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Zenith Bank Zenith Bank Plc, has emerged as the best bank in Nigeria in the recently released Global Finance Magazine World’s Best Banks Awards 2020. The award, which was published in the May 2020 edition of the Global Finance Magazine, was based on the performances of the banks in their respective regions and countries over the period from January 1 to December 31, 2019. Zenith Bank in statement stated that Global Finance’s “World’s Best Banks Awards” are recognized amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in more than 150 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe. Commenting on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Mr, Ebenezer Onyeagwu said: “This award is a clear demonstration of the bank’s market leadership, occasioned by

Oba Akinruntan THE Olugbo of Ugbolan d, Oba Frederick Akinrutan, yesterday, renewed his position that he is the number one monarch in the South-West region, as he says the issue of supremacy has been settled in his favour. Speaking with Vanguard, Akinrutan said the dust raised among the Obas in the South-West concerning who is supreme settled? The monarch said: “I would have loved not to talk about this matter in a forum such as this. But because you are curious, I will say a few words. There has never been any dust raised on account of who is supreme among the Obas in the South-West. What you have been witnessing is a drama badly rehearsed and badly staged. “I say this because all the historical facts available in the local and international archives are clear on the issue of who is supreme. “My style has never been that of noise making. I draw my inspiration and confidence from the numerous historical books that support my position as the custodian of the Yoruba race. None of t

…As PTF meets with him on re-opening of worship centers …Govs to decide on inter-state movements By Johnbosco Agbakwuru PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, yesterday, met to consider the request by some section of the country to reopen worship centers. This is as indications emerged that President Buhari may authorize further easing of the lockdown imposed on the country to contain the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic. Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, led the delegation of the committee to meet with the President, as the first phase of two weeks of easing of the lockdown ends today. Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mustapha said a lot of recommendations had been made to the President and that the he would direct on the next step to take. He also said that the country was witnessing community transmission which has now place

Soldiers on duty …Matawalle warns Emirs, Fulani leaders, others against bandits’ attacks …Says Zamfara must block Katsina, Sokoto spill over By Ndahi Marama & Ibrahin Hassan Wuyo There appears to be a shift in the insurgency war between the military and Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East, as the latter now seem to be under heat for the first time since the terrorists started their destructive campaign in 2009. This came as Zamfara State governor, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, weekend, warned emirs, Fulani leaders and stakeholders in the state to be vigilant and never allow the security currently being enjoyed in the state to be threatened. His warning came as a result of last Wednesday’s killing of over 70 persons in Sokoto by bandits. Prior to about two months ago, specifically between January and April, 2020, there had been series of coordinated Boko Haram attacks and closure of many roads in some parts of the North-East, especially the attacks and ambush on military f

President Muhammadu Buhari …Says President’s actions’ll bring ruin, destruction to nation …Adds it’s no surprise enthusiasm for Buhari’s 5th anniversary celebration not shared by segments of the public FORMER military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, retd, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari to belong to all Nigerians and not a section or a particular tribe of the country. Col. Umar, who lampooned President Buhari on what he described as his skewed appointments into the offices of the Federal Government, said the President favoured some and frustrated others. He also said the action of the President would bring ruin and destruction to the nation, adding that the country’s political history was replete with great acts of exemplary leadership which, at critical moments, managed to pull the nation back from the precipice and assured its continued existence. In an open letter to President Buhari, Umar noted that the President had less than three years to

The deceased, Miss Vera Uwaila By Ozioruva Aliu – Benin City Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of a 100 level Microbiology student of the University of Benin, Miss Vera Uwaila, who died from injuries sustained after she was gang-raped and hit with a fire extinguisher in her church last Wednesday. It was gathered that the 22-years-old undergraduate was attacked and beaten to a pulp at the Ikpoba Hill branch of Redeemed Church God, in Benin, Edo State, where she had gone to read. The assailants, it was further gathered, left her for dead, but she was later rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where she reportedly died Saturday. Vanguard gathered that on the fateful day, the church security officer had gone to collect keys to the church from its keeper when he was told that there was someone already in the church. He reportedly got to the church only to find the girl in a

