L-R: Deputy President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Shola Tinubu; Chief Executive, British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA), Mr. Steve White; NCRIB President, Mr. Emmanuel Okunoren and Executive Secretary, NCRIB, Mr. Fatai Adegbenro at the ongoing BIBA Conference in Manchester, United Kingdom.
NCRIB President Attends BIBA Conference in UK
Digital Corporate Communications, Digital PR, Public Affairs MasterClass
We are delighted to invite you to attend or nominate some members of your team to attend this special and very unique Digital Corporate Communications, Digital PR and Digital Public Affairs MasterClass.
This comprehensive two-day programme is designed to help PR, corporate communications and public affairs leaders and professionals to get maximum benefit from integrating digital and social media into their PR strategies and programmes.
The MasterClass will show senior PR and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs leaders how they can deploy the latest digital communications tools and techniques to deliver tangible business and organisational benefits generate new business, improve reputation, nurture corporate citizenship and sustainability, retain loyal customers across all customers touch points and increase profitability for growth of the organisation.
The course is scheduled to take place as follow:
Date: 30 – 31 May 2017
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Daily
Venue: NECA House, Plot 42 Hakeem Balogun St., Central Business District, Alausa Ikeja Lagos.
Course Fee: N90,000. 00 per participant (early bird – N80,000. 00 for registration & payment before 20th May)
Names of nominees/attendees should be sent by e-mail to: [email protected] and copy [email protected]. You can also call and speak with the Programme Manager on Tel: +2348027922649. Register today and enjoy early-bird discount on regular course fee.
MASTER TRAINER/COURSE DIRECTOR PROFILE – Stuart Bruce MPRCA FCIPR
Stuart Bruce has earned an international reputation as a pioneer, thought-leader and doer in modernised public relations and public affairs.
After selling his stake in a PRWeek Top 150 consultancy that he co-founded he now works as an independent public relations advisor and trainer delivering public relations, marketing and communications training programmes all over the world.
He is internationally recognised for his expertise in digital PR, online communications and social media with an emphasis on corporate communications, public affairs, government communications and B2B public relations. He has more than 27 years’ experience and is one of the world’s first PR bloggers, writing www.stuartbruce.biz si nce 2003.
He was co-founder and managing director of one of the UK’s first online PR consultancies growing it in less than three years into a PRWeek Top 150 Consultancy and Top 30 Digital Consultancy. He is an elected member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) council, founder member of its Social Media Panel, co-author of two PR books – Share This and Share This Too. The CIPR is the world’s only PR organisation accredited and regulated by a rigorous Royal charter.
Stuart is a visiting lecturer at Leeds Beckett University teaching international post-graduate students. He is a CIPR accredited public relations practitioner and also an official trainer for the CIPR and the Institute of Internal Communications (IoIC).
He has provided training to public relations, marketing and communication professionals from more than 40 countries and has run in country training in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia, Turkey, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Georgia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the USA.
His consultancy and training clients include corporations, governments and not-for-profit organisations.
PenCom: ‘Accrued Benefits Ready for Federal Retirees’
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says employees of federal ministries, departments and agencies who retired between January and August 2016 can now commence the process of collecting their retirement benefits through their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) as their accrued benefits have been credited to their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs).
A statement signed by Mr. Emeka Onuora, Head, Corporate Communications at PenCom, says the Federal Government and PenCom salutes the courage, patience and perseverance of the retirees during the period when resources were being mobilised to pay their accrued rights.
The Commission also stated that arrangements are being made to pay the next batch consisting of those that retired between September and December 2016.
“The Commission remains solidly committed to ensuring that retirement benefits are paid as and when due.”
‘Kwara State Not Owing Pension, Salaries’
Kwara State is fully up to date with payment of pension and salaries to its pensioners and workers despite the economic situation in the country.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to Kwara State Governor, Dr. Muyideen Oluwafemi Akorede, said the governor was able to achieve this through intense reform of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state and cutting down the cost of governance by 40 per cent.
He stressed that contrary to reports in a newspaper (not this newspaper) that the state is owing 11 months salaries and pension, the State does not have any pension or salary arrears.
He disclosed that the only arrears are with workers and pensioners at the local government level which have a separate allocation from the federal government.
