ they had planted a lady in his ministry to function as a staff whose job is to get the blackmailers updated with information about the Clergy man to ease their blackmail plans It was reliably gathered that one Ms Rita, had been who had been working with the ministry since about 5 years, and who was functioning in the media department HOD  for about two years now, was accused of losing (stealing) media and video equipments worth the tune of N5.6million and

when she was asked to pay which has been the norm in the ministry from inception, that any ,issing item under any HOD will be paid by that HOD and the supervisor! The said RITA absconded from the church ofice claiming she was not a thief. This prompted her arrest by the church/ODM ministry management and a case was filled at the Area H police command in Ogudu, Lagos. It was the arrest that now brought out Barrister Uche Iloano who claimed to be her counsel and asked for her to be released with immediate effect with a plea to the ministry to settle out of court. But as soon as the release was made and bail granted, the journalist Mr OHIO Ojeagbase surfaced and sent a letter with his letter headed paper, Probiters Report, addressed to the bishop for trying to maltreat and threaten the life of one his staff and that they were going to publish a story in that regards. This was when the issues of blackmail started occurring where they now started demanding for millions of naira to kill the story. A meeting was held with this team of people who involved Barrister Uche Iloano, Mr Ohio the journalist and the suspect Ms Rita. And in the meeting after a lot of empty accusations and threat to publish negative story of sexual harrasement and threat to life, etc, about the Bishop, they "agreed" to make a settlement to avoid the story going viral claiming they don’t want to damage the name of the revered man of God. It now seemed at this stage that  they had set up this RITA as mole to record her purported conversations over the years with the bishop. They claimed: "WHATEVER WE TELL THE PUBLIC WILL BE BELEIVED since we have 250 million online membership." They added: " It will take the bishop years to repair any damage done. Please pay up now."  The lawyer therefore asked for N15million naira for inconveniencies tagged as professional fees and the inconveniences  his client Ms Rita had gone through during her arrest, while the Journalist requested for 50% of whatever is paid to the lawyer.  In the pretence of agreeing to their terms, the money was negotiated and they later arrived at N18million for both the journalist and the lawyer.

GIVE US YOUR PROPERTY! 

But when the man of God through his publicist complained of not having up to such amount of money, they suggested to him to bring a property document (ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS) and they will help him facilitate a quick loan from a bank so he can make the payment without stress. This was where the man of God knew it very clearly that this plan was meant to be blackmail him and he promptly reported the case to the police who advised that further meetings BE ELCTRONICALLY RECORED! And that was done! We gathered that another meeting was then arranged for the payment to be made on Wednesday 12 April, 2017 and for them to finally meet with the Bishop at an arranged venue around Ogudu Lagos state. When everyone had arrived for the meeting and they were almost starting, the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad stormed the place and arrested everybody there sited. The case according to the investigative Police Officer IPO, will be charged to court today Thursday 13 April 2017, while other investigations are still ongoing. Speaking on the plot to be blackmailed by the notorious blackmailers, The Bishop told Journalist that he had planned this arrest from the beginning of this whole matter. “The Holy Spirit had told me that this was a plot to bring me down as a man of God but I was proactive in my approach to get to the bottom before they will carry out their nefarious acts and go scot free.”  He added that “Hence this ASTONISHING RECORDED EVIDENCE and their eventual arrested. Let the court decide on what their fate will be. Why would people just cook up evil plans and stories to blackmail and try to get wealthy without work? In God I trust."

LAGOS BUSINESS SCHOOL RATED TOP BUSINESS SCHOOL

Lagos Business School has once again been ranked as a top global school by the Financial Times (FT).  This is LBS’ eleventh consecutive appearance in the annual ranking of top business and management education providers in the world done by FT.

According to the FT’s Executive Education 2017 ranking published today in London, LBS is ranked among the most prestigious business schools globally in two categories: open enrollment and customs executive education. The Lagos Business School is one of only four schools in Africa that made the prestigious list.

Dean of LBS, Dr Enase Okonedo in her remarks, reiterated the commitment of the School to providing global standard business and management education. “The FT ranking is further recognition of our continuous efforts at providing world class business and management education with local relevance to Nigeria and Africa. Our business school’s determination for excellence has also recently been recognized by our accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the association of MBA’s (AMBA).”

Dr. Okonedo also added that as part of plans to extend the benefit of LBS education to other Africans, the school had been admitting more non-Nigerian nationals to its programmes, and would also be extending its executive education to other African countries. 

The Financial Times of London publishes annually a list of the best management programmes from business schools around the world, based on the quality of learning, staff and student diversity, growth in business and international reach.  

Other schools that made this year’s ranking apart from Lagos Business School are the Harvard Business School, USA, the IESE Business School, Spain, and IMD in Switzerland. Others in Africa include the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), USB Executive Development and Graduate School of Business, all in South Africa.

FRAUD ALERT; HOW ACCESS BANK, GTBANK CONSPIRE TO DEFRAUD A LADY BEATRICE EMMANUEL OF 1.6MILLION

The attention of the media has been drawn to the recent attitude of some financial institutions who make it very easy for fraudsters to carry out their nefarious capacity without been checked or checkmated. 

The popular notorious billionaire kidnapper Evans has also indicted some banks, who he claims some of its victims pays ransomed to him through some of these commercial banks, the case of this young lady Beatrice Emmanuel is also peculiar to the victims of  Evans through the ways ransoms are been paid by the abducted and go scout free, without any hindrance, Beatrice Emmanuel met a dealer who claims he has been banking with Access bank and GTbank for over two decade promise to sell a Toyota Camry for miss Beatrice Emmanuel for 1.6million,after the agreement the lady paid 300,00 to Mr. john the dealer with account details with GTbank with account name Nwakwo Ugoma John. 0170278729 after collecting 1million cash, the same

Mr. John presented another account with Access bank, with account name Aloye Destination Agbule, 0065632795; he collected 50,000 and 80,000 respectively with these same account. All effort by Beatrice Emmanuel to lodge complain about the true identity of the true owner of these two account prove abortive as the bank official says they are not part of the transactions. She has also reported the case to the police. But the question is, why cants access bank and Gtbank fish out the true owners of those accounts been used by fraudster and that fraudster is handed over to the security operatives. INFORMATION AT OUR DISPOSAL INDICATED that the said Mr. John is a driver popularly called ogoja man at four point Hotel by Sheraton, sand fill lekki taxi park. We will bring more gist’s an also a follow up stories on many others banks these fraudster uses to defraud Nigerians in our subsequent bulletins.