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Banigo Hails NYSC Member For Establishing Library In PH
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has hailed a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in the state, Olamidayo Elizabeth Oladapo, for renovating and equipping a library hall at Community Secondary School (CSS),Nkpolu-Oroworukwo in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The deputy governor, who described the corps member as a shining star, urged other serving corps members to emulate Miss Oladayo’s laudable gesture in the state.
Banigo stated this in Port Harcourt during the commissioning of a library hall renovated and equipped with textbooks, chairs and tables by a serving corps member, Miss Olamidayo Elizabeth Oladayo at Community Secondary School, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo.
Represented by the Head of Department, Education and Counselling, Ministry of Youths and Development, Pastor Samuel Miebaka, Banigo said the state government under the watch of Governor Nyesom Wike, was determined to provide enabling environment for youths in the state to excel.
The governor, Banigo said, had put all mechanism in place to ensure security of lives and property, especially to all serving corps members in the 23 local government areas of the state.
She also assured all serving corps members of the prompt payment of their monthly stipends as at when due.
Speaking at the commissioning, the State Coordinator, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), George Mfongang, called on the management of the school to make judicious use of the library to improve quality of learning.
Represented by Ikpugi Isaac, Mfongang appealed to the teachers and students of the school not to allow the dreams of Miss Oladayo to die by not preserving the culture of reading in the school.
Commending Miss Oladayo on the project, Principal, CSS, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Mrs Beatrice Epelle, said the corps member has laid a footprint in the school and in the state by establishing a library for students.
She said the school did not have a functional library before the corps member embarked on the renovation and equipping the new library for the school.
The principal urged other corps members in the state to emulate the good gesture of Miss Oladayo by impacting positively on the lives of their host communities in particular and the state in general during their service years.
“It is not only by serving the state and communities you are posted, but by impacting positively on the lives of the people.
“The library”, she said “would boost the educational image of this school and encourage reading culture and learning”.
Speaking to The Tide shortly after the commissioning, Miss Olamidayo Elizabeth Oladayo, said she was motivated to embark on the project due to the plight of the students in the school.
“I met a school without a library, so, I was moved toestablish this project here.Here is not my Primary Assignment (PA) in the state.
“The Lord led a vision in my heart to embark on the project to assist the students”.
She said it was strange to see such a school without a functional library and the students were sitting on bare floor to read and write.
Oladayo, who serves at the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt as a health attendant, graduated from University of Ilorin, and studied Anatomy.
On the library project at CSS,Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Oladayo said she renovated and equipped the library hall with modern textbooks; installed celling fans; painted the hall; and constructed tables and chairs at the tune of over N400,000.00 only.
Accompanied by her parents, Mr & Mrs Oladayo, the 24-year old graduate said she hailed from Ogun State.
MissOladayo called on the students of CSS, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo to make judicious use of the library to enhance the learning and reading culture in their lives.
“This library will enable you to cultivate good reading culture in your lives; improve your knowledge as good students”.
By: Chinedu Wosu
The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, said Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water asset, has recorded major milestones, due to effective leadership, cutting-edge technology, continuous improvement and collaboration with stakeholders.
She noted that since coming on stream in November 2005, Bonga has maintained a track record of production that saw it achieve one-billion-barrel export on February 13, last year.
In her presentation, titled “The Bonga Journey to a Billion Barrels”, at the ongoing 2024 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States, Aiboni, said: “SNEPCo is grateful for the contributions of all the parties to the Bonga story and we can all be proud of the milestones.
“Bonga has been consistent. In 2014, nine years after coming onstream, it achieved half a billion barrels of crude and doubled it in 2023. We have worked relentlessly to ensure excellent asset management, project and wells delivery and deployment of technology and innovations in our operations”.
According to her, these factors, “coupled with the supportive partnership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and our co-venturers – TotalEnergies, EP Nigeria Limited; Nigerian Agip Exploration; and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, make Bonga stand out as a world-class investment case”.
She continued that, “SNEPCo also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the success of Bonga operations”.
Aiboni also listed the challenges of keeping the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel full as the asset ages and dealing with unexpected developments with subsea wells and equipment.
She said: “SNEPCo responded with a campaign of operational excellence, which among other initiatives, led to the creation of a programme known as the Bonga Business Improvement Plan that continually reviews and identifies improvement initiatives and drives sustainability in operations and upskilling of staff.
“The Bonga success story has been led by Nigerians who have been managing directors of SNEPCo since it was established in 1993, in a deliberate policy by Shell to develop indigenous manpower for deep-water operations in Nigeria.
“Today, some 97percent of the SNEPCo workforce is Nigerian and overall, Bonga has helped to create a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals.
“Our vision at SNEPCo remains to be the best deep-water business, powering growth and achieving net zero emissions in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy”.
Banks’ borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fell month-on-month, (MoM) by 44 percent to N12.16 trillion in April from N21.7 trillion in March.
Analysis of latest data from the CBN shows that the 44percent drop represents the first MoM decline in banks borrowing from since January when it increased by 268.7 percent to N3.6 trillion from N976.29 billion in December 2023.
However, further analysis showed that banks’ deposits in the CBN SDF grew MoM by 118.4 percent to N428.97 billion in April from N196.37 billion in March 2024.
Banks make use of the SLF to access liquidity to run their day-to-day business operations while the Standing Deposit Facility window (SDF) on the other hand, is an overnight deposit facility that allows banks to lodge excess liquidity (money) with the CBN and earn interest.
The decline in banks’ borrowing from SLF may reflect an increase in banking system liquidity and also the decision of the apex bank last year to remove the limit on the remunerable daily placements by banks at the SDF.
According to the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN removed the cap on the remunerable SDF to increase activity in the SDF window and manage liquidity.
A Financial technology expert, Olatunji Akinrinola, has highlighted the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, which according to him, was driven by technological advancements.
Akinrinola made this assertion in a press release recently, where he stressed that the role of technology in driving this exponential growth in the FinTech sector was very outstanding.
According to him, Technology has revolutionised the way financial services are delivered, making them more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.
“Through innovations such as mobile banking, digital payments, and blockchain technology, FinTech companies have been able to reach a larger population and provided them with access to financial services”, he stated.
Akinrinola emphasised the role of technology in enabling financial inclusion, adding: “Technology has democratised access to financial services, particularly in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
“Mobile money platforms and digital wallets have empowered individuals to conduct financial transactions conveniently and securely, without the need for traditional banking services”.
He also underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in driving innovation within the FinTech industry, noting: “AI-powered algorithms and predictive analytics have revolutionised risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer personalisation in financial services.
“These technologies enable FinTech companies to provide tailored solutions and mitigate risks more effectively, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience”.
Akinrinola stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks in fostering the growth of the FinTech industry.
“While technology has accelerated the growth of FinTech, it is essential to establish robust regulatory frameworks to ensure consumer protection and maintain market stability. Regulators play a crucial role in balancing innovation with risk management, thereby creating a conducive environment for the sustainable growth of the FinTech sector”, he stated.
Akinrinola underscored the role of technology in driving the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, saying, “Technology has been a game-changer for the FinTech sector, enabling innovation, expanding access to financial services, and driving economic growth.
“As technology continues to evolve, the FinTech industry will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of financial services ecosystem”.
Corlins Walter
