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FG commends Heritage Bank commitment to entertainment industry

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7 years ago

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Federal Government has commended Heritage Bank Limited, Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Service Provider, for its commitment to the development and growth of the creative industry.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the commendation at a two-day Creative Nigeria Summit held in Lagos recently with the theme: Financing the Film, Television and Music Industries; which was co-sponsored by the Bank.

He remarked that the conference which was jointly organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Think Tank Media and Advertising was to take the industry into a golden era with smooth access to short and long term financing, world class management and local and international distribution.

In a plenary session on Alternative Sources of Financing for the Creative industry, Mr. Dike Dimiri, Acting, Chief Risk Officer of Heritage Bank, articulated some issues that have continue to plague the entertainment industry over the years.

According to him, the industry is being hindered by lack of infrastructure such as studios, equipment and talented manpower, adding that at a time when some international universities are offering cinematography as a course in mass communication, Nigeria’s educational system is still skewed towards the print industry which is dying rather than electronic industry that is widening, so there is deficiency that needs to be corrected.

Other issues he cited as hindrances to the creative industry are legal framework around which the industry runs its business, especially how intellectual property is protected as well as the right type of finance for the industry.

The Chief Risk Officer also touched on the need to have value chain in the industry, instead of one person being involved in every stage of the business as well as the need for operators to package their works into libraries and use them as collaterals to access money from banks.

Dimiri said Heritage Bank was committed to the development and growth of the entertainment industry because one of the easiest ways to solve the unemployment issue in the country is to get as many people as possible involved in the entertainment industry, because manufacturing, banking and other sectors cannot do it alone.

He said the music industry has done so much for Nigeria in terms of employment and foreign exchange earnings and if more resources could be put into it and also de-risk it, the country would be better for it.

Dimiri said Heritage Bank was therefore concerned on how to find a framework through which it could get funding to the players in the industry.

The two-day summit attracted who is who in the industry and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed announced the establishment of a $1 million venture capital to boost the industry.

He said the Federal Government has held discussions with about 20 foreign/local investors who were expected to invest a minimum of $50,000 each to raise the $1 million, adding that five investors have already indicated interest to invest $50, 000 each and expressed the hope that more were also expected to show their firm commitment in due course.

The minister said the $1 million venture capital would provide seed money for young and talented Nigerians to set up businesses in the creative industry

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Air Peace Secures Sixth IOSA Certification, Sets New Benchmark for Safety in African Aviation

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12 mins ago

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January 14, 2025

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With an unwavering focus on raising the bar in operational safety and excellence, West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace Limited, has secured its sixth consecutive International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Certification. This milestone underscores Air Peace’s commitment to maintaining the highest global safety standards in aviation, cementing its position as a leader in the industry.
Welcoming guests to the presentation ceremony, Head of Quality, Air Peace Limited Engineer Patrick Achurefe, thanked the airline’s Chairman, Dr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, for his unwavering support throughout the rigorous audit process. “We are grateful to our chairman for believing in our capabilities and supporting the meticulous efforts required for this achievement”. He noted that Air Peace first earned its place on the IOSA registry in 2016, just two years after commencing operations. Since then, Air Peace has consistently met the stringent standards required to maintain this global recognition, achieving certifications in the years that followed. “I am elated that we did not disappoint, as the process managers involved in the audit demonstrated exceptional expertise and dedication”, he added.
Speaking at the event, Area Manager, West and Central Africa, IATA, Dr. Samson Fatokun commended Air Peace for being the pride of Nigeria. He noted the airline’s remarkable achievements in just a decade of its operations, insisting that it is not a mere fluke. “Air Peace’s presence on the IOSA registry is a testament to its unwavering dedication to safety, operational excellence, and professionalism. This milestone is not just a victory for the airline but a pride for Nigeria. It highlights that local carriers can operate at the highest international safety levels.”
While receiving the certificate, Chairman/CEO, Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema expressed gratitude to the airline’s management team, who worked tirelessly to achieve this feat. “Today marks another significant milestone for our young and ambitious airline,” he said. He noted that the certification is an attestation to the hard work and dogged determination of the Board and Management of Air Peace in ensuring safety standards and just culture in the organization.
“This sixth IOSA certification is a testament to our commitment to global safety standards. It affirms that we are on the right track and provides our passengers with the confidence that their safety remains our top priority. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our management team and staff who have gone above and beyond to make this possible”, Dr. Onyema said.
Dr. Onyema also praised Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hon. Festus Keyamo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementing progressive policies that are transforming the aviation sector. “Under the guidance of Minister Keyamo, Nigeria’s signing of the Cape Town Convention has opened new opportunities for the aviation industry. This move will enhance the capacity of local airlines, reduce operational costs, and ultimately lead to more competitive airfares. I also appreciate IATA for its unwavering support for the industry and for ensuring that African airlines like Air Peace have a seat at the global table,” Onyema added.
Present at the ceremony at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos were IATA’s Area Manager & Head of Account Management for West & Central Africa, Dr. Samson Fatokun, Air Peace’s top executives, including Director of Flight Operations, Captain Augustin Kamano; Head of Training, Captain Gerald Udaya; Safety Manager,  Captain Godfrey Ogbogu; Head, Corporate Communications, Dr Ejike Ndiulo; Cabin Services Manager, Ikwo Iyanam, Head of IT, James Bello, and Head of Sales and Business Development, Davids Odeyemi.
This sixth IOSA certification is a major achievement for Air Peace, reflecting its deep-rooted safety culture, robust management systems, and commitment to continuous improvement. It sets a new benchmark for safety in African aviation and inspires other carriers across the continent to strive for similar excellence.
By consistently meeting and exceeding international safety standards, Air Peace reinforces its position as a leading voice in African aviation, a source of pride for Nigeria, and a trusted airline for millions of passengers globally.

