Access Holdings has reappointed Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as its non-executive chairman after 10 years of serving as the bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “Access Holdings Pic (the Holdco’), is pleased to announce the return of Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR as its Non-Executive Chairman. Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR replaces Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, the erstwhile Chairman of the HoldCo who remains on the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director,” the company secretary Sunday Ekwochi said in a late Wednesday statement. His appointment comes in the wake of the death of the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Herbert Wigwe and following what the company described as “extensive consultations with key stakeholders”. “This visionary and accomplished leader is bringing an outstanding record of accomplishments, a wealth of expertise, and leadership to guide the Group into a new era of success,” Access Holdings said.

    Akintunde Sawyer   The Federal Government has postponed the launch of the Nigerian Students Loan Scheme indefinitely. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, made disclosed this during an interview with the Arise News monitored by our Correspondent on Tuesday. As is widely known in June 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed a Bill to start a Students Loan Fund that would give interest-free loans to Nigerians for higher education and those engaged in vocational skills development. The immediate-past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, sponsored the Bill and it was supposed to start between September and October 2023. However, Tinubu said the programme would begin in January 2024, after missing the October deadline. In January, Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, said at a meeting that preparations for the programme had been concluded. This included making the Student Loan Scheme website and planning...

  Donald Trump on Monday vowed to free people jailed for taking part in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol as one of his first actions if reelected, calling them “hostages.” The rioters — egged on by the then-president and fueled by his false claims of voter fraud — stormed the seat of US democracy on January 6, 2021, in a bid to halt the transfer of power to Joe Biden. Around 1,358 defendants have been charged in the 38 months since then, according to the latest figures from the Justice Department released last week. About 500 have been sentenced to prison terms. Trump posted the comments on his Truth Social website, additionally promising to shut down the border with Mexico as part of his first acts if reelected, without providing details. “My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!” he wrote late Monday. Trump has made previous comments about his hypothetical first day in offic...

  The Nigerian team contesting in the 13th edition of the All African Games in Ghana have won in the Freestyle Women’s Wrestling category, bringing home six gold medals. The winners and their respective categories are: Blessing Genesis (50kg) defeating Emma Nekassa of Kenya, Ogunsanya Christiana (53kg) defeating Mohammad S. Of Egypt, Adekuroye Odunayo (57kg) defeating TBD, Kolowole Esther (62kg) defeating Kruger M of the Republic of South Africa, Oborodudu Blessing (68kg) defeating Abdullateef S of Egypt, and Hannah Rubin (76kg) defeating Hamza S. Of Egypt. Nigeria’s Anioluwapo Opeyori, the African Badminton champion, also brought home one gold medal and one silver medal from his Nigerian opponent as well. This was contained in a statement signed by SA Media to the Honourable Minister of Sports Development Diana Mary Nsan. The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, congratulated the athletes and coaches for their impressive performance, stating that it w...

  The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned Nigerians against crowded gatherings to avoid potential threats. In an advisory issued on Friday, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, urged Nigerians to be vigilant against public dangers, especially Improvised Explosive Devices. Felicitating the Muslim faithful on the commencement of Ramadan and the Christians for the Lent period, Afunanya called on the citizens to report any strange activities or movements to the security agencies. He also cautioned clerics from both religions, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to refrain from economic exploitation, sabotage, or profiteering during these important obligations, stressing that the service calls for tolerance, bonds of brotherhood, dialogue and peaceful coexistence among the populace. “Residents are advised to remain vigilant against public dangers especially Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),” the statement read. “Also, the general public is urged to stay informed about pote...

  The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has directed the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to go after those calling for military takeover of power in the country. The Minister gave this directive in a statement on Thursday signed by the Director of Information, Press and Public Relations of the Defence Ministry, Henshaw Ogubike. Matawalle described those calling for an undemocratic change of government as agents of darkness, warning that anyone caught would not be treated lightly. “The call for violent change of government by the military is absurd, preposterous and naive as the military has come to reality with a democratic government in Nigeria and is focused on their constitutional duty of defending the constitution. “The propagators calling for the truncation of the constitutional government should desist from it and face the democratic reality on the ground. “Just because criminal elements attacked a warehouse and a haulage vehicle carrying food items to other p...

  The Federal Government has set the month of March for the definite opening of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund) portal for eligible students. The Execute Secretary NELFund, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, who announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, encourage eligible students to register to access the fund. Also, The Government has called on Nigerians not to politicize the student loan scheme because of its immense advantages. Executive Secretary, Nigeria Education Loan Scheme (NELFund), Dr Akintunde Sawyer made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. President Bola Tinubu signed the Students Loan Bill passed by the National Assembly into law on June 12, 2023 to help indigent youths to access tertiary education with ease. The project was slated to commence between September and October 2023, but because of unforeseen circumstances, there was a revised timeline to January and now to March...