He said the local governments are also not owing 11 months as speculated but only have various degrees of arrears of one and half month, 3 months or 6 months depending on the IGR capacity and the allocation.
Akorede further explained that the local government is a different tier of government and, with special regards to the case of Kwara state, is autonomous.
“The state government is not owing pension or salaries except for local governments which are a different tier of government and, with special regards to the case of Kwara state, are autonomous. Their funds by law come through the state and are allocated publicly by a body comprising the chairmen of the local governments, their treasurers and the state commissioner for finance as well as labor leaders.
“What we have are various degrees of arrears. Now, the local government allocations have dropped from about N2.7 billion on average to about N1.6 billion this month. Meanwhile, the local government councils require N2.1 billion to pay primary and junior secondary teachers, workers and pensioners, not to talk of running governance, monthly. So they pay whatever proportion of their salaries and pensions that a particular month covers. This is just due to the drop in allocation to all tiers of government in the country.
“Despite the drop in allocation, however, Governor Ahmed has often come to the aid of the local governments by augmenting their allocation. The last one was to the tune of N280 million. But these funds have to be appropriated in the budget. So, the governor’s hands are tied to the extent that he can help the local governments. The local governments cannot be blamed either. If we look at it from the perspective of a body that used to get N2.7 billion monthly allocation and has now dropped to N1.4 billion but requires N2.1billion to meet their financial obligation, such system will certainly have challenges.”
Akorede noted that the problem of local governments in the state also has to do with the fact that they are unable to generate IGR to be able to operate, pay salaries and pensions including arrears.
He, however, stated that the problem is not peculiar to Kwara State local government councils but to several other local governments in the country which have similar challenges.
He further stated that despite its comparatively lean resources, the Kwara State government also continues to implement infrastructure projects.
Equity Market Remains Upbeat… NSE ASI Advances for 8th Session
The Nigerian equities market sustained its bullish run today, extending gains to the 8th consecutive session, as the All Share Index (ASI) advanced 1.3% to close at 26,756.21 points.
The bullish close took the benchmark index MTD gain to 3.9% while paring YTD loss to 0.4%. In turn, investors gained N116.8m as market capitalisation rose to N9.2tn. Performance was buoyed by gains in market heavyweights across sectors – DANGCEM(+1.6%), NIGERIAN BREWERIES (+1.5%), GUARANTY (+1.7) and OANDO (+10.1%). However, activity level was mixed as volume traded surged 101.5% to 539.2m units while value traded fell 13.6% to settle at N2.8bn.
Industrial Goods Index Emerges Lone Loser
Performance across sectors remained overwhelmingly positive as all indices closed in the green save for the Industrial Goods index which dipped 0.3% on account of profit-taking in WAPCO(-2.2%) which offset gains in DANGCEM (+1.6%).
The Banking index led sector gainers, up 2.2% on the back of strong appetite for Tier-1 banks – GUARANTY (+1.7%), UBA (+4.5%) and ACCESS (+4.9%). The Oil & Gas index followed, adding 0.7% on account of price appreciation in OANDO (+10.1%).
Likewise, the Insurance and Consumer Goods indices advanced 0.7% apiece against the backdrop of rally in WAPIC (+4.0%), NIGERIANBREWERIES (+1.5%) and PZ (+4.7%).
Investor Sentiment Strengthens Further
Investor sentiment strengthened significantly as market breadth improved to 4.3x from 2.1x recorded yesterday, as 34 stocks advanced whilst only 9 declined.
The gainers chart was topped by OANDO (+10.1%), FIDSON (+9.5%) and TRANSCORP (+7.1%) while LINKASSURE (-3.7%), DANGSUGAR (-3.6%) and TOTAL (-2.4%) led the laggards list.
The continuous positive momentum in equities well after the Q1 earnings season suggests risk appetite for Naira assets trading at attractive valuation is strengthening across board. As noted yesterday, the equities market breached the over-bought boundary with 14-Day RSI currently at 74.8.
We see an increasing likelihood of profit taking by investors in subsequent sessions but maintain a positive short term perspective for equities.
