GRBusiness
Microsoft, FBN collaborate to Empower SMEs in Nigeria
As a way of furthering technology adoption, skills and capacity development amongst Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, Microsoft and First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s number one SME Bank are collaborating to empower and create an enabling environment for SME’s in the country to thrive and find more creative ways to solve their business growth challenges.
In a bid to achieve increased product and service offerings to First Bank’s SME customers, First Bank and Microsoft have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose of providing SME’s value-added products, services and offerings covering certain business support services including access to premium content, business networks, capacity building initiatives and innovative offers of banking and technology services to First Bank’s SMEs.
This was made known at the MoU signing ceremony held at the Microsoft Nigeria Office, Victoria Island, Lagos recently.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Managing Director, First Bank Nigeria, Gbenga Shobo expressed First Bank’s unwavering commitment to the business success of SMEs in Nigeria with its array of products and bespoke solutions, specially designed to help grow and sustain SMEs.
He said, “We are committed to the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and ensuring their sustained business growth as well as providing the necessary tools to support that growth and Nigeria’s economy at large.”
In the same vein, General Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Akin Banuso who was excited about how both organizations are empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to achieve more, mentioned that “Our approach at Microsoft has been one of empowerment and collaboration,” said Banuso.
“Initially, our work with SMEs was strongly focused on bringing them online to boost their productivity and competitiveness. Over the years, as we have worked with and learned from SMEs, our focus has evolved to provide them with a more holistic and game-changing offering, which is: Access to technology, markets, finance, information, skills, and services,” he said
Microsoft’s commitments under the 4Afrika banner are focused on playing an active role in Africa’s economic development. For SMEs, this means empowering them to digitally transform, using technology to be more productive, competitive and in a position to scale across borders. We can help them do this by providing affordable devices, cloud-based software at pay-as-you-go models, anytime-anywhere access, and relevant training and content on how best to apply technology to their business.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.
This was contained in a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday.
The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88
“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State.
“His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.”
The notice asked anybody with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.
The anti-graft commission had earlier stated that it would, on Thursday (today), arraign the former governor before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
This was after the EFCC was granted a warrant of arrest by the Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend the former governor.
Punch reported that The agency’s team of lawyers, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, during the proceedings on Thursday, said that EFCC operatives were prepared to carry out the arrest warrant for the former governor, even if it requires the use of force.
Bello and three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite.
They face 19 counts related to money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,088.88.
The Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, granted businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, N10m bail with two sureties in like sum.
On Tuesday, EFCC slammed him with 3 count charge over the abuse of naira and asked him to report to court.
In court, The celebrity bar man pleaded not guilty to tampering and abusing the naira during his trial.
Earlier on Sunday, the EFCC revealed that it was probing several celebrities over alleged abuse of Naira notes.
In a statement, its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said;
“Many of them have made useful statements to the commission and many more have been invited by investigators working on the matter.
“The EFCC will not relent in its no-sacred-cow mode of operations and the public should be wary of running afoul of laws against the crime.”
Popular celebrity bar man, Pascal Okechukwu well known as Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over abuse of the naira on Wednesday, according to court documents.
He is facing three count charges for allegedly spraying and tampering with the naira at a social event contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
Not too long away was crossdresser Bobrisky Sentenced to 6 months in prison over thesame money mutilation. Now it is Cubana Chief Priest.
It seems like the government is taking the naira abuse situation much more seriously now.
Cubana Chief Priest would be arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
A copy of the document filed on April 4th by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission read:
1- “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
2 – “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
3 – “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
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