Nigerian bank spends 5 Million Naira on Scholarships for 100 students

The Intercontinental Bank spent N5 million on scholarships for about 100 students from Katsina state studying in various higher institutions across Nigeria.

Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Dr. Erastus Akingbola issued the cheques to the state government and said each beneficiary would get N50,000 a year until they finish their studies.

According to Dr. Akinbola, the gesture was the bank's way of partnering with state governments towards enhancing access to quality education.

Governor Ibrahim Shema thanked the bank for partnering with the state to develop the sector, and said that his administration made the sector its priority to ensure continuity in developmental efforts.

The Governor said the state had exceeded the United Nation's 25 percent appropriation to the sector, as it allocated about 28 percent of its annual budget to education alone, adding that the emphasis on the sector was because no society could develop without investing in the education sector.

The state renders free services to students and pays the examination fees for students in secondary schools according to Governor Shema. It had also constructed 102 secondary schools across the 34 council areas of the state in the last two years, adding that more structures were under way as part of the effort to ensure that children in the state got access to quality education for a better tomorrow.

This Day

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Firm plans to use Solar Power to Light up Nigeria

A leading Pan-African technology service called Private Networks Nigeria Limited (PNN) has announced plans and ability to provide 100% visibility in Nigeria through the use of solar powered lights that will help solve the electricity crisis currently in Nigeria.

PNN Head of Business Development Uche Anajemba said at a news conference this past Monday that her company's decision to power the country through solar powered lights was spurred by non availability of constant electricity supply in most parts of Nigeria where business activities grind to a halt during the day and also makes it hard for citizens to move around at night.

According to Uche Anajemba this is the reason PNN has been involved in the development of solar power as a cheaper, more cost effective, reliable and durable alternative for the provision of street lights:

"Due to the non-availability of constant power supply for street lights and continue failings of various alternative street lighting products being deployed across Nigeria, PNN spent over 2 years in the research and development of a solar powered lighting technology that is cost effective, reliable and durable for keeping our streets lit at all times. We are lighting up Nigeria by deploying our unique solar street light to various places to ensure all our streets are well lit 100% of the time." She said.

Uche Anajemba said "solar powered street lights are a very good example of what can be done with solar energy as they present the perfect and cost-effective solution for metropolitan, urban and residential streets, car parking lots, security lights, and other general area lighting applications. PNN Solar street lighting solution can be economically viable and efficient in a number of applications, especially in areas where the cost of providing electricity is expensive or problematic".

Daily Trust

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Pete Edochie shares his experience of being kidnapped

Nollywood star Pete Edochie was released by his abductors yesterday after he was kidnapped on Sunday. He said "no one should pray to have that type of experience."

Pete Edochie said he did not pay his abductors anything to be freed and did not lose anything either, not even his mobile phone. He did not know where he was taken or where he was dropped off by his abductors:

"All I know is that I was able to pick a cab that took me to a hotel in Awka."They told me they had no business kidnapping me at all. They did not manhandle me. They did not blindfold me, they did not gag me. They did not hack me. They did not tie me as they said I was their father.

"And somehow they knew a lot about me that I am good to people and that I assist people, particularly, the down-trodden. They did not hide their faces and discussed freely with me.

"They bought me some drinks, made sure I did not 'get alchoholically dry'. You know as an individual, if you find yourself in a situation like that under siege, you complicate your situation if you experience internal alcoholic drought. But I was praying in my heart.

"So, by the grace of God they lubricated my system and at the same time encouraged me to feel the pulse of their heart.

Pete Edochie said crime would be reasonably checked if the government could set up facilities to take care of unemployed youths like in developed countries. He noted that his kidnappers were young graduates who were unemployed and were looking for any means to survive.

Daily Trust

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Nigerian Banks

CNN reports on how the Nigerian government is attempting to prevent an economic meltdown by going after troubled banks that have been suffering from chronic mismanagement.

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Nollywood star Pete Edochie Kidnapped

Pete Edochie's son, Uche Edochie, confirmed that his father was travelling by car with family members this past weekend when armed robbers stopped them at Nkpor Village in Onitsha and kidnapped him.  "Our family is still in shock, and making attempts to contact the police; there is no handbook on what to do when your fathers is kidnapped," he said over the telephone in an interview with Leadership.

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