…As ban on weddings, burials remain in force By Chioma Onuegbu – Uyo The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the reopening of churches in the state beginning from Sunday, June, 7, 2020. The announcement of the reopening of churches in Akwa Ibom was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, and made available to newsmen Sunday night. The statement reads, “This is based on guidelines recommended by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) backed by an undertaking to comply and signed by representatives of all the blocs. “The State Government is confident that CAN; being a body full of integrity, will do everything within its jurisdiction to ensure that all churches adhere strictly to these guidelines as violators will be prosecuted. “A Joint Monitoring Team has been set up in each Senatorial District comprising of representatives of Government, Security agencies and Christian Association of Nigeria. ALSO READ:  Akwa Ibom people w

“I think the federal government should reopen all churches and mosques because coronavirus is beyond scientists. The nation as a whole needs the intervention of God so that our land will be healed and restored. All churches must however observe social distancing.” -Austin Precious, Writer Evidenced by increase in cases of new COVID-19 infections, I’m of the opinion that, reopening of religious centres should be put on hold. “Nigeria is one country at the moment, that’s under-equipped to contain the explosion of this pandemic. Let’s learn from the western world.” -Temi Olaniyan, Linguist “Religious activities should never be confused with the acceptable things by God. Social distancing is barely achievable for congregations with very large numbers. “For now, I believe the word of God has been reaching people via social media, although this is not what we’re used to.” -Sam Fafiolu, Youth Advocate “The country is being held at ransom by this pandemic, so why would any reasonable gov

..as Air Peace airlifts 312 India nationals from Nigeria to India By Lawani Mikairu India on Sunday celebrated the first direct flight from Nigeria when Nigeria’s Air Peace airline airlifted 312 India citizens from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA , Lagos to Kochi, India. According to the verified twitter account of Indians in Nigeria, @india_nigeria, the “repatriation of India nationals from Nigeria began today (Sunday) with the Lagos-Kochi Air Peace flight with 312 passengers. It is the first ever Nigerian airline to fly directly to India.” They also commended the Nigerian government, the Indian embassy in Nigeria and others that made the flight a reality. Speaking about the flight, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN , said “Air Peace flight P47812 pushed back by 1:15 am Nigerian time with 312 passengers and 15 crew members and was airborne by 1:28 am”. Also speaking about the direct flight, Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ola

Governor Seyi Makinde By Adeola Badru BARELY a month after the fire incident that razed the Dugbe market complex building and goods within the shops worth 500 million naira, the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has fulfilled his promise by doling out cash palliative to the owner and occupants of the building complex, as the victims of the inferno lauded the governor’s gesture on the support for them to move ahead with their lives. It would be recalled that on April 15, 2020, fire gutted the complex building that housed Pelly Foam and other shops situated at No 1, Lebanon street, Dugbe Alawo, Ibadan, the state capital, which the cause of the fire is yet to be unravelled. A day after the fire incident, Governor Makinde visited the scene and promised that the state government would launch an emergency fund to address disasters and emergencies. READ ALSO: Mobile Police Squadron base: Makinde urges stakeholders not to politicise security matters The governor, who described the

By Olumba Olumba Obu I CORINTHIANS 15:26: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” I Corinthians 6:13: “Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.” Philippians 3:18-19: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” I have told you before that I have not yet opened my bag containing the article of trade I have brought to the whole world. What I have tried to do so far, is to introduce the Father to you. From day to day, and as time goes on, I will continue to unfold to you the shortcomings and hindrances in your lives. Food Kills Today’s sermon concerns food, and the art of feeding, the evil of food, and food as the source of destruction. The last enemy is death. What is death? Is man death? Is death spirit or tree or any other thing