Market Statistics Tuesday, 9th May 2017
| Market Cap (N’bn) | 9,249.0 |
| Market Cap (US$’bn) | 30.3 |
| NSE All-Share Index | 26,756.21 |
| Daily Performance % | 1.3 |
| Week Performance % | 2.4 |
| YTD Performance % | (0.4) |
| Daily Volume (Million) | 539.2 |
| Daily Value (N’bn) | 9.2 |
| Daily Value (US$’m) | 10.7 |
New NEXIM MD, Abubakar Bello, Assumes Office
The new Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr Abubakar Bello yesterday ceremonially took over the reins of leadership of the Bank from Mr. Bashir M. Wali, who was the Acting MD till Thursday, April 20, 2017.
The handover ceremony was a mere formality as the new team headed by Mr. Bello had resumed at the Bank with immediate effect on April 21st upon their appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari as communicated to the NEXIM Bank by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on Thursday, April 20th, 2017.
Obabori of RedStar Express Wins Courier Personality Award
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Red Star Express Plc, Sola Obabori has been named the Courier Personality of the year at the 9th edition of the ‘Beacon of Information and Communication Technology’ award organised by ICT Weekly news publication, CommunicationWeek.
According to organisers, the award is “merit-centric and designed to reward individuals and firms that have helped make life better for Nigerians” in terms of service offerings and performance.
Obabori was chosen for the award because of his exceptional leadership in spearheading new frontiers in the Courier and logistics industry.
An astute management professional with long and outstanding Sales and Marketing career with an accounting and finance background, he has consolidated the Red Star Express Group as the leading brand in the Courier industry in the country.
Red Star Express under the leadership of Obabori has invested in new infrastructures to further actualize the objectives of the company in providing world class one-stop logistics solutions to both private and corporate clients.
The company holds the franchise of two great brands in Nigeria. It is a licensee of FedEx, the world biggest air cargo logistics solution provider and TNT, with Europe’s largest land connection.
‘WA Needs Uniform Insurance Regulation’
Mr. Eddie Efekoha, Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) says the insurance industry in West Africa needs uniform regulation to create standard for insurance market across member states in West Africa, promote technical knowledge sharing amongst member state underwriter and regulators, standardise certain insurance product package and benefits and promote confidence and business sharing or exchange among players within the sub region.
Efekoha said in a paper he delivered at the 2017 WAICA conference in Banjul, The Gambia that other benefits include need to increase the existing low level penetration, have a harmonised regulatory standard, reduce premium flight outside the region and need to have an insurance framework to support regional business transactions
He said however that a harmonied regulatory regime in the region could face challenges due to
differences in the soundness of national macroeconomic and financial sector policies, nations are at different levels in the development of public infrastructure, effectiveness of market discipline and efficiency in financial markets differs within the region, absence of a single currency, governance structure of the various national regulatory system are not the same, state of development of the legal systems are at various levels and differences in level of technological growth.
“The insurance sector represents a significant part of the financial system and plays an important role in the economy. Regional business walls in the supply of insurance products are increasingly being broken down, institutions and individuals may want to leverage arbitrage opportunities hence the need for regulation. Regulation of insurance business in the West Africa sub region is largely underdeveloped. There are basic differences in insurance supervisory standards within the sub-region.”
Efekoha said the objectives of insurance regulation includes minimising and where possible prevent anything that routinely causes insurers to go out of business and unable to pay claims, prevent unfair and deceptive policies and practices since insurance contracts promise to make certain payments under certain conditions at some point in the future, ensure that adequate information are available to consumers of insurance products and to encourage the availability of insurance products that have been made compulsory.
He recommended strengthening the individual countries’ regulatory structure through total autonomy,
ensure financial independence of the regulatory system in each of the countries within the sub-region while regulatory institutions should build the needed human capacity for effective market surveillance.
“There must be deliberate efforts to foster relationship within the sub region financial sector. Trade Associations must be strengthened to play a collaborative role in the harmonisation process. Technical capacity requirement amongst member states must be standardised. Build on the ECOWAS Brown Card System. Borrow a leave from the francophone countries, already have a harmonised regulatory framework and need to build African market for African. “
Agent Banking Grows by 1000 New Agents Monthly
Launched in 2016, Quickteller Paypoint was designed to take financial services to the nooks and crannies of Nigerian communities, providing access to under-served markets.
Revealed at the maiden Quickteller Paypoint agents forum which held in Lagos recently; about 40 agents were onboarded during the first few months of operation.
