Historic: Lagos TGPS, Barr. Solarin Wins "Africa Outstanding TGPS of the Decade"

...As Principal, Mrs A.E Taiwo of Vetland Senior Grammar school, wins  Africa Most Outstanding Principal

AgegePulse Magazine

 Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos Education District I, Agege,   Barrister  Titilayo Margaret Solarin  has won the "Outstanding Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary of the Decade by Africa Brand Review for 2019/2020 Africa Top Schools Report and Award ceremony held yesterday evening at Ostra event center in Alausa, Ikeja Lagos.

 Joseph Ayodele, the organiser, said that the award was bestowed on Barrister Solarin by panel of experts for her:

*Quality service and representation of her people/profession.
*Standard bearer for Service delivery in Leadership positions.
*Trusted and reliable social partner in societal Service and development.
* Helping to strengthen excellent service delivery and measurement recognition in African.

AgegePulse learnt that the event was organized to Celebrate Top Africa Schools as well as other Outstanding Educators in Africa.

Also, Principal, Vetland Senior Grammar school, Mrs A.E Taiwo and her School were honoured with Africa Most Outstanding Principal and  2020 Africa Top schools Award respectively.

Congratulations!

Tinubu, Ethiopian Prime Minister win democracy award

 AgegePulse Magazine

Samson Folarin

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, have won the African Democracy Award.

A statement on Tuesday said they were recognised for their efforts to grow democracy and good governance on the African continent.

According to the statement, the award was conferred on them at the 4th African Political Summit and Diamond Awards in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The award was said to be the highlight of a three-day conference on Campaign Financing and Elections in Africa, an initiative of the Association of Political Consultants, Africa.

The body is made up of top political consultants from across the continent.

The award, according to the president of APC Africa, Kehinde Bamigbetan, “serves to recognise and encourage icons of democracy and good governance in Africa. It has been our culture to celebrate those political figures who have done a lot to promote democracy in their respective countries.”

He described Ahmed as an outstanding leader who had done a lot to strengthen democracy, human rights, press freedom and peace in East Africa.


Bamigbetan said Tinubu was recognised for his commitment to democracy and human rights.

“Asiwaju is a political figure whose impacts have been felt not just in Nigeria, especially with the historic election of President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the opposition APC, but also across many countries in Africa,” he added.

Punch

Lagos, Kebbi, 16 Others Are Largest Rice Producing States As Nigeria Becomes Largest Rice Producer In Africa

From Nigeria being the world’s second largest rice importer years back, the narrative appears to have changed as the country continues to take steps to ramp up domestic production.

According to a recent report, Nigeria has overtaken Egypt as the largest rice producer in Africa. The Director-General, Africa Rice Center, Benin Republic, Dr Harold Roy-Macauley, who disclosed this, said Nigeria is now the largest rice producer at four million tonnes a year. Egypt was producing 4.3 tonnes annually but the country’s production had reduced by almost 40 per cent this year. Africa produces an average of 14.6 million tonnes of rough rice annually, he explained.

Indeed, the remarkable achievement recorded by the country in the area of rice production, as disclosed by Roy-Macauley, was the outcome of robust collaboration between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, that focused on areas in the agriculture sector where the country has comparative advantage, in their quest to drastically reduce the country’s huge import bill.

A report by Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers Limited showed that the central bank and the federal government have been making substantial efforts to encourage domestic cultivation of rice and to completely eliminate imports using incentives such as subsidised loans, cheap fertilisers, free farm land, and tax rebates.

Presently, the CBN has restricted importers of 43 items, which included rice, from accessing dollars from the interbank market and bureaux de change. Also, other fiscal policies are making it increasingly unfavorable for the importation of rice. Rice imports through land borders are restricted, while imports that come in through the ports attract sizeable import duties and levies.

Currently, 18 states are reputed as reliable rice producers in the country. They include Kebbi, Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, the Federal Capital Territory, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina.

Others are: Lagos, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Zamfara, Ogun, Niger, Kwara and Sokoto.

Clearly, these policies have led to a decline in imports and have resulted in significant rise in the price of imported rice.

Also, the CBN through its Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) as well as its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) has continued to support genuine local rice manufacturers, in line with its development finance function.

