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Merchants Times January 26 2021 - Buhari replaces army chiefs - Eunice Ayobami Flipbook PDF
In the wake of Covid-19 second wave, the National Youth Service Corps Scheme has out marked conditions that must be met
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Vol. 2, No 40 Tuesday January 26, 2020 | TUESDAY BROADSHEET NEWSPAPER
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A financial Catalyst for the African Ecosystem! Research on market relevant to business owners, economists, financiers, or public policymakers.
Freedom is not just the birthright of the few
Buhari replaces army chiefs Eunice Ayobami
NATIONAL NEWS
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari replaced the heads of the armed forces on Tuesday as pressure builds over his response to the security situation. He gave no reasons for the resignation of the army, navy and air force commanders, who he appointed in 2016. But he tweeted the names of the replacements. Governors and the National Assembly had called on Buhari to re-
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Military coups in Africa, revolution or reaction?
Photo: Google
The social media traders not CEO By: Oluwatobi Ogidiolu E-mail: [email protected]
plentiful goods are cheap; scarce goods cost more. But on social media, many businesses forget the metrics behind the market curve of what they are
For most of us, as consumers, these basic laws of supply and demand are so familiar, they're almost second nature:
getting themselves into, these curve concepts are used in a more nuanced way to examine how much of a product consumers might buy at different pric-
EDITORIAL
es, and the quantity you should offer to the market to maximize your revenue. Everyone wants to cashout either locally or sell to international communities. It
For our people to understand the political milieu, we must give a juxtaposition about military coups in Africa. Basically, the military is not supposed to hold political offices
Aina Ademola
The invisibly essential commodities
AFRICA NEWS
Security forces finally withdraw from Bobi Wine's residency By: Eunice Ayobami
A rare attack linked to organized crime has claimed the lives of five people in central Mexico City, according to the local security secretariat. The attack occurred late Friday at the town hall in Miguel Hidalgo, one of the most prosperous districts of Mexico City. According to a statement, five peoplewere found on the ground with gunshot wounds. Medical
services certified three men dead at the scene while the other two were transferred to a nearby hospital where they later died due to the seriousness of their injuries, the security secretariat said. Reports said one of the victims was a member of the local Union Tepito cartel but city authorities have not confirmed this. Despite growing drug cartel violence in Mexico
HEALTH NEWS
In every part of the world, essential commodities are commodities that we can’t do without as a family, individual or a group. They are commodities that are extremely import-
Tanzania's president Magufuli releases 1,789 imprisoned Ethiopians TECH NEWS
Mental Health Literacy
Mutiat Adebayo
Apple releases iOS 14.4 with iPhone camera improvements Apple has already begun developing a foldable iPhone, Bloomberg reported Friday. So far, the tech giant has only worked on a prototype display with no set plans for a launch date, the report said, citing unnamed sources.
Mental health literacy is a concept of health literacy. It is defined as understanding how to obtain and main-
Danmole Zainab
tain positive mental health; understanding mental health problems and their treatments, decreasing
The prototype foldable screen has an invisible hinge, Bloomberg said. An Apple patent for a foldable iPhone first appeared almost a year ago, but Apple has yet to announce
Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli on Monday pardoned andordered the release of 1,789 Ethiopian illegal migrants.
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The Merchants Times Editorial Board Vol. 2, No 40 WWW.MERCHANTSTIMES.COM
FREEDOM IS NOT JUST THE BIRTHRIGHT OF THE FEW N500
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021
Chairman/Editor-in-chief Oluwatobi Ogidiolu Deputy Editorial Page Damilare Ojo Managing Editor Emmanuel Akindoyin Associate Editor Eunice Ayobami Creatives Poet Tobias Writer Aina Ademola Esan Bisola Vincent Mutuma (Kenya) Casmire Okedinachi Oluwarotimi Desire Michael Akpanebe Clever Macualay Adefolakemi Ojo Nwaka Philip Mutiat Adebayo
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The Merchants Times publication board is proud to have resilient journalism who depend on accuracy in reports and research to arrive at a common perspective on significant issues. The board does represent Merchants Times and hold free journalism dear to heart. Amidst politics, dark democracy and Military oppression hat's ravaging Africa, The Merchants Times is saddled with responsibility from the people to inform the public on the happenings at the top of the pyramids (Government Houses, Industries, Religious Centers & NGO's), only with a clear conscience. The board contends for a world that is both free and fair, where people can exercise their rights without any form of discrimination or segregation. As Richard puts it, “Every time a newspaper dies, even a bad one, the country moves a little closer to authoritarianism…” Richard Kluger, Our quest is to serve as an example for a continent that demands a free press void of political tyranny or corruption from the religious sector. We do not want to be sponsored by corruptible Africans or deepens the wool of journalism into the corrupt oil. As the sun rises, we rise, as it sets we oil the lamp and set up for fire for Nations and the continent to be seen as bare as it ought to be. We are Merchants!
Editorial
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 5
Oluwatobi Ogidiolu | Editor-In-Chief
The Social Media Traders, not CEOs Meet the wolves of Instagram, serpents of Whatsapp, Jackal of Twitter and hyenas of Facebook.
For most of us, as consumers, these basic laws of supply and demand are so familiar, they're almost second nature: plentiful goods are cheap; scarce goods cost more. But on social media, many businesses forget the metrics behind the market curve of what they are getting themselves into, these curve concepts are used in a more nuanced way to examine how much of a product consumers might buy at different prices, and the quantity you should offer to the market to maximize your revenue. Everyone wants to cashout either locally or sell to international communities. It is
not a bad idea, one-time wealthy Jeff Besoz was selling products and offering service online. This gives rise to the feat that anybody can start using microblogging platforms to trade and cash in without having to pay much other than data subscription and steering content down the throat of audiences they assume to be buyers.
What are the things Online traders must know? 1. Don't ever call yourself a CEO: a CEO is too big to sell. The title has
a porous meaning we use nonchalantly. I quickly googled the primary responsibility of a CEO and I stumbled on this. “A chief executive officer (CEO) is the highest-ranking executive in a company, whose primary responsibilities include making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of a company, acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors (the board) and corporate operations and being the public face of the company. A CEO is elected by the board and its shareholders.” Be straightforward with your image to
Editorial attract potential customers, those that won't have a wrong notion of your status as the CEO and pricing becomes overtly unbeaten, you wonder how my CEO title will directly affect pricing in the mind of a consumer of potential customers. Status is the relative rank in a hierarchy of prestige, especially in the corporate field. If they see this title they readily believe your product is for either the upper class or middle class. Don't misinform them, or don't show up as the King of the Jungle when in the actual sense you are just a pawn in the game of chess. Let them know you are a trader, a complete starter and they will be forced to leverage on your naivety in the market and the willingness to sell and grow your brand. A trader is just a trader and not a CEO, so sell like crazy and wear the badge of honour of a trader.
2. To the wolves of Instagram: Potential customers are smarter than you, they know the market value of whatever products or services you are selling. Quit overhyping your products and stop selling ideas that are not even in the services or goods you are offering. In Contract law, The offeror is the party who makes the offer. The offeree is the person who either accepts or does not accept the offer. So consumers or potential customers already know the market value if certain products or services they even understand the determinant of change, either in demand or supply. They know that dollar also affects pricing, places and calibre of people. Don't come online, choose your target audience and sell 35,000 naira products for 120,000, the price is not laughable, you are ridiculous and instantly stupid for thinking you can swindle people of their hard-earned money. Let's talk about the image of your products, do you think Google doesn't work on their phone either? Once they see a stock photo of the goods you claim you sell, you already give them the notion that you are nothing but a fake brand. Stay afloat, don't sink with all of these errors. If truly you are a wolf, you will make a real wolf cry and your baits will come, don't go roaring and they discover you are just a tiny hungry wolf.
3. To the Jackal of Twitter: In 280 characters you can capture the heart of anybody including the president of the United States of America. Anybody can be your prey, but remember that you want to be known as a trader, a trusted brand. Don't go wrong chasing hyenas or the big goons in the game, I guess you know where I am steering your
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 6
mind to now. You are a trader, so stay off banter, your personal account can bleed for that, not your business account. I rarely don't think a wise trader will derive so much in trolling people, most of them your potential customers. Stay true to the very reason why you are on Twitter. Dear Jackal, don't be a jack, just know you are in a market, not a banter society.
4. Serpents of Whatsapp: Did I hear you just hissed? We caught you right, always selling pride and nothing but that. You want to join the bandwagon of real traders, those with the right business acumen and interest in the business. You have no goods or services to offer, you just want to massage your huge ego, you steal a product or goods online, upload and straightway slash the price and you tell asking customers the goods are out of stock, you sold them off because of the slash. You are not just ruining the business, you are creating mistrust between real sellers and consumers. You are leading them off the right path of the marketplace. This will trigger them to search for products at ridiculously low prices. Please stop, if you are unemployed, please remain so. Let traders enjoy the space and the attention of their potential customers.
5. Hyenas of Facebook: Now that many unreliable CEOs or traders have gone into the sphere of Facebook, a platform that is helpful for traders. I call them hyenas, they have many Facebook business pages and warding of lions when their number is grossing. These set of people are opportunistic and they are willing to approach consumer in a bid to satisfy their unappealing sense of need. They usually have a common problem, order fulfilment, creating a false number of traders and business on Facebook. They are doing too many things and will never give the user a useful experience for their money. Having listed those metaphorical, unfriendly personalities on social media platforms and their foreseeable behavioural pattern that is harmful to the future of online businesses. Being a CEO requires more, leave the title for Captains of Industries, wear your trader’s coat and badge of honour, don't sell what you don't have to sell. Remember, consumers have the will and purchase power, don't cut down the value of products that the market value can hardly be sustained due to your fake pricing or error. Consumers communicate with one another, they are a group of people, families, co-workers
and neighbours, so they know about products and pricing. In as much as many Traders will eventually become CEO, with sizeable middle-level officers working under their executive orders. So, as a startup, ignore the CEO title, embrace a business trader name and be radical about your strategies, both on market positions and customer service. Coming to be, let us be truthful. Especially with our campaign promises. And let voters genuinely get interested in participating in their civil right. Deeming it fit to chose what's right, in their heart and it must match the truth that will move this nation and continent forward. Nigeria must stem from borrowing from foreigners that automatically enslave the economy of the nation. A borrower is a slave to the lender. It's time that we must put an end to our foreign dependency and look inward, we must have a goal insight as a nation. Are we going to be known for technology, agriculture or Trade? We must untie the cord around our neck. We must therefore stop this struggling crusade, we will be able to if you stop taking a bribe, blackmailing people and giving false promises.
Don't come online, choose your target audience and sell 35,000 naira products for 120,000, the price is not laughable, you are ridiculous and instantly stupid for thinking you can swindle people of their hard-earned money.
News Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 7
Nigeria’s Buhari replaces army chiefs as security situation worsens Eunice Ayobami
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari replaced the heads of the armed forces on Tuesday as pressure builds over his response to the security situation. He gave no reasons for the
resignation of the army, navy and air force commanders, who he appointed in 2016. But he tweeted the names of the replacements. Governors and the National Assembly had called on Buhari
to replace the military chiefs as they said they were underperforming. Buhari, a former army general, was elected on a pledge to end insurgency in the northeast of the country, where the
Islamist group Boko Haram operates. While in the northwest, kidnappers are active. In December some 300 schoolboys were kidnapped and later returned to their home. Authorities said local bandits were responsible. In central regions, clashes between farmers and cattle herders have worsened. The Boko haram insurgency has long plagued the country and put pressure on the government as security issues mount. Large parts of the country are out of government control and an offshoot of Boko Haram - the Islamic State in West Africa Province group- has become even deadlier in the northeast. Since 2009, at least 36,000 people have been killed in armed conflicts and millions have been displaced. The violence has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Security forces finally withdraw from Bobi Wine's residency after court order Eunice Ayobami
Security forces finally left the compound of Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine after keeping him under house arrest for 11 days. A court in Uganda on Monday ordered the military and police to leave the
home of opposition politician Bobi Wine. Ugandan authorities said Wine could only leave his home on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala, under military escort because they fear his presence in public could incite rioting and he could organize protests. But a Ugandan judge said in the ruling that Wine’s home is not a proper detention facility and added that authorities should criminally charge him if he threatens public order. Wine was detained in his own house by Ugandan soldiers who ensured no one got in or out of the compound. His detention came just after the January 14 election where the incumbent presi-
dent won to secure the seat for a record sixth term. Wine’s team are yet to decide whether to contest the presidential poll results. The deadline for application is February 2. Previous efforts by the U.S ambassador to Uganda, Natalie E. Brown, to visit Bobi Wine at his home were thwarted by the security element. Uganda later warned U.S. not ot interfere with the election process in Uganda. The U.S. embassy in Kampala tweeted on Monday supporting the High Court decision to order the removal of Uganda’s military at Wines’s residence.
News Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 8
Tanzania's president Magufuli releases 1,789 imprisoned Ethiopian migrants Eunice Ayobami Many of them have used the Tanzania route to reach South Africa despite the dangers of getting arrested by authorities in their respective countries. Organizations like EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa have helped secure the release of Ethiopian migrants and even gone ahead to secure them employment. Previous arrests In early 2020, 13 Ethiopians were arrested by the Kenyan authorities for illegal entry across the border. Previously, another 22 Ethiopian nationals were arrested in Kenya while being smuggled through Nairobi. Kenyan Police later confirmed that two other human smugglers were arrested as they were transporting a dozen of Ethiopians to Tanzania. Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli on Monday pardoned andordered the release of 1,789 Ethiopian illegal migrants. Their release was prompted following an official diplomatic meeting on Monday between Magufuli and Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde. "Ethiopians can go home today if they
want to. There are no conditions for the release of the foreigners who lacked proper travel documents,” Magufuli ordered. Ethiopians have continued to move in thousands to many other countries in the world in search of jobs and political asylum.
The vastness of the region between Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda has attributed to the influx of Ethiopian illegal migrants to other regions. Refugee rights organizations and aid agencies have blamed extreme poverty in Africa for the rising number of illegal immigration.
Presidency on why Buhari appointed new Service Chiefs Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adesina said: “The President knew the time to do it and I believe the time has come and that is why it has been done. “I don’t think it is a matter of right or wrong, it is just a matter of doing what is best for the country at the best time. “It will not be right to say one side was right or one side was wrong because the President even in the statement we issued, also commended the outgoing service chiefs for their contribution to engendering a safer country.
The Presidency on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari changed Service Chiefs because he felt the time was right to rejig the country’s security system.
Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina was reacting to remarks that Buhari replaced the Service Chiefs following calls by Nigerians.
“That shows that by and large, he was satisfied with their performances and he just felt it was time to rejig the system; have fresh energy, have fresh blood, have fresh ideas”.
News Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG9
China says U.S. military in South China Sea not good for peace
The United States often sends ships and aircraft into the South China Sea to “flex its muscles” and this is not good for peace, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday, after a U.S. aircraft carrier group sailed into the disputed waterway. The strategic South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade flows each year, has long been a focus of contention between Beijing and Washington, with China particularly angered by U.S. military activity there. The U.S. carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt and accompanied by three warships, entered the waterway on Saturday to promote “freedom of the seas”, the U.S. military said, just days after Joe Biden became U.S. president.. “The United States frequently sends aircraft and vessels into the South China Sea to flex its muscles,” the foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, told reporters, responding to the U.S. mission. “This is not conducive to peace and stability in the region.”
China has repeatedly complained about U.S. Navy ships getting close to islands it occupies in the South China Sea, where Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan all have competing claims.
China has not commented on what its air force was doing, and Zhao referred questions to the defence ministry. He reiterated China’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that the United States should abide by the “one China” principle. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited a radar base in the north of the island on Monday, and praised its ability to track Chinese forces, her office said. “From last year until now, our radar station has detected nearly 2,000 communist aircraft and more than 400 communist ships, allowing us to quickly monitor and drive them away, and fully guard the sea and airspace,” she told officers. Biden’s new administration says the U.S. commitment to Taiwan is “rock-solid”.
The carrier group entered the South China Sea at the same time as Chinese-claimed Taiwan reported incursions by Chinese air force jets into the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone, prompting concern from Washington.
The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is the democratic island’s most important international backer and main arms supplier, to China’s anger.
Source: Reuters
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 10
Africa Renaissance AINA ADEMOLA [email protected] OgbeniDemola
Military coups in Africa, revolutions or reactions? There is some revolutionary military subversion that has happened in Africa that has been to the benefit of the African people and against the enemies of the African revolution with some revolutionary political implementations put in place in favour of the people.
For our people to understand the political milieu, we must give a juxtaposition about military coups in Africa. Basically, the military is not supposed to hold political offices because they have no political mandate, and it is not in their duty to demand one. However, there are some times when usurpation of political power by the use of guns by the military occurs, and this subversion can either be a revolution or a reaction. It’s quite not taxing to identify a military revolution or a usurpation of power engineered by the reactionary-junior capitalist- national bourgeoisie counter-revolutionary elements, the initial is revolutionary while the latter is not. Military hijack of power ret-
rogresses the African revolution but however, some conditions necessitate military subversion. The real African revolution doesn’t come from the military, it comes from the people, genuine revolution comes from the organization of the masses of the people towards the destruction of oppressive political structures. There is some revolutionary military subversion that has happened in Africa that has been to the benefit of the African people and against the enemies of the African revolution with some revolutionary political implementations put in place in favour of the people. Let’s take Burkinafaso for example, the military seizure of power by Thomas Sankara in 1983 is
purely a revolutionary act, because the rule of Thomas’s Sankara itself entails revolutionary ingredients like anti-imperialism, socialism, local production, Pan Africanism, Black consciousness. Women empowerment and many more. The 1983 Burkina Faso coup was purely an anti-imperialist coup that’s why most of the policies Sankara made was against the colonial enemy which is France, captain Thomas Sankara stopped the exploitation of the Burkina Faso resources by France, he shunned the odious Burkina Faso debt, collected the land from the oppressive feudal landlords and redistributed wealth equally in Burkinafaso, he reversed the former colonial name ‘Upper Volta’
to Burkinafaso and created alliance with many other revolutionary African governments, this alone in and of itself was nothing but revolutionary. Any military usurpation of power based on scientific socialism, Pan Africanism and anti-imperialism is revolutionary. We need to understand that colonialism hasn’t settled its debts to us when it’s flags and police have been removed from our territories, colonialism exits through the front political door and comes back in through the back economic door and it’s our duty as political revolutionaries to identify this refined colonialism called imperialism and destroy it through the organization of the masses of our people in
Africa Renaissance
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 11
We, the people of Africa, with our voice will pulverize into smithereens the machinations of oppression, bad leadership and neo-colonial exploitation. any way it may wish to manifest itself. We have sited military revolutionary usurpation of power with Burkinafaso as a case study, now let’s take a look at the reactionary military usurpation of power in Africa. Who are reactionaries? Reactionaries are bourgeois elements with metropolitan thinking, they are the National bourgeoisie; an extension of the metropolitan bourgeoisie, they are remnants of the feudal political epoch. They are, basically, bigots, criminals and enemies of the African revolution, they are not revolutionaries, they are nothing but reactionary pigs who work with their capitalistmetropolitan-imperialistneo-colonial masters to distort and retrogress the African revolution; they are puppets and nothing but a vicious contraption of the metropolis against the African liberation struggle.
A case study of reactionary seizure of political power in Africa is Ghana; on February 24 1966, there was a military mutiny between bourgeois police and military elements and their neo-colonial masters in Europe to overthrow the democratically elected government of the honourable Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. We all know that Nkrumah was in the Vanguard of the struggle against capitalism and imperialism in Africa, he was the initiative behind the Africa union government. His government was overthrown by a police-army mutiny on February 24, 1966, spearheaded by reactionary military elements. This imperialist military rule in Ghana before its collapse was purely based on capitalism, the military junta reversed all the revolutionary plans of the government of Nkrumah,
sold state-owned enterprises to private and metropolitan interests, disconnected Ghana from the African revolution, chased other African freedom fighters who sought asylum in Ghana, created an alliance with other colonial countries like Rhodesia, South Africa, jailed activists and arrested multitudes of the people of Ghana, reversed the seven years development plan of president Nkrumah, strengthened other puppets governments across Africa, banned Ghanaians from listening to the program on the radio called Voice of the Revolution aired from Conakry by Nkrumah and many more colonial evils. We can see evidence that this regime in an of itself was a regime run by colonial masters but through reactionaries, counter-revolutionaries and bourgeois elements within the
Ghanaian army, the same reactionary military seizure of power completely the same with Ghana’s own is that of 1987 military coup of Burkina Faso spearheaded by Blaise Compaore; the same behaviour, the same attitude and the same imperialist implementation. We shun military coups of any nature in Africa, the genuine revolutionary change doesn’t come from the army, it must come from our peoples through the organization of the revolutionary ingredients like the working class and peasants and most importantly, the lumpenproletariats by the Vanguard revolutionary party led by the revolutionary intelligentsia. How do we solve the military usurpation of power in Africa? The police and army are peasants and working-class in uniform, we must never alienate them from their
class by ostracizing them from politics, instructions must not be on blind obedience, it must be on mutual understanding. The army must not be autonomous such that when idle will eventually go into politics, the army must in the first place be politicized and must be under the control of the Vanguard socialist revolutionary party to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our nation, of Africa, the army is never to hold political offices because they have no political mandate; they are to with arms, defend the nation. The masses are the revolution, the revolution is the masses and not reactionary elements, We, the people of Africa, with our voice will pulverize into smithereens the machinations of oppression, bad leadership and neo-colonial exploitation.
Business Lane
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 13
Deutsche Bank starts probe in relation to engagement with some clients
Deutsche Bank AG said on Sunday it began a probe in relation to engagement with some clients after the Financial Times reported earlier that the German lender was investigating the alleged mis-selling of investment banking products.
client complaints last year, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the process, adding that the investigation initially focused on the desk in Spain, which sells hedges, swaps, derivatives and other financial products.
“We initiated an investigation in relation to our engagement with a limited number of clients. We cannot comment on details of the investigation until it is complete”, a Deutsche Bank spokesman said in an emailed statement late on Sunday.
An audit had found that the bank wrongly categorised client firms under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) rules, which require banks to separate their clients by levels of financial sophistication, according to the newspaper.