As at March 2017, the agent base had grown at an average rate of 1000 new agent sign ups monthly bringing the total number of active agents to about 6,000 and growing.
This lends credibility to the consistency of the service and how it is changing lives and empowering Nigerians all over the country.
At this steady growth rate of approximately 33.3 new agents per day one can say that hitting the long-term vision of 150,000 active agents in 5 years is well within reach.
Speaking at the agent forum, Ridwan Lateef of RMAX Systems who emerged the Star Agent of the year thanked Quickteller Paypoint saying that the difference is now clear between Paypoint and other similar players. He went further to encourage his fellow agents saying
“To all agents present here, I can guarantee you that you are with the right team, to boost your business, it’s not all about making fast money transfers, there is need for trust. If you can win your customers trust, your business will grow”.
Mr. Ridwan having completed the highest number of transactions over the year was rewarded with N300,000 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to Kenya. Ajayi Modupe Temitope of Shoduts Nigeria ltd. who was 2nd was rewarded with N200,000 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to Kenya while Nwokoma Nkechi of Ezehop Integrated, Port Harcourt, who came 3rd was rewarded with N100,000 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to Kenya.
Divisional CEO, Interswitch Financial Inclusion (IFIS), Mr. Mike Ogbalu also revealed that while in Kenya, the 3 star agents would be attending a training on advanced digital financial services courtesy of Quickteller Paypoint.
Other agents present were recognised and rewarded with Generators, GOTV decoders, Standing fans and rechargeable fans.
Linkage Assurance MD: Reform to Increase Value Creation for Shareholders
The on-going reforms in the Nigerian Insurance sector being driven by the industry regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) would increase industry capacity for big ticket accounts, greater contribution to GDP and more value creation for shareholders.
According to Dr Pius Apere, Managing Director/CEO, Linkage Assurance Plc “one of the reforms, ‘Risk Based Capital Regime in the Risk Based Supervision Framework’ would further redefine the way insurance is delivered in this country and offer more rewarding benefits to the generality of Nigerians.
Dr Apere made the remarks at the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the closing gong ceremony on the floor of the NSE.
director/CEO, Linkage Assurance Plc and Imo Oyewole, non-executive director, Linkage Assurance Plc at the closing gong ceremony at The Exchange in Lagos.
Apere who led other directors and executive management to the NSE said insurance in Nigeria is now better positioned to reward investors, as capacity for business has grown as well as increased consumer awareness.
“The Risk-based Capital supervision (RBS) about to be introduced by the insurance regulator (NAICOM) in the near future, when fully implemented, will increase the need for capital injection within the Nigerian insurance industry in order to underwrite more special and/or large risks.”
“This is likely to increase mergers and acquisitions within Nigerian insurance industry. Consequently, the drive to inject new capital (through foreign and local investors) will surely increase the trading activities of most insurance companies’ shares/stocks on the Exchange.”
He told stockbrokers and management of the NSE that Linkage Assurance Plc has repositioned to deliver increased value to all stakeholders, assuring its investors that the company going forward would continue to enhance returns on investment for its shareholders.
Apere further informed the stockbrokers that the future looks bright for the company, given the result of its restructuring which is beginning to impact on the company’s overall performance.
“Linkage Assurance Plc is currently underwriting only non-life insurance business with 14 branches operating across the regions in Nigeria. The Board of Linkage’s current strategic direction is to diversify the company’s business activities in order to achieve a sustainable growth in gross premium income (GPI) thereby increasing market share and adding more value to its shareholders in the nearest possible future.”
He also stated that the strategic business plans of the company may include underwriting of life insurance business in order to become a composite insurance company leading to enhancement of its competitive advantage.
“The above would require new capital injection in order to achieve this strategic decision. Thus, we are likely to engage the services of the stock brokers to raise the required capital.”
Linkage Assurance Plc recently unveiled seven new products as part of its strategy to deepen penetration and gain larger market share.
“Linkage has recently repositioned itself to demonstrate innovation and creativity by designing and launching budget-friendly insurance products in order to deepen the insurance penetration required within the Nigerian insurance industry, Apere said.
“We are poised to become more competitive and that is why we have developed these products to meet customers need.”