ThisDay

African Nations Cup adjusted for Ramadan, to begin on June 21

AgegePulse Magazine

The dates for the 2019 African Nations Cup finals in Egypt have been moved back by a week, the Confederation of African Football said on Monday.

The shift was reportedly to allow players to rest after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is likely to begin on the evening of May 5 and end around June
Muslims observe fast during daylight hours over this period, which can have an effect on the performance of athletes.
The expanded 24-team tournament will now kick-off on June 21 and run through to the final on July 19.

A meeting of the CAF Emergency Committee took the decision on Saturday, with the governing body confirming the shift in a circular sent to its member associations.

According to media reports, a request was made for the move by a number of mainly Muslim North African nations, including Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, who have  already sealed the qualification hurdles.

CAF also confirmed that the draw for the first round pool stage will take place in Cairo on April 12.

Fourteen countries have already booked a finals berth, including first time participants -- Madagascar and Mauritania -- with the remaining 10 places to be decided when the qualification campaign concludes in March.

Punch Newspaper

RUSSIA PRESIDENT, Vladimir Putin Says: Africa Is A Cemetery For Africans

"When an African becomes rich, his bank accounts are in Switzerland. He travels to France for Medical treatment.

He invests in Germany. He buys from Dubai. He consumes Chinese. He prays in Rome or Mecca. His children study in Europe. He travels to Canada, USA, Europe for tourism.

If he die,  he will be buried in his native country of Africa.

Africa is just a cemetery for Africans. How could a cemetery be developed?"

~Putin Asks

Aljazeera

APC Registers 15.6million Members – Oshiomhole

The All Progressives Congress(APC) now has 15.6million members nationwide, according to party chairman Mr Adams Oshiomhole.
He disclosed this on Wednesday when he presented President Muhammadu Buhari with a new party membership card.

Oshiomhole told the president that the APC under his leadership, took advantage of modern technology to come up with a new membership data base, saying that the party currently has 15.6 million registered members.

“Today to talk about the size of our party, the largest party in the world and in Africa, we need to have evidence that can be verified by a third party or by members.

“We have taken advantage of technology to produce what I believed is the best or the first in Nigeria.
“We now have as at last week when they started printing of membership register, about 15.6 million registered APC members across the country,” he said.

Native Reporters

UBA Grows Gross Earnings By 16%, Delivers 17% Return on Average Equity

…Sustains Interim Dividend

AgegePulse

Africa’s leading financial institution, United Bank for Africa Plc has announced its audited 2018 half year financial results, showing strong growth across key performance metrics as well as a significant contribution from its African subsidiaries.

Despite declining yield environment in two core markets, Nigeria and Ghana, the pan Africa financial institution delivered double digit growth in gross earnings, as itrecorded a 16 percent year-on-yearrise in top-line to N258 billion,compared to N 223 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2017.This performance, according to analysts, underscores the capacity of the Group to deliver strong performance through economic cycles, even in a challenging business environment.

According to the report filed to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Wednesday, UBA, reported strong growth in operating income at N168.5 billion, compared to N161.8 billion in the first half of 2017, an increase of 4.1 percent. Notwithstanding the inflation-induced cost pressure in the period, UBA finished the first half of the year strongly, with a Profit Before Tax ofN 58.1 billion.
The Profit After Tax also improved to N 43.8 billion, a 3.4 percent growth compared to N 42.3 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2017. The first half of the year profit, translated to pre-tax and post-tax return on average equity of 23% and 17% respectively.

UBA’s foreign operations continue to grow in importance, contributing 40% of the Group’s profit, which according to analysts attests to the benefit of UBA’s pan-African strategy and reinforces the Bank’s objective of achieving 50 percent earnings contribution from offshore subsidiaries.

In the first six months of the year, the Bank’s Total Assets grew 4.9% toN 4.27 trillion and Customer Deposits rose by 6.1 per cent to N 2.90 trillion, compared to N 2.73 trillion as at December 2017. This growth trajectory underlines UBA’s market share gain, as it increasingly wins customers through its re-engineered customer service and innovative digital offerings. The Group’s Shareholders’ Funds remained strong at N 496.3 billion, even as implementation of IFRS 9 impacted the total equity of the bank and its peers.