Five people were arrested in London on Sunday as thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters peacefully marched on the US Embassy in London, with hundreds more taking to the streets of Cardiff and Manchester, to demonstrate against the killing of George Floyd. Chants of, ‘I can’t breathe,’ rebounded across the Thames this afternoon, the words Floyd was heard gasping before his death as a white police officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Monday. READ ALSO: Sancho grabs hat-trick, joins ‘Justice for George Floyd’ protest They defied the ban on mass gatherings to rally at Trafalgar Square before making their way to the gates of Downing Street and then south of the river towards the US Embassy. Three of the five were arrested for breaching coronavirus legislation, said police, while the other two were detained for assaulting officers. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police have made five arrests during the gathering that took place outside the US Emb

Non-manufacturing index sustains decline Naira depreciates as I&E turnover falls 30% to $612.45m External reserves rises further to $36.5bn By Babajide Komolafe & Elizabeth Adegbesan THE Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, PMI, dropped to 42.4 index points in May, 2020 from 51.1index points in March, 2020, the first contraction in the manufacturing sector in 37 months. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, disclosed this in its PMI report for May. The report also showed that Non Manufacturing PMI dropped sharply by 23.9 index points to 25.3 index points in May from 49.2 index points in March. This is the second consecutive months of decline in the Non Manufacturing PMI. The report showed that 30 subsectors, out of the 31 surveyed recorded contraction during the month. The contraction recorded across the 30 subsectors in May reflects the severe impact of the various COVID-19 induced restrictions and thus confirms that the nation’s economy is heading for another recession

Investment level up 89% Development will restore market stability – analysts By Nkiruka Nnorom Stockmarket LOCAL investors are taking advantage of the incredibly low prices of stocks in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, to increase their investments following the prolonged downward movement in equity valuation since the advent of the coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic on the Nigeria’s economy. Data on domestic and foreign portfolio participation in the NSE equity market shows that domestic investors committed N374.98 billion in the market at the end of the first quarter of the year (Q1’20), representing an increase of 89 percent compared to N198.39 billion in the previous quarter in 2019. This also represents 59.82 percent contribution to total investment (N626.87 billion) pooled in the first quarter of the year and 32.8 percent higher than N251.87 billion invested by foreign investors. Research analysts and securities dealers, who spoke to Financial Vanguard , attributed the dev

Amidst the concern over corporate performance and the macroeconomic impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, corporate organisations are now implementing various Business Continuity models. Financial Vanguard   investigations have revealed that key corporate institutions are now restructuring their business models to create more resilient operations, less vulnerable to any form of restriction to formal office settings and workstations. They are headed towards institutionalizing  work-from-home   or virtual office, while seamlessly interfacing with customers and creating more value at less cost. A top executive in one of the tier-1 banks told  Financial Vanguard  that the big blow on businesses following the involuntary shutdown of operations had made it imperative for the business continuity frameworks to run its full course even at the post COVID-19 era. READ ALSO: Mobile Police Squadron base: Makinde urges stakeholders not to politicise security matters In its latest advisor

By Dele Sobowaale A map of Nigeria   Every great enterprise starts off with enthusiasm for an exalted aim; and ends up bogged down in petty politics— Charles Peguy, 1873-1914, Vanguard Book of Quotations, P. 49 CAN you recollect when the news report that “the EFCC is investigating  allegations of N1billion fraud against Governor ABC” would send the governor scampering to the airport for the first flight out of Nigeria? Can you remember when entire States’ Houses of Assembly trembled if Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the first Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, merely mentioned that the lawmakers were under investigation? Do you even remember who Nuhu Ribadu is and does it matter anymore? Yet, the first visit of the former EFCC Chairman to Lagos to meet the media created a massive hold-up for hours. Attached to the EFCC chair must have been armed officers numbering close to two hundred. It was not so much a visit as an invasion.  Motorists on the roads, even wh