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ZENITH BANK HERALDS CHRISTMAS WITH AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET LIGHT-UP

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It was a great spectacle to behold as the Christmas and Yuletide season came to life at the 2022 Zenith Bank Christmas Light-Up Ceremony, which was held at the Ajose Adeogun Street Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, November 19, 2022. The official lighting ceremony, which was performed by the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, supported by Executive Management, was witnessed by many of the bank’s staff and customers, with others joining virtually.

With the theme “Let There Be Light”, this year marks the 16th edition of the Light-up Ceremony at the Ajose Adeogun Roundabout. The Light-Up event is an annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by the bank to herald the yuletide season through the beautification of Ajose Adeogun Street – home to Zenith Bank’s Corporate Headquarters – which has come to be recognised as an iconic place, attracting people from all walks of life who visit with their families and friends to take pictures and make videos of the wonderful spectacle, especially at night and enjoy the ambience of the street and season.

Speaking during the ceremony, Onyeagwu expressed his delight in heralding the yuletide season of 2022through the iconic Ajose Adeogun Street lighting up. In his words, “today is a unique day. It is unique in the sense that we are going to turn on the Christmas light and activate the spirit of Christmas, which we usually have annually. It is also unique in the sense that we are honoured and delighted to have in our midst the wife of our Founder and Chairman, Mrs. Kay Ovia”.  

He praised Quantum Markets, the company responsible for the annual decorations, for the outstanding, very creative and extremely beautiful work that they have done. According to him, “when you look at the Christmas set-up we have every year, it looks completely different, and there is no repetition of themes. And when we think we have seen it all, by the time a new one comes, it is something completely different and massively so. The one for this year, as I entered here, I was wondering if this is a theme park”.

Whilst urging everyone to imbibe the message and spirit of Christmas, which is about peace, love, forgiveness and above all, respect for humanity, Onyeagwu prayed for peace in every home, business and in the country and that this year’s celebration would be like no other that we have seen.

Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry as an institution committed to building a more sustainable and inclusive economy and promoting responsible business practices in Nigeria through integrating sustainability principles in its business operations.

The bank’s sustainability and CSR initiatives are hinged on the belief that today’s business performance is not all about the financial numbers – the bank believes that an institution’s social investments, contributions to inclusive economic growth and development as well as improvements in the condition of the physical environment, all constitute a balanced scorecard.

Through its CSR initiatives, Zenith Bank has embodied the overarching objective of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a framework for addressing the major challenges confronting society. Its social investments are targeted at health, education, women and youth empowerment, sports development and public infrastructure enhancement. Overall, Zenith Bank’s total CSR investment in 2021 was NGN4.37 billion, representing 1.79% of its Profit After Tax (PAT) and 33.1% increase from 2020.

The bank remains committed to furthering the economic, cultural and social development of host communities, particularly through community-based initiatives and philanthropy. As a good corporate citizen, it continues to deliver projects that have long-term social and economic benefits for the communities because it believes that its business is only as strong as the communities in which it operates.

To demonstrate its commitment to creating and expanding opportunities, the bank regularly makes donations towards setting up ultramodern ICT centresin several educational institutions and cities across the country. It also supports various developmental projects, and healthcare delivery causes in Nigeria and contributes to the development of sports in Nigeria through its sponsorship of the Zenith Women Basketball League and the Zenith Bank Delta State Principal’s and Headmaster’s Football Competitions, amongst others.

In recognition of its contributions and social investments to its host communities and the society at large, the bank was recognised at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021 as the “Most Responsible Organisation in Africa”.

Society

When Dr Hafiz Babatunde Bello ties nuptial knot with heartthrob Olulaanu

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On the 21st day of December, 2024 Olulaanu OluyemiAdelanwa and Prince (Dr.) Hafiz Babatunde Bello exchanged vows in a beautiful and cozy ceremony in the Abeokuta the capital city of Ogun state. The atmosphere was filled with love, pure joy and happiness as family and friends gathered to celebrate the union of the two lovebirds.

 

The wedding ceremony started with a Nikkah ceremony conducted by Professor sharafadeen Kareem, the Naibul-Imam of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and another Imam from Owu Abeokuta, Imam Anifowose the Chief Imam of Ita-Iyalode Owu central mosque Abeokuta. The two Imams advised the couples to live together as one and follow the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed.

The event continued with the traditional wedding and engagement ceremony as required in the Yoruba cultural tradition. The reception was held at Dheb Micheal Event Centre Olomore, in an atmosphere with good music and MC Holy Crown was on the Mic. To handle the couple’s game and the first couple’s dance.

 

Dignitaries and top Government functionaries were present at the event, amongst them is the Ogun State Project Coordinator (SPC) for the Ogun State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, OGUN-RAAMP (World Bank/French Development Agency Project) Engr. Wahab Adejumo who was a special guest of honor. The Director of Planning Research and Statistics Department of the Ogun state Ministry Of Agriculture was also present at the Occasion. Other government functionaries were Members of staff of the OGUN-RAAMP, The Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State Waste Management Agency (OGWAMA) and the Cabinet office. Also present at the occasion is Hon. Tolu Philips of the TP movement, the Chairman of Asero Scheme Estate and many more dignitaries from Abeokuta and Ijebu Land.