The new products include Linkage Estate Insurance Plan; Linkage Events Insurance Xclusive; Linkage SME Comprehensive Plan; Linkage Shop Insurance Cover; Linkage Citadel Shield Plan; Linkage Purple Motor Plan and Linkage Third Party Plus.
Law Union & Rock Insurance Settles N1.5bn Claims in 2016
Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc paid claims of N1.5 billion in 2016 and another N380 million in the first quarter of 2017 to underline its corporate commitment to settlement of claims as part of its customer-friendly policy. The company also has a 5-day claim payment policy for effective and efficient claims processing regime for the benefit of customers.
Mr. Jide Orimolade, Managing Director/CEO of Law Union & Rock Insurance said yesterday that besides meeting obligations to policyholders, the company is also committed to adding value to customers through strategic innovation that delivers seamless, convenient and stress-free business ecosystem.
“Our strategic innovation driven majorly by ICT has eliminated financial risk in the payment process, ensures product deployment with key features that guarantees edge over the competition and has empowered us to grow our retail business production by nine percent via seamless technology despite the prevailing economic constraints in the market.”
In the 2016 business year, Law Union & Rock reported 100 percent growth in Profit After Tax from N280.9 million in 2015 to N561.8 million while claims ratio dropped from 67 percent to 49 percent in the same period under review. The underwriting result grew by 10 percent to N1.2 billion from N1.1 billion in 2015.
Orimolade said the focus of the company in 2017 is to grow the company’s gross premium written by 50 percent, retain 90 percent of existing customers, grow direct and retail businesses, improve relationship with brokers, achieve improved credit rating from A- to A+ by GCR and become the preferred first choice underwriter in general business in Nigeria.
“The second focus of the company is on process improvement. We are committed to improve our service delivery, improve brand visibility nationwide and develop new products in the area of retail and agricultural insurance. The company is strategically positioned to consolidate on the good financials achieved in 2016 to drive its operations in 2017.”
Global Airlines Financial Monitor: March 2017
- Despite an improved performance by European carriers, the latest financial results for Q4 2016 confirm a second quarter of modest easing in industry-wide profitability – albeit from historically high levels.
- Global airline share prices fell by 1.5% in March, unwinding recent gains, with a correction in the North American index more than offsetting modest gains in Europe and Asia Pacific.
- Brent crude oil prices fell substantially in March, ending ~6.4% lower, at $US52.40/bbl. Oil prices are 30% higher compared with a year ago and are still expected to rise only gradually over the next 2-3 years.
- Although still well down on their year-ago level, average passenger yields are showing preliminary indications of having possible bottomed, after falling steadily for around 4 years.
- The momentum that passenger and freight demand carried into 2017 may be starting to wane, although the data are always more volatile at this time of the year. The industry-wide passenger load factor remains steady at historical record highs, while the freight load factor has eased a little after a strong recovery in 2016.
- Premium airfares continue to hold up better than those of the economy cabin, supporting airline finances.
Glo Plans Internet Connectivity for West African Varsities
Globacom Limited has declared its willingness to provide Internet connectivity to higher institutions of learning in West Africa through its massive telecommunications infrastructure and international partnerships.
Mr. Folu Aderibigbe, Globacom’s Enterprise Group Commercial Coordinator, made the pledge at the third Annual Conference and fourth Annual General Meeting of the West and Central African Research and Educational Network (WACREN) held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
He noted that with the Glo 1 international submarine cable linking Europe and West African countries, Globacom, would love to support WACREN in ensuring all the universities in the region have seamless connectivity to Europe.
Aderibigbe stated this while addressing policy and decision makers, scientists, researchers, network managers, identity and access management experts, and connectivity and equipment providers from across the world who attended the conference. He added that Globacom was in the front position in providing efficient and cost-effective connectivity to organisations and higher institutions in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic.
The summit which had the theme, “Catalyzing Quality Higher Education and Research”, was attended by the head of Glo1 Ghana, Mr. Joseph Odoi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Côte d’Ivoire, Prof. Ramata Bakayoko Ly, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Togo, Prof. Broohm, and the Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex, African Development Bank, Dr. Jennifer Blanke, among other personalities.
The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Togo, Professor Octave Nicoué Broohm, in his own comments at the summit emphasized the need for countries in the region to embrace the growing need for research in higher institutions by rapidly building digital capacities. He said the Togolese government was currently building Data Centres in state universities and restoring optic fibre cable connections to all universities in that country. He said his government planned to remove taxes to help facilitate access to ICT and boost research.
