The founder and chairman of Unubiko Foundation, Chief James Ume, has said philanthropy was about serving humanity and not personal attention seeking.
Ume, who is a nominee for The Sun Newspapers Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2022, made this known on Sunday in Abuja when he played host to a delegation of the newspaper’s management led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh.
“I believe we are serving humanity, we are serving God, so, we don’t need any self-seeking attention. When you give to people, you are giving back to God,” Ume said.
According to him, as a media owner, it was easy to have taken the path of self-adulation, but that would have defeated the essence of setting up the foundation to impact meaningfully on the lives of others.
Ume expressed appreciation to The Sun Newspapers for the recognition and stated that, “it is a surprise that The Sun Newspapers has done its homework very well and have found us worthy of this esteemed recognition.
“On behalf of my late mother, my dear wife, my children and those who have donated to what we are doing, we have a lot more projects ongoing, to accept this award nomination and I wish to reiterate that this is a clarion call to do even more as a foundation in serving our people and humanity.”
*Chief James Ume (r) and SUN MD, Onuoha Ukeh (l)
Earlier, the MD of the newspaper, Mr. Ukeh, while presenting the letter of award, said Mr. Ume’s “selection for this award was based on merit because of your outstanding humanitarian service gestures, which have touched the lives of many people.”
He stressed that “the Humanitarian Service Icon Award is reserved for that man or woman who has done much to give succour to the indigent and the downtrodden.”
Part of the award letter reads, “We know that as a way of giving back to the society, you set up the Unubiko Foundation to reach out and give hope to the needy. Ever since, you have made giving a culture, which has been demonstrated without boundaries.
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“Last month, you handed over a Customary Court rebuilt at the cost of over N150million. You also handed over the Presbyterian Church you rebuilt as well as a women development centre, and Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan-Abam, which you rebuilt at over N500 million.
“You have empowered hundreds of widows, awarded no fewer than 200 scholarships for students in Arochukwu Local Government Area, paid WAEC fees for all students in Atan-Abam in 2020, and donated 100 brand new laptops to trainees in digital economy.
“You have also provided transformers to aid rural electrification, financed 44 boreholes for the 27 villages that make up Abam, among other philanthropic projects.
“We are aware that in 2020, at the peak of COVID-19, you distributed PPEs to all the communities in Abam, Arochukwu LGA of Abia State, donated PPEs to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, donated books worth over N6 million to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) National Secretariat as well as the Abia and Abuja Councils, paid medical bills for the indigents running into hundreds, and sponsored several journalism capacity building trainings.”
The letter further stated that owing to the founder’s “immense contributions to Abia State and community development efforts,” he was “singled out for commendation by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in a personally signed letter. This was followed by your installation as “Ike Abam’’ by the 27 autonomous communities in early 2021.”
The presentation of the award will be held at the prestigious The Sun Awards ceremony scheduled for Lagos on January 28, 2023.
The operatives of the Jigawa State Police Command have detained Safiyanu Lawan, 18, for reportedly faking his kidnapping in order to extort money from his father.
DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, the Command’s spokesperson confirmed the development on Tuesday.
According to him, the event occurred on 19/04/2024 at approximately 1430hrs when one Alhaji Lawan Dankoli of Kiyawa LGA reported to the State Intelligence Department (SID) Dutse that on 17/04/2024, his son, Safiyanu Lawan, went out shopping in preparation for school resumption but did not return.
He went on to say that later that day, at 2320hrs, an unknown individual called him many times from an unknown number and threatened that his son Safiyanu had been abducted.
Shiisu stated that upon receiving the information, a team of police officers from the State Intelligence Department (SID) Dutse jumped into action and went to the location of the crime, where a 27-year-old man named Abdulrazak Salisu of Zango quarters, Kiyawa LGA, was arrested in connection with the case.
He explained that during interrogation, the suspect admitted to knowing where the aforementioned Safiyanu was hiding and that they arranged to collect money from the father.