The Financial Times reported that the lender was probing if its staff mis-sold sophisticated investment banking products to clients in breach of European Union rules and then colluded with individuals within these companies to share the profits. The internal probe was triggered by
Sources told the newspaper that the lender believes some of its staff knowingly sold inappropriate or unsuitable products to customers who may not have been able to understand and shoulder the risk they were taking with these positions.
The probe, called Project Teal, is also looking into accusations that there was collusion between the German bank’s employees and staff at some of the clients who bought the inappropriate products. The scope of the investigation was subsequently extended to the rest of Europe, but it was believed only Spain and Portugal-based clients were impacted, a source told FT. The probe is drawing to a conclusion and the bank will have to soon make final disclosures to regulators, the newspaper said, adding that the bank’s primary regulators, BaFin and the European Central Bank, have been informed.
Source: Business Reuters
Business Lane
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 14
Unilever plan to build a more equitable and inclusive society Unilever plc, a British multinational consumer goods company such as food, confections, energy drinks, baby food, soft drinks, cheese, has announced a wide-ranging set of commitments and actions to help build a more equitable and inclusive society by raising living standards across its value chain, creating opportunities through inclusivity, and preparing people for the future
As Alan Jope says: “We believe the actions we are committing to will make Unilever a better, stronger business ready for the huge societal changes we are experiencing today – changes that will only accelerate. Without a healthy society, there cannot be a healthy business.” Photo: Bloomberg
Unilever has a long history of driving social change, from improving the health and wellbeing of more than 1 billion people to enhancing the livelihoods of millions under our Sustainable Living Plan. We are proud of these achievements. But we’re also acutely aware that we need to do more, because the social challenges people now face have grown even more severe. In 2019, for instance, more than 630 million workers worldwide – almost one in five of all those employed – did not earn enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. That’s why we’re announcing a set of ambitious commitments and actions to help build a more equitable and inclusive society. These include: Ensuring that everyone who directly provides goods and services to us earns at least a living wage or income by 2030.
Spending €2 billion annually with suppliers owned and managed by people from under-represented groups, by 2025. Helping 5 million small and medium-sized businesses grow through access to skills, finance and technology, by 2025. Increasing the number of diverse people involved in the production of our advertisements, both on-screen and behind the camera. Ensuring that our employees are reskilled or upskilled by 2025, and have access to flexible employment options by 2030. Equipping 10 million young people with essential skills to prepare them for job opportunities, by 2030. “The two biggest threats that the world currently faces are climate change and social inequality,” says Unilever CEO Alan Jope. “The past year has undoubtedly widened the social divide, and decisive and collective action is needed to build a society that helps to improve liveli-
hoods, embraces diversity, nurtures talent and offers opportunities for everyone.” Raising living standards Ensuring that people earn a living wage is a critical step towards building a more equitable and inclusive society. It allows people to afford a decent standard of living, covering their basic needs such as food, housing and healthcare. We already pay our employees at least a living wage. Now we want to secure the same for more people beyond our workforce, specifically focusing on the most vulnerable workers in manufacturing and agriculture. We’ll work with our suppliers, other businesses, governments and NGOs to create system-wide change and encourage the global adoption of living wage practices. As Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director at Oxfam International, says: “Uni-
Business Lane lever’s plan shows the kind of responsible action needed from the private sector that can have a great impact on tackling inequality, and help build a world in which everyone has the power to thrive, not just survive.” At the same time, we will help 5 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in our retail value chain access skills, finance and technology to grow their business and their income. The SMEs we work with are often retailers who run independent stores, outlets and kiosks, or micro-entrepreneurs making sales in the streets or house-to-house. Creating opportunities through inclusivity Unilever has long been a passionate advocate for greater diversity and inclusion. We are proud to have achieved gender balance across our management globally, but there is more work to do – for women and also for other under-represented groups. These include people with disabilities, those from LGBTQI+ communities and from under-represented racial and ethnic groups. We will adopt progressive policies and practices which eliminate bias and discrimination to create a culture that’s equitable for everyone. For a start, we will remove barriers and bias in recruitment and make our leaders accountable for supporting employees to excel. Beyond our own operations, by 2025, we will spend €2 billion annually with SMEs that are owned and managed by people from diverse and under-represented communities,
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 15
supporting them with access to skills, financing and networking opportunities. We will also address the lack of representation of these audiences in our advertising. In particular, we’ll use the strength of our brands to help tackle the prevalence of stereotypes that are often perpetuated through advertising and promote a more inclusive representation of people. Preparing people for the future of work As we help to build a more equitable and inclusive society, we recognise that changes to the world of work will affect the employment prospects of many people. Many current ways of working – roles, places, hours and skills – are rapidly evolving. So we will ensure that all our employees have a future-fit skillset, by 2025, to help them further their careers, whether that’s within or outside Unilever. We will also pioneer new employment models by 2030 that allow people to choose how they want to work. These could include flexible contracts that retain full-time benefits, or time off to study or retrain. Beyond our organisation, we will help equip 10 million young people with essential skills to prepare them for job opportunities, by 2030. For example, we’re working with partners on LevelUp – a youth employability platform – that will provide a one-stop shop for young people to discover their purpose and access training, volunteering and work experience opportuni-
ties. A healthy society for a healthy business Inclusion is at the heart of the global sustainable development agenda, with its central ambition being to ‘leave no one behind’. So building diversity and inclusion within and beyond our business supports a range of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This has been part of our DNA since Unilever was formed more than a century ago. And it’s integral to our strategy today: to contribute to a fairer and more socially inclusive world with brands that champion human rights, stand up for equality and distribute value fairly. We’re proud of the positive impact we have had over the years, but we’ve so much more to do. Which is why we’re setting out these bold new commitments to raise the living standards of people in our business and across our value chain, especially those who are currently under-represented. As Alan Jope says: “We believe the actions we are committing to will make Unilever a better, stronger business ready for the huge societal changes we are experiencing today – changes that will only accelerate. Without a healthy society, there cannot be a healthy business.”
We’ll work with our suppliers, other businesses, governments and NGOs to create system-wide change and encourage the global adoption of living wage practices.
Business Lane
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 16
Massive internet outage hits U.S. East Coast taking down Gmail, Slack, &Amazon AWS
Huge swaths of some of the biggest websites on the internet went down Tuesday afternoon, impacting businesses and their employees who are working from home as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The outages, which were first reported around 11:00 a.m. EST, hit companies ranging from Amazon (AMZN) and its Amazon Web Services and Yahoo Finance parent company Verizon (VZ) to at home
necessities including Zoom (ZM), Google’s Gmail (GOOG, GOOGL), and Slack (WORK). People using some internet providers, however, were still able to access the services. According to Downdetector, the outages were clustered along the northeast portion of the U.S., hitting states from Virginia to Massachusetts Despite the reports to Downdetector, Amazon’s AWS service dashboard showed that
the service was functioning as normal. The company said the problem was related to an issue with an external provider. Verizon, similarly, acknowledged there was an outage and said it was working to resolve it. The broad array of services impacted comes as a time when huge numbers of employees continue to work from home. Without the necessary internet infrastructure
to enable them to connect to their employers, workers are unable to do even basic tasks including speaking with their supervisors and colleagues. One of the last major internet outages occurred in August 2020, when internet service provider CenturyLink went down, taking a number of other businesses with it including CloudFlare and Hulu.
New bank cheque books usable from April 1 – CBN The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says revised cheque books of all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) will become operational from April 1, 2020. CBN directed all banks, accredited Cheque Printers/Personalisers, and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) to enlighten their customers. Sam Okojere, Director, Banking Services Department, gave the advice in a circular on Friday. Okojere said based on a CBN memo dated December 9, 2020, referenced BKS/DIR/CIR/GEN/02/042, old and new
cheques allowed to co-exist, will end on March 31, 2021. “Full enforcement of the second edition of the Nigeria Cheque Standard (NCS) and Nigeria Cheque Printers Accreditation Scheme (NICPAS) Version 2.0 will commence April 1, 2021 and the NCS/NICPAS 2.0. The Sanction grid will be fully operational on April 1, 2021.” The official noted that the extension of full implementation to April 1 was due to COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on NCS and NICPAS Version 2.
Business Lane
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 16
PENGASSAN calls for balance of interests in PIB to sustain oil, gas industry
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENGASSAN has called on lawmakers working on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to take into consideration areas that would sustain the industry in the proposed bill. The body, while making their submissions at the Public hearing on Monday, asked the National Assembly to balance the interest of the investors, workers, and the government to keep the industry robust. President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo stated this while insisting that the PIB must address the three core issues for a sustainable oil and gas industry. He said: “We must pass a PIB that will meet three basic obligations: to ensure more funds come
to the government; ensure that the employees in the oil and gas industry are protected and ensure that it attracts investment to the country.
of incentives to ensure that investors come to their countries.
splitting the regulator into two would back roll successes made in the past
“Nigeria as a country has an opportunity to pass a bill that will bring a lot of investment into the country; we can’t shy away from the government making money. So, it must be a bill that is balanced and all-encompassing.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, had said that the PIB presently before the National Assembly will ensure that Nigerians benefit optimally from crude oil production and the sale of fossil fuel reserves.
The PENGASSAN boss reminded the lawmakers that more African countries have joined the production of oil and gas while others are currently discovering oil in commercial quantities.
Osifo argued that there would be complications and unhealthy competition, if the PIB splits regulators of oil industries into two as against only one that is in place, adding that as organised labour in the industry, they were against the proposal.
Lawan said the National Assembly in its consideration of the piece of legislation, would ensure that the bill when passed into law, guarantees improved revenue earnings for the country.
“In the past, it was Nigeria, Angola, Congo, Gabon and a few others, but today many countries are discovering oil on a daily basis and they are providing lots
According to him, there was nothing wrong with one regulator which has over the years, aided growth of the oil and gas industry, warning that
“You cannot pass a bill that will drive away investors. These are the people that will bring the fund to the industry. So, any bill that must be passed must be a bill that is investor-friendly.”
In his words, “let me say this, we (National Assembly) will pass this bill not without ensuring that it is a bill that satisfies certain conditions.
Source: Yahoo Finance
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 18
Essential Corner Danmole Zainab
The invisibly essential commodity A demand curve shows the relationship between quantity demanded and price in a given market on a graph. The law of demand states that a higher price typically leads to a lower quantity demanded. A supply schedule is a table that shows the quantity supplied at different prices in the market.
In every part of the world, essential commodities are commodities that we can’t do without as a family, individual or a group. They are commodities that are extremely imported livelihood. In this part of the world, we see food and water as the most essential commodities while every other are less essential to the above
mentioned. When you ask an average Nigeria what and what food items he must have as a raw at home or in reserve, they will only mention rice, beans, garrison, oil salt, some will even mention bread. But hey… Do we just want to shy away from the fact that there’s a particular commodity that is more as important as the above? This item gives birth
to a list of other commodities that many of us can’t do without our cakes and confectionaries can’t even be possible without its existence and to crown it all, its health benefit is amazing. Well, wheat is that essential grain that produces Pasta, flour, Semolina and Semovita, refined wheat, and many more. What is an invisible essential commodity that is
barely noticed but widely eaten all across the nation? Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed which is a cereal grain and known as a staple food just like the 'famous rice’. There are various classes of wheat and each has its usage. We have the Hard Red Winter wheat, which is extremely versatile wheat, it is used for bread and
Essential Corner
all-purpose flour. Soft Red Winter which is great for cookies, crackers and pastries. Soft White Wheat: Best for making cakes, pastries and flatbreads. Qurum Wheat: Specially for pasta and couscous. Hard White Wheat: Great for Asian noodles and flatbreads as well. Hard Red Spring: Used in making designer bread, croissant. and more.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 19
To a layman, wheat is wheat. It is just the grain, blended and turns into hot boiling water to make swallow. To the bakers, their all-purpose flour and the likes are made from wheat grains. To the caterers and foodie their Semolina, Semovita, Spaghetti and noodles are made from wheat. Have we asked ourselves if it is the same set of wheat for everything or
particular wheat for each? Now we can see that wheat and its products are essential in our household. Thy just invisible just like some other commodities which will be unveiled soon. Let’s all know our type of what and its products to know the value and its effectiveness in our household.