In line with its culture of paying both interim and final cash dividend, the Board of Directors of UBA Plc declared an interim dividend of N0.20 per share for every ordinary share of N0.50 each held on the qualification date – Wednesday, September 05, 2018.
Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Mr. Kennedy Uzoka said:  “Our performance in the first half the year reflects the resilience of our business model and strategies. Despite declining yields in two core markets, Nigeria and Ghana, we delivered double digit growth in gross earnings. Our performance demonstrates the success of our digital banking initiatives and broader Customer-First strategies”
“We are integrating banking to our customers’ lifestyle, simplifying processes for routine transactions and driving financial inclusion by making banking services accessible and affordable. We are creating opportunities for wealth creation and economic progress, as we empower our customers through innovative platforms and solutions that support their personal and business growth. Our commitment to delivering excellent service is paying-off, as we increasingly win a bigger share of customers’ wallet across our chosen markets. We won the highly coveted “Africa’s Best Digital Bank” Award by Euromoney, demonstrating our pioneering initiatives are being recognised with Leo, our digital banker having been name checked by Mark Zuckerberg ” Uzoka said.

“Our enhanced asset-liability management strategies improved asset yield and grew interest income by 21% despite prevailing yield environment. Our re-engineered sales structure provided the impetus for renewed retail deposit growth. I am particularly pleased by the 24% year-to-date growth in retail savings and current account deposits, underpining the increasing penetration of our digital offerings and the Group’s overarching goal of democratizing banking across Africa. We improved net interest margin to 7.4%in line with our 2018 target, notwithstanding strong competition for wholesale deposits and the impact of rising global interest rates on our foreign currency funding,” he concluded
Also speaking on UBA’s financial performance and position, the Group CFO, Ugo Nwaghodoh said; “We finished the first half of the year in a stronger position and we are optimistic on the future of our business. Amidst economic recovery and uncertainties in Nigeria, our largest market, we grew net interest income and operating income by 9.6% and 4.1% respectively. We doubled revenue from trade services and grew e-banking income by 24%, a testament to our market share gain, which is driven by innovative offerings. Our foreign operations contributed 40% of Group’s profit, underlining the benefit of our Pan-African strategy.
“We sustained our asset quality, with cost of risk at 0.8%. Whilst the loan book declined by 6.5% due to prepayments from some customers in Nigeria and Ghana, we grew the overall balance sheet by 5% in the first half of the year. The Group’s capital adequacy ratio of 23%, Bank’s liquidity ratio of 48% and loan-to-deposit ratio of 57% all reinforce our capacity to grow, with ample headroom for risk asset creation,” Nwaghodoh said.
In recognition of UBA’s dominance in Africa’s digital banking space, UBA emerged the Best Institution in Digital Banking across Africa, courtesy of Euromoney. Earlier in the year, UBA launched Leo, an e-chat service using artificial intelligence to help customers execute transactions on Facebook, the first of its kind in Africa. The Bank is set to replicate the success of Leo on WhatsApp on September 1st, bringing convenience to its growing youthful customer base across Africa.
UBA is one of Africa’s leading banks with operations in 20 African countries. It also has presence in the global financial centres; London, New York and Paris. UBA provides banking services to more than 15 million customers globally, through diverse channels.

Photo: South Korean court sentences ex-president Park to another eight years in prison"

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Why I’m visiting Afrika Shrine - Macron

President Emmanuel Macron of France has given the reason behind his decision to visit the Afrika Shrine in Lagos.

The French leader disclosed this during a joint press conference at the presidential villa in Abuja yesterday.

Recalling his days in Nigeria, Macron said he never imagined he would return to Nigeria as president of France.

Fifteen years ago, the president of France worked as a diplomat in Abuja.

He told reporters that the Afrika Shrine stands as a symbol on the importance of African culture.

“First, because I wanted to find a good occasion to come back there. I know the place and I have some memories, I have to confess at a time that there was no president around, I hope I will not spoil the party,” he said.

“First, I think that is such an iconic place for a lot of African people and African culture. And I think very often when you speak of the African culture in Europe, those who are successful in Europe and in France, which is different most of the times are not dramatically very famous in Nigeria or in Africa. And there is a bias because you know people are absolutely not the same.

“I mean Fela, Femi, Seun Kuti are obviously very famous in France and Europe, I mean they are big successes but the Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and it is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognize the importance of this place, I recognize the place of culture in this current environment.”

