Business News
Prestige Assurance Plc welcomes new Directors on board
Prestige Assurance Plc has appointed Dr. Adedoyin Rasag Salami and Funmi Oyetunji as Non-Executive Directors. The appointments have been approved by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).
The company made this announcement in a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the general public.
Appointees’ illustrious profile
Dr. Adedoyin Rasaq Salami is a renowned Economist, Lecturer and Consultant.
A 1989 Doctorate Graduate in Economics from Queen Mary College, University of London, Adedoyin Salami is co-founder and partner at Kainos Edge Consulting and a member of the adjunct faculty at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan —Atlantic University where he leads sessions in Economic Environment of Business.
Prior to joining the LBS, ‘Doyin was Managing Partner of Edward Kingston Associates, a firm of Economics Consultants, where he led a team to build a Macroeconomic Model of the Nigerian economy.
Salami has handled consulting activities and assignments for the following:
International Development (DFID), World Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).
His involvement with Public Policy Making started in 2009 with his appointment by the late President Yar-Adua who appointed him as a member of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Economic Management Team.
In 2010, he was appointed to the membership of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria and retired from the MPC in 2017 after completing 2 terms. Outside Nigeria, he is a member of the International Monetary Fund’s Advisory Group for Sub-Saharan Africa (AGSA).
In addition, he is a non-executive Director of companies which include ARM Investment Managers, Diamond Pension Fund Custodian (DPFC), First World Communities Ltd and Investment Securities Ltd.
On the other hand, Funmi Oyetunji is a 1977 Accounting Graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants England (FCCA) and the Chartered Institute of Accountants — Nigeria (FCA).
She started her working career with Z.0 Ososanya & co. Ibadan and joined KPMG Marwick Mclintock, London Office.
Oyetunji started her Banking career with Fountain Trust Merchant Bank as Assistant General Manager (Financial Services) moving to First Bank of Nigeria.
She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Regent Advisory Financial services & Abitos Financial Services Limited and serves on the Board of Ecobank Plc.
About Prestige Assurance Plc
The company is a non-life insurance business with over sixty years’ experience in Nigeria. Its core areas of business include motor, marine, bond, engineering, fire, aviation, oil and gas and general accident.
New India Mumbai Assurance Company and Leadway Assurance Plc are the majority shareholders in the firm.
Prestige Assurance Plc closed trading on the NSE at N0.52 as of Thursday, February 7, 2019.
Coronavirus
Covid-19: WHO approves China’s Sinopharm vaccine
WHO has announced the approval of China’s Sinopharm vaccine for Covid-19 vaccination.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the approval of China’s Sinopharm vaccine for Covid-19 vaccination. The vaccine is reported to have 79% efficacy against covid.
This was disclosed today in a report by Reuters. The vaccine would also be the second Chinese-made vaccine after Sinovac vaccine and would be the first developed outside Europe and North America to receive WHO accreditation.
“This expands the list of COVID-19 vaccines that COVAX can buy, and gives countries confidence to expedite their own regulatory approval, and to import and administer a vaccine,” WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
The WHO added that the easy storage requirements make it highly suitable for low-resource settings.
“Its easy storage requirements make it highly suitable for low-resource settings,” a WHO statement said while also disclosing that the vaccine has been approved for people above the age of 18 to receive two shots.
“On the basis of all available evidence, WHO recommends the vaccine for adults 18 years and older, in a two-dose schedule with a spacing of three to four weeks,” the statement added.
The vaccine was created by Beijing Biological Products Institute, a subsidiary of Sinopharm subsidiary China National Biotec Group, with an efficacy of 79% for all age groups.
The WHO however, admitted that few older adults (over 60 years) were enrolled in clinical trials, so efficacy could not be estimated in this age group.
In case you missed it
The quest for vaccine efficiency got a major boost earlier this week as Nairametrics reported that the United States government announced that it supports the waiver of Intellectual Property Protections on Covid-19 vaccine development, in a bid to boost the fight against the pandemic, and says it will participate in the Okonjo-Iweala-led WTO negotiation to make it happen.
Obituaries
“Mama Taraba”, Former minister and senator, Aisha Al-Hassan is dead
Ex-Women Affairs minister, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba is dead
A former Minister for Women Affairs and ex-Governorship Candidate in Taraba State, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba is dead.
According to media reports she died in a hospital on Friday in Cairo, Egypt at the age of 61.
Al-Hassan, who was a former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Taraba North Senatorial District, was the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for Taraba in the 2015 general elections.
READ: Abba Kyari’s last letter to President Buhari
She later contested for the same seat on the platform of the United Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections after resigning from APC and as a minister in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on July 27, 2018.
The former senator was born on the 16th of September, 1959 in Jalingo, Taraba State, to Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, Sarkin Ayukan Muri.
READ: Chad’s President Deby dies of injuries suffered on the frontlines, as son takes over
Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan attended Muhammed Nya Primary School, Jalingo and LEA Primary School, Tudun Wada, Kaduna before proceeding to Saint Faith College (now GGSS) Kawo Kaduna where she studied between January 1973 and June 1977.
Details later…