Technology
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 21
Nigeria Customs generate its highest revenue ever, $1.5 trillion in 2020
When the pandemic struck, the Nigerian government slashed the revenue expectations of different government departments. For the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the target was slashed from an initial target of ₦1.2 trillion ($3,145,478) to ₦900 billion ($2,359,108.71). But contrary to expectations, at the end of last year, the NCS generated ₦1.5 ($3,931,847.85) trillion; its highest revenue generated in a single year. In a conversation with Ope Babalola, the Managing director of Webb Fountaine, he talks about how WebbFontaine, a global IT company that provides the necessary infrastructure to support the automation of customs and trade procedures, is driving such exceptional results.
“We’ve been in Nigeria since 2006. Essentially what we do is to facilitate international trade, and that means a very wide range of things. For example, in Nigeria, we have been able to assist in the automation of everything in the trade process.” “From people applying for the foreign exchange through the central bank to when they get the goods and when they’re bringing them in. Even getting certificates from the standards organization and other required agencies.” Working with the Nigerian Government He goes on to say that they’ve enjoyed the cooperation of the NCS. However, a common issue that comes up in the course of doing their work is the need to explain to other agencies
involved the importance of what they’re doing. He doesn’t see it as a problem because it gives WebbFontaine an opportunity to educate more agencies.
“We don’t provide all of the services in Nigeria at this present time, but we have the capacity to do so.”
“When many people complain that they have problems at the port, we like to let people know that the government has several agencies who work at the ports. You have the customs, ports authorities, maritime agencies, and others.”
WebbFontaine is also present in other African countries like Benin, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Guinea.
Babalola is quick to point out that WebbFontaine isn’t the only company working with the NCS. He says, “It’s not possible to do this as a multi-vendor venture because we’re talking about integrating computer systems and having a seamless organization”
Presence in Africa
Citing an example of a work recently done in the Benin Republic, he says, “We recently offered a service where just by viewing on a computer screen, you could actually tell which ships were about to berth over the next few days, what they contained, and what was in their manifest.” “You can imagine how useful something like that would be both for scheduling port arrivals, and even for national security operations. That’s something
Technology we believe is very useful for many people.” Babalola believes the Nigerian government is getting exceptional value from this partnership, and if the implementation of the automation system goes as planned, the revenue generated could increase to ₦3 trillion in the next 3-5 years. Having worked with the government for 14 years, Babalola says the partnership has lasted that long because they’re
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 22
always thinking ahead, even bringing solution suggestions to problems that may not even be immediately obvious. Looking at the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which kicked off this year, he believes it’s a great opportunity to improve intra-Africa trade which is currently only about 17%. “Imagine if we only double this to 34-35%.” To seize the opportunities
available, WebbFontaine is looking to expand to other African countries in northern and southern Africa. Babalola tells me, “We’re interested in everywhere. The work we do in each place sometimes can be different. It depends on the specific needs of the places. In one place we may be offering cargo tracking services and in another, we may be offering payment systems solutions in another.”
“We will be announcing investments in African research and development centres sometime in the near future.” When going through customs at the airport or moving goods through the port, it’s easy to think of many things except the technology that makes it run well. Next time you do any of these, remember there are companies like WebbFontaine making it easier to do so.
Apple releases iOS 14.4 with iPhone camera improvements
After you install the update, your iPhone's camera will be able to recognize smaller QR codes, and you'll be able to specify different types of Bluetooth audio devices. Apple released on Tuesday iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4, the latest software update for iPhones and iPads and the fourth update since the arrival of iOS 14 last summer. Relatively small in scope, the update delivers a few tweaks to your phone's camera and Bluetooth capabilities, along with a cadre of other bug fixes. On the camera front, iOS 14.4 will allow your iPhone to recognize
smaller QR codes than before, and it also enables new warnings for cases where Apple can't recognize the camera on an iPhone 12 as a first-party camera from Apple, which would presumably only come into play if you needed to have the phone altered or repaired. One of the bug fixes also promises to eliminate image artifacts in HDR photos taken with the iPhone 12 Pro.As for Bluetooth, you'll now be able to specify which type of audio device you're connecting to, whether that's a speaker, a car stereo, a pair of headphones or even a hearing aid. The aim is to ensure that audio levels
automatically match the device you're connecting with your phone. The update arrives as Apple prepares to kick off Black History Month by highlighting Black creators and developers in the App Store throughout February, along with curated content on Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple Books. Earlier Tuesday, Apple announced new limited-edition Black Unity Collection sports bands for the Apple Watch Series 6. To download and install the update, open your iPhone settings and tap General, then Software Update.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/
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Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 24
The Nigeria Stock Market Report January 22nd 2020 WEEKLY REPORT STOCK MARKET REPORT FOR JANUARY 22ND 2021 PRODUCTS EQUITY A total turnover of 4.288 billion shares worth N25.989 billion in 32,849 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 3.447 billion shares valued at N32.725 billion that exchanged hands last week in 30,327 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 2.607 billion shares valued at N12.454 billion traded in 15,128 deals; thus contributing 60.81% and 47.92% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 813.813 million shares worth N1.561 billion in 2,417 deals. The third place was Oil and Gas Industry, with a turnover of 212.126 million shares worth N821.978 million in 2,726 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc and Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 1.582 billion shares worth N1.564 billion in 2,726 deals, contributing 36.9% and 6.02% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Equity Turnover - Last 5 days Date 18-Jan-21 19-Jan-21 20-Jan-21 21-Jan-21 22-Jan-21
Deals 7,404 5,976 6,297 7,405 5,767
Turnover Volume 1,012,533,172 912,864,239 649,651,752 1,121,364,348 591,459,505
Turnover Value (N) 4,337,066,103 5,569,802,913 4,611,855,399 6,397,646,296 5,072,141,014
Traded Stocks 112 118 115 116 105
For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Advanced Stocks 35 43 55 14 21
Page 1
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
Declined Stocks 22 21 16 50 33
Unchanged Stocks 55 54 44 52 51
Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 25
WEEKLY REPORT ETPs A total of 778,755 units valued at N4.575 billion were traded this week in 46 deals compared with a total of 413,509 units valued at N2.454 billion transacted last week in 42 deals. s/n
Security
Deals
Volume
Value
1
NEWGOLD
27
522,914
4,569,387,240.00
2
VETGRIF30
8
235,087
4,196,332.40
3
STANBICETF30
3
14,708
1,323,720.00
4
VETBANK
3
4,516
18,830.00
5
MERGROWTH
2
1,500
28,500.00
6
VETINDETF
1
10
205.20
7
VSPBONDETF
1
10
2,251.20
8
VETGOODS
1
10
60.60
TOTAL
46
778,755
4,574,957,139.40
BONDS A total of 2,515 units valued at N2.606 million were traded this week in 16 deals compared with a total of 11,420 units valued at N12.325 million transacted last week in 17 deals. s/n 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Security FGS202267 FGS202369 FGSUK2025S2 FGS202261 FGS202263 FGS202265 FGS202373 FGS202257 FGS202125 FGS202127 FGS202131 FGS202139 FGS202143 FGS202249 FGS202253 FGS202255
Deals 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
TOTAL
16
Volume 1,135 500 500 50 50 50 30 30 30 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Value 1,148,044.02 466,931.06 603,922.80 49,276.25 51,466.76 51,373.79 30,196.69 32,433.60 30,880.94 19,668.31 19,677.30 20,067.46 19,593.39 21,308.49 20,457.18 20,218.90
2,515
2,605,516.94
INDEX MOVEMENT
The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 0.42% and 0.38% to close the week at 41,001.99 and N21.449 trillion respectively. Similarly, all other indices finished lower with the exception of NSE MERI Growth which appreciated by 0.12% while the NSE ASeM and NSE Growth Indices closed flat (See summary of index movements in the table below): For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Page 2
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 26
WEEKLY REPORT
The NSE All-Share Index (ASI) NSE Growth Index The NSE-Main Board Index NSE 30 Index NSE CG Index NSE Premium Index NSE Banking Index NSE Pension Index NSE Insurance Index NSE ASeM Index NSE-AFR Bank Value Index NSE AFR Div Yield Index NSE MERI Growth Index NSE MERI Value Index NSE Consumer Goods Index NSE Oil/Gas Index NSE Lotus II NSE Industrial Goods Index
WEEK CLOSE 15/01/2021
WEEK CLOSE 22/01/2021
WEEKLY CHANGE
41,176.14 958.96 1,780.20 1,687.18 1,274.00 3,513.43 415.91 1,464.29 243.75 729.87 1,175.73 2,209.24 1,686.47 1,998.35 606.48 274.53 2,885.98 2,062.29
41,001.99 958.96 1,774.91 1,683.74 1,264.33 3,493.42 410.39 1,455.48 241.80 729.87 1,158.27 2,207.55 1,688.54 1,952.78 605.92 274.18 2,876.15 2,051.69
-174.15 0.00 -5.29 -3.44 -9.67 -20.01 -5.52 -8.81 -1.95 0.00 -17.46 -1.69 2.07 -45.57 -0.56 -0.35 -9.83 -10.60
WtD
-0.42 0.00 -0.30 -0.20 -0.76 -0.57 -1.33 -0.60 -0.80 0.00 -1.49 -0.08 0.12 -2.28 -0.09 -0.13 -0.34 -0.51
MtD
QtD
% Change 1.82 1.82 -3.32 -3.32 2.84 2.84 2.66 2.66 3.58 3.58 0.65 0.65 4.42 4.42 4.81 4.81 27.60 27.60 0.00 0.00 4.05 4.05 9.40 9.40 2.08 2.08 5.48 5.48 5.68 5.68 21.21 21.21 1.05 1.05 -0.03 -0.03
SUMMARY OF PRICE CHANGES PRICGES
Fifty-three (53) equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than sixty (60) equities in the previous week. Twenty-nine (29) equities depreciated in price, higher than nineteen (19) equities in the previous week, while seventy-nine (79) equities remained unchanged, lower than eighty-two (82) recorded in the previous week. For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Page 3
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
YtD
1.82 -3.32 2.84 2.66 3.58 0.65 4.42 4.81 27.60 0.00 4.05 9.40 2.08 5.48 5.68 21.21 1.05 -0.03
Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 27
WEEKLY REPORT Top 10 Price Gainers Company CHAMPION BREW. PLC. TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC B.O.C. GASES PLC. MULTIVERSE MINING AND EXPLORATION PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Top 10 Price Decliners Company JAPAUL GOLD & VENTURES PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC CHAMS PLC SUNU ASSURANCES NIGERIA PLC. TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. OMATEK VENTURES PLC UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