Salah, Oshoala Win 2017 Aiteo CAF Best Player Awards

...As Cuper, Egypt Beat Nigeria To Win Coach, Team Of The Year

Agege Pulse Magazine

History was rewritten yesterday as Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was crowned 2017 Aiteo Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Player of the Year.

Salah, 25, was announced as the 2017 recipient at the State House Banquet Hall, Accra, Ghana on Thursday night.

The 2017 BBC African Player of the Year winner beat club teammate and Senegal forward Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund to claim the award. They emerged 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Salah becomes the first Egyptian since Mahmoud El Khatib in 1983 to be crowned African best player.

In the category for the Women’s Player of the Year award, Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala emerged the winner, thereby retaining her title which she won in 2016 and has now won it three times (2014, 2016, 2017).

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr lost to Egypt coach Hector Cuper in the Coach of the Year category while the Pharoahs of Egypt who qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and were finalist at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations won National Team of the Year.

As Part of events to mark the 2017 CAF awards, past winners of the CAF Player of the Year Award were present. Also top African music stars like Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, Phyno, Flavour, Wizkid, Olamide, Patoranking and Fali Ipupa of Democratic Republic of Congo were on hand to entertain the guests.

Full List: 2017 CAF Award Winners:
Men’s Player of the Year:
Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)
Women’s Player of the Year:
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dalian Quanjian)
Women’s National Team of the Year:
South Africa
Coach of the Year:
Hector Cuper (Egypt)
National Team of the Year:
Egypt
Club of the Year:
Wydad Athletic Club
Youth Player of the Year:
Patson Daka (Zambia and Liefering)
CAF Legends Award:
Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana)
Leader of the Year:
Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania)
Platinum Award:
Nana Akufo-Addo (President of Ghana)
George Weah     (President of Liberia)

Today's Headlines

*AgegePulse Magazine * the mouthpiece of Agege / Orile Agege
Headlines Today *[Thu-16-Nov-2017]*

All hail Hon. JS Babatunde on 100days journey to rebuild Orile Agege LCDA
....distributes free writing materials  to schools

Orders Police, other Security Agencies to strictly enforce Traffic Law, okada ban

…Restates ban on industrial fireworks, assures residents of peaceful yuletide celebration

Apapa gridlock: Lagos reconstitutes Joint Security Task Force to ensure sanity

*Punch Newspaper*

BVN: Court relaxes conditions to unfreeze unlinked accounts

Buhari, Senate order reinstatement of Obianos security aides

I didnt know my ministers, top government officials Buhari

FG revokes residence permits of expatriates in Atiku, others firms

Zimbabwean military places Mugabe under house arrest

FG to spend N4.8bn on Villa maintenance in 2018

Name suspects I stopped their probe, Jonathan dares Waziri

Baba Sala down with a stroke, cries for help

18 die as suicide bombers attack Borno

$21.7bn missing from NNPC since 1999, says Falana

We are not fooled by Presidents visit, says MASSOB

JAMB fixes March 9 to 17 for 2018 UTME

Ndume resumes, Senate ignores lawmakers special request

CJN backs forfeiture, seizure of assets derived from crimes

Business Integrity Forum

WAEC unveils new WASSCE diet for private candidates

IG visits protesting Kaduna community

Well ensure construction of Dada dialysis centre Lions Club


*Vanguard Newspaper*
Don't axe 95% of Intels because of Atiku's 5% FG told

Don't set S-South against S-West, Bode George warns PDP stakeholders

Ogun 2019: Amosun's Commissioner, Ashiru, emerges Ijebu-Remo candidate

Obiano, Nwoye constituents welcome Ojukwu's defection to APGA

PDP Chair: Gbenga Daniel true Nigerian, capable of leading PDP -Udenwa, Iwuanyanwu

