By Tony Obiechina Abuja 

Nigeria’s fastest growing non-interest banking services provider, TAJBank Limited, has again consolidated its frontline position as Nigeria’s most innovative and value-driven non-interest lender, has won an award at the just concluded IFN Awards in Dubai.

The ‘Best Islamic Bank in Nigeria’ award was won by TAJBank through a global survey/poll conducted by the IFN.

Speaking shortly after the conferment of the Best Islamic Bank Award on TAJBank in Dubai, which is considered as one of most highly rated awards in the Islamic Finance Industry, the bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Hamid Joda, attributed the global recognition to “our Board, management and staff’s commitment to best industry standards in products and services’ packaging and delivery to our highly cherished and growing customers.

“We want to thank IFN for the very credible poll that indicated that TAJBank is leading the non-interest banking segment of Nigeria and also assure our growing customers that, as our mantra says, TAJBank’s only interest is the customers”, Joda added.

In his brief comments, the bank’s Co-Founder/Executive Director, Sherif Idi, described the IFN award “as a testament to our relentless efforts to ensure that TAJBank is the preferred choice for customers that are looking for the best in service standards powered by a well-groomed professionals and powered by world class technological assets.”

In the last few years of its operations, TAJBank had in 2022 received the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification and three International Standards Organisation (ISO) certifications by the Certification Partner Global (CPG), namely ISO 27001, ISO 22301, and ISO 20000 on Information Security, Business Continuity, and IT Service Management Systems.

At the domestic level, the bank has also won several awards, including the Leadership newspaper’s ‘Banker of The Year Award 2020’, BusinessDay newspaper’s ‘Islamic Bank of the Year Award’ for three consecutive years and several others in recognition of its world-class innovative products and services delivery.

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja 

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Hon Benjamin Kalu, has assured of a people – oriented constitution at the end of the ongoing amendment exercise.

Kalu, who is the Committee Chairman on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said this at the closing of a two-day retreat for members of the Committee in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday.

He expressed gratitude to the members of the Committee for their commitment towards a successful exercise and urged them to remain committed.

“We are so proud of you. On behalf of the speaker, on behalf of the representatives, the leadership of the National Assembly, we found you worthy  to make you members of this committee and you have not failed us.

“From the time you took on this role, we knew it was a tough task. We know as well that time is of the essence in view the fact that we want to achieve the first tranche of our job before the period of election.

“But with the kind of team spirit that we have exhibited, the kind of dedication we have exhibited, it appears to us that the destination towards realizing this is in view. This is only because we held each other’s hand, only because we believed that Nigeria could be better than we met it. Only because we heard the cries of the people that we represent and we want their voices to be heard.

“So that truly the constitution that we want to be a people oriented constitution, as stated in the preamble of the constitution that we, the people of Nigeria, will indeed be a constitution that has the characterization of the people’s desire captured in it.

“You are the architect of the greater future of Nigeria. You are the cooks in the kitchen baking the best Nigeria that will be better than the one we have ever seen. Don’t give up. If you don’t get weary in this work, in no distant sign that Nigerians will reap from this.

“There may be challenges along the path of achieving this, but your dedication and determination and diligence has oiled the way towards the greater heights that’s in view.

“Please let this bonding among us continue. Let us not stop at these retreat. Let us be partners in progress towards making this dream realizable. Thank you for being my partners. The Speaker and I are proud of you”he said.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Akin Rotimi Jnr said they were fully committed to ensuring that the process was inclusive, transparent, and reflective of the aspirations of all Nigerians.

“The constitutional review process is a complex and delicate undertaking that demands expertise, wisdom, and careful engagement with diverse stakeholders across ethnic, religious, and political lines. 

“Guided by our legislative agenda, we remain steadfast in delivering meaningful reforms under the capable leadership of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review who is a lawyer. Nigerians can expect a thorough, well-considered, and impactful exercise that strengthens our democracy and fosters national development,” the House Spokesman said.

By Raphael Atuu Abuja. 

Africa’s richest man and President, Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has announced plans to build two more

Refineries on the African continent.

The business icon spoke in Abuja at the 8^th DAILY ASSET Annual Awards, where he was honoured as ‘Nigerian Achiever of the Year’ by the Abuja-based daily.

The Senior Adviser to Group President on Special Projects and Strategic Relations, Hajiya Fatima Wali  Abdulrrahman, who represented her boss at the occasion said the Group has received requests from two African countries to forge partnership for the purpose of establishing two new refineries in their countries.

The Business Mogul did not disclose the countries in question but said the request was a further testament to the growing influence of Dangote Group on the African continent.

She said already, Dangote Cement had factories in 14 African countries, explaining that the Group President was committed to the economic growth of not only Nigeria but Africa as a whole.

“Alhaji Aliko Dangote has only two houses in Lagos and Kano. He has no house in a foreign country nor the advanced countries of the World,” she further disclosed adding, the concern of her boss was to ensure economic development of Africa through industrial and economic  activities.

 Mrs Abdurrahman assured that the president of Dangote group   will always do his best if given the opportunity anywhere to make a contribution towards the continent’s progress.

She commended the management of  DAILY ASSET Newspaper for the  award to the Group President saying the award “came at the right time” and  was deeply appreciated by the Group President, who she said  personally asked her to represent him at the occasion.

” I want to appreciate DAILY ASSET Newspaper  for always supporting  us and I congratulate the publisher and his team for celebrating  eight years  as an organization” she stated.

“Alhaji would have loved to be here himself  but he had to return to Lagos after attending the Book launch by former President, Ibrahim Babangida” she explained to the capacity –filled  audience  at the conference hall of NICON Luxury Hotel, venue of the event.

The Senior Adviser, added that Alhaji Dangote is always passionate about Nigeria and Africa  and stressed the company  will support any good project that will develop  Nigeria  and Africa  at large.

Dickson Canvasses Better Training for Media Practitioners

 Former Governor  of Bayelsa state and Senator representing  Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Henry  Seriake Dickson  has challenged proprietors of media organisations to ensure adequate training of journalists in their employment if the media must effectively discharge its constitutional responsibility of holding the government accountable.

Senator Dickson, who was Guest Speaker at the 8^th Annual Awards Ceremony hosted by DAILY ASSET in Abuja said the media was the only professional body assigned specific responsibility by the 1999 constitution(as amended) adding that such responsibility was too enormous to be discharged by quacks.

” To hold anyone accountable  in the society ,the media needs to do its job and this can be done only by professionals “he remarked.

“Journalism  is more than having gadgets  and recording  events, it is a specialised  profession and when I was a member of House of Reps, I sponsored a bill to regulate the profession because  of its importance  to society ” he stated.

The Senator hailed the Publisher of DAILY ASSET,  Dr Cletus Akwaya, whom he said  had great passion for news publication and deserved every   encouragement to excel in the media industry.

The former governor stressed that the publisher has paid his dues in journalism  remarking that from his observations, Akwaya   was involved in publishing out of great passion for the Journalism profession and not necessarily for profit.

” I know Dr Akwaya  for years and he is a friend and brother, so I can tell what he can do. He does not get money from this” he stated.

The former Bayelsa Governor advised the publisher with his colleagues  to always play the role of society watchdog and commit to training the upcoming  journalists to do same.

  Dickson however, said the media needed to be regulated so that only professionals  and qualified  people were allowed to operate  just as lawyers who graduate  from the Nigerian Law School.

While congratulating DAILY ASSET Newspaper for celebrating eight years , the former  governor  drummed support for the organisation  and urged the staff to follow  the vision of the publisher.