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UBA Celebrates Africa Day In Style, Commits To Empowering Youths For Leadership Roles

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Africa’s Global Bank, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Friday, 23rd of May, marked this year’s Africa day on, with fanfare. The event which was celebrated across the banks 20 African subsidiaries, including New York, UK, France and Dubai, culminated into a mini carnival at the corporate head office in Marina, Lagos as it witnessed  a rich culture of African people on display.

The bank said the event was aimed at encouraging Africans home and abroad to be patriotic and embrace their culture.

It was all colour and glitz as a troupe of dancers representing Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Zimbabwe, among other African countries, entertained the audience from the entrance of the building to its doorways through to the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre Hall. Their overall performances exuded good vibes and earned them ovation from all.

Noting that Africa has unarguably positioned herself as the second largest continent in the world with its rich cultural heritage, the bank said the continent remains the only one in the world that was evidently bequeathed with the most colourful and distinctively diverse culture appreciated across the globe.

From her aesthetic art works, ethnic costumes, expressive dances, mind-blowing plethora of languages, amazing dishes, tourists attractions, and wildlife among others, Africa is seen as a world power that is yet to explore.

It is, therefore, to proudly and powerfully project her cultural heritage that UBA hosted the event in Lagos an to commemorate this year’s Africa Day. It said that part of its aim was for dignitaries to map out lasting solutions to persisting challenges in the continent.

Themed, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa,” for us at UBA, it only reinforces our belief and passion for education as exemplified in our foundations National Essay Competition where winners who emerge are given scholarships through school.

According to the Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, Oliver Alawuba, “We are in 20 African countries and four countries outside Africa. Our focus has always been on not only driving investments into Africa but also to empower Africa’s youth by honing the critical thinking prowess of our youth as well as groom them for leadership roles across the continent.

Alawuba said UBA aspires to develop and grow in the world, adding that unity is critical and very important in Africa hence the emphasis on how to change the narrative. “Unity is critical and very important for the future of Africa, we need to remain united to achieve our aspirations and the youth are critical to that growth”, he said.

Consequently, as one of Africa’s leading financial services institutions, with a pan-African footprint spanning 20 African countries and globally in the US, UK, the United Arab Emirates and France, UBA says it’s fully committed to unifying Africa and empowering youths for the future. It also continues to lead the narrative focused on the development, growth, and unity of Africa

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55-Yr-Old Woman Slumps, Dies While Sharing Testimony In Lagos Church

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A 55-year-old woman, identified as Ifeoma, tragically passed away on September 8, 2024, after collapsing during Sunday service at a church in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

According to reports, Ifeoma had stepped forward to share her testimony around 8:48 am when she suddenly collapsed. Despite prompt medical attention, she died shortly thereafter.

Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that Ifeoma was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as Ifeoma sang praises and prepared to share her testimony before suddenly collapsing.

He stated, “The Zonal accountant of the church in Ejigbo came to the station and reported that during testimony hour in the church, while the service was on, Ifeoma came out singing songs to give her testimony when she suddenly slumped.

“She was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital but was referred to the General Hospital in Isolo, where she was confirmed dead.

“Based on the report, detectives were detailed to visit the hospital with the complainant. On getting there, they were told that the husband and family of the deceased had taken the corpse to Anambra State, where she came from for burial.”

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Two UK-based Nigerians Risk Life Jail After Rape Conviction

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Two Nigerians, Tosin Dada and Solomon Adebiyi, now face the possibility of life imprisonment for multiple rape charges after being convicted by a jury at the Northampton Crown Court in the United Kingdom.

It was gathered from Lawtons Solicitors, a UK-based law firm, and a feminist charity organisation, Rape Crisis (England & Wales), that under the UK’s Sexual Offences Act 2003, the maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment.

It was earlier reported that the Northamptonshire Police announced the conviction of the two Nigerians on its official Facebook page on Monday.

The conviction of Dada and Adebiyi follows weeks after a Nigerian pilot, Olukayode Ojo, was found guilty in a Texas court in the United States for making false statements to obtain a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Northamptonshire Police announced that the convicts, Dada and Adebiyi, had each been charged with three counts of rape related to a March 2022 incident, while claiming they had engaged in consensual sex with a 17-year-old girl.

However, the jury found these claims false, ruling against them and declaring both guilty.

“Tosin Dada, 34, previously of Knox Road, Wellingborough, and Solomon Adebiyi, 39, previously of Stanley Street, Northampton, were both charged with three counts of rape each in connection with the offence on March 12, 2022.

“Their nine-day trial at Northampton Crown Court ended last week with both men being found unanimously guilty by the jury on all charges after eight hours of deliberation.

“Both men were remanded into custody ahead of sentencing at Northampton Crown Court on October 25, 2024,” the police disclosed.

Lawtons noted that while the average prison sentence for rape ranges from four to 19 years, varying from case to case, there is no statutory minimum sentence for the crime.

“Generally, sentencing for rape convictions starts from four years imprisonment. This sentence would only be given for category three offences and it is also very rare to receive such a short sentence, given that the majority of rape convictions also include some degree of harm or culpability.

“The maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment. However, when using the term ‘sentenced for life’, it does not mean that someone will spend their whole life in prison. Instead, someone who is given a life sentence usually spends 15 years in prison.

“In these cases, the offenders will spend the rest of their lives on a life licence. This means they would immediately be called back to prison if they were to commit another crime,” the law firm stated on its website.

Our correspondent also learnt that the possibility of the convicted Nigerians bagging life imprisonment for the crime was possible, as mentioned on the official Rape Crisis (England & Wales) website.

“Rape is defined as someone with a penis penetrating another person’s vagina, anus, or mouth without consent and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison,” the feminist charity organisation stated.

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JUST IN: Court Grants Bail To 10 #EndBadGovernance Protesters Arraigned For ‘Treason’

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 10 protesters associated with the #EndBadGovernance movement, who are standing trial for alleged treason.

The defendants, Michael Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, were arraigned before Presiding Judge Emeka Nwite on September 2.

They pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge, including: treason, intent to destabilize Nigeria,conspiracy to commit felony, inciting mutiny.

These offenses are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code. Additional allegations include: attempting to start a war, intimidating the president, attacking and injuring police officers, burning police stations.

The defendants were also charged with torching the NCC complex in Kano, Kano Printing Press, Kano government house, and several other buildings.

Although the defendants had applied for bail through their different lawyers, Nwite ordered their remand in prison custody pending a ruling on the application on September 11.

Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Nwite granted a N10 million bail to the defendants.

They are to produce one surety each in like sum. The sureties must have landed property in Abuja, produce documents of the properties, and submit them to court.

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