For me politics is a very useless business, Jonathan tells Dickson

Nigeria's unity not settled ' Prof Ango Abdulahi

Ask my ministers, they'll tell you that I didn't know them from Adam ' Buhari

Anambra poll: I have a message to IPOB, MASSOB brothers ' Chidoka

Anambra poll: Battle for 3 parties, but there could be surprises

Competitive SME industry create wealth, vibrant economy

NEWN seminar targets 200 women entrepreneurs

SMEDAN, SAGE to train 5400 school children on entrepreneurship

Two Nigerians win Shell global entrepreneurship prize

When will Nigeria become a first world country

U- 20 Female World Cup: Give us the ticket, Edo Deputy Gov charges Falconets

Spain to introduce video technology next season

Serena Williams set to tie the knot in New Orleans


*The Nation Newspaper*
Ex-governors, Southwest reject PDP's plan for chair

Mugabe under house arrest

United States claims $300m Abacha loot

Buhari seeks respect for constitution

Rivers rejects police report on Wike/Amaechi assassination claims

Ojukwu's son defects to APC as Buhari campaigns for Nwoye

Making 1st Class in History is not my destination

The fall of Mugabe

Ortom vs Tsav: Court to rule in January

Obiano's, Nwoye's constituents welcome Ojukwu to APC

Herbal medicine is different from voodoo

Vomitting deserves more attention than it often gets

75 Vs 60 per cent: The intrigues of Kaduna teachers' test

Ortom plans BENPOLY takeover by Fed Govt

Church examines stress issues at education summit

Old students donate ultra-modern kitchen

Encomium for new N94m Osun school

Foundation motivates pupils


*Thisday Newspaper*
Zimbabwe Moves to Set Up Interim Govt as Mugabe is Apparently Ousted

My Ministers Are Performing Well, Says Buhari

FG Hires Foreign Experts for N458m to Drive ERGP Implementation

For Mugabe, the End May Have Come

Borno: 18 Killed, 29 Injured in Suicide Attacks

Lagos Unveils Fresh Joint Task Force to End Apapa Gridlock

In Ebonyi, Buhari Promises to Address Devt Issues

Jonathan: I'll Never Plan Dickson's Downfall

Ajaokuta Belongs to FG, Fayemi Reminds Global Steel Holding Limited

Moghalu Calls for Partial Privatisation of NNPC

Fitch Rates Nigerias Planned Dollar Notes B+(EXP)

Ojukwu Defects to APC as Buhari Endorses Nwoye for Anambra Governor

Ohanaeze: Any Attempt to Rig, Manipulate Anambra Election Will Be Resisted

Imo 2019: Iwuanyanwu, Dozie, Ahamba, Anyanwu Insist on Owerri Zone Producing...

Buhari Fails to Reconcile Ebonyi APC Crisis in Close Door Meeting...

Kaka: APC Must Convince Itself, Buhari is Its Best Candidate

Chinas Money isnt Free, Says Hopgood

Why Buhari Must Review Cases of Dismissed Military Officers

Angry Maradona Seeks Argentina Job

Italy Sacks Coach after Failing to Qualify for 2018 World Cup

GOV. OKOWA TO DELIVER FOURTH TREK AFRICA AWARDS SPEECH - AgegePulse

As the exciting moment for the continental award event; Trek Africa Awards/National Discourse (TAWA) return for the 2017 edition.

The Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Gov. (Dr.) Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi has been selected to deliver the fourth annual national discourse award speech.

In a statement by the Project director, Mr. Oki Samson the ceremony is expected to be in a class of its own as eminent Nigerians, captain of Industries, other Africa Personalities and members of the Press will be in attendance at the award dinner.

The organizers (McKinggs Media Productions, Publishers of Trek Magazine) said Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa was chosen to deliver the speech based on his wealth of leadership and political experience as a grassroots politician to being one of the finest Executive Governor in Nigeria today. He is a former grassroots leader, secretary to a Governor, Local government Chairman, a successful manager of Men and Resources, Senator, performing Governor and a renowned National statesman. The Executive Governor will be speaking on, “PATRIOTISM, CATALYST FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.”

The event will be hosted by celebrity Ghanaian TV Host; Dzifa Grey and Nigeria’s On Air Personality; Dotun of Cool FM and will hold at Oriental hotel, victoria island, Lagos on Sunday 29th October, 2017 by 2pm.

The 2017 Theme; “Patriotism” was deliberately chosen to carefully address the state of the Nation. Nigeria is evidently and unarguably a land of great potential. This view stems from her enormous natural resources, talents, diversity of culture, population strength and citizens resourcefulness. Great nations in history enjoy only one thing in common; “deliberate effort of citizens to build a secured and prosperous fatherland.”

The TAWA2017 Criteria focus largely on Personality, Market Domination (Companies), Leadership style, Uncommon Patriotism, Entrepreneurship, Level of Success recorded and Degree of Societal Impact.