 

The Royal presence of ObaAlayeluwa (Engr.) Isiaka Olajide Ajede, (ADEBOSE 1) The Ogirimadagbo Akin Ilodo, Ijebu Imushin, the Grooms Uncle and the Royal father of the day was felt at the occasion. The bride’s father Alhaji Biodun Sanusi the CEO REMZY Hotel and suitesadvised the couples to continue to live in love and support one another at all times. The Grooms Mother Alhaja Uthman the CEO of WABLAT STORE Nig. LTD also advised the couples to stick together and follow the way of Allah in their home.

 

The members of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) had a Sally procession for the couple lead by the Capoon of Ashmontana Deck Toyin Peters and The Area Mate Area 2, Ayo Adebesin. The sally procession by Pyrates Confraternity, a charity Organization is used to celebrate success, achievement by members and ceremonies like member’s wedding. Old and young Pyrates from different parts of the world turned up for the groom who is an active member of the Pyrates Confraternity. It was a fun filled day for Bello Arowosebe/Okunowo family of the groom and the Sanusi/Adelanwa Family of the bride both home and abroadwith everyone wishing the Couple Conjugal bliss.

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Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Quiet 61st Birthday celebration

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 The immediate past Deputy President of the Senate and All Progressives Congress APC candidate at the last Delta State guber election; Senator Ovie Omo-Agege CFR, was very vocal in the 9th Senate where he sponsored life-changing bills and made landmark achievements. He came into prominence when he was alleged to have invaded the senate chamber with thugs while he ran away with the mace at the 8th senate, but he long debunked it; stating he knows nothing about what happened. 
 When he was the deputy president of the senate, his birthdays were met with a roller coaster of gifts, advertorials, calls, text messages, and social media posts. High-profile individuals, captains of industries, political stakeholders and favour seekers throng to his Abuja and Delta home to pay homage and share in his pot full of joy but his birthday this year, was devoid of such opulence he got while in office. We also gathered that; While he was in office, he empowered many people in his capacity to make life easy for those around him. He was a man with a large heart and also went all out to ensure people around him were sorted but only a few of them remembered his birthday.
 At his Abuja home on the 3rd of August, his 61st birthday was quiet as only a few people celebrated with him and his family. Favour seekers and friends have deserted him. The benefit he enjoyed while in office was no longer accorded to him as he celebrated his 61st birthday at his Abuja residence with few friends, former aides and his wife Rosemary. Flipping through the newspapers, only a handful of advertorials were placed on his behalf. He seems unperturbed as he made sure he enjoyed his birthday with the few people who came to his house while he had the birthday toast to long life done by Delta State former Governor, James Ibori’s daughter, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu who is also the Chairman House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.

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64 Salute to BUA boss Abdusamad Rabiu

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Abdulsamad Rabiu
 
Forbes-rated billionaire business magnate; Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu founder of BUA groups is synonymous with that proverbial tsunami hovering around the business firmament, changing business narratives and causing disruption worldwide. His achievements are unrivalled and impeccable that a toddler can even speak of his giant strides to put Nigeria on the world map. While growing up, he learnt the ABC of doing business from his Old Money bag father Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, and one thing he learnt which he has inculcated in his dealings is; truthfulness, integrity, prudence, Fidelity and the ability to play by the rules not beating the rules.
 If you wonder how he was able to maintain a stellar performance on and off business, adhering strictly to the rules has made him rise above all his competitors. Over the years, He has lost billions of dollars trying to remain upright and truthful at a time when many of his peers have exploited the venerability of their numerous customers. Abdulsamad would rather bear the loss than inflict pain on his customers. On several occasions, some of his competitors often fight him for not increasing the prices of his commodities at peak periods. He has been dragged on several mediums, blackmailed but he would rather do things that will be of massive favour to the general masses who are struggling in times of the biting economy.
 The BUA group boss sees wealth as God-given, he believes no amount of wealth you have if you are not generous and considerate of the less privileged, the wealth is nothing but absurdity and frivolity that has no impact. That’s why he has over the years invested in generous giving and dangerous philanthropy. In Nigeria of today; no businessman has given more than him. He has crested his name in the hearts of many as one of the biggest philanthropists to ever emerge from Nigeria. His bogus donation to fund research and education across Africa through its yearly $100 million ASR Africa Fund for Social Development.
For a man whose business is tied around sharing prosperity among people and creating healthy competition among competitors, he has never for once amassed wealth illegitimately. He has invested in key areas of the economy and is also known for sharing prosperity with his business magic wand. As of today, he is regarded as one of the biggest investors in the Nigerian economy with business interests in real estate, sugar, cement, oil and gas among other business chains tied to him.
 Last weekend the business colossus celebrated his 64th birthday with no fanfare. He opted to make it a private celebration where he needed to display wealth due to the current economic situation in the country when many Nigerians are finding it hard to eat due to the dwindling global economy. Abdulsamad who would have hosted his friends to an elaborate party but opted to offer prayers to his creator, hosted his children and grandchildren. He is one of the few people who believes that Nigeria will have a great turnaround in the current dispensation more reason he is investing heavily to ensure economic prosperity for the country.

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