By Muhammad B. Muhammad

The Adamawa State Government Friday inaugurated a 20-man committee for State Action On Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) to attract 52.5m dollars benefits to the state.

The programme is a 750m dollars intervention from the World Bank being implemented at the federal level with Federal Ministry of Finance, Secretariat of Enabling Business Environment, Debt Management Office and Nigeria Governors’ Forum with the spanning period of three years from 2023 to 2026.

Inaugurating the committee in the Conference Hall, Government House, Yola, the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Barrister Auwal Tukur said the programme will attract investments and propel the economy of the state.

Barrister Tukur said the programme holds vast potentials and it is designed strategically, focusing on key deliverables that will redefine the landscape of doing business in the State.

The SSG added that the deliverables and potential economic impact of SABER can be quantified, providing a roadmap to envision the tangible benefits in dollar terms.

He enumerated the deliverables to include automation of land administration and regulatory processes, Fiber Optic Infrastructure Development,and Improved Investment Promotion among others.

Responding, the State Focal Person for SABER, Doctor Bello Abubakar who will heads the committee said the eligibility criteria of the programme is on annual basis throughout the three year period.

He listed the criteria to include the state approved budget has to be published online by 31st of January 2024, and management and sustainable reforms must also be published on or before 31 of December 2023.

One other he said include, the Business Action Plan prepared in conjunction with private sector needs to be approved by the State Executive Council and published on or before 31 of December 2023.

Doctor Bello added that the budgetted financial statements of the State need to be published by 31 of July 2024.

The 20 members of the committee include Commissioners of Finance, Budget and Planning, Land and Survey, Justice, Information, Commerce and Trade, as well as Local Government Affairs.

Others include Chairmen of Planning Commission and Board of Internally Generated Revenue, Auditor General of the state, and that of Local Governments, as well as Accountant General of the State.

Also on the list are Director General Debt Management Office, that of Bureau of Public Private Partnership (BPPP), General Manager Urban Planning Development Authority, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Information Communication Technology.

The rest are Surveyor General, President Chamber of Commerce, State Focal Person of SABER, Chairman Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Chief Registrar of State High Court.

COV. MBM

….Emir, Sambajo extol Dangote’s virtues

Director General of the Kano Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Tijani Aliyu Abdu Danzabuwa, has harped on the necessity to rally Africa’s top philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, to expedite economic growth and development of the continent.

Mr. Danzabuwa, who was speaking at the ongoing Kano Trade Fair said with a staggering endowment fund for philanthropy and business portfolios across Africa, Mr. Dangote is central to the rapid industrialization of the continent.

He also expressed optimism that the Dangote Refinery will be a major game changer, especially in earning for Nigeria Foreign Exchange, which is needed for economic stability and development.

Dangote is the major sponsor of the ongoing Kano Trade Fair.

Mr. Danzabuwa added, “The Group has been supporting and assisting the Chamber through its generous financial support over the years particularly in its sustained participation at the Annual Kano International Trade Fair.

“Dangote Group has been contributing immensely to the nation’s economy in stimulating and driving the nation’s exports strength, industrial growth, Job creation, satisfying domestic needs and reducing poverty.”

Speaking also during his visit to the company’s pavilion, Kano’s foremost business man and chairman of Sambajo General Enterprises Limited, Salisu Sambajo, described Mr. Dangote as key to Africa’s development.
The business mogul traced relationship with Mr. Dangote to over 40 years, adding that he has been a great philanthropist who has his country and Africa at heart.

Mr. Sambajo described the upcoming Dangote Refinery as a legacy project that will greatly impact Africa’s economies.

The Emir of Kano His Royal Highness Aminu Ado Bayero who visited the company’s pavilion had commended the company’s strides and supports in Nigeria, while urging the company not to relent in its efforts.

The President of KACCIMA, Garba Imam, had said it was planning to name a Trade and Convention Centre after Mr. Dangote.

…as Dangote Cement wins in Chemical & Non-Metallic products sector

For the second consecutive year, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s foremost entrepreneur and humanist, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award and accorded special recognition by the Organised Private Sector employers in the country, under the aegis of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).

In a night of honour and reward for deserving member organisations, Dangote Group, the Pan-African conglomerate emerged top carting away the award in the ‘Resilience and Sustainable Growth’ category, while its subsidiary, Dangote Cement PLC was named the “Best Company in the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Sector” during the 2022 Employers Annual Excellence Award held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

The Dangote Group also got a special Plaque as one of the sponsors of the 3rd edition of the NECA 2022 Annual Employers’ Excellence Award. The Dangote Group had won an award as the best company in the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products sector in the 2021 edition.

Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, former Chairman of Nestle Nigeria Plc. was the second personality given special recognition and honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the well-attended event.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was received on the Dangote Group President’s behalf by a top management team led by the Group Executive Director, Strategy, Portfolio Development & Capital Projects, Mr. Devakumar Edwin; the Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Nglan Niat, and Director, Human Assets Management, Dangote Projects, Mr. Fola Ali. The other awards were also received by Mr. Edwin and Mrs. Adeola Oyetan, Head, Talent Management of Dangote Cement Plc.

Speaking while presenting Aliko Dangote’s Lifetime Achievement Award to the Dangote team at the high-brow event, former President of NECA and industrialist, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa said the citation of the business tycoon which was read out to the warm applause of the participants “was only to fulfil all righteousness, as the name of Dangote looms larger than life for his exemplary works.”

He added, “I am proud that a lot of employers are here tonight. This is a great opportunity to catch up and build new networks. We need a lot of investments that would create more jobs and reduce poverty.”

Ohuabunwa, who also presented the Award for ‘Resilience and Sustainable Production’ said, “If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. But if you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully. The last award (Lifetime Achievement) was to Aliko Dangote, but this one (Resilience & Sustainable Production Award) is to the Dangote Group that has shown resilience and sustainable growth for others to emulate. They are setting the trend in sustainable growth.”

In his remarks after receiving the awards, Mr. Edwin, described NECA as an organisation that promotes leadership, good governance, innovation, productivity and corporate performance, and “therefore Mr. Dangote cherishes the award coming from a quarter like NECA.”

According to him: “NECA continues to remain a partner in progress, rewarding deserving companies for their contribution to national development. The Dangote Group will continue to contribute its quota to nation building and promote responsible business all sectors we operate.”

Also speaking, NECA President, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, explained that this year’s edition of the NECA Annual Employers’ Excellence Award, the third in the series, was to reward organisations that have forged on despite the challenges in Nigeria’s business environment and the economy, which was reflected in the event theme ‘Against All Odds’.

Adeniyi said the Employers Excellence Awards were meant to reward and encourage best practices in Corporate Performance, People Management and Industrial Relations practices amongst employers in Nigeria. He said the 2022 NECA Annual Employers’ Excellence Awards are to celebrate persistence and resilience, and added that, “In the quest for enterprise competitiveness and sustainable production, we are all winners.”

Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, who was represented by Mr. M. Yusuf, an official of the Labour Minstry, congratulated the employers’ body and its leadership for organising the event to recognise that have displayed resilience despite the challenges facing in the private sector.

Other winners in various categories include Nigeria Bottling Company in the Food & Beverages Non-Alcoholic Sector; MTN in the Telecommunications and Allied Services category; TGI Group in the Agro & Agro Allied Services category; Nestle in the Food and Beverages and Workplace Innovation and Peoplecentric Creativity categories; Julius Berger in the Construction and Construction Services sector; NLNG in the Petroleum and Natural Gas sector.