In dissecting Seplat Petroleum Development Company’s recent awards amid challenges presented by Covid-19 pandemic to the oil and gas industry globally, Olaoluwakitan Babatunde writes that strong corporate governance makes the future bright for the firm and its shareholders
Nigeria’s leading indigenous and independent oil and gas firm, Seplat Petroleum Development Company PLC, began year 2021 on a good note, winning the Most Profitable Company of the Year (Oil & Gas: Exploration and Production) at the Nigerian Investor Value Award (NIVA) organised by a national newspaper in conjunction with the Nigerian Exchange Limited. The firm’s Chairman, Dr. ABC Orjiako, also emerged the Board Chairman of the Year 2020.
Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sterling One Foundation, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, has bemoaned the Human Poverty Index (HPI) which ranked Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world. She called on corporate organisations, as well as well-meaning individuals to invest in social impact programmes that will change the country’s poverty index ranking into a positive one.
This was as she reiterated that more would be done and achieved in social impact space through partnerships that incorporate the public and private sectors as well as well meaning individuals. She said it will make life more meaningful and bearable for the less privileged in the society.
The ongoing amendment of the Cabotage Act 2003 by the National Assembly will reposition the nation’s maritime industry and promises a world of opportunities for local industry players, writes Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
With nearly 900km coastal line and about 10,000km of inland waterways, matched with enormous potentials and opportunities, Nigerian maritime sector is capable of generating at least US$1.6 trillion or about 30 times the nation’s annual oil revenues. This is according to a research by the World Bank. Sadly, the nation has not been able to harness these potentials to adequately benefit from it.
In this light, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 was enacted to help grow indigenous participation and ownership in the shipping industry. The idea is to reserve commercial transportation within Nigerian coastal and inland waters to vessels flying the Nigerian flag, owned and crewed by Nigerian citizens, and built-in Nigeria.
Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
Less than three months in the saddle as Chairman/ Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the facts and figures on arrests of drug traffickers, seizures and prosecutions speak volumes about the vigour and passion Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has brought into one of the most dangerous wars being fought by countries against drug cartels across the world.
This much was revealed in his remarks while on an advocacy visit to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Thursday in Abuja.
Marwa said: “It gladdens my heart to inform the Hon. Minister that despite our constraints, we have in less than three months in the saddle, been able to seize drugs and cash worth over N75 billion, with the arrest of 2,175 drug traffickers and the seizure of 2,050,766.33 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs as well as the filing of about 2,000 drug cases in court with 329 convictions and 1,549 pending cases in court.
Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
Women around the world have had to live with various challenges over the decades â challenges that will often inhibit their mental, physical, educational, economic, and in some cases spiritual growth. This explains why some generally lag behind in many indices of human development. In Nigeria, women face many challenges that could constitute setbacks to their overall development; the reason gender inequality has remained a thorny issue for a long time. They face challenges that without a doubt deny them equal opportunity for socio-economic and political advancement alongside their male counterparts.
But it has not all been a sorry tale for the Nigerian women.