Christantus Uche, Nigerian midfielder, has expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing standards in La Liga, claiming that officials in Spain have treated him unfairly since his arrival in the league.

In an interview with ESPN Africa published on X on Wednesday, Uche detailed his experiences during his first few matches, saying, “In my first two or three matches in La Liga, I saw it with my own eyes. The referees are so bad.

They are so bad. They kick me, and the referee just tells me to get up. No, it’s a foul, you have to blow the whistle.”

Uche further highlighted the inconsistency in officiating, stating that while other players would receive fouls for similar incidents, he was repeatedly overlooked.

“If they kick another player, the referee blows the whistle immediately, and it’s so painful. It’s so painful, and you cannot do anything because the referee has the power to do whatever he wants,” he lamented.

He also shared his disappointment at being ignored by referees even when fouled right in front of them.

“I get kicked and fall down right in front of the referee, and the referee does nothing. No, it’s not right.”

In addition to his complaints about officiating, Uche mentioned instances of racial abuse from some fans in the stands, describing how they would yell offensive slurs at him.

“Some fans yell abusive slurs at you… (censored) No, it’s not good. It’s not good.”

…Awarded:

• SME Financier of the Year (Africa)
• Platinum Award for Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs (Africa)

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has received two awards of excellence at the Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards 2024 which held in São Paulo, Brazil between September 16 & 18, 2024. The awards received are SME Financier of the Year (Africa) and Platinum Award for Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs (Africa).

The Global SME Finance Forum is the world’s leading, technically oriented and geographically diverse platform focused solely on scaling SME financing worldwide. Managed by this Forum, The Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards is dedicated to acknowledging the effective and successful practices of financiers across the world, honouring the innovative products and services these financiers create for SMEs, recognising the impressive results in expanding finance and services to SMEs, and celebrating these exceptional financial institutions. Wema Bank emerged Africa’s top financier not just for the general SME landscape but also particularly for women-owned SMEs, at the 2024 edition of the annual Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards.

Reputed as the Bank of choice for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Wema Bank received recognition for its commendable track record of developing innovative, sustainable and significantly impactful products, services, solutions and opportunities for businesses of all sizes across Nigeria. The Bank’s impact ranges from affordable financing options and seamless payment collection solutions to access to market, digital solutions for efficient business operation and management, SME Advisory services, and a vast range of products tailored to the needs of businesses across every part of Nigeria. Through its women-focused proposition, SARA by Wema, Wema Bank continues to tailor its SME offerings specifically for women, helping these women build sustainable businesses and access the resources needed to scale and thrive. The Bank further supports overall growth and well-being of these women with affordable to free healthcare packages. It is beyond doubt that Wema Bank is indeed deserving of its recognition as Africa’s top financier for SMEs and particularly, women entrepreneurs.

Expounding on the Bank’s glaring commitment to empowering MSMEs, the MD/CEO of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, articulated the big picture for the Bank. “MSMEs make up the bulk of Nigeria’s economy and they are critical to not only mitigating unemployment and other macroeconomic challenges but also promoting innovation and significantly boosting the economy towards national development. At Wema Bank, we recognise the potential that MSMEs hold as well as the challenges that threaten the maximisation of this potential, and we have made a lifelong commitment to providing viable, seamless, accessible, affordable, reliable and effective solutions tailored to the needs of businesses of all sizes across Nigeria; especially women-owned businesses. There is a rising need for intentionally inclusive empowerment strategies in not only stimulating growth in the SME sector but also bridging the gap in gender equality, and we have undertaken the responsibility of fulfilling that need. As a Bank, our mission is to empower lives through innovation, and as always, we will continue to seek more effective ways to empower businesses for optimal productivity and sustainable growth”.

“We are honoured by the global recognition accorded to us by the Global SME Finance Forum and as we receive these awards, we reiterate our commitment to providing businesses with the resources they need and a bouquet of intelligent solutions that mitigate prevalent challenges and make business management and operation seamless, maximally profitable and efficient. Thank you to the Global SME Finance Forum for the acknowledgement, and also to our valued customers who continue to entrust the future of their businesses and their financial well-being in our hands. This prestigious recognition honours our unwavering commitment to empowering SMEs and fostering innovation in SME finance, further fuelling our drive to consistently go above and beyond in accelerating growth for SMEs and delivering optimum value to every stakeholder. We are indeed the Bank of choice for MSMEs and women across Nigeria, and we will never relent in empowering women to thrive and businesses to scale regardless of economic fluctuations”, Oseni remarked.

Wema Bank continues to raise the standards of banking and financial services in Nigeria, demonstrating a commitment to generating positive impact across diverse verticals, a dedication to exceeding expectations and a passion for empowering lives and businesses for success.

Businesses interested in accessing the Bank’s tailored range of finance options and business-centric solutions are encouraged to visit https://wemabank.com/smes or send an email to [email protected] to get started.

• Bill covers Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Osun and Oyo

The Senate on Thursday passed a bill seeking for the establishment of the South West Development Commission into law.

The bill was passed after the consideration of a report submitted by the Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan-led Senate Committee on Special Duties.

The Commission will be charged with the responsibility, among others, to receive and manage funds allocated by the Federation Account and donations and gifts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructural damages suffered by the region and to tackle ecological, environmental and other developmental challenges and for related matters, 2024 (SB. 68).

The bill was presented by Senator Gbenga Daniel.

The representative of Ogun East Senatorial District presented the bill in August last year for consideration and subsequent passage.

Daniel, a former two-term governor of Ogun State said when established, the Commission would be saddled with the responsibilities of managing and administering funds received from the Federation Account.

The South West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill was reintroduced then for the second time, after it was first brought to the Senate in the 8th National Assembly on December 20, 2018.

Already in existence are the Niger Delta Development Commission and North East Development Commission, whose establishment bill received presidential assent in October 2017.

The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos East) in the 8th Senate, was read for the first time at plenary presided over by the then President of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Ashafa’s bill was entitled: “South West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2018.”

The states covered by the bill are Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Osun and Oyo.