According to a police spokesperson, the team arrived at the scene quickly and detained the acclaimed victim (Safiyanu Lawan).
He said the investigation is ongoing, and that the suspects will be prosecuted. (New Telegraph)
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, has alleged that a section of the northern political elites is plotting to prevent President Bola Tinubu from seeking re-election in 2027.
The forum also alleged that the ongoing disruptions and agitations in the North is an attempt to achieve the aim in 2027.
The President General of AYCF, Yerima Shettima, claimed that the plot involves setting unrealistic and unattainable standards for the Tinubu administration, with the aim of discrediting the government and swaying public opinion against it.
He said, “The campaign of vilification and destabilisation is part of a broader strategy to weaken Tinubu’s support base in the North, with minister of state defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, being the primary target.”
According to him, the continuous attacks on key Tinubu allies are part of a broader scheme to destabilise the government and prevent his potential reelection for a second term in 2027.
The AYCF lamented and viewed the actions as desperate attempts by power seekers to halt the administration’s progress and reverse its anti-corruption efforts.
He added, “The AYCF views these actions as a calculated attempt to dismantle the President’s support network and thwart his chances of securing a second term in office.”
Describing the efforts of the anti-Tinubu forces as too early, the AYCF warned against the deliberate propagation of false narratives and the use of obscure groups to undermine the President’s allies and tarnish his reputation.
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The AYCF, therefore, called on President Tinubu and his team to remain vigilant and resolute in their commitment to the nation’s progress, urging the President to be wary of the propaganda campaigns being orchestrated against his administration and to stay focused on delivering on his promises to the Nigerian people.
“It is imperative for the government to stay focused on its goals, remain resilient in the face of these challenges, and work towards ensuring a stable and prosperous future for Nigeria. The administration must anticipate and counteract these moves in order to safeguard the progress and development of the nation,” he advised.
The AYCF said it finds it ridiculous for any group to assess and judge an administration that is barely one-year-old against a set of incredible expectations and unfair standards of judgment.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the sale of $10,000 to each licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operator nationwide.
This marks the second such intervention this month by the apex bank.
In a circular addressed to the president of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators (ABCON), the CBN outlined the details of the intervention.
BDCs will be able to purchase dollars at the rate of N1,021 per dollar.
They are, therefore, authorized to sell this forex to eligible end users at a maximum spread of 1.5 percent above the purchase price, translating to a maximum selling price of N1,036.15 per dollar.
On the 8th of April 2024, the CBN sold $10,000 FX to each of the 1,588 participating BDCs at a fixed rate of N1101 per US dollar at a spread capped at 1.5 percent above the purchase price from the CBN (approximately N1,116.15 per dollar). This limited the potential profit BDCs could make on each transaction
The latest circular has instructed all eligible BDCs to commence immediate payment of the Naira equivalent for their allocated $10,000 into designated CBN Naira Deposit Accounts.
This deposit must be accompanied by the submission of necessary documentation to facilitate the disbursement of forex at respective CBN branches.
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The latest intervention by the CBN is likely to be met with cautious optimism by market participants. The continued injection of US dollars into the BDC segment aims to improve access to forex for legitimate transactions, potentially alleviating some pressure on the parallel market.
However, the effectiveness of this strategy hinges on several factors: the extent to which the allocated amount meets the current demand for forex remains to be seen; strict adherence to the stipulated maximum selling price by BDCs is crucial for ensuring transparency and preventing market distortions; and while stop-gap measures like these can provide temporary relief, addressing the underlying causes of FX scarcity is essential for achieving long-term market stability.
The CBN’s recent actions since February 2024 highlight its ongoing efforts to manage forex liquidity and ensure the smooth functioning of the foreign exchange market.
The success of this strategy will depend on continued monitoring, adjustments as needed, and fostering a more market-driven approach to FX allocation in the long run.(NATION)