Similarly, Cathrin Stöver, who represented GÉANT, Europe’s leading collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for research and education, stressed the need to drive down the cost of bandwidth in the region and added that Geant has connected 42 universities in 15 years with €100s millions in contributions from the European Union and others. Geant is responsible for connecting higher institutions in Africa to Europe to ensure students in Africa have access to knowledge bases from across the world.
The Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex, African Development Bank, Dr. Jennifer Blanke, stated that investment in research will stimulate and sustain economic growth and development.
The next edition of WACREN holds in 2018 in Lome Togo.
BusinessToday Unveils Nominees for 2016 Award
The management of BusinessToday online, a business online news channel, has unveiled the nominees for the 2016 Nigerian Insurance and Pension Awards.
A statement by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, NKECHI NAECHE said 23 firms drawn from the insurance and pension sectors have been selected for various categories and will be voted for by the public.
She noted that the award which is the fourth in its series was designed to recognise the stride made by firms and individuals, adding that firms and individuals that distinguished themselves will be celebrated at the award ceremony scheduled for the month of May 2017.
Naeche said the Managing Director FBNInsurance Limited, Val Ojumah; Group Managing Director, Royal Exchange Plc, Alhaji Auwalu Muktari and Managing Director/ CEO, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Eddie.Efekoha were nominated for the Insurance Man of the Year category.
According to her, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Sovereign Trust Plc, Niger Insurance Plc, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Leadway Assurance Limited, Royal Exchange Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc and Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc were nominated for Insurance Company of the Year.
Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Fin Insurance Company Limited, NEM Insurance Plc and Royal Exchange Plc were nominated for Most Innovative Insurance Brand Category.
Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc and Royal Exchange Plc were nominated in the Retail Insurance Company Category.
IEI Anchor Pension, AIICO Pension Limited and Premium Pension limited were nominated for Pension Fund Administrator of the Year.
Stanbic IBTC Pension Limited; Pemium Pension limited, PAL Pension Limited, and Leadway Pension Limited were nominated as Most Friendly/Innovative Pension Company.
Africa Reinsurance and Continental Reinsurance were nominted Reinsurance Company while Royal Exchange Plc, Guinea Insurance Plc, Equity Assurance Plc, UnityKapital Insurance and AXA Mansard were nominated for the CSR Company Category.
She called on the public to cast their votes for firms and persons that have distinguished themselves through email: [email protected].
NPA Reiterates Commitment to CSR in Visit to IDPs
The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stated its firm resolve at sustaining the commitment it had established concerning her corporate social responsibility efforts across the country.
The Managing Director of the organization, Hadiza Bala Usman gave this information to a cross section of newsmen in Maiduguri, Borno State whilst handing over relief materials and items procured for internally displaced persons (IDPS) in Borno State in the north eastern part of the federation to the Executive Governor, Hon, Kashim Shettima.
The Managing Director who stated that the organisation had made similar gestures to IDPS in Adamawa and Yobe States added that the organisation is desirous of prioritising its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts as well as sustaining it.
According to her “The NPA believes that there is need to strengthen our CSR which amongst others includes projects addressing the needs of host communities in other not just to enlist support and synergy towards a harmonious mutual dividend”, but to partner government in the quest to provide for IDPS and others that are in need.
Similarly, Hadiza Bala Usman stated that “this continued support is expected of us as a responsible corporate entities and agencies of the federal government of Nigeria.” She called on similar corporate entities to join hands in this very important journey.
The NPA helms person commended Governor Shettima for his commitment and courage in bringing dividends of good governance in a holistic manner to the people even under very difficult situations stressing that the developmental projects running through the state speak volume in this regard.
The executive of the State, Hon. Kashim Shettima appreciated the kind gestures from the NPA MD and promised that the relief items will be judiciously utilised across board in the affected areas, He later enlisted support from stakeholders in the maritime sector and beyond for the NPA MD, in her set agenda of making the NPA a model agency and hub in sub Saharan Africa.
Amongst the relief items unveiled during the event included bags of rice, beans, corn, millets, and tins of palm oil, mattresses and solar lamps.