Open Close 1.35 1.95 0.80 1.10 2.36 3.12 7.41 9.68 0.69 0.90 0.26 0.33 12.52 15.12 0.20 0.24 2.11 2.52 2.44 2.90
Open 1.52 1.60 13.75 0.69 0.28 1.00 3.15 0.22 0.80 9.25
Close 0.95 1.28 11.20 0.60 0.25 0.90 2.84 0.20 0.75 8.70
Gain (N) % Change 0.60 44.44 0.30 37.50 0.76 32.20 2.27 30.63 0.21 30.43 0.07 26.92 2.60 20.77 0.04 20.00 0.41 19.43 0.46 18.85
Loss (N) -0.57 -0.32 -2.55 -0.09 -0.03 -0.10 -0.31 -0.02 -0.05 -0.55
% Change -37.50 -20.00 -18.55 -13.04 -10.71 -10.00 -9.84 -9.09 -6.25 -5.95
NEW LISTING DEBT
A total volume of 4,890,000, 5 Years 5.5% Series 4 (Tranche A) Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bond Due 2025 under the N70,000,000,000 Bond Issuance Program; and the 25,000,000, 7 Years 6.25% Series 4 (Tranche B) Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bond Due 2027 Under the N70,000,000,000 Bond Issuance Program of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc were listed by memorandum on Thursday 21st January, 2021. CORPORATE ACTION Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund
Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund
Quarterly Distribution for the Period ended 31 Dec 2020
Proposed Distribution:
₦33.00 kobo per unit
Proposed Bonus:
Nil
Qualification /Record Date:
Wednesday, 20 January 2021
For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Page 4
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 28
WEEKLY REPORT Closure Date:
Thursday, 21 January 2021
AGM Date:
Not Applicable
Payment Date:
Friday, 22 January 2021
Please visit http://www.nse.com.ng/Issuers-section/corporate-disclosures/companyresults for full details of Financial News and other corporate disclosures. COMPANY REPORT S/NO COMPANY 1 ACADEMY PRESS PLC. 2 MULTIVERSE MINING AND EXPLORATION PLC 3 MULTIVERSE MINING AND EXPLORATION PLC
PERIOD 2ND QUARTER UNAUDITED DECEMBER 3RD QUARTER UNAUDITED SEPTEMBER 4TH QUARTER UNAUDITED DECEMBER
YEAR 2020 2020 2020
Please visit http://www.nse.com.ng/Issuers-section/corporate-disclosures/companyresults for full details of Financial News and other corporate disclosures OTHER NEWS Transcorp Hotel Plc: Listing of Additional Shares (Rights Issue of 2,642,124,511 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo Each at N3.76 Kobo Per Share)
2,642,124,511 ordinary shares of Transcorp Hotel Plc (the Company) were listed on the Daily Official List of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (The Exchange) on Monday, 18 January 2021. The additional shares listed on The Exchange arose from the Company’s Rights Issue of 2,659,574,468 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N3.76 Kobo per share on the basis of seven (7) new ordinary shares for every twenty (20) ordinary shares held as at Monday, 13 July 2020. The Rights Issue was 99.34% subscribed. With this listing of the additional 2,642,124,511 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid up shares of Transcorp Hotel Plc has now increased from 7,600,403,900 to 10,242,528,411 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Please visit http://www.nse.com.ng/Issuers-section/corporate-disclosures/companyresults for full details of Financial News and other corporate disclosures
For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Page 5
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
The Royals
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 29
Prince Harry 'doomed' Meghan's royal future with four-word blunder
Prince Harry said the royals would become the "family Meghan never had" ahead of their wedding - an insensitive comment that critics argued was disrespectful to Meghan's actual family. Royal expert Daniela Elser said his comments also showed a naivety about how well Meghan would fit into the royal family - ignoring the fact she was already a public figure with a driven personal agenda and individual aims and goals. Writing in a news.com.au comment piece entitled 'Four words that doomed Meghan Markle’s relationship with royals', Ms Elser said Harry's comments on BBC's Today show caused upset on both sides of the Atlantic. She said: "In what would be an unfortunate precedent, his impressive work, including an interview with Barack Obama, was largely overshadowed by a personal revelation, in this instance him claiming that his fiance had a great time over the festive period with the Windsors who were the 'family she never had'.
struggle it would be to fit Meghan into the royal family's tight-knit and unusual world.She said: "Looking back, what comes into focus is that, outwardly, it seemed nearly universally expected that she would cheerfully slot into both the family structure and the palace’s working apparatus. After all, royal spouses are expected to contort themselves to fit the royal mould and not the other way around. "This was a woman who had already addressed the UN and had undertaken international charity trips (to Rwanda and India) as a Global Ambassador for World Vision. Meghan came to royal life with fully formed charity interests and considerable experience with this sort of work. "So why, in those early weeks and months ahead of the Sussex wedding didn’t anyone seem to realise that Meghan wasn’t some Henrietta or Araminta who associated the word ‘charity’ with ‘ball’, could ride to the hounds and thought Ban Ki Moon was a Thai take away option?"
"The outcry was immediate with social media and clucking British columnists quick to point out that the prince’s words were a tad hurtful to her parents, mother Doria Ragland and father Thomas Markle."
Harry's suggestion that Meghan had not enjoyed close relations with her family were refuted by the duchess' half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. He said even though the family was spread across Los Angeles they made sure to catch up for special occasions.
More than the clumsiness of the phrase, Ms Elser said it showed the Duke had no idea how much of a
He told the Daily Mail: "We were as close as we could be, as tight as we could be, that's what we were.
"We'd get together on Christmases, on holidays, on birthdays, on Thanksgiving. "It was always somewhere, even though we lived in different parts of the city – we still all got together." He said even though the family was spread across Los Angeles they made sure to catch up for special occasions. He told the Daily Mail: "We were as close as we could be, as tight as we could be, that's what we were. "We'd get together on Christmases, on holidays, on birthdays, on Thanksgiving. "It was always somewhere, even though we lived in different parts of the city – we still all got together." Prince Charles’ relationship with his younger brother, Prince Andrew, may be more tense than first thought, according to a royal author. Clive Irving, author of 'The Last Queen', spoke to Sky News Australia about why he thought the Prince of Wales' future reign could bring about the end of the monarchy. He pointed to the heir's relationship with his younger brother as an example of his immaturity. Mr Irving said: "There's an interesting story about the relationship between Charles and Andrew. Why does the Queen favour Andrew over Charles?
Source: The Express UK
The Royals
"I know this to be true - she's long favoured Andrew over Charles. Charles has resented it for a very long time." Prince Philip’s suggestion to demolish Sandringham "horrified" Queen Elizabeth II's mother, a royal historian has claimed. Dr Jonathan Foyle told Channel 5 the Duke of Edinburgh proposed pulling down Sandringham in 1960. But, Dr Foyle stated this idea was not accepted by The Queen Mother as she loved the building. Channel 5's documentary 'Before They Were Royal' analysed Prince Philip and the Queen's relationship.The Queen's household staff will continue “flexible working” after the pandemic, according to a latest job advert. A job advert for a Senior Employee Communications Assistant has hinted there will be plans to continue remote working even once coronavirus restrictions are lifted. The advert for the £27,000-a-year-role reads: “Working as part of our profession and supportive HR team, you’ll underpin all aspects of our employee communications and will join at an interesting and important time." Prince Philip’s suggestion to demolish Sandringham "horrified" Queen Elizabeth II's mother, a royal historian has claimed. Dr Jonathan Foyle told Channel 5 the Duke of Edinburgh proposed pulling down Sandringham in 1960. But, Dr Foyle stated this idea was not accepted by The Queen Mother as she loved the building. Channel 5's documentary 'Before They Were Royal' analysed Prince Philip and the Queen's relationship. The Queen's household staff will continue “flexible working” after the pandemic, according to a latest job advert.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 30
A job advert for a Senior Employee Communications Assistant has hinted there will be plans to continue remote working even once coronavirus restrictions are lifted. The advert for the £27,000-a-year-role reads: “Working as part of our profession and supportive HR team, you’ll underpin all aspects of our employee communications and will join at an interesting and important time."Prince Charles has been branded "hypocritical" over his response to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry leaving their senior roles in the Royal Family. Royal author Clive Irving launched an attack on the Prince of Wales claiming it was “an atrocious act of hypocrisy” for him to condemn Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s attempt to continue using the Sussex Royal brand.
his demands for a drastic "makeover" of one of the Queen's "emotionally" significant royal residences was soundly dismissed. Prince Philip's proposal to pull down the Sandringham estate was "rejected" by the Queen, experts have claimed. The Duke of Edinburgh planned for a "radical makeover" of the royal residence, which had been famously critiqued for years over its appearance. Commentators and experts discussed what led the Queen to shut down the idea on Channel 5 documentary, 'Secrets of the Royal Palaces'.Prince Harry’s hopes for his military titles to be returned as part of the Palace's spring review of his and Meghan Markle's exit deal will "ultimately" be down to his grandmother, the Queen, royal commentators have claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s were stripped of the right to use royal branding by the Queen and her heir Prince Charles after their departure from the Firm last year. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's latest royal project is engaging fans with one of her "most important causes", according to a royal commentator, who explained this was the future consort "establishing her own legacy".
And, the Queen may have already hinted at "what she's prepared to give or take" in the negotiations, royal commentators suggest.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room Instagram is part of her bid to "establish [a] legacy", royal commentators have claimed.
Ms Nicholl pointed to the Duke of Sussex's official military appointments as one of the main interests.The Royal Family should continue when the Queen's reign ends, according to an Express.co.uk poll which saw readers reject the prospect of republicanism.
The senior royal created the social media account to encourage more people to read, which is one of her "passions". Vanity Fair Royal Editor Katie Nicholl spoke to True Royalty's Royal Beat about how this may help to reduce backlash from the way she was portrayed in the Netflix series, 'The Crown'. Prince Philip was left floundering after
Vanity Fair Royal Editor Katie Nicholl spoke to True Royalty's Royal Beat host Kate Thornton about the upcoming spring review of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit deal with the Palace.
Readers voted in our poll on whether they would support Britain becoming a republic after the Queen's reign. A decisive 69 percent of respondents said no, compared to 29 percent who backed the idea, while one percent did not know.