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Fire Razes Popular Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market In Anambra State

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16 mins ago

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January 14, 2025

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Popular “Afia Mgbede” in Nnewi Auto Spare Parts market in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria, has been razed by mysterious inferno.

The fire, we gathered, engulfed the popular market in the early hours of Tuesday, destroying goods and properties worth millions of naira.

A video clip of the unfortunate incident shows the market being burned without any presence of the Fire Service, both state and federal, as the crowd watched helplessly as the fire destroyed the market.

 

Although the exact cause of the inferno was yet to be investigated, a video clip shared on X by Leadership Newspapers showed the raging fire razed high-rise market buildings.

 

A voice was overheard in the video saying: “Afia Mgbede is on fire now. This is early Tuesday morning. Motor parts is on fire. All the Afia Mgbede motor parts market is completely burning. We don’t have Fire Service in Anambra State and it is very unfortunate.”

 

Meanwhile, when SaharaReporters reached out to the police in Anambra State for reaction, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said there was no such information before him.

 

He said, “There is no such report before me.”

 

Meanwhile, a resident of Nnewi, who gave his name as Sunday David, confirmed to SaharaReporters that the inferno started in the night and that no one knew the cause of the fire.

 

“It is not the entire Motor Spare Parts Market that got burnt but a market inside the Spare Parts Market called ‘Afia Mgbede market’.”

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National Assembly Decries Poor Remittances to Federation Account by MDAs

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2 hours ago

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January 14, 2025

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The National Assembly yesterday lamented the poor remittances of revenues generated in 2024 by ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government (MDAs) and some government-owned enterprises (GOEs) to the Federation Account.

The Chairman, Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, expressed the concern at an interactive session on the MDAs’ revenue projections for 2025.

The federal agencies and ministries whose accounting officers and Chief executive officers attended the meeting were the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

They also included the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC).

Sani said the National Assembly was not satisfied with the widening disparity between the substantial revenue accruals to the MDAs and their consistently low remittances to the federation account.

He added, “This trend undermines the government’s capacity to fund critical infrastructure and social services, calling to question issues of inefficiency, mismanagement and possible revenue leakages.”

The Committee Chairman explained that his committee’s mandate was to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency in the financial operations of the agencies.

He said the committee would continue to scrutinise MDAs’ revenue projections, performance and adherence to statutory remittance obligations.

This, he said, was to identify systematic doubts and recommend actionable results to reverse the troubling patterns.

Musa sought the cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders at the interactive session.

He said it was imperative that accurate data, comprehensive records and open data were presented for the benefit of Nigerians.

He added, “Let us approach these tasks with a shared commitment to building a stronger, more accountable fiscal framework for Nigeria.

“I call on all of us to please be very open on all those areas that we know, even if they are not presented to us.”

He therefore directed all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to appear in person for the defense of their 2025 budget proposals, instead of merely submitting documents.

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