Africa
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 31
Tunisia's parliament approves Cabinet reshuffle amid protests
Tunisia’s parliament on Tuesday approved a Cabinet reshuffle that deepened the conflict between the prime minister and the president, as hundreds protested outside the heavily barricaded parliament over social inequality and police abuses. Riot police turned water cannon on protesters outside the parliament earlier on Tuesday, trying to quell the largest rally since demonstrations began this month. Hundreds of protesters had marched from the Ettadhamen district of the capital, Tunis, where young people have clashed with police several nights this month, and were joined by hundreds more near the parliament. Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi named 11 new ministers and said he hoped it would inject new blood into his government. Young people protesting outside parliament reminds us of our priorities. Their protests are legitimate
and the government will listen to the angry youth, ” he said. But President Kais Saied indicated on Monday he would reject the Cabinet reshuffle, condemned the absence of women among the new ministers and said some likely new Cabinet members may have conflicts of interest. Saied, who appointed Mechichi last year but has taken issue with some of his moves, said he would not swear in any ministers suspected of corruption. Police blocked the march with barricades to prevent protesters approaching the parliament building where lawmakers were debating the government reshuffle. “The government that only uses police to protect itself from the people - it has no more legitimacy,” said one protester, Salem Ben Saleh, who is unemployed. Later, police also blocked Avenue Habib Bourguiba, the broad tree-lined boule-
vard that is home to the Interior Ministry and where major protests have traditionally taken place, as demonstrators tried to gather there.ARAB SPRING ANNIVERSARY Protests flared earlier this month on the 10th anniversary of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that inspired that Arab Spring and introduced democracy in the North African country. Political paralysis and economic decline have soured many Tunisians on the fruits of the uprising. The political deadlock in Tunisia since elections in 2019 has stymied efforts to address festering economic problems, with both foreign lenders and the main labour union demanding reforms. Last year, as the global coronavirus pandemic struck, Tunisia’s economy shrank by more than 8%. The fiscal deficit rose above 12% of gross domestic product, ballooning public debt to more than 90% of GDP. The nightly clashes between
young people and police have been matched by growing daytime protests at which demonstrators have chanted slogans including: “The people want the fall of the regime” - echoing Arab Spring uprisings.On Tuesday, with anger high over the death on Monday of a young man whose family said had been hit by a tear gas canister, protesters chanted against the security forces. In Sbeitla, the hometown of Haykel Rachdi, who was buried on Tuesday, mourners later clashed with police, witnesses said. As parliamentary debate on the reshuffle paused, some opposition lawmakers left parliament to join the protest outside. “Mechichi has transformed this into a police state. ... No work, no development, no investment... just police against the people,” said Imed, another protester who did not want to give his family name.
Africa
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 32
'Therapeutic': Egyptians are turning to snakes for their massage needs
A spa in Cairo, Egypt is offering snake massages to its customers, with lives snakes made to slither on the backs of people who are after some relaxing therapy. The massage is something new in Egypt, but it's slowly gaining popularity. The massage room has some extra inhabitants in the form of pythons, which are used in the latest massage therapy, introduced by Safwat Sedki, the owner of the spa called Chill Out. There are 29 nonvenomous snakes in Egypt and Sedki uses two types in each session. He begins with the small Abu Sweir ones. First of all, Sedki spreads oil to heat the body because these snakes thrive in relatively high temperatures. The snake's movements are haphazard, as they can be zigzag or circular, with no particular pattern. Every area the snake moves boosts the blood circulation in the body.
The Abu Sweir snake is ticklish and light on the body and it is much different than the second type to follow. The really scary one is the python, which is much larger and heavier. It squeezes on the body and the forehead to give a relaxing feeling, reduces pain and muscle tightness. "Honestly, at first it was very scary. It is hard to describe feeling them moving on my body. But then you get used to it. It's so relaxing and safe, in fact, there is nothing to be afraid of. As the session goes on, the movement of the snakes relaxes the body and your mind feels a connection with the snakes. Your mind flows with their movements around the body, a nice feeling," said Mohamed el Bendary, a customer receiving the therapy. This unorthodox session lasts between 20-40 minutes upon the customer's request. There are physical and psychological benefits to snake massages. Physically, it stimulates the blood flow and stimulates cerebral circulation. Psy-
chologically, it kills fear and tension, boosts hormones related to relaxation and happiness, which in turn strengthens the immune system and self-confidence especially for those who are scared of snakes, said Sedki. Though Sedki started the snake massage at the beginning of 2021, he believes it will take off. "We first targeted our regular clients, we showed them photos of the session, as well as the benefits and safety. Most of them were interested and joined. It spread via word of mouth and then social media increased the momentum. I can see it gaining popularity. Our dream started five years ago to spread the culture of massage in Egypt and make people embrace it," said Sedki. Sedki says he plans to unveil new types of massages, which are more eccentric than snake massages.
Africa
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 33
South Africa resorts to temporary morgues as Covid deaths soar
The cold hits you first. Then comes the smell. Inside a refrigerated shipping container are 17 plastic-wrapped corpses, each bearing a yellow label reading "highly contagious." The 12-meter steel box has been installed at the Johannesburg morgue to help it cope with a rising tide of Covid deaths. The container can store up to 40 corpses, keeping them at a constant zero degrees Celsius. "We have seen an increase of around 40 percent (in corpses) across the country," said spokesman Marius du Plessis of AVBOB, a leading funeral and burial service provider in the country. South Africa is the continent's worst-hit country in the pandemic, with more than 1.4 million coronavirus cases and 40,800 deaths. It was already struggling to beat back infections when they surged to unprecedented levels this month after scientists detected a new virus variant widely believed to be more conta-
gious. To help store the influx of bodies -- and ensure Covid-19 victims are separated from others -- AVBOB has distributed 22 containers normally used for transporting goods to its 250 South African morgues. Quick turnover At a funeral home in the administrative capital Pretoria, an undertaker ties a third layer of plastic around a corpse sent that morning from a coronavirus hospital ward. Only the feet, arms and head can be distinguished from the tightly wrapped bundle lying on a stainless steel table, surrounded by white-tiled walls. The body must be buried soon. "Covid bodies can be kept for seven days maximum," facility manager Naomi Van der Heever said. The surrounding refrigerated rooms are almost full, with 200 bodies waiting to be buried or cremated. More than half succumbed to the virus.
"They have to go quick, it's a protocol," said Van der Heever. "With turnover, we have avoided full capacity." Coffins in demand Coffin makers are also feeling the strain. "I can't take any more orders," repeats the secretary of Johannesburg manufacturer Enzo Wood every time she answers the phone. More than 100 workers have been laboring non-stop since the early morning, spraying sawdust across the factory floor. The noise is deafening as machines turn relentlessly for eight hours a day, churning out dozens of wooden planks. It then takes only 20 minutes to assemble a coffin. Enzo Wood is now working at maximum capacity, producing 300 coffins per day. Orders fly off the warehouse shelves, making it impossible to build up stock. Sales manager Kasie Pillay noted that demand
for "oversize" boxes had increased the most. Evidence suggests that overweight people and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes are more at risk from Covid-19. However, costs have also risen, making it difficult to work with quality wood and materials. "Some are trying to take advantage of this period, some prices have increased," Pillay said. "The handles on the boxes for example." Coffins are a symbolic investment for mourning families in South Africa, where funerals are pricey ceremonies marked with week-long vigils, decor and catering. Some of Enzo Wood's fanciest coffins can sell for up to 6500 rands ($426). But priorities have changed during the pandemic. "The undertakers are no longer interested in what they get as long as they get something to bury the Covid patients," Pillay said.
Religion
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 34
FBI Investigating Bombing at Church That Promotes ‘Hateful Messaging against LGBT Community’
A protester threw a bomb into the church that was the center of protests by those who felt the church had an "extremist, hateful messaging against the LGBT community," Worthy News reports. First Works Baptist Church in El Monte, Calif., was bombed at 1 a.m. by what authorities believe is an Improvised Explosive Device, or IED. The group that headed the protests, Keep El Monte Friendly, stated they did not believe any of their protesters were involved. One of KEMF's organizers,
Brian Olmos, stated "We never encouraged any forms of violence." According to a statement by the FBI, there is no established motive, but the bureau is looking into hate crimes as a possibility. However, they just opened the investigation recently so there is still much they haven't determined yet. The church belongs to a network of 30 churches called the New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement, which is led by pastor Steven Anderson,
who made headlines for telling his congregation he prayed for then-President Barack Obama to die. He also claimed the Jews lied about the holocaust, which put him on the list of people labeled ethnicist toward Jewish persons by the Anti-Defamation League. Further, in 2016 after the shooting at Pulse nightclub, a gay bar in Orlando, Anderson allegedly stated "These people all should have been killed, anyway, but they should have been killed through the proper
channels, as in they should have been executed by a righteous government that would have tried them, convicted them, and saw them executed." The church is headed by PHOTO: a pastor who is aGOOGLE close associate with Anderson, and at a 2019 "Make American Straight Again" rally he advocated for the government to kill all homosexuals, stating "We don’t advocate Christians to go out and be vigilantes and try to put these f— to death. We want the government to do it."
Supreme Court Reverses Ban on Abortions in Texas On Monday, the Supreme Court granted a petition from Planned Parenthood that removed a temporary ban on abortions in the state of Texas that would free up space for coronavirus patients to be cared for in spare medical facilities. The Supreme Court ruled "The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted. The judgment is vacated, and the case is remanded to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit with instructions to dismiss the case as moot. See United States v. Munsingwear, Inc., 340 U. S. 36 (1950)."The rule overturns a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that upheld the ban. According to Planned Parenthood's petition, "The Governor of Texas, in reliance on the COVID19 pandemic, issued an executive order that banned nearly all abortions in Texas for at least a month, and potentially far
longer." However, they also note that the governor rescinded the Executive Order and replaced it with another one that allowed abortions to continue in Texas. It was for this reason the Supreme Court ruled the petition was moot. The Supreme Court explained "When, as here, an appeal becomes moot 'while on its way' on the way to this Court, this Court's 'established practice' is to 'vacate the judgment below and remand with a direction to dismiss.'" However, the new Executive Order still required abortion facilities to reserve at least 25% of their capacity for coronavirus patients. This move also could limit abortions in Texas. The previous executive order was faced with endless judicial attacks from multiple lower courts, with the argument allegedly being it was not reasonable for Texas to ban
abortions because abortions use minimal personal protective equipment. However, the ban was not revoked or placed in permanent injunction. President Trump, citing abortion as a major issue, nominated Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Comey Barrett to the Supreme Court during his Administration. So far, the Supreme Court has heard few cases concerning abortion.
Health & Wellness
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 35
Mental Health Literacy Mutiat Adebayo
Mental health literacy is a concept of health literacy. It is defined as understanding how to obtain and maintain positive mental health; understanding mental health problems and their treatments, decreasing stigma related to mental health problems and enhancing help-seeking efficacy The rise in dysfunctional mental health issues nowadays is becoming quite alarming. It is observed that a larger percentage of the nation's population lacks adequate information and find it difficult to understand health and wellbeing information. This is often referred to as “health literacy” and it can affect people’s ability to
manage long term conditions and make informed choices about their health and wellbeing. Mental health literacy is important as it is closely related to seeking help on behaviour and mental health outcomes. People with little or no mental health literacy may be unable to recognise signs of distress in themselves or others, which can stop them from seeking support when necessary. Furthermore, a lack of understanding and awareness about mental health in the general public can lead to discrimination and stigma toward those living with mental health problems. Mental health literacy is an important empowerment tool, as it helps people
better understand their mental health and enables them to act upon this information. It increases people’s resilience and control over their mental health and enhances help in seeking self-efficacy. This includes knowing when and where to seek help and developing self-management skills. It can also empower people to effectively manage long-term mental health conditions. On a broader scale, improved mental health literacy may reduce the burden on health and social care services and reduce health inequalities. Improving mental health literacy and empowering people to make informed decisions about their mental health can be done
through whole group approaches, e.g. promoted through community campaigns, peer support approaches or school and work-based interventions. It can also involve improving the mental health literacy of professionals through training, education and shared working practices. Mental health literacy can also be improved by identifying key groups likely to have lower mental health literacy and shaping strategies and approaches around particular requirements, e.g. individual training programmes, making further education more accessible, combining general literacy, language and numeracy skills training with empowerment strategies.
Health & Wellness
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 37
The inequality in learning OLUWAROTIMI DESIRE
Learning is a day to day habit of every individual be it young or old but painfully, the learning process isn't the same for everyone. Some assimilate and learn new things with ease while others go through difficulties in learning new things and as a result of this, the inequality in learning is vividly portrayed. Learning difficulties doesn't make a child less human or less capable compared to others. I believe it is only a signal that such children need more attention to catch along and the condition does not in any way limit their chances of success. A learning disability is a condition that makes a person struggle with receiving and processing information. Such persons face difficulties in speaking, reading, writing and solving mathematical problems. Victims of a proposed learning problem might not be lazy or unserious as it may be imagined because they might be as smart as a
person without learning difficulties, it is just that their brains are programmed differently causing a difference in the way information is processed and this means that a different approach is needed to make such persons go on at the same pace as their colleagues. Difficulties in learning vary from one child to another and as stated earlier, this doesn't have anything to do with the intellectual capability of the victim. Some child might have problems with reading but can be very good at solving mathematical equations while for some other child, it can be otherwise. The cause of the condition might be genetic, as a result of carelessness during pregnancy or maybe through environmental exposures. I believe it is more of the duty of a parent than of a teacher to observe whatever issue a child is having with learning and take necessary steps. There are quite a few types of learning disabilities and
they have different effects on victims. The main types of learning disabilities include : 1. Dyslexia: Dyslexia majorly affects how the brain of its victims receive and process language. Inability to process language might as well affect the individual's reading and writing ability. It might also cause a problem with comprehension and verbal expressions during a conversation. 2. Dysgraphia: Victims might have a very good line of thought but would face difficulties putting them into writing. Dysgraphia simply affects a person's writing abilities. 3. Dyscalculia: Dyscalculia affects the victim's ability to solve mathematical equations. Victims might be very good with comprehension and word puzzles but will have difficulties with simple math as well as memorizing multiplication tables. 4. Dyspraxia: The victim's motor skills are affected. Motor skills help us with general coordination. Vic-
tims may struggle with things like grabbing a pen or typing. Learning disabilities are not limited to the above-listed ones. Knowing all there is about learning disabilities isn't the priority but discovering the status of the child in your care either as a victim or not. The moment you notice that something is off, talk to your doctor about an evaluation for learning disabilities. The most likely resolve if the child is a victim might be to opt for special education. Stigmatizing victims of learning disabilities is a very wrong thing to do. Instead, relate with them in love because it is a privilege to have people like them around. Help them with stuff if you can and never take advantage of their situation. Remember that by positively aiding them, you a are lifting a soul and who knows, they might get just better.
Health & Wellness
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 38
Do you know less sleep equals more body fat CASMIRE OKEDINACHI
Can’t figure out why it’s so difficult to erase those extra pounds? You may be suffering from sleep deprivation, the hidden saboteur of millions of people’s fat loss efforts. Weight loss gurus often make the sleep-fat loss connection, pointing out that not getting enough sleep can hurt your hormonal balance, kill your workouts, encourage overeating, and even mess up your body composition. Yet we tend to discard these warnings, believing that sleep isn’t as important as diet and exercise, and we even take pride in our abili-
ty to pull an all-nighter and show up at work the next morning. But sleep deprivation has a price, and over time, the ever-increasing sleep debt, whose first target is the metabolism, can cause significant fat accumulation and numerous other health problems. In the 1960s, the average amount of sleep for Americans was 8 hours. Today it’s down to 6.5 hours, with up to 30% of middle-aged Americans reporting that they get less than 6 hours of sleep every night. What gives? Have we lost sight of the importance of sleep?
Well, that too. But also, that’s a result of the emphasis on productivity in modern society which pressures workers to work longer hours and take work home, while the stressfulness of everyday life has increased together with the increased difficulty of balancing between work, child-rearing, pleasure and socialization. We simply have so much stuff to do that something has to suffer, and for most people sleep is the first thing on the list of potential sacrifices. Then, as we notice our expanding waistlines and impaired health and start
thinking about getting fitter and healthier, we only think of ways to improve our diet and physical activity – rarely our sleeping pattern. Unfortunately, what we don’t understand is that sleep has a direct impact on our appetite and hunger regulation, along with regulating a variety of other bodily functions that contribute to optimal health and well-being. Since no amount of exercise can reverse the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on fitness and health, it’s time to become fully conscious of our sleeping habits and change them in a way that can powerfully support our
Health & Wellness
fitness goals. Here’s a good example. One 2010 study that aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep and body fat included 10 overweight men and women who slept either 5.5 hours or 8.5 hours per night while being on the same strict calorie-deficit diet. Since both groups ate the same diet, they lost about the same amount of weight. However, the group that slept 8.5 hours per night lost more fat, while the group that got only 5.5 hours of sleep lost more lean body mass. So if you care about sculpting a lean and firm body, sleeping more is one of the best (and cheapest) investments you can make to accelerate your efforts. WHY LESS SLEEP EQUALS MORE FAT Lack of sleep is an important piece of the obesity puzzle – multiple studies have shown that sleep deprivation changes the way your cells respond to insulin and makes it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Other studies that have explored the link between lack of sleep and hunger hormones found that after four days of sleep-
ing only four hours a night, men had increased levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin and women had lower levels of leptin, a hormone that signals satiety, so both sexes had a bigger risk of weight gain. Hunger and appetite are two distinct phenomena: the first stems from the body’s need to obtain nutrients, while the second refers to the mental desire to eat, regardless of the physical aspect of whether your body needs food or not. And lack of sleep can completely distort the relationship between these two. One small study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that sleep-deprived people consume 300 more calories per day than people who get enough sleep. In fact, according to the results reported by a study presented at this year’s Endocrine Society national meeting, getting just 30 minutes less than the normal amount of sleep per weekday can significantly increase your risk of obesity and diabetes. The more sleep-deprived you are, the higher your levels of the stress hormone cor-
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 38
tisol, which increases your appetite, and the harder it is to choose the salad over the bag of potato chips. You’ve probably noticed that whenever you’re wiped out, you tend to reach for the easiest option that will bring you instant pleasure, like salty, high-fat processed foods or sugar-loaded desserts. That makes perfect sense since the body is desperately trying to increase serotonin production to make you feel better and “bad foods” are great for stimulating a short-term neurochemical reaction. To make matters worse, science tells us that fatigued people are more inclined to eat energy-dense meals in the late evening than people who get enough quality sleep, which contributes to weight gain. However, the issue is not only about cases of severe lack of sleep, like surviving an entire week with only 4-5 hours of sleep per night. More often, it’s the less severe but more chronic lack of sleep that has the greatest impact on weight. This was documented by a study that compared 10 men who got 7.5 hours of sleep per night and 10 men who got 6 hours of sleep
per night over 3 weeks and found that the men who slept less lost more weight than the others during the first week, but for the next two weeks their weight continued to increase. SO HOW MUCH SLEEP DO YOU NEED? You already know the answer to this one, don’t you? For decades now, scientists and experts from all branches of knowledge insist that average adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function optimally. When you are chronically sleep-deprived, you are hurting your metabolic health, cardiovascular health, cognitive power and memory, athletic performance, and the list goes on… but most importantly for this article, you will have a hard time (as if it isn’t hard enough already) building your ideal body. Don’t let fatigue become the number one enemy of your fitness goals – spending an hour or two more in the sack every night is the easiest way to help your dieting efforts and gym sessions do their magic. Start tonight!
Michael Akpanebe’s Corner
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 39
Wellboi Charmin is well enough for 2021 Michael Akpanebe it would probably look very different. The music world moves fast today, and that coveted quiet before the storm doesn't usually last long. We also want to make it clear that this feature is by no means the only artist tipped for a breakout this year but with the great content of his sound, we are almost sure that 2021 will be a great year for him with the content of his music.
In a time where African music has gained international relevance more than ever before, airplay in the most unlikely corners of the world, 2021 is guaranteed to birth a new generation of superstars and game-changers. These artists are all in different places in their career—some are still gearing up for a debut album, some are reaching a tipping point and on their way to mainstream success, and a
handful are just a few singles in. The common thread is that all of these artists are looking like they're about to level up in 2021. That could mean commercial domination, or it could mean realizing the full potential of their creative vision. Success means different things for different artists, and our goal is never to simply predict "the next big thing." If we made this prediction a couple of months earlier or into the future,
His real names are Sowunmi Samuel Adeola but he is widely known by his stage name WELLBOI CHARMIN. He’s been around for quite a while now dropping good songs back to back. The Abeokuta in Ogun state born singer who is an hnd2 student of the Federal School Of Statistics Ibadan campus recently drooped a single title AFRICAN BOY: Africa has great culture and style but expressing it is what matters. Right from time, we have always valued style in Africa so good styles were always rewarded. Beauty shown by one's work tells a lot about it. Last year, 2020 the Ogun state born hitmaker dropped a scintillating body of work: the EP title THE INCOMING STAR with various quality songs in it to include SHY, DON’T LOVE ME, WHATEVER I BE, OSHOCK WAN, MIRROR With these quality songs, we can only infer a takeover and dominance from the young lads whose talents have gained him so recognition on social media and repost from some notable figures in the country that support the entertainment industry massively. One of such person, Seyi Tinubu saw his latest single good enough for a repost. Let’s watch out for this Lad.
BOOK
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 40
Books everyone should read at least once in their lives The greatest books are defined as classics for a reason. Written by the greatest literary minds of their time, they have universal themes, characters, experiences, emotions and perspectives that are still relevant today.
Some of them are the very inspiration from which entire modern genres of literary fiction have sprung up from. If you love reading, here’s a perfect reading list for you. Even if you aren’t so much into reading, here’re 10 rea-
sons to love reading. Everyone should read at least once for these 30 books — some are well known classics, others are modern giants. All are well worth reading at least once in your life!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 41
Redtalk Sports Real talk, articles opinions & analysis on sports
Why Chelsea chief Roman Abramovich turned to Thomas Tuchel New Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel won the domestic treble with PSG last season and reached the Champions League final; Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic both developed under the 47-year-old's leadership - but will fall-outs with club owners continue at Stamford Bridge? After Frank Lampard's sacking by Chelsea, what prompted Roman Abramovich to make Thomas Tuchel his 12th permanent manager in less than 18 years? While it was a Blue Monday for Lam-
pard, Tuchel will take over at Stamford Bridge less than a month after his own sacking as PSG boss, on the back of a fractured relationship with the club's board and the big spenders sitting third in Ligue 1. The German has honed a strong CV since getting his first break in management at Mainz, one year after a young Jurgen Klopp had departed for Borussia Dortmund in 2009. Tuchel has since gone on to re-establish Dortmund in the Bundesliga before winning back-to-back Ligue 1
titles with PSG, as well as leading the club to its first Champions League final, albeit during a tenure of mixed fortunes in Paris.Tuchel has long dreamt of a move to the Premier League and has nurtured a reputation for being tactically astute and developing players, but could the 47-year-old's history of fall-outs with his previous clubs' hierarchies something already not unusual at Stamford Bridge - be a worry before he even enters the hot seat? Source: The Sky Sports News.
Sports
TUESDAY,JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 42
Presidents Cup: Davis Love III takes over from Tiger Woods as Team USA captain for 2022
Two-time Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III succeeds Tiger Woods as Team USA captain for the 2022 Presidents Cup in North Carolina; 56-year-old has played in six Presidents Cups and been part of the backroom staff three times Davis Love III has been named as the American captain for the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. The two-time Ryder Cup captain succeeds Tiger Woods, who won all three of his matches as a playing captain to help Team USA claim a narrow 16-14 victory in Melbourne in 2019.Love competed in the first six editions of the Presidents Cup where he never lost a singles match and represented Team USA as a player in six consecutive Ryder Cups between 1993 and 2004.The 56-year-old has twice been part of the
backroom team in a Presidents Cup victory, assisting Fred Couples in 2013, Jay Haas in 2015 and Steve Stricker in 2017, as well as serving as a vice-captain for the 2010 and 2018 Ryder Cups.
"The U.S Team has been guided by some of the game's all-time greats since 1994, and I will do my best to carry on that legacy as we look to retain the Cup."
Love was captain for the 2012 'Miracle at Medinah' Ryder Cup and the most recent American victory at Hazeltine in 2016, with the 21-time PGA Tour winner also scheduled to be one of Stricker's assistants for this year's contest at Whistling Straits."It's a tremendous honour to be named captain of the US Team for the 2022 Presidents Cup," Love said. "My history with this event dating back to 1994 conjures up indelible memories of competition, camaraderie and sportsmanship, and I'm thrilled to be leading the top American players into Quail Hollow Club next September.
The Presidents Cup had been due to be held in September 2021 but has been pushed back a year because of the Ryder Cup's coronavirus-enforced postponement, with the contest now reverting to being held on even-numbered years. Team USA have won the last eight editions of the Presidents Cup and have only been beaten once in 13 editions of the biennial contest. Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman will captain the International Team in North Carolina.
56-year-old has played in six Presidents Cups and been part of the backroom staff three times Davis Love III has been named as the American captain for the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. Source: Sky Sports News.
Sports
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 43
Steve Bruce: I've seen enough to think Newcastle can avoid Premier League relegation Steve Bruce says he has seen enough from Newcastle's recent performances to think they can avoid relegation; Magpies lost 2-1 at home to Leeds on Tuesday; result leaves them 16th in the Premier League and without a win in nine games Steve Bruce says he has seen enough from Newcastle's games against Leeds and Aston Villa to make him believe they will avoid relegation, despite his side losing both matches. The Magpies went down 2-1 at home to Leeds on Tuesday evening, their latest defeat coming just three days after they lost 2-0 at Villa Park. The pressure on Bruce, who is unpopular with sections of the Newcastle support, will only increase following the defeat to Leeds, but he said: "We gave our best performance in a few months, were unlucky and didn't deserve to lose. Bruce's side are without a win in their last nine Premier League games and lie 16th in the table, having played at least one game more than many of the sides around them"I feel for the players; when you're up against it, you need something to fall for you, but the performance
was much better and gave us something to fall back on. "I saw a little bit at Aston Villa, and certainly saw enough today, if we keep well and stay healthy in certain areas, then we'll be fine. "We've had an awful time, there is no disputing that, but I have seen enough to see that we can build a bit of confidence." Newcastle and Southampton remain in the chase for Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams before Monday's transfer deadline.The two Premier League clubs and a host of others in the Championship want to take the youngster on loan, but United are still to decide whether to let him go. Sky Sports News reported earlier in the window that United wanted Williams available due to the congested fixture list this season, but he has struggled to earn a place in the team. The 20-year-old is keen to play regular first-team games to continue his development, having played only once in the Premier League for United this season.
Carlos Sainz making Ferrari track debut as Scuderia begin 2021 with Fiorano testing Ferrari's new 2021 signing getting his first taste of one of their cars at Fiorano on Wednesday; Scuderia's race-winning 2018 challenger being used for five days of testing with seven drivers; Charles Leclerc returned to action on Tuesday Ferrari's 2021 is up and running on track after Charles Leclerc returned to action in their 2018 car on Tuesday, as part of the team's week-long programme at Fiorano which sees Carlos Sainz make his debut in red on Wednesday.
Sainz has joined Ferrari for 2021 from McLaren as replacement for four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and gets a first run out for F1's most legendary team at their test track, albeit in a three-year-old car. With the Spaniard watching on in his new team colours on Tuesday, Leclerc completed over 100 laps in the SF71-H with Ferrari saying he worked on "practice starts and work aimed at the new championship and pre-season testing".Leclerc, who had been in Dubai and contracted coro-
navirus earlier this month, said: "Getting back in the car today was great, in fact it was brilliant!"Seeing my mechanics again, putting the race suit on, doing my warm-up routine, putting on my helmet and finally jumping in the car and pressing the starter button… the sound of a Ferrari engine is always magic. "The day was simply perfect and we got through all the work we had planned to do. I really enjoyed myself! Now I hand over to Carlos and I wish him the best of luck for tomorrow."
With F1's shortened three-day pre-season testing programme for the new 2021 cars not taking place until the middle of March, Ferrari are using this week at Fioronao to get drivers from across their programmes back up to speed after the winter break. Academy drivers Robert Shwartzman and Marcus Armstrong plus Giuliano Alesi, the 22-year-old son of former Ferrari driver Jean who is leaving the programme to race in Asia, each drove the SF71-H on Monday.
Local Sports
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 44
Allardyce: No Okocha or Campo out there West Brom boss Sam Allardyce admits he’s struggling to produce the transfer magic of the past in this month’s market. Allardyce is scouring the transfer market looking for some bargains, although deals for Christian Benteke and Andy Carroll have already been ruled out. When he was at Bolton, Allardyce made an art form out of signing high-profile players like Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan Campo, who many thought were past their best but went on to prove they had lots of life left in them. Allardyce does not feel the same market exists these days. “The players available now are good players but they are not the same pedigree as the others were,” he said. “This situation is completely different. Time has moved on. “The advantage I hope we can use this month is that most clubs across Europe are struggling financially and want to move a player or two on. A player who wouldn’t normally come to us in January might have to because the financial implications of that particular club need to be addressed.”
Troost-Ekong Troost-Ekong Nominated For Watford MOTM Award In Draw Vs Milwall The Nigeria international was in action for 90 minutes in the game. Troost-Ekong put up a fine performance as the Hornets kept a fourth clean sheet since head coach Xisco Munoz arrival at the club.Francisco Sierralta and Ismaola Sarr are the two other players nominated for the man of the match prize.
Local Sports
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 45
Theo Afelokhai: Nasarawa United not a threat to Rivers United title ambition Rivers United goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai has stated that Nasarawa United’s current form and position on the NPFL table is not a threat to his side’s title ambition. In an exclusive chat with brila.net, Afelokhai urges Nasarawa United to enjoy their stay at the top of the League for now and utilize their form appropriately. “Yes, I am happy for them and I pray they continue to do well, time will come and we will separate men from the boys, anyone with the opportunity to grab the points should continue to do so,” He said. “I don’t think Nasarawa united are a threat to our title ambition to be very honest, but I’m happy for them because they are doing well now.” Rivers United will take on Kano Pillars later on Wednesday and a win in the encounter will take them coming closer to table-toppers Nasarawa united.
Amaju Melvin Pinnick cleared by FIFA to contest FIFA Council elections In November 2020, Pinnick announced his intention to vie for a seat on the FIFA council following speculations that he will throw his hat in the ring for the next Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidency.
Photography
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 46
Anny Robert Anny or Anietie Robert is a Nigerian celebrity, portrait photographer and creative director born on 28 October 1990 in Niger State, Nigeria. After years as a graphic artist, Robert began his photography career in 2014. He studied computer science at the Covenant University.
Photography
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 47
Photography
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 48
Minue Faleti Design is a shoe manufacturing creating bespoke footwear with core focus on men and women shoes. The follow wears are our focus. Corporate Shoes: These are outfitters worn by consumers to corporate events, functions and for general work purposes. Our corporate shoe designs are Cap toe Balmoral, Wingtip(Brogue), Split Toe Blucher, Derby (Gibson/Bucks) & Palm slippers.
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Kenyan songstress Tanasha Donna and Diamond Platnumz reminded the masses why they are a match made in heaven
Kenyan songstress Tanasha Donna and Diamond Platnumz reminded the masses why they are a match made in heaven on a party held in Tanzania. Videos doing the rounds on the socials shows the pair getting some groove in a steamy performance of their single titled ‘Gere’ ‘Gere’ that has undeniably send Africa gyrating hips in to painful angles had its very sensual visual featured among the Top 20 most viewed video in cross Africa. Addressing the media upon landing in Tanzania, the ‘Radio’ hitmaker said she was in the country to shoot a music video with Tanzanian songbird, Nandy. This is her first visit to Tanzania since her breakup with Diamond in March 2020.
Entertainment
TUESDAY,JANUARY 12 2021 | PG 52
MTV Africa and MTV Base have announced the return of the continental flagship MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs)
MTV Africa and MTV Base have announced the return of the continental flagship MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) to be held on February 20, 2021. The awards which showcase African culture, music, and creativity will be held in a reimagined virtual format in partnership with Uganda. In a statement, the organisers said the MAMAs 2021 will recognise and reward musicians, trailblazers and those who are shining a light on the continent's diverse talent and creativity by instilling positive impact on African music and youth culture in the past year. The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best
Song, and Best Collaboration. The contribution of artistes from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional new categories included are the MAMAs Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance and Personality of the Year. These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base's commitment to supporting the youth of Africa. The category selection period is from October 2019 to October 2020. The nominees will be announced in December 2020 and fans will then vote for their favourite stars online.
Entertainment
TUESDAY,JANUARY 26 2021 | PG 53
Abigael Mkamburi Masai dropped a worship song titled Elohim
Celebrated Kenyan gospel musician Abigael Mkamburi Masai has recently dropped a worship song titled Elohim. In the release that premiered on January 22, the businesswoman and singer highlights God’s goodness and graces. According to Abigael, “The name 'Elohim' is a Hebrew name for God meaning The Supreme Mighty One. This is a worship song that glorifies the Lord's Majesty in all His creation and thanks Him for all He has done.” The video features a lot of greenery with sweeping views of Kenya's scenic landscape, giving off a sense of calmness and complementing the song's laid-back instrumental. Speaking about the current state of Kenya’s gospel industry, she urged fellow musicians not forget the sole reason why they are doing music- to praise and elevate God. “It’s not my position to pass judgments on other people based on their words or actions. If you identify as a gospel musician, then the ministry should be the core message. A lot of people are looking at us to set an example thus, we should not mislead God’s people by doing things that seem to be against His word. We must practice what we preach,” she told merchants times
The
erchants
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The world is no longer a small place, not anymore. People are trying hard to solve the problem they created. Humanity is learning to discover new terrific things daily and many inhumane actions have trodded down the peace of the commoners. Read reports on people whose voices and experiences matter in mainstream media. Our reslience team of professionals tells real global stories about resistance, justice and identity.
Source: www.formula1.com
Amanda S. C. Gorman Amanda S. C. Gorman is an American poet and activist. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015.
With every breath